While the research demonstrates consistently that 1-2 small glasses of wine can provide many positive health and wellness benefits, it’s very important to stop there. 

Consuming more alcohol than recommended by U.S. Dietary Guidelines — more than two drinks a day for men and more than one for women — increases the risk of metabolic syndrome by 60%, researchers here said.

Here’s the full article for details:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/MetabolicSyndrome/tb/10342

Thanks to Michele Baker from Civic Results for the following highlighted wellness news stories.

NACo launches Healthy Counties Database

July 2008

The National Association of Counties

www.healthycounties.org/database

What’s making us fat?

July 14, 2008

Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-theoryintro14-2008jul14%2C0%2C5684538.story

Study Finds Neighborhood Design Affects Blood Pressure Risk, Overall Health

July 15, 2008

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/features/digest.jsp?id=8210&pid=1138&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI

Editorial: Feeding Children

July 16, 2008

The Philadelphia Inquirer http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080716_Editorial__Feeding_Children.html

Oregon Education Department Hires Liaison for Farm-to-School Program

July 17, 2008

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/features/digest.jsp?id=8226&pid=1138&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI

Utah Officials Propose Tougher Regulations for Junk Food Sales in Schools

July 20, 2008

Provo Daily Herald

http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/features/digest.jsp?id=8225&pid=1138&c=OTC-RSS&attr=DI

Site makes strides to score walkable cities

July 21, 2008

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-20-walk-score_N.htm

Cultural sensitivity may improve diabetes outcomes

July 21, 2008

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTON17312920080721

Disease Prevention Programs Could Generate Substantial Savings In Health Care Costs, Report Finds

July 21, 2008

Medical News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115567.php

More senior citizens hitting the gym for improved quality of life

July 21, 2008

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2008-07-20-senior-citizens-gym_N.htm

Discovering the joys of biking

July 21, 2008

The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/fitness/ci_9942802

Fast facts on fats: What to eat, what to avoid

July 22, 2008

CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/07/22/cl.fat.facts/index.html

A Locally Grown Diet With Fuss but No Muss

July 22, 2008

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/dining/22local.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

Fit kids got game

July 23, 2008

Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9964598

‘Wellness’ a healthy investment for company

July 25, 2008

CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/07/25/fn.healthy.company/index.html

This week, you’ll be hitting the same splits, but working harder with each successive interval due to the changing lanes with each successive interval… 

At the end, you’ll take a longer rest and throw in some serious speed on tired legs.

• 10 min warm-up
• 4 min interval - run all of it in the 1st lane of the track
• 2 min active rest
• 4 min interval - run all of it in the 2nd lane of the track
• 2 min active rest
• 4 min interval - run all of it in the 3rd lane of the track
• 2 min active rest
• 4 min interval - run all of it in the 4th lane of the track
• 2 min active rest
• 4 min interval - run all of it in the 5th (furthest outside) lane of the track
• 4 min active rest
• 3 x 1 min interval with 2 min active rest (leg speed on tired legs)
• 10 minute warm-down

While it’s not a surprise, it is good to see that employee or corporate wellness programs are at the top of the list (#2) among the top 7 workplace trends.  Here is the article if you’d like to read more…

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-the_corporate_crystal_ball_future_workplace_trends-452

Business owners must find ways to prevent costly health-care problems such as heart disease and diabetes now, medical experts said Tuesday. Otherwise, companies are prime targets to lose thousands of dollars in revenue and experience an increased rate of absenteeism among their employees.

“As a small-business owner or employee, you can’t control health-care costs,” said Jason Bandermann, business referral services manager at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. “But there are ways to control an employee’s exposure to a destructive lifestyle.”

Employee Wellness programs are clearly the solution.  Here’s the link to the full article

http://www.semissourian.com/article/20080723/NEWS01/917802708/-1/news01

Doctors are now urging that peers diagnose and treat the condition known as “Pre-Diabetes.”  The article, linked below from the USA Today, states “If physicians do not recognize and treat pre-diabetes, diabetes will continue to inflate at great personal health and financial cost,” says Daniel Einhorn, vice president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-22-prediabetes-recommendations_N.htm

Here’s another article featuring the value of a company that realizes there’s a difference between complaining about annual increases in health care, disability, sick time and energy levels and a company that actually does something about it.  Kudos!

http://www.pjstar.com/business/x1816436522/Wellness-is-good-for-business

Here’s the plan for the coming week.  Be SURE to keep jogging between intervals - no walking.  On intervals, watch your 400 splits.  Goal is to work hard throughout, but to keep consistent splits as you work your way down the interval ladder:

• 10 min warm-up
• 8 min interval
• 4 min active rest
• 7 min interval
• 3 min active rest
• 6 min interval
• 3 min active rest
• 5 min interval
• 2 min active rest
• 2 min interval
• 10 min warm-down

The Washington Post provided the following story that demonstrates clearly that prevention in the form of organized health and wellness programs provides a much higher ROI than simply focusing on treating illnesses:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071700990.html?hpid=moreheadlines

The article stresses that while many people believe Wellness is a long term investment, this study demonstrated clearly that the ROI actually occurs within a very short horizon of time.