You Can Have the Best Year of Your Life

Debbie Ford is a gifted speaker, author, personal coach and trainer. She has traveled through out the world delivering her special insights into living your best life.

Give yourself the awesome gift of happiness, success, money, romance and vitality because.....

You’re worth it!

DREAMIT – PLANIT – LIVEIT

A study in self-love – Explore the gift that you are

An online program in collaboration with the DailyOM

52 Weekly lessons that have already changed thousands of lives

Be guided by Debbie Ford one of the foremost experts in personal transformation to explore the gift you are to the world.

• Know that you deserve to have it all.

• Know that you have the power within you.

• Know that you are hot sexy and delicious.

• Know that it is safe to expand your horizons and step into the wonderment that is your highest self.

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1 in 4 Chance You're Deficient in this Fat-Metabolizing Nutrient

With a 25% chance every cell and tissue in your body has less than optimal levels of this nutrient, your metabolism can be totally inefficient in burning fat, generating energy, and absorbing vital nutrients.* Here's what to do…

Vitamin B12 is known as the “energy vitamin,” and it is essential for many critical functions in your body, including energy production, supporting your immune system, and helping to regulate the formation of red blood cells.* Recent studies from the US Framingham trial show that one in four adults in the US are deficient in this vitally important nutrient and nearly half of the population has suboptimal blood levels.

Vitamin B12 is present only in animal sources of food--which is one of the reasons I advise against being a strict vegetarian or a vegan. This deficiency can result in less than optimal nervous system function, a tendency toward nervousness, and even less-than-optimal eye health.*

How You Get Vitamin B12 Deficient

The older you get the more likely you are to have a vitamin B12 deficiency. The two ways that you become deficient in vitamin B12 are from not getting enough in your diet and from losing the ability to absorb it.

I recently visited India which is primarily a vegetarian based culture and current studies there show about 80% of the adults are deficient in vitamin B12. However, vegans are not the only ones who can become vitamin B12 deficient.

The older you get the more your digestive system breaks down, especially if you have been following the standard American diet. Specifically the lining of your stomach gradually loses its ability to produce hydrochloric acid which releases vitamin B 12 from your food. The use of antacids or anti ulcer drugs will also lower your stomach acid secretion and decrease your ability to absorb vitamin B 12. Infection with Helicobactor pylori, a common contributor to stomach ulcers, can also result in vitamin B12 deficiency.

However the main cause of vitamin B 12 deficiency is a term researchers call food-cobalamin malabsorption syndrome. Cobalamin is the scientific term for vitamin B12. This typically results when your stomach lining loses its ability to produce intrinsic factor which is a protein that binds to vitamin B12 and allows your body to absorb it at the end of your small intestine.

NEW Form of Vitamin B12 Not Found in Most Health
Food and Vitamin Stores

If you often feel tired, run-down, and lacking in energy, you're not alone. Low energy is one of our country's biggest health complaints.

Some of the top reasons for this are:

• Refined foods sold in grocery stores are depleted of vital nutrients...
• Refined foods are loaded with sugar...
• Refined foods are full of chemicals...
• Refined foods are overloaded with food colorings; and...
• Refined foods are loaded with preservatives...

...but it doesn't stop there, either.

Add the harmful effects of caffeine, pollution, conventional therapies, and the stress most of us experience everyday... and you've got yourself a recipe for energy drain.

Well, I'm here to tell you there's a new way to give yourself extra energy.* Actually, a cutting edge way to feel more energized -- without the jitteriness of caffeine.* More on this in a moment.

Now, of course, powering up with extra energy is just one of B12's many health benefits*. So...

What Critical Health Benefits Does this Vitamin Bring to the Table?

For starters, vitamin B12 helps folic acid regulate the formation of red blood cells, and helps your body use iron*.

In addition, it is also needed for proper digestion, food absorption, carbohydrate and fat metabolism.* It also helps keep your nervous system healthy by assisting the nerves of your body to function and communicate in an optimal manner.*

But that's not all...far from it!

B12 also helps in cell formation and cellular longevity.* Plus, it can support female reproductive health, and promote normal nerve growth and development by maintaining the fatty sheaths.* These fatty sheaths play a vital role as they cover and protect your nerve endings.*

What's more, this workhorse of a micronutrient is critical to your circulation and adrenal hormone production -- plus, it helps boost your immunity.* And, oh yes, let's not forget...

