January 2022 Natural Awakenings Chicago Magazine by Natural Awakenings Chicago magazine

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

The Wellness Outlook

TOP HEALTH TRENDS FOR 2022 The Healing Power of Letting Go Why Electric Cars Are Gaining Ground Exploring Nature Museums in Winter Ways to Boost Coffee’s Benefits

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JANUARY 2022 | CHICAGO | NACHICAGO.COM

“I laughed so hard… …tears rolled down my thighs.” “I had years and years of urinary incontinence, even as a youngster. I had bronchitis and asthma, so bad that I would cough so hard that I would lose control and just urinate, and as you get older, you know, things get worse. So when I read about Dr. Meena’s protocol, I think what she does for people’s sex lives is amazing, but what she’s done for my life is amazing in terms of not wetting my pants. Immediately, I noticed a difference. So, thank you very much. ” ~Jennifer G. Pelvic floor weakness is the most common cause of urine leakage and experiencing a frequent need to pee. It’s two times more common in women than in men due to pregnancy and trauma to the pelvic floor during childbirth. Menopausal women (even if they didn’t give vaginal birth) lose tone of pelvic floor muscles due to imbalance of hormones, which can cause incontinence.

Dr. Meena, MD

A pill is not an answer to all ills, and surgery doesn’t cure all problems. We are fortunate to live in times when we can adapt the best practices from Western and Eastern medicine, and this is one area where Western medicine has provided a great solution. When Emsella is integrated with optimization of hormones and lean versus fat mass in the body, results are awesome! 2

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Treatments for urinary incontinence: Behavioral techniques: scheduled bathroom times and cut down fluids. Strengthening Pelvic Floor Muscle: Kegel exercises. Emsella: This state of the art technology utilizes High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate deep pelvic floor muscles and restore neuromuscular control. A single Emsella session of 28 minutes is equivalent to 11,200 Kegel exercises. Hormones: Vaginal estrogen can be used as an adjunct to Emsella. Medications: Common side effects include constipation, urinary retention, dry mouth, blurred vision and cognitive impairment. Surgeries: Invasive

Contact Dr. Meena today:

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Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

22 HEALTH IN

THE NEW YEAR

10 Top Wellness Trends for 2022

25 OPEN A DOOR OF

TRANSFORMATION INTO 2022

26 A BETTER

MORNING JOLT

Healthy Coffee Alternatives and Hacks

28 WARMING CHAI TEA

for a Wintry Day

30 HIGH TIMES FOR THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY

Emerging Trends with a COVID-19 Caveat

32 COMMON PERIOD MISCONCEPTIONS

and What to Do About Them

34 WHOLE-PERSON FITNESS

Current Trends in Wellness Tools

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 847-858-3697 or email info@NAChicago.com. Deadline for complete and finalized ads: the 14th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Amy@NAChicago.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit online at: NAChicago.com/events/new or email Calendar Events to: Calendar@NAChicago.com. Deadline for calendar: the 8th 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. 4

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36 PETER RUSSELL on the Healing Power of Letting Go

38 THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE REVOLUTION

Moving Toward an All-EV Future this Year

40 NATURE MUSEUMS Offer Indoor Learning and Exploration in Winter

44 PET-PLEASING FOOD TRENDS

What Dogs and Cats Will Eat This Year

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Happy New Year! It’s sunny as I write you this late December on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. The transition to a new year is a time of reflection and stillness, as well as an opportunity for rejuvenation and fresh approaches. And as the days get longer and head toward a post-5 p.m. sunset, it’s time to celebrate our successes of the past year while gently easing into new or renewed goals and aspirations. Although the Chicago area set a new record in 2021 for the latest measurable snowfall (still none as of the solstice), it’s a la niña winter, and the snow and frigid temperatures will arrive eventually. It’s winter in the Midwest, after all. I hope you’ll join Peggy Malecki me in again setting a goal for this new year to find ways each day to enjoy the season and appreciate the unique beauty of a winter prairie, woodland, hiking trail, lakefront, backyard or urban landscape, with or without snow. The Norwegian term friluftsliv translates roughly to “open air living” and celebrating the outdoor world, no matter what the weather forecast predicts. The term was created in 1859 by the writer Henrik Ibsen, and it encompasses ways we can embrace the healing power of being in nature. Rather than practicing a specific outdoor activity done quickly outside of the context of our daily life (such as a ski trip), it is a lifestyle that creates a different perspective and mindset of how we can consciously choose to interact daily with the natural environment around us. As you’ll find in this month’s news briefs and calendar, opportunities abound for outdoor activities at our local forest preserves, parks, nature centers and natural areas. From eagle watching later in the month to cross-country skiing and evening-lit trails through the woods, there are many ways we can continue to connect and rejuvenate our spirits with nature this winter. And writer Sheryl DeVore explores some of our areas nature museums that offer indoor learning and family activities this winter. In our January issue of Natural Awakenings Chicago magazine, we’re taking a closer look at a some of the newest trends in health and wellness for people and pets, and helping you sort through the many healthcare and fitness options available. We’ll be continuing to examine new trends throughout the coming year and welcome your insights, comments and suggestions for topics you’d like to learn more about this year (please email Editor@ NAChicago.com). The holidays may be over, but there are a few ways we can all continue to help our neighbors as we get back to everyday activities in these unique times. Please continue to regularly support local businesses, services, restaurants and the like as best you are able. Continue to help those in need in our communities, no matter the weather or season. Support local nonprofits, environmental groups and others with which you share a common vision. Share a smile, kind word or laugh every day. Be mindful and caring of all the lives we share the Earth with. And start planning for spring! I leave you this month with my usual request to step outside your door every day and revel in the natural world that surrounds us. Listen for crackling ice or the sound of gently falling snow. Observe the wonders of a pastel January sunset. Look for squirrel tracks. Notice the unique patterns of frost on a kitchen window and mindfully observe something new each day of the new year.

From all of us here at Natural Awakenings Chicago, we wish you a happy, healthy, safe and peaceful New Year!

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

CHICAGO EDITION Publisher Peggy Malecki Sales & Marketing Peggy Malecki Carrie Jackson Heidi Hetzel Dee Bayro Operations Amy Hass Kyle Hass Editors Marty Miron Theresa Archer Randy Kambic Writers Carrie Jackson Megy Karydes Sheryl DeVore Design & Production Suzzanne Siegel Martin Friedman

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Chicago P.O. Box 72, Highland Park, IL 60035 Ph: 847-858-3697 • Fax: 888-858-3107 Info@NAChicago.com • NAChicago.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $29 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Production Designer Gabrielle W-Perillo Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Kristy Mayer

© 2022 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment. Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

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Photo credit Peggy Malecki

from the publisher…

Improve your tummy health

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Is your body telling you it needs help? Do new symptoms creep up on you too fast? Have dietary modifications failed to provide relief ?

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into the bloodstream through a condition called “leaky gut syndrome,” which often leads to more serious conditions like Crohn’s Disease, colitis, and other autoimmune disorders.

Environmental irritants also affect digestion.

Reneé Barasch, Certified Digestive Health and Detoxification Specialist, has been helping clients achieve nutritional balance and enhance quality of life for more than 17 years. Reneé’s individualized plans help clients re-boot their digestive tracts and increase absorption of needed nutrients—creating the environment for detoxification of all organs and the pathways between them.

The environment can also produce irritation and inflammation. Everyday, airborne toxins — perfumes, cleaning products, smoke, automotive exhaust, indoor dust, and springtime pollen— find their way into our bloodstream (in less than 20 seconds!) and cause digestive organs to work overtime. A runny nose, itchy eyes, and red and blotchy skin often result in a trip to the allergist, when a digestive imbalance may be contributing.

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Stay strong and healthy with a gut ‘reset.’

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and those that don’t.

• Create a detoxification and digestive plan.

Digestion is one of the main ways the body detoxifies and cleanses. If the food you consume isn’t thoroughly broken down, your body cannot work as efficiently as it should. Poor digestion causes stress for the entire digestive system and leads to gas, bloating, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea—and even insomnia, psoriasis, eczema, chronic pain, and anxiety. Undigested food can seep

Let’s get you feeling better. Reneé S . Barasch , LDH S

whole body is balanced.

• Regulate the processing and digestion of

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January 2022

Prepare for Chinese New Year Now

Photo credit Adhyasta for Adobe Stock

he Feng Shui School of Chicago and Florida welcomes the energy of the Year of the Water Tiger at their annual Chinese New Year event at 10 a.m., January 8, at the Embassy Suites, in Lombard/Oak Brook. Doors open at 9 a.m. There will be door prizes and a free gift for each attendee. Crystals, stones, sprays and jewelry will be available for purchase. Laurie Pawli, director and certified Red Ribbon consultant, will share insights on how to clear the stagnant energy of the past year and make 2022 a year of rejuvenation and forward movement. To encourage the positive vibration for Chinese New Year that begins on February 1, there’ll be a motivational singing bowl meditation with Fatima Monaco, singing bowl and gong sound bath with Marian Kraus, qigong group exercise with Jody Hallahan and directions on how to Welcome the Gods of Wealth to Your Doorstep, along with Chinese astrologers’ predictions of what 2022 will bring. Cost: $22.22. Register at CreateTheFeeling.com or email LauriePawli@gmail.com. For more information, call 630-279-8870 or visit TheFengShuiSchoolOfChicago.com or TheFeng ShuiSchoolOfFlorida.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide and the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

Connect with Healing Energies at Sacred Ground

Photo credit Forest Preserve District of Will County

acred Ground, which opened last month in Arlington Heights, offers classes and workshops that include stress relief, sound healing, guided meditation, astrology, akashic records, numerology, meditative yoga and professional massages. They carry organic and small batch teas, coffee, pet treats, bee products, Mexican drinking chocolates, soaps, Peruvian Palo Santo, Cayce products of the highest quality and more. January workshops are From Stress to Bliss with Cheryl on every Friday January 14 through February 11; Melissa’s Despacho New Year Ceremony, 12:30 to 3 p.m., January 8; Melissa’s Privates, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., January 11; Sound Healing with Andre, 6:30 to 7:30, January 22; Crystals for Everyday with Janel, 4 to 6 p.m., January 15; Janel’s Akashic Records Private Sessions, 2 to 6 p.m., January 6; Marina Massage (therapeutic, relaxation, injury and expecting mothers), January 16; Guided Meditation Weekly, 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Phil Clark presenting numerology, angel birth readings and his guided meditation weekly. Prices vary, appointment required. Location: 15 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights. For more information and updates, call 847-749-3922, email ShopSacredGround@gmail.com or visit ShopSacredGround.com. See ad on page 11 and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

Have a Nordic New Year

he Forest Preserve District of Will County will present three programs that tap into the Scandinavian traditions of embracing and enhancing the outdoors, regardless of the weather. A Pliking Mini-Hike at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve is set for 10 to 11 a.m., January 8. This hiking program is based on a version of the Swedish activity plogging, which involves picking up litter while jogging. Pliking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while removing litter from the preserves and improving our health. Friluftsliv – The Outdoor Life will take place from 5 to 6 p.m., January 13, via Zoom. The Norwegian philosophy of friluftsliv means open air or outdoor living. Webinar viewers will learn how to embrace time outdoors and how friluftsliv can help improve our mood. A seven-mile Excursion Hike based on the friluftsliv philosophy is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., January 22, at Hadley Valley Preserve – Gougar Road Access, in New Lenox Township. Admission is free. For directions, more information and registration, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.

GROW Your Business Call us and be part of

Treat every day like it’s a new year because it is. ~Temitope Ibrahim 8

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847-858-3697

Photo credit Forest Preserve District of Will County

news briefs

Here’s to a Healthier, Happier New Year

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ©2021 Standard Process Inc. All rights reserved. LN02222 11/21

January 2022

news briefs

The Eagles are Back at Last

Photo Credit Thomas Coyne

he Return of Bald Eagles to the Chicago Area: A Conservation Success Story, will be a virtual panel discussion with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and partners via Zoom from 6 to 6:40 p.m., January 10. The event will highlight the return of nesting bald eagles in the area. U.S. Forest Service specialists and trained raptor monitors will tell the story of the resurgence of bald eagles in Chicagoland and help de-mystify the basics of eagle watching, including how to identify gender, age and more. Currently, 35 bald eagle nests have been spotted in the six counties surrounding Chicago, and two are located at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, in Will County. A nest was confirmed during grassland bird surveys in June 2014, with several successful fledglings since then. In 2017, another active eagle nest was confirmed. Although the bald eagle was removed from the list of threatened and endangered species in 2007, National Save The Eagles Day, January 10, was established only recently as a day to remember the incredible conservation story of bald eagles in the Chicago area and acknowledge those instrumental in bringing America’s national bird back from the brink. Admission is free at fs.usda.gov/detail/midewin/home/?cid=FSEPRD923271.

Garden Planning Online Class with Tiffany Hinton

F Mom Certified Tiffany Hinton will conduct a live class and workshop online from 5:30 to 7 p.m., January 19, showing how to plan a home healing garden year after year. Participants will learn to use graph paper to accurately map out the garden, read a seed catalog, to choose the best seeds and plants and create a garden image board to visualize the garden. Graph paper, colored pens and seed catalogs are recommended for the class. Hinton is a member of both FemCity Chicago and Gluten Intolerance Group. To register, email Tiffany@gfmomcertified.com or visit TiffanyHinton.podia.com/garden-planning-with-tiffany. See ad in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

Learn How the Brain Works

ebecca Robbins, Ph.D., will be teaching the course Neuroplasticity Made Simple, at 9 a.m., February 12, about how the mind works and how we store information in the form of memories or programs. Offered by the Infinity Foundation via Zoom, it will explain how the mind naturally updates memories and how we can leverage this naturally occurring phenomenon to our benefit. Our brains adaptability, or plasticity, occurs all the time. Robbins states, “I have been studying Eutaptics for several years, and worked with hundreds of clients all over the world. Now I want to teach the basics of neuroplasticity to help empower people with this self-awareness on how the mind works and what you can do to change limiting beliefs in a powerful way.” Participants will learn how to change old limiting beliefs and thoughts patterns, old programs and even behaviors, and start to bring in more and more joyful, empowering thoughts and beliefs. Cost: $45 to Jan. 22, then $55—course 213161, Neuroplasticity Made Simple. To register, visit InfinityFoundation.org. For more information, call 862-254-3637 or visit BeliefRedesign.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

Body Mind Spirit Expo Returns to Northlake

he Body Mind Spirit Expo will share a weekend of shining insights and life-affirming wisdom, March 5 and 6, at the Midwest Conference Center, in Northlake. Visitors will enjoy informational learning sessions featuring everything from intro-level readings to symbols and angel guidance and much more. Then, save time to enjoy more than 100 vendors in an expo filled with some of the nation’s finest psychics and mediums, the best in alternative health, wellness tools, products and resources. Featured speakers include Sandy Wilcox on Crystals that Unleash the Hero Within, Dr. Ravi Ratan on Chakras, Numbers & Planets, and Rose Reaves presenting on Angelic Guidance, What are They Saying? Attendees can choose from aura photos, relaxing massage, quality nutritional supplements and natural healing products, or have their future revealed and connect with lost loved ones. All areas of new thought, from ancient healing traditions to New Age technology are represented. Cost is $15 for the weekend. Free parking. Location: 401 W. Lake St., Northlake. For advance tickets, visit bmse.net. See ad on page 3 for a special coupon for Natural Awakenings readers.

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Morton Arboretum Celebrates 100 Years he Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, is beginning its centenary anniversary year by extending the popular Human+Nature exhibition through March 2023 and adding two, new, large-scale sculptures and a commemorative centennial sculpture by artist Daniel Popper in May. The yearlong celebration began on December 14, the date of the Arboretum’s founding in 1922. April 29 will mark the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day, the tree planting holiday that originated with the Morton family. It will see the launch of the Arboretum’s 1,000-tree Centennial Tree Planting Initiative in the seven-county Chicago region. Arboretum President and CEO Gerard T. Donnelly, Ph.D., states, “Trees improve people’s lives and contribute to their well-being. They beautify communities and make them more livable. The Arboretum gives people the opportunity to connect with trees, appreciate them and experience their myriad benefits.” The $16.5 million, two-acre Grand Garden will open in September to showcase the beauty and diversity of plants and create meaningful gathering spaces for people.

Photo credit The Morton Arboretum

Location: 4100 Illinois Rte. 53, Lisle. For information, schedules and tickets, visit MortonArb.org/centennial.

