To Your Health.........

We are a society that is constantly on the go.  Between getting the kids ready for school, going to work, doing the grocery shopping, running to our children's events, sports events, taking care of the house, etc. we, often times, neglect our bodies and don't eat right or exercise.

During the cold winter months, taking care and eating right are increasingly more important.  However, that is the time we usually run through a drive through, go home and curl up with a blanket because it is just too cold to do anything.

With the Flu and illness on the rise, hospitals and doctors offices are feeling the stress of treating an overwhelming amount of patients these days.  Your health begins with you.  Eat right, exercise, rest an adequate amount and you will be stronger to ward off illnesses.

Each one of us has a unique sleep requirement but our sleep needs depends upon age, sex and various genetic factors.  On average, the human body (depending on age) will require between 7-9 hours of sleep a night.  Sleep recharges the body.  Much like a laptop computer, you can only run it so long before the battery fails and you need to plug it in to recharge it.  The human body requires rest to recharge.

We all hear about how we need to eat a balanced diet but how many of us who are on the go all the time actually eat balanced and healthy foods? Our friends at www.helpguide.org have some easy tips for planning a healthy diet and will help make it easier for you to stick to a healthy way of eating.  "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" isn't far off.  Healthy food increases the bodies ability to ward off virus'.

Exercise is something we all need but many lack.  In fact, for some, the most exercise they receive is running the other way when someone mentions the mere idea of exercise.  Did you know that after age 34 the human brain can lose up to 7,000 brain cells per day?  Did you know that exercise is what allows the brain to replenish those lost brain cells?  Drinking and smoking increases the number of lost brain cells.
So, lets provide you with some simple, no equipment exercises that you can do to help you on your way to a healthier you.  RealAge.com will provide you with some simple workouts that just about everyone can do and there is no equipment required, so don't feel like you have to run out to get that gym membership started.

I would like to leave you with a recipe that is great on these cold days and is good for you too.


TORTILLA SOUP from Eva Longoria's cookbook

I use between 4 to 5 pounds of skinless boneless chicken thighs (original recipe calls for 4 pounds chicken legs and 4 pounds chicken thighs)
12 cups cold water
4 dried pasilla chiles
4 dried ancho chiles
6 tomatoes, chopped
1 large white onion, diced
6 large garlic cloves, peeled
2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
2 large bunches of fresh cilantro, leaves chopped
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For serving:
36 white or yellow corn tortillas, sliced into 1/4 inch think strips I personally like to use flour tortillas instead
1 head iceberg lettuce, cored and shredded
6 large avocados, pitted, peeled, and diced
A little more chopped fresh cilantro

1) In a large stockpot, place chicken legs and/or thighs in cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken is opaque throughout and tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 min. With a slotted spoon remove the chicken from the pot an set aside to cool. Set aside the stockpot of broth. As soon as the chicken is cool enough to handle, pull off and shred the meat; discard skin and bones (which you don't have to worry about if using skinless, boneless).

2) Place the pasilla and ancho chiles in a medium saucepan, add cold water to cover. Bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until the chiles are soft, about 10 min. Drain the chiles and remove their stems and veins. If you want a spicier bite, keep the seeds; if not, removed the seeds as well.

3) In the food processor, place the chiles  tomatoes, onion, garlic, and salt. (reduce the salt if doctor recommends a low salt diet) Process until smooth, adding a 1/2 cup of the reserved chicken broth to loosen the mixture if it is too thick.

4) Stir the chili puree and half of the cilantro into the broth. Bring to a simmer over low heat, and simmer for 20 -30 min. Taste and add salt if needed (we never do). Stir in the shredded chicken and the remaining cilantro and remove the pot from the heat.

5) Original recipe calls for frying the tortilla strips for 45 seconds. Baking them in the oven will cut down on the oil simply by lining a baking sheet with the strips of tortillas, brush lightly with olive oil if you'd like, bake in oven 350 degrees for just a few minutes. Check them often and take them out when they seem to curl up and get crisp.

6) To serve, put a few tortillas strips and a big scoop of lettuce in a soup bowl. Ladle the soup into the bowl. Top with avocado and more fresh chopped cilantro, and enjoy!



Mars Insurance wishes you a Happy and Healthy day.