{For additional information, please contact Ron Stromple at rstromple@cbsse.com or 704-752-5913.}

Make the Most of Your Calories Train for Life - Aug 2011 Cut non-nutritive calories out of your diet. Calories from foods with added sugar can take the place of more nutritious foods in your diet. One way to uncover added sugars is to check out the ingredient list on food labels. Be wary of ... A Hearty Breakfast with a Healthy Kick Train for Life  -Aug 2012 Breakfast is the most important meal of the day but facing the usual morning suspects can become tiresome. Here's a healthy twist on an old favorite. Women's Preventive Health Guidelines Expanded Aug. 1st - Broker Connection (UHC)  Aug 2011 On August 1, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new health plan coverage guidelines that will require health insurance plans to cover women's preventive services such as ... The Super Bowl of Benefits Communications Employee Benefit Adviser  -Aug 2011  As most  companies approach this year's annual enrollment period, it is the time of the mammoth employee benefits campaign. Companies work feverishly to develop and distribute newsletters, booklets, websites, calculator, videos, etc. to inform employees about benefit changes and enrollment deadlines. It's the Super Bowl of benefits communications. Health Tips It's just the stomach flu: You are suddenly throwing up, have diarrhea and maybe stomach cramping for a couple of days. Many people call it stomach flu. Now theres a name for stomach flu: norovirus. And it's a virus all right - a germ you pick up somewhere. These bugs are highly contagious. People affected can spread the disease from the moment they begin to feel ill to at least 3 days after recovery, according to the Center for Biopreparedness Education and the CDC. Most people get better within a day or two. But those who can't keep anything down and can't drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration, such as children or the elderly, may need medical care. The bad news? There is no treatment. Antibiotics don't work against viruses. Drink juice or water to replace fluids lost to vomiting and diarrhea (if you can). Your best defense is hand washing and staying away from anyone who is ill. Make the Most of Your Calories Train for Life  -Aug 2011 1. Cut non-nutritive calories out of your diet.     Calories from foods with added sugar can take the place of more nutritious foods in your diet. One way to uncover added sugars is to check out the ingredient list on food labels. Be wary of foods that include the following words or phrases: sugar (brown, white, raw or cane), corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup, molasses or honey, and fruit juice concentrate. Carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals that promote health, reduce disease risk and slow the aging process. They are also good sources of fiber, playing an important role in healthy digestive function. Add banana slices to your cereal, try whole wheat pasta varieties and keep your refrigerator packed with bite-size vegetables for snacking or a quick addition to soups, casseroles, pasta or rice dishes. 2. Balance your meals and snacks. Timing of meals and snacks is an important part of fueling your body. You should be eating every 3-4 hours to keep your blood sugar levels in check - that means 4-5 small meals or snacks daily. Be sure to include some carbohydrate and protein each time you eat to ensure prolonged energy. Try some yogurt, a banana with peanut butter, or string cheese and pretzels for snacks. 3. Learn about appropriate portion sizes. Many times we are served portions that are 2-3 times more than what our bodies actually need in a meal. An easy way to keep your portions under control is to start by filling half of your 8" plate with vegetables (a tennis ball sized portion), a quarter with meat (looks like a deck of cards) and a quarter starch (the size of a computer mouse). A Hearty Breakfast with a Healthy Kick Train for Life - August 2011 Breakfast is the most important meal of the day but facing the usual morning suspects can become tiresome. Here’s a healthy twist on an old favorite. Add some fresh fruit and a glass of skim milk for the perfect breakfast, which will keep you feeling full and fuel your day. Blackstrap Molasses Blackstrap molasses is a thick, very dark sweetener which has an impressive nutritional profile. This sweetener, which gives baked beans and ginger bread their distinct taste, can be a great way to boost you intake of minerals and essential elements. Just two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses is an excellent source of manganese and copper and a very good source of iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Blackstrap molasses is a great way to sweeten you morning oatmeal or smoothie. It can replace pancake syrups and of course is used in baking.     Buckwheat If you are looking for a way to incorporate more dietary fiber in your diet, while increasing your intake of important nutrients you should consider buckwheat. It is often, mistakenly, assumed this fruit seed is a grain. Because it is not related to wheat it is a suitable replacement for wheat or other grains for those with gluten allergies. Buckwheat is a very good source of manganese and a good source of tryptophan and magnesium. In addition buckwheat is a stellar performer when it comes to satisfying hunger. Buckwheat has been shown to help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels. A great way to add buckwheat to your diet is to mix it with whole wheat flour. This way every time you bake bread, muffins or pancakes you’ll get a boost of nutrients.   