The Top 3 Health Investments You Should Make for Under $100
Retta and Aziz Ansari as Donna and Tom from Parks and Recreation
If you aren't a fan of NBC comedies, you may not recognize Donna and Tom's famous "Treat Yo Self" Day from Parks and Rec., and that's okay. However, that doesn't change the fact that I want you to treat yourself this month. Have you wondered what some of the best things that you can do for yourself are? Every Friday this month, I'm going to talk about how you can best treat yourself and your body for different price points. We're starting out with a bang and some medium to expensive purchases.
1. A Really Nice Pillow!
Troubled sleep is one of the most common complaints that I get in my office. I would bet that nearly 50% of my patients complain of interrupted sleep due to neck pain or discomfort. While my adjustments will go a long way towards removing the problems causing the neck pain, you have to help me out too! I understand that a good mattress is not an easy "Treat Yo Self" purchase, but you should allow yourself the indulgence to buy yourself a nice pillow!
The next question everyone asks me when I tell them this is what kind of pillow should they buy? Well, my preference as a chiropractor is a memory foam pillow. They are typically the most forgiving and the most comfortable for all sleep-types. If you're only a back-sleeper, you might be able to get away without a memory foam pillow, but why would you?!
I am currently using Tempur-Pedic pillows. One nice thing about Tempur-pedic is that they have suggestions for what type of pillow to purchase depending on what type of sleeper that you are. You can find out all about them here: https://www.tempurpedic.com/pillows/
I have previously used Somus memory foam pillows. I used them for about two years, and I loved them. i eventually got a good deal on new ones, the Tempur-pedic, and I retired the Somus pillows to the guest room. Even now, I have house guests that rave about the Somus pillows. I actually think they are just as good as the Tempur-pedic, and they are often considerably cheaper. I got my set on Groupon for less than $50! Read all about them here: https://www.somus.com/collections/pillows
The final recommendation I have for you in this category is actually the MyPillow from the infomercials. Why I don't actually own this pillow yet, several of my chiropractic colleagues and my mom do. They have told me it's the best they have ever used, (and I bought everyone Somus pillows the Christmas that I got mine), so it must be good. I am planning to purchase a set of these when I retire my Tempur-pedics next year. Read all about the MyPillow here: https://www.mypillow.com/ (I know the website is super cheesey... it's an As Seen on TV product, but it's great!)
Bullet-style blender. This is a NutriBullet.
2. A Bullet Blender!
If you have been paying attention to health trends over the last decade or two, you should be familiar and may already own a juicer or a blender. I personally have a professional series juicer and blender. If you're truly serious about changing your diet for the better, I think it is worth investing in a good blender, juicer, or both! If you only have money for one now, I would put my money into a nice blender. That's what I did.
For starters, you can get a NutriNinja or NutriBullet for around $100, give or take $20. I am going to list both of them here for you, but I will also encourage you to do a little research on your own. Blenders, just like any other piece of equipment, are worth the money you spend on them. Can you get a blender for $20 total? Probably. Will it do what a $100 blender will do? Absolutely not. You are primarily paying for the motor and for the blade system in the blender. With these bullet-style blenders, you typically get a system that has a portable blending cup that locks into the motor. The motor blends the ingredients in the cup, and then you unscrew it and take the portable cup with you!
You can get the NutriNinja at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $99.99. I selected this link specifically because BBB almost always has at least a 20% off coupon running. I know everyone isn't a fan of the Ninja brand, but I think they're a great starter brand. They offer a lot of the power that some of the bigger brands offer, and they are normally slightly less expensive. Check out the blender here: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/nutri-ninja-reg-nutri-bowl-duo-with-auto-iq-boost/1047152724.
Another brand, the Magic Bullet by NutriBullet is perhaps the first blender and most famous to use this style. At least, that's my understanding. The motor has somewhat less horsepower than the Ninja bullet blender that I linked in the paragraph above. However, you get a larger blender container as well as a few additional bonuses. Check this link here: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/magicbullet-reg-nutribullet-reg-pro-900-series/3253417.
If you're really excited about a blender and decide that you want to spend more than $100, you should consider looking at BlendTec and Vitamix blenders. Just be ready to spend at least $300 for one of those bad boys!
A supportive shoe is critical to your overall health.
3. A Supportive Pair of Shoes
You are generally one of two types of people when it comes to shoes. You tend to be obsessed with shoes and have *a lot* of shoes, or you are really non-plussed with shoes and don't really have much going on in that department.
Today, I am going to encourage you to be one of the people that really loves shoes. Depending on the type of job you have, you may have greater or lesser flexibility in the type of shoe that you wear during the day. I am going to encourage you to wear excellent shoes during your time off and while you're at home. Brands that I really like include Hoka, Merrell, and New Balance. They're all great, aimed at comfort and support, and for the most part they won't break the bank.
No more flip flops! They're causing low back pain!
In order to determine what kind of shoe is best for you, you should really go to your local running store. I am selecting a running store instead of the shoe department at Macy's for a very important reason. While department store shoe sections are a great place to pick up the latest styles, the salespeople in those departments don't necessarily know that much about feet. However, running stores are typically employed by people that are excited about running and moving. They like feet! They're going to be able to help you find the best show for your foot type. They often be able to make a video of you walking or running on a treadmill and provide you with the best possible shoes to support any problems they encounter. As the picture indicates above, no flip flops during this time!
Unlike in the suggestions above, I am not going to provide any specific shoe recommendations because those can vary so much by age, gender, and foot type. Instead, I'm going to link you to some of my favorite brands and some of my favorite shoe stores. I personally own New Balance, Asics, Hoka, and Merrell. If you're interested in some great Atlanta-based stores, please check out Big Peach Running Company, Phidippides, and Road Runner Sports.
Do you have other suggestions for what you would do for your health for $100 or less? Comment here, on Facebook, or wherever you find this blog post! For the purposes of this article, I avoided selecting services and only selected items that could support a lifestyle change, not just pampering. But there are certainly plenty of services that would could help your health!
And, since this is my blog, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that you could get your chiropractic exam, physical and first adjustment for $75. Why don't you click here and schedule your appointment today!
Yours in health,
Dr. William