Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise

“I Can’t Afford to be Sick!” Who among us can say we’ve never uttered that phrase? We catch a cold or the flu, contract a stomach bug, break a toe—or worse! Our livelihoods depend on our being able to do the things we must, and yet all too often our bodies let us down. Catching a cold or slipping on ice are all part of being human beings going about our day-to-day lives. Unexpected illness and disease pay a heavy toll on us and not just physically, but also mentally, and to a great extent, financially. But there are smart and inexpensive things we can do starting right now to make us healthier and less prone to illness.
 
HeCares is an integrative medical center with expertise in sports medicine, pain management, pediatrics, and fertility health. Here, they offer insight into how you can adopt a more healthy lifestyle that doesn’t require a large financial obligation. In fact, incorporating a more healthy routine into your life can, in return, save you money by keeping you at your productive best.
 
LACE-UP
 
Walking costs literally nothing and is something you can do anywhere. Health experts are even telling us that we should be walking 10,000 steps every day! Since walking reduces our risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression, it’s not a bad goal to set for ourselves. The average American walks less than half that amount daily, so don’t be discouraged if you’re not able to hit that mark on day one of your new routine. Plan on making gradual increases until you get there. You don’t need an expensive fitness tracker to count your steps, there are several affordable ones that will monitor your heart rate, oxygen, and even sleep for under $50.
 
DIVE IN
 
Swimming is great for our cardiovascular system. It builds muscle, reduces stress, helps us sleep, burns more calories than jogging, and is the best exercise for a full-body workout. Most cities have a free or low-cost community facility with an indoor pool, as do most YMCAs. Besides swimming, water aerobics is a great form of exercise as it builds muscle while avoiding putting stress on joints.
 
THE OTHER KIND OF PEDDLE
 
Taking your foot off the gas peddle and pushing the bike paddle is an ever more popular means of getting about town. In fact, most cities and suburbs are including bicycle paths in their plans to accommodate the rising need for bikers’ safety. Besides doing you a world of good health-wise, you’re saving money on gas and parking. It’s also better for the environment so even more to feel good about.
 
SAY NO TO TO-GO
 
It’s much easier to grab a bag of burgers and fries at lunch than to make a healthy meal to bring with us to work and school, or to pick up a bucket of fried chicken for the family’s dinner on the way home. Fast food means we’re filling up on meat and carbs, leaving little appetite left over for the fruits and vegetables we need to properly fuel our bodies. This leads to increases in blood sugar, inflammation, and blood pressure while depressing our mood and disrupting our sleep. Preparing your own meals ahead of time and freezing them is a cost-effective, timesaving, and far healthier alternative.
 
SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS
 
Now that you’re all-in on ways to stay healthy and save money doing it, you might consider actually turning that newfound lifestyle into a business. Maybe you love your bike so much, you open a bicycle repair shop. Or you decide selling make-ahead meals for busy families is right up your alley. Research ways into how to make that happen like using a service to form an LLC to reduce your liability and get some tax advantages if you decide to bring your like-minded friends into the business with you.
 
GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED FUN
 
Hiking, throwing the ball around the yard, picnics with homemade sandwiches and snacks, and getting together to prepare a meal are inexpensive, fun ways you and your family can live healthier, happier, and more productive lives. As HeCares reminds us, “Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Karen Weeks, Freelance Writer
Contact: [email protected]
Website: elderwellness.net