Before Paul Stamets, I hardly gave mushrooms a thought beyond salad and stir fry, and a mild interest in what popped up from my lawn after a good rain.  After watching his captivating TED Talk, “6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World”, I gained a new and profound respect for these amazing organisms.

Imagine, a fungus that clean up an oil spill AND become dinner?  Fungi also can be harnessed to cure diseases, control household pests without the need for toxic chemicals, decompose a variety of substances, and filter polluted water.  Since 1980, Stamets has spread the message of mushrooms through his small buisness, Fungi Perfecti.  Certified organic, Fungi Perfecti promotes the use of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms to improve the health of the planet and her inhabitants.  Through the site, you can order one of Stamets’s fascinating books, buy kits to grow your own mushrooms, collect recipes, or read up on your favorite species.

A dedicated mycologist for over 30 years, Stamets is as fascinating as the subject he studies.  Throughout his career, he has discovered four new species of fungus, created numerous techniques for the cultivation of mushrooms, written six books, filed over 22 patents for fungus-related products, and conducted a plethora of ecological studies.  He has been the recipient of many accolades including the Bioneers Award and the National Geographic Adventure Magazine’s Green-O-Vator Award.  Most recently, Stamets has been given a government grant by the EPA to study the effects of mycofiltration on E. coli-contaminated storm water. Also deeply involved with the conservation of Pacific Northwest’s old growth forests, where many of the world’s most important fungi are found, Stamets is truly a remarkable individual.

Go and explore a compelling part of the natural world with Paul Stamets as your guide!

Meditation has always been a wonderful way to calm, center, and focus the mind and spirit.  Evidence out of UCLA suggests that this kind of quiet, directed introspection could also strengthen the connections between neurons and increase the amount of folding in the layers of the brain.  A study by the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging shows that long-term meditators have a higher rate of gyrification, (or the amount of folding found in the cortex), which may allow practitioners to process information faster and integrate emotional and rational intelligence more efficiently.

Furthermore, there was a direct correlation between the amount of years spent in a variety of meditative disciplines, including Zen, Samatha, and Vipassana, and the total folding of the cortex.  After scanning thousands of points across the brain, the researchers also noted pronounced increases in gyrification in specific regions of the brain, most interestingly within the insular regions.  This might suggest a relationship between the area’s autonomic, affective, and integrative aspects and mediation’s goals of self-control, awareness, and introspection.

Following a form of meditation can also help manage physical pain.  A study published in the American Psychological Association’s journal, Emotion, reported that research out of the of University Montreal discovered that Zen meditators had more grey matter than non-mediators.  This meant that through thickening certain areas of their cortex, particularly the anterior cingulate which regulates pain, they were able to reduce their levels of sensitivity.  Even their perceptions of physical discomfort were less pronounced, as their emotional reactions were more controlled and they experienced less anticipation an anxiety.  Zen thought can even help re -focus someone back to their task at hand after being interrupted by distraction much more quickly.

With such amazing results, why not take a quiet moment or two to recite a mantra, do some yoga, or take a deep breath and ponder the mysteries of the universe?  Your brain may fold in on itself with joy!

Maintaining a positive outlook on life has many practical benefits.  Staying on the sunny side can help to reduce stress, improve and deepen social interactions, and ward off depression.  New studies suggest that a good attitude may also determine how long you will live and whether or not you are at risk of dementia later in life.  Researchers from the Institute of Social and Preventative Medicine at the University of Zurich have found that the way individuals rate their own health, using a scale from “very poor” to “excellent” demonstrated a correlation with longevity independent of other risk factors such as preexisting disease, education, or smoking.

This personally held view of one’s fitness was linked to the probability of survival over a period of 3o years, with men of the same age who saw themselves as “very poor” 3.3 times more likely to die than those who considered themselves as “excellent”, and 1.9 times more likely in women.  Risk of illness increased steadily as negative descriptions were observed.  One possible explanation for this relationship is that those who viewed themselves as “excellent” were more likely to have attributes to “improve and sustain their health”, according to specialist Dr. David Fah.  These could include “positive attitude, an optimistic outlook, and a fundamental satisfaction with one’s own life.”

A poor perspective could also possibly predict the likelihood of developing dementia.  In a 2011 issue of Neuroscience, self-assessment was established as a tool that doctors could utilize to foresee a patient’s chance of memory loss, vascular disease, stroke, and death.  At the beginning of a study conducted by the French National Institute of Health, 8,169 people age 65 and older were asked to rate their health, and then followed for a period of seven years.  618 participants developed dementia, where the risk of incidence was 70% higher in those who had a “poor” health estimation of themselves, and 34% higher with a “fair” rating .  The research also found that the relationships between people’s personal evaluations and risk was greater among those who had no cognitive problems, where “poor” assessments were twice as likely to develop dementia as those who saw themselves in “good” shape.

So, for a long and healthy life, throw in a good thought or two amidst your daily exercise routine.  The power of your mind may be the key to a working body, sharp cognitive skills, and overall contentment!