As Ben Franklin stated years ago, " the first wealth is health"....yet far too few people realize it.  Many people, if not most, scrimp on health services the minute things get tight or other opportunities to spend money arise... I E the holidays?  This week's topic is how to conserve money and improve your health at the same time.

#1: Recognize how expensive sickness is....illness costs money, doctor bills, surgeries, medications, tests, anesthetics, and transporatation and time to fufill these interventions are cripplingly expensive and that is before one even begins to think about the pain and suffering of being sick.  Traditional Chinese medicine and tradition had folks pay their Chinese doctors when they were well not sick, that way they were accountable for doing a good job.

#2 Recognize that being less than optimally well has, in economic terms, an "opportunity cost". That is:  what could you be doing if you were in wonderful health?  Earn more, be more,love more,  do more with your life.  When counselling clients I often refer to building up their health banks.  Life events can inexplicably cause large withdrawals of our health banks but investing in one's health means that you can weather those withdrawals without going bankrupt.

#3 Health is not an entitlement.  Like everything else in life....you get what you deserve and what you work for.  That doesn't mean that each chapter of life is fair...but in the longer run it is. 

#4 Eat a lot less and eat alot more nutritiously.  Fast food  becomes very expensive and very inconvenient when you factor in the destruction it does to your waistline, the wrinkles you'll have, how you may  have to retire early because you're perceived as "old", the cholesterol lowering & diabetes medications you need etc.   You do not need an expensive diet program when simple changes you can make at home will have you eating better, enjoying it more and saving money and your health at the same time.  Eating seasonal foods saves alot of money... for instance: right now we are eating alot of acorn and spaghetti squash.  My dog LOVES squash and sweet potatoes as part of his diet...he refuses dog "treats" now that he is accustomed to better food.

#5 Concerned about "organic" food prices check out sales and join a coop.  Even Whole Foods has terrific weekly sales on staples and organic meats that make them par with other markets and the toxic burden, nutritional value, and cost to the environment makes them superior choices for us all.  As I've started to vocalize lately, American's focusing only on price has turned us into a nation of imported junk from China....it's UH cheap though

#6  Eat out less...you will lose weight, eat much better, and have more energy and save big money if you pack a lunch or bring healthy leftovers to work.  I cook foods everyday and once a week or so make large quantities of chili or stew or soups and freeze them.  They are even more delicious this way.

#7 Take the money you spend on cable and buy a gym membership.  If you're like me, you'll make great friends, get in shape, and be far more engaged in wellness, and like minded people who either are or are in the process of getting in great shape. 

#8 Focus your dollars.  Most of the people I see visit multiple practioners and spend lots of money for myriad services when really only one or two are altering their health.  Figure out where you are getting the most benefit and be loyal there. I really extend myself for loyal customers who are loyal to my clinic.  Copays for unecessary visits add up quickly. 

Combine services in one day to receive a discount.  This is a program I'll begin in Janurary.

#9 Take advantage of discounts.  I run specials and coupons every month and very few people take advantage of them. Very few of you have joined me on Facebook and Twitter and the purpose of having these pages was to be able to communicate some great savings opportunities quickly.    Values are there but you have to be conscious to take advantage of them and think or even spend in advance at times but the savings are there.  Read the emails of businesses you frequent you'd be surprised at what may be available to you and your family.

#10 Focus on one health challenge at a time.  This enables you and I to get results much more quickly, and results in less expenditure than trying to fix everything at once.  I prefer to focus on the most serious issue first and move forward from there.

Want to save even more money on supplements?? visit our store, FREE shipping and great prices and even volume discounts on products like Douglas, Pure Encapsulations, Thorne and Metagenics!

You'll be receiving an email of Apple-A-Day Clinic's  specials shortly.  Some of you will also be receiving gift certificates in the mail in January because you have been such exemplary clients.

Please put your health and wellbeing above dollars and you'll manage to have both.

Best of Health!

Visit our Natural Product Pharmacy and receive GREAT prices and FREE SHIPPING on hundreds of FRESH,  natural products from professional brands like: Metagenics, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations, Integrative Therapeutics, Thorne Research, and Carlson Labs! We ALSO give 10-20% OFF each order over $99, discounts are applied at check out.

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

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