Healthy employees provide companies with a wide array of benefits. They tend to be more productive, less stressed, and take less sick days. A key factor in employee health is nutrition – which is why you want your employees to eat well.
We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat," and this saying might be especially true in the workplace. What your employees eat fuels and powers their days at the office. If you want your employees to feel energized, focused, and productive, you’ll want t
hem to eat a nutritious, balanced diet that supplies them with the nourishment their bodies need to succeed.
When your employees eat healthily and practice healthy eating habits, they are helping their brains and bodies function better. Read on to learn how good nutrition will positively affect your employees and their work performance:
Healthier heart. A healthy diet that limits high-fat, sugary, and salty foods will reduce the chance of heart disease. Eating heart healthy fats that can be found in foods like almonds or salmon can help lower your employees’ blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels.
Disease prevention. Eating well prevents a variety of chronic diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and obesity. When your employees eat healthily, they can boost their “good” cholesterol levels and decrease unhealthy triglyceride levels.
More energy. The vitamins and nutrients obtained from a healthy diet are essential for your employees’ energy. A lack of these essential nutrients can cause serious problems, including dizziness, extreme fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Brain power. Eating a variety of healthy foods will boost your employees’ memory, concentration and overall brain function. The foods that they eat have a direct effect on their moods, attitudes, and memory.
Mental health benefits. Research has shown that healthy, balanced diets are associated with fewer incidences of depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
More sleep. What you eat helps you sleep! Nutrients found in healthy foods will help employees relax and get better quality of sleep. Fatty and sugary foods can make it more difficult for them to hit the ZZZs.
Stronger immune system. Eating well boosts the immune system, which helps protect your employees from the common cold and flu that spreads around the office like wildfire each year.
So, how do the perks of healthy eating translate into work performance?
Healthier employees. Employees who eat well are generally healthier people overall. They tend to have better health numbers, and you won’t have to worry about your employees taking nearly as many sick days when they eat healthily!
Productive employees. You can expect more productivity from your healthy-eating employees. Many essential nutrients boost brain power to help employees feel productive and energized all day long.
Better mood. Many healthy foods provide mood-boosting nourishment. Healthy food staples such as salmon, spinach, and almonds are full of mood-boosting properties.
Better overall performance. Employees who eat nutritious foods benefit from improved cognitive functions, including better focus, concentration, memory, and creativity.
In fact, a 2013 study found that employees who ate healthy all day long were 25 percent more likely to have higher job performance. They also reported that employees who ate five or more servings of fruit and vegetables at least four times a week were 20 percent more likely to have higher job performance and be more productive.
What’s even better than helping your employees eat well?
Helping them eat well and move more!
Although nutrition is an important factor in employee wellness, you can’t forget about exercise! Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help your employees get healthier and happier – both inside and outside of the office. For the next six weeks, our blogs and social media posts will be dedicated to helping your employees move more, in addition to eating well. Follow along with #MoveMore for great resources and tips to encourage regular physical activity at your workplace.
What other advantages do healthy employees bring to the workplace? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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