Natural Awakenings-Houston FEB 2022 by Holistic Choice Publishing/Natural Awakenings Houston

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

THE HEARTCENTERED LIVING ISSUE

FERMENTING FOR FOODIES TRULY MAKING LOVE HOW THOUGHTS & EMOTIONS CAN AFFECT YOUR HEART HEALTH February 2022 | Houston Metro-Edition | NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

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Read this month’s articles for clues.

Across

1 Age-old practice for spiritual healing and enlightenment, 2 words 6 Experts now finding that more than 70 per cent of our ___ that codes for health and longevity is under our control 8 Asian legumes being used to mimic the experience of eating a hamburger 9 Neither’s alternative 10 Unwell 11 Source of natural energy 12 Mustard family plant 14 Dashboard feature 16 Indian beverage associated with Ayurvedic medicine, 2 words 18 Spoil 20 Berry with health-giving properties 21 Device that records the time it takes to get to sleep and how many times the wearer awakens during the night, ____ Ring 22 Discouraging words 23 Degree, abbr. 24 Coffee drink alternative 26 Atmosphere layer 27 “Wonderful!” 28 Dip in a cup 29 Consumed

Down

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1 Milk-related 2 Medical studies 3 Writing fluid 4 Environmentally friendly color 5 Approves 6 Herbal remedy used for centuries to enhance detoxifying functions particularly of the liver, 2 words 7 Land areas 11 Blackthorn berry 12 Spice that has been added to coffee for centuries that may lower blood sugar, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties 13 Mr, sheep 14 Venus __ milo 15 Biological pocket 17 Fate 18 Traditional Japanese drink made from powdered young, green tea leaves 19 Crunchy red veggie 21 Rowboat mover 23 Daring 25 Yang’s counterpart See Answers on Page 29

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Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 40+ 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.

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS

9 9

The Year of the Water Tiger

The Heart-Mind Connection

Fermenting for Foodies

Understanding Stem-Cells

Emotions Affect Your Physical Health

HOW TO ADVERTISE

To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 713-927-6540 or email: mike@naturalawakenings-houston.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS

Email articles, news items and ideas to: mike@naturalawakenings-houston.com. Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

Email Calendar Events to: mike@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

Healing with the Power of Spirit

Truly Making Love

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2 crossword puzzle

4 letter from the publisher

9 fung shui naturally Greetings! Cindy asked me to say a little about living in harmony with the earth. The earth is a big place and I don’t

5 affirming naturally

shamanism today

letter from publishers

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

Greetings! Cindy asked me to say a little about living in harmony with the earth. The earth is a big place and I don’t have a big space (or time) to write about it so I will try to focus on the little part that we do. We are blessed (and at times feel cursed) to be able to live out in the country 30 miles from the nearest city. It’s quiet. Even when the coyotes are singing or the wind chimes are chiming, it is way quieter than when we lived in the city and the traffic on 610 was our background white-noise. Living here, we have learned to pay closer attention to the weather, the times of sunset and sunrise and the phases of the moon. It’s just easier and more pleasant to try to adjust our lives to be in harmony with what nature is doing around us than to try to create our own little perfect bubble and ignore the natural world out there. This month we have a number of great articles that focus on living in harmony with ourselves and our partners. I encourage you to not just read them but pick one or two things you can do differently this month and put them into practice. You may notice that our Calendar of Events is missing this month. This is because many events have been canceled due to the Pandemic and there aren’t a lot of events scheduled in Houston in February because of the cooler weather. If your organization has an event planned for March, please email me with the details so that we may bring this popular feature back. And as always, remember, be kind.

Cindy & Mike Hart

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LIFE COACHING EXPERT Blissful Quests Doyle Ward blissfulquests.com 832-628-4113

SHAMANISM EXPERT Shaman Spirits Anthony Rios 409-762-6027 shamanspirits.net

NUTRITIONAL HEALTH EXPERT Whole Health Wellness and Nutrition Erin Thole erinthole.com thole.erin@gmail.com

PLANT-BASED WELLNESS EXPERT John Vastola Kreat Day Botanicals KreatDay.com 713-369-0946

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Cindy & Mike Hart

EDITOR & DESIGN Mike Hart CREATIVE

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© 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.

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I magnify the positive in my life and spend time appreciating all the good around me. by Doyle Ward

You have more than 55,000 thoughts each day. Many are the same thoughts over and over again. Every single one is an affirmation; this also includes everything that you say. By reducing your negative thoughts and words and increasing the positive ones, you can reshape your life. Expecting a better day helps to create a better life. The only place we have to take action or make changes is the present. The ability to see and appreciate the positive in your life and the world around you is like a happiness booster. Not only are you happier but it enables you to better handle the not so great that life sometimes can hand you.

I magnify the positive in my life and spend time appreciating all the good around me. The only thing that you’re guaranteed in life is this moment. Working with positive affirmations can radically change your mindset. Say them and write them repeatedly with the feeling that they are your truth. You have the power to make great changes in yourself and the world. I know this is true because I have made huge changes in my life by changing my thoughts. Doyle Ward, Blissful Quests ® Doyle Ward is a successful life coach, workshop leader and lecturer in the field of personal development.

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shamanism today Shamanism - Healing with the Power of Spirit by Anthony Rios

Shamanic healing, energy healing, spiritual healing, it all comes from the same Source. If you’re still denying yourself the gift of spirit to bring healing into your body and your life, then now is a good time to check in with yourself and ask why? The last two years have brought tremendous change and anxiety at all levels of our lives. The only way we can thrive as a community of people in love with life is if we commit to healing ourselves first. Healing with the power of spirit, healing with the power of the luminous realms is just a prayer away. In shamanism, we call on compassionate spirits, animal spirits, plant spirits, elemental spirits to bring healing to those who ask. The important part here is to ask. You must be wiling to reach out and ask for healing. Incorporating shamanism, any ritual or ceremony into your life can have beneficial results almost immediately. As a receiver of shamanic healing, you can experience a beauty, stillness and peace that allows the healing power of the seen and unseen worlds to strengthen your body, mind and spirit. When you include shamanism as a spiritual practice you have direct access to the spirit world. Setting your intention and using the power of the shamanic journey you can receive guidance and healing from the spirit world, your spirit teachers and what we call compassionate spirits. Why would you use shamanic healing today? The simple answer is that it works. Shamanism can be beneficial for all manner of personal healing. People use shamanism for physical, emotional and spiritual healing and they get results. Our world needs you healed, strong and ready to be of service to others who are yet to walk a path of inner healing. The beauty of shamanic and spiritual healing is that you become the light for others. This year I returned in person sessions with proper protocols. As always remote spiritual and energetic cleansing, energy balance and other healing sessions are available. Reach out to anthony@anthonyrios.org Anthony Rios is a shamanic practitioner, guest faculty with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, NGH certified consulting hypnotist who incorporates traditional healing methods that addresses the multiple needs of people in our modern, fast paced world.

coming in the march issue

Food & Nutrition Coming In

March 6

JANUARY 2022

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Purposeful Shopping

eco tip

How Fair Trade Can Change the World practices and monitor production to ensure standards are met. Fair trade goods can cost slightly or significantly more than conventionally traded purchases, which may explain why ethical and fair trade products make up only 1 percent of the total market. But the trend is growing: In 2018, sales of fair trade produce in the U.S. rose by 30 percent, with 60 products available. International sales of a major German-based certifier, Fairtrade International, increased almost 10-fold between 2004 and 2016, from $939 million to $8.9 billion. Consider these steps to achieve ethical, sustainable shopping: Protect the rights of produce workers. Fair trade bananas, avocados, coconut products and cashews often come from small growers in Africa, Latin America and Asia, where cooperatives ensure them a living wage and better working conditions. These products may cost marginally more, but are readily available at many supermarkets. Protect sustainable tea and coffee farming. On fair trade tea and coffee farms, agrochemicals and genetically modified organisms are strictly prohibited, sustainable farming methods are encouraged and stringent programs for water conservation and proper waste disposal provide environmental stewardship. Protect the oceans with fair trade cotton. Buying clothing made with fair trade cotton means less synthetic apparel, so washing won’t shed microplastics that make their way into the ocean, fish and then our dinner plates.