Floating Plus Therapy Equals Positive Results

lotstone Float Therapy is now affiliated with cognitive behavioral practitioner and confidence/life coach T-Ann Pierce (T-AnnPierce.com) at 57 East Scranton Avenue, in Lake Bluff. She helps clients from teenagers to adults confidently reach their full potential at home, work, school or in T-Ann Pierce their personal relationships. Studies show that floating greatly increases the benefits of therapy and coaching. Floating deepens the client’s focus and awareness after therapy or coaching sessions. Floating eases stress, calms anxiety and opens the mind to new possibilities. The combination of floating and therapy creates the perfect environment to accelerate positive results. Contact Pierce directly at 847-730-7531 or T-AnnPierce.com. For more information and floating appointments, call 847-482-1700 or visit Flotstone.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com. January 2022

news briefs

kudos

Bolstering the Immune System in Cold Weather

t Antalee Wellness, Dr. Alla Arutcheva, Ph.D., ND, an associate professor at Rush University Medical School, provides holistic/ naturopathic care. She is offering a $20 discount on a whole-body check up or $10 off for just one system. The whole-body health evaluation covers autoimmune disorders, digestive system problems, hormonal imbalances and stress management to determine the root cause of the problem, repair and restore body system balance. Dr. Alla She explains, “The health screening tests, state-of-the-art technoloArutcheva, Ph.D., ND gy and the best natural supplements allow accelerated ways to optimum health and prevent the development of serious chronic diseases.” Arutcheva will develop an individual program to optimally support the health and immune system based on the visit summary. She adds, “Exposure to cold winter weather adversely affects a person’s immune response, making it harder for the body to fight off infections. A weak immune system cannot protect us from foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and cancer development. A healthy functional body systems is an important foundation for an optimal immune response to any triggers.” Location:1836 Glenview Rd., 2nd Fl., Glenview. For more information and appointments, call 847-486-1130 or visit AntaleeHolistic.com. See ad on page 37, in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

Mobile Screening Services Offer Insight Into Hidden Health Conditions

orthwest Medical Thermography is now offering more screening options with mobile ultrasound and thermography services, as well as a Women’s Health Check Screening at practitioner offices across the greater Chicago area. The company is also seeking practitioner partners to make their services available in more locations in northeast Illinois. Inflammation can occur throughout the Erica Cody body and indicate dysfunction, illness and serious illness, but may go undetected until a medical emergency happens, says owner and founder Erica Cody. Non-invasive, painless, preventive screenings can detect conditions at an early stage, allowing individuals to be aware of what is happening in their body and choose what medical action they may want to take. All screenings are done by an experienced, certified technician, with private results prepared by a radiologist M.D. Screenings focus on the upper body, including all major organs, female and male reproductive systems, thyroid, carotid artery and veins and arteries of the upper and lower extremities. The Women’s Health Check includes thermography screening for issues that women are most concerned about, including dental, TMJ, thyroid, heart, lymphatic and breast health, as well as signs of imbalanced hormone levels and autoimmune indicators. For appointments, more information, to schedule an appointment or to bring mobile screenings to a practitioner office, call Erica Cody at 224-600-3216 or visit NorthwestMedicalScreening.com. See ad on page 17, in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com. 12

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penlands and partners have received a $400,000 Walder Foundation grant to restore open spaces in Beaubien Woods, part of the 70,000-acre Forest Preserves of Cook County. Comprising prairie, woodland and wetland habitats, it runs along the Little Calumet River, an environmentally significant waterway that connects Chicago to the Mississippi River. The grant is shared with the Forest Preserves of Cook County, the Field Museum and local community organizations, including People for Community Recovery, We Keep You Rollin’ Bike and Wellness Group, the Little Calumet River Underground Railroad Project, Chicago’s Finest Marina, and the Golden Gate Homeowners Association. Along with prairie restoration and the removal of invasive plant species, the project will build a community gathering space near the Beaubien boat launch. The project will span two years, beginning this fall with a controlled burn to promote native species. For more information, visit Openlands.org.

Do You Suffer From PMS, Painful Periods or Menopausal Symptoms? I know firsthand what you’re going through! A few years ago, I hated being a woman. My periods were irregular and painful, with sore breasts and exhaustion. I was on an emotional roller coaster. I didn’t realize I was suffering from the chronic symptoms of hormone imbalances. I blamed myself, my age, diet, not exercising … and believed something was wrong with me. The signs were there from the beginning; my body told me exactly what was wrong, but I wasn’t hearing it. Once I realized this, I took control, reversed my PCOS, and discovered that remarkable transformation is possible… and it all begins with balancing your cycle.

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health briefs

People with chronic heart failure often struggle with fatigue, making simple daily tasks difficult, but a new Iranian study suggests that lavender and valerian may help counter this symptom. Researchers divided 120 patients with heart failure into three groups that were given either a 530-milligram valerian root capsule, lavender aromatherapy or routine care. In a two-week period, people taking either of the herbal therapies reported significantly less fatigue than the control group.

barks/AdobeStock.com

Use UV Rays and HEPA Filters to Kill COVID-19 Virus

Ultraviolet (UV) light in various forms has been used widely in the last century to disinfect water, air and surfaces, but its use in public spaces is increasingly common since the COVID-19 pandemic. In a new study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, University of Colorado researchers report finding the sweet spot in the UV spectrum that is both extremely effective at killing the virus and also safer for human exposure, allowing airports and entertainment venues to disinfect even when people are 14

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present. The researchers found that while the virus was quite susceptible to UV light in general, a specific wavelength of far-ultraviolet C at 222 nanometers was particularly effective, while remaining safe for human skin and eyes. The highest disinfection rate was from krypton chloride (KrCl) excimers, a low-pressure, mercury-vapor lamp. “Of almost every pathogen we have ever studied, this virus is one of the easiest, by far, to kill with UV light,” says senior author Karl Linden, professor of environmental engineering. Also, researchers at the United Kingdom’s Addenbrooke Hospital, in Cambridge, studied the use of portable high-energy particulate air (HEPA) filters in crowded COVID-19 wards. They found that the relatively inexpensive machines effectively removed COVID-19 particles from the air—the first such evidence in a real-world setting. Researchers noted the HEPA filters also removed detectable amounts of other pathogens that cause infections in hospitals, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pyogenes—a surprising finding because these pathogens are not typically considered to be airborne.

iStock.com image

A natural compound called fenchol, found in basil and other plants, may help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by preventing toxic proteins from accumulating in the brain, report researchers from the University of South Florida. In a new study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, researchers reported that a sensing mechanism called the FFAR2 receptor on short-chain fatty acids in the gut microbiome reduces neurotoxicity in a brain with Alzheimer’s. After screening more than 144,000 natural compounds to find those that activate that receptor, they discovered that the fenchol in basil bound to it the best. Fenchol was also found to clear harmful amyloid protein from the brain much faster than other compounds and to prevent the formation of half-dead, inflammatory “zombie cells” found in deteriorating brains. Future research will focus on on whether fenchol is best delivered through basil itself, a nasal application spray or a pill.

Try Lavender and Valerian to Ease Heart Fatigue

Karolina Grabowska/Pexels.com

Consider Basil to Fend Off Alzheimer’s

Photo credit BTL

New Treatment for Incontinence Incontinence is the loss of bladder control, varying from a slight loss of urine after sneezing, coughing or laughing to a complete inability to control urination. It’s twice more common in women than in men due to pregnancy and trauma to the pelvic floor during childbirth. Even if they did not give vaginal birth, menopausal women can lose tone of pelvic floor muscles due to an imbalance of hormones which can cause incontinence. Treatments for urinary incontinence include behavioral techniques such as going to the bathroom at scheduled times Meena Malhotra, M.D., to train the bladder, at Heal n Cure, is using cutting down on fluids Emsella at her and strengthening functional medicine clinic. pelvic floor muscles. She will hold an open house Treating incontinence on Jan. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., with surgery is invawhere attendees can sive and may involve experience a demo of Emsella. inserting mesh to Call 847-686-4444 to RSVP strengthen the pelvic (attendance by preregistration floor. only) or visit HealnCure.com. Kegel exercises are a common option to strengthen and contract the muscles used to control and stop urinating. The basic method is to tense and hold the muscles for five seconds, and then relax them for five seconds. Work up to holding the contractions for 10 seconds and aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions each day. Use of electrodes can enhance the effects marginally. The new, state-of-the art technology Emsella uses

high-intensity, focused electromagnetic technology to stimulate deep pelvic floor muscles and restore neuromuscular control. A single Emsella session of 28 minutes is equivalent to 11,200 Kegel exercises. Lower urinary symptoms are caused by estrogen deficiency in 70 percent of women. Vaginal estrogen hormone application can be used as an adjunct to strengthen pelvic floor muscles along with Emsella treatments. Commonly used anticholinergic medications have many side effects, including constipation, urinary retention, dry mouth, blurred vision and cognitive impairment. A pill is not an answer to all ills, and surgery doesn’t cure all problems. We are fortunate to live in times when we can adapt the best practices from Western and Eastern medicine, and this is one area where Western medicine has provided a great solution. When Emsella is integrated with optimization of hormones along with lean versus fat mass in the body, results are effective. Meena Malhotra, M.D., is the medical director and owner of Heal n Cure, 2420 Ravine Way, Ste. 400, in Glenview. For more information, call 847-686-4444 or visit HealnCure.com. See ad on page 2, in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

January 2022

health briefs

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In a recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital tested 1,682 adults from multiple ethnic groups and compared their diets to their levels of liver fat, which is linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. They found those that ate more red meat and saturated fat, and drank more coffee had higher levels of liver fat, while those that ate more fiber and produce containing vitamins C and E had lower levels of liver fat.

Allergic rhinitis—the sneezing, runny nose and red eyes commonly called hay fever— affects one in 12 American adults and 10 to 30 percent of people worldwide. The usual treatment of antihistamines, decongestants or steroids can come with unwelcome side effects, but a simple alternative approach of ear acupressure may be as effective, suggests a new Chinese study. Researchers analyzed 11 random controlled studies that included 1,094 people with allergies. Small cow soapwort seeds or stainless steel pellets corresponding to Traditional Chinese Medicine meridians were placed with adhesive on their ears for several days. The study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine concluded that ear acupressure reduced allergy symptoms more effectively than an antihistamine, conventional medicine, herbs or regular acupuncture.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

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Eat More Fiber to Avoid Liver Fat

MY SHELTER PETS ARE MY BIGGEST FANS

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Bad Actors

Tuskless Elephants Adapting to Poaching Scourge Approximately 90 percent of the elephants in the present-day Gorongosa National Park, called one of the “last wild places” by National Geographic, were poached for ivory to finance the civil war in Mozambique from 1977 to 1992. Before the conflict, less than one-fifth of females were born without tusks. Now the number is closer to 50 percent. A study published in Science Friday reveals “smoking-gun evidence for genetic changes,” according to University of Victoria (Canada) conservation scientist Chris Darimont. He believes the study helps us understand how humans can have a major influence on evolution. The same phenomenon has also been observed in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya after periods of intense poaching. Although female and male elephants can be born with tusks, tusklessness occurs at around 2 percent in a well-protected population. Study co-author and Princeton evolutionary biologist Robert Pringle thinks the changes are reversible as the population recovers, saying, “There’s such a blizzard of depressing news about biodiversity and humans in the environment, and I think it’s important to emphasize that there are some bright spots in that picture.”

Regulation Needed Plastic is the New Coal

A new report from the advocacy group Beyond Plastics has found that emissions from the plastic industry may be greater than those from coal-fired power plants by 2029. Founder Judith Enck, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, says, “Plastic is intimately connected to the climate crisis. Plastic is the new coal.” The report details ways plastic contributes to global warming, beginning with its man18

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Poachers Upsetting Ecological Balance In a paper published in Biological Conservation, researchers from the University of Adelaide and an international team of experts have concluded that illegal global wildlife trade impacts species, ecosystems and society in unsustainable ways. Co-author Dr. Oliver Stringham states, “The trade in wild vertebrates alone is estimated to involve a quarter of terrestrial species, while the trade in ocean life, invertebrates, plants and fungi remains considerably overlooked and poorly documented. As a threat to targeted species, the trade represents one of the five major drivers of biodiversity loss and extinction at global scale.” The incidental effects of wildlife harvesting include disrupted interactions between species and ecosystem structure, altering species composition, functioning and services such as seed dispersal, pollination and carbon storage. Other secondary effects are decreases in eco-tourism and increases in pandemics that originate in wildlife. Co-author and Ph.D. candidate Adam Toomes notes, “A large diversity of species are not protected by international regulation and are traded without any formal documentation process, making it incredibly difficult to evaluate the associated costs and benefits.” Tools available to curb the trade include bans, quotas, protected areas, certification, captive breeding and propagation, education and awareness. ufacture as petroleum products. Some of the issues are related to fracking, pipelines, toxic chemical byproducts, carcinogenic smoke, atmospheric hydrofluorocarbons and waste disposal on land and sea. The Beyond Plastics report estimates that U.S. production of plastic in 2020 caused about 210 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, or the equivalent of 116 medium-sized, coal-fired power plants. Aarthi Ananthanarayanan, senior fellow at the Ocean Conservancy Plastics Initiative, says the report highlights the need for policymakers to better regulate petrochemical producers, saying, “We have to start considering plastics as part of the fossil fuel industry.”

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Never Forget

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global briefs

Bottoms Up

Climate Change Affects Coffee Quality

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A review published in Frontiers in Plant Science outlines the vulnerability of coffee quality to environmental shifts. Researchers from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and Montana State University looked at the effects of 10 prevalent environmental factors and management conditions associated with climate change and adaptation as detailed in 73 published articles to form this analysis. Their findings have implications for farmers’ livelihoods and consumer experiences. Coffee is grown on 12.5 million mostly small farms comprising more than 27 million acres in more than 50 countries. Some of these regions are feeling the impact of climate change, which leads to consequences for coffee’s taste, aroma, nutritional quality, yield and sustainability. Farms at higher altitudes were associated with better coffee flavor and aroma, while too much light exposure correlated with a decrease in overall quality. Coffee quality is also susceptible to changes due to water stress and increased temperatures and carbon dioxide, although more research on these specific factors is needed. Current efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change include shade management to control light exposure, selection and maintenance of climateresilient wild coffee plants, and pest management, but innovative solutions to support bean growth at all elevations still need to be devised.

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eco tip

Getting Personal About CO2 Tools to Help Track Our Carbon Footprint

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The mixed results of the recent COP26 climate summit in trying to forge worldwide cooperation to reduce carbon emissions show that personal action is necessary, although doing so may seem daunting and confusing because it means reevaluating many everyday activities. To help, Graham Hill, who founded the sustainability website Treehugger.com in 2004 and the small-living consultancy LifeEdited.com in 2010, recently launched TheCarbonauts.com to teach us how to reduce our carbon footprint and lead a lower-carbon lifestyle. In August, Hill told Treehugger he viewed the venture in part as “a great way to make a difference to do two things—change your behavior and pressure corporations and governments to change, as well.” Hill and former Treehugger editor Meaghan O’Neill offer a free one-hour course titled Personal Sustainability Plan that teaches people how to use a carbon calculator. They also offer a six-week course on Zoom that focuses on carbon footprint calculation; renewable energy; plant-rich diet and food waste; electric vehicles; optimizing flying and carbon offsets; and goal setting and personalized resources. TheCarbonauts.com also recommends composting and waste storage products and helpful books and films. In partnership with Terrapass, it offers opportunities to participate in carbon offset programs on a one-time, monthly or annual basis. Other helpful carbon-reducing guides can be accessed via the apps United

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Nations Carbon Footprint Calculator and The Capture. Other personal actions may include: n Buying goods that are pre-owned

or secondhand, renting or sharing items and having broken items repaired instead of buying new, all of which cut emissions from product manufacturing. n Considering family staycations

instead of flying and taking long road trips. n Choosing Rainforest Alliance-certi-

fied products, including coffee, bananas, tea and chocolate. Doing so maximizes the yield from existing cropland of farms that use responsible growing methods, which, in turn, protects and restores forests that sequester carbon. n Walking, biking or taking mass

transportation instead of driving. Taking such basic steps can also help influence others. As Treehugger writer Sami Grover says in his book We’re All Climate Hypocrites Now, riding a bike not only cuts down on our personal carbon footprint, but also sends “a signal to politicians, planners, businesses and fellow citizens.”

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eco brief

TAKE A UNIQUE APPROACH TO WELLNESS…

Urban Agriculture Funds Awarded Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA), in partnership with Food:Land:Opportunity, has awarded 2021 Capacity Building grants to Obodo Farms, La Villita Park Community Farm, Cicero Community Farm, Growing Solutions Farm, Sistas In The Village, Reclaiming Our Roots, Ever Favor Farms, Global Garden Refugee Training Farm, Sunflower Soule Farm, City Farm Chicago and Hinata Farm. This is a continuation of the series of grant opportunities AUA launched at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, AUA awarded more than $200,000 in grant funds to more than 80 Chicagoland growing operations via the COVID-19 Farmer Support Grant and the first round of the Capacity Building Grant, which continues to support urban farm businesses working to expand, scale up their operations and work toward sustainability. Guidelines address small operations (less than five acres and/or have an operating budget of less than $250,000); owned and/or led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color, trans, non-binary and/or gender non-conforming people; and providing food and other services for low-income communities. Grants range between $2,500 and $20,000, with applications reviewed by a group of food systems educators, growers and advocates; including Jesse Schaffer of The Talking Farm; Gina Roxas of Trickster Cultural Center; Azizah Ali-Ashraf of A&P Paradise Farm; Erin Kwiatkowski of a national nonprofit; Nora Bryne of a nonprofit health center; and Erana Jackson Taylor of Ujamaa Co-op. For more information, visit auaChicago.org.

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Health in the New Year 10 Top Wellness Trends for 2022

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by Sandra Yeyati

very new year marks the convergence of endings and beginnings—an opportunity to assess where we’ve been and anticipate where we’re going. As this dynamic relates to our health, this year promises an intensification in the development and adoption of several trends that have been years in the making.

Plant-Based Foods Take Center Stage The consensus among researchers is that filling our plates with colorful vegetables and fruits improves health and reduces our risk of developing a number of chronic degenerative diseases. “This approach, along with eating less meat and avoiding sugar, is wonderful to control blood sugar, lower uric acid and nurture your microbiome, which is fundamentally important to reduce 22

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inflammation, increase your body’s production of antioxidants and vitamins and help maintain the integrity of the gut lining so that you don’t get leaky gut and, therefore, inflammation,” says board-certified neurologist David Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain and four other New York Times bestsellers. Awareness of the devastating effects of industrialized meat production is also accelerating. “Avoiding animal products is probably the first and most important ethical choice one can make,” says Princeton University bioethics professor Peter Singer, author of the seminal Animal Liberation. “That’s going to dramatically lower your carbon footprint. You will no longer be complicit in the suffering of tens of billions of factory-farmed animals, and you won’t be contributing to the increasing risks of viruses being bred in factory farms.”

