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Health Care Reform October 2013
Posted on: October 9, 2013Categories: HR & ComplianceThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a number of federal reporting requirements for employers and health plans. The additional reporting is intended to promote transparency with respect to health plan coverage and costs. It will also provide the government with information to administer other ACA mandates, such as the large employer shared responsibility penalty and the individual mandate. Supporting Documents: Click here to read the Legislative Brief Click here to read the Health Care ...
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Flu Shots: What You Need to Know
Posted on: October 8, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7It's that time of year—flu shot season. But before you head to your doctor, pharmacy, or clinic to get your annual flu shot, know that this year, flu shots have changed—you now have a choice between the types of vaccine you prefer. First, the flu facts. In case you need convincing to get a flu shot: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates deaths associated with the flu to affect anywhere between 3,000 and 49,000 people, annually. Of those deaths, about 90 percent occ ...
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6 Ways to Get Through a Groggy Day without Coffee
Posted on: October 1, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7So, you wake up in the morning and you just can't seem to roll out of bed. You're still half asleep as you drag yourself down the stairs and you yawn all the way to work. Sitting at your desk, you can't keep your eyes open. Three cups of coffee later, you're stressed and a bundle of nerves, but still tired. How many of us have had that kind of day? Rather than sucking down the coffee, why not try a few different energy boosts--the natural kind! 1. Sleep Earlier Maybe you're so sleepy becaus ...
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Get the Facts on Fiber
Posted on: September 26, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7You have probably heard that fiber is great for digestion and can reduce your cholesterol. But did you know that it can also help with weight management by making you feel fuller? Fiber can also aid in the treatment of constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome while reducing your risk for type-2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. So, what is fiber? Fiber is indigestible carbohydrate found in plant foods. What foods contain fiber? Fiber is only found in foo ...
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Hydrating with Sport Drinks
Posted on: September 24, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7Sports drinks have an image that may be confusing for many. In advertisements, these drinks are the beverages of extremely fit athletes, giving the impression that sports drinks promote and maintain health. While on the other hand, numerous organizations like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lump sports drinks in with other sugary beverages like soda, juice and energy drinks, and ask that you stop consuming them because the ...
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Benefits of Using Dental Floss
Posted on: September 17, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7Add flossing to your daily dental routine and you’ll experience a cleaner, healthier smile. Most people either forget about flossing or put it low on their list of priorities because they are unaware of the importance or unsure how to do it correctly. But flossing helps clean the gaps between your teeth so that you're less likely to get gum infections or cavities from bacteria build-up. And with improved dental health, you may avoid the large bills that come with expensive dental procedures. T ...
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10 Rules for Digital Happiness
Posted on: September 10, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7Navigating the ever-changing landscape of tech/human connectivity can overwhelm even the savviest of techies and frazzle even the most zen amongst us. So here are 10 rules to guide you toward digital happiness: 1. Be present: Being present is perhaps the rarest, most valuable gift you can give someone today. We tend to privilege whomever or whatever is happening virtually rather than the individuals in our physical midst, despite the significance of the body in forming bonds and communicating ...
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Difference Between Barbells and Dumbbells
Posted on: September 5, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7Barbells and dumbbells are the two main types of free weights. Using this type of resistance does not restrict your range of motion the way a weight machine does. With free weights, your movements more closely resemble real-life movements. Although you can do the same exercises with both, dumbbells and barbells each have their own advantages and drawbacks. Barbell Barbells are long, straight metal bars with sleeves on the ends to hold weight plates. The two types of barbells are standard and O ...
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September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Posted on: September 3, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7There is no better time than September, during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, for men to talk with their health care providers about this disease so that they can make informed decisions about maintaining their prostate health. Although prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men, when detected early it also boasts some of the highest survival rates. This year approximately 217,730 men will learn they have prostate cancer and more than 32,050 men will die from th ...
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8 Healthy Tailgate Foods
Posted on: August 27, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7Guacamole with Chipotle Tortilla Chips Making your own chips gives you the same crunchy flavor without all of the fat of regular tortilla chips. Chipotle–flavored chips highlight the fresh ingredients in the guacamole. Serve guacamole for a creamy dip that is rich in heart-healthy fats. Spicy Black Bean Hummus Black beans are packed with nutrients such as protein, fiber, and iron, so you don't have to worry about empty calories when you dip into this spicy hummus. Serve with baked pita chips ...
