returning to work after lockdown · 2020. 7. 28. · many of us are also returning to work having...

Returning to Work

After Lockdown

How to keep your

employees healthy and

well through proper

nutrition

Non-Manual Workers

Hapi Nutrition UK

CONTENTS

What is the primary issue on most

employers minds?

What can be done in the current

situation?

What can proper nutrition do for non-

manual workers specifically?

Why is good nutrition important?

© Hapi Nutrition UK - Return to Work After Lockdown_Non-Manual Workers 2020 www.hapinutrition.co.uk 2

There is so much being reported on immunity, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction or

even know where to start with the vast amount of information being posted online. Whatyou might not know is that nutrition has a significant role to play in natural immunity, and

in this report, we look at the proactive measures that can be used through nutrition tohelp keep not just your immunity strong, but also your mental and emotional wellbeing,

and how to get back to normal after lockdown.

The number one cause for absenteeism in the UK is minor illnesses such as colds and

coughs. So, even in normal times, employees are most susceptible to bacterial and viralinfection, let alone during a pandemic.

It’s fairly common knowledge that people eating a poor diet are deficient in certainnutrients and more prone to infections and chronic diseases. But a lot of us still don’t

see the link between what we eat and how we feel, even though it affects every aspectof our lives from immunity, sleep, mental health, cognitive function and performance, to

the prevention, recovery and management of injury and chronic conditions.

Added to which people are mentally struggling with other psychological issues from

lockdown and the everyday pressures of life - not to mention the extra strain on thosewho are already coping with mental health issues.

What is the primary issue on most

employers minds?

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Minor illnesses, including coughs and coldsaccounting for 38.5 million days

Musculoskeletal problems including back pain, neckand upper limb problems accounting for 27.8 million

days

Mental health conditions including stress, depressionand anxiety, accounting for 17.5 million days

“Other” conditions including accidents, poisonings and

diabetes

An estimated 141.4 million

working days were lost

because of sickness or injury

in the UK in 2018, an

equivalent to 4.4 days per

worker. According to the

Office for National Statistics,

the four leading reasons for

sickness absence in 2018

were minor illnesses,

musculoskeletal, “other” and

mental health conditions.


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infectioninfectioninfectioninfection....

One of the biggest concerns on employers and employees minds right now is how to

keep their immunity strong. There needs to be a focus on staying healthy and mentally

balanced while returning to work and nutrition can help. For example, early research

suggests that something as simple as taking vitamin D could help to reduce the risk of

contracting Covid-19, as Nordic countries with higher vitamin D levels have lower

infection and death rates. There are also links between deficient vitamin D and

depression. Aside from supplementing, getting out during spring and summer and

exposing as much of your skin as possible to sunlight without sunscreen, then covering

up just before you start to turn pink, is essential for your innate vitamin D production.

Eating fish, especially salmon and sardines, cod liver oil, red meat, liver, full-fat butter

and eggs will also provide you with small amounts of vitamin D. When looking at overall

immunity, good foods to include would be an array of brightly coloured vegetables and

fruit, healthy proteins, healthy fats and herbs and spices. Drinking plenty of water is also

vital for all the cells and organs in the body to function.

Immunity isn’t just about eating the right

foods to bolster natural good health, it’s also

about looking after mental health, getting

adequate sleep and adopting a healthy

exercise regime. That’s why we target these

things holistically, addressing the four pillars

of health, through practical nutrition and

healthy lifestyle advice.

What can be done in the current situation?

With all the stress of Covid-19 and lockdown, many of us have been eating and

drinking too much which will be negatively impacting our immunity, general health

and mental-emotional wellbeing. As an employer, you can support and motivate your

staff, providing what they need to get through this challenging time as smoothly and

healthily as possible, and Hapi can help you do that.


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Aside from cultivating a robust immune system, particularly as we go into autumn andthe start of cold and flu season, there are other important health issues to consider for

people working in an office environment. For example, desk workers tend to be lessmobile and according to researchers, physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of

death worldwide. Prolonged sitting is linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2

diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. It can also cause postural changesand work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) like chronic lower back pain.

Simple and achievable lifestyle changes can make the world of difference to thesedisease risks added to which increased physical activity and nutritional support raises

energy, boosts brainpower, immunity and productivity.

Certain jobs and working environments also come with added stress which can

contribute to WRMSD from increased or chronic muscle tension. The pain, discomfortand limitations caused by WRMSD can also contribute to feelings of anxiety, stress and

depression. Workplace pressures and stress also directly impact the mental health of

employees and this is one of the biggest challenges employers face today with 12.8million working days per year lost due to work-related mental health issues.


manual workers

specifically?

