Category: Health and Wellness

Health and wellness is important to you and to MSU. The healthier our faculty and staff are, the healthier MSU will be. This category features information related to wellness at MSU.

Fresh, Local Produce from the MSU Student Organic Farm

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A smorgasbord of fresh produce grown by MSU’s Student Organic Farm.

MSU’s Student Organic Farm (SOF) invites MSU faculty and staff to become a part of its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program this summer. Participants of the program will receive weekly boxes of local, organic produce. These bountiful shares are designed to feed a family of four, or two prolific veggie lovers. The investment is just $755 for the entire summer, equaling $1.35 per person per day for a family of four. This fee serves double duty by paying for experiential agricultural education for undergraduates as well as the training of new farmers at MSU SOF. The program begins on June 15 and will commence on October 26. Summer Harvest Share pick up is on Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Student Organic Farm located at 3291 College Rd., just south of Jolly.

The benefits of the CSA program are truly innumerable. Reap the following rewards with your membership:

  • Convenient access to eight to 12 delicious organic produce items from the farm for 20 weeks! You won’t find fresher, healthier or easier elsewhere.
  • The peace of mind of knowing your farm and farmer.
  • Access to the CSA U-Pick Garden.
  • The knowledge that your money will support Michigan’s next generation of organic farmers and passionate students.

For more information and to join the program, please email msufarm@msu.edu or call 517-230-7987 for details and membership documents. If you are interested in supporting the SOF sans commitment, feel free to take advantage of the weekly campus Farm Stand. The Farm Stand is located on Farm Lane, just north of Shaw Lane and just south of the Red Cedar and will be open every Thursday through October 29 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For additional information and to sign up for the Farm Stand e-newsletter, please visit http://www.msuorganicfarm.org/farm-stand.

Combat Back Pain With a Healthy Spine

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Do you suffer from back pain? If so, you’re not alone. Statistically speaking, 85 to 90 percent of those reading this article have been or will be affected by back pain. You may have heard of disc degeneration or spinal arthritis. These ailments become more common as we age and can be attributed to the changes that the bones and discs in our spine experience. So, what can you do to avoid spinal pain and the resulting health implications?

General health and wellness contribute to overall spine health.
General health and wellness contribute to overall spinal health.
  • Exhibit good posture. Always sit up as straight as possible. (Yes, always.) When standing upright, bend your knees slightly to take pressure off of your lower back.
  • Avoid twisting your spine. Twisting your spine can lead to debilitating pain down the road.
  • Lift with your legs, not your back. Bend your knees and hips to squat down to what you are carrying. Keep your load close to your body and straighten your legs to lift.
  • Exercise your core. Your core is your lower back, abdomen, hips, and gluteal area. Focus on strengthening these parts to support your spine.

To view the entire article by Best Doctors, click here.

If you are experiencing back pain or are facing a medical decision, Best Doctors is here to help. Call 866.904.0910 or visit bestdoctors.com/members.

Relaxing Under the Stars

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Recently I attended the “Relaxing Under the Stars” program and found it very beneficial and intriguing. Not only that, I was able to truly relax and gaze at the stars for some time, something we all probably haven’t done since summer or early fall of last year. I encourage all faculty, staff, graduate student employees, retirees and the spouses/partners of these groups to join Health4U and Abrams Planetarium for “Relaxing Under the Stars” to re-capture that feeling of relaxation and wonderment of the Universe.

Abrams Planetarium
Abrams Planetarium’s entrance brings you right into the world of astronomy.

The first 20 minutes consists of a guided constellation tour using the impressive Digistar 5, the new computer-graphics-based planetarium projector updated in the summer of 2014. This is truly an impressive piece of technology allowing the presenter to easily point out the constellations and give directions on how to find them during your own stargazing opportunities. The second half of the program features relaxing music to complement your stargazing experience. The particular session I attended culminated with a magnificent grand finale known as the “Spartan Star-Tacular,” which geared me and other attendees up for the rest of our work day.

The next show will be on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. Visit the Health4U website for more information and future dates.

Girls Get Going 2015

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Involvement in sports provides many long-term benefits for girls.
Involvement in sports provides many long-term benefits for girls.

MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness is holding its 12th annual Girls Get Going event on Saturday, March 28. Girls Get Going is a program that was created with the goal of providing educational sports experiences to girls in order to increase their interest in participating in sports over a lifetime.

If your wants to learn and develop sports skills,  Girls Get Going is the perfect opportunity! Participants will be able to play flag football, volleyball and basketball as well as take part in Zumba and taekwondo. MSU athletes, students and community leaders will assist. A circuit training method will be employed which allows girls the opportunity to participate in all five activities. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and activities will commence at 9:00 a.m. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

Four forms must be filled out per child, available at www.recsports.msu.edu. Registration must be completed by March 16 to ensure that attendees will receive a t-shirt.

Personalized Cancer Care Webinar: A Look at Targeted Treatments

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Are you interested in learning more about some of the recent developments in personalized cancer care? On Friday, March 27, 2015 at 1 p.m. you can listen in on a webinar presented by Best Doctors where you will learn what personalized cancer care is, how it is different from current practices, what types of targeted cancer therapies are available and who can benefit the most. An expert panel of leading specialists in the field of oncology will host the webinar and help you get the most out of your experience.Best Doctors Graphic

You can register for the webinar by visiting this link. View the full release here.

