Is there a link between sleep and what we eat?
It's hard to imagine that we spend one-third of our life sleeping and that it's as essential to our life as eating, drinking and breathing are. It’s often one of the lifestyle recommendations we are asked to consider. Mainly because most of us for one reason or another, are not getting enough of it! Indeed a lack of sleep can lead to health problems. We need sleep for the brain and body to rest, recharge and do much-needed repair. Chronic lack of sleep can increase the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression (1). Research also shows that reduced sleep impacts our food intake, which may explain why many of us crave more caffeine and fatty, sweet, and salty foods!
Why focusing on smaller changes to your diet could be a better approach for your health!
How many of us have tried (maybe even several times) to eat healthy at the start of a new week or month, only to get a few days in and find its not sustainable! Making smaller changes in our diet, allowing a nudge towards a modification in our behaviour, is often easier to do consistently and can in the longer-term give better results. However, here are many reasons why even making smaller changes can be difficult. From the constant marketing of foods that are nutrient poor, to the challenge of restricting certain foods to then craving them even more and in some cases overeating. To the fact that we are all individuals, and our needs are not the same as others, due to our gender, genetics, metabolism and lifestyle to name a few. So here are a few areas to consider, so that you can start to make smaller changes in your diet towards a healthier lifespan.
How to eat healthy on a budget until your next pay day!
It's January and for many it’s a new beginning of what we will do differently and better this year. It’s also when the reality sinks in of Christmas overspending and the challenge of how we get to pay day at the end of January. No matter what your situation, most of us will feel some level of need to cut back this month. However how we eat does not have to be one of them and indeed eating well on a budget can be done!
Does thinking about food take the joy out of Christmas for you?
I know it feels early to be mentioning Christmas for us too. However we feel it's a good time to bring up this conversation about food while you have the time to contemplate it. Many celebrations involve food and for some, it can send us into an anxious spin about holiday weight gain and un-doing any good 'work' they've put into their diet at this point.
What can you eat to support your immune system this winter?
As we come into the winter season, people start to look at ways to “boost” their immune system to guard against colds and flus! The idea that you can boost your immune system is tempting but the immune system is a complex system and there is no single food group or means that can boost your immunity!
Are you aware of the extent to which menopause impacts wellbeing at work?
Do you find that in times of stress, your diet is one of the first things to suffer! Contrary to what we might think, stress is normal and so is our body’s psychological and physical reaction to it! Indeed, research shows us that a small amount of stress can be good for us and gets us motivated to get stuff done. It improves memory, is beneficial to performance and motivation, and activates the immune system.
Do you feel it in your tummy during times of stress?
Do you find that in times of stress, your diet is one of the first things to suffer! Contrary to what we might think, stress is normal and so is our body’s psychological and physical reaction to it! Indeed, research shows us that a small amount of stress can be good for us and gets us motivated to get stuff done. It improves memory, is beneficial to performance and motivation, and activates the immune system.
Here is why you should engage in an employee wellbeing program!
There is certainly a lot more conversation in the workplace about employee wellbeing and maybe that's one thing we are grateful for post pandemic. Now more than ever, we all understand that people drivers far outweigh the financial drivers of a wellbeing program. The focus on employee wellbeing has moved up the priority list, with employers far more aware of the need to support employees
Do you feel bloated and uncomfortable at work after eating?
At some stage or another, we have found ourselves experiencing that uncomfortable feeling of bloating while sitting at work. The feelings of discomfort and sometimes pain can be unsettling. Mostly it’s just temporary and we need to loosen a belt or a button. However for many, it can be a recurring uncomfortable problem that impacts on how we work.
Three healthy eating habits to carry with you on holidays
Over a third of all adults in Ireland (36%) say that they regularly suffer from stress. Many are working more hours and taking less time off, and in turn we are hearing of various mental and physical health challenges. When work is overwhelming and your work-life balance feels out of whack, it’s time to take the holiday and embrace every moment of it so that you can literally soak up all those health benefits.
Is going on another diet really the best for our health long-term?
