Natural Awakenings Magazine East Bay ~ January 2018 by Celeste Souza

E E FR

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Dial Down

STRESS How to Stay Calm and Cool

Say No to Plastic Help Reduce Harmful Waste

Smart Eats for Healthy Weight Kids 1

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January 2018 | East Bay Area Edition | NAEastBay.com

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

EAST BAY AREA PUBLISHER Celeste Souza EDITORS Celeste Souza Randy Kambic S. Alison Chabonais DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kim Cerne Stephen Blancett CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tessa Rigdon WEBSITE Nicholas Bruckman

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NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman PRESIDENT Patrick McGroder NATIONAL EDITOR Alison Chabonais MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett SR. ART/MKTG. DIRECTOR Steve Hagewood FINANCIAL MGR. Mary Bruhn FRANCHISE DIRECTOR Anna Romano FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Scofield Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2018 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.

letter from the publisher

eflecting on the past year, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for two major blessings: all the wonderful people whose paths I’ve crossed, both old and new friends; and the gifts of lessons learned through recent experiences. Now I am sitting embracing my power for designing this coming year by weaving cherished goals and resolutions into each step forward. It dawns on me how simple the concept and how important the act. Absent clear goals we tend to wander about, and then wonder what’s happening with our life. With a clear direction before us, we’re better equipped to take the next step. I’m currently working to define what I’d like to change and achieve in the coming months and expect you are likely in a similar mode. My list is long, but I have a strategy to take me forward and am excited by the notion of figuring out the tactics required. May we all be continually open and mindful of the adventures this next year offers. This issue is full of helpful information to guide us in nurturing both body and mind. It reminds me of Louise Hay’s inspiring insights on the opportunity to love oneself into ageless health that she shared in a previous issue. Local expert, Elaine Pendergrast, director of The Breema Center, has also contributed a thought-provoking article, Where There Is Harmony, There Is Health, in which she suggests, “To become present, Breema asks the wandering mind to instead do a simple job: Be with the activity of the body.” It’s a good first step for anyone trying to make or strengthen the all-important mind-body connection. I’ve been blessed to participate in many nurturing events this past year, many of which continue to drive home the means we have to take charge of our path and redesign what’s to come. My wish for every one of us is that we find the path that calls us and that feels right every step of the way. When distractions would tempt us from our path, remember the wise words of Helen M. Luke, from her poem, Important, “We hurry through the so-called boring things in order to attend to that which we deem more important, interesting. Perhaps the final freedom will be a recognition that everything in every moment is ‘essential’ and that nothing at all is ‘important’.” All the best to you and yours,

Celeste Souza, Publisher

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016

January 2018

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

Contents 12 DIAL DOWN STRESS How to Stay Calm and Cool

HAROLD KOENIG

on Why Science Finds Faith a Healthy Choice

18 KICK THE

PLASTIC HABIT

Choose Earth-Friendly Alternatives

20 HEALTHY

WEIGHT KIDS

Food Choices that Prevent Obesity

22 EAT WHEAT AGAIN Eight Ways to Restore Gut Health

23 UNDERSTANDING

NUTRACEUTICALS

How They Differ from Health Store Supplements

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DEPARTMENTS 5 news briefs 8 health briefs 10 global briefs 16 wise words 18 green living 20 healthy kids 22 conscious

eating 23 healing ways

8 25 calendar 27 ongoing

calendar 29 resource guide

news briefs

Free Breema Classes to Balance Body, Mind and Feelings

o celebrate International Breema Week, January 6 to 13, all classes at the Breema Center will be free. This annual worldwide event is a great chance for people who have never experienced Breema to discover its balancing effect on the mind, feelings and body. Classes are open to those with no Breema experience. Participants will experience Breema’s grounding and energizing self-care movement exercises and the nurturing, dynamic two-person movement sequences. They’ll also be introduced to Breema’s Nine Principles of Harmony, another practical tool for coming to balance. The week begins and ends with two Saturday morning sessions of The Art of Being Present in Oakland, and a Sunday session in San Francisco. The Monday evening class explores the Nine Principles of Harmony, and the Tuesday evening class highlights Self-Breema. Before and after the Wednesday evening class with Breema Center Director Jon Schreiber, newcomers can receive a complimentary bodywork mini-session. On Friday, an Open House at the nearby Breema Clinic showcases the multidisciplinary health and therapeutic options offered there. Inviting Openness, a workshop led by Schreiber, takes place on January 14. It will explore using Breema’s Principles to find harmony with ourselves and others. The cost is $25 prepaid. The Winter Breema Intensive, February 10 to 16, supports beginners on the first three days and continuing students throughout. Location: 6201 Florio St., Oakland. For more information, call 510-428-1234 or visit Breema.com for links to informative videos. See ad, page 14.

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fter 25 years experience in medical practice and research, Dr. Hannah Hershoff decided to leave her lucrative medical doctor career to create healing jewelry. A phone chat with a cousin who took a trip from China totally changed Dr. Hannah’s life. Dr. Hannah learned that the mystical stones from a remote area of Southeast China near her hometown have incredible spiritual healing properties. After extensive research, Dr. Hannah learned that the five natural elements in the stones had served several dynasties of Emperors over thousands of years. This information excited Dr. Hannah enormously and motivated her to test the spiritual healing effects of the stones. A few weeks after wearing Dr. Hannah’s bracelets, three out of four individuals reported they gained confidence, improved their self-image, sensed more connections to loved ones, and experienced a reduction in anxiety. This dramatic positive feedback encouraged Dr. Hannah to leave her medical career and work full time on Sara Yo healing jewelry. Dr. Hannah says, “I am so glad I have made this career change decision, as I truly believe in the power of spiritual healing. I am so happy to do something I am extremely passionate about and I can help more people than I even did before!” For more information, visit www.myspiritjewel.com. January 2018

news briefs

Updated Shopper’s Guide Calls Out Pesticides in Produce

T Women’s March Bay Area Unites in San Francisco

n January 20, at San Francisco’s Civic Center, Women’s March Bay Area will once again join a number of non-partisan sister marches throughout the country and California. The Women’s March is a national movement to unify and empower everyone who stands for civil liberties and social justice for all. This family-friendly event is an opportunity for participants to find healing and strength through tolerance, civility and compassion, and to become organized and energized for the 2018 midterm elections. Last year’s event brought out 5 million marchers worldwide, in what is considered the largest single-day demonstration in U.S. history, according to Women’s March.com. The march is a free event and is open to all men, women and children who support human rights. For more information and to learn about volunteer and donation opportunities, visit WomensMarchBayArea.org.

he Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, is updated annually and ranks pesticide contamination of 48 popular fruits and vegetables. The guide is designed to help consumers make the best choices for their families, and reduce their exposures to toxic pesticides. EWG also provides printable versions of their “Clean 15” and “Dirty Dozen” lists. The Shopper’s Guide is based on results of more than 35,200 samples of produce tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration. According to EWG, fruit and vegetable samples are tested for pesticides after they have been prepared for consumption. This means the produce is thoroughly washed and, when applicable, peeled. After these preparations, pesticide residues are still detected on many of the fruits and veggies. Since its inception in 1993, EWG has fought for consumers’ rights to live healthier lives in a healthy environment. EWG updates its Shopper’s Guide each year to include the most current information about our produce. As long as chemicals remain in use and turn up on produce, EWG vows to keep publishing the Shopper’s Guide and investigating harmful pesticides and other chemicals. For more information, visit EWG.org/foodnews.

EWG Provides Tap Water Database

o you know what’s lurking in your tap water? The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has made it easier to find out. In July, EWG released an online tool to help consumers learn more about the quality of their tap water and find ways to filter out potentially dangerous contaminants, including arsenic, atrazine and chromium-6. According to EWG, more than 1 million people have used their Tap Water Database to learn more about the water flowing from our faucets. The EWG is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. Its mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. With breakthrough research and education, the EWG drives consumer choice and civic action. For more information, visit EWG.org/tapwater.

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Spealized Healing Expands at Eastern Medical Center with Eric Wei Wang

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he Eastern Medical Center, in Pleasanton, is pleased in welcoming Eric Wei Wang, LAc, DAOM to their staff. A graduate of the College of Acupuncture and Osteopath of Changchun University, in China, he completed his residency at Dalian TCM Eric Wei Wang, Hospital and opened LAc, DAOM his private practice in Shandong Province where he served thousands of patients. Specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture, combined with his athletic prowess and passion for martial arts, Wang began to focus on orthopedic and sports medicine in his practice. Recognizing the overwhelming need for integrative sports medicine, he came to the U.S. to pursue his doctorate in acupuncture and medicine. His specialties include pain management, sports medicine and orthopedics. Wang treats various conditions involving pain that are resultant from auto, work or sports injuries. His extensive training and experience in treating spinal conditions involving soft tissue is well known by his patients. His passion and talent in healing have been recognized by patients as well as, students at Five Branches University, where he teaches acupuncture, TCM diagnoses and case studies. He will be available, Mondays, Thursdays and every other Saturday, at Eastern Medical Center. Location: 5933 Coronado Ln., Ste. 100, Pleasanton. For more information or to make an appointment, call 925-847-8889 or visit EasternMedicalCenter.com/ericwei-wang-daom-l-ac. See ad, this page.

health briefs

Generosity Cheers Mind, Body and Spirit A Swiss study gave volunteers $25 a week for four weeks, and told half of them to spend the money on themselves and the others to spend it to benefit others. Subsequent brain scans revealed a link between the altruistic acts and feelings of contentment, activating neurons in the ventral striatum associated with happiness. Even the intention alone to be more generous was enough to create these changes, and the amount spent did not influence the increase in levels of well-being. The discovery sheds fresh light on why many people feel gratified when giving, even when it costs them something.

Hemp Oil Cuts Seizure Frequency in Half Research from the New York University Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center has found that cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive extract of hemp oil, significantly reduces seizure rates in epileptics. Scientists there tested 120 children and young adults with epilepsy and found that the cannabidiol group’s number of seizures per month decreased from 12.4 to 5.9 compared to a statistically insignificant change in the placebo group.

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health briefs

Researchers at the Imperial College London say that five servings of fruits and vegetables is a good start, but more is better. After conducting a worldwide meta-analysis of 2 million people that compared early mortality rates from cardiovascular disease and cancer, they recommend eating at least 10 three-ounce vegetable and fruit servings per day, which could prevent up to 7.8 million premature deaths each year.

AEROBICS KEEP THE BRAIN YOUNG Simple movement turns out to be the best way to lift mood, improve memory and protect the brain against age-related cognitive decline, according to Harvard Medical School researchers in an article, “Aerobic Exercise is the Key for Your Head, Just as It is for Your Heart.” Even brisk walking or jogging for 45 minutes can alleviate depression. The Journal of Physical Therapy Science notes that aerobic workouts can help people feel less stressed by reducing levels of the body’s natural stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. 8

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Daily Produce Servings Prevent Early Death

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Healthy diet options of spinach and kale may also help keep our brains fit. In a study from the University of Illinois appearing in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 60 adults between 25 and 45 years old having higher levels of lutein, a nutrient found in green, leafy vegetables, avocados and eggs, had neural responses more on par with younger people than others of their own age. Lutein is a nutrient that the body can’t make on its own, so it must be acquired through diet. It accumulates in brain tissues and the eyes, which allows researchers to measure levels without using invasive techniques.

