Natural Awakenings Southeast Texas JULY 2016 by NA-SETexas

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Locavore TRUTH LINGO TELLERS

What All the Food Labels Really Mean

Real News Matters to Independent Media

COOL CHOW

Icy Summer Treats for Hot Pets

July 2016 | Southeast Texas Edition | NA-SETexas.com natural awakenings

July 2016

A DV E RTO RI A L

Protect Your Thyroid with Detoxified Iodine Give Your Body the Natural Boost it Needs

The Hidden Deficiency Having the proper amount of iodine in our system at all times is critical to overall health, yet the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that iodine deficiency is increasing drastically in light of an increasingly anemic national diet of unpronounceable additives and secret, unlabeled ingredients. This deficit now affects nearly three-quarters of the population.

Causes of Iodine Deficiency

Radiation

Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation

Low-Sodium Diets

Overuse of zero-nutrient salt substitutes in foods leads to iodine depletion

Iodized Table Salt

Iodized salt may slowly lose its iodine content by exposure to air

Bromine

A toxic chemical found in baked goods overrides iodine's ability to aid thyroid

Iodine-Depleted Soil Poor farming techniques have led to declined levels of iodine in soil

A Growing Epidemic Symptoms range from extreme fatigue and weight gain to depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, fibrocystic breasts and skin and hair problems. This lack of essential iodine can also cause infertility, joint pain, heart disease and stroke. Low iodine levels also have been associated with breast and thyroid cancers; and in children, intellectual disability, deafness, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impaired growth, according to studies by Boston University and the French National Academy of Medicine. The easy solution is taking the right kind of iodine in the right dosage to rebalance thyroid function and restore health to the whole body. Southeast Texas

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I feel much more energetic, my thoughts are extremely clear, and my entire body feels more in balance. Natural Awakenings Detoxified Iodine is the only change in my daily routine over the last 45 days. The way I feel today is better than at any point in my life that I can remember. ~ James

I’ve been taking this product for over a year and no single supplement, diet or approach (I have tried lots) has had as great an impact as this. I have my energy back, my metabolism is back on track and my mind is clear and the depression has lifted. I love this product and wish more people knew about it. I think many of us are deficient in iodine and it can bring balance to the body. Thank you, thank you Natural Awakenings for offering it! ~ Pamela

Proper iodine supplementation with a high-quality product like Natural Awakenings Detoxified Iodine can prevent harm by protecting the thyroid and other endocrine glands from radiation and restoring proper hormone production.

A Few Drops Can Change Your Life! You could feel better, lose weight or increase energy and mental clarity with a few drops of Natural Awakenings DETOXIFIED IODINE daily in water or topically on the skin. The supplementation of iodine, an essential component of the thyroid, has been reported to give relief from: • Depression • Weight Gain • Fibromyalgia • Low Energy • Hypothyroidism • Hyperthyroidism • Radiation • Bacteria • Viruses

$19.99 plus $5 shipping • 1 btl. = 6-8 week supply Order today, available only at

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WARNING:

Weight loss that doesn’t work isn’t a bargain at any price. Please read this before you waste another cent on a diet that leaves you hungry, craving and frustrated. Emotionally and physically drained. Being overweight hurts and diets don’t work. So what are you to do?

Most women have more clothes in their closet they can’t fit into than our whole program costs. And, you will never need to go on another diet to fit back into them!

Hypnotic Weight Loss Works There’s a better way to lose weight. It’s hypnotic weight loss. Here’s what a few of my successful clients say...

“In seven weeksI lost 21 pounds and 12.5 inches. My holidays were wonderful.” — Tina K., Friendswood “Major changes in my stress, food and communication with my husband. Thanks!” — Lynette L., Santa Fe “We’ve saved over $2,000 in eating out and I’ve dropped 2 pants sizes in 4 weeks!” — Diana G., Houston “Weight loss with hypnosis is great, and my motivation to exercise is off the scale!”— Yvonne B., Dickinson

Frankly, I could fill up 50 pages of similar statements from people in our community who had results using hypnotic weight loss. Many had given up hope. Now, finally, you have a FREE opportunity to find out if you’re the kind of person who can be accepted into a hypnosis program and experience hypnosis first hand through a hypnotic test with a Master Hypnotist. Plus, we have a Written Service Guarantee. So call now for your

Rose Klein, M.A., Certified Hypnotist

FREE 30 minute hypnosis screening.

281 996-8000 Call now!

Southeast Hypnosis—Friendswood, TX www.southeasthypnosis.com natural awakenings

July 2016

letterfrompublisher “It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to ﬂy while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.” ~ C. S. Lewis

Dear Readers, Did you know I am not a writer or journalist? In fact, English class for me was a huge chore. I was good at it and received pretty good grades, I just did not enjoy the writing process at all! For me, it was hard work. And it finally happened, this month I got stuck. No idea what to write. Then I came across this quote from a colleague, and it struck me. We are mid-way through 2016, so should be half way to reaching our goals and resolutions made in January. I invite you to revisit those thoughts from the beginning of the year. In June, we celebrated a Strawberry Full Moon that fell on the Summer Solstice which hasn’t occurred in nearly 50 years. A unique event. So I pondered, as we move into the last half of the year, what will we do? I felt reawakening to myself and becoming who I want to be. I want to fly too, but we often need to evolve between where we are and where we want to be. I know where I want to be, and where I would like this healthy & sustainable community to be by the end of the year. There is a lot of work to do to get there. It will be a journey. I hope you will continue with us on that journey, and invite your friends, as we share more great news, articles, and local resources for health and sustainable living. We are always looking for more business partners to work with to continue to bring you this publication online and in print. We have some new innovative ideas to reach more readers, and support our business partners, to grow this special community. So as a reader, let businesses you find in Natural Awakenings know you appreciate their contribution to provide you with this. Although you pick it up for free, there are a lot of resources and heart put behind it to bring it to you every month. Have a Happy Fourth of July and see you more over the rest of the year!

Roxanne (Publisher), Bandit, Smokey & Luna

glossy IS NOT green

Graphic Design & Layout Patrick Floresca Gabrielle Wyant-Perillo Accounting Michele Valerio Administrative Manager Pat Delgado Sales & Marketing Roxanne Pirooz Natural Awakenings of Southeast Texas P.O. Box 3603, Houston, TX 77253 Phone: 409-939-8156 NA-SETexas.com Roxanne@NA-SETexas.com Follow us on: Facebook.com/nasetexas

©2016 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.

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contents

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newsbriefs therapyspotlight healthbriefs globalbriefs ecotip healingways fitbody inspiration greenliving consciouseating naturalpet calendar resourceguide classifieds

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.

14 REAL NEWS

THAT MATTERS

Independent Media Tell Us the Truth by Linda Sechrist

16 MAKE TIME

FOR DOWNTIME

Chilling Out Revives Body and Soul

14 16

by April Thompson

18 FACIAL FITNESS Exercises to Tone Your Face and Neck by Kathleen Barnes

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 409-939-8156 or email Roxanne@NA-SETexas.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Info@NA-SETexas.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Info@NA-SETexas.com. Deadline for calendar: the 5th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

20 SOIL SISTERS

Female Farmers Come of Age

by Lisa Kivirist

22 LOCAVORE LINGO

What All the Food Labels Really Mean by Judith Fertig

25 ANIMAL WELFARE LEXICON

Deciphering Food Lables by Tracey Narayani Glover

30 COOL CHOW Icy Treats for Hot Summer Days by Sandra Murphy

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July 2016

therapyspotlight

Deeper Healing with Hypnosis

here is no shortage today of methods for losing weight and quitting smoking. Weight loss is promised via pills and surgery; prescription chemical patches and medicines claim to relieve the urge to smoke. Although these options provide success for some, many others fail. “Diets fail about 95 percent of the time,” says hypnotist Rose Klein, who owns Southeast Hypnosis in Friendswood. She adds that the reason for the failures is that none of these solutions address the underlying issue that drives the behavior. “I love to help people learn that it isn’t that they ‘love to eat’ or are hungry that is causing them to gain weight; it is stress relief and sometimes a reward,” comments Klein. Klein adds, “People need to learn there is a better way to manage their stress without sacrificing their health. Hypnosis is the skill of becoming calm and relaxed in your mind, creating a serene mood by slowing your thoughts and emotions way down. Your state of mind controls your thoughts, and your thoughts control your actions. Hypnosis combines mental relaxation with specific suggestions given.” Before any treatment program begins, Southeast Hypnosis conducts a free screening. “It takes less than an hour and is fun and informative,” affirms Klein. “Potential clients receive an in-depth and honest evaluation of their situation. If we believe that circumstances do not make them good candidates for hypnosis treatment, we tell them.” As a hypnotist with additional training as a practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Klein says she has helped thousands of people become non-smokers, lose weight, improve self-confidence and manage stress. “Creating motivation, overcoming procrastination, pursuing a goal and improving self-esteem are all byproducts of learning the skill of hypnosis. The best part is that anyone can do it if they want to; it’s fun and works right away.” Southeast Hypnosis is located at 607 S. Friendswood Dr., in Friendswood. For appointments and more information, call 281-996-8000 or visit SoutheastHypnosis.com. See ad, page 3.

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newsbriefs

New Office for Green Cleaning Company

In Galveston, 340 Steamers just opened their new office location at 1021 61st Street, Suite 400B. The new local business is offering a unique product to the Gulf Coast area. Most households use chemical cleaners full of toxins and carcinogens to keep their homes clean. With the new EV steamer, concerned homeowners and parents can now clean their homes with just tap water, eliminating chemicals which may be affecting household members with allergens. The office is available for servicing the machines, and keep an eye on the local calendar for an upcoming Ribbon Cutting celebration in August. For those interested in a chemical-free and green way to clean their homes, 340 Steamers is offering free in home demos across the Gulf Coast and Houston areas when mentioning Natural Awakenings. Location: 1021 61st Street, Suite 400B, Galveston. For more information call 281-546-3725 or visit Facebook.com/340Steamers. See ad, page 11.

Old South Essentials Beats the Heat with New Location

Old South Essentials finds relief from the heat! The homemade boutique facial & body care product company has recently relocated from vending at various farmers markets around the area to their own booth at Silver Bee Boutique in Friendswood. Old South Essentials provides all natural, organic, plant based body and skin care products as well as classes on using herbs for better health and nutrition. In fact, an Introduction to Herbalism class is being offered on July 12th in Pearland at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 2535 East Broadway in room 106. This will be an introduction class on using herbs for better health. The class will cover topics including body systems, herbal actions and ways to use herbs for different conditions to strengthen the body. The event is from 7pm to 9pm for $25 per person. Location: Silver Bee Boutique, 180 S. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood. For more information on acquiring products or attending the class, contact Susie Lyons, Owner of Old South Essentials, at 832-202-4391, email Susie@ TheHerbalistJournal.com or visit TheHerbalistJournal.com. See column, page 16.

