Heart Health And The Built Environment
A scroll through a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website can reveal heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women [in the United States].
To develop our knowledge for a moment, and talk about the heart as a physiological organ specifically, the heart pushes millions of gallons of blood throughout the body. This steady flow of blood transports oxygen, fuel, hormones, other compounds, and a host of essential cells, in addition to discarding the waste products of metabolism. With that being said, unhealthy habits can lead to the development of many forms of cardiovascular disease (a catch-all term for all of the diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels). Over time, cardiovascular disease can result in a failure to thrive due to inadequate blood flow and subsequent organ failure. This is why, a healthy lifestyle, including diet/nutrition, goes a long way to preventing cardiovascular disease (Harvard Health Publishing).
How can you make the healthy choice the easy choice? Could it really be that healthy diet/nutrition choices can be inserted into a working day as the default or automatic choice? At CG Zest Wellness, we think so, and this blog post is to help you do exactly that, through the power of your built environment.
Health professionals who advocate for the built environment mention it is not sufficient to just educate individuals regarding healthy lifestyles; the built environment must promote, or at least allow for, engaging in healthy behaviors (Perdue et al., 2003).
To take action and improve the built environment, WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) is a vehicle for buildings and organizations to deliver more thoughtful and intentional spaces that enhance human health and well-being. WELL works through design interventions and operational protocols and policies to foster a culture of health and well-being. One of the specific strategies of WELL is nourishment, relating to an adequate food environment for diet/nutrition.
To take practical actions away from this blog post and promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables for diet/nutrition, see how many of the ten (10) opportunities for nourishment from WELL you can bring to your workplace or home, or what we like to call at CG Zest Wellness, your workspace.
· Fruits and Vegetables
1) Increase the availability and accessibility of fruits and vegetables
2) Avoid highly processed foods and refined ingredients
3) Avoid artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, and preservatives in foods and beverages
· Nutritional Transparency
4) Help individuals make informed food choices through nutritional labeling and allergy information
5) Encourage the selection and consumption of healthier food choices through advertising and messaging
· Nutrition Education
6) Support a healthy eating pattern by increasing nutritional knowledge and food literacy
· Mindful Eating
7) Encourage mindful eating behaviors and communal dining opportunities
· Special Diets
8) Provide alternative food choices to individuals with dietary restrictions, food allergies or intolerances, and label common food allergens
· Food Preparation
9) Provide space and supportive amenities for the preparation of meals on-site
· Local Food Environment
10) Increase access to fresh, local/seasonal fruits and vegetables by reducing environmental barriers
To help make changes and maximize opportunities for the wellness program in your workplace, speak with your CG Zest Wellness Coordinator today to learn how to integrate these ten (10) opportunities for the built environment and heart health.
Overall, does the built environment and its relationship to health and wellness sound intriguing to you? Click here for this CG Zest Wellness webinar on healthy workspaces, touching on WELL’s over strategies.
References
Perdue, WC., Stone, LA., and Gostin, LO. (2003) The Built Environment and Its Relationship to the Public’s Health: The Legal Framework. American Journal of Public Health. DOI: 93(9): 1390–1394.
