Vacation is good for the body, spirit and soul

Well friends, I am about to take a cruise for the first time in my life. It will be a 5 day cruise and we are going to Jamaica and Grand Cayman, which I hear are both amazing. Since I am in my last semester of school and in press mode, it is an awkward time to take a vacation; but this cruise happens to also be a conference for me.

I am going to be attending the Cre:ate cruise. Our group on the cruise is going to be filled with all sorts of creative types. There will be seminars that help creatives in their journey. I am looking forward to all of the writer streams and of course the beach and water too.

I started thinking about how much I love to travel and that vacation has to be good for the health. I know it's good emotionally because it gives a person time to relax and become rejuvenated. This vacation will be good to ignite my creativity and I was wondering what else vacationing was good for, so I did a little research and it turns out vacationing is good for the body, spirit and soul.

1. (Body) Heart Healthy: Stress and heart disease are directly linked. Ways to decrease the chances of heart disease are exercise, eating real foods, and finding time to relax. A study showed that women who took only one vacation every six years or less were eight more times likely to develop heart disease than women who took a vacation every two years. So for longevity's sake, plan a vacation.

2. (Spirit) Spiritual Health: The University of Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center surveyed 1399 participants from other surveys they had done on health issues. The people who vacationed more reported having more life satisfaction, life-purpose and were deeper spiritually and religiously in orientation. God did rest on the 7th day guys. I always tell stressed-out friends, who just can't take a day off or go out of town, that actually they can't afford not to. If God took a day off then there is value in it and they should give it a try too. A vacation can bring clarity and spiritual depth.  I had one of the most intense spiritual moments of my life looking out at the Mediterranean Sea from a the Greek Island, Naxos. A vacation will give you the break to notice the beauty of Creation.

3. (Soul) Mental Health: A study published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal said that women who vacation more were less likely to be depressed, tense and more satisfied with their marriages. Wives you might want to show your husbands this study. The study suggested that breaks from everyday stressors can produce more enjoyment in a woman's live. 

When you get back from a nice vacation you are rested and able to perform life's task with energy and a renewed vision. Start planning a vacation now and see your health rise.

I will be posting pictures as best as I can from the Ship. Bon Voyage!!!

reference
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111887591

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/5-awesome-health-benefits-of-even-the-tiniest-vacay-2469907/;_ylt=AlHWBEeyF41qb6hc6Z7nSPVqbqU5

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/33386.php

Chef Margie's soup for when you are stranded in a blizzard!

Not Your Everyday Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

One large Sweet Potato, cut in chunks
One large Onion, cut in chunks
Three stalks Celery, cut diagonally in about 1” pieces
Two medium Carrots, cut as you like them
One clove Garlic, minced
One large bag Spinach, or package frozen Spinach
Two cups chopped up Tomatoes

If you have these lying around the icebox, they would be good:
One Leek, carefully cleaned and sliced, white part only
One bulb Fennel (Anise), sliced in strips

Butter for sautéing
Water for boiling

Bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
A little Thyme, to taste

Preparation:

Boil the Sweet Potato, and
if using frozen Spinach, cook it half the time the package suggests.
If using fresh spinach, just make sure it is nice and clean.

Saute the Onion, Celery, Carrots, Garlic, and Leek and Fennel if using;

When the onion is nice and yellow and the carrots have softened a bit,
Add the Tomatoes.  Season well with Salt, Pepper (I prefer White Pepper), Bay leaves, Thyme

When the Sweet Potatoes are nearly the consistency you will want them in the soup, add all other ingredients and let bubble merrily until you are ready to eat it.

Enjoy!

Orange and Green Dinner, delicious!!!

So, tonight I had a delicious meal full of amazing antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and oils.

1. 4 oz. Grilled Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon = Omega 3 fatty acids that are great for the heart, metabolism, muscles, brain and half a ton of other benefits.

2. Sweet Potatoes = Beta Carotene that is great for eye health and skin disorders, enhances immunity and slows down the aging process.

3. Broccoli = high vitamin C, fiber, potassium and folic acid. Broccoli's antioxidants prevent all sorts of cancers, destroys free radicals, helps to prevent Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, calcium deficiencies, prevent heart disease and slow down aging.

4. Raw Salad with Olive Oil and Balsamic Dressing = the antioxidants in the raw vegetables help to prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, slow down aging, make the skin look more youthful and clears the complexion and the olive oil helps digestive issues, prevents heart disease, and all types of cancers.

Eat good food that tastes good and is good for you.







http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/animal-product/health-benefits-of-salmon.html
http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/beta-carotene.html