Given the turmoil on the stock markets, this may be a time when you’re more focussed on the health of your retirement funds and investments rather than your actual health!

However, it’s worth remembering that health is the new wealth!

Let’s start with the bad news (there’s good news in a moment!)…

💵 It’s a sad fact that many of us consider our finances ahead of our health. Whether it’s investing in our future via a pension, or investing in stocks and shares to ensure financial stability in the future.

🙁 But what’s the point if we’re not investing in our health and wellbeing to ensure that we’re around to reap those financial benefits and can enjoy them in later life with good health?

📉 Unfortunately, the latest statistics from the World Health Organisation indicate that the number of years we’re living in “full health” has dropped to 66 for Europe.  It’s worse in the US, at 63.9.   Unbelievable?

💊 Well, most of us will know people who have battled, or are battling with a chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, dementia or (the increasingly common, but little spoken about) fatty liver disease. So when you stop to think about it, this average starts to make sense.

OK – enough doom and gloom!

✅ The good news is that, perhaps unlike our pension, it’s never too late to start investing in your health (and maximising disease prevention).

✅ Lifestyle medicine is starting to take off, although we have some way to go before prevention is prescribed more commonly than remedial prescriptions for medications after the ill-health horse has bolted.

✅ You don’t need your doctor to prescribe Lifestyle Medicine, and it takes cost out of our health service.

✅ A little lifestyle medicine can steer you well away from those depressing averages. 📉

👏 Health coaches are qualified in lifestyle medicine and focus on all its dimensions, including: diet, exercise, sleep, stress, mental health, and more. ‘Holistic’ in their approach, they provide support and accountability for your whole-health, and take your unique health status and lifestyle into consideration before developing your unique investment plan.

👏 Lifestyle medicine doesn’t have to be about expensive gym memberships.  The emphasis is on looking at how you can move your body more within your lifestyle schedule, within your budget.  Small habits = big results.

👏 Lifestyle medicine doesn’t have to be about expensive health foods, supplements and time consuming food preparation.  Smarter, informed, small changes can make huge differences to your health.  Small habits = big results.

👏 The UK & International Health Coaching Association (UKIHCA) runs the register for qualified health coaches here: https://www.ukihca.com/locations

🚦 Start investing in your health today.  Investing in your health costs far less than you think and will maximise your ‘whealth’!

Statistics source: World Health Organisation: https://data.who.int/countries/826

More on Lifestyle Medicine:

https://bslm.org.uk/lifestyle-medicine/what-is-lifestyle-medicine/