It’s no secret that a healthy, balanced lifestyle leads to longevity and happiness. But is there a connection between health and wealth? A quick assessment shows that a country’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) correlates to the quality of healthcare available.
Countries with access to clean water, well-functioning healthcare institutions, and a nutritious diet also boast higher wages. Need extra motivation to take a daily walk or hit the gym? Below are seven reasons explaining why the healthier are wealthier.
1. High stress levels damage your health
Stress weakens the immune system, and anyone who’s had a cold knows the embarrassment of blowing your nose, sneezing, and coughing a thousand times during a meeting. Do people notice that huge pile of used tissues next to your laptop? Yes, they do.
But stress doesn’t just make you vulnerable to the latest virus. Stress disengages you from your job and your peers. High stress can also lead to both stress-eating and stress-spending, meaning that your waistline expands while your wallet shrinks.
Dr. June Stevens says, “Stress is a normal part of our daily lives, yet when prolonged it can lead to illness and disease. Altered cortisol, referred to as the stress hormone, contributes to hormone dysregulation.
Symptoms of sleep disturbance, weight gain, mood shifts and fatigue are our body’s way of letting us know our hormones are out of balance. Please listen to your body. Left untreated, conditions such as insulin resistance, thyroid disorders, estrogen dominance and autoimmunity often manifest.”
Listen to the entire interview I have with Dr. June Stevens, ND, about stress, here.
2. Sleep well at night, earn more in the morning
Although healthcare professionals recommend seven to nine hours of sleep per night, our busy schedules often prevent us from going to bed at a reasonable time. Since the pandemic, fewer of us have long commutes that force us to get up before the sun rises, however, a constant connection to our smartphones means that we stare at a brightly lit screen for hours before bedtime.
Even when we know we need beauty sleep, insomnia or curiosity makes checking a buzzing phone irresistible. However, research has shown that a lack of sleep decreases focus and can encourage impulsive behavior. To get a better night’s rest, turn off your phone, put blackout curtains over the windows, and take 10-minute power naps.
3. Increase both health and wealth with a proper diet
Although nutritionists recommend consuming six tablespoons of daily added sugar for women and nine for men, the average American eats a whopping 20 tablespoons of sugar a day. Excess sugar has been linked to a greater risk of obesity, depression, inflammation, heart disease, and many other health problems.
Doctors also warn against high cholesterol, which is why you should do both your arteries and your wallet a favor by eating healthy proteins like nuts and beans instead of steak. A plant-based diet is better for your health and finances.
4. Regular exercise helps boost work performance
Exercising releases dopamine, a feel-good hormone in your brain which increases your confidence and happiness. Regular exercise will also improve memory and cognitive function by delivering energy to your brain.
A great workout at the gym boosts your creative thinking while taking a long walk by the beach will help you relax. Try yoga and meditation for relieving stress and improving flexibility.
5. Spending on healthcare has an excellent ROI
Spending money on your health is one of the best investments you can make. “When health is absent, wealth is useless,” advised Herophilus, the ancient Greek physician. Good health leads to a better quality of life, which means that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Choosing organic, sustainable meat and produce over a heavily processed burger from McDonald’s may be more expensive for your wallet, but it is invaluable to your health.
6. The expense of an unhealthy lifestyle
Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and eating out regularly will not only deplete your health but your bank account as well. Think of all the money you can save by avoiding cigarettes, sugary cocktails, and restaurant food.
While you can, of course, treat yourself to a glass of wine or a dinner out, cooking food at home will save you hundreds of dollars a month, if not a week. Developing self-control will help you avoid both the candy aisle and spending more than you earn.
7. Preventative care saves money
Getting enough sleep, managing stress levels, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, investing in quality healthcare, and avoiding unhealthy lifestyles are all preventative measures that will save you money in the long-run.
Although gym memberships are expensive and may seem to take up too much of your monthly budget, the benefits you will gain from regular exercise far outweigh the costs.
It’s better to spend a little more now on the strategies outlined above and save yourself expensive medical treatments in the future. And that future might not be too far off– high blood pressure can affect young adults in their twenties and thirties.
The cumulative effects of an unhealthy lifestyle will catch up with you. Wouldn’t you rather spend your retirement playing with your grandchildren or on a golf course rather than in a doctor’s office?
Tune into Women Talk Finances Happy Hour for our weekly conversation about money and life.