A new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Tufts University in Massachusetts shows the financial cost of eating unhealthily. Unhealthy eating is a major factor in poor health and 45% of all deaths from cardiometabolic disease. While the physical health of an unhealthy lifestyle has been documented over and over, the financial cost tends not to receive much attention.

Eating an unhealthy diet may seem to be a way to save money, but the long-term results tell a different story.

The study shows a nation which has a population eating healthy can save itself $50 billion. Researchers focused on 10 groups; fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, whole grains, unprocessed red meats, processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, polyunsaturated fats, seafood omega-3 fats and sodium.

The looked at the effects of these food groups on people between the ages 35 to 85 years old. After looking at the individuals current eating habits, they recalculated the cost of their living with all foods replaced by the healthiest ones. The results showed that people loss about $300 a year, which, totaled up casted around $50 billion.

84% of those costs was for acute health care as these numbers accounted for 18% of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Medicare patients costed even more, at $481 per person, while those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid cost about $536 per person. Scientists noted healthier diets resulted in a 20% cost savings associated with cardiometabolic diseases. If you think eating a healthy diet that’s also budget-conscious is nothing but a pipe dream, please reconsider and see about scheduling a consult where we can put together a customized meal plan for you.