By James Florence
Headlines, news anchors, internet service homepages, all announce the unpleasant reality: we are in the midst of a serious national financial crisis. Nearly everyone feels its impact.
We dread looking at our monthly retirement savings statements; we flinch at the grocery store checkout stand; we cringe at the fuel pump.
Our pocketbooks may not be the only victim in times of fiscal uncertainty. Excess stress associated with unemployment may increase the risk for certain chronic health conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
But a recent large study by the National Bureau of Economic Research (Christopher J. Ruhm, “Healthy Living in Hard Times,” Journal of Health Economics, vol. 24, Mar. 2, (2005): pp. 341-363), suggests that this does not always have to be the case. In fact, overall risk for death may actually decrease during times of recession.
It appears that during temporary economic downturns smoking and obesity rates decline and physical activity rates increase. People tend to make better food choices, spend less money on unnecessary items like cigarettes and junk food, and they walk more.
These activities, coupled with reduced work hours and more leisure time, actually promote overall well-being and even longevity, but only in the people who make these sensible lifestyle changes. Those who don’t are not helped and may even be at greater health risk.
There’s even biblical precedent for this. After losing their jobs, their homes, and even their country, Daniel and his friends had better physical and mental health than others when they followed a healthy diet and trusted God fully in spite of their circumstances (Daniel 1:1-16).
In keeping with this “Daniel Effect,” here are a few suggestions for maintaining your physical health even if you’re financially strapped. Also included are some websites you can visit for reliable advice if you need help getting started. Of course, health information alone should never replace the counsel of your physician. The “big three” health activities, good for anyone at any time are:
· If you smoke, now would be a good time to stop for good.
· If you are overweight, drop the pounds you need to, but do it sensibly.
· If you don’t exercise regularly, begin making it a habit. Walking would be a good place to start.
· Eating out less gives you better control over portion sizes, ingredients, and cost.
· Prepare healthy homemade meals in advance and take your lunch to work.
· Replace expensive and unhealthy junk food with natural snacks like apples and baby carrots. Get creative; look for bargains. Eat fruits and veggies in season.
· Drink lots of water (tap water costs less than bottled); try flavoring with a squeeze of lemon or lime.
· Purchase foods in their natural state: less processing means less fat, no additives and less money.
· Eat a more plant-based diet. Ounce for ounce beans have half the calories, a third of the protein and none of the fat and cholesterol of beef.
Recommended websites for more health information are:
· To quit smoking, http://www.smokefree.gov/.
· To eat better or lose weight, www.webmd.com/diet.
· To view the nutritional content of foods, http://www.nutritiondata.com/.
· To get tips on eating for less, http://www.weeatcheap.blogspot.com/.
· To start an exercise program, www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise.
Florence is associate professor of Community Health at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
Reprinted by permission from the March 25, 2009 issue of the Baptist & Reflector.
