Natural Awakenings Magazine ~ July 2017 by Natural Awakenings Magazine ~ West Michigan

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Fun Ways to Get Outside this Summer

Be a Kid Again With Your Own Family

Natural Cleanse

Six Pointers for a Gentle Full-Body Detox

Awestruck

Divisiveness Disappears in Wonder

MONEY SMARTS Rethinking Our Relationship with Money

July 2017 | West Michigan Edition | NaturalWestMichigan.com natural awakenings

July 2017

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contents 8 5 newsbriefs 6 healthbriefs 10 globalbriefs 13 ecotip 18 fitbody 20 healingways 22 consciouseating 24 wisewords 26 inspiration 28 healthykids 10 30 greenliving 32 naturalpet 13 34 toxicpeople 36 bookreviews 4 1 calendar 42 classifieds 45 naturaldirectory

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.

CLEANSE BODY & MIND Take Toxins Out of Your Life by Meredith Montgomery

18 FOUR REASONS

TO BREAK A SWEAT The Fast Path to Flushing Toxins by Deanna Minich

20 ENLIGHTENING IDEAS Think Independence, Intimacy, Integrity by April Thompson

22 EATING VEGAN ON THE ROAD

Clever Ways to Eat Healthy Anywhere

HOW TO ADVERTISE

by Judith Fertig

NEWS BRIEFS & ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS

24 MARIA RODALE by Randy Kambic

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

by Kirk J. Schneider

26 AN AWESOME ANTIDOTE TO POLARIZATION

28 FUN WAYS TO GET

WHERE TO PICK UP NATURAL AWAKENINGS

OUTSIDE THIS SUMMER

If you enjoyed this magazine and would like to know where you can pick up a free copy in your area, please contact us at 616604-0480 or email us at: Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com.

Be a Kid Again With Your Own Family by Sandra Murphy

30 HEALTHY EYE-CATCHING

BEYOND OUR FULL “CARBON NEUTRAL” DIGITAL ISSUE EACH MONTH...

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Email articles to: Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for articles is the 5th of the month prior to publication. Submit News Briefs online at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for News Briefs is the 12th of the month prior to publication. Submit Calendar Events online at: NaturalWestMichigan.com. Calendar deadline is the 15th of the month prior to publication.

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14 NATURAL WAYS TO

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32 DOGS NEED DETOXING TOO by Patricia Jordan

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contact us Publisher/Editor Pamela Gallina Editors S. Alison Chabonais Linda Sechrist Design & Production Interactive Media Design Scott Carvey Printer Stafford Media Solutions Natural Awakenings P.O. Box 330 Spring Lake, MI 49456 Phone: 616-604-0480 Fax: 616-855-4202 Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com

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Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (12 issues) to the above address. © 2017 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. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. 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. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY

Clean & Simple Prosperity

’m intrigued by how ready we are to accept different ideas of what prosperity is at different times in our lives. The more seasoned I become, the more important simplicity is to me, because the fewer material possessions I have to take care of the easier life becomes and the calmer I feel. Too much stuff distracts from my goal of having a balanced life. These days, rather than constantly thinking about maintaining stuff I aim to maintain peace of mind. Aligned with this, I now choose to avoid putting time and energy into maintaining any toxic relationship, instead focusing on those that mutually bless. Stepping away from such unnecessary complications is a paradigm shift, but well worth it. You’ll find a helpful resource in this month’s article, How to Deal with Toxic People written by Ashley Carter Youngblood, if you haven’t yet mastered this method of self-preservation and nurturance. I also refuse to feel guilty for one moment longer about taking free time to enjoy nature, reading and meditating, which are part of my normal, natural routine. These all help keep me centered and in touch with who I truly am. Feeling more in tune with the needs of mind, soul and body has also led me to a routine of gently detoxing at the change of each season, which inevitably makes me feel better. I started because I was encouraged to by a group of local women that are healthy living fans that enjoy the supportive camaraderie. I love reading the featured articles by Meredith Montgomery and Deanna Minich in this issue detailing the many ways to naturally detox. I have never been tied to one specific method or product and have tried various approaches through the years. The underlying call to action is that in today’s environment of herbicides, pesticides and other synthetic chemicals in and on just about everything, we are unwittingly taking in toxins at every turn. So it’s vital to periodically cleanse and refresh our internal organs, including our brain, in order to reset and return to normal. It helps us rediscover our true nature, energy and positivity. To conscious living,

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Pamela Gallina, Publisher

Never Glossy. Always Green. Natural Awakenings practices environmental sustainability by printing on post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink. This choice avoids the toxic chemicals and high energy costs of producing shiny, coated paper that is hard to recycle.

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newsbriefs New Service at HJWC

ietician Rachel Laughlin has begun seeing clients at HJWC. She offers services in the office on Monday and Thursday and Telehealth Services throughout the week. Professional offerings include: nutrition education and meal planning. Expect to leave your Rachel Laughlin first session with one or two tangible ways to start implementing your nutrition/wellness-related goals. Follow-up sessions may be recommended on a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly basis depending on your needs. Goals will be reviewed and progress discussed as well as a determination of the next steps to achieving wellness. Feedback is provided free two-times a week via online check-in to provide additional support. Supported Grocery Outings are also provided based on individual needs, offering guidance and support as you navigate the grocery store and choose foods that meet your nutritional needs. Meal Preparation guidance, based on individual needs, to support you as you prepare meals for the week, to be successful with meeting your nutrition and wellness goals. Hearts Journey Wellness Center is located at 6189 Lake Michigan Drive, Allendale. To schedule an appointment, email Rachel via secure email rachel@rachellaughlin.com or log in at RachelLaughlin.com or call 616-613-6848 to request an appointment. See ad page 24.

Ask The Experts Monthly Free Panel Discussions

rand Rapids Natural Health kicks off a monthly “Ask the Experts” panel discussion, to take place the third Tuesday of every month at Grand Rapids Natural Health from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Join them for your chance to talk to their health experts and get your questions answered for FREE. A different health topic will be featured each month with different featured health practitioners moderating. The July panel, to take place July 18th, will feature a discussion on hormone balancing. If you experience hormonal symptoms such as PMS, menstrual cramps, mood swings, acne, low libido, menopausal

concerns, hot flashes or night sweats, join Grand Rapids Natural Health’s team of Naturopathic and Integrative Doctors, featuring Stephen Durell, Acupuncturist, and Lauren Ramey, Holistic Esthetician, for a free panel discussion and learn how a holistic, functional approach to hormone balancing could help relieve your symptoms. Experts will discuss their favorite tips, tricks, tests, lifestyle changes and more to bring your hormones back to balance and create lasting change. There will also be time for discussion and questions. Grand Rapids Natural Health is located at Fulton, Grand Rapids. This event is FREE, but please call 616-264-6556 to RSVP, as space is limited to 30 participants. See ad page 13.

Ticks spread diseases - How to prevent tick bites

n Michigan, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tickborne disease. It is spread by an infected blacklegged (deer) tick. Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs that feed during the spring and summer months. Nymphs can be difficult to see since they are approximately the size of a poppy seed. In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. “Prompt removal of ticks is the best method to decrease the chance of Lyme disease,” said Dr. Paul Heidel, the medical director of the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. “Seek medical attention if you develop a fever, a rash, severe fatigue, facial paralysis, or joint pain within 30 days of being bitten by a tick.” Avoid direct contact with ticks – Walk in the center of trails. Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Create tick-safe zones in your yard. Keep patios and play areas away from vegetation, regularly remove leaves, clear tall grasses and brush around home, place wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas, and use a chemical control agent. Use insect repellent – Apply repellent containing DEET (20-30 percent) or Picaridin on exposed skin. Treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks and tents) with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying any repellents.

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July 2017

“Tick checks are recommended after any hike, but especially one along the lake shore,” said John Scholtz, the director of Ottawa County Parks & Recreation. For more tick and Lyme disease information, please visit www.cdc. gov/lyme or www.michigan.gov/ lyme. Guide - Ticks and your health: Preventing tick-borne illness in Michigan. Fact sheet - How to prevent tick bites when hiking and camping MDHHS_tick_guide.pdf, CDC_Lymedisease_HikersCampers_FACTSheet.pdf

All great achievements require time. ~Maya Angelou

West Michigan Edition

healthbriefs

Tart Cherry Aids Runner Performance

study of distance runners by Texas A&M University, in College Station, determined that short-term supplementation of dried tart cherry powder improved running times, decreased inflammation and increased muscle metabolism and immunity. The researchers divided 27 endurance-trained young adult athletes into two groups. Eleven participants were given a daily powered tart cherry supplement for 10 days, and 16 were given a rice flour placebo. All completed a halfmarathon near the end of the 10-day trial. The researchers tested fasting blood samples and a quadriceps muscle soreness rating prior to the run, 60 minutes after the run and 24 and 48 hours post-run. The tart cherry group reported 13 percent faster average running times, as well as significantly lower inflammatory markers. They also reported 34 percent lower quadriceps soreness prior to the run. Tart cherry supplementation also increased immunity and resulted in better muscle metabolism.

Detoxifying for Health with Infrared Sauna Therapy

ncreasingly, scientists are finding links between the accumulation of toxic chemicals in the body and such problems as headaches, chronic pain, fatigue, persistent weight gain and allergies. One way to eliminate stored toxins in the body is through infrared sauna therapy. Infrared rays are part of the invisible light spectrum emitted by the sun and, unlike ultraviolet light, infrared is completely safe. Infrared sauna therapy harnesses the power of these rays in a closed environment to increase the core body temperature and promote sweating. Infrared heaters warm the body in the same manner as natural sunlight. Instead of raising the temperature of the air like a traditional sauna, far infrared saunas heat the body directly. This allows for perspiration while avoiding the potential harm of extremely hot air and steam, making it a suitable sauna alternative for people with asthma. As the body sweats, it eliminates toxins through the skin. Advocates propose that this process helps to improve blood circulation, aid in pain relief, improve the skin and diminish the appearance of cellulite. Writing at MayoClinic.org, Brent Bauer, M.D., says that preliminary studies suggest that chronic conditions including high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis may benefit from the use of an infrared sauna, but more rigorous studies are needed. “On the other hand, no adverse effects have been reported with infrared saunas,” he writes. “So if you’re considering trying a sauna for relaxation, an infrared sauna might be an option.”

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Find and remove ticks – Bathe or shower after being outside in tick-infested areas (preferably within two hours). Conduct a full-body tick check (under arms, in and around ears, inside belly button, behind knees, between legs, around waist and especially in hair). Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, and then attach to a person later. Use tick prevention products on your pets. Wash clothing in hot water and dry on high heat after being outside to kill ticks. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub or soap and water.

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Unique Inflamed Gut Linked to Type 1 Diabetes

esearchers in Milan, Italy, have found that individuals with Type 1 diabetes display a unique inflammatory signature and microbiome in their digestive tract. The study examined biopsies from 54 patients that underwent endoscopies at the city’s San Raffaele Hospital between 2009 and 2015. The samples came from each patient’s duodenum, the upper part of the small intestine, and allowed scientists to directly assess the bacteria in the digestive tract, rather than relying on stool samples. The results of the samples were compared to gut bacteria from a control group of healthy individuals without Type 1 diabetes and others with celiac disease. Researchers found that the diabetes group showed more signs of gut inflammation than the other groups, and it was linked to 10 specific genes, also marking them as having a unique combination of bacteria. “By exploring this, we may be able to find new ways to treat the disease by targeting the unique gastrointestinal characteristics of individuals with Type 1 diabetes,” explains the study’s senior author, Dr. Lorenzo Piemonti, with the hospital’s Diabetes Research Institute.

Colicky Babies Respond to Acupuncture

COMBO PROBIOTICS EASE HAY FEVER

study from the University of Florida, in Gainesville, has found that the probiotic combination of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria (sold as Kyo-Dophilus) helps relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Researchers split 173 healthy adults with mild seasonal allergies into two groups during the height of the spring allergy season. The first group was given the probiotic combination, while the other group received a placebo. The subjects filled out a weekly online survey for eight weeks about their allergy symptoms and discomfort levels. The probiotic combination resulted in fewer allergyrelated nasal symptoms plus quality-of-life improvements.

If you can be content right now, then you’ll always be content, because it’s always right now. ~Willie Nelson

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esearch from Sweden has found that acupuncture helps reduce the crying of colicky babies. The study monitored 147 babies between the ages of 2 and 8 weeks with colic at four separate Swedish public child health centers. The babies were divided into three groups; each visited the clinic twice a week for two weeks. One group received “gold standard” care plus five minutes of minimal acupuncture, one group received standard care plus five minutes of acupuncture and one group received standard care only. After two weeks, both acupuncture groups showed a reduction in crying time by the second week and at a later follow-up. More babies dropped to less than three hours of crying per day in the acupuncture groups than the control group, removing them from the colic category altogether. No adverse effects were recorded.

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Coal Phase-Out Boosts Health

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he province of Ontario began a complete phase-out of its coal-fired power plants in 2005, with all of them having closed by 2015. While the costly measure was expected to produce minor air quality improvements, officials predicted that the resulting health benefits would accrue $3 billion in annual healthcare savings for the community. Realized savings can be seen in the drastic reduction of smog days in Ontario, down to just one since 2014. “Let’s compare that to 2005, when residents of the Greater Toronto Area suffered through 53 smog days while coal, with its toxic emissions, provided 19 percent of the province’s power,” says Vanessa Foran, president and CEO of The Asthma Society of Canada. “It’s obvious that shutting Ontario’s coal plants has helped clean the air; it’s also given a new lease on life to millions that suffer with asthma.” More proof of the medical benefits come from an assessment conducted by Toronto Public Health in 2014. It reported a 23 percent reduction in air pollution-related premature deaths in the city between 2000 and 2011, as well as a 41 percent reduction in related hospital admissions during the same period.

All great achievements require time. ~Maya Angelou

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Tax and Pricing Policies Spur Healthier Eating

meta-study from Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts, documents a revealing relationship between diet and food prices. The researchers found that taxation of unhealthy foods and price reductions of healthy foods help shift consumers to healthier purchases. They reviewed data from 11 studies on the impact of adding tariffs to unhealthy foods that lead to higher prices and 19 studies that examined the effects on the demand of reducing the prices of healthy foods. They discovered that consumers purchased 14 percent more fruits and vegetables when prices were reduced by 10 percent. Other healthy food price reductions produced similar results, with a 16 percent increase in consumption with each 10 percent price drop. The researchers examined the impact of increases in the price of sugary drinks and fast foods. Following 10 percent price hikes, consumption of these items decreased by 7 percent and 3 percent, respectively. “The global food system is exacting a staggering toll on human health, and this is very costly, both in terms of real healthcare expenses and lost productivity,” says Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, senior author of the meta-study and dean of the university’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. “Our findings suggest that subsidies and taxes are a highly effective tool for normalizing the price of foods toward their true societal cost. This will both prevent disease and reduce spiraling healthcare costs, which are causing a tremendous strain on both private businesses and government budgets.”

