IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL WELL-BEING
There’s nothing quite like waking up early on a weekend morning, brewing yourself a cup of coffee, and relaxing outside to birds chirping and singing. It’s enough to make your worries melt away and improve your mental outlook for the day. Scientific evidence supports the idea that being around birds or listening to them can improve your mental health for up to eight hours after hearing their song. New research from a King’s College, London, study found that seeing or hearing birds is linked to improving mental well-being even for people with depression. The researchers gathered real-time reports from participants using the smartphone app Urban Mind. People were asked three times a day whether they could see or hear birds before responding to questions about their current mental health status. The study lasted for three years and involved over 1,200 participants from Europe and the United States. “There is growing evidence on the mental health benefits of being around nature, and we intuitively think that the presence of birdsong and birds would help lift our mood,” says lead author Ryan Hammoud from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College, London. “However, little research has actually investigated the impact of birds on mental health in real-time and in a real environment. By using the Urban Mind app, we have, for the first time, shown the direct link between seeing or hearing birds and a positive mood. We hope this evidence can demonstrate the importance of protecting and providing environments to encourage birds, not only for biodiversity but for our mental health.” Interestingly enough, the habitat that the birds belonged to did not make a difference in their ability to improve one’s mood. As long as the individual could hear or see birds, they noticed improvements in their overall mental well-being. While the birds might have flown south for the winter, we’re eagerly awaiting their return, as they’ll undoubtedly bring more joy and positivity into our lives.
BY LISTENING TO BIRDS
SUDOKU
MUNCHIES WITH MOLLY
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN AND WHITE BEAN STEW Inspired by EatingWell.com
INGREDIENTS •
4 15-oz cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
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4 cups chopped kale 1 tbsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp kosher salt
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6 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 tsp ground pepper 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup sliced carrots
1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary 1 4-oz Parmesan cheese rind 2 1-lb bone-in chicken breasts
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup parsley leaves
DIRECTIONS
1. In a 6-qt slow cooker, combine beans, broth, onion, carrots, rosemary, and Parmesan rind. Top with chicken. Cover and cook on low until the beans and vegetables are tender, about 7–8 hours. 2. Remove chicken from slow cooker. On a clean cutting board, let the chicken rest until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Shred the chicken and discard bones. 3. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in kale. Cover and cook on high until kale is tender, 20–30 minutes. 4. Stir in lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Discard the Parmesan rind. Serve the stew drizzled with oil and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
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