Crystal Petrello, Author at Be Well Solutions

Try a New Food: Comforting Black Bean Veggie Soup

Comforting Black Bean Veggie Soup January is National Soup Month! There is nothing better than cozying up with a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter’s day. You might be tempted to reach for your favorite canned variety. But many canned soups are loaded with sodium. Excessive sodium intake may elevate blood pressure and increase your risk of heart disease. The worst canned soup offenders pack over half a day’s worth of sodium into a single 90 calorie serving. Not to mention, you’ll probably finish an entire two-serving can as a quick meal, exceeding daily sodium recommendations from the American Heart Association—in just one meal! We prefer preparing our homemade favorites in large batches, then freeze leftovers in single portions inside Ziploc bags. All it takes is a quick thaw and reheat in the microwave to enjoy our favorite [...]

Tags: clean eating, corporate wellness, low fat, nutrition, recipe, soup, vegan, vegetarian|

Healthy Holidays: Resolutions That Stick

Resolutions That Stick Have you ever given up on a resolution because it just didn’t fit your schedule? Sometimes it’s just not realistic to start devoting an extra two hours to healthy eating and exercise when already balancing family time with a demanding work schedule. This year, we encourage you to simplify your resolution list because, all too often, we set ambitious goals that fail to hold past January. You might have an ideal image of yourself for 2020, but remember that significant life changes take longer than just a year. Instead of fizzling out early, try these tips to plan resolutions with staying power. Start slow, then build Say you have the goal to lose ten pounds by spring. Take a step back and consider the realistic daily actions and habits needed to make weight loss happen. Perhaps you [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, goals, habits, resolutions, SMART goals|

Stress Less: Declutter to Destress

Declutter to Destress We don’t need studies to realize that clutter can be stressful. Still, researchers are finding more and more that disorderly spaces can hurt stress hormones levels and even our likeliness to procrastinate. Why? Psychologists believe that the visual chaos from clutter restricts our ability to focus. Clutter is distracting, slowing our brain’s processing speed compared to when we’re in a tidy environment. In some cases, this can lead to poor decision making. Parting with our belongings can be emotionally challenging since we become attached to what we own. That’s why experts suggest decluttering with the help of a friend or family member. Instead of touching the objects you’d like to get rid of, have somebody else hold it and ask if you need it. If you touch the item, odds are you’re more likely to keep it. [...]

Tags: clean, clutter, corporate wellness, declutter, destress, spring cleaning, stress|

Try a New Move: Bob & Weave

Bob & Weave When it comes to getting fit, we most commonly choose exercises that favor forward motion like walking, cycling, and running. We may move backward when doing reverse lunges or a backstroke, but lateral movements become an afterthought. Think about the last time you purposefully moved side-to-side. It might be challenging to recall! When we favor one plane of motion, the same dominant muscles get bigger and stronger, while smaller stabilizer muscles don’t get challenged and stay the same. Don’t get us wrong, forward and backward movements are invaluable, but moving in other directions comes with benefits. For muscles in the lower body, lateral motions even-out strength imbalances by working stabilizing muscles on the inside and outside of the legs. The “bob and weave” is a lateral (sideways) single leg muscle-strengthening exercise that requires heavy use of your [...]

Tags: bob and weave, corporate welllness, exercise, fitness, wellness|

Try a New Food: Fruit Salad with In-Season Citrus

Fruit Salad with In-Season Citrus We may have only been chasing winter’s fleeting daylight for about a month, but if you’re anything like us, you could use a dose of in-season sunshine. For those who aren’t getting any, the Cara Cara orange offers a little taste of summer in the winter, when it conveniently comes to harvest December through May. From the outside, Cara Caras may look like a run of the mill citrus, but don’t judge a book by its cover. Beneath its easy-to-peel skin, you’ll find deep, pink-grapefruit colored flesh that’s super juicy, low in acid, and seedless. Flavor-wise, imagine a cross between a naval orange and tangerine but throw in a hint of berries. Not to mention, Cara Cara oranges are nutrient-dense, just like other citrus fruits. One medium Cara Cara orange provides 1 ½ days’ worth [...]

