Keeping Your Family Healthy

Among the most challenging tasks that face family heads is the task of keeping the entire family healthy; or in some cases, relatively healthy.  Not all families will pass with a clean bill of health, but most families can make sure that they come close.  When thinking about our family’s physical welfare, we want only the best for them.  When a member of the family falls ill, that illness takes a toll on the entire family.  When considering your family’s health here are some tips to keep in mind.

Education is the foremost method of keeping your family safe and healthy.  Educating them on the risks of questionable habits and behavior can mean the difference between life and death for them.  It’s that serious!  First you must educate yourself on ways to keep your family healthy.  You can find many resource materials on the Internet and in your local library.

Dangers of Alcohol and Tobacco Use

This warning has been around for a while.  But it still holds true today.  Smoking tobacco is hazardous to your health.  A long line of respiratory illnesses and sarcomas stem from tobacco use.  Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma, Lung Disease, Lung Cancer and Emphysema are a few.  Second hand smoke is attributed to a number of diseases in people who are otherwise known as non-smokers.  Smoking around your family put them at risk for developing the above named diseases.

Excessive alcohol use has been linked with many endocrinal diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.  Drinking in excess also puts a strain on family relationships.  Drinking heavily almost always leads to an altercation of some type.  This can come in the form of a physical dispute or verbal dispute.  Take care when you do indulge in alcoholic beverages.  And by all means, keep an eye on your family’s intake as well.  Notice any behavior that may be warning signs to dependency on alcohol.  These warning signs are:  Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol on a frequent basis, difficulty getting along with other family members and friends, binge drinking and insisting on operating a vehicle when intoxicate.  These are the first warning signs of an alcohol problem.

Self-Examinations and Get Yearly Physicals

Women and men alike need to be conscious of their body’s physical health.  Women over the age of sixteen and who are at childbearing age is recommended to perform regular self breast examinations.  Many women neglect to perform this simple task.  It can be done in the shower or while lying down.  Giving her self regular examinations will keep a woman focused on her health.  Breast cancer in American women is rising at an alarmingly fast rate.  And this disease is not limited to just one ethnic group.  Breast cancer is encroaching on all races and a wider age range.  Do not become a statistic.  Get a breast examination with your next physical.

Men must focus too on their health.  Many American males are being stricken with testicular cancer than ever before.  Prostate cancer and colon cancer is on the rise.  A yearly physical and routine colonoscopy procedures in between will help men to stay on top of their health. For both men and women, having yearly physical examinations are a must.  Do not neglect yourselves and find out later that it could have been prevented!  Take care of your health now.

Eating Healthy & Living Longer

Maintaining a proper diet is essential to keeping your family healthy.  Families as a whole can reduce their risks of health problems and diseases by simply changing their diets.  True, some factors of your genetic makeup put you at higher risk for common diseases among Americans.  Example of which is race, gender, and family history of certain diseases.  Eating healthier can attribute to extending your lifespan by at least a few years.

Reducing your sodium intake will decrease your risk of developing hypertension (High blood pressure).  Staying away from carbonated sodas, pork and ham, salt and salt seasonings and salt snacks can help you reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.  High blood pressure has been named the “silent killer”.  It does just that.  It slowly and silently kills and the victim doesn’t know until it’s too late.  High blood pressure leads to stroke and many times death.

Reducing your saturated fat intake will dramatically reduce your risk of developing heart disease.  High cholesterol leads to heart attacks and life-threatening heart disease.  Sugar is also a problematic ingredient to intake in large quantities.  The average human body converts sugar into energy at a steady and productive rate.  But if too much sugar is taken into the body, the body’s endocrinal system cannot filter it fast enough.  Therefore this causes your body to store too much sugar, or glucose, and diabetes develops.  Diabetes has also been called a silent or passive killer.  If left unchecked, diabetes could lead to many health problems including kidney failure.

Eat more green and fiber rich foods.  Fruit, vegetables, fish and poultry, and grains are great for maintaining a stable and healthy diet.  Act now and reduce your family’s risks before it’s too late.  Get creative with the menu and family meal nights.  Reduce the amount of times you order out for pizza.  Bring everyone into the menu making process.  Have each family member tell you their favorite vegetable dish and make it a point to prepare that favorite dish at least once each week.  And don’t forget to exercise!  Exercise along with a healthy diet produces healthy families.

 Back to more health and nutrition tips and advice

To teach and learn money skills, personal finance, money management, business, careers, and life skills please go to the Money Instructor home page.