Let's start this article by putting the spotlight on skyrocketing health care costs. As the debate over the future "Affordable Healthcare Act,” rages on, people must be advocates for their own health care by employing common sense and preventative measures. Our health care system is based on prescribing medications after a disease already exists in the body. This, not only limits our ability to fight the illness but also is lining the pockets of pharmaceutical companies and burdens an already stretched healthcare system. As a society, we should instead focus on preventative measures that would have kept the patient from having to rely on prescription medications that may or may not cure the problem.

So how do we take our health into our own hands? By making healthy choices every day, we may prevent future costly procedures by spending a couple extra dollars upfront, think of it as preventative care. Just like a car, our body needs fuel, you wouldn’t think of putting diesel gas in a car that requires unleaded. Here are some tips for eating more cleanly, which provides the right fuel to allow your body and immune system to function in top performance. As we know, a healthy immune system is paramount if we wish to avoid diseases that can lead to costly doctor visits, or, worse, exuberant, bank-breaking medical costs, if you are not covered by any insurance. We must first start with what we put in our shopping carts.

Here are simple steps on where you can start to improve your health because as the old adage goes: “you are what you eat”. Reduce the amount of processed food in your diet As Michael Pollan author of the “Omnivore’s Dilemma” says, “eat plants, not food produced in plants” in other words, you want to eat things that are not boxed or packaged, but instead eat whole, real foods. Essentially, stick to the produce aisles as much as possible.

Healthiest items aren’t on television commercials or advertised, you will notice the healthiest items in your market don’t have packaging or other nutritional information on a label. Apples, bananas, broccoli, zucchini, etc., all items that you find freshly grown on a farm instead of a laboratory, have no need to give data on their calories, fat or sugars. If you need to buy certain items that are packaged for convenience, look for items with a minimum number of ingredients and words that you understand on the label such as sesame seeds, flax seeds, onion, garlic, quinoa, rosemary, basil, lemon etc. You get the idea. Try to avoid: monosodium glutamate, maltodextrin.. Also, stay away from packaged products that have ingredients that sound like chemical names, artificial flavors, and/or colors such as yellow 6. Avoid foods with added sugars or processed sugars such high fructose corn syrup.

Be wary of your frozen food aisle. The frozen food aisle typically offers food which contains numerous fast, microwavable items, which contain a load of sodium. Sometimes one serving has over the USDA total daily recommendation of sodium, and, in addition, most of these items contain a lot of preservatives. However, if you don’t have the time to prepare something nutritious or have the opportunity to purchase fresh, organic produce, you could choose frozen organic fruits and vegetables as a good substitute. TIP: To make your choices easier, shop at your local natural food market, at local farmers markets, or join CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in your area. Check out listings for CSAs, farmers markets and other healthful options at www.localharvest.org

MOVE YOUR BODY
Most importantly make sure you get out and move your body. Do what you love to do: whether it be dancing, walking, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, do whatever works for you. You don’t need fancy, expensive equipment to exercise, this is just an excuse not to. However, check with your doctor before beginning any new regimen to make sure it’s suitable for your current health condition. It is recommended you get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least five days a week and add in strength training at least two times a week. The right amount of exercise really depends on your goals. The good news is you don't have to spend half your day in the gym to lose weight but you do need to pay attention to what you eat (no surprise). Just get out there and be active and stay active.

Strive each week to do some more intense activities that get your heart rate up such as: tennis, running, swimming or spin class, etc. to help maintain cardiovascular health. Maintaining a healthy weight prevents inflammation, which is the majority cause of all diseases such as: cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. So get moving!!! No excuses!!!

KEEP A POSITIVE MINDSET
Stress can wreak havoc on your immune system. Yoga, exercise and meditation are all good strategies for keeping stress in check.

Each month the Sauzy Spoon will feature an article to help you navigate your path to a more healthy lifestyle, from pro and cons on grains to GMOs, why is eating organic so important, to how being vegan can save the world, we will investigate how you can support your health.

Meredith Weil: is a certified holistic health coach and yoga teacher. She believes improving the life of others is the vehicle for the improvement of our own. Through teaching yoga, her holistic coaching practice, and her own journey of transformation from corporate warrior, she impacts the life of others in a positive way and assists them in their own process of self-discovery and transformation.

Anita Teglasi: is a health enthusiast who was born in Budapest, Hungary, where she was raised on an all organic farm. Since coming to the USA she has made healthy eating her driving force. Together, they have created the Sauzy Spoon to serve up a monthly loving spoonful of health and wellness advice with an edge.

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