Natural Awakenings November 2020

E R F

E

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

JACK KORNFIELD

Meditation on Gratitude & Joy

HERBS THAT SOOTHE

PETS’ SKIN PROBLEMS

HOW TO BE A

PEACEFUL

PARENT LIGHTEN UP

THE THANKSGIVING FEAST

NATURAL BEAUTY

SKIN CARE RECIPES November 2020

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Alachua/Citrus/Marion/Sumter Co & The Villages FL

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GoNaturalAwakenings.com

HealthCare Partners

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Dr. Kraucak is a multilingual physician fluent in Spanish and Serbo Croatian. He is the founding physician of HealthCare Partners Family Medicine, the first integrated Holistic practice in Central Florida and The Villages.

Dr. Kraucak has been practicing holistic medicine since 1995 and is passionate about caring for his patients around The Villages, throughout Florida, and visiting patients around the world. He has traveled extensively to many countries including the Philippines, Argentina and Venezuela – extending his knowledge and experienced care. From the diagnostic phase through the treatment and follow up, from simple issues to the most complicated chronic conditions, Dr. Kraucak and his team will assure you and your family have comprehensive, innovative and the latest therapeutic support.

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North Central FL Edition

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November 2020

3

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from publisher

Hi, everyone!

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA

Welcome to November, one of my favorite months. I really look forward to our family coming together for Thanksgiving din Publisher Sheila Mahan ner and the start of the holiday season. My husband and I have Editor Martin Miron traditionally spent Thanksgiving Day with our kids and grand Design & Production Martin Friedman kids. This year is certainly going to be a different holiday season

Chelsea Rose for us, as I’m sure it is for you. Given the current health concerns,

Sales & Marketing Angela Durrell we advised our kids to avoid traveling and stay home. I suspect we will be doing a lot of FaceTime and Zoom chats. How are you CONTACT US spending your first COVID-19 Thanksgiving?

Ph: 352-366-0088

Even though our house may be a bit emptier this year, I still plan to cook a Thanksgiving GoNaturalAwakenings.com dinner, albeit a bit smaller and less traditional. I think this might be a good time to experiSheila@GoNaturalAwakenings.com Angela@GoNaturalAwakenings.com ment with healthy substitutions such as sweet potato casserole baked with lemon juice and nutmeg rather than butter and marshmallows. Check out this issue’s featured recipes that SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available for $32 include mushroom gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, pumpkin spice energy balls (for 12 issues) email the address above. and pumpkin muffins. What are some of your healthy substitutions and holiday recipes?

Digital subscriptions are free

Healthy substitutions should especially be considered for diabetics. Our feature visit our website to sign up. article, “Preventing Type 2 Diabetes,” discusses natural lifestyle choices to curb the disease.

We are fortunate to have within our community a local resource to offer help and advice. I NATIONAL TEAM encourage you to read the business spotlight on Dr. Stella Nemuseso, of Dynamic Therapy

CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman and Wellness Services, in Ocala. She is a lead trainer for the Diabetes Education Empow COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne erment Program and certified peer diabetes educator.

National Art Director Gabrielle

In addition to eating healthy, how about starting a fitness routine that provides you Wyant-Perillo with body gratitude? What I mean by that is to turn your exercise routine from a task into a

Art Director Josh Pope gift, so that you feel joy about working hard to become the best version of yourself. Our Fit

Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Body department, “Body Gratitude,” provides insight into how workouts can be empower Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs ing. We highlight Andy Farina, president and founder of Fearless Health, in Gainesville, Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy who offers individuals and groups holistic health, life and business coaching to be their

National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell very best. A change in perspective can go a long way to improving our health and life.

Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation

Let’s not forget about the kids struggling with a very disruptive and stressful school 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 year.

Our Healthy Kids department, “Mindful Parenting,” advocates for parents to allow Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 their children to thrive and become themselves, and not a parent’s :mini-me”. Licensed NaturalAwakeningsMag.com mental health counselor Alicia Pfahler, site director of Restoring Hope Counseling Center, in Gainesville, offers counseling to individuals and families to help them become healthy © 2020 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be and thrive. Be sure to read her business spotlight in this issue to learn more. reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior

The Healing Ways department features natural skin care. Our skin deserves the kindest permission be obtained in writing. care possible with natural, chemical-free ingredients. We are so fortunate to have local busiNatural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please nesses that can skillfully create wonderful natural skincare products right in our backyard. call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

Check out the business spotlights on Naturally Pure by Christen, The Shoogie Company and We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in Opal’s Handmade. Keep in mind that natural skincare products are great for gift-giving! the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

Please read about all the wonderful local businesses in this issue that have worked so Check with a healthcare professional regarding the hard during this pandemic to stay in business and support the community. They need our appropriate use of any treatment. support and patronage. Supporting local businesses make our community stronger.

I would like to end with a big thank-you to our loyal readers that pick up the magaNatural Awakenings Magazine is ranked zine every month and our dedicated advertisers that make our free publication possible. I 5th Nationally in CISION’S 2016 Top 10 Health & am so very grateful to you all.

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We are delighted to be a part of an environmentally conscious community and therefore manufacture this magazine utilizing the environmentally-friendly cold-set web printer process which emits virtually immeasurable VOC's into the environment. The product is 100% recycleable.

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North Central FL Edition

Stay safe and healthy,

Sheila

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Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 12 NATURAL BEAUTY Homemade Solutions for Glowing Skin

22

17 SHERRI MITCHELL

on Indigenous Wisdom for Our Times

18 MINDFUL PARENTING

The Conscious Path to Raising a Child

21 GIVING THANKS

Meditation on Gratitude and Joy

22 BODY GRATITUDE Being Thankful Empowers Our Workouts

24 PREVENTING

TYPE 2 DIABETES Natural Lifestyle Choices to Curb the Disease

21

32 GIVING THANKS

FOR A HEALTHY FEAST

How to Lighten Up Thanksgiving Fare

37 ‘MULE’ LOVE THESE ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 352-366-0088 or email Sheila@GoNaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Sheila@GoNaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Sheila@GoNaturalAwakenings.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

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WEDDING DONKEYS AND BEER BURROS

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 8 kudos 8 health briefs 10 global briefs 11 eco tip 14 local products guide 18 healthy kids 20 community

spotlight 21 inspiration

23 therapy spotlight 28 local food guide 32 conscious

eating 38 natural pet 39 calendar 43 classifieds 44 resource guide November 2020

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NATURAL AWAKENINGS IS

EVERYWHERE

THANK YOU to the local businesses that display Natural Awakenings Magazines!

Pick up your next free copy:

In addition to medical offices and local businesses, Natural Awakenings magazine can be picked up at the following locations: Earth Orgins 1237 NW 76th Blvd, Gainesville Sunflower Health Foods 3424 W. University Ave, Gainesville The Bagel Bakery 4113 NW 16th Blvd, Gainesville Wards 515 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville Fairy Dust Crystals & Such 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview Belleview Library 13145 SE CR 484, Belleview Winn Dixie 11310 US Hwy 301, Belleview Winn Dixie 10051 S. US Hwy 41, Dunnellon Museum Cafe 10466 W Yulee Dr, Homosassa Too Your Health 995 HWY 441, Lady Lake Freedom Library 5870 SW 95th St, Ocala B-Healthy 8449 SW Hwy 200, #139, Ocala Marion County Tax Collector 503 SE 25th Ave, Ocala Marion County Public Library 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala Earth Origins 1917 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala Winn Dixie 820 Old Camp Rd., The Villages

DIGITAL EDITION AVAILABLE @

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news briefs

Coronavirus Breakthrough in Ocala

D

octors at AdventHealth Ocala have treated patients with a combination of four types of drugs under the acronym ICAM with a success rate of 96.4 percent. It uses immunosupport drugs (vitamin C and zinc), corticosteroids against inflammation, anticoagulants against blood clots and macrolides to help fight infection. The COVID-19 therapy is designed to boost the immune system while preventing inflammation in the lungs.

A clinical trial is underway to prove the findings. If it’s found to be safe and effective, ICAM therapy might be used on COVID-19 patients without the need to hospitalize them. Doctors worldwide have been studying all sorts of therapies to manage COVID-19 and reduce complications.

Dr. Carlette Norwood-Williams, director of pharmacy at AdventHealth Ocala, says, “We had no need for mechanical ventilation, and the patients all survived the discharge regardless of age and regardless of past medical history The ICAM protocol has the potential to trigger the reopening of the country. “We will know the next step after our outpatient study.” A clinical trial is planned with the Marion County Health Department and Heart of Florida Health Centers to provide outpatient treatment for adults.

For more information, visit AdventHealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-ocala.

An Eckankar Soul Adventure Seminar Online: The Power of Gratitude

“O

ne who is thankful for every good thing will find the richness of heaven in the humblest detail of his spiritual life. The window of gratitude opens to us the heavens of God.”

~ Sri Harold Klemp

Eckankar’s free Soul Adventure Seminar, online through November 30, explores a secret to spiritual living that can help create a rich and fulfilling life. The program includes profound stories on the transforming power of gratitude. Inspiring talks include: Embracing Gifts of Change; What Just Happened? Opportunities to Live, Learn and Love; and In God’s Time and In God’s Way.

Guests at this virtual event may also enjoy workshops, music from around the world, and a keynote talk by Sri Harold Klemp, spiritual leader of Eckankar. Youth and families can experience a special program with fun and innovative activities to spark joy, gratitude and adventure.

Anyone new to the teachings of Eckankar is invited to this online experience.

Recognize the infinite creativity of Soul (one’s true self) and discover personal gems of spiritual transformation. The seminar offers a springboard for self-discovery to expand the love, wisdom, and creativity already within the heart.

Cost: Complimentary registration available for those new to Eckankar; visit SpiritualEvent. org. See ad, page 31.

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North Central FL Edition

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Healing With the Arts Course for Nurses

Hot Cars Beneit Cool Cats

A

ssociate Professor at University of Florida Mary Rockwood Lane, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, will conduct a unique, 12week online course, Healing With The Arts: Transpersonal Nursing as Ontologial Artist.

She teaches Creativity and Spirituality in Healthcare in the undergraduate and graduate college.

Endorsed by Watson Caring Science Institute, this course is an opportunity for the nurse artist and healer to turn their attention inward and tap into the inner wellspring of creativity, light, brilliance and capabilities. Healing with the Arts can be a powerful way to cope with the stresses of caregiving.

Students will build a foundation to integrate arts into clinical practice, using nursing knowledge and caring theory of caringhealing arts; unlock their creative process using guided imagery; integrate advanced nursing therapeutics into their practice, including visual arts, written word, movement and music; learn alongside those in the journey toward transpersonal knowing as an ontological artist through the caring, supportive online community; and create an original art piece.

40 contact hours AHNA-approved. Register at HealingWith TheArts.com.

Brown’s Fall Festival in Oxford

B

rown’s Country Market will host the annual Brown’s Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., November 7 to benefit nonprofit Villagers for Veterans and The Humane Society of Sumter County.

Highlights include a live music stage, great vendors from craft to local businesses, food trucks, a classic car show and The Villages Mini Cooper Club, axe throwing, a Dolly Parton lookalike contest with cash prizes and a Kidz Corner.

The fresh air country market offers an old-time, downhome feeling with flowering plants, herbs and seasonal fruit trees planted out front. Inside, enjoy the handmade wooden benches and wooden rocking chairs to sit and reminisce of days gone by while enjoying fresh, hot boiled peanuts and drinking an ice-cold, glass-bottled soda. Just like an old-time candy store, visitors can choose from a large variety of candies and licorice sticks to satisfy any sweet tooth. They stock as many local products as possible, such as locally produced honey and Granny Nichols BBQ sauce.

T

he Hot Cars Cool Cats Fall Car & Motorcycle Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., November 21, as a fundraiser for the nonprofit Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS). At The Tiger Maximus, in Ocala.

This fun, family event features great food, music, vendors and fabulous cars, trucks and motorcycles. Social distancing will be practiced outside under the big beautiful oaks and large field and sign up for an educational tour to meet the Tiger Maximus (a Siberian tiger housed at the sanctuary).

Admission is free, $10 to enter a car, truck or motorcycle. Location: 2250 NE 70th St, Ocala. For more information, call 352-266-2859 or email EARSanctuary@gmail.com.

Time to Reserve Holiday Hams and Turkeys

T

he Florida Fresh Meat Company, a locally owned family business, established in 2008 is taking orders for holiday hams and turkeys. Individual vacuum packages are available for retail customers and bulk packaging for our commercial customers. Patrons can save by buying whole, half or quarter animals and having them portion-cut for the freezer.

Owner Jan Costa says, “We are proud to be the first company in almost 20 years to produce fresh local meat for the public under USDA inspection. Through our network of local farms, we have access to incredibly healthy, sustainable proteins. All of our exceptional animals feast on a salad bar of pesticide-free ‘gourmet’ forage. Our farms, ranches and harvesting facility all practice humane animal treatment and operate chemical, hormone and antibiotic free.”

For orders and more information, call 352-307-8400 or visit FloridaFreshMeat.com. See ad, page3.

Location: 13940 N. U.S. Hwy. 301, Oxford. For more information, call 352-303-1550 or visit BrownAndBrownFarms.com.

November 2020

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news brief

health briefs

Holiday Sale and Fundraiser

Have Conflicts Mediated for Best Results

M

arion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA) Holiday Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., November 28. This family-friendly arts and crafts fair supports small businesses and local vendors while raising awareness for MTRA programs, including therapeutic riding, Freedom Reins for Veterans and the Equine Experience MARTA.

MTRA is located on 30 acres on the Florida Greenway and Trails in a beautiful facility constructed in 2008 with the proceeds of a Community Development Block Grant. It hosts fundraising and awareness events, clinics, PATH workshops and certifications.

Begun in 1983, MTRA is dedicated to improving the quality of life of home to more than 120 clients annually from five counties and more than 100 active volunteers by fostering programs that enhance their physical, emotional and mental well-being.

davis kokanis/Unsplash.com

Admission is free. Location: 6850 SE 41st Ct., Ocala. For more information, call 352-732-7300 or visit mtraocala.org.

Kudos

The Florida Museum of Natural History has appointed Keith Willmott director of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, one of the world’s premier research institutes dedicated to butterflies and moths.

Willmott, a curator who specializes in neotropical butterflies, succeeds Jaret Daniels. As director, he will oversee the continued growth, management and accessibility of the center’s collection, which houses some 10 million specimens, with hundreds of thousands added annually. Now in its 17th year, the center was founded by the late Tom Emmel, and features thriving research and conservation programs, a public gallery and the popular Butterfly Rainforest exhibit.

Willmott notes that making specimen information available online helps scientists to investigate questions about butterfly and moth evolution and ecology, as well as assess the conservation status of species under threat.

For more information, visit FloridaMuseum.ufl.edu.

News to share?

Submit information to Sheila@GoNaturalAwakenings.com.

Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month.

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North Central FL Edition

Active mediation by a third party provides better outcomes for couples’ arguments by heightening activity in the “reward” part of the brain that generates romantic love. That’s the conclusion of researchers from the University of Geneva in a study in the journal Cortex that included 36 heterosexual couples that had been married for one year. After receiving brain scans with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and filling out a questionnaire, the couples argued for an hour about a key conflict such as intimacy, finances or in-laws. Half the couples received guidance from a professional mediator; the other couples did not.

Afterward, couples with the active mediator reported feeling more satisfied with the content and progress of the discussion and had fewer residual issues. When individuals were shown photos of their spouse and another unknown person during a second fMRI, the couples that had mediation were more likely to experience heightened activation in the nucleus accumbens, a key region in the reward circuit of the brain linked to pleasure, motivation and feelings like love. The more satisfied a person was with the mediation, the greater the neural activation. “Our results suggest for the first time that third-party mediation has a significant and positive impact on the way couples argue, both behaviourally and neurally,” concludes Olga Klimecki, a study author and researcher at the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences.