A growing body of research has shown that mental

health is not all in our heads. You may have heard

that your gut and brain are connected and they

communicate with each other. Poor gut health can

lead to anxiety, depression and mood swings and

stress can lead to digestive disturbance and

inflammation. Food can be a key intervention for

dealing with depression and anxiety. For example, did

you know that around 90% of serotonin, the ‘feel-

good’ hormone is manufactured in the gut?

Consuming daily pre and probiotic foods can improve

gut health, creating the optimal environment for

serotonin production. Eating tryptophan-rich foods

can also increase it.


Anxiety and stress drain energy and create the impulse to reach for sugary and high

carb foods which provide a temporary mood and energy boost. Unfortunately, thiscreates a vicious cycle of blood sugar spikes and crashes which cause mood and

energy swings, leading to more sugar cravings. The long-term impact is decreasedbrainpower, stamina, and productivity and increased anxiety, depression and weight

gain. All this adds up to lowered immunity, accruing mental health issues and a

heightened risk of chronic disease and infection.


manual workers

specifically?

It’s also vital to stay energised for maximum productivity, especially for those working

during unsociable hours or in an environment where it’s difficult or impossible to choosehealthy food options. Having access to expert nutritional support provides the

knowledge and tools to enable your employees to make the right food choices for theirindividual needs and provides practical solutions and achievable tips when in a pinch.

When it comes to WRMSD, adding omega-3 fats can also

help to reduce inflammation in the body, improving joint,

muscle and back pain, protecting ligaments and tendons. Its

ability to modulate inflammation decreases the overall risk of

disease and speeds up recovery, helping to naturally

regulate the immune response.

In 2018/19, 602,000 UK workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety and 12.8

million working days were lost due to this. It accounted for 44% of all work-related ill health cases

and 54% of all working days lost due to ill health.


It’s important to improve stress resilience by reducing

sugar and high carb cravings. Key to this is eating mood-

enhancing foods and balancing blood sugar levels.

Picking healthier complex carbohydrate foods, reducing

sugar, caffeine and alcohol and adding healthy protein to

every meal and snack is the way forward. Mood-boosting

foods include plenty of water, healthy omega-3 fats and

healthy proteins. Brightly coloured vegetables and fruit

will also provide essential uplifting, stress-busting

nutrients including magnesium, zinc and B vitamins.


manual workers

specifically?

Many of us are also returning to work having comfort eaten and drunk our way through

the extra strain of Covid-19 and lockdown. With home and work pressures, stress eatingis not uncommon.

Outside of work, people may also be turning to alcohol as a way to unwind after a

stressful day. In this instance, looking after liver health is essential. Aside from cutting

down, one very simple but effective way to promote liver health is to drink plenty ofwater to help cleanse the liver, flush out toxins and keep hydration levels where they

need to be. This is also highly beneficial for general health.

Nutrition plays a vital role in overall health and wellbeing and it’s essential to tailor a

company nutrition program to suit you and your employees with workable, appropriatesolutions.


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Research shows that an integrated, holistic work placed health program thatencourages healthy behaviour around nutrition, sleep, exercise and a healthy work/life

balance, can positively impact presenteeism.

A balanced diet is the cornerstone of health. Without it, we are more at risk to all kinds

of chronic disease including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. As well as for proactiveprevention, nutrition can be used to help with the management of these and other

chronic health conditions including obesity, digestive issues such as celiac and crohn’sdisease, insomnia, arthritis, osteoporosis, skin disorders including eczema, psoriasis

and acne. It can also help to ease the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.

Good nutrition truly has the power to improve every aspect of our lives and whencombined with healthy lifestyle changes it has even greater potential.

So, how can Hapi help? We offer an innovative and customisable solution to providing

workplace nutritional consultancy. We can create bespoke solutions to focus on your

priorities whether that’s addressing specific work related health concerns such asmental and emotional wellbeing, weight management etc., helping to shape your return

to work solution, how to incorporate healthy eating and education into your corporatestrategy, or providing remote personalised and tailored support for your employees.

By having a healthy nutrition and lifestyle program in place you can directly impact thehealth and wellbeing of your employees for the better while also enabling improved

productivity and increasing your bottom line. Contact us at [email protected] tofind out how we can help you.

Why is good nutrition important?

It’s important to say that it’s not about completely changing

your lifestyle or what you eat, and can sometimes be assimple as making small changes. This can make a dramatic

difference and that’s all about knowledge and changinghabits. This can however be easy to say but harder to do, but

through having access to personalised nutritional and

lifestyle support, you gain key knowledge and understandingof how food and lifestyle strongly influence health which is

essential for wellbeing and longevity.


returning to work after lockdown · 2020. 7. 28. · many of us are also returning to work having...

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