Buckwheat Pancakes   Ingredients:   1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 cup buckwheat flour 1/4 cup quick cooking oats 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup skim milk 3 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons honey 1 egg, lightly beaten       Directions:   1. In a large bowl, stir together wheat flour, buckwheat flour, oats, and baking powder. Stir in milk, oil, honey, and egg. 2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides, and serve hot. Women's Preventive Health Guidelines Broker Connection, August 2011 On Aug. 1, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new health plan coverage guidelines that will require health insurance plans to cover women’s preventive services such as well-woman visits, domestic violence screening, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved contraception, without charging a copayment, coinsurance or a deductible. Authorized under provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, these guidelines, developed by a committee of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, expand the previous list of preventive services that must be covered without charging a copayment, coinsurance or a deductible to include: Well-woman visits Screening for gestational diabetes for all pregnant women Human papillomavirus DNA testing for all women 30 years and older Annual sexually transmitted infection counseling for all sexually active women Annual counseling and screening for HIV for all sexually active women FDA-approved contraception methods, sterilization procedures and contraceptive counseling Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling, including costs for renting breastfeeding equipment Domestic violence screening and counseling   New health plans and non-grandfathered plans and issuers are required to provide coverage consistent with these guidelines in the first plan year (in the individual market, policy year) that begins on or after August 1, 2012. Comprehensive Benefits Solutions has a long-standing commitment to advancing health promotion, disease prevention and wellness services for the people we are privileged to serve. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to give us a call at 704-752-5913. The Super Bowl of Benefits Communications   Employee Benefit Adviser - August 2011 As most companies approach this year’s annual enrollment period, it’s the time of the mammoth employee benefits campaign. Companies work feverishly to develop and distribute newsletters, booklets, websites, calculator, videos, etc. to inform employees about benefit changes and enrollment deadlines. It’s the Super Bowl of benefits communications. Enrollment communications are important. For many companies, it’s the time primary time when they communicate about their benefits. But, after all that work (not to mention money), wouldn’t you like to get more bang for your communication dollar? Maybe it’s time to think about benefits communications from a completely different perspective. First of all, we assume that our employees are rational, decision-makers who will absorb all of the benefits information we put in front of them. Not a good assumption. Your employees are busy people with little time (or interest?) to spare on benefits communications. So, how do you reach them? Consider applying these advertising principles to your benefits communications: Repeat, repeat, repeat. We often need to hear a message multiple times before it sinks in. So, make sure to reiterate it frequently. Target the message. What appeals to Bob might not appeal to Sue. You may need to consider multiple audiences instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. Appeal to employee “wants” instead of “needs.” Most of us know what we need, but we make decisions based on what we want. For example, most employees know they should complete a Health Risk Questionnaire to learn more about their health risks. But, employees may be more willing to complete the Questionnaire if there is a financial reward attached. Focus on the employee, not the plan. It’s natural to want to promote certain aspects of your medical plan. After all, you’ve just spent weeks or months working on the design. But, participants don’t care how good you think the prescription drug plan is – they want to know how they can get in and out of the drug store with the least amount of hassle and cost. Make it fun. Benefits don’t have to be dry and boring. Most companies spend a great deal of money on the plans they offer. So don’t be afraid to use humor, interesting images, and provocative language to reinvigorate employee interest in your plans. To sell your employees on your benefits, you need to entice them, excite them, and engage them. Think bite-size chunks instead of mounds of materials. Use bright colors, active images and snappy language to get their attention. Focus on what’s important and relevant. And, above all, make it easy. For additional information, please contact Ron Stromple at rstromple@cbsse.com or 704-752-5913.