Fair trade is an alternative international business model that puts people and the planet first. It is designed to help growers and producers in developing countries achieve sustainable, fair relationships with exporters and consumers in wealthier parts of the globe. It focuses particularly on commodities like coffee, tea, textiles and seafood, and works to ensure sustainable prices, better working conditions and higher environmental standards. According to the Fair World Project, “The fair trade movement shares a vision of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices both at home and abroad, so that everyone through their work can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood.” At least five fair trade organizations certify compliance. While the criteria of each varies, certification typically requires companies to allow a third party to audit their business

Help build strong communities with fair trade cosmetics. When the shea butter, cocoa butter, sugar and coconut oil used in many skin-care products comes from fair trade producers, a fair price is paid, decent working conditions without child labor are assured and a portion of the money is returned to infrastructure or community projects. Makers of fair trade cosmetics often use vegan ingredients and animal-free testing, as well.

Via Colori Houston April 2-3 Via Colori® Houston 2022 is a reimagined creative arts and cultural event drawing thousands of families, artists, and festival goers annually to join in the street painting festival. This event will be held April 2-3, 2022, in downtown Houston at POST, the historic Barbara P. Jordan Post Office. Via Colori means “color street” beckoning us to engage with the environment around us and to connect with our own sense of well-being as we celebrate art and artists. The Institute for Spirituality and Health is the new charity beneficiary and is honored to welcome sponsors, artists, volunteers, and attendees and Via Colori® Houston. This event promises live music, food, and Via Bambini - an art wonderland for kids of all ages. The focal point of the festival is to invite artists of all levels to create street paintings inspired by and in support of the mission of The Institute. For more information please visit, viacolorihouston.org and follow the event on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ viacolorihouston. See Ad page 20

Introducing: Energetic Geometry Sacred geometry and geomancy experts, Karen Crowley-Susani, a Former Air Force Pilot and Art Historian and Dominique Susani, Professor of Literature and Philosophy love sharing their wealth of knowledge of sacred geometry and building sacred healing structures connected to the earth, the sun, and the stars through books, classes and their certification program. Energetic Geometry was founded by them to share the knowledge and tools of ancient European master builders. They found that many diseases come from earth energies and modern building practices In 2019, they teamed up with Russian medical doctor and very talented energy healer, Dr. Sergey Pesnya to expand into the realms of personal energy healing and healing meditations of regeneration. Energetic Geometry has evolved into healing on all levels; body, mind, and soul. With energy healings, home diagnostics and harmonizations, books, classes, healing tools, and energetic tours there is something for everyone to explore. Energeticgeometry.com karen@energeticgeometry.com See Ad page 10

New Director of Education at Urban Colonics Mr. Tommy White, Jr. Barbara Ellis, owner of Urban Colonics, proudly announces the promotion of Tommy White, Jr. to Director of Education at Urban Colonics. After receiving his degree in Kenesiology with an emphasis on Health and Physical Education in 2011, he moved to Houston to further his education. Because of his passion for alternative health and natural healing, he studied under Ms. Ellis from 2017 until 2018 when he received his certification as a colonics therapist and has continued to work with her at Urban Colonics. As Director of Education, Mr. White will be teaching classes leading to colonic therapy certification and supervising students at Urban Colonics. “I am excited to educate and motivate people to keep their health in balance before it gets unbalanced,” stated Mr. White. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of colonic hydrotherapy or possibly thinking about a career in colonics, visit the website or call during business hours. Mr. White and the staff at Urban Colonics are always happy to take your call and answer your questions. Urban Colonics 5042 Briscoe Street Houston, TX 77033 713-738-8199 UrbanColonics.com

JANUARY 2022

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in 1842. We can look back in history to see what happened in those years in terms of innovations in medicine and technology, the arts, business and transportation, the mood of the people, the economy and financial markets, politics and governments, and even pop culture to get a glimpse of what to expect this year.

feng shui naturally

2022 Year of the Water Tiger--Things Are Looking Up! by Katherine Ashby The Chinese calendar, also known as the Farmer’s Calendar, is based on the same principles as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Chinese Martial Arts, that is, the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. By analyzing the elements interacting with each other in any given year, month, day or hour, we can extrapolate meaning to these combinations, thereby giving ourselves a heads up on what to expect. 2022 is a yang water year, which is characterized as fast, often aggressive movement. It combines with the Tiger, which is wood with hidden fire. Since water nourishes wood and wood is the parent of fire in the productive cycle, we can expect a year of more harmony, growth, and happiness than in the previous few years. One of the things I like about Chinese New Year is that it’s great for procrastinators. If you get off to a slow start on your goals and projects, you can always claim Chinese New Year as another opportunity to begin a fresh year, and you won’t be alone. Chinese New Year is celebrated by 1.5 billion people all across the world. Lunar New Year 2022 is February 1, as far as celebrations go, but Feng Shui and the Chinese zodiac animal year use the Chinese solar calendar; that’s why people born in January or February are sometimes confused about their animal sign. The 2022 Feng Shui and animal year begins on February 4th at 4:54 a.m. when the invisible qi in buildings shifts according to a cyclical pattern called Flying Stars. Both Lunar and Solar Chinese calendars are on a 60-year cycle. Every sixty years, history reveals similar events. The last time we had a Yang Water Tiger year was in 1962, and before that, a hundred and twenty years ago in 1902, and a hundred and eighty years ago

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A Water Tiger year stimulates creativity and intelligence in the arts and sciences. Raymond Lo, a famous Feng Shui master, points out a few significant happenings in 1962 in the arts: Andy Warhol’s Campbell soup can exhibition on July 9th; the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones revolutionized pop music; the first James Bond movie, Dr. No, premiered in London in October; West Side Story musical won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in April. He also predicts that the hospitality, restaurant, entertainment, and travel industries will bounce back as people start socializing again. Fire, the happiness element, has been missing since 2018 and now it’s back. When people are happy and confident, they usually spend more money, which in turn drives up the financial markets. Things are looking up! Do watch your health. While fire brings optimism, it can trigger inflammation, heart, and blood circulation problems in vulnerable people. Wood governs the liver, feet and legs, so be kind to your liver (eat more greens) and watch your step. Do not overdo alcohol. You will be tempted to drive too fast-don’t do it! The chances are slightly higher for getting a speeding ticket or some other penalty, especially if you have Snake, Monkey or Tiger anywhere in your chart. Sign up for dancing, running, walking, cycling, kick boxing, and other fast movement activities that involve the feet to use up any excess wood qi. It’s also a great year to learn the appropriate use of anger, the domain of the liver, by taking inspired action for the underprivileged and arguing your case to advocate for children. This year the Feng Shui energies fly to their original positions, making some rooms super auspicious and some a bit dicey. It’s an excellent time to look into your personal Four Pillars of Destiny to plan your strategies and to organize your home with a Feng Shui update. Wishing you all a prosperous and happy New Year, whenever you celebrate it! Feng Shui Houston fengshuihouston.com

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Chiropractic Guide Now Available in Houston at H-E-B, Sprouts Farmers Market & Central Market Midwest-based Karuna is growing its national distribution and is now available at Houston H-E-B and Sprouts Farmer Market stores There latest product, Karviva Ace Sport is avaiable at Central Market. “Karuna beverages are inspired by what consumers are looking for in wellness and convenience,” says Angela Zeng, PhD, MBA, Karuna’s creator and CEO.

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Karuna products launched in early 2017, earning strong praise from the industry and customers alike. Karuna was recently selected as an Expo West NEXTY Award 2020 Finalist for its turmeric-infused Synergy Coffee Blend, and its Detox Prebiotic & Antioxidant Juice was previously recognized in the World Beverage Innovation Awards. The company’s innovative production facility in the Midwest houses an on-site hydroponic garden for fresh bean sprouts, as well as juicing, cooking and bottling equipment specifically designed to reduce waste and seal peak freshness in every bottle.

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Karuna’s mission is to provide whole plant-based ingredients which are known to restore digestive health, provide antioxidants, deliver clean protein and give our bodies sustained energy. Karuna works to source Non-GMO and organic ingredients locally, to create sustainable, wholesome products.

