Questions? Comments? Contact Kelly Kron UnitedHealthcare Wellness Coordinator kelly_kron@uhc.com (602) 255-8510

Follow Your Heart and Join the 2012 MPS Heart Walk Team   

 

 

 

START! Phoenix Heart Walk

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Tempe Beach Park

 

8:00 am: Registration
8:30 am: Opening Ceremonies
9:00 am: Start 5K American Heart Walk
10:00am: Heart Healthy Festival Begins

 

Help us achieve our goal and have over 500 MPS walkers at the event. 

 

Teams have already been formed at the following schools and/or departments. 

 

School/Department Teams                                Team Captain

 

Brimhall Bobcats                                              Dennis Esparza

Bush Bobcats                                                   Lynette Smith

Curriculum Service Center                              Mary Jane Strickland

Eisenhower Generals                                       Jean Shimon

Emerson Eagles                                               Beth Marchen

Franklin NE Firebirds                                       Tracey Marr

Franklin West Firebirds                                   Meg Bowman

Team Guerrero                                                 Henry Yniguez

Keller Elementary                                             Lynette Kaspor

Lincoln Cougars                                               Dorothy O’Neal

Lowell Roadrunners                                          Lora Potter

O’Conner                                                         Tasi Owen

Red Mountain Ranch Challengers                  Sandy Zimmerman

Roosevelt Rough Riders                                    Krista Leichtman

Salk Striders                                                     Stephanie Wilkins-Johnson

Smith Sidewinders                                            Brenda Hogan

Stevenson Stallions                                           Emlyn Lydford

Westwood/Carson APE                                    Donna Lovetro

 

Don’t see your school or department?

 

Join the general Mesa Public Schools Team with Kelly Kron as the Team Captain                    

 

Or

 

Start a team and become a team captain at your site.  Contact Kelly Kron at kelly_kron@uhc.com for more details.

  

Register online by clicking HERE            

 

 

Start Walking Challenge January Winners

          

Since December 1st, participants of the MPS-Start Walking Challenge logged over 6,680 hours of physical activity and walked 72,690 miles. 

 

We are proud to announce the January winners:

 

Most Total Steps:                  Holly Yamakawa- Skyline High School

Most Total Minutes:             Lisa Krone – Professional Development

Drawing Winners:                Lisa Faber- Franklin Northeast Elementary

                                            Pamela Peters – Pomeroy Elementary

 

Each winner will receive a $30 Visa Gift Card.

 

 

M.O.M. knows best!

 

Sign up for your annual mammogram provided by Mobile Onsite Mammography coming to a MPS location near you.

 

 

 

 

 

To make your appointment and verify insurance, please call

1-800-285-0272 or (480)967-3767 and have your insurance card available. Insurance coverage with United HealthCare, BCBS, Cigna, and other select carriers are accepted.  Uninsured patients pay: $167.00.

 

M.O.M. offers the Full Field Digital Mammography and CAD Computerized reading and can now accommodate breast implant patients.

 

 

 

 

Move Toward a Healthier You!

 

Sign up for a brand new 4-part Nutrition Education Seminar Series

 

Debby Pool, MHN, is a nutrition educator, speaker, and advocate for better health through better nutrition. She delivers her message with passion, energy, humor and insight that transform the way you view health and nutrition choices.  She will encourage and inspire you to take that first step toward better health. 

 

When:  Thursdays, March 1^st, 8^th, 22^nd and 29^th  

 

Time:  2 class times will be offered at 3:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.

 

Site:  Administrative Services Center, Room 303, 63 E. Main St., Mesa 

 

Cost: The only cost to employees is a $15.00 fee for class materials.

 

To Register:  Please contact the wellness coordinator, Kelly Kron at 602-255-8510.  Space is limited to 30 participants each class time.  You are registering for the entire 4 part series.  For 1 time classes, please see the online registration below for our Winner’s Circle Seminars. 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Topics

 

Week 1:  Health Assessment, Goals, and Nutrition Basics

 

In this session, we’ll review class objectives, take a personal health assessment and each participant will spend time discussing goal setting for what they would like to achieve in 2012. We’ll begin our review of all the basic nutrients that our bodies need for good health and gain a basic understanding of the role that each one plays. 

 

Week 2:  Nutrition Basics and Foods that are contributing to Poor Health

 

We’ll continue our review of basic nutrition concepts and spend time looking at the foods that contribute to poor health. The goal of this session is to gain a good understanding of the impact that different foods have in the body so that healthier choices can be made.

 

Week 3: Know Your Food Labels

 

One of the keys to better nutrition is knowing how to read and interpret food labels. In this session, we’ll review the basics of reading food labels and spend time looking at several examples to give participants hands-on practice.

 

Week 4: Portion Control, Eating Out, Recipes, and Online Resources

 

In this session, we’ll discuss proper portion sizes, how to make healthy choices when eating out, recipes, and other online resources to help you move towards a healthier lifestyle. We’ll close the session with participants developing their own personal plan for better nutrition.

