February is Heart Health Month and we're celebrating with a delicious, heart healthy recipe: Spinach Salad with Tuna.

This Tasty Tuesday, we've found a delicious, heart healthy recipe from Delish.com that has not one, not two, but three main ingredients that are good for your heart: spinach; tuna; and legumes! Spinach contains heart benefitting nutrients such as Coenzyme Q10, whereas, tuna is packed with omega-3s which also support heart health (among other things!). Finally, legumes do not contain cholesterol, helping you maintain a low cholesterol diet and keeping your heart healthy.

Ingredients for Dressing:

• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives

Ingredients for Salad:

• 1 package (5-ounce) baby spinach
•  2 stalks celery
• 1 medium red pepper
• 1 can (15-ounce) white kidney (cannellini) beans
•  2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna packed in water
• 1 stick of PGX Daily Singles per serving
  

Directions:

1. To make the dressing: Mix lemon juice, oil, water, mustard, half of avocado, cayenne pepper, and salt in a blender, blend until smooth. Scrape sides of the container occasionally and then stir in parsley, finely chopped, and chives.
2. To make the salad: Thinly slice celery and red pepper. Rinse and drain beans. Drain cans of tuna. Toss spinach, celery, pepper, beans, and tuna in a large bowl with the dressing and dish out servings.
   
3. Thinly slice remaining avocado and arrange on top of salads.
   
4. Sprinkle 1 stick of PGX Daily Singles on top of each serving.
   

Reference: www.realbeauty.com

Did you know that exercise does more than slim your figure?!

Read on to discover 24 fabulous benefits of getting your exercise groove on!

We often talk about how exercise will help you control those cravings and lose the weight you want to lose. But there really is so much more to exercise than that! Exercise comes with many benefits, both physical and mental! For example, it makes you strong, physically yes but also mentally. Think about it: when it would be so much easier to just plop yourself onto the couch after work or stay bundled up in blankets early in the morning, and you stll get yourself up and moving? Mental strength!

In my internet searchings for interesting tidbits to share, I came across an article at BC Living, 24 Awesome Benefits of Exercise. Here are 24 awesome (like they said) reasons why we should all get at the very least, 30 minutes of exercise three times a week. If you are like me and looking for some motivation, this article will be a big help!

Until tomorrow everyone! Get your exercise on!

Image source: captainchas.com

Can tea help you be healthy? Yes!

So pour yourself a cup and read on to learn the possible benefits of drinking tea...

Whenever you are in desperate need of energy and looking to stay awake, what do you reach for: coffee or tea? For me, it's both. I love coffee but I've never been one to brew an excellent cup of coffee; so unless I'm willing to spend three dollars on a latte or have the time to sip an espresso, I reach for tea.

Did you know that tea can do more than just warm us up on a chilly day? Tea, especially green tea is full of antioxidant polyphenols called catechins. These catechins are what scientists and researchers have linked to anti-cancer activity. I'm not saying tea can cure but if the antioxidants in tea can help fight free radicals then why not give it a swig?!

Many people also say that tea can help with weightloss. Whether that is true or not I think the simple act of replacing fatty snacks with tea can definitely help that particular statement to be true!

Want to know more about how tea can help us on the road to lasting health? Check out Huffington Post's, Tea Health Benefits: 8 Ways It Could Benefit Our Bodies and Time's 13 Reasons Tea is Good for You.

I'm off to give my tea bag his great moment of glory and brew a mug of chai (made from black tea, which is supposedly good for the lungs and reduce the risk of stroke).

Image source: Twinings Tea UK, Facebook Timeline

Read on for our No. 1 Rule for Running!

It's Weight-Wise Wednesday and We're Talking About Running...

Sometimes I just don't feel like going to the gym and running on a treadmill. I definitely like the idea of going outside for run. But that's just it: I like the idea.

In the past, I've had a very brief stint with runnning. I woke up, for a grand total of three times in one week, to go running in the park at 7 am and not a single morning more. So why didn't I last longer? And if I'm not a morning person why didn't I change my running time to the afternoon (or just any other time than the early morning)? Looking back, I realize that the early wake up time was simply an excuse to avoid running.

No. 1 Running Rule: Run Like Nobody is Watching!

I realized that I didn't like to run outside because I was worried about what people would think! How ridiculous is that?! But as Pheobe Buffay says, "...don't care if people are staring because it's just for a second 'cause then you're gone!"

And I'll tell you another thing. I bet that if anyone glances at you running, they're wishing they had the drive to do the same. Check out our previous post, Get Into Running Form (Infographic), for tips on how to run safely.

Have a great day everyone! Get out there and run... and avoid running into any horses á la Rachel Green!

Image Source: Divine Disarray Blog 

Not a fan of the gym? Be bold and try running!

PGX'ers! Get outdoors and enjoy those fall colours! Let's talk running form!

"Go running? Me? Are you kidding?! I can't run for my life! That's okay, I'll pass on that outdoor jog. I'll just find some other, less painful fitness routine to follow."

Does that quote sound familiar to you? I know those sentiments very well. In fact, I've expressed them myself when I've talked about running before. But now, I'm starting to change my tune. My cousin has recently discovered her love of running and has dedicated time for a run around Madrid everyday! She should be commended; she has inspired me to consider running... outside.

Before I strap on my shoes and start jogging, I want to make sure I avoid the novice mistakes that can lead to injuries! Check out this great infographic on running form (see below for infographic source)! But don't worry if you can't follow these tips perfectly. Running is about practice and the more you run, the better you become. Each person has their own personal ideal running form and quite often, make unconscious changes to their movements for a more efficient and comfortable run. You can learn more about Finding Your Ideal Running Form in this New York Times article.

Enjoy, stay fit, go beyond your comfort zone and happy running!

Infographic source: SuperSkinnyMe.com article How to Run: Perfect Running Form