According to market oxygenation, while diaanalysis firm CB Insights, “Core concepts like being present in the moment or betics and non-diabetics taking in the other person in an empathetic way are alike employ continuous “As COVID-19 spread glucose monitoring systems across the globe, shifting rippling out into so many aspects of life.” to pinpoint how lifestyle consumer behavior and –Leslie Davenport choices like food, exercise virus outbreaks in factories and sleep affect blood sugar levels. “That is not only trending has dealt major blows to the meat supply chain, with the beef now, but will increase quite dramatically as consumers push to industry alone facing an estimated $13.6 billion in losses.” Several learn more about themselves,” Perlmutter predicts. “No longer is U.S. meat processing plants were forced to close their doors. this information going to be siloed in the doctor’s office. People In response, a growing inventory of plant-based alternative are becoming more and more empowered to learn this data about proteins is emerging, offering new products that seek to mimic themselves and act on it.” the experience of eating a juicy hamburger (Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods) or crispy chicken nugget (Simulate). Banza Learning to Improve Genetic Expression makes high-protein pasta from chickpeas. Retail sales of plantbased meals in the U.S. have grown by 25.5 percent over the “Our evolving understanding of epigenetics—how we can change past two years, and other manufacturers joining the field are our gene expression—is bringing more people on board to the Plantible Foods, Rebellyous Foods, Livekindly and InnovoPro. idea that our lifestyle choices matter,” Perlmutter says. “When A recent survey found that 36 percent of consumers intend to I went to medical school, we thought our DNA was locked in a increase their consumption of alternative protein sources in the glass case and that it would determine everything about us. Nownear future. adays, we know that the expression of more than 70 percent of our Perlmutter cautions, “Just because they’re plant-based doesn’t DNA that codes for health and longevity is under our control and give them full sanction. They may contain unfermented soy, influenced by our lifestyle choices. The food we eat, whether or which may not be non-GMO or organic, and per an article in not we slept well last night, the stress in our lives, whether or not the New York Times, their carbon footprint may be a lot higher we spent time in nature—all of these things, moment-to-moment, in production of these products than we have been led to bechange our gene expression. Holy Toledo! We now know that lieve. Do a little research on these manufactured foods and go certain lifestyle choices are good for you because they favorably for plant-based options that aren’t processed. Shop the periphchange gene expression. They teach it in med school now. It’s a ery of the grocery store.” breathtaking reality.”

Telemedicine Will Continue After the Pandemic According to management consultants McKinsey and Company, when COVID-19 began, the level of telemedicine increased in America 78-fold, peaking in April 2020. Although it has been declining since then, the use of telemedicine is still at a 38-fold increase compared to pre-pandemic times. “While it has leveled off, we are going to see persisting use of telemedicine in situations that involve basic communication with a patient,” says Perlmutter, citing compelling attributes such as cost savings, convenience and a lower carbon footprint because people don’t have to commute to a doctor’s office.

Wearable Devices and Home Testing Empower Patients Perlmutter also anticipates an amplification of the use of wearable devices and home testing to provide biometric data that informs people about their health status and inspires them to modify lifestyle choices. The Oura Ring records the time it takes to get to sleep, how many times the wearer awakens during the night and how much time they spend in REM and deep sleep. This information enables people to modify day-to-day activities to improve the quality and quantity of sleep. Apple Watch aficionados are increasingly relying on the device’s biofeedback features, including its newest metric, blood

Harnessing the Power of Low-Level Stress Life hackers and high-performance junkies are looking to leverage something called hormesis, which involves introducing low-level stress to the body for a positive outcome, so that when the body repairs itself from that condition, it doesn’t just repair back to the previous level, but to a new one with an advantage. This includes exposing the body to a hot sauna or cold exposure through cryotherapy, as well as intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating. “People are starting to see how good things happen when we engage in things that push us in places that are perhaps a little bit uncomfortable, activating mechanisms that help with metabolic health, immunity, cognitive function and even the growth of new brain cells,” Perlmutter explains.

Mental Health Destigmatized When U.S. gymnast Simone Biles dropped out of the 2021 Summer Olympic Games citing mental health challenges, she created an opening for other people to speak up. If a world champion could reveal her vulnerability on the global stage when the stakes were so high, certainly so could they. Her compelling story is emblematic of an emerging trend: Mental health is gradually becoming destigmatized. “It’s becoming acceptable to talk about our feelings and ask for help, and this trend is shattering unhealthy cultural myths, like the erroneous assumption that if we talk about our emotions January 2022

we’re going to fall into a pit of despair and sadness,” says Licensed Integrative Psychotherapist Leslie Davenport, the author of Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change. “There’s a boldness among younger generations that are challenging the status quo and demanding to be accepted as they are. Tucking away anything that might not be socially acceptable is a part of the past. Kids want their families and adults to accept and love them exactly as they are.” On Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, #itsoknottobeok is a popular hashtag. Mental health surveys show that eco-anxiety in particular is prevalent among the young. Late last year, scientists at the University of Bath, in England, interviewed 10,000 youth between the ages of 16 and 25 across 10 continents. In the U.S., 68 percent said that the future was frightening. Almost half admitted that they had distressing feelings related to climate change on a daily basis, 42 percent believed that the things they valued most would be destroyed and 35 percent feared that their family security would be threatened.

A Surge in Coaching According to Davenport, “In addition to therapy becoming more acceptable, I’ve seen coaching become more common as another option in which people don’t have to examine their past and can instead look forward. A coach can help them make sense of their life, set goals and hold them accountable.”

Mindfulness Becomes Ubiquitous

Therapy and Meditation Apps Abound Redefining the conventional, in-person therapy session that is 50 minutes in a quiet room, therapy apps allow people to have short phone calls, video chats or text exchanges with a therapist for a low monthly fee. Notable therapy apps include BetterHelp. com, OnlineTherapy.com, BrightSide.com and Calmerry.com. For meditation, Calm.com, InsightTimer.com and HeadSpace.com are dominating the field.

Virtual Experiences Are Here to Stay Many people that were devastated by isolation and loneliness during the pandemic sought social engagement via streaming and app-enabled webinars, exercise routines or art classes. Suddenly, virtual conferences attracted participants from all over the world. Davenport relishes the fact that she was able to take tap dancing classes from a renowned New York City teacher, even though she lives in Washington State. “In a surprising silver lining, we’ve come to appreciate the convenience of these virtual experiences, which we likely wouldn’t have attended in person before the pandemic.” Sandra Yeyati is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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In a few decades, mindfulness practices have catapulted from Buddhist monasteries to corporate boardrooms and have become a bil-

lion-dollar industry in the U.S. with an 11 percent annual growth rate. “Mindfulness has been emerging for a while, but at this point, it’s a household word,” Davenport says. “People are talking about mindful eating or mindful conversations. Core concepts like being present in the moment or taking in the other person in an empathetic way are rippling out into so many aspects of life.”

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inspiration

Open a Door of Transformation

success, absence of these from our human body will set us up for a more easeful experience.

INTO 2022

4. Extra Hydration: Water up. Yes, drinking two tall glasses (16 ounces) of water before entering a party scene will actually stimulate your brain and reduce the cloudy, overwhelming feelings.

Photo by Harrison Haines from Pexels

5. Change Your People Perspective:

by Susan Curry

hat if we truly walk through a door of transformation on the first of the year, a spiritually responsible reality of creation where the main goal is to be on our own side, owning our empowerment and eliminating the “emotional farts”? What would that look like? Here’s a guide for creating a personal mode of operation that will keep us on that path.

1. Spiritual Amnesia: Pretend that you’re meeting for the very first time. We know how we feel when everything is new in a relationship. We ask questions to stimulate interesting conversation about their interests and experiences. We share things that we have experienced in a fresh light of excitement, looking at our family, friends and colleagues with new clarity, highlighting the pleasantness of their character. 2. Grounding: Making sure our tummies and senses are full of “Earth energy”. Just like

not sipping cocktails on an empty stomach, smelling or eating certain nutrients can balance and stabilize us as we enter other energies within the room. The smell of dirt, coffee, palo santo and chocolate are great solutions, as well as consuming a bit of lentils/hummus, almonds, shilajit, chocolate or standing on the earth barefoot, as well as closing our eyes, imaging our feet as roots in the earth and breathing in the blue sky image through the top of our (head) crown three times will also set us up for success in our meetings and events.

3. Avoid: cane sugar, corn syrup, fried foods. Yes, there are some foods that have these

things in them that can be consumed in a state of blissfulness, but as a simple tool for

You know the way you talk to your dog, cat or horse—how you’re so proud of their actions, and they immediately make us glow with delight as they run to meet us at the door. Consider looking at the people in your long-term relationships as you would cute, adorable pets. Tell them how happy you are to see them and how cute they are, that they make you happy every time you see. them. This can be a positively humorous and successful way of shifting the energy into adoration, and release irritation.

6. Shoot Triggers into the Earth:

When we feel a strong, uncomfortable emotion, allow it to release through the body into the nearest form of earth, see it actually come out the feet into the earth. Stepping away from the situation and person to another room to release our emotional farts is an emotional intelligence, high-performance tool. Remembering that feelings of sadness, sorrow, anger and frustration come from old agreements, and choosing not to share these with others any longer is the emotionally responsible way of creating pure peace, honoring that we are strong and capable of doing our own releasing. Let us all practice being more on our own side, owning our empowerment, avoiding an emotional firewalk and seeing beyond the range of ordinary perception. Susan Curry is a medical intuitive, holistic life coach, nutritional adviser, business strategist, and the founder of InteriorWerx. Learn more at InteriorWerx.us. See ad on page 19, in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com. January 2022

conscious eating

A Better Morning Jolt

Healthy Coffee Alternatives and Hacks

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by April Thompson

ost Americans enjoy a daily dose of coffee, and an increasing body of research indicates it’s not a bad habit to have. Meanwhile, a growing number of people are adapting their morning drink rituals to incorporate ingredients ranging from matcha to mushrooms in search of additional health benefits. “After many years of research, we have concluded that coffee can be a fantastic additive to the diet. Coffee consumption is associated with a decrease in all-cause mortality, risk of cardiovascular death and stroke,” says Claudia Hleap, a registered dietician nutritionist in Philadelphia. Regular coffee consumption is also correlated with a decreased risk of Type 2 diabetes, potentially due to its naturally containing polyphenols, which are plant compounds with protective antioxidant properties. The caffeine in coffee, as well as in tea and cocoa, can also boost short-term metabolism and brain function. As with most things in life, moderation is key; overconsump26

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tion of coffee can result in insomnia, irritability, gastrointestinal issues and other short-lived side effects. “Caffeine intake may negatively impact sleep duration and quality, which is essential for optimal health,” says Hleap. “Coffee can also serve as a vessel for added sugars and unhealthy fats in the diet if you are adding sweeteners and artificial creamers.” Many java drinkers today are experimenting with healthy alternatives and add-ons to shake up their routine morning pickme-up. Chicory-based drinks, made from roasted ground chicory root, are a favorite for Lauren O’Connor, a Los Angeles registered dietitian nutritionist and author of Healthy Cooking for One. “Chicory is caffeine-free, acid-free and a gut-friendly alternative to coffee,” she says. “It also has a robust, roasted taste that can satisfy those who desire more than an herbal tea. Date ‘coffee’, made from date seed, also has a deep, rich flavor.” Some chicory tea blends also incorporate roasted dandelion root, which has been used by herbalists for centuries to enhance the body’s detoxifying functions, particularly of the liver. Golden

milk, a traditional Indian beverage associated with Ayurvedic medicine, is another flavorful alternative with numerous health benefits. Recipes vary, but golden milk is typically prepared by heating milk or a plant-based milk alternative along with turmeric, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, honey, vanilla and/or cardamom. “These warming spices go above a simple caffeine replacement to provide powerful anti-inflammatory benefits,” says Trista Best, a registered dietitian in Dalton, Georgia. Best also recommends matcha, a traditional Japanese drink made from powdered, young, green tea leaves whisked in water as a coffee alternative with less caffeine and other added benefits. Because the tea leaves are essentially consumed in powder form rather than just steeped in water, matcha contains more catechins, an important antioxidant, than a typical preparation of green tea. “The L-theanine, an amino acid, in matcha is known to improve brain health, which shows itself through improved memory, attention and reaction time,” notes Best.

A Better Bean

Rather than swap out coffee altogether, some java lovers are bettering their beloved beans with healthy add-ons such as powdered mushrooms, ghee and spices. “A healthy addition to coffee can include coconut oil, collagen or butter. These can add some fat and protein content, which will provide more energy while also jumpstarting your metabolism at the beginning of the day,” says holistic health coach Virginia Gruhler. Ghee, a clarified butter that originated in ancient India, has been touted as a “keto-friendly” way to help neutralize the acidity of coffee while adding healthy fats and nutrients. Spices like cinnamon and cardamom have been added to coffee and black tea for centuries in the Middle East and Asia to enhance both flavor and health. Cinnamon, for example, may help lower blood sugar, in addition to having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Mushroom coffee is another popular “coffee-plus” beverage which combines the flavor and energy boost of java with the benefits of medicinal fungi like turkey tail, lion’s mane and chaga, boosting the immune system and potentially warding off serious health conditions like dementia and cancer. Because caffeine can stay in the bloodstream for up to 10 hours, staying clear of all caffeinated drinks in the later hours of the day will help ensure a better night’s sleep. When a mid-afternoon slump hits, a brisk walk followed by a cup of a flavorful herbal tea like Rooibos or lemongrass can wake up the body and the brain naturally. Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

photo provided by deanna, homesteadandchill.com

Rather than swap out coffee altogether, some java lovers are bettering their beloved beans with healthy add-ons such as powdered mushrooms, ghee and spices.

Turmeric Golden Milk yield:

2 mugs

3 cups organic, natural milk such as oat, almond, coconut, hemp or another 2 tsp ground turmeric powder ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 Tbsp coconut oil (skip if using a full-fat coconut cream or milk) ¼ tsp ground ginger powder Dash of black pepper Maple syrup, agave syrup or honey to taste Optional, but luxurious and delicious: Pinch of ground cardamom (about ⅛ tsp or just under) Dash of vanilla extract or vanilla powder Pinch of ground nutmeg (about ⅛ tsp or just under) Gently heat milk of choice in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat. Once it’s warm, add the suggested spices, oil and sweetener. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine all of the ingredients. Depending on the type of milk used, vigorous whisking may create a nice, latte-like “foam”. Continue to heat for about five minutes, whisking occasionally. Serve immediately and enjoy it warm. Golden milk is also delicious cold over ice, although oil is not recommended to use in this case. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat leftovers on the stovetop (rather than in a microwave) to preserve maximum nutritional value. Source: Deanna, creator of HomesteadAndChill.com. January 2022

recipe from a gluten-free kitchen

Chai Tea Concentrate

Photo credit Tiffany Hinton

yield:

Warming Chai Tea for a Wintry Day

by Tiffany Hinton

s the winter sets into our bones and we reach for a warm sweater or blanket to cozy up to stay warm, the flavor of chai comes to mind. This tea has been enjoyed around the world, and got its start in the world of Ayurvedic spices. These same spices can create warming in the body and immune boosting for the winter season here in Chicago. Black pepper has been shown to reduce inflammation, having antioxidant properties, improving blood circulation and relaxing the muscles. Ginger has powerful heating properties, making it excellent for days when it’s freezing cold outside, like on snowy winter days. It boosts blood circulation, stimulates the body and improves digestion. Cardamom increases body heat, making it another perfect spice for the cold days, as well as the common cold and indigestion. It has a grounding effect, clears chest congestion, relieves headache, boosts energy levels and improves digestion. These herbal remedies are combined in the chai tea recipe, which can be used today to help our bodies feel warm and cozy. This recipe is easy to make on the back burner of the stove while cooking dinner or making soup for the weekend. The chai concentrate can be used for traditional chai tea by mixing with warm milk, added to coffee to create “dirty” chai or used in a cake mix in place of the water or milk to create a chai spice cake.

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2 cups or 6 servings

5 cups water 12 cardamom pods, crushed 8 whole black peppercorns 8 whole cloves 4 cinnamon sticks or 2 tsp ground cinnamon 4-inch piece fresh ginger or 2 tsp ground ginger 2 whole star anise pods 4 tsp vanilla extract ½ tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp allspice 2 Tbsp maple syrup 5 black tea bags In a small saucepan, bring all ingredients except the tea bags to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a low, add tea bags and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and strain through fine mesh sieve to remove solids. Store concentrate in an air-tight jar in fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Chai Tea

½ cup non-dairy milk ½ cup chai concentrate Heat gently in saucepan until warm. Pour into a cup and enjoy. Recipes courtesy of Tiffany Hinton, GF MomCertified. Connect on social media @gfmomcertified.

“Yes, that’s it! Said the Hatter with a sigh, it’s always tea time.” ~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

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healing ways

High Times for the Cannabis Industry Emerging Trends with a COVID-19 Caveat by Jim Motavalli

t’s fair to say that the cannabis industry has arrived. Recreational marijuana has now been approved in 17 states, and 37 have allowed marijuana for medical purposes. “We have CBD!” proclaim store signs selling the buzz-free cannabidiol. In 2020, more than 240,000 people worked in cannabis-related jobs. The Brightfield Group says the medical cannabis industry will reach $16 billion in annual U.S. sales by 2025. Cannabis market research firm Headset predicts this will be “a year of positive growth” for the industry. 30

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Legalization and expansion are strongly in line with public sentiment: Two-thirds of Americans believe marijuana should be legal, says the Pew Research Center. Opposition has fallen from 52 percent in 2010 to just 32 percent by the end of 2019. “Dispensaries and cannabis cafés are as commonplace as Starbucks, and ordering edibles is as easy as getting pizza,” reports marketing firm Grassfed Media. The National Retail Federation noted a 700 percent increase in the demand for CBD-based products in 2019.

