The Cost of Health

That cheeseburger. This cigarette. That unused gym membership. A few too many drinks. 

Sound familiar? We’ve all been there in one way or another. And it may not be the end of the world right now, but these decisions will add up. 

Regardless of your age, it’s never too early or too late to start thinking about your health. Every choice you make affects your well-being. People tend to think that if they aren’t sick, they’re healthy. This is not true.

             

As Americans, we are overweight, sedentary and have a slew of daily habits that are literally killing us. The New England Journal of Medicine reported in 2008 that nearly 40% of deaths in the United States are preventable. That’s 900,000 people a year who could still be potentially living had they made a commitment to their health. Disturbing, to say the least.

             

So what can you do about it? To put it simply... change. It doesn’t have to be huge, but the little changes you make in your lifestyle for the better will pay dividends later. If you take care of your health, you will be  significantly reducing the cost of health care in a myriad of ways: doctor’s visits, prescription pills, insurance premiums, surgeries, and the list goes on and on. 

In 2004, the USDA reported that medical costs incurred by people with obesity-related problems were about $10,000 higher than people of a healthy weight. It makes cents and sense to adopt a preventive health care strategy now, so you’re not paying for it later.

            

Let’s be honest, taking care of yourself does cost money. Fruits and veggies aren’t free, but they are cheaper than your Super Sized Big Mac meal. Gym passes aren’t cheap. However, you can always walk around your neighborhood, swim at the public pool or catch a pick-up game in the park for free. With a little effort, you can make healthy affordable in the short term, and lucrative in the long run.

           

Preventive health is saying no to that cigarette, no to that second piece of cake, and no to that sixth beer. It’s passing the Burger King on the way to the gym and not driving through. It’s grabbing a salad at your college cafeteria, even though mom’s not there. It’s getting enough sleep. It’s not making excuses.

It’s time to be your own best medicine. So make the change today.

To learn more, visit www.chi-health.com.

"Make a Change Mondays"

Today, we launched our first of many “Make a Change Mondays.” To go along with our new week health challenge, here are five changes for a healthier you.

1)  Eat breakfast. You grew up hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It may seem counterintuitive that eating will help you lose weight, but breakfast wakes your metabolism out of its slumber and fuels your fire for the rest of the day.

           

Director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh medical center, Leslie Bonci, R.D., M.P.H., says that, “"Not eating breakfast may reduce your metabolic rate by 10 percent." This means that you need to eat breakfast– everyday.

2)  If your office isn’t on the first floor, take the stairs. According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, a 150 lb. person burns five calories per flight of stairs. Sure it’s not a miracle fix, but climbing stairs kick starts your heart rate and breaks up the monotony of sitting at your desk all day.

3)   Switch out you chair at work for an exercise ball. Using a large balance ball will alleviate that chronic lower back pain that plagues the cubicle-bound work force.

           

The ball forces you to engage all of your core muscles to stay balanced. And they’re more fun than your standard rolling chair too.

4)  Drop that candy bar in favor of a healthier dessert or snack. We’re not the type to tell you to stay away from sweets and pick up an apple– that’s common sense– but cravings defy all common sense, so don’t even go near the candy aisle.  

Instead, try a Clif Kid Z-bar. With no hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup, this crave satisfying dessert only costs you 130 calories and delivers 8 grams of whole grains. So there’s nothing to feel guilty about. Grab the chocolate brownie bar. You’ll thank us.

5)  Go to bed when you’re tired, not when the clock says so. Your body has its own internal clock. Listen to it. It will thank you the next day.

We’d love to hear your health tips and tricks. Don’t hesitate to share, you may even win a prize.

                       

1)http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16472929/ns/health-mens_health/

4)http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_clif_kid_zbar/

Letter from the President

Dear Friends,

The big earthquake in Japan has caused an imminent nuclear power plant disaster. People are afraid of the leakage of a major uranium fission product, Iodine-131 (I-131). Due to its mode of beta decay, I-131 is notable for causing mutation and death in cells, leading to thyroid cancer, bone marrow cancer, leukemia and other diseases. Now many people are taking iodine pills to avoid damage caused by I-131 exposure.

For those living in the United States, the chance for radiation exposure is pretty slim. However, for protection from radiation exposure, we suggest taking seaweed or kelp for a month. Both are excellent natural sources of iodine. We also recommend taking Asparagus Extract and Reishi Spore Extract.

