The corporate wellness program offered by Beneplan Inc (Twitter @Beneplan) and the House of Verona (Twitter @YafaSakkejha).

1. Results-Oriented Corporate Wellness
“I really appreciate the healthy food,
“My stress levels were lowered [from the House Of Verona]. When “Powerful and inspiring.”
immediately.” you get over 40, this stuff becomes so
important.” David Hodder
Michael Laur David Miller
Former Mayor of Toronto

2. What We Do
We introduce nutrition and exercise into workplaces, with a focus on real results, such as increasing energy
levels, getting people off prescription medication, and reversing diabetes.
People know that eating
vegetables is good, but in
reality, it is difficult to
implement. We use tactics
that are proven to bring a
horse to water and make it
drink.
To ensure results, we
employ face-to-face contact,
within and outside of the
office. We also teach
nutrition and cell biology to
employees, in laymen
terms, so that they have a
strong foundation on why
health is important.

3. Why is Wellness Important in the Workplace?
Nutrition Improved More Greater Productivity More
+ Exercise Brain Function1 Energy2 ability to focus3 + Efficiency Output
Less Less Less Less Less
depression diabetes heart disease cancer Absenteeism4
1. “There is a Cure for Diabetes,” by Dr Gabriel Cousens MD http://www.amazon.ca/There-Cure-Diabetes-21-Day-Program/dp/1556436912/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257952710&sr=8-1
2. House of Verona study,April 2009; n=100 http://houseofverona.com/about/study/
3. “Depression-Free for Life,” by Dr Gabriel Cousens MD http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.ca%2FDepression-Free-Life-Gabriel-
Cousens%2Fdp%2F0060959657&ei=Sdb6SomAJJOkMcPZ6M8K&usg=AFQjCNHw8PhQzyaMrJBbs5Lfb0uYKul2RQ&sig2=s56ibmlGCKrRCe-gynmALA
4. Organizational Wellness: A Meta-Analysis. Kizzy M. Parks and Lisa A. Steelman: Florida Institute of Technology. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. 2008, Vol. 13, NO. 1, 58-68.

4. Why is Wellness Important in the Workplace?
The Journal of Occupational
Health Psychology published a
major meta-study on corporate
wellness examining results of 17
studies reviewing 7,705 people
with absenteeism data.
Conclusion: participation in
an organizational wellness
program was associated with
decreased absenteeism
(mean effect of -.30
(p<.005)) 4
4. Organizational Wellness: A Meta-Analysis. Kizzy M. Parks and Lisa A. Steelman: Florida Institute of Technology. Journal of Occupational Health
Psychology. 2008, Vol. 13, NO. 1, 58-68.
5. Stambor, Z. (2006, March). Employees: A company’s best asset. Monitor on Psychology, 37, 28-30.

5. Why is Wellness Important in the Workplace?
Saves money Increases competitive
advantage Attracts talent
Reduces drug, paramedical &
disability costs. The International Journal of
Workplace Health Management People who value health are more
GlaxoSmithKline’s wellness likely to choose a job offering
program saved them $5.5 million reported that employees eating
nutritious food could provide wellness over one that does not.
(Stave, Muchmore & Gardner, organizations with a sustained (Parks & Steelman, 2008)7
2003)6 competitive advantage.8
6. Stave, G.M., Muchmore, L., & Gardner, H. (2003). Quantifiable impact of the contract for health and wellness: Health behaviors, health care costs, disability, and workers’ compensation. Journal of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine, 45, 109-117.
7. Organizational Wellness: A Meta-Analysis. Kizzy M. Parks and Lisa A. Steelman: Florida Institute of Technology. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. 2008, Vol. 13, NO. 1, 58-68.
8. Nutritious food intake: a new competitive advantage for organizations? Jeffery Houghton, Christopher Neck, Kenneth Cooper. International Journal of Workplace Health Management. 2009. VOl 2; Issue 2; Page 161 - 179; ISSN:
1753-8351 http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/17538350910970228