Vitamin B12 supports a healthy mood and feelings of well-being.* And then there's this -- it also provides excellent support for your memory, mental clarity, and concentration.*

Aside from using B12 to give you an energy boost, when does it also make sense to supplement with this all-important vitamin? Well, there are several good reasons to take vitamin B12

And the first reason to take it is if you are a carb type or a strict vegetarian.

If You Avoid Meat, You Probably Need to Take B12

Vegetarians have an increased need for vitamin B12

Many people avoid red meats for a large variety of reasons. If you are one of them, you are at a high risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency. Why? Because plant sources have virtually no vitamin B12. And oral forms of B12 in nearly all supplements are practically useless, as little is absorbed into your bloodstream.

Vegetarians should take this essential micronutrient to ensure an adequate supply of it, because it is found almost exclusively in animal tissues. And, the few plant foods that are sources of B12 are actually B12 analogs -- not the form that provides all the benefits of the real deal.

Simply put, an analog is a substance that blocks the uptake of true B12. The result being, your body's need for the nutrient actually increases.

Furthermore, your body's need for this nutrient may also increase if you take Metformin©. Metformin may interfere with calcium metabolism. And this interference may reduce B12 absorption, because this absorption requires calcium.

Studies suggest that 10% to 30% of patients taking Metformin show evidence of reduced vitamin B12 absorption. That's why it is important to speak with your doctor to discuss the best way to maintain B12 levels when taking this medication.

Now, if getting a good night's sleep has also become increasingly more difficult for you, here's...

What Your Sleeping Difficulties May Be Trying to Tell You!

If you suffer from sleeping difficulties, I recommend taking vitamin B12 during the day. I believe it can help you.* Here's why.

B12 plays a vital role in melatonin production.* Melatonin has been called "the sleep hormone" because it is responsible for letting you get a good night's sleep.

As you age, it becomes increasingly more difficult to get a good night's sleep because your body becomes less efficient at making this hormone. And that's why it's a good idea to take B12 to help you sleep like a baby each night.*

Moreover, a lack of adequate B12 can have other annoying consequences too.

Do You or a Loved One Experience Any of the Following?

Not many know it, but if you or a family member experience:

• Tiredness and feelings of weakness...*
• Less-than-optimal nervous system functioning...*
• Less-than-optimal eye health...*
• Loss of appetite and unintended weight loss...*
• Occasional constipation and gas...*
• Feelings of mild moodiness...*
• Less-than-optimal memory...*
• A tendency toward nervousness...*
• Less-than-optimal balance...*
• Less-than-optimal liver or heart health...*
• Premature grey hair...
• Occasional digestive issues...

...you may need to supplement with vitamin B12, even if you eat foods rich in B12. Oddly enough, that wasn't a typo.

You can eat plenty of meat, poultry, lamb's liver, brewer's yeast, clams, eggs, herring, mackerel, kidneys, milk, dairy products, or seafood -- and still have low levels of B12. How can that be?

It could be because your body is unable to absorb it from your gut. You see B12 needs the help of a protein in order to be absorbed. That protein is called intrinsic factor. And because the lining of your stomach makes intrinsic factor, people with less-than-optimal gastrointestinal health often need to supplement with B12.*

Likewise, most people over the age of 50 have a limited ability to absorb B12, too. Thus, the need for supplementation

Pain-Free Supplementation

With that said, the form of vitamin B12 I'm recommending does NOT come as a pill, tablet, capsule, gelcap, or liquid.

Amazingly, it's B12 in a spray.

A modern marvel that I believe gives most people far better results than anything else. The name of this new product is B12 Energy Booster.* And it's only available here on Mercola.com.

Now, here's the question you may be asking at this point:

"How can something as simple as a spray
work so much better than a pill, tablet, or capsule?"

In a nutshell, I came across an American company that uses Nano technology. This breakthrough technology uses a patented NanoMist® delivery system that shrinks the size of the B12 molecule all the way down to microscopic nanodroplets™.

How does this benefit you?

Quite simply, the B12 in B12 Energy Booster comes in an easily absorbed form your body can now use*.

It turns out that this fine-mist spray formula you spray into your mouth causes the essential nutrients to become absorbed rapidly. .*

As a result, it delivers more of this product's nutrients to your circulatory system, tissues and cells quickly.* And that's not all...

The tiny nanodroplets™ in each fast-acting spray are designed to release the B12 vitamin within a steady, time-controlled manner. This ensures a longer-term benefit from each single dose, boosting efficiency even further.