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Lutein in Greens and Eggs Slows Cognitive Aging

As the debate rages between health officials and vaccine critics about possible links to autism, mercury seems to be a specific bone of contention. It has long been present in the form of thimerisol, a preservative that inhibits bacterial contamination. Under government pressure, amounts have been reduced by the pharmaceutical industry to trace levels or eliminated, except in commonly recommended flu vaccines, some of which contain the food emulsifier polysorbate 80, which disrupts the blood-brain barrier and helps create an extremely effective delivery system for escorting neurotoxic ethylmercury and other heavy metals straight to the brain. The U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that ethylmercury, in particular, gets metabolized into even more toxic inorganic mercury and remains in the brain for years.

FISH OIL TWICE WEEKLY EASES ARTHRITIS

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Eating fish at least twice a week may significantly reduce the pain and swelling associated with rheumatoid arthritis,in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, creating swelling and pain. Studies have already shown the beneficial effect of fish oil supplements on rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, but a new study of 176 participants at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, found that increasing the amount of fish containing omega-3 they ate weekly as a whole food lowered their disease activity. The Arthritis Foundation estimates that about 1.5 million people in the U.S. have the disease; women far more often than men.

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Mercury/Autism Brain Research Alert

Sugar Linked to Depression The journal Scientific Reports recently published a study that confirmed a link between a diet high in sugar and common mental disorders. In 2002, researchers from Baylor College found that higher rates of refined sugar consumption were associated with higher rates of depression. A 2015 study that included nearly 70,000 women found a higher likelihood of depression in those with high added sugar intake, but not in those with a high intake of naturally occurring sugars such as those found in fruit. The World Health Organization recommends that people reduce their daily intake of added sugars to less than 5 percent of their total energy intake; Americans typically consume three times that much. Meanwhile, one in six people worldwide suffers from a common mental problem such as a mood or anxiety disorder.

The truth is that there is no actual stress or anxiety in the world; it’s your thoughts that create these false beliefs. You can’t package stress, touch it or see it. There are only people engaged in stressful thinking. ~Wayne Dyer January 2018

global briefs

Recycling Crusade San Francisco Moves Toward Zero Waste

NA Fun Fact: Natural Awakenings’ free app has been downloaded by more than 40,000 iPhone users and is now available on the Android platform. To advertise with us, call 925- 557-7583. 10

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Meatless Millennials

Crackdown Needed

Glyphosate Found in Breakfast Foods

Of 24 breakfast food samples tested by the Alliance for Natural Health USA, 10 showed the presence of glyphosate. Executive and Legal Director Gretchen DuBeau states, “We expected that trace amounts would show up in foods containing large amounts of corn and soy. However, we were unprepared for just how invasive this poison has been to our entire food chain.” In the study, the chemical, now revealed to be a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization, was found in oatmeal, bagels, eggs, potatoes and non-GMO soy coffee creamer. The presence of glyphosate in dairy products may be due to bioaccumulation in the tissue of animals. DuBeau adds, “Glyphosate has been linked to increases in levels of breast, thyroid, kidney, pancreatic, liver and bladder cancers, and is being served for breakfast, lunch and dinner worldwide. The fact that it is showing up in foods like eggs and coffee creamers, which don’t directly contact the herbicide, proves that it’s being passed on by animals that ingest it in their feed. This is contrary to everything that regulators and industry scientists have been telling the public.”

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The 2017 Chicken Marketing Summit in North Carolina involved hundreds of leaders from fast-food chains, marketing agencies and poultry production companies discussing the fact that Americans are eating less poultry—and what to do about it. Richard Kottmeyer, a senior managing partner at Fork to Farm Advisory Services, explained that Millennials need to be “inspired and coached” to consume more animal products, according to an article published on WattAgNet.com, an industry website. “Compared to their parents, Millennials are more likely to believe in evolution and accept that climate change is occurring. They seek out facts and science to better understand a complex world, but the poultry industry doesn’t have any fact-based information to defend its cruel, unsanitary practices,” states animal rights advocate Nathan Runkle via EcoWatch.com. The majority of chickens raised for meat have been bred to grow so large so quickly that they collapse under their own unnatural weight. North Carolina has enacted an “ag-gag” bill, making it illegal to photograph or videotape animal abuse.

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Young Vegetarians Worry Meat Industry

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The San Francisco Department of the Environment’s list of materials allowed in blue recycling bins has been expanded to include plastic bags, paper coffee cups, ice cream containers, milk or juice cartons and textiles; it is also downsizing refuse bins. It’s all part of a shift to using dual-compartment trucks to collect refuse from black bins and organic waste from green bins, with a dedicated truck for recyclables. A national leader in recycling, the city is one of the first to attempt a zero-waste target year of 2020. California has a goal of 75 percent recycling by 2020, having achieved a 44 percent rate in 2016. Los Angeles is making progress with a new commercial waste recycling system. Washington, D.C., has also expanded its list of accepted materials for recycling bins, but still doesn’t include plastic bags. With recent improvements to automated and optical sorting technology, some companies are becoming more accommodating about what they will accept.

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Urban Trees

City Greenery Boosts Public Health

Urban trees help reduce obesity and depression, improve productivity, boost educational outcomes and reduce incidences of asthma and heart disease for residents, yet according to The Nature Conservancy, American cities spend less than a third of 1 percent of municipal budgets on tree planting and maintenance. As a result, U.S. cities are losing 4 million trees per year. Each summer, thousands of unnecessary deaths result from heat waves in urban areas. Studies have shown that trees are a cost-effective solution. Too often, the presence or absence of urban nature and its associated benefits is tied to a neighborhood’s income level, resulting in dramatic health inequities. In some American cities, life expectancies in different neighborhoods located just a few miles apart can differ by as much as a decade. Not all of this health disparity is connected to the tree cover, but researchers are increasingly finding that neighborhoods with fewer trees have worse health outcomes, so inequality in access to urban nature can lead to worse health inequities.

Cigarette Cutback Higher Prices Lower Use

Research from the Medical University of Vienna found in a 30-year study that increasing prices for tobacco products by 5 percent reduced tobacco use by 3.5 percent.

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To read the white paper, visit Tinyurl.com/FundingTreesForHealth.

Veggie Doctors

Cardiologists Urge Plant-Based Hospital Meals

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is advising hospitals in improving patient menus by adding healthy, plant-based options and removing processed meats, which have been linked to 60,000 cardiovascular deaths annually. The ACC Heart-Healthy Food Recommendations for Hospitals states, “At least one plant-based main dish should be offered and promoted at every meal.” ACC also urges that processed meats such as bacon, sausage, ham, hot dogs and deli meats should not be offered at all. These guidelines extend to hospital cafeterias and onsite restaurants. The American Medical Association has also passed a resolution that calls on hospitals to provide similarly healthy meals. Processed meats are now considered carcinogenic to humans, according to the World Health Organization. A 50-gram serving a day— one hot dog or two strips of bacon—increases colorectal cancer risk by 18 percent. “Too many heart disease patients have had their recovery undermined by bacon and hot dogs on their hospital trays,” says Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the nonprofit Physicians Committee.

January 2018

DIAL DOWN STRESS How to Stay Calm and Cool by Lisa Marshall

hether from natural disasters, divisive politics, unmanageable workloads or a smartphone culture that makes it tough to unplug, U.S. adults are feeling more strain now than they have at any other time in the past decade, according to the American Psychological Association’s 2017 Stress in America Survey. One in three say their stress has increased in the past year and one in five rate the level at eight or more on a scale of one to 10. About three in five, or 59 percent, say they believe this is “the lowest point in the nation’s history” and nearly two-thirds say concerns about our nation’s future (including its health care, economy and international relations) are key sources of their stress. “We’re seeing significant stress transcending party lines,” notes Arthur C. Evans Jr., Ph.D., the association’s CEO. All that stress is having a powerful impact on health, with as many as 80

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Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one. ~Hans Selye percent of visits to primary care physicians characterized as stress-related, according to the American Medical Association. Workplace stress accounts for 120,000 deaths a year—more than influenza, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease combined—according to a 2015 Stanford University study. Yet, empowering news has emerged amid this epidemic of anxiety-related illness. Research shows that by eating right, exercising and changing our mindset about stress itself, we can buffer our bodies from many health hazards. “Unfortunately, you can’t always avoid the things that stress you out. But you can control how you respond to stress before it takes over your life,” says Melanie

Greenberg, Ph.D., a Mill Valley, California, psychologist and author of the recent book The Stress-Proof Brain: Master Your Emotional Response to Stress Using Mindfulness and Neuroplasticity.

Our Brain on Stress

Whether it’s an urgent email from the boss or a rude motorist driving unsafely, tense situations elicit a physiological response remarkably similar to what might occur if we were chased by a lion. Deep inside an almond-shaped region of the brain called the amygdala, an alarm goes off, signaling the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol that boost heart rate, usher extra blood to muscles, hasten breathing and spike blood sugar to provide more fuel for the brain to react. Evolutionarily, this response was key to early human survival, providing the energy boost needed to flee predators. Even today, it has its upside, says Greenberg. “In

the short term, stress can be exciting and even beneficial, revving you up so you can put your passion and energy into something.” But chronic excess can lead to high blood pressure and blood sugar, inflammation, cognitive problems and a hair-trigger response to stress, in which our body overreacts even to mild annoyances. It can also, research suggests, accelerate aging by eroding the protective caps on our chromosomes, called telomeres. “Think of the stress response as an elastic band,” says Dr. Mithu Storoni, a Hong Kong physician and author of the new book Stress Proof: The Scientific Solution to Protect Your Brain and Body — and Be More Resilient Every Day. “If you pull it and it snaps back immediately, that’s fine. But if you pull it too intensely or too frequently, it doesn’t snap back, and there are lots of downstream consequences.”

Stress-Proofing Our Body

Eating right can better protect our bodies, says New York City Registered Dietitian Malina Malkani. She recommends loading up on nutrient-dense, high-fiber foods like leafy greens, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds during stressful times, because they can slow our rate of digestion and minimize unhealthy dips and spikes in blood sugar. Beneficial, bacteria-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi are other foundational foods for stressresilience, says Storoni, because they can dampen bodily inflammation that arises from chronic tension. They can also replenish bacterial strains like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria which, according to studies of college students, tend to decrease when we feel pushed beyond our limits to handle what’s coming at us. One 2016 study of 171 volunteers, published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, found that those that ate yogurt containing lactobacillus plantarum daily for two months had fewer markers of stress in their blood. Another study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2007 found that when 132 adults drank a probiotic-infused milk

Seven Ways to Banish Stress W

by Lisa Marshall

e can take charge and do even more things to keep stress at bay in the first place, says Christine Carter, Ph.D., a University of California, Berkeley, sociologist and author of The Sweet Spot: How to Accomplish More by Doing Less. “I’m all about prevention,” she says. “There are many ways to set up your life to be less stressful.”

Multitask less, monotask more:

“The brain was not evolved to multitask and it can be stressful when we try to do so,” says Carter, referencing a Stanford University study. “At the end of the day, we end up feeling fried.” She recommends setting up a “fortress against interruption” for an hour or two each day when we feel most alert. Put the phone on mute, don noisecanceling headphones and ask coworkers or family members to not interrupt your focus on an important priority.

