Staying healthy

We know that you’re interested in saving money, and we can help with that. But there are a number of things you can do yourself to save on healthcare, by requiring less of it!

Here are some basics:
Exercise. If you don’t already get regular exercise, get started. Aim to perform up to 30 minutes of moderate physical activity several days a week. It needn’t be exercise for the sake of exercise alone. Try sports, dancing, or even “power walks.”

Eat more healthy foods. Especially important are low-fat (or nonfat) milk and dairy products, vegetables and fruit, and whole grains. Also incorporate in your diet: lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs (in moderation) nuts and beans. Eat foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and sugar.

Avoid tobacco. There are tips for quitting smoking at: http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm and at http://www.smokefree.gov. Or call the National Quitline: 1-800-QUITNOW.

Drink alcohol only in moderation. Limit yourself to two drinks a day or less if you’re under 65. If you’re older than that, make your limit one drink per day. What is “one drink”? A 12-ounce bottle of beer or a wine cooler, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

Watch your weight. One way to do this is to be aware of the total calories in the food you eat, and then make it a point to burn them off with exercise. If you have significant weight gain or loss, see your doctor.