6. Executives Believe in Wellness
“There is a direct relationship between wellness
and corporate financial performance.”
-Keith Briscoe, President, Brisk
Marketing
“You have companies like Safeway that have been
able to hold their costs flat for their employees at
a time when other companies are seeing double-
digit inflation in their health care.”
-President Obama, 2009
“Since I attended your lecture, I have completely
quit smoking … energy levels have been growing
daily…who would have though one lecture
could impact my life so profoundly.”
-Managing Editor at a Major Canadian
Magazine

7. Case Study: Truck Driver
Before
Dave weighed 430 lbs, had arthritis, stage 2
colon cancer, diabetes, and kidney failure.
His Action
Dave switched his diet to eating more raw
fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole
grains
Results
• Within 4 days, he reversed his diabetes
• Within 6 months, he reversed his cancer
• Lost 203 lbs
• Abundance of energy
• Able to withstand 14-hour driving shifts
without McDonald’s or coffee
• Only takes 2 types of prescription drugs,
Watch his story here:
down from his previous dosage of 20 brands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XChao-
XxUJE&feature=player_embedded

8. How We’re Different
Other Programs The House of Verona Program
• Employees have little face-to-face contact • More motivation is done face-to-face
with wellness programs • We focus on off-site activities in addition to on-site
• Most work is done done online or ones, to minimize time cut into the workday
through forms and pamphlets • We know the tactical “how” ways to get employees
• No emphasis is placed actually reversing to stay healthy
diseases and unhealthy conditions • We have seen remarkable results, from reversing
diabetes to reversing gray hair, and are in a stronger
position to understand what truly reverses disease

9. Some of Our Results

10. Basic Program: Level 1
For all employees
Element Results & Proof
1 - Motivational Lunch & Learn It’s proven that people change lifestyle
Seminars - Quarterly habits once they understand the scientific
An inspiring speaker comes into the office knowledge behind their choices (Source:
over lunch to kick-start employees’ Dr Gabriel Cousens, M.D.(1))
motivation to be healthy. Topics: “Foods
that Help Burn Fat”, “Reversing Diabetes
Through Diet,” “Reducing Cholesterol”
2 - Health inspiration emails – bi- An email with inspiring quotes, success
weekly stories, and health motivation is delivered
An email is sent to employees who opt-in to employees’ inboxes. Extrinsic
for the service. Examples of topics motivational sources (coaches, interviews,
include: emails, etc) have been shown to improve
• How to kill junk food cravings long-term success rates. Source:
American Diabetes Association (9)
• Intro to reversing diabetes
• Foods that give & rob you of energy
3 –Support Groups Offsite - The #1 reason why people fall off health
Monthly streaks is due to a lack of support. When
Similar to a Weight Watchers meeting, people meet with others and see that they
committed employees opt in to receive are not alone, and learn from others’
advice, inspiration, cooking classes, and motivational strategies, the success rate
free healthy meals and juices in a group goes through the roof. Weight Watchers
format. has always had the #1 success rate in the
industry because their weekly support
meetings are mandatory. (Source: The
Globe And Mail, 2006)

11. Basic Program: Level 2
For employees who opt-in and want more help
Element Results & Proof
5 – Nutritional Consultations Once people realize that they are in control of
• Employees who opt in sit down their own health destinies through sound
with a nutritionist to work out an nutritional education, motivation and long-
individual health strategy term success is greatly supported. Perceived
• Employees submit their autonomy was seen as a strong predictor of
information to nutrition experts long-term weight loss in one study published in
and are provided with coaching and the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
feedback (10)
5 - After-work fitness clubs Guided 30-minute workouts that are intense
• Employees who opt-in participate enough to break a sweat produce endorphins
in activities with colleagues, such as and helps in the creation of dopamine and
dodgeball, volleyball, bowling, serotonin. Employees flush with these
rock climbing tutorials, and chemicals are more likely to be happy at work,
running groups. less moody, more positive, and more energetic.
Endorphins bind to opioid receptors, with
evidence suggesting it has similar effects on the
body as opium and morphine, without the
negative effects of such drugs. (8)
6 – Team Challenges Participation and wellness increases
• Popular office competitions, such substantially when there is group support for a
as The Biggest Loser, are organized health initiative. The competitive, fun, and
for employees who wish to camaraderie nature of team challenges yield
participate. happier and healthier employees.