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Post-Stroke Exercise Improves Brain Function

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esearch from the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, has established that structured physical activity following a stroke can significantly improve cognitive function in survivors. The study used data from 13 clinical trials that included 735 participants to analyze general cognitive improvement, executive function, attention and working memory, as well as the impact of different types of physical activity. Researchers found that exercise following a stroke produced cognitive improvements in both attention and speed in processing information. They further discovered that a combination of aerobic exercise and strength training produced the maximum cognitive improvements. “We found that a program as short as 12 weeks is effective at improving cognition, and even patients with chronic stroke can experience improvements in their cognition with an exercise intervention,” says lead author Lauren E. Oberlin, a graduate student at the university.

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FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC July 2017

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News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Bee Killers

A study in the journal Nature Communications examined wild bee populations relative to the use of controversial neonic (neonicotinoid) pesticides from 1994 to 2011, and discovered that extinction rates paralleled their use on plants throughout the country. The 34 species analyzed experienced a 10 percent population drop across the board, with five of the species seeing a decrease of 20 percent or more, and the most-impacted group declining by 30 percent. Researchers say this indicates that up to half of the population decline could be attributed to the use of neonics. “It contributes, but there is a bigger picture,” says Jeffrey Pettis, an entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Beltsville Bee Laboratory, in Maryland. Other factors are thought to include parasites such as varroa mites and nosema fungus (a bacterial disease known as foulbrood) plus viruses, drought and loss of habitat. Meanwhile, the Friends of the Earth (FOE) environmental group has launched a petition calling on the Ace and True Value hardware companies to follow Lowe’s and Home Depot’s example of phasing out the pesticides. FOE says, “If these garden retailers don’t act fast, they’ll lose customers. A new poll shows that 66 percent of Americans prefer to shop at Lowe’s and Home Depot because they’ve committed to stop selling bee-killing pesticides.”

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Neonic Pesticides Again Linked to Decline

Take action at Tinyurl.com/BanNeonicsPetition.

Astonishing Agriculture

Proponents of GMO (genetically modified) food may argue that the technique is necessary because the world is running out of resources. However, agricultural startup Sundrop Farms, with offices in the UK and Australia, has developed high-tech greenhouse facilities that apply solutions to grow crops with less reliance on finite natural resources than conventional greenhouse production. In 2010, Sundrop Farms opened a pilot facility in Port Augusta, South Australia, that is combining seawater and sunlight to grow food in the middle of the desert, unaffected by climate change, biotech land grabs, drought, floods and pestilence. They are using coconut husks, 23,000 mirrors to reflect solar power and desalinated seawater on a hydroponic farm of just under 50 acres to grow 17,000 metric tons of non-GMO food every year. Built at a reported cost of $200 million, the facility has a year-round growing season. In winter, its greenhouse operates with the help of 39 megawatts of clean energy from solar power. Coles Supermarkets has signed a 10-year contract for the exclusive right to sell the company’s produce. 10

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Food Grows Without Soil or Groundwater

Last Call

Endangered Species Protection Act May Go Extinct The federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), passed in 1973, strengthened earlier federal protections for animals that had been nearly wiped out by humans. The act faces opposition from those that believe it both unfairly protects animals that poach livestock and restricts land use. At a recent hearing titled Modernizing the Endangered Species Act, Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, head of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said the ESA is not working anymore. Natural Resources Committee Chairman Republican Congressman Rob Bishop of Utah opines that the act has never been used for the rehabilitation of species and instead has been controlling the land, saying, “It has been hijacked.” Yet Daniel M. Ashe, president and chief executive of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, says, “The Endangered Species Act is the world’s ‘gold standard’ for conservation and protection of animals.” According to many experts, the world’s flora and fauna are experiencing a global extinction crisis caused by human activity, but we have also learned how to protect species and help them recover. Eight species that would probably have disappeared already were it not for the ESA include the black-footed ferret, humpback whale, bald eagle, American alligator, grizzly bear, Florida manatee, California condor and gray wolf.

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Species Die-Off

Animals that Are No More Every year, more species reach the brink of extinction and only inhabit the annals of natural history. Species that have officially disappeared forever as of 2016 include the Bramble Cay melomys, Nulllarbor dwarf bettong, Capricorn rabbit-rat, Pinta Island tortoise, western black rhinoceros, Rabb’s fringe-limbed treefrog, San Cristóbal vermilion flycatcher and Formosan clouded leopard. These are just a handful of the animals threatened and wiped out annually. Thirteen bird species alone were confirmed as extinct in 2016, mostly due to invasive predators. More of these animals are bound to die off unless humans make a concerted effort to preserve them.

Robot Janitors

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Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore

Floating Trash-Eaters Clean Up Baltimore Harbor Mr. Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel, the solar- and hydro-powered trash interceptors cleaning up Baltimore’s inner harbor, have the ability to suck up plastic bags, Styrofoam containers, cigarette butts and other debris. The waste is burned to generate electricity, and plans exist to increase recycling capabilities in the future. The brainchild of engineer John Kellett, who gained the support of the Water Partnership of Baltimore, a nonprofit that supports environmental legislation, the inventions are designed to make the area a green, safe and friendly destination for people and marine life.

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Healthy Holdover

Kitchen Garden Stays at White House The W. Atlee Burpee home gardening company and the Burpee Foundation have contributed $2.5 million to the National Park Foundation to maintain the White House garden, founded in 2009 by former First Lady Michelle Obama, for at least 17 years. The garden is a powerful symbol of Obama’s effort to promote healthy eating and lifestyles for America’s children. During an eight-year span, she added beehives, a compost system and a pollinator garden to attract birds and butterflies as the garden nearly tripled in size to 2,800 square feet.

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An article published by the journal PLOS One reflects the opinion of researchers affiliated with France’s National Institute for Agricultural Research that a large portion of studies on genetically modified (GM/GMO) crops are rife with conflicts of interest. They state that many have been tainted because someone that worked on a study was also an employee of a company producing them. The study investigated direct financial conflicts of interest, but not other factors such as authors being members of advisory boards, co-holders of patents or consultants to GM companies. Out of 579 published studies analyzed, some 40 percent showed a possible conflict of interest. The authors noted that the suspect studies had a much higher likelihood of presenting a favorable outcome for GMOs compared to others. The majority of these studies (404) were American; 83 were Chinese.

Beverage Battle

An Interspiritual Church

After decades of strong growth, bottled water consumption has outpaced carbonated soft drinks to become the largest beverage category by volume in the United States. Michael Bellas, chairman and chief executive at Beverage Marketing Corp. says, “When Perrier first entered the country in the 1970s, few would have predicted the heights to which bottled water would eventually climb.” In 2015, U.S. bottled water consumption totaled 39.3 gallons per capita, while carbonated soft drinks fell to 38.5 gallons. Bad publicity about the health effects of sugary beverages is at the root of the trend, with some states considering making them off-limits to food stamp purchasers and cities voting for soda taxes to combat diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes.

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Floral Throughways

Garden Clubs Help Beautify Roads Displays of flowers populating highway meridians, road embankments and adjacent green spaces are often due to the efforts of garden clubs working with state departments of transportation (DOT). Some of these pioneers also inspire other clubs to pursue similar collaborations, often with public support. “The people of Texas have joined wholeheartedly in what Lady Bird Johnson started,” says Linda Love, roadside beautification chairperson of the Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. (TexasGardenClubs.org), headquartered in Fort Worth. Their committee recognizes planting projects on state and county highways assisted by 320 local clubs encompassing about 10,000 members. She points to particularly attractive areas along highways 75 in Richardson, plus highways 45 and 35 extending south of Dallas, where concentrations of blue bonnets “look like lakes,” says Love. Other planted native flower patches include Indian paintbrush and gaillardia. She notes that the state prohibits mowing of blue bonnets until after they’ve bloomed and dropped their seeds; picking rules preserve their beauty. Gail Hill, chair of The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.’s (ffgc.org) roadside beautification committee, based in Winter Park, reports the Ella P. Wood Paths of Sunshine Award Program that partners with the Florida Wildflower Foundation (FlaWildflowers.org) recognizes the efforts of state DOT maintenance crews in establishing and maintaining roadside wildflowers. “The department has run a strong program for decades,” she says. Local clubs are encouraged to petition elected officials for new resolutions to develop roadside wildflower projects. “About half of Florida’s counties have passed resolutions, including most recently, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties,” says Hill. This year, the Raleigh-based The Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc. (GardenClubOfNC.org), with more than 200 chapters, is working with the state DOT to commemorate the centennial of America’s entry into World War I by planting red poppies and bachelor buttons. Roadside Development Chairperson Pat Cashwell reports that about 1,500 acres of wildflowers, including cosmos, are planted annually on state and county highways each summer and fall, largely funded by the sale of special license plates, with awards to highway department crews. “We get letters from people after they drive through the state commenting on the floral beauty,” she enthuses. Many garden clubs also establish flowers in parks, schoolyards, church properties and other public locations. natural awakenings

July 2017

to Cleanse Body & Mind

Take Toxins Out of Your Life by Meredith Montgomery

he term “detox” has been gaining traction in health circles, but cleansing practices have existed for millennia, ranging from Egyptian hydrotherapy to Medieval Lenten practices and Native American fasting, smudging and sweat lodges. The truth is that we need cleansing now more than ever—to rid our bodies of chemical overload and our minds of negative thinking. The Environmental Defense Fund has counted more than 100 chemicals produced in the U.S. that are present in everyday products and hazardous to humans and the environment. “Our body is a natural detoxifier, ridding itself of toxins through pooping, peeing, sweating and shedding skin. But in our current toxic overload situation, it’s not always an efficient process,” observes Deanna Minich, Ph.D., an author and functional nutritionist in Washington state. Some experts believe many commercial detoxification programs are unsafe, extreme and ineffective. “Psychologically, a short-term cleanse can act as a stepping stone if you’re eating fast food and donuts every day,” says Dr. Michael Greger, a Washington,

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D.C., physician specializing in clinical nutrition and author of How Not to Die. “What matters more is longterm—what you’re eating a decade from now. No quick fix is going to do it, it’s a lifestyle change.”

Feed Your Microbiome

When the microbiome becomes depleted, overall health is affected. Dr. Robynne Chutkan, a gastroenterologist at Georgetown University Hospital, founder of the Digestive Center for Wellness, in Washington, D.C., and author of Gutbliss and The Microbiome Solution, explains, “The GI tract is the body’s

We’re all exposed to toxins, but if our inner terrain is healthy, our body can flush them out, so we won’t get sick. ~Robynne Chutkan

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Get Dirty

“Health and wealth have become associated with cleanliness, yet the opposite is probably true,” assesses Chutkan. “Kids come in from the playground to use hand sanitizers and eat processed snacks. Instead, discard the microbiome-disrupting sanitizer and provide fresh vegetables for them to eat outside. We don’t want kids exposed to any serious pathogens, but getting a little dirty is essential.”

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Natural Ways

engine, and microbes are the worker bees that operate the machinery so that digestion and toxin removal can happen.” She recommends switching to a plant-filled diet to effectively repopulate the microbiome and be aware of how food is grown. “Much store-bought produce, even organic options, is grown in depleted soil. Seek out biodynamic farmers that prioritize nutrientrich soil to foster microbes,” Chutkan says. Even planting a couple of herbs or microgreens on the kitchen windowsill can make a difference. “Just picking those herbs and getting your hands in healthy dirt increases your exposure to health-promoting microbes.”

Studies have found that children with pets are more likely to have fewer allergies and infections and take fewer antibiotics than those living in pet-free households (Clinical & Experimental Allergy and Kuopio University Hospital, Finland). Pets that venture outdoors bring healthy microbes inside; so does fresh air, which purifies poorer quality indoor air. Chutkan also warns of excessive bathing. “When we scrub ourselves, we rub off microbes and naturally occurring oils; unless we’re filthy, we just need to gently rinse.” Marketers convince consumers that products with toxic ingredients are necessities, but coconut oil, apple cider vinegar and honey can effectively replace many toiletries.

he recommends stimulating fat metabolism with a cleanse that starts each morning with melted ghee followed by a simple nonfat diet throughout the day. According to research published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, ghee, a clarified butter, has been proven to remove environmental toxins by attaching to toxic fats. Kitchari, the staple of the meal plan, is a nourishing and easy-to-digest, porridge-like blend of beans, rice and Indian spices. “When you eat a mono diet of just kitchari, your body can transfer the energy that normally goes toward digestion into cleansing and healing other systems,” says Douillard. For those not

Reboot with a Quick Cleanse

To stimulate the body’s natural ability to burn fat, Douillard recommends a four-day, at-home detox cleanse. “The digestive system is responsible for delivering nutrients and escorting dangerous toxins out of your body; if you can’t digest well, you can’t detoxify well,” he says. Unlike drastic fasts and juice cleanses, which can deplete nutrients,

Few Snacks, More Water

Work toward eating three meals a day—a light breakfast, big lunch and light and early dinner—without snacking in-between, and fasting for 13 hours each night. Douillard notes, “This regimen should be maintained beyond the cleanse because it gives the body a chance to use up its carbohydrates—its normal, go-to fuel—and switch to its calmer, more stable, detoxifying fuel— body fat.”

5 Ways to Detox Every Day

Burn Fat Cells

According to ayurveda, burning fat fuels detoxification because toxins from preservatives, pollutants, pesticides and other damaging chemicals are stored in our fat cells. When fat is metabolized and used as an energy source, the toxins are released, ready to be flushed out. “When we’re not burning fat, toxins can accumulate, cause congestion in the lymphatic channels, overwhelm the liver and ultimately be deposited back into fat cells or stored in the arteries, heart and brain,” comments Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner Dr. John Douillard, of Boulder, Colorado. He’s the author of Eat Wheat and a former director of player development and nutrition advisor for the New Jersey Nets professional basketball team.

ready to maintain such a limited diet, he recommends a polydiet with the option to add seasonal steamed vegetables, oatmeal and other gluten-free grains.

by Meredith Montgomery

“

s soon as we start eating healthier diets, our body is able to detoxify more efficiently and diseases begin to be reversed,” says Dr. Michael Greger, a physician and creator of NutritionFacts.org. Follow these tips to enhance the detoxification process at mealtimes.

