Certainly, health care is very important and necessary.  What most Americans don’t realize about the cost of health insurance, however, is that our lifestyle is contributing to the inflated healthcare bill.  Dr. Margaret Lewin, the Medical Director at Cinergy Health, explains what a number of these issues are and how they can be changed.

There are many lifestyle choices that we all make that can significantly help to reduce health care costs.  Tobacco is the single most expensive burden, costing $324 billion according to the U.S. Treasury Department.   Obesity, similarly, costs the American health system more than $147 billion each year.  Healthcare costs for obese people are actually 42% higher than for those who are at a normal weight.  Contributors that need to be limited in stores and through education include soft drinks, fruit juices and fruit drinks, sweetened cereals, candy, cakes and muffins.

Fats are another contributing factor in obesity, but they are also linked to heart disease and strokes.  These cost the U.S. $475 billion each year.  Transfats and Hydrogenated Fats should be entirely avoided, while Saturated Fats should be limited to 10% of your calorie intake.