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Do Aerobic Exercises to Improve Fatty Liver Condition

Vitamin B12, an essential dietary nutrient typically derived from animal sources, poses a special challenge for vegans; its deficiency is linked to anemia and nervous system damage. Aside from supplements and foods fortified with cyanocobalamin or hydroxocobalamin, a new natural approach has been documented by University of Helsinki researchers: fermenting dough using Propionibacterium freudenreichii bacteria, commonly used to make Emmental cheese, along with Lactobacillus brevis to improve microbial safety, produced enough B12 to fulfill the nutritional need for vegans. During the three-day fermentation process, rice bran and buckwheat bran had the highest B12 production. “In situ fortification of B12 via fermentation could be a more cost-effective alternative. And as a commonly consumed staple food, grains are excellent vehicles for enrichment with micronutrients,” says study author Chong Xie.

Metabolicassociated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common form of chronic liver disease affecting up to one quarter of the population worldwide.

Associated with Type 2 diabetes and obesity, MAFLD is quickly becoming the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer and has been linked to more severe COVID-19 outcomes. With no effective pharmacological treatments, the focus has been on reducing weight by 7 to 10 percent.

But a new study from Trinity College, in Dublin, based on liver biopsies of 24 patients, found those that undertook 12 weeks of aerobics had significant improvements in markers of liver and metabolic health, even without weight loss, making exercise theoretically more important than losing pounds. The positive results were not sustained once the exercising stopped, leading researchers to recommend follow-up programs in community settings.

arture rutkowski/Unsplash.com

karolina grabowska/Pexels.com

Get B12 in a Vegan Diet from Dough Fermentation

High Springs Emporium

Try Flaxseed Oil to Reduce Weight and Body Mass Index

We Gather Together

The days grow shorter and the nights grow longer.

We seek the comfort and support of our families and give thanks for one another. pixabay/Pexels.com

Flaxseed, with its high nutritional value and low glycemic profile, has been shown to lower blood sugar in patients with Type 2 diabetes. To see if flaxseed as an oil has similar effects, Iranian researchers gave 40 overweight and prediabetic patients either 2,000 milligrams of flaxseed oil or a placebo daily for 14 weeks. The flaxseed oil did not produce lower inflammatory or glycemic markers than the placebo, but it did lead to significantly greater weight loss and a lower body mass index. A 2019 study of 50 obese and overweight adults found that consuming milled flaxseed for 12 weeks resulted in more than 20 pounds of weight loss, lower body mass index and greater reductions in triglycerides and inflammatory markers compared to a control group.

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global briefs

Green Hangover

Photovoltaic panels, used to produce renewable solar power, become complex pieces of electronic waste at the end of their functional lives.

The International Renewable Energy Agency projects that up to 78 million metric tons of solar panels will be discarded by 2050, and that the world will be generating about 6 million metric tons of new solar ewaste annually. Recovering the silver and silicon inside them requires costly, specialized solutions. Many solar panels contain lead that can leach out as they decompose in landfills. Some panels are exported to developing countries with weak environmental protections. Most are rated for about 25 years of use, so a major influx is due to arrive shortly.

Nonprofit PV Cycle (PVCycle.org) collects thousands of tons of solar e-waste across the European Union each year, where producers are required to ensure that their solar panels are recycled properly. Recycle PV Solar (Recycle PV.solar), one of the only recyclers in the U.S., where almost no regulations exist, reports reclaiming just 10 percent of the country’s solar waste. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is investigating new processes to recover all metals and minerals at states of high purity, with the goal of making recycling as economically viable and environmentally beneficial as possible.

Nearly 6,000 scientists signed a pledge to #ShutDownSTEM on June 10, the day of the Strike for Black Lives across higher education. (STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math.)

They canceled lab meetings, halted research projects and actively confronted perceived racism in their institutions in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Particles for Justice (ParticlesForJustice.org) physics collective members Brian Nord and Chanda Prescod-Weinstein helped develop the idea for the strike. They called on university science departments, national laboratories and all others engaged in scientific endeavors to stop business as usual for that one day.

The aim was educating themselves and their colleagues about the role of their own institutions in perpetuating white supremacy and creating concrete actions they could take to reduce anti-Black bias after the strike. According to the Pew Research Center, only 24 percent of college faculty members were nonwhite as of 2017, and a study published in the March edition of the journal BioScience found that Black, Latino, Native American and other underrepresented scholars account for only 9 percent of faculty members in STEM fields.

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North Central FL Edition

Overall Concern

Denim Microfibers Pervade Waterways

The American Chemical Society reports that blue jeans, a popular wardrobe choice during the COVID-19 pandemic due to an increase in telecommuting, creates a unique type of environmental pollution.

This denim is processed with synthetic indigo dye and other chemical additives.

Researchers in Canada have detected indigo denim microfibers in wastewater effluent, lakes and even remote Arctic marine sediment, as noted in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

Washing denim releases microfibers that are mostly removed by wastewater treatment plants, yet some still enter the environment through wastewater effluent. The researchers estimate that the wastewater treatment plants in their study discharged about 1 billion indigo denim microfibers per day. In laundering experiments, they found that a single pair of used jeans could release about 50,000 microfibers per wash cycle. The researchers did not study the effects that these microfibers have on aquatic life— perhaps a topic for future inquiry. In the meantime, washing jeans less frequently may reduce denim pollution.

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ParticlesForJustice.com

Scientists Confront Academic Racism

margarita/AdobeStock.com

Equality Matters

jm industrial/Storyblocks.com

Discarded Solar Panels Result in Toxic Pollution

longing the lifespan of items, demand for new products is reduced, resources are conserved and money is saved. It all helps the planet.

eco tip

A Repair Cafe Near Home

In concert with the do-it-yourself craze, there’s a growing interest in repair cafes and pop-up events where people can learn to fix things or have someone do it for them. It’s fun, and the camaraderie and guidance of knowledgeable neighbors makes all the difference. Visit RepairCafe.org to find a nearby location or for detailed instructions on how to start one.

How to Fix Anything

fotos 593/AdobeStock.com

Whether it’s a faulty toaster, broken wheelbarrow or torn jeans, some common principles apply:

FIX IT, DON’T NIX IT

Repairing Can Prolong Life of Products With every Amazon delivery and late-night QVC purchase, the verdict is in: America is the Godzilla of consumerism, and far too many of the products we buy are disposable or designed to become obsolete.

Tons of waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated, causing pollution. Plus, non-renewable natural resources like petroleum and heavy metals are depleted to manufacture new products and the non-biodegradable packaging they’re wrapped in.

Awakening to the consequences of consumption addiction, a more sustainable choice emerges: repairing.

When something breaks, don’t replace it­—fix it. By pro-

Crystals Books Tarot decks Jewelry Candles Essential Oils Unique gifts Metaphysical and Spiritual Supplies

Don’t panic. When the bicycle chain breaks, remain calm. Split the task into manageable steps. Anticipate the feeling of empowerment when the wheels are turning again.

Get informed. From hemming a skirt to rewiring a lamp, a detailed YouTube video awaits. Check online for product manuals that offer diagnostics and repair instructions. For an extensive collection of repair guides, visit IFixIt.com.

Use the right tool. To get the job done quicker, easier and without possible injury or damage to property, the right tool is key. Local hardware store attendants can help. For one-time-use or expensive tools, consider renting or borrowing.

Visit a repair shop. A great way to support local business is to patronize local repair shops for shoes, clothing, jewelry, computers, appliances and more.

Buying for Longevity

Choose quality products that are designed to last and easy to repair. To help evaluate options, iFixIt.com offers a list of repairability scores. In a perfect, sustainable world, the marketplace would be filled with beautiful, artful and clever products that everyone loves and can’t bear to replace.

Practical teachings to help you lead a healthy, prosperous, and meaningful life.

Reiki Sessions 352.693.4592 Classes & Meditation FairyDustCrystals.com Like us on Facebook Readers

Your Holistic and Spiritual Healing Center 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview, FL 34420 (at the Almeida Plaza)

101 Cedar Road Ocala, Florida 34472 www. unityocala.org Sunday Celebration & Youth Program 10 a.m.

A Positive Path for Spiritual Living November 2020

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healing ways

Natural Beauty Homemade Solutions for Glowing Skin

by April Thompson

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kin, our largest organ, plays an important role in supporting and protecting the rest of the body. That’s why it should be treated kindly by using natural, chemical-free ingredients. Many U.S. beauty products contain hidden chemicals, including dozens of ingredients that are banned in other counties. Even products labeled “organic” or “natural” can contain potentially harmful petrochemicals, according to the Environmental Working Group.

A natural skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Balms, masks, scrubs and toners can be made from healthy, everyday products already present in most homes. “Oats, yogurt, coconut oil, honey: there are many kitchen staples that you can easily use in your skincare routine,” says Marlene Adelmann, founder of the Herbal Academy, in Bedford, Massachusetts, and author of Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book.

As an example, face masks can be made with ingredients from the spice rack, including turmeric and black pepper. “One-ingredient treatments, like a honey or yogurt mask, feel so good and are easy to make,” says Stephanie Gerber, the Nashville author of Hello Glow: 150+ Easy Natural Beauty Recipes for A Fresh New You. Facial, body and foot scrubs are great beginner creations, according to Stepha12

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nie Tourles, author of Pure Skin Care: Nourishing Recipes for Vibrant Skin & Natural Beauty. The Marble Falls, Texas, esthetician recommends starting with a base of sugar or salt and adding an edible oil such as almond, plus a few drops of an essential oil. Essential oils should be diluted—add only six to 12 drops per ounce of finished product. Her favorites are lavender, tea tree, sweet orange and frankincense. Lemon, lime and bergamot are phototoxic and can cause sensitivity if added to any scrub before sun exposure.

“Scrubs are wonderful for softening, soothing and exfoliating the skin,” Tourles says, cautioning that salt scrubs can sting if applied after shaving or waxing. Other common ingredients that can be added are oats, almonds or sunflower seeds ground in a coffee grinder. When mixed with water, cream or yogurt, they offer a moisturizing facial treatment.

Tourles loves homemade body balms using oil and a thickener such as cocoa butter or beeswax. “Balms are easy to make, great for kids and good for dry cuticles and lips. You don’t have to worry

Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

Homemade Mask Recipes Excerpted from Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book, by Marlene Adelmann Green Tea Facial Mask Green tea contains polyphenolic flavonoids called catechins, which are strongly antioxidant. It’s also an astringent and anti-inflammatory. Matcha green tea (a powder) makes a beautiful green mask that astringes and tones skin. Combined with aloe gel and honey for soothing moisture, this is a great recipe for the colder months when our skin needs rejuvenation.

photos by Herbal Academy

about ingredients spoiling. They condition the skin and smell great,” she says.

In harsher weather, skin requires a little extra TLC. Tourles suggests a hydrating winter toner made with a 50/50 mix of aloe vera juice and rosewater. “Honey is also nice for the face and incredibly hydrating for winter,” she says.

“Simply warm a little bit, apply it to your clean face for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.”

“People often forget to apply more moisturizer in winter. One of the best things you can do is exfoliate your face with a simple scrub to slough off dry, dead skin. Use gentler ingredients for your face than your body, like oats, baking soda or almonds ground finely,” says Gerber. For chapped lips, she recommends a gentle exfoliant like sugar and honey applied as an antibacterial lip scrub.

“Matcha green tea makes a beautiful mask that astringes and tones skin.

Combine it with aloe gel and honey for some soothing moisture in the colder months when our skin needs rejuvenation,” says Adelmann.

Some products are best purchased from a commercial source. “You can make many preparations at home—from masks to cleansing scrubs, cleansers, lotions and creams—but when these recipes contain water, they have a short shelf life.

If you are looking for something with a longer shelf life, you’re going to run into more complicated instructions incorporating preservatives,” says Adelmann.

“Moisturizers, creamy cleansers and hand creams have the steepest learning curve to craft yourself,” says Tourles.

“Trying to emulsify watery ingredients like herb tea and aloe vera with oils, butters or waxes is like mixing oil and vinegar in a salad dressing; these ingredients want to separate.” According to Gerber, sunscreen is another product worth buying rather than trying to make at home.

Homemade or store-bought products aside, the best skin enhancer is a drink of water, according to Gerber. It doesn’t get easier or more economical than that.

2 Tbsp matcha or another green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaf powder 4 tsp aloe vera leaf gel 1-2 tsp raw honey Combine all ingredients and mix well. Adjust proportions, as needed, to achieve the desired consistency—add more honey and/or tea powder if it’s too fluid, or more aloe if it’s too thick. Apply gently to the face, avoiding the eyes. Leave in place for 20 to 40 minutes.

Rinse the face with warm water and lightly pat it dry with a towel. Follow with moisturizer.

Turmeric Facial Mask This is an anti-inflammatory, astringent and nutritive face mask with antimicrobial action that is well-suited for acne-prone skin.

Combining turmeric with a fat, like yogurt, mitigates its staining effects. Test this recipe on a small area of skin before using.

1 Tbsp plain yogurt 1 tsp turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome powder 1 tsp raw honey Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. After washing the face, apply this mask and let it set for approximately 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

Black Pepper Facial Mask Piperine, a well-studied constituent of black pepper, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions and can benefit acne-prone or mature skin.

Mix ground peppercorns with body or facial scrub ingredients for a terrific exfoliant. Black pepper also does wonders for dull skin, encouraging blood to flow to the surface for a healthy radiance. Test this recipe on a small area of the skin before using and consider wearing gloves, as this recipe may discolor fingernails.

1 tsp plain yogurt ¼ tsp black pepper (Piper nigrum), ground Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. After washing the face, apply this mask and let it set for approximately 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

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local products guide

Naturally Pure and Locally Made Grooming Aids

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aturally Pure by Christen provides high-quality, natural soap and body products free from harmful chemicals. Sole owner Christen Maddock, a certified esthetician, says, “It’s my goal to bring luxury to your bath, and nourish your skin, one bar at a time.”

“When I heard that the chemicals we use could be damaging to the Earth and even unhealthy for me and my family, I tried to learn more. Surprisingly, I found that carcinogens were in our lotions, soaps, makeup, baby shampoo, household cleaning products and more!

I set out on a mission to find a healthier option. My products are always handcrafted, never mass-produced and never tested on animals.”

After moving to Ocala during the 2008 recession, Maddock used her skincare education to make products for family and friends. After several years of

study and formulating, Naturally Pure started at the original Ocala farmers’ market in 2011. “Naturally Pure by Christen sells clean, green, bath and body products that are good for your body and good for Mother Earth when they go down the drain,” she explains.

Offerings include coconut milk artisan soap, whipped sugar scrub, luffa soap, lip butters, healthy deodorants, Shea la Creme Hand & Body Cream, bath bombs, skincare and essential oils. All products are plant-based, phthalate-free, petrochemical-free, formaldehyde and formaldehyde donor-free and parabenfree. Naturally Pure is also cruelty-free and contains no animal byproducts.

Maddock shares, “I only purchase my ingredients from places that can provide me with documentation or certification of their purity. I try to source as many ingredients locally as I can. Many of my prod-

ucts are made with local fruits, including oranges and limes picked straight from the trees! We’ve also used fresh coconuts brought back from South Florida. I also only use local honey purchased from our local farmers’ market.”

Her bestsellers are artisan bar soaps and Whipped Sugar Scrubs. “My artisan soap is made using the cold process soap making method, in order to keep our oils as cool as possible to preserve the benefits of plant-derived butters and oils. Each batch is handblended with pure coconut milk to give you the best bar of soap you’ve ever used, “ advises Maddock. “My sugar scrubs are a thick, but light, texture that are whipped with avocado oil. They cleanse, exfoliate and leave your skin soft and moisturized without leaving your shower floor slippery.”

Maddock sees growing interest in ingredients such as charcoal, rose and vitamin C and notes, “I think CBD-infused products will continue to gain a lot of popularity in 2021!”

Products may be purchased online. at the Ocala Downtown Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sat., Polished Nail Salon, in Ocala, Tipped in Tampa, in Tampa, and Face2Face, in Dade City. For more information, call 352-433-6290 or visit naturallypurebc.com.

