
NEWSLETTERS
How to Tackle Driver Health
by Richard Cribari for 1Truck America
In a 2014 study by the Department of Transportation, it was revealed that truck drivers face significantly worse health issues compared to the general working population:
Obesity: Prevalence is more than double (69% vs. 31%).
Morbid Obesity: Twice as high (17% vs. 7%).
Cigarette Smoking: More than double the national average (51% vs. 19%).
Diabetes: Elevated rates (14% vs. 7%).
Overall Health Perception: Fewer drivers rated their health as excellent, very good, or good (84% vs. 94%).
The Importance of Nutrition and Fitness
In the U.S. Military, we were taught to prioritize nutrition and fitness. Today, there are countless resources available through the internet, AI, literature, and TV programs to help improve health.
It’s important to remember that no one wants to be obese. By working together—drivers, employers, and the community—we can create a supportive environment for healthier living.
Employers: Take the Initiative
Employers play a critical role in promoting driver wellness. Here are some ways to support driver health:
Promote Healthy Eating: Offer healthier meal options and snacks at company facilities or encourage drivers to make healthier food choices on the road. Reducing sugar and salt is a good place to start.
Encourage Regular Exercise: Implement fitness programs or offer incentives for physical activities during breaks. Consider partnerships with gyms or fitness apps.
Flexible Scheduling: Allow drivers the flexibility to take breaks for exercise, rest, or healthy meals without the pressure of tight schedules.
Health Education: Provide workshops or resources on nutrition, exercise, and stress management tailored to the unique lifestyle of drivers.
Mental Health Support: Offer access to mental health resources, including counseling or stress-relief programs.
Wellness Programs: Create comprehensive wellness programs that include health screenings, fitness challenges, and incentives for participation—possibly even financial bonuses for weight loss.
Safe Rest Areas: Ensure that drivers have access to safe, comfortable rest areas that promote relaxation and healthy eating.
Supportive Culture: Build a company culture that values health and wellness, encouraging drivers to prioritize their well-being and support one another.
The Road to Better Health
By implementing these strategies, we can help drivers lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. A healthier workforce not only improves personal well-being but also boosts fleet performance. It’s all about taking pride in individual goals and achieving a better quality of life.
For more information, visit Trucking Wellness and consider donating to help keep drivers healthy!
- Uncle Richie
7 Quick Tips for Good Health
- Olive oil reverses bone loss. 2 to 3 tsbp a day can turn back the clock.
- Take fish oil, can ease arthritis and improve heart health.
- Egg yolks – vitamin K2. 2 eggs daily can slash your bone breaks by 50%.
- Enjoy 1 1/2oz of cheese or 1 cup of milk or yogurt at every meal. Cuts risk of high blood sugar.
- An apple a day helps eaters weigh less & the antioxidants reduce the risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s.
- Chicken soup helps you heal faster, soothes inflammation & helps you recover from upper respiratory infections.
- Blood sugar rises after meals. Exercise for 10 minutes after meals controls blood sugar spikes.
5 Reasons You Should Sleep on Your Left Side
Don’t sleep on right side
- Impaired lymph drainage – The lymphatic system can remove waste materials more easily because it is transported along the left side of the body.
- Better for Heart – It’s easier for the heart to beat and flow through the body more easily.
- Helps Digestion – Stomach acids can’t flow into the esophagus because it comes out of the right side of the stomach. This helps digestion and removes acid reflux
- Anatomical – The stomach and the pancreas are located on the left side of the body. When we lean on night the stomach pushes against the pancreas and obstructions functionality
- Relief for spleen – Waste materials are transported to the spleen on the left side and can be expelled from the body faster
An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
- Get in a habit of doing the right things. Exercise and diet.
- Habits are easy to acquire. We know bad habits are easy. You must concentrate on good habits.
- If you can do something for 30 days it becomes a habit. Do some form of exercise, walk, bike, weights.
- Food: watch your intake, limit your salt and sugar.
- Eat fruits and vegetables.
- Try and stay away from fast foods.
- I make a habit of eating an apple a day.
- I have had stable weight for 2 years recently took physical everything in check.
5 Healthy Breakfast Smoothies
- Just took yearly physical and all tests were within the limits. Not bad for a man approaching 75 years young.
- Exercise and eating right helps.
- Apple a day keeps the doctor away. Steady diet with almonds, blueberries, walnuts, steamed vegetables.
- Do 150 minutes of cardio weekly.
- Do weight training 3x a week.
- Been able to lose stomach fat and lose 30 lbs in 2 years. Converted to muscle at an older age.
Protect your heart. Drink some hot cocoa.
Take Vitamin B12. Makes your memory sharper. Keeps you focused. Cuts your risk of osteoporosis. Repairs and replaces bone tissue.
Protect your heart. Drink some hot cocoa.
Cocoa is rich in plant compound (epicatechin). It lowers blood pressure by over 35% by keeping blood pressure and blood vessels healthy.
Healthy fats in olive oil, fish, and nuts rev up your metabolism melting more calories continually. While the legumes and grains and veggies keep you satisfied longer, you eat less.