 

Spring 5k Races on MSU’s Campus!

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Shamrock 5k Graphic
One 5k you can check out is the Shamrock 5k, benefiting the Tower Guard.

There’s no better way to kick that cabin fever than lacing up those running shoes and participating in a 5k for a great cause. There are plenty of 5k races taking place right here on MSU’s campus in East Lansing this spring.

Heart-Healthy Habits

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The American Heart Association has dubbed February as American Heart Month. There are several things that you can do to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle:

Eat heart-healthy foods.

A nutritious diet plays a vital role in heart health. Fruits, veggies, fibrous whole grain foods and fish are best for your heart. Be conscious of food labels in order to limit your intake of saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugar. Additionally, eat only as many calories as you need and drink in moderation.

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Are you doing what it takes to maintain a healthy heart?

Exercise

The American Heart Association suggests moderate activity for 2 1/2 hours a week to keep your heart healthy. Your exercise regiment can vary based on a number of factors. Talk to your doctor and set a target heart rate to exercise safely. Choose an activity that you enjoy.

Implement therapeutic lifestyle changes.

While diet, exercise and weight loss are all self-explanatory and fundamental pillars of a heart-healthy lifestyle, there are certainly other therapeutic lifestyle changes to consider. For example, quitting cigarettes and reducing stress are affirmative actions that aid in overall heart health.

The MSU community will recognize heart health in a variety of ways. Consider buying your Valentine’s Day sweets from MSU Bakers. Patrons can donate money to the American Heart Association with the purchase of baked goods.

To learn more about American Heart Month, visit the American Heart Association at heart.org.

 

Wear Red and Support Women’s Health

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Celebrate Go Red Day in recognition of the importance of a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Red is a powerful color that is often associated with energy, strength, passion and love. For this reason, and as a result of the fact that heart disease equates to one in three female deaths in the U.S., the American Heart Association uses the color as a mechanism to raise awareness for women’s heart disease each February. The association’s campaign, Go Red for Women, inspires participants  to make heart-healthy choices. Initiatives of the campaign include a call for increased research in regard to heart disease as well as a much faster course of action when fighting heart disease. This year, Wear Red Day will fall on Friday, February 6. To show your support for women’s health, consider donning red or participating in any of these steps that support the campaign.

While heart disease exists as a menacing threat, especially for women, it doesn’t have to be. Be a part of the Go Red movement and help inspire change! To learn more, visit the American Heart Association’s webpage. Also, visit MSU’s Health eGuide to discover how women can reduce their risk of heart disease.

Breathe Easy and Embrace Your Health

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Do you want to quit smoking but aren’t quite sure what course of action to take? While smoking can be one of the most difficult health behaviors to change, it doesn’t have to be.  MSU Health4U has the perfect solution. Breathe Easy, a totally free tobacco and nicotine cessation program, offers behavioral support and medical evaluation to help you kick your bad habits to the curb—for good. One of the best attributes of Breathe Easy is the fact that the program can be tailored to fit the needs of each participant. For example, participants can elect to enact a medication-free quitting plan. In order to participate in Breathe Easy, an employee needs to be benefits-eligible or be the adult, benefits-eligible family member of an MSU faculty, staff, graduate student assistant or retiree.

If you qualify and are ready for the challenge, please register to attend this spring’s pre-enrollment information session on January 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room 247, Olin Health Center. Being present at this session does not obligate employees to enroll. Rather, attendees can expect a thorough overview of the program. You may register in person at 330 Olin Health Center, by phone at 517-353-2596 or by email at health4u@msu.edu.

For more information, view the entire PDF.

The minute you quit smoking, you being to regain your health.
The minute you quit smoking, you being to regain your health.

Winter Exercise Alternatives

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As temperatures drop lower and lower, it can be tempting to stay inside, curled up in front of the TV, surrounded by unhealthy holiday treats. However, with the right methods in place, exercising during the winter can be a breeze! There are many creative ways to get active.

  • Indoor Walking Tracks
    Indoor walking tracks provide low-impact exercise while avoiding winter’s bitter cold temperatures. IM Sports East features an indoor track for public use.

    Skating at Munn Ice Arena is great exercise option.
    Try skating at Munn Ice Arena for your next workout.
  • Indoor Pool
    Swimming is a great form of total-body exercise and can help you imagine being in a tropical oasis as opposed to an arctic wasteland. Visit IM Sports Circle or IM Sports West for indoor swimming.
  • Ice Skating
    By skating at an indoor rink, you can work off those holiday meals without freezing. Munn Ice Arena holds open skate sessions for the public.
  • Yoga, Zumba, Cardio Kickboxing, etc.
    MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness Services holds group exercise classes every week. These classes are a great way to exercise indoors without being bored. Be brave and try something that you’ve always wanted to! View a schedule of courses.
  • Exercise at Work
    You can even exercise at work; all you have to do is think outside of the box! Try walking up and down the stairs in your building for a simple workout. You can also stretch from your desk chair.