Eat broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables raw or chop them at least 40 minutes before cooking to maximize intake of the phytonutrient sulforaphane, which boosts detoxifying enzymes in the liver. For the time-crunched, Greger suggests adding a small amount of any type of raw cruciferous vegetables to the cooked ones.

Always choose colorful produce, with the exception of white mushrooms and cauliflower. “White foods are stripped of nutrition,” says Greger. Pigment indicates the richness of antioxidants that keep the body functioning efficiently. He likes adding shreds of economical and long-lasting red cabbage as an everyday garnish.

Follow the seasons, because nature provides the ideal harvest for each season—heavier, denser foods in winter, like wheat, dairy, roots, nuts and seeds; and cooling, high-energy fruits and vegetables in summer. Dr. John Douillard, creator of the 3-Season Diet Challenge, remarks that research suggests that gut microbes are meant to change with local seasonal foods to optimize digestion, mood and immunity.

Avoid plastics by limiting intake of foods stored or cooked in plastic, especially cling wrap, which is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a known carcinogen, according to the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer. Also avoid canned goods unless labeled bisphenol A (BPA)-free. “A lot of toxins enter our bodies through processed, overcooked and fried foods,” observes Deanna Minich, Ph.D. “As we replace these foods with nourishing options, we need to also minimize plastic packaging.”

Filter water because, “We are primarily made of water, so if we’re drinking and bathing in contaminated water, it impacts health,” says Minich who recommends using a national testing laboratory to assess home tap water. The results can then be coupled with the Environmental Working Group’s buying guide (Tinyurl.com/EWG-Buying-Guide) to determine the most appropriate water filter to deal with the contaminants that may be present. natural awakenings

July 2017

by Robynne Chutkan

good bowel movement is the ultimate detox, eliminating toxins, unwanted bacteria, cells that have outlived their usefulness and other waste that has to go. Stools provide an index of health, so turn around and take a look at them for feedback for improving digestive and overall health. One key way to assess a stool is by its color. Use the following guide: 4 Pale, chalky stool can be a sign of liver disease or clogged bile ducts, and is often accompanied by dark urine because the bile gets excreted through the kidneys instead of the digestive tract. 4 Yellow stool may mean a parasite like Giardia or excess fat because of a pancreas that’s not secreting enough enzymes. 4 Green stool can be the result of a Clostridium difficile infection or antibiotics. 4 Red stool occurs with bleeding from the colon, but can also be caused by eating beets. 4 Black stool usually signifies bleeding from higher in the gastrointestinal tract or from an iron supplement. 4 Lighter brown stool may mean insufficient deeply pigmented leafy greens in the diet. 4 Blue stool can be from bluecolored food. 4 Dark brown is the color of stool nirvana. Bile and bilirubin pigment, formed in the liver from dead red blood cells, give healthy stools this chocolate color. Learn more at DigestiveCenterFor Wellness.com.

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Emotional Release

“Toxins are best understood less as poisons than as barriers—obstacles to the life and health we truly want,” says Minich. As a functional medicine nutritionist, she believes that food as medicine is only one aspect of full-spectrum health. Her approach revolves around clusters of nutritional, anatomical, psychological and spiritual life issues that can be jointly detoxified, supported and healed. “Good eating alone will not necessarily solve our emotional woes or stop our limiting beliefs and toxic self-talk,” she explains in Whole Detox, a book based on a whole-life, whole-systems, whole-foods approach to detoxification. “We need to remove all the barriers that impede our growth. Limiting thoughts, as well as heavy metals and pesticides, are toxic barriers that weigh us down, sapping energy that might be used for better things.” Her 21-day program is designed to establish long-term lifestyle changes with simple habits. She recommends monitoring our emotions and tracking thoughts with daily writing exercises. “Look at yourself like you’re examining a food label to get to the root of limiting patterns,” she says, encouraging questions such as, “Is this thought healthy for me?” or, “Do I want this thought in my being?” Be mindful of speech as well; swearing, exaggerating and interrupting can have deleterious effects,

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See How You’re Dooing

Adapt the cleanse to avoid strain, because when under stress, the lymphatic system shuts down and the body stores fat and toxins. “If three meals a day with no snacks is not possible yet, have a nonfat high-protein snack and plan to eat more protein at your next meal,” suggests Douillard. “Or start with four meals, and work your way down to three.” Aim to drink half your healthiest body weight in ounces of room-temperature water every day, while also sipping warm-to-hot water—believed to soften the intestinal tract, move the lymph and hydrate the cells more effectively than cold water—every 10 to 15 minutes for two weeks. Plain water has a hydrating effect that not even lemon water can replicate.

while uplifting affirmations can inspire positive actions. She attests that visualization can help prevent the creative self from shutting down, another aspect of toxicity. “Be intuitive and imaginative; allow creative expression to flow. Before you can manifest what you want in life, you have to envision it.” Minich wants patients to invite introspection by taking a few minutes each day to be in solitude and silence, allowing meaning and purpose to surface. Daily stress relief practices such as meditation, yoga, self-massage and mindful breathing can foster stress reduction. “Life shouldn’t feel like an emergency. We need to navigate around stress so we’re not inundated by it,” counsels Douillard. By extracting toxins through sweat and circulating nutrients, physical activity is equally important for detoxification, but it’s also a form of self-love. “It expands your sense of possibilities, freeing you to go where you will and to carry burdens lightly,” Minich says. In this age of personalized medicine, Minich encourages patients to focus on the parts of a detox program that they need most, whether it’s diet, exercise, massage, emotional wellbeing or spirituality. She reminds us that the desire and need to cleanse is universal.“Detox is as old as humankind.” Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi (HealthyLiving HealthyPlanet.com).

chironews

Is your Low-Fat Diet killing you? By Dr. Dan Gleason

or many years dietary fats have been vilified in the popular press in some scientific journals. This includes doctors and those in the mainstream as well as alternative arenas. This Fat-Phobia has been going on since the 1950’s and has received much promotion from those industries that make and market margarines, vegetable shortening, vegetable oils for frying and processed foods. Pharmaceutical companies that profit from cholesterol-lowering drugs have also promoted this disinformation. During this same time voices supporting consumption of natural fats like butter, eggs, coconut oil, and fat from healthy animals have been shouted down. Thankfully in the last few years research showing the hazards of low-fat diets and the benefits of high-fat diets have confirmed what we have known all along; Low-fat diets are a big problem! We require adequate fat in our diet to control our metabolic processes including lubrication, inflammation, autoimmune regulation, blood sugar control, and myelin sheath production. Fats are also a precursor to our reproductive and stress hormones. These malfunctions cause most of our common chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, anxiety and fatigue. Low-fat foods taste terrible unless they are jacked-up with additives and sugar. Healthy dietary fats are satisfying, filling, and tasty. Removing fats from our diets causes us to add way more carbs than our bodies can safely metabolize. Food manufactures add toxic ingredients like MSG and aspartame just to make them palatable enough to sell. Do you ever wonder what is in zero-fat sour cream of half and half?

I can suggest several books that document the weight-loss benefits of eating a high fat: low carb diet. Eat Fat Get Thin by Mark Hyman, M.D., Eat Fat Lose Fat by Mary Enig, Phd, and Eat Fat Look Thin by Bruce Fife, N.D. These books are very well written and researched. Because Low-fat diets are by definition high-carb there is a strong connection with that form of eating and cancer. The Nobel Laureate Otto Warburg first noted this connection in the 1920’s. His research, which has been repeated and confirmed for nearly a century, shows that cancer can only metabolize glucose. Normal cells can burn carbs, proteins and fats. Eating high carbs, bad fats and excess protein, leads to mitochondrial damage, which is at the root of cancer. Warburg’s research proved that all cancers have damaged mitochondria, which is the root cause and not genetic mutations that we have been taught to believe (except in rare cases). A recent book by Travis Christopherson, titled Tripping Over the Truth: The Metabolic Theory of Cancer, is a must-read for cancer treatment and prevention. Another downside to Low-fat eating is the cravings and over eating that go along with it. Without adequate fat intake we are constantly hungry, often “hangry”. This leads to frequent eating and overconsumption of sweets and starches. This then leads to elevated levels of insulin and insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. When insulin is elevated weight loss resistance, fluid retention and inflammation result. These are the root causes of most of our common chronic diseases. In order to promote a long and healthy lifespan I recommend a Highfat, Moderate-protein, Low-carb diet. This should include periods of intermit-

tent fasting. It is imperative to eat only high quality, locally grown, organic foods as much as possible. This is your life and health so I encourage you to make this the highest priority for you and your family. KetoClarity by Jimmy Moore and Eric Westman, M.D. and The Complete Guide to Fasting by Jason Fung, M.D. and Jimmy Moore are two excellent books on these subjects. We at The Gleason Center can help you test and tailor a diet and supplement program for your individual needs as well as guide you in making these dietary changes. In addition to being a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and an Applied Kinesiologist, Dr. Gleason is a 4th generation home builder and engineer— he correlates the two sensibilities in his approach, “A person’s health is similar to that of building a house- good planning, good science, good materials make for good health as well as a good home”. Dr. Dan Gleason is the owner of The Gleason Center located at 19084 North Fruitport Road in Spring Lake. For more info: go to TheGleasonCenter.com or call 616-846-5410. See ad page 45.

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

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Four Reasons to Break a Sweat The Fast Path to Flushing Toxins by Deanna Minich

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octors, health experts and fitness gurus tell us that we should break a sweat every day—and for good reason. Sweat not only activates a host of benefits tied to healthboosting exercise, perspiring itself is curative. Whether sitting in a sauna, walking on a warm day or working out, sweating is a necessary bodily function with powerful healing effects. By clearing out a range of toxins, sweat plays an essential role in the body’s natural detoxifying function. Here are some of the toxins it helps eliminate:

Persistent

organic pollutants (solvents, fumigants and insecticides): A clinical study of

20 participants published in BioMed Research International found that their sweat samples contained a range of toxins, including pesticides DDT/DDE, endosulfan, methoxychlor and endrin. Nearly all parent compounds of these pesticides were evident, demonstrating that sweating is an effective way of excreting and diminishing the body’s toxic burden. One sweat sample contained some pesticides not present in the subject’s blood or urine samples, suggesting that some pesticides are only mobilized and eliminated through sweating.

Phthalate (plasticizer): Phthalate, found in plastic products, is also removed through sweat. Research published in the Scientific World Journal evaluated blood, sweat and urine samples from 20 individuals and discovered that all of them contained the common mono2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP). The concentrations of this toxin in sweat were more than twice as high as those in the urine, showing that sweating may be the best way of ridding the body of this endocrine-disrupting compound.

Heavy metals: Another study of 20 patients reported in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology found that subjects’ sweat contained about 24 times more cadmium, 19 times more nickel, 16 times more lead and almost three times more aluminum than their urine. Overall, sweat proved more effective than urine at removing 14 of the 18 heavy metals studied. It also contained and, therefore, expelled larger quantities of 16 of the 18 metals than the blood samples did. Of all the metals, aluminum was found at the highest concentrations in sweat, with zinc, copper and nickel also occurring at relatively high levels.

Bisphenol A (BPA): Researchers reporting in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health examined the blood, urine and sweat of 20 participants for BPA, an endocrine-disrupting toxin found in canned foods, plastic water bottles and other items. Of the 20 sweat samples collected, 16 contained BPA, while only 14 urine and 2 blood samples tested positive for the toxin. This reveals that sweat is the most effective way of removing BPA build-up in the body; just as vital, it demonstrates that testing blood or urine for toxicity levels may not present the whole picture.

A wide range of activities, including exercising and engaging in sports, can help us break a sweat. A low-impact option is spending time in a sauna. Notably, in a focused study, the sweat from an infrared sauna expelled more bismuth, cadmium, chromium, mercury and uranium than that produced by a steam sauna. The steam sauna caused higher levels of arsenic, aluminum, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, tin, thallium and zinc to be excreted (Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology). Hydration is essential in maximizing all these health benefits. Failure to hydrate properly during and after sweating can lead to other health problems. An easy rehydration practice is to step on the scales right before and after sweating; the weight lost is the optimum amount of water to drink afterwards (Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine). For reference, one pound of water is slightly less than a one-half liter. Sweat contains minerals essential for optimal functioning of the whole body. Following excessive sweating, it’s important to replace the minerals lost, especially zinc, copper, selenium, chromium and potassium. Coconut water is a good source of potassium; nuts, seafood, whole grains and legumes generally contain relatively high doses of zinc, copper, selenium and chromium. The next time the couch and air conditioning beckon, think of all the “sweaty” benefits about to be sacrificed. Breaking a sweat might seem like an effort, but it keeps internal detox systems healthy and optimally functioning. Deanna Minich, Ph.D., is an author, teacher and researcher, as well as founder of Food & Spirit, a framework to integrate ancient healing traditions with modern science. She leads online detox programs as part of her whole-self approach to health. Connect at DeannaMinich.com.

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July 2017

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healingways

Enlightening Ideas about Money

Think Independence, Intimacy, Integrity by April Thompson

oney influences our choice of job or home, and sense of security, worth and power; it can also make life more or less convenient. Yet, despite its essential importance, money is often a forbidden topic among family members.

Money Talk Taboo “We are not taught how to have a relationship with money on a psychological or spiritual level; it isn’t part of our cul-

ture,” explains Bari Tessler, a Boulder, Colorado, financial therapist and author of The Art of Money. “The majority of our parents and grandparents didn’t receive a financial education, so they don’t understand emotions that relate to money or how to talk about it.” Tessler works with individuals, couples and creative entrepreneurs to help them “claim their worth in the world and bring their skills and values into the marketplace,” she says. Money is

a frequent source of tension among couples, but Tessler notes it wasn’t even talked about in her graduate-level psychology training. “Money is emotional territory for people. You can’t just go to a financial planner, plot a budget and be on your merry way,” she observes.

Shifting Our Perceptions To change our relationship with money, Tessler says we need to understand our “money stories” that include the ways in which our personal experiences, together with subconsciously inherited familial and cultural attitudes, shape how we think about money. “The first step to changing our money habits is being willing to deal with the tough issues,” says Mayuri Onerheim, author of Money Spirituality Consciousness, a retired accountant and spiritual teacher of the Diamond Approach of self-realization, in Larkspur, California. “There is no change without some discomfort. It’s part of the spiritual journey.” Self-care, forgiveness and acceptance are important throughout this process, advises Tessler, because many people bring feelings of guilt and shame to their relationship with money. She recommends doing a “body check-in” to become aware of our physical reaction to related issues, whether it’s going on a reckless spending spree or bracing to ask for a raise. This stage paves the way for the practical work of learning to manage our money in alignment with our values, goals and dreams. It begins with developing practices to track, review and reflect upon spending and earning patterns.

