Extra Life: The Choice is Yours

Today, our staff had the opportunity to hear from wellness guru, Dr. Steve Aldana, about innovative strategies to make healthy living more doable and enjoyable... all while gaining high quality years to our lives!

Check out his presentation here:
 https://www.wellsteps.com/images/stories/presentations/EMI%20Aldana%20presentation.pdf

Key Points:

• Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer risks are rising worldwide.
• Living a healthy lifestyle is becoming uncommon throughout the world.
• What can you do? Change the culture in your home and family.

I liked how Dr. Steve gave us the facts and got straight to the point. He gave us the power to take control of our health, all while being very down to earth and listening attentively to our personal situations and concerns. 

What was your favorite part of the presentation?

EMI Health is a nonprofit organization that has been providing health benefits in the Intermountain West for 80 years. We currently provide medical, dental, and vision coverage to more than 150,000 members in Utah and Arizona. For more information, visit EMIHealth.com.

Why do YOU walk?

Here at EMI Health, we take a walk every Wednesday afternoon with our coworkers; let's hear what they have to say about taking afternoon walks:

"I walk because it is a good way to reduce stress and it helps reduce the negative effects of sitting at a desk all day.  It’s a good way to get my blood flowing and get some exercise."

-Aaron Nelson

"To get fresh air, stretch my legs, give my eyes a break, get my vitamin D for the day, and when I come back to my desk, I have more energy to work. It feels like I have just begun the day."
-Georgina Banson

"It’s a really nice break in the day to get away from my desk, stretch my legs, clear my head, and be out in the fresh air!  Nice to chat with the others too!"
-Karie Green

"Usually, the last few working hours of the day seem to lag for me as I get more tired from already sitting most of the day in my chair.  Getting up to walk around for 15 minutes seems to re-energize me.   The walks also make me feel good personally, that at least I did some kind of physical activity for my body besides sitting at a desk all day.  I like getting some direct sunlight instead of sitting under the incandescent lights in my office all day.  I also hate the thought of getting blood clots in my legs from sitting hours and hours in a chair year after year.  Getting up and taking a quick walk gets the blood flowing again.  I have also met other people in the company that I would probably have never met otherwise. so getting to know other people is really nice."

-Dan Hunter

 I look forward to walking with these people each week. It's good exercise and even better company. Come join us or start walking with coworkers at your workplace!


EMI Health is a nonprofit organization that has been providing health benefits in the Intermountain West for 80 years. We currently provide medical, dental, and vision coverage to more than 150,000 members in Utah and Arizona. For more information, visit EMIHealth.com.

Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Try this delicious, dietitian-endorsed version to get more fiber, less sugar and less processing! 

• 1 3/4 C. whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tsp. low-sodium baking powder
• 1 Tbs. sugar

1. Mix above ingredients.

• 1/4 C. butter

2. Mix butter into flour mixture in chunks.

• 3/4 C. fat-free milk

3. Stir milk in just enough to get moist dough.
4.Knead dough 6-8 times with floured surface and hands.
5. Roll dough until it's 1/4 in thick rectangle.
6. Cut into 8 squares to place on greased baking pan.
7. Bake 10-12 min. or until golden brown.
8. Serve each cake with 1 C. strawberries and 1 1/2 tbs. plain fat-free yogurt.
(6 C. strawberries & 3/4 C. yogurt total)

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/recipes/strawberry-shortcake/rcp-20049833/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=recipes

EMI Health is a nonprofit organization that has been providing health benefits in the Intermountain West for 80 years. We currently provide medical, dental, and vision coverage to more than 150,000 members in Utah and Arizona. For more information, visit EMIHealth.com.

We Have the Power to Fight Cancer!

On Tuesday, our staff members had the chance to hear from Cancer Project's Charity Lighten about the power of whole foods.

I have a family history of cancer and stroke and I'm betting I'm not alone. Charity gave us some simple tips to prevent and even reverse cancer and heart disease despite family history and current health status. We have the power to fight back!

Start out one step at a time:

• Eat predominantly high fiber foods. 
• Choose unprocessed plant foods first.
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Single ingredient whole grains (oats, brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat pasta, etc.)
• Try new protein sources. (While lean meats are part of a healthy diet, switch to more plant-based proteins.)
• Beans, peas, and lentils

Try these tasty, simple vegetarian recipes:

Green Smoothie

• 1 cup mixed frozen fruit
• 1 whole banana
• 1 cup almond milk
• Spinach to taste (start small & gradually increase!)

Blend & enjoy!

Easy Bean Salad

• 1/2 low-fat Italian dressing
• 1 1/2 cups or 15 oz. kidney beans (cooked & cooled or drained & rinsed)
• 1 1/2 cups or 15 oz. pinto beans  (cooked & cooled or drained & rinsed)
• 1 1/2 cups or 15 oz. black-eyed peas (cooked & cooled or drained & rinsed)
• 1 1/2 cups or 10 oz. lima beans (thawed or cooked & cooled) or shelled fresh edamame
• 1 cup corn (thawed or cooled)
• 1 large red bell pepper (seeded & chopped)
• 1/2 medium purple onion (chopped)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper

Toss everything & serve cold or at room temperature.

Chocolate Mousse- trust me, it's divine!

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup almond milk
• 24 oz. silken tofu
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Microwave choco. chips & milk 1 min., let sit 2 min., and blend everything til smooth. Chill & enjoy!

EMI Health is a nonprofit organization that has been providing health benefits in the Intermountain West for 80 years. We currently provide medical, dental, and vision coverage to more than 150,000 members in Utah and Arizona. For more information, visit EMIHealth.com.