Needless to say, when you combine B12 Energy Booster's* time-release mechanism with its rapid, uniform and complete absorption, you get one incredible product. A product that, in my opinion, is clearly superior to any B12 pill, tablet, capsule, gelcap, or liquid on the market today.

Remember -- only a small fraction of this crucial vitamin gets absorbed through your gut when you take it in a pill, tablet, capsule, or gelcap.
Let's take that a step further and shed some light on multivitamins you may find shocking...

Here's the REAL TRUTH about the B12 in Most Multivitamins:

It all boils down to this...

Most of them contain 100-200 micrograms of B12. But, if you actually took 500 micrograms of B12, you'd get an absorption of about 1.8 micrograms. Let me repeat, only 1.8 out of a total of 500 micrograms. That's an absorption rate of only one third of one percent! But, that's only half of the story.

The late Victor Herbert, a renowned B12 researcher, said that many multivitamin products on the market today contain dangerous B12 analogs.

In other words, analogs get created when crystalline B12 interacts with other nutrients in multivitamin products, such as vitamin C, iron and copper -- increasing your body's need for B12. Does the company selling the multivitamin tell you this vital bit of information? Probably not!

Truth be told, most multi-vitamins sold today are a complete waste of money when it comes to their B12 quality and performance. Now listen up:

Each bottle of B12 Energy Booster delivers a serving size (1,200 micrograms) of 6 sprays per day. And you get approximately 205 metered sprays in each container. Because this ends up being a 34 day supply, you actually receive a nice bonus of 4 additional days!

How can you beat that? And that's just the beginning. Another nice feature of B12 Energy Booster* is that it...

Comes in a Tasty Natural Spearmint Flavor

And in addition to tasting great, it's absolutely FREE of...

• Sugar
• Yeast
• Starch
• Wheat
• Soy
• Gluten
• Eggs
• Salt
• Dairy

Better yet, it's also FREE of artificial flavors, color, synthetics, binders, fillers, wax, shellac, talcum and animal gelatin.

The bottom line is that our B12 Energy Booster is stimulant-free, contains only natural ingredients, and tastes great! Best of all, it's packaged in a convenient pre-metered, non-aerosol container that easily fits in your purse or pocket. Last but not least, it...

Costs Far Less Than a Cup of Even "Economy" Coffee

By now, you're probably wondering how much B12 Energy Booster costs. I'm happy to tell you the price is very reasonable.

A 34-day supply normally costs just $19.97 -- an excellent value when you consider all the health-promoting and energy-boosting benefits you get*. But as part of a special introductory offer, you don't have to pay the regular price. You can get a full 34-day supply for only $17.87. That's just 52 cents a day -- far less than that cup of caffeine-loaded coffee (and you know that caffeine is certainly not a smart solution to give you more energy).

Why am I being so generous?

Because I know how much you can benefit from this breakthrough product, and I want to give you every incentive to get started right away. And whether you order one, two, three or more B12 Energy Boosters for yourself and loved ones, you're completely protected by my...

100% Unconditional Guarantee

No doubt about it, B12 Energy Booster* is an exceptional product. After all, it can help crank up your energy, and improve overall health and well-being*..

In fact, I'm so sure you'll be delighted with it that I'm offering the following unconditional guarantee.

If you're unsatisfied with B12 Energy Booster for any reason at all, simply let me know anytime. Yes, you read that right. Anytime. And, of course, I will give you a prompt, courteous refund of every penny you paid. No questions asked.

How can I make such a bold guarantee? It's simple: I'm betting that once you start using it, you'll feel so good; you'll never want to be without it again.

But don't just take my word for it. Grab a no-risk supply of B12 Energy Booster and see for yourself. You'll be glad you did. B12 Energy Booster

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'Upcoming Workshops at Ion Exchange, Inc.'

'Upcoming Workshops at Ion Exchange, Inc.'

Wild Mushroom Fights Cancer

(NaturalNews) Researchers from the University of Nottingham have found that a rare, wild mushroom called cordyceps is an effective treatment for cancer. Commonly used in Chinese medicine, the cordyceps fungi inhibits the growth, division, and proliferation of cancer cells in the body.

Cordyceps was originally formulated into a cancer drug called cordycepin back in the 1950s. Though the drug version was ultimately found to be ineffective because of rapid degradation inside the body once it was administered, the active components from the mushroom continue to be effective cancer fighters.

