In this episode, Tiffany Grant dives into the profound connection between health and wealth, inspired by her personal journey of living abroad in Jamaica and traveling to Africa. She shares how these experiences have reshaped her understanding of a healthier lifestyle and financial well-being.

Check out the full shownotes here: https://moneytalkwitht.com/podcast-show-notes/living-abroad-health-wealth/

Key Takeaways

• Health Transformation: Tiffany's health improvements after moving to Jamaica and eating locally.
• Cultural Insights: Differences in food quality and taste between the US, Jamaica, and Africa.
• Simple Living: The benefits of a more active and stress-reduced lifestyle.
• Actionable Tips: Practical advice for improving health and wealth, even if you stay in the US.

Resources and Links Mentioned

• Previous Episode: Tiffany’s Life Updates
• Submit your questions at www.moneytalkwitht.com/asktiffany

Listener Support:

• Rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. Your feedback is invaluable!
• Follow Tiffany on social media at @moneytalkwitht on all platforms.

Catch new episodes every Tuesday & Thursday and visit moneytalkwitht.com for more resources. Thanks for tuning in to Money Talk With Tiff!

You know what it is. That's right. It's time to talk money with your money

nerd and financial coach. Now tighten those purse strings

and open those ears. It's the money talk with Tiff

podcast. Hey,

hey, hey, and welcome to another. Episode of Tiffany's Take, where I

answer your questions right here on the podcast. If you would like your

questions answered, go to

www.moneytalkwitht.com

axtiffany, and I'll be more than happy to answer for you.

So for this episode. So last week, I did like a whole life

updates episode. If you didn't listen to it, go back and listen. I'll make

sure I have the link. In the show notes. But I went over just some

changes that have happened in my life, and as a result,

I had one of my listeners reach out and asked me. To dive a

little deeper into the health versus

wealth, how health is wealth,

and, you know, all of the things that I've discovered

since living abroad and. The food and all that stuff. So

that's what I'm going to get into today, is just to dive a

little bit deeper into that topic. So in case you

didn't listen, like I said, go back and listen. But just to give you a

brief overview, I moved out of the country. To Jamaica

over the summer. And part of the reason was because

my health. And when I was in the US,

the last part of last year, beginning. Of this year,

I was having a mysterious illness where

my blood pressure was at a whack. I was swelling

really bad. I was hospitalized a couple of

times. They couldn't figure out what was going on. I was seeing heart

doctors and kidney doctors and all types of stuff, and all of

my blood work was coming back okay. But they couldn't figure out what

was going on, so they put me on blood pressure medication. Okay,

so now let's fast forward. I went to Jamaica the

first time this year, back in February. And when I

went, I didn't take. Any of the blood pressure medication. I

was like, you know, to be honest, I just forgot the first few days. And

then by then I was like. Well, shoot, I'm not having any issues. Let's just

see what happens. Well, I didn't take it the whole time I was

down there, so maybe. About two or three weeks or so. So almost a month.

When I went back to the States. I told the doctor,

well, when I went for a checkup, they checked my blood pressure, and they said

everything was. Normal and the medication must be

working. And I laughed, and they were like. You know what's so funny?

I was like, well, I haven't taken. The medication in at least a month. And

some change now. And so they were shocked. They were like, really?

Like, your blood pressure is looking really good. What have you

been doing? And I said, well, I was just. Out of the country, and I

was. Just eating like the locals eat. And, you know, that's

pretty much it. And, you know, getting a little more exercise because,

you know, sometimes you have. To walk or what have you. But that was it.

And so they were like, well, whatever you're doing, keep it up.

So that made me realize that there's.

A few things going on in the US that don't happen in other

places. And another thing that opened my eyes. So I went for the first

time in February. I went back again in, like, April ish,

march. And then I went back again in May. And May is when I

actually made the move. Now, all of those times that I. Went

back, every time I came back to the US, the food

tasted weird. It just tasted a little off to me.

And when I realized that, I'm like. Well, dang, the food

might be what's killing us here in the US. From

May to July, I was in. Between

Jamaica and Africa. Okay? Now, I

love Africa, and I love Jamaica.

The food is unmatched. But, mind you, being out of

the US for two whole months, right,

that. Really woke up my taste buds when. It comes

to what food is supposed to taste like. Because, mind you, in these

other countries. They don't have a ton of processed food. Like, for

instance, here in Jamaica, a lot of the processed food that's

here is here because it gets imported in. It's not that

they really make it. Here, if you get what I'm saying. So,

you know, it might be Americans sending barrels

or, you know, to their. Loved ones, and that's how they're getting processed food. Or

it may be the grocery stores. Importing the foods

just to tailor to the tourists and things like that.

