Courtesy of Bryan Mundo

VEGAN CHICKPEA NOODLE SOUP RECIPE Courtesy of www.ehow.com INGREDIENTS: 15 ounces canned chickpeas 2 tablespoons oil 1/2 large yellow or white onion, diced 1 tablespoon minced garlic 3 large carrots, sliced 3 celery ribs, sliced 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 bay leaf 4 cups vegetable broth 4 cups water (or more vegetable broth) 8 ounces eggless pasta, cooked 1 small bunch dill and/or parsley

DIRECTIONS: 1. In a large pot over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the onions, carrots and celery. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes or until the onions are tender and translucent. 2. Add the garlic, thyme, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Mix well and cook for another 30 seconds. 3. Add the broth/water, chickpeas and bay leaf. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the carrots are easily pierced with a fork. 4. Remove the soup from the heat. Mix in the pasta. 5. If you haven't already, roughly chop the dill and/or parsley. Feel free to use other fresh herbs of your choice. 6. Scoop the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs. Enjoy! 5 REASONS WHY NATURAL LIGHT IS SO GOOD FOR YOU Aside from being nice to look at, what is it about natural lighting that makes it such an integral part of a healthy home? Nowadays, we spend so much of our lives indoors, yet studies have shown time and time again that exposure to nature greatly improve our physical and mental state. Even though our lives are structured around indoor living, there are several ways to bring the health benefits of nature indoors, perhaps the most important being lots and lots of natural light. Here are five reasons why natural lighting is so good for you. 1. Natural lighting has been shown to improve concentration. In fact, studies comparing employees who work under artificial lights to those who work near windows have shown increased productivity in the latter group. 2. Natural lighting can boost your immune system. Exposure to sunlight produces Vitamin D, which is beneficial to our health in its own right. But Vitamin D also wakens T-cells in our bodies, and T-cells fight off foreign pathogens. 3. Natural lighting is good for your eyesight. Staring into the sun may be bad for your eyes, but indirect sunlight is the best for reading and doing any other tasks that require focused vision. Natural light reduces eyestrain and it also helps the brain to produce dopamine, which is key for healthy eye development in children. 4. Natural lighting gives you more energy. Feeling sluggish? You might feel better if you head on over to a window.

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