Don’t be a chronic media checker: Eighty-six percent of

Americans say they constantly or often check their email, texts or social media accounts, according to the latest Stress in America Survey. Half of U.S. workers say they respond to every email within a half-hour. Carter recommends instead scheduling a block of time at the beginning and end of each day for the task. During weekends and evenings, disable email and social media notifications. Research shows the more often we check, the more stressed we are. One recent study of British office workers found that checking email almost immediately boosts heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels, while refraining causes the stress response to subside.

Limit choices: Making decisions

can be stressful, and we are all faced with an increasing number of them every day. To limit a personal decision-making load, get boring. Devise a meal plan that doesn’t vary from week to week (unless it’s a happy creative outlet). Stock the wardrobe with favorite styles of shirts and shoes in

different colors. Select and stick with one brand of natural toothpaste or granola.

Don’t overthink things: Rumi-

nating on past events and relationship problems can be a great source of stress in the present moment. If there’s nothing that can be done about it, stop thinking about it. Literally visualize a stop sign when the thought bubbles up.

Daydream: Idle times, like standing

in line, sitting in traffic or showering can allow our brain to rest and recover from hassles. Embrace such opportunities and don’t clutter them up with technology; leave the phone and radio off.

Meditate: Invest 10 minutes daily

to sit still, focus on breathing, visualize an image or stare at an object and try to keep thoughts from drifting. Brain imaging studies published in the Brain Research Bulletin show that “Through [such] meditation, it’s possible to rewire your brain to create a new, stronger circuit that keeps your emotional reactivity under control,” says Dr. Mithu Storoni, who has published a book on the topic.

Heighten spirituality: Whether

it’s regularly attending religious services, yoga meditation sessions or quiet walks in the woods, a spiritual practice can be a powerfully effective means of coping with stress and mitigating its health impacts. Duke University research shows that people regularly engaged in a spiritual practice are more likely to survive heart surgery, recover better from stroke, have shorter hospital stays and become depressed and stressed less often. “Spirituality connects you to the broader world, which in turn enables you to stop trying to control things all by yourself,” explains Dr. Roberta Lee, an integrative physician, in her book The SuperStress Solution. “When you feel part of a greater whole, it’s easy to understand that you aren’t responsible for everything that happens in life.” January 2018

“If a woman had a stressful day at work every day and ate a meal like this, she could easily gain seven to 11 pounds in a year,” says study author Jan KiecoltGlaser, a professor of psychiatry and psychology and director of the university’s Institute for Behavioral Medicine. Exercise, too, can help combat stress-related illness. But Storoni attests that not all exercise is created equal. One recent study in the Journal of Physiology found that in animals daily moderate

exercise (the equivalent of a light jog) can boost levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a critical brain protein diminished by stress and sleep deprivation, significantly more than weight training or intense exercise. On the flip side, excess strenuous exercise (laps around the track or an intense gym workout) can boost inflammation, whither brain cells, and aggravate the physical impacts of stress, says Storoni. “If you want to exercise to relieve the stress you just experienced, keep it at low intensity,” counsels Storoni. If possible, work out in the morning, as it can boost melatonin levels at night, helping you get to sleep faster, she notes.

Stress-Proofing Our Mindset

While diet and exercise can buffer our body from the impacts of chronic stress, a shift in mindset can keep it from becoming chronic in the first place, says Greenberg.“The goal is not to eliminate stress, but to put it in its place—to use its energizing and motivating aspects to take care of what needs to be done,

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drink daily for three weeks and were then subjected to an anxiety-prone situation, their brains reacted more calmly than those of a control group. “Probably the most important thing you can do to make your body stress-resilient is to maintain a healthy ecosystem of bacteria in your gut,” advises Malkani, who recommends exchanging dessert for low-sugar yogurt every day and taking probiotic supplements as well as steering clear of sweetened beverages and refined carbohydrates. The spice turmeric is also a good stress-buster due to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to help normalize blood sugar, Storoni notes. Despite our natural craving for comfort food, it’s a good idea to go easy on saturated fats in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic situation, because stress slows fat metabolism. In one recent study, Ohio State University researchers asked 58 women about their previous day’s stressors, and then fed them the fat-loaded equivalent of a double cheeseburger and fries; the stressed-out women burned 104 fewer calories.

and then relax,” and stop paying attention to it. This, she says, requires being mindful of what’s happening in the present moment. “When you feel your heart racing at the sight of another urgent demand at home or work, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and tune into what’s happening in your body,” advises Greenberg. She notes that when the highly reactive amygdala “hijacks the brain”, we often say and do things in the heat of the moment that we later regret. Waiting just a moment (like counting to 10) allows the more rational part of our brain (the prefrontal cortex) to kick in. “It allows you to go from panic to, ‘I’ve got this.’” Greenberg observes that we often feel most stressed when we feel out of control. When faced with a daunting task, it may help to make a list of the things we have control over and a list of the things we can’t control—then make a plan to act on the manageable one and let the others go. “Mindfulness is also about keeping our self-judging and ruminating mind at bay, which may keep repeating, ‘I’m not doing enough,’” she says. “Realize that you do not have to listen to every thought that comes into your head. Ask yourself, ‘What is the most important thing for me to focus on right now?’” Greenberg also says it’s important to aim to broaden and brighten our view in tough times, explaining, “Feeling stress biases your brain to think in terms of avoiding threat and loss, rather than what you can gain or learn from the situation.” Start by jotting down three ways this challenging situation may be beneficial in the long run; also make a list of things and people we are grateful for, she suggests. “Practicing gratitude helps you realize that you have a choice about what to focus your attention on and you don’t have to let stressors take all the joy out of life,” according to Greenberg. As an added bonus, “You’re less likely to take your stress out on loved ones when you think about what they mean to you and how they have helped you,” she says. Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.

To order: Call (972) 492-0419 E-mail: info@realtimelab.com To order directly from our web site: www.realtimelab.com/Environmental-Inspectors/ January 2018

wise words

HAROLD KOENIG

on Why Science Finds Faith a Healthy Choice by April Thompson

hysician Harold G. Koenig, an international authority on religion, health and ethical issues in medicine, has dedicated his career to understanding the relationship between faith and health. Koenig, who has surveyed the scientific literature, shares the mounting evidence linking the power of faith to better health and well-being. Koenig struggled for three decades to determine his life’s purpose before a spiritual transformation in 1984 set him on a Christian path. “As I’m able to surrender my will and follow God’s lead, I’ve found an increasing flow of blessings. Even in those times when I’m self-centered, the blessings continue. I can only attribute it to the incredible undeserved grace and mercy of one who understands and forgives,” he says. He’s the director of Duke University’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, an associate professor of medicine at the Duke University Medical Center, in Durham, North Carolina, and author of nearly 50 books. Titles include The Healing Power of Faith, The Handbook of Religion and Health, and the recent You Are My Beloved. Really?, musings on the nature of divine love.

What maintains people’s faith in the face of worldly adversity? Adversity can increase people’s faith; when things are going well, people don’t feel the same urgent need for religion. Why do hurricanes happen? Why do people experience chronic pain? When someone is in the midst of challenges, there is no easy explanation, even though there can be many answers. Sometimes all you can do is to have faith that a good God reigns, despite appearances. That can lead to a sense 16

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of well-being and spiritual purpose, even in the midst of bad material experiences. How you’ve dealt with life prior to a challenge matters. If you follow a spiritual path and practice, when bad things happen, you can lean on your foundation of faith; you’re better prepared. Once you’re in the middle of it, all you may feel is the pain and a desperate desire to get rid of it. One of the most precious gifts we have as humans is the freedom to choose. We can be selfish and strictly pleasure-seeking, or we can be kind and altruistic. We can turn toward or away from our divine source.

What have you concluded from decades of studying the relationship between faith, prayer and health? Our research and that of many other major academic institutions, including Harvard and Columbia universities, shows that people of strong faith enjoy better social, physical and mental health, all else being equal. It drives healthy behaviors and attitudes, which leads to better health. A person’s religious beliefs and spiritual practices affect them across their lifespan. It begins in utero, based on parental behavior and care, and shows in the sense of trust we have as infants. In this way, parents’ faith-

based moral values also can favorably affect their children’s levels of stress, depression and drug use later on.

Is there a tension between the yearning for scientific certainty and the intuitive nature of faith? I feel that tension constantly as a scientist and a believer. I’m always challenging myself; you have to be objective as a scientist, to observe without reading into things. But the wisdom of the scriptures has endured through thousands of years, applied by believers through the ages in many different groups and cultures. About 80 percent of Americans today believe in God, nearly 90 percent in a higher power, and 84 percent of the world’s people have religious faith. Such faith must serve some kind of function for it to have persisted throughout the millennia. There is much that is still unknown, and may not be knowable from a scientific perspective. You need to use common sense and intuition. It requires a leap of faith, but once you do it, everything falls into line—though I admit as a scientist I keep trying to understand things from a rational perspective.

What are the pathways by which spirituality contributes to health? Science supports firsthand experience; that the virtues instilled by a religious path ultimately lead to better decision making, relationships and greater well-being. They help to neutralize negative emotions. These benefits accrue through adulthood and yield fruit into old age. The coping mechanism that spiritual practices provide is also important. It helps us to tolerate and navigate difficult situations and integrate meaning and purpose into daily life. I don’t think science can prove to us that faith leads to divine healing. But through natural mechanisms alone, ones that we can understand and study, tremendous evidence exists to show that it benefits health and maybe even longevity. Connect with freelancer April Thompson, in Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

Copper

Natural device stops a cold before it starts

New research: Copper stops colds if used early.

ew research shows you can stop a cold in its tracks if you take one simple step with a new device when you first feel a cold coming on. Colds start when cold viruses get in your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you don’t stop them early, they spread in your airways and cause misery. But scientists have found a quick way to stop a virus. Touch it with copper. Researchers at labs and universities worldwide agree — copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, just by touch. Four thousand years ago ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. Now we know why it worked so well. Researchers say a tiny electric charge in microbe cells gets short-circuited by the high conductance of copper. This destroys the cell in seconds. Tests by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show germs die fast on copper. So some hospitals switched to copper touch surfaces, like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives. The strong scientific evidence gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When he felt a cold coming on he fashioned a smooth copper probe and rubbed it gently in his nose for 60 seconds. “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold went away completely.” It worked

Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” Some users say copper stops nighttime stuffiness if they use it just before bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had in years.” Users also report success in stopping cold sores when used at the first sign of a tingle in the lip. One woman said, “I tried every product on the market over 20 years. Some helped a little, but this stopped it from happening in the first place.” The handle is sculptured to fit the hand and finely textured to improve contact. Tests show it kills harmful microbes on the fingers to help prevent the spread of illness.

again every time he felt a cold coming on. He reports he has never had a cold since. He asked relatives and friends to try it. They said it worked for them, too. So he patented CopperZap™ and put it on the market. Soon hundreds of people had tried it and given feedback. Nearly 100 percent said the copper stops their colds if used within 3 hours of the first sign. Even up to 2 days after the first sign, if they still get the cold it is milder and they feel better. Users wrote things like, “It stopped my cold right away,” and “Is it supposed to work that fast?” Pat McAllister, age 70, received one as a gift and called it “one of the best presents ever. This little jewel really works.” Sinus trouble, stuffiness, cold sores. People often use CopperZap Copper may even help stop flu if for prevention, before cold signs apused early and for several days. In a pear. Karen Gauci, who flies often for her job, used to get colds after crowded lab test, scientists placed 25 million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. No viruses flights. Though skeptical, she tried it were found alive soon after. several times a day on travel days for The EPA says the natural color 2 months. “Sixteen flights and not a change of copper does not reduce its sniffle!” she exclaimed. ability to kill germs. Businesswoman Rosaleen says CopperZap is made in the U.S. of when people are sick around her she pure copper. It carries a 90-day full uses CopperZap morning and night. money back guarantee and is available “It saved me last holidays,” she said. for $49.95 at CopperZap.com or toll“The kids had colds going around and free 1-888-411-6114. around, but not me.” ADVERTORIAL

January 2018

Coming Next Month

Meditation Styles

Kick the Plastic Habit Choose Earth-Friendly Alternatives by Avery Mack

Plus: Living Courageously February articles include: Finding Your Perfect Meditation Style Heart Healthy Foods Pathways Toward Personal Resilience and so much more!

