The American health care system has become a "sick care" system in which citizens pay more than in almost any other country (15% of our economy) only to count themselves among the most unhealthy people in the industrialized world. According to recent statistics, one third of Americans is obese, and countless others suffer from preventable chronic diseases. These days, amid threats of losing health coverage, perhaps the safest and most effective source of health insurance is prevention.
Foods that are processed, packaged, genetically modified or treated with chemicals are damaging the human body. The toxins in these foods are not recognized, and are, therefore, unable to be properly digested. They remain stored and, over time, cause disease. While upon first glance organic grocery options seem more costly, they provide, in fact, an invaluable savings -- financially and otherwise -- in the long run.
The misleading savings of fast food may cause some to believe that cheap meals lacking nutritional value are their only options. At a time when Americans are clinging to their every dollar, however, fast food is absolutely not an efficient use of resources. While "dollar meals" offered at many fast food establishments promise savings, they actually tax both the wallet and the body. When the body does not receive nutrient-rich food, it simply calls out for more. Extra-large french fries and soda may seem to satisfy, yet they are really just overworking the organs without providing vitamins and minerals necessary for optimal health. In addition, the empty meal leaves the consumer unsatisfied, lethargic and looking to eat (and spend) again shortly thereafter. Less food will satisfy the body's needs when a meal consists of organic whole foods, grains, fruits and vegetables.
Life is just too short not to provide the body with the best food available. If the old adage, "you are what you eat" is true, (which it is, literally, as the food we eat is absorbed and becomes our very blood, tissues and cells), then organic food is unquestionably worth the extra effort. Real food without toxic chemicals is less expensive than many seem to think. A bunch of organic kale at Stop and Shop costs about $1.00; organic collard greens cost under 50 cents; one pound of organic quinoa at Whole Foods (containing some 11 servings) is $2.99. Eating higher-quality food means spending less overall. A bag of conventional potato chips, devoid of nutrients and filled with chemical pesticides, disappears in moments, but one bowl of organic brown rice, vegetables and beans goes down slowly. You just can't eat more than one.
Buying organic can actually save money, with a little know-how: 1) Buy in season. Notice how much watermelon costs in December? Seasonal produce costs less. 2) Join a CSA. Community Supported Agriculture groups abound throughout the country. Members prepay for vegetable shares from an organic farm and pick up the freshest possible produce, as it is often harvested that morning or the night before. (localharvest.org contains information about CSAs). 3) Buy in bulk. Stock up on frozen or canned organics when they go on sale, and save on expensive packaging by purchasing from bulk bins. 4) Get support. Don't know where to start? Take a healthy cooking class or seek out a health professional who can steer you toward a healthier lifestyle.
The real savings from organic foods, however, lies in what Americans will save on medical expenses. According to a recent study published in Health Affairs, the average health care cost per American is $6280 per year (that's a lot of kale!). Some 70% of those dollars are spent on preventable diseases, such as heart disease, the leading cause of death in this country. The fact remains that healthy bodies get sick less often and fight disease more effectively. Bodies fed organic foods -- free of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemicals toxic to the body -- will spend less on over-the-counter and prescription drugs, copayments, lab tests and hospital bills. These costs are no match for an extra 30 cents for organic carrots, an extra dollar for organic milk, an extra 75 cents for organic bread.
Rather than spending money on costly treatments after people are already sick, the focus must now shift to spending on prevention. A February 22 New York Times article on President Obama's plan to cut the national deficit cites the cost of health care as "the biggest factor behind projections of unsustainable deficits in coming decades." The plan to revise the failing health care system under the new administration will require "investments in disease-prevention programs." The nation cannot survive, physically or financially, without a plan for prevention.
When a doctor prescribes a medication, most patients fill the prescription, pay the copayment, and carry out the doctor's wishes. When a certified holistic health counselor prescribes, "Let food be thy medicine; let medicine be thy food," why not fill that prescription, pay the extra 30 cents copayment, and carry out the practitioner's wishes? The benefits far outweigh the investment.
Jennifer Kelly,CHC, AADP is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and founder of Feeding Your Life Holistic Health Care, located at McNally Family Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Kings Park, NY. For more information on individual and group holistic health counseling, visit feedingyourlife.com or call 347-564-3600.
