“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver,” said Mahatma Gandhi. Many people believe that living a healthy life entails heavy dieting, calorie counting, and many hours working out. Moreso, as winter months roll around, it may seem easy (and more comfortable!) to stay inside instead of exercising or playing sports. In this issue, I hope that you will learn more about how you can live a healthier— and happier life, and are empowered to leap outside of your comfort zone and break a sweat.

It is a common misconception that exercise is painful or too difficult. Armijo athletes know otherwise, “Playing soccer gives me a big sense of stress relief— I love it!,” said Laura Wadsworth, a member of the Armijo women’s soccer team. The benefits of exercise are remarkable. In fact, according to Scientific American, “After a nice long bout of aerobic exercise, some people experience what’s known as a ‘runner’s high’: a feeling of euphoria coupled with reduced anxiety and a lessened ability to feel pain.”

Physical activity, from playing sports to simply walking instead of driving, has immeasurable health benefits. In terms of cardiovascular health, the American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least five days per week, and moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity at least two days per week for additional health benefits. In a time when nearly one out of every three youth are either obese or considered overweight, it’s clear that there needs to be community wide effort to live healthier and more active lives.

The food that we consume on a daily basis also contribute to our health. The sales of processed foods have more than doubled over the previous decade. Today, food giants like Nestle, Pepsico, Kellogg’s, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods, and Mars control the vast majority of food brands that we consume on a daily basis. It may surprise you to find out that Nestle’s dominance extends from Hot Pockets to Dreyer’s Ice Cream and Kit-Kats.

Carlos Monteiro, Public Health Professor at the University of Sao Paulo said, “Ultra-processed foods- soft drinks, salty and sweet snacks, and ready meals are actually not foods, they are formulations.” Eating healthier, learning to cook (a useful trait— trust me!), and making decisions based on nutritional information will prepare you to feel energized, ready to learn, and take on the world. I hope that this issue of the Armijo Signal brings you to make choices that keep you happy, sustained, and powerful.