Healing Secrets from Around the World

As the winter approaches, maybe you can pick up a new health habit from this feature I did for the Nov. issue of Prevention on "the World's Best Natural Cures."

I'll add one that was cut for space:

Patrick Borgen M.D., breast cancer surgeon STAY-HEALTHY SECRET: “I hit the road on my Harley motorcycle to clear my mind.” Easy Rider Borgen says riding both keeps his brain focused and gives him a workout—it takes a lot of strength to control an 800-pound bike. But most of all, it gives his mind a break. “The biggest part of my job as a cancer surgeon is breaking bad news,” says Borgen. “On a bike, I’m able to push that to a back corner. When I get off, I feel that I’ve pressed the clear button on my calculator.” TRY IT: You don’t have to ride a Harley to clear the mental cobwebs out. Any type of regular physical activity— be it riding a (ten-speed) bike or horseback riding—should do the trick. The key, says Borgen, is having a passion outside of work, “something that you can really look forward to.” INSIDE INFO: An estimated 10 percent of the 6 million active motorcyclists in the U.S. are women, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. Borgen, an expert on breast cancer in younger women,  is co-director of the Maimonides Cancer Center in Brooklyn and Chief of Breast Surgery.