Neighborhood Farms Growing in Galveston

John Sessions and Debbie Demmon Berger have come together to convert unused land on Galveston Island into neighborhood farms feeding the community through the non-profit organization, Seeding Galveston. Their mission is to provide a sustainable source of nutritional food for residents of the Island. They do this by developing urban farm sites creating a sustainable agricultural program to benefit Island food banks and the needy, and by promoting and teaching sustainable farm techniques, nutritional food choices and community service. Currently, they provide an urban farm market on Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from 8am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm. Freshly picked in-season produce is made available at reasonable prices to support the community. There is also a CSA program which has a waiting list, as the farm lands and support grows to support the local need. At 25th and Post Office Road, a Community Garden is available for island residents to rent small plots where visitors are also welcome to walk the Garden. The group is looking to grow and is seeking volunteers and donations to further develop their properties and programs. Location: 3308 Ave M., Galveston. For more information, call 281-794-9899 or visit SeedingGalveston.com. natural awakenings

July 2016

healthbriefs

Calcium Pills Don’t Build Bone Health

esearchers reporting in the British medical journal The Lancet, analyzed 44 studies on calcium supplementation or dietary calcium and bone fractures and concluded, “Dietary calcium intake is not associated with risk of fracture and there is no current evidence that increasing dietary calcium intake prevents fractures.” Qualifying studies included more than 44,000 people. A different meta-study from New Zealand’s University of Auckland, also published in The Lancet, reviewed 59 clinical and observational studies of calcium and bone density. The meta-analysis compared the effect of calcium doses of 500, 800 and 1,000 milligrams per day and found that bone density improvements ranged between 0.6 and 1.8 percent throughout the body during the first year of supplementation, but did not increase over time. They concluded that the improvements in bone mineral density from calcium supplements were small and that results mirrored the increases seen from dietary sources, suggesting that neither method significantly improves bone health.

Energy Drinks Harm the Heart

n addition to alertness, energy drinks may also trigger abnormal heart rhythms and increased blood pressure. Researchers from the School of Pharmacy at the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, California, tested 27 healthy adults. The volunteers were split into three groups—one drank two cans of an energy drink per day, another consumed the same amount of a drink with Panax ginseng and the third a similar-tasting placebo beverage. The subjects were given cardiovascular testing before and after the trial. After three weeks, the group imbibing the energy drinks had a significant increase in abnormal heart rhythms and higher blood pressure. The ginseng and placebo groups saw no change in their heart conditions. Sachin A. Shah, a doctor of pharmacy and professor at Pacific’s School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, says, “Our findings suggest that certain energy drinks may increase the risk of having an abnormal heart rhythm when consumed in high volumes. While we wait for more data, some consumers should exercise caution and not blindly follow the buzz.” The Center for Science in Public Interest, a consumer health advocacy group, has reported that as of June 2014, 34 deaths have been associated with energy drinks.

When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself. ~Wayne Dyer 8

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Colorful Produce Slows Cell Aging

new study published in the European Journal of Nutrition finds that an increased intake of carotenoids, powerful antioxidants found in plantbased foods, is associated with slower aging. The research tested 3,660 U.S. adults and measured blood levels of five common carotenoids: alphacarotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, combined lutein/zeaxanthin and trans-lycopene. The researchers found that those with levels that were in the highest quarter had 5 percent to 8 percent longer telomeres compared to those with the lowest quartile of carotenoid levels. Telomeres are located at the ends of DNA chromosomes and get shorter as we age. Longer telomeres indicate greater longevity. Carotenoids are found in the yellow-to-red pigments in many yellow, red and orange foods. They are also contained in green foods where chlorophyll shields the yellow-red color. Alpha-carotenes are present in carrots, cantaloupes, mangoes, kale, spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Beta-carotene is found in some of the same foods, and also tomatoes, apricots and watermelons. Beta-cryptoxanthin is found in papayas, apples and orange peels. Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in some of the same foods, along with kiwifruit, grapes, oranges, zucchini and squash. Some of the highest levels are in corn. Lycopene is in tomatoes, watermelons, papayas, apricots and other redto-yellow foods.

ADHD Meds Weaken Kids’ Bones

new study announced at the 2016 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons shows that drugs prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can weaken bones in children during a time of critical growth. This study tested 5,315 kids between 8 and 17 years old and compared the results to a subgroup of 1,967. Each child was given a bone mineral density scan on the femur, femoral neck and lumbar spine. The children taking ADHD medications of Ritalin, Focalin, Dexedrine, Strattera and Vyvanese had lower bone mineral density in the femur, femoral neck and lumbar spine. At least 25 percent of the youngsters taking these medications were categorized as having osteopenia. According to a 2014 Express Scripts study, prescriptions of ADHD medications to children in the U.S. grew by 36 percent between 2008 and 2012.

Neurotoxins Identified in Everyday Items Osteopathy Alleviates R Low Back Pain esearch published in the British medical journal The Lancet has newly identified six neurotoxins: manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene or PERC) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). Manganese exposure is found in welding and high-octane gas fumes, among other sources; fluoride is used in many municipal water supplies, glass etching and chrome cleaners. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate contained in many pesticides, including Dursban and Lorsban. While DDT has been banned from insecticides within the U.S., it is still contained in other agents, including petroleum distillates. DDT is also still used in some areas to spray for mosquitoes. PERC has often been used in dry cleaning and for degreasing metals. PBDEs appear as flame retardants and to make electronics, household goods, building materials, polyurethane foams, plastics and more. The same researchers previously identified lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic and toluene as neurotoxins. The neurotoxin label means they affect the nervous system and can cause neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, attention deficit disorders, dyslexia and others.

ore than 600,000 people undergo surgery for back pain every year, yet back surgery is often unsuccessful. Safer manual therapies provide a viable alternative, according to recent research. A study of 455 people with low back pain found that osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT) helped with their symptoms. The research, published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, gave each patient six osteopathic manual therapy sessions or a placebo treatment over a two-month period. Patients were tested before and a month afterward to assess the success of the treatments, using pain severity and mobility as the main criteria. The research showed that those that started with higher disability scores of 17 or more prior to therapy had significantly less pain and more mobility. Patients with scores of seven or greater also improved, but not to the same degree. Lead researcher and Osteopath Dr. John Licciardone says, “Subgrouping patients according to chronic low back pain intensity and function appears to be a simple strategy for identifying patients that can attain substantial improvement with OMT. From a cost and safety perspective, it should be considered before progressing to more costly or invasive interventions.”

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July 2016

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

Moth Misery

Bright Lights Drive Them to Extinction National Moth Week, held from July 23 to 31 (visit NationalMothWeek.org for podcast), has prompted the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to encourage cities to install motion-sensitive dimming streetlights and is working to designate dark-sky parks that could provide a refuge for nocturnal species. The giant silk moth and other insects pollinate 80 percent of our food crops. In turn, their bodies sustain innumerable birds, rodents and bats. Entire ecosystems rest on their delicate, powdery wings. Only two species of moths are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and three others have gone extinct in the past decade. Many populations are seeing declines of up to 99 percent. Between monoculture crops, pesticides, changing climate, urbanization and decreasing darkness due to artificial lighting, the future of night-flying moths is uncertain. Their only goal is to reproduce, guided to suitable nesting grounds by the shadow of the moon; many moth species do not even have mouths. However, cities now glow brighter than a full moon, and ambient light pollution radiating from urban areas draws moths to their deaths. IDA Program Manager John Barentine says, “Every time a person turns off and shields a porch light on their house, they’re helping.” Source: Sierra Club

GMO-Free Pioneer

New Grain Transport to be Contaminant-Free Large food companies that are switching to non-GMO (genetically modified) soy and corn products must still worry about their ingredients picking up GMO contamination through conventional supply chains. Now, Captain Drake LLC, a North Dakota grain plant, has acquired its own million-bushel terminal with dedicated rail cars used exclusively for GMOfree grains. President Mark Anderson maintains, “We’ll be able to obtain the best non-GMO commodities from three regions: North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada.” In a 2015 Nielsen study of 30,000 consumers, 43 percent rank non-GMO as very important and 80 percent said they would pay more for foods that indicate a degree of healthfulness. Sales of non-GMO products exceeded $10 billion last year and are growing. Anderson explains, “The supply chain needs to be tightened up and moved domestically. We consider this to be another strategic asset for food and beverage clients seeking suppliers committed to guaranteeing the integrity and purity of non-GMO commodities.” Source: Tinyurl.com/NonGMOGrainTerminal

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Farm-to-Work

Fresh Veggies Come Direct to Offices Pioneering employers are now offering fresh vegetables to help employees improve their diet—and their health. Tech companies are even hiring professional chefs to prepare healthful lunches and snacks. In Texas, the Farm to Work program is making it easy and affordable for workers to pick up baskets of local produce at the office. Participants aren’t required to pay an initial lump sum or commit to buying every week. Instead, they can sign up to receive produce in any given week. Other groups around the country are also looking into workplace produce delivery programs, and while many use the traditional community supported agriculture (CSA) model, others are experimenting with different procedures. The Farm Fresh Program, in Bellingham, Washington, connects local farmers to employers interested in receiving weekly deliveries. Meanwhile, Farm2Work, in Arkansas, links local purveyors of produce, meat, eggs, dairy, pies, jams and jellies to area employers. New York’s Adirondack Harvest, a branch of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, started by helping a single farmer link to area employers. The next step, says Teresa Whalen, the group’s southern chapter representative, is working to persuade insurance companies to subsidize workplace CSAs in the same way they’re starting to subsidize gym memberships. Source: FarmToWork.org

Fish Fried

New Numbers Confirm Global Overfishing The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has been collecting reports for decades on how many fish are caught in the oceans annually. However, those numbers don’t take into account smallscale, recreational and illegal fishing or the bycatch that’s discarded before boats return to harbors. A study published in Nature Communications increases the actual total world catch from 1950 to 2010 by 50 percent. Daniel Pauly, author of the University of British Columbia study, states, “The world is withdrawing from a joint bank account of fish without knowing what has been withdrawn or the remaining balance. Better estimates for the amount we’re taking out can help ensure there’s enough fish to sustain us in the future.” Based on official counts, global catches peaked in 1996 and have declined modestly each year. The decline isn’t due to less fishing or restrictions on certain fish, though. “It’s due to the countries fishing too much and having exhausted one fish after the other,” says Pauly. The findings also emphasize the value of fisheries to low-income people in developing countries. The next steps will require well-informed action to preserve this critical resource for people and for the planet. Source: Tinyurl.com/OverfishingReport

Toxic Teflon

Scientists Increasingly Find It Dangerous According to a new meta-analysis of previous studies, Philippe Grandjean, of Harvard, and Richard Clapp, of the University of Massachusetts, concluded that DuPont Teflon, used for 50 years to make frictionless cookware, is much more dangerous than previously thought, causing cancer, birth defects and heart disease, and weakening the immune system. Even though Teflon’s harmful perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is no longer produced or used, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found it in the blood of more than 99 percent of Americans studied, because it can be passed from mother to unborn child in the womb. The researchers say that the federal government’s recommended “safe” level, set in 2009, is as much as 1,000 times too high to fully protect people’s health. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has yet to set a legal allowable limit for its presence in drinking water.

Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it. ~Lou Holtz

Source: EnvironmentalHealthNews.org

natural awakenings

July 2016

globalbriefs Recycling Nutrients

Animal Droppings Help Forests Absorb CO2 A paper published in Forest Ecosystems concludes that frugivores, large, fruit-eating animals like toucans, tapirs, curassows and spider monkeys, help to keep the woods healthy by eating fruits and spreading seeds. As traps for carbon and an effective defense against global warming, forests collectively absorb up to 30 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions and store more than 1,600 gigatons of carbon in the soil. “You have a lot of large birds that play a fundamental role for large trees,” says study author Mauro Galetti. “They increase the likelihood that seeds will turn into actual photosynthesizing plants.” However, big, tropical birds are constantly under threat of hunting, poaching and habitat loss; the International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ Red List notes that 14 of the world’s 16 toucan species, for instance, are decreasing in population. The study found that without the help of high-capacity frugivores, there would be no way for larger seeds to grow into the towering trees that store carbon best. Scientists now want to research individual species to calculate how much each animal’s services are worth in terms of battling climate change. Putting a dollar amount on a species, say Galetti, could be the only way to persuade governments to protect it. Find the study at Tinyurl.com/ForestCarbonReport.

Low-Cost Largesse

Nonprofit Grocery Sells Good Food at Low Prices The biggest challenge to healthy eating in poor neighborhoods isn’t always access to healthy food; it’s whether people can afford to buy it. A year ago, Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe’s, opened Daily Table, a nonprofit grocery in Boston, to take action. It gathers nutritious food that would otherwise be wasted and then sells it at low prices. After learning about food insecurity in the U.S. and that approximately 40 percent of the food we grow is thrown out, Rauch decided to address both problems by offering this new option for people that don’t want handouts. The store now has 5,000 members and hundreds of daily customers, with plans to expand to new locations. “The challenge we have in America is that the food system is designed from the farm on up to create calories that are cheap and nutrients that are expensive,” he says. “People on the lowest economic rung get squeezed the hardest.” Rauch partners with vendors to get excess food, such as fruit just slightly too ripe to make it through the standard supermarket system, that chefs turn into readyto-eat meals like prepared salads and soups, or entrées that can cost less than $2. For more information, visit DailyTable.org.

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ecotip Eco-Beach Blast

Sustainable Ways to Enjoy Sand and Surf When eco-conscious families hit the beach this summer, there’s more to be aware of than just picking up trash like drink containers, wrappers and found litter. Here are some other ways we can enhance our beach and water experiences while upping fitness benefits. Rising water levels and severe weather events have damaged coastlines, so extra care is needed. When setting up a beach spot, stay away from sand dunes and pockets of beach grass that serve as natural defenses against beach erosion. Also watch out for marked-off turtle hatching spots; prime nesting season is May through October, according to the nonprofit Turtle Conservancy. Teach kids not to chase birds. Walk around shorebirds to cause minimal disturbance; it’s stressful dodging danger during meals and wastes precious energy stores. Walking on soft sand is like a weight-training workout, as detailed in Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee’s Barefoot Walking book. Polluting chemicals enter waterways via fertilizer and industry runoff and accidents like the BP Gulf oil spill; don’t contribute more by using sunscreen that contains oxybenzine, which reportedly alters hormone function. The Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) maintains an online guide of safe sunscreens. The Huffington Post also suggests that we can make our own by mixing zinc oxide (a sunblocking agent), coconut oil (soothes and conditions skin), beeswax (for waterproofing) and tea tree oil (soothes and repairs skin and smells good). The same care applies to chemical hair dyes, shampoos, conditioners and straighteners. Patronize clean, green salons that use natural hair treatments free of synthetic chemicals, ammonia or para-phenylenediamine (PPD). Or search “nontoxic hair care” online. Plan a visit to coincide with a public volunteer beach cleanup event. Check with national organizations like Keep America Beautiful (kab.org) and local or countywide groups, as well as social media sites for group activities.

NATURAL AWAKENINGS

Hosts Ribbon Cutting Event As a new member of the League City Chamber of Commerce, Natural Awakenings is hosting a Ribbon Cutting Happy Hour event. Come and Enjoy Refreshments • Networking • Free Current and Past Magazine Issues • One-time Event Special Marketing Opportunities • Meet Members of the Natural Awakenings Team! Thursday, July 28 4 to 5 p.m. League City Chamber of Commerce 217 East Main Street, League City RSVP: Info@NA-SETexas.com

natural awakenings

July 2016

REAL NEWS THAT MATTERS Independent Media Tell Us the Truth by Linda Sechrist

n virtually all aspects of life, we are influenced consciously or subconsciously by mainstream media messages. Today, six media giants—Comcast, The Walt Disney Company, Twenty-First Century Fox, Time Warner, Viacom and DirecTV—control the vast majority of what we watch on TV and in movies, listen to on the radio and read in books, newspapers and magazines. According to Ben Bagdikian, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The New Media Monopoly, this handful of conglomerates form a cartel that wields enough influence to affect U.S. politics and define social values. Thirty years ago, before many mergers and acquisitions, 50 corporations owned nearly all of American media. Today’s infotainment and rhetoric, misrepresented as news, is leading millions to conclude that these colossal powers do not exist to objectively report the truth.

Mainstream Media’s True Colors

Although a recent Gallup Poll reflects Americans’ lack of trust in mainstream media’s reporting of news fully, fairly and accurately, fair reporting was what HarperCollins, a prominent publisher, expected upon the 2016 release of

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New York City holistic psychiatrist Dr. Kelly Brogan’s A Mind of Your Own: The Truth About Depression and How Women Can Heal Their Bodies to Reclaim Their Lives. They were shocked when the book was boycotted. “The New York Times, Dr. Oz and Good Morning America refused to schedule author interviews or write book reviews. There wasn’t a whisper anywhere on mainstream media about my evidenced-based book on how women can holistically recover from depression without a single prescription. HarperCollins was baffled. I was their first credentialed author who spoke out against pharmaceuticals,” says Brogan. So Brogan turned to independent outlets, including print, online and social media, her own website, newsletter lists and word-of-mouth. Her work soon broke through into three of the top bestselling book lists: USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and The New York Times. That example serves as clear proof of the importance and power of independent media to furnish the public helpful and in-depth information on wide-ranging topics that mainstream broadcast media typically only cover in 30- to 60-second blurbs or not at all.

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Dr. Mark Hyman, chair of the Institute of Functional Medicine and director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, learned Brogan’s lesson early on. “Independent media have been crucial in disseminating my life’s work. Given the misinformation being spread by regular news and government channels about weight and health, we deserve to hear the truth about what’s in our food, toxins in our environment and how we can truly heal our bodies,” says Hyman, a nine-time bestselling author.

Independent Voices

Today’s independent media landscape shifts at warp speed. With 24/7 Internet access to websites, both groundbreaking journalism and grassroots perspectives appear in original articles and blogs. Outlets include independent online radio, TV shows, newspapers, filmmakers and “citizen journalists” armed with smart phones instantly transmitting images and updates via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. From a growing recognition that such media play a vital role in shaping a more informed and engaged citizenry, more attention is again being paid to the need for real news that matters. Breaking the reign of junk food news generators is the mission of ProjectCensored.org, a media research program at California’s Sonoma State University. Billions of dollars are spent annually on webinars, podcasts and e-books exploring health and healing, self-help, spiritual enlightenment and creativity, indicating a reading audience with a hunger for deeper wisdom. Since 1973, New Dimensions Radio, co-founded and hosted by Justine Willis Toms, has featured many of the world’s most respected wisdom keepers. “Guests exclaim how refreshing it is to speak in-depth and at length. Mainstream, commercially based media consistently present sound bites on how things are breaking down and not working, without opening thought to constructive visions for a future that benefits all life and the planet,” says Toms. “Independent media have broken away from dependence on the moneyed interests holding tight reins on the news and information they publish. Because we’re listener-supported, public radio is

free to explore a wide range of timely and timeless topics,” he says. Leaning away from one-sided views gives independent media space to expand people’s perspectives and positive expectations for the future. The seven-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Christian Science Monitor international news organization was established in Boston over a century ago to till human thought and thereby improve human lives via an uplifted journalistic standard. “Its quiet insistence for human rights and against tyranny; for generosity and against selfishness; for intelligence, charity, courage, integrity and most of all, for progress and hope—surely that has helped,” remarks John Yemma, current columnist and former editor. “We work to uncover where progress is occurring, even though headlines proclaim the contrary. There are always two sides to a story,” says Susan Hackney, a senior director with the Monitor, which consistently resists the sensational in favor of the meaningful. Magazines such as Natural Awakenings, Mother Jones, The Optimist and Yes! are likewise stirring up conversations on meaningful issues via larger perspectives with a focus on tangible solutions. They address such areas as the damaging health and environmental effects of genetically engineered food, championed by Jeffrey Smith, founder of the Institute for Responsible Technology. “Europe could kick genetically modified ingredients (GMO) out of their food supply because their mainstream media covered the health dangers, while U.S. mainstream media ignored them and kept Americans in the dark. Independent media in the U.S. enable democracy and consumer-inspired transformations of all kinds. Knowledge has organizing power,” advises Smith.

Success Stories

With Fran Korten at its helm, the adfree, subscription-supported, nonprofit Yes! is helping to reframe our biggest issues. “Mainstream media, dependent upon advertisers that would have us believe that we can buy happiness, celebrate stories of the rich and powerful, leaving everyone else feeling small and powerless. Independents can help resist such ways of seeing the world, help people see a different path to suc-

