Cacao, Cocoa, Chocolate, and Your Health

At first glance, cacao and cocoa almost seem like the same word, but technically they describe two different products. All chocolate comes from the cacao plant, an evergreen tree that grows to 15 to 25’ feet tall and which is found in countries near the equator (such...

Explore Dream Getaways starting January 29

Get ready for your next team challenge! The Aetna Get Active – Explore Dream Getaways Challenge starts on January 29. Dream getaways aren’t always easy to come by—until now. See 25 of the world’s most beautiful sights, right from where you are. Traverse 1,665 steps to...

Eco-Friendly Cities Around the World challenge starts November 6

Get ready for your next team challenge! The Eco-Friendly Cities Around the World challenge starts November 6. Caring for our planet used to mean things like recycling and carpooling. Now, countries all over the world are coming up with some seriously cool sustainable...

Keen on Quinoa

Truth be told, I mispronounced quinoa for years as que-noah. This powerhouse of a grain is considered a ‘pseudocereal’ related to spinach and amaranth and deserves more respect. Its correct pronunciation is keen-wah and it’s worth getting to know its health benefits....

Active Minutes Challenge starts August 14

Get ready for your next challenge! The Active Minutes Challenge runs from August 14 to September 10. Registration is now open! Walking is one of the best ways to increase your physical activity. In this challenge, you’ll be asked to set a goal for how many steps you...

WHO’s Advice on Non-nutritive Sweeteners

From saccharine to stevia, artificial sweeteners (AKA non-nutritive sweeteners or NNS) have been around for decades and used by many to control calorie intake or blood sugar. For the most part, artificial sweeteners are on the FDA’s GRAS (generally recognized as safe)...