Resource Articles

​Learn Dietary fiber, sometimes referred to as “roughage” or “bulk”, is a type of carbohydrate that cannot be broken down by our bodies. Although fiber provides minimal energy (calories), it is still a very important part of a healthy diet. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and other legumes, and whole grains all contain dietary fiber. Fiber benefits our health in many ways:

Go for the Gold with Health Plus Care Gap Alerts: Breastfeeding with Carol Huber, RN, BS, NICU Lactation Consultant Coping with Life Transitions with Megan Bergfeld, LCSW, ACM-SW, Clinical Counselor, Work/Life Connections-EAP Cholesterol: The Good and The Bad with Keqin (Catherine) Qian, MSN, APRN, ANP-C, Nurse Practitioner, OHC Clinic Manager Ask a Lifestyle Coach with Emily Cox, CHES, CHWC, Senior Health Educator at Health Plus

​Learn Preparing meals ahead is a great strategy for eating healthy when you have a busy schedule. Preparing food for the week can also help reduce the number of times you find yourself eating out, which can save you money! Research shows that meal planning and prepping is associated with an overall healthier diet, decreasing your risk for heart disease and diabetes. This is because meals that are home-cooked tend to be lower in saturated fat, sodium, and calories when compared to meals purchased at restaurants or fast-food chains.

​Learn What are the Dietary Guidelines? The Dietary Guidelines for Americans give advice on what to eat and drink to better your health and prevent diseases such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. This advice is based on the latest findings in nutrition and public health research. The Guidelines are updated every 5 years by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure the most up-to-date information is made available to the public.

June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. During the past couple of years, there have many traumatic stressors that have impacted us. For some, there is a more lasting emotional effects, including intense feelings and disturbing thoughts related to their experience. Work/Life Connections-EAP shares some ways to help manage the intense feelings that come with a PTSD response.

Tragic events continue to fill our newsfeeds. News like this can take a toll on our well-being. How do we cope with such chaos, devastation, and destruction? Vanderbilt's Work/Life Connections-EAP offers ways to cope if you or a colleague are having difficulty during these trying times.

Going for Gold Throughout Summer with Health Plus Care Gap Alerts: The Importance of Summer Safety with Cristina M. Estrada, MD Savoring the Moment and Expressing Gratitude with Heather Kamper, LCSW, SHARE Coordinator/ Clinical Counselor at Work/Life Connections – EAP Passion at Work with Caroline Epps, MSN, RN, CPPS Manager, Patient Care Services Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at VUMC Stick It to the Flu with Lori Rolando, MD, MPH, FACOEM, Director of Occupational Health Clinic Ask a Lifestyle Coach with Rachel Bowman, CHES, Health Educator at Health Plus

Improving Mental Health Across Vanderbilt with Ted Rice, LPC, CEAP, Clinical Counselor, Work/Life Connections Care Gap Alerts: MyOrthoHealth Bundle with Rick Ohmer, Executive Director, Compensation & Benefits Ending Sexual Assault and Harassment Starts with You with Heather Kamper, LCSW, SHARE Coordinator/Clinical Counselor at Work/Life Connections-EAP Passion at Work with Michael Garrett, Director of the Office of Patient Relations and Facilitated Patient Services at VUMC Walking Your Way to a Healthier Life with Mary Pullias Henderson, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner at Occupational Health Clinic Ask a Lifestyle Coach with Emily Cox, CHES, CHWC, Senior Health Educator with Health Plus

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced fully vaccinated and boosted individuals may be safe without a mask in an outdoor and indoor setting. This might feel like a step towards resuming our lives as we did prior to the pandemic, but it will require a psychological re-adjustment. Work/Life Connections-EAP is available to help those who may feel anxious as we enter this new phase of the ongoing pandemic.

Spring is getting closer, and more people will start getting outside to soak up the sun. Did you know that being in nature, or even enjoying the view outside your window, decreases feelings of negative emotions? Work/Life Connections-EAP shares ways in which you can spend time outdoors to help build your mental health resilience.