Jody McGinness, executive director of the Hemp Industries Association, says the FDA doesn’t actually have strong enforcement powers, and that the worst thing CBD/THC legal violators can expect from the agency is a warning letter posted on the FDA website. Gregg Sturz, co-founder of Florida-based CBD Hemp Experts, a leading wholesale provider of cannabis-derived products, says he expects the FDA to eventually approve CBD for use in dietary supplements. “I don’t think they’re trying to shut the industry down, just come up with some clear guidelines,” he says. The legal status of THC is such a question mark that, according to Investopedia’s Marijuana Investing Guide, large banks “are currently afraid of money-laundering charges they may face if they work with these businesses … The American Bankers’ Association has been pushing for more legal clarity.” Newman, who studies the medicinal uses of CBD, notes that in some cases it’s being marketed as a topical analgesic for pain relief, when actually the other proven ingredients in analgesics— including methanol and camphor—are doing the heavy lifting. This situation has also produced FDA warning letters, because if CBD is claimed to relieve pain, then it is required to go through a new drug application process for efficacy. In 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex, an oral solution with CBD as an active ingredient, used for the treatment of rare and severe forms of epilepsy. While it’s the only approved product so far, studies suggest CBD might be useful for anxiety, insomnia, skin protection and addiction. McGinness sees the major growth area for cannabis-related products not in CBD, but in industrial hemp fiber. As hemp growers gear up in the Midwest after decades of federal bans, they’re likely to expand beyond cottage clothing companies into such areas as auto and industrial parts and building materials, he says. “Hemp products made in a green way create fewer emissions,” McGinness says. “And the bioplastics made from hemp are lighter-weight, which increases fuel efficiency. I expect we’ll see heartland industrial hemp grow so much it will make CBD look like a niche.” Jim Motavalli is a Connecticut-based journalist who writes about the environment, cars and music. He can be contacted via JimMotavalli.com.

jan nakhonkae/AdobeStock.com

One caveat, however, is COVID-19. Ron Newman, a sustainable development analyst with Lee Enterprises Consulting, says the hemp/CBD business was flat during 2020 because of the pandemic. “With the economic situation, people were buying only essentials,” he says. “But we’re seeing the business start to come back now.” With COVID-19 recovery, more growth is certain, and here are some upcoming trends. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient in marijuana that gets the user high. The natural compound CBD— said to have healing and pain/anxiety relief properties—is being heavily marketed in the form of oils, edibles (including gummy bears and lollipops), oral sprays, creams and pills. The third-most popular food-related Google search term in 2018 was “CBD gummies”. CBD dietary supplements are the biggest category, followed by topical applications and third, food and beverage additives. THC is still illegal in many parts of the U.S., but CBD cultivation and sales were legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill. California offers a model for the states in regulating cannabis. Both medicinal cannabis and adult recreational use are legal, but the industry is strictly regulated by the Department of Cannabis Control to ensure that businesses operate safely and that products are free from contamination, properly labeled and kept away from children. Research into cannabis is an emerging field, with 23,000 papers published since 2010, and Grassfed believes that some future products will be based on “other cannabinoids and terpenes such as CBN, CBG, THCA and THCV.” In addition, strains labeled indica, sativa or hybrid, or with names like Gorilla Glue and Wedding Crasher, may increasingly be replaced by a scientifically supported classification system. Bar & Restaurant magazine wants its bartenders to know there might be THC-free CBD cocktails on their future bar menus. It reports that these drinks are “a legal grey area; federally they’re illegal, but some states have their own CBD-related laws.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says flatly, “It is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement,” but the agency has said it is considering relaxing this prohibition. There’s a Wild West quality to the CBD/hemp industry today. An FDA study found many CBD products to be mislabeled, with either more or less CBD than indicated. A significant number contained THC. And then there are the laws, with federal prohibitions and state regulations, that can be quite different. For instance, New York bans CBD products with more than 0.3 percent THC, and bans CBD from any alcohol or tobacco product. So determining whether any specific product is “legal” or not in different locations is complex. But marketing benefits are plain. Wynk alcohol-free seltzer says it has “2.5 milligrams of THC and 2.5 milligrams of CBD in every can.” However, Wynk is not widely available. Casey Coughlin, Wynk brand manager, says, “We only sell Wynk through the dispensary channel, which is highly regulated on a state-by-state basis. So, although CBD and THC beverages are not federally legal, they are at the state level under regulation.”

January 2022

Common Period Misconceptions and What to Do About Them

will affect ovulation, and failure to ovulate will affect hormonal levels. Regular period cycles last from anywhere between 21 to 35 days. The average cycle is 28 days, with three to five days of bleeding. Healthy cycles have a predictable pattern, are regular and have 12 to 14 days of the follicular phase. A healthy amount of blood should be between two to no more than 10 tablespoons.

by Cristina Madine

very woman has a story to tell about their time of the month, and that narrative changes over time. Some suffer monthly, while others have a different experience. The number of women that suffer through their cycle is unknown, but most women have or will experience unruly periods. There are many products, some natural, dedicated to relieving intolerable symptoms, from pain killers to anti-bloating, mood stabilizing or even stopping the period altogether. The messaging is clear that having a period is not desirable and downright miserable. When a woman goes to a doctor or practitioner to find relief, these symptoms are often considered normal. They may be prescribed some form of birth control, told to take pain medication and assured not to be concerned. But while these symptoms may be common, they definitely are not normal; they point to an unhealthy menstrual cycle.

Misconception 3: Birth Control is the Fix The pill, patch and other birth control methods suppress natural hormones. Hormonal birth control disrupts the endocrine system by telling the brain to stop making hormones and consequently, natural hormones are suppressed. Therefore, there is no more ovulation or monthly periods. Bleeding experienced while on hormonal birth control is not a period. It is referred to as a “pill-bleed”. Birth control also depletes many nutrients such as vitamins B, C, E, magnesium, zinc and selenium.

Photo credit pololia for Adobe Stock

Misconception 4: Only Be Concerned About Fertility When Trying to Conceive

Misconception 1: PMS and Pain are Normal Premenstrual symptoms (PMS) refer to around a 100 or so symptoms ranging from physical to psychological during the luteal phase. While slight cramping is okay, and only on the first day, painful periods that need constant pain medication or are so painful that someone misses work or cannot function for days is not.

Misconception 2: It’s Okay to Have an Irregular to Non-Existent Period Just as the liver and kidneys help detoxify the body, so does the uterus. Therefore, it is essential that the lining be shed regularly. The most important information to know is the length of the period, the length of the entire cycle and the nature of menstruation. Hormone levels and ovulation determine the health of the cycle. A hormonal imbalance 32

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The period can and should be considered as the fifth vital sign for women. A healthy menstrual cycle communicates a lot about what is happening in the body. It lets a woman know that the uterus is getting enough circulation, hormones are well-balanced and ovulation occurs. Society needs to normalize talking about menstruation and recognize that PMS and other symptoms are not healthy. Besides menstruation, other phases are equally important. The entire cycle is a real-time health check. If there is an issue in the follicular phase, ovulation and menstruation will be affected. The menstrual cycle is quite impressive and a normal, healthy part of a woman’s life. A miserable cycle is the body’s way of saying something isn’t right and needs root cause attention, rather than a pill that masks the symptoms. There is hope. Here are some ways to start rebalancing an unhealthy period cycle.

LOW-DOSE NALTREXONE

Begin Tracking Cycles Several apps are available dedicated to tracking the menstrual cycle. A word of caution; because every woman’s cycle is unique, they often fall short of providing accurate information. It is best to track and learn about all signs from a fertility awareness educator. Learning about appropriate charting that shows where signs of imbalances are helps a health practitioner provide a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Find the Right Practitioner Many healthcare professionals such as nutritionists, health coaches, medical doctors and naturopathic doctors focus on women’s hormones and fertility health. It is crucial to find the right practitioner that aligns with one’s beliefs and approach. Take the time to research and interview each one to find the best fit.

Do a Hormone Detox Detoxes are everywhere. Some are trendy and not healthy. However, an appropriate hormone detox focuses on nourishing and supporting all the elimination systems in the body, such as the liver, kidneys, gut and uterus. Beware of detoxes that promote starving or only eating certain foods for an extended period. Not eating enough calories can wreak havoc on hormonal systems.

Cycle Sync Cycle syncing is an old-new lifestyle approach bringing women back to understanding their cyclic nature. Women have different needs and requirements over a month during each cycle phase from nutrients, caloric intake, exercise and energy levels. Learning what foods to eat, what types of exercise are appropriate during each phase and when to rest genuinely honors a woman’s cyclic nature. Many women have seen significant improvements in their life when implementing this approach. Cristina Madine is the founder of The Balanced Bella, in Chicago. For more information, visit TheBalancedBella.com. See ads on page 13, in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

Promising for Autoimmune Therapy by David J. Zeiger

altrexone was originally approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1985 at dosages from 50 to 100 milligrams for treatment of alcohol and opioid addiction. Its two forms comprise “dextro”, which blocks toll-like receptors decreasing cytokines and inhibiting inflammation, and “levo”, which blocks opioid receptors that release endorphins and decrease pain by upregulating the immune system and potentially decreasing cancer genes from activating. Bernard Bihari, M.D., later discovered the clinical effects on the immune system of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) in humans. In his clinical trial of patients with HIV/AIDS at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, in New York, he saw its effectiveness of low dose naltrexone in protecting the battered immune systems of those infected. LDN appears to operate uniquely as an anti-inflammatory and immune system modulator agent by binding to opioid Mu receptor in or on immune cells in the central nervous system via action on microglial cells and tumor cells. Thus LDN may be a promising agent in the therapy for cancer and many immune-related diseases. Dosing forms can be in liquid, capsule, creams, tablets, suppositories or eye drops made by a compounding pharmacist. This prescription medication is not addicting, but should be used with caution in patients currently taking opioids, including Tramadol. It works by blocking opioid receptors throughout the body for three to four to five hours. To avoid drug interactions,

opioid pain prescriptions should be discontinued or reduced approximately one week before starting this medication. People with organ transplants or using immunosuppressive drugs may want to avoid LDN. Those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis should use this medication with caution and on the advice of their treating physician, as they may have to adjust their thyroid supplement often in the early stage of treatment. LDN could represent a low-cost, safe alternative and complementary treatment for several chronic neurologic, rheumatologic, psychiatric and gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions, as recent findings suggest. David J. Zeiger, DO, ABOIM (with specialty board certification in integrative medicine) is the medical director of HealthWorks IMC. For more information, visit HealthWorksIMC.com. LDN is available at Mark Drugs, 1020 N. Milwaukee Ave., Deerfield. Call 847-419-9898 or see MarkDrugs.com. See ad on page 21 and in the Digital Directory at NAChicago.com.

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson January 2022

fit body

WHOLE-PERSON FITNESS Current Trends in Wellness Tools by Maya Whitman

nsiders agree that the idea of fitness is changing, and this means an exciting wave of trackers and apps that go beyond achieving the ultimate six-pack abs. “So many of us want a nice exterior, but now more than ever, we realize how important it is that the interior match that exterior,” says Dominic Kennedy, a Los Angeles trainer and founder of the Dominic Effect, an app that provides fitness workouts, customized meal plans and mind-body tools like meditation, yoga and affirmations.

The industry of wearable technology has been expanding since the advent of the FitBit Tracker in 2014, and the trend is not slowing down. Current fitness wearables even include rings that offer more detailed biometric data including blood pressure, heart rate, sleep and calories burned. With some smartwatches now priced under $50, it’s clear why the business marketing firm Grandview Research predicts significant annual growth for such products for the next six years.

foto helin/AdobeStock.com

Making it Personal

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NAChicago.com

For this year, fitness and wellness choices will focus more on practical effectiveness within the new normal. “I see that most don’t want to spend hours in the gym. The way life is now, we do things differently: home gyms, home office, home childcare,” notes Kennedy. The world of fitness is extending beyond the gym, taking inventory of all the aspects that factor into maintaining wellness. “This year, fitness is all about making workouts work for you and your lifestyle. Whether it be wearable technology, customized online personal training apps or mindset workouts that work on getting your mind in gear, 2022 has me excited,” says Stephanie Mansour, a Chicago-based fitness coach and host of the national PBS fitness and wellness show Step it Up with Steph. “I think we’re going to be focusing on habits and other areas of life like food, sleep and mindset that contribute to the effectiveness of workouts.” She also foresees people picking up inspiration from hardcore fitness devotees that share more of their personal daily habits such as journaling, affirmations and how they stay committed to investing in health. Bringing a water bottle to a yoga class or slipping on activewear is becoming digitalized, making it easier to target overall health. Staying hydrated based on individual needs is effortless using a Thermos app-connected hydration bottle with a smart lid that tracks daily intake. Mansour’s favorite fitness ally is clothing inlaid with resistance bands. “You can actually get in a workout while doing everyday activities with this resistance apparel. I love how resistance bands are built into these pants so my daily walk, yoga session or washing dishes and doing laundry turns into a workout because my muscles engage and work harder,” she says.

Kennedy sees a sense of community taking root since the start of pandemic, especially via online forums and groups centered on health and fitness. “We spend so much time on the internet and social media, and during the pandemic, it was a huge outreach that will continue to grow since you can do it right from your computer or phone.” New Jersey-based fitness trainer Nadia Murdock sees a trend of prioritizing ourselves without all-too-common feelings of guilt. The founder of Core Program, designed to help entrepreneurial mothers take charge of their health and fitness, she warns about the possible trigger effect of digital trackers that use pop-up screens or reminders about daily steps. “I would suggest asking yourself why you want to use a tracker. Once you have identified the reason, you can now seek out alternative options that may cause less pressure,” she says. To stay accountable without mental anguish, she suggests using a multisport watch that offers the perk of real-time audio coaching. Kennedy concurs, saying, “The point is not to cause any more anxiety and to create a safe space. We should not be obsessing about weight and putting ourselves down, but finding a space that will lift our spirits.” Despite the benefits of the latest technology and extras, Mansour reminds us to adhere to “tried and true methodologies like regular workouts that you enjoy, eating nutritious foods and taking care of your mental health through meditation, stress-reduction techniques and getting adequate sleep.” Maya Whitman writes about natural health and living a more beautiful life. Connect at Ekstasis28@gmail.com.

CLICK ON

nachicago.com for the latest updates in health & wellness

Maintaining Healthy Activities Keeps Us On Track by Rowena Dziubla

hile we should all be grateful for the opportunity to start another year of our lives, it can also be challenging to change or undo routines developed during the pandemic. Many of us have spent the last two years doing many things that don’t lead to a healthy lifestyle, such as less activity or more wine and beer. These activities have probably had an impact on not just our physical health, but our emotional and mental state, as well. To get more active in this new year physically, emotionally and mentally, here are some tips for sparking our creative juices and getting on the path to better health.

Photo by Vlada Karpovich of Pexels

More Support, Less Pressure

Increase Physical Activity • Stay around the house and reorganize your living/work space. Just keep moving. • Walk, bike or skate to a destination if you are able. Yes, it’s cold, but if it’s not wet out and there is no snow, this is very possible. It truly makes you feel more alive and appreciative of what you’re still capable of doing. • Consider developing a light morning stretching routine when you wake up and then again when you retire. These can all be done in bed, but you will still reap the benefits of keeping the lymphatic system healthy.

Increase Emotional Activity • As an alternative to an activity tracker, try the Amazon Halo. It provides insight on daily activity and reports on sleep quality and the tone of your voice as your interact with others more and more. A little feedback goes a long way in terms of being in tune with our emotions. • Spend a little extra time being in close physical contact with your significant other/loved ones and be more present in conversations and activities with them. • Find and respect the space you need to recharge. Extroverts don’t need to hesitate to reach out to others with the same energy. You can do anything now for meetings or events in person or virtually online. Introverts should allow themselves time to be alone; shut off phone notifications, pause email and perhaps cancel or postpone meetings to conserve energy.

Increase Mental Activity • Read a book about a topic you are totally unfamiliar with. • Encourage conversations around developing new ideas instead of catching up on gossip. • Take a class to level up a hobby. You may often think of going back to school to further your career, but increasing the quality of work/life balance is just as important. Rowena Dziubla is the owner and head coach at GET FIT EGV, located at 1100 Nerge Rd., Ste. 206, in Elk Grove Village. For more information, visit GetFitEGV.com. See ad on page 13 and in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com. January 2022

MONTHLY PLANNER

wise words

Peter Russell

february

heart-centered living

on the

Healing Power of Letting Go by Linda Sechrist

march

well as immersing in A Course in Miracles and the writings of contemporary teachers including Eckhart Tolle and Ram Dass.

food & nutrition

What exactly do you advise us to let go of?

april

I learn about marketing opportunities at:

847-858-3697

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NAChicago.com

n Letting Go of Nothing: Relax Your Mind and Discover the Wonder of Your True Nature, Peter Russell reminds readers what lies at the heart of all spiritual traditions. Based on his half-century of practicing Transcendental Meditation and applying the lessons of ancient and contemporary spiritual teachers, he offers a new perspective on the age-old practice of letting go, which involves not being attached to outcomes, surrendering desires, accepting the present, opening to a higher power, relinquishing the ego and practicing forgiveness. He traces the seeds of many ideas in the book to his time in India studying with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, as

photo by Peter Russell

sustainable living

While the thought-provoking title suggests that individuals might be asked to let go of a situation, possessions or a relationship, the fundamental theme running through the book is not the letting go of things themselves, but rather letting go the things that only exist in the mind—thoughts, interpretations, fixed beliefs, points of view, expectations of the future, attachments to possessions and relationships, judgements, grievances, assumptions about how things should or should not be. These things in the mind are the lens through which the things of the world are experienced. For example, looking at things through blue-tinted spectacles gives everything a blueish tinge. But the lens itself is not part of the world you see. In a similar way, the lens through which we see our world is not another thing we see. In this sense, we are letting go of the “non-things” that color our view of the world.

What led to your understanding of this? The questions “Is there another way of seeing this?” and “Could there, just possibly, be another way of seeing this?” occurred spontaneously, without an effort on my

part. With an open, curious attitude and without trying to find an answer or even assuming there was one, my inner knowing was able to shine through and reveal another more helpful way of seeing things.

What benefits have you experienced from letting go?

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I’m more in touch with my intuition and my feelings and less consumed by my thoughts. I feel better, experience more peace and am content. Discontent is largely self-created by thinking how things should or should not be. When discontent drops away, contentment becomes more prevalent. No one walks around wonderfully enlightened all the time. Letting go is a lifetime process. Noticing where I get caught up, pausing, coming back to the present, to what is, has a feeling of “Ahhh.” It’s a sense of coming home to my inner home. The world pulls us outward, taking us out of ourselves. When we step back from it and let go for a while, it’s like coming home to our self.

How can we better savor each moment? In just pausing and noticing what is in the present moment of experience, you’ll simply be stopping and withdrawing your interest from the thoughts that showed up when you paused. If you notice that your attention relaxes and if there is a sense of ease, a gentle sense of happiness or joy or a quality of spaciousness and clarity, savor it. Later, when it occurs to you, pause again and again. But don’t let the practice of pausing become routine or a ritual. Instead, make each pause a fresh inquiry into the moment and be curious about what it feels like, as if it were the first time, because it is the first and only time you will savor “this” moment. Linda Sechrist is the Natural Awakenings senior staff writer. Connect at Linda Sechrist.com. January 2022

green living

The Electric Vehicle Revolution Moving Toward an All-EV Future this Year

Hyundai's Kona EV offers 258 miles of range and 201 horsepower for $34,000.

lmost certainly, electric cars are in everyone’s future. Not only are automakers— from General Motors and Volvo to Rolls-Royce and Bentley—pledging to stop producing gas and diesel cars, but a long list of countries in Europe and Asia plus three U.S. states are planning to ban them by 2040 or earlier, often citing climate change imperatives. This wouldn’t be happening if electrification technology was standing still. Instead, it’s made rapid progress to the point that electric vehicles (EV) are more often than not better cars than their internal combustion counterparts. A range of 300 miles or more (the top model of the luxurious Lucid Air claims 520) has become commonplace, and the inherent properties of electric motors—such as lots of low-end torque—means they’re very fast off the line. The Rimac Nevera, an EV supercar, reaches 60 mph in an incredible 1.85 seconds. But there’s more. Fuel and service costs have been dramatically reduced with EVs. A 2018 University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute study pegged the average cost to operate an EV at $485 a year, compared to $1,117 for a gas-operated car, and battery packs and electric motors take up less space than engines, transmissions and radiators. This means larger passenger compartments with more legroom and no center 38

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“hump”, and storage up front (the so-called “frunk”), as well as behind. Designers are even able to ditch the grille—a feature shared by all but a few air-cooled cars on the market.

