We all have our good days and our not-so-good days. While it’s important to be grateful for just being alive and try to appreciate even the low days, life is just more fun when you’re happy. I believe happiness is a by-product of health and balance. Yesterday’s Metro helps prove this theory in a great article by Best Health Magazine.

In “True Comfort Food,” 5 different foods are highlighted with supporting study results, proving how nutrition promotes good mental health. The researchers have found that certain foods keep depression at bay, control pain and trigger excitement.

Here the 5 types of foods to put on your weekly grocery list:

1. Fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely important to maintaining mood. They are found in seafood like salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines. Food producers have noted how important these fish oils are to our stressed-out society and have fortified other foods, such as eggs and cereals, with this omega fatty acid. The experts suggest eating fish twice a week and for those with mental conditions, at least 1 gram per day.
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Two weeks later, and the benefits of my trip to Grail Springs Health Resort still linger. Mind you, it helps that I’m writing about it and reading the two books I picked up there, “Grail Springs Holistic Detox” written by the Grail owner, Madeleine Maraentette, and “Staying Healthy with the Seasons” by Elson M. Haas, M.D. Both contain the basic health information on which the resort’s Holistic Grail Life plan is based.

Meditation is important to achieving health and balance. But I never realized how integral it really is for everyone to practice this ancient exercise until now! The following 10 benefits of meditation are found in the above mentioned books as well as in my research as I discovered the secrets of the mystical labyrinth.

Meditation…

1. Helps you achieve greater health. It formulates a stronger mind-body harmony and increases your awareness. Dr. Haas says that to achieve this harmony, “your two aspects, right and left [brain hemispheres], mind and body, must stay in regular communication. By listening within, being aware of your body processes, your cycles, your true nature, you will keep growing and maintain your health.”

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Last Wednesday, I gave you a little taste of my weekend up North at the Grail Springs Health Resort. It was a healing getaway unlike any vacation I’ve ever experienced. While my usual week-long vacations leave me with the blues and longing for a return to the beach, after only two days at Grail Springs, I felt well-rested, energized, at peace and ready to take on the world!

Grail vacationers go to heal and learn balanced living. Everyone had a fascinating story to tell, the guests, staff and even the owner. Several guests said it wasn’t their first time here, and this time wouldn’t be their last (one had already booked for next month!) Whether it was to cope with the death of a loved one, learn better stress management or heal from a chronic illness, we all felt the benefits of living the Grail philosophy:

From www.grailsprings.com:

“Our approach to lifestyle is holistic. We believe our natural state is that of equilibrium, clarity, and good health. And that our life is a journey of experiences, lessons, triumphs and fulfillment. Within the challenges facing most in the 21st century; we often find ourselves having made sacrifices in our health, peace of mind, family, finances, or our basic right to happiness and love for life. Somewhere along the road we lost our way.”

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Last week we announced changes to Live Lighter and its posting schedule. While Wednesday’s are now health-related reviews and recipes or videos are supposed to be on Friday, I need a little more time to write Part II of my review on the Grail Springs Holistic Health Resort. Please expect this post on Friday.

But I don’t want to leave you all with nothing, so here’s Friday’s planned post, a fabulous soup recipe I created a couple of weeks ago. Normally I find cabbage soup pretty blah, but this one I’m truly impressed with. I made it the night of my return from Grail Springs and I swear it made my culinary talents explode!

It’s delicious and nutritious, and will help you lose weight and cleanse your system. I made mine extra spicy (this is not reflected in the following ingredients), so much so that Honey won’t eat it. But hey, I love it and so do the spice-loving guys at work! Tell me what you think if you should be so bold and try this unique cabbage soup recipe out.

Steph’s Spicy, Savoury Cabbage Soup

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Ready in: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Serves: 15

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