Cooler fall weather brings about thoughts of apple cider donuts, football and pumpkins, but for people in the health and wellness community, autumn is a time for preparation against the coming cold and flu season. Adding to the burden is COVID-19 and the continuing spread of the delta variant.
Municipal employees who participate in MIIA’s WellAware programs know that following a Mediterranean diet — one heavy in plant-based foods such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, olive oil for fat, and seafood and fish full of Omega 3’s such as salmon — is the best way to eat and stay healthy. We have tens of testimonials from wellness program participants who have lost weight, gotten off diabetes and cholesterol medications, and been able to participate in recreational sports more actively as a result of a Mediterranean diet.
The Mediterranean diet is also effective in helping to lower the risk of getting COVID. A Sept. 10 article in The Harvard Gazette notes, “Although metabolic conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes have been linked to an increased risk of COVID-19, as well as an increased risk of experiencing serious symptoms once infected, the impact of diet on these risks is unknown. In a recent study led by researchers at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital and published in Gut, people whose diets were based on healthy plant-based foods had lower risks on both counts.”
Another study out of Europe, published on April 29 in the Clinical Nutritional Journal, had similar findings. The article notes, “Participants with intermediate adherence to the Mediterranean diet had significantly lower odds of developing COVID-19, and those with the highest adherence exhibited the lowest risk.”
No one is suggesting that diet alone is the way to battle COVID. But it appears that diet can help.
Social distancing, masking and vaccination all are important. But maintaining a healthy diet is an easy way to help ward off all sorts of bad health impacts, including metabolic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Ageright.org, linking to studies at the National Library for Medicine, reports that the Mediterranean diet has also been linked with a healthier gut microbiome, better lung function in older adults, better brain health in adults at risk of Alzheimer’s, and a lower risk of mobility problems in aging.
A helpful website about the Mediterranean diet is mediterraneanliving.com by Bill Bradley, a frequent MIIA WellAware program leader and consultant. The site has a downloadable list of good foods to help consumers get started with their grocery list.
This is the time of year when we all should get our annual flu shot. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone get vaccinated by the end of October.
The CDC also notes that, because of COVID and social distancing since March of 2020, there is reduced population immunity against the flu. As a result, there could be an early and possibly severe upcoming flu season. So it’s important to get your annual flu vaccine to keep yourself, your coworkers and your family healthy.
Members of the MIIA Health Benefits Trust are asked to encourage their staff to participate in MIIA’s WellAware programs. Nonmembers should check with their health insurer to see what options are available for their employees to learn how they can better manage their diet to improve their health and productivity.
Whether employees are working at town hall or remotely, taking care of themselves, while taking care of municipal business, is a win for everybody.
Applications open for MIIA grant programs. MIIA is currently offering two grant programs for members.
Risk Management
The MIIA Risk Management Grant Program provides members with resources to assist and support risk management initiatives.
The fiscal 2022 grants continue to focus heavily on facility management, preventive maintenance (especially water line inspection and replacement), installation of heating/insulation equipment, and prevention of property losses. Mitigation of cyber risk exposures, as well as individualized member loss experience, are also grant priorities.
Several of these grant opportunities provide valuable and proactive maintenance funding options.
MIIA members can apply for a grant or grants totaling a maximum of $10,000 per municipal entity. MIIA has automated the process and is providing a more comprehensive equipment list.
Total funding for risk management grants is $1 million.
The application deadline is Nov. 5. Apply online at www.emiia.org. Click on the Quick Link for Grant then click on Online Application.
Flex Grants
MIIA Flex Grants allow members to select risk management products or related services that will assist their municipalities in risk management efforts.
In the fiscal 2022 policy year, members can request an FY22 (based on FY21 Rewards) Flex Grant for related risk management equipment/products and services. Members may request only one Rewards Flex Grant per fiscal year.
Eligible items to be considered under the MIIA Flex Grant, in addition to those currently eligible under the MIIA Risk Management Grant Program, include but are not limited to:
To apply, visit www.emiia.org. Click on the Quick Link for Grant then download the FY22 Flex Grant Application.