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Tactical Tools

We have ups and downs in life, and the same is true of our finances. ~Bari Tessler

Tessler recommends utilizing one of many free financial tracking tools like Mint.com, ynab. com or MoneyMinder Online.com. She also suggests we rename their preloaded budget categories to reflect our personal relationships to the areas of spending (e.g., “sanctuary” rather than mortgage; “my dream vacation” for savings targeted for time off; or “life happens” for late fees). For an enlightened view of cash flows, Onerheim suggests translating what was spent on something into the hours it took to earn the money. “This perspective can transform how we allocate resources and what we’re willing to spend money on,” she says. Vicki Robin, co-author of the bestseller Your Money or Your Life, espouses a similar approach: thinking of money in terms of hours of life energy. “Continually asking yourself whether you actually got fulfillment in proportion to life energy spent in each subcategory awakens the natural sense of knowing when enough is enough,” she writes. Tessler and Onerheim both encourage rethinking the idea that all earning is good and all

spending is bad: “It’s about balancing needs and wants, and we need joy in life. It’s not about saving every penny and not enjoying yourself,” says Onerheim.

A Rewarding Journey Becoming financially conscious ultimately helps us fulfill our responsibility to be a good steward of the planet’s resources, according to Onerheim. “Money is a representation of myself in the world, so I want to take responsibility for where my money goes.” “Financial integrity is achieved by learning the true impact of your earning and spending, both on your immediate family and on the planet,” agrees Robin. “It is knowing what is enough money and material goods to keep you at the peak of fulfillment—and what is just excess and clutter.” All call for celebrating progress on the journey to financial well-being and know-how. “Take baby steps and reward yourself along the way,” counsels Tessler. “This is a lifelong journey.” Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, in Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. ~Benjamin Franklin

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Eating Vegan on the Road Clever Ways to Eat Healthy Anywhere

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by Judith Fertig

raveling can be tricky for those trying to eat a plant-based diet, especially on long stretches of highway. More than 33 percent of Americans, or 100 million-plus people, are eating vegan/vegetarian meals more often, even if they do not adhere to a strict plant-based lifestyle, concluded a 2011 Harris Interactive study commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group. Here is what the discerning traveler can do when hunger strikes. Start by looking for vegan pit stops before you go. Identify a plant-friendly restaurant group, such as Dr. Andrew Weil’s True Food Kitchen (now in 12 states), and then Google for their locations. Smartphone apps such as Finding Vegan and Happy Cow help point the way to vegan-friendly restaurants around the world. This month, Natural Awakenings asked three savvy travelers how they manage plant-based eating wherever they go. For Dustin Harder, eating well on the road is a matter of research and preparation. He is the New York Citybased chef/host of the online program The Vegan Roadie, with 100 U.S. restaurant visits and counting and now seeking

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crowdfunding for its third season, set in Italy. Harder has learned to investigate his dining options ahead of time, and always packs a travel-size, high-speed blender, lots of trail mix and his favorite condiments of sriracha (bottled hot sauce) and nutritional yeast. “You can locate great vegan restaurants in surprising places if you search online before you travel,” he says, listing Viva Vegeria and La Botanica, in San Antonio, Texas, and The Red Fern, in Rochester, New York, among his finds. Where vegan restaurants are scarce, he turns to plant-based options at Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panera Bread. His DIY hotel-room cuisine favorites are a Hotel Smoothie, Banushi (banana sushi) and Pizzadilla, a cross between a pizza and a quesadilla, “cooked” in aluminum foil using a hotel iron and ironing board. Matt Frazier, a runner and co-author of the No Meat Athlete Cookbook, recently went on the road for a selffunded book tour. Not only had he left his high-powered blender back home with his family in Asheville, North Carolina, he was on a tight budget. “The trick that has helped me not just survive, but thrive on the road is eating fresher, more whole and more raw,”

you should be able to find something on the menu or adapt a dish to stick with plants,” she says. “You might have to get a little creative. I once asked for salsa and a plain, baked potato; not a bad combo, as it turns out.” Wherever we find ourselves, we can still find healthy ways to eat.

he says. He recommends filling up on kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, nuts and seeds, berries, beans, onions and mushrooms. Lindsay S. Nixon, author of The Happy Herbivore Guide to PlantBased Living and related cookbooks, has traveled from her home in Los Angeles across the country and around the world, finding plant-based foods wherever she goes. “Almost every city has a Thai or Italian restaurant where

Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS. Connect at JudithFertig.com.

Banushi Yields: 1 serving

Vegan DIY Room Service by Dustin Harder sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Fold the other half over the toppings, and then fold the foil over the entire Pizzadilla, completely closing the edges of the foil. Place the foil packet on the ironing board and the iron on the foil packet. Iron it out to flatten slightly and then leave iron on the foil packet for 2 minutes, flip and repeat. Open foil, cut the Pizzadilla in half and it’s ready to eat.

Pizzadilla

Preheat hotel or travel iron; the linen setting works well. While the iron is preheating, place tortilla on a square of aluminum foil large enough to enclose the tortilla. Sprinkle half the cheese on one half of the tortilla, top with peppers and onions, spoon over the marinara and

Peel the banana. Spread with a layer of nut butter to look like a sushi roll. Place blueberries in a line down the middle lengthwise, about an inch apart. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds or strawberry slivers and top with raw nut crumble. Slice into pieces the size of sushi roll pieces.

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Yields: 1 serving 1 large tortilla of choice (whole wheat or GMO-free corn) ½ cup Daiya vegan mozzarella shreds 2 Tbsp onion, chopped 2 Tbsp green pepper, chopped ¼ cup pizza sauce or marinara, store-bought Shredded fresh basil for garnish (optional) Field Roast Grain Meat Italian Sausage (optional) Large piece of aluminum foil Iron and ironing board

Nut butter of choice Bananas (not overripe; firm enough to hold toppings) Blueberries Pomegranate seeds or strawberries, cut into slivers Raw nuts of choice, crumbled, crushed or ground up

Recipes courtesy of VeganRoadie.com.

Hotel Smoothie Yields: 1 serving 1 cup filtered water or apple juice Handful or two of tender, baby greens, such as baby spinach or kale 1 banana, peeled, or another favorite soft, peeled fruit Put the water, greens and banana in a high-speed, travel-sized blender and blend until smooth.

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

July 2017

wisewords

Maria Rodale Helps Organic Farmers Succeed by Randy Kambic

uthor, gardener and corporate executive Maria Rodale continues to add luster to an unparalleled family commitment to organic food, sustainability and healthy living covering three-quarters of a century. As CEO and chairman of Rodale Inc., she oversees the publishing of books (An Inconvenient Truth; The South Beach Diet; Eat This, Not That!), magazines (Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Prevention and Organic Gardening) and naturally healthy living websites. Her grandfather, J. I. Rodale, pioneered the American organic movement in 1942 by launching Organic Farming and Gardening magazine. In 1947, he founded the Soil and Health Association, which later became the Rodale Institute, a nonprofit educational and advocacy organization, of which Maria is a board member. The influence of her 2011 book Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe remains strong.

What is the status of the organic farming industry? As a whole, it has seen great growth, in large part due to increasing demand resulting from consumer awareness. In 2015, organic was a $43 billion industry in the U.S., with Millennial householders leading the way. Still, only 5 percent of all food consumed in the U.S. is organic [produce 13 per24

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cent], while less than 1 percent of our farmland is certified organic, which spurs imports. So the opportunity to help encourage new organic farmers and transition conventional farmers is significant. The Rodale Institute invests as much time on education and outreach as on research to help organic farmers be profitable.

How else does the Institute help the industry? We conduct cutting-edge research in organic agriculture to study and test natural strategies to combat pests, diseases and weeds. Growing organic isn’t solely about what you don’t do, such as using pesticides and genetically modified seeds. It also proactively focuses on benefiting soil health by using compost, cover crops, crop rotations and reduced tillage. As we refine these “regenerative agriculture” methods, we share them with farmers so they can increase their productivity and success. We are expanding our research in nutrient density. The Institute works to understand the difference in nutrient levels, such as proteins, vitamins and minerals, in organic and conventional foods and how farmers can grow nutrient-packed food.

What new programs or initiatives are particularly exciting? Launched in 1981, our Farming Systems

Trial is the longest-running North American research project comparing organic versus conventional grains such as corn and soybeans; it has allowed us to compare yields, water and energy use, soil organic matter, nutrient density, profitability and other factors. In 2016, we introduced our Vegetable Systems Trial, a side-by-side comparison for organic versus conventional produce. We expect organic management practices that improve soil health can enhance nutrient density in vegetables and so benefit farmers’ lives and eating habits worldwide. In 2016, we launched the Organic Farmers Association (OrganicFarmers Association.org), creating a valuable information exchange and unified voice for domestic certified organic producers. This national membership organization focuses on policy issues, including the Farm Bill, subsidy programs, animal welfare standards and contamination from conventional farm fields.

people to buy healthy foods. Organic agriculture made strides in the 2014 Farm Bill, which provided increased support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program, crop insurance, organic research and organic certification cost-sharing programs. To help meet surging demand for organics, it’s important to support initiatives like the Conservation Reserve and Transition Initiatives programs that provide resources for farmers to move from synthetic chemical farming to organic methods.

Besides healthier food, what other benefits of organic farming have convinced late adopters to convert?

cial microorganisms, is a major byproduct of regenerative organic farming. Organic farming creates diverse, healthy ecosystems that protect wildlife. However, any agricultural model that’s fixated on yields at the expense of soil health will incur a steep price as those farms won’t remain productive for future generations. Regenerative organic farming facilitates storage of carbon in the ground, making it integral to addressing the climate crisis. Organic Manifesto makes the case plain; to optimize your own and the planet’s health—buy, grow and eat organic food. Randy Kambic is a freelance writer and editor in Estero, FL, and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.

Healthy soil, full of billions of benefi-

Vikki Nestico R.Ac., Dipl. OM

Can the public provide input to the 2018 Farm Bill? President Trump’s proposed “skinny” budget seeks to gut many federal programs, including those designed to protect the environment, so we need to urge elected representatives to stand up for organic farmers as the new bill develops. Historically, heavily funded commodity crop interests fight against assistance programs that encourage low-income

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July 2017

can transcend the tunnel vision and pettiness of a polarized atmosphere. Here are some basic steps toward cultivating a sense of awe:

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inspiration

An Awesome Antidote to Polarization by Kirk J. Schneider

e live in polarized times. The current polarization of the American electorate and federal government is rooted in “the polarized mind”, a fixation by individuals on one point of view that excludes differing views and provokes intolerance. Complex issues become black and white, and those with differing views or lifestyles are demonized. Beyond politics, this is seen in gun violence and terrorism, corporate abuses of health and safety, and religious and ethnic

strife—affecting major aspects of our daily lives. An antidote to polarization is awe—the wonder of being alive; living life with hope, respect, humility, wonder and a deep reverence for the adventure of living. Psychology experiments at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, have shown those that practice awe are better able to see outside their own experiences and appreciate other points of view, which

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n Appreciate the passing nature of time and life. Even while doing something disagreeable, slowing down and affirming the preciousness of the moment can sometimes render alternative perspectives. n Be open to discovery and surprise. This is especially helpful if we are constantly locked in by assumptions about people or things. Think how politicians might benefit by being open to the possibility of discovery or surprise during delicate negotiations. The same principle can hold true with family and friends. n Step outside the box of personal judgments and consider the bigger picture of life. Replace the prison of self-criticism often stemming from comparing ourselves with idealized media images with appreciation of the many facets of who we are and what we can become. Psychologist Kirk J. Schneider, Ph.D., is past editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, president-elect of the Existential-Humanistic Institute and adjunct faculty at Saybrook and Columbia universities, in New York City. His books include Awakening to Awe, The Polarized Mind and The Spirituality of Awe: Challenges to the Robotic Revolution. Visit KirkJSchneider.com.

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natural awakenings

July 2017

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healthykids

Fun Ways to Get Outside This Summer

Be a Kid Again With Your Own Family by Sandra Murphy

Natural Awakenings

Magazine of West Michigan

ummer is calling and so is the great outdoors. Here are some super vacation sites, inviting activities and ideas to spark summer fun with your family.

Hike It

“Hiking teaches kids respect for the outdoors and animals,” says Branch Whitney, a Mount Charleston, Nevada, author of three books on hiking. “Near Las Vegas, in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, sandstone rock affords a rare sight—year-round running water and lush ferns.” Ralph Stover State Park, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, offers easy walking trails and climbing rocks. When water levels are high, Tohickon Creek challenges paddlers and whitewater rafters.

Zip Lines and More

Holding the Guinness World Record for the longest and largest continuous eco zip line canopy tour in the world, historic Banning Mills, in Whitesburg, Georgia, will thrill tweens and teens. Enjoy a slower pace on the 12-mile Hike and Bike Trail, with nine suspension bridges, including the longest of its kind in North America. Stay in ecofriendly lodges, cabins and tree houses.

Family Week

From July 30 to August 4, the Omega Institute, in Rhinebeck, New York, will host Family Week. Grownups attend workshops while kids participate in specialty camps; everyone convenes for meals, free time and evening entertainment. The campus relies on sustainable energy and local agriculture. Free tours are available at the environmental education center.

Camp in Style

If traditional camping isn’t on the table, try Tentrr. Campsites on the privately owned properties sleep four to 16 people in a family, pet-friendly atmosphere. A tent, fire pit, picnic table, water container, camp toilet, queen-size 28

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photo by Minhee Cho

Go Farming

cot, grill, food storage and sun shower are provided. “Compared to other accommodations, each night at a Tentrr campsite saves 245 gallons of water and reduces CO2 output by 54 pounds per campsite,” estimates Michael D’Agostino, Tentrr’s founder and CEO. The secluded Lumberland, New York, campsite, along the Delaware River, sets its roomy tent on a wooden deck. Attractions include Adirondack chairs for unwinding and a nearby farmers’ market and restaurant. Enjoy hiking, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, swimming and fishing. Tentrr provides required life jackets and a shuttle to meet paddlers at their destination for the return trip to camp. From its original 35 sites, the organization recently expanded to 250 campsites, predominantly from Pennsylvania to Maine. This fall, they’ll also open sites in the Pacific Northwest from Northern California to Washington state.