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The Heart-Mind Connection How Thoughts and Emotions Affect Our Heart Health by Ronica O’Hara

“D

oes your wife show you her love?” In a study of 10,000 married men, this question turned out to be revelatory. Among men with high levels of anxiety, a whopping 93 percent that answered “No” developed angina-related chest pains within five years—nearly twice the rate of those answering “Yes.” This 1976 Israeli study was one of the first to clearly document how emotions affect the physical heart. Today, the research is so vast and compelling that last year, the American Heart Association issued a statement urging that psychological factors be taken into account in cardiovascular care—which may result in doctors asking patients about depression and anxiety as well as testing for blood pressure and cholesterol levels. “What’s on your mind really does affect your heart,” says leading researcher and cardiologist Michael Miller, M.D., author of Heal Your

Heart and director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical System. “Our hearts require emotional health in order to maintain cardiovascular health.” Two emerging fields are probing the mind-heart connection: neurocardiology, which studies their neurological interplay; and behavioral cardiology, which examines how psychological and social factors lead to heart disease. Increasingly, researchers are documenting that the brain and the heart form an intricate feedback loop that works neurologically, biochemically and electromagnetically to optimize well-being. What hurts one—be it artery-clogging foods or angry outbursts—can hurt the other. What heals one—be it exercising or a good belly laugh—can heal the other. There’s good news in that, says Miller: “You can heal your heart by actively engaging in positive emotions each and every day.”

Unveiling the Heart’s Role

In Western medicine, the heart has been downplayed historically as a pump mechanistically taking orders from a bossy brain, but recently, the heart’s role is being reexamined: With 40,000 neurons, it sends more signals to the brain than it receives. As integrative cardiologist Mimi Guarneri, author of The Heart Speaks, puts it, “The heart is a multilayered, complex organ, possessing intelligence, memory and decision-making abilities independent from the mind.” The electromagnetic field it generates is about 100 times stronger than the brain’s magnetic range and can be detected up to three feet away from the body, report researchers at the pioneering HeartMath Institute, in Boulder Creek, California. They found that one person’s brain waves can synchronize to another person’s heart and two hearts can synchronize to each other, which may help explain why people are drawn to or repelled by each other. When the heart’s rhythm pattern becomes erratic and disordered during stress and negative emotions, they report, the neural signals traveling to the brain’s emotional centers also get disrupted, hindering clear thinking and reasoning—which may help explain why we make dubious decisions under stress.

The High Toll of Tough Emotions

Although scientists debate whether emotions start in the brain, heart or from physical sensations elsewhere in the body, it’s clear through magnetic imaging technology that it’s the brain’s task to process and regulate emotions via the flow of neurotransmitters through the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and other brain regions. Emotions like anger, fear, grief and anxiety set off a cascade of reactions involving the hormone cortisol and proteins called cytokines, creating an inflammatory response that, if it becomes chronic, can promote the accumulation of plaque in the arteries that can become unstable and rupture, triggering blood clots

that lead to strokes and heart attacks. Surveying 25,000 participants in 52 countries, the landmark INTERHEART Study in 2004 concluded that about 30 percent of heart attacks and strokes are due to psychological factors, and ongoing research supports this finding.

DEPRESSION. Adults that are depressed are twice as likely to develop heart disease. In one study, moderate to severe depression quadrupled the death rate in heart failure patients. ANXIETY. Researchers have linked chronic anxiety with a 48 percent increased risk of cardiac-related death over 11 years. It has also been shown to be a risk factor for angina, heart attacks and ventricular arrhythmia. SHOCK. A sudden emotional or physical shock, like a death in the family or an earthquake, can trigger stress cardiomyopathy, known as broken heart syndrome, which resembles a heart attack. ANGER. An episode of intense fury—described as “body tense, clenching fists or teeth, ready to burst”—increases by 8.5 times the risk of a heart attack within the next two hours. LONELINESS. Being socially isolated and lonely is linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular death than hypertension and obesity— alarming information since more than 60 percent of Americans report feeling lonely, left out, poorly understood and lacking companionship, according to a 2020 survey.

Boosting Both Brain and Heart

“There’s no damage caused by negative emotions that positive emotions can’t heal,” says Miller. A large body of research has shown that cardiovascular disease risk can be reduced by up to half with op-

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timism, a sense of humor, forgiveness, social support, religious faith, vitality, gratitude, altruistic behavior, emotional flexibility and coping flexibility. People that are optimistic are less likely to be rehospitalized or die from heart disease, Finnish researchers report. “For optimal health, maximize the health of both brain and heart. For example, if you eat well and exercise, but are still stressed out, your heart will suffer. Conversely, if you are not stressed out, but overeat and do not exercise, your brain will suffer,” says Miller. Some heart-and-mind-healthy strategies include:

DOING THE BASICS. Exercising a half-hour daily and eating a largely plant-based, Mediterranean-type diet that’s low in saturated fats has been found in numerous studies to lower the risk of both cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Working with health practitioners to get blood pressure, blood sugar and inflammation levels under control, perhaps using supplements or medications, is also a key preventive step. GIVING AND GETTING HUGS. Oxytocin, the “love hormone” released from the pituitary gland during touching and hugging, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and regenerates new heart tissue in animal studies. Proactively reaching out to family, friends, neighbors and co-workers can nurture affectionate ties, but if a human isn’t nearby, even hugging a teddy bear has been shown to release oxytocin—which may explain why 40 percent of U.S. adults sleep with stuffed animals. Owning a dog, but not necessarily a cat, makes us more likely to survive a heart attack, report researchers.

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MINDFULLY LETTING GO. As studies with police officers, healthcare workers and firefighters have demonstrated, mindfulness training effectively lowers anxiety and depression, even for those in life-threatening situations. “To be present, ever acutely aware of our thoughts, emotions, feelings and how we are choosing to react is critical,” says cardiologist Cynthia Thaik, author of Your Vibrant Heart and the founder of the Holistic Heart Healing Center, in Los Angeles. “Once we are aware of our reaction, the ability to let go—of judgment, doubt, anger, resentment, fear, all our negative thoughts, emotions and feelings—is crucial to our healing process.”

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LAUGHING A LOT. Many of us have a chuckle deficit in our lives: The average 5-year-old laughs up to 300 times a day, the average adult only four. To lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, find ways to laugh long and hard—such as watching hilarious films or videos on YouTube or TikTok. Physiologically, the endorphins released by a hearty belly laugh bind to receptors that release nitric oxide, relaxing blood vessels. BREATHWORK. To bring the mind and heart into a healthy, coherent rhythmic pattern, the HeartMath Institute suggests heart-focused breathing, which involves imagining that we are breathing in through the heart as we inhale in a smooth, comfortable manner to the count of five or six, then breathing out for five or six counts while visualizing that the breath is flowing out of the heart.

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MEDITATION. People that practice meditation are significantly less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, perhaps because it has been shown to lower heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, oxygen consumption and cortisol levels. Alzheimer’s expert Dharma Singh Khalsa, author of Meditation as Medicine, advocates kirtan kriya, a 12-minute, daily meditation that includes chanting, finger movements and visualization. Research has demonstrated that it slows cognitive decline, eases depression and increases anti-aging telomerase activity at a cellular level by 43 percent in eight weeks. YOGA OR TAI CHI. In studies, yoga has been shown to lower inflammation and metabolic syndrome markers linked to heart disease and reduce atrial fibrillation episodes. The slow, graceful movements of tai chi reportedly lower blood pressure and strengthen the hearts of people with heart failure. MUSIC. Whether it involves listening, playing an instrument or singing, music has been shown to lower heart rate, reduce inflammation, enable longer exercise periods, ease anxiety after heart surgery and heart attacks, and help stroke victims regain the ability to speak. Choose music of whatever genre inspires joy and sing along for extra benefit, advises Miller. “If your partner is flummoxed by your enthusiasm for yodeling or your neighbor doesn’t exactly approve of your attempts at arias, kindly inform him or her it’s doctor’s orders,” he jokes in Heal Your Heart. Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com.

