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Healthy Gut, Healthy Life?

BCBSIL Connect Team September 28, 2023

You may have heard that your gut is your second brain. The saying gives a sense of how vital your digestive system is to the rest of your body. But what does it mean? A network of hundreds of millions of nerve cells called neurons line the gut, or...
- 18088 Views
Create a Routine for Better Sleep

BCBSIL Connect Team September 28, 2023

Most Americans have some type of trouble with sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 3 American adults say they’re not getting enough sleep every day. And millions of Americans have chronic sleep disorders....
- 8122 Views
Healthy Eating: Avoid Portion Pitfalls

BCBSIL Connect Team September 7, 2023

Most people know they should eat nutritious foods to maintain a healthy weight and avoid serious health problems. Still, there may be a big part of healthy eating you’re not paying enough attention to — portion sizes. What you eat matters...
- 21347 Views
Find Out If a Low-Intensity Workout Is Right for You

BCBSIL Connect Team August 30, 2023

Many people learned how to get their exercise without classes or gym workouts during the pandemic. Some turned to low-intensity workouts, and they haven’t gone back. There are benefits to stepping away from the “no pain, no gain” ap...
- 6875 Views
Does When You Eat Make a Difference?

BCBSIL Connect Team August 29, 2023

When it comes to healthy eating, we know that what we eat matters. So does how much we eat. And research shows that when we eat is important, too. Many studies point to health improvements from making changes to when you eat. That’s because our....
- 13019 Views
Understanding Sickle Cell Disease and Living Well

BCBSIL Connect Team August 18, 2023

Our family history and DNA play a large role in our health and well-being. Genetic changes and traits carried by parents often appear in their children —even when the parents don’t have any symptoms of a genetic condit...
- 4995 Views
Wash the Rind to Leave Bacteria Behind

BCBSIL Connect Team August 15, 2023

The peak of summer brings ripe, tasty melons, like cantaloupe and watermelon, from the farm to your table. Watermelons are not only refreshing, they’re also a great source of the antioxidant lycopene. What’s so special about lycopene? Lyc...
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Back Pain Is Such a Pain

BCBSIL Connect Team August 13, 2023

Its happens to many of us. We move or lift something the wrong way and our back protests. Sometimes it’s just a brief twinge of pain — a reminder to move more carefully. Other times, the pain may be intense and last a long time. The ...
- 4450 Views
From Headache to Heartache: NSAIDs Pose Heart Dangers

BCBSIL Connect Team August 12, 2023

Read the fine print the next time you pick up a bottle of ibuprofen or naproxen. You’ll see a warning about the risk for potentially deadly heart attacks and strokes. These drugs are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs. The U.S.....
- 4433 Views
Do You Know How to Outsmart Viruses?

BCBSIL Connect Team August 1, 2023

Your chances of catching a viral illness are higher at certain times of year: Back to school. When temperatures drop and people spend more time indoors. Before the fall and winter holidays. At the start of the new year. Now’s the time to find t....
- 21178 Views
How Does Stress Affect Your Body?

BCBSIL Connect Team August 1, 2023

If you’re feeling stressed, join the party. The reasons behind that stressed-out feeling differ for each person. Some talk about it, others don’t. But there’s one thing people have in common: When you’re stressed, you’l...
- 25269 Views
Preventive Care Services

BCBSIL Connect Team June 23, 2023

Take Advantage of Preventive Services Preventive check-ups and screenings can help find signs of health problems early, when they’re easier to prevent or treat . Your health plan covers some screenings and services with no out-of-pocket costs like...
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Do One Thing for a Longer, Healthier Life

BCBSIL Connect Team June 23, 2023

Better health can be yours at any age. And it may be easier than you think to make the changes that will have a positive effect on your health. We all know we should eat a healthy diet. But you may not know just how big an impact what you eat and...
- 15669 Views
Help Your Skin Help You

BCBSIL Connect Team June 23, 2023

Your skin has a big job. It shields your body and keeps out germs. And that’s just the start. It’s your body’s largest organ, and it deserves careful attention. Help Your Skin Help You Taking care of your skin is taking care of your...
- 12771 Views
Food Poisoning: Meaty Madness

BCBSIL Connect Team June 9, 2023

Summer fun often includes outdoor cookouts. Who doesn’t like good food grilled to perfection? Sadly, food poisoning can make things less appetizing — fast. When temps and spirits are high, so is the risk for food contamination at your wee...
- 4111 Views