Can a Recession Be Good for Your Health?

By Robert Lewis, InsWeb.com

These days, the headlines are all the same: unemployment rates are up, consumer confidence is down, and the global economy is still struggling. But things aren’t always as bad as they seem, and new studies suggest that a recession can actually be good for your health in more ways than one.

New research by the University of North Carolina has found that for every 1% increase in national unemployment, overall mortality rates drop by .5%. In fact, recessions have a history of improving national health, and necessity is often the motivating factor.

For starters, food choices trend healthy during a recession. When finances are tight, individuals tend to spend their money more wisely (“Do I really need that second latte to get going every morning?”) Struggling families can’t afford to spend $40 on pizza and breadsticks, opting to purchase cookbooks and prepare meals at home instead, a resolution which not only saves money but also provides a far healthier alternative to restaurant food.

For those still employed, a recession can do wonders for relieving stress. Employees work less overtime when business is slow, allowing them more free time to spend with family, work out at the gym and get a good night’s rest, all of which help to reduce stress. Many of those who have been laid off and have become self-employed report a sense of liberation in their new role—after all, being your own boss has its perks.

Surging unemployment numbers have caused millions of Americans to lose access to health insurance, and many middle and working-class families now find themselves a layoff away from losing their own health insurance. As a result, more Americans are taking steps to avoid the doctor’s office by keeping in better health.

Sales of running sneakers, organic food, and gardening seeds are rising. In fact, the National Gardening Association expects the number of home vegetable gardens to jump more than 40 percent this year as compared to 2007.

Relationships can benefit from hard times, too. Tightening budgets drive more couples to consider financial security, resulting in a decrease in divorces. Fewer nights on the town and more one-on-one time at home can also lead to greater intimacy and, consequently, happier relationships, and explains a recent surge in sales of lingerie and contraceptives.

“A couple who saves together stays together”—the theme of the recession, perhaps?

So what does all this bad economic news mean for the 'green' crowd? Simply put, a more eco-friendly world. As industry slows, pollution declines. A factory with fewer workers releases less CO2 pollution into the sky and high unemployment numbers result in fewer drivers hitting the roadways for work each morning, both of which help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

So maybe things aren’t so bad after all. Americans are working fewer hours, breathing cleaner air, making healthier food choices, spending more time with family and buying gasoline at a lower price than water—all compliments of the recession.

Americans are finally learning to get more out of life with less, but is it a lesson that will outlast the recession?

Laid off and need health insurance coverage? Can’t afford coverage at work? If so, visit InsWeb.com to compare free individual health insurance quotes.