Cut Back on Sugar for a Sweeter Holiday Season

GE Privacy

Introduction: protecting your privacy, enhancing your online experience

When it comes to data privacy, protecting your personal information is most important. We feel it’s also important to give you, your colleagues, and your family members a voice in the development of this web site and your overall experience with it. To do this, we need to collect certain types of information to help us evaluate how the HealthAhead web site is being used, so we can continually improve your experience and the content we offer to you. By tracking overall usage patterns, providing an easy channel for your feedback, and allowing you to tell us what content is most useful to you, we can refine our offerings and provide more of the content you personally find valuable.

Overall, we are committed to giving you the option to participate – or not participate – in a manner that’s right for you. Read more for how we do this.

Information we collect and how we use it

Identifiable Information Collecting

All methods of identifying yourself to GE will be optional and opt-in, may be updated by you at any time, and will not be required for all areas of the web site.

We will not collect any identifiable user information from the areas of the HealthAhead web site which do not require SSO (Single Sign On), unique User ID (Identification), and/or Password.

There are areas of the web site that require you to identify yourself to us (authenticate). This allows you to access certain parts of the web site that may otherwise be restricted for privacy and security purposes.

There are also areas that may provide the option to create a personalized profile. The information you provide is optional and what you tell us will determine the level of personalization you will experience.

Access to identifiable information is restricted to internal, administrative personnel and solely for purposes of providing web site support, awarding prizes and other recognition, and customizing the web site content and overall functionality for the user. However, we will also allow you to change your mind and opt-out of sharing personal information with us at any time.

Non-Identifiable Information Collecting

When you visit the HealthAhead web site, we track, collect and report on certain aggregate and non- identifiable information. In other words, the information we collect does not relate to a single identifiable visitor. It tells us things such as how many users visited our web site and what pages they viewed.

This non-identifiable data will be collected and stored in a secure database in the U.S., and may be viewed by GE. We will analyze this information to refine our web site to better reflect user preferences, such as the type of content users are searching for most, and to improve the usability of the web site and the user’s web site experience. The information may also be used for purposes of promoting the web site. The data will not be used for medical analysis or other medical purposes.

Cookies

Like many web sites, the HealthAhead web site uses browser cookies – bits of text placed on your computer’s hard drive when you visit. We use them to tell us things like whether you’ve visited us before, and to help us identify features in which you may have the greatest interest. We also use cookies to track country and language selection.

In the future, we may use cookies to track additional details, such as city and state.

We keep this information unless you don’t wish GE to capture this and choose to delete your cookie history. If you wish to stop accepting new browser cookies, get notification when you receive a new cookie, or disable existing cookies, the “help” portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how. Keep in mind, without browser cookies, you may not be able to take full advantage of all our web site features or have your preferences saved for future visits.

We also use Flash cookies on the web site to enhance your online experience. These are similar to browser cookies, but they store data more complex than simple text. Flash cookies, by themselves, cannot do anything to or with the data on your computer. In addition, Flash cookies cannot access or remember your email address or other personal information unless you provide the information on this web site.

Web Beacons

Certain pages on our web site contain “web beacons” (also known as Internet tags, pixel tags and clear GIFs). These web beacons obtain information such as the time the page was viewed, the type of browser used to view the page, and the information in cookies. Web beacon data does not include IP address. The web beacon data is stored at Google Analytics, a third party (see ‘Tracking and Reporting’ for more information on this technology).

Tracking and Reporting

Specifically we will track, collect and report on the following data using software from Google Analytics. For more information about Google Analytics, including information about how to opt out of these technologies, go to www.google-analytics.com

Our primary metrics include: Poll response rate, repeat visits, number of times content is shared, and visits by country.

The sub-metrics include:

Most Popular Content Types, Most Popular Content Topics, User Pathing, Exit Links, Bounce Rate, Traffic by Source (region), Time on Web site, Visit Time of Day, Unique Views/Page Views, Thumps Up/Down, Most Shared Content, Number of Times Content is Rated, Most Rated Content by Type, Language Selection.

We will also be tracking how much communicators, web site leaders and other HealthAhead operations teams are leveraging the web site to support and align their business, regional and web site specific efforts. Some of these metrics may be tracked using existing support central tools.

These metrics may include:

Number of Content Submissions by Region, Number of non-corporate Driven Promotions by RCs, Number of Promotional Downloads by Region, Support Central Survey

Feedback Form

Your feedback is important to the web site’s ongoing development, so we’d love to hear your opinions and ideas. To contact us, please use this Feedback form. We will not be able to respond directly, but all feedback will be reviewed, evaluated, and factored into future content decisions. Please note: this form is monitored by IT support staff only. Please do not submit any personal or medical information. And thank you in advance!

Poll and Quiz Responses

On the web site, we will conduct polls and quizzes to better understand user activities, attitudes, interests and knowledge across multiple health topics. These polls may also help us serve you better by asking questions that relate to the usefulness of our web site. We will not capture any personally identifiable information through the collection of poll response data. As part of these polls and quizzes, we will capture responses sorted by country. In the future, we may capture responses sorted by additional anonymous demographics such as language, affiliated GE business, work web site location, gender, etc.

Sharing Content with Family and Friends

We want you to share the web site’s content with important people in your life, so most articles, videos and slideshows can be emailed. To do so, we will ask you to provide your name and the recipient’s email address. We simply use this information to send the content as you request. At this time, we do not capture or store your, or the recipient’s, email address. Please see below to learn how we track and report on email sharing activity.

Please also review GE’s Social Media Guidelines

How we protect information

GE maintains administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, alteration or destruction of any information you provide on this web site. We use secure socket layer (SSL) technology to help keep the information you provide on this web site secure. See ‘Information We Share’ and ‘Information We Transfer’ for additional details.