EVs Get More Affordable The high cost of EVs has been off-putting. The Tesla Model S Plaid Edition, made in California, starts at $129,990, the Arizona-produced Lucid sells for up to $170,000, and the Croatian-made Rimac costs $2.4 million. That’s one reason EV penetration is low—accounting for only 2 percent of U.S. sales in 2020. By last year, there were almost 1.8 million EVs on American

photo courtesy of Hyundai

by Jim Motavalli

Integrating with the Home Another EV cost is the installation of 240-volt electricity for home charging. But in 2020 the International Code Council (ICC) set new voluntary guidelines for new homes that would make all of them “EV-Ready”. Installing the necessary wiring when the house is built would cost $920, compared to $3,550 for a retrofit, says the ICC. Some municipalities, such as Seattle, already require EV wiring for new homes with off-street parking.

photo courtesy of Rimac

roads—three times the number of 2016—but affordable cars would make the numbers grow much faster. The federal $7,500 federal income tax credit for EVs helps, but it has a 200,000-unit sales cap, and General Motors and Tesla have already met it. Some states, and especially EV-friendly California, have generous additional incentives, and a proposed increase in the tax credit from $7,500 to $12,500 is under consideration by Congress. Battery pack costs—the key reason EVs are expensive—went down an average of 16 percent per year between 2007 and 2020, the University of Pennsylvania reports. And that has created cheaper electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Bolt ($31,995), Hyundai Kona ($34,000), Mini Cooper SE ($30,750), Nissan Leaf ($32,620) and Tesla Model 3 ($41,190). The big news for truck fans is that the country’s bestselling vehicle for many years, the Ford F-150 pickup, will have a battery electric variant called the Lightning on the market this spring with a price under $40,000. For some people, hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicles are a better choice. They’re certainly cheaper. Toyota’s long-lived Prius (with 58 mpg city/53 highway) starts at $24,525. And there’s an appealing Ford hybrid truck, too—the Maverick—at $19,995. It went on sale late last year. These “green” trucks are undoubtedly better for the environment than their gas and diesel counterparts. Greenhouse gas production is directly tied to fuel economy, and some versions of the current F-150 pickup get only 15 mpg combined. The only emissions from its EV counterpart and battery trucks like it will be from the generation of the electricity to run them. The Maverick hybrid gets 40 mpg in city driving. In 2020, researchers in England and Holland said that driving an EV is better for the environment in 95 percent of the world—the exception would be in areas with very dirty coal-based grids. For a complete lifecycle analysis, it’s necessary to factor in the effects of manufacturing, the mining of rare earth minerals, the makeup of the local grid, end-of-life recycling and other factors. EVs do have slightly higher greenhouse gas production from recycling (1.8 tons versus 2.4 tons) because of battery processing, a Chinese study says. But that same study reports that complete lifecycle emissions for EVs are 18 percent lower. The good news is that many of the factors that go into lifecycle analysis are getting better for EVs. Renewable energy is the fastest-growing energy source, and the amount in the U.S. grid increased 100 percent between 2000 and 2018. Lithium is essential for modern EV batteries, and both General Motors and BMW have invested in more sustainable methods of extraction.

The Rimac Nevera—an electric hypercar built in Croatia—is one of the fastest cars in the world, being able to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than two seconds. Increasingly, EVs are being equipped for two-way power, meaning they can power homes or construction sites. That’s one part of the appeal of Ford’s Lightning, which has 9.6 kilowatts of power available to keep the lights on during a power outage. It can provide full-home electricity for three days.

What to Expect

Buying an EV will require some lifestyle changes, most but not all of them positive. Passing up gas stations is a plus. Studies show that 80 percent or more of EV charging will be done at home, mostly at night. Regular servicing for tuneups and oil changes will become a distant memory, and so will the financial bite. AAA says EVs will cost on average $949 less per year to maintain. Many of today’s electric cars have range limitations, and this needs to be factored into trip planning. The 2021 Volkswagen I.D. 4 Pro can travel 260 miles on a charge, perhaps not enough to get to grandma’s house. The 2021 Nissan Leaf only has a 150-mile range, although the Leaf Plus increases that to 226. Buying used is tempting, because some EVs—such as early Nissan Leafs—are highly affordable, with good ones costing about $7,000. But its range is poor, just 73 miles. While some older Teslas have credible range, they’ve also retained their value pretty well. In general, buying new—which includes claiming the federal income tax credit—is a better idea. First-time EV buyers worry about high prices, range, finding public chargers (although the $7.5 billion allocated to build them in the recent infrastructure bill may help), the considerable time needed to recharge at home, compromised interior space and replacing the expensive battery packs. These are all legitimate concerns, but the lower-priced, roomy, fast-charging EVs coming on the market now—and a network of more than 41,000 public chargers—go a long way toward addressing them. Jim Motavalli, a Connecticut-based journalist, writes about the environment, cars and music. He can be contacted at JimMotavalli.com. January 2022

Offer Indoor Learning and Exploration in Winter by Sheryl DeVore

ometimes it’s just too cold to spend a lot of time outdoors exploring nature in winter. Local centers offer free indoor nature experiences for visitors that include holding a snake, studying animal tracks, watching birds at feeders or peering at bees in a hive. The centers, typically run by forest preserve and park districts, also have short trails nearby for a brisk walk. The Grove Interpretive Center, in Glenview, hosts a live, 125-year-old alligator turtle indoors year-round. “We have 10 kinds of turtles, but the alligator turtle is one of the highlights of the center. People don’t get to see a turtle like that up close,” says Lorin Ottlinger, director of the 150-acre preserve, which is designated as a National Historic Landmark. The interpretive center is one of several buildings on the property that pay homage to visionary horticulturist and educator John Kennicott, who settled on the property in 1836 and raised a son, Robert Kennicott. Robert kept part of his plant and animal specimen collection at The Grove, became a prominent naturalist, founded the Chicago Academy of Sciences and worked at the Smithsonian Institution. 40

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The state-endangered Blanding’s turtle can be seen indoors at Isle a La Cache Museum, in Romeoville. The center was renovated after voters approved a Glenview Park District bond measure with $2.6 million earmarked for The Grove. More exhibits show live and taxidermy animals that Kennicott studied at home and on his travels to southern Illinois and Alaska. The alligator turtle that Kennicott likely saw when visiting southern Illinois, now has a bigger tank with more nooks and crannies. “Kids can crawl in a tunnel around a new turtle island to Below: Big Al, the 125-year-old alligator snapping turtle, is a favorite for visitors to The Grove Interpretive Center, in Glenview.

Photo courtesy Glenview Park District

Nature Museums

Photo courtesy Forest Preserve District of Will County

natural chicago

Photo courtesy Glenview Park District

look at the turtles through windows,” says Ottlinger. Adults also have a new pathway to view the turtles. A 10-foot-tall Alaskan brown bear that once stood out of view on the second floor now greets visitors at the entrance. Kennicott observed bears and other wildlife while in Alaska. Another new display features a giant ground sloth skeleton. The sloth is an extinct relative of the South American tree sloth. “Visitors learn that giant ground sloths were native to the Midwest, including Illinois, until the departure of the last Ice Age,” Ottlinger notes. There’s also a new, 1,600-gallon aquarium filled with native Illinois fish. “Visiting places like The Grove Interpretive Center help foster a child’s natural sense of wonder,” Ottlinger says. “Their experiences here help to grow a passion for the environment and for plants and animals and biodiversity that will help them be responsible adults and help protect these treasures.” Adults also come away changed, she says. “For example, some people who come here hate snakes, but by the time they leave, they understand why they’re important and why they’re living here,” Ottlinger explains. “There are so many studies that show how important nature is. It’s so good for your well-being,” she advises, adding that indoor centers bring a healthy dose of nature to humans in winter. “One of the things I really love to talk about with kids is how Robert Kennicott was a little boy who was exploring nature in Glenview, just like they are. He grew up to a famous explorer and famous scientist.” It inspires children to consider what they might accomplish. The center offers interactive exhibits, including a dog sled Kennicott would have used on his trips to Alaska. Children can learn ways to stack the sled with items needed on such a trip. The Grove Interpretive Center, at 1421 Milwaukee Avenue, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Visit GlenviewParks.org/facilities/the-grove. At the Isle a la Cache Museum, in Romeoville, children interact with animal pelts and tracks, says Lynn Kurczewksi, director of visitor services for the Forest Preserve District of Will County, which owns the museum. “We want kids to experience the exhibits through hands-on learning.” She says, “At the museum, you can learn about how Native Americans lived in this area. One Sunday a month, we open a replica fur trader’s cabin to demonstrate life in the late 1700s. Interpretive naturalists and volunteers dressed in period clothing are there to provide information.”

More Free Nature Centers to Visit in Winter Check local forest preserves and park districts for indoor nature learning experiences in winter and short outdoor trails nearby. Here are three more free nature centers to explore. Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, 9800 Willow Springs Road, Willow Spring. The center opened in 1955, and a new one was constructed in 2010. It features live animals, exhibits and a wigwam replica. It’s open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through February, and closed on Fridays. In March, it remains open until 5 p.m. fpdcc.com/places/locations/little-red-schoolhouse-nature-center. Prairie Grass Nature Museum, 960 Hart Road, Round Lake, has lifelike indoor displays designed to give visitors an experience of being outdoors. Exhibits include blooming prairie flowers, wetland birds and mammal of the woodlands. Live animals also can be viewed. Hours vary. Check rlapd.org/prairie-grass-nature-museum. North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, has a discovery room, a hands-on table of natural objects and interactive displays. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for holidays. Walking trails are nearby. ChicagoParkDistrict.com/parks-facilities/North-Park-VillageNature-Center. Kurczewksi explains, “Though the primary focus of the museum is the French fur trade, the forest preserve district has added more nature-related exhibits, including a large tank with state-endangered Blanding’s turtles, plus families can take a half-mile hike around the island to see the river and maybe even some beaver activity.” Visit ReconnectWithNature. org/Preserves-Trails/Visitor-Centers/ Isle-a-la-Cache-Museum.aspx. Another Will County forest preserve nature center adults and children enjoy in winter is Plum Creek Nature Center, near the town of Beecher. The nature center features three live animals: Penny, a ball python, Lilo, an eastern box turtle, and Bluey, a blue-tongued skink. They are all rescue animals. “The five-foot-long python attracts the attention of both adults and children,” Kurczewski says. …continued on page 42 A skeleton of a giant sloth at The Grove Interpretive Center, in Glenview. January 2022

Sheryl DeVore has written six books on science, health and nature, as well as nature, health and environment stories for national and regional publications. Read more at SherylDeVore.wordpress.com.

Create the Perfect Calm-Down Corner at Home Find out more in the Healthy Kids section at NAChicago.com. 42

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Photo courtesy Forest Preserve District of Will County

Zen Zone for Kids Crystal Sing/AdobeStock.com

healthy kids

Photo courtesy Forest Preserve District of Will County

“Our naturalist staff will on occasion take the animals out and talk to visitors about them.” As with The Grove interpretive centers, naturalists at Plum Creek help people get over their fear of snakes. “They learn how docile they are,” Kurczewski says. “We also have an indoor live bee exhibit where you can see the activity inside the hive. The bees aren’t going outside in the winter, but they are buzzing around inside the hive. They’re doing cleaning and maintenance.” The bees in the hive help make the honey sold in the gift shop. A winter favorite is a room with a fireplace where visitors can watch birds at outdoor feeders. “That’s really what people are drawn to,” Kurczewski says. “They’ll sit there for hours to watch the birds.” They also can listen to the birds from inside through a microphone system that captures the chatters and calls from outside. Roughly 15 to 20 feeders, including those with suet, thistle and sunflower seeds, attract a variety of birds, including woodpeckers. “Last year, we saw a red-headed woodpecker at the feeder, which was really unusual,” Kurczewski recalls. Other birds that Above: Children look at live animals at the Plum Creek Nature visit the feeders in winter include tufted titmice, black-capped Center, near Beecher. chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches, northern cardinals and blue jays. Below: A ball python can be viewed at Plum Creek Nature Center, “People can talk with the staff and learn about the types of near Beecher. seeds we offer and what kinds of bird feeders they can have in their own yards,” Kurczewski shares. To get a breath of fresh air and some exercise, visitors can walk a paved, half-mile trail that leads to an observation deck along Snapper Pond Trail. A longer hike takes visitors to an elevated wooden bridge where they can see ravines below. “It’s really pretty. It’s such a peaceful landscape,” she says. “You can spend a good afternoon here, enjoying all the exhibits, watching the birds or shopping the gift shop. We also sell coffee or hot cocoa and have free Wi-Fi,” she notes. Visitors also can register for free winter programs and spend all day communing with nature at the center. Both the museum and center are open in winter from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m., Sundays. Visit ReconnectWithNature.org/preserves-trails/visitor-centers/plumcreek-nature-center.

Nature’s Virus Killer

not a sniffle!” she exclaimed. Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people around her show signs of cold or flu, she uses copper morning and night. “It saved me last holidays,” she said. “The kids had crud going round and round, but not me.” Attorney Donna Blight tried copper for her sinus. “I am shocked!” she said. By Doug Cornell “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” cientists have discovered a cold never got going. That was A man with trouble breathing natural way to kill germs fast. September 2012. I use copper in the through his nose at night tried copper Now thousands of people nose every time and I have not had a just before bed. “Best sleep I’ve had in are using it against viruses and bacteria single cold since then.” years!” he said. in the nose and on “We can’t In a lab test, technicians placed 25 the skin. make product million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. Colds start health claims,” he No viruses were found surviving soon when cold viruses said, “so I can’t after. get in your nose. say cause and Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply effect. But we confirming the research. He placed fast. If you don’t know copper is millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, antimicrobial.” “They started to die literally as soon as they spread and He asked they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. relatives and Some people press copper on a lip New device puts copper right In hundreds friends to try it. right away if a warning tingle suggests where you need it. of studies, EPA and They reported unwanted germs gathering there. university researchers have confirmed the same thing, so he patented The handle is curved that viruses and bacteria die almost CopperZap® and put it on the and textured to increase instantly when touched by copper. market. contact. Copper can That’s why ancient Greeks and Soon hundreds of people had kill germs picked up on Egyptians used copper to purify water tried it. The feedback was 99% fingers and hands after and heal wounds. They didn’t know positive if they used the copper you touch things other about microbes, but now we do. within 3 hours after the first sign people have touched. Scientists say the high conductance of unwanted germs, like a tickle The EPA says copper of copper disrupts the electrical balance in the nose or a scratchy throat. still works even when Dr. Bill Keevil: in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in Early user Mary Pickrell tarnished. Copper quickly kills seconds. said, “I can’t believe how good CopperZap is made cold viruses. Tests by the EPA (Environmental my nose feels.” in the U.S. of pure Protection Agency) show germs die “What a wonderful thing!” copper. It has a 90-day full money back fast on copper. So some hospitals tried exclaimed Physician’s Assistant Julie. guarantee. It is available for $79.95. Get copper for touch surfaces like faucets Another customer asked, “Is it supposed $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA25. and doorknobs. This cut the spread of to work that fast?” Go to www.CopperZap.com or call MRSA and other illnesses by over half, Pat McAllister, 70, received one for toll-free 1-888-411-6114. and saved lives. Christmas and called it “one of the best Buy once, use forever. The strong scientific evidence gave presents ever. This little jewel really Statements are not intended as inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When works.” product health claims and have not been he felt a cold about to start he fashioned Frequent flier Karen Gauci had been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to a smooth copper probe and rubbed it suffering after crowded flights. Though diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any gently in his nose for 60 seconds. skeptical, she tried copper on travel disease. “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and ADVERTORIAL

Copper can stop a cold before it starts

January 2022

natural pet

Pet-Pleasing Food Trends What Dogs and Cats Will Eat This Year by Ronica O’Hara

grin Falls, Ohio. “Fancy foods, gourmet treats, even personal pet chefs have become the norm.” In a turnabout on animal testing, some companies advertise that their pet food products are tested on humans. It’s the logical outcome of an evolution in how pets are regarded, say psychologists. Only a few decades ago, most dogs slept in doghouses rather than in bedrooms, and most cats were free-range explorers of the outdoors. Today, two in three American

households have a pet, and the animals are increasingly part of the family—sometimes even more beloved than human family members. One study, for example, found young children more likely to confide in a pet than in a sibling. A mattress company survey found that 71 percent of pet owners sleep with their furry friends. The forced togetherness of the pandemic drew pets and owners even closer. “Today, pet owners want to reward

chendongshan/AdobeStock.com

og and cat food is becoming ever more humanized in the U.S. Market researchers and veterinarians report that consumers are increasingly demanding for their pets what they want for themselves: high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients that are free of questionable byproducts. “Organic, gluten-free and even vegan are now mainstream when it comes to Fido and Fluffy,” says integrative veterinarian Carol Osborne, of Cha-

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their pets in every way possible to let them know how grateful they are for the unconditional love and companionship they provide,” says Osborne. The urge to lovingly pamper pets starts at the food dish with many emerging trends.

Custom Tailoring According to market analyst firm Mintel, three in five U.S. pet owners are willing to pay more for foods that are customized to their pet’s specific dietary needs, a trend being eagerly met by more than 700 brands and 10,000 products. Today, a dizzying array of foods are tailored to pets’ ages, breeds and physical and emotional conditions. Obese dogs can chomp down on high-protein, low-fat foods; anxious pups can mellow out with foods that contain hemp and CBD oil; and dogs prone to kidney stones may find relief on a renal-support formula. Consumers unable to purchase pricey, specialized formulas are making kibble less boring by adding flavorful mix-ins and toppers such as shredded tuna and lamb liver flakes.

