7 Habits to Instill To Make Your Life Healthier and Happier

#1- Spend at least a couple of hours outside every day

A study done by the app Mappiness in 2010 found, via 20,000 participants, that people are least happy either at work or while sick in bed.

They are most happy when they’re with friends or lovers.

And their moods tend to reflect the weather at hand.

But, one of the biggest variables is not who you’re with or what you’re doing. It’s where you are.

On average, study participants were significantly happier outdoors, in an all green or natural habitat type, rather than in an urban environment.

We are growing increasingly burdened and inundated by chronic ailments made worse by time spent indoors, from myopia and vitamin D deficiency to obesity, depression, diminishment of eyesight, loneliness, and anxiety, among others.

Since the dawn of the internet, researchers say we have grown more irritable, less sociable, more narcissistic, more distracted, and less cognitively nimble.

This might be due to both, to the internet’s effect on our ability to focus, as well as the barriers created between connecting as deeply emotionally as we once did (now, our screens tend to distract us much of the time).

This can also be due to things like advertising and media, posting selfies (look at me, look at me!), the sense of competition and comparison that social media ushered in, the seeking of status and popularity, the branding of ourselves via crafting our online images for viewers, the diminishment of wisdom, and reading articles and bits of information in short bursts, as opposed to focusing at length on, say, a book for an hour or two.

The fact that we have grown more irritable, less sociable, more narcissistic, more distracted, and less cognitively nimble, though, is also because we are spending way more time indoors.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Pie

Chocoholics, this one is for you. It’s wheat-free and gluten-free (not the same thing, contrary to some people’s assumption), and lower in sugar than many typical desserts. The base of this cake, though, is fudgy and rich, and the other two layers are whipped, creamy, light, and delicious.

The Best Raw Carrot Cake with Maple Cashew Frosting

Hi Fellow Foodies!

I realize it’s been a long time since I posted a recipe, but, better late than never, yes? So, here we go. I have a gem for you.

This one is super easy to make. It’s delicious, with a fun texture, and is way healthy to boot.

No wheat or gluten, very little sugar, no dairy, and made with raw ingredients which are excellent for your health.

Yes, it’s raw, which means that texture-wise, it will not be comparable to cake made with flour, however, this aside, the taste is fantastic. Don’t take my word for it, though. Whip it up and taste yourself. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

This is a cake you need not feel guilty about eating!

Other Aspects of the Pandemic Are Hurting Our Health Beyond COVID

Beyond the fear of getting COVID, or actually contracting it, there is much else happening right now in the atmosphere of the pandemic that is harming our health. This is important to be aware and take notice of so that we might do things that counteract and prevent these other potential things as best as we can.

I will discuss those issues below, and then offer some ideas for some possible solutions following.

Depression and Anxiety Have Increased, Which Hurts Your Mind and Your Body

Everyone’s mental health is suffering right now, in one way or another. Some are suffering more than others, but still, we are all feeling it.

The Food You Eat is Either Feeding Disease or Fighting It.

The things we put into our body, food and drink, as well as other factors in how we treat our bodies, like getting enough sleep and controlling our levels of stress, all of this is either contributing or encouraging toward disease, or, helping to fend off disease from building.

Here is how.

Pesto Quinoa Bowl With Egg, Tomato, & Kale

Hi all,

Happy winter months.  It’s the ideal time for all things 1. easy to whip up and 2. cozy and delicious.  This quinoa bowl will do just the trick.  It can be made in less than a half an hour, it tastes awesome, it’s grain-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free, with a small amount of dairy in the pesto (assuming you use regular pesto, which has cheese in it).

Make extra so you have a totally tasty lunch for work tomorrow too!

The Age of Addiction. Why?

Cell phones, the internet, opioids, workaholism, all with steadily rising rates of anxiety and depression. What’s going on here?

America seems to be moving steadily down a rapidly darkening path, one of addiction, social isolation, anger, and general unhappiness. Why might this be?

Gluten-Free Zucchini Lasagna

Hi all,

Happy healthy eating, with the upcoming warm weather, as well as in celebration of health in general, regardless of temperature or time of year!  This one is homey, cheesy, delicious, and yet, it’s without any grains or gluten.  It’s to-die-for-delicious though.  Skeptical?  Try it yourself.  We make this one almost every week, it’s that good.  It may just become a staple in your home too!

Paleo Vanilla Cupcakes

Man, oh man, are these fluffy, moist, and totally tasty.  Super easy to make, and I was stunned of their texture being exactly the same as any other cupcake.  One cannot tell the difference between these and cupcakes made with flour.  Thus, why not then make the healthier cupcake, if there is no sacrifice of taste?  Your body and health will thank you for it 🙂

Gluten-free/grain-free, lactose-free, and with only honey used for sweetener, these are a cupcake you can feel far better about eating!

Gluten free and Low Sugar Chocolate Cheesecake

Happy Wednesday, all!

This chocolate cheesecake is the perfect guilt-free (or nearly ;-)) treat.  Made with no added sugar (honey aside), its gluten free (sans crust), though is decadent and delicious.  Swirled through with Greek yogurt and bittersweet chocolate.  This is a cheesecake you can feel significantly better about eating, as opposed to the traditional versions (which are far more laden with sugar, usually with a gluten-based crust, and more fat).

Here is how to make it!