Invest in Health, Save Money

These days, many people assume that getting and staying healthy is an expensive endeavor. The assumption is understandable. After all, organic and so-called “healthy” foods in the grocery store tend to be way more expensive.

But the truth is, getting and staying healthy doesn’t have to be an expensive task reserved for the top one percent. Everyone from students and single mothers to CEOs can live well on the cheap.

Start with Preventive Health

If you live in the United States, you understand first-hand how expensive healthcare can be. It goes without saying, but you can avoid costly health-care bills by not needing care in the first place.

Of course, getting sick isn’t always avoidable, but there are steps you can take to minimize your chance of getting a hefty hospital bill. Many chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes can be prevented by simply making healthier lifestyle choices. By avoiding, or at least delaying, the onset of these conditions with healthy food and regular exercise, you can save money on doctor visits, lab tests, medication, and equipment.

Now, “eat healthy and exercise” is the answer you were probably expecting. But what does that mean, exactly?

Add Whole Foods to Your Diet

No, this isn’t an advertisement for the upscale grocery chain. Whole foods simply means unprocessed food. This term includes apples picked from a tree and even meat grilled at home instead of being smoked, cured, or otherwise treated for taste.

Now, fast food may seem more of a bang for your buck in terms of calories and fullness, but home cooking (which necessitates using whole foods) is more of a bang for your buck in terms of nutrition.

Here are a few tips to get you started on eating more whole foods:

• Too busy to cook? Make a bulk batch of home-made food on Sunday night and eat it throughout the week.
• If you’re tempted to eat out, remember that eating at home for a whole day can be way cheaper than eating out for a single meal.
• Frozen food is convenient and not necessarily bad. There are even arguments that frozen vegetables are more nutritious than fresh.
• Use salt-less alternatives to add flavor, such as herbs (both dried and fresh), onions, and garlic.

Enjoy the Power of Water

If you live in an area where clean water is free and available, take advantage of this privilege. Drink water, not juice or soda. Sugary drinks like juice and soda are huge culprits to blame for America’s obesity problem. By simply cutting out or reducing sugary drinks, you effectively cut out a significant number of useless calories.

Plus, think about the savings! Your daily afternoon latte may only be $4, but one latte per workday adds up to a whopping $20 a week and about $80 a month!

Take Human-Powered Transportation

Cars are expensive. They break down and require mechanical repairs. Plus, the gas they consume is more expensive than ever. Insurance isn’t cheap either, especially if you’re young.

To save money and be a little more active, consider an alternative. Bikes, for example, have perks:

• Bikes are dramatically cheaper than cars.
• They do not require licensing fees or insurance.
• They do not require gas; you are the gas!
• They can handle a variety of terrain.
• They give you a built-in workout during your commute.

If you live too far from your destination to bike, try taking public transport. Yes, you may get a longer commute, but that time spent on the bus is a fine time for relaxation, organizing your schedule, reading, or listening to audio books.

Using public transport naturally forces you to walk more, since you can rarely bus from doorstep to doorstep. If you want even more exercise, just get on one stop later or get off one stop earlier.

Care for Your Mental Health

While often neglected, mental health has a serious impact on your physical health. “People with depression are at higher risk for other medical conditions[,]” says the National Institutes of Health. Stress is associated with inflammation, for example.

Moreover, it’s a sad reality that mental health services, like other health-care services, can get very expensive in America. And it makes many people delay in getting help.

If you suffer from a serious mental health condition, by all means, please go get professional help. However, if you just want to improve your overall mental well-being, you don’t need expensive therapy. Instead, do research on evidence-based self-help therapies, such as cognitive-behavior therapy.

Save on Medication

Realistically, at some point, you’re going to get sick, and you’ll require healthcare. Medications can be quite expensive, but you can offset some of this cost by buying from an online pharmacy referral service. International and Canada drugs from licensed pharmacies, accessed through referral websites, can be a safe and affordable solution to rising pharmaceutical costs in America. You can find common prescription drugs like ADVAIR DISKUS® and CELEBREX® on these websites.

Invest in Health Today

By taking care of yourself today, you can rest assured tomorrow that you’ve done everything in your power to save your hard-earned money. Don’t let your money go to outrageous medical bills. Instead, spend it on good food, healthy activities, fun times doing things you love, and happy memories made with the people you care about.