Give Me a C
With all of the changes on the horizon in medical care and medical insurance, there is a lot of uncertainty in the air. Like it or not, there are changes coming, and none of us can really control the direction the health care system is going to take. So, let’s focus our efforts instead on things we have some modicum of control over: our own health.
It’s all about diet and exercise
It should go without saying by now that you need to be eating healthy. You need a good variety of healthy foods in your day to day diet. These should include lean meats and proteins, plenty of vegetables, lots of fruit, and probably a lot more whole grain than you’ve been eating.
So, what changes do we really need to make to our diets? Well, if you’re a typical American, you probably need to lay off the bacon and burger and eat more fish and chicken (grilled, not deep fried). You also need to stop counting potato chips as a vegetable and getting some good green and yellow veggies into your diet instead. And stock your house with fresh fruit for snacks instead of the high fat crackers, Twinkies, and other manufactured snacks that we already know aren’t very good for us.
Get up and get moving
We also know that we should be exercising every day, but studies show that most of us don’t. Would it really be that difficult for us to turn off one half hour television program and go for a walk instead? Too many of us hear the word exercise and immediately conjure up images of people grunting and working out in the gym. And, let’s face it, while the images of the potential results may appeal to us, most of us aren’t willing to work that hard. But, you don’t have to go to that extreme to benefit your health. A half hour of regular aerobic exercise (like walking or swimming) is enough to give us tremendous health benefits.
When you need a little help
Another thing we can do to improve our health and avoid some of those doctor’s visits is to supplement our diet with vitamins and minerals. Particularly antioxidants like Vitamin C. Studies show that increasing Vitamin C intake can help stave off common illnesses such as colds. Taken together with Vitamin E, the effects are even more pronounced. Consult your health or nutritional professional concerning what types of supplements and what amounts are best for you.
Living a healthy lifestyle, in the end, is not only more satisfying, but also less expensive than simply going to the doctor all of the time. Just because we have medical insurance doesn’t mean we need to create a lifestyle that demands that we use it all the time.
Photo via Denise Cross
