A Leaner You May Cost You Less in A Life Insurance Policy

A new year brings New Year’s resolutions. Many people resolve to get healthier, eat better, and exercise more. Gulf Coast Educators Insurance offers some tips to help you achieve your goals:

• If you smoke, quit!
• If you are overweight, consider trying to lose 10% of your body weight
• Try new recipes, have meatless Monday, substitute high-fat ingredients for low-fat options
• Drink more water
• Sneak exercise into your day

Smoking is a major detriment to your health. It can cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other lung diseases. On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than non-smokers. Quitting is the best thing that you can do for your health. The Mayo Clinic offers ways to resist smoking. These tips are:

• Try nicotine replacement therapy
• Avoid triggers
• Delay yourself from having a cigarette. During that time, distract yourself with something else.
• Chew on something such as gum or hard candy
• Don’t have “just one”
• Reduce stress through meditation, deep breathing, yoga, etc.
• Get up and exercise
• Ask for help from family, friends, or a support group

While smoking is bad for your health, so is being overweight. The extra weight you are carrying can cause type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. The weight also puts more stress on your body. There are many different types of diets and diet plans out there but the only way to really lose weight is to change your eating habits. Decrease the calories going into your body and increase the calories leaving your body through exercise. Other tips include eating more fruits and vegetables, eating whole grains instead of unrefined grains, and enjoying lean protein such as seafood and beans. Of course, drink water as much as possible. Fruit juices and soda are just ways of adding extra calories to your day.

Exercise can help you lose weight, improve your mood, boost your energy, and help you sleep better. Exercise need not be boring or done at a gym. Chasing your toddler around the park, cleaning the house, shooting hoops with your son, all of these are forms of exercise. The best way to exercise is to find something that you enjoy and go have fun. You can also sneak exercise into your day. Try parking further away from a store, use the stairs instead of the elevator, take a mini-break at work and do some stretching. All of these things will help you feel better.

Gulf Coast Educators Insurance wants you to be healthy and enjoy the New Year. Being healthy can help lower your life insurance rates along with leading to a happier and longer life. We recommend you consider purchasing a life insurance policy but know that your overall health can affect your rates. Our experienced and seasoned agents are happy to tailor a life insurance policy to your lifestyle. Please give us a call to get started. We look forward to helping you. Best wishes for a healthy 2022!