Did you know, that taking small steps towards a healthier lifestyle can lead to BIG savings on insurance and medical expenses?
While this may indeed sound logical, we are also aware that, health and wellness is not necessarily the first thing that springs to mind when one thinks of how to save money on your insurance premiums. Most of us are quick to look for ways of cutting costs by reducing our level of cover when, in actual fact the long term savings could be a lot closer to home than we realise.
In today’s post we’re taking a look at how actively working on maintaining your strength as you age, could save you money!
We’ve all heard of the saying “Prevention is better than cure” however, when it comes to medical bills & health insurance, prevention also tends to be cheaper than cure!
As we grow older, taking care of our bodies becomes more important than ever. By keeping our joints and muscles strong, we can reduce medical bills and maintain our independence.
Strength work as we age, such as lifting light weights, is highly beneficial for several reasons, both physical and psychological. In order to fully understand why, let’s start by taking a look at some of the changes that happen in our body as we age & the impact of strength work:
1. Muscle Mass Maintenance: As we age, we naturally experience a decline in muscle mass, a condition known as sarcopenia. Weightlifting helps counteract this loss by stimulating muscle protein synthesis, which is the process of building new muscle tissue. Regular resistance training can help maintain or even increase muscle mass.
2. Bone Health: Weightlifting can enhance bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, a condition that is particularly concerning for older adults. The stress placed on bones during resistance training encourages bone remodeling and strengthens bone structure.
3. Improved Functional Fitness: Strength training enhances overall functional fitness, making daily activities easier and reducing the risk of falls and injuries. This is especially important for maintaining independence as we age.
Optimal bone health and muscle mass can dramatically reduce our chances of injuring ourselves. This is especially important for those of us living here in the French Alps! Think about how many friends and family members you know who have had what could be referred to as an “age related injury” With a bit of strength work, who knows, perhaps these medical bills and insurance claims could have been avoided!
4. Metabolism Boost: Muscle mass is metabolically active tissue, meaning the more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate. This can help with weight management as you age, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight.
5. Mental Health Benefits: Engaging in regular physical activity, including weightlifting, is known to improve mood, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhance overall cognitive function.
Some of the main health costs and insurance claims made as we age relate to chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hyper tension, arthritis, osteoperosis & heart disease. Given the information provided above, strength work is therefore a no brainer in terms of keeping those medical costs down!
Even better, it doesn’t have to be anything crazy. No-one is saying that you have to harness your inner Arnold Schwarzenegger in order to reap the rewards!
Light weights, core work & resistance bands are all great ways of actively encouraging the protein synthesis that drops as we age.
If you are suffering from chronic pain, most French complimentary health policies will reimbourse the cost of sessions with a physio therapist if, prescribed by your GP.
Some policies will also include cover for complimentary treatments such as osteopaths & other health professionals.
The conclusion here is that, in this case, prevention is most definitely preferable to cure!
Don’t wait until it’s too late!
There are so many amazing health & fitness professionals available in the French Alps who will be able to advise you on the right plan of attack for you (many of them are our clients!)
If you’d like to discuss your policy with one of our English speaking members of staff then get in touch. Perhaps there are benefits and services covered by your policy that you are not even aware of.
If in doubt please just ask – that’s what we’re here for!