Diet culture is ingrained in our daily lives, and this culture is often supported by social media seeking for us all to fit into an ideal aesthetic. In this month’s blog we look at diets, their sustainability, the mindset they create and how using a slow and steady approach in adopting health promoting behaviours is better for our wellbeing and health outcomes.
Four weeks to help you embrace stress and create positive results in your life
Many of us spend much time trying to rid stress from our lives, with little success. The honest truth is that most of us thrive on a little stress in our lives. It’s what keeps us going, striving for achievements. So consider this as a possibility - if we worked on embracing stress as a part of normal life but learned to manage our response to our stressors better?
How is your relationship with food in work?
This month many employers are putting plans in place to manage the transition of employees back into the workplace. It’s Eating Disorder Awareness week (Feb 28th – Mar 6th) and as you navigate blended working conditions we remind you in this month’s blog about the what, where and how of building a better relationship with food.
What are health promoting behaviours & how to make them work for you?
Moving through the first week of January and into a new year, all of the conversation is around resolutions, how and why to make them and why we mostly fail! We talked previously about how to make your self-talk positive and supportive of your eating pattern and health.
3 Small positive changes that will improve your diet
Moving through the first week of January and into a new year, all of the conversation is around resolutions, how and why to make them and why we mostly fail! We talked previously about how to make your self-talk positive and supportive of your eating pattern and health.
How to make this the year you actually stick to your New Year’s Resolution?
As time evolved and societies changed, what began as a practice of hope and intention to improve one’s life by the Babylonians, has been co-opted by many industries, with the health industry gleaming the spotlight for many years. In 2021, the most popular resolutions included eating less meat, moving more, practicing more self care, more kindness, spending less time on social media.
What is Immune Fitness and what employers can do to support it?
One of the key outcomes of the Covid 19 global pandemic is that we are all more aware of our immune system, something we possibly wouldn't have given a second thought to previously. You are familiar with the headline "how to support your immune system", however another topic that is gaining momentum is 'Immune Fitness'.
Top 5 tips for intuitive eating at Christmas
I know it feels early to be mentioning Christmas for us too. However we feel it's a good time to bring up this conversation about food while you have the time to contemplate it. Many celebrations involve food and for some, it can send us into an anxious spin about holiday weight gain and un-doing any good 'work' they've put into their diet at this point.
The importance of eating well during times of stress
Stress is a normal part of life and the body's reaction can be through physical, mental and/or emotional changes. There are many causes of stress, indeed it creeps into our lives from many directions. However, our reactions to stress differ based on our genetics, our own circumstances, environment, and life experiences.
How to capture that holiday feeling?
Holidays tend to mostly be in the moment, very little should's. At least I hope that's how it is for you. The scientific community has accumulated much evidence to show us that taking a break from work has many health benefits, such as reducing stress, depression, and improving the immune system.
How can you encourage Healthy Eating in your workplace?
The first question you might ask is, why encourage healthy eating in my workplace? There is significant research outlining that an unhealthy diet is related to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including heart diseases, diabetes and cancer.
3 reasons why you should include Nutrition in your workplace wellbeing program
Everyone wants to live longer and work smarter however, do we slow down enough to consider how our lifestyle is impacting our health, how it's impacting our performance? Actually, I will rephrase that, do we know how to slow down?
“The facts about gut health” Webinar
The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the risks of poor health and well-being. This has been evidenced with the level of business disruption, bringing workplace wellbeing to the forefront. Employees are the most important asset of a business, a healthy workforce can enable a more competitive business.
The importance of Vitamin D for our health
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which plays a central role in our health. It is obtained during exposure to sunlight by skin biosynthesis and from natural dietary sources. Due to the lack of prolonged sunshine in Ireland and the low dietary Vitamin D intake, deficiency is a critical problem in Ireland for all age groups.
3 food things you can do to get more quality 😴💤
I'm pretty sure like us here at Ciall Health, you are experiencing some form of worry or stress as the numbers of cases rise and there is plenty of talk about the potential of Level 4 and schools closing for an additional week or two! This week we are drawing your attention to how SLEEP and DIGESTION influence each other.