Going Plant-Based The slow but sure rise in the number of Americans that eat natural, plant-based diets has its parallel in animal diets. Organic pet food free of pesticides, antibiotics and chemicals constitute a robust, $22-billion-a-year business in the U.S., and vegan pet food sales are predicted to grow globally by 12 percent a year. Ancient grains like amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat and millet are included in gluten-free formulas to satisfy a small but growing market. To make plant-based chow more appealing, pet food makers are adding savory flavors and substituting chemical enhancers with kitchen ingredients like vinegar.

Rethinking Meat

Photo by Tim Douglas from Pexels

Some manufacturers are replacing chicken and beef with more adventurous, gamey proteins such as rabbit, venison, bison and

wild boar. “Products are advertising how you can bring out their inner wolf by feeding them that food, because it is more natural to their instincts,” says Heather Venkat, the acting public health veterinarian for Arizona. Revenues are predicted to nearly double from $277 million in 2018 to $525 million in 2025 for a growing favorite: raw meat in the form of freeze-dried kibble.

Ethical Buys Consumers are examining labels to find pet food that is sustainable and responsibly sourced. “‘Made in the USA’ remains a popular claim and feature that may even be increasing, along with a demand for ethical claims, sustainability concerns and cause marketing,” writes Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry. In a survey of U.S. dog and cat owners conducted by Packaged Facts in early 2020, 69 percent reported concern about the treatment of animals raised for use in pet food.

Cautionary Notes When buying pet food, veterinarians urge pet owners not to be overly swayed by advertising claims. “For example, the words ‘holistic’, ‘ancestral’, ‘instinctual’, ‘gourmet’ and ‘premium’ are really just marketing. On the other hand, ‘organic’, ‘natural’ and ‘human-grade’ all have specific definitions when they are applied to pet foods,” says veterinarian Jennifer Coates, of Fort Collins, Colorado, author of The Dictionary of Veterinary Terms. “Most importantly, watch how your pet does while eating a particular food. If your pet is maintaining a healthy weight and has normal digestive function (firm stools, no vomiting), good energy levels, normal amounts of shedding and that ‘glow’ of good health, the diet you’ve picked is probably a good match,” she says. Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com.

Support Local Small Businesses! The heart and soul of any thriving community is comprised of local business owners and right now, more than ever, THEY NEED US! And WE NEED THEM! Certainly, stressors are high and budgets are tight, but when making needed purchases, COMMIT to shopping in person or online at local, small businesses whenever you can. Choose local markets, buy direct from local farmers, opt for take out from your favorite restaurant. We need each other to stay balanced and healthy, supporting our immune systems, our rest and renewal and our environments. Check in with local specialists, retail stores and practitioners about inventory and resources to support diet, stress and sleep, to optimize a healthy mind, body and home.

Take care of our communities:

Think Local,

BUY Local. January 2022

calendar of events CALENDAR DEADLINE: All listings must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Calendar events must be submitted online at NAChicago.com/Calendar.

Call First: Events or services may be cancelled, postponed or are now offered online. Call and check websites for up-to-date information.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31

New Year’s Eve Celebration – 7:30-9pm. Ring in the New Year with genuine inspiration and purpose, starting with the special talk, Healing our World with Compassion, with Resident Teacher Gen Kelsang Zamling, followed by traditional Buddhist prayers, Prayers of Compassion for World Peace. All welcome. $12. Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago in Oak Park, 13 Harrison St, Oak Park. 708-763-0132. MeditateInChicago.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1 New Year’s Day

Eight Steps to Happiness Meditation Retreat – Jan 1-2. 10am-3:45pm. Based upon the immensely popular book, The New Eight Steps to Happiness, this guided retreat will reveal with extraordinary clarity how to transform all life’s difficulties into valuable spiritual insights. In-person, livestream & recorded. $20/single day, $35/ both days. Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago in Wicker Park, 2010 W Pierce Ave, Chicago. 708763-0132. MeditateInChicago.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2

New Moon (Disgonah – Moon of Great Long Night) 2022: What’s Ahead for You? – 2-5pm. Find out via astrology or I-Ching Oracle Cards or Numerology. The choice is yours. In a 30min appt, learn about energies and possibilities specific to you for the coming 12 mos. $35. The Edgar Cayce Holistic Center, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines. 847-299-6535. HolisticCenterChicago.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 3

Darien Garden Club General Meeting: Show and Tell – 6:30-9pm. Hear garden tidbits and learn from our members. Share photos from a trip, nearby public garden or own garden. Bring artwork and crafts you’ve created, blooming houseplants, favorite tools, etc. Free. Zoom option available. St. John Lutheran Church, 7214 S Cass Ave, Darien. Register: Tinyurl.com/y2r38zh7. ONLINE: The History and Ecology of Horicon Marsh – 7pm. With Bill Volkert. Horicon Marsh is a restored wetland hosting over 300 species of birds. Get an overview of the geology, history, wildlife and ecological concerns for maintaining the health and integrity of this vast wetland. Via Zoom. Register: LakeCountyAudubon.org.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 4

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5

Illinois Specialty Crop Conference – Jan 5-7. Hybrid format. Tracks in urban agriculture, business development and marketing, tree fruit production, flower and herb production, agritourism, vegetable production. Springfield. SpecialtyGrowers.org/iscc2022. ONLINE: Lunch & Learn: Winter Recreation – 12-1pm. Learn about the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s wintertime recreation activities and which preserves are best for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, wildlife watching and more. ages 16 or older. Free. Via Zoom. Register by Jan 4: ReconnectWithNature.org. Bonne Année: A New Year Celebration – 2-3:30pm. Ring in the New Year like it’s 1759 with this French-Canadian fur-trader-style program that features stories and games from Illinois Country. Ages 6 or older. Free. Isle a la Cache Museum, Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E Romeo Rd, Romeoville. Register by Jan 2: 815-886-1467 or ReconnectWithNature.org. ONLINE: Wednesday Power Hour – 6:457:45pm. Start the New Year with more energy, inspiration, clarity and courage. Learn simple practices for getting unstuck, connecting with your aliveness and creativity, shifting old/unhelpful habits. $10/person. Registration required: 262-745-8362 or Sarah@SarahDKarnes.com. Meetup.com/Spiritual-NourishmentChicagoland.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6

Janel’s Akashi Records Private Sessions – 2-6pm. 30-min sessions. $35. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com. ONLINE: Birding in the Preserves – 7-8pm. Take a virtual hike with the Forest Preserve District of Will County to learn about a specific preserve and how to find birds on your own. Get tips and tricks on where to look and how to ID common birds. Free. Via Zoom. Register: ReconnectWithNature.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7

Christmas (Eastern Russian Orthodox) From Stress to Bliss – Fridays, Jan 7-Feb 11. With Cheryl. Max 6 people. $195. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8

SAVE THE DATE Virtual Midwest Women’s Herbal Wellness Series Begins – Jan 8-Apr 2, every other Sat workshops. In Our Own Hands: Women’s Wellness Series. Herbal elders from around the world will share their knowledge and Wise Women wisdom. For registration & more info: MidwestWomensHerbal.com/inourownhands-2022. Chinese New Year Event – 10am. Doors open, 9am. Laurie Pawli will share insights on how to clear the stagnant energy of the past year and make 2022 a year of rejuvenation and forward movement. Also includes motivational singing bowl meditation, singing bowl and gong sound bath, qigong group exercise and more. Crystals, stones, sprays and jewelry available for purchase. $22.22. Embassy Suites in Lombard/Oak Brook, 707 Butterfield Rd, Lombard. For more info: 630-279-8870. Register: LauriePawli@ gmail.com or CreateTheFeeling.com. Pliking: Mini-Hike at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve – 10-11am. Pliking is a version of the Swedish activity plogging, which involves picking up litter while jogging. Trash bags and garbage pickers provided. Ages 18 or older. Free. Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve, Broadway St, Lockport. Register by Jan 6: 815-727-8700 or ReconnectWithNature.org. Eagle Watch program – 11am-3pm. With the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Includes refreshing, fact-filled winter hikes to search for these majestic birds. Short Talon Talks filled with eagle tidbits and live birds of prey programs. Includes a fire outside and Lil’ Deb’s Mobile Eats onsite with hot beverages and food for sale. Admission free. Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W Walnut Ln, Channahon. ReconnectWithNature.org. Melissa’s Despacho New Year Ceremony – 12:30-3pm. Max 6-8 people. $60. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com. Lymphormation Class – 2pm. 2nd Sat. Join CLT Lymphatic Practitioner Sharon Vogel and staff for complimentary community service monthly lecture about the lymphatic system, lymphedema, post-surgical swelling, new surgeries available, natural remedies, selfcare, bandaging, plus receive complimentary measurements for garments and pneumatic pumps. Learn how to perform The Vogel Method of self-manual lymphatic drainage. National Lymphatic Centers, 3100 Theodore St, Ste 202, Joliet & 5002a Main St, Downers Grove. RSVP: 630-241-4100. Lymphatics.net. ONLINE: Chicago IANDS – 2pm. Support/study/ resource forum for near-death, out-of-body and spiritual experiences, losses. Guest Speaker: Adam Teipel, NDEr, Reconnection Healer, writer, speaker, spiritual teacher, founder: Energy Healthcare Connection. $20 tax-deductible donation requested (see website). For more info & to register: 847-251-5758 or ChicagoIANDS.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

MONDAY, JANUARY 10

ONLINE: The Return of Bald Eagles to the Chicago Area: A Conservation Success Story – 6-6:40pm. A virtual panel discussion with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and partners will highlight the return of nesting bald eagles in the area. Free. Via Zoom. Tinyurl.com/4prenw5x. Be a Literacy Volunteer – Jan 10, 12, 17, 19. 6:30-9pm. Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley will hold a free tutor training workshop. Help adults read, write, speak and understand English. Program provides material and instruction so anyone can help. Free. St. Charles Public Library, 1 S 6th Ave, St. Charles. To register: lvfv.org.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11

Beginning Zen Shiatsu – Tuesdays, Jan 11-Mar 15. 10am-1pm. Learn how to give a basic 1-hr shiatsu treatment that you can share with friends and family. Course is a stand-alone offering and is also the first 30 hrs of our complete shiatsu certification programs. $450/early bird plus textbook. Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 818 Lake St, Evanston. 847864-1130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org. Private Sessions with Melissa – 11am-3pm. 30-min sessions. $35. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com. ONLINE: Go Green Highland Park Monthly Meeting – 7pm. 1st Tues. Join GGHP for our monthly meeting and share your ideas. Find out how you can get involved in event planning or help with other group activities. More info: GoGreenHP.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12

Illiana Vegetable Growers Symposium – 8am4pm. Sessions include grant writing and funding sources, urban ag updates, irrigation basics for small farms, cover crop strategy and more. Teibel’s Restaurant, 1775 US-41, Schererville, IN. Register by Jan 4: Tinyurl.com/2p8ahtcx. Nature Play Day: Snow – 10-11:30am. Join the Forest Preserve District for this monthly nature-themed program for tots. Ages 3-5. Free. Plum Creek Nature Center, 27064 S Dutton Rd, Crete. Register by Jan 12: 708-946-2216 or ReconnectWithNature.org. VIRTUAL: Chinese New Year Ceremonies: Year of the Tiger – 7-8:45pm. Learn the time-honored ceremonies that will make the Year of the Tiger the best year ever. The methods that you will learn will keep the abundance flowing into your home and welcome positive energy and helpful people to your life. $21. Register: LauriePawli@ gmail.com or CreateTheFeeling.com. Beginning Zen Shiatsu – Wednesdays, Jan 12Mar 16. 7-10pm. Learn how to give a basic 1-hr shiatsu treatment that you can share with friends and family. Course is a stand-alone offering and is also the first 30 hrs of our complete shiatsu certification programs. $450/early bird plus textbook. Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 818 Lake St, Evanston. 847-864-1130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org. ONLINE: AllOne Conscious Conversations – 7:55-9pm. Discover your true self beyond the ego state. Join Sharon Berkowitz and Lynda Hope with special guest Makara live from New Mexico. Passcode for Zoom: vXZ5dD. Zoom link: Zoom. us/j/4813143144.

2 Misconceptions

about Bladder Pain and

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI s) If you suffer from bladder pain or reoccurring UTIs, you’re probably doing all the things to avoid the next painful onset: drinking enough water, and consuming cranberry juice or cranberry extract. Bladder discomfort can happen when bacteria enters the urinary system by way of the urethra. Most commonly, this bacteria comes from the bowel. But could something else be causing the issue? Misconception 1 : Bladder irritation is always a UTI .

People experiencing bladder urgency or pain may think that they have a UTI. However, bladder irritation often occurs when the body is taking in food that cannot be digested properly.

Misconception 2 : Taking antibiotics will rid the pain or discomfort. Looking at the issue scientifically, this is

what we know: Cultivating a healthy gut balance through proper nutrition can get to the source of what is causing the irritation, and may be a helpful therapy for reoccurring or chronic issues.

Get Expert Help.

If you experience bladder irritation, you can identify what’s really going on and establish an effective therapy plan. I take a science-based approach to understanding your unique digestive needs. Developing a healthy gut balance by identifying food irritants and optimizing digestion—can have a big impact on reducing chronic symptoms and boosting overall health and vitality.

The Tummy Whisperer is here for you. Call today for a free 15-minute consultation.

Let’s get you feeling better.

Digestive 847-207-2 Call 84 7-207-20 034 Telehealth and in- offi officce t he tu m mywh i sp e re r. c o m January 2022

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13

MONDAY, JANUARY 17

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14

Wander at the Wetland: Full Moon Snowshoe & Hike – 4:30-8pm. Experience the winter landscape of the prairie and wetland when you take a hike, snowshoe or ski the trail lit by hundreds of luminaries. Free. Nygren Wetland Preserve, 3190 W Rockton Rd, Rockton. Register by Jan 17: 815-964-6666 or NaturalLand.org.

ONLINE: Friluftsliv: The Outdoor Life – 5-6pm. The Norwegian philosophy of friluftsliv means open air or outdoor living. Learn how to embrace time outdoors despite the weather. Free. Via Zoom. Register: ReconnectWithNature.org.

Hoot Hoot Hooray: Family Owl Hike – 6-7:30pm. Explore McKinley Woods as we quietly listen for magical and elusive owls. While we listen for our resident owls, we’ll also have the chance to hear other creatures of the night. Free. Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W Walnut Ln, Channahon. Register by Jan 13: 815-722-9470 or ReconnectWithNature.org. Friday’s Big Question – 6:30-7:30pm. A lively hour of meaningful discussion and spiritual community, open to absolutely everyone. Free. Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago in Oak Park, 13 Harrison St, Oak Park. 708-763-0132. MeditateInChicago.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

Detox Your Mind: Silent Afternoon Retreat – 2-5pm. In this afternoon of guided meditation and gentle silence, find the space and time to truly de-stress, disconnect from digital life, and reconnect with inner peace and contentment. In-person, livestream & recorded. $25. Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago in Wicker Park, 2010 W Pierce Ave, Chicago. 708-763-0132. MeditateInChicago.org. Crystals for Everyday – 4-6pm. With Janel. Space limited. $60. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16 World Religion Day

Marina Massage – Appt only. Personal, injury and expecting mothers. $100-$150. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com. Intro to Ortho-Bionomy Bodywork – 9:30am4:30pm. Barry Krost covers the history, philosophy and concepts of Ortho-Bionomy. Gain an overview of basic release techniques and anatomy for the neck, lower leg and foot, arms and shoulders, and other areas as time permits. 6 CEUs. $170, $150/10 days advance. Infinity Foundation, 1280 Old Skokie Rd, Highland Park. 847-831-8828. InfinityFoundation.org. ONLINE: Activating Human Design – 1-4:30pm. Karen Curry Parker, BSN, CFC, will speak about a synthesis of ancient wisdom and modern science called Human Design. A human design chart offers an astonishingly accurate guide to your personality with direction and counsel about how to deal with challenges in your life. 3 CEUs. $55, $45/10 days advance. Via Zoom. 847-831-8828. InfinityFoundation.org. So, You Think You Can’t Meditate – 2-5pm. One-on-one, 50-min session with Deneene Florino will teach you different techniques on calming the mind, setting intentions and going within. Not all techniques work all the time. It depends on your mindset at the moment. Deneene will help you work with and apply different techniques to get you where you want your meditation to take you. $55. The Edgar Cayce Holistic Center, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines. 847-299-6535. HolisticCenterChicago.com.

