Five natural tips for cutting health care bills

As the debate about the future of health care in the U.S. rages on, it may seem like we are powerless in the face of such huge challenges. Yet there is one thing we all have control over — our own bodies. Take good care of yourself and you can prevent or even reverse chronic diseases, which account for 75% of health care costs in the U.S.

“Making daily wise choices about what you eat, how active you are, and how you manage your life will save you money now on health care costs,” says Dr. Elizabeth Ricanati, medical director of the Lifestyle 180 program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. “If you’re not getting sick, you’re saving money on doctors bills, medication, and not missing days of work.”

It turns out that what's good for your health is also good for the planet's. One positive side effect of living green is that it can help you save money on your health care bills. Just follow the tips below.

Eat fresh, seasonal food

Cut out the processed junk. Packaged foods can contain high amounts of salt, sugar, and other unhealthy ingredients that can make you fat. Large amounts of energy and resources are used to manufacture and package processed foods and then and transport them to the store.

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to good health. Obesity is associated with a whole host of expensive-to-treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. “The types of food that you eat and don’t eat can affect whether you get disease,” says Ricanati. “Avoiding things like high fructose corn syrup are beneficial to your health and ultimately to your pocketbook.”

Get active

Exercising regularly prevents chronic disease, helps control weight, and is a terrific way to manage stress. You don’t need to join a fancy gym to stay fit. Anything you do to get your body moving helps. Take the stairs instead of an elevator. Walk or bike instead of driving your car for short errands. Grow your own veggies so you're outside and moving.

Drink plenty of tap water

Skip the sugary drinks, which can help you pack on the pounds, according to Harvard nutritionists. Sticking with filtered tap water is healthiest for your body and the planet since precious resources are needed to make bottles and ship them to stores.

Like to sip a sports drink after a long workout? Try coconut water, the original energy drink. It’s low in sugar and high in electrolytes.

Protect your skin from the sun

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause skin cancer. Find a good sunscreen that works and use it regularly. Here’s a list of affordable sunscreens that are both safe (free of harmful chemicals) and effective (adequately protect skin from UVA and UVB rays and remains stable in sunlight).

Some additional prevention measures: Limit your time outside in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are most intense. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing.

Keep your hands clean

Washing your hands regularly with soap and water is one of your best defenses against the flu and other germ-related illnesses. Just don’t reach for the antibacterial soap.

Soaps containing triclosan (the pesticide used in many liquid soaps to kill bacteria) aren’t more effective at removing germs or preventing disease than good old-fashioned soap and water. Triclosan may contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and has been linked with a long list of health concerns from developmental defects to cancer in lab animals.

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.

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