Asparagus Extract contains active ingredients with immune-enhancing, antioxidant and cell protection properties. Asparaginase is listed in the USP Drug Information book as therapy for some forms of cancers of the blood. Folic acid, besides having protective properties against neural tube defects, is a crucial factor in DNA methylation, synthesis and repair. Glutathione has been shown to protect cells against the harmful effects of chemotherapy and radiation.  

Reishi Spore Extract is used in Chinese Medicine as a longevity tonic. Various studies have shown that Reishi Spore Extract significantly protects against the harmful effects of radiation.

We hope you will find this information useful!

Your health is your wealth!

Sincerely,

Cheryl Chi

President

Chi's Enterprise, Inc.

www.chi-health.com

4 Preventive Health Care Tips for Women Concerned About Heart Issues

According to the American Heart Association, the leading cause of death among American women is by heart attacks or strokes. For those concerned about heart health, take these simple steps to adopt a more a preventive health care lifestyle: 

1.  Moderate to intense physical activity - Getting regular exercise along with other healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a healthy weight, can greatly reduce your risks of developing heart disease.  Activities such as housecleaning, gardening or even taking the stairs at work all count towards your total. 

2.  Eating a healthy diet - Eating foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt can greatly reduce the risks of developing heart disease.  Limiting certain fats such as saturated and trans fat can reduce your blood pressure and decrease the risk of coronary heart disease.  Dairy products and red meat are some of the major sources of saturated fats.  Fried foods, packaged snack foods and margarine are sources of trans fat.  Try to avoid these items.

3.  Regular Check-ups - High blood pressure and cholesterol can damage your heart.  Know your numbers so you can take action before something should happen.  Your blood pressure should be checked every two years, or more frequently depending on your numbers.  Your cholesterol should be screened at the very least, every five years.

4.  Maintain a healthy weight - The older you get, your weight gain is more fat than muscle.  Check to see if you are gaining 'healthy' weight.  You can do this by calculating your mass index (BMI) which considers your height and weight in determining whether you have a healthy or unhealthy percentage of body fat.  A BMI number of 25 or higher is related to high blood pressure and an increase risk of heart disease or stroke. 

People are looking for new ways to improve their health, and they are turning to natural remedies.  There have been many studies done on the benefits and applications of natural herbs and herbal extracts.  Strong evidence suggest that taking herbal supplements in conjunction with living a preventive health care lifestyle can be beneficial.  For more information on how Chi Health can help you achieve a healthier lifestyle visit us at www.chi-health.com or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chienterprise.  Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/chihealth100 for daily health tips.

4 Preventive Healthcare Tips on How to Reduce STRESS at Work

The words "budget cuts" and "layoffs" have created a workplace full of uneasiness, fear and increased stress.  Workplace stress grows in times of economic crisis.  It is important to recognize the warning signs of stress at work.  When workers feel overwhelmed, they tend to become more withdrawn or uneasy, which makes them less productive and efficient.  If the signs are ignored, larger problems may arise.  Chronic stress can lead to emotional and physical health problems.  

 

Some signs of workplace stress could include but are not limited to loss of interest in work, muscle tension, headaches, anxiousness, irritability, depression, sleeping problems, fatigue, social withdrawal, use of harmful substances and fatigue.  We at CHI Health believe that you need to put your health first.  As mentioned before, exercising regularly, eating healthy, avoiding harmful substances and getting enough rest are the keys to living a healthy lifestyle.  Here are are 4 tips to reduce stress in the workplace:

1.  Time Management - All work no play?  That's the quickest way to burn yourself out.  Re-evaluate your schedule and equally allot time to work, family,  extracurricular activities, daily responsibilities and down time. 

2.  Communication - No one is a mind reader.  Take the time to share information with fellow co-workers about uncertainty about issues surrounding work.  Clarify and get on the same page.  Make an effort to communicate in a friendly and kind way.

3.  Task Management - Make a list of things you have to accomplish for the day.  Prioritize it.  If there's something that's challenging, take care of it first.  Your day will only get better.

4.  Think Positive - No person, project, or situation is perfect.  So don't stress yourself out by trying to do everything perfectly.  Do your best and you'll be just fine.  Do not look at the downside of every situation.  You'll find yourself drained of energy and motivation. Stay positive!

People are looking for new ways to improve their health, and they are turning to natural remedies.  There have been many studies done on the benefits and applications of natural herbs and herbal extracts.  Taking herbal supplements in conjunction with living a preventive healthcare lifestyle can be beneficial.  For more information on how CHI Health can help you achieve a healthier lifestyle visit us at www.chi-health.com or check us out on Facebook www.facebook.com/chienterprise.  Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/chihealth100 for daily health tips.