Health: Cheap vs Expensive What You Value is the Determining Factor

I think you would have to agree that our medical system in this country is profit driven. Just watch some commercials telling you all the benefits of some new drug, and then listen closely to the absolutely scary side effects, the list of which is much longer than the benefits!

There’s a definite bias toward expensive pharmaceuticals or surgical solutions and it’s understandable to a point. Physicians are rewarded for making those choices. I heard about a doctor who told his staff about using a specific supplement for heart health but still prescribed dangerous drugs and interventions for his patients and would not give them that option to consider. Hopefully he is the exception in that case!

This doesn’t only influence doctors by any means. Our entire culture, to some extent, has been influenced by the idea that cheap is worthless and expensive is superior. I’m sure you’ve heard it said, “You get what you pay for.” A business coach told me that I needed to raise the prices of my coaching plans because people would assume they aren’t as good as those that are more expensive.

So from that perspective it’s no wonder that “cheap” solutions don’t get much publicity just as in mainstream media the positive, uplifting stories are always overshadowed and drowned out by the negative and sensational.

So it comes as no surprise that free solutions get pretty much no publicity. And that is a shame. Think about three “free” solutions that most people overlook that can be life changing. Drinking adequate water, breathing deeply and walking! Hydration affects pretty much every aspect of your health and intentionally paying attention to your breathing and slowing it down periodically can make a huge difference in how you feel – physically and emotionally.  Walking whether it’s around the house or around your block is as effective a form of exercise as any and it costs nothing!  And none of them costs a dime.

I think we have to redefine those words for ourselves to make the best possible choices. “Cheap” carries the stigma of being sub-standard or of poor quality. One person may consider spending $50 on a nutritional supplement “cheap” and another might see it as very expensive. It depends on your priorities and finances. If you see value in it, your assessment of the price changes.

Expensive – well there’s the same thing with this term. Spending $15 dollars to get a grass fed steak as opposed to $5.00 for one on sale from CAFO raised cattle might seem expensive to one person. But is it really when considered in the entire scheme of things?

I prefer to look at these options as “affordable and cost effective.” For example I have intentionally priced my coaching plans and programs to be what I consider quite affordable for just about anyone. However, I still have people saying they “can’t afford” to work with me although they would like to. Yet those same people spend hundreds of dollars on the newest phone, video games or designer shoes without blinking an eye.

I honestly think that comes down to a matter of priorities more than how much money something actually costs. If you don’t value yourself and your health enough to invest in making improvements, no matter what the price is, in your mind it will be too expensive.

Regardless of your situation, I think it’s safe to say making simple, affordable changes to nutrition and supplementation is much more cost effective in the long run than dealing with a chronic, debilitating disease or condition. Medications, hospital stays, surgeries and doctor visits are much more expensive. You can fill a prescription for a drug with a laundry list of negative side effects for $5 with a prescription plan, but a natural supplement that could help you with no negative side effects might cost $25. You determine which is truly cheap or expensive to you.

We each have the choice to invest in our health now, or pay the price later.

The price we will pay for something tells how much we value it. How much do you value your health?

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