by Dr. Mercola

A widespread and silent killer that’s worse for your health than alcohol, nicotine and many drugs is likely lurking in your kitchen cabinets right now.[1] “It” is monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer that’s known widely as an addition to Chinese food, but that’s actually added to thousands of the foods you and your family regularly eat, especially if you are like most Americans and eat the majority of your food as processed foods or in restaurants.

Adapted from Science Daily ( Apr.3,2009 )

Washington University scientists used genetically modified fruit flies to track the creation of new brain synapses, junctures where two brain cells communicate. They found that two scenarios that give the fruit fly's brain a workout caused new synapses to arise. To their surprise, all of the new synapses originated from a group of 16 cells in the fly brain's internal timekeeping mechanism. The cells are highlighted in the encircled area above. (Credit: Image courtesy of Washington University School of Medicine)

A new theory about sleep's benefits for the brain gets a boost from fruit flies in the journal Science. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found evidence that sleep, already recognized as a promoter of long-term memories, also helps clear room in the brain for new learning.

The critical question: How many synapses, or junctures where nerve cells communicate with each other, are modified by sleep? Neurologists believe creation of new synapses is one key way the brain encodes memories and learning, but this cannot continue unabated and may be where sleep comes in.

 Courtesy of www.ted.com

Ninety four percent (94%) of all respiratory ailments are caused by polluted air according to the American Medical Association, which also reported that one-third of our national health bill is for causes directly attributable to indoor air pollution such as toxic mold damage and black mold problem.

These indoor plants wil give you all the oxygen you need and purify your air even if you live in a bottle with the cup tightlened on. Click here to watch this video.

Heading Toward a Long-term, Systemic Solution

By Alice Thomas, M.Ed

For over 40 years, study after study on grade retention has reached the same conclusion: Failing a student, particularly in the critical ninth grade year, is the single largest predictor of whether he or she drops out (Edley, 2002). Widespread retention further exacerbates the achievement gap. In Massachusetts, for example, across all grades, African-American and Hispanics are retained at over three times the rate of whites (Edley, 2002).

According to research (Anderson, Jimerson and Whipple, 2002; NASP, 2003; Jimerson, Anderson and Whipple, 2002; Setencich, 1994), some of the devastating effects of retention are:

• Most children do not "catch up" when held back.
• Although some retained students do better at first, these children often fall behind again in later grades.
• Retention is one of the most powerful predictors of high school dropout; holding a child back twice makes dropping out of school 90% certain.
• In 2001, 6th grade students ranked grade retention as the most stressful life event, followed by losing a parent and going blind.
• Students who are held back tend to get into trouble, dislike school, and feel badly about themselves more often than children who go on to the next grade.
• The weakened self-esteem that usually accompanies retention plays a role in how well the child may cope in the future.