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OPAL’S HANDMADE

All-Natural All-Local Skin Care

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pal’s Handmade sells natural, bath and body products made locally. Owner Nadine Bartlett says, “I love when my customers return and tell me how much they love our products. There is nothing better than knowing that my customers are seeing the result of my hard work.” She holds a diploma in organic skincare formulation from Formula Botanica and intends to receive an advanced diploma in organic cosmetic science in January 2021. Previously an ordained minister and magistrate with a catering business, she taught herself how to make soap.

Expanding from 2018’s Opal’s Handmade Soapery, Bartlett felt that many of the commercial products had too many additives and fillers, and

wanted to expand her brand into body creams, hair, skin and home products.

She changed the name to Opal’s Handmade this year. Her products include soap bars, liquid soap, body creams, hair and face serums, natural deodorant and other skincare products, and fulfills custom formulations upon request.

Everything is cruelty-, phthalate-, formaldehyde- and paraben-free. “That was one of my motivations for starting this business. We always endeavor to use ingredients that we believe are healthy and safe. I have spent countless hours ensuring that what I am making for my family and my customers is nothing but the best.

I work with suppliers who are able to provide traceability and have the necessary certification for the raw materials we use. This is crucial for all my formulations.

I also source ingredients from suppliers with good social responsibility values.

“By using less harmful ingredients, we can help to reduce our carbon footprint. We try as much as possible at Opal’s Handmade to use packaging that will help reduce our contribution to the land fill by using paper and glass mainly to package our products,” advises Bartlett. “We source cruelty-free ingredients and it’s wonderful, because we know that we are doing our part to help save the animals.”

All products are available at their online store and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the Ocala Downtown Market, at 310 Southeast 3rd Street.

Best-sellers include a Revive Frankincense and Myrrh Face Bar; a men’s Bay & Amber bar; Black Castor Hair Serum; clay face masks; and a colorful mosaic handmade soap tray.

Bartlett just introduced her Revitalizing Face Serum, a lightweight oil with great absorbability and full of wonderful ingredients. She says, “We have just launched our wax melts and wax warmers, and by November our new line of luxury candles will be ready in time for the holidays.”

Opal’s Handmade is located in Ocala. For more information, call 347-276-4662. Order online at OpalsHandmade.com.

November 2020

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local products guide

Shop Local with The Shoogie Company

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by Martin Miron

livia Ortiz is the owner and operator of The Shoogie Company, a manufacturer of personal care products. She says, “After a scare in 2007 involving a lump in my armpit area during a breast exam at the doc’s office which ended up being a toxic build-up of aluminum from conventional deodorants, I began making Shoogie products for family first and then others to live a healthier, chemical free lifestyle. All of the products are 100 percent natural, almost totally organic, made in Ocala and good for you. And if you are a vegan, just ask. Most of my products are already vegan, but I can also make any of my products vegan that aren’t already.”

Shoogie products are for sale online and at Bricky City Spa, and soon in two downtown shops in Ocala. “Brick City Spa features a Shoogie Facial as part of their spa services, which is an amazing way to try out a ton of the Shoogie line in one fell swoop. Since COVID, my best seller has been the I Miss Your Face kits ($25). It features a facial cleansing soap, mask of the month and the Youthful Radiance Moisturizer, which is amazing for all skin types,” says Ortiz. “Purchasers get a Zoom code with the mask and they join us on Sunday afternoons for a Zoom facial together where we talk about their skin needs and just hang out. It is a fantastic way to also meet new friends without leaving your house. I think it is a best-seller because we are all craving that human interaction and still want to gather in a safe manner.”

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She explains, “Not only do Shoogie products work, but they are different from other natural products because they smell delicious when you put them on and reflect my love of baking and cooking.

One of the services I offer is the ability to customize my products to your own favorite scent blend if you are interested in creating your own beauty and personal care products that smell unique. Not only are my products free of chemicals, but they are made with fresh, food-grade, all natural ingredients, and no unnatural preservatives are used. The made-on date on the bottom or side of the product tells you when I made it, and it should be consumed within six months of this date. It is best to store them in a cosmetic fridge or in your home fridge if you can, as it extends their shelf life.”

To assure purity, Ortiz sources products that are for a good cause from small or certified organic farms, noting, “I like to highlight the source of the Shea butter I use in almost every recipe. It is from Ghana and Burkina Faso, Africa, and gives jobs to over 4 million women. It provides economic sustenance and a sense of pride, giving them the respect of their family and the right to speak out in the community.

Shea butter production also gives them the ability to spend time with their families, as they often gather with the women and children in the village to gather, smash, roast and grind the nuts into the butter we use, all while talking and singing. This is something that is close to my heart as a female business owner, as well.”

She believes using natural skincare that works is good for the environment because the carbon footprint is lower due to some ingredients being locally sourced. Plus, it is biodegradable and just safer for humans and pets. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a small child accidentally eating any store-bought deodorant, but ours are made with food-grade ingredients, the same goes for all our unscented products.

“I think once cannabis products are legalized in more places, I think we will see an increase of these trendy ingredients in our skincare products. The addition of things like hemp, CBD and THC into skincare and makeup can be beneficial to our bodies,” advises Ortiz.

Black Friday begins the season of holiday sales at Shoogie Company. Ortiz boasts, “I also make beautiful gift boxes for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, girls’ days, Valentine’s Day and self-care.

Once the [planned] mobile unit is complete, I will be able to offer fullservice mobile facials and massage, in addition to everything else.”

The Shoogie Company is located at 33 Sunrise Dr., in Ocala. Place orders at ShoogieCompany.com.

Follow us @GoNaturalAwakenings

wise words

Sherri Mitchell on Indigenous Wisdom for Our Times

by Linda Sechrist

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uthor of Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living SpiritBased Change, Sherri Mitchell (Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset) has been an attorney, spiritual teacher and indigenous rights activist for more than 25 years. Born and raised on the Penobscot Indian Reservation, she draws upon her ancestral knowledge to address environmental protection, social justice and spiritual change, offering a set of cultural values to help preserve our collective survival for future generations.

Why is a deeper understanding of the foundational laws of creation so important now?

What people really need to understand about the laws of attraction and manifestation, which are foundational laws of creation, is that humans have been manifesting the reality they’ve been living in for a very, very long time. Connected by the laws of entanglement, whatever we are giving life to, whatever we are thinking, speaking and breathing out is creating the current that is manifesting the storm we are currently living. We are co-creators of this reality, and it is time to move beyond the kindergarten-level of the law of attraction and take conscious responsibility for what we are actively creating, whether we intend it or not, because we are creating and putting things into motion all the time.

We, as spiritual beings having a human experience, need to begin taking grownup responsibility and move beyond the childlike dependence that colonization has imprinted within us.

Human beings have set in motion all the ideologies and beliefs that are currently governing and manifesting the reality that

post-colonial era. Colonization, like capitalism, reaches what appears to be an end point, and then it turns around and begins cannibalizing itself. For example, we’re seeing colonization of the commons— companies taking control of the majority of the Earth’s drinking and potable water and making a statement that human beings don’t have a right to that water. Water should be part of the commons and available to everyone equally.

Cannibalization by ongoing colonization is also happening to our air through the Paris Agreement. Trading for shares of clean air through a carbon credit program is the greatest smoke-and-mirrors scam of our time. We are in the midst of the “Dance of the Cannibal Giant” with colonization and capitalism as key players.

What is the Dance of the Cannibal Giant?

we step into, moment-by-moment. According to the law of motion, this is going to stay in motion until it meets with an equal or greater force. That force is us. We need to stand in the path of the energy we have created and actively stop its movement. We need to transform the energetic pattern of it and shift it in another direction.

What is colonization?

It’s difficult to talk about colonization in sound bites because it’s a complex subject.

With regard to history, colonization was about taking over lands occupied by an indigenous population. The romanticized myth of colonization, the settling of the Americas, was unsettling. The language surrounding colonization makes it sound as if it was a wonderful thing, when it was actually disruptive, destructive and filled with violence and domination.

Moving into and taking over an already occupied area to gain and maintain control over resources is an act of conquest and domination. We are not living in a

It’s an indigenous extinction story for the human species. There are a number of them relevant to the times we are living in. In the Wabanaki tradition, Giwakwa, the cannibal giant, lives deep in the forest and only awakens to the Earth mother’s distressed cry. This lets Giwakwa know that humans are consuming faster than she can produce and harming her faster than she can heal.

Awakened, Giwakwa plays music on his flute that dances people into frenzied, mindless, faster and faster consumption until they consume themselves off the planet, giving Mother Earth the opportunity to heal and renew. These indigenous extinction stories are active now across the globe.

The only way to put the cannibal giant back to sleep is for us to wake up fully to the fact that the Earth is being damaged at a rate far greater than she can heal herself, and that there are many species on the verge of extinction. We are one of them. People must be incredibly discerning now. They must get grounded in their center to listen and heed the direction of their inner compass that will guide them in a right direction.

For more information, visit SacredInstructions.life.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

November 2020

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healthy kids

Mindful Parenting The Conscious Path to Raising a Child

by Ronica O’Hara

L

o Bannerman, a Tucson nutritionist, was making homemade cookies with her toddler. “Or rather, making a mess while stirring cookies,” she recalls. “Something in me snapped. I wanted to take control, kick her out of the kitchen and do everything the ‘right’ way.”

As Bannerman took a deep breath, a memory arose. “As a child, I was only allowed to count scoops of flour or teaspoons of vanilla. I was never allowed to fully, actively participate in the kitchen. Everything had to be perfect, and I was not ‘good enough’ to make it 18

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so. I felt this in my core. Was I passing this on to my daughter?” Bannerman recalls that, after taking a moment to reset, she and her daughter “happily made a mess, a memory and a foundation for a brighter future together.”

Bannerman, who blogs at NourishingFamilies.org, was practicing an increasingly popular approach in raising children known as either conscious, mindful, soulful, awake or peaceful parenting. Instead of focusing on shaping a child’s behavior through rules and discipline, which can bring up contentious issues of fear, ego and control, the focus is on connecting deeply with a child through love, authenticity and acceptance of the child’s innate nature.

“It’s crucial we realize that we aren’t raising a ‘mini-me’, but a spirit, throbbing with its own signature,” says psychologist Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D., author of The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children. “Children aren’t ours to possess or own in any way. When we know this in the depths of our soul, we tailor their raising to their needs rather than molding them to fit our needs.”

The transformation starts with—and hinges upon—parents understanding themselves deeply and realizing how their upbringing shapes their parenting actions. It’s not always easy, especially during housebound pandemic months. “Our children have the capacity to trigger us more than anyone else. So, when they exhibit childish behavior—which is, of course, part of their job description—it’s often hard for parents to stay calm,” says Laura Markham, Ph.D., a Brooklyn clinical psychologist and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids.

“We see our child’s behavior (He hit her again!), and we draw a conclusion (He’s going to be a psychopath!) which triggers other conclusions (I’ve failed as a mother!).

This cascade of thoughts creates a runaway train of emotions—in this case, fear, dismay, guilt. We can’t bear those feelings.

The best defense is a good offense, so we lash out at our child in anger. The whole process takes all of two seconds, and later we wonder why we overreacted.”

The answer often lies in our past,

Restoring Hope

Markham says. “Any issue that makes you feel like lashing out has roots in your own early years. We know this because we lose our ability to think clearly at those moments, and we start acting like children ourselves, throwing our own tantrums.”

The more deeply we know ourselves—whether through therapy, reading, journaling, meditation, mindfulness practices or simply facing head-on the hard knocks of life—the more open we are to forging a deep relationship with our children and the easier it is to calm ourselves in the moment of a trigger, psychologists say.

Correcting a child becomes then a matter of being a guide or coach, rather than a law enforcer. “Disciplining from a place of presence or awakened consciousness means having the willingness to pause, reflect, course-correct as needed in the moment, apologize, take ownership, ask for help and to drop history and reset as needed,” says Renée Peterson Trudeau, the Brevard, North Carolina, author of Nurturing the Soul of Your Family and The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal. “Most of all, practice self-compassion. You will make mistakes. Forgive yourself and move on; this is beautiful modeling for your kids.”

Jessica Speer, a family-book author in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, lives that process. Raised in a home “where anger wasn’t managed well,” she had no tools to draw on when she got triggered by her toddler’s tantrums. It was, she says, “a wake-up call that I needed help.” Diving deeply into books, mindfulness and meditation helped her to understand herself better. “Fast forward 10 years, and I still meditate regularly,” she says. “Now, when my daughter experiences big emotions, I try to ground myself so I can be there by her side. This has been so healing for both of us.”

R

to Those in Need

estoring Hope Counseling Center is home to 10 mental health counselors practicing within their own areas of expertise.

Licensed mental health counselor Alicia Pfahler is the site director. The center was founded in 2019 with a vision of autonomous counselors practicing together to better serve a wide variety of Alicia Pfahler clients under one roof.

Restoring Hope provides mental health counseling to adults, individuals, couples families, children and teens. Group therapy was offered prior to COVID-19 and will resume when it is safe. “A wide array of mental health concerns can be addressed, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, addictions, grief and loss, couples therapy, attachment-related issues in foster care and adoptions, as well as adult adoptees,” says Pfahler. “A wide variety of treatment modalities are used, including trauma-informed care, attachment models, cognitive behavioral models, dialectical behavioral therapy, narrative therapy and developmental therapies.”

She shares, “I would say a lot of wisdom in parenting comes from taking opposing ideas and creating brilliant strategies that comes from using the wisdom in each. For example, opting for structure over nurture is just as ineffective as often nurture over structure. Like a tension bridge a general approach to parenting with the goal of thriving children puts structure and nurture in balance, and doesn’t chose between one or the other. Parents don’t have to be reactive to authoritarian models of parenting that emphasize obedience and responsibility without connection.”

A trust-based relational intervention practitioner and educator, Pfahler is a qualified clinical supervisor for the state of Florida who supervises practicum students and registered mental health interns. She contracts with Partnership for Strong Families, seeing children in foster care and then post-adoption, and also with

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Ronica O'Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Like a tension bridge, a general approach to parenting with the goal of thriving children puts structure and nurture in balance, and doesn’t chose between one or the other. ~Alicia Pfahler November 2020

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Created Gainesville, seeing their clients of complex childhood sexual trauma as they come out of sex trafficking.

Her nonprofit organization, Thrive, is dedicated to empowering, equipping and encouraging foster and adoptive families in Alachua County. “We have brought quality, professional workshops and conferences on topics of fostering, adoption and parenting through the lens of trauma-informed care that respects attachment and sensory processing theory,” says Pfahler. “Prior to COVID-19, Thrive had a support group that met once a month for families who fostered and/ or adopted. Thrive has held family day events at area farms for encouraging meeting other families who foster and adopt in the community. We are all looking forward to what Thrive will look like in the new year as our community heals from the impacts of COVID 19.”

Restoring Hope Counseling Center is located at 4421 NW 39th Ave., Bldg. 3, in Gainesville.

For more information, call 352-380-0209 or visit RestoringHopeCounselingCenter.com.

To promote the Religion, Science and Philosophy of Spiritualism Psychic Medium Spiritual Development Classes

Please email or call for schedule.

Check our complete program on the website.

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community spotlight

Fairy Dust Crystals and Such Is More than a Store

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airy Dust Crystals and Such metaphysical shop and spiritual healing center at the Almeida Plaza, in Belleview, serves all those on their spiritualist, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Pagan or Wiccan journey. Fairy Dust carries a large selection of books, CDs, tarot cards, incense and incense related products, herbs, sage, tapestries, jewelry, candles, Native American sculpture and related items.

One specialty is top-quality Himalayan salt lamps, from the small versions that connect via USB port to the large, 50-pound lamps, and everything in-between, including wire basket lamps, angelshaped and leaf-shaped lamps and goblets.

A wide assortment of crystals ranges from rare cluster specimens and crystal products such as spheres, pyramids, obelisks and skulls to more than 60 varieties of tumbled stones and crystals. The store also carries Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls and a large variety of water fountains.