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

925-557-7583 18

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rocery bags, bottles, cups and straws comprise much of the 9.1 billion tons of plastic manufactured worldwide in the past 65 years. Once discarded, 79 percent resides in landfills and litters the environment, with more created daily. Annually, the equivalent of five grocery bags of trash for every foot of coastline worldwide enters the oceans, killing 100,000 marine animals. A 2016 World Economic Forum report says that by 2050, the world’s seas could contain more plastic than fish. At the 2017 Our Ocean Conference, the Ocean Conservancy and its partners announced a $150 million preventive plan. “This is a major breakthrough for trashfree seas,” says Susan Ruffo, the conservancy’s managing director of international initiatives. “Our research found improved waste management in Southeast Asian countries [Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and China] can halve plastic going in the ocean by 2025.” When the United Nations launched the Clean Seas campaign in 2017, Indonesia pledged $1 billion to reduce plastic waste by 70 percent within eight years through education, taxes on plastic bags and investing in alternative products. Increased awareness is

crucial to buy and discard less, create alternatives and recycle more to support the planet’s overall health.

Expanding Footprint

Lacking space, technology and equipment to transform waste into reusable materials, U.S. municipalities typically ship it to a sorter for processing elsewhere; often to China, where new regulations restrict what’s accepted, leaving trash haulers scrambling. Although recyclable, these are the worst plastics: #3, Polyvinyl chloride, used in plastic wrap, toys, squeeze bottles and packaging for peanut butter, contains lead and phthalate esters (chemical compounds) that affect development of testosterone, according to a study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. #6, Polystyrene, in Styrofoam, plastic utensils and disposable or carryout containers, is toxic to our brain and nervous system; ask what restaurants use. #7, Polycarbonate, found in the lining of canned foods, sports drinks, juice drinks, ketchup bottles and clear sippy cups, contains bisphenol A (BPA), a proven endocrine disruptor.

Mohamed Abdulraheem/Shutterstock.com

FEB

green living

Small Changes Make a Difference Recycling weakens plastic grocery bags, necessitating double-bagging to avoid spills. Average families annually accumulate about 1,500 plastic bags, with 99 percent ending in landfills, as litter or stuffed in the pantry, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. Worldwide, many countries ban or tax bags. “Annually, 50 billion water bottles are sold globally, including 30 billion in the U.S. That’s 1,500 individual water bottles thrown away per second,” says Deanna Latson, co-founder of ARIIX, which makes water purification systems, in Bountiful, Utah. “One filter can purify the equivalent of thousands of them a year.” The U.S. annual bottle recycling rate is 23 percent. Beth Terry, of Oakland, California, author of Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too, offers 100 tips at MyPlasticFreeLife.com, including this planet-saving advice:

4 Opt for bar soap instead of liquid, soap nuts in lieu of plastic-packaged powders, and baking soda and lemon or vinegar rather than sprays to clean. 4 Ask the butcher to wrap meat in paper, forgoing trays and plastic wrap. 4 Buy fruit and vegetables at farmers’ markets; return containers for reuse. 4 Turn out-of-fashion garments into cleaning rags; skip plastic scrubbers. 4 Carry reusable water bottles and cloth shopping bags. 4 Avoid over-packaged frozen foods. 4 Use glass jars for leftovers and storage. 4 Buy kitty litter packaged in paper. 4 Choose stainless steel pet food and water bowls. As a substitute, glass is endlessly recyclable, but facilities are few. Find resource centers at gpi.org/glass-resource-locator. “Plastic innovations stop at invention and don’t follow through to end-oflife solutions,” says Tom Szaky, CEO and founder of TerraCycle, in Trenton, New Jersey. It accepts both basic and difficultto-recycle waste including pens, labora-

tory waste, cigarette butts, art supplies, small auto parts, bathroom cleaning waste, toys, candy wrappers and coffee pods (TerraCycle.com).

Contact Influencers

Tell companies when products have excessive or harmful packaging. In Delray Beach, Florida, Saltwater Brewery created biodegradable, safely edible wheat and barley six-pack rings to replace traditional plastic rings that are hazardous to wildlife. Restaurants routinely provide fresh plastic straws with refills. BYOS (bring your own straw), whether plastic, stainless steel or paper, and let management know why. Americans daily discard 500 million plastic straws (StrawlessOcean.org/alternatives). “Consumers are willing to change if options are available,” observes Szaky. “Manufacturers need to offer high-quality, reusable products designed for reuse equal or superior in value to single-use, disposable items.” Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

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higher in calories and fat, plus the portion sizes are far too large.” When parents can’t prepare a meal from scratch, a frozen, boxed meal can be a better alternative than fast food. “The portions are more appropriate, so there’s more control of how much a child eats.” Tasty frozen organic meals are now available at many grocers.

Rethinking Family Plates

Healthy Weight Kids Food Choices that Prevent Obesity by Amber Lanier Nagle

Small changes in daily eating routines translate into healthier weight for America’s kids.

n 2010, President Obama and Michelle Obama launched Let’s Move! as their signature initiative to tackle epidemic levels of U.S. childhood obesity. While modest progress has been made, it remains a public health crisis. A brief by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the obesity rate remained fairly stable at nearly 17 percent between 2011 and 2014 for children 2 to 19 years old. Caused mainly by inadequate physical activity, unhealthy diets and rare genetic factors, obesity increases the risk of significant health problems, including high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, plus joint and breathing issues.

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“We must launch our own family anti-obesity campaigns,” urges pediatrician Ricardo Riesco, co-owner of Peds Care, in Dalton, Georgia. “Along with increasing activity levels, we can encourage healthier eating habits at home and lead by example.”

Portions Matter In today’s “supersize-me” climate, teaching youngsters about appropriate portion sizes is imperative in fostering healthy eating habits. “It’s often hard for parents to find time to cook a meal at home,” Riesco acknowledges. “Too often, parents will pick up fast food for dinner, which is typically

“A large part of the obesity problem stems from children consuming sodas and refined, processed, junk and fried foods,” says Daemon “Dr. Dae” Jones, a Washington, D.C., naturopathic physician and author of Eat More Plants. “They are low in nutrients, and high in sugars and calories that pack on the pounds.” Jones says the best way to combat obesity and form healthy eating habits is to replace processed foods with a whole foods diet plentiful in colorful fruits and vegetables, with sides of whole grains, nuts and seeds, and beans and legumes. “These foods are high in vitamins, nutrients, fiber, proteins and healthy fats. Lean meats, chicken and fish are good choices for protein, as well.”

Breakfast and Snacks Breakfast provides fuel for the body and helps young minds concentrate and learn, so experts warn against skipping or skimping on it. “I tell parents to, ‘Get out of the box,’” says Doctor of Naturopathy JoAnn Yanez, executive director of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges. “Offer them a balance of fats, proteins and complex carbohydrates.” She suggests making a batch of pancakes using an extra egg or almond meal for protein, served with fresh fruit and nitrate-free sausage. “I also recommend steel cut oats,” she says. “I make them in advance, and in the morning add in all sorts of good stuff such as fresh fruit, almond meal and almond milk.” “Although almost everything can be enjoyed in moderation, decreasing or eliminating high-calorie, high-fat,

Oksana Kuzmina/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

low-nutrient treats can also help children develop healthy eating habits for life and prevent obesity,” says Registered Dietitian Wendy Palmer, manager of child wellness and a certified health education specialist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “A medium-sized apple or banana, or a cup of baby carrots with hummus, is a nutrient-rich snack for kids. Avoid snacks that have no nutritional value or are coated in sugar.” For more good ideas, see Tinyurl.com/HealthySnackingOptions.

Olesia Bilkei/Shutterstock.com

No Sugary Drinks “There’s a strong correlation between sugary drinks and overweight, obese children,” observes Palmer. “I recommend that parents remove all sugary sodas, sports drinks and juice boxes from their children’s diets. Water and unsweetened seltzer water are great alternatives.” Palmer notes that many eating patterns are set before a child turns 3, so limiting all sugary drinks, including juices, is an important component of teaching young children healthier eating habits that will last a lifetime. Studies suggest a strong link between obese children and obese adults, so for parents concerned that their child’s cute baby fat has turned into something more, the time to act is now.

Media Promote Junk Food by Amber Lanier Nagle

econdary causes of childhood obesity include pervasive junk food marketing. A recent study in Obesity Reviews showed that young people exposed to advertising for foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and salt had a higher incidence of selecting the advertised products instead of healthier options. Parents can use simple strategies to limit their kids’ exposure to this mesmerizing influence.

Reduce Screen Time—Decrease the amount of time children spend viewing TV, computers, tablets and smartphones.

Teach Kids About Advertising—Watch some ads with children. Talk to them about misleading messaging, underscoring how most advertisers’ intentions aren’t in the audience’s best interests.

Fast Forward Through Commercials— Take control and bypass ads using a DVR player or streaming service; mute the TV during ads. Primary source: WebMD.com

Friends are the siblings God never gave us. ~Mencius

Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer in Northwest Georgia (AmberNagle.com).

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n Eat bread that’s only made of organic whole wheat, salt water and starter.

Restore Liver and Gallbladder Function

EAT WHEAT AGAIN Eight Ways to Restore Gut Health by John Douillard

he New York University Langone Medical Center recently reported that 74 percent of Americans experience some form of digestive distress, a quarter are obese and more than 100 million U.S. adults are pre-diabetic and don’t know it. While many blame such problems on eating wheat, some food scientists disagree, including those citing two major studies by Harvard researchers; following more than 100,000 people for 25 years, they concluded that those eating the most wheat compared to low-gluten folks had a 13 percent lower diabetes risk and no greater risk of heart disease. While the standard American diet, which includes highly processed wheat, is likely responsible for many of these health concerns, plenty of science links a diet rich in whole grains, including whole wheat, to weight loss, better digestion and lower blood sugar. The Mediterranean Diet, replete with whole grains and wheat, is still revered as one of the healthiestknown diets. Centenarians that live in the famed “blue zones”, recognized for their

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longevity-enhancing environment and lifestyles, eat a non-processed, whole-food diet rich in whole grains and wheat. Many Americans that are glutensensitive today digested wheat fine when they were young. At some point, our ability to digest foods that are a bit harder to digest, like wheat and dairy, became compromised. It’s possible to reboot.