Depending upon dosage levels, cordyceps mushroom extracts directly impact the process of cell protein development, impeding the production of the mRNA molecules that create them. At high doses, cordyceps inhibits protein development directly, essentially eliminating the ability of cancer cells to function and survive.

Since the study focused on the pharmaceutical drug formulation derived from cordyceps, called cordycepin, lead scientist Dr. Cornelia de Moor and her team specifically sought ways to improve the effectiveness of that particular drug. Their only solution was to suggest giving another drug alongside cordycepin in order to prevent it from degrading in the body. The team warned that the other drug causes serious side effects which may discourage its use.

Though the research focused primarily on cordycepin, it ultimately revealed the powerful effects of cordyceps in preventing and treating cancer. The study is set to be published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and its authors hope that the findings will spark further research into the potential uses for cordyceps as a cancer treatment.
Comments by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
What's really fascinating about these "new" findings are that they aren't really new at all -- this is the same information you can read in ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine texts... if you can read ancient traditional Chinese writings, of course.

I know many TCM practitioners and several of them can actually read the ancient texts. One book written 2,000 years ago -- yes, that's 1,900 years before Big Pharma even existed -- teaches the healing powers of medicinal mushrooms like cordyceps.

Much of Big Pharma's modern effort has been focused on trying to isolate, pirate and patent ancient Chinese Medicine molecules. This is, of course, a form of "biopiracy" where U.S. corporations steal intellectual property from China and never pay a royalty to anyone. Interestingly, U.S. companies don't even consider this a form of stealing. I guess "our" theft is okay but "their" theft is illegal, huh?

It's particularly interesting that China is often under fire for pirating software from U.S. companies like Microsoft, but the U.S. consistently gets away with the mass-pirating of Chinese medicine. (Personally, I'm completely against patent protection for medicines, seeds, human genes, foods and animals.)

The truth about cordyceps is that you don't need some fabricated cordyceptin drug to experience the benefits of cordyceps -- all you need is cordyceps itself!

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Things You Need to Know About Cancer and Vitamin D

Think twice before applying that sunscreen! Did you know vitamin D deficiency kills more than one million people each year? As more and more people slather on the sunscreen (which is most likely filled with harmful and toxic chemicals), they get less and less of nature's "sunshine" vitamin, which is synthesized by the skin when exposed to direct sunlight. On the flip side, the risk of being harmed by the sun is minimal. Sufficient vitamin D levels can decrease a woman's breast cancer risk by 50 percent, and suppress tumor growth in colorectal, breast and prostate cancer.
Read on to learn more about the overwhelming evidence between cancer risk and vitamin D deficiency - and what you can do about it.
Author Quotes about Vitamin D and Cancer:

