Invest in Your Health
As the cost of health insurance continues to increase in our country, the question becomes: do you even need health insurance? Absolutely! However, while the insurance system is designed to protect you against the risk of high medical costs and is crucial in the event of an emergency, a healthy lifestyle is truly your best health insurance policy. Don't wait until you are sick to go see a doctor! Prevention is the best defense against illness. Imagine if the only reason you need health insurance is for the occasional emergency?
Can you imagine going to see a doctor, not because you’re sick but because you want to optimize your health? Because you want to be as healthy as humanly possible and feel amazing?
This can be a reality by implementing best practices when it comes to healthy lifestyle choices and habits. The following are some important goals to consider to improve your health, well-being, quality of life, and longevity.
Strive to Maintain a Healthy Weight
Although there are certainly some genetic factors when it comes to weight gain, lifestyle decisions play a crucial role. Consider this: a person with a healthy weight incurs an average of $2,700+ less in medical costs yearly than an obese person. There are several reasons for this, including the costs of surgeries, and prescription medications for lifestyle diseases.
According to the American Cancer Society, a poor diet (like the Standard American Diet — SAD – high in processed sugars and seed oils) and inactivity lead to obesity and are the root cause of approximately one-third of cancers.
Obesity often leads to metabolic dysfunction which can lead to the development of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes. If you can manage your weight throughout life, you are less likely to develop these “plagues of prosperity”. A healthy diet full of nutrient-dense foods, which includes an abundance of “real food” (animal products, vegetables, and fruit) is important for weight maintenance. Food is a double edged sword. It can be our best medicine, and our worst enemy.
Exercise to Boost and Preserve Your Health
People who maintain a regular fitness regime tend to be healthier; this is no surprise. A 17-year study conducted with 2,560 men who were actively participating in a daily 30-minute exercise program had a 50% reduction in cancer mortality rate.
Exercise also assists with the reduction of belly fat, which can help eradicate metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. It increases blood flow throughout the entire body which improves circulation and cardiovascular health. It can also reduce inflammation, and helps boost your immune system.
Studies have also reported a reduction in harmful stress levels with exercise. This is particularly helpful in the prevention of stress-related lifestyle conditions such as stroke. Women benefit from regular exercise, as working out can help regulate hormones such as estrogen. Studies also reveal that women who exercise regularly are 20-40% less likely to develop endometrial cancer.
Try incorporating intentional cardiovascular workouts into your day – like walking, biking, or dancing to boost your circulation. Most people live exceptionally busy lives, so if you cannot set aside 30 minutes a day, remember that any daily physical activity counts towards the total. This is referred to as Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenisis (NEAT). Take every opportunity you can to walk instead of ride. Choose parking spots further from the door. Don’t circle the parking lot looking for the closet spot. Ditch the elevator and use the stairs, wash your car, mow the lawn, mop or vacuum your floors. At lunchtime, try taking a walk around the block or in the park to clear your head and break up the day’s monotony – this will also help boost your energy for the rest of the day.
Microworkouts can also be extremely effective. This is “performing brief feats of strength in the routine course of a day.” A set of push-ups here and a set of deep squats there. Again, everything you do throughout the day counts towards the total. It is less effective to jam your workouts into a one hour session and then be sedentary for the rest of the day.
Avoid Tobacco Products – Especially Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, hypertension and stroke. Smoking decreases your ability to fight illness. Pregnant and lactating mothers are also strongly advised to quit smoking. If you do smoke, you run the risk of needing health insurance, as you will be more prone to developing an illness.
Prioritize Sleep
Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night to function effectively. Sleep deprivation can put you at risk of hypertension, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and can lead to weight gain. It increases daytime grogginess and fatigue. People who feel this way are more prone to accidents. By getting enough sleep, you are less likely to develop lifestyle diseases.
If you do suffer from insomnia, there are steps you can take to help you get more sleep. If you can, disconnect from electronic devices like TV’s, laptops, and mobile phones 60 minutes before bedtime. Instead, try reading a book, taking a leisurely stroll around the block or winding down with a warm bath.
Make sure you have a comfortable mattress, or try adding a memory foam mattress pad, as many people wake up during the night because they are uncomfortable. Sleeping on a good mattress will also help prevent back problems. Keep the room cool and dark. Dim the lights after the sun goes down. Candlelight/firelight can be extremely hypnotic!
Take that Well-Deserved Vacation
Vacations can do wonders for your sense of overall well-being. They can help you relax and lower your stress levels. Taking a break does not mean that you need to book the most expensive resort for weeks on end, as even a tranquil weekend getaway can make a massive impact. If you can’t get away for a weekend, simply book a few hours at a spa or meditation center, or take an afternoon drive in the countryside.
Why is it a Good Idea to Invest in Your Health?
Investing in your health now, can pay massive dividends in the future by saving you from developing chronic, preventable disease. The providers at MTN HLTH have encountered and treated thousands of patients who disregarded their healthcare in their first 5 decades of life and are suffering the consequences of those lifestyle choices. Their retirement years are spent going from one doctor's appointment to the next, adding one medication after the other trying to reverse damage that has already been done. DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU! Most chronic disease processes are 100% preventive with the right lifestyle modifications. The MTN HLTH team can help you to invest in your health.
We believe that taking ownership and control of your health is empowering. Not only for your present state of wellbeing, but also for your future. The health choices you make now will undoubtedly impact your future. That is undeniable . That is why we encourage our patients to invest in themselves by investing in their health now and taking authority over it. If you are struggling to find answers or don't know where to begin, the medical providers at MTN HLTH want to partner with you on your health and wellness journey as you move toward your health, fitness, and longevity goals. Book a discovery call today with one of our team members and see how MTN HLTH can help you invest in your health!