We in America are the best entertained and least informed society in the world. ~Neil Postman, media theorist and educator cess and happiness and perceive themselves as change agents. Together, we share engaging stories of how people are carving out new ways of living that hold the hope of a world more in balance with the living Earth and where everyone’s inherent worth and dignity are recognized,” says Korten. Allan Savory, founder of the Savory Institute and originator of a holistic land management systems approach to recover and preserve sustainable resources, underscores the need for change leaders and independent thinkers. “As we ponder who they might be, we realize it’s not those that discover new, counterintuitive insights, but those that spread the knowledge. The groundbreakers are pioneers like writers, poets, artists, speakers and social networkers. After 50 years of trying to understand the intense institutional resistance to and ridiculing of my work of managing complexity in a simple manner, holistic management is now quickly spreading globally. This is only due to social networking, independent writers and my TED talk that went viral,” observes Savory. Laurie McCammon, change leader and author of Enough! How to Liberate Yourself and Remake the World with Just One Word, contracted with independent publisher Red Wheel Weiser to get her message out. “It’s been building awareness of forbidden knowledge—that we each have unrealized potential to affect reality by changing our thoughts. We can nurture a shift in global culture away from an existing way of life that has bred fear, lack and a belief in scarcity,” explains McCammon. She suggests that to preview a new vision of, “I am enough and have enough,” and, “We are enough and have enough,” we should look to the fertile fringes; small communities of intentional and conscious people actively reinvent-

ing society. “Look at what independent media are reporting on; as well as their unprecedented use of new terms such as organic, wellness, sustainability, permaculture, transition town, sharing economy, social responsibility, biomimicry and the butterfly effect,” says McCammon. The existing worldview, with all of its core assumptions and rules, aims to restrain awakening individual and collective consciousness. McCammon observes, “As long as the ‘old story’ was told repeatedly by mainstream media with conviction, it could command our attention and make us doubt our inner story. Trusting that the outer world had our own best interests in mind meant that there was no need to turn within. This is changing. Thanks to farseeing, courageous and strong enough independent media, there’s been an overturning to a more wholesome story of mind-body-spirit, abundance, innovation, collaboration and cooperation.” Mainstream and independent media coexist like two sides of a coin. Mainstream media’s talking heads tell us how to act and think while independent media invite us to engage, educate and think for ourselves, dig deeper and take action. Without independent media, we would know little about the benefits of the ever-evolving grassroots movement of holistic, alternative, complementary, integrative and functional medicine. Nor would we know the truth about climate change; the health advantages of plant-based diets and community gardens; food deserts and nutrition-related illnesses; the prevalence of environmental toxins; signs of spiritual progress; alternative education; and the benefits of eco-villages to people and the planet. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com. natural awakenings

July 2016

healingways

HERB

of the month by Susie Lyons

Oregano –

Origanum vulgare or Origanum onites

regano is a member of the mint family with properties beyond great flavor. Research has determined that oregano essential oil contains over 60 different chemical compounds, including carvacrol and thymol which are powerful antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, antibiotic and antiparasitic compounds. It has also been found to relieve anxiety and insomnia. Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center found that oregano oil could “completely inhibit” the growth of Candida albicans (the yeast-like fungus that causes yeast infections) in test tubes and killed 80 percent of the fungus in experimental animals. Another study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that oregano essential oil had antimicrobial effects against salmonella and E.coli. Use oregano: •

To flavor food (drying the herb does reduce some of its effectiveness—fresh is better).

•

Oregano essential oil (diluted with a good carrier oil such as organic coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil) can be applied topically for skin infections or athlete’s foot.

•

Dried oregano, basil, rosemary and thyme can be mixed with hot water and the vapors inhaled to loosen chest and sinus congestion.

•

Oregano leaves can be infused in hot water and the liquid strained to make a good digestion aiding tea.

For more information, call 832-2024391, visit TheHerbalistJournal. com or visit Susie at the Silver Bee Boutique, 180 S. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood.

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Make Time for Downtime

Chilling Out Revives Body and Soul by April Thompson

ere’s something to add to our to-do list: nothing. Americans today work more hours than ever before, foregoing hard-earned vacation days and spending more time with electronic devices than with friends and family. The temptation and pressure to do more at the expense of needed rest are great, but failing to take time out to recharge our minds and bodies can have serious consequences, according to experts. Downtime is most acutely needed in the workplace. In a survey of nearly 20,000 workers, The Energy Project and Harvard Business Review found that 59 percent of them were physically exhausted, emotionally drained, distracted and lacking purpose. Headquartered in Yonkers, New York, with offices in Europe and Australia, The Energy Project has helped hundreds of businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, create healthier, happier and higher-performing workplaces. The company takes its cues from elite athletes that carefully

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build rest and recovery periods into their training schedules. “Just as your body needs sleep and food to function optimally, so does your mind and spirit,” says Annie Perrin, an executive vice president with the project. There’s a mounting body of neurological research to buttress the analogy. Important assimilation of learning and “meaning making” occurs in the resting brain, according to Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, Ed.D., associate professor of education, psychology and neuroscience at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and author of Emotions, Learning, and the Brain. When our minds are allowed to wander, they engage a network of interacting brain regions that together are thought to play a key role in building our ability for inward reflection and recollection, known as the default mode network. Immordino-Yang’s research suggests that such activation during restful moments is positively associated with the recalling of memories, envisioning the future and even

developing a moral foundation. “This network seems to be more engaged when we aren’t actively gathering information or working on an external goal,” remarks ImmordinoYang. Zoning out on TV or video games doesn’t produce the same brain benefit because, “It’s about looking inward rather than outward,” she says. The default network does engage when introspection occurs during nurturing social interaction, such as while enjoying a reflective conversation with friends or family. She recommends banning technology and other distractions during periods spent in activities that bring joy and meaning so that we are present in a mindful way. The Energy Project ushers clients through a comprehensive energy audit, using exercises to expose specific personal habits that lead to diminishing returns in both work and play time. In one exercise, workers are asked to rank current incoming emails from one to five, with the highest number equating to, “I need to respond immediately.” Most rate nearly no fives, says Perrin, a realization that has helped many people change their email habits. While change can be hard, Perrin suggests creating new, healthy rituals through repetition, which taps into the brain’s desire for automaticity. For example, she advises workers to schedule “renewal breaks” every 90 minutes after completing a block of high-priority tasks. “If you’ve been sitting, move; if the mind has been active, do something to quiet it, like meditating or simply closing your eyes.” She also suggests finding workers to buddy up with and schedule mutual breaks to help support and hold each other accountable. Immordino-Yang suggests that another practice to maximize the value of downtime is to combine it with exercise. “A walk can be rejuvenating,” she says. “While the body is engaged, the mind is free to wander.” The Energy Project calls on managers to model these downtime activities for their employees. Some companies have instituted policies that limit sending email from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., as well as during weekends and vacations, so staffers don’t feel com-

pelled to read and respond to keep up with work. Setting limits is even more crucial for young people with minds and habits that are especially malleable. “I see teenagers taking their phones into the bathroom or bed to text in the middle of the night. Parents need to put a stop to this,” counsels Immordino-Yang. “The brain needs uninterrupted rest to work at its best.” Learning that being a productive employee or an emotionally available parent requires giving ourselves a break and gives us permission to rest. We find that downtime is not just good for ourselves, but also for our families and workplaces. Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

&Ba r r e

281-797-6442

607 S. Friendswood Dr. • Suite 21 • Friendswood undergroundpilates@hotmail.com UndergroundPilatesTX.com

natural awakenings

July 2016

fitbody

FACIAL FITNESS Exercises to Tone Your Face and Neck by Kathleen Barnes

ravity takes its toll as years pass, and many women find themselves bemoaning crow’s feet, frown lines and turkey necks that make them look older than they feel. Experts point to the loss of “fat pads” in the cheeks, bone loss around the eye sockets and cheekbones and overall weak muscles as potential contributors to facial aging. Natural exercise programs designed to reverse these unpleasant signs of aging comprise a new fitnessfor-beauty trend. “Face and neck muscles somehow have been left out of mainstream fitness programs,” observes Denver esthetician and massage therapist Grace Mosgeller, who addresses this void with her series of eight FaceFitnez audio and video exercises. “If you tone the muscles of your face and neck, the skin attached to those muscles firms and tones as well, creating a natural youthful look.” Muscular stress—the good kind—is at the core of facial fitness, says Mosgeller. She cite’s Wolff’s Law, a wellknown medical theory that bone grows and remodels in response to the tension or muscle engagement put on it. “Regular facial exercise works the muscles to correct the loss of both muscle tone and bone density and build collagen. It might be called the equivalent of pushups, pull-ups and abdominal tucks for the face.”

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Carolyn Cleaves, owner of Carolyn’s Facial Fitness, in Seabeck, Washington, near Seattle, a former college professor, developed a facial exercise program for herself upon detecting early signs of aging. With the help of two primary care physicians, she designed a routine that includes 28 basic exercises that target all 57 facial muscles. “As we get older, we lose the underlying layer of fat just beneath the skin, and as a result, we look old and tired,” says Cleaves. She agrees that exercising the face actually helps rebuild lost bone, enlarges the muscles and also builds collagen. A study from the University of Rochester, in New York, confirms that loss of bone mass can start in women as early as age 40. It starts in men 16 to 25 years later. Mosgeller’s facial exercises work to fade wrinkles and lines and firm up sagging flesh, yielding visible results in as little as two weeks of dedicated training. She says, “Within six to nine months, it’s possible to look five to 10 years younger than when you started.” Her claims are verified by Dr. Carol Lipper, in Denver, who states, “I’ve done the exercises and they work. The trouble is compliance. It’s a lot of work.” She confirms that she saw improvement in her droopy eyelids after just two or three weeks of adhering to Mosgeller’s workouts.

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“It seems that every three months or so, I see another leap in results and a younger look,” adds Cleaves of those using her program. Here are a few crucial areas to target, with just a few of these experts’ recommended remedies. Cleaves’ Crow’s Feet Eliminator: Place fingertips on top of the head, thumbs resting near the corners of the eyes. Shut eyes tightly and slide thumbs toward the temples for a count of five. Repeat 10 times. Mosgeller’s Rx for Droopy Eyelids: Place index finger on top of a closed eyelid, and then lift fingers up and slightly to the outside. Blink hard and hold. It’s preventive, as well as curative, says Mosgeller, so those over 45 should repeat this 100 times a day, while younger individuals should repeat 20 to 50 times a day. Mosgeller’s Frown Line Eraser: Pull brows apart with fingers and hold for two seconds. Repeat 50 to 100 times up to six times per week. This is meant to relax and tone the muscles, not build them. Cleaves’ Turkey Neck Buster: Tilt the head back slightly. With palm facing the neck, grasp under the chin with a wide-open hand and slowly slide hand down to the collarbone; hold there while counting to 10. Repeat five times daily. Kathleen Barnes is author and publisher of many natural health books. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

inspiration

Signs That You’ve Found Your Calling by Lissa Rankin

ou may think you’ve identified your calling, questioned it, become disillusioned, left it and then come back to it in a different form. The following clues let you know you’re on the right track. You realize you’ve been training for this since birth. Even the gritty things, the disappointments, regrets and screwups have all been preparation. Major life disruptions and failures were all just teaching essential lessons so that you can become who you’re called to be. You sense ease. In the face of obstacles—such as doors of suspected opportunity that are shut tight or relentless struggles impeding a course you thought was right—it can be hard to tell if your commitment is just being tested or you’ve veered off course. Such hurdles can be part of the growth process cultivating your “inner hero” necessary for the journey. Trust the sense of movement towards ease, which likely will include supportive synchronicities. Your health may improve. Cravings for unhealthy foods will lessen and you’ll feel more energetic. Old aches and pains might disappear; even chronic illness can fade when you’re focused on your life purpose. You feel strangely peaceful, despite reasons to be anxious. Your soul longs to express what you’re on Earth to express, and when you finally rise into alignment with your calling, your soul does a happy dance. Even if everything else seems to be falling apart and others consider you crazy, you’ll be centered in peace, relieved that you finally know what you’re called to do.