1. "Vitamin D suppresses tumor growth and promotes differentiation in colorectal cancer in much the same ways it does in breast and prostate cancer. Normal colon cells have higher vitamin D receptor concentrations than abnormal or cancerous colon cells."
2. - James Dowd and Diane Stafford, The Vitamin D Cure
3. "The combination of vitamin D and vitamin A slows prostate cancer cell growth in the lab. Clinical research on activated vitamin D and vitamin D-like molecules in humans shows promise. We know that activated vitamin D alone often slows the growth of prostate tumors, and the different concentrations of vitamin D receptors on cancer cells versus normal prostate cells can help to separate cancer cells from normal cells by growth rates."
4. - James Dowd and Diane Stafford, The Vitamin D Cure
5. "D deficiency that plagues 80 percent of the American population. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with depression, prostate cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis and almost every other degenerative disorder. 'The elderly, who spend little time in the sun and use sunscreen agents frequently, may be at risk for vitamin d deficiency,' according to a statement made by the Mayo Clinic."
6. - Andreas Moritz, Cancer Is Not A Disease - It's a Survival Mechanism
7. "Over 42 percent of Americans suffer from vitamin D deficiency, and 47 percent of pregnant women are severely deficient in this important hormone. Their children tend to have weak bones that break easily, even during their childhood years. Many chronic illnesses are due to vitamin D deficiency, including osteoporosis, cancer, and depression. You cannot stop a vitamin D deficiency by taking supplements. Sunlight is the only real remedy. To make sufficient amounts of vitamin D, dark-skinned people need to spend at least two to three times longer in the sun than do Caucasians."
8. - Andreas Moritz, The Liver and Gallbladder Miracle Cleanse: An All-Natural, At-Home Flush to Purify and Rejuvenate Your Body
9. "Vitamin D may play an anti-cancer role by slowing cell division. Sunshine is the natural source of vitamin D."
10. - Dr. Steve Blake, Vitamins and Minerals Demystified
11. "Vitamin D is crucial for the immune system and may play a role in cancer prevention as well."
12. - Kenneth W Thomas, Ron Gilbert, Gerd Schaller, Side Effects: The Hidden Agenda of the Pharmaceutical Drug Cartel
13. "In 2007, Doctor Cedrick Garland and colleagues, using pooled analyses of available research, estimated that maintaining a vitamin D blood level of 55ng/ml could annually prevent 250,000 deaths worldwide, including 60,000 in the USA." - Marc Sorenson, Solar Power For Optimal Health
14. "I even learned that your own body freely generates the best anti-cancer medicine in the world - vitamin D - a nutrient that's been proven to slash breast cancer risk by an astonishing 50 percent, but only if you get some exposure to natural sunlight or consume vitamin D through fish oils and nutritional supplements.
15. - Mike Adams, Natural Health Solutions
16. "All African Americans have vitamin D deficiency and they consequently have higher rates of cancer. Slathering on sunscreen is not such a good idea. We've gone too far with sunscreen because we're not getting enough vitamin D. This is a 'coming public health disaster in the US.' Everyone should get a half hour of sunshine a day."
17. - Stacy Malkan, Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry
18. "Research shows that vitamin D has a variety of important benefits besides lowering blood sugar. It seems to protect against eighteen different kinds of cancers, has a significant positive impact on the immune system in fighting colds and flu’s, viruses, and TB, and protects against rickets and osteoporosis."
19. - Gabriel Cousens, There Is a Cure for Diabetes: The Tree of Live 21-Day+ Program
20. "Those not getting sufficient sunshine to meet their vitamin D needs should take a supplement. Vitamin deficiency is epidemic in America, and it contributes not only to the development of osteoporosis but to increased cancer and heart disease as well."
21. - Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Cholesterol Protection for Life, New Expanded Edition
22. "On the other hand, lack of sun exposure and subsequent vitamin D deficiency kills more than one million people each year. Comparatively, the risk of being harmed by the sun is minimal. The most dangerous of skin cancers, which is melanoma, usually appears in parts of the skin where the sun does not reach at all, or not reach enough. If you have the opportunity, for optimal protection expose your entire body to the sun, including the private parts."
23. - Andreas Moritz, Cancer Is Not A Disease -- It's A Survival Mechanism
24. "Now it seems as if every month there is a new study documenting the beneficial effects of sunlight and vitamin D, which, as you know, we get from the sun. For instance, in one of these recent studies, researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego (a very sunny place), concluded that almost 150,000 cases of cancer - particularly colorectal and breast cancer - could be prevented each year by just ten to fifteen minutes a day of exposure to sunlight."
25. - Frank Lipman, Mollie Doyle, Spent: Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Feel Great Again
26. "Numerous other studies have supported this research, showing that modest unprotected exposure to sunlight helps the body produce the vitamin D it needs to keep bones healthy and protect against cancer, including skin cancer. Yes, you read that right. Of course, repeated sunburns - especially in childhood and in very fair-skinned people - have been linked to melanoma. But there is no credible scientific evidence that moderate sun exposure causes skin cancer."
27. - Frank Lipman, Mollie Doyle, Spent: Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Feel Great Again
28. "A study from Finland also confirmed a connection with a deficiency of vitamin D and prostate cancer. People living in northern hemispheres, where the days are dark most of the winter months, could benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement. Don't forget about also taking a whole food supplement to get all your daily requirements of all the essential nutrients."
29. - Gregory, A. Gore, Defeat Cancer
30. "The net result is, that not getting enough sunlight lowers your vitamin D and serotonin levels and thereby increases your risk of cancer and many other illnesses. Also be aware that most cosmetics now contain UV-blocking chemicals. These include face creams, makeup products, moisturizers, lotions and anti-wrinkle creams. If you feel you absolutely need a sunscreen product because you are unable to avoid the direct midday sun, make sure it has mostly natural ingredients in them."
31. - Andreas Moritz, Cancer Is Not A Disease -- It's A Survival Mechanism
32. "Doses of 1 micro-gram per day of vitamin D have been shown to reduce blood pressure in hypercalcemic patients. Vitamin D may also be effective against cancer. Results of one nineteen-year long study of 1954 Chicago men which showed that an intake of greater than 3.75 micrograms per day of vitamin D was associated with a 50 percent reduction of colorectal cancer."
33. - Gary Null, Ph.D., Gary Nulls Ultimate Anti-Aging Program
34. "We know that the skin needs vitamin D, which is produced in response to sunshine. We also know that the skin needs vitamin A. But today man's body has become so degenerated, so filled with mucus, acid toxins, and mineral and vitamin deficiencies that he can't spend a great amount of time in the sunshine. There are many people who develop all kinds of skin conditions from exposure to the sun and then falsely put the blame on sunshine. The sun pulls out the impurities below the skin - trying to purify you. Skin cancers spring from toxic cells."
35. - Patricia Bragg and Paul C. Bragg, The Miracle of Fasting: Proven Throughout History for Physical, Mental & Spiritual Rejuvenation
36. Visit Dr. Mercola for the best natural health remedies on the market today.