FarmWise, near Alpine Valley, in southeastern Wisconsin, gives children a personal peek into where their food comes from. They learn about life on a farm by tending livestock and farm pets, pruning fruit trees and weeding the garden. They also prepare snacks with the fruits of their day’s labor. The emphasis is on doing the work themselves, be it planting seeds or feeding pigs.

THE 2017-18 ANNUAL DIRECTORY

Experience Science

Science Saturdays at the EcoCenter at Heron’s Head Park, in San Francisco, are held every weekend with a focus on environmental education, park restoration, climate change science experiments, nature walks and citizen science excursions. “There are no other centers like it in the U.S.,” says staffer Jacqueline Murray. Learn more about this Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Platinum living classroom at EcoCenterhhp.org.

IS OUT!

Head for the Beach

At Natural Bridges State Park, in California, visitors relish viewing shorebirds, migrating whales, seals and playful otters. Moore Creek forms freshwater wetlands and a salt marsh. There’s also a Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve. At Kama’ole Beach Park III, in Maui, Hawaii, the small waves are so clear that fish can be seen from the surface. Snorkeling gear rentals are available. Shaved ice stands keep everyone cool. Lakefront beaches like West Beach at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, on Lake Michigan’s southern tip, attract kids. They can earn beachcomber badges in the Junior Ranger program by finding three different-colored rocks or telling what plants they saw most often. In late August, Mayflower Beach, in Dennis, Massachusetts, hosts its annual local sand sculpture contest with divisions for kids and families creating the art together.

Staycation Ideas

Organic sidewalk chalk, fairy garden and birdhouse kits, and ideas for imaginatively using found items keep kids busy and happy; see BellaLuna Toys.com. Letterboxing combines a contemporary scavenger hunt, hike and mysterious clues; participants have fun locating hidden boxes and collecting stamp marks in personalized logbooks. Whether on a one- or two-week vacation or a weekend away, a daytrip or backyard activity, there are plenty of nurturing outdoor options for kids of all ages to experience when the weather heats up. Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.

Get your copy today!

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July 2017

greenliving photo courtesy of Ably Apparel

Do less laundry. Live stain-free. Travel lighter. Smell better. Save the planet. ~Ably Apparel motto

cotton scrap, plus local virgin farm fiber under the guidance of Laurie Perrone, creative director and president. Located in Cornwall, New York, the company’s artisan-inspired products are available through stores and the Web (Farm2Fashion.com). “Our philosophy is simple—design classic products in America with substance and sustainability, while creating a low carbon footprint,” says Perrone. “We encourage customers to pass our products from generation to generation. Apparel and other textile goods in America used to be made at home for families and friends. We want to bring some of that back to life.”

Orgotton’s classic

Healthy Eye-Catching Eco-Wear It’s in Style and Easy Care by Avery Mack

co-friendly fashion used to be an oxymoron, synonymous with frumpy clothing and ugly shoes. Now designers and manufacturers are finding ways to provide attractive and healthier alternatives to common fabrics, especially polyester. After World War II, cotton, wool and linen fell out of favor as wash and wear, stain-resistant, permanent-press polyester arrived. Annual production of the synthetic fiber, consuming petroleum, coal, air and water resources, today exceeds 22 billion tons. Americans alone discard 14 million tons of clothing each year—80 pounds per person—with 80 percent going to landfills, where polyester takes 20 to 200 years to biodegrade. A host of suppliers are responding to a rising demand for comfortable, trendy, easy-care, high-quality and eco-friendly clothing that’s actually good for you. Here are just a few of these innovators.

Ably Apparel, in Seattle, makes

hoodies, T-shirts and jogging pants,

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using Filium-activated, 100 percent cotton fabric free of chemicals and nanoparticles. It repels spills and stains. When wet, it dries 40 percent faster than other materials. Perspiration evaporates through the breathable natural fabric, so Ably clothing doesn’t absorb odors or need to be washed and dried as often, saving water and energy (Tinyurl.com/FiliumFashion). “The retail industry is one of today’s largest polluters in the world,” says Raj Shah, co-founder of Ably and co-creator of Filium. “Ably apparel saves time and reduces both carbon emissions and chemical detergent usage, resulting in cleaner water supplies. We’re the first to apply the benefits of Filium to clothing, but hope other companies will follow suit.” The company has three stores and ships worldwide from its website.

Farm2Fashion made its New York debut in 2014, featuring ponchos, scarves and wraps crafted from manufacturers’ pre-consumer, recycled

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“little black dress” takes on fresh personalities via two long straps that change its appearance from a modest one-shoulder to a dressier backless version, halter style or a variation with cap sleeves. Made to order in Philadelphia, the five-way short dress expands a woman’s wardrobe with a single purchase (Tinyurl.com/ OrgottonShortDress). The dress is 65 percent bamboo, 27 percent organic cotton and 8 percent Spandex; it’s washable in cold water and dries flat, saving energy. Orgotton’s Infinity Collection comprises a long dress, short dress, romper and bodysuit.

Alis Living (AlisLiving.com) lifestyle boutique, in Scottsdale, Arizona, is owner Janet Ellis’ creation. “In 2007, I taught meditation classes and noticed the women were not enjoying life fully. Life should not be stressful,” she observes. “The skin is the largest organ on the body and clothing fabrics are often treated with formaldehyde. So we exclusively focus on organic clothing.” Her motto is, “Dress healthy, look good, have fun.” The clothing she carries are so simple and versatile that a change in accessories can take a dress from daytime business wear to evening elegance. “It used to be harder to find eco-friendly clothing. It’s easier now,” Ellis remarks. “We carry Blue Canoe, Indigenous, Onno, Shupaca and Synergy fashion lines, adding more brands as we discover them.”

photos courtesy of Janet Ellis/Alis Living

As a Master Gardener, Ellis also offers organic cooking classes for customers, harvesting from an onsite garden, thus creating a conscious community for women. “We want to serve one another and live joyously, but too often don’t make time for ourselves,” she says. “We’re concerned about human health and the planet. We believe that we don’t have to do harm in order to enjoy good fashion, food and fun.” Fashion personality and creation, organic gardening, mindful art, meditation and yoga on the lawn are other classes offered onsite. Eco-friendly clothing used to have little appeal for fashion buffs. Now designers and manufacturers are finding fresh ways to provide the attractive and eco-healthy clothing more women want to wear. Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

Tinyurl.com/27EcoFashionBrands shows trending sustainable options for women. TheGoodTrade.com/fashion offers organic, fair trade and ethical brands for men/women/children.

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natural awakenings

July 2017

naturalpet

Dogs Need Detoxing Too

Ways to Detox Your Dog

by Patricia Jordan

Good nutrient sources to add to doggie meals include:

Vitamin A: liver, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, dark leafy greens, eggs Vitamin C: berries, citrus, red bell peppers (or berry powder supplements; one-half teaspoon per 25 pounds of weight) Vitamin E: grains, seeds and their oils, wheat germ oil Vitamin D: liver, eggs, oily fish like sardines, mackerel, salmon B vitamins: liver, venison (or moringa leaf powder supplement, one-half teaspoon per 25 pounds) Zinc: red meat, poultry Magnesium: dark leafy greens, seeds, fish Selenium: oily fish, grass-fed beef and beef liver, free-range chicken, egg Turmeric: a powerful supplement to help treat and prevent gene damage caused by heavy metals and glyphosate (one-eighth to one-quarter teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight per day, combined with a healthy fat like coconut oil and some freshly ground black pepper for better absorption).

Prevent and treat candida. Avoid aggravating

ou know that mercury is bad for people. John Moore, a prominent 20th-century mercury and dental health researcher, regarded mercury as a ubiquitous contaminant of everything from plastics to concrete and medicine. But what about your dog? Pets also routinely encounter mercury and other toxic metals like aluminum and lead. For humans, eating whole, organic and even biodynamic food has become imperative to avoid heavy metals. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also true for canines. A species-appropriate raw diet including veggies is often recommended. And any raw meaty bones should be the joints and not the long bones unless purchased from a company that tests for heavy metals. Here are some preventive and remedial steps.

candida as it can release 60-plus toxic substances, including ethanols and the heavy metals it eats. Eliminate all carbs, sugar and grains from the dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diet.

Heal leaky gut first. Like humans, pets with leaky gut

will have food allergies. Remove causes like vaccines and processed foods; support the liver; rebalance with prebiotics, probiotics and digestive enzymes; replenish with a healthy whole foods diet, along with aloe, slippery elm and marshmallow root; and restore with homeopathic remedies. Follow up with fermented veggies as part of the diet. Consult a naturopathic veterinarian for treatment.

Mountain spring water is ideal.

Boost nutrients. Nutrient deficiencies

that can arise in conjunction with mercury poisoning include antioxidant vitamins A, C, E and vitamin D, plus the complex of B vitamins, zinc, magnesium and selenium. These also help treat potential post-vaccination immunity issues.

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2 3

Provide clean, filtered water.

Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock.com

Greens, minerals and herbs. The use of juvenile

grasses is detoxifying and provides necessary magnesium during a detox. Sea vegetables can supply calcium, iodine and trace minerals. Herbs like curcumin, ginger and cayenne are potent antioxidants; ginger and turmeric help with DNA repair. Nutrients from green leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli can enter cells and reduce inflammation; broccoli sprouts also apply, with the most effective delivery method via a concentrated powder. Blend or lightly steam veggies to enhance digestion, then add one tablespoon for smaller dogs, or three to four for larger dogs.

6 7

No fake food or vitamins. Be wary of synthetic

vitamins. Whole foods may be properly supplemented with gentle chelators like open cell wall chlorella and super foods like spirulina.

Probiotics plus. Probiotics help restore healthy gut bacteria, repair genes, synthesize nutrients and help remove mercury from the body. Cultivating a gut garden of beneficial bugs boosts health. Add a teaspoon or two of kefir or fermented veggies to the dinner of small dogs, up to a tablespoon or two for larger animals. A high-quality refrigerated probiotic supplement is an option; if it’s made for animals, follow the package directions; for human products, assume the dose is for a 150-pound person and adjust for the dog’s weight. Amino acids, the primary building blocks of proteins, are integral to detoxification; feeding a dog a variety of meats, along with fish and eggs, will provide these. Digestive enzymes also support health; a supplement should include many kinds. Cellulase, a plant enzyme that helps digest plant material, also extracts mercury, which destroys naturally occurring enzymes.

Plan meals with prebiotics. Prebiotics occur naturally in common high-fiber foods including cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and spinach. Carrots, beets and spirulina also benefit the gut. Establishing a healthy gut restores the body’s natural detoxification function, plus its ability to assimilate critical nutrients. Add a teaspoon or two for small dogs; one to three tablespoons for larger dogs.

Raw food for detox. Discard commercially processed

foods and chemical synthetic vitamins. Go for raw and whole foods, add fermented foods and supplement intelligently with whole food-based supplements. Organic sources, grass-fed animals and even biodynamic food sources are ideal.

Organ meats. A dog should have organ meats from clean animals at least once a week or as 10 percent of its diet.

As the body detoxifies, symptoms and discharges may occur. These are less common for dogs with raw, speciesappropriate diets and minimal vaccinations. Visible results include old dogs displaying more energy and sharper cognitive function and awareness. Eyes are clearer. Fatty tissues shrink

down, coats fill out and become shinier and skin becomes healthier. As the largest organ, skin reflects the state of the immune system as a whole. A concentrated detox to overturn health issues relies on doctor protocols and individualized treatment. An everyday gentle detox generally keeps pets healthier. Patricia Jordan is a naturopathic veterinarian in Cape Carteret, NC. Learn more at Dr-Jordan.com.

Doggie Detox Tips

e aware that glyphosate in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide is prevalent in nonorganic foods, widely used as a weed killer and to dry crops before harvesting. This hidden poison, in the presence of ingested mercury, makes both the glyphosate and mercury 1,000 times more toxic. Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Dr. Stephani Seneff, author of the article “The Destructive Effects of Heavy Metals and Glyphosate,” reports that glyphosate is a major driver of disease. The toxin stays in a pet’s bones, as well as the bones of the food-producing animals eating genetically modified (GMO) grains that dogs chew on. 4 Avoid the chemicals and toxins commonly found in many lawn care supplies, household cleaners and body care products. Grow food or patronize a best practices local farmer. 4 Be diligent in sourcing for clean, unprocessed food. Learn about biodynamic farming and step up from organic to biodynamic. 4 Don’t hamper the immune system with unsafe and unnecessary vaccinations and drugs. 4 Spend time in the sunshine. 4 Exercise. The lymphatic system won’t work and the body can’t purge spent mitochondria or make new ones without it. 4 Incorporate beneficial bugs through prebiotics and probiotics and enzymes. Learn to ferment and sprout, and add these ingredients to family and pet meals. natural awakenings

July 2017

How to Deal with Toxic People By: Ashley Carter Youngblood, LLMSW, LLMFT, CADC

e all have that (at least!) one person in our life that we just don’t know what to do with. We try to be civil, logical, and empathetic but we continue to be overwhelmed by the drama. We’re exhausted and confused. So, for all you who say to yourselves “I feel like I’m going crazy,” this is the article for you. Understanding the Drama—When dealing with a toxic person, it is important to remember the adage that “Hurt people hurt people.” When people are creating unhealthy dynamics it is more of a reflection of their issues than of ours. Don’t fall for the belief that everything is your fault, as the other person would have you believe. And, don’t fool yourself in thinking “I can change them,” either. A helpful way to understand the drama is by recognizing that the point of a toxic relationship is to manipulate and keep others pulled into that drama. Often this can include the offending individual pulling in a third party 34

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to make the drama bigger and in order to have someone validate how they are the one who is “right.” However, when we deal with toxic relationships, we are not dealing with logic about what is “right” versus “wrong.” By design, the rules of the game with a toxic relationship don’t make sense. And, they will never make sense, no matter how hard we try. So, there’s no use wasting time on it. Because we can’t make sense of the drama created in toxic relationships, the key is to know how to handle ourselves. Remember, there cannot be an offending party without someone to offend and vice versa. Roles in a toxic relationship are co-created and feed off each other. So, this leaves us with three key rules to handling the drama. How to Handle the Drama 1) Don’t participate! – Since the roles in a toxic relationship are co-created, if you refuse to participate, the drama will eventually be directed to some-

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one else. Even when you want to retaliate, observe that gut response but remind yourself to not participate. Keep in mind that we are talking about roles. The toxic person is not your typical person. Instead of becoming exhausted by the drama, they feed off it. They thrive on their ability to exhaust others with the drama. And, with each re-engagement we initiate, we give them the opportunity to keep the drama going. I cannot stress this too much here – not participating is our only option to say sane. To channel the energy in a constructive way, consider using the tendency to have one last say as a practice of finding peace within yourself, regardless of external outcomes. As Ritu Ghatourey reflects, “Be selective in your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right.” 2) Make your self-care a priority – The only way we can have the inner peace for non-action and the strength when action is needed is to care for ourselves. The toxic person will drain us for all we have. So, take the extra and constant steps required to keep your battery charged. Get good sleep. Eat well. Maintain your exercise routine. Meditate. Do whatever it takes. Prioritize your emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. 3) Emphasize boundaries – Sometimes the toxic person is someone we can easily avoid. Unfortunately, sometimes they are harder to avoid, like a co-worker or parent. The beauty of boundaries is that they give us back the power to better manage the rules of the game. Since the toxic person lives in their own world, they do not have a set of rules that will make sense to us. So, we need to make our own. For example, maybe you don’t call the individual right back after they leave a nasty message on your phone. Maybe you don’t call them back at all. Maybe you inform them that you will no longer be answering their emails outside of business hours. Maybe you block them on social media so that you are not triggered by their drama. Maybe you choose to speak to them only when you are well-rested and of sound mind. Explore the ways to take back some peace in your life.