Owner Maritza Manresa says, “Our goal is for people to leave Fairy Dust Crystals and Such better than they were when they came in. Whether it is due to a healing

session, a reading, or just having purchased an item that will assist them in their spiritual journey. Fairy Dust Crystals and Such is not just a metaphysical/new age shop. We are so much more, we are a place of healing, spiritual growth, and a community of like-minded people who are here to help each other on our spiritual journey. Our products are many, but our spiritual and healing services are life-changing.”

Two classrooms are available for classes plus two healing rooms for healing sessions and a private reading room. They able to truly serve as a full-service metaphysical and holistic healing center, offering reiki sessions and classes, sound healing sessions, tapping, Body Code sessions, past-life regression, astrology, tarot card readings, and psychic readings. Fairy Dust hosts a wide variety of classes and special events on a regular basis, listed on their Facebook page.

Fairy Dust Crystals and Such is located between Ocala and The Villages at 11781 SE U.S. 441, in Belleview. For more information, call 352-693-4592 or visit FairyDustCrystals.com.

We are so much more, we are a place of healing, spiritual growth, and a community of like-minded people who are here to help each other on our spiritual journey. Our products are many, but our spiritual and healing services are life-changing.

Follow us @GoNaturalAwakenings

~Maritza Manresa

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inspiration

Giving Thanks

Meditation on Gratitude and Joy

by Jack Kornfield

I

offer this meditation that opens our hearts to gratitude and joy this holiday season.

Let yourself sit quietly and at ease. Allow your body to be relaxed and open, your breath natural, your heart easy. Begin the practice of gratitude by feeling how that, year after year, you have cared for your own life. Now let yourself begin to acknowledge all that has supported you in this care: With gratitude, I remember the people, animals, plants, insects, creatures of the sky and sea, air and water, fire and earth, all whose joyful exertion blesses my life every day.

With gratitude, I remember the care and labor of a thousand generations of elders and ancestors who came before me.

I offer my gratitude for the safety and well-being I have been given.

I offer my gratitude for the blessing of this Earth I have been given.

I offer my gratitude for the measure of health I have been given.

I offer my gratitude for the family and friends I have been given.

I offer my gratitude for the community I have been given.

I offer my gratitude for the teachings and lessons I have been given.

I offer my gratitude for the life I have been given.

Just as we are grateful for our blessings, so we can be grateful for the blessings of others.

Continue to breathe gently. Bring to mind someone you care about; someone it is easy to rejoice for. Picture them and feel the natural joy you have for their well-being, for their happiness and success. With each breath, offer them your grateful, heartfelt wishes:

May you be joyful.

May your happiness increase.

May you not be separated from great happiness.

May your good fortune and the causes for your joy and happiness increase.

Sense the sympathetic joy and caring in each phrase. When you feel some degree of natural gratitude for the happiness of this loved one, extend this practice to another person you care about. Recite the same simple phrases that express your heart’s intention.

Then, gradually open the meditation to include neutral people, difficult people and even enemies, until you extend sympathetic joy to all beings everywhere, young and old, near and far.

Practice dwelling in joy until the deliberate effort of practice drops away and the intentions of joy blend into the natural joy of your own wise heart.

Jack Kornfield is a bestselling author, Buddhist practitioner and a key teacher in introducing and spreading mindfulness practices in the West. For more information about his teachings, podcasts and books, visit JackKornfield.com.

November 2020

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fit body Appreciation in Motion

jacob lund/AdobeStock.com

“When we’re appreciating ourselves, we open the floodgates to joyful movement and freedom,” says personal trainer Katie Hunt, in Milwaukee. “What if today were the last day I got to run? This question forces me to appreciate every little thing my body can do and minimizes the focus on what I dislike doing. Suddenly, running feels like a gift instead of a task.”

During pandemic restrictions, a socially distant power walk with a friend can get the blood moving and shift perspective.

“Something about feeling my heart pounding, a cool breeze after I first break a sweat and the ability to share authentically with a close friend at the same time reminds me of both my powerful mind and miraculous body. How can I not be grateful?” asks Andrea Stern, owner of the Satori Yoga Studio, in San Francisco. Her thankful intention is carried into each yoga session. “I encourage students to bring a sense of gratitude to the mat with them. Before the class begins, I ask folks to connect with the present moment and to check in with themselves.”

Body Gratitude Being Thankful Empowers Our Workouts

by Marlaina Donato

E

xercise is crucial to preventing and managing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and many other health conditions, but staying motivated to maintain a routine can sometimes be challenging, even for fitness devotees. Cultivating an appreciation for the way our bodies carry us through life can turn what may have seemed like a humdrum workout into something special. Research shows that a gratitude practice fosters patience, encourages self-care and nourishes self-discipline, especially when there is temptation to reach for another slice of pie.

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Motivation Through Affirmation Using daily affirmations—simple sentences written or spoken aloud—is a wonderful way to infuse exercise time with positivity.

Leaning into a challenging asana or doing one more lap in the pool with self-affirming intention can snuff out self-criticism. “Moving your body is not a competition. You don’t have to prove yourself or your ability to anyone. Practice feeling grateful for how your body can move, starting with your heartbeat and breath,” says Sofia Angelina Marcus-Myers, an intuitive energy worker and portrait photographer in Portland, Oregon. Healing self-portraiture and dedication to daily affirmations propel MarcusMyers through chronic pain and help her to see the body as a sacred vehicle. “Affirming your body is a practice, and sometimes it will feel awkward, absurd or tedious. Do it

until you feel more comfortable affirming yourself, and then keep doing it.”

Calling a truce with body imperfections can help us feel more comfortable in our skins, something that can go a long way. For Hunt, shifting perspective inward is key. “What if we all stop and imagine being on a desert island? What would your perfect workout, body and life be like if there were no outside influences?”

Pain and Compassion Living with discomfort makes exercising challenging, but learning to respect the body’s rhythms and limitations can be beautifully empowering. “I love the quote, ‘Unless your compassion begins with yourself, it is incomplete,’” says Stern. “Taking a class together (even virtually) gives us a sense of being in this together. When we breathe, stretch and grow together through our practice, it helps us to appreciate where we are on any given day.”

For Loolwa Khazzoom, a Seattle-based author and musician, it’s all about surrender. “Don’t fight your pain; dance with it— literally and figuratively. Dance from your bed. Dance in your head. Dance wherever and however it’s comfortable.” As the founder of Dancing with Pain, a wellness company that teaches a natural approach to pain relief through movement, Khazzoom says, “Our consciousness naturally goes to the places in pain and overlooks the places that feel good. Those places are quite literally our pathways to wellness.”

She recommends focusing on pain-free areas of the body with the joy, power, harmony and other sensations that come from moving to enjoyable music, noting, “As we inhabit those places with our entire beings, there is less and less room for the pain, to the point that it may vanish altogether.”

Marcus-Myers brings the message home with, “It isn’t your body’s purpose to be anyone’s ideal. Your body is an incredible living thing, worthy of love and gratitude.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Achieve the Goals of Our Dreams

F

earless Health offers holistic health, life and business coaching.

President and founder Andy Farina says, “Coaching is getting the client from where they are to where they want to be.” He is a certified personal trainer and performance enhancement specialist with the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

They provide on-site group (and oneon-one) personal training for businesses; low-stress /high-sustainability nutrition coaching live and online; the Thrive Project, a three-month life and career development process for business teams; and one-on-one live or online life coaching.

The company was started when Farina was approached by a local firm to provide group personal training for their employees. “I had been working in gyms for almost 25 years before that, leading group fitness classes, including almost 20 years at the world-renowned Gainesville Health and Fitness, winning several prestigious awards at those gyms,” he says.

In his career, Farina has helped more than 60 leaders at one company enjoy a greater quality of life while most performing at a high level; helped multiple clients keep the weight they wanted off for years— even during the holidays; worked successfully with clients in six states so far; and had his wife and adult children ask him to be their coach and trainer. His motto is, “What we are doing now will not get us where we dream at night of being!”

A competitive ultra-endurance athlete

who has run in 24 Ultra Trail Marathons of 31 to 100 miles in the past nine years, Farina explains.

“Often competing against athletes 20 years younger, I have to put into practice everything I coach. I have a specialty of pinpointing what is holding a client back from becoming their best version of themselves, and then use habit-based coaching so healthy living and relating become more second-nature and conserves energy for other enjoyable life endeavors.”

Readers can find free instructional material at FearlessHealthCoaching.com/resources.

Convincing people that they do not have to settle for less than the best in their health and life and work is one challenge that Farina cites. “And convincing them until they experience it that whatever they spend, they will get back in savings at the grocery store and doctor in less time than they could have imagined. Working harder is not the answer. Working much smarter and more focused on high-value targets is.”

Farina plans on training two additional coaches and launching a photo-oriented nutrition coaching service that “allows people to learn practical and inexpensive ways to eat healthy for greater energy, stronger immunity and clothes that fit even better that is simple, doable and brings clarity like never before!”

Fearless Health LLC is located at 1629 NW 36th Way, in Gainesville. For more information, call 352-337-2659, email AndyFarina@icloud.com or visit FearlessHealthCoaching.com.

November 2020

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ndab creativity/AdobeStock.com

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Natural Lifestyle Choices to Curb the Disease

by Marlaina Donato

S

ix decades ago, only one American in 100 had diabetes.

Today, it’s almost one in 10, including rising numbers of youth and one in four people older than 65. More than 90 percent of the cases are Type 2, once known as adult-onset diabetes, which is linked to diet, obesity, inactivity, environmental toxins, heredity and other factors. It can wreak havoc throughout the body—attacking blood vessels, eyes, nerves and organs—and make COVID-19 harder to combat.

The good news is that scientists have identified lifestyle strategies that lower the risk and harm of diabetes. “Type 2 diabetes is a condition, not a disease. It exists in a particular environment; when you change the environment, you can change the condition,” says San Francisco-based Nicki Steinberger, Ph.D., author of Wave Goodbye to Type 2 Diabetes. That’s important news for the one in three Americans—about 88 million people—that have prediabetes, 84 percent of whom are not aware of the fact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A key player is the pancreas, a multitasking organ of both the 24

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endocrine and digestive systems, which produces insulin to help make and store energy from sugars, as well as enzymes to break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates. While Type 1 diabetes, a genetic autoimmune disease, negates the body’s ability to produce insulin, Type 2 results from an insufficient or improper use of insulin.

Type 2 diabetes can be triggered by metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by high blood pressure, a large waist circumference and high triglycerides. Insulin resistance—the body’s improper use of insulin—can also be a sneaky forerunner to the disease, often manifesting as excessive abdominal fat, fatigue and frequent infections years before hyperglycemia—too much sugar in the blood—becomes evident.

“Diet and lifestyle play a tremendous role,” says Lauren Bongiorno, a virtual diabetes health coach and creator of The Diabetic Health Journal. “Increasing insulin sensitivity is a multi-prong approach, most notably influenced by improving circadian rhythm, reducing stress, eating lower glycemic carbs, reducing animal fats and increasing activity.”

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The American Diabetes Association cites excess weight and lack of exercise as significant risk factors in the development of Type 2 diabetes, while recent studies also point to impacts from toxic air, chemicals and mercury exposure. Research published in 2018 in Environmental Science and Pollution Research International reveals a correlation between exposure to phthalates found in plastics and the incidence of new-onset Type 1 diabetes in children, suggesting that the loss of beta cells from phthalate exposure leads to a compromised insulin response.

“Plastics containing BPA can mimic estrogen (xenoestrogens) and can contribute to insulin resistance, insulin over-secretion, beta cell exhaustion and the development and progression of Type 2 diabetes,” says registered dietician and nutritionist Brenda Davis, the Alberta, Canada, author of The Kick Diabetes Cookbook and Kick Diabetes Essentials.

An earlier Indiana University study published in Diabetes Care showed young-adult exposure to mercury can raise the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life by 65 percent.

Davis adds, “Heavy metals, such as mercury and arsenic, have been linked to impaired insulin secretion and decreased insulin sensitivity.” Choosing organic produce and fish that contain lower levels of mercury, such as salmon, shrimp and catfish, is advised.

listic health advocates identify all sweeteners, including “healthy” alternatives like honey and maple syrup, as sugars that harbor similar potential.

This mindset is harmonious with glycemic index recommendations, so avoiding any added sweeteners and opting for fresh, low-glycemic fruits like berries, citrus and apples, as well as eschewing pasta, white rice and bread, can go a long way toward

Strategies to Prevent Diabetes

goffkein/Pexels.com

Hidden Environmental Factors

Medication Backlash Improving gut flora is vital in improving most health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes. “Microbes in the gut that have become toxic for a multitude of reasons create an inflammatory response.

This type of assault repeated over time increases the risk of fatty liver and compromised cells—conditions linked to a decrease in insulin sensitivity,” says Steinberger.

Research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism suggests that antibiotic use, especially narrow-spectrum ones, can contribute to diabetes. The side effects of certain medications like statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs has been debated for decades, and 2019 research published in Diabetes Metabolism Research and Reviews concludes that statins can more than double the risk of Type 2 diabetes, especially for people taking them for two years or longer.

Sleep and Sugar The National Sleep Foundation considers sleep deprivation a significant diabetic risk factor and recommends that people take melatonin as a sleep aid and avoid working night shifts. It cites a study in which healthy adults that were restricted to four hours of sleep for just six nights exhibited a 40 percent reduction in their ability to break down glucose.

Although the role of dietary sugar in diabetes is debated by scientists, evidence shows a strong correlation between Type 2 diabetes and sugar, fructose and high-fructose corn syrup in the diet. A 2015 review of 21 studies published in The British Medical Journal found that regular intake of sugary beverages can lead to diabetic conditions even when obesity is not a factor. Many ho-

Nutrition Tips from Brenda Davis The foundation of the diet should be whole-plant foods—organic, whenever possible—deriving the vast majority of calories from vegetables, legumes, fruits, intact whole grains, nuts and seeds, which are rich in protective components, such as fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants.

Eliminate or minimize inflammatory items, including fatty dairy products like cheese and ice cream, ultra-processed and fried foods, refined carbohydrates like sugar and white flour, alcohol and meat—especially red and processed varieties. Avoid all sugar-containing beverages.

Holistic Reminders from Lauren Bongiorno “All areas of our lives are linked together, and if one area is depleted, it’s going to impact your ability to thrive in the others. The 8 pillars of diabetes wellness within my practice are exercise, diet, sleep, stress, self-love, relationships, energy and diabetes management. For improved blood sugar management and sustainable habit changes, you must identify where you are least fulfilled and work to fill that gap.”

Inspiration from Nicki Steinberger “The area where we are most vulnerable, without a doubt, is our own toxic thoughts. Because our thoughts and beliefs trigger emotions which lead us to action and non-action, mindset is the first place to investigate to understand the results of our lives.”

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and onions. For someone taking insulin, it’s important to introduce herbs slowly and be sure to take them with meals, monitor blood glucose levels closely and keep their physician informed of herbal protocols and follow their physician’s recommendations.”

Improving diet choices can be highly rewarding and fun, too. “Not only does eating well not have to be tortuous, it can be enjoyable, inspiring and creative,” says Steinberger. “It helps to keep it simple by using fresh, whole foods with basic herbs and spices.”

Vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin C, B complex and chromium are also valuable in managing Type 2 diabetes.

Polyphenols—antioxidants found in tea and unsweetened cacao nibs—also pack a healthy punch. Alpha lipoic acid, found in broccoli, spinach and fish oil, can help to reduce inflammation. Berries, kale and other nutrient-packed greens, nuts, sweet potatoes and beans promote sugar balance and are versatile for delicious, healthy meals.

maintaining healthier blood sugar levels. Stevia, an herb, is a better sweet substitute.

Preferable in drops or bulk form rather than blended with sugars, it’s been shown to help control blood sugar.

