Celebrating Healthiest State Month at Delta Dental of Iowa

Posted on October 12, 2023 in Company News

Each October, Delta Dental of Iowa joins with the Healthiest State Initiative to celebrate Healthiest State Month. As a health and wellness company, we believe healthy smiles and healthy lives are closely connected. That’s why, throughout the month, we focus on making healthier choices by following the 5-2-1-0 healthy choices count habits.

How can you make healthier choices? 

• Eat 5 fruits or vegetables each day
• Reduce daily screen time to 2 hours or less
• Spend 1 hour or more doing physical activity
• Drink 0 sugary beverages — choose water instead!

Wellness in Action at Delta Dental of Iowa

Delta Dental of Iowa has a mission to improve lives and bring smiles to all Iowans. We encourage everyone to become more involved in their health and the health of their communities. Here are some ways that we encourage Iowans to get more involved in their wellness.

Take a Walk

Studies show that sedentary lifestyles, including people who sit for long periods of time, may be more likely to develop heart disease or diabetes. By taking a break, going for a short walk or bike ride, or even standing while you work, you can reduce upper back and neck pain, regulate blood sugar levels, increase energy and improve your mood.

Delta Dental is proud to sponsor the annual Healthiest State Walk to raise awareness for the importance of taking activity breaks throughout the day. Each year, we promote the annual walk in our newsletters, and we host several walks at our facility for our team members. Through social media, we invite others to participate in this fun statewide event.

See us take to the sidewalks in these photos from the 2023 Healthiest State Walk.

Make It Ok

Another wellness program that we support is the Healthiest State Initiative’s “Make It Ok” campaign. This program was created to raise awareness and increase understanding about mental illness.

Did you know that a lack of physical activity in your day can not only create physical health concerns but can also add to feelings of anxiety or depression? Being active can help us relieve stress, increase energy and improve our mood.  Take intentional activity breaks throughout the day to give your body and your brain the boost it needs

Rethink Your Drink

Educating students about the importance of choosing water over sugary drinks is another way Delta Dental supports communities. Sugary drinks are a leading source of added sugar in our diets. A high intake of sugar among children is associated with being overweight, displacement of milk consumption, and dental cavities.

Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation promotes the importance of drinking water through its funding of the Rethink Your Drink program. Through the program, schools and community spaces across Iowa can apply to receive new water bottle filling stations that make drinking water more accessible. The fountains also promote sustainability by encouraging the use of refillable water bottles.

Focus on Your Health in October

We hope you’ll choose to focus on health with us throughout the month of October, either by taking a walk, riding a bike, or making healthier choices using the 5-2-1-0 program. Delta Dental of Iowa is committed to the importance of overall wellness, and we hope to help build a healthier and happier state. 

Learn more about the Healthiest State Initiative.