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How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Can Relieve Depression
Posted on: August 22, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7Overfed and overweight, it seems unlikely that most Americans would be deficient in fat. But there is one we are missing: omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish, flaxseed, and some nuts. It is thought that this deficiency may cause or worsen depression in some people. Western diets have changed drastically over the past 150 years, during which the ratio of fats from fish and wild plants to those from animal and vegetable oil sources, especially in processed foods, has gone from 1:1 to ...
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How a “Low Glycemic” Diet Can Help You Lose Weight
Posted on: August 20, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7The Glycemic Load is a scoring system based on your blood sugar response to foods. Foods with a high glycemic load cause a blood sugar spike--a large increase in your blood sugar--while low glycemic load foods cause a small or zero increase in your blood sugar. Blood sugar spikes are bad because they are hard on your pancreas. Your pancreas has to release insulin in large amounts when there is a lot of sugar in the blood. When the pancreas releases a large amount of insulin at one time, it is ...
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8 Popular Fitness Classes, Explained
Posted on: August 15, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7Ever wonder what all the different fitness classes at your local gym were about? Well, this article is designed to explain what which exercise class is about and what areas of fitness it targets. After reading through each class, find out which one appeals most to you and get active! Zumba What it is: Zumba combines Latin dance, hip-hop, martial arts, and resistance training in an upbeat fitness choreography that makes working out tons of fun. A typical, 60-minute class helps relieve stress, ...
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8 Ways To Become A Morning Person
Posted on: August 8, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7People are about as hesitant to change their sleep patterns as they are their political parties. But truth be told, the morning isn’t a part of the day that you want to miss. It’s dark during the night because our bodies are supposed to be in a deep slumber, but when the sun comes up and the birds start chirping, so should we. Except it’s not so easy because you’re either a morning person or you’re not. But not so fast --what if you could change your routine? What if a night owl coul ...
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August 2013 Health Care Reform
Posted on: August 7, 2013Categories: HR & ComplianceBeginning Jan. 1, 2014, individuals and employees of small businesses will have access to insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) health insurance exchanges (Exchanges), which are also known as Health Insurance Marketplaces. Open enrollment under the Exchanges will begin on Oct. 1, 2013. ACA requires employers to provide all new hires and current employees with a written notice about ACA’s Exchanges. This requirement is found in Section 18B of the Fair Labor Standards Act ...
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How Long Does It Take To Get Hydrated
Posted on: July 26, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7How long does it take to get hydrated before training? Just 45 minutes, says a recent study from the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Challenging the popular notion that complete hydration requires you to drink yourself into a water-induced coma, this study shows that just 600ml of water ingested 45 minutes prior to training is enough to take an athlete from mildly dehydrated to fully hydrated. The study was conducted on ten active men and women, each about 25 years old and we ...
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5 Ways To Stay Cool
Posted on: July 22, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7For those of us interested in affordability and sustainability, the thought of huge summer cooling bills (and all the greenhouse emissions they cause) is enough to send a chill down the spine. You've probably already heard the basics of summertime energy management: keep your air conditioner filters clean, make sure your weather stripping is tight, draw the drapes during the heat of the day, and avoid the use of big heat-creating appliances like ovens and ranges whenever possible. But there ...
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Safer Ways To Prevent Bites
Posted on: July 15, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7By now I'm sure you've noticed, we're in for a buggier summer than usual. Pests that usually would have died in the cold instead spent the unseasonably warm winter months breeding and waiting to feast. Mosquitoes can carry threatening diseases like malaria, West Nile and encephalitis, but only 29 percent of people say they fear mosquitoes for health reasons, according to a recent survey. Nearly 60 percent, however, say they fear mosquitos because of the itch. Still, we're not about to l ...
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Choosing the Correct Footwear
Posted on: July 10, 2013Categories: LiveWell 24/7What’s the one piece of workout gear you can’t live without? Your iPod? A good water bottle? The single most important piece of equipment to virtually any kind of exercise program -- running, aerobics, hiking, tennis, basketball -- is the right pair of shoes. A good pair of shoes can make or break your workout, and it’s easy to go wrong. Runner's World has compiled a great search engine designed to find you the perfect shoe. The right footwear can greatly reduce your chances of inju ...
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July 2013 Health Care Reform
Posted on: July 3, 2013Categories: HR & ComplianceIn a surprise, The Treasury announced on July 2nd that the employer mandate of the ACA will be delayed until January 1, 2015. What does this mean for employers? For 50+ employers, the reporting and penalty provisions of the mandate, “Pay or Play”, will take effect in 2015 and will not apply for 2014. The delay only applies to the mandate, the other provisions of the law remain in effect, and the exchanges, or health insurance marketplaces, are still scheduled to open on October 1, 2013 ...
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