Relationships and your health

Did you know the quality of the relationships in your life directly affects your physical health? Unhealthy relationships can turn into exactly that—a toxic internal environment that can lead to stress, depression, anxiety, and even medical problems. Long term studies have shown that chronic stress in relationships can affect your heart causing damage. And we already know that stress raises our blood pressure. This is because your body responds to stress as if it is a medical emergency. So if you stay stressed for long periods of time, your body is constantly in emergency mode.

Did you know I recently launched a podcast? You can find me on iTunes under the title “Life & Other Indoor Sports”. Its all about how you can achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle in every lane. In my #templetuesday podcast, I gave you a tip on the 1st step you must take to improve the relationships in your life. Its only 3 minutes long, you can listen here: {Click Me}

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you need other people. Period. We are designed that way. This is the reason Jesus why spoke to His disciples about unity. Because He knew we all need each other. Last week I shared a yummy chocolate recipe with you guys and talked about the need for self-care. As we fill ourselves up, its important that we also pour out goodness on to others.

As we serve ourselves, let’s find someone this week that WE can serve in return. I challenge you to select the person you LEAST want to pick. Its easy to choose someone we love to life or someone who’s just an amazingly wonderful person. I challenge you to pick the person who deserves it the least and perform a random act of kindness towards them with no expectation of anything in return. It may be that coworker who gets on your last nerves, a homeless person you pass daily while out, or for someone, it may even be your spouse who never appreciates you.

A key part of having better relationships with others is learning to develop empathy. In my own life, as I began to ask God to help me see people as HE sees them, He opened my eyes to so many things and I developed a level of compassion that never existed before.

Now I know what someone is thinking….what does this have to do with my health Coach K? Can you just give me a recipe? Well absolutely. I’m sharing my lentil stew recipe with you here, in the hopes that you will perhaps choose to treat someone else!

Ingredients:

1 cup green lentils, well rinsed

1 cup butternut squash, peeled and chopped

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp oregano

1/4 tsp whole sage

3 cups water (more if needed as it cooks)

Sauté onions for 5 minutes, then add red bell pepper. Add seasonings then lentils and butternut squash. Stir for about 2 minutes to incorporate seasonings, then add water. Let cook uncovered for approximately 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Say a blessing and enjoy!

Skillet cornbread (also known as "hot water" cornbread also known as "johnny cakes")

1 cup non-GMO cornmeal 

1/4 cup spelt flour 

1/4 tsp baking soda 

pinch of salt 

1 Tablespoon maple syrup 

1 Tablespoon oil 

Approximately 1 cup boiling water 

Approximately 2 Tablespoons of oil in skillet 

Mix dry ingredients. Make a well in the center. Add maple syrup and oil. Slowly add water while stirring. You want this to look like a thick pancake batter. Heat oil in skillet. Pour batter in large spoonfuls to form cornmeal pancake shapes. Fry about 2 minutes per side until golden brown.

Try this easy dish out and share it with someone who doesn't deserve it. I promise you'll feel better!