12. Level 3: Business Class Program
To reward or retain extraordinary employees
• Wii Fit in the office
• Healthy cooking
classes offsite
• Health Gift Kits
once per quarter
(Superfoods, natural
skin care, yoga
passes, etc)
• Replace chairs with
Swiss balls
• More access to top
nutritionists

13. Program Type: Level 1 Level 2 Business Class
Motivational Lectures   
Inspirational Emails   
Support meetings   
Corporate Wellness Consulting   
Team Challenges   
After-work Fitness Clubs   
Nutritional Consultations   
Wii Fit in the Office   
Healthy Cooking Classes   
Healthy Gift Packages   
Swiss Ball Chairs   
Price per employee per month $7.00 $8.00 $56.00
Members of the Beneplan Co-operative enjoy this program with no cost.

14. Contact
Yafa Sakkejha
House of Verona
http://houseofverona.com
1.800.252.2826
Direct line: 416.702.9232
Other: 416.863.6718 x252

15. References
1. “There is a Cure for Diabetes,” by Dr Gabriel Cousens MD http://www.amazon.ca/There-Cure-Diabetes-21-Day-
Program/dp/1556436912/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257952710&sr=8-1
2. House of Verona study,April 2009; n=100 http://houseofverona.com/about/study/
3. “Depression-Free for Life,” by Dr Gabriel Cousens MD
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.ca%2FDepression
-Free-Life-Gabriel-
Cousens%2Fdp%2F0060959657&ei=Sdb6SomAJJOkMcPZ6M8K&usg=AFQjCNHw8PhQzyaMrJBbs5Lfb0uYKul2RQ&sig2=s56ibmlGCK
rRCe-gynmALA
4. Organizational Wellness: A Meta-Analysis. Kizzy M. Parks and Lisa A. Steelman: Florida Insitute of Technology. Journal of Occupational
Health Psychology. 2008, Vol. 13, NO. 1, 58-68.
5. http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/health36-eng.htm
6. 884 participants from a police force, chemical, and banking industries in the Netherlands. Lechner, de Vries, Adriansen & Drabbels 1997
7. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56470
8. Poeaknapo C, Schmidt J, Brandsch M, Dräger B, Zenk MH (September 2004). "Endogenous formation of morphine in human cells".
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101 (39): 14091–6. doi:10.1073/pnas.0405430101. PMID
15383669.
9. Motivational Interviewing Improves Weight Loss in Women With Type 2 Diabetes: Delia Smith West, PHD1, Vicki DiLillo, PHD2, Zoran
Bursac, PHD1, Stacy A. Gore, PHD3 and Paul G. Greene, PHD1
10. http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/30/5/1081.abstract
11. Motivational predictors of weight loss and weight-loss maintenance. By Williams, Geoffrey C.; Grow, Virginia M.; Freedman, Zachary R.;
Ryan, Richard M.; Deci, Edward L. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Vol 70(1), Jan 1996, 115-126.
12. Stambor, Z. (2006, March). Employees: A company’s best asset. Monitor on Psychology, 37, 28-30. 6. Stave, G.M., Muchmore, L., &
Gardner, H. (2003). Quantifiable impact of the contract for health and wellness: Health behaviors, health care costs, disability, and workers’
compensation. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 45, 109-117.
13. Organizational Wellness: A Meta-Analysis. Kizzy M. Parks and Lisa A. Steelman: Florida Insitute of Technology. Journal of Occupational
Health Psychology. 2008, Vol. 13, NO. 1, 58-68.
14. Nutritious food intake: a new competitive advantage for organizations? Jeffery Houghton, Christopher Neck, Kenneth Cooper. International
Journal of Workplace Health Management. 2009. VOl 2; Issue 2; Page 161 - 179; ISSN: 1753-8351
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/17538350910970228