Smoothies Aren’t Just for Summer Anymore! 5 HOLIDAY INGREDIENTS TO TOSS INTO YOUR BLENDER
1. Peppermint — For a protein-rich smoothie that tastes like a candy cane, blitz together almond milk, yogurt, almond butter, mint leaves, ground cinnamon, and a few drops of peppermint extract. 2. Cinnamon — If you love chocolate chip cinnamon rolls, you need to try the smoothie version! Frozen bananas, coconut milk, vanilla yogurt, cacao powder (which is packed with antioxidants), vanilla extract, and cinnamon are the secrets to a healthy version of your favorite Christmas breakfast. 3. Cranberries — Cranberries are both festive and packed with vitamins and antioxidants that may help fight heart disease and cancer. To cash in on those benefits, whip up a smoothie with frozen cranberries, pear slices, goji berries, orange juice, coconut milk, and flax seeds. 4. Ginger — What screams Christmas more than gingerbread? You can make a delicious smoothie version of the cookie with rolled oats, chia seeds, yogurt, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, vanilla extract, and molasses to reap the anti-inflammatory and nausea-fighting benefits of ginger. 5. Eggnog — Eggnog is far from a healthy drink, but it’s a holiday favorite! To enjoy it in a new way, blend it up with a scoop of vanilla protein powder and ice after your workout.
The drinks of choice for winter are usually warm and cozy — apple cider, hot chocolate, and wassail all have their place on the table. But no rule says you have to drink something hot when it’s snowy outside. In fact, a cold beverage might keep you warmer! A study from the Thermal Ergonomics Lab at the University of Ottawa found that when you drink something hot, it can cause you to sweat more and, as a result, will actually cool you off more than a cold drink! Crazy, right?
Of course, you could probably reverse the heat loss by bundling up in a
sweater so your sweat doesn’t evaporate. But if you’re in your warm, cozy home, why not go for a cold drink like a smoothie? You can even add some holiday cheer to your healthy(ish) treat with one of these
five seasonal ingredients.
Workers’ Compensation and Mental Health
Workers’ compensation, by definition, encompasses any kind of illness or injury that is directly caused by performing your job duties. So, does workers’ compensation extend to mental health? Chances are you’ve felt overwhelmed, overworked, and stressed out from your job at some point, and this stress possibly led you to seek professional help. This professional help for your mental health issues can be covered by workers’ compensation, just as it works for physical illnesses. The difficulty lies in proving that the workplace led to the mental health issue. With physical injuries, this is easier because there is usually tangible proof. With mental health, it can be a little trickier. While individuals often feel stressed out and anxious due to their job, rarely does it interfere with performing their work duties. If we are able to provide proof that their workplace environment has led to mental health stressors that were so critical they were unable to complete their work as expected, then we may have an argument for using benefits to cover the condition. It is important to keep in mind that even if your workers’ compensation claim is denied by the employer, the employer is not required to provide a reason for the denial, and it is up to you to prove that your illness should be covered by the workers’ compensation benefits.
Usually, with mental health, there is not a single occurrence that led to the resulting mental health condition, as the illness typically builds over time. If statements from a mental health professional can confirm a link between your place of work and health condition, and if you can gather further evidence — such as emails or a few specific situations that led to your mental stress — we at The Whisler Law Firm have years of experience assisting with a variety of workers’ compensation cases and are prepared to assist in gathering documents and evidence to attempt to prove causation. Call us today!
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