On average we spend over $8000 per person per year on health care alone in the US. This doesn’t include pharmaceutical drugs which the average person spends just under $1000 per year.
Granted we have lot’s of room to grow in dropping the cost of prescriptive meds & health insurance in this country, but that is a whole other topic.
Imagine for a moment, that if we took that average amount of roughly $9000 per person per year and put this money into preventative, supportive health measures, how might that change our health for the better?
When I see clients we always discuss diet & lifestyle changes. I encourage them to veer toward organic/local whole foods, the response I often get is; “But I can’t afford it. Organic is too expensive.”
Or perhaps I’ll encourage a client to increase their physical activity by joining a gym or yoga studio. Again I get the response, “I can’t it’s too expensive.”
Most of the clients I see, have been to many different doctors, had surgeries, & treatments and are sometimes on so many different varieties of drugs they forget why they take them and find themselves working with me because they still feel lousy, have seen little improvement in their health and are seeking integrative health support.
Imagine if we were to put our $ into preventative health measures now, instead of waiting to get sick and spending far more money later, how could that change our health for the better?
You are what you eat from your head down to your feet! {remember this??!!}
It’s true that organic foods are more expensive, but one thing will always remain true for many things in life- you get what you pay for!
I also find that the if you shop for produce, bulk grains and beans you can save a lot more money than buying organic items that are processed and packaged like crackers, chips and cookies. Don’t forget that the “organic movement” is at the forefront right now and people are continuing to learn the importance of what we put into our bodies. That means that the more we put our $ where it matters, the quicker the prices will drop on organic whole foods and the more everyone will benefit.
There are SO MANY types of movement that benefit the body & serve different body types and conditions. Between yoga, swimming, dancing, or even walking to the end of your driveway to get the mail- everyone benefits from moving their body. Human beings are bipeds for a reason- we weren’t build to sit all day long!
Although I find gym & yoga memberships are helpful and valuable (taking care of yourself in group settings can be a lot more fun and you get the wonderful feedback of the teachers to keep you on track) you don’t have to spend money on them if you just aren’t able. We’re living in an age of the amazing internet where you can find gazillions of FREE videos to follow for free! Yoga, kickboxing, belly dancing, hip hop dance , even twerking lessons- lol! Use them!
The same goes for supplements folks. If you take a multi vitamin supplement and your pee is florescent yellow, chances are, you’re peeing out most of, if not all of your multivitamin- and you’re money! Brands we find at CVS, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC or Walmart are often straight synthetic often poor quality vitamins that our bodies have a very difficult time breaking down and absorbing for use.
That being said not every vitamin in the health food stores are trustworthy either. And don’t believe all of the highly marketed vitamins out on the internet either. Talk to a knowledgeable sales person at your local health food store or ask your practitioner for help. Look for full disclosure, food grade/ food based vitamins. You’ll pay more, (there are discount sites!) but I promise your body will absorb them and you’ll feel the difference.
Let’s not wait till we get sick to spend money for care in the emergency room, or that bottle of antibiotics or MRI for that torn muscle. Let’s invest in ourselves, our health, and our sustainable, vital pain free, disease free future! We all deserve it.
Let’s keep our immune systems strong and ready to fight off viruses and microbes by adequate water intake, movement, whole organic foods, herbal support & restful sleep and stress support like breath-work & meditation- right now, in this moment & every day that follows. Taking care of ourselves is a full time job but no one else can do it for you. But when you do, you won’t regret that you did or the investments you made for yourself.
The next time you’re in line at the grocery store cringing at the price of organic beef or balking on making that appointment with your chiropractor, Jin Shin Jyustu therapist or renewing your yoga membership~ remember that you’re voting with your dollars, you’re helping to make a change for yourself & others, you’re creating a shining example for everyone around you and you’re putting your health and yourself first. There’s nothing more powerful than that, because remember we’re all ripples in the pond of the Universe. When we thrive we’re better friends, colleagues, partners, spouses, parents and employees- when we thrive our lives and everyone in them thrive too. The choice is yours! Invest in yourself, you won’t regret it.
Be Well! xo Amanda
Invest In Your Health… You’re Worth It.