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Fermenting for Foodies

conscious eating

Preserving Food and Traditions by April Thompson tation Journeys: Recipes, Techniques, and Traditions from Around the World. Katz caught the fermentation bug after moving from New York City to rural Tennessee in the 1990s and being faced with the “positive problem” of an overly plentiful garden to preserve. He’s since wandered the globe teaching and learning about fermentation traditions, from Korea’s spicy kimchi to Mexico’s funky pineapple tepache drink. Fermentation is defined as the chemical breakdown of a food by bacteria, yeasts or other microorganisms. An estimated one-third of all foods are fermented, including coffee, cured meats, cheese, condiments and chocolate. Pickles and yogurt are traditionally fermented through lactic acid bacteria, while beer and bread are typically fermented through yeast. Kombucha, an ancient tea drink, is made using a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. Pascal Baudar, a Los Angeles writer, instructor and self-proclaimed “culinary alchemist,” turned to fermentation techniques to preserve the precious wild ingredients of the fleeting seasons. His books and workshops cover unusual culinary territory, like fermented and aged vegan cheeses from acorns and “seaweed” made from fermented broadleaf plantain, a common weed, using methods he’s studied and perfected. “I investigate new and lost flavors, and conserve them as gourmet foods through preservation,” he says.

Fermentation with Benefits

f fermented food is a trend, it’s the oldest one on the planet. More and more people are rediscovering the time-honored foodways of fermentation to promote health, boost flavor and preserve the bounty of the seasons. “There is huge potential to use high-quality fermented foods to enhance our health and well-being,” says Sandor Katz, a so-called “fermentation revivalist”, in Liberty, Tennessee, and the author of several bestselling books on fermentation, including the newly released Sandor Katz’s Fermen-

Fermentation transforms the nutrients in food in several ways, Katz explains. In a process known as predigestion, it breaks macronutrients down into more digestible forms (think proteins turned into amino acids) and renders minerals more bioavailable. Gluten, too, is broken down by fermentation, he says, as are potentially toxic compounds in foods such as cyanide and oxalic acid. The process also releases vitamins B and K and other micronutrients as metabolic byproducts. Fermentation reduces the short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and are prone to absorb water and ferment in the colon, causing gas and bloating. Found in wheat, beans and other foods, they can pose digestive problems for people with irritable bowel syndrome and other conditions, says Tayler Silfverduk, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in celiac disease. “The most profound nutritional benefit of fermentation is the live bacteria itself. You are ingesting a rich biodiversity of beneficial bacteria that can potentially improve immune function,” says Katz, an AIDS survivor who considers fermentation an important part of his healing process.

No Starter Required

Rosy Raspberry Soda

iest and safest place to begin is with vegetables,” which need no special equipment or a starter like sourdough, kefir or kombucha, says Katz. To make sauerkraut, for example, simply shred cabbage, lightly salt and season it, and submerge it in a jar under its own juices, “burping” it daily for a week to 10 days to release the fermentation gases. Katz and Baudar both like to debunk myths that fermenting foods is difficult or dangerous. “You don’t have to sterilize everything or have precise laboratory control conditions. People have been practicing fermentation for years, and they began before they knew bacteria was a thing. To the contrary, fermentation is a strategy for food safety,” says Katz. While yeast or mold can grow on the top layer that is exposed to oxygen, Katz says “a lot of sauerkraut is needlessly discarded. Most such growth is harmless and normal, and can be skimmed off the top.” Baudar, a University of California Master Food Preserver, has kept foods he’s fermented for up to three years and only once encountered mold. “You need to work with the ferment,” he says. “That means regularly burping it, then shaking or stirring to promote the acidity that prevents bad bacteria from taking hold.” “If it looks or tastes bad, throw it away,” he adds. “Some of my early experiments tasted horrible, but I just took my failures as learning and kept experimenting. The more you understand the fermentation process, the more you can play with it creatively and push the envelope.”

YIELD: 2, RESEALABLE, 1-QUART-SIZE AND 1-LITER PLASTIC BOTTLES

“There is nothing you can eat that can’t be fermented, but the eas-

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

½ cup/70 grams raspberries Juice from ½ lemon 2–4 Tbsp honey 1 tsp rose water Yeast Combine and blend. Place all the ingredients except the yeast in a bowl with a bit of water and mash together with a fork, or put them all in the blender. Divide between two, 1-quart/1-liter bottles. Top off with warm water. Add yeast. Sprinkle about ¼ tsp bread or champagne yeast into each bottle. Let it sit for a few minutes, then shake the bottles to dissolve and distribute the yeast. Let ferment on the counter. Check the carbonation after a few hours. Bleed carbonation by gently and slowly opening the bottles. Refrigerate when they seem strongly carbonated, generally within six to eight hours. From Sandor Katz’s book, Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2016).

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Curry Kraut YIELD: 1 QUART 2 lb organic cabbage head 2 Tbsp sea salt ½ cup organic yellow onion, thinly sliced ½ cup shredded carrot 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp fresh, grated ginger (1 Tbsp ground powder alternative) ½ Tbsp ground coriander ½ Tbsp ground cumin ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper ½ tsp ground turmeric ½ tsp curry powder ¼ tsp black pepper ¼ tsp cinnamon First, rinse all of the produce. Then peel the outer layers off the cabbage, saving a couple of the cabbage leaves. Cut the cabbage in half (through the core), then in half again, then core the cabbage by placing wedges up vertically on a cutting board with the core touching the board and holding it at the tip. Position the knife at the start of the core and slice downward, cutting off the hard portion. Place the cabbage on a flat side and slice shreds to desired thickness (about ¼ inch). Start at the tip and work down. Thinly slice the onion and then shred carrots using a cheese grater. Place it all into one very large or two non-reactive bowls (not metal). Pour the spices on top. Massage the mixture of veggies and spices until a lot of brine has been created and the mixture has shrunk down to about half its original size.

Take the massaged veggies and spices, and start packing them into a 1-quart fermenting jar with an airtight lid. (The packing will help bring the brine to the surface.) After every scoop that’s put into the jar, pack it down with a fist. Leave several inches at the top of the jar. Fold up the saved cabbage leaves and put them on top of the cabbage in the jar. (Make sure the brine goes over the top of the cabbage leaves.) Place the weight—either a fermenting weight or rocks inside of a bag—on top of the cabbage leaves. Leave about 1 to 2 inches at the top of the jar. Close the jar’s lid and put it in some sort of basin (I use a casserole dish) to catch the brine that comes out. The brine will come out of the jar because the cabbage will swell during the fermentation process, and the basin will catch the brine instead of it spilling onto counters. Notes: Over the next few days, the mixture will turn into curry kraut through a lacto fermentation process. Bubbles and the bright green cabbage will become yellow. How long to wait depends on the level of sourness desired and how warm the house is kept.

Fermented Pickled Carrot Sticks YIELD: 1 QUART-SIZE JAR OF PICKLES 2 sprigs fresh dill 1-2 cloves garlic 2 lb whole carrots 1 Tbsp sea salt 1-2 cups distilled water Wash and peel the skins of the whole carrots. Cut the peeled and washed carrots into carrot sticks. Peel and finely slice the garlic cloves. Wash and dry 2 sprigs of dill. In a wide-mouth, quart-size jar, pack in the carrot sticks. (Tilt the jar to locate more places to squeeze in the sticks.) Add in the sea salt, then the sliced garlic and sprigs of dill. Cover the ingredients with distilled water (Be sure to leave about an inch of free space from the waterline to the opening of the jar.)

Check the curry kraut for taste. It’s good to check after about three to five days to see if it’s sour enough. It’s also good to do a quick check for mold. It’s likely a white, scummy-type substance will form at the top of the brine; this is okay and part of the process. It can be scraped off or left there.

Place an airtight lid on the jar and let it sit for a week or until the carrots have reached desired taste. Make sure to burp the jar at least every two days while fermenting.

When curry kraut reaches desired taste, take out the cabbage leaves and the weight, close the lid and put it in the fridge.

Notes: If using organic carrots, leave the skin on and just wash the carrots very well before chopping into snacking sticks.

Make sure to start with a clean surface and

Once the carrot sticks have reached their desired taste, place the jar in the fridge for storage. Enjoy.

When burping the jar, use this time to check on fermentation to make sure it’s growing healthy. Look for bubbles on top of the water and along the water line. Seeing mold is a sign that good bacteria is struggling to start a culture and we may need to try again. Courtesy of Tayler Silfverduk, registered dietitian nutritionist.

