IMPROVING ORGANIC The Promise of Regenerative Farming
Striving for Toxin-Free Living Go Green at the Grocery
Therapeutic Diets for Autistic Children
Designing a Nutritious Menu They Will Love
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Is it just me, or does the spring season put more pep in your step, too?
While the past few years have brought a family of robins nesting just outside my front door, this year they seem to have been usurped by an adorable mockingbird that races through the melodies of fellow feathered friends in between feeding on the abundance of holly berries produced by the bush. It’s no wonder I find spring such a beautiful time to enjoy the bounty of nature.
Within our pages this month you’ll find reason for optimism as it relates to nature and its ability to thrive when nurtured and allowed to regenerate as Mother Nature intended. In the Wise Words department, you’ll hear from Jeff Moyer, CEO of Rodale Institute, a nonprofit which has been dedicated to research and the implementation of regenerative organic farming practices since 1947.
Moyer offers evidence that regenerative organic agriculture may very well be the answer to feeding the masses, whereas conventional agriculture is “doomed to failure over time” due to the unsustainable practices that continue to deplete our soil, harvest after harvest. He goes further to explain how the hidden costs, buried in the tax structure of the conventional model of industrial agriculture, skew the perception that healthy organic food must cost more at point of purchase.
As more and more people demand healthy, pesticide- and GMO-free food at affordable prices, the old system will be forced to change.
According to Feeding America, a nonprofit which has provided over 5.2 billion meals to Americans, it is estimated that 40 percent of all the food produced in the United States each year is wasted. That’s more than $408 billion in food waste annually.
Aside from the fact that I prefer to consume pesticide/GMO-free foods whenever possible, the current higher cost paid at the register helps to ensure I don’t purchase more than I’ll eat before it goes bad. Though it happens, there’s something deeply frustrating about having to toss out food that I’ve neglected in the fridge.
Another way I’ve found that helps me be more conscious about food waste has been visiting local farms and purchasing direct from farmers. I like knowing where my food is coming from as well as knowing that my money is going directly back into the local economy.
As always, it is my wish that you find something within these pages that offers a solution to something you or a loved one may be facing.
Enjoy the sweet surprises of spring!
Peace, Maisie
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This May, join Natural Awakenings and KnoWEwell for a series of women's wellness events entitled Overcoming Stress: How to Balance It All. Each Tuesday at 8 p.m., top integrative and functional medicine experts in women’s health will present cutting-edge insights into the many ways that stress can impact hormones, thyroid function, fertility and libido, and also provide tangible recommendations to improve skin care, aging, sleep and mindset. The speakers are:
· Anna Cabeca, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, author of The Hormone Fix
· Trevor Cates, naturopathic doctor, author of Clean Skin From Within
· Anne Marie Fine, naturopathic doctor, author of Cracking the Beauty Code
· Carrie Jones, functional medicine physician specializing in hormone and thyroid health
· Jaquel Patterson, naturopathic physician, success coach, author of Women and Lyme
· Carol A. Penn, board-certified physician, mindset coach, author of Meditation in a Time of Madness
· Arti Chandra, naturopathic doctor, author of Hormone Harmony Over 35
· Jaclyn Smeaton, naturopathic doctor specializing in hormone health and reproductive medicine
· Kela Smith, holistic-integrative fertility and hormone doctor
· Jyl Steinbeck, personal trainer and lifestyle expert
The $59 event fee includes all Tuesday evening sessions. To learn more and register, visit Tinyurl.com/KWWseries or scan the QR Code.
Anasa Personalized Medicine is throwing an Anniversary Celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., April 6, at its office in Providence. Meet the doctors, use the body composition machine and try the new BEMER device. Guests can win fun raffle prizes and enjoy small bites from Rhody Roots restaurant. All supplements will be discounted 10 percent during the event.
Dr. Chrysanthi Kazantzis (Dr. Kaz), lead physician and owner of Anasa Personalized Medicine, and her team specialize in naturopathic medicine. The doctors are experts in naturopathic and functional medicine and use a personalized approach with each patient to achieve optimal health. They engage in thorough medical intakes and physical exams to provide a customized treatment plan to each patient. This plan includes clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, supplements, homeopathy and reiki to help people take charge of their health.
RSVP with QR code or email AnasaMedicine@gmail.com. For more information, visit AnasaMedicine.com. See ad on page 8 and Resource Guide on page 37.
Join Cécile Raynor, founder of Cecile’s Wise Ways, from 7 to 9 p.m., April 10, for a two-hour, interactive online workshop to experience a sneak preview to the launch of her Activate Your Body Intelligence course beginning April 17.
Raynor’s work empowers people to find more well-being as they discover how to activate their own body intelligence. “We have become a society of people stationed in our heads, more often than not,” she explains. “This has increasingly created a disconnect with our body awareness which has led to postural challenges for many people.”
Her current workshop and course are about getting sustainable results when it comes to reducing, eliminating or preventing chronic tension or pain. This work leads people towards optimal integrated functioning of their mind, body, heart and soul which enables integrated living for the benefit of peace everywhere.
Raynor helps people understand the crucial difference between listening to in-the-moment pain signals within the body and listening to their whole-body intelligence guidance which can be activated on demand. “This insight alone can take them to the next step in their journey towards well-being,” she says.
Cost: Workshop fee is $45. For more information, call 857-245-9488 or visit CecileRaynor.com. See Resource Guide on page 37.