Closing Thoughts—As a therapist, I hear a lot of things. But, there is something a client once said that I will never forget. Reflecting on the drama present in their life, they remarked “You can’t argue with crazy.” As harsh as this may sound, we need to acknowledge the truth of this statement. Because hurt people hurt people, we have to remind ourselves that healing the hurts of others is not our battle to fight. We are only responsible for improving our own relationships. Such toxic interactions can serve as a reminder about the value of our well-being. Such toxic people may have a mental illness that merits mental health treatment. Other times, such behaviors are ingrained ways of dealing with people based on abusive tendencies. There is a thin line between dysfunction and abusive behavior. So, if you are truly a victim of an abusive relationship, there is help out there. Seek support and contact a local shelter for more information. The average toxic person is not fun to deal with. But, if there are abusive dynamics in an intimate relationship, risks need to be taken into consideration before acting in order to insure safety.

20 1 7 ME M B E R S H I P F E E :

2018 MEMBERSHIP FEE:

Ashley Carter Youngblood is both a limited licensed clinical social worker and marriage and family therapist who practices at Meaningful Connections Counseling in Kalamazoo. Her specialties include a holistic approach to women’s issues, anxiety/trauma, mindfulness, and couples counseling. Find out much more about her at her website, Kalamazoo-counseling.com

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July 2017

bookreview

Beyond The Fur by Tammy Billups Review by Paul Chen

iz was at her wit’s end. The next stop for Miso, her beloved cat who would not stop urinating every day, everywhere, was the animal shelter. Liz was not familiar with, and was very skeptical of, energetic healing. But after exhausting all the traditional routes, there was nothing left to lose. Liz and Miso’s story is just one of the many cases that author and bioenergetic healer Tammy Billups relates in her book Beyond the Fur. Whether the issue is one of behavior or health, Billups has seen and treated it all in thousands of cases in more than a decade of therapy work with people and their pets. After that first visit with Billups, Miso never urinated outside of the litter box again. The healing specialist figured out that Miso was responding to Liz’s deep-seated anger that she was projecting upon him as a function of her severe unhappiness at work. Thus, not only did Miso’s insufferable behavior disappear, but Liz started addressing her issues in more positive ways as well. Beyond The Fur explores commonly accepted propositions – such as that pets have emotions, that physical issues are often a manifestation of emotional issues, that people have childhood wounds that need to be healed, and that others are in our lives for a reason – and moves beyond each of them: Pets not only have emotions, but they also

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mirror their owners’ emotions; they reflect what owners like and don’t like about themselves. People aren’t the only ones that carry core wounds that need healing, animals do, too. And there is a reason that specific animals and specific humans are in each other’s lives; there is a mutual calling between creatures with the same core wounds. Billups contends that what makes healing possible, if not probable, is that there are predictable behaviors associated with each of the five core wounds of abandonment, betrayal, terror, invasiveness and being detached from oneself. For example, Billups says that “the scared ones,” the animals who have the wound of terror, will usually avoid direct eye contact and “will frequently be loners when it comes to interaction with other animals in a house environment or rescue center.” Physically, they will have thin, weak-looking bodies. She counsels owners of these pets not to pull them out of their safe spaces to face their fears, but to be patient and steady to allow the animals need to come out all on their own. Because of the people-pet connection, Billups offers the observation that “working on your own inner healing is actually one of the fastest ways – if not the fastest way – to help your animals

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Tammy Billups

heal and suffer less,” just as Liz helped Miso by acknowledging her anger at her boss, and exorcised it in a manner other than projecting it onto her cat. Beyond The Fur’s ultimate message is one of greater spiritual consciousness and personal evolution: By recognizing that our beloved pets are in our lives because we call to them, and vice versa, we can expedite our own growth, as well as that of our pets. For more information about Beyond the Fur or Tammy Billups, visit SundanceHealing.com Book Review of Beyond The Fur, by Tammy Billups, review by Paul Chen.

he book is written by a bioenergetic healer and discusses the keys to understanding your animals’ behaviors and physical issues. Beyond that, the author explores how deep the connection is between humans and their animal companions.

authorprofile

Sudden Awakening Changes Everything By Lucretia Robison

rior to 1999, Tammy Billups had what many would describe as the American dream. She was top biller and senior partner in a national recruiting firm. But a few months after turning 40, grief would repeatedly bring her to her knees. Her mother’s death prompted her to question everything she believed, and her mind began to open to new truths about what happens after death. At the time, she shared her home with three cats. A few weeks after her mother’s burial, her beloved calico cat, Khalua, died of cancer. The day after Khalua’s death, Billups says she could suddenly see and feel energy all around her, in and around everything, including departed souls. Billups refers to her experience as a “rude awakening.” Like having a mask ripped off, she says she could see layers of soul as clearly as most see flesh. Simultaneously, repressed memories of a terrifying and abusive childhood emerged; memories of the abuse that she and many animals suffered at the hands of men, and her mother’s role in it. “Most people that have a spiritual awakening do it slowly, and they have help. It happened so suddenly for me,”

says Billups. “It was frightening. I didn’t know what to do with it.” Not long after, her other two cats, Vasi and Bailey, died. Through it all, she felt lost and broken. She turned to the Roswell Center for Integrative Therapy for assistance, and found psychotherapist and energy practitioner, Susan Martin. After one session of therapy, Billups felt significantly better. She left the session knowing she wanted to help others feel the way she felt in that moment. “I wanted people to know less suffering, to feel more love in life,” says Billups. “I wanted them to know the feeling of being connected to pure, divine love.” Billups continued receiving therapy and began her course of study in interface therapy, a form of subtle energy healing, and bioenergetic therapy, a modality that acknowledges pain and stress anchor in the body due to psychological stress or trauma. Billups began as a practitioner for humans. After one year of practice, she wondered if animals could be treated the same way. She practiced on her animals and those of her friends. She found that, not only can she treat animals with bioenergetic healing, but they also respond faster.

“Animals are not attached to things. They don’t question the process. They aren’t questioning the validity of the work,” says Billups. “They simply relax and allow it to happen. It works beautifully. The energy field of a fourlegged is just as complex as that of a two-legged.” Billups believes that man and animal are a gifts to each other, and that allowing a connection with animals helps both the human and the animal to evolve and to heal. “Man and animal are one. They are our mirrors,” says Billups, who now lives with two cats, Sundance and MaiTai. “Animals are potentially our greatest teachers. I wouldn’t know unconditional love without them.” Billups is a certified interface therapist, founder and operator of Roswell, Ga.’s Sundance Healing Center, LLC, author of Beyond the Fur, editorial board member and columnist for the Conscious Life Journal. For more information about Tammy Billups, visit SundanceHealing.com. Atlanta-based Lucretia Robison has been a bodyworker for 20 years, and a licensed massage therapist since 2003.

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July 2017

Your Journey Towards Wellness Begins Here

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Healing Body and Spirit Expo Holistic Fair 2017 DeltaPlex ~ Hillside Hall 2500 Turner Drive Grand Rapids, MI 49544

Saturday October 14th 10 – 7pm Sunday October 15th 10 – 6pm Daily Passes $10.00 Weekend Pass $17.00 Children 12 & under free Experienced mediums from across the US & Canada, tarot, astrology, aura photos, pet communicator, body & light workers, healers, palmistry, spirit artists, stones, jewelry, crystals, numerology, angel readings, drums, flutes, salt lamps, holistic products & more!!! Free Seminars and Lectures daily included in admission, free giveaways hourly

Keynote Speaker: Travis Sanders ~ an accomplished clairvoyant medium, author & teacher for over a decade. His work most notably featured on “A&E’s Clairvoyant Kids: Children of the Paranormal” hosted by Chip Coffey. Travis will be speaking both days of the expo… Presented By: Beverly & John Stephan “Mystical Art Readings” www.beverlystephan.com More Info call 269-329-7476

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July 2017

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calendarofevents

$ave Time & Energy! Please call in advance to ensure that the event you’re interested in is still available.

ALL MONTH LONG

BVI School of Ayurveda Accepting Applications: Ayurvedic Consultant Certificate Program. Webinar and On-Site Courses, one weekend a month. State Licensed. NAMA Member. The Sambodh Society, Inc. 6363 N. 24th St., Kalamazoo. Info and Catalog: AyurvedaMichigan.org or 269-381-4946. Complementary Consultation – A consultation is a conversation, not an examination and certainly not a high-pressure sales pitch. After all, we aren’t the right office for everyone, so doesn’t it make sense to discover that before you begin a relationship with our practice? Brain and Body Chiropractic, 833 E 16th St, Ste 175, Holland. Info & Appointments: 616-202-6368. New Client Gift – New Consultation Clients get a Free welcome gift. Schedule a consultation with Dr. LeAnn Fritz, ND and you’re entitled to this welcome bag of products to get you started, absolutely FREE! Mention this ad to receive your gift. New Hope Health, 4317 W U Ave, Schoolcraft. Info: 269-204-6525. Energizing Detox – Stop in to Vital Nutrition today and discover how detoxification can transform your life. Energy follows purification. Health = Prosperity Open Mon-Fri 9:30 am-7:30 pm Sat 10-5 closed Sunday. Vital Nutrition, 169 Marcell Dr NE, Rockford. Info: chatterbocks1963@gmail. com or 616-433-9333. Total Control classes – Improve your core, posture and bladder control with Total Control, a unique, medically based pelvic health program for women of all ages and fitness levels. The class focuses on core and pelvic floor strength and awareness and includes education on pelvic and bladder health. New classes begin in early August: 6 p.m. Mondays, Aug. 7-Sept. 18; 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 9-Sept. 20; 10 a.m. Thursdays, Aug. 10-Sept. 21. $49 for seven-week class; scholarships available. Mercy Health Bladder Clinic, Lakes Village, 6401 Prairie St, Norton Shores. Info and to Register: Call 231727-7944 or millermarla76@gmail.com.

SUNDAY JULY 9

Eckankar – 10-11am. “Service to All Life,” is the theme for the ECK Light and Sound Service, the second Sunday each month. Free. Dominican Center at Marywood, Room 4, 2025 E Fulton, Grand Rapids. Info: www.ECK-MI.org, 756debokeefe@ gmail.com, 269-370-7170. Ancestral Clearing/Emotional Release Class – 1-4 pm. Learn how to identify and release limiting beliefs and patterns , including ancestral “baggage claim”, so you can live life of freedom, fulfillment and happiness! Essential oils are incorporated for MOST powerful release. Grand Rapids. Must

Visit NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. All Calendar events must be submitted online by the 15th of the month prior to publication.

RSVP by July 5 by calling Ilka at 616-259-7509. For more info go to IlkasHealthyHeaven.com.

MONDAY JULY 10

Reiki Share6 – 6-8pm. Come check out what Reiki is all about, and have a mini session done. Open to those that know Reiki and those that don’t. Donations welcome. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids. Info and to register 616-443-4225.

TUESDAY JULY 11

Nourishing the Lakeshore – 7pm. Meetings the second Tuesday of each month. Open to the Public! Formed to provide education on the health enriching benefits of traditional diets, to increase access to clean, nutrient dense foods, and to teach traditional preparation and storage methods. Nourishing the Lakeshore of West Michigan is a chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation serving Ottawa, Muskegon, and Oceana counties. The main purpose is to act as a resource for local, clean, nutrient dense food. We also provide informational meetings on health related topics, often those which are politically incorrect. Nourishing the Lakeshore respects that everyone is at a different point on the path to better eating. Our goal is to educate and enrich the wellness of our community. Location: The Century Club on Western Ave, Muskegon. Info:Meetup. com/Nourishing-the-Lakeshore-of-West-MichiganWeston-A-Price

Wholistic Health & Mastering Subtle Energies Meet-up Group – 9am-12pm. Pam Kammermeier will be leading great discussions on: Emotional Intelligence, Conscious Nutrition, law of attraction, and two topics to be announced nearer the date. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr NE, Grand Rapids. Info: Sign up online through Meet-Up. Kids Yoga - A Hike Through the Woods – 1-2pm. Kids will use their imaginations as they grab their back packs and hiking sticks and go on a hike. As we see wildlife and flowers we will mimic each one. We will become flowers, frogs, snakes and rocks! What a great time for kids! $10. Blue Horizons Wellness, 1991 Lakeshore Drive, Muskegon. Info and Signup: BlueHorizonsWellness.com, 231-755-7771

SUNDAY JULY 16

Reiki I & II class – 9am-5pm - Introduction to Reiki, become attuned to the universal energy, learn how to give treatment to self and others and meet your Reiki guide. Class fee is $250. The fee includes a $50 deposit due at registration. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr NE, Grand Rapids. Info: Call to register by July 9th 616-443-4225. Community Yoga – 9am. Come join us for Give Back Sunday Yoga. This is an all level yoga class with proceeds going to the Charity of the Month. $5. Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio, 208 W 18th St, Holland. Info: 616-392-7580

TUESDAY JULY 18

THURSDAY JULY 13

Building A Better YOU: Natural Solutions To Digestive Issues – 6:30-8pm. Join Dr. Steven Osterhout DC, CCN for the Summer Health Solutions Series. At this presentation, Dr. Osterhout will offer insight and natural solutions to the many digestive issues that are encountered daily. Learn how to identify the underlying causes of your digestive issues, instead of just covering them up through tools like food sensitivity testing, taking the proper supplements, detoxifying your body and much more! Free. Vitality Healthcare. Event location: Portage District Library, 300 Library Ln, Portage. Info: Katelyn Bekken 269-323-4473, kbekken@vitalityhc.net

FRIDAY JULY 14

SATURDAY JULY 15

Introduction to the Akashic Records – 7-9pm. The Akashic Record is the energetic recording of every soul’s journey on this earth.You are invited to learn more, and to experience the energy of the Akashic Records as Specialist Grace Lindsay leads you through a guided meditation with the group’s Akashic Records open. Love offering. Unity of Grand Rapids, 1711 Walker Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. Info: unitygroffice@gmail.com, 616-453-9909.

