I love to spend money. Whether it’s buying books for my child, a lift ticket for a day of snowboarding, or date night with my wife, I get great satisfaction out of spending money on products, services, and activities that I perceive as having value.
But more than spending, I enjoy investing. Wise investing allowed me to escape an arduous nine-to-five career with one of the world’s largest drug providers. And making wise investments in my health – in the foods I eat and the activities I engage in – has been one of the most important things I’ve ever done.
The fact is, your health is an investment. Possibly the best investment you will ever make. If you invest in it now, you will see big returns in the future. If you don’t, it could cost you big time down the line.
According to a recent report by CNN Money, “The retirement health tab can run between $64,000 and $122,000 for a 65-year-old man whose former employer pays his insurance premiums, and between $86,000 and $140,000 for a woman of the same age. For retirees who don’t have access to an employer-offered plan, the costs – mostly for prescription drugs – run even higher.”
In addition to exorbitant drug expenses, most adult Americans have one foot in the grave. Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are at an all-time high. And it’s expected to get worse. The Journal of the American Medical Association predicted that one in three born in the year 2000 will succumb to Type II diabetes, which is simply a “gateway” disease to all the pandemic killers. This rampant sickness is being met with an arsenal of cholesterol-lowering drugs, blood pressure meds, anti-depressants, and hypoglycemics. None have been proven to increase lifespan. They are toxic and ineffective, yet, they are continually pushed upon us… for one reason: financial gain.
Health doesn’t have to be so damn expensive or risky. Science proves it. Mother Nature provides three cardiovascular cures that cost next to nothing. Combined, they can help you overcome a weakening heart and even Type II diabetes.
Low-Cost Cardiovascular Cure #1: Psyllium Husk
Psyllium husk is a soluble fiber, meaning it is an indigestible, complex carbohydrate. Once consumed, it undergoes fermentation in the large intestine, yielding a broad range of heart-healthy benefits, most notably the control of appetite, blood sugar, and insulin.
A pooled analysis of 10 studies of dietary fiber intake in the U.S. and Europe found that each 10 grams/day increase in total dietary fiber was associated with a 14 percent decrease in the risk of coronary events, and a 24 percent decrease in deaths from coronary heart disease.
Psyllium husk is one of my favorite supplements because of its ability to help control blood glucose. Excess glucose in the bloodstream can become “oxidized.” This oxidation leads to a change in the molecular structure of the glucose – causing what is known as advanced glycation end products (AGE products). Like a knife carving clay, AGE products scar arterial walls. The scarring results in plaque buildup and excess blood clotting. This mechanism is why diabetics have a 4.5 times increase of suffering from heart attack and stroke relative to non-diabetics.
Go to your local health food store and purchase psyllium husk. In the bulk aisle, psyllium can be purchased for about $3 per month.
Low-Cost Cardiovascular Cure #2: B Vitamins
B vitamins are required for proper functioning of the brain, nervous system, and the formation of blood. They are also involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body, especially for proper DNA synthesis and regulation, but also for fatty acid synthesis and energy production. Harvard researchers writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that women could cut their risk of heart disease by half with daily consumption of B vitamins.
B vitamins are responsible for igniting a chemical cascade within the body known as methylation. This process rids the arteries of the damaging molecule known as homocysteine. The lower your levels of homocysteine, the less risk you have of suffering from cardiovascular disease.
Start supplementing with B vitamins today. A daily B vitamin supplement should cost no more than $10 per month.
Low-Cost Cardiovascular Cure #3: Flavonoids
Flavonoids are plant-derived pigments. More than 4,000 have been studied for their cardiovascular and anti-cancer benefits. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported a 20 percent decrease in heart disease mortality risk among those who consumed at least 7.5 mg daily.
Flavonoids preserve the cardiovascular system and heart through three major actions: improving blood flow in order to enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery throughout the 100,000 miles of adult veins, arteries and capillaries… preventing the formation of artery-scarring, oxidized LDL… and relaxing the coronary arteries to prevent high blood pressure.
Make sure your shopping cart is loaded with foods that are packed with flavonoids. The best sources of flavonoids are broccoli, hawthorn, grapeseed extract, black tea, citrus fruits, and organic dark chocolate.
Using these three cardiovascular cures rather than drugs to preserve health is a wise investment. It could potentially save you $64,000 in drug costs. What could you do with an extra $64,000 and good health? For me, it means more education for my kids, snowboarding, and date nights in exotic places around the world.
[Ed. Note: Protecting your health for the long run doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, you can stay healthy and live a longer, more satisfying life just by taking a few simple measures.
Want to learn more insider health secrets from an ex-drug chemist? Want to be energized while boosting lean sexy muscle at any age - without hard-core willpower? Shane Ellison has been a featured expert and author for the world's most popular health and fitness magazines, including OnFitness and Women's Health. A pharmaceutical insider, his Foundational Health Education program serves as the no-BS, practical guide to living young naturally without dangerous, prescription drugs!]
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