Stop Aging
Eat more beans and rice. This is a habit that helps shut down weight gain. These nutrient packed, filling foods curb the intake of excess calories and unhealthy fats.
Anti-aging breakthrough
Stop aging clock by using cinnamon. It's an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, immunity booster. It boosts brain function and protects the heart. Drink cinnamon tea or 1 daily 1000mg cinnamon capsule.
Eat 5 or 6 small meals. The stomach is able to digest carbs before they enter the intestines.
Ways to Eat Healthy During Winter
- Winter is approaching!
- Try red ginseng tea (ginsenoside) that reserves weakness in your immune system caused by stress and invigorates cells to stop viruses in your body.
- Take more D3 daily - 2000 iu due to not going outdoors.
- Up your exercises, can do indoors - 15 mins - 3x per week - squats, lunges, pushups
- Improve your energy with broccoli
What would happen if you didn't drink water?
Use olive oil as much as possible. Unsaturated fats reduce inflammation throughout your body, lowers cholesterol and are essential for maintaining the health of every cell in your body.
Water can melt body fat. Water fits fat. Water also makes you eat less when drinking with a meal. Water boosts metabolism - turns calories into energy. Water increases fat burning. Drink extra water. It will increase blood volume which increases fat metabolism. The weight lost is due largely because of loss of fat.
5 Quick Tips
- Water is a key to weight loss and helps you protect against fatigue, joint pain, headaches and kidney stones. It helps the liver flush out toxins.
- I suggest you read about hydration on the internet. Water consumption varies by weight. You can lose 1 lb per month.
- 3 cups of fresh berries a week can help you shed 3 lbs per month.
- Take about 2000 iu of vitamin b3. It shuttles dietary fat into muscle cells, it is burned for energy instead of body fat
- Try and eat 18 oz of fish weekly. Salmon, tuna, and other fish. Also, try taking 1000 mg of fish oil daily.
5 Quick Tips on Vitamin Intake
- One cup of spinach daily builds muscle strength within one week. Green leafy vegetables are rich in nitrates - key protein in muscle production. Kale is also good.
- Chickpeas reduce your risk of heart disease and lung ailments such as allergies, asthma, and emphysema.
- Drink two cups of beets daily. It relaxes arteries and ensures plenty of oxygen rich blood reaches your brain and muscles cells.
- Mediterranean diet - extra virgin olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and nuts. These foods protect the brain cells, regulate memory, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation.
- Taking 200 mg of reveratrol can reverse mild memory loss within 6 months.
Preserve Health & Live Longer
Preserve Health & Live Longer
- Apple a day keeps the doctor away. One of the tops of the fruit list
- Fiber, Vitamin C, Potassium, Magnesium and flavonoids
- Must eat skin with apple, lowers risk of dying from major disease by 35%
- Take 1,000 mg of calcium from yogurt, milk, cheese, sardines and fortified orange juice. Calcium is needed to regulate blood pressure, improve cholesterol, reduce bone thinning and help block colon cancer an take fish oils 1.25g to 2.5. Containers EPA + DHA slows the agining process.
- Protect your cells, eat red, orange, yellow, and dark green produce. Watermelon, carrots, squash, kale, spinach. It helps to reduce your chance of developing Alzheimer's, cancer and atherosclerosis.
Sitting Doesn't Help. Stay Active at Work!
For Starters
Too much sitting is bad for your health. The average American sits more than 7 hours a day.
Control Yourself
- Stand and stretch at your desk
- Walk and stand
- Exercise
- March in place
- Get up and move every hour
- Walk to water cooler
- Eat light and walk during your lunch break
Eliminate As Much Sitting As Possible
- It damages health
- Causes weight gain
- You die early
Check out the video below for tips on how to stay active at work:
Be Active at Any Age
Be Active At Any Age
Do 60 minutes of exercise per day every day or as many days as you can!
Everyday
Walk, dance, park car in furthest spot, walk in malls, work in yard, active aerobics 3 -5 times a week. Swimming, biking, roller blading, jumping jacks, jog - if possible.
Flexibility & Strength
Practice yoga, do pushups & pullups, use weights, try pilates, join a health club, hire a trainer, stretch.
Check out the video below for tips on how to stay active during the day:
Eat Smart and Control Yourself
For Starters
- Limit the intake of food
- Eliminate sweet drinks with sugar contents (5-9 tsp - 366 mg daily)
- Salt (2300 mg daily)
Control Yourself
- Cheese, pizza, bread, potato chips, chocolate, snacks loaded with sugar, soups with heavy salt content, fast food
- The fast food industry could not exist without salt, sugar, and fat!
Eat Smart
- Nuts and seeds (unsalted or lightly salted) raisins, bananas, avocado, broccoli, blueberries, almonds, Greek yogurt, carrots, celery, kale, walnuts, fruits, vegetables, fish, dry beans
Check out the video below for tips on how to start making your own infused water with mint, cucumber, and/or citrus: