4 Affordable Ways to Learn How to Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
After the world was shaken by the pandemic, it’s never been important to know how to keep your body strong and healthy. Cancer, heart disease, and diabetes are only a few diseases that, despite our advancement in medicine, are only getting more deadly.
Thankfully, with the invention of the internet, there are countless resources at your disposal that can help you learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Some are expensive, i.e. taking online courses or getting a college degree in nutrition.
However, we’d like to make things a little simpler. Keep reading to learn about our top 4 affordable ways to learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle.
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Good Ol’ Fashion Google
In the age of information, it has never been easier to access the answer to any question you could possibly have about health, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle.
However, if you’re approaching the subject for the first time, it can be a little intimidating. After all, not everything on the internet is true. Here are some popular resources that people use every day to do online research.
Official Hospital Websites
There are many hospitals throughout the USA and the world that offer cutting-edge research and post all of their studies and articles on their websites. If you are looking for information on a very specific topic, such as:
- type 1 diabetes,
- PCOS,
- certain types of cancer, etc.,
these websites are a great option.
Half the time, if you search your symptoms on the internet, you’ll end up on these websites without even trying. If you type your symptoms into Google, there are likely a few common sources that will pop up every time.
Amateur General Health Websites
Amateur health websites are also for learning how to live a healthy lifestyle. While hospital websites are a great resource for learning about diseases, treatment, and other medical research, their websites can sometimes be overly academic and intimidating.
In comparison, amateur health websites offer more user-friendly alternatives and provide easy-to-digest information on the fundamentals of health and wellness. Topics they cover can include nutrition, sleep, mental health, fitness, and even product reviews.
Their research usually isn’t as extensive as hospital websites, but they do have tons of helpful information on conditions like type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and much more.
Local Seminars and Workshops
The internet is great and all, but it doesn’t always have the information you need. Sometimes you want something explained to you in person, and you want to be able to ask more questions. If this is you, local seminars and workshops might be right up your alley.
Local YMCAs and libraries often hold all kinds of seminars that cover subjects like mental health, skin and nails, sleep, and even specific topics like high volume low calorie foods, or vegan lifestyle tips.
There are also websites that allow you to search for local events by zip code. You can create filters to look up any topic you want and type in your city or zip code. Depending on your location, it will show countless events near you that are either free or very affordable.
Depending on your area, local and state governments may also provide various services and events. A quick internet search can uncover government-funded organizations that provide health fairs, expos, and other one-off health events. You can also use these websites to seek out specific services and connect with a like-minded community near you.
Community College Courses
If you are committed to furthering your health education and have some time and money to spare, visiting your local community college is a great option. As their health programs are usually to provide certifications and experience for healthcare professionals, their information is always modern and up to date.
One community course will usually run between $300 and $500. If there is a subject such as Anatomy, Biology, or Nutrition that you are passionate about and want to dedicate your time to, signing up for a class is a great way to grow your knowledge base.
This doesn’t mean you have to sign up for a program or get an Associate’s degree. Plenty of community colleges offer single courses and are happy to provide education for those passionate about learning at any level.
Ask Grandma
This one might sound like common sense, but in our modern age, generations of families have become disconnected. With the internet, academia, and everything listed above, it can be easy to forget that previous generations have tons of information that we don’t.
Between multiple world wars and the American Depression, our grandparents and great-grandparents have gained life experience that future generations will likely never understand.
If your grandparents are alive and healthy well into their 70s and 80s, ask them what kind of foods they ate growing up. Ask them how they exercise. Ask them what homemade remedies they used for things like headaches or the flu. Their answers might surprise you.
Take Control of Your Health Today
As you read above, there are plenty of ways to learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle that doesn’t break the bank. All it takes is a little time and a little curiosity. The more you learn about your own body and how to take care of it, the more confidence you’ll have knowing that you’re making good decisions.
Sometimes taking a step in the right direction can be as simple as adding some fruits and vegetables to your diet. Other times, it can be gaining an understanding of an underlying condition that might run in your family.
No matter your reason for wanting to improve your health, don’t let financial limitations keep you from learning. Whether it’s extensive online research, a local seminar, or simply asking your friend’s grandma, there has never been a better time to finally take control of your health.