Information we share

We do not sell or otherwise disclose personal information about our visitors, except as described here. We may share information provided by visitors with service providers we have retained to perform services on our behalf. These service providers are contractually restricted from using or disclosing the information, except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or comply with legal requirements. In addition, we may disclose information about you if we are required to do so by law or legal process; to law enforcement authorities or other government officials; or when we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity.

Information we transfer

We may transfer the information we collect on this web site to other countries where we do business, but only for the purposes described above. When we transfer your information to other countries, we will protect that information as described here unless otherwise required by applicable laws.

Links to other web sites

We provide links to other web sites for your convenience and information. These web sites may have their own privacy statements in place, which we recommend you review if you visit any linked web sites. We are not responsible for the content of linked web sites or any use of the web sites.

Children’s privacy

This web site is not directed to children under the age of thirteen and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of thirteen on the web site. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a visitor under the age of thirteen, we will delete the information from our records.

Some links on this web site may take web site visitors to web sites that are directed to children. These web sites have their own privacy notices that address children’s privacy. We encourage you to read these privacy notices if you visit any linked web sites directed to children.

Updates to our privacy & data policy

This Privacy & Data Policy may be updated periodically and without prior notice to you to reflect changes in our online information practices. We will post a notice on this web site to notify you of any significant changes to our Privacy & Data Policy, and indicate at the top of this policy when it was most recently updated.

How to contact us

If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy & Data Policy, or if you would like us to update information we have about you or your preferences, please contact us by visiting our Feedback Form.

Cut Back on Sugar for a Sweeter Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for indulgence. But when it comes to sugar, you might want to be careful about how much you consume. On top of the negative effects of sugar highs and sugar lows, recent research cited by Forbes linked sugar to poor memory, depression, and overeating.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found that on average, Americans consume a staggering amount of added sugar—around 156 pounds per year. Forbes reports that the human brain does need some naturally occurring sugars, such as those found in fruits and grains, to function normally. However, the excessive amount of added sugar that many people consume has been linked to negative health outcomes.

When your diet is too high in added sugar, your brain’s ability to produce a chemical called BDNF, or brain-derived neurotrophic factor, is diminished. Our brains need BDNF for basic processes, such as learning and forming new memories. According to research reported in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, low levels of BDNF have also been linked to other chronic conditions, such as dementia and depression.

What’s more, if you’re trying to lose weight, eating too much added sugar may put a damper on your best efforts. A study reported in Peptides, an international science journal, found that eating too much sugar over a long period might interfere with the body’s ability to recognize when it is full. The researchers theorized that this could lead to overeating, and possibly excessive weight gain.

To help prevent these problems, try some simple tips to help you reduce your sugar intake this season:

Swap Desserts for Fruit

You can cut down on your intake of added sugar by choosing foods that contain naturally occurring sugars instead. For a sweet dessert that contains no added sugar, fruits and berries are your best choice. By making the switch to a dessert of pure fruit, you not only avoid sugar-related health problems, but you provide your body with additional nutrients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a diet rich in fruits may help reduce your risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases.

Drink Fewer Sodas and Juices

While you may be aware of the types of sugary foods to avoid, you might not be so careful when it comes to beverages. According to research reported by CBS News, drinking just a single can of soda each day equates to 50 pounds of sugar each year. Consuming such a high amount of sugar increases the risk of a number of serious health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Although most fruit juices contain important vitamins and nutrients, not all juices are created equal. Many juices contain refined sugars, while other juices, like grapefruit “cocktail,” may actually be a mix of super sweet juices. These extra juices, like grape juice concentrate or apple juice concentrate, add more sugar to an already sweet drink.

For example, Prevention magazine reported on a sweetened grapefruit juice that contained 170 calories per 10-ounce serving. That equates to over 40 grams of sugar, or more than 10 sugar packets! Drinking ordinary grapefruit juice is a little better. According to Self Nutrition Data, unsweetened grapefruit juice contains 30 grams of sugar per 10-ounce serving – or a little more than 7 sugar packets. That’s an improvement, but you should still limit your juice intake. Remember to read the nutritional information before you start sipping, and keep in mind that carbohydrates and sugars are gram for gram equivalent on nutrition labels for juices.

Take the first step toward reducing your sugar-intake by cutting at least one sugary beverage from your day. Do you normally drink juice with breakfast or soda with dinner? Try to replace one of those drinks with water, seltzer, or herbal tea.

Avoid Added Sugars

How do you know which foods contain added sugars? By learning what to look for on food labels, you can avoid the added sugars found in many prepared foods. The Mayo Clinic recommends checking vigilantly for ingredients that end in the letters “ose”—like glucose, fructose, dextrose, and maltose. Other added sugars to watch out for include:

Cane juice or syrup
High-fructose corn syrup
Corn sweeteners
Honey Molasses Nectars
Fruit juice concentrate

HealthAhead Hint: Choose Health over Sugar

Although it can be tougher during the holidays to make healthy food choices, you can take steps to cut back on sugar this season. When the dessert tray offers cookies, pies, and cakes, opt for fresh fruits instead. If you have a choice between candy and pastries or healthier snacks like vegetables, low-fat cheeses, and whole grain crackers, choose the latter. And remember, you don’t need to cut out sugar completely. If there’s a holiday treat you’ve been waiting for all year, feel free to give yourself a little indulgence. The most important thing is to cut back on the added sugars that you consume on a regular basis. Do you eat a cookie every day at break time? Try replacing it with fruit. You’ll be amazed what a big difference a small change can make over time. While you might find it challenging to make the healthy choice, you’ll feel better in the long run – leading to happier holidays for years to come.