Private healthcare companies have been gaining a newfound interest regarding wellness as more families are investing and spending more time managing their overall health. In fact, most health companies offer annual client membership, including basic health services, such as yearly medical checkups, 24/7 telehealth services, specialist consultations, and regular doctor visits.
But as the COVID-19 pandemic turned into a world health concern, people began to look for ways to protect their families from all the impending health risks. Just like investing in real estate and important possessions, people began treating their health as their most important asset. Public health spending also increased in local states regarding safe food and water, infection control, and sanitation.
If you are keen to invest in your family’s health and future, there are plenty of ways that don’t require too much spending. In fact, the earlier you make their health a priority, the more benefits you will reap from it in the future. After all, health is an essential investment you could ever make. With this in mind, here are some ways to invest in your family’s health and well-being.
Sleep
Committing to adequate and quality sleep is one of the greatest health investments you’ll ever make. It plays an important role in our body and mind’s daily functioning, yet many choose not to pay attention to it. Electronic devices and demanding schedules at work and school can cause disruptions to regular sleep routines.
Insufficient sleep can lead to mood changes, poor concentration, chronic fatigue, and chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. In fact, research found that people with less than seven hours of sleep every night are three times as likely to acquire cold symptoms compared to those with eight hours of sleep.
Children and teens are those who highly require consistent sleep hours and wake times than adults. Young people who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation are likely to suffer from poor mental well-being and inefficient academic performance. Meanwhile, sleep-deprived adults are at risk of becoming biologically older, fatter, prone to diabetes and heart disease. It can also affect the nervous system handling fight-or-flight reactions by leaving you bugged with stress.
Getting enough sleep is more than just having quality rest. A night of deep sleep helps the brain increase its protection against toxic proteins accumulated during the day.
To help the family get the right amount of sleep, encourage a consistent bedtime routine by establishing a sleep and wake schedule, finishing the last meal at least two or hours before sleeping, and staying away from gadgets and stimulants when you’re about to rest.
Diet
Following a balanced diet is the best investment plan to support and maintain good family health. Although this rule might be an obvious way of living a healthy life, it also appears to be the hardest to maintain. Consumption of unhealthy food often stems from extreme reliance on takeout food, busy schedules, lack of time to cook, and poor diet monitoring.
Keeping track of good eating habits leads to bigger pay-offs for your family’s health and future. You can start by setting an example to the children by observing a healthy outlook towards food, such as encouraging them to eat food they are not familiar with and exposing them to various kinds of vegetables and fruits. Another way is to eliminate process food on the family’s diet, such as unhealthy fats, food preservatives, sugar, and artificial flavors and sweeteners.
Instead, try incorporating whole and organic food varieties when possible. These include fruits and vegetables rich in minerals, vitamins, and essential fiber. You can also reduce pesticide-heavy produce, such as potatoes, kale, spinach, apples, and strawberries.
Meditate
Apart from exercising and following fitness routines, meditation is a great way to counteract stress, stimulate nerves, enhance well-being, and promote clearer thinking. This works best for older family members who can no longer do strenuous workouts and hardworking family members who go through long bouts in front of the computer screen.
Daily meditation practice will only require at least 10 minutes per day. It is also fairly easy to do since there are plenty of guide videos online. Incorporating meditation into your daily routine yields significant cognitive benefits, such as reducing anxiety, lowering blood pressure, and improving creativity, attention, and memory.
Investing in your family’s health doesn’t always involve gym memberships, expensive supplements, or any private health service. While we have become too focused on our life’s financial aspects, it is important not to overlook the importance of having quality health as the best investment.
