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In May of 2010, Dr. Weil spent several wonderful days along the coast of the Izu Peninsula, about 90 miles southwest of Tokyo. The highlight was the “Eye of Kannon,” one of the most extraordinary natural wonders he has ever seen.

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If you want to live in a really healthy place, move to Vermont. Once again, the Green Mountain State ranks number one in overall health in the U.S. Other New England states are in the top five: New Hampshire came in second, Connecticut, third, and Massachusetts, fifth (fourth was Hawaii) in the annual health-ranking of the 50 states by the United Health Foundation. At the bottom of the list: Mississippi. Rankings are fun to read, but the overall conclusions of this year’s report are pretty dismal: too many of us still smoke: 17.3 percent of the U.S. population, down just slightly from 17.9 percent last year. And while there were fewer preventable hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths nationwide, the health assessment that underlies the rankings found that 27.5 percent of the population is obese, up 37.5 percent since 2001 (for the first time, the prevalence of obesity topped 20 percent in all 50 states). Diabetes prevalence was up, too - a 42.6 percent increase since 2001, and the number of children living in poverty continued to rise, 21.5 percent in 2011, a 33.5 percent increase since 2001.

My take? Clearly, as a nation we have urgent health problems, but on an individual level, where you live doesn’t matter as much as how you live. It’s up to you to protect and maintain your body’s innate capacity for health and healing. If you’re in the habit of making New Year’s resolutions, consider adding one (or all) of these to your list: adopt an anti-inflammatory diet to help head off the chronic inflammation that underlies so many serious diseases; plan snacks ahead of time; relax and reduce stress by learning breathing exercises; consider a personal trainer to get your 2012 fitness program off to a good start; take tea breaks to lower stress and improve your health; and volunteer - it’s more satisfying than donating money. Happy New Year!


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What’s really behind the depression epidemic? Dr. Weil discusses what he thinks is the cause of the skyrocketing number of diagnosed cases of depression in the United States.

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Too many starchy carbs seem to be associated with breast cancer recurrence. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego divided 2,651 breast cancer survivors into four groups based on their daily carbohydrate intake. Over the course of a year, the study revealed an average daily increase of 2.3 grams of carbohydrates among the women whose breast cancer recurred compared to an average decrease of 2.7 grams among the women whose cancer did not recur. The researchers found that changes in starch consumption accounted for 48 percent of the differences in carbohydrate intake. Among the women whose cancer did not recur, starch intake dropped by 8.7 grams a day compared to a decline of only 4.1 grams a day among the women whose cancer did return. Overall, the rate of breast cancer recurrence over one year was 9.7 percent among women whose starch intake dropped the most compared to a 14.2 percent recurrence rate among those whose starch intake increased the most. The investigators suggested one possible explanation for this effect: starchy foods boost insulin levels and elevated insulin levels have been associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.


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A recent Q&A discussed artificial grass: Is Artificial Grass Toxic? Check out the article and let us know what type of landscape you have at home!

What kind of lawn do you have?

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A new study from the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that mindful eating plus stress reduction can prevent weight gain. In fact, the combination may even result in loss of dangerous fat you can’t see - deep abdominal fat linked to the risk of diabetes and heart disease. The research team divided 47 chronically stressed, overweight and obese women into two groups. One group received mindfulness training and practice; the other served as a control group. The women’s psychological stress, fat and cortisol (stress hormone) levels were tested before and after the four-month study. At the end, the researchers found no significant weight changes between the women in the stress reduction group and the controls. The investigators noted, however, that the most significant reductions in abdominal fat occurred among women who had shown greater improvements in listening to their bodies’ cues, and in those who had greater reductions in stress or cortisol levels. The researchers said their results must be confirmed by follow-up studies.


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Here’s more good news about the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and the vitamins found in fresh fruits and vegetables: seniors with high levels of these nutrients did better on tests of mental acuity and had less of the brain shrinkage that signals Alzheimer’s disease. (If you want the opposite effect, the researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University said that their study suggests that the best route is to eat a lot of junk foods.) To arrive at their conclusions, the investigators measured levels of these nutrients in the blood of 104 seniors (average age, 87) participating in the study and found that vitamins B, C, D, E and omega-3s conferred the most benefits on the brain. In addition to the blood tests, 42 participants had MRIs to measure brain volume. Many previous studies of nutritional effects on the brain have been based primarily on food questionnaires, which yield less precise data. The researchers said that their findings need to be confirmed by further research.

My take? We know from clinical research that the Mediterranean diet appears to help protect against the mild cognitive impairment that can develop with age, and that this style of eating may also delay the transition from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease. The Mediterranean diet provides its benefits by moderating inflammation throughout the body, and inflammation in the brain precedes the changes in the central nervous system that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. My anti-inflammatory diet is similar to the Mediterranean diet in its emphasis on high quality fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, yogurt, fresh fish and on vegetable rather than animal protein, and I believe following an anti-inflammatory diet may be the most effective strategy to preserve brain health as we age.


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Life has changed dramatically in the last 50 years — and many of those changes have helped to fuel the modern depression epidemic. From the way we eat to the way we interact with others, find out what Dr. Weil has to say about contributors to depression.

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It’s natural to have emotional ups and downs. What’s not natural – yet all too common in the modern world – is to feel persistently sad or anxious for no obvious reason.

My new website, SpontaneousHappiness.com, helps members find and sustain the emotional balance that’s needed to navigate and enjoy life in this complex, fast-paced world. In just eight weeks you will:

• Learn how ancient therapies – including specialized forms of meditation – can bring peace and serenity.

• Discover foods and supplements that can improve emotional stability.

• Explore the role of exercise in boosting mood.

• Feel better physically. The practices that help you achieve emotional well-being are also good for your body!

Weekly checklists, personalized tips, in-depth articles, and videos provide a variety of ways to keep you engaged and encouraged. In addition, we have tools to track your mood, breathing, physical fitness and other aspects of your personal journey through the plan.

Visit today to learn more about Spontaneous Happiness – I think you will find it a useful tool for achieving balance in the hectic world we live in today.


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A recent Q&A discussed organic and conventional farming: Which Is Better - Conventional or Organic Farming? Check out the article and let us know how often you buy organic food!

How often do you buy organically produced foods?

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