According to WebMD, an estimated 40%-75% of people are vitamin D deficient. This is concerning because vitamin D provides numerous health benefits and is an important aspect of your overall health – as it helps your bones, muscles, heart, lungs, and brain function optimally.

Despite its name, vitamin D isn’t just your average vitamin. It actually functions as a hormone once your body absorbs it. Although it might sound like healthy vitamin D levels should be easy to maintain, there are many factors that can make it difficult to get enough of it.

Keep on reading to learn more about vitamin D and why it’s so important to get enough of it.

Hosting an onsite employee biometric screening is a great way to kick-start the summer with some new wellness initiatives. If you plan on hosting a health screening this summer, there are a few things you might want to be prepared for.

Each season offers its own unique set of challenges when it comes to hosting wellness events. However, while there might be some potential challenges, the summer is definitely a great time to host a screening. Since your wellness initiatives might lose some steam over the warmer months, it’s always a good idea to get a fresh conversation about health and wellness started in your office.

The following are a few challenges you might run into while planning a biometric screen during the summertime, plus some tips to help you make your summer screening successful. 

It seems like every day there’s talk about a new diet that promises to change your life and body forever. While many trendy diets might help you shed a few pounds, the truth is that most of them aren’t sustainable – which is why they tend to fail. These types of diets often tell you what you can and cannot eat, and make everyday meals a bit more challenging. Plus, trendy diets don’t lead to life-long healthy habits.

Rather than trying a new diet fad every few months, it’s best to stick with a balanced diet. In fact, one of the healthiest and easiest diets to maintain is a balanced one. A balanced diet means healthy portion control, moderation, and essential nutrient intake. A balanced diet will fuel you rather than restrict you.

One of the reasons why focusing on a balanced diet is such a great choice is because it helps you develop a healthy relationship with food. It’s not about creating a restrictive meal plan or skipping out on a friend’s BBQ, it’s about learning how to properly fuel your body with the food it needs – without having to change your entire lifestyle. 

Below are seven simple and helpful tips for maintaining a balanced diet. These are life-long, healthy habits that can help improve your health and wellness.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. According to the latest research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes (high blood sugar) – making it one of the most common illnesses in our nation.

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body has trouble managing its blood sugar levels. The body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or resists insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and accounts for about 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes in adults.

Unfortunately, diabetes is a chronic condition without any known cure. However, through medication and healthy lifestyle changes, the condition can be managed. Because diagnoses of type 2 diabetes continue to increase, it’s imperative that your employees are educated about the largely preventable illness. 

Many innovative companies are looking for new, effective ways to boost employee wellness. The power of mindfulness has been on the rise for many employers that are looking to help improve productivity, boost mental-wellbeing, and reduce some stress in the workplace – and for good reason. Research has shown how practicing mindfulness on a regular basis can train your brain to better process emotions, stress, and help you focus on the present moment.

One of the most popular ways to practice mindfulness is through meditation. Meditation is a mind-body practice that’s been used for centuries to promote calmness, improve physiological balance, and improve overall health. There are many studies that have demonstrated how beneficial regular meditation can be on the mind and body. Which is why more and more companies are starting to offer a meditation program for employees.

If your workforce deals with stress, emotional health issues, or low morale, you’ll likely benefit from implementing a meditation program. Meditation programs have a lot of amazing health and wellness benefits that will have a positive impact on your employees. Let’s take a look at some of the powerful benefits of implementing a workplace meditation program:

May is Better Sleep Month. The Better Sleep Council kick-started the Better Sleep Month campaign to help adults understand the importance of a good night’s sleep. Quality sleep is an important factor in your everyday health. And unfortunately, it’s often overlooked. Without enough quality sleep, our physical, mental, and emotional health suffers. 

Sleep deprivation is such a common problem in the United States that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers insufficient sleep to be a public health epidemic. Experts recommend that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. According to a Gallup study, Americans only sleep an average of 6.8 hours each night, with 40% of Americans getting less than the recommended amount of sleep. This means that many Americans are suffering from the health consequences of poor sleep habits. 

Inadequate sleep can lead to a variety of problems, including: 

Summertime is just around the corner! With longer days and beautiful weather, it’s no surprise that work might not always be your employees’ top priority throughout the season. In fact, 25% of people report feeling less productive in the office over the summer months. That’s why it’s crucial for employers to learn and implement some new strategies for successful summertime management.

While productivity and engagement are two critical factors for most employers, it’s important to realize that employees deserve a little fun during this lively season. Below, we share seven tips to help employers keep employees productive and engaged over the summer – without sacrificing the excitement the season has to bring.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 93% of their life indoors. 87% of that time is spent inside, while the other 6% is spent in automobiles. This means that only 7% of the average American’s life is spent outdoors. This is unfortunate considering that spending time outdoors is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall health and wellbeing. 

Research suggests that spending time outside can function as a natural medicine. It can help improve your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Spending more time outdoors is also linked to a lower risk of early death. Besides helping you live a longer, healthier life, spending time in nature can help you live a happier life, too.

We know that being a full-time employee can make it difficult to spend time outdoors. But even a few five-minute outdoor breaks a day can have a positive impact on your health. Keep reading to learn about some of the amazing health benefits of spending time outdoors. Plus, we include a few tips to help you get outside more often! 

A significant percentage of the U.S. workforce grapples with chronic pain. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 6 (or 15%) of American workers live with long-term pain. This means that chronic pain most likely affects some of your employees – and you may not even know it. 

According to MedicineNet.com, chronic pain is described as an unpleasant sense of discomfort that persists or progresses over a long period. In contrast to acute pain – which arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable – chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.

Chronic pain can start with or without an apparent cause. In most situations, chronic pain begins after an injury, surgery, or illness. But for others, there might not be an obvious cause. Chronic pain can range from mild to severe, and in a lot of cases, it can cause many unpleasant symptoms other than pain.

When you receive your annual health screening, one of the things that you get tested for is your cholesterol level. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all cells of your body. Your body needs cholesterol to help produce certain hormones, cell membranes, vitamin D, and bile acids that aid your digestive system.

Many adults are hard-wired to believe that cholesterol is bad for your health. This is only partly true. High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the bad type of cholesterol) can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. However, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol) is great for your overall health and helps reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

According to WebMD, HDL cholesterol can help reduce your risk of heart disease by: 

• Removing LDL cholesterol
• Transporting LDL cholesterol it to the liver where it can be reprocessed
• Acting as the maintenance crew for the inner walls of your blood vessels – HDL scrubs the wall clean and keeps it healthy