Worksite Health & Wellness Articles

The main feature article is provided by the Health and Wellness Department at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi while the others are provided by the National Wellness Institute as a service of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. When publishing any of the following articles, please be sure to reproduce the article in its entirety, including the copyright notice and the author name and/or source listed at the end. The articles provided by the National Wellness Institute are copyrighted with all rights reserved. They are printed here with permission.

August 2009 Articles

Healthy Habits Make Better Students
Eating a healthy breakfast and being physically active every day are two important health tips for kids to know as the school year begins. Read more.

Health Tip: Eating Right While You're Pregnant
Daily eating tips from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology provide important guidance for pregnant women, to help provide them and their children with the nutrition they need for good health. Read the eating tips.

Tips to add longevity to your life
Making choices for a longer life is actually pretty simple. The tips provided here are things you may have heard before, but when you consider the benefits of these choices, it adds up to something more than things to think about. See the tips.

August Wellness Facts
Super easy tips to reduce the risk of cancer, plust 10 simple tips to promote good health. See the facts.

July 2009 Articles

Diabetes Awareness For Your Child's Sake
Getting annual check-ups with your healthcare provider is important for many reasons. One family found juvenile Type 1 diabetes through their annual exam. Read their story.

Tomatoes: Nature's Powerhouse
Their are great health benefits tomatoes, which are also generally known as the most popular fruit or vegetable item in U.S. households. Read about tomatoes' benefits.

Exercise Habits Should Start Early
Harness the energy of young children in such a way as to promote life-long physical activity. There are a lot of ways to be an example for children and encourage them to be active. See how to start this healthy habit.

Eat Nuts for a Healthy Heart
There are heart-healthy nutrients in nuts, and they've been seen as a healthful snack for years. Enjoy their flavor while getting fiber, omega-3 and vitamin E. Read about the dietary guidelines.

July Wellness Facts
There are lots of ways to increase your "intellectual wellness," and there's health reasons to enjoy activities with friends. Read the Facts.

June 2009 Articles

Vacation the Healthy Way
It takes only a bit of planning to make sure your vacation doesn't interfere with your efforts to eat healthy. When you consider the work involved in losing vacation pounds, it's well worth the effort. See how to eat healthy.

Higher Smoking Risks for Women
Women develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at a much earlier age and after less years of smoking than men do, according to a recent study. See more reasons to avoid tobacco.

Flip-Flops, Baseball Caps and Cancer
Exposing the tops of ears and tops of feet increases the potential for skin cancer. So even though these can be popular parts of summer attire, be sure to take good precautions. Learn some precautions.

June Wellness Facts
Reading restaurant nutrition information proves useful. A reason to avoid red meat.  Quick tips to drop blood pressure. Read the facts.

May 2009 Articles

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Exercise is key to a strong mind and a strong body. That’s why May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month - to encourage all Americans to be physically active regardless of age or fitness level. Start getting fit.

New Benefits From Niacin
A large study in the Journal of Neurology finds that including niacin-rich foods in your diet - poultry, fish, legumes and more - may help prevent Alzheimer's Disease. Find the details.

Gum Chewing Beats Cravings
Researchers from Louisiana State University and the Pennington Biomedical Research Group found that research subjects who chewed gum cut down on their snacks, potentially helping with weight loss. Find more information about the study.

Spring Cleaning To Help Breathing
Cleaning nasal passages with warm salt water twice a day gave several people in a study releif from allergy symptoms and other nasal irritants. Learn the technique.

Having Pets and Losing Pounds
Pet ownership for persons of advanced age helps their health and well-being - and what exactly does it take to lose a pound? Find the facts.

April 2009 Articles

Two Steps to Beating Cancer

Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle and seeing your doctor annually can make a major difference in your health and life. Read more about these ways to prevent several health problems. This article may help you choose well.

What are Probiotics? Do You Need Them?

There is an interest in probiotics, and they are being studied by several organizations. The best information now is: We need to know more. Read about probiotics.

Americans Consume Too Much Salt

Most Americans consume more than double the amount of their daily recommended level of sodium. But this increases some serious health risks. Find the risks and ways to lower them.

Laughter: Rx for Better Health

Laughter has been shown to lift ailing spirits, foster instant relaxation, reduce stress and burnout, and improve health and healing by bolstering the immune system. Add more laughter to your life.

Wellness Facts

National Humor Month, health benefits of peas and World Health Day. Read the April Wellness Facts.

March 2009 Articles

Eating Right Can Be Easy and Cost-Effective

Convenience is an important part of choosing a meal, so check out these tips that will help you see that healthy eating is pretty convenient, after all. See the tips.

Live Healthier and Cut Your Cancer Risk

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, exercise, and other tips here are more than grandma's good ideas. These are scientifically-proven ways to cut your risk of developing cancers. Want to learn more?

Tips on Starting an Exercise Program

The biggest risk is actually NOT starting an exercise program. Fight all those reasons for sitting still and keeping the same old, inactive routine. Bust out of it and move. Consider these ideas to help.

Be Smart at the Supermarket

Food labels are more than a company's effort to get you to buy. A lot of the labeling has specific government-required facts behind the details. What's in a label?

Wellness Facts

Nutrition Month and Cholesterol Cutting. Read the March Wellness Facts.

February 2009 Articles

Heart attack deaths down; still much work to be done in Mississippi

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the country, and Mississippi has the highest rate in the nation. Find out the first line of defense.

February is Heart Month!

"Walk more.  Eat well.  Live longer.  Start! Today."  The American Heart Association encourages walking as a way to create a culture of physical activity. Check out their web resources.

New Family Health History Tool Released

The Surgeon General's new online tool makes it easier for consumers to assemble and share family health history information. It can help provide more informed and personalized care for patients. See the key features.

Fructose, simple sugars - Sweet! Or Not?

Fructose may lead to becoming overweight when combined with a high-fat, high-calorie diet, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. Find out how to reduce fructose intake.

Wellness Facts

Keep mentally fit with learning activities and  fun mental challenges. Find out some Valentine Facts. Read the February Wellness Facts.