Deepen your relationship with plants, the natural world and the cycling seasons with this foundational course in home herbalism and ecological gardening, based upon the Wheel of the Year. Offered both online and in-person, the in-person class begins April 29, at Muddy River Herbals farm, in Canton, Massachusetts, and takes place once a month through October; the online class is ongoing.
This joyful program features medicine making, plant profiles, earth connection practices and holistic gardening techniques. The seasonally inspired content is rich, layered and presented in a way that is easy to digest and understand. Classes include lessons on practical, tangible and down-to-earth skills which are woven together with practices of the heart and spirit. Each gathering is focused on the energies of the season and the importance of plants that sustain not only us but the birds, pollinators and other local creatures. It offers people the opportunity to reconnect with their natural environment, wherever they may live.
For more information, call 617-504-1714 or visit LivingLand.Teachable.com.
To help those grieving the loss of a loved one, Angela Craig, owner of Spiritual Care Package, is hosting a workshop from 1 to 3:30 p.m., April 29, at the South County Art Association, in Kingston, Rhode Island.
Using mementos and inner creativity, participants will build a shadow box to honor and celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed. Craig says, “It is an exercise for you to express your love and your continued connection with this person. It allows you to feel both the sadness and the joy of that connection which ultimately promotes healing.”
The combination of art and creativity using special items that connect personally and uniquely to a loved one offers a type of cathartic healing in and of itself. A $20 supply fee will cover the cost of provided materials which include a 12-square-inch shadow box (black or white), a variety of paper, glue gun and double-sided tape, string, charms, clothespins, washi tape, markers, scissors and pins.
Cost: $60 members/$80 nonmembers. Location: 2587 Kingstown Rd., Kingston, RI. For more information, call 401-413-9462 or visit SpiritualCare Package.net/More-Musings-of-Memories.
Intuitive Tarot Reader Nicole Pirani is offering readings to people looking for an additional tool for self-care. For centuries, the Tarot deck has inspired conversations about the human experience. “Even today, the card meanings and imagery can be a useful tool for reflection and self-care,” Pirani says. “As the divination tool follows the Fool on its journey to enlightenment, it allows us to see personal journeys in a universal way, thus allowing the client to feel less alone.”
A reading with a thoughtful specialist can often clarify challenging situations, empower a decision or validate certain emotions. She confirms, “The sessions should be about personal growth and hope, not gloom and doom.”
For more information or to schedule a reading, call 781-698-9855 or visit NJPTarot.com. See Resource Guide on page 36.
Adequate vitamin D intake is essential for optimal health. The body depends on it for a variety of health and wellness processes, from a robust immune system to strong bones and improved mental health. It also lowers the risk of some cancers. Vitamin D may help the body fight off pathogens that cause colds, the flu and other diseases as well as alleviate some of the inflammation brought on by autoimmune illnesses.
It can be challenging to get enough vitamin D, though, due to the nature of the nutrient. About one in four Americans is thought to be vitamin D deficient. When deficient, a vitamin D injection can be helpful, as vitamin D3 is absorbed most effectively when it enters the circulation right away.
The Ivy Drip Bar, located at 7 Brighton St., Belmont, MA, is offering $10 off first injections when mentioning this brief. For more information, call 617-221-5070 or visit TheIvyDripBar.net. See ad on page 9 and Resource Guide on page 38.
A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry has shown that eating more fermented foods and fiber daily for just four weeks significantly lowered perceived stress levels. Forty-five participants with relatively low-fiber diets were split into two groups.
One group met with a dietitian that recommended a psychobiotic diet, which included six to eight daily servings of fruits and vegetables high in prebiotic fibers, such as onions, leeks, cabbage, apples, bananas and oats; five to eight daily servings of grains; three to four servings of legumes per week; and two to three daily servings of fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha. The control group received only general dietary advice based on the healthy eating food pyramid.
The group following the psychobiotic diet reported feeling less stressed compared with those in the control group. Moreover, significant changes in the level of certain key chemicals produced by gut microbes were found in these participants. Some of these chemicals have been linked to improved mental health, which could explain why the participants reported feeling less stressed. The quality of sleep improved in both groups, but those on the psychobiotic diet reported greater sleep improvements.
Pomegranate fruit has been widely used in traditional medicine, and a new, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine looked at the effects of taking pomegranate extract for a period of four weeks on different aspects of skin and gut health. Using facial imaging, researchers found the group that received the pomegranate extract had significant reductions in wrinkle severity and a decrease of forehead sebum excretion. They also found beneficial effects to the gut-skin axis, noting that par ticipants in the pomegranate extract group had a higher abundance of Eggerthellaceae in the gut with accompanying wrinkle reduction. The scientists concluded that the skin benefits from pomegranate extract may be due to the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of phytochemi cals, as pomegranate contains more than 100 bioactive constituents.
Researchers in the UK compared the effect that different types of daily movement had on overall cognition, memory and executive function. Their study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, reported that replacing sitting, sleeping or gentle movement with less than 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity (brisk walking, bicycling, running up and down stairs, aerobic dancing, jogging, running or swimming) can protect the brain and improve working memory and executive processes like planning and organization. The intensity of the exercise matters, and study participants that engaged in light physical activity, rather than more vigorous activity, saw declines in cognitive performance. However, light activity is still more beneficial than sitting, the scientists found.
The data for these findings was taken from the 1970 British Cohort Study, an ongoing survey that tracks the health of a group of UK-born adults. The group of nearly 4,500 participants consented, at age 46, to wear an activity tracker and complete verbal memory and executive functioning tests, and they were followed from 2016 to 2018.