Tip Tuesday! 3 Ways Wheat is Giving You A Belly

BY DR. AXE

Many of us are constantly struggling with the battle of the bulge and can’t just seem to get the weight off. We are not alone, as over 1/3 of the US population is obese. What many of us don’t realize is that a common “staple” of our diet may be a huge culprit in the obesity epidemic. The old food pyramid features bread, pasta, and other grains as the predominant food in our diets. But, many experts believe that an increase in wheat consumption and hybridization of wheat may be a big contributing factor to the obesity epidemic.

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Coping With Stress

Stress is a part of life. From being stuck in traffic to falling behind on paying bills, too much stress can wreak havoc on our bodies. If you have a chronic illness, even small tasks, such as making dinner or picking up the children from school, can become overwhelming. Research on how stress causes medical illness is still in its early phases. We do know though that stress can cause physical symptoms, and may increase the rate of progression of a disease. Here are some ways to reduce your stress. 

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Be smart. Be involved.

UnitedHealthcare and Dr. Oz offer powerful tools and resources to help you become a smart patient.  

• Download the smart patient app.
• Download a complimentary chapter.
• Search for a doctor.
• Download smart patient checklists.
• Use the preventive care tool.

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What’s got HR’s ear for the rest of the year?

By Dan Winsniewski

What are the latest trends in hiring, social networking and drug and alcohol testing?

Here’s what the rest of the year is going to look like for many HR pros, courtesy of the annual Employment Screening Benchmarking Report from HireRight. 

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Tip Tuesday! 7 Adaptogen Herbs to Lower Cortisol

BY DR. AXE

It’s likely that you’ve heard about the detrimental effects of the stress hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels can affect every physiological system in your body including your thyroid and adrenal glands. It can make you anxious and irritable, lead to weight gain and bone loss, contribute to diabetes and heart disease risk, and deplete your energy levels.

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Postpartum depression: Why am I so sad?

By Charles J. Carlini, M.D., J.D., and Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W.

As an expectant mom, you waited for the big day. And, perhaps you imagined how wonderful it would be to cuddle your new little bundle — and say "I love you" face to face.

But, what you may not have expected are the mixed emotions you felt after your baby arrived.

Many new moms are surprised when they feel sad and fragile — especially if they anticipated it would be a happy time. But, these uneasy feelings — often called the baby blues — can be a normal part of adjusting to motherhood.

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April 15 is Big Day in More Ways Than One

April 15 is known as tax day because federal income tax returns are typically due on that day. Some employers and individuals may want to consider additional action items.

A protective claim for a tax refund is a process where any taxpayer can claim a refund while a relevant court case is pending. The deadline for filing a protective claim is typically three years from the original tax filing date. The deadline for protective claims for the 2009 tax year is April 15, 2013.

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Do you snore – and is it a health risk?

By William Weese, M.D.

Does your partner grumble about your snoring? Don't take it lightly.

The nightly sound of sawing logs could be a sign of sleep apnea. And, aside from straining your relationship, it could be putting your health at serious risk.

Blocked breathing
When you have sleep apnea, your breathing pauses repeatedly during sleep. There are different types of the disorder. The most common is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). 

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Tip Tuesday! Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil is Fake!

BY DR. AXE

This is going to be a major disappointment for some of you.  That really healthy olive oil you thought you were purchasing at the store may not be all that it’s cracked up to be.  You probably never thought that expensive bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil might be laced with GMO soybean oil and herb flavors so it tastes more like real olive oil right?

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ACA Waiting Period Compliance

There’s not much in life that comes without a little bit of waiting. This includes a “waiting period” before enrollment onto a group health plan as a new employee. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) changed how long a wait period can be imposed by an employer.

In August 2012, the IRS and DOL issued ACA guidance on the 90-day waiting period for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. Simply put, an eligible employee or dependent does not have to wait more than 90 days before being covered under the group health plan. Do you have to change your waiting period for new hires to enroll onto your group health plan? How long is your current waiting period for new hires to enroll onto your health plan? Please comment below.