Promising Phytotherapy Insulin-supporting medicinal herbs offer many benefits for Type 2 diabetics. Aloe vera, bilberry, cinnamon, goldenseal, bitter melon, milk thistle, fenugreek, fennel and gymnema sylvestre, among others, have been found to aid in the utilization and production of insulin. Tulsi, also known as holy basil, is a heavy hitter for reducing blood glucose and buffering the kidneys and liver from the metabolic side effects of high blood sugar. Herbs that support the liver, such as milk thistle, dandelion and artichoke, are other noteworthy plant medicines, especially when blood sugar fluctuates from high to low.

Renata Atkinson, a clinical herbalist in Greenbelt, Maryland, says of blood tests, “Clinical trials have shown that many of these herbs can have a significant effect on the clinical markers for diabetes and prediabetes in fasting blood glucose, postprandial glucose and HbA1C, or glycosylated hemoglobin.” Animal and in vitro studies show that they impact blood sugar by slowing digestion and the absorption of carbohydrates, thereby improving insulin sensitivity, increasing the release of insulin and modulating the metabolism of glucose in the liver. Some of Atkinson’s favorite plant allies are hawthorn, hibiscus and tilia for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as lipid, glucose and vascular support.

Atkinson also emphasizes the wisdom of keeping it simple. “I encourage clients to incorporate culinary herbs and spices into their daily diet, like cinnamon, fennel, garlic 26

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Whole-Body Healing Holistic bodywork modalities such as acupuncture also support diabetic health.

In 2019, Iranian researchers reported in the journal Hospital Practices and Research that biofeedback training lowered glucose levels and improved the quality of life for diabetic patients. “The biggest mistake I see people with diabetes make is to view the mental piece as not as important as the physical,” says Bongiorno.

Linking all the vital threads in the complex web of Type 2 diabetes, she adds, “I would say to start with the basics—plant-based foods, exercise, stress management and better sleep. When you have a solid base, your body will be less susceptible to the other factors.”

Thriving is possible through commitment and wise choices. As Davis says, “There is strong and consistent evidence that many people who are motivated to reverse Type 2 diabetes can succeed in this task.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

therapy spotlight

Combating the Diabetes Epidemic

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ynamic Therapy and Wellness Services, Inc. (DTAWS), offers physical therapy and lifestyle change through the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control-recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), as well as diabetes self-management education and training for persons with diabetes.

Stella Nemuseso is a doctor of physical therapy, master trainer of select certificate CDC prevent T2, lifestyle coach, lead trainer for the Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP) and certified peer diabetes educator. She says, “Our goal is to recruit candidates for our diabetes prevention program (DPP) and diabetes self-management classes and train lifestyle coaches for the national DPP and peer educators for the DEEP.

DTAWS was founded in 2004 in

West Palm Beach and relocated to Marion County in 2007. The organization is dedicated to the overall health and positive well-being of the individual and the community. “Through patient-centered health education and evidence-based interventions, our organization has made a lasting impact on the health of our community, one person at a time,” says Nemuseso.

“Physical therapists play a key role in health and wellness promotion.”

To best allocate resources and reach the maximum number of persons, Dynamic Therapy and Wellness Services targets three segments of the population with pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes: people working in the transportation industry, nurses, persons 65 years of age and older and ethnic groups.

It is well-documented that race/ethnic minorities have a higher prevalence of

Through patient-centered health education and evidencebased interventions, our organization has made a lasting impact on the health of our community, one person at a time. ~Stella Nemuseso

diabetes than non-minority individuals.

There are multiple factors that contribute to these disparities, including biological and clinical factors, as well as health system and social factors. These groups include Black/African Americans, Hispanic/ Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

The National DPP offers three delivery modes: in-person, online and distance learning. DTAWs uses strategic management practices in combination with evidenced-based practices and other best practices in delivering health education. These include participatory education techniques, as well as motivational interviewing and goal setting to help our clients achieve their goals for improved health.

Nemuseso notes, “2020 has brought with it an unprecedented global challenge (since the turn of the century) in the health sector and continues to pose an unusual threat to the gains that have been registered in terms of management and containment of diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic affected all in-person program delivery, and DTAWS transitioned to distance learning and other online modalities.

Free screening for diabetes and prediabetes is available. Dynamic Therapy and Wellness Services, Inc. is located at 13795 36th Avenue Rd., Ste. 1, in Ocala. For appointments and more information, call 352-693-5367 or 352-533-2371, email Info@dtaws.com or visit dtaws.com.

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local food guide

5-Organic meat and milk can be richer in certain nutrients.

Results of a 2016 European study show that levels of certain nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, were up to 50 percent higher in organic meat and milk than in conventionally raised versions.

6-Organic food is GMO-free.

Genetically modified organisms or genetically engineered foods are plants with DNA that has been altered in ways that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding, most commonly in order to be resistant to pesticides or produce an insecticide.

7-Organic food has no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

10 Benefits of Eating Organic

T

he term “organic� refers to the manner in which agricultural products are produced and processed. Although regulations differ amongst countries, in the U.S., organic crops must be grown without the use of bioengineered genes (GMO), fertilizers, synthetic herbicides, or pesticides. For meats, eggs and dairy products to be considered organic, the livestock, from which they are produced, must be raised in living conditions that suit their natural habits such as grazing free-range on a pasture. Here are a few benefits of considering organic foods.

1-Organic produce contains fewer pesticides.

Chemicals such as synthetic fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are widely used in conventional agriculture and residues remain on (and in) the food we eat.

2-Organic food is often fresher.

because it doesn’t contain preservatives that make it last longer. Organic produce is 28

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sometimes (but not always) produced on smaller farms nearer to where it is sold.

3-Organic farming tends to be better for the environment.

Organic farming practices may reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility and use less energy.

Farming without synthetic pesticides is also better for nearby birds and animals, as well as people who live close to farms.

Thousands of chemicals can be added to conventional packaged foods, including colors, flavors and preservatives. Fewer than 40 synthetic substances are allowed to be used in organic packaged foods, and only after being reviewed by independent and government experts.

8-Organic farming creates healthy soil.

Healthy soil is the basis for organic agriculture. Organic farmers use natural, organic fertilizers and soil amendments like compost matter and manure to build healthy soil. When food is grown in healthy soil, crops are better able to resist disease, survive drought and tolerate insects.

9-Organic food is more nutritious.

Organic food contains more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and micronutrients than conventionally raised food.

4-Organically raised animals 10-Organic farming is good are not given antibiotics, growth hormones or fed animal for the climate.

Organic crop and livestock production byproducts.

Feeding livestock animal byproducts increases the risk of mad cow disease, and the use of antibiotics can create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Organically-raised animals tend to be given more space to move around and access to the outdoors, which keeps them healthy.

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is focused on soil-based production with underlying principles of maintaining or improving soil quality. Healthy soil counteracts climate change by pulling carbon out of the atmosphere.

For more information, visit HelpGuide.org and OnlyOrganic.org.

18592 High Springs Main St., High Springs

Bambi’s Cafe

Bambi’s 100% Plant-Based Café creates delicious farm to table cuisine in High Springs. They use fresh local and organically grown produce for homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Items include vegan chicken artichoke melt, cheddar lentil burgers, Asian dishes, organic coffee, fresh-brewed teas,

5402 NW 8th Ave., Gainesville

Big Island Bowls

With a menu inspired by a Hawaiian lifestyle and a desire to share it with the community, enjoy exotic acai fruit bowls such as the Aloha Bowl, the Lifeguard, Outrigger Pacific, Mana Kea and more. For smoothie lovers, Big Island Bowls offers a tasty selection such as the Coconut Dream, Bee Healthy, Mango Madness,

1404 W. University Ave., Gainesville

Just Salad

Just Salad is a fast casual concept that cultivates healthier lifestyles by serving real food at an affordable price. With the freshest salads, wraps, warm bowls, avocado toast, and more, there’s something healthy for everyone. Just Salad is the home of the World’s Largest Restaurant Reusable Program,

Facebook.com/100percentplantbased

matcha lattes, smoothies and many gluten -ree items. Voted “Best of the Best 2020” by Trip Advisor. Catering available.

Hours: Tue. through Thurs. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call us at: 386-454-1600 or 954-907-9759.

BigIslandBowls.com

352-397-1358

Green Goddess and more. A few of the vegan options are the Vegan Garden Bowl, Vegan Teriyaki Bowl, Veg Bang Bang Bowl and more.

Hours: Mon. through Wed. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thur. 10 a.m. through 8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

JustSalad.com

212-244-1111

saving over 100,000 pounds of plastic each year through its reusable bowl program.

Hours: Mon. through Fri. 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

November 2020

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this month’s guide to farmers’ markets

Alachua County

Alachua County Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

5920 NW 13th Street, Gainesville 352-371-8236 441Market.com

Place an online order for pick-up or home delivery.

4317 NE U.S. Highway 301, Hawthorne 352-468-3816 FrogSongOffice@gmail.com FrogSongOrganics.com

Gainesville Market at Heartwood Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

619 S. Main St, Gainesville 352-448-4849 GNVMarket.com

Grove Street Farmers’ Market

Mondays, 4 to 7 p.m.

Located at Cypress & Grove Brewery 1001 NW 4th St, Gainesville GroveStreetFarmersMarket@gmail.com GroveStreetFarmersMarket.com

Haile Farmers’ Market

Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

5213 SW 91 Terrace, Gainesville 352-639-0446 HaileFarmersMarket.com

High Springs Farmers’ Market

Fridays, noon to 4 p.m. Located at City Hall. Parking at the museum.

23718 W U.S. Highway 27, High Springs 352-275-6346 Highsprings.us/FarmersMarket

North Central FL Edition

Sumter County

Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

1996 North Florida Avenue, Hernando 352-419-4833 HernandoFreshMarket.com

Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

524 N Market Boulevard, Webster 352-569-1220 SumterCountyFarmersMarket.com

Hernando Fresh Market

Frog Song Organics

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Citrus County

Sumter County Farmers’ Market

Snow’s Country Market

Brownwood Farmers’ Market

Tony’s Produce Market

Brown’s Country Market

Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

6976 North Lecanto Highway, Beverly Hills 352-489-4933 Facebook.com/SnowsCountryMarket Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

454 NE 3rd St, Crystal River 352-228-4119 Tonys-Produce-Market.com

Marion County

Crone’s Cradle Conserve

Call in orders and receive a pick-up time. For Saturday or Sunday pickups, orders must be placed no later than 2 p.m. Friday.

6411 NE 217th Place, Citra 352-595-3377 CronesCradleConserve.org

Harbison Farm Cattle and Produce

Harbison Farm Cattle & Produce, 4696 NE County Road 329, Anthony 352-239-3552 GVTharbison@EmbarqMail.com Tinyurl.com/HarbisonFarm

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Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2726 Brownwood Boulevard, Wildwood 352-750-5411 SumterCountyFarmersMarket.com

Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

13992 N U.S. 301, Oxford 352-303-1550 BrownAndBrownFarms.com/pages/ browns-country-market

The Villages

Brownwood Paddock Square Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

2705 W Torch Lake Dr, The Villages 352-753-6655 TheVillagesEntertainment. com/markets

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conscious eating

Giving Thanks for a Healthy Feast How to Lighten Up Thanksgiving Fare

by April Thompson

D

ue to travel restrictions, tighter budgets and concern for family members that may be older or have underlying health conditions, Thanksgiving might be a smaller affair this year, but that’s no reason to give up on having a scrumptious, celebratory meal. With a little creativity and lots of flavor, our treasured American holiday need not suffer. Giant turkeys may not grace as many tables as usual, so it’s the perfect time to up the side-dish game, embracing healthier options and taking full advantage of an abundant supply of delicious, in-season produce.

To right-size the Thanksgiving spread for carnivores, “Get a Cornish hen or another small bird from a local poultry producer, or consider turkey parts like breasts or thighs, instead of cooking an entire big bird,” advises Steven Satterfield, co-owner and executive chef of the Miller Union restaurant, in Atlanta, and author of Root to Leaf: A Southern Chef Cooks Through the Seasons.

For sides that rate high in both nutrition and taste, the James Beard winner favors in-season veggies like brassicas and Asian greens. “Napa cabbage is great roasted, grilled or prepared raw as a salad. Brussels sprouts shaved on a mandolin and sautéed briefly with shallot and garlic, and dressed with apple cider vinegar and diced apple, is another nice option,” Satterfield says. One of his go-to dishes is a root vegetable salad 32

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with shaved celery root, walnuts, apples and dried cranberries with a simple dressing of olive oil and lemon.

Sweet potatoes and pumpkin offer a nutritional edge over white potatoes, giving them top billing at Satterfield’s holiday table. He suggests simplifying the traditional sweet potato casserole by first parboiling, straining, peeling and cutting the potatoes into thick chunks, and then baking with lemon juice, nutmeg and water. “The sweet potatoes will caramelize and form a natural syrup. It has a bright and refreshing flavor without adding the usual butter, marshmallows and sugar,” he explains.

According to Satterfield, many nutritious bitter greens are plentiful this time of year, including chicory, radicchio, frisée and endive. “Last Thanksgiving, I made a chicory salad with dates, pecans, shaved parmesan and persimmon with a sherry vinaigrette with olive oil and shallots. The sweetness of the fruit balances nicely with the bitter greens, which add fiber and help with digestion and the circulatory system.”

Thanksgiving offers a good opportunity to go meatless, according to Kim Campbell, vegan chef and author of The

Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

Savory Thanksgiving Dishes Mushroom Gravy This rich, flavorful gravy is perfect over potatoes and veggie loafs. It’s easy to prepare and inexpensive.

Yield: 4 servings 1 onion, minced 6 white button mushrooms, chopped 2½ cups low-sodium vegetable stock, divided ½ tsp minced garlic ½ tsp dried thyme ½ tsp dried sage ½ tsp crushed dried rosemary

1 Tbsp cooking sherry 2 Tbsp tamari sauce or low-sodium soy sauce 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes ¼ cup whole wheat flour ¼ tsp black pepper Sea salt to taste

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the onions and mushrooms in one-half cup of the vegetable stock.

Add the garlic, sage, thyme, rosemary, sherry, tamari and nutritional yeast, then continue to sauté for just a minute or two over high heat.

Pour the remaining vegetable broth into a bowl and whisk in the flour until there are no lumps. Add to the pan with the onion and mushrooms. Simmer over medium heat, stirring until the gravy has reached its peak thickness, about 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Reprinted from The PlantPure Nation Cookbook, by Kim Campbell.

Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole Yield: 6 servings Breaded Onion Rings: 1 large white or red onion, sliced into ¼-inch thick rings 2 cups whole wheat breadcrumbs 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes ½ tsp sea salt (optional) 1¼ cups whole grain flour 1 cup nondairy milk Sauce: 1½ cups nondairy milk ½ cup raw cashews 2-3 garlic cloves 1½ Tbsp cornstarch

1 tsp onion powder ¼ tsp nutmeg 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes 2 tsp apple cider vinegar ½ tsp sea salt ½ tsp black pepper Veggies: 12 oz fresh mushrooms (any variety), sliced or chopped 2-3 Tbsp dry white wine for sautéing 24 oz frozen green beans, French cut or whole

photo by Kim Campbell

PlantPure Nation Cookbook. “There is a substitute for every animal product out there, so it’s not hard to make traditional recipes plant-based,” says the Durham, North Carolina, native. Her recipe for a nutty or beanie loaf ramps up the flavor and health profiles by using fresh, rather than dried, herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage, as well as natural binding agents like lentils, flax seeds or chia seeds mixed with water. “Guests will be amazed that whole foods can be so flavorful and satisfying,” she says. “Go the extra mile with quality ingredients for a special meal like this.”

Campbell encourages people to enjoy the abundance of fresh produce and learn how to cook in season. Fruitbased desserts can be a great way to showcase what’s in season and still keep guests light on their feet. “You don’t have to use crust or a lot of added sugar for something like an apple crisp or cobbler,” she says.

