Category: Health and Wellness

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, as well as National Nutrition Month. Nutrition is an important part of taking care of your body to help prevent health problems. Proper nutrition is a combination of daily exercise and having the right diet.

Both factors are important for colorectal cancer awareness and overall colon health. One of the most overlooked areas of general health and wellness is the maintenance of colon function and colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women. Poor colon health can lead to many other problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, and chronic fatigue.

The colon stores and transports human waste material, creating an opportunity for prolonged waste storage to burden your entire body

Here, are some of the most common causes of colon problems:

• Not drinking enough water
• Eating too much sugar, white flour, or refined foods
• Lack of exercise
• Prescription drugs
• Food allergies
• Bacteria, viruses or parasites

Having your screenings done is essential for colon health, especially for people over the age of 50. In addition to cancer screening, there are many other steps you can take to improve your colon health such as stress reduction, increasing fiber in your diet, and making sure you stay hydrated. If you are unsure about your colon function, your Best Doctors benefit can help you eliminate uncertainty and add an expert perspective to the information you are gathering. For more information, call 866-904-0910 or visit bestdoctors.com.

Spring is just around the corner and with that comes Daylight Saving Time. We’re losing an hour of sleep to get ready for the warm weather. Here are seven tips to help you adjust:

1. Make small adjustments to help you transition. That could mean going to bed a little earlier each day.
2. If you feel sleepier after Daylight Savings, try taking a short nap each day to help you feel more rested. Make sure it is not too close to when you go to bed.
3. Keep your regular sleep schedule. That means going to sleep and waking up each day at the same time, even on the weekends. This will allow your body to naturally adjust to the new time in a few days, and make it easier to wake up on those Monday mornings.
4. Get active by working out! Working out is a great way to get your energy up. Being active will decrease your anxiety, stress and other sleep disorders. Try being active for at least 30 minutes each day.
   
5. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco before bed, as these can negatively affect your sleep by keeping you stimulated. Avoid certain drinks and food that has caffeine in it for at least 4-6 hours before bed.
6. Turn off the television! It is not a good idea to watch television right before bed, as it can keep you more alert when trying to fall asleep. The same is true for other electronic devices (phone, tablet and laptop). The blue light emitted by electronic devices can suppress melatonin, which is the hormone that controls your wake and sleep cycles. It is best to get off your phone 30 minutes to an hour before bed.
7. Try alternatives for relaxing and reducing stress and anxiety. Essential oils, such as lavender, eucalyptus, orange, and bergamot are used for increasing sleep and helping you become better relaxed.

With these seven tips, you can increase a better sleep schedule for this year’s Daylight Saving Time. Try at least one of these tips and see how you feel the next day. Remember to spring forward this Sunday by setting your clock forward one hour.

The workstation – during the working day you are constantly revolving around your desk and work space, even if you’re in and out of meetings all day. But is your workstation set-up to optimize your comfort and productivity? Here are a few tips on organizing your workstation for the best results:

• Focus on your keyboard, hands/arms, chair, and monitor first. Keep your keyboard center, elbows relaxed and slightly open and your chair at a level where your feet are flat on the floor.
• Utilize support pads such as wrist, lumbar and armrests. These will alleviate pressure on the lower back and other joints.
• Center your keyboard, mouse and monitor so the portion you use the most is center to your body. You should not need to twist to see the screen comfortably.

Other best practices include getting up to walk around throughout the day and to utilize angles for your chair, monitor and keyboard that are the most comfortable.

To learn more visit health4u.msu.edu.

Are you the primary caregiver for a parent, grandparent, ill spouse/partner, or child with special needs? We understand this can sometimes make life feel stressful and overwhelming. The WorkLife Office has put together the following tips to help make this season a smooth one for all.

• Maintain daily routines, meal times and habits
• Plan ahead. Dinners, travel and other tasks that need to get done
• Ask for help and input from loved ones
• Keep your sense of humor. Laugh, don’t cry when mistakes happen
• Put down your technology and fully engage with the people around you

Lastly, take care of you. Carve out time each day to reflect, relax and practice gratefulness for the joys in your life.

To read more in-depth into these tips, check out the WorkLife Office newsletter here.

Diabetes is a leading cause of death in many nations. While complex, it is manageable.

Diabetes is a disorder of the metabolism that requires diligent attention to manage. Based on the two types of diabetes, prevention and treatment vary.

Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10 percent of people who have diabetes. Type 1 causes the body’s immune system to destroy cells that release insulin. It is not known how to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for a majority of people with diabetes. Type 2 causes the body to not be able to use insulin correctly. It can be prevented in some cases by:

• Weight management with a healthy low-fat, high-fiber diet
• Regular exercise
• Moderation of alcohol consumption
• Elimination of smoking
• Use of prescribed medications

The single best thing people with diabetes can do it to keep their blood sugar level within the suggested range every day. Glucose can be controlled through regular blood sugar checks, a balanced diet and appropriate medical treatment.

Best Doctors can give you peace of mind about diabetes with comprehensive expert reviews of medical records and reports that eliminate uncertainty and provide a valuable perspective on your medical care. For more information call 1-866-904-0910 or visit members.bestdoctors.com.

Most professionals sit at their desks all day long, which leads to fatigue, back pain and reduced productivity. One easy way to combat these negative side effects is through stretching!

MSU Health4U tells us that stretching at work can:

• Relax the muscles that may have become tense after extended periods of stationary work, sitting or repetitive movement
• Relieve stress
• Improve productivity
• Give yourself a jump-start of energy

Some best practices to get the most out of your stretch include warming up, moving slowly, breathing normally and holding each stretch for 20-30 seconds on each side of the body 2-3 times.

To learn more visit the Health4U website.

Everyone knows that meal prepping is a great way to save calories and money, but getting started is always the hardest part! We put together a few healthy meal options that are perfect for busy work days to keep you on track with your health goals and keep your wallet happy too.

• First, Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwich. Substituting Greek yogurt for Mayo is an easy calorie savor and just as delicious.
• Next, Korean Beef Meal Prep bowls for a light, yet filling lunch.
• Veganism is popular within the health community; see what all the plant hype is about and try these Vegan Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells for a fun twist on traditional pasta dishes.

If you’re looking for healthier meal options without the prep, there are 10 dining halls on campus available to you. Menus are updated online and note gluten-free, vegetarian and dairy-free options. Other on-campus dining includes the Food Truck, Crossroads Food Court in the International Center and The Union Food Court.

MSU Food Truck

Almost every building on campus also has a Sparty’s location. Each Sparty’s has different options, some ranging from full grills, to quick snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day. See where the closest Sparty’s is to you. In addition to these, there are also 4 Starbucks locations: Wells Hall, Broad College of Business, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum and the New 1855 Place.

1855 Place is now home to the Sparty’s Market! This location features prepared foods and grill items, pre-packaged and self-serve bulk foods, a bakery station with coffee and fountain drinks, a dairy case, deli sandwiches, hot breakfast dishes, a wide variety of dry grocery items, health and beauty needs, household items and more.

1855 Place Sparty’s Market

We hope you and your wallet enjoyed these recipes and added a little spice to your everyday meals.

This is a guest post written by the WorkLife Office. Visit their website for more information.

When people at MSU talk about the WorkLife Office, it’s not surprising when they often add “balance” to the end of our title. One of the major roles of our office is to help MSU faculty and staff find the resources they need to juggle their multiple responsibilities – at work and in their personal lives. But what about this concept of “balance”? Is it just a myth, or does it really exist?

Here’s what we tell people: it’s time to rethink the idea of balance. More often than not, balance doesn’t mean your time is evenly split between work and personal life. Balance is more about a feeling – do you feel gratified or overwhelmed (or somewhere in between) by your work and life responsibilities? More and more, we see a unique blending of time and focus between these worlds. Work and life are not mutually exclusive realms. Who we are at work is not separate from who we are at home and vice versa.

If we check our work email at home, or take a personal call while we are at work, it does not mean that we have failed at work-life balance. It just means that we are humans with many intersecting identities that make us the unique individuals that we are.

Here are some quick tips about work-life balance:

1. Rethink “balance” – it’s not always a 50/50 split. Sometimes work is more intense and other times our personal lives require more of our focus.
2. Reflect on your work-life habits – notice if you prefer to keep work and your personal life separate, or if you prefer a blended model. Don’t try to force yourself into a different work style – find the one that works for you and your productivity.
3. Consider work-life stressors – take note of the types of projects, or times of year when you feel the most overwhelmed. When you begin documenting these, you are more able to plan for them in the future.

Pro-tip: schedule a consultation with the WorkLife Office to help you identify your work-life balance needs. Call 517-353-1635 or email worklife@msu.edu.