The universe rolls out the red carpet. When called to do what is needed for the highest good of all beings, the universe bends over backwards to hand you whatever you need. No request is too small. Unexpected money flows in and other resources appear just as you’re ready to give up. You’ll know you’re on track, even if it is not quite clear what you’re on track to do. People find you. Few can fulfill a calling alone. Most of us need a tribe to lift us up as we do brave, scary, world-changing things. When you’re aligned with your life purpose, the right people, including magicwielding mentors, will find you at the right time, if only you’re courageous enough to be vulnerable about what you’re being called to do. Dr. Lissa Rankin, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, is the author of Mind Over Medicine, The Fear Cure and The Anatomy of a Calling (TheAnatomyOfACalling.com).

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ~Walt Disney

natural awakenings

July 2016

greenliving

Ag Network to collectively advocate for a stronger voice. “Throughout history, women in agriculture have been relegated to providing assistance, rather than making decisions,” O’Brien explains. “It’s up to us as women to collaboratively support each other while challenging the system.”

Cultivating Change

SOIL SISTERS Female Farmers Come of Age by Lisa Kivirist

ore women are becoming farmers, bringing with them a passion for producing organic and sustainably raised fare and transforming America’s food system. The U.S. Census of Agriculture reports that their numbers rose by more than 20 percent between 2002 and 2012, to 288,264.

Historic Roots

“Women have played an integral role in farming for centuries, but in the last 100 years they’ve started to self-organize and be recognized for their important work,” says University of California garden historian Rose Hayden-Smith, Ph.D., author of Sowing the Seeds of Victory: American Gardening Programs of World War I and editor of the UC Food Observer. “During that war, the Women’s Land Army of America, a female-led initiative, recruited nearly 20,000 mostly middleclass urban and suburban women to enter the agricultural sector as wage laborers at farms, dairies and canneries, often in rural areas, where farmers urgently needed help while the male labor force was off fighting.” Women also helped feed Americans during the Victory Garden era of

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World War II. “It’s also estimated that more than 40 percent of fruits and vegetables consumed on the American home front then were grown in school, home, community and workplace gardens,” says Hayden-Smith, possibly resulting in America’s highest period of produce consumption ever. When the commercial organic industry launched in the 1990s, women organized to provide overlooked and undervalued perspectives. The wakeup call for Denise O’Brien, an organic vegetable farmer and owner of Rolling Hills Acres, near Atlantic, Iowa, came during the farm economic crisis of the preceding decade. Although still considered “just” farm wives, “It was the women on the farms that had foreseen where things were heading, because they often kept the accounting books, though nobody took their voices seriously,” O’Brien recalls. This launched O’Brien’s agriculture activism: balancing farming, raising children and serving as a national advocate and spokeswoman for women in agriculture in an ecological and just food system. In 1997, she launched the Women, Food and

For her 50th birthday, Paula Foreman gave her life a new chapter. She launched her midlife “second act” in 2007 with Encore Farm, a name that serves as a rallying mantra for her peers. “The name is a tribute declaring that fresh starts and new beginnings can happen at any age,” explains Foreman, now an urban farmer in St. Paul, Minnesota. Embodying this business moxie, she chose to specialize, producing one thing very well: organic dried beans. Relinda Walker, of Walker Organic Farms, outside Savannah, Georgia, represents a cadre of “boomerang” farmers; women that return to the land to continue a family farm with a commitment to organics. Like many farm kids, after college, Walker left to pursue a corporate career in the city. Then the 9/11 terror attack shifted her priorities. “All roads led me to coming back home and growing food,” she says. Launched in 2005, Walker’s farm was one of southern Georgia’s first organic operations, yielding specialty varieties like rainbow carrots in vivid shades of purple, orange and red.

Looking for a safe place to feel healed, come to Galveston Physical Medicine.

eople come to me with their headaches, migraines, chronic pain, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, whiplash from car accidents, injuries from accidents on the job, backaches, ear infections, asthma, allergies, numbness in limbs, just to name a few.

Here’s what some of my patients had to say:

“Dr. Duchon has made a big impact on my life. I have no more headaches.”– C.

Several times a day patients thank me for helping them with their health problems. But I can’t really take the credit. My confession is that I’ve never healed anyone of anything. What I do is perform a specific spinal adjustment to remove nerve pressure, and the body responds by healing itself. We get tremendous results. It’s as simple as that.

Future Femme Power

Young women in their 20s and 30s are adding energy, diversity, vibrancy and fresh outlooks to the female farming movement. Lindsey Morris Carpenter runs Grassroots Farm, in Monroe, Wisconsin, a diversified operation of certified organic vegetables and pastured livestock, in partnership with her mother, Gail Carpenter. “A crucial key to farming happiness is being a good neighbor,” she shares. “I call around when I see livestock and pets outside of fences; maintain my fences; share my garlic and potato seed; and always invite neighbors to parties and events, even though they may not attend. Even if others’ personal lifestyle and farming philosophies are radical opposites, we still have our physical location and appreciation of nature in common, and that’s big.” “The women farmer movement is just a toddler,” sums up O’Brien. “We’ve come a long way, but we’re not there yet, especially with representation on the national leadership platform.” It’s easy to support female growers at local farmers’ markets. Cultivating change can be rewarding—and tasty.

You Benefit from an Amazing Offer – Look, it shouldn’t cost you an arm

Flores - Galveston, TX

“No more numbness in my feet!”–

K. Smith - Galveston, TX

My assistants are Shannon, Barbara, and Judy. They are really warm and friendly people, and we try our best to make you feel welcome and at home. We have wonderful service, at an exceptional fee. Come see us at:

and a leg to correct your health. You are going to write a check to someone for your health care expenses, you may as well write one for a lesser amount for chiropractic. MENTION YOU SAW US IN NATURAL AWAKENINGS TO RECEIVE MY ENTIRE NEW PATIENT EXAM FOR $27.That’s with consultation, exam, x-rays, report of findings… the whole ball of wax. This exam could cost you $150 elsewhere.

GALVESTON PHYSICAL MEDICINE 2724 61ST Street (right behind Island Car Wash) Call us Today at 409-744-9355 for an appointment. We’ll get you feeling better in no time. We can help you. Thank you and God Bless.

Great care at a great fee – Please,

I hope that there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care just because I have a lower exam fee. You’ll get great care at a great fee. My qualifications…I’m a Cum Laude graduate from Texas Chiropractic College. I graduated with academic honors from the University of Maryland, with my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. I’ve been entrusted to take care of tiny babies to collegiate athletes. After practicing in Nederland as an associate for two years, I opened my own practice in Galveston. I just have that low fee to help more people who need care.

– Dr. Chad Duchon, Chiropractor P.S. When accompanied by the first, I am also offering the second family member this same examination for only $10. P.P.S. I am now an “In-Network” doctor for most insurance companies. Mastercard & Visa also accepted.

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time. ~Leo Tolstoy

Lisa Kivirist is the author of the new book Soil Sisters: A Toolkit for Women Farmers and a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. Her family runs the energyindependent Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B, in southwestern Wisconsin. natural awakenings

July 2016

consciouseating

Certifi ed Humane When we buy local cheese, poultry or meat at the farmers’ market, we sometimes see a certified humane notice. One such producer is Baetje Farms, outside St. Louis, Missouri. Their highly regarded goat cheeses offer traceability via a lot number, so buyers can know exactly which milking the cheese came from. In factory farming, which often involves penning or caging animals that never go outdoors, “certified humane” means that this producer meets Humane Farm Animal Care standards: ■ Fed a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones. ■ Provided proper shelter with resting areas and sufficient space.

Locavore Lingo What All the Food Labels Really Mean

■ Animals have the ability to behave naturally. Veronica Baetje says her farm’s goats receive organic mineral supplements and locally grown alfalfa hay in addition to pasture grass every day. She adds, “They are free to choose what they prefer to do, whether skip and run up a hill, lie under the shade of a tree, soak up some sunshine or play with their herd mates.”

by Judith Fertig

ocally grown foods are more likely to have been bred for flavor and nutrition than durability and a long shelf life, says Emily Akins, outreach director for the Kansas City Food Circle, a cooperative that links residents with farmers that grow and raise organic and free-range food. An added benefit is getting to know the farmer and being able to ask the questions—and receive the answers—that are important to us. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that local food sales totaled $12 billion in 2014, up from $5 billion in 2008. They continue to grow.

Organic or Certifi ed Organic

■ No harmful chemicals have been applied to the land for at least three years.

Consumers want to know the difference between organics and certified organics. Today’s number of U.S. certified organic operations has jumped nearly 300 percent since 2002 to more than 21,700. Although a certified organic designation might be the preferred index of

Southeast Texas

how foods are grown and raised, it is not always possible for certain foods in some climates. Sometimes there’s a tradeoff in buying organic foods in the carbon footprint of its transport to market. According to the Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, in Tampa, Florida, “Organic refers to a specific method of growing and processing foods, and is defined as produce grown, packaged and stored without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or irradiation.” To be considered certified organic under the Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR Part 205, products must meet these standards:

■ Farmers and processors are inspected annually by a certifying agency. ■ Farmers and processors must keep detailed records of practices. ■ Farmers are required to maintain a written organic management plan.

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Wild Food At times, farmers’ markets will offer foraged foods from the wild or wild game. Sources are listed online at EatWild.com. “Few of us will go back to foraging in the wild, but we can learn to forage in our supermarkets, farmers’ markets and from local farmers to select the most nutritious and delicious foods available,” says founder Jo Robinson, in Vashon, Washington. For example, Dave and Sue Whittlesey, at High Wire Ranch, in Hotchkiss, Colorado, raise bison (buffalo) and elk that they sell both through local stores and at the Aspen Saturday Market. The wild game is 100 percent pasture-fed, non-GMO (no genetically modified feed), gluten-free and not given hormones or any antibiotics unless the animal is sick.