Annemarie Ahearn, founder of the Salt Water Farm cooking school, in Lincolnville, Maine, also suggests a healthful rethinking of traditional Thanksgiving dishes. “Instead of a green bean casserole, consider blanched green beans with almond and cranberry. Dried cranberries can go in a salad, rather than a sauce. You can have the same ingredients and keep the same focal point, but use less cream and dairy,” says the author of Full Moon Suppers at Salt Water Farm: Recipes from Land and Sea. Ahearn, who teaches a class on Thanksgiving cooking, encourages people to take a stroll after the main meal to let food settle before having dessert. She also suggests serving some dishes at room temperature to relieve the pressure of having everything arrive hot at the table. For those unable to be with extended family, Satterfield suggests trading recipes in advance, and then having a virtual Thanksgiving by sharing a visual image of how the meal turned out. “You can even send leftovers if you’re in the same vicinity,” he says.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

November 2020

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Pumpkin Spice No-Bake Energy Balls

Bread the onion rings by coating them in the flour, the milk and then the breadcrumbs.

Several onion rings can be prepared at the same time. Place the breaded onions onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Place the sauce ingredients into a high-powered blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside. In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, sauté the mushrooms using small amounts of white wine to prevent the mushrooms from sticking. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until tender.

Place the thawed green beans and mushrooms into nine-by-13-inch casserole pan. Pour the cream sauce over the vegetables, distributing the sauce evenly. Top the casserole with the baked onion rings and cover with foil. Bake at 375° F for 20-30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Chef ’s note: You can soak your cashews if you don’t have a high-powered blender for easy blending. This creamy white sauce can be used for scalloped potatoes, creamed corn or even on pasta.

Reprinted from The PlantPure Nation Cookbook, by Kim Campbell.

photo by StraightToTheHipsBaby.com/Jessie-Sierra Ross

Cranberry Sauce with Maple Syrup Delicious maple syrup, orange juice, cinnamon and cranberries are boiled down to a syrupy, slightly sweet and spicy sauce. The cranberries “pop” under the heat and give this side dish a gorgeous ruby color.

Yield: 2 cups 12 oz whole fresh cranberries or 1 package ¾ cup real maple syrup ½ cup water ½ cup orange juice freshly squeezed or store bought 1 cinnamon stick

Take the cranberries and place into a large sieve. Pick out any berries that look damaged (black spots, mushy, white). Wash and drain.

Pour the cranberries into a medium-large pot. Add the maple syrup, water and orange juice. Stir to combine. Place the cinnamon stick in the center.

Heat the berries on medium-high heat until the mixture reaches a boil. Then, lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until syrupy and richly red. You will hear the cranberries “pop” as they cook; don’t be alarmed.

Remove the pot from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Store in a covered container in the fridge.

Serve at room temperature or slightly warmed.

Reprinted from StraightToTheHipsBaby.com/Jessie-Sierra Ross.

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This dish is gluten-free, vegan and paleo.

Yield: 15 servings 1½ cups raw almonds ¼ cup hemp seeds ¼ cup unsweetened dried shredded coconut ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice 1 Tbsp coconut oil ¼ cup pumpkin puree 10 pitted Medjool dates, about 1 cup For pumpkin pie spice dusting: 2 Tbsp coconut sugar ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice Combine the almonds, hemp seeds, coconut, pumpkin pie spice, coconut oil, pumpkin puree and dates in the base of a food processor. Turn the processor on high for about two minutes or until the ingredients are well combined.

Pour the mixture into a mixing bowl and then use your hands to roll the dough into about 15 cookies, each about 1½ inch in diameter.

To make the pumpkin pie spice dusting, place the coconut sugar and pumpkin pie spice onto a plate. Roll each cookie in the sugar until covered.

For the best texture and sweetness, place the cookies in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours to chill.

Chef’s notes: Freeze these cookies for up to 2 months in a tightly sealed container. Defrost them in the fridge for about 4 hours before serving. For refined sugar-free servings, leave off the coconut sugar dusting. You can easily double or triple this recipe depending on how many energy bites you need to make.

Reprinted from Carrie Forrest, CleanEating Kitchen.com.

photo by Carrie Forrest, Clean Eating Kitchen.com

Preheat oven to 425° F. In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, nutritional yeast flakes and sea salt. Place the flour, milk and bread crumb mixture into three separate bowls.

Pumpkin Muffins Are a Perfect Winter Treat 2 cups oat flour 3 Tbsp ground flaxseeds 6 Tbsp water 6 Tbsp maple syrup (optional for a sweeter taste) 4 tsp pumpkin spice blend 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 pinch salt 4 pecan halves, optional for topping 1 cup of plant-based vanilla yogurt mixed with cinnamon for topping Preheat the oven to 375F. In a large bowl, add the ground flaxseeds and water and mix well, let stand for a few minutes until it becomes slimy and thickens.

A

s temperatures drop and the holidays approach, it is time to enjoy our favorite seasonal treats. There’s nothing like the fragrance of pumpkin spice on a foggy fall morning. These pumpkin muffins are great for Thanksgiving brunch or everyday breakfast, dessert or afternoon delight. They are delicious and healthy at the same time, made without refined sugar, wheat, oil, milk or eggs and suitable for anyone in the family, even those with diabetes, heart disease or lactose and gluten intolerance.

Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A which helps support the immune system and is beneficial for vision and eye health. Using oat flour instead of white flour provides protein, minerals and vitamins, as well as soluble fiber, which has been found to slow the absorption of sugar and improve blood sugar levels. Adding dates instead of sugar provides sweetness and fiber without the empty calories and high blood sugar spikes. These pumpkin muffins taste great on their own or they can be topped with plant-based yogurt mixed with cinnamon.

Pumpkin Muffins Yields 12 medium-sized muffins:

Add the pitted dates, apple sauce, and plant milk to a blender and blend until smooth, then add to the bowl.

Add pumpkin puree to the bowl and mix well. Add flour, pumpkin spice, salt, baking powder, and baking soda and fold into the wet ingredients, then mix until the batter is smooth.

Spoon the batter into a prepared muffin baking form (silicone forms allow for non-stick baking without the use of fat). Divide the batter evenly.

Optional: chop the pecans into small pieces and sprinkle on top of the muffins.

Bake the muffins in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until done (check with a toothpick or skewer and poke the middle of one of the muffins and if there is no residual on the toothpick they are done to perfection).

Serve the muffins either plain or top with plant-based vanilla yogurt mixed with cinnamon.

Recipe courtesy of Eliane Baggenstos, RN, LMT, certified health coach and plant-based diet expert. For more information, visit PlantBased.expert. See listing, page 45.

1½ cups pumpkin puree (make sure it is 100% puree and not pumpkin filling. Mashed sweet potatoes can be used as an alternative if no pumpkin puree is available) ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce ¼ cup almond or soy milk 10 pitted dates November 2020

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DECEMBER

Creating Community & Connection Plus: Spending Locally Readers are Seeking These Providers & Services: Community Services • Charities Fair Trade Goods Farm & Garden Co-ops Relationship Counselors Spiritual/Healing Centers Volunteer Programs Financial Advisors Green Banks ... and this is just a partial list!

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THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL CALENDAR & MARKETING PLANNER Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at:

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‘Mule’ Love These

Wedding Donkeys and Beer Burros

E

ric Harris, a miniature donkey breeder with Nickeltop Farms, decided several years ago to make these friendly, adorable and clean miniature donkeys available for special occasions, weddings, surprises, anniversaries and events up to 100 miles from Dunnellon. Miniature donkeys are originally from the desert areas of Mediterranean Sicily and Sardinia.

He says, “Not only do they provide unique photo ops, the donkeys are very intelligent. Many people think that donkeys and mules are not very smart. This can’t be farther from the truth! They have a very unique ability and memory to take things that they learn and apply them to everyday life.”

Donkeys can be fiesta-themed, floral-themed or you can provide the decorations you’d like us to put on the donkeys when we arrive for set up. Mini-donkeys can be hired for weddings, kids fiesta themed parties, Cinco De Mayo, taco & tequila party, eater theater plays, fiesta-themed parties, adult birthday parties, office events, church functions,

engagement parties and any other theme that requires a donkey.

Shannon Harris says, “A friend of ours mentioned how she heard about people renting donkeys for their weddings and other events. As life was being locked down due to COVID-19, he [Eric] began developing this fun, new business. I must say, it’s really opened my eyes and brought me closer to these wonderful animals. I have learned how smart and loving they really are. Truly, it’s a crime to not share these little cuties with others.”

Wedding donkeys and beer burros can carry a variety of beverages for guests to serve themselves. They are individually chosen for their sweet nature, are family-friendly and love attention. They are also available for corporate events and conferences to deliver special goodies or giveaways. Trained donkey handlers are always be in attendance, either leading the donkey around or supervising them while greeting and interacting with guests.

Wedding Donkeys and Beer Burros is located at 5201 SW 171st Ct., in Dunnellon.

For more information, call 239-910-2402 or visit WeddingDonkeysAnd BeerBurros.com.

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natural pet

Skin-Soothing Herbs for Dogs and Cats Simple Ways to Reduce Itching

by Greg Tilford

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rom allergies to liver deficiency, many factors can itch, inflame and irritate the skin of our pets. A dog’s or cat’s skin can become damaged or compromised because the skin is the first line of defense against attacks from external substances. Skin problems in pets have many causes, yet a variety of herbs can help a dog or cat feel more comfortable.

While the catalysts of acute-onset skin issues such as insect bites or sunburn are obvious and can be dealt with directly, most forms of skin and coat disease are caused by deeper issues that can be extremely difficult to identify and address. Chronic or recurring skin conditions that cannot be attributed to influences outside the body usually point to deeper health issues, some of which can be serious or even life-threatening.

The greatest mistake one can make when assessing a skin problem is assuming the problem is only skin deep. And while topical salves, liniments, shampoos or lotions can be quite effective in temporarily suppressing itching and pain, they will not likely address the root causes of a dog’s or cat’s skin ailment. For that, the situation must be approached from the inside-out with diet and several key herbs.

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svvvita/AdobeStock.com

Burdock root (Arctium lappa). This herb has an ancient history as a skin remedy. It contains inulin, an indigestible polysaccharide constituent that serves as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial microflora in the gut and improving digestion. It also contains a broad variety of compounds that gently stimulate the liver at various levels to help detoxify the body and aid in

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). The roots and leaves are highly nutritious. They contain a complex assortment of liversupporting compounds as well as diuretic properties that aid the body in eliminating toxins via urination.

Red clover (Trifolium pretense), alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and milk thistle (Silybum marianum). These are well-known blood cleansers worth considering. Look for formulas that contain a balanced array of all three. svvvita/AdobeStock.com

transporting waste out of the bloodstream.

Burdock can be found as a tincture or a fresh root at many health food stores. Grate the fresh root liberally onto the pet’s food at each mealtime. Burdock is fairly neutral in flavor and very safe, so there’s no need to worry about overfeeding.

svvvita/AdobeStock.com

Many cases of chronic skin issues in dogs and cats are either directly attributable to or strongly influenced by inappropriate and allergy-inducing ingredients in pet foods. Be critical about the quality of pet foods and avoid those that contain meat byproducts, artificial flavors and preservatives, as well as all grains, especially wheat and corn.

It’s also important to give a good fish or krill oil supplement to dogs and cats.

The omega-3 fatty acids in these marine lipids play critical roles in regulating immune system inflammatory response to allergens. More specifically, they inhibit inflammation, while omega-6 fatty acids typically found in grains and vegetable oils stimulate inflammation. Both processes are necessary for healthy body functioning, but an imbalance of too much omega-6 sets the stage for skin allergies, a dull coat and excessive shedding.

Liver deficiency is another common factor to consider. The liver is responsible for producing digestive enzymes and acids needed to break down and assimilate food while also filtering waste from the bloodstream. If the liver is deficient in any of these functions, excess waste that cannot be eliminated via normal pathways will wreak havoc on the body, often manifesting as a skin condition. If this happens, symptoms commonly recognized as pyoderma, eczema or psoriasis will increase as the body tries to eliminate the waste, pushing the toxins outward and away from vital internal organs toward the skin.

In addition to dietary adjustments, liver support is helpful when it comes to skin problems, and this is where herbs come in.

Greg Tilford is the CEO of Animal Essentials Inc., a natural pets supplement company. He is the author of five books, including Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet’s Life. For more information, visit AnimalEssentials.com.

Topical Herbs that Relieve the Itch

T

o heal a pet’s skin problems from the inside-out with good food and supplementation can take a few weeks. In the meantime, the itchy misery can be reduced with topical remedies. One of the most effective approaches is herbal astringents that work by quickly tightening skin and subcutaneous tissue, reducing inflammation and redness. n Witch hazel. This herbal extract can be purchased as a clear liquid at any drugstore.

It’s also the primary active ingredient in many commercial hemorrhoid ointments, as it reduces inflamed membranes very quickly. A dab or two of witch hazel applied with a cotton ball can work wonders against flea or mosquito bites. It’s important to know that most products are made with isopropyl alcohol, which is quite toxic if ingested in large amounts. Therefore, this extract should be reserved for situations in which only a few dabs are needed (i.e., don’t use it as a rinse). Better yet, look for witch hazel extract made with ethanol (grain alcohol) or vegetable glycerin, an edible palm oil derivative used in natural soaps and cosmetics for its emollient, skin-soothing qualities. n Aloe vera. With its antibacterial properties, aloe vera gel works especially well when spot-applied directly to hot spots or insect bites. However, unless combined with an emollient, the drying and tightening properties of aloe vera could further exacerbate discomfort caused by dry, chapped skin. n Calendula. Calendula officinalis, small marigold, is easy to grow or purchase in dry bulk form at natural product retailers. Cooled calendula tea, liberally applied to an animal’s skin and coat, can bring fast relief to inflamed skin and accelerate the healing of open sores. To make a soothing skin rinse, simply infuse two to four tablespoons of dried calendula flowers into a quart of near-boiling water. Allow the tea to cool completely, drench the pet with the tea and allow it to drip dry. n Tea. Peppermint, chamomile and green teas are great for relieving itchy skin. Infuse four to six tea bags of any (or all) of these herbs into one quart of boiling water. Cool thoroughly and rinse the animal. Not only will it feel better, it will smell great, too.

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calendar of events

Belleview. 352-693-4592. FairyDustCrystals.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Twilight Tales – 8-9:15pm. Free. Tales are for ages 3-10. Young ghosts and goblins will take part in a costume parade while smaller terrors will be given treat bags. The storyteller will share stories from silly to spooky, ending with the Halloween classing The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala. 352-236-2274.

OcalaCivicTheatre.com.

Morning Yoga on the Lawn – 9-10am. Free. Yoga on the lawn led by Monica Villalon. Yoga will be held on the lawn next to the solar pergola. Curia On The Drag, 2029 NW 6th St, Gainesville. 352-7926444. CuriaOnTheDrag.com.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Recovery Dharma – 5:30-6:30pm. Free. Peer led movement and community that is unified by our trust in the potential of each of us to recover and find freedom from the suffering of addiction through Buddhist practices and principles of meditation, self-inquiry, wisdom, compassion and community as tools for healing. Soul Essentials of Ocala, 805 E Fort King St, Ocala. 352-236-7000. SoulEssentialsOfOcala.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Union Street Farmers Market at Celebration Pointe – 4-7pm. Every wednesday, rain or shine, approximately 40 vendors selling conventional, hydroponic, and organic seasonal produce, plants, honey, fruits, baked goods, free range meats, seafood, as well as vegan and other types of prepared foods will fill the Promenade. There will also be live music and performers. Celebration Pointe, Gainesville. 844-619-8400. CelebrationPointe.com.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Farmers Market – 9am-1pm. Free. Enjoy a wonderful selection of fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade products and much more. Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St, Ocala. 352-854-3670.

CircleSquareCommons.com.

Kids Yoga – 1-3pm. $15. Introduction to Hatha Yoga with a connection to animals and plants through stories, songs, and themes along with breathing exercises. In this series the children will be able to engage in arts and crafts as well as outdoor games and activities. Goloka Kids Yoga, 13921 NW 146th Ave, Alachua. 630-363-1967. 4GoLokaKids.wixsite.com.

Experiencers Share with Betty Harbison – 2:304:30pm. Love donation. Excellent discussion group on UFO’s and other paranormal events. Please call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals and Such, 11781 SE US Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592.

