Category: Healthy Food

Getting Outside Is Good for Your Mental and Physical Health, According to New Study

September 9, 2019

Those who spent two hours a week outside reported improved mental and physical health.

Getting Outside Is Good for Your Mental and Physical Health, According to New Study

In case you needed even more of a reason to get into the Great Outdoors, a study published in Scientific Reports says that spending two hours in nature every week could provide a boost to your health. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this; in July 2018, Science Daily shared another report boasting the same idea. If you read no further, at least take away the moral of this story: Spending time in nature is always a good idea.

This new study took two groups — one that did not spend any time in nature and another that took advantage of residential green spaces (parks, beaches, and the woods) — and monitored them for seven days. Each participant reported back on the state of their mental and physical wellness at the end of the study. According to CNN, the researchers included feedback from more than 20,000 people in the UK. Of those who spent time outside, one in three polled reported that they felt dissatisfied and one in seven shared that they had poor health. Of the group who did not spend time outdoors, nearly half reported “low levels of life satisfaction,” and 25 percent reported they experienced poor health.

The demographics of the two groups spanned all walks of life. Mathew White, leader of the study at University of Exeter Medical School, shared some insight with CNN on the people studied: “We were worried our effect was just that healthier people visited nature but this finding suggested even people with known illnesses who did manage to get two hours a week in nature fared better.”

This isn’t knowledge that’s supposed to surprise you: It makes sense. Pull yourself out of your everyday environment and stresses and experience something bigger than yourself. In a world where forest bathing is a popular and respected activity, it’s never been easier to get out into nature.

The Oldest Newly Discovered Health Food

November 8, 2013

By: Mihran Kalaydjian, CHA

The Oldest Newly Discovered Health Food

Finally, there’s a food that tastes great, helps you lose weight and packs more health benefits than a field of alfalfa sprouts. It’s called…bulgur. No kidding!
The world has suddenly discovered what Armenians have known since Mrs. Noah cooked her first pot of pilaf on Mount Ararat.
Read any blog, Web site, magazine or news article on healthy eating and you’re almost certain to find the latest story about this “exotic” whole grain wonder.
Check out this article (“Bulgur: Natural Weight-Loss Food.”) from the Web site HowStuffWorks.com about “what’s left after wheat kernels have been steamed, dried, and crushed”
“High in fiber and protein, and low in fat and calories, bulgur is another food that offers bulk and nutrients to fill you up without adding pounds. One thing to keep in mind, a cup of bulgur has fewer calories, less fat, and more than twice the fiber of brown rice.”
That’s not all.
“Bulgur is also a standout in terms of its fiber content, just like whole wheat, and can help keep your digestive tract healthy as a result. The insoluble fiber it contains absorbs water, promoting faster elimination of waste, which prevents the formation of an environment that promotes the development of carcinogens.”
We love bulgur, as you know, and we have our own favorite ways of preparing it. You probably do, too.But just for a change, here’s a recipe from The Harvard University School of Public Health, which we figure might know a thing or two about healthy eating.
Bulgur Pilaf (Serves 4) 1¼ cups low-sodium vegetable broth, heated 1 cup bulgur 1½ tablespoons olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced ½ cup tomatoes, chopped ½ cup sun dried tomatoes, minced 1 dash crushed red pepper (or to taste) 2 teaspoons lemon juice 2 teaspoons honey 2 teaspoons canola oil Salt (optional) and pepper to taste
Directions
Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat, and sauté the garlic until it is tender; do not let it get brown.
Add the bulgur and sauté until it smells toasty, about 10 minutes. Pour in the hot broth, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until all the broth has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
Fluff bulgur with a fork. Gently stir in diced and dried tomatoes.
In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, honey, canola oil, crushed red pepper, salt (if desired), and pepper.
Pour over bulgur and blend well. Serve warm.
Nutrional info
Calories: 230⁄ Protein: 6 g⁄ Carbohydrate: 36 g⁄ Fiber: 8 g⁄ Sodium: 250 mgSaturated fat: 1 g⁄ Polyunsaturated fat: 1.5 g⁄ Monounsaturated fat: 5 gTrans fat: 0 g⁄ Cholesterol: 0 mg