Vinagre de Piña (Mexican Pineapple Vinegar) Pineapple vinegar, vinagre de piña, is delicious and super-acidic. Many Mexican recipes call for pineapple vinegar, although it can be used in place of any kind of vinegar. Since this uses only the skin of the pineapple, we are eating the pineapple flesh. This recipe was inspired by a recipe in The Cuisines of Mexico, by Diana Kennedy.

YIELD: 2 CUPS/500 MILLILITERS

Combine the sugar with 2 cups/500 milliliters of water in a jar or bowl. Stir to dissolve. Coarsely chop and add the pineapple peel. Use a small plate to weigh down the pineapple and keep it submerged. Cover with a cloth to keep flies out. Ferment at room temperature. Stir daily while the pineapple peels are in it. Strain out the pineapple peels and discard after about one week when the liquid is darkening. Ferment the liquid for an additional two to three weeks, stirring or agitating periodically. Bottle and enjoy. From Sandor Katz’s book, Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2016).

2 Tbsp sugar Peel of 1 pineapple (organic, because the skin is used; overripe ruits are fine.

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health tip

Q: How are stem cells currently used in healthcare? A: We know stem cell therapy encourages new, healthy skin tissue to grow. It also enhances collagen production, stimulates hair development after incisions or loss, and helps to substitute scar tissue with newly developed, healthy tissue. Some of the potential uses for stem cells include:

Stem cell therapy has been around for a couple of decades, but scientists are continually finding new ways to apply it. Since stem cells gathered from human cells can transform themselves into almost any type of cell the body needs, they offer a tremendous opportunity for healing multiple medical conditions.

Growing new cells (in a laboratory environment) to replace damaged organs or tissues. n Correcting parts of organs that don’t work properly. n Researching the causes of genetic defects in cells. n Investigating how diseases occur or why certain cells develop into cancer cells. n Testing new drugs for safety and effectiveness before they are given to humans.

Sandra Burnett is a qualified healthcare practitioner whose interest in stem cell therapy guided her into promoting this method of achieving better health. After completing two years of college in Raleigh, NC, and a three-year RN program in England, Sandra saw the value of taking a holistic approach to wellness instead of a reactive one. She discovered how activating stem cells could increase oxygenating capillary blood flow, and now focuses on teaching her clients to be proactive with their own health.

People who could benefit from stem cell therapies include patients with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer, and osteoarthritis.

Read this interview with Sandra to learn more about stem cell therapy and how reactivating your own stem cells can help your body heal itself.

Q: How can we boost our body’s own stem cell activity?

Understanding Stem Cells, and What They Can Do for You by Sandra Burnett, RN

Q: What exactly are stem cells?

A: Stem cells are human cells that can adapt to many different types of cells ranging from muscles cells to brain cells. They are the “building blocks” of our human bodies, and their ability to transform means our bodies can use them wherever we need regeneration. The cells can also divide and replicate themselves over a long time.

Q: What types of stem cells do we have?

A: Our bodies produce different types of stem cells, which can all be used for different purposes. Embryonic stem cells are harvested from human embryos during the first three to five days of age, using in-vitro fertilization. These cells can be used for literally any purpose because they can transform into any type of cell needed, in any location in the body.

Q: Do all stem cells come from embryos?

A: Not at all. Adult stem cells can be collected from anybody, including infants and children. They come from organs and tissues in the body and are mainly used to repair or replace damaged cells in the same area. Some adult stem cells are found in bone marrow, and when these are transplanted (also known as a bone marrow transplant), they make new red and white blood cells to treat leukemia. Some adult stem cells can also be made to behave like embryonic stem cells. These are called induced pluripotent cells, and they can potentially be developed into new cells for any organ or tissue. Researchers hope to eventually create cells from a person’s own skin that doctors can use to treat diseases affecting them. Then there are cord blood cells and amniotic fluid stem cells, which are gathered from an umbilical cord after childbirth. They can be frozen for future use and have treated children with blood cancers and other genetic blood disorders with remarkable success.

Stem cells exist throughout the body, but they multiply better in the bone marrow, brain, and gut. In other places, the cells need specific conditions to reproduce. Some factors that cause them to thrive include: Intermittent fasting and caloric restriction, which encourage stem cell production in the body. The overall functionality of the cells also improves, which could explain why so many health experts recommend correct fasting and a healthy diet for general wellness. n Increasing omega-e fatty acid intake, which reduces Triglycerides (TGs). TGs store unwanted carbohydrates that can cause metabolic syndrome and suppress stem cell activity. n Doing more regular aerobic exercise, which helps stem cells transform into new bone and muscle structures, instead of fat. n Reducing glucose from consuming processed sugars, which fuels diseases. The reduction of glucose in our systems also increases stem cell longevity. n Minimizing our intake of foods like processed food, soda, and alcohol, because the inflammation they cause inhibits stem cell activity and reduces the therapeutic benefits. n

Taking Vitamin D and curcumin (turmeric) supplements to support the body’s natural stem cell production. Vitamin D promotes the creation of new healthy tissue and organs, supports healthy inflammatory pathway properties, and rejuvenates our stem cells. Curcumin promotes antioxidant activity, lowers free radical accumulation, and increases proliferation in neural stem cells (NSC). n

SAVE THE DATE

Taking these steps will help anyone boost their stem cell activity naturally, which could increase their energy and overall wellness noticeably. However, there are also steps you can take to kick-start your stem cell activation, including using phototherapy technology.

Q: So, what are the benefits of stem cell activation?

A: Enhancing your stem cell activity can have multiple benefits for your health. These include repairing heart damage caused by cardiovascular diseases, faster healing of incisions and wounds, treatment of diseases like Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The therapy addresses the underlying sources of pain while offering an opportunity for healing effects and lasting relief. For more information or to discover how to reset your wellness with affordable stem cell therapy, visit our website to schedule your free 20-minute session with Sandra and get your complimentary X39 stem cell patches.

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Emotions Affect Your Physical Health by Minnie Payne

A story is told of a one-pharmacy-small village pharmacist whose wife died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve – he died on Christmas Day. The inseparable couple had no children and there was nothing for him to live for. The shock was too much. Studies show that emotions (good or bad) affect our physical health. The death of a loved one, a disparaging diagnosis of a dread disease, or other devastating sad news is sometimes too much. The more emotional a person is, the easier it is for them to go off the deep end. It is also proven that happy events such as weddings, graduations, job promotions, etc. can boost one’s morale to the point that marvelous, good things happen to them and others. Emotions matter, so guard them. In truth, humans (as well as animals) are sensitive, some more than others, e.g., the soldier who suffers from PTS, the student who worries about grades, or a nation under the leadership of an oppressing dictator. As the saying goes, “Life is made of peaks and valleys.” Some can successfully walk through sad valleys – others can’t. Pastor Bart Lipscomb of Christ Church at League Line Road, Conroe, Texas shares, “Certainly, we have examples in scripture of the difference friends play in our emotional well-being, e.g., Ruth befriended Naomi after she had lost her family. Ruth’s loyalty amid Naomi’s turmoil was the difference between her making or not making it through those times. It doesn’t take a lot of friends, just the right one. Ultimately, it points us to loyal friends. “In God’s wisdom, Ruth being that kind of friend was her salvation, too. It was a two-way street for them.” Dr. Ann Davis relates in her article How our emotions affect our heart health “The heart and the mind are intimately connected. Negative states of mind, including depression, anxiety, loneliness, anger, and chronic stress, may increase the risk for heart disease over time or worsen heart issues that already exist.” February is heart health month, a good time to explore patterns we should follow to help us live healthier/longer lives. Edward-Elmhurst Health shares 7 resolutions that will get you on a healthy track.

7 Hearth Healthy Resolutions t t t t t t t

Get your blood pressure under control. Keep cholesterol in check. Cut your sugar intake. Be active every day. Eat healthier Food Maintain a healthy weight. Stop smoking. A word to the wise is sufficient.

