FOR INSPIRING GOOD HEALTH...

Benefits Service Wellness Newsletter

June 2014

What is the definition of Wellness? When googled, here is what came up:

The state or condition of being in good physical and mental health.

"When you come right down to it, stress affects every aspect of wellness."

We all know that eating well and exercising regularly will help us maintain good physical health and are two important components of preventive care. Paying attention to your body and any changes, while getting regular annual physicals and check-ups, is also important for preventive care. How does one maintain good mental health and alleviate stress, though? Below are healthy tips on eating, exercising, maintaining good mental health and managing stress. Please join us on this exciting Wellness journey!

EAT WELL

Are you eating enough fruits & vegetables? See 10 Tips to a Great Plate! This is a great visual to aid you in balancing your meals - focus on filling half your daily plates with fruits and vegetables! If you are looking for maximum nutrition with the limited foods you eat, here is WebMD's 'Superfoods' Everyone Needs. Did you know pineapple is a super fruit? From Medical News Today, read: what are the health benefits of pineapple.

KEEP MOVING!

What are the basics to stay fit & healthy? Read here for a guideline to how much physical activity you need. A half hour of moderate exercise at least 5 days a week is a great goal. And you don't have to hit the gym to stay fit. Many activities at home or elsewhere will burn calories and benefit your body. Find something you enjoy doing! Anthem shares this article: Don't look now... but you just may be exercising. Bump up your physical activity with small additions to your daily routine - a walk during lunch, a "walk and talk" meeting, etc. It will have a ripple effect of encouraging overall better health & fitness for you and those around you. Inspire yourself and others with some small steps toward better fitness!

GOOD MENTAL HEALTH & HANDLING STRESS

Caring for your mind is vital to wellness. How do we maintain good mental health? From the US Department of Health and Human Services, here is an article on Good Mental Health. Ireland's National Office for Suicide Prevention provides Minding your Mental Health. Yoga is often hailed as a great practice for the mind, as well as the body. Read LA Times' Yoga might help boost mental health. For managing stress, here is Stress Awareness and Six Ways to Sideline Stress.

IN THE KITCHEN

As part of the Synod Wellness Program, we'd love your participation IN THE KITCHEN. Do you have some healthy recipes that you'd like to share? If so, please email [email protected] and I will post your recipe on one of my future mailings. With summer here, a refreshing salad becomes a staple part of many meals. What is your favorite salad? If you like arugula, try a simple arugula corn tomato salad adjusting portions and seasoning to your taste buds! And why not start the day with a smoothie to get a jumpstart on daily fruit and vegetable portions for you and your family? Kids love them (especially when they help make them!). From Kaiser, here is Smoothies 101: A Pediatrician's Prescription.

If you have any particular health topics that you would like to learn more about, please email me and I will work on including these topics in a future Wellness Newsletter. Additionally, Anthem and Kaiser websites offer free online webinars and recordings on various health concerns for members. For Anthem: click here then select "View Event Recordings". For Kaiser: click here.

If you are a church administrator, please forward this email to your Synod Benefit Participants in case they have not yet provided me with their email address. They can send their name & email address to [email protected] to be added to future mailings, including benefit updates.

Best wishes to your Good Health!

Melinda Durham

Benefits Coordinator

Synod of the Pacific

[email protected]

(800) 754-0669

DISCLAIMER: THE CONTENT AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS E-NEWSLETTER ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL ADVICE, AND WE DO NOT INTEND FOR THIS INFORMATION TO BE USED TO DIAGNOSE OR PRESCRIBE FORMS OF TREATMENT.