FairyDustCrystals.com.

Gainesville Bodhi Tree Tarot with Timmy – 5-7:45pm. Timmy the Tarot Reader shares messages, insights, and guidance through tarot and oracle card divination. The Bodhi Tree, 6419 Newberry Rd, Gainesville. 727-314-3401.

BodhiTree.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Fall Super Sale – Nov 6-7. 7am-4pm. Free. Free lunches both days, on site pet adoptions, major

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North Central FL Edition

discounts on plants, trees, shrubs, decor and equipment. The Yard Stop, 4160 W Highway 40, Ocala.

352-368-1005.YardStopINC.com.

Marion County Friday Market – 9am-2pm. Free.

The Marion County Friday Market takes place every Friday. The Friday Market includes well known vendors throughout Marion County and sells a variety of products such as fresh produce, fresh seafood, olive oils and vinaigrettes, mouth watering pastries, beef jerky and freeze dried candies and fruit snacks. McPherson Field, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala.

352-438-2360. MarionCountyFl.org.

November First Friday Art Walk – 6-9pm. Free.

Event festivities include over 20 art displays, family art activities provided by local arts organizations and extended shopping hours. Downtown Ocala, S Magnolia Ave, Ocala. 352-629-8447. OcalaFl.org.

equine event FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Ocala Horse Sale – Nov 6-7. 6pm-11am. Free.

Ranch Horse Sale and competition. Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2200 NE Jacksonville Rd, Ocala. 229-891-4454. OcalaHorseSale.com.

Yoga and Lemonade – 6:30-7:30pm. Donation based. Led by Ayurveda Health Retreat behind the Alachua Rec Center/Legacy park amphitheater.

Please bring your own mat and cup to drink from.

Alachua Rec Center, 15400 Peggy Rd, Alachua.

352-870-7645. AyurvedaHealthRetreat.com.

Wholesale to the Public Gem and Mineral Show – Nov 7-8. Noon-5pm. Free. Beautiful rocks and mineral specimens direct from the vendors. High Springs Emporium, 19765 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs. 386-454-8657. HighSpringsEmporium.net Singing Bowl Class With Robert Austin – 1pm. $35. Please call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals and Such, 11781 SE US Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592. FairyDustCrystals.com.

Online Meditation Class – 3-5:30pm. $36. The key to developing your Psychic and Mediumship Skills.

International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge.

407-247-7823. IFSK.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 The Florida Vintage Market Gainesville – Noon5pm. Free. Family friendly outdoor events with a variety of vendors curating some of the best in vintage garments, handmade goods, art, food and more. Cypress & Grove Brewing Co, 1001 NW 4th St, Gainesville. TheFloridaVintageMarket@gmail. com. TheFloridaVintageMarket.com.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Florida Springs Film Series Lost Springs – 5-7:30pm. Free. Pre-registration required. Special series including a virtual screening and panel discussion with experts in the field. Take part in engaging discussion and learn more about the importance, health and conservation of our state’s water. Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull Rd, Gainesville. 352-846-2000. FloridaMuseum.Ufl.Edu.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Guided Meditation with Brian – 8-9pm. Free.

Peaceful practice led by Brian who has a vast knowledge and understanding of Spiritual Awareness. Soul Essentials of Ocala, 805 SE Ft. King St, Ocala. 352-236-7000. SoulEssentialsOfOcala.com.

The Magical World of Dreaming – 2:30-4:30pm, 5:30-7:30pm. $35. Learn about the different dreams and what they mean. Led by Jo Ellen. Please call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals and Such, 11781 SE US Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592.

FairyDustCrystals.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Ranger Led Park Tour – 8:30-9:30am. $5. Join a park ranger for a comfortable walk around Sweetwater Wetlands Park and learn how the park benefits our water, wildlife, and the community. Sweetwater Wetlands Park, 325 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville.

352-554-5871. SweetwaterWetlands.org.

Farmers Market – 9am-1pm. Free. Enjoy a wonderful selection of fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade products and much more. Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St, Ocala. 352-854-3670.

CircleSquareCommons.com.

Brown’s Fall Festival – 10am-4pm. Free. A bigger and better festival featuring live music and entertainment from different bands and musicians, tons of local craft and business vendors, food trucks, a classic car show, axe throwing, a kidz corner, and a Dolly Parton look-a-like contest. Brown’s Country Market, 13940 N US Hwy 301, Oxford. 352-3031550. BrownAndBrownFarms.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13

Online Melanin Meditation Group – 10:30-11:30am.

Free. This group is available to all who are a part of a racial minority community, regardless of meditation experience or knowledge. Come as you are, all backgrounds welcome. Newcomers must arrive at 10am for instruction before practice begins. Join by emailing Kane.Barr1@gmail.com to receive the zoom link.

Shambhala Gainesville, 1899 NE 23rd Ave, Gainesville.

352-214-1334. Gainesville.Shambhala.org.

Aura Photography with Mary Rose – 11am-4pm. $25. Photo and reading in addition to a full report emailed to you. Please call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals and Such, 11781 SE US Hwy 441,

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Science Off Tap: Mangroves on the Move Online – 7-8pm. Free. The Sunshine State is experiencing many environmental challenges that will be discussed during this webinar. Led by the Florida Museum and UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute.

FloridaMuseum.Ufl.Edu.

Magnolia Junkin’ Market Fall 2020 – Nov 1314. 8am-3pm.. Free. Over 45 new and familiar vendors selling vintage, antique and crafts. There will also be food trucks and fun activities. Two Sisters Vintage, 540 NE 14th St, Ocala. 352-6295833. TwoSistersVintageThrift.com.

Marion County Friday Market – 9am-2pm. Free.

The Marion County Friday Market takes place every Friday. The Friday Market includes well known vendors throughout Marion County and sells a variety of products such as fresh produce, fresh seafood, olive oils and vinaigrettes, mouthwatering pastries, beef jerky and freeze dried candies and fruit

snacks. McPherson Field, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala.

352-438-2360. MarionCountyFl.org.

Professional Astrologer Richard Smoot. ISAR Astrology, Gainesville. 800-731-9456. ISARAstrology.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16

Haile Farmers Market – 8:30am-Noon. Enjoy live music while you stroll the tree-lined streets of the Haile Village Center. Shop for seasonal produce, fresh dairy, pastured meat, artisan wares, handmade gifts and more. A treasure for both Gainesville locals and visitors! Hailes Farmers Market, 5213 SW 91 Terr, Gainesville. 352-639-0446. HaileFarmersMarket.com.

Guided Meditation with Cree – 8-9pm. Love donation. Guided meditation service to help each individual on their sacred journey. 805 E Fort King St, Ocala. 352-236-7000. SoulEssentialsOfOcala.com.

equine event SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 Ocala Horse Alliance Connections Meeting – 1-5pm. Free. Demonstrations and education throughout the day. Complimentary lunch and prizes. Palm Equestrian Academy, 9445 NW 60th Ave, Ocala. 352-629-3310. OcalaHorseAlliance.com.

Crystal Singing Bowl Sound Healing Meditation – 6-7pm. $20. One full hour of restorative energy to promote healing on all levels from spiritual to emotional. Led by Susan. Soul Essentials of Ocala, 805 SE Ft. King St, Ocala. 352-236-7000.

SoulEssentialsOfOcala.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15 First Impressions in Horoscope Judgement Webinar – 2-3:30pm. $10, free for members. This lecture provides a simple method of observation an astrologer can use by habit to become a quick judge of a horoscope and to the person to whom it belongs. Led by

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Outdoor Donation Flow Yoga – 9:30-10:30am.

Donation based. Socially distanced yoga led by Jamie Elise under the big shady oak tree. The Historic Thomas Center, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville.

352-334-5064. HistoricThomasCenter.org.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

toric Thomas Center, 302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville.

352-334-5064. HistoricThomasCenter.org.

Poetry Jam – 8-11pm. Free. All forms of word based art and poetry styles welcome Civic Media Center, 433 S Main St, Gainesville. 352-373-0010.

CivicMediaCenter.org.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Marion County Friday Market – 9am-2pm. Free.

The Marion County Friday Market takes place every Friday. The Friday Market includes well known vendors throughout Marion County and sells a variety of products such as fresh produce, fresh seafood, olive oils and vinaigrettes, mouthwatering pastries, beef jerky and freeze dried candies and fruit snacks. McPherson Field, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala.

352-438-2360. MarionCountyFl.org.

Lightworkers Gathering – 6-7:30pm. Love donation. Open floor discussion group discussing a wide variety of spiritual and metaphysical topics.

Please call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals and Such, 11781 SE US Hwy 441, Belleview. 352693-4592.FairyDustCrystals.com.

Yoga and Lemonade – 6:30-7:30pm. Donation based. Led by Ayurveda Health Retreat behind the Alachua Rec Center/Legacy park amphitheater.

Please bring your own mat and cup to drink from.

Alachua Rec Center, 15400 Peggy Rd, Alachua.

352-870-7645. AyurvedaHealthRetreat.com.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

Farmers Market – 9am-1pm. Free. Enjoy a wonderful selection of fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade products and much more. Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St, Ocala. 352-854-3670.

CircleSquareCommons.com.

Outdoor Donation Yin Yoga – 9:30-10:30am.

Donation based. Socially distanced yoga led by Jamie Elise under the big shady oak tree. The His-

The Hot Cars Cool Cats Fall Car & Motorcycle Show – 10am-3pm. Free for spectators, $10 to enter a vehicle for the show. All vehicles welcome. This is a family friendly charity fundraising show for Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS). There will be food, music, vendors, cars, trucks and motorcycles to feast your eyes on. The Tiger Maximus, 2250 NE 70th St, Ocala. 352-266-2859. EarsInc.net.

Florida Tiny House Festival – Nov 21-22.

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10am-5pm. $20. Enjoy the largest tiny house event on record in the world as it returns to Florida. The Villages Polo Club, 703 N Buena Vista Blvd, The Villages. 352-750-7656.

UnitedTinyHouse.com.

Online Meditation Class – $36. The key to developing your Psychic and Mediumship Skills.

International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge.

407-247-7823. IFSK.org.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26 Farmers Market – 9am-1pm. Free. Enjoy a wonderful selection of fresh seasonal produce from local growers as well as baked goods, plants, handmade products and much more. Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St, Ocala. 352-854-3670.

CircleSquareCommons.com.

Poetry Jam – 8-11pm. Free. All forms of word based art and poetry styles welcome Civic Media Center, 433 S Main St, Gainesville. 352-373-0010.

CivicMediaCenter.org.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 Marion County Friday Market – 9am-2pm. Free.

The Marion County Friday Market takes place every Friday. The Friday Market includes well known vendors throughout Marion County and sells a variety of products such as fresh produce, fresh seafood, olive oils and vinaigrettes, mouthwatering pastries, beef jerky and freeze dried candies and fruit snacks. McPherson Field, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala.

352-438-2360. MarionCountyFl.org.

Guided Meditation – 8:05-9:05pm. Love donation. A guided meditation of peace, love and

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North Central FL Edition

light. Soul Essentials of Ocala, 352-236-7000.

SoulEssentialsOfOcala.com.

Countdown to Holidays Special Event – 11am.

Free. Cookies, free crystal gifts for everyone and all jewelry is 30% off. High Springs Emporium, 19765 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs. 386-454-8657.

HighSpringsEmporium.net

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Haile Farmers Market – 8:30am-Noon. Enjoy live music while you stroll the tree-lined streets of the Haile Village Center. Shop for seasonal produce, fresh dairy, pastured meat, artisan wares, handmade gifts and more. A treasure for both Gainesville locals and visitors! Hailes Farmers Market, 5213 SW 91 Terr, Gainesville. 352-6390446. HaileFarmersMarket.com.

Marion Therapeutic Riding Association Holiday Market –10am-3pm. Free. Family friendly Arts and Crafts Fair supporting small businesses and local vendors while raising awareness for some of MARTA’s programs to include therapeutic riding, Freedom Reins for Veterans and the Equine Experience MARTA, 6850 SE 41st Ct, Ocala. 352-7327300. MTRAOcala.org.

Mini Market Holidays Series – Noon-4pm. Free.

Each week four to five makers and vendors will be featured for an open air style shopping experience on Small Business Saturday. The AUK Market, 2031 NW 6th St, Gainesville. TheAukMarket@ gmail.com. TheAUKMarket.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Morning Yoga on the Lawn – 9-10am. Free. Yoga

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on the lawn led by Monica Villalon. Yoga will be held on the lawn next to the solar pergola. Curia On The Drag, 2029 NW 6th St, Gainesville. 352-7926444. CuriaOnTheDrag.com.

Peace and Serenity Sanctuary – 4-5:30pm. $7.

Monthly meditation group focusing on mantra, meditation and breathwork. This group lesson will cover topics such as how to boost your energy, de-stress, learn easy and simple meditation techniques you can use anywhere. Vegan snacks will be provided at the conclusion of the lesson. Space is limited. Call to confirm your seat and the address will be given to you. 818-927-3284. RelaxGville.com.

Remember, PLANS CHANGE! Please call ahead to confirm dates and times.

ongoing events

HaileFarmersMarket.com.

NOTE: All calendar events must be submitted via our website by the 10th of the month and must adhere to our guidelines. Visit GoNaturalAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

sunday

wednesday

A Course in Miracles – 9:30am. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave. UnityGainesville.org.

Qigong – 10am. With Dr. Neil Crenshaw and Dr. Don Mederios. Donations go to Connected Warriors. Van Ness Park Civic Center, G Ave and 7th St, McIntosh. 352-425-2975.

Spiritual Service – 9:30am. Let the spirit guide you with hands-on healing, meditations, messages and more. Conscious Awakening, 301 SR26, Melrose. 352-262-0078. BackToBasics Living@gmail.com.

Sunday Spiritual Service – 10am. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd. 352­687­2113. Mail@UnityOcala.org.

UnityOcala.org.

Guided Meditation and Sunday Service – 10am (meditation); 10:30am (service). Rev. Cindy Grimes, Senior Minister. Awaken and live. Center for Spiritual Living Ocala, 1009 NE 28th Ave. 352629-3897. CSLocala.org.

Fitness Zone – Noon-8pm. Ages 14+. Free. Cardio and strength training equipment. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala. 352-401-3920.

Technology Help Center – 2-4pm. Free. Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE Hwy 484. 352-438-2500.

Fit In The Park: Zumba – 5:30-6:30pm. Ages 10+. Free. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala. 368-5517.

Game Night – 7:30pm. Muddy Lotus Tea, 520 NE 1st Ave, Ocala. 352-559-3003. MuddyLotusTea.com.

Meditation and Book Discussion – 10:30am-noon.

Shambhala Gainesville, 1899 NE 23rd Ave. 352214-1334. Gainesville.Shambhala.org.

thursday

Brewery Yoga at First Magnitude – 1-2pm.

Bring your own mat for yoga in the warehouse.

All experience levels. Suggested $5 donation. First Magnitude Brewing Co, 1220 SE Veitch, Gainesville. 352-727-4677.

A Course in Miracles – 10am. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave. UnityGainesville.org.

monday Fitness Zone – Noon-8pm. Ages 14+. Free. Cardio and strength training equipment. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala.

352-401-3920.

Fit In The Park: Zumba – 5:30-6:30pm. Ages 10+. Free. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala. 368-5517.

ACA Meeting – 6pm. Adult Children of Alcoholics. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd. 352-687-2113.

Mail@UnityOcala.org. UnityOcala.org.

A Course in Miracles – 6:30pm. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave. UnityGainesville.org.

tuesday Fitness Zone – Noon-8pm. Ages 14+. Free. Cardio and strength training equipment. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala.

352-401-3920.

Newberry Farmers Market – 4-7pm. A local producer only market focused on food with additional vendors. Located on the corner of Newberry Road and 254th St. 352-472-2112. nmsoinfo@gmail.com.

NewberryMainStreet.com.

Fit In The Park: Zumba – 5:30-6:30pm. Ages 10+. Free. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala. 368-5517.

Meditation Instruction and Orientation – 7-9pm.