Lloyd Van Strong Man of the Year!

As an employee of Ion Exchange, Inc. where my wages were doubled every week, I was still depressed. My employers were going to give me one last chance to come around. In desperation, they sent me to the jungle of Costa Rica where I became a real man and now I'm pumped and ready to go with both feet on the ground. I’m Lloyd Vann, nominated as Costa Rica’s Strong Man of the Year 2009. Take a look! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B1eJprNUew

How the City Hurts Your Brain and What You Can Do About It.

This article on the brain and the city is so interesting although somewhat lengthy, however it is well worth the read. We are going to split it up into about four weeks of posts to the blog.

Written By Jonah Lehrer

THE CITY HAS always been an engine of intellectual life, from the 18Th-century coffeehouses of London, where citizens gathered to discuss chemistry and radical politics, to the Left Bank bars of modern Paris, where Pablo Picasso held forth on modern art. Without the metropolis, we might not have had the great art of Shakespeare or James Joyce; even Einstein was inspired by commuter trains.(Yuko Shimizu for the Boston Globe)And yet, city life isn't easy. The same London cafes that stimulated Ben Franklin also helped spread cholera; Picasso eventually bought an estate in quiet Provence. While the modern city might be a haven for playwrights, poets, and physicists, it's also a deeply unnatural and overwhelming place.Now scientists have begun to examine how the city affects the brain, and the results are chastening. Just being in an urban environment, they have found, impairs our basic mental processes. After spending a few minutes on a crowded city street, the brain is less able to hold things in memory, and suffers from reduced self-control. While it's long been recognized that city life is exhausting -- that's why Picasso left Paris -- this new research suggests that cities actually dull our thinking, sometimes dramatically so."The mind is a limited machine,"says Marc Berman, a psychologist at the University of Michigan and lead author of a new study that measured the cognitive deficits caused by a short urban walk. "And we're beginning to understand the different ways that a city can exceed those limitations."One of the main forces at work is a stark lack of nature, which is surprisingly beneficial for the brain. Studies have demonstrated, for instance, that hospital patients recover more quickly when they can see trees from their windows, and that women living in public housing are better able to focus when their apartment overlooks a grassy courtyard. Even these fleeting glimpses of nature improve brain performance, it seems, because they provide a mental break from the urban roil.This research arrives just as humans cross an important milestone: For the first time in history, the majority of people reside in cities. For a species that evolved to live in small, primate tribes on the African savanna, such a migration marks a dramatic shift. Instead of inhabiting wide-open spaces, we're crowded into concrete jungles, surrounded by taxis, traffic, and millions of strangers. In recent years, it's become clear that such unnatural surroundings have important implications for our mental and physical health, and can powerfully alter how we think.This research is also leading some scientists to dabble in urban design, as they look for ways to make the metropolis less damaging to the brain. The good news is that even slight alterations, such as planting more trees in the inner city or creating urban parks with a greater variety of plants, can significantly reduce the negative side effects of city life. The mind needs nature, and even a little bit can be a big help. Consider everything your brain has to keep track of as you walk down a busy thoroughfare like Newbury Street. There are the crowded sidewalks full of distracted pedestrians who have to be avoided; the hazardous crosswalks that require the brain to monitor the flow of traffic. (The brain is a wary machine, always looking out for potential threats.) There's the confusing urban grid, which forces people to think continually about where they're going and how to get there...
To Be Continued