If choosing a therapist is needed to improve emotional or physical health, do diligent research to find a reputable/sensitive one. As with anyone, high morals should be considered. Just as you should choose your friends with caution, you should choose anyone who gives you advice with caution. A good point that, here again, Edward-Elmhurst Health in Think before asking “Where are you from? suggests is for therapists to use caution in asking where someone is from. It can cause all kinds of problems and puts up walls. If someone is from the rural Possum Kingdom and out of shame, says they are from Greenville, it causes all kinds of problems for both the inquirer and the one questioned. Everyone isn’t from a prominent or educated family and in defense, sometimes lies are fabricated. The same can be said when someone has emotional problems. Even though the situation is gradually changing, people with emotional problems are sometimes put into a frowned-upon category. The bottom line is that emotions affect your physical health. And February is a good time to face the facts and do something about it. Talk with a wise friend or your spouse. Above all, don’t hold it in. Minnie Payne is a staff writer for Natural Awakenings Houston and the secretary for our sales team. Minnie enjoys her family, her church and working on something productive.

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healing ways

Truly Making Love Sex and Intimacy as a Healing Force by Marlaina Donato

very uncomfortable, because they have no idea what they’d say to their partner. Actually, talking to your partner without a purpose other than to just listen and connect with each other has become rare.” An element of fun can go a long way in the quest to stay connected. “Approach your sex life like a science experiment or an art project instead of a math problem,” says Jamie Elizabeth Thompson, a holistic intimacy expert in Austin. “It’s an exploration with no one right answer. Attitude is important when it comes to sex because people can take it so seriously and place crippling pressure on having this fantasy Hollywood sex life.”

Aphrodite’s Plate

Feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin all contribute to the pleasure response, and sharing luscious food with a lover can be sensuous, as well as endorphin-friendly. Nutritious foods such as almonds, walnuts, asparagus and avocados support reproductive health, and a dessert of dark chocolate and honey-drizzled fruits like berries, figs and cherries can support libido in both women and men. Nixing excessive alcohol and sugar is also a good romantic investment.

Partnership as Sacred

ntimately connecting with a loved one is one of life’s most precious gifts, but it’s easy to lose sight of our innate sensual energy in the maze of the mundane. Through lovemaking, we can harness our life force, and according to abundant research, reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, manage pain and improve brain health. A significant correlation also exists between higher ejaculation frequency and a reduced risk for prostate cancer later in life, Boston University researchers report in European Urology. Making love is also good for boosting our natural immunity. College students that engaged in amorous activity once or twice a week—especially with long-term partners— had 30 percent higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A in their saliva, concluded research by Wilkes University, in Pennsylvania.

Stripping Down to Basics

A few lifestyle adjustments can do wonders for worn-out romance. Quality sleep itself can be a potent aphrodisiac. Women are more likely to be “in the mood” after a good night’s sleep, even with just an extra hour of shut-eye, according to a 2015 pilot study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Therapist Kurt Smith, clinical director of Guy Stuff Counseling and Coaching, in Roseville, California, advocates limiting phone use and engaging in non-technological activities. “Phones have moved from being used as a communication device to becoming many people’s connection to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, when used as such, they pose a threat to the emotional connection with our partners,” he says. “With all distractions removed, sit on the sofa, face each other and talk. This suggestion can make many people

Deep relationship is only possible when we are willing to be vulnerable. “Porn is a drug that people unknowingly use to self-medicate and manage uncomfortable thoughts and emotions,” explains Smith. “Many men have no idea what they’re missing because they’ve never had an emotionally intimate relationship without the negative influence of porn. Porn makes sex self-focused, rather than what it’s supposed to be, which is the intimate connection of two people. Porn is selfish, rather than loving, giving and sharing with a partner.” Thompson attests that lovemaking can help us align with the divine, especially “when people have reverence for the power of their erotic life force. When people open their view of what sex is, it can become an act of worship.” Love prompts us to become more ourselves. “When erotic life force is flowing freely, the body is vital and the system is turned on. When channeled properly, this energy is highly creative,” muses Thompson. “It’s the fuel of your vehicle, the charge of your battery, and when you are full on life force, it organically overflows into service.” Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

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Our Experiences with Intimacy Retreats If you have been married or in a relationship for a long time, you know that the passion that was there in the beginning fades over time. This may be normal but it isn’t desirable. We knew that Richard and Diana Daffner have been leading intimacy retreats in fabulous romantic locations that might help us rekindle that spark but we could never find the time or money to attend. In response to the pandemic, they began offering retreats by video where participants go to some local get away location or create their own staycation retreat at home. This is something we could do! The Daffners began the retreat by teaching rituals that help to separate the mundane from the special on a physical/sexual, emotional/ heart, and a spiritual level. They then lead us in a series of explorations designed to open communication between us, build our trust levels and intimacy. Each session lasted about an hour and a half and was followed up with a “home-play” assignment. Not homework but home-play. The five sessions could be done in a weekend but as magazine publishers we don’t really have a weekend, we spread them out over five days. If you are worried about the content of the videos, there is nothing explicit and you are encouraged to do as much or little of the explorations as you are comfortable doing. If you are desire a more intimate relationship with your partner or spouse, we highly recommend you consider Intimacy Retreats. You have nothing to lose and a closer, more fun, more intimate relationship to gain. Intimacy Retreats The Art of Conscious Relationship IntimacyRetreats.com/NAHTX

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Orange Turmeric Juice: a healthy vitamine packed drink The cooler Houston winter calls for a vitamin packed hot beverage and juices seem like the healthy alternative to coffee. However, if you read the labels of most of the bottles of juice found in the supermarket, the first ingredient is sugar. Even without added refined sugar, most fruit juices are high in natural fruit sugar, fructose, which is even worse. There are three simple solutions to the too sugary juice dilemma. Buy a commercially produced juice that is not high in sugar and may have other healthy ingredients that were difficult to find locally. such as Karuna Beverages. Buy cold pressed juice from a local juice bar. Or make your own juice at home. To add fiber and cut down on sugar, use a blender or hand squeeze the fruit, then strain the result rather than using a juicer to retain more of the natural pulp. Dilute the fruit juice with water or sparkling water. Add spices that add flavor without adding sugar. Add vegetables which add nutrients without adding sugar. Now for our January recipe. Orange Turmeric Juice Ingredients: 3 large carrots, 3 oranges, 2 sticks of celery and a small piece of fresh turmeric root. Peal the orange and cut the vegetables into small pieces. Juice, warm and enjoy!

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Hypnosis is a normal and natural state of relaxation that can help with:

hin oac Life C

Motivational Hypnosis

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If not now...WHEN? For more information Contact Doyle today!

(832) 628-4113 Doyle@BlissfulQuests.com Visit BlissfulQuests.com for more info

HOUSTON METRO EDITION

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healthy living guide ACUPUNCTURE

HYDROSHACK HYDROPONICS

BIOLOGICAL DENTISTRY

APRIL BUI HOLISTIC ACUPUNCTURE

ADORE DENTISTRY 540 W 19 Street Houston, TX 77008 832-930-7844 adoredentistrystudio.com

April Bui, LAC, MAOM specializes in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and energy medicine for pain, stress, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure but she is also able to treat many other health conditions. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of alternative holistic health and has practice acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine since 2008. Visit her website for more information or to schedule a FREE Consultation.

