4 Reasons to be Active

There are literally hundreds of reasons why being active is beneficial.  Exercise is good for your body, your mind and for your social life.

Here are four reasons that I believe will inspire you to get up and get healthy. Once you’ve read through, I know you’ll join me and become a happier, healthier you.

1.  Reduced stress
Most of our lives are filled with stress of some sort, whether it’s lack of time, financial struggles, difficult work deadlines or simply trying to herd your children to school.

Stress can lead to weight gain and make losing weight more difficult, so finding time for activity has never been so important.
Stress also often causes over-eating and this can lead to weight gain, in turn this can increase your stress and then the cycle repeats.
Even I have succumbed to stress during times of high pressure.  Knowing that this wasn’t the best reaction, I took time out and realized that I needed to do something that would help me cope with the stresses of my life.  I found that adding an activity to my day allowed me to re-group and focus on myself and this helped me to reduce anxiety and stress.

2. Feel more productive in work and life
I always used to think that in school we had recess to give the teacher five minutes of peace but the real reason is much more interesting. Studies have found that after activity our brains are more active and this makes it easier for us to learn and retain information. You may not be in school any more, but taking a brief recess for activity, especially when you feel drained, may improve your focus and make you more productive. Feeling that you’re more productive is a great way to beat stress!

3. Positive lifestyle attracts positive people
When you make a conscious effort to improve yourself through becoming more active, your confidence gets a boost.  Even better, your new positive approach can convince those around you to also make a positive change.  This is especially true if you decide to take a class or join a gym.
Who knew that by improving yourself you'd have the potential to improve others too?

4. Increase your happiness
Who doesn’t want to be happier? Being active promotes the release of endorphins in your body similar to those that are released when we eat foods such as chocolate.  I’d much rather get my happy endorphins from activity because it's long lasting.  When you eat unbalanced sugary delights, your happy vibe is short lived and is quickly followed by a not-so-happy energy drop.
What goes up must come down and if you constantly spike your blood sugar in this way, you'll find it hard to balance your mood. Instead, try involving yourself in a healthy activity as this may make you happier because you'll have more energy and your mood will be stable.

***

Activity really is good for everyone.  Think of these four life-changing benefits of exercise as routes to happiness. Less stress makes you happier, being alert and more productive makes you happier and happy people attract positive happy people.

Curried Cauliflower

This dish is filled with tender cauliflower, nutrient-dense spinach, sweet pickled pimento peppers, and plump garbanzo beans all swimming in a creamy, dreamy curry sauce. With a flavor this deep and satisfying, you may forget that it's filled with all wholesome ingredients. Enjoy!

Courtesy of RealHealthyRecipes.com

Servings: 16

Here’s what you need

• 2 heads cauliflower, chopped into florets
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
• 3 Tablespoons curry powder
• 1 (15oz) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• ½ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 5 oz bag of fresh baby spinach
• 1 (13.66oz) can coconut milk, full fat
• ½ cup pickled sweet pimento peppers, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the cauliflower florets and boil for 8 minutes, until fork tender. Drain and set aside. Wipe out the pot.
2. Return the pot to medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, onion and garlic. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the curry powder and cauliflower florets and continue to cook for 2 minutes.
3. Add the garbanzo beans, chicken broth, spinach, coconut milk, pimentos, lime juice, salt and red pepper flakes. Mix well and reduce to low heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Nutritional Analysis

One serving equals: 185 calories, 8g fat, 17g carbohydrate, 4gg sugar, 169mg sodium, 7g fiber, and 8g protein.

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