Eating healthy might be one of the best ways to increase your quality of life and longevity. Switching over to healthier foods is like purchasing health insurance in the form of prevention. However, some may think that eating healthier foods is more expensive. We are out to prove that this is not the case. This article will help you save money and eat healthy at the same time.

What is considered to be a healthy diet?

Before we can discuss the economics of eating healthy, we must first come up with a baseline for a healthy diet. First, it is important to remember that the best diet for one person may not be the best diet for someone else. Some people will do better on a diet higher in carbohydrates and lower in fat. Others might need to cut back on carbs and put more focus on healthy fats and protein. You may want to consult your health care professional if you are not sure what is best for you.

Here are a few general guidelines we can offer when it comes to eating healthy:

1. Lots of fruits and vegetables - Fruits and vegetables are alkaline forming and naturally detoxify the body. They also contain phytonutrients, which have been proven to prevent degenerative disease. If you have a carbohydrate intolerance, you may need to focus more on vegetables and less on fruits.
2. Protein - Everyone needs protein in varying amounts. Protein is broken down into amino acids, and amino acids are the building blocks of the body. Deficiencies in amino acids can cause many problems. The best sources of complete protein are: meat, eggs, fish and dairy products. If you wish to buy land dwelling animal protein; try to buy protein that is free of hormones and antibiotics.
3. Good Fats - There is some debate over which types of fats are actually “good.” For example, coconut oil has traditionally been labeled as a “bad fat” because of it’s high saturated fat content. However, cultures who have traditionally consumed coconut oil on a regular basis have had a lower incidence of heart disease. ¹ For more information on coconut oil and heart disease, read this great article. Other good fats that you need are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Healthy sources include: nuts, seeds, avocados and oily fish. Stay away from store bought vegetable oils and trans fats (hydrogenated oils).

The cost of eating healthy

Now that we have established which foods are healthy, let’s take a closer look at the cost of eating healthy. Is eating healthy more expensive? In our experience; the answer depends on how you go about purchasing your healthy foods. Here are some tips to get the most healthy food for your dollar:

1. Organic vs. Non organic - You don’t need to buy everything organic. While it is true that organic produce has higher nutrient content and generally less pesticides and herbicides, you can still get health promoting benefits from non organic vegetables and fruits. Use this list as a baseline for better purchasing decisions when it comes to non organic produce.
2. Homemade is better - Make your meals at home if at all possible. Make large meals and save the leftovers for a healthy meal later. Why? First, buying healthy prepared food is very expensive. Second, you will know exactly what you are getting in homemade meals, making these meals healthier for you.
3. Buy in bulk - Buy foods in bulk and store them in the freezer if possible. While it is better to buy some foods fresh (such as fruits and vegetables), you can buy and store grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and meats in the freezer. This will save you money.

What about healthy drinking water?

There are two fairly economical ways to produce pure drinking water: reverse osmosis or a water distiller. Both will remove most of the impurities from water, making it ideal for drinking. However, a distiller will also remove harmful pathogens from your drinking water. Carbon filtration systems do not remove mercury and other harmful contaminants from your drinking water.

What about supplements?

Supplements can be a great compliment to any nutritional program. In fact, supplements are becoming more and more necessary in today’s world because of poor soils and diets high in processed foods. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your supplements in order to save money:

1. Choose supplements that come from whole foods and are not synthesized. Yes, these supplements will generally cost more, but they will be much more beneficial to your health in the long run. One reason being that the nutrients found in supplements that come from whole foods are generally more bioavailable. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
2. Buy supplements directly from the manufacturer if possible. You can usually save money on your supplements this way by eliminating the middle-man and buying higher up on the supply chain.

Try T.J. Clark’s Legendary Phytogenic Mineral Formula. Why? First because our soils are becoming depleted in the vital trace minerals and elements that our bodies need. Second because our Legendary Mineral Formula aids in the absorption of all nutrients. Take it with your other supplements to get more nutritional value (which of course means more economic value).

Making the transition to a healthy diet

If you wish to make the transition to a healthier diet, realize that this process will not happen overnight. Start by incorporating a few healthy foods. Then slowly cut back on foods that are not as healthy. Here is a short list of generally unhealthy foods:

• Trans fats (hydrogenated oils)
• Meats and dairy containing hormones and antibiotics
• Processed foods
• Foods with preservatives such as MSG
• Sugary foods such as soda and candy

All of the above foods can be replaced with healthier alternatives. In some cases the healthy foods will cost less. Replace trans fats with avocados, raw nuts, raw seeds and coconut. Purchase hormone and antibiotic free meat and dairy products. To save money, put together your own meals free of preservatives. Learn to eat fruit in moderation instead of consuming soda and candy.

Eating healthy is the best health insurance

In the end eating a healthy diet is not necessarily more expensive, especially if you use the advice above. A healthy diet focuses more on quality and less on quantity. Healthy eating, over the long term, will more than pay for itself in the amount saved by preventing health problems. As a result, your quality of life will be better, and you will probably live longer.

Sources:

1. Coconut Oil and Heart Disease. Bruce Fife, N.D. Coconut Research Center. http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article10132.htm

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 8th, 2009 at 2:33 pm and is filed under Diet, Nutrition, Supplements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.