Re-designing dentistry in Houston Heights by creating a personalized, comfortable, and fun experience to deliver excellent patient satisfaction. From preventative dentistry to smile makeovers, our team of dental professionals have the skill-sets to provide remarkable quality and compassionate care to give you that smile you’ve always wanted. Services include cosmetic, preventative, restorative, and a full range of family dentistry services. Lead by Drs. Emilyann Pham and Ann Blair our team provides compassionate human-centered patient care. Visit our website for more information or to book an appointment. Insurance accepted. See Ad on page 9

9039 Katy Freeway, Suite 504 Houston, Texas 77024 713-922-3474 abui-acupunctureclinic.com

LEFEBER ACUPUNCTURE

2425 West Loop South, 3rd Floor Houston, Texas 77027 409-771-0332 lefeberacupuncture.com Lefebed340@gmail.com Are you experiencing back or shoulder pain because you are working virtually from home? Are you suffering from post-COVID symptoms of loss of taste, smell and low energy. We can help. Donald Lefeber is a licensed acupuncturist. He specializes in pain medicine, sports medicine, fertility, stress management and more. Donald is a full member of the Texas Medical Center / Rice University Sigma Xi Research Society. Call or visit our website today to schedule an initial consultation * Se Habla Español

BATH PRODUCTS

MARILYN K. JONES, DDS Houston Dental Health Center 800 Bering Dr. Houston, TX 77057 713-497-1355 houstonbiologicaldentist.com

Natural Dentistry supports the body and the mind by finding the cause of dental problems. The dental examination includes noticing systemic and habitual influences. If you have dental issues or currently have silver amalgam fillings, call me today to schedule an appointment. See ad on page 22

CONNIE’S BATH SHACK 211 Midway St, Bldg E Spring, TX 77373 (281) 288-9595 conniesbathshack.com

SMOKE ENVY/BETTER DAYS CBD

A quaint shop in the heart of historic Old Town Spring Texas, offering unique handmade bath and body products and lots of rubber ducks. Small Batch Handmade soaps by Connie. Wonderful lather and amazing Scents. Enjoy the aromatherapy of a bath in your shower with Shower Steamers. Put little bit of heaven for your bath with Fizzies. We also have bath salts, scrubs, shampoos, lotions, creams, shaving creams & soaps, and batch accessories of all kinds. Shop conveniently on-line or drop by our store.

CBD vape pens, gummies, tintures, flower,oils, apparel and accessories. We stock Better Days CBD and Honey Hills Delta 8 & CBD products.

JANUARY 2022

CBD

2524 Yale Street, #2, Houston, TX 77008 832-744-9944 18123 Egret Bay Blvd, Houston, TX, 77053 smokenvy.com/

1138 W 20th Street, Houston, TX 77008 Open 7 days a week 713-292-1921 Hydroshack.com Hydroshack proudly carries some of the most beautiful high-CBD hemp flower and Delta 8 products in Houston! We also sell the highest quality 1.5 gram pre-rolls packed with actual bud and never trim. Our bud-tenders will be more than happy to let you experience true legal Hemp Flower from our open sample jars.While you are in check out our complete line of hydroponic growing products. See Ad page 24

COACHING BLISSFUL QUESTS

Positive change starts now! 832-628-4113 blissfulquests.com Are you looking for answers? Have you ever had a “hunch” or a “gut feeling” that came true? Are you wondering if you are intuitive? Doyle Ward is an experienced intuitive, teacher, grief recovery specialist, and life coach. Tune in to his weekly PodCast, Wednesdays at 1 pm on inflowradio.com See ad on page 26

COLONICS JOYCE LONG’S WELLNESS INSTITUTE 1308 James Street Rosenberg, TX 77471 281-232-7336 joycelongwellness.com

Established 1989. Call to schedule any of the following services: massage therapies, lymphatic drainage massage and facials, reflexology, infra-red sauna, ion cleanse foot or hand baths, Chinese cupping or colon hydrotherapy (prescriptions onlyyours or ours). By appointment only. Be well-Stay well. CALL TODAY!

HOUSTON METRO EDITION

URBAN COLONICS

Barbara Ellis, Retired RN 5042 Briscoe St. Houston, TX.77033 713-738-8199 urbancolonics.com Serving Houston and the surrounding area since 1979. We now offer the first and ONLY mobile colonic service in Houston. We continue to irrigate with State Of The Art Equipment (closed colonic systems cleared by the FDA). We utilize totally disposable colonic set-ups and sterile water. A prescription is required for this procedure. Our Medical Director at a different location will make an assessment and write a prescription for OUR clients only. Visit our website to learn more details. Please call us to schedule an appointment. See ad page 5

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE ERIN THOLE, CNHP ErinThole.com Thole.erin@gmail.com Get to the Root Cause of your Health Conditions. Erin has been working in the health and nutrition field for over 11 years specializing and working extensively with those suffering from: autoimmune, digestive, hormonal and inflammatory disorders. She works with each client’s unique biochemistry to determine what dietary, supplementation and lifestyle changes will work best for them as an individual. There is NO one-size-fits-all program. All appointments are conducted via phone! This makes it very easy and convenient to receive care from any location. If you want to reach your true health potential, Email Erin today to schedule your FREE 45 minute initial phone consultation. Hours until 5 pm Fridays. See Ad page 5

COMING IN MAY

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

HAIR DESIGN

HYPNOSIS

VENUS HAIR DESIGN

CLAUDIA AUTRY, HYPNOTIST

361 West 19th Street Houston, TX 77008 713-868-4725 venushairhouston.com

(by appointment only) 281-849-4610 ca@claudiaautry.com claudiaautry.com

Venus and her staff can do any age with any style, from a trim to a Mohawk. She is a wizard at color! If you are in The Heights, drop by, check out her art car, The Hairse, and say Hi!

Want to stop smoking or lose weight? Looking for ways to relax, find balance and increase the joy in your life? Hypnosis can help you. Call SOON to book your appointment.

Now OPEN by appointment only. Call me!

HOME & LAND HARMONIZATION ENERGETIC GEOMETRY

Upgrade the energy of your home Energeticgeometry.com Is your home supporting you? Most people have an intuition that something is just not right. Maybe they never feel rested, or wake up with back pains, or maybe their child has nightmares. Curiously when they go on vacation, these problems disappear. If this sounds familiar, maybe it is time to think that your home is the problem, not you. Check out how we can help you solve your problem at energeticgeometry.com/harmonizations/ Receive 15% off our services as a Natural Awakenings reader. Use coupon code: Houston15

The only thing we never get enough of is love; and the only thing we never give enough of is love.

INDIVIDUAL NUTRITIONAL PROTOCOLS LINDA ISAACS, MD 2500 W. William Cannon Dr., Suite 603 Austin, TX 78745 737-208-0831 DrLindaI.com/NAHTX For more than 20 years, Dr. Linda Isaacs and the late Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez offered individualized protocols involving diet, nutritional supplementation, and detoxification for cancer and other degenerative diseases. They published multiple articles in peer-reviewed medical journals about their results. The work is based on that of the Texas orthodontist Dr. William Donald Kelley. Dr. Isaacs is currently seeing new patients.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE PHOENIX RISING INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 3100 Richmond Ave Houston, TX 77098 713-806-9927 phoenixrisingacu.com

Phoenix Rising Integrative Medicine offers comprehensive and customized therapeutic plans that address chronic illness & autoimmune disease for patients seeking support both in-person and virtually. Phoenix Rising Integrative Medicine takes an integrative approach to addressing chronic illness and autoimmune by combining ancient healing tools of Traditional Chinese Medicine with modern functional medicine, including evidence-based lab testing, clinical nutrition, lifestyle modifications, herbal medicine and acupuncture protocols that are customized for each patient. We also work with patients suffering from environmental and food allergies, reproductive and fertility issues, breast implant illness, and emotional health issues. Visit our website for more information or to book an appointment.

JUICE KARUNA BEVERAGES Food Is Better MedicineTM mykaruna.com

Organic juice detox & antioxidant juices, preboitic plant protein smoothies and synergy coffee blends. Karuna and Karviva products are available on Amazon and at Houston Area H-E-B, Sprouts Farmers Market and Central Market Stores.

KRATOM KREAT DAY BOTANICALS 1973 W Gray, Suite 23 Houston, TX 77019 713-369-0946 KreatDay.com A BBB Accredited Business

We provide the choicest healthy Botanicals garnered from some of the most exotic corners of the world. Only The BEST! We ensure quality by going to the source, checking our international vendors 1st hand, and using USDA Certified Organic vendors when applicable. We stand by our products and our services! If you are unsatisfied with your order we will return, exchange and or refund your money. We got you covered! See ads on pages 2 & 24 Our aim is to make you have a KREAT experience as well as a Kreat Day!

LYMPHATIC THERAPY JOYCE LONG’S WELLNESS INSTITUTE 1308 James Street Rosenberg, TX 77471 281-232-7336 joycelongwellness.com

Health conditions can interrupt the normal flow of lymph, causing lymph fluid to build up in a particular area of the body, often in the arms or legs where it can and may cause blockages. Lymphatic therapy can reduce swelling and improve circulation throughout the lymphatic system. By appointment only. Be well – Stay well. CALL TODAY!

