How would our health be different if we used the environment to guide our lifestyle decisions? And when I say environment, I mean that literally. If we paid attention to how the Earth reacted to our decisions, what might be different?
Although this isn’t a new idea, I was reminded of this notion at the 2009 Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability conference, or LOHAS. Ray Anderson, founder of InterfaceFLOR, discussed changes in his carpet design and manufacturing that has resulted in a 71 percent reduction of greenhouse gases. By utilizing “bio-philia,” his team has moved forward with innovations that have changed the way they do business for the good of the environment and their bottom line.
His idea was to look at nature and follow its lead. Work with the concepts that already exist instead of manufacturing solutions that go against the grain. It just makes sense. How would that translate to our health? I see quite a few ways, and I’m presenting one below.
Cows eat grass. At least that’s what their bodies are made to do. But cows that produce most beef in the supermarket are fed grain. Why? Because it’s cheaper, it fattens them up faster and it’s easier to provide.
Interestingly, by putting cows back out in the pasture and letting them do what they do naturally, we jumpstart the amazing cycle that allows flora and fauna to support each other in a symbiotic relationship. Cows eat grass. They put manure back into the field to facilitate grass growth. Cows are healthy. Grass grows.
The health benefits are notable as well. Research has shown that meat and eggs from animals that are allowed to move about and exercise normally have increased levels of key vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids. And by eliminating hormones and bacteria, we are not contributing to the risks of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Certainly, this issue is more complex, but I think we need to ask questions about where our food comes from and how it was cared for before it reached our plate.
DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
As Operation Planet Savers (OPS) enters its third week of agent training, agents around the country have been completing missions, creating missions, and commenting on one another’s missions with a vengeance. However, two agents have separated themselves from the rest of the pack.
These two agents have a combined total of 23 completed missions and have commented on 20 missions…amazing work in just 16 days! Congratulations, Agent Danger and Agent HayHay! Your hard work and dedication to OPS has earned you the title of “Agent of the Week.”
Those of you not in the know may be a little confused—and that’s ok! If you’d like some clarity—and some free fun for the whole family—visit www.humanagames.com/ops and sign yourself and your kids up for some secret agent training, compliments of Humana and Disney’s upcoming summer blockbuster, “G-Force.”
Now entering the third week of gameplay, OPS is a four-week-long game that challenges kids to complete unique physical and mental missions in order to become secret agents. Throughout the game, kids will have an opportunity to discover new ways to become active—physically and mentally—through one-of-a-kind physical missions and captivating mental missions.
Agent HayHay is week two’s Agent of the Week. This hardworking agent has completed a whopping 16 missions, and gave us feedback on 18 missions. Agent HayHay’s comment on the Trash mission demonstrated her newfound awareness and dedication to protecting her environment: “Me, Mom, Dad and my brother started around our house and down our street. I never knew people threw so much trash out of their cars. We ended up with one big garbage bag. What a way to treat the planet we live on. It’s awful.” Thank you, Agent HayHay, for cleaning up our planet, and we look forward to hearing your Radio Disney interview soon!
Agents like Danger and HayHay are playing OPS as you read this—are your kids playing? By registering for OPS, your kids have the chance to win prizes like iPod nanos, an interview with Radio Disney, and more! During the week of July 13, three registered agents (along with a parent/guardian) will be randomly selected to attend the “G-Force” movie premiere in Los Angeles, where they’ll walk the red carpet and be interviewed by Radio Disney.
So if the kids are getting restless and that family vacation in August seems like a long way away, give OPS a try. Registration is free, easy and online…what are you waiting for?!
DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
It’s an exciting time to be a part of Humana’s Innovation Center these days. In case you haven’t been keeping up with all of the hustle and bustle, we’re on a mission to make the Summer 2009 a summer of activity for kids everywhere.
After getting 1,600 kids to walk around Planet Earth the equivalent of two times during the American Horsepower Challenge, the next step is to keep kids moving and engaged while school is out.
Operation Planet Savers is designed to do just that - with prizes, holograms, movie clips, and the opportunity to be named “Agent of the Week.” Read more about it here.
Today, I want to recognize last week’s Agent of the Week, CODENAMED: Agent Danger.
If you click on the YouTube video below, you’ll note that, in Agent Danger’s own words, an entire family is engaged in physical activity stemming from a reality based online game. From Agent Danger’s heroic completion of the Ground Attack Mission, which included running around the backyard for five minutes, to Agent Danger’s mom timing the mission with Agent Danger’s sister’s iPod, everyone seemed to pitch in to ensure that Agent Danger was able to successfully complete an incremental step toward the achievement of G-Force Agent status.
DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
We had over 1,600 kids around the country playing a video game based on their exercise . . . which was amazing. In the AHPC, they were actually competing with their US member of Congress! During the course of the AHPC, the kids walked the equivalent of two times around the earth. The game will start up again in the fall.
This game is a blast . . . targeted at kids 7-9 years old, it’s a game that is meant to keep kids active over the summer. It’s also a unique way for us to connect with Disney (the movie leverages the characters and story from Disney Pictures’ upcoming film, "G-Force.") I’ve been playing it with my daughters (9 and 5 years old) and they love it. In fact, you can see a video of them working on their first mission, "The Bear Walk," here.
We’re really excited about the possibility of using games to impact health. And now we’re tapping gamers to bring us their best ideas. We’ll be developing a lot of games over the next year; will one of them be yours? We’ll also be releasing a video to promote the contest on Monday; believe me, you’ll want to see it. It features dance moves from our own Naimul Huq, Martin Reimer, Chris Hall and Shane Regala. Watch this space on Monday.
*We were the platinum sponsor for the 5th annual Games for Health conference in Boston*
Games for health is a new industry, but it’s growing fast. Grant Harrison, Paul Puopolo and a few other IC-ers attended this year, and will be writing about their experience next week.
*I presented at the New Media Academic Summit in Washington, DC*
Edelman has been putting on the New Media Academic Summit for a few years now, and the event was really impressive. I got to meet some real new media luminaries like David Weinberger (author of the über-influential Cluetrain Manifesto) and Dan Gillmor (influential journalist bridging the gap between traditional and new media). I have no doubt that I was able to make a fool of myself in that august company! And I was on a panel with some incredible folks as well – Richard Brewer-Hay, eBay’s chief blogger, Aaron Lilly, who’s working on Microsoft’s Bing, and Alexandra Wheeler, who is the digital strategist for Starbucks. Interestingly enough, I presented Starbucks’ "MyStarbucksIdea" as a case study to my boss on Tuesday night; little did I know I’d be sitting on a panel with its creator the very next day!
Whew! It has been a wild few weeks. You can keep up with us through the event tracker on crumpleitup.com; if we’re visiting your neighborhood, be sure to come by and say hello!
DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
How would our health be different if we used the environment to guide our lifestyle decisions? And when I say environment, I mean that literally. If we paid attention to how the Earth reacted to our decisions, what might be different?
As Operation Planet Savers (OPS) enters its third week of agent training, agents around the country have been completing missions, creating missions, and commenting on one another’s missions with a vengeance. However, two agents have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. 
It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the consumer innovations team, so I wanted to give you some mini-updates on what’s been happening.