Trusted Sources The land, climate and growing season dictate the best natural farming practices for each area, often described along

Healthy Foods Lexicon

Foraged—Native foods gathered from the wild, rather than cultivated. Examples: wild mushrooms, fiddlehead ferns, mulberries, native pecans, black walnuts and native persimmons. Free range—Poultry raised outdoors where they are free to range over natural vegetation. Grass-fed—Beef or milk cows fed on grass. The benefit is leaner, better-flavored meat and more omega-3s, plus fuller flavors in milk, butter and other dairy products.

with their products on farm and farmers’ market websites. Wisconsin’s Dane County Farmers’ Market, in Madison, provides detailed descriptions of farm products and agricultural practices so customers can make informed choices. Sometimes, the type of farm makes a difference. “We are intentionally human scale,” says Virginia Goeke, of Sylvan Meadows Farm, in Viroqua, Wisconsin. “We choose to husband our land to promote harmony and synergy. We are creating a sustainable farm ecosystem where herbal meadows, prairies, heirloom gardens, orchards, woodlands, and rare breeds of livestock and wildlife flourish.” Sometimes, we’d just like someone else to do the food curating for us. The Kansas City Food Circle requires member farmers to take a pledge to follow certain agricultural practices. “When you buy food from our members, you can rely on the co-op’s pledge that it’s been certified naturally grown or that the farmer has USDA Organic certification,” says Akins. Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, the joint effort of 100 small-scale family farms providing fresh, organic, seasonal produce, in Leola, Pennsylvania, gives similar assurances. The USDA reports that 160,000 farmers nationwide are currently selling to their local markets via farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture organizations, restaurants, groceries and institutions, generating health, social, economic and environmental benefits for local communities. It keeps growing because we keep asking questions. Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

Heirloom—Older, non-hybrid varieties of produce, including fruit trees, herbs and vegetables. Heritage breeds—Ancestral breeds of poultry and livestock that often take longer to reach market weight, but have more flavor. Local—Grown or raised within a three-hour driving radius of the consumer’s purchase site. Pastured—Livestock raised on pastures instead of factory farms. Traceability—Precise tracking by a farmer that informs the consumer of which chicken hatched a specific clutch of eggs, which farm grew a cantaloupe and which mill boiled down and bottled the sorghum syrup. Wild-caught—Fish that live and are caught in open lakes, streams or oceans. For more current agricultural, market and trade terms, visit LexiconOfSustainability.com. natural awakenings

July 2016

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photo by Deb Durant

ANIMAL WELFARE LEXICON by Tracey Narayani Glover

eciphering the significance of food labels can be daunting, particularly when seeking to understand what they mean for animal welfare. U.S. food labeling laws are notoriously weak, resulting in vague and sometimes misleading marketing claims. Legally, there is no definition of humane, which means that industry organizations are left to define this and other terms themselves. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) simply verifies that these companies comply with their own self-defined standards. Certified organic animals and freerange birds must be allowed outdoor access, yet these standards do not define the amount, duration or quality of access required. For example, the Certified Organic label doesn’t set any space requirements for animals housed indoors, nor prohibit the use of farrowing crates or gestation stalls which can be so small that the confined animals can’t turn around or roll over. The Cage-Free label indicates that eggs came from hens that were never confined to a cage and have had unlimited access to food, water and the freedom to roam. The reality is that most cage-free hens spend their entire lives in a shed where, due to overcrowding, they have barely more space than caged birds. Also, under all labels, it’s standard

industry practice to kill the male chicks born to the egg industry. The Cage-Free label is particularly misleading when placed on anything other than egg cartons, because chickens raised for meat are never caged. Under most of the common labels, including Certified Organic, Cage-Free and Free-Range, physical mutilations such as horn removal, tail docking, debeaking and castration are permitted, and in most cases, providing pain relief is not required during these procedures. Animals form strong bonds with their young. In sanctuaries, pigs spend their lives with their piglets, mother cows form immediate and lifelong bonds with their calves, and chickens protect and communicate with their chicks. The routine practice of separating mothers from their young is standard under all labels. Whether an animal is raised for meat or for other products such as dairy or eggs, most agricultural animals will eventually be slaughtered at a fraction of their natural lifespan. Animals such as dairy cows and egg-laying hens are killed when their production declines. Veal (the meat of a baby cow) is considered to be a byproduct of the dairy industry, and the USDA estimates that 2,000 calves are slaughtered each day in the U.S. Be wary of the unregulated

Humanely Raised label and the American Humane Certified label, which offer little improvement over the standard factory farming practices that many consumers abhor. The Certified Humane label, a program of Humane Farm Animal Care, is more stringent about living conditions, requiring that all animals have space that allows for exercise and freedom of movement, prohibiting crates, cages and tethers. It also has some limitations on physical mutilations, prohibiting debeaking and requiring pain relief for some other procedures at older ages. Under the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) label, products are ranked by a five-tiered rating system, with 1 being the least rigorous and 5 the most. GAP prohibits intensive confinement at all levels and only allows debeaking and tail docking up to its level 3 standard. Both the Certified Humane and the GAP labels go beyond the protections of the Humane Slaughter Act, requiring the butchery of cattle, pigs and sheep to comply with certain standards developed in partnership with Temple Grandin and the North American Meat Institute. The Animal Welfare Approved label likely offers the greatest independent protection of any label. It’s the only label to require pasture access for all animals, prohibit beak trimming of birds and tail docking of pigs, and mandate audited slaughter practices of most farmed animals. Concerned consumers might ask if there is any humane way to kill a sentient being that doesn’t want to die. Despite the perplexing state of food labeling, it’s still possible to eat compassionately. Visit local farms and ask questions or do what many conscientious consumers around the world are doing to ensure that their food choices reflect their values—stick to a plant-based diet, thus leaving animals and their byproducts off our plates entirely. Tracey Narayani Glover, J.D., is an animal advocate, writer, owner and chef of The Pure Vegan, and yoga and meditation teacher in Mobile, AL. Connect at ThePureVegan.com and ARCForAllBeings.org.

natural awakenings

July 2016

naturalpet

COOL CHOW Icy Treats for Hot Summer Days by Sandra Murphy

tasty ways. After removing strings, n 2015, manufacturers of commerfill celery logs with plain yogurt and cial dog and cat foods and treats freeze. To serve, cut into one-bite issued 28 recalls, some for multiple pieces appropriate for a dog’s size. products, due to the potential presAnother easy favorite is fillence of listeria or salmonella bacteria, ing an ice cube tray two-thirds full mold, dangerous levels of cumuwith Greek-style or traditional plain latively harmful propylene glycol, yogurt mixed with diced strawberries inadequate thiamine, elevated levels or whole blueberries of vitamin D, off odors Use the freshest and freeze overnight. or labeling problems (Tinyurl.com/PetFood ingredients, organic For cats, omit the fruit and instead add bits ManufacturerRecalls). and non-GMO (no of mercury-free waterIn response, homemade treats have grown in genetic modification) packed tuna or salmon as a special treat. Add popularity to ensure that pets enjoy safe and where possible; tuna fresh or dried catnip to healthy snacks. or salmon in a pouch catch Kitty’s attention. “Once when fixing “Most summer is safer than BPA- dinner, I dropped a fruits work naturally to piece of frozen yellow cool the body,” advises canned fish. squash and the dogs Cathy Alinovi, co-author dove for it,” says writer Livia J. Washof Dinner PAWsible: A Cookbook of burn, in Azle, Texas, of her ChihuaNutritious Homemade Meals for Cats huas. “Nicki waits for things to hit the and Dogs, in Pine Village, Indiana. floor; Nora showed her game face and “Healthful treats, made from the best won the Squash War.” ingredients, are a good way to take a “Obesity is the number one nubreak from summer heat.” tritional disease affecting our pets, so She suggests taking a refreshing summertime activities that avoid overlook at low-calorie fruits and veggies heating are vital for overall health,” says such as stuffed celery used in creative,

Southeast Texas

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Veterinarian Jeff Werber, a veterinary medical journalist with a Los Angeles practice. “Proper nutrition is critical— not only to the foods we feed, but to the treats we give.” Twelve years ago, Rick Woodford’s Belgian Malinois/Labrador mix, Jackson, was diagnosed with lymphoma. In order to keep him eating, Woodford shared his own food. Jackson lived an additional four years, in part due to improved nutrition. “Portion control is important,” he says. “What’s right for an 80-pound dog is way too much for a 30-pounder.” Woodford, the author of Feed Your Best Friend Better and Chow, lives near Portland, Oregon. Frosty Paws is a lower lactose version of ice cream for dogs and discriminating cats. Recipes for homemade versions can be found online. The basics are one ripe, mashed banana, 32 ounces of plain or vanilla yogurt and two tablespoons of honey, all mixed in a blender and frozen in small ice cube trays. Variations may substitute goat’s milk yogurt or add a quarter-cup of strawberries, cranberries or blueberries for antioxidants in lieu of the honey. Frozen vegetable broth, primed with added bits of cooked chopped spinach, broccoli, carrots or a small cheese cube, is a hit with dogs. Cats like theirs with tidbits of chicken, turkey or a few shreds of cheese. Using a bone-shaped ice cube tray lets humans know it’s the pet’s treat. “When I was developing frozen treat recipes, my husband came in from the yard one hot afternoon and went straight to the freezer,” says Paris Permenter about John Bigley, co-authors of The Healthy Hound Cookbook, in Cedar Park, Texas, who live with mixed breeds Irie and Tiki. “I watched him eat two helpings of the dog ice cream and then told him what it was. We often share our food with our dogs. It was nice for them to share their goodies with us!” The bottom line for the best summertime treats is to go healthy, be creative, use fresh ingredients, don’t overindulge and stay cool. Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.

Plum and Apple Coolers

photo courtesy of The Healthy Hound Cookbook

One batch makes enough cubes to treat both a large- and medium-size dog.

Frosty Treats for Furry Friends Cooling Recipes Fido’s Frozen Fruit Pupsicles 4 cups water 1 Tbsp blackstrap molasses (optional) 1 cup fresh fruit (no grapes or raisins), chopped Wash and core all fruit. Blueberries and strawberries are popular with most dogs, while others enjoy melons, peaches and apples. Chop fruit into bite-sized pieces. Mix fruit with water and molasses.

Transfer frozen cubes to a zip-top plastic bag; stores up to 2 months in the freezer. Source: The Healthy Hound Cookbook, by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

Watermelon Slush Low-calorie watermelon is high in potassium and magnesium plus vitamins A and C; filled with fluid, it helps prevent dehydration. Blackstrap molasses has less sugar and more minerals than other sweeteners.

Source: The Healthy Hound Cookbook, by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

2 cups cubed watermelon, seeds removed ½ cup strawberries 1 Tbsp. blackstrap molasses ½ cup coconut water 1 cup ice

Mango Sorbet

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix.

Freeze the mix in ice cube trays, small tubs or Popsicle molds.

2 ripe mangos, peeled Juice of 1 orange Juice of 1 lime ½ cup unsweetened almond milk

Serve in a bowl as a slushie treat or pour into ice cube trays and freeze.

Add all ingredients to a blender and purée.

Or share a slice of fun. Many dogs love plain watermelon slices. Be sure the animal doesn’t eat the seeds or rind.

Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.

Source: The Healthy Hound Cookbook, by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

(10-lb dog: 1 to 2 cubes; 20-lb dog: 3 to 4 cubes; 40-lb dog: 4 to 5 cubes; 60-lb dog: 5 to 6 cubes; 80-lb dog: 6 to 7 cubes; 100-lb dog: 7 to 8 cubes) 6 plums, washed and pitted 1 Tbsp filtered water, to begin 1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch cubes (no seeds) Purée the plums and water in a blender or food processor. Add another 1 or 2 tablespoons of water if needed. Spread the apples in the ice cube tray and spoon the plum purée on top. Don’t pack, or it will become a denser cube. Freeze for 4 hours. Serve the cubes one by one (outdoors may be best) or in a big bowl. Source: Chow, by Rick Woodford

Ingredients to Avoid Avoid peanut and other nut butters or any ingredient with xylitol, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, coffee and caffeine, onions, chives, garlic, nuts and salty snack foods. Chocolate is also on the no-go list; the darker the chocolate, the worse it is for pets; baking chocolate is the most dangerous. If a pet eats any of these, try to determine how much and contact the family veterinarian, a veterinary emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. For a full list of foods to avoid, visit Tinyurl.com/ASPCA-Foods2Avoid. natural awakenings

July 2016

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Info@NA-SETexas.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

FRIDAY, JULY 1

TUESDAY, JULY 12

Concert Series Lake Jackson – July 1 & July 4. 7-10pm. Rain or Shine bring your lawn chairs and enjoy live music. Free. Lake Jackson Civic Center Memorial Plaza, 333 Hwy 332, Lake Jackson. 979- 415-2600. LakeJackson-TX.gov.

