It’s a new world out there. We’ve survived a global pandemic and new opportunities await! But those new opportunities might require us to be a bit healthier – both with our wealth and our health.
Forbes reports that there is a deep connection between our health and our wealth. The article reports that the ancient Greek physician Herophilus once famously said,
“When health is absent … wealth becomes useless.”1
The Urban Institute and the Center on Society and Health report that the greater one’s income and financial health, the less likely they are to have degenerative diseases and premature death.2
And the good news here is you’ve already started on your journey to financial health, which is why you’re working with us. You’re already on a great path, which we’d love to raise our glass and toast! But improvement is what Simon Sinek would call “the infinite game”: it’s everlasting.3 And so is taking care of our wealth and our health.
Small Tweaks for Health
Medical News Today reported that during the pandemic, we became more sedentary, less physically active and gained a little bit of weight. It also reported that people reported eating more unhealthy foods, having trouble falling asleep and experiencing increased anxiety.4
Improving your health can just be a matter of a few small tweaks, like some of these from the American Council on Exercise:5
- Stretch and drink a glass of water after you wake up. This will limber you up, boost your metabolism and give you a jump start on your hydration for the day.
- Make a shopping list before you go to the store. And stick to it. Have a snack before you head out because when you shop hungry, you’re more likely to impulse buy random indulgences.
- Have walking meetings. Now that many of us are back in the office, instead of sitting down in a conference room for your all meetings, if you’re able, have a few meetings while you walk around outside.
- Practice deep breathing. ACE says that this is inhaling for a count of five, holding your breath for a count of five, and exhaling for a count of five, repeating that cycle three times.
- Carve out time to do things you love. You have to take time away from your work, school and even your family to do the things that you love. Aim to do this at least once a day, but if that might be stretching it, at least once a week.
- Fill half your plate with greens or vegetables. At every meal, try to fill half your plate with leafy greens or veggies. If that’s not appealing, at least one serving of veggies during meals could help.
Meditation, according to the Mayo Clinic, can also be a great way to reduce anxiety and restore your sense of calm and peace. Meditation could be the ticket to working through any health or anxiety issues we may have lingered due to the pandemic. It can also help increase our self-awareness, reduce our negative emotions and increase our ability to manage stress.6
A Spring Salmon
Speaking of health, salmon has a ton of health benefits. The omega-3 fatty acids help decrease your blood pressure and inflammation. The protein in salmon can help you heal from any injuries, protect your bone health and help you build muscle. Plus, the B vitamins found in salmon can give you energy and protect both your heart and brain health.7
One tasty recipe you might want to try is the following sweet and spicy salmon recipe from Skinny Taste, which only takes 15 minutes to prep and cook:8
What you’ll need:
- One-pound wild salmon filets, cut into four pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 cup sweet red chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- Sliced scallions, for garnish
- Non-stick olive oil spray
How you’ll cook it:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spray a sheet pan with olive oil and set aside.
- Place salmon on the sheet pan and season with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
- In a small bowl combine red chili sauce, sriracha and ginger.
- Place salmon fillets on oiled sheet pan and brush the chili, sriracha and ginger mixture over the fillets
- Roast the fillets in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and garnish with the sliced scallions.
Depending on what you’re craving, you can either serve it over steamed rice or quinoa, or a bed of leafy greens.
The Healthy Quiz
Let’s see what we know about health:
- The basics for creating a healthier lifestyle are widely accepted and known to many people. What do those basics include?1
a. Eating the right foods
b. Cutting out or limiting sugar
c. Exercising regularly
d. All of the above
2. What percentage of Americans say they eat good, very good or excellent?9
a. 25%
b. 50%
c. 75%
d. 100%
3. What percentage of the American public think granola bars are healthy?9
a. 21%
b. 51%
c. 71%
d. 91%
4. Which percentage of nutritionists surveyed think granola bars are healthy?9
a. 18%
b. 28%
c. 38%
d. 48%
Quiz Answers:
- D – All of the above
- C – 75%
- C – 71%
- B – 28%
Best regards,
DEAN, JACOBSON FINANCIAL SERVICES