That is how processed food gets here. And with

the jamaican culture, you know. They'Re used to going out to

the. Ocean, catching fish, you know, going to. Their

yards, and there's plenty of fruit trees, vegetables, things

like that, and cooking with whatever they have. And so. And the same

thing with Africa, okay? So that's what my taste buds had

gotten accustomed to. Now, when I went back to the States in

July. So, mind you, I've been gone for two months. Every

single thing I tasted, from the time I stepped foot in the

airport, I smelled pizza and I said, oh. My gosh, it's pizza.

Like, I haven't had pizza in a. Few months, you know? Let me get some

pizza. Well, I got the pizza and, y'all.

I couldn't even finish it. It was so salty, and it

tasted horrible. And I just know, had

my taste buds not adjusted, I would have

tore that pizza up. It would have been the best thing. You know, since

sliced bread. But now that my taste buds have.

Adjusted, things just do not taste the same. I shipped a

barrel down here with a whole bunch of food stuff and things

before I left in May. Well, I just got it after I came

back towards the end of July, early August, and

when I tasted, for. Instance, the Vienna sausages that

I had in there. The Vienna sausages from the US

are way more salty than the Vienna sausages

here in Jamaica because they have their. Own version as well. The ones from the

US are extremely salty. I could barely finish the whole can.

That just goes to show you that things in the US are

completely different than other things in other countries.

Either things were too salty or extremely sweet. Those

were, like, the two extremes that. I was experiencing while I was

there. Honestly, just look at the fundamental truth.

Health and wealth are very deeply connected.

So consider this, right? Financially secure individuals often

have better access to healthcare, nutritious foods, and healthy

lifestyle options, while those with limited resources may. Find themselves

trapped in cycles of poor. Health and financial strain. Now, I

have learned that this is mostly true in the US, right?

Because here in Jamaica, there's food

everywhere. Now, granted, not everybody has

the means. To always get food, but there

are. Trees everywhere, fruit trees everywhere, there

are vegetables everywhere. Like, I just learned the other day that across the

street from my house, there's this field. It's just a field that

nobody keeps up or anything. Pumpkin grows in there. And

so one of my neighbors said they'll bring me a pumpkin, right?

But that's my point. Like, there's so much fresh

food all around, and it's not like that in

America. Also, there's not many fast food

places here, right? So in Jamaica, don't get me wrong, there

are fast food places. Like, there is a Kfc, there is

little caesars, there's a burger king. Like, there's all types of stuff here.

But it's not as prevalent as in America. What is more

prevalent are the little. Stands where people are

selling just fresh food that they're cooking right there on the

spot. And that's one thing that I love about Jamaica,

is you can always find food somewhere. And in the

mornings, they usually are. Cooking porridge on the street. You know, at

the stands, you can stop by. That's their version of fast food. You can get

porridge in the morning. You can get soup in the afternoon. You can get jerk

chicken at night. You know, it's like there's always someone.

Outside selling, probably out of necessity. But let me

tell you, the food is so much better than a McDonald's, a chick fil

a, a Burger king. Whatever else you can find, right? So

that's also what I love here. And the people

are so nice. Like, I went up to my neighbor's house the other day

just to stop by and say, hey. And she fed me. She gave me some

green juice that she made with some spinach from her. Garden

and all types. Like, it's just a way healthier way of

life. And for me, that is

irreplaceable. Like, I would rather

have the simple. Living, like, washing clothes by

hand, walking to the store when I need to. Going out

to my fruit trees. I got an ackee tree. So picking ackee or, you

know, when. I had the mango tree before the. Hurricane, picking mango

like that is more living

than I was getting in the US. And so

for me, I'm like, even though I might not be

the richest. Person, I feel very wealthy. I

feel very wealthy because not only. Is my health

doing better, my kids are feeling better. You know, just

the environment change. I also noticed that in

America when. I went back that it's just a very stressful

environment. I had went out with one of my

friends, and even while we were. Out, there were so

many stressors that was happening. Like,

for instance, here in Jamaica,

guns. Aren'T really that prevalent. You have to jump through a lot. Of

hoops to have a gun. And so unless you have it illegally.

But most people don't have guns in the US. Most people do have

guns. Even, like, when people have

disagreements here. For instance, me with my american mindset,

I'm looking like, oh, where can I duck? If somebody starts shooting or something? Pop

off. Like, where can I go? Meanwhile, they just threw a

couple fists. And then everybody was back drinking and having fun and

partying. You know what I'm saying? So it's a very

different environment when. It comes to stressors as

well. When I was back in the US, there was a shooting

at the place. Luckily, I wasn't there, but there was. A shooting at one of

the places that my friends had went to. And so

that just causes you to have a whole other

level of environmental stress as well, so not only are

you killing your body from the inside. Out, but you're also killing your body.