Delete Processed Foods

The first step toward reestablishing digestive strength is avoiding all processed foods. A study in the journal Diabetes Care linked a processed food diet to a 141 percent increase in belly fat, high blood sugar and high cholesterol. It further showed that a diet of whole grains, including wheat, reduced the risk of these health concerns by 38 percent. Monitor these ingredients to achieve a healthier diet. n Avoid all added sugars or artificial sweeteners. Allow nothing more than six grams of naturally occurring sugar per serving.

Highly processed vegetable oils are used as preservatives in most packaged foods, including bread. Processing these oils renders them indigestible. Linked to congestion of the liver and gallbladder, they disable liver bile so it can’t break down either good or bad fats, also making it insufficient to buffer stomach acids. Without adequate bile production to neutralize stomach acid, the stomach won’t produce the needed acid to digest proteins like gluten and the casein in dairy. This malady has effected a huge spike in gallbladder surgeries and epidemic levels of obesity, high blood sugar and food intolerances. To boost bile flow, enjoy these foods daily: n Eat one red beet and one apple a day— either raw, cooked, juiced or blended. Add celery and make a bile-flow smoothie. n Consume one teaspoon of both coconut oil and high-quality olive oil per day. n Eat more artichokes, bitter roots and leafy greens. n Drink fennel and fenugreek tea with meals.

Strengthen Stomach Fire

Instead of taking digestive enzymes or a hydrochloric acid-based stomach acid pill, stimulate the stomach to make its own acid and the small intestine and pancreas to produce digestive enzymes. This is best done regularly with the following five spices: n Use ginger, cumin, coriander, cardamom and fennel. Studies published in journals such as Molecular Nutrition & Food Research and the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry suggest that when these five spices are used together

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n Avoid fried foods and baked goods made with refined cooking oils used to preserve them like bread, muffins, cookies, energy bars, most packaged foods and chips.

conscious eating

Following these simple steps of nutrition will set gluten sufferers on the right path to retraining the body to digest and enjoy wheat again. John Douillard, a Boulder, CO, doctor of chiropractic and creator of the wellness website LifeSpa.com, is the former director of player development and nutrition advisor to the New Jersey Nets NBA team. He is author of the book Eat Wheat: A Scientific and Clinically-Proven Approach to Safely Bringing Wheat and Dairy Back into Your Diet. Learn more at EatWheatBook.com.

Optimism is

the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. ~Helen Keller

healing ways

Kseniya Tatarnikova/Shutterstock.com

—as a supplement, in cooking or to flavor food—they act as a total upper digestive reset. These five-star spices: 4 Stimulate digestion 4 Increase bile flow, pancreatic and small intestine enzyme activity, and fat and sugar metabolism 4 Decrease H. pylori, an opportunistic acid-producing microbe, from adhering to the stomach 4 Decrease gas and bloating 4 Support optimal weight, microbiology health, growth of good gut bacteria and elimination 4 Act as powerful free-radical scavengers

UNDERSTANDING NUTRACEUTICALS

How They Differ from Health Store Supplements by Linda Sechrist

Savvy consumers seeking products that might help them achieve and maintain good health may be noticing two new categories: medical food and nutraceuticals.

edicalized terminology is now being used to describe certain products we may already have been buying from brandname dietary supplement companies and retailers, and they have a higher price tag. One common example: powdered protein meal-replacement shakes that can cost up to $16 more than a retail store brand, as nutraceutical and medical food purveyors want to differentiate their products as having clinical research and development behind them. This raises the bar on the quality of contents and assures consumers of third-party testing for proof of ingredients. Although both are regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Edu-

cation Act (DSHEA) of 1994, there is no legal distinction between dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, yet each serves different purposes. Dietary supplements, comprising vitamins, minerals and/or herbs and botanicals, are intended to enhance wellness among healthy adults. Nutraceuticals encompass nutrients, foods or parts of foods used as medicine to provide health benefits beyond nutrition and combat chronic disease. Some of the most popular formulations involve botanicals like ginseng, ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort and echinacea. “Medical foods, formulated for dietary management of a specific medical condition for which nutritional needs are unmet by a normal diet, are regulated under the Orphan Drug Act of 1983,” January 2018

explains Bill Shaddle, senior director of medical education at Metagenics, Inc. “Our nutraceuticals and medical foods are supported by verifiable science that provides solid evidence regarding the therapeutic benefits produced by ingredients in our products.” The word nutraceutical, blending nutrition and pharmaceutics, was coined in 1989 by Stephen L. DeFelice, the founder and chairman of the nonprofit Foundation for Innovation in Medicine, in Mountainside, New Jersey, which promotes clinical research and development of dietary supplements and foods specifically for their health benefits. Reputable companies that manufacture private-label nutraceuticals, such as Metagenics and Xymogen, among others, research and develop products for functional nutrition and quality. While such products are solely distributed through partnerships with healthcare professionals such as medical doctors, nutritionists and pharmacists, some of the evidencebased, professional-grade formulas are available through online physician websites. Metagenics and Xymogen collaborate with institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, Bastyr University and National College of Natural Medicine in conducting clinical research that demonstrates how their formulas impact healthy aging, cognitive function and overall health.

Federal Regulations Medical foods and nutraceuticals, orally

do not undergo third-party testing, they are regulated by DSHEA, which defines and regulates labeling and claims of benefits related to classic nutrient-deficiency diseases.

Private Quality Control

administered dietary products formulated to support the management of conditions such as compromised gut function, age-related muscle loss, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are subject to standard food and safety labeling requirements of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Although they may be used under medical supervision, patients don’t need a prescription. Many healthcare practitioners, including dietitians, currently recommend them under a physician’s direction. Unlike pharmaceuticals, which are accountable to the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, patent-protected and supported by expensive testing documentation, nutraceuticals are not. However, many manufacturers do choose to undergo costly testing. Like all dietary supplements, the majority of which

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Xymogen is strictly a physician’s line of nutraceuticals, explains Cheryl Burdette, a doctor of naturopathy and director of clinical research and outreach for the company. “In our manufacturing process, to avoid contamination and validate ingredients, every batch is third-party assayed by an independent laboratory, whereas some companies only do this for every fifth or 20th lot. Xymogen’s validation extends to packaging and controlling the level of humidity because it affects how ingredients oxidize,” says Burdette. Gary Kracoff, a registered pharmacist and naturopathic doctor at Johnson Compounding & Wellness, in Waltham, Massachusetts, researches the nutraceuticals that he carries and recommends for his clients. “I like professional-grade nutraceuticals because their formulas are researched and science-based. They are excellent products for specific purposes. Individuals that take the medical foods come to appreciate their disease-modifying therapeutic results. While pricier, they include healthier sources of carbohydrates and fats, as well as natural, rather than synthetic nutrients to provide what the body needs to return to a state of balance,” says Kracoff. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings who blogs at LindaSechrist.com.

calendar of events MONDAY, JANUARY 1 Landscape for a New Year: A New Year’s Benefit Class | Berkeley 11am-1pm. As the calendar year turns, our thoughts turn towards making resolutions and intentions, but the energy is not yet with us and they inevitably fail. Start the calendar off on the right foot by joining together in community to ease into 2018 by first taking in the landscape of our bodies, minds, hearts and souls on Day One. $25. 510-665-4300. Namaste Yoga, 2820 7 St, Berkeley. ILoveNamaste.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 SATURDAY, JANUARY 13

tion and expanded services. Free. Breema Clinic, 6201 Florio St, Oakland. 510-428-1234. Breema Clinic.com.

A Week of Free | Oakland Time varies. Come celebrate International Breema Week with us and experience first-hand how Breema helps your mind to be clearer, your feelings to be calmer, and your body to be relaxed, flexible and vital. All classes are free. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7

New Beginnings: A New Year’s Day Benefit Class with Margi Young | Rockridge 11am-1pm. New Year’s Day is a time of gateways and new beginnings. Come hang out with yourself and practice asana, pranayama and meditation to reveal the clear joy that resides inside of you. We will plant the seed that what we cultivate to blossom in 2018. This practice will be fun, challenging and fruitful. $25. 510-547-9642. Namaste Yoga, 5416 College Ave, Oakland.

Essene Dove Meditation Workshop | Walnut Creek

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3

Master the Art of Manifesting in 2018 | Online Join the Hara Circle, a gathering of powerful women amplifying their intentions with group energy. This is a 5-week online journey. Meets Jan 8 to Feb 12. Investment: $77. Register at Vishmaya.com.

HUNA (Hawaiian Spirituality) FREE LECTURE | PHONE Lecture 7-8:30pm. Learn to access these beautiful energies to celebrate life, merge matter and spirit, connect with the earth, your body, and your emotions. Receive an energy demonstration and Heart Light attunement. Course descriptions Spiritual-Initiations.com. To register Sun88@juno.com or 925-954-7908.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 Yoga for Cancer Support | Berkeley 4-5:15pm. Fridays in January. Yoga can help improve physical and emotional well-being during all stages of survivorship. Calm the nervous system and encourage the body to relax and heal. Practice mindful breathing exercises, gentle movements, restorative postures and guided meditation. $98 for series. Bring a friend for free. 510-665-4300. Namaste Yoga, 2820 7 St, Berkeley. ILoveNamaste.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 Leading Your Big Yoga Life | Berkeley 10am-5pm. Explore movement and breath with your body in this moment. Using Health at Every Size (HAES) principles, we explore how to move your belly in certain poses, how to strap down your chest if it gets in the way, and how to take care of your body as you explore movement through yoga (and not be in pain). $125 in advance/$150 day of event. Heart Source, 1600 Shattuck Ave, #125, Berkeley. HeartSource.center. Vision Board Workshop 2018: Expedite Your Dreams | Oakland 1-4pm. All participants will learn the basic concepts around creating the best conditions for attracting any and all desires including: energy clearing, sacred geometry, practical ways to heal limiting beliefs. $20-$40 sliding scale. Space is limited. RSVP to AdorableEarthAngel@gmail.com. Adorable Earth, 5443 Telegraph Ave, Oakland. 808-747-1702. AdorableEnergy.com.

1-3:30pm. Empowerment of this meditation to interconnect all levels of reality activating one’s full potential as a divine being. $150. Course description at Spiritual-Initiations.com. Can also be arranged as private workshop. To register Sun88@juno.com or 925-954-7908.

