Higher education: The new vegetable
Your mother was right when she told you to finish your broccoli, but did you know that getting a degree has proven to be good for your health too? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just released new findings that show postsecondary education has a direct link to longevity and overall health, ranging from obesity rates to smoking habits, and the more advanced the degree, the better the benefits.
"Highly educated people tend to have healthier behaviors, avoid unhealthy ones and have more access to medical care when they need it," said Amy Bernstein, lead author of the report. "All of these factors are associated with better healthy. It's all interconnected."
The domino effect of higher education starts with getting higher-paid jobs, which trickles down to being able to afford healthier and more expensive foods like kale and whole grains, resulting in lower incidents of obesity and heart disease. Families with more income can also direct their excess funds toward health-related programs like gym memberships and dietary consultants.
Among the CDC's findings, researchers reported that only nine percent of adults between the ages of 25 and 64 with at least a bachelor's degree are smokers, versus 31 percent of those with a high school diploma or less.
If you have kids, putting a balanced meal on the table every night can be challenging. According to the CDC report, children with educated parents are half as likely to be obese than those in households where parents only have a high school diploma. Whether you're studying for a nursing or business degree, the advantages of getting an education will not only benefit your future, but could help you and your young ones life a fruitful life as well.
