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It's possible to cut health care costs while still taking care of yourself

Date published: 10/19/2008

THERE'S NO avoiding it, the economy is a mess. Stocks are in a tailspin, banks are failing and fear is gripping even the most optimistic.

Everyone's trying to cut costs, but your health is not the place to scrimp. No one knows how bad the economy will get, but a major (or even a minor) health crisis surely won't help.

Some health problems are unavoidable, but there are relatively inexpensive things you can do to safeguard your health and bolster yourself to weather the coming financial storm.

LOW-COST HELP

Focus on things that are totally or almost free.

Get enough sleep. Lack of adequate sleep can have detrimental side effects such as decreased productivity, increased stress and weight gain.

Approximately seven to nine hours a night is recommended, although individual needs vary. Getting enough sleep costs nothing more than a comfortable spot and some quiet.

Exercise outdoors. If the weather allows, you don't necessarily have to pay to go to a gym. You just need a good pair of walking/running shoes and a safe street, track or trail. Or you can exercise at home to a DVD, or with activities like yoga, which calms the mind and requires little room.

Consider riding a bike. If you already have a bicycle (having to buy one would make this tip no longer inexpensive), consider riding to work or to do light errands. You'll get exercise, reduce stress, save on gas and help the environment.

Safeguard your bones by getting calcium and vitamin D from your food. Adult women need between 1,000 and 1,200 grams of calcium and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D per day. Instead of supplements, try to get what you need from your diet.

Getting adequate vitamins and minerals from our diets can sometimes be tough, but calcium and vitamin D have been added to a lot of foods, and most women can get enough by eating just three to four servings of calcium-rich foods per day--foods like dairy and soy products, fortified orange and grapefruit juices, some cereals, and leafy green vegetables like kale, collards and spinach.

Ramp up your intake of these foods, and you may be able to cut down on supplement costs.

Dr. Arlene Lewis is a gynecologist in private practice at Thrive! Health and Wellness Center for Women in Fredericksburg.

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Date published: 10/19/2008