THE AUTHENTIC FOOD COMPANY’S RECIPE FOR A HEALTHY WORKFORCE
Manchester food service specialist The Authentic Food Company has invested more than £6,000 to help its staff stay in tip top condition.
The company invited healthcare experts Wellness International into its Stockport office in to provide health and lifestyle checks for its workforce.
More than 90 members of the company’s 200 staff had their body fat measured, cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure tested. The Wellness specialists then dished out top tips on how to keep fit and healthy – personalised for each member of the team.
This is the second time that The Authentic Food Company staff have undergone personal MOTs. Since they were last tested in 2005, the results have improved dramatically. This year’s figures have shown that 70% of employees (above the national average) now have a low risk of heart disease, compared to 62% in 2005’s tests.
We have several initiatives planned to combat the key problems faced by our employees. Free counseling sessions are held for people who want to give up smoking. Tooty Fruity Tuesday has been introduced with each member of staff receiving a free piece of fruit every Tuesday. A number of the team also takes part in a local running club, which anyone can join to get fit and have fun.
“Keeping our employees healthy and happy is a top priority at The Authentic Food Company."
Wellness International launched the ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign to raise awareness of how making small changes can make a big difference when it comes to health. Dr Dorian from Wellness International said: “It’s crucial to be aware of your weight, blood pressure, body fat, blood sugars and blood fats especially cholesterol amongst other things, to ensure you live a long and healthy life.
“People spend lots of money on their cars every year with services, MOTs and repairs but often neglect this level of care when it comes to their own wellbeing.
“Blood pressure is widely known as the ‘silent killer’ in the UK as there are no symptoms and many people go unaware of it until they are tested. Wellness International works to raise awareness of the affects and what simple things can be done in everyday life to control and lower it.”
The results for cholesterol showed 66% of staff were within the acceptable range of less than 5m.mol/L, which is above the national average as seven in 10 adults aged 45 or over have high cholesterol.
The tests found that 86% of staff have an acceptable range of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which is above the national average. There are around 10 million people in the UK with high blood pressure . Advice to staff included eating more fruit and vegetables, reducing the amount of saturated fat and salt intake and increasing the level of exercise.
Peter Rawcliffe, HR Advisor at The Authentic Food Company, had high blood pressure and cholesterol due to his 20-a-day smoking habit, daily alcohol intake and only eating one meal a day.
Peter said: “I’m only 30 and lead a busy life so my long-term health was something that I’d never really given much thought to. It is great that the company I work for has taken such interest and care in my health as one of their employees. It has really made me aware of some underlying health issues that I probably wouldn’t have noticed for years."
“I have started to take some of the advice on board and I have already noticed a real difference in my energy levels and I have started to feel a lot better about myself.”
Carly Windsor, Group Marketing Manager at The Authentic Food Company, said: “We are really pleased that Peter has taken this advice on board and made positive changes to his lifestyle. We care about our employees and firmly believe that a healthy, happy workforce is the key to a successful business, and would urge other local businesses to take part in the scheme.
“Wellness International is just one initiative brought in by our internal positive action team for the benefit of our workforce – other activities that the team has organised range from days out to charity fundraising which we try to do as much of as possible.”
As a result of the wellness tests we decided to remove all those sweet treats from the cupboards and replace them with fruit. We use a local grocer in nearby Gatley called J & J Mundy who delivers fresh fruit every Tuesday.increasing the amount of fruits and veg you eat is the second most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of cancer
We all know we should be eating 5 portions of fruit and veg a day - yet research has shown that most of us actually eat fewer than 3!
According to the Department of Health, increasing the amount of fruits and veg you eat is the second most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of cancer, after stopping smoking.
5 great reasons to make 5-a-day part of your daily eating:
- Most fruits and vegetables contain very little fat and are lower in calories compared to other foods.
- Fruits and vegetables are packed full of vitamins and minerals that are vital for good health.
- Fruits and vegetables are also an important source of antioxidants, which help to maintain a healthy heart .
- Fruits and vegetables contain both soluble and insoluble fibre. Insoluble fibre helps maintain a healthy digestive system, whilst soluble fibre may help reduce blood cholesterol levels.
- Studies have shown consistently that populations that have a high intake of fruits and vegetables have a lower incidence of heart disease and other health problems.
Whether eaten on their own as a snack or in your main meal of the day, they all help you towards your 5-a-day!