Essential Oil Workshop – 6-8pm. Learn and understand the basics of essential oils and how to use them and learn how to make your own blend and how to make a foot scrub with oils. Workshop fee $25. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids. Info and to register: 616-443-4225. Ask The Experts Panel: Hormone Balancing – 6:30-7:30pm. Join GRNH’s team of Naturopathic and Integrative Doctors, featuring Stephen Durell, Acupuncturist, and Lauren Ramey, Holistic Esthetician, for a FREE panel discussion and learn how a holistic, functional approach to hormone balancing could help relieve your symptoms. Free. Grand Rapids Natural Health, 638 Fulton St. W Suite B, Grand Rapids. Info & RSVP: Call 616-264-6556, Space is limited to 30 participants.

natural awakenings

July 2017

MomsBloom Volunteer Training – 6:30pm. You can help a family, build community, hold a baby, and support a mother! MomsBloom volunteers help a family after a baby is born. Our volunteers visit a family once a week for a few hours to provide hands-on support and an emotional boost during this difficult transition time. We help families get off to a strong start--feeling more of the joy and less of the stress! This is a flexible volunteer experience and can be tailored to fit into your schedule. Free. BRAINS, 3292 N. Evergreen NE, Grand Rapids. Please call or email to register for our free training: 616-828-1021 or angie@momsbloom.org

THURSDAY JULY 20

Wisdom Circle with the Mahavidyas – 7-8:30pm. The Tantric Wisdom Goddesses--known as the Mahavidyas--will be the subject of a 10 month women’s circle with meetings on the third Thursday January-October of 2017. Each Goddess will be explored as she relates to the stages of a woman’s life. Pre-registration by 1/15 for the series, which will include a book. $15 drop in/$100 for 10 month series. On The Path Yoga, 701 E. Savidge #3 Spring Lake. Info: at OnThePathYoga.com or sandy@ OnThePathYoga.com, 616-935-7028.

SATURDAY JULY 22

Rest, Relax & Restore – 3-4:30pm. Enjoy this restorative class at Blue Horizons Wellness where you will be guided through supported poses that will release muscles and relax your body and mind. Energy practices will be given throughout the class. Come let go of tension, rejuvenate and leave with restored energy! 231-755-7771 $18 Early Bird, $20 at the door. Blue Horizons Wellness, 1991 Lakeshore Drive, Muskegon. Info and sign-up BlueHorizonsWellness.com

TUESDAY JULY 25

Family Support Group – 7-8pm. 4th Tuesday of every month. For family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals with mental illness. Free. Momentum Center, 714 Columbus, Grand Haven. Info: Tom Dooley tfdooley@gmail.com, 616-5022078, Barbara Lee Barbara@extendedgrace.org

The Simple ABC Naturopathic Steps to Wellness –10am-12pm. Learn the ABC’s of Herbal Medicine including when & how to Activate, Build, and Cleanse with herbs, essential oils, and therapies. $15 per person/$20 for two. The Remedy House 5150 Northland Dr NE, Grand Rapids. Info & Register: Call 616-443-4225.

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West Michigan Edition

Building A Better YOU: Natural Solutions To Autoimmunity – 6:30-8pm. Please join Dr. Steven Osterhout DC, CCN for the Building A Better You: Summer Health Solutions Series. At this presentation, Dr. Osterhout will offer insight on natural solutions to autoimmunity. Learn about natural solutions to blood sugar issues, skin issues, mood issues, lack of energy and much more! Free. Vitality Healthcare. Event Location: Portage District Library, 300 Library Ln, Portage. Info: Katelyn Bekken, kbekken@ vitalityhc.net, 269-323-4473.

savethedate August 15 Mindful Movement – 6-8pm. Panel Discussion with Cari Draft, Sandy Parker, Laura Shue Terveen, Linda Squires, Chrystal Frazee. An Inspired Life event at On The Path Yoga, 701 E Savidge St Suite #3, Spring Lake. Info: 616935-7028, OnThePathYoga.com.

savethedate August 14, 21, 28 Inspire – Summer series. 6pm. Monday nights in August. August 14 Bipolar and Depression; August 21 Schizophrenia; August 28 Panic and Anxiety Disorders. Extended Grace at the Momentum Center, 714 Columbus, Grand Haven. Info: 616-502-2078, Barbara Lee Barbara@extendedgrace.org

savethedate Grand Rapids VegFest (Plant Based Roots) – 10:30am-5:00pm. Learn about a plant-based diet and lifestyle through delicious food, educational lectures, cooking demonstrations, many local vendors and organizations, plus, children’s activities. Grand Rapids VegFest. Location: DeltaPlex Arena, 2500 Turner Avenue NW, Grand Rapids. Info: GRVegFest. com, droxine_stratos@yahoo.com

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Must be submitted online each month at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Events priced $80 or more require a corresponding display ad. There is a $40 charge per listing, up to 50 words. Current advertisers, distribution sites or nonprofits, use this listing in place of your two free listings.

August 10

September 17

SATURDAY JULY 29

Save The Date Events

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October 14 & 15 Body Mind & Spirit Expo – 1st Annual Holistic Expo, Grand Rapids DeltaPlex, professional mediums, intuitive’s, healers & more gathered under one roof. Free lectures, speakers & prizes included w/ admission $10 daily, 12 & under free. Info: HealingBodyandSpirit.com

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classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per month. To place listing, email content to Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline is the 15th of the month. VOLUNTEERS Volunteer Instructors - Mental illness is a community issue and it requires a community solution. The Momentum Center for Social Engagement offers social and recreational activities for people with mental illness, addictions and disabilities. We are seeking people willing to share their skill, hobby, vocation, or interest with our members once a month or as often as available. We welcome yoga, tai chi, exercise, dance, self-defense, cooking, sewing, and so much more. Extended Grace, 714 Columbus, Grand Haven. Info: Call Jenna, if you want to be part of the solution, at 616-414-9111 or email office@ extendedgrace.org

FOR RENT/LEASE Space for Rent at the Remedy House – Small Consultation room available 5 days a week (Any day except Tuesdays) - ideal for Naturopaths, Doulas, and Holistic counselors. 9 X 8 room with one Naturopath using it once a week currently. Massage Room available also - Full day on Mondays and shared on Tuesdays. It is an nice large room 10 X 14 and is a shared space with another massage therapist and a naturopath. Info: Jodi Jenks, N.D., The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids. Call 616-443-4225.

ongoingevents Note: Visit NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Events must be re-submitted each month by the 15th of the month. Events subject to change, please call ahead.

Sunday

Tuesday

Outdoor Tai Chi with Tom Ter Haar – 6pm at beautiful Jonkers Gardens starting June 4th through August 27th. Donations will be accepted. Location: 897 Lincoln Ave, Holland. Info: Please call Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio at 616-392-7580.

Tibetan Buddhist Meditation/Study Group – 7:15-8:15pm. Tibetan Buddhist meditation/study group. All welcome. Free. Western Michigan Jewel Heart, 1919 Stearns Ave, Kalamazoo. Info: 734368-8701,www.jewelheart.org

Meditation – 10-11am. Every Sunday we gather to meditate, chant & explore the wisdom of the Hindu/ Yoga tradition as taught by Paramhansa Yogananda. Free will offering. Self-Realization Fellowship. Location: Marywood Center 2025 Fulton, Grand Rapids. Info: Go to GRSRF.org, 616-451-8041, grandrapids.srf@gmail.com

Serenity Yoga – 4pm. With Elisa Hopper. We would like you to enjoy yoga no matter the cost. Donate $1, or donate $20 if you can. Blue Horizon Wellness, 1991 Lakeshore Drive, Muskegon. Info: info@ BlueHorizonsWellness.com, 231-755-7771.

Sunday Worship and Youth Services – 10:30am. A warm, inviting, New Thought, spiritual community, inclusive and accepting of all, honoring diversity, for those seeking spiritual truth. Unity of Grand Rapids, 1711 Walker Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. Info: UnityGRoffice@gmail.com or 616-453-9909 Hot Yoga – 5-6:15pm. Sweat with this active, energetic, athletic style of yoga with traditional poses in a hot room. Not recommended for people with heart or lung conditions or those not engaged in regular exercise. $12 drop-in. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr, Allendale. Info:HeartsJourneyWellness.com. or info@ HeartsJourneyWellness.com. Spirit Space Sunday Worship – 10:30am. An interfaith, non-denominational gathering place for worship and spiritual enrichment. Join for inspiring messages called Reasoning’s. Spirit Space, 3493 Blue Star Hwy, Saugatuck. Info: 616-836-1555 or Spirit-Space.org. Sunday Series – 6pm. Explore spirituality, universal truths, self-mastery and balanced, positive, loving and joyful living with The Coptic Center and their ongoing offering of enlightening ministers, teachers and guest presenters. Love offering. 0-381 Lake Michigan Dr, Grand Rapids. Info: TheCopticCenter.org Sunday Worship and Youth Services – 10:30am. A warm, inviting, New Thought, spiritual community, inclusive and accepting of all, honoring diversity, for those seeking spiritual truth. Free. Unity, 1711 Walker Avenue NW, Grand Rapids. Info: UnityGRoffice@gmail.com, 616-453-9909.

Monday A practice of A Course in Miracles – 7-8:30pm. Learn miracle-mindedness. Got joy? This is how to have it. Hint: You already do. All are welcome. Free. Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids. 616-458-5095.

Meditation Class – 6:30-7:30pm. Learn a variety of meditation techniques in this drop-in class. We will take turns teaching a different technique each week and provide practice time afterward. Come when you can, as each class is independent. No experience necessary. Love offering. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr SE, Ada. Info: Contact the office at 616-682-7812 or office@unitycsg.org for more details. A Course in Miracles – 6:30 - 8:00pm. A Course in Miracles is a complete self-study spiritual thought system. It teaches that the way to universal peace is by undoing guilt through forgiving others. The Course focuses on the healing of relationships and making them holy. It expresses a non-sectarian, non-denominational spirituality. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr SE, Ada. Info: Unitycsg.org, 616-681-7812. Gentle Hatha Yoga – 7:45-9am & 9:15-10:30am. With Mitch Coleman. Drop-ins welcome. White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St, Montague. Info: 231-740-6662 or WhiteRiverYoga.com.

Wednesday The Law of Attraction Speaking Club – 6:308pm. Looking to Charter as a Toastmaster Club. Do you want to become a confident public speaker and strong leader? We provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth environment that allows you to achieve your goals at your own pace. Toastmaster Dues. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr SE, Ada. Info: office@unitycsg.org, 616682-7812. Yoga for Veterans, Active Duty, Fire and Police – 5:30-7pm. Yoga with Elisa Hopper followed by a guided relaxation/iRest Yoga Nidra practice. First class free and then by donation. Blue Horizons Wellness, 1991 Lakeshore Drive, Muskegon. Info: BlueHorizonsWellness.com or 231-755-7771.

through forgiving others. The Course focuses on the healing of relationships and making them holy. It expresses a non-sectarian, non-denominational spirituality. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr SE, Ada. Info: Unitycsg.org. 616-682-7812. $20 off BioMeridian Assessments – Food allergies, environmental allergies, organ function and real food menus and shopping lists for families that are healthy and kid-approved. Grand Rapids. 616365-9176. IntegrativeNutritionalTherapies.com. Meditation – 6-7pm. Join together for meditation that begins and ends with live, native flute music. Attend the full hour or any portion of the meeting. Spirit Space, 3493 Blue Star Hwy, Saugatuck. Info: 616-836-1555 or Spirit-Space.org.

Thursday Meditation Class – 6:30-7:30pm. Learn a variety of meditation techniques in this drop-in class. We will take turns teaching a different technique each week and provide practice time afterward. Come when you can, as each class is independent. No experience necessary. Thursday Nights for one hour. Love offering. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth6025 Ada Dr SE, Ada. Info:Contact the office at 616-682-7812 or office@unitycsg.org.

Saturday Outdoor Yoga Saturdays – 8-9am. July8 - Aug 12 at beautiful Kollen Park on Lake Macatawa. $5, proceeds go to Holland Recreation. Info: Call Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio 616-392-7580. Beginning Yoga – 8:30-9:45am. This class will introduce you to basic postures, breathing techniques, and mindfulness with an emphasis on building body awareness. Gentle yet relaxing in nature, you will leave feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and having a greater sense of health and wellbeing. $12 drop-in. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr, Allendale. Info: visit us at HeartsJourneyWellness.com or info@ HeartsJourneyWellness.com Hot Yoga – 10:15-11:30am. Sweat with this active, energetic, athletic style of yoga with traditional poses in a hot room. Not recommended for people with heart or lung conditions or those not engaged in regular exercise. $12 drop-in. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr, Allendale. Info:HeartsJourneyWellness.com. or info@ HeartsJourneyWellness.com. Gentle Hatha Yoga – 9:15-10:15am & 11-12:15am. With Mitch Coleman. Drop-ins welcome. White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St, Montague. 231740-6662. Info: WhiteRiverYoga.com. Sweetwater Local Foods Market – 9am-1pm. A double-up bucks and bridge card market. Hackley Health at the Lakes building on Harvey St. Located inside during inclement weather. Muskegon. 231861-2234.

A Course in Miracles – 9:30-11am. A complete self-study spiritual thought system. It teaches that the way to universal peace is by undoing guilt

natural awakenings

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thenaturaldirectory

TRICIA E. GOSLING

Holistic Energy Therapies 616-481-9074 HolisticEnergyTherapies.net

...connecting you to the leaders in natural health and green living in West Michigan. To find out how you can be included in The Natural Directory, log-on to NaturalWestMichigan.com/advertising.

ACUPUNCTURE GRAND WELLNESS

Vikki Nestico, R.Ac. Located at Renewal Skin Spa 6080 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids 616-940-1177 • GrandWellness.net Grand Wellness uses the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine to provide holistic healing and natural pain relief. Call to schedule a free consultation to discuss how acupuncture may be an effective treatment for you. See ad, page 25.

