| STAYING HEALTHY DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC | | | | vegetables or Healthy foods are expensive. Lets do a |
| TIMES | | | | quick comparison. A cup of coffee and a doughnut |
| Many of us are feeling the economic crunch these | | | | can cost up to $5. A 20 oz. Bottle of soda costs more |
| days. Money is tight and the bills continue to arrive in | | | | than a $1. In contrast, a 5-pound bag of frozen carrots, |
| our mailboxes. Stressful times such as these; demand | | | | broccoli, and cauliflower costs $5 at Sams Club and a |
| resiliency on our part, particularly in terms of our | | | | 1-pound container of pre-washed organic salad greens |
| exercise and diet habits. Interestingly, a mentally | | | | cost about $4. Both of these items can be consumed |
| stressed state can promote inflammation throughout | | | | over several days by several people. |
| the body. Avoiding mental stressors is not likely to be | | | | A large sweet potato that can be split between two |
| easy during these times, so we must consider the | | | | meals cost about 75 cents. While certain nuts are very |
| importance of avoiding inflammation caused by other | | | | expensive (macadamias for example), many are very |
| factors, such as a poor diet and lack of exercise. | | | | reasonable. Lean meats, fish and chicken are |
| When you hear the word inflammation, you probably | | | | reasonably priced and can be added to the |
| think first about swelling, redness, pain, etc., that can | | | | vegetables and sweet potatoes. Fresh fruit remains |
| occur following an acute injury, irritation or infection. In | | | | very reasonable and should be one of the snacks of |
| general, this is short-term, localized inflammation | | | | choice. Dark chocolate is inexpensive and can be |
| (confined to a certain area of the body). But | | | | mixed with raw nuts and raisins for a great snack or |
| inflammation can also occur without physical injury. This | | | | desert. |
| is general, body-wide (systemic) inflammation and it | | | | It is not more expensive to eat healthy, |
| can cause subtle biochemical injuries to body tissues, | | | | anti-inflammatory foods, if one shops wisely. Certainly, |
| increasing the risk of developing a number of serious | | | | preventing the expression of chronic disease will save |
| diseases over time. | | | | countless dollars and heartaches associated with the |
| Lean meat, fish, chicken, fruits, vegetables and nuts | | | | accelerated morbidity and mortality associated with |
| form the foundation of a diet that limits a postprandial | | | | pro-inflammatory living. In short, we cannot afford to |
| inflammatory response. This is referred to as an | | | | eat any other way but anti-inflammatory. Paying for |
| anti-inflammatory diet. Not surprisingly, this diet is | | | | expensive medical care will put most of us into debt |
| recommended to help prevent the above-mentioned | | | | even when economic times are good. So it makes no |
| pro-inflammatory diseases, the treatment of which | | | | sense to pursue disease and expensive medical care |
| represents a massive drain on financial resources, both | | | | with pro-inflammatory lifestyle when economic times |
| personally and for the businesses. A common | | | | are not so good. Talk to your doctor for more |
| argument is I cant afford to eat lots of fruits and | | | | information. |