Introduction to Herbalism – 7-9pm. Introductory class on using herbs for better health. The class will cover topics including different body systems, herbal actions, and ways to use herbs for different conditions and to strengthen the body. $25/person. St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Room 106, 2535 E. Broadway, Pearland. Sign up via email at Susie@TheHerbalistJournal.com, or 832-202-4391.

MONDAY, JULY 4 Firecracker 4 Run – 7:30am. Four mile run goes through old-town Lake Jackson and ends at Dunbar Park with refreshments, door prizes and awards. Fee $25. Dunbar Park, 198 Anchusa, Lake Jackson. Ljfat.com/dow-firecracker-4-2/. “Honoring Your Local Heroes” – 10am-10pm. The 121st Annual Fourth of July Celebration. Parade & Day program from 10am-3:30pm. Night program begins at 7:30pm with fireworks at approximately 9:20pm. Free. Ci.Friendswood.TX.us/July-4thCelebration/. Kids Sumer Camp Session 5: International Fusion! – July 4-8, 1-4:30pm. Summer cooking camp for kids! Session 5 of 7 camp options. Menu includes Moroccan couscous, Mediterranean hummus, basic sushi, and much more. Limited to 12 students. $300/camper, discounts for siblings. The Kitchen Chick, 528 23rd St, Galveston. 409-497-2999. TheKitchenChick.com. Celebration of Freedom – 6-10pm. A VFW military salute will begin the evening’s entertainment, followed by a performance of the National Anthem. Then feature band entertains the crowd until a spectacular fireworks show at 9pm. Pearland High School Football Stadium, 3775 S. Main St, Pearland. PearlandTX.gov.

TUESDAY, JULY 5 2 Hot Tuesdays – 12:30-10pm. Cool off every Tuesday this summer at Bob S Owen pool, with 3 tube slides, spray park and 3 shaded pavilions. Admission fee for Tuesdays only $2. Bob S Owen Pool, 919 Bayou Dr., Alvin. 281-388-4299.

SATURDAY, JULY 9 Pearland Old Townsite Farmer’s Market – 8am-Noon. 2nd & 4th Saturday. Zychlinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd, Pearland. PearlandOldTownsiteFarmersMarket.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 10 Drive ‘N Movies – 8pm. Park yourselves in a hitting bay or at the Rooftop Terrace and catch a family friendly flick! Featured movie, Inside Out. Free. Topgolf (on Rooftop Terrace), 21401 Gulf Freeway, Webster. 832-632-4748.

MONDAY, JULY 11 Mondays at the Museum – July 11 & July 18. 9:3011am. Kids ages 4-6 can experience the world around them through stories, crafts and other activities. $10 Summer at the Center bag available for an additional $5.The Center for the Arts & Sciences, 400 College Blvd., Clute. TheCenter@BCFAS.org.

Southeast Texas

FRIDAY, JULY 15 Marlin Spike Seamanship 101 – 2-3pm. Be a part of a great, nautical knot tying class. Learn and practice the Turks Head knot, which can be used as a marker on a ship’s wheel or even to make jewelry! Everyone will take home a Turks head bracelet. $12 kids, $15 adults. Texas Seaport Museum, 2100 Harborside, Galveston. GalvestonHistory.org. Food Truck Friday – 5-9pm. Enjoy an evening of good food and entertainment. Food trucks, vendors and music. Butler Longhorn Museum, 1220 Coryell St., League City. ButlerLonghornMuseum.com. Heaven Knows “An Evening with Spirit” with Medium Heather Hildebrand – 7-9:30pm. Come experience a night you will never forget witnessing messages of love from heaven above. 100% of proceeds benefit The Walk to End Breast Cancer. $50. The Showboat Pavilion, 416 6th Street North, Texas City. HeatherHildebrand.com/events/.

SATURDAY, JULY 16 Lunar Rendezvous 5K – 7:30am. The annual Fun Run takes place at the Space Center Houston on the grounds of the NASA Johnson Space Center. The run is a 5K that is fun for all ages and abilities. T-shirts and refreshments for all participants. $20 fee. Space Center Houston, 1601 NASA Rd., Houston. Jay@OntheRunTX.com. Bird Banding – 8am-12pm. Volunteers will collect baseline data on bird populations at the sanctuary. Banding station is an excellent opportunity to see birds up close. Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 299 W. Hwy. 332, Lake Jackson. 979- 480-0999. GCBO.com. Alvin Farmer’s Market – 9am-2pm. Produce stands, sweet treats, unique handmade gifts. Alvin Train Depot, 200 Centre Blvd., Alvin. 281-388-4299.

THURSDAY, JULY 21 Operation Recreation – 11am-2pm. Fun filled afternoon of activities, treats, and lots of outdoor fun. Free. Briscoe Park, 3201 Highway 35, Alvin. Alvin-TX.gov. Unicity Transformation Presentation – 7-8pm. Hear from our professionals how to transform your health, reach your goals with weight and decreasing or eliminating medications through our 90 day program. You will hear many testimonials & sample medically endorsed products. Hampton Inn & Suites, 2320 Gulf Fwy S., League City. RSVP via text by July 19th to 832-274-4853. DefineYourU.com.

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SATURDAY, JULY 23 Pearland Old Townsite Farmer’s Market – 8am-Noon. 2nd & 4th Saturday. Zychlinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd, Pearland. PearlandOldTownsiteFarmersMarket.com.

MONDAY, JULY 25 Paws to Read – July 25 & 28. 11am-12pm. Children’s event. Stop by the Children’s Department and read a story to one of the library’s furry canine friends. Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy Street, Galveston. 409-763-8854.

THURSDAY, JULY 28 Natural Awakenings Southeast Texas Ribbon Cutting – 4-5pm. Come and celebrate the addition of Natural Awakenings Southeast Texas to the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce. League City Chamber Offices, 319 E. Galveston St., League City. 281-338-7339. Great Texas Mosquito Festival – July 28-30. Carnival, food, live music and entertainment. Clute Municipal Park, 100 Parkview Dr., Clute. MosquitoFestival.com

FRIDAY, JULY 29 Set a Sail – 2-3pm. Join Texas Seaport Museum’s volunteer crew in setting a sail at dock on the 1877 Iron Barque ELISSA. Learn the language of seafaring. $12 kids, $15 adults. Texas Seaport Museum, 2100 Harborside, Galveston. GalvestonHistory.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 30 Mosquito Chase 5K Run – 7pm. Run as part of the Great Texas Mosquito Festival (see listing July 28). $25. Clute Municipal Pool, 100 Parkview Dr., Clute.

plan ahead MONDAY, AUGUST 1 Kids Sumer Camp Session 7: Brunch Favorites! – Aug 1-5, 1-4:30pm. Summer cooking camp for kids! Session 7 of 7 camp options. Menu includes blueberry pancake pops, fresh fruit smoothies, summer veggie quiche, and much more. Limited to 12 students. $300/camper, discounts for siblings. The Kitchen Chick, 528 23rd St, Galveston. 409-497-2999. TheKitchenChick.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 Blanket Bingo – 6pm. Pack a picnic, bring a blanket and get ready for some live BINGO action at National Oak Park. $1/card. Game will be followed by Zootopia movie at 8pm. National Oak Park, E Sealy St., Alvin. 281-388-4299

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 RCN Birthday Bash – 10am-2pm. Inflatables, health fair, door prizes, free giveaways. Pearland Recreation Center and Natatorium, 4141 Bailey Rd., Pearland. 281-412-8900.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20 Alvin Farmer’s Market – 9am-2pm. Produce stands, sweet treats, unique handmade gifts. Alvin Train Depot, 200 Centre Blvd., Alvin. 281-388-4299.

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Info@NA-SETexas.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

sunday Galveston’s Own Farmers’ Market – 9am1pm. Offering locally grown produce, prepared foods and edible farm products. 2508 Postoffice St, Galveston. 832-819-1561. Facebook.com/ GalvestonsOwnFarmersMarket. Yoga Nidra – 7pm. A soft flow of yoga asanas to prepare the body and mind for the deep, guided meditation of yoga nidra (yogic sleep), to calm the restless mind and deepen conscious awareness. Bring towel and mat. $15/drop-in. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. TheYogaHaven.net.

monday Between Jobs Ministry Support Group – 1pm. Meeting every Monday to provide encouragement, information, resources, networking assistance and spiritual guidance. Free. Gateway Community Church, 760 Clear Lake Boulevard, Webster. 281- 286-1515. Yoga 101 – 5:30-6:45pm. With Kathleen. Foundational hatha yoga for students new to yoga or returning to practice. Fine tune basic skills that will deepen your understanding and enjoyment of the practice of yoga. Bring towel and mat. $15/dropin. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. TheYogaHaven.net.

tuesday Senior Tuesday – All day. On Tuesdays, anyone 65 years and up can visit Moody Gardens for $5/ attraction per senior. Restrictions may apply. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston. 800-582-4673. MoodyGardens.com. Meditation – 9:30-10:30am. Unity Bay Area Houston, 1911 Hwy 3 S, League City. 281-554-2450. UnityOfBayArea.org. Yoga with Vanessa - 6:30-7:30pm. All levels welcome. Class centered around beginners/ intermediate. Hatha style teaching, expect to feel stretched out and relaxed. $15 drop-in & other payment options. First session FREE. 713-594-2128

wednesday Oneness Blessing Meditation – 6:30-8pm. Visit for a unique experience that brings each person into a closer connection with one another and God. Unity Bay Area Houston, 1911 Hwy 3 S, League City. 281-554-2450. UnityOfBayArea.org.

“Celebrate Recovery” – 7-8pm. If you struggle with, or are currently struggling with or are concerned you might have an addiction issue, these meetings are for you. First Presbyterian Church, 1402 W Broad St, Freeport. 281-728-6263. Small Dog Socialization – 7:30-8:15pm. Bring in small dogs to have fun and socialize. Gimmie a Bark, 101 E Edgewood Dr, Friendswood. 281-482-1911. GimmieABark.com.

thursday Yoga with Vanessa - 6:30-7:30pm. All levels welcome. Class centered around beginners/ intermediate. Hatha style teaching, expect to feel stretched out and relaxed. $15 drop-in & other payment options. First session FREE. 713-594-2128

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Gluten Intolerance Group of the Gulf Coast – 6:30-8pm. All are welcome. UTMB Health Angleton Danbury campus Professional Building (next to hospital), 146 Hospital Dr, Angleton. Contact Jackie. 979-236-1019.