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Spring Cleaning Your HR Records

Whether it looks like it outside or not, spring officially arrived on March 20. While we normally associate this change in season to spring cleaning our homes, it is also a good time to spring clean the company’s records.

How long should your company keep certain records?

• ERISA 107 requires anyone who files certain information (e.g., Form 5500) should keep records (COBRA, as well) for six years from the filing date, which means the records need to be kept for eight years.
• Internal Revenue Code states that employers who maintain a fringe benefit plan should retain records for four years from the tax filing date, for a total of five years.
• Tax records should be kept for three years from the tax filing date, four years in total.
• FMLA paperwork should be kept for three years.
• HIPAA records should be kept for six years.
• Medicare Part D and RDS records should be kept for six years.

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Have a day your heart will love

By Michael W. Rosen, M.D.

Most of us have good intentions when it comes to our health habits. But, we're busy, too — and making major changes may seem daunting.

Well, you'll be happy to hear that when it comes to keeping your heart healthy, you can take small steps that add up big.

From start to finish
For inspiration, consider what you can accomplish in a single day. Below are just a few of the possibilities. Choose even one of these ideas for today — and build on that. By making small changes over time, you'll be well on your way to a healthier heart.

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Tip Tuesday! Pack a power lunch: 6 brown bag winners

By Melanie Polk, M.M.Sc., R.D., F.A.D.A.

Here's a powerful reason to take your lunch to work: You get to be head chef.

You decide what to pack. That means you can include foods you enjoy — while watching the calories, fat, salt and sugar. And, when your favorite flavors are packed with nutrients, you'll be energized to tackle the rest of your workday.

Another nice bonus: Brown-bagging may help you put away some extra cash. Let's say you save $2 a day by eating in. In a year, you could be more than $500 ahead. Ka-ching!

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10 Ways Chronic Stress is Killing Your Quality of Life

BY DR. AXE

Stress. It’s an awful word and a worse feeling isn’t it? The thing is, stress isn’t all bad. Without it, we wouldn’t be motivated to protect ourselves or perform. A certain level of stress helps us to adapt to our environment and pushes us to excel. The stress that is worrisome is chronic stress and it can affect you negatively in multiple ways. 

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Top 10 questions asked by HR professionals

The Employers Resource Association receives more than 8,000 calls each year to its human resources hotline. For the third consecutive year, ERA data show, the highest demand for phone-in expertise was not about health care reform or retirement plans, but HR “staples” like performance management, fair labor issues and immigration. On ERA’s top 10 list of most-questioned topics, the Family and Medical Leave Act remains No. 1.

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Small business insurance market from health law delayed a year

By Bloomberg News Service


Small business employees will have to wait a year before they can choose their own medical plans after the Obama administration delayed a part of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act intended to provide them with coverage options.

Starting in 2014, workers at companies with fewer than 100 employees were supposed to have been able to choose from a variety of health plans through new small business insurance marketplaces. They’ll instead wait until at least 2015, according to regulations released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

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FMLA notice errors any HR pro can make

By Dan Wisniewski 

A new ruling is a good reminder that the process of granting FMLA leave is fraught wit

h opportunities to make mistakes.

Here are the details of the case, laid out by Kevin Donovan from Wilson Elser:

Three key FMLA notice documents

Jacqueline Young requested FMLA leave from her employer, The Wackenhut Corporation.

Now, when staff members request FMLA leave, employers are required to supply three things:

1. Eligibility notice. Employers must provide an eligibility notice to employees within five days of determining that leave be for a qualifying reason.
2. Rights and responsibilities notice. When employers supply the eligibility notice, they also must provide this notice, which details the obligations and expectation of the employee while on leave and what happens if those expectations aren’t met.
3. Designation notice. If an employer determines the employee can take FMLA leave for the reason suggested, firms must alert the employee the leave is approved and that it will be counted as FMLA leave.  

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