JANUARY 2022

ODYSSEY EMPORIUM

MASSAGE ELEVATION MASSAGE & BODYWORK 541 Granberry Street Houston, Tx 77007 elevationmassagehou.com 713-550-3330

Get you back to your best self, decreasing your aches and pains, increasing your range of motion, improving your overall form and function, and enhancing your mental health. Come relax, rehab and recharge with us! Our treatments are client centered, each session bespoke, tailored around your health and body-care needs. Your body isn’t like anyone else’s so why should your massage session be? ***Natural Awakenings Customers get $10 off with code Natural Awakenings, just add the note when booking. Use our QR code to book directly.***

123 Midway St, Bldg C Spring, Texas 77373 888-492-3584 odysseyemporium.com

We are a retail shop and also have an online store. We can also custom-make many of our product lines. Our products include a range of metaphysical items, clothing, books, stones, jewelry, candles, soaps, teas, incenses, herbs, blades, and accessories for spiritual work. We also have some unique renaissance festival and gothic clothing and accessories. We carry some wonderful and unusual products some of which are artisan made. Check out our gaming and sci-fi themed products as well. We offer daily in-house Tarot reading and conduct private Old Town Spring Ghost tours. Open 7 days a week.

NATURAL HORMONES

See ad on page 5

DR. FISHER ROAD 2 WELLNESS

METAPHYSICAL CHAKRA SHOP OF OLD TOWN SPRING 315 Gentry Street Spring Texas 77373 Unit B1 281-288-9130

Dr. LaTronica Fisher, DNP, ANP, GNP, RN 4544 Post Oak Place Dr. STE #254 Houston, Texas 77027 DrFisherRoad2Wellness.com 713 520-8188 Services: nHormone Rejuvenation nVaginal Dryness nUrinary Incontinence nLow Libido nErectile Dysfution nLow Stamina nWeight-Loss nSexual Dysfunction(men & women) nHair Restoration nNatural Face Lift

A unique metaphysical shop in Old Town Spring.Services include: Spiritual Guidance Life Coach, Psychic, Tarot, Medium, Chakra & Aura Readings. We also stock: Candles, Crystals, Gemstones, Jewelry, Oils, Incense, Sage, Herbs, Resins & More! When you visit Old Town Spring, be sure to stop by our store.

Call today to schedule a consultation

NATUROPATH HOUSTON HOLISTIC HEALTH CLINIC “Better Health Naturally” Dr. Gracie G. Chukwu, ND, CTN 6401 Southwest Freeway, Suite 250 Houston, TX 77074 713-781-9991 HoustonHolisticHealthClinic. com

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. ~Jimi Hendrix

Dr. Gracie Chukwu is a Doctor of Naturopathy and a Certified Nutrition Counselor. She has been assisting people for over five years with holistic medicine, diet, nutrition and supplement support to enhance her client’s health and overall well-being. If you are suffering and cannot find relief, give Dr. Gracie a call. See ad on page 7

HOUSTON METRO EDITION

PAIN REMEDY AUNT ALBERTA’S REMEDY

Homeopathic Pain Relief Cream 973-715-9097 info@AlbertasPainRelief.com albertaspainrelief.com Need Relief from Arthritis? Try Aunt Alberta’s Remedy to ease muscular aches and joint pain. Her Remedy is a homeopathic pain relief cream that penetrates deep into the skin and muscle tissues. Get beneficial relief from sciatica, fibromyalgia, arthritis, neuralgia, gout, and more. All-natural ingredients! Do you want to feel a real difference from the nagging aches of arthritis? Feel less pain & have more range of motion? Great buy, get a 4oz jar for $15! See website for other options. See Ad on page 14

PET FOOD BOBCAT RAW FOOD

Made locally. Delivered to your door. bobcatrawfood. com Our raw cat food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of obligate carnivores. We use only the highest quality Grade A, USDA certified US-sourced meats. All our meals are 100% natural and grain-free and are pre-portioned to for your convenience. Our top priority is to make feeding raw convenient and affordable. We deliver inside Houston for a flat fee of only $5. Visit our website today and let your cat experience the difference a raw food diet makes.

COMING IN APRIL Sustainable Living

SELF-HEALING CHING CHI INSTITUTE

Life energy education and research Kun Wu, Ph. D. Integral chi healer Chi H Wu, L. Acupuncturist 832-654-2885 chingchiinstitute.com Do you want to learn CHING how to use your body’s own chi energy to deCHI crease your chance of becoming ill, increase your chance of recovering more quickly from INSTITUTE illness, prevent a minor illness from becoming a major one, and improve your overall health? We have live and prerecorded classes online to teach you the principles and techniques of self-healing. We will be resuming in-person classes this month. Look for our new offering on the Corona Virus. Visit our website for more information.

SHAMANISM SHAMAN SPIRITS

Galveston, TX 4 0 9-7 6 2 - 6 0 2 7 anthony@shamanspirits.net ShamanSpirits.net “Shamanism provides personal and spiritual healing with ancient, elegant and time tested methods. Shamanic healing opens new pathways for personal growth and spiritual awareness. If you’re looking for a way to connect with spirit without dogma, shamanism offers methods to access your healing spirits for transformation, guidance and teachings for a better way of living filled with love and compassion. Contact me at 409-762-6027 for more information.” See ad page 5

SPIRITUALITY INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUALITY & HEALTH 8100 Greenbriar Drive Houston, TX 77054 713-797-0600 spiritualityandhealth.org

713-927-6540

The Institute for Spirituality and Health is dedicated to the concept that all humans are spiritual beings and research affirms that spirituality plays a vital role in an individuals’ health and in healing. In our sixth decade. Check the events page to find a list of our conferences, seminars, classes and panel discussions. We look forward to seeing you and getting to know you.

STEM CELL ACTIVATION YOUR HOLISTIC RN

www.yourHolisticRN.com Houston, TX Sandra Burnett, RN graduated over 40 years ago and now focuses on your holistic health. Enjoy a complimentary session of education. Learn the importance of microcirculation. Did you know you can activate your own stem cells? Serving Houston and surrounding communities, I invite you to share your story. We have helped thousands with our technology and only a phone call away. Make an appointment today!

THERMOGRAPHY MEDICAL THERMOGRAPHY CENTER “Better Health Naturally” Dr. Gracie G. Chukwu, ND, CTN 6401 Southwest Freeway, Suite 250 Houston, TX 77074 713-781-9991 HoustonHolisticHealthClinic.com

Breast thermography has the ability to warn woman up to 10 years before any other procedure that a cancer may be forming; thus, allowing for prompt and timely treatment. Thermography uses no radiation and poses absolutely NO health risks to the patient. Consequently, scans may be performed at any frequency necessary. BREAST THERMOGRAPHY GUIDELINES: Baseline thermograph at age 20, 20-30 years of age–every three years, and 30 years of age and over–every year. If you are a woman, over 20 years old and have not had a breast thermograph, call Dr. Gracie TODAY. See ad on page 8.

Our world needs more loving hearts. ~Avijeet Das

WE GROW WHAT WE SELL ... organically and sustainably! This is the only way that we can be sure of the quality that goes into the products we sell and you should insist on nothing less. Family owned and operated-fully licensed hemp farm Regenerative Farming-Completely Organic Just outside of College Station, Texas Hemp Flower -Vape Products - Isolates -Tinctures HoneyHills TX products are available at the following area locations: Houston, TX: Smoke Envy-Yale St, Smoke Envy-Nasa Rd 1, Amsterdam Coffee-W. 19th, Segundo Coffee Lab-Eado Galveston, TX: Hazy Daze-Seawall Blvd, Hazy Daze -The Strand, Hazy Daze - 3802 Cove View Blvd , Smokee’s Vape & Smoke Shop-Seawall Blvd Bryan/College Station, TX: Smoken Joe’s-South Texas Ave. Caldwell, TX: Cotten’s Care CBD - 203 Hwy. 21 W Hutto, TX: Hippo Vapo-Hwy 79 E

Honey Hills TX

Est. 2019 - Caldwell, Texas 832.868.9452 honeyhillstx.com

Natural Awakenings-Houston FEB 2022

Articles inside

Emotions Affect

Fermenting for Foodies

The Heart-Mind Connection

The Year of the Water Tiger

Understanding