Meditation, book discussion, refreshments to follow.

Shambhala Gainesville, 1899 NE 23rd Ave. 352214-1334. Gainesville.Shambhala.org.

Fitness Zone – Noon-8pm. Ages 14+. Free. Cardio and strength training equipment. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala. 352-401-3920.

Alachua Farmers Market – 4-7pm. A local producer only market where most foods have been picked or made that day. Behind the Chamber of Commerce office. 14801 Main Street, Alachua.

386-462-3333. AlachuaFarmersMarket.com.

Fit In The Park: Zumba – 5:30-6:30pm. Ages 10+. Free. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala. 368-5517.

Embodiment 101 – 6:30-8pm. Body awareness movement followed by meditation. Shambhala Gainesville, 1899 NE 23rd Ave. 352-214-1334.

Gainesville.Shambhala.org.

Karaoke – 8-11pm. Muddy Lotus Tea, 520 NE 1st Ave, Ocala. 352-559-3003. MuddyLotusTea.com.

friday Health Happens Farmers’ Market – 9am-2:30pm.

Shop for fresh produce, seafood, honey, baked goods, gluten-free snacks and prepared meals for lunch. McPherson Governmental Complex field, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala. 352-438-2360.

Fitness Zone – Noon-8pm. Ages 14+. Free. Cardio and strength training equipment. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala. 352-401-3920.

saturday Alachua County Farmers’ Market – 8:30am-noon.

Open rain or shine. A grower’s only market. 5920 NW 13th St, Gainesville. 352-371-8236. 441market.com.

Haile Farmers Market – 8:30am-noon. Open rain or shine, heat or cold. Haile Village Center in Haile Plantation, SW 91st Terr, Gainesville.

Farmstead Saturday – 9am­-3pm. Free. Crones Cradle Conserve, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352­595­ 3377. CronesCradleConserve.com.

Ocala Farm Market – 9am-2pm. Locally-grown farm fresh seasonal produce, homemade jellies and jams, crafts and plants. Corner of SE 3rd St and SE 3rd Ave, Ocala. 352-629-8051. OcalaDowntownMarket.com.

Starlab Planetarium Shows – 11-11:30am, 1-1:30pm.

Tour our solar system and learn about the stars and constellations. $3/person/session plus exhibit admission of $6/person or $22/family of four. Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez Ave, Ocala. Ocala.org.

Fitness Zone – Noon-8pm. Ages 14+. Free. Cardio and strength training equipment. E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala. 401-3920.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Sheila@GoNaturalAwakenings.com.

ADVERTISING ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings classified ads section. To place an ad, email Sheila@GoNaturalAwakenings.com.

CHIROPRACTOR Re.A.L. CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS – Dr. Randy Bryant, one of a few chiropractors in the nation doing these types of adjustments.

Chiropractor to individuals including rodeo riders. Schedule your appointment by calling 352-694-7700. DrRandyBryant.com.

FARMERS MARKET LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE, EGGS AND BEEF – Find the best the region has to offer from our co-op of farmers and growers. Harbison Farm Cattle and Produce market is open Monday-Friday 8-5pm, Saturdays 8-4, and Sundays 10-3. 4686 NE County Road 329. Anthony. 352-239-3552.

FOOD CODES DEVELOPA FOOD PLAN UNIQUE TO YOU USING FOOD CODES–Your subconscious knows which foods are best for you for energy, for weight loss, and to avoid. For more information visit SandraWilsonPositiveChange.com or email EFTSandy@yahoo.com.

OPPORTUNITIES S TA RT A C A R E E R Y O U C A N B E PASSIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home-based business complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/Franchise.

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community resource guide

FARMERS MARKET

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Sheila@GoNaturalAwakenings.com to request our media kit.

BIO ENERGETICS

COLONICS

ALEX TERRERO, LMT (MA60219) Lemire Clinic 9401 SW Hwy 200, Suite 301, Ocala 352-291-9459 LemireClinic.com

Alex is the primary operator of their bio-energetic technology including, but not limited to; all aspects of the Zyto program, the Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field therapy, and the Heart Rate Va r i a b i l i t y d e v i c e s . T h e combination of his technical background and massage therapy allow him to assist his patients find the best method of reducing their pain, increasing their ability to bounce back from an injury and most importantly shed some light on the questions they have along the way. See ad, back cover.

CHIROPRACTOR

GENTLE WATERS HEALING CENTER 352-374-0600 Gainesville Info@GentleWatersHealing.com

The therapists at Gentle Waters Healing Center assist each individual with detoxing using colon hydrotherapy and/or far infrared sauna. Call Dawn Brower for more information or visit G e n t l e Wa t e r s H e a l i n g . c o m .

MA41024, MM15426.

ENERGY BALANCING SANDY WILSON

EFT, Emotion Code, Body Code, Hypnosis 352-454-8959 EFTSandy@yahoo.com SandraWilsonPositiveChange.com With balanced energy, you feel better, make better decisions, and have better relationships. Sandy will help balance your energy so you can achieve your health, wealth, and relationship goals.

See website or call to start achieving your goals.

DR. RANDY BRYANT

352-694-7700 1315 SE 25th Loop, Suite 103, Ocala Info@DrRandyBryant.com Dr. Bryant’s holistic approach and natural solutions for many common health issues have improved the lives of many from around the world. Services are tailored to the needs of each unique patient. You will not experience any of the snapping, cracking or popping usually associated with chiropractic treatment. Dr. Bryant has been involved with the sport of rodeo as a treating physician since 1995.

The first combined Anti-Aging, Holistic, and Family Practice Clinic in Central Florida and The Villages

352-750-4333

SERVICES OFFERED:

✦ Peptides ✦ Exosomes: The Next Generation in Regeneration Therapy and Stem Cell Therapy ✦ Amniotic ✦ Adipose ✦ Bone marrow ✦ PRP-platelet Rich Plasma ✦ Prolo Therapy ✦ Prolozone ✦ Neural Therapy ✦ Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

✦ Chelation and IV Nutrient ✦ Urinary Incontinence ✦ Femlift Vaginal Tightening ✦ Soundwave for ED ✦ Laser Therapy for pain ✦ Spectravision (Full Body Analysis Test) ✦ Nutritional Counseling ✦ Weight Loss ✦ Pulse Magnetic Wave ✦ Antioxidant Evaluation ✦ Mineral Evaluation ✦ Heavy Metal Evaluation

please recycle

Jaclynn Sola, LMT

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Karin Panyko

Licensed Aesthetician Over 13 years experience Specializing In: • Micro Derm Abrasion • Spa Facial/Galvanic (tightens and tones cheek muscles) • High Frequency Therapy • Light Therapy • Facial Massage – Deep Tissue My passion is to assist others in achieving their balance with inner and outer beauty.

North Central FL Edition

On-Site Financing Available

4686 NE County Road 329 Anthony, Florida 352-239-3552 GVTHarbison@embarqmail.com

Locally grown, whole, organic food from working Florida farms. The Harbison family’s daily market offers fresh produce, grass-fed beef, eggs, Amish products, and local honey, plus a variety of jams, jellies, and preserves. Our mission is to provide healthy food to the community and help those in need. Call us to inquire about our Food Relief Fund and we may be able to help you with groceries.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE JAMES LEMIRE, MD

Lemire Clinic 9401 SW Hwy 200, Suite 301 352-291-9459 LemireClinic.com Dr. Lemire is both Board Certified in Family Practice for 40 years and is an Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) Certified Practitioner. Some of the common protocols Dr. Lemire works with are: Thyroid conditions, Chronic Fatigue, MS, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Leaky Gut, Cancer, Hormone Unbalances, Heavy Metal Toxicity, Inflammatory and Auto Immune Conditions, Lyme Disease, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Weight Management. Dr. Lemire sees children and adults. See ad, back cover.

FAMILY MEDICINE NELSON KRAUCAK, MD, FAAFP

Healthcare Partners Family Medicine 1501 Hwy 441, Suite 1704, The Villages 352-750-4333 HealthcarePartnersFL.com The first Holistic Medical Practice in Central Florida. Dr. Kraucak has been practicing holistic medicine since 1995 and is passionate about caring for his patients around The Villages, throughout Florida and visiting patients around the world. From Nelson Kraucak, MD, FAAFP the diagnostic phase through the treatment and “We are committed aid and follow up, to from simple issues to the most promote the body’s innate complicated chronic conditions, Dr. Kraucak and mechanisms to heal and achieve homeostasis for optimum his team will health assure you and your family have by introducing and using natural comprehensive, and the latest approaches with innovative and innovative cutting-edge technology.” therapeutic support. See ad, page 2.

Individual responses may vary

MA56771 Over 10 years experience Specializing In: • Raindrop Therapy – • Cupping for Aromatheraphy Pain Relief and utilizing essential oils Lymphatic Drainage • Myo Fascial Release • Sports Massage/ • Deep Tissue Golf Massage • Hot Stone Massage • Cranial Sacral • Body Scrubs/Wraps SpectraVision • Reflexology/Foot • Reiki Master Massage Tuning Forks • Cellulite Reduction Massage • Colonics

HARBISON FARM CATTLE AND PRODUCE

Gretta Ellis, ARNP

Over 10 years experience Specializing In: • Chronic Disease • Gastro-Intestinal Disorders • Alternative Medicine • SIBO/Leaky Gut • Bio Identical Hormone Replacement - BHT • ER and Internal Medicine Experience

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Healing Central Florida, One Stem Cell at a Time!

GOURMET MEATS FLORIDA FRESH MEAT COMPANY 13770 S. Hwy 475, Summerfield 352-307-8400 FloridaFreshMeat.com Info@FloridaFreshMeat.com

“Feeding Our Community From Within Our Community” Florida Fresh Meat Company produces local sustainable hormone and antibiotic free a n d o rg a n i c a l l y r a i s e d , gourmet grass fed Angus beef, grass fed lamb and goat, and natural pastured pork.

Also available through our network of local ranches and farms is pastured duck and chicken as well as farm raised, phosphate and preservative free Florida farm raised gator. Our gourmet meats are USDA inspected. See ad, page 3.

HEALTH COACHING BODONO HEALTH SERVICES 352-559-9355 Bodono.com Info@bodono.com

Certified Health Coach, Registered Nurse and Plant-Based Expert offers motivational coaching, personalized meal planning, exercise programs and practical tools to improve your health and boost the immune system.

Contact Bodono for more info and to get help with weight loss and prevention of lifestyle-related diseases.

HEALTH FOOD DEB’S NATURAL SOURCE

3490 W. Dunnellon Rd, Dunnellon 352-586-0754 Facebook.com/DebsWholeFoodNutrition At Deb’s Natural Source you’re surrounded by all natural, local foods and produce, medicines, and other products that will help you be healthier. You’ll be immersed in a relaxing shopping environment with organic non-GMO foods, quality wholefood supplements, skin care items, essential oils, and more. See ad, page 27.

HEALTH SPA IMMUNITY HEALTH SPA

480 N. US Hwy 27/441, Lady Lake 352-750-9909 • ImmunityHealthSpa.com Using 100% natural and organic products, Immunity Health Spa offers high-quality healing services to improve the health of our clients and community. Our immune boosting IV Therapy enhances your energy, improves mood and is an excellent preventive boost for your overall health. Each 45-minute session delivers vital nutrients of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids directly to the bloodstream, where the body will absorb 100% of the nutrient directly to the cells to improve your health and boost hydration. Call for a consult and to answer questions about this and other treatments, including Salt Therapy, Facials, Massages, and Waxing. See ad, page 41.

Bring Natural Awakenings home!

REAL ESTATE

LOCALLY-GROWN PRODUCE CRONES’ CRADLE CONSERVE FOUNDATION 6411 NE 217th Pl, Citra 352-595-3377 CronesCradleConserve.org

The conserve is an ecological preserve, retreat center and organic farm. Local fresh produce can be bought at The Farm Store on property, through Farm to Fare weekly Baskets or delivered to your restaurant. The Farm Store is open 7 days a week. Certified kitchen honey house and event space available. See ad, page 3.

PLANT-BASED RESTAURANT BAMBI’S CAFÉ

18592 High Springs Main St, High Springs 386-454-1600 or 954-907-9759 Facebook.com/100PercentPlantBased We use fresh local and organically grown produce for our homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Some of our items include; vegan chicken artichoke melt, cheddar lentil burgers, Asian dishes, organic coffee, fresh brewed teas, matcha lattes, smoothies and many gluten free items. Catering available.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION DRAGON RISES COLLEGE OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE

Gainesville, FL 32601 800-606-6685 • DragonRises.edu Our comprehensive 10semester ACAOM-accredited Master’s degree program enables students to become competent, confident and successful acupuncturists. Graduates help people achieve genuine healing and their highest sustainable level of health and wellness.

NANCY SHEAR, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CRB, CRP, SRS

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty 407-608-2097 Nancy.Shear@PremierSIR.com NancyShear.PremierSothebysRealty.com Having managed thousands of transactions as a managing broker, coach and trainer over the past two decades, Nancy has a wide range of experience in the field and can offer her customers a vantage point and expertise that few other associates can.

Additionally, she brings her years of experience in sales, management and asset disposition to her clients looking to sell/buy or invest in residential or commercial real estate.

THERMOGRAPHY JUNE DRENNON

Lemire Clinic 9401 SW Hwy 200, Suite 301, Ocala 352-291-9459 LemireClinic.com June is the owner of Florida Medical Thermography and has been certified as a Clinical Thermographer since 2008. She has certifications in Colon Hydrotherapy and Electro Lymphatic Drainage Therapy but now only sees patients for thermography. Working in the holistic field of thermal imaging is her true passion. She has done thousands of thermography reports and has often seen the value it offers in identifying risk factors and helping to prevent and monitor developing pathology. See ad, back cover.

Membership Form Join to get your print copy every month.

I am enclosing a $32 check or money order.

Please send my print copy to: Name _______________________________________ Address _____________________________________ City __________________State _______Zip ________ Mail to: Natural Awakenings 7797 SW 19th Avenue Rd, Ocala, FL 34476

November 2020

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North Central FL Edition

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IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR PARTNER HAS LAUNCHED ®

TRANSFORMING YOUR HEALTH CARE TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH & WELL-BEING Natural Awakenings is honored to give our dedicated readers the opportunity to be among the first members welcomed into the KnoWEwell community. With gratitude for our 26 years of readership and support, through our mission-aligned collaborative partnership with KnoWEwell, we are pleased to gift both individuals and providers with:

FREE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP - FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

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November 2020

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Enjoy Optimal Health – Naturally!

QUARANTINE RECOVERY: Where Do We Go From Here?

Lemire Clinic’s one-of-a-kind Quarantine Recovery Program is a comprehensive three-month protocol that is designed to help restore inner balance while building resiliency and optimizing your future health.

The program promotes detoxification, cellular health, metabolic and immune function along with weight loss.** Each month of the program has a unique focus. This program gives you the products, knowledge, nutrition tools and action items needed to empower whole health as you re-enter society. **Past participants of other Lemire Clinic’s Personalized Programs Note: Results are not guaranteed. All individuals are different.**

2018: Still going strong and healthy!

10 months ago: Now: Low energy, Symptom-free, mental fog and Happy other conditions

2011: Cancer-free, zero diabetes, down from a 46” to 34” waist!

2010: Brain tumor, Diabetes, high blood pressure

Physician Directed Services, including:

JAMES E. LEMIRE, MD, FAAFP, IFMCP

• • • • • • • • • •

IV Infusion (Vitamin C, Myers Cocktail) Bioidentical Hormones Physician-assisted Heavy Metal Detox Nutrition Counseling Transformation: Detox/Weight Program Chelation Prolotherapy Ozone (UBI) Functional Genetic Testing Heart Rate Variability

Board-Certified, American Board of Family Practice

Natural Family Medicine with a Personal Touch New & Existing Patients: (352) 291-9459 • Most Insurances Accepted 9401 SW Hwy 200, Suite 301, Ocala, FL 34481 • www.LemireClinic.com 48

North Central FL Edition

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