As The Economy Is Down, Vitamin Sales Are Up!

· Read this recent article, April 4, 2009 in the New York Times about how the economy is affecting what people can afford to do about their health.

· Loss of jobs, loss of health insurance, so to stay healthy more people are buying vitamin supplements. “If I had a job with health insurance, I probably would have gone to see a doctor by now,” said Ms. Parham, 39, who lost her clerical job at American Greetings a while back. “But instead, I’m here buying Echinacea. I hope it works.” In flusher times, Ms. Parham said, she spent $50 a month on perscriptions for her asthma, allergies and other chronic problems. Now, she pays $6 a month for over-the-counter protein supplements and oregano oil capsules. “That’s an important savings for me,” she said. “It means I can rent a movie or make the kids food that they actually like.”

· Even organic foods are too expensive so some people are buying fish oil and vitamins supplements.

· A lot of consumers seem to be doing the same math. Sales of vitamins and nutritional supplements, which have grown consistently for years, have surged in recent months, rising as the stock market has fallen. People are cutting back on many items, from bread and milk to designer jeans and flat-screen televisions, but they are stocking up on pills that they think can spare them expensive doctor visits.

· The Vitamin Shoppe has tracked a rise in new customers of about 20 percent over the last six months. That increase is at least 25 percent higher than the rise in new customers that the chain saw in the recession of 2001.

· Naturally doctors and the medical profession are alarmed. For many reasons, the long term affect of their patients with serious health issues and the loss of income for the pharmaceutical companies.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

· Myself, I too took a financial hit and wanted to cut my expenses. I have been taking good nutritional supplements for over ten years and they have made the difference in my health, but they are not cheap. I thought for a very short minute that I would cut back on my supplements but after really thinking seriously…what else do I really have but my great health. If I lose that nothing else will work for me.

I hope that you are making the right decisons for your health….really what do we have if we do not have our health.

rebecca russell

antioxidants and lung health, economy and our health, health and wellness, nutrtional supplements, vitamin supplements