Nutraceutical Start Up Challenges A National Trucking Health Crisis

    HOUSTON, TX, April 26, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Andrew Thompson, an OTR (Over The Road) trucker with Wilson Logistics based in Springfield, MO, joined the trucking industry three years ago with ambitions of becoming a vital part of the nation's critical supply chain of trucks delivering goods to millions of Americans.

It wasn't long before Andrew's demanding schedule and daily routines began to take its toll on his health. It's not uncommon for OTR truckers to find themselves working six weeks or longer at a time with days lasting up to 14 hours, radical sleep schedules and limited access to healthy food choices can create a challenging environment. In a short period of time, Andrew gained almost 20 lbs of weight with elevated his stress levels.

Determined to find a better way to continue his career, Andrew spoke with hundreds of truckers across the country and found several veteran drivers dealing with major health problems ranging from diabetes to sleep apnea. "It's wasn't just the health issues," said Andrew. "In some cases, drivers found themselves with serious financial burdens from being sick because they were unable to work or ended up paying expensive medical bills."

"This national health crisis…" as Andrew calls it, "is also a matter of public safety."

There is no shortage of data to support Andrew's conclusions. As an example, nearly 75% of truckers suffer from dehydration. A study published in Physiology & Behavior in 2015 showed people who suffer from mild dehydration increase the frequency of driving errors such as lane drifting, late braking and crossing over the rumble strip (equivalent to a driver who has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent).

Statistics at the National Institute of Health show that more than 50% of truckers are obese as compared to the national average of 26.7%. Compared to the general population, diabetes is 50% higher among truckers and 87% of them have hypertension or pre-hypertension compared to the national average of 58.3%.

A trucker's lifestyle over time can lead to a variety of chronic illnesses, medical bills and prescriptions along with depression, insomnia, fatigue and a number of other issues that affect truckers and their families.

In recent years, truck stops have been taking steps towards healthier options - including salads, fruits, yogurts and protein bars. Some of the most popular truck stops, TA and Petro Stopping Centers, offer workout facilities to help travelers stay fit while over the road.

While the industry is taking small steps towards wellness, Andrew says "Unfortunately, that's not enough. Truckers need to develop habitual routines of health on their own which in many cases require training and commitment. There is also a lack of premium vitamins and supplements at these locations – truckers are massively deficient in nutrients."

Not seeing the changes that would make a major impact in the industry, Andrew took on the challenge himself and in December of 2021, he started his own nutraceutical company called GOAL Nutrition (https://www.goalnutrition.shop). Working with a manufacturer based in Atlanta, Andrew developed a series of premium supplements that are designed for the trucking lifestyle. Not only that, but Andrew's website publishes weekly a series of healthy recipes that truckers can prepare inside the cab of their own truck. Also, to ensure compliance for those truckers who are serious about making changes to their health, Andrew created a network of dietitians ready to help truckers achieve their personal health goals.

"My goal is to provide high quality opportunities to transform a challenging environment on the road into a healthy and safe place for truckers and their families today and in the distant future."

GOAL Nutrition is a nutraceutical start up that began in December of 2021. It's goal is to provide high quality opportunities in health for truckers and to transform a challenging environment on the road into a healthy and safe place for truckers and their families today and in the distant future. GOAL Nutrition provides an online store of custom supplements for truckers, FREE healthy recipes that truckers prepare inside the cab of their own trucker that will also save them money and Registered Dietitians who provide professional advise on how to commit to a healthier lifestyle on the road.

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