MONDAY, JANUARY 8

Open Gaming Night | Berkeley 6-11pm. Everyone knows Monday nights can be boring, that’s why we chose it! Your game Guru will pair you up with others to get you started. Learn new games and meet new people! Victory Point Cafe, 1797-A Shattuck Ave, Berkeley. 510-982-6325. More information at VisitBerkeley.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10 Angelic Opening & Shielding Heart Chakra, Level 1 Workshop | Phone 7-8:30pm. Initiations from angelic kingdom opens your chakra in amount considered safe by angel. Also gives higher self the ability to place temporary shield around the chakra whenever appropriate. $75 Course descriptions Spiritual-Initiations.com. Can also be arranged as private workshop. To register Sun88@juno. com or 925-954-7908. Introduction to Breema | Oakland 7-8pm. This free class with the director of the Breema Center is the perfect chance to experience Breema. Newcomers should call to receive a free mini-session before or after class, between 6:30-7 or 8-8:30pm. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510428-0937. Breema.com. EFT Tapping | Walnut Creek 6:30–8:30pm. Reduce stress and overwhelm with the Emotional Freedom Technique. Phyllis Ginsberg, MFT & over 25 years’ experience, created the “Tapped In” Community. Free. Info and registration available at TappedInJan10.Eventbrite.com or call 925-203-1263.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 Breema Clinic Open House | Oakland 3-6:30pm. Join us to experience what’s new at the Breema Clinic! Enjoy complimentary music, hors d’oeuvres and a 20-minute Breema session followed by an introduction to our new, integrative collabora-

Chakra Alignment | Oakland 1-3pm. Move from the seat all the way through the crown of the head as we look into the more subtle aspects of our spirits so that you can be in stronger integrity with your true self. Workshop includes lecture and discussion on each energetic center as well as a guided meditation. $25 before January 6 and $35 after. Flying-Studios.com. 510.610.6420. Flying Original, 4308 Telegraph Ave, Oakland. Chair Yoga at Central | Berkeley 11am-noon. Class meets on 1/13 and on 1/20. Chair Yoga is a gentle yoga class for adults that uses the support of the chair in seated and standing poses. Learn breath exercises and powerful mindfulness tools to bring in to daily life. All level and abilities are welcome. Free. Central Library, 3rd Fl Community Meeting Room, 2090 Kittredge St, Berkeley. BerkeleyPublicLibrary.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 Bounty From Your Garden: Fruit Trees 101 | Pleasant Hill 10am-noon. Sustainable Contra Costa hosts this workshop. The best time to plant fruit trees and berries is in Jan/Feb when nurseries have the best selection of bare root plants. Learn how to choose, prep, plant, prune and maintain your fruit trees. $25. Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center, 315 Cortsen Rd, Pleasant Hill. RodgersRanch.org. Inviting Openness | Oakland 10am-noon. This workshop with Jon Schreiber, Breema Center director, will focus on the Principle of No Force, which helps us to establish a completely new relationship to ourselves, others, and the events of life. $25 prepaid, $30 at the door. Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937. Breema.com. Angel of Power & Integrity Workshop | Walnut Creek 1-5pm. Attunements from this Mystery School Angel empowering you to become your true self by transforming the ego, making it more transparent to divine light. $50. Course descriptions spiritual-initiations. com. Can also be arranged as private workshop. To register Sun88@juno.com or 925-954-7908. Yoga: For the Birds | Grand Lake 2-4pm. Glide in and join Annie for a fun afternoon soaring, winging and taking flight into lots of birdnamed poses— knowing that you are helping birds. Proceeds from the workshop benefit the GoldenGate Audubon Society. $25. Register at ILoveNamaste. com. Namaste, 3229 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19 Winter Bird Walk | Berkeley 9:30-11am. Join us as we search for flocks of winter sparrows, bright yellow warblers, and perhaps and elusive red sapsucker. We also hope to welcome some of our earliest migrating hummingbirds back to the garden this month. $20. 510-664-9841. Garden

January 2018

Programs@Berkeley.edu. UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, 200 Centennial Dr, Berkeley.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20 Green Your Grow - How to Grow More Sustainable Cannabis | Hopland 9am-5pm. In this introductory workshop Master Grower Max Meyers will teach you the basic concepts of growing cannabis using ecological design. $195. 707-472-2460. Solar Living Center, 13771 Highway 101, Hopland. SolarLiving.org. HUNA (Hawaiian Spirituality) Workshop, Level 1 | Walnut Creek 1-5:30pm. Huna offers a profoundly beautiful philosophy of life. Receive attunements to work with: 3 selves, open heart to “life”, mental & subconscious cleansing, connect to earth, Huna meditation, and more. $100 course descriptions Spiritual-Initiations. com. Can also be arranged as private workshop. To register Sun88@juno.com or 925-954-7908. Nourishing Yin: A Therapeutic Yoga Workshop | Grand Lake 2-5pm. This workshop will include a deep therapeutic yoga practice which will focus on postures that nourish kidney energy while strengthening the water element in the body. Therapeutic Yoga blends restorative yoga, gentle yoga, breath work, hands-on healing, and guided meditation techniques. $55. Register at ILoveNamaste.com. Namaste, 3229 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26 Mindful Drumming Meditation | Oakland 7:30-9pm. This is a synchronistic experience for

healing, happiness, deep listening, rejuvenation and community building. This is a time to be inspired to be the change that you want to see in the World. Space is limited for this event. Be on time. No entry granted after 7:35pm. Free. Attitudinal Healing Connection, 1996 Mandela Pkwy, Oakland. 510.652.5530. AHC -Oakland.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 Yoga Nidra | Oakland 2-4pm. Yoga Nidra is a potent practice of guided reclining meditation. It is easy and everyone can do it - allow the body and heart to settle into ease and health. $30 or $75 for all three. 510-665-4300. Namaste Grand Lake, 3229 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland. ILoveNamaste.com.

planahead SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Breema Winter Intensive Weekend | Oakland Time varies by day. Breema offers a practical way to unify the energies of mind, body and feelings to support being present and living more meaningfully. Many attendance options. CE for nurses, bodyworkers, LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs. $140 for first-time students. Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

Be happy for

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31 Yoga Fundamentals | Berkeley 7:30-9pm. This 10-session series is specially designed for beginners. You will learn the foundations of Iyengar yoga to help you build strength and flexibility and relieve stress. This is the perfect place for total beginners, or students who want a better understanding of the basic yoga poses. $108 for 10 classes. Adeline Yoga, 3320 Adeline St, Berkeley. 510-982-1873. AdelineYoga.com.

this moment. This moment is your

life.

~Omar Khayyam

Racial Healing Circle | Oakland 7:30-9pm. We define racism as a life threatening disease. Join us to create safety and share your story about how you will heal. This is a monthly dialogue for the community building. The theme of this month’s circle is: “Go deep and let go of the fear.” Free. Attitudinal Healing Connection, 1996 Mandela Pkwy, Oakland. 510-652-5530. AHC-Oakland.org.

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on going events NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Publisher@NAEastBay.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

tuesday Heart-Centered Meditation

sunday Tibetan Nyingma Meditation | Berkeley 9am. One of the best ways to take care of yourself, is through meditation. All are welcome to clear their mind, and to grow with inner tranquility. Each session has a brief instruction of Nyingma meditation, then silent sitting. Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Place, Berkeley. For prices or more information, please contact 510-809-1000. Swarm Urban Farming Bike Ride with Fleet Farming | Oakland 9-11am. If you’ve been thinking about checking out Fleet Farming in your area, now is your chance! A moving workshop done bi-weekly, that will let you get your hands dirty with seeding, tending beds, harvesting and other farming activities. We bike ride to all three of our farmlettes. Bottoms Up Community Garden, 814 Peralta St, Oakland. More information at BikeEastBay.com. FB.com/ FleetFarmingOak. Community Sing & Meet Up | Oakland 11am. Meets the 4th Sunday of the month. Join in with us to sing, laugh, think, and listen, and build your community together. Speakers from local science and humanities communities typically offer a way to donate to local organizations. Free. Oakland Peace Center, 111 Fairmount Ave, Oakland. 510451-8822. OaklandPeaceCenter.org. Soul Sanctuary Dance | Berkeley 11am-1pm. All ages are welcome to dance to the blend of funk, soul, world music, positive hip-hop, reggae, dance classics, jazz, blues, electronica and other music to free the mind, body and soul. Wheelchair accessible. No scented products please. Shoes optional. Donations accepted. Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley. SoulSanctuaryDance.com. Nia | Berkeley Noon-1pm. Also, Friday at 8:45am. Expand your dance, increase your joy. Give the body the gift of learning the Nia language with teacher Alexis Mulhauser. Namaste Yoga, 2820 7th St, Berkeley. Info@FloraMotion.net. FloraMotion.net. Crystal Singing Bowl Concert | Dublin Noon-1:30pm. 1st Sunday of every month. A sound healing concert played by Shala. Everyone’s experience will be unique and suited to their own specific needs. $10/suggested love offering. Unity of TriValley, 7567 Amador Valley Blvd, #108, Dublin. 925-829-2733. UnityOfTriValley.org. Shamanic Drum Circle | Dublin 3-4:15pm. Second Sunday of every month. With Ashleigh Pevey. A trained clinical certified hypnotherapist, Shamanic healer and reiki practitioner. Drumming helps you gain access to your inner

guidance and learn to work with your helping spirits. Enhance your relationship with yourself and spirit. Move from just trusting that your guides are there, to knowing and working with them. Allow the mystery of life to unfold. One of the great benefits of shamanic journeying is learning that we are never alone, and are loved unconditionally. $10-25/ suggested love offering. Unity of Tri-Valley, 7567 Amador Valley Blvd, #108, Dublin. 925-829-2733. UnityOfTriValley.org.

monday Radio Show-Life Insights Live, Personal Growth Radio | East Bay 7-8am. This week featuring Practical Mystic, Scout Bartlett. This will be replayed on Wednesdays from 7-8am. Various topics of self-understanding, personal growth and spiritual perception discussed. A 2 ½-minute group meditation each Monday at 7:30am. We are on the air broadcasting to the Bay Area on KEST, 1450AM. Simulcast and archived for later listening on IfIdKnownThen.com. Uncovering Our Essential Questions | Oakland 7-8:30pm. We all have questions about why we are here and what we really wish to know. These classes use Breema bodywork, Self-Breema and discussions to help uncover our questions, relating to the meaning and purpose of our lives. $10/first class is free. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937. Breema.com. Community Healing Circle | Dublin 7-8:30pm. First Monday of every month. Individual and group healing techniques from various disciplines are demonstrated to re-align the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. Facilitated by Claudia Scott. $10/love offering. Unity of TriValley, 7567 Amador Valley Blvd, #108. 925-7845956. JoyOf Healing@ClaudiaJ.com. East Bay Biodanza Class | Berkeley 7:30-10pm. Biodanza, which means Dance of Life, is a system that integrates music, movement and authentic interactions to provide experiences of intense perceptions, of being in the here and now. Mixed beginner/intermediate level. Registration required. Sliding scale: $20-$25/single session; $65-$80/monthly pass. Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. Biodanza.us. Salsa Dura: Dance Party & Live Salsa Orchestra | Berkeley 8-11pm. Join us on the last Monday of every month. Come listen and dance with Josh Jones and the La Peña. They play the songs from your favorite salsa artists. Arrive at 8pm and receive a free dance lesson! $5. La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley. More information at SF.FunCheap.com.

10am. Are you seeking spiritual healing and renewal? Discover an ancient Sufi meditation practice to cleanse your heart of the blocks that keep you from living in conscious connection to divine love. Get started today with an eCourse, and join us live for guided meditation calls. Free. SufiUniversity.org/INFO. Mindfulness Yoga Class at La Peña | Berkeley 10:30-11:45am. With instructor Jordanna Glueckauf. Wouldn’t you love to reduce your stress level and increase your focus? You can, and it’s easier than you think! Everyone is welcome. Please bring your own yoga mat, blanket and any other items that you like to use. Free. La Peña, Shattuck Ave, Berkeley. 510-849-2568. Lapeña.org. Explorations in Energy Psychology & Energy Medicine | Oakland 12:30-1:30pm. Learn what energy psychology and energy medicine are, how they can benefit you and those you care about. Learn simple tools that can help get your life in balance and maintain it. Allow yourself to feel more alert and energized during the day and experience deeper, more restful, restorative sleep at night. Feel more confident in your day-to-day decisions and your life purpose. $5-$25/sliding scale. More information or questions call, 510-654-1405. Info@IreInst.com. To register please visit IreiInst.com. Teens, Come and Make Some Things | Berkeley 4-5pm. Come to the library and express yourself through arts and crafts. It’s a laid-back, self-paced workshop where you can have some fun, and meet and make new friends. South Branch Library, 1901 Russell St, Berkeley. 510-981-6260. Spiritual Studies Group | Online 6:30-7:30pm. 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month via Skype. Study Esoteric Psychology Volume I, by Alice Bailey. Participants read at their own pace. Be prepared to share something you’ve read and how it affected you. Free. Learn more about it by contacting Janet at Janet.Myatt@ymail.com. Details at JanetMyatt.com. Korean Zen Meditation | Oakland 7-9pm. Taught by Buddhist nun Jaguang Sunim. A relaxed meditation to free yourself from life’s stress, and find your inner center of wisdom. Dharma talk. Sitting and walking meditation, tea and discussion. By donation. Sixth Ancestor Zen Center, 100 Monte Cresta Ave, Oakland. 510 8444164. SixthAncestorZen.org. Comedy at the Layover | Oakland 8-10pm. The last Tuesday of every month. Grab your friends, your spouse, any one you choose, and head on out. Be ready for fun and laughs with comedians from HBO, Comedy Central, and Late Night TV. Must be 21 and over. RSVP is requested. Free admission. The Layover, 157 Franklin St, Oakland. For information and updates call 510-834-1517.

January 2018

wednesday ThetaHealing & New Offerings at IRE | Oakland & Modesto Not only distributors, we have displays of both dōTerra Oils and Nikken products in both locations. IRE staff members are offering introductory sessions to instruct and support you. $50. We are available for your inquiries or registration at 510654-1405. Info@IREInst.com. IREInst.com. Transcendental Meditation | Berkeley Noon. Learn about transcendental meditation. Berkeley TM Center, 950 Gilman St, #100, Berkeley. 510-872-2287. Berkeley@TM.org. Gentle Yoga | Oakland 1-2pm. No experience needed. Wear comfortable clothes. Designed for women who have, or have had cancer. Class includes gentle asana practice, as well as restorative poses. Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 5741 Telegraph Ave, Oakland. 510-420-7900. WCRC.org. Where Women Learn The Art And Soul Of Public Speaking | Livermore 6-9pm. 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. Come experience a safe community of women where you can explore your truths that your soul is waiting to express. Experience what it feels like to be seen and celebrated for your brilliance and for being your authentic self. Space is limited, must RSVP. $25. A private location in Livermore, upon registration you will receive address. Lia Venet, 510-381-5568. Lia_Venet@yahoo.com.WomanSpeak.com, Woman Speak.SafeCHKOut.net/intro-l-venet. Quiet the Mind & Open the Heart | Pleasanton 7pm. First Wednesday of the month. This workshop is for people looking for a life transformation and support, to build new healthy habits and routines. You will have the opportunity to learn about connections and dependencies between our physical, mental, and spiritual bodies. The talks are 1½ hours, and include lecture, discussions, and practical exercises. Free. For more information, go to TheSacredHealingWell.com or MTHWellness Center.MassageTherapy.com. East Bay Biodanza Class | Berkeley 7:30-9:30pm. Also on Thursday. Beginner level, open to new participants. Biodanza, which means Dance of Life, is a system that integrates music, movement and authentic interactions to provide experiences of intense perceptions of being in the here and now. Sliding scale: $20-$25/single session; $65-$80/monthly pass. Jeffery Bihr Studio, 5390 Miles Ave, Berkeley. 415-717-3578 or 415505 9482. Biodanza.us.

thursday Beginner Computer Class | Berkeley 10-11am. Learn the basics of using a computer. You will be taught to correctly use a mouse, the keyboard, how to set up email, also to search/surf

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the internet. Free/drop-in classes. Central Library, 2090 Kittredge St, Berkeley. 510-981-6100.

Candlelit Labyrinth Walk & Live Music | Berkeley

Coloring Club | Dublin

6-7pm. Last Friday of every month. Come rain or shine because the labyrinth is located indoors. Open to all ages, faiths and walks of life. Guests have the option to just sit and listen or walk around. Walking the winding path reminds us that even though life has many twists and turns, we always end up at the center. RSVP is preferred. Free. Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar St, Berkeley. Lots more information is available at SF.FunCheap.com.

5:30-6:30pm. Do you ever feel like you just need to calm down and unwind for a little while? Here is a great way to do just that! Color. That’s right, coloring can have such a calming effect over you, and relax for one hour, and do just that. Meet the third Thursday of every month. Please bring your supplies. Dublin Library, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin. 925-803-7252. Any questions? Email A.Dunn@ DublinLibrary.org. Lake Merritt Oneness Blessing and Meditation | Oakland 7-9pm. The purpose of Lake Merritt Oneness is to support the awakening of humanity; by cultivating direct experience of oneness consciousness through universal teachings, meditation and oneness blessings. The Oneness Blessing is the sacred technology that advances each person’s journey into the direct experience of awakening. This gift to humanity helps to deepen our personal connection to the divine. These blessings have catapulted many people from around the globe into an awakened state and deeper awareness. The Blessing allows us to completely experience and dissolve old hurts, fears, and worries. It also silences repetitive thinking. Suffering decreases naturally. Lake Merritt Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland. LakeMerrittOneness.org. Game Night | Berkeley 7-11pm. Not sure what you feel like doing on a Thursday night? Open game night is the place to be! Your options are many with all types of board games, card games, miniature games, games of dice, or bring your own game. Open to all ages. Free. 924 Gilman St, Berkeley. Information and confirmation is available at 924GameNight@ gmail.com. East Bay Biodanza Class | Berkeley 7:30-9:30pm. Beginner level, open to new participants. See Wednesday listing for details. Sliding scale: $20-$25/single session, $65-$80/monthly pass. Jeffrey Bihr Studio, 5390 Miles Ave, Berkeley. LauraLouc@gmail.com. KRohnem@Galileo Web.org. Biodanza.us.

friday

Roller Boogie Street Jam | Oakland 6-9:30pm. The first Friday of the month. Bring your skates and bring your friends and come out and dance! There will be plenty of food trucks if you get hungry, and lots of entertainment and art alon the streets. A great chance for a night out and to have a lot of fun. Skating is free. Telegraph Ave & 23rd St, Oakland. SF.FunCheap.com. Drop-In Volleyball | Walnut Creek 7-10pm. Open to the first 45 participants. $5. Tice Valley Community Gymnasium, 2055 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. 925-256-3572. Walnut CreekRec.org. East Bay Bike Party | East Bay 7:30pm. Held on the second Friday of every month. A mobile party for riders of all ages, experience levels, and bike types, to meet, ride, and play together in the streets. Nearly 400 riders check the Bike Party website to find what East Bay BART station they will be meeting at. Every month is a different costume theme, so dress your best and bring some music too. Free. More information at FrSF.FunCheap.com.

saturday Fun Run with Fleet Feet | Pleasanton 9am. Distances range from 2-8 miles, and is great for everyone with a pace from walkers on up. It’s always a fun time! 925-699-4926. EthanFalls@comcast.net. Basement Pilates | Walnut Creek 9-10am. All levels welcome. Bring mat, towel and water for Pilates class by local instructor. Free. Sports Basement, 1881 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Walnut Creek. 925-941-6100. Farmers’ Market | Danville

Nia | Oakland 8:45am. See Monday listing for details. Namaste Rockridge, 5416 College Ave, Oakland. Info@ FloraMotion.net. FloraMotion.net. Block Party | Oakland 5-9:30pm. The first Friday of every month. A great community experience. The Koreatown/Northgate area of town comes to life with this event. You won’t want to miss the street artists, performers, musicians, dancers, DJs, poets and others. Thousands of people come from all over the Bay area and beyond to experience the great foods, the live music, and to take part in the eclectic city attraction. Free. Telegraph Ave from West Grand to 27th St, Oakland. More information at SF.FunCheap.com.

9am-1pm. One of the best things about living in California is our fresh produce. Fruits and vegetables grown locally, and served on our tables. What more is there to ask for? Free admission. Railroad Ave, Municipal Parking Lot, Downtown Danville. 925-825-9090. Morning Meditation | Berkeley 10:30-11:30am. Become focused. Learn to clear your mind. Remove the stress that is in your life! An instructor with more than 15 years of experience is here teaching you what you need to know. North Branch, 1170 The Alameda, Berkeley. More information at 510-981-6250. BerkeleyPublicLibrary.org.

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

ACUPUNCTURE EASTERN MEDICAL CENTER

AYURVEDA & HOMEOPATHY RASHANA RAUNIAR SHARMA

Teresa Shen, CEO, L.Ac (BHMS, CCH, AWP) 5933 Coronado Lane Suite 100 Chetna Center for Health and Wellness Pleasanton, Ca 94588 110 Ryan Industrial Ct, Suite #1 925-847-8889 San Ramon, CA – 94583 EasternMedicalCenter.com 925- 255- 5375 Award-winning, natural, family healthcare ChetnaCenter. com since 1982 Certified practitioner of ayurveda, Get rid of pain naturally, and homeopathy and reiki serving the recover in record speed! Stop Bay Area for over 15 years. We stress and anxiety in its tracks! provide safe and natural health We treat from acute sports and care alternatives for all ages with trauma, post-surgery recovery, to concerns on digestive issues, chronic pain from fibromyalgia, stress, anxiety, allergies, recurrent chronic fatigue, auto-immune cough and cold, constipation, insomnia and other immune diseases and digestive/ related issues. Therapy is designed and customized reproductive/ respiratory ailments. Our team of Box 421 Emmaus, PA 18049 • P: 610-421-4443 • F: unique 610-421-4445 per individual’s body constitution and healers use acupuncture , acupressure, propioceptive LVEditor@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com • www.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com includes Natural and Herbal remedies, Diet & neuromuscular facilitation, rehabilitative Lifestyle changes and Meditation. We also provide stretching, cupping, craniosacral, bioReiki initiation and healing. Consultation can be Ad Proof for Natural Awakenings reprogramming and herbal remedies to get to the given in person or via Skype or phone. root of your pain. See ad, page 7.

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BODY WORK THE BREEMA CENTER 6076 Claremont Avenue Oakland, CA 510-428-0937 Center@Breema.com Breema.com

Breema is a simple, natural form of touch and body movement supported by universal principles that provides a unique approach to experiencing body-mind connection. The aim of Breema is to bring us to a tangible experience of presence that becomes our foundation for a new dimension of health and consciousness. See ad, page 14.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS SAN RAMON HOLISTIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com/ Ca-San-Ramon MeetUp.com/San-Ramon-HolisticChamber-of-Commerce

We are an expanding organization representing holistic professionals, practitioners and businesses. We encourage and promote healthy living, and support the professionals and businesses that make it possible. Together, we can make a difference. Want to be seen (and found) at The Holistic Chamber of Commerce—come and join this community and learn how folks can find you via the web and locally. See ad, page 23.

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done by influencing the biophotons (light) emissions of the body, neutralizing chaotic light and strengthening coherent light. Causes of biophotons disruption range from whiplash/scars to environmental toxins, GMOs, heavy metals, electromagnetic radiation, etc.

CHIROPRACTOR HEALING ARTS CHIROPRACTIC

Katie Sokolski, D.C. 187 40th Street Way, Oakland, CA 94611 510-356-7832 Dr.Sokolski@gmail.com HealingArtsChiro.com Healing Arts Chiropractic offers a whole-body approach to wellness that utilizes applied kinesiology, personalized nutrition programs and massage therapy. Our holistic treatment plans are designed to facilitate wellness from the inside—what you feed your body, as well as the outside—keeping your mind, body and spirit moving in a healthy way.

January 2018

MICHAEL REHL, DC

Chiropractic & Advanced Holistic Health Care 1280 Boulevard Way, Ste 211, Walnut Creek Michael@MichaelRehl.com MichaelRehl.com Offering a holistic approach to chiropractic care, Dr. Rehl incorporates nutrition, applied kinesiology and deep tissue work into his practice. By treating the whole body, Dr. Rehl’s treatment plan engages his patients so that they are an integral part of their healing process.

EDUCATION SINGING STONES SCHOOL 2491 San Miguel Dr. Walnut Creek, Ca 925-948-5006 Singing Stones School will provide an education based on the Waldorf philosophy from kindergarten through high school for children in the Tri-Valley area of Contra Costa County. It is holistic in nurturing the whole child and also in terms of its commitment to community.

UNIVERSITY OF SPIRITUAL HEALING & SUFISM (USHS) 800-238-3060, option 5 Outreach@SufiUniversity.org SufiUniversity.org

USHS offers transformational programs for those who want to be agents of divinely-guided healing. Programs are based on establishing a deep connection with Divine Love, then opening to streams of healing light from God, transforming physical illness and emotional pain into states of greater health and spiritual wholeness.

ENERGY CLEARING ANGIE’S ENERGY READINGS Angie Lambert Pleasant Hill, CA 925-330-0116 AngiesReadings319@gmail.com AngiesEnergyReadings.com

As an Energy Reader, my work is to release unresolved, stuck energy while working directly with Spirit and your High Self. Energy clearing can help shift and balance mental, emotional and physical blocks from your present life and also release negative energies from your past lives.

East Bay Area

ANCIENT TRADITIONS HEALING Erin Massengale 624 Ferry St. Martinez, 94553 925-725-1067

Health reflects how one is balanced in the different expressions of ourselves; mind, body and soul and our perception of life experiences, our environment and our food. Disease in any of these categories will in some degree be reflected in all others. Dis-ease healed naturally leaves a person stronger. Integrating herbs and healing modalities of the greatest healing systems and cultures in the world; Western, Ayurvedic, Chinese Traditions and Shamanism, I work with individuals to achieve and maintain vital health, wellness and longevity.

HOLISTIC CAREGIVING

SingingStones.org

HERBAL MEDICINE

NAEastBay.com

HOLISTIC CAREGIVERS

Leni Pratte 1-877-7800-CARE Info@HolisticCaregivers.net HolisticCaregivers.net Our holistic approach to caregiving offers wellness-oriented families a higher level of care sprinkled with holistic practices. We believe that the individual is multi-faceted with needs and wants beyond the basic standard of care in this industry. From whole food nutrition to breathing exercises to meditation, we follow a program that is client and doctor-approved, with many options for growth and stimulation.

HOLISTIC COUNSELING & GRIEF RECOVERY TINA KOPKO, LMFT, CGRS Berkeley & Oakland 510-813-9811 Tina@AuthenticiTina.com AuthenticiTina.com

Do you struggle to validate your desires, emotions & feelings? Have you experienced a life transition that has left you confused, bewildered, and lethargic? Are you grieving a loss from years ago? Time does not necessarily heal all wounds. The Grief Recovery Method will help you discover unresolved emotional issues related to any kind of loss, and take action steps to become complete and regain a sense of vitality and love of life. New groups began in March. Call me for a free initial 30-minute consultation. (See calendar items on Mondays and Saturdays.)

HOLISTIC DENTIST FREMONT NATURAL DENTISTRY DR. Colin Yoshida, DDS Fremont Natural Dentistry 3885 Beacon Ave, Suite C Fremont 510-745-1800 FremontDentistry.com

Fremont Natural Dentistry is a comprehensive holistic dental provider using options such as Ozone Therapy, safe mercury amalgam removal, Laser Gum Therapy, minimally invasive restorations and an overall bio-dental health experience. Give us a call to schedule your next holistic dental appointment today.

NEW ERA DENTISTRY

Dr. David Partrite, DDS 520 La Gonda Way, Ste 103, Danville 925-837-3101 Info@NewEraDentistry.com NewEraDentistry.com Whole-body dentistry approach; David Partrite, DDS, facilitates your body’s detoxification through a mercury- and fluoride-free practice, utilizing the most bio-friendly materials and a clean, safe environment through filters and ionizers. From cosmetic dentistry to safe mercury filling removal to working closely with your other holistic practitioners, every visit is a health-promoting experience. See ad, back cover.

HOLISTIC VETERINARIAN ALTERNATIVES FOR ANIMALS Jennifer Luna-Repose, DVM 919 Moraga Road, Lafayette 925-283-6160 AlternativesForAnimals@gmail.com Alternatives4Animals.com

We are one of the few veterinary clinics in the Bay Area that is exclusively dedicated to Holistic Medicine. We offer acupuncture, chiropractic, Chinese herbal medicine, homeopathy, Bioresonance therapy, nutrition, flower essences and laser therapy. Our treatments address the whole animal and the root cause of disease, not just the symptoms.

Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. ~Marcus Aurelius

HOMEOPATHY PAIN RELIEF AUNT ALBERTA’S REMEDY

Homeopathic Pain Relief Cream 973-715-9097 AlbertasPainRelief.com Try Aunt Alberta’s Remedy to ease joint and muscular aches and pains from sciatica, gout, arthritis, neuralgia, fibromyalgia and more. Great buy! Get a 4 oz. jar for $15. See website for more optoins. All natural ingredients! Refer a friend and get 10% off your purchase. Read what people are saying about Aunt Alberta’s Remedy at our website.

ROLFING/STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION MEDICINEVOLUTION

Chris Corrales 925-922-2246 Chris@MedicinEvolution.com MedicinEvolution.com Deemed a master by his peers, Chris Corrales’ 15 years of private practice have given him a reliable reputation as one of the best massage and bodywork practitioners in the Bay Area. His ability to discern and treat the causes of injury and imbalance has proven unique and profound.

SOMATIC THERAPIST

SPIRITUAL TEACHING JANET MYATT, MA

Spiritual Counselor, Teacher, Healer 510-386-2467 JanetMyatt@live.com JanetMyatt.com Discover the higher power, divine intelligence, and spiritual purpose within you. Learn how the creative process of life works and create meaningful change. Heal the wounds within that create repeating patterns of limitation and confusion. Using a blend of spiritual and psychological tools and techniques, Janet helps you move out of limiting and painful ways of thinking and feeling into an awakened awareness that is limitless, loving, and powerful. Private counseling and spiritual awakening classes available in person and online.

NEAL WINBLAD, MFT, SEP 780 Main St, Ste 201, Pleasanton 925-963-9786 NWinblad.com

HYPNOTHERAPY ARLENE THOMPSON CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPIST, C.HT., M.ED. 925-485-7997 Pleasanton Arlene_Thompson@att.net ThompsonHypnotherapy.com

Get rid of blocks to your personal growth, by harnessing the power of your subconscious to reach your goals. Full-service, individualized hypnotherapy, 22 years in business. Free initial phone consultation.

NUTRITIONIST NUTRAPARTNERS

Kathy Napoli, Registered Dietician 3189 Danville Blvd, Ste 260, Alamo 925-831-3900 KNapoli@NutraPartners.com NutraPartners.com Restore health and vitality through personalized nutrition and lifestyle programs, including the 8-wk program Lighten Up. Kathy’s clients achieve increased energy; improved blood sugar and lipid levels; and relief from digestive issues and food allergies. With 20 years of experience as a clinical nutritionist and nutrition consultant, Kathy teaches workshops throughout the Bay Area on topics such as Age-Proof Your Skin, Get Lean and Strong and Stop Inflammation. She holds a Masters of Arts in Holistic Health Education from JFK University.

See ad, page 25.

Somatic Experiencing is the gold standard for resolving complex trauma. In most cases trauma is quite easy to treat, doesn’t require a lot of talk and doesn’t need all the emotional catharsis so common in psychotherapy. Call me today for a free consultation and sample session.

SPIRITUAL CENTER UNITY OF TRI-VALLEY

7567 Amador Valley Blvd, Suite 108, Dublin 925-829-2733 UnityOfTriValley.org We are a welcoming spiritual community for people of all faiths and backgrounds. Unity is a positive path for spiritual living. Whoever you are and wherever you are on your spiritual journey, YOU are welcome here!

THE HEALING PLACE

Ancient mystery school teachings and activations 925-997-7518 Kathleen@TheHealing.Place TheHealing.Place Awaken your potential with the Life activation. Release energy drains with a Cord Cutting. Protect your space with Sacred Geometries. Be empowered through the Empower Thyself class & Initiation! Experience greater health & empowerment with once secret, ancient mystery school teachings & healings. Call for a consult. Kathleen, Guide & Ceremonial Master in the Lineage of King Salomon.

WELLNESS CENTER PLEASANTON FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER

Kathleen Beaulieu, CMT, IMT 1491 Cedarwood Ln, Ste A Pleasanton 925-600-0503 Kathleen@PleasantonWellness.com PleasantonWellness.com Discover your body’s healing potential. Nutritional and diagnostic counseling for lifestyle changes including weight loss, gastrointestinal, thyroid, hormone, allergies and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Expert massage therapy, 20 years of experience specializing in pregnancy, automobile injuries and post-surgery recovery.

WORKSHOPS SPIRITUAL UNFOLDMENT NETWORK

Loretta Metzger, certified teacher Walnut Creek, CA 925-954-7908 • sun88@juno.com Spiritual-Initiations.com S.U.N. offers workshops from many ancient traditions for personal and spiritual transformation through initiations empowering student to progress at their pace. Loretta teaches nationally and internationally since 1992 including Enlightenment Society United Nations. She also offers feng shui consulting and classes.

January 2018

NO MERCURY • WHOLE BODY DENTISTRY

Call to see how our Natural & Holistic practices can help you!

N E W E R A D E N T I S T RY

Dr. David Partrite, DDS 520 La Gonda Way • Suite 103 • Danville, CA 94526

(925) 837-3101

NA Edition/Location

www.neweradentistry.com

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