New studies from both Sweden and India show that regular yoga provides the following benefits: lower blood sugar; reduction in weight; lower triglycerides; higher "good" cholesterol; reduction in anxiety, stress and depression; higher optimism; increase in antioxidants; and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

How to cultivate a healthy attitude; all about mung beans; researchers conclude that most cancers are preventable; and Mung Bean Soup for the Soul -- this issue's Vegetarian Organic recipe of the week! Click here to read it online. Click here to subscribe free!

All beans fall into the super food category, but one of my favorites is mung beans -- also known as moong dal, among other names. Native to India and more commonly eaten in India, Japan, China, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, these tiny little green beans are not commonly found in American kitchens. Fortunately, most health food stores are beginning to offer them.

Mung beans are highly cherished in ayurveda for their balancing power, high nutrient content and ease of digestion. Anyone who typically avoids beans because of digestive difficulties might find that mung beans are friendly to the digestive system and more importantly, they have cleansing and detoxifying properties. Mung beans are rich in potassium beneficial for the cardiovascular and nervous systems and are also a good source of high quality protein for vegetarian and meat eaters. Mung beans contain lots of fiber, which is essential to keep healthy cholesterol levels. Mung beans are rich in iron, thiamin, magnesium and folate, which help many other bodily functions for optimum health.

Mung beans are versatile and can be cooked in many different ways including hearty soups, casseroles and salads. Mung bean sprouts, which can be eaten raw in salads even contain vitamin C.

It's best not to over-indulge in holiday sweets. But if you must, try Pure Fun's candy canes. They're organic, vegan and all-natural without artificial colors, preservatives or other nasty junk you'll find in conventional candy canes. Pure Fun Candy Canes have just five ingredients: organic evaporated cane juice, organic brown rice syrup, organic citric acid, natural beet extract and natural peppermint oil.

If you're going to be bringing a giant plant into your home this holiday season, makes sure it's organic. Some Christmas tree farms use dozens of toxic pesticides and chemical colorants. Where do you find organic trees? EcoBusinessLinks has an incomplete list. Green Promise has a few more. If you don't find an organic tree seller on one of these lists, add the name of your town to this Google search, and hopefully you'll find one.

Yet another round of research is proving the link between eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding cancer. Two sets of researchers tested broccoli, cabbage and "dark berries," and the effect these foods had on likelihood of cancer. However, the take-away on this one was this: "Cooking can reduce 60 to 90 percent of ITCs, (isothiocyanates)," which is one of the cancer-fighting properties of many fruits and vegetables. So eat foods as whole and raw as possible. Also: Scientists also continue to falsely spin their findings as "fruits and vegetables reduce cancer risk," when, in reality, the more accurate way to communicate these findings is that the unnatural absence of plentiful fruits and vegetables in the diet is a leading CAUSE of cancer.

A new U.S. Department of Agriculture survey found that only 7% of all Americans meet the department's minimum recommendations for whole grains, which is three ounces per day. The people who fall into this small group are the same people who "buy organic, read product labels and generally watch what they eat." A incredible 40% of Americans don't eat any whole grains at all.

A vegetarian restaurant in New York City called Counter sells an "organic martini" for a whopping $665. The Martini is called the Organic Iridium Martini. It's made with four pomegranate seeds, sugar water, Square One vodka, peach juice, ice peach oolong tea, rose pedals and one drop of Liquid Manna Iridium. The drink has more to do with creating buzz around a publicity stunt, and less to do with organics or health or anything else. The drink is extremely unhealthy, so why bother making it organic?