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friday Board Games You’ve Never Played! – 2-5pm. Teens ages 12-18 play board games, strategy games, and card games like you’ve NEVER played before. Prizes every week. Moore Memorial Public Library, 1701 9th Avenue North, Texas City. 409-643-5977. Movie in the Park – 7:30pm. Every Friday evening in July enjoy a different movie. Free to the public. Evelyn B. Newman Amphitheater at Centennial Park, 2200 South Friendswood Drive, Friendswood. 281-996-3220. Concert in the Park Friendswood – 7pm. Every Friday evening in June, enjoy a different concert. Free to the public. Stevenson Park Gazebo, 1100 S. Friendswood Dr, Friendswood. Ci.Friendswood.TX.us/Concerts-in-the-Park/. Concerts in the Park Live Music – 7-9pm. Southdown Park, 2150 Countryplace Parkway, Pearland. 281-412-8900. PearlandParks.com.

saturday Free Community Workout Demo – 9am. Workout with CFA at no charge with professional trainers, bring a friend too! A combo of Bootcamp & CrossFit formats included. FREE. CFA Cross-Fit, 2215 Avenue G, Bay City. 281-639-1295. CrossFitAcquire.com. Nassau Bay Farmers Market – 10am-2pm. Every Saturday. Locally grown, high quality organic produce and related products from local growers available. Erma’s Nutrition Center, 18045 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay.

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July 2016

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

Hooked on Acupuncture community clinic in Galveston is a healing place that is affordable, welcoming, nurturing, inspiring and educational. We heal with acupuncture and herbs. See ad, page 17.

CHIROPRACTIC GALVESTON PHYSICAL MEDICINE Dr. Chad Duchon 2724 61st St, Galveston 409-744-9355 GalvestonSpine.com

The team here serves the people of Galveston with the best in medical and alternative care. Call today to schedule a consultation, mention Natural Awakenings to receive entire New Patient Exam for only $27. See ad, page 21.

Underground Pilates& Barre is a fitness studio implementing the equipment and techniques of Joseph P i l a t e s a n d To t a l Barre™. It is a fully equipped studio, offering private, semi-private and small group classes with our certified instructors. See ad, page 17.

GALVESTON WELLNESS CENTER Dr. Pedro Lozano D.C., PSc, B.Sc. 520 20th Street, Galveston 409-621-2225 GalvestonWellnessCenter.com

Attend one of our FREE DINNER talks to learn about what you can do to REVERSE DIABETES, manage stress hormones & health, learn the TRUE cause of belly fat and IMPROVE thyroid hormone imbalances. Check calendar and call to learn more. See ad, page 23.

GREEN PRODUCTS

16920 N. Texas Ave, Ste D8, Webster 832-835-8023 CoachFitMe.com Not you standard workout class! CoachFitMe offers a variety of power classes including HIIT, Personal Training, Bootcamp, Kickboxing, Bodysculpt, We i g h t Tr a i n i n g , M M A , Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Spinning, and now Power Yoga, Iron Yoga, and Hot Yoga! See ad, page 31.

Southeast Texas

i-CRYO

1260 East League City Parkway, League City 832-905-2962 i-CRYO.com i-CRYO offers local and whole body cryotherapy, cryo facials, chiropractic s e r v i c e s , H I PA A compliant health assessments, Normatec Compression Therapy, health & nutrition assessments. Cryotherapy helps muscle recovery, reduce inflammation and pain. See ad, page 13.

ISLAND BRAINWORKS, LLC

340 STEAMERS

Brainwave Optimization® 2220 Post Office St, Galveston 713-299-2277/409-599-7268 IslandBrainWorks.com

Offering commercial grade household streamers for deep cleaning WITHOUT toxic fumes or chemicals. Lots of before/after pictures on our FB page, call now for a FREE inhome demo! See ad page 11.

Brainwave Optimization ® (BWO) is science-based, effective and holistic; a non-inv asive method of achieving brain balance and harmony. By acting es like a mirror to brain patterns, t to n , isla n d BWO allows the brain to autocorrect itself with individually tailored real-time methodology for brainwave activity using EEG technology. Appointments only. See ad, page 17.

1021 61st Street, Galveston 281-546-3725 Facebook.com/340Steamers

HEALTH FOOD STORE HEALTH FOOD COTTAGE 1840 7th Street, Bay City 979-245-3833 HFCottage.com

Offering supplements, wellness products, specialty foods including gluten free and vegan options. Our experienced staff can help you find the RIGHT wellness products. Mention Natural Awakenings for 10% off Tuesdays!

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rainwork s db

COACHFITME

HOLISTIC CENTER

FITNESS STUDIO

Natural health and skin care products (Old South Essentials), classes on herbs, plant medicine and essential oils. Get your body in balance – naturally. See column, page 16.

g al

Specializing in reducing symptoms of many disorders by improving the brain & body’s ability to relax utilizing neurofeedback and Christian counseling. Our goal is to help our clients achieve improved physical, emotional, and spiritual health. See ad, page 12.

Susie Lyons Pearland 832-202-4391 TheHerbalistJournal.com

l.l.

Dr. Stephanie McClung 3607 Broadway Ave, Galveston 409-300-3117 GalvestonBrainChangers.com

THE HERBALIST JOURNAL

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

COUNSELING GALVESTON BRAIN CHANGERS

HERBALIST

Clint McCallum, LAc 2505 Market St, Galveston 409-241-3199 HookedOnAcupuncture.com

607 S Friendswood Dr, Suite 21, Friendswood 281-797-6442 UndergroundPilatesTX.com

HOOKED ON ACUPUNCTURE

UNDERGROUND PILATES & BARRE

isla n

ACUPUNCTURE

HYPNOSIS SOUTHEAST HYPNOSIS CENTER Dr. Rose Klein 607 S Friendswood Dr #1, Friendswood 281-996-8000 SoutheastHypnosis.com

Southeast Hypnosis Center has helped thousands of people make positive changes in their lives through personalized one-on-one hypnosis sessions to stop smoking, lose weight, improve confidence and reduce stress. Call for free hypnosis interview. See ad, page 3.

MASSAGE WELLNESS INTEGRATION CENTER

5517 West Broadway St, Suite D, Pearland 832-294-9640 WellnessIC.com We l l n e s s c e n t e r featuring massage and yoga, and offering reflexology and reiki. We strive to provide our community healing services to support individual wellness needs. Book online any time at WellnessIC.com. New clients: mention Natural Awakenings for a special discount.

BAY AREA IN HOME MASSAGE EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN Leia McCumber, League City 832-588-1060 LeagueCityMassage.com

Imagine enjoying a professional massage in the comfort of your own home. Mobile massage now available by expert therapist with rave reviews. Text today to schedule an appointment. See ad, page 19.

NUTRITION MY NUTRITION WORX

Shelley Hayes/Nutrition Consultant 832-274-4853 ShelleysNutritionWorks@gmail.com Shelley, an expert in nutrition and body transformation with her 90day program using medically endorsed, clinically proven Unicity products. With her caring coaching and support, you are GUARANTEED to get results! Call now. See ad, page 19.

REAL ESTATE YOUR PEACE OF PARADISE Dee Richmond, Realtor, CNE The House Company 409-370-4572 YourPeaceOfParadise.com

From the city to the beach, where you live, work and play. Let me help you buy, sell or lease your Peace of Paradise on beautiful Galveston Island. I will be there every step of the way. See ad, page 7.

YOGA AFRO YOGA

Pearland & Friendswood 281-451-1676 AfroYogaInternational.com Explore ways to feel easeful in your own body using breath and gentle deliberate movement as your tools. Private and small group sessions serve all ages: athletes, veterans, seniors, pre/post-surgery, families, and pre/post-natal. Call for more information.

THE YOGA HAVEN

2507 Market St, Galveston 409-770-9995 TheYogaHaven.net For 10 years offering the path of yoga for vibrant body, awakened mind and open heart, the studio provides an inspiring environment for yoga classes. Daily classes for students of all levels; special workshops and events offered.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Info@NA-SETexas.com. OPPORTUNITIES ARE YOU A WRITER? – We are looking for a writer to interview local business owners and help us share their story! Connect with your community. Monthly contract work. Please email your name, phone number and area you live to Info@ NA-SETexas.com. WORK OPPTY IN LAKE JACKSON/ ANGLETON/W.COLUMBIA/BAY CITY AREAS – Looking for drivers to drop magazines one day a month to local businesses. Must have a driver’s license, car and valid insurance. Positive attitude. Growth opportunities available. Email your name, phone number & area you live to Info@NA-SETexas.com. GRAPHIC DESIGNER NEEDED – Do you know InDesign and enjoy creative design? Join the NA team creating print & online ads for our business partners. Able to work on tight timeframes, have portfolio & positive attitude. Contact Info@NA-SETexas.com.

SERVICES HOLISTIC BODY WORK – Bayou Rolfing can re-align the body to ease pain or correct posture. Rolfing smooths connective tissue for better movement. 281-910-4782.

SPACE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE SPACE? – Market your available rooms or space for rent here to individuals reading this magazine, looking for space to grow. Email Info@NA-SETeas.com for more information.

WELLNESS NUTRITION & BODYWORK Jennifer Steakley, LMT, NTP 306 S Friendswood Dr, #C4, Friendswood 713-714-3700 ThatWellnessPlace.com

Individualized nutrition counseling for clients dealing with chronic health issues. Group nutrition classes using the RESTART Program. Let me show you how to eat your way to wellness! See ad, page 11.

natural awakenings

July 2016

WANT TO CONNECT WITH OUR READERS? THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL CALENDAR AND MARKETING PLANNER

Empowering Youth

A U G

plus: Creativity

Our Readers Are Seeking These Providers & Services: Children’s Natural & Integrative Health Providers Art/Dance/Alternative Education Facilities Nurturing Day Care Centers • Playgrounds/Safe Toys Gardening Supplies • Green Books & Other Resources Bicycle/Pet/Resale Shops Natural/Organic Food Stores • Community Gardens ... and this is just a partial list!

The Yoga Issue plus: Healing Music

Our Readers Are Seeking These Providers & Services: Yoga Classes, Studios, Teachers, Events & Workshops Wellness Trainers & Coaches • Life Coaches Natural Recreational Supplies • Yoga Apparel & Gear Natural Healthcare Practitioners Natural, Organic Foods & Supplements Concerts, Music Festivals & Recorded Music Providers ... and this is just a partial list!

S E P T

Chiropractic Issue

O C T

plus: Game Changers

Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services For: General, Advanced & Sports Chiropractors Independent Living Aids • Mobility Supplies Integrative & Natural Healthcare Providers Bodywork & Energy Healing • Physical Therapy Gyms, Fitness & Yoga Centers • Wellness Trainers Community Activists Groups • Civic Organizations & Clubs ... and this is just a partial list!

Roxanne Pirooz, Publisher • NA-SETexas.com

Southeast Texas NA-SETexas.com 409-939-8156 • Info@NA-SETexas