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Temple Maintenance

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? (1 Cor. 6:19)

Health Tips: Winter can be a challenging time to stay healthy and feel at your best. So how can we protect our mental and physical health at this time of year? We’ve selected our readers’ top winter health tips. We gathered 5 Tips and will be doing 1 each for the next 5 months. 

3. How to exercise in winter: 

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Keeping moving doesn’t just benefit your long-term heart health – studies have shown moderate-intensity exercise can help strengthen your immune system. The cold, rain and shorter days can make it feel harder, but Heart Matters readers have tips to motivate you to get off the couch.

Many of you told us how you’ve invested in waterproofs and warm boots and clothing so you can keep walking outdoors. Making arrangements to go with someone else makes you more likely to enjoy it and go regularly. Katherine Goatley said: “I walk with a friend so we can walk and talk. Going for walks in the park with my grandchildren, catching the falling leaves, also keeps me active and gives lots of joy.”

“I’ve signed up for a yearly subscription to my local leisure centre so I can swim or go to the gym if the weather is really bad,” said George Sneddon.

There are ways to exercise at home for free too. From hula hooping to dancing to your favourite music, readers have found ways to get active indoors. Many of you enjoy following exercises online. Laraine Clarke said: “I started off finding seated exercise for seniors on YouTube and quickly increased my fitness. I’ve been able to reduce my blood pressure meds and also slowly lost 1½ stones. I recommend Fabulous Fifties, Thick Chick Fitness and Body Project, all on YouTube.” If you have a health condition, check with your doctor before you take up any new exercise programme.

And it doesn’t have to be formal exercise for you to get active. Any movement is better than staying still for long stretches of time. One reader suggested that winter is good time to do a bit of ‘spring’ cleaning at home, while another said, “I try to ‘potter’ every day – even just getting up and down to wander round the house.”

Recipe of the Month: Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
A chicken noodle soup recipe that's a very easy, very good substitute for when you don't have time to make your soup totally from scratch. Whether you're feeling under the weather or you're just in need of a little comfort, there's nothing like homemade chicken noodle soup to warm you up from the inside out. With this shortcut recipe, you can have the best chicken noodle soup of your life on the table in just 40 minutes.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • ½ cup chopped onion

  • ½ cup chopped celery

  • 4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth

  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth

  • ½ pound chopped cooked chicken breast

  • 1 ½ cups egg noodles

  • 1 cup sliced carrots

  • ½ teaspoon dried basil

  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

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Directions

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  1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes.

  2. Add chicken broth, vegetable broth, chicken, egg noodles, carrots, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.

  3. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

 

Prep Time: 10 mins  Cook Time: 30 mins 

Total Time: 40 mins:  Servings: 6

 

 

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