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Full Moon (Wolf Moon) Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

O N L I N E : Practical Self-Care – 7 : 3 0 8:15pm. Personally guided by Sarah Karnes you will develop a more compassionate and loving relationship with your body, mind, and spirit. Donation. 262-745-8362. Meetup.com//Spiritual-NourishmentChicagoland.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19

ONLINE: Garden Planning with Tiffany – 5:307pm. Learn how to map your garden, select plants for your health and create a garden dream board. From large to small the techniques Tiffany Hinton shares can be used again and again to create a successful garden year after year. Free. Register: Tinyurl.com/2p8kasrd.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20

See NAChicago.com for latest events. Heal n Cure Open House – 6-8pm. Focused on Incontinence. Learn how new Emsella device can help as well as how hormone balancing can help. Try a demo. With Meena T. Malhotra, MD. Free. Heal n Cure Medical Wellness Center, 2420 Ravine Way, Ste 400, Glenview. RSVP: 847-686-4444 or HealNCure.com/seminar.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22

Excursion Hike at Hadley Valley – 10am-3pm. After watching the Jan 13 “Friluftsliv: The Outdoor Life” webinar, register for a 7-mile hike based on this Norwegian philosophy. Ages 18 or older. Free. Hadley Valley Preserve, Gougar Road Access, 18304 Gougar Rd, Joliet. Register: 815-727-8700 or ReconnectWithNature.org. ONLINE: Goal Mapping Mastermind – 1-4pm. Do you have a dream/vision/goal that is languishing on the back burner? Together we’ll create your unique road map that clarifies tangible and doable actions. Get the support you need to feed, water and nurture your dream, for yourself and your community. $25/person. Register by Jan 19: 262-745-8362 or Sarah@SarahDKarnes.com. Meetup.com/Spiritual-NourishmentChicagoland. Sound Healing – 6:30pm. With Andre. Space limited. $60. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23

January in the Woods: Off-Trail Adventure: Eagles – 10-11:30am. Explore the woods off trail with a naturalist as we look for signs

of bald eagles and other active animals in winter. Free. Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W Walnut Ln, Channahon. Register by Jan 22: 815-722-9470 or ReconnectWithNature.org. Astrology Readings – 11am-3pm. With Lin Boffeli. By appt. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com. Scrying & Gazing with Crystals – 2-4pm. We will demonstrate the various forms of scrying using gemstone mirrors, crystal balls and other methods to connect with information from the Divine realms. No experience necessary. $35. The Edgar Cayce Holistic Center, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines. 847-299-6535. HolisticCenterChicago.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 24

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26

VIRTUAL: Reiki Relaxation Hour – 7-8pm. Shake off the stress of the day in a natural and healthy way with reiki. Relax even deeper with a guided reiki meditation (which you can use at home to bring peace to your daily life). Experience distance reiki along with the meditation. A great opportunity to check out what a reiki distance session is like. Time afterwards for sharing and Q&A. Free. Via Zoom. CalandraAcupuncture.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27

Stress, Hormones & Health Seminar – 6:30pm. Learn how hormone imbalances can affect your sleep cycles, carbohydrate cravings and fat burning. Why “counting calories” doesn’t work for belly fat. Learn the biggest mistake that people make with exercise that prevents weight loss. With Meena T. Malhotra, MD. Free. Heal n Cure Medical Wellness Center, 2420 Ravine Way, Ste 400, Glenview. RSVP: 847-686-4444 or HealNCure.com/seminar.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

Winter Waterfowl Hike – 1-3pm. Discover our winter visitors who are staying “toasty” in the Des Plaines River. This program takes places entirely outdoors. Free. McKinley Woods, Kerry Sheridan Grove, 25055 W Walnut Ln, Channahon. Register by Jan 28: 815-722-9470 or ReconnectWithNature.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30

Dog Admission Day – 7am-sunset. Hit the trails, at The Morton Arboretum, with your canine friend. $5/dog. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, Lisle. 630-968-0074. Reservations required: MortonArb.org. Happy Mornings Yoga and Hike – 9-10:30am. Program includes a 35-45-min, all-levels yoga session followed by a 35-45-min hike along our scenic trails. Free. Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W Walnut Ln, Channahon. Register by Jan 29: 815-722-9470 or ReconnectWithNature.org.

Astrology Readings – 11am-3pm. With Lin Boffeli. By appt. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com. The Astrological Moon – 1-4pm. In-person & on Zoom. The Astrological Moon looks at the Moon as it represents emotions, personality, and the subconscious as well as investigating the natal Moon’s relation to the Sun, the Progressed Moon’s phases, and relation to the Saturn and Uranus cycles, and an understanding of the Nodes and their significance. $55, $45 by Jan 23. Life Force Arts Center, 1609 W Belmont Ave, Chicago. 773-327-7224. LifeForceArts.org.

MONDAY, JANUARY 31

VIRTUAL: Book Talk and Discussion – 6-7:30pm. With author-adventurer Anders Morley about his book, This Land of Snow: A Journey Across the North in Winter. Via WebEx. Registration required: RockfordPublicLibrary.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

VIRTUAL: 27-Day Bagua Walk – Feb 1-28. 7pm. Delight in the collective energy of our group, along with the beginning of Chinese New Year and the New Moon to transform your desires into reality. Class consists of 10 short virtual (or video sessions), with explanations on how to reinforce each of the 9 areas of the bagua. There will be adjustments for you to make in career, knowledge, family, wealth, fame, relationships, children, helpful people and health to raise the vibration to the next level bringing more success to your life. $27.72. Register: LauriePawli@gmail.com or CreateTheFeeling.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12

SAVE THE DATE Neuroplasticity Made Simple – 9am-12pm. Learn a practical technique that leverages your brain’s natural adaptability. Learn about how your own mind works and what you can do to improve your thoughts, in a fun playful way. $55, $45/10 days advance. Infinity Foundation, 1280 Old Skokie Rd, Highland Park. 847-831-8828. InfinityFoundation.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26

SAVE THE DATE VIRTUAL: Trinity Health Freedom Expo weekend – Feb 26-27. 10am-6pm. Platform for individuals to come together to learn from natural health experts and health freedom advocates. $40 for the weekend event and 6 months of virtual access. Register: TrinityHealthFreedomExpo.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5

SAVE THE DATE Body Mind Spirit Expo Weekend – Mar 5-6. 10am-7pm, Sat; 10am-6pm, Sun. Live performances featuring entertaining music, dance and spoken word. Explore an incredible selection of the nation’s finest psychics and mediums, the best in alternative health, wellness tools, products and resources. $15/ weekend. Midwest Conference Center, 401 W Lake St, Northlake. Info: 541-482-3722 or bmse.net.

ongoing events To ensure we keep our community calendar current, ongoing events must be resubmitted each month. DEADLINE: All listings must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Calendar events must be submitted online at NAChicago.com/Calendar.

DAILY

TUESDAY

Dulce Kessler Massage Special – Thru Jan. 20% off. Ducat Chiropractic & Sports Medicine, 148 S Bloomingdale Rd, Ste 107C, Bloomingdale. 224-653-8094. KesslerMassage.com.

ONLINE: Yoga with Lisa – 10am. Heaven Meets Earth, 2746 Central St, Evanston. 847-475-1500. HeavenMeetsEarthYoga.com.

Illuminated Winter Walking Trails – Thru Mar 13. 6:30am-9pm. Guided by small solar-powered lights, hikers, skiers and snowshoers can enjoy evenings along the 1.3-mi fitness trail at Old School Forest Preserve in Libertyville and a 1.65-mi hilly section of the Millennium Trail adjacent to the Winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. View maps: Tinyurl.com/OldSchoolSolarTrail & Tinyurl.com/ LakewoodSolarTrail.

SUNDAY Ruck the Work Week – 8am. Rucking effectively allows you to combine aerobic training and strength training while slicing your workout to a fraction of the time. With Get Fit EGV. Free. Busse Forest South Grove 17, Elk Grove Village. Must register by 7pm the night before: Linktr.ee/ getfitegv_coachro. ONLINE: The Mike Nowak Show Radio Program – 9-11am. Live weekly online local talk show focused on gardening and the environment, with lots of humor to wake us up. Author and master gardener Mike Nowak and cohost Peggy Malecki feature a variety of guests and weather/climate scientist Rick DiMaio in a live show on Facebook @The Mike Nowak Show, YouTube and streaming live at MikeNowak.net. Also available in podcast on MikeNowak.net, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and podcast apps. Free. MikeNowak.net. Logan Square Indoor Farmers’ Market – Thru Mar 27. 9am-3pm. Open snow, sleet or shine. Impact Images Studio, 2537 N Pulaski, Chicago. LoganSquareFarmersMarket.org. ONLINE: Time to Dance: Ballet – 10:30am. Also 1:30pm, Tues & 5:30pm, Thurs. Although not beginner classes, dancers of all levels of experience welcome. Via Zoom. To register: CBG-Institute.org.

MONDAY Sentinel Watch Podcast – 7am. Weekly audio podcasts filled with thought-provoking ideas posted each Mon. Contributors tackle topics relevant to daily life and inspiring prayers for the world. New programs are posted every Mon and available 24/7 throughout the week. Tune in any time. CSMetroChicago.org. ONLINE: Yoga Basics with Jenny – 11am. Also held 9:30am, Wed & Fri. Heaven Meets Earth, 2746 Central St, Evanston. 847-475-1500. HeavenMeetsEarthYoga.com. Numerology Sessions and Birth Angel Sessions – 11am-4pm. With Philip Clark. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com.

ONLINE: Time to Dance: Ballet – 1:30pm. Also 10:30am, Sun & 5:30pm, Thurs. Although not beginner classes, dancers of all levels of experience welcome. Via Zoom. To register: CBG-Institute.org. Green Drinks Libertyville – 6:30pm. 2nd Tues. Check our Facebook page for updates. Facebook.com/greendrinkslibertyville. ONLINE: Hacking Your Health Meetup – 6:30-8pm. 3rd Tues. With Tiffany Hinton. Let’s get together to expand our knowledge of living a healthy life, using integrative wellness. Features an expert speaker on topics current to our health landscape. We can share recipes, have events at local health restaurants and learn more to raise healthier children. Free. Purple Sprout Cafe and Juice Bar: Meetup.com/Hacking-Your-Health-Meetup. ONLINE: Guided Meditation for Inner Balance & Quieting the Mind – 6:50-8:10pm. 3rd Tue. With Ellen Radha Katz. Donation. Via Zoom. Register: Meetup.com/Inner-Balance-Meditation. ONLINE: Let’s Talk Hemp Health – 7pm. A short presentation by hemp advocates and educators on the basics of CBD oil. Learn the benefits and science of how and why cannabis works in the body. Learn exactly what CBD and other cannabinoids are and what function they play in the body. Different guests each week. Free. On Zoom. Details: 630-309-3409 or HempHealthTalks.com. Shiatsu Student Clinic – 7 & 8pm. Receive a 45-min session from an advanced Zen Shiatsu student. Sessions are performed in a group setting with instructor observation. $35/45-min or $90/3 treatments. Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 825A Chicago Ave, Evanston. Availability limited; for appts: 847-864-1130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org. Guided Meditation – 7-8pm. Love donations accepted. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com.

WEDNESDAY ONLINE: Body & Brain Tai Chi Class – 7:308:30am; 10-11am; 6-7pm. Additional classes held daily; see website for times. After a short set of warm up exercises, get into meridian stretching (to improve circulation, strength and flexibility, and relax the mind) and then go into Body & Brain-style tai chi called DahnMuDo. We stream all classes live on Zoom. Info & to register: 847-362-2724, Libertyville@BodyNBrain.com, BodyNBrain.com/libertyville. Green Drinks McHenry County – 5-7pm. 1st Wed. Check website for updates. GreenDrinks.org/IL/Crystal Lake.

January 2022

CLASSIFIEDS AKASHIC CONSULTATION AKASHIC RECORD READING – Open the record of your soul’s journey to find information to support you in your life right now, heal your past and help you into your future. Heal. Grow. Investigate. Find direction. Lin Ewing: 847-609-0034. AstrologicalDetails.com.

ASTROLOGY ASTROLOGY – Understand yourself, your motivations, your feelings. Recognize your talents, strengths, successes. Overcome difficulties and confusion. Astrology can help pull it all together. Relationships. Career. Plan the future. Serious astrology for serious seekers. Private, personal consultations. Lin Ewing: 847-609-0034. AstrologicalDetails.com.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES YOUR LISTING CAN BE HERE – Visit NAChicago.com/classifieds.

HELP WANTED YOUR LISTING CAN BE HERE – Visit NAChicago.com/classifieds.

LECTURE LYMPHORMATION LECTURE – Jan 8, 2pm. 2nd Sat. Join CLT Lymphatic Practitioner Sharon Vogel and staff for a complimentary community service monthly lecture about the lymphatic system, lymphedema, post-surgical swelling, new surgeries available, natural remedies, selfcare, bandaging, plus receive complimentary measurements for garments and pneumatic pumps. Learn how to perform The Vogel Method of self-manual lymphatic drainage. National Lymphatic Centers, 3100 Theodore St, Ste 202, Joliet & 5002a Main St, Downers Grove. RSVP: 630-241-4100. Lymphatics.net.

Check Online:

Check the NA Online Calendar and Directory for many updates and new online events and workshops.

ONLINE: Prayer Meeting – 6-7pm. Informal weekly gatherings with inspirational readings, song, prayer and time to share healings and inspiration. Meetings being held remotely during COVID-19. More than a dozen different online groups hold mid-week online meetings; times vary, but all groups meet on Wed evenings. Free. Log-on info & times: CSMetroChicago.org.

THURSDAY ONLINE: Time to Dance: Fitness – 9:30am. Emphasizes low-impact, high-intensity, cardio dance and fitness routines accompanied by music. Alternate dance with resistance routines to build and maintain muscle and bone density. Via Zoom. To register: CBG-Institute.org. ONLINE: Time to Dance: Modern – 1:30pm. Although not beginner classes, dancers of all levels of experience welcome. Via Zoom. To register: CBG-Institute.org. ONLINE: Time to Dance: Ballet – 5:30pm. Also 10:30am, Sun & 1:30pm, Tues. Although not beginner classes, dancers of all levels of experience welcome. Via Zoom. To register: CBG-Institute.org. ONLINE: Healy Introduction – 6:30pm. Have you heard of frequency medicine? Learn about a new personal device called Healy. A short presentation on what the frequency medicine is and how to purchase one. This is the next level in well-being and balance. RSVP: 630-309-3409. Meeting ID: 630-309-3409. Zoom.US. Meditation Classes – 7-8pm. With Philip Clark. Sacred Ground, 15 E Miner St, Arlington Heights. 847-749-3922. ShopSacredGround.com.

A NEW YEAR! A GREAT TIME TO Consider a new

CAREER OPPORTUNITY CHICAGO

Change your job, Change your life!

is looking for PRINT & DIGITAL MEDIA SALES PEOPLE Commission-based position with GREAT EARNING POTENTIAL for the right person! Email Your Resumé to: Info@NAChicago.com

Chicago

NAChicago.com

FRIDAY Achieving Solutions for Health and Happiness – In-person sessions in a healthy and safe environment achieving root solutions for health, happiness and action steps on your life projects. With Susan Curry, of InteriorWerx. Complimentary 15-min phone consultation, use promo code MYFIRSTSESSION. 1420 Renaissance Dr, Ste 411, Park Ridge. 312-479-7893. Susan@InteriorWerx.us. InteriorWerx.us. Mindfulness & Wellness: Managing Stress, Creating Health, Encouraging Balance – 1:152:30pm. With Archana Lal-Tabak, MD, and Jim Lal-Tabak. Learn about mind-body connection and variety of mindfulness exercises. Experience natural stress reduction strategies and tools. Each class is self-contained, and a new wellness-educational topic and mindfulness technique presented every week. Series of 4 classes or individual class. Scholarships and work study available. Drop-ins welcome. Heart of Transformation Wellness Institute, 1618 Orrington Ave, Ste 206, Evanston. Details: BodyMindMedicine.com.

SATURDAY Advanced Allergy Therapeutic Treatment – 9am-1pm. Offering holistic, non-invasive, drug-free treatments to calm the sympathetic nervous system. Taking all precautions to protect from COVID-19. For an appt: 847392-7901, MWAllergyRelief@gmail.com or MidwestAllergyRelief.com. 61st Street Indoor Farmers’ Market – Thru Apr 9. 9am-12pm. 2nd Sat. 61st & Dorchester, Chicago. ExperimentalStation.org/market. ONLINE: Body & Brain Basic Yoga Class – 9:30-10:30am & 2-3pm. After a short set of warm up exercises, get into meridian stretching, followed by core strengthening and breathing postures to accumulate energy. Then be guided in the practice of energy meditation. $20/ class. Body & Brain Yoga and Tai Chi, 860 S Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville. 847-362-2724. BodyNBrain.com/libertyville. Palatine Winter Farmers’ Market – Nov -Apr. 10am-12pm. 1st & 3rd Sat. Not held Jan 1. Palatine Train Station, 137 W Wood St, Palatine. PalatineSisterCities.org/winter-farmers-market. Shamanic Journey Circle – 6-8pm. 2nd Sat. With Mouse Savaiano. All levels of shamanic journey work welcome. During our time together I will hold space for you while drumming and you will go on your shamanic journey to meet your helping spirits. $10 love offering. Mouse Savaiano Intuitive Healer, 4137 N Barlett, Shorewood, WI. Registration required: 312-799-9414. MouseIntuitiveHealer.com.

community resource guide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community.

Acupuncture and Traditional Oriental Medicine CALANDRA CENTER FOR HEALTH & WELLNESS

Teri Calandra, MSTOM, Dipl Acu, LAc, LMT, RMT South Loop: 312-796-3965 Schaumburg: 312-515-9492 Facebook @CalandraAcuChi CalandraAcupuncture.com We believe that when someone has the tools to help themselves that the possibilities are endless. Offering acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal medicine, NAET allergy elimination, reiki, Access Consciousness, and a variety of wellness educational classes. Teri specializes in gynecological disorders, infertility, menopausal syndrome, musculoskeletal dysfunctions, allergies, respiratory disorders, digestive disorders, thyroid disorders.

LANA MOSHKOVICH, LAC, ND, MSOM

Nirvana Naturopathics 707 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 100, Deerfield 60015 847-715-9044 NirvanaNaturopathics.com

We use acupuncture to help you get immediate relief from acute or chronic pain. Combining Western and Chinese Medicine, we can treat and resolve insomnia, anxiety and women’s health issues, plus chronic conditions. Certified NAET. Preferred MeiZen Provider. Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Major insurances accepted. Schedule your initial appointment on Nirvana Naturopathics.com. Get a healthier and alternative approach to your chronic health conditions.

Allergies MIDWEST ALLERGY RELIEF CENTER

3365 N Arlington Hts Rd, Ste D, Arlington Hts 60004 847-392-7901 MidwestAllergyRelief.com

Dr. Amanda Thiry, DC, BSN, uses Advanced Allergy Therapeutics (AAT), a non-invasive alternative technology that’s effective and safe for all ages, to identify and treat specific allergen elements that affect your quality of life. Discover how you can eat foods, be near pets and use products again that you now avoid, and experience a new lease on life. See ad on page 19.

Bodywork NATIONAL LYMPHATIC CENTERS

Sharon M Vogel, LMT, CLT, BCTMB, MFR 5002a Main St, Downers Grove 3100 Theodore St, Ste 202, Joliet 630-241-4100 • Lymphatics.net Sharon Vogel is referred to by Mayo Clinic practitioners, national surgeons and physicians. She offers 46 years hands-on experience, 29 years as a licensed practitioner, and is Nationally Board Certified, specializing in oncology massage, lymph drainage MLD and myofascial release JFB MFR, all to help assist clients in regaining health. Free consult with RSVP.

ROTH STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

Diane Roth, BCSI Highland Park, 60035 847-533-3213 • RothSI.com Structural Integration (SI) realigns, rebalances and re-educates the body through manual therapy and movement education. Chronic pain, bad posture, tired and achy bodies are signs that the body is out of balance. SI benefits include decreased pain, injury rehabilitation, improved posture, ease in movement, and increased flexibility and stamina.

