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Your Greatest Asset Isn’t Your House

Or Your Hedge Fund . . . It’s Your Health!

Here Are 9 Easy Ways to Protect It

By Nissa Simon

f someone asked you to list all of your assets, you’d automatically respond with “your stock holdings, real estate, savings accounts and 401-K plan.” You might consider adding the value of your antiques or jewelry. But chances are you wouldn’t put “good health” on the list. Yet whatever your age, health is one of your most valuable assets. Without it, you won’t be able to enjoy any of the other assets. Nor will you be in a position to increase the worth of your “portfolio.” Here are nine ways to keep it at the top of your list, whatever your age.

1. Take your vitamins. Even if you eat a healthy, varied diet, it’s a good idea to take a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement. Although no supplement has 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) of all vitamins and minerals, look for one that contains 100 percent of most of them. (Daily Value is the new standard, replacing the Recommended Dietary Allowance.) You don’t have to spend big bucks on special formulas. A cheaper, plain-Jane store brand will serve just as well. If you’re not sure about which to choose, ask your pharmacist for a suggestion. But, remember, these pills are supplements not substitutes for a nutritious diet.

2. Get the shots you need. Don’t take a chance on using up sick-leave days because you don’t like the sight of needles. If you’re over 50, have an annual flu shot, and if you’re over 65 or have a chronic heart or lung disorder, ask your doctor about getting a vaccination against bacterial pneumonia. All adults should have a tetanus booster every 10 years. You should also be vaccinated against chicken pox if you’ve never had it, especially if you have young children or if you’re frequently around them.

3. Exercise! To keep yourself fit, nothing beats exercise. Resistance (weight) training can make you healthier as well as stronger. Muscle-building workouts reduce cholesterol levels and benefit your bones. Aerobic exercises—those that build up a sweat, such as jogging or tennis—benefit your heart and make your body more efficient at using oxygen. You only need 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week. If you can’t put in half an hour all at once, try 10 minutes at a time. Ordinary activities like gardening, walking, biking or washing the car count also.

4. Wash your hands. Cold viruses and food-borne microorganisms that make you ill spread from hand to mouth, so one of the easiest ways to stay healthy is to wash your hands often with soap and warm water. Don’t bother paying a premium for antibacterial soaps or lotions. Not only are they unnecessary, but their use may encourage the growth of resistant bacterial strains. An everyday, inexpensive soap works just as well.

5. Buy all your medications at the same place. It’s penny-wise and pound-foolish to chase around town to find the best price for each prescription or over-the-counter medication you need, buying one here and one there. If you consolidate your purchases, your pharmacist can alert you to any potentially uncomfortable or dangerous interactions.

6. Brush and floss. Good, everyday oral hygiene will help protect more than your teeth and gums. Gum disease plays a role in the development of heart disease and stroke. So learn how to brush and floss your teeth properly from your dentist or dental hygienist and have your teeth cleaned professionally at least twice a year. Consider it an investment in your future.

7. Focus on color when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Produce with bright, deep colors contain more phytochemicals (“phyto” means “plant”) than their paler cousins. Among their other benefits, these potent substances reduce the risk of heart disease and help fight cancer. So eat an artist’s palette’s worth a day. Five fruits and vegetables a day is the minimum you should eat. Better still, aim for more. Not enough time to prepare your own? Buy them ready-to-eat at your local market. The benefit to your health is worth far more than the extra few cents you spend.

8. Save your money—skip unnecessary tests. Private companies that target consumers directly with a pitch for a full-body health scan have burst on the scene. For around $1,000 (generally not reimbursed by insurance), you can have a CT scan designed to detect early signs of coronary artery disease or cancers of the lung or kidney. A “virtual colonoscopy” or head scan is extra. Professional groups, however, don’t believe there’s enough evidence to justify these scans for people with no symptoms or family history suggesting disease, and the FDA is concerned about exposure to unnecessary and potentially dangerous radiation.

9. Keep your mind healthy to benefit your body. Meditate. People who do so regularly have a lower incidence of heart disease, visit their doctors less often and require fewer hospitalizations. Renew your faith. Men and women who attend religious services regularly tend to live longer. Adopt a pet. You’ll lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. And here’s perhaps the simplest thing you can do for your health: Laugh often. Laughter revs up the immune system.

Stay healthy, and you’ll be well on your way to laughing all the way to the bank.

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Nissa Simon writes frequently on health-related topics.

She is the Health Editor for Reader’s Digest’s New Choices.