10 Simple Tips To Help You Plan For Good Health
Medicash recently conducted an online survey with Vikings RLFC
which showed that most people worry about their long term health
and especially what would happen if a member of the family became
ill or unable to work.
But as we know, maintaining good health through diet and
rigorous exercise regime can be hard work and time consuming.
So here are a few top tips you can include in your day-to-day
routine that will help you stay healthy and increase your fitness
level.
1. Eat your greens
More than 1/3 of people who took part in our survey don't eat
the right amount of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. Keeping
an eye on your weight is vital to keeping the body in tip-top
condition. Eating the recommended five portions of fruit and veg
can be made cheaper and easier by planning out your meals before
you go shopping and only buying what you actually need. Making your
lunch rather than buying a pre-made sandwich from the shop can also
save money and cut out the risk of hidden fats.
2. Take the stairs
Exercise is important to maintaining fitness levels and can help
prevent lots of serious health conditions. Our survey showed that
only a very small amount of people don't do any exercise at all
each week but still many don't do nearly enough. Keeping fit
doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the gym each day. Simple
changes can make a big difference such as taking the stairs instead
of the lift or leaving the car at home and walking to the shop.
Remember though, if you do happen to be an aspiring fitness
enthusiasts you can take advantage of Medicash's discounted gym
membership.
3. Relax
Stress is a huge contributor to poor health, so taking time to
rest and relax is vital to staying happy and healthy. Medicash
provides access to 24/7 telephone counselling on a wide range of
stress related issues including debt, redundancy, bereavement and
work-life balance. Over half of the people who took part in our
questionnaire worry about how they will cope financially if they
were to become ill. Cash plans are a good way of budgeting for day
to day healthcare costs and can also make a big difference to
people going into hospital.
4. Quit
Smoking has a negative effect on overall health levels and
massively increases your risk of ill health in the future. Quitting
is one of the best things a smoker could do to reduce health risks.
The good news is there's a lot of support available. Seek
advice from your GP on the options that will suit you best.
5. Get checked
Think of a health check more like a health MOT. A quick 15
minute test can pick up all sorts of illnesses and, often, if they
are caught early there is a higher chance of treating and curing
the problem. The vast majority of our survey respondents were aware
of unhealthy aspects of their lifestyles and a healthscreen is a
good way of identifying any underlying issues.
6. Brush and floss
Failing to regularly brush your pearly whites is one of the main
causes of tooth decay and gum disease. Get into to the habit of
brushing and flossing twice a day and see your dentist or hygienist
for regular check ups. Medicash members can claim back the cost of
dental check ups - (amounts vary depending on the level of cover
provided). Half of the respondents said they fail to budget to
ensure they have enough money to cover these kind of healthcare
costs.
7. Express yourself
Communication with others can help with a whole range of issues,
from mental health problems such as depression, stress and anger
management. Opening up to others can play a key role in preventing
small problems turning into a serious medical condition. So don't
keep the worries, which over 60% of people who took our survey have
about their health and financial situation, bottled up any
more!
8. Stay informed
There is a never ending stream of new information when it comes
to looking after our health and to be honest if you listened to
every last bit of it then you would never leave the house. But some
medical breakthroughs and findings just can't not be ignored. Use
reputable websites such as www.NHS.ukn to access credible
health information and news.
9. Include your family and friends
Keeping active and healthy will give you plenty of opportunities
to take time out and do things as a family. Why not go for a bike
ride with the kids or tackle weight loss with a friend and
encourage each other along the way. Teaming up with others will
encourage to keep up your new healthy way of living. You can even
opt for dual cover on a Medicash health plan.
10. Talk to your employer
If you are lucky your employer will already offer a health
related benefit to staff. If not, then why not suggest the idea?
You will feel more valued as an employee and it will provide you
with the perfect opportunity to get on that road to fitness.
Corporate Cash Plans from Medicash are designed to give you and
your employer extra peace of mind financially.