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Health Insurance:
A Healthy Diet Starts at the Grocery Store
Your health
insurance will take care of you when you're sick or under the weather, but by
eating healthy foods, you can avoid a range of common health problems.
It sounds
simple enough: Eat healthy; be healthy. But all too often, our fast-paced and
hectic lifestyles make it difficult to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Some days it seems we barely have time to eat, let alone run to the grocery
store or cook a well-rounded meal.
If you can
keep your cupboards stocked with good foods, however, then good eating is sure
to follow. That's why we've compiled a few tips to help you navigate your local
grocery store.
- Make a list (and make sure to take it with you!). Grocery
stores are getting larger and larger, and if you don't have a list in hand,
it's easy to wander aimlessly, grabbing things you don't need and forgetting
things you do. Generally, the essentials– produce, bread and milk– are on
opposite sides of the store so that you have to traverse the place in its
entirety just to collect what you need.
By arming
yourself with a list, you'll be more prepared to conquer the vast expanse
between apples and yogurt. Keep your list in hand and don't go down aisles that
don't supply something you need.
- Love thy produce. If you must wander aimlessly, do it in the
produce section. Meander between broccoli florets and watermelon halves
and fill your basket with color. Different colors represent different
vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. The more naturally colorful (sorry,
Cheetos don't count!) your diet, the healthier you'll be. Stock up on
plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and remember the brighter the
better.
- Be bold! Variety is the spice of life, and this old adage
certainly applies to grocery shopping as well. Try a new fruit or
vegetable every week… Who knew kohlrabi was so good in salad, or that
loquats could be used to make jam? It's tempting to eat the same things
over and over again, but unless you have a diverse diet to begin with,
you'll be hard-pressed to get all the vitamins and minerals you need by
simply repeating your food habits.
Have fun. Try new foods and recipes every week. You never
know when you'll find a new favorite!
- Fish, don't hunt. Generally speaking, fish is healthier for you
than red meats. Red meat often increases cholesterol as well as the risk
of heart disease, while fish is known to reduce cholesterol and is
recommended by heart doctors far and wide. Fish contains omega-3 fatty
acids, which have numerous potential benefits including decreasing
triglycerides, lowering blood pressure, reducing blood clotting, and
enhancing immune function.
Red meat, on the other hand, has been linked to several
different types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer. Try to eat mostly
fish (salmon is particularly healthy and tasty) and poultry (skinless white
chicken or turkey breast is best). You don't have to give up red meat
altogether, just limit your intake and try to buy lean cuts– round, chuck,
sirloin, tenderloin– whenever possible.
- If you can't say it, don't buy it! Try to buy fresh, organic and
natural products and avoid processed foods whenever you can. As a rule of
thumb, if it's bagged, boxed, canned or jarred, has more than a handful of
ingredients listed, or lists ingredients with names you can't pronounce,
it's more than likely processed. Processed foods are known to have
carcinogenic properties, and have been linked to obesity and heart
disease. So if it's a long and healthy life you're after, buy unprocessed
foods with wholesome ingredients you can pronounce, like wheat, eggs, and
milk!
- Plan your route. Keep in mind that most of your staples, like fruit,
veggies, meat, and dairy are located around the perimeter of the store.
Skirt the edge of the store for what you need and try to steer clear of
the center aisles, where all the junk food is lurking.
The grocery
store can be a tough place to conquer, especially if you're trying to maintain
a healthy diet. By learning how to avoid the many pitfalls that are
intentionally placed in your way, you can avoid diet setbacks and successfully
stay on the path to good health!
Maintaining
a health insurance plan that meets your needs is as important as maintaining a
healthy diet. At Esurance, we know how important it is to have health insurance
coverage that you can depend on. That's why we've partnered with
eHealthInsurance, a leading online source for individual and family health
insurance. Get your free quote online, and compare
plans side-by-side to get the best available rate.
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