ZEN SHIATSU CHICAGO

825 Chicago Ave, Evanston 60202 847-864-1130 ZenShiatsuChicago.org

You’ll feel the stress melt away like the snow in spring through our relaxation-focused shiatsu massage practice, which offers the same energizing benefits as acupuncture combined with the restorative power of yoga poses. Dress in cozy threads, shiatsu is performed on fully clothed clients. Professional and student therapists available. See ad on back cover.

CLICK ON nachicago.com

CBD/Hemp Oil NATURAL REMEDEE HEALTH SOLUTIONS

Dee Bayro, CHHC NaturalRemedee.com HempHealthTalks.com

Your hemp health coach. Too many people are living with daily pain and chronic conditions, without much support. Many have not heard or know how cannabis works in the body, and that it is essential to maintain homeostasis (balance of all the body systems) or that it is involved in a number of physiological processes, including pain sensation, mood, memory and appetite, and more. As your health advisor, I will help guide you and find answers. We get to the root cause and see if cannabinoid therapy is right for you. Over thousands of studies support the therapeutic benefits for over 250 health conditions. Visit our website or attend an online free informational Zoom (register on website) to learn more.

Coaching & Counseling BELIEF REDESIGN: REDECORATE YOUR MIND!

Rebecca J. Robbins, PhD 862-254-3637 Info@BeliefRedesign.com BeliefRedesign.com

Break free from negative thought patterns you just can’t shake, all naturally and fast. Use your brain’s own neuroplasticity to consciously and deliberately make the changes that lead to transformation in all areas of life. Scan the QR code to find out more.

SUSAN CURRY

InteriorWerx 312-479-7893 Info@InteriorWerx.us InteriorWerx.us Feeling anxious or scared? Are you seeking solutions to regain emotional balance and clarity? Susan Curry of InteriorWerx can assist, using her intuitive energy coaching skills. 15-min complimentary phone consult available using promo MYFIRSTSESSION. See ad on page 19.

for the latest updates in health & wellness

January 2022

LYNDA HOPE

847-209-1366 Lynda@LyndaHope.com Value-U.com Value yourself and become your greatest validator. The Value-U platform provides a 21-day meditation and sacred chanting that will gently guide you into your truth, that you are already love and peace. Be the consciousness and free yourself from your egoic mind that keeps you trapped in habitual patterning, lifetime after lifetime. Hope has self-actualized through the non-dualistic ancient teachings and provides counseling both on a 3-D level and on an awakened higher mind level. Individual and group counseling available.

KARYN PETTIGREW

Beyond Blind Spots 608-618-0655 Free Gift: BeyondBlindSpots.com/free-gift Beyond Blind Spots offers soulbased business design. Guiding entrepreneurs to their ideal brand positioning, audience and resulting profitability.

Dance for Health TIME TO DANCE WITH CBG INSTITUTE FOR DANCE & HEALTH

North Shore School of Dance 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park 60035 DanceForJoy16@gmail.com CBG-Institute.org

Discover the healing art of dance through ballet, modern and tap for adults 50+. Dance is proven to have both physical and psychological benefits. Taught by dancer teachers Lisa Gold, Lynne Chervony Belsky, MD, and Lorraine Chase. See ad on page 13.

Digestive Health Specialist RENEÉ S. BARASCH, LDHS

Telehealth and In-Office 847-207-2034 DigestiveHealthSolutions.com Digestive problems? Acid Reflux/ GERD, IBS, Crohn’s, colitis? Let us help you naturally achieve nutritional balance, feel better and enhance the quality of your life. Improve digestion while reducing discomfort and bloating so you can eat the foods you love again. Certified digestive health specialist/enzyme therapist. See ads on pages 7 and 47.

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Energy Gemstones & Jewelry JOANN LYSIAK, ENERGY SPECIALIST

Joann Lysiak Gems 847-596-0274 Joann@JoannLysiakGems.com JoannLysiakGems.com

Gemstones have energy properties that you can benefit from when wearing them or displaying them. Using the energy properties, you can attract love, abundance or increase your intuition and Spiritual Consciousness or strengthen your energy. View my collection with purpose or let me intuitively find the perfect gemstone for you.

Feng Shui

PETER KOZLOWSKI, MD

92 Turner Ave, Elk Grove Village 60007 847-626-5758 Doc-Koz.com As a Functional Medicine MD, Dr. Kozlowski, author of Unfunc Your Gut, uses a broad array of tools to find the source of the body’s dysfunction. Working together with each patient, he co-creates a unique, individualized care plan. Services are both online and in-person via Illinois and Montana-based offices. He has trained with Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. Susan Blum.

Gyms, Fitness & Online Workouts GET FIT EGV

THE FENG SHUI SCHOOL OF CHICAGO & FLORIDA

Rowena Dziubla, Owner 1100 Nerge Rd, Ste 206 Elk Grove Village, IL 773-819-7459 • CoachRo@GetFitEGV.com Facebook | Instagram

The Feng Shui School of Chicago is recognized as a Gold Level School, the highest standard established by the International Feng Shui Guild. Basic classes through Professional Certified Consultant Training Programs are taught. Classes are based on the front door of the space with a combination of virtual and in-person classes. Laurie was Certified as a Feng Shui Consultant in 2001 and is a student of Grand Master Professor Thomas Lin Yun.

RX your workout at GET FIT EGV. Semi-private classes available 7 days a week: barbell/Olympic training, HIIT, bootcamp and more. We also offer ONLINE virtual coaching options for home workouts; see website for more info. See ad on page 13.

LauriePawli@gmail.com CreateTheFeeling.com TheFengShuiSchoolOfChicago.com

Float Therapy FLOTSTONE

57 E Scranton Ave, Lake Bluff 60044 847-482-1700 Flotstone.com Floatation therapy is quickly being recognized as a very safe and effective way to shift into the parasympathetic state of total relaxation. Floating cradles you in its graceful healing waters optimizing your body’s ability to do what it does best, heal! Float effortlessly in over 1,250 lbs of Epsom salt.

Herbal Detox and Medicine JANE HURST, MASTER HERBALIST

Organic or Wildcrafted Herbs Woodridge, IL 630-710-4404 Sales@JanesHerbs.com • JanesHerbs.com Jane Hurst is a Master Herbalist with an International Honors Degree specializing in herbal detoxification programs, nutritional counseling, juice fasting and herbal in-person classes. Her herbal capsule formulas are available online or for local pickup.

Holistic Dentistry DR. ALLA AVER, DDS

Functional Medicine HEAL N CURE MEDICAL WELLNESS

Meena Malhotra, MD, ABIM, ABOM 2420 Ravine Way, Ste 400, Glenview 60025 847-686-4444 • HealNCure.com

Specializing in medical wellness, weight loss, hormone balancing, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and anti-aging using integrative and functional medicine. We find and resolve the root cause of medical conditions and achieve outstanding, lasting results for our patients, many of which had almost given up on wellness goals. Free educational seminars. PPO insurance and Medicare accepted for covered services. See ad on page 2.

2400 Ravine Way, Suite 400, Glenview 60025 847-998-5100 GlenviewSmiles.com Our office uses whole-body, preventive dental care. We utilize non-fluoridated ozonated water, herbal periodontal treatments, and gluten-free herbal paste. We offer: safe amalgam removal; BPA-free fillings and sealants; non-metal crowns; sleep apnea and TMJ appliances; ozone therapy; microscopic plaque analysis; material reactivity testing kits; and non-acrylic night guards, partials.

K. BOEHM, DDS, & ASSOCIATES

1585 N Barrington Rd, Ste 106, Hoffman Estates 60069 847-884-1220 1440 Maple Ave, Ste 2A Lisle 60532 630-810-1280 KBoehmDDS.com

Offering state-of-the-art holistic dental care in a relaxed environment, Dr. Boehm and his staff are ready to meet all your dental needs in either of his two locations. Bio-compatible materials and an extensive knowledge of the correlation between oral and overall health are his specialties. Services include safe mercury removal, electrodermal screening for materials compatibility and tooth viability, crowns, bridges, dentures, zirconia implants, homeopathy, cranial osteopathy, orthodontics, ozone therapy, CT/3D imaging, and laser treatment for both gum disease and decay.

WRIGLEYVILLE DENTAL

Dr. Bernice Teplitsky, DDS, PC 3256 N Ashland, Chicago 60657 773-975-6666 WrigleyvilleDental.com In addition to state-of-the-art technology and methods offered by most holistic dentists (microscopes, ozone therapy, etc.), we treat you as a partner. We thoroughly explain your unique situation, provide treatment options and keep you comfortable with Netflix, music and paraffin wax treatments. Now offering reiki treatments. Located off the Brown line. Free garage parking.

Holistic Health Practitioner BIO-ENERGY CENTER

Kankakee Natural Foods BioEnergy Center 815-933-6236 KankakeeNaturalFoods.com Our BioEnergy Center brings together stateof-the-art machines in one location for an integrative wellness experience. Our approach to healing meets each client’s unique needs through personalized testing and therapies. Come as you are, no appointment needed. Kankakee Natural Foods Wellness under One Roof.

WHOLE LIFE SPINE & SOFT TISSUE

Christopher Codina, DC 33 W Higgins Rd, Ste 735 South Barrington 60010 WholeLifeChiroHE.com

Constantly foam rolling or taking meds to get through the day, just for it to come back? Learn how something that is easily treated and commonly found in the body may be the reason for your pain. Schedule your free consultation today to learn more. Conveniently located and insurance accepted.

Holistic Skincare HOLISTIC SKIN EXPERT: PAULINA IANNOTTA

24W788 75th St, Naperville 60565 (within Estuary Center for Living and Healing Arts) 708-769-5351 • HolisticSkinExpert.com Paulina has been a holistic-licensed esthetician since 2010. She believes in balance and treats the body as a whole, and that the skin should be nourished and nurtured with love and not abused with harsh chemicals and treatments. Every treatment is about 2 hours and it’s customized to meet the needs of every individual.

Integrative Medicine thriveMD – OPTIMAL HEALTH

Dr. Greg Seaman 1355 Remington Rd, Ste I, Schaumburg IL 60173 312-600-5070 Info@thriveMD.org

Using IV therapies, PRP, weight management and other natural programs, we help conditions like fatigue, brain fog, hormone imbalance, pain, injury, weight gain, decreased performance, tickborne disease and more. After an initial consultation, we design your custom program to obtain true optimal health, which includes living a healthy lifestyle and being committed to yourself. See ad on page 5.

Integrative Nutrition and Hormone Coach CRISTINA MADINE

Hormone | Fertility Specialist 312-574-0046 Info@TheBalancedBella.com TheBalancedBella.com Using my Balanced Bella Method, a simplified, integrative nutrition approach that focuses on root cause solutions to support women who want to ditch birth control, get pregnant, recover postpartum and feel amazing in their skin. Stop suffering from hormone imbalance and live your best life. My programs get results on any budget. Begin your journey by getting your individualized protocol. See ad on page 13.

Integrative Psychotherapy ELLEN KATZ, MS, LMFT

Clinical Director, Inner Balance Northbrook, Chicago, Palm Springs 847-224-0244 EllenKatz.net Ellen’s 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist integrates a conscious approach to healing old patterns through a mix of trauma and mindfulness-based psychotherapies, HMR, Lifeline, The Work (Byron Katie), energy medicine and somatic awareness. Join Meetup.com “Inner Balance Meditation” for updates on her events, and visit her at EllenKatz.net.

Intuitive Consultation HEATHER FAUN

Intuitive, Medium & Healer 312-502-1539 Heather@HeatherFaunBasl.com HeatherFaunBasl.com Heather does readings, healings and guided meditation to help you find clarity, direction and peace. She brings a higher perspective and insight that will help you on a soul level. With 18 years of experience as an intuitive and medium she uses her gift to bring awareness to the area you need, from healing the body to connecting with a loved one or simply just assisting you in getting your own answers.

MICHELE HEATHER

847-509-8289 MicheleHeather1@yahoo.com Get clarity, direction and empowerment as we release old patterns and blockages that keep you feeling stuck in life. Using Soul Memory Discovery, Michele helps you work with your angels and guides to practice new inner processes and expand into your highest good and true self. Michele is also intuitive and a Reiki Master Teacher.

Lifelong Learning & Personal Growth THE EDGAR CAYCE HOLISTIC CENTER AND BOOKSTORE

At Unity Northwest Church 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines 60016 847-299-6535 • AREChicagoCenter@gmail. com

Full-service bookstore, Cayce remedies, spiritual growth study groups, monthly programs, workshops and holistic fairs, intuitive skills development training, knowledgeable seekers, intuitives, healers and more. Call for hours. See ad on page 17.

INFINITY FOUNDATION

1280 Old Skokie Rd, Highland Park 60035 847-831-8828 • InfinityFoundation.org Many courses now live (masks required) and on Zoom, some are recorded to watch later. CEUs available. Seeing Fine Print without Glasses, Zoom, January 20; Inner Wisdom of the Wellwomen Code, Zoom, January 24. Call for free course guide.

To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold. ~Aristotle January 2022

coming in the february issue

Massage Therapy

Nutritional IV Therapy

DULCE KESSLER

thriveMD

Located at Ducat Chiropractic & Sports Medicine 148 S Bloomingdale Rd, Ste 107C, Bloomingdale 60108 224-653-8094 • KesslerMassage.com Dulce Kessler is now offering massage therapy services at Ducat Chiropractic and Sports Medicine. January special: Save $30 on massage therapy services; save more when buying a package.

Meditation Center KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER CHICAGO

HeartCentered Living

13 Harrison St, Oak Park 60304 2010 W Pierce Ave, Chicago 60622 708-763-0132 • MeditateInChicago.org Meditation and modern Buddhism. Everyone welcome. We offer an array of drop-in classes, weekend events, and retreats open to everyone and suitable for all levels of experience. A nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, we’re dedicated to sharing the practical wisdom of Buddha’s teachings with Chicagoland through meditation and mindfulness practices.

Naturopathic Consultation DR. ALLA ARUTCHEVA, MD, PHD, ND

Associate Professor, Rush University Med. School Antalee Wellness 1836 Glenview Rd, 2nd Fl, Glenview 60025 847-486-1130 • AntaleeHolistic.com If you are seeking integrative and natural approach to your wholebody health, Dr. Arutcheva will use her extensive knowledge, training and experience to work with you to create a personalized plan to prevent and overcome illness based on her strategy of health screening tests, state-of-the-art technology and the best natural supplements. These methods accelerate your ways to optimum health and prevent the development of serious chronic diseases. See ad on page 37.

Nutraceuticals & Supplements STANDARD PROCESS

Kathy Kiss Sr Account Manager KKiss@StandardProcess.com Standard Process is a Wisconsin-based, family-owned, whole foodbased nutritional supplement company that partners with healthcare practitioners to address issues related to health conditions. See ad on page 9.

Chicago

NAChicago.com

1355 Remington Rd, Ste I Schaumburg IL 60173 312-600-5070 • thriveMD.com Thrive MD offers a way to deliver vital fluids, vitamins, electrolytes and nutrients directly into the bloodstream which can restore hydration, support the immune system and aid in faster recovery. Offerings include nutritional immune support, weight loss, vitality and stress relief. See ad on page 5.

Thermography and Ultrasound NORTHWEST MEDICAL THERMOGRAPHY

Locations across Chicago area 224-600-3216 Facebook: @northwesthealingcenter NorthwestMedical Screening.com Now offering Thermography and Ultrasound… Erica Cody is a certified thermographer and works with a team of ultrasound technicians and doctors together focusing on women and men’s health. Our scans help to indicate issues throughout the body, including head, breast, abdominal and pelvis. Women’s Health Check half-body scans can also detect dysfunction and provide indications for further investigation. Multiple locations: see website for schedule and to make an appointment. See ad on page 17.

Vegan Market & Restaurant BE MARKET

Cafe and Bar serving Plant-based (v) • FRESH • ORGANIC Market 24 E Scranton, Lake Bluff 60044 224-436-8330 BeMarketLB.com BeMarket offers gourmet comfort foods that promote wellness and a healthy lifestyle, including vegetable juice and detox programs along with wild raw superfoods and herbs. In addition to the packaged foods and groceries, there is a dine-in menu from the basement kitchen. Enjoy Craft beer and wine.

The fire is winter’s fruit. ~Arabian Proverb

RELIEF FOR GENITAL HERPES

Straight from Nature

Stock up now for relief when you need it! 35% of American adults have genital herpes. While there is not currently a cure, you can find comfort and relief from symptoms naturally. This pain-relief homeopathic cream is formulated with soothing all-natural ingredients eliminating worry of skin irritation from harsh chemicals.

• Soothing All-Natural Plant-Based Formula • Fast Relief for pain, itching, tingling & swelling • No chemicals • Affordable

VISIT RoyalJohn.com or Amazon to Order. *Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

†

CELEBRATING 28 years in THE business of

January 2022

NEW: Federal Financial Aid available for full and part-time students. Get the support you need to start a rewarding new career!

Beginning Zen Shiatsu 10 Week Sessions January 11-March 15, Tuesdays 10am-1pm January 12-March 16, Wednesdays 7pm-10pm 2 Weekend Intensive February 18-20 & 25-27, Friday 7-10pm, Sat/Sun 9:30am-4:30pm

Rooted in universal principles of change and balance, the study of Zen Shiatsu enriches your life while you learn to help others. Learn to relieve aches and pains through acupressure and assisted stretching while also listening to the deeper messages our bodies have to tell us. Try an entry-level class and decide if our program is the one you’ve been looking for.

or try one of our

Free Introductory Workshops January 5, Wednesday 7:00-9:30pm February 9, Wednesday 10:00-12:30pm View more class times zenshiatsuchicago.org/ce

E-mail info@zenshiatsuchicago.org or call 847-864-1130 to sign up today!

www.zenshiatsuchicago.org CEs Available

Approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education

818 Lake Street, Evanston, IL

January 2022 Natural Awakenings Chicago Magazine

Articles inside

HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR

THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE REVOLUTION

HIGH TIMES FOR THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY

A BETTER MORNING JOLT

COMMON PERIOD MISCONCEPTIONS

WARMING CHAI TEA