Bad market, long life?

As a whole, Americans tend to have longer lifespans during times of economic recession and depression, according to University of Michigan researchers who studied data from the 1920s-1940s. They guessed that since more people drive when they are financially in the black, more deaths occur on the roads. Plus citizens have more money to spend more on alcohol and drugs and may work more and sleep less.

Critics say that this finding may not ring true today, since countless medical discoveries have been made since the Great Depression. Others note that many people are currently skipping their important medications to save dough. What do you think? Have you made any changes in your lifestyle in an effort to pinch pennies that could lead to a longer or shorter life?

(courtesy of Comedy Central’s Indecision)

Feeding the Kids

We all have lived through the days of the grease-pooled pizza and purple hot dogs that roll off of the grade school lunch line. But one company, Revolution Foods, is attempting to make nutritious school lunch food delicious. And the kids are actually enjoying it! Only one problem: higher quality food comes at a cost. Schools are often subjected to whatever food products the government can get at a good price, hence Charlie’s chicken nugget meal for the fifth time this month.

Regulations require schools to meet specific nutrition guidelines, but several health experts believe that, as a society, we are doing a disservice to our youth by not feeding them more nutritious foods because of budget concerns. What is cheaper: warming a pan of corn dog nuggets and french fries or paying for additional staffers to prepare fresh fruits, vegetables and lean protein options (that are less subsidized by the government than the sneakily corn-filled foods that often fill school menus)?

Is there a way that we can give students healthy options that they will eat and families can afford—without too much reliance on government financial intervention? 

(courtesy of Washington Health Foundation)

Water cooler conversation starter: working out with another person (or many!) can make fitness more enjoyable, which makes you more likely to stick with it. Who’s ready to hit the gym with me?