From the outside in, if that makes sense. So

there's just so many takeaways that I've had. And

also even going to Africa, that was eye

opening because they live even. More simple than here in

Jamaica. But the thing is, the people are. So happy

like you. It made me realize that you don't have to

have much to live a happy,

fulfilled, long life. I have a neighbor here in

Jamaica. He's like 60 something, and he does

back flips and front flips, climbs trees, all

types of stuff. Like, he is not slowing down. And that is the norm

here. Meanwhile, in America, everybody, you know, as

you start getting older, your body starts breaking down, your knees start

hurting, you. Know, all of these different things. And

that's not the majority of cases. Here from what I've seen so

far. And even when I was, you know, when I was moving here, a

couple of weeks before I moved here, one. Of my friend's

coworkers had passed away. 32 year old, and it was a heart

attack. I'm 33, and when I told one.

Of my friends, who's 33 here, I. Said, you know, one of

my friend's friends had passed away from a heart attack that was our

age. They're like, that doesn't happen here. Like, usually if

young people are passing. Away, it's because of an accident or. You know,

something like that. It's not because of health reasons. And that was

another thing that was eye opening to me. Like, what we consider

normally, there is not normal elsewhere.

So there's just so many things to unpack with this.

And even advertising, down to advertising here in

Jamaica, there isn't much, you know, people don't really watch

tv or, you know, things like that. They do have social

media and stuff. But, you know, it's not as prevalent.

As the advertising there. And so if you think about the. Last

time you saw a commercial for a juicy burger or some crispy beef.

Fries, the ads that you're looking at are designed to make

you crave those foods. So regardless of their nutritional value, like.

Oh, I want to get. I want to go get that burger. That look good,

you know, it's just. A powerful influence on our consumer choices.

But also realize it's not just advertising. The government

policies also shape our food system. So there's

a lot of subsidies that are geared toward corn and soy, and

that's made processed foods cheaper, while fruit. Fruits and

vegetables remain more expensive in the US. Here

it's the opposite. The processed foods are more expensive, while. The fruits

and veggies, generally speaking, are a little more.

So. It's just a lot to think about. And I could go on and

on. I don't want this episode to be forever. But

that's one of the reasons why I decided to make the move,

is because you just realize that things are. Very

different in the US once you start traveling outside the US.

And since running the podcast and

running the blog and all the things that. I do for my business I can

do from anywhere. I'm like, why not be in a. Place

that I can get the best outcomes, not only for myself, but for.

My kids as well. It just made

more sense to me. So hopefully, listener who

requested this, this was really helpful. And even the people that did and

request this, hopefully you thought this was helpful too.

Now, I know not everybody can move. I

definitely understand that. But what are some things to

do. That you can kind of circumvent

the. System a little bit? Now don't get me wrong, I

have friends that are extremely healthy in the US. They don't eat,

you know, processed food. They don't eat fast food, they cook. At home

all the time, they shop at the best grocery stores and things like that.

So of course you can do all of that. But if you can't,

just make sure that whatever you're putting in your

system. Is going to be good for your system and

work towards longevity. So even though that

burger might sound good for now, and it might be good

for now, think about what it may be doing to your system later.

On down the road. And this is coming from someone that.

Before I left the US, I was eating fast food at least a few

times a week. To be honest with you, at least. A few times a week.

I have lost over 20 pounds since. I've been

out of the US. So since February, I've lost over

20 pounds. And it's not that I'm not eating,

I'm eating and I'm eating great. Matter of fact, it's just that the.

Type of stuff that I'm eating has. Changed and I'm also, you know, a.

Little more active here as well. So anywho, hopefully that helps.

Hopefully that answered your question, listener. And like I said, if you have

any questions about money, business, career, or even

just these like little life updates. And things that I'm giving you, please. Go

to www.moneytalkwitht.com

axtiffany and I'll be more than happy to answer. Be sure

you rate review subscribe all those good things for the

podcast so that way other people can find us, especially reviews. I

would love if you leave a review because I know there's so many people

listening, but I only have 40 reviews, so especially if

you're an Apple podcast, please write me a quick review

if it's good, bad, indifferent, whatever. I read all

of them and I take everything to heart. So

definitely let me know what you're thinking. How can I help you? What you like

about the podcast, whatever. The case may be. So

until next week, thank you so. Much for listening and I hope you have a

wonderful rest of of your week. Bye. Thank you for

listening, joining and being a part of the Money Talk with TIFF podcast this

week. You can check TiF out every Thursday for a new money talk

podcast, but if you just can't wait until next week, you can listen to

previous podcast

episodes@moneytalkwitht.com or

follow TIFF on all social media platforms at

moneytalkwitht. Until next time, spend wise

bye. Spending less than you make a word to the money wise is

always sufficient.