Tags: clean eating, corporate welllness, fruit, fruit salad, low fat, recipe|

Healthy Holidays: Thoughtful and Healthy Gift Ideas

Thoughtful and Healthy Gift Ideas Even the most creative gift-givers need a little inspiration when it comes to planning the perfect holiday gift. Here’s a list of health-minded gift ideas for the special people in your life. Cooking or knife skills classes—Solidify their kitchen confidence and ability to prepare healthy foods with a certificate to a cooking or knife skills class. New sneakers or workout clothes—A new workout outfit or exercise shoes can give us the push in confidence we need to start (or continue) a regular exercise regimen. Kitchen tools—Consider a new set of cooking utensils, a carbonated water maker, a cold brew coffee maker, an immersion blender, a food processor, a high-speed blender, an immersion blender, or a spiralizer. A new cookbook—Look for titles written by Registered Dietitians for healthful recipes along with legitimate nutrition advice. High-quality olive [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, exercise gifts, fitness gifts, gift basket, gift of health, healthy gifts, healthy holidays, wellness company|

Stress Less: How Breathing Fights Stress

How Breathing Fights Stress What’s the first sensation you notice in your body when you face a moment of stress? Are you shaky? Does your heart race? Do your palms sweat? Maybe your breath becomes quicker and shallower. These physiological changes are all regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which continually works to regulate heart rate, respiratory rate, and digestion. When we face any stress, whether big or little, the sympathetic branch (better known as fight-or-flight) of the autonomic nervous system activates. Even bad traffic on the way home can cause the release of adrenal hormones into the bloodstream that triggers fight-or-flight in multiple parts of the body. The result can be higher blood pressure, faster breathing, a quicker heart rate, and even elevated blood sugar levels. It might seem like there is little we can do to stop fight-or-flight [...]

Tags: breath exercises, corporate wellness, destress, mindfulness, stress, stress relief, wellness|

Try a New Move: Prevent Knee Problems with Step-Ups

Prevent Knee Problems with Step-Ups Many people with knee problems end up avoiding exercise altogether, but many resistance exercises, like step-ups, strengthen lower-body musculature resulting in improved knee function and decreased knee pain. Step-ups (with or without weight) Stand with your feet hip-width apart. If you’re using weight, hold a dumbbell or kettlebell in each hand with your palms facing inward. Step your left foot onto a platform, such as an aerobic stepping box, plyo box, or stair. Keep your torso vertical and align your knee over your toes. Push off your right leg to lift your body onto the platform beside your left foot. Shift your weight onto your left foot and slowly lower your right foot back to the starting position. Repeat on the opposite side. Try using bodyweight first, then add weight if it feels too easy. [...]

Tags: box, corporate wellness, exercise, fitness, knee pain, plyo box, step-box, step-ups, steps|

Try a New Food: Seasonal Side Dishes

Seasonal Side Dishes Fall has arrived, and with it comes an abundance of hearty, seasonal produce. What are your favorites? Pumpkins and apples might get the spotlight, but so many other fruits and veggies hit their prime once colder weather arrives. Look out for some of the highest quality cruciferous veggies, squash, root veggies, pears, grapes, and pomegranates in the coming months. Seasonal fruits and vegetables tend to pack the most flavor since they’re often sourced locally and get to ripen on the vine rather than a truck. In some cases, local produce requires less travel to reach your grocery store, farmers’ market, or restaurant meal, which can mean fewer transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. And whether you’re buying at a farmer’s market or grocery store, their abundance in the marketplace means a lower cost to you. This time of the [...]

Tags: autumn, clean eating, corporate wellness, fall foods, nutrition, recipe, seasonal sidedish, side dish, squash, sweet potato|

Try a New Move: Core Strengthening for Everyone

Core Strengthening for Everyone What are your fitness goals? Some of us want to run hundred-mile races or squat twice our body weight. But most of us have simpler goals like getting to a place where taking the stairs or getting down on the ground feels comfortable, and that’s OK! Wherever you are in your fitness journey, build a foundation that allows you to move how you want. An excellent place to start is building up your core strength, which can protect your spine, ease lower back pain, and improve balance, stability, and posture. We need some degree of core strength and stability in nearly every move our body makes. A weak, tight, or unbalanced core can undermine your ability to comfortably perform everyday activities like bending, lifting, twisting, and carrying. Even sitting and using a computer or taking phone [...]

Tags: abdominal muscles, core strength, corporate wellness, exercise, workout|

About Crystal Petrello