 

 

Other Upcoming Wellness Seminars 

All Seminars are FREE but require registration. Please click HERE to register.

  

Topic:  Food for Optimal Fitness

 

Date:  Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

Site:  Administrative Services Center, Room 303, 63 E. Main St., Mesa

Time:  4:30-5:30 p.m.

 

Description:   One of the biggest issues people face when going on a fitness plan is not eating enough or not eating the right foods before and after workouts and before bed.  I will teach you how to sandwich your workouts with the proper pre and post workout meals and how to set the metabolism up for fat burn while you sleep!

  

 

Nominate a Colleague for Wellness Champion of the Year 

 

Do you know someone who exudes happiness with a healthy lifestyle…..a person who exemplifies wellness to those who know them?? For example, do they regularly walk, hike, work out, play sports or practice yoga?  Do they cook healthy foods and bring in healthy snacks for co-workers?  Does their healthy living incorporate a healthy attitude?

 

Most importantly, do they not only live a healthy lifestyle, but encourage healthy habits for their family, friends and peers, leading by example? Have they exhibited this healthy behavior over a long period of time, and inspired others toward healthier ways of living?

 

Please take a few minutes to tell us about this special individual and nominate them to receive the MPS-WIN! Wellness Champion of theYear Award.

 

Any Mesa Public School Employee who has demonstrated a commitment to personal wellness may be nominated.  Past Wellness Champion of the Year recipients will not be considered. Past honorable mention winners may be re-nominated. Complete the nomination form and submit to the Employee Benefits Department.  Nominations will be accepted from January 11 – February 24, 2012. Nomination forms are also available on the MPS-WIN! website.  Two Honorable Mentions and one Wellness Champion of the year will be announced in March and featured in an upcoming Wellness  Newsletter, the MPS-WIN! Website, and presented with an award plaque at the March 27, 2012 Board Meeting.

 

2012 Wellness Champion of the Year Nomination Form     

 

Past Wellness Champions of the Year

 

2011:  Janet Clark                    Mesa JH Cafeteria 

2010:  Dolores Ulibarri             Special Education Department

2009:  Doug Larish                   Mesa High School       

2008:  Yvette Rangel                Westwood High School           

 

Heart Healthy Herbs 

Submitted by guest writer Kathleen Gould of Southwest Herb

 

These days we all seem to be under stress. Even if you have no symptoms and your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are within safe range, stress may be your downfall.  Families, work, mortgage, children etc. are a part of all of our lives.  It is more important than ever that we know about a handful of herbs and foods that have been proven to help prevent heart and cardiovascular problems.

 

Garlic (A food that is cheap, easy to use and readily available)

 

Christopher Hobbs, renowned botanist, herbalist & teacher, highly regards Garlic as the world’s most respected medicinal plant and says not only does it have thousands of years of historical medicinal usage, but it has also been the subject of numerous research studies published in 1,100 scientific articles, of which there have also been about 258 research studies on the cardiovascular effects of garlic, which represents a major amount of research.  These studies show:

• Garlic can reduce the tendency of the blood to form life-threatening clots (possibly leading to heart attack or stroke) by adding as little as 2/3 of a clove per day to meals. The ability of the blood to destroy clots that may be forming is increased by 50 to 80% when using even 1 clove a day.  The best advice about taking garlic seems to be--eat it raw, cook with it, take it as a supplement--but do use it every day.
• Garlic has only moderate blood-pressure-lowering effects, and it must be taken regularly for any significant benefits, but even the modest 7-10% that double-blind studies have shown can be helpful for people taking garlic for its other stronger effects.

 

Hawthorn 

 

Christopher Hobbs also says of Hawthorn:  “The best known herb for the heart in western herbalism is Hawthorn.  The extract of Hawthorn can increase blood flow to the heart muscle itself, helping to counteract one of the most common modern causes of death in industrial countries—heart attack,  due to the lack of blood flow to the heart.  Test have shown to improve the contractility of the heart muscle (which can lead to a stronger pumping action of the heart), steady the heartbeat (anti-arrhythmic effect), as well as increasing the heart’s tolerance to oxygen deficiency, such as might happen during stress or excitement, or in diseases where the arteries are partially blocked.”

James A. Duke, PhD, Former Economic Botanist with USDA Germplasm Resources Laboratory Scientific Consultant says, “An ounce of Hawthorn is worth a pound of cure. It's loaded with heart-smart oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) and bioflavonoids, which can help keep your heart rhythm regular and prevent a variety of heart problems. 

 

Motherwort

 

Got anxiety?  The botanical name of Motherwort is Leonurus cardiaca.  Leonurus – Lion, and Cardiaca – Heart.  When we need the heart of a Lion.  When we need to be calm yet strong.  Traditionally used by midwives for a variety of purposes, including uterine tonic and prevention of uterine infection in women, many herbalists have used it throughout history with great success for the “emotional heart”.   Motherwort doesn’t take the hurt away but instead allows us to step outside the stressful situation and observe from the outside so we are able to better deal with the situation.

 

According to Susan Weed, renowned herbalist and author: “Freaked out? Upset? Take a dropper full of Motherwort! Distressed about something that might happen? Or might have happened? Take Motherwort! Women with the premenstrual crazies take Motherwort. Frenzied children take Motherwort. Menopausal women take Motherwort. Motherwort heals the heart. It is, in fact, one of the world's best heart tonics. Its name means "lion hearted" or "strong hearted." Daily use helps new blood vessels grow to the heart.”

 

Although there are many other wonderful herbs that can benefit the heart and circulatory system, just start with these three and see for yourself the amazing healing that plants can offer.  If you are new to herbal healing, check with a qualified herbalist on the herbs that may be right for you.

 

Kathleen Gould, Herbalist RH (AHG)

SW Herb

148 N. Center St.

Mesa, AZ 85201

480-694-9931

SWHerb.com

 

 

Tell Diabetes "Not Me"! 

Find out about the brand new diabetes prevention program included in your UnitedHealthcare Benefits.

 

Visit www.notme.com

 

Are you living with Diabetes?  Click HERE to learn more about the Diabetes Control Program       

 

You may be at risk for diabetes, but that doesn't mean you're destined to get it. For many people, diabetes can be prevented and even potentially reversed. Committing to a healthier lifestyle—a better diet and more activity—may help you tell diabetes "NOT ME".

 

Want to start today? Our Diabetes Prevention Program will help you on the road to success. Specially trained lifestyle coaches and small classes will help you live healthier—and can either delay or completely prevent you from ever developing diabetes.

 

Here are some tips to help you on the road to success:

 

1. Lose extra weight—and keep it off.  While you don't have to be overweight to develop diabetes, being overweight or obese increases your risk. But you don't have to go on a major diet in order to avoid diabetes. Even losing five percent of your body weight can reduce your risk significantly.

  

2. Get moving.  Couch potatoes are more likely to gain weight and develop high blood sugar. So skip the sofa and take your show on the road. And forget about that "no pain, no gain" mantra: Simply walking for 150 minutes per week can help cut your risk of developing diabetes by more than half.

 

3. Keep tabs on your health.  Team up with your doctor to ensure you're getting every support you need to avoid diabetes. Be sure you get a blood glucose test if you have risk factors for diabetes. (Not sure if you do? Answer six easy questions to find out with our diabetes assessment.) And make sure you're managing any other health problems you may have, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, which can be contributing factors to developing diabetes.

 

4. When in doubt, make the healthier choice.  Go for baked or grilled foods, not fried, and load your plate with dark, leafy greens instead of starchy sides. Keep in mind that even healthy foods—like lean meats, fish, veggies and fruits—can cause weight gain if eaten in excess, so make sure that you keep the portion sizes in check.

 

5. Bulk up on fiber.  Whole grains and fiber are essential to a healthy diet, whether you're at risk for diabetes or not.  But skipping refined carbs like white rice, white bread and regular pasta in favor of whole grain products like brown rice and whole wheat pasta can help lower the risk of diabetes by slowing down the release of these sugars into the bloodstream. That helps keep the blood sugar level at a more even keel.

 

6. Skip the saturated fats.  Butter, mayo and other products may taste good, but they don't do your body any good—and can increase the risk of developing heart disease, in addition to diabetes. Switch over to the more heart-healthy olive and nut oils to get your fat.

 

7. Track your carbs.   Sugars, starches and fiber won't cause diabetes, but they do raise your blood sugar level. To really help you see what you're eating, keep track of your carb eating, paying close attention not only to how many carbs you eat, but what types they are. (For instance, a few slices of whole wheat bread would be a better choice than a big slice of chocolate cake.)    Ask your doctor for advice on your carb limits, and how to ensure you're eating the healthiest diet possible.

 

Once the first steps have become healthy habits, you can commit to a new lifestyle change to help you win the fight against diabetes. Want more motivation?

 

Check out our Diabetes Prevention Program, where trained lifestyle coaches can help you tell diabetes, "NOT ME."

 

SOURCES

DPP Research Group. New England Journal of Medicine. 2002;346:393
Seven Tips for People With Prediabetes to Avoid Developing Type 2 Diabetes, UnitedHealthGroup

MyOptumHealth.com

 

 

Disney on Ice

 

Join the celebration as 65 Disney characters from 18 Disney stories come to life in Disney on Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic at the US Airways Center from April 12-15.  Mesa Public Schools employees may purchase discounted tickets for the 11:30 am show on April 14 and the 5:30 pm show on April 15. 

 

Click HERE for the ticket order form or call/email Trevor with any questions at (602) 379-7537/ tvanessen@suns.com

 

 

 

 

 

The Wellness Newsletter is published for employees of Mesa Public Schools. The Wellness Newsletter is produced by the Employee Benefits Department.  Questions and comments are welcome.  Please write to Director of Employee Benefits, Judy Cato, Mesa Public Schools, 63 East Main Street #101, Mesa, AZ 85201-7422.