ASTROLOGY KAREN S. KLEMP MA.

Astrology/Numerology 220 Savidge, Spring Lake 616-916-0121 KlempK@yahoo.com KAREN220.com Over 20 year ’s experience. Readings available in her office, by skype or by phone. Also available for lectures at solstice gatherings. Make an appointment by phone, on the website or stop in and visit Thurs through Sat 11am–5pm.

BODYWORK BLACK TORTOISE QIGONG, LLC

Sally Austin 233 Fulton E, Suite 114B Grand Rapids 616-293-5768 – BlackTortoiseQigong.com BlackTortoiseQigong@gmail.com A practice of gentle dynamic movements that can be done lying, sitting or standing, built for you to use daily and promote your health and well-being. Promotes empowerment, wellness, spirit connection, awareness, confidence.

BUILDING/CONSTRUCTION WOOD & SAW

Andrew Gielczyk Licensed Builder 616-834-2480 • WoodAndSaw.com Wood & Saw is focused on creating a sustainable high quality of life for our clients. Building simple, costeffective, energy-efficient, toxic-free homes and remodels that achieve the healthiest possible indoor air quality. See ad, page 38.

Offering an advanced clientcentered dimension of colonics since 1996: gentle, safe and effective. Eliminate toxins and enhance well-being. Also offering Quantum Biofeedback sessions. I-ACT certified Instructor.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Ronda VanderWall 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville 616-531-6050 • DynamicChiro.com

Family owned and operated in the heart of downtown Grandville, Dynamic Family Chiropractic focuses on lifestyle improvements through living a maximized life. A safe and natural approach to health through the combination of exercise, nutrition, detoxification and chiropractic care.

THE GLEASON CENTER

Dr. Dan Gleason 19084 North Fruitport Road Spring Lake, MI 49456 TheGleasonCenter.com 616-846-5410 An alternative, holistic approach combining chiropractic and kinesiology as well as the latest in metabolic and hormone testing. Using a variety of techniques, we work with our patients to determine the scope and duration of care that’s right for each individual.

COFFEE SHOP / FAIR TRADE JUST GOODS GIFTS AND CAFE’ 714 Columbus, Grand Haven 616-414-9111 justgoods@extendedgrace.org www.extendedgrace.org

Just Goods Gifts and Cafe’ is located within the Momentum Center for Social Engagement. Fair trade and social cause merchandise. Local baked goods and beverages. Open 9am to 6pm M-F and 10am to 2pm Sat. A creative space for community integration and the end of stigma. See ad, page 27.

EMF RADIATION PROTECTION PROTXS EMF SHIELDS & H2O DROPS Clara Vanderzouwen clara.vanderzouwen@gmail.com PROTXS.com/?AFMC=22 616-481-8587

PROTXS contains a proprietary blend of natural products that efficiently reflect, absorb and mitigate the harmful biological and technological impacts of invisible RF/EMF/ Wi-Fi radiation. Living Healthy in a Wireless World. “All who touch Protxs will be blessed” Dr. Mike Halliday.

ENERGY HEALING TONYA NICHOLS, RPH

Certified Energy Medicine Practitioner 332 S Lincoln Ave, Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterofLakeview@gmail.com TheHealingCenteroflakeview.com Do you feel like you have no energy? Do you feel disconnected and out of balance? Let Tonya help you find your center again. Combining Emotional Clearing with Full Spectrum Healing, Tonya helps her clients to remove emotional, mental, and energetic blocks that are keeping her clients stuck and preventing them from reaching their full potential for a healthy, happy, and meaningful life. See ad page 25.

ESSENTIAL OILS BE YOUNG ESSENTIAL OILS

Clara VanderZouwen • 616-481-8587 BeYoungth.com/partners/claravz Independent Sharing partner Keto OS (get your Ketones) WinItNow@PruvitNow.com clara.vanderzouwen@gmail.com

COLON HYDROTHERAPY HARMONY ’N HEALTH

Mary De Lange, CCT, LMT 1003 Maryland Ave, N.E., Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 • HarmonyNHealth.net Certified therapist since 1991 offering colon therapy in a sterile and professional environment. Using a holistic approach, colonics relieve constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, poor digestion, back pain, body odor and more. See ad, page 7.

Be Young Essential Oils are exclusive E.O.B.B.D. guaranteed 100% pure & safe for your entire family and pets! Wondering what to use? Just call or email me, I’m here to educate you! Now offering Keto OS. Ketones flowing through your body within 60 minutes!

natural awakenings

July 2017

MOONDROP HERBALS, LLC

Cottage of Natural Elements 351 Cummings, NW Grand Rapids 616-735-1285 • MoondropHerbals.com Your local source for all things natural and botanical. Essential oils, bulk herbs, tea, hand-crafted bath & body products, raw ingredients, containers, local artwork, unique gifts. Practitioner discounts. Space rental and artisan consignment. See ad, page 26.

HEALTH / WELLNESS CENTER THE HEALING CENTER

332 S Lincoln Ave, Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview@gmail.com TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com Naturopathic/Holistic Practitioners and retail health store. Natural health consultations, classes, oils, herbs, homeopathy, hypnosis, foods, candles, crystals, books, CDs, massage, reflexology, emotional clearing, foot detox, DOT/CDL health cards for truck drivers. See ad, page 25.

YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS Marilyn York Independent Distributor 1-877-436-2299, ext. 2 YoungLiving.org/NaturalHealth4u

Become an Independent Distributor. Discover the high potency of therapeutically authentic essential oils from Young Living. Enhance your own health, as well as others who seek holistic wellness options. Free training. See ad, page 31.

HAKOMI THERAPY KEN PORTER CST, CHT 3355 Eagle Park Dr. NE Ste. 107, Grand Rapids 616-262-3848 BodyAndSoulGR.com

Hakomi Therapy can truly change your life. It’s a mindfulnessbased, experiential therapy for transforming the unconscious patterns that keep you from the love, joy, and fulfillment you deserve. Offered with exquisite care and attentiveness.

HEALING SERVICES THE REMEDY HOUSE

Jodi Jenks Natural Health Practitioner, Reiki Master 616-443-4225 TheRemedyHouse.org Certified in bodywork, lymphatic drainage, raindrop therapy, CranioSacral, reflexology, iridology, natural health consultations including a zyto bio-communication scan. Emotional clearing with essential oils and energy work, reiki, Energy Touch. See ad, page 18.

VITALITY HEALTHCARE

Dr. Steven Osterhout 5717 Oakland Drive, Portage 269- 323-4473 - DrOchiro.com Vitality Healthcare offers a cutting-edge approach to medicine. We integrate the best medical approaches with the most advanced natural therapies to address the underlying causes of poor health. We offer: Physical and Functional Medicine / Chiropractic and Massage / Metabolic and Hormone Evaluations / Nutrition and Detoxification / Food Sensitivity and GI Issue Testing / Medical and Natural Weight Loss. Our highly-qualified team of doctors, nutritionists and therapists have extensive training to serve all your healthcare needs.

HUMAN RIGHTS/ SOCIAL JUSTICE EXTENDED GRACE

barbara@extendedgrace.org 616.502.2078 ExtendedGrace.org Extended Grace is a nonprofit grassroots social lab that builds community while solving problems. It does so through: Community Conversations including Inspire! and Deeper Dive events and Town Hall Meetings on Mental Illness; Mudita Gifts; Pilgrim Spirit Tours cultural immersion experiences; Momentum Center for Social Engagement; Just Goods Gifts and Cafe’. See ad, page 27.

LGBTQIA COUNSELING DILSWORTH COUNSELING AND THERAPY SERVICES

Sue Dilsworth, Ph.D, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT Locations in Allendale and Grand Rapids 616-307-1617 Sue@drdilsworth.hush.com HeartsJourneyWellness.com Counseling services tailored to meet the needs of the individual. Through various treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral, Mindfulness and EMDR, individuals will have an opportunity to explore personal challenges in an open, receptive, and supportive environment. Member WPATH. Most insurance accepted including Medicare and Medicaid.

LIFE COACH LIA COACHING AND CONSULTING Pamela Gallina, MA CMC 616-433-6720 PamGallina@LIAConsulting.org LIAConsulting.org

Pam works with highly – motivated individuals as they focus on their complex life agendas and aim for their very best life-work balance. This provides a powerful framework for building more effective relationships while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling personal life. See ad, page 28.

MASSAGE THERAPY DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & MASSAGE THERAPY Jaci Timmermans, MT 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville 616-531-6050 DynamicChiro.com

Offering Swedish massage with integrated techniques, chosen specifically for your unique body. Relieve those tired and sore muscles and rejuvenate. Call for on-going monthly specials and discounts.

HARMONY ‘N HEALTH

Mary De Lange, CCT., LMT. 1003 Maryland Ave. NE, Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 HarmonyNHealth.net Over 24 years of professional experience and trained in a complete range of modalities. Whether you are seeking relaxation, renewal or treatment for a specific condition, Mary will help find an approach that is helpful for you. See ad, page 7.

West Michigan Edition

NaturalWestMichigan.com

MOBILE MASSAGE WORKS Dania Vandermeer, LMT 3234 S. Westnedge Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49008 541-325-1429 MobileMassageWorks.com

Licensed Massage Therapist offering 5 years experience in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Chinese Cupping, Pregnancy and newly trained in Oncology Massage. Personalized Massage experience with stretching homework to provide balance and stress management.

MIDWIFERY FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERY SERVICE, INC.

Patrice Bobier, CPM Hesperia: 231-861-2234 FullCircleMidwifery.com Jennifer Holshoe, CPM Grand Rapids area: 616-318-1825 WestMichiganMidwifery.com In private practice since 1982 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; specializing in home birth and a team approach. Over 1,600 births attended. Offering midwifery care that maintains a family-centered, safe birth experience. Empowering women to stay healthy during pregnancy, give birth naturally and parent in the best ways. Free initial consultations including prenatal check-up.

SALON SERVICES LONDON STUDIOS SALON

Sally Ann Loew, Hair Artist/Educator Organic Colour Speciality 6455 28th St. SE, Suite 1, Grand Rapids 616-299-1796, LondonStudiosSalon.com London Studios Specializes in: Organic Color Systems, Color Corrections, Multidimensional Hair Color, Restorations for Vo l u m e a n d L e n g t h , Organic Keragreen Keratin Treatments, European Cutting Techniques, Natural Hair Extensions, I n t e g r a t i o n , B r i d a l S e r v i c e s , We d d i n g Consultations and other services. See ad, page 20.

AUG

NATURAL JOY LEARNING CENTER Community Outreach Classes Unity of Muskegon 2052 Bourdon St., Muskegon 231-759-7356, NaturalJoyCntr@gmail.com

A new form of education for all ages. Ongoing sessions in four courses, presented for all ages and backgrounds. Grandparents can bring their grandchildren, if the child has a hungry mind. Call or e-mail for a complete catalog of courses.

NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION 503 East Broadway St, Mt. Pleasant 989-773-1714 Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info NaturopathicInstitute.info

Coming Next Month Rethinking Cancer Plus: Reframing Autism

Educational programs offered: Natural Health Program: four years (one weekend a month); Massage Therapy Program: one year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program: six months (one weekend a month). Individual classes available. See ad, page 39.

THERMOGRAPHY

August articles include: Preventing Cancer Natural Solutions to Sleep Apnea Preparing Autistic Children for Adulthood and so much more!

ADVANCED THERMAL IMAGING OF WEST MICHIGAN Julie Bennett 616-724-6368 AdvancedThermalImagingllc.com

Thermography is a safe, tested, painless, and effective procedure providing information for breast cancer risk assessment, breast cancer prevention and early detection, possible hormone imbalance, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, musculoskeletal inflammation, and neurological problems.

SCHOOL / EDUCATION BVI SCHOOL OF AYURVEDA Ruth Small, Ph.D., Director 269-381-4946 Ayurveda@SambodhSociety.us AyurvedaMichigan.org

School of Ayurveda. State licensed. Certificate program for healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses, yoga teachers, wellness educators, massage therapists, holistic health specialists, chiropractors, dieticians and those seeking to learn selfhealth-care. Instructors highly qualified (B.A.M.S.).

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

616-604-0480 natural awakenings

July 2017

A VACATION Unlike ANY

OTHER

1 0 DAY VEGAN C RUI S E

FEB. 15-25, 2018 Our 15th Anniversary 10 Day* Cruise will be the best yet! Join 1800+ like-minded vegans during a vacation that will nourish your body, stimulate your mind and rejuvenate your spirit. Relax on the beach at Martinique; watch batik-making on St. Kitts and Nevis; sip on coconut water in the British Virgin Islands; or snorkel in Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas or St. Maarten. In addition to our stellar lineup of vegan health luminaries, the 2018 cruise will add a focus on the ethical treatment of animals featuring PETA president Ingrid Newkirk. The latest in diet and nutrition science, cooking classes, yoga, exotic ports... there’s something for everyone! Learn more about the classes, cuisine and itinerary at holisticholidayatsea.com.

BOOK BY AUGUST 24TH TO RECEIVE OUR SUMMER SPECIAL RATES

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Featuring Renowned Chefs, Teachers & Healers New York Times BestSelling Author of The Engine 2 Diet; Featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show

Daily Yoga, Meditation, Pilates, Qi Gong, Do-In, Running & Fitness Classes 150+ Lectures & Workshops

RIP ESSELSTYN

Special Panel Focusing on Animal Rights

Author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Plantand Other Books; TEDx Speaker; VegNews’

CME & CEU Credits Available 45+ Teachers 10+ Cooking Classes

JULIEANNA HEVER, MS, RD, CPT Founder of the Physicians Commitee for Responsible Medicine; Author of Food for Life and Power Foods for the Brain

Dancing & Social Events Almost Every Evening Singles’ Social Cancer Support Group & Recovery Panel Snorkel, Kayak, Cultural Tours & Other Excursion Types Available Environmentally-Friendly Award-Winning Ship Private Consultations & Treatments Available

West Michigan Edition

NEAL BARNARD, M.D.

PETA President and Cofounder; Author of Numerous Books; Speaker on Animal Rights; Proﬁled in HBO Documentary I Am an Animal

INGRID NEWKIRK Co-Author of The China Study and author of Whole: Rethinking the ; Featured in the Film Forks Over Knives

T. COLIN CAMPBELL, PH.D. Physician, Speaker and New York Times BestSelling Author; Founder Appeared on Dr. Oz and the Colbert Report

MICHAEL GREGER, M.D.

LE A RN MOR E

B OOK TODAY

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NaturalWestMichigan.com

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