Reading Time: 4 minutes Three Inexpensive And Easy Hacks To Improve Your Health
If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that we’ve all become a little bit more health-conscious in the past couple of years. From washing our hands several times a day, to enjoying more meals at home with our families (and less costly meals out!), the focus on wellness has undoubtedly been a cornerstone in most of our lives.
However, despite everything we’re doing to stay healthy, we could still be inadvertently falling short on our wellness goals.
Fortunately, staying healthy doesn’t have to break your budget. In fact, it can be downright frugal, allowing you to reap the benefits of improved health – but without needing to spend an arm and a leg just to achieve it.
By taking a few extra budget-aware health steps in your day-to-day life, you can ward off both chronic disease. You can also potentially avoid the financial hardship that can also accompany it.
Skip The Fast Food
One of the best ways you can start improving your health today is by saying goodbye to fast food for good. While these meals can seem like an affordable option at the moment, they are actually much more expensive than you might initially realize.
When you compare the cost of fresh ingredients prepared at home to a combo meal, the idea of hitting the drive-thru on your way home can suddenly start to appear much less appetizing.
There’s no arguing that they’re fairly convenient. But the so-called benefits of chowing down on those greasy fries and fatty burgers stop there. Other than the ever-growing price of fast food, these meals are chock full of bad-for-you ingredients, like saturated fats and refined seed oils.
Over time, they can also start to take their toll on your waistline, leading to a host of weight-related medical conditions.
Instead, it’s a much better idea to prepare your meals at home. Even a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter and a sliced banana tucked between two slices of whole wheat bread is fast, easy, and far healthier than ordering takeout at your desk again.
Not only will you start to save money, but this is also a great opportunity to experiment with delicious and affordable fare, like heart-healthy beans and whole grains!
Focus On Gentle Exercise
The importance of engaging in regular physical fitness can’t be overstated. Exercise has been shown to be incredibly good for you. The benefits don’t stop at only improving your physical wellness, either. Working out can boost endorphins and improve both your mood and your mental clarity. This gives you a whole-body approach to improving your health. Plus, it can also be incredibly cheap, too!
Getting into shape doesn’t require a gym membership or fancy passes at your local yoga studio. It also doesn’t mandate costly workout gear or expensive tools or gadgets.
A basic pair of shoes and our Beginner Runner Guide: Best Tips For New Runners is all it takes. A few laps walking or running around the block can be enough to get your heart rate up. Even better, try to get a friend to join you on your runs or walks. If you do the time will fly by and it won’t even feel like exercise!
Take A Look At The Big Picture Of Your Diet
For some people, they may already be eating right and exercising, and yet they can still find themselves struggling with their wellness. This can understandably be quite frustrating, especially if they feel as though they’ve already done everything in their power to maintain their health.
If you’ve already been watching what you eat and you’re a regular on your local running trails, then it might mean that something else at play is affecting your wellbeing.
One thing that could be impacting your health could be hidden food allergies and sensitivities. In many cases, the symptoms of dietary intolerances can be subtle and harder to pinpoint.
Some of the lesser-known signs of hidden food intolerances can include gas and bloating, fatigue, brain fog, and even mood changes.
As it’s so tricky to try to diagnose yourself, it’s best to speak to a medical professional about your health concerns. If you can’t justify consulting with a registered dietitian, taking matters into your own hands can be just as effective.
A detailed and comprehensive food sensitivity test can help determine which foods are causing you issues. Plus they’re much more affordable than you may realize. In turn, you can get back on track with staying healthy!
In Conclusion
The fact is, the importance of remaining healthy is so much more than simply avoiding disease. It’s no secret that being in poor health can be quite costly in the long run.
By following these tips, and making your wellness a priority, you can help stave off any health concerns. You can reap the benefits of a healthier version of yourself – as well as enjoy a healthier bank account, too!
Erin is the mother of identical twin girls and their slightly older brother. She is a domestic engineer, and previously had a career leading customer service teams for a major HVAC company. Cleaning without harsh chemicals, and cooking easy and usually healthy meals are part of Erin's daily life. She volunteers with youth leaders, and genuinely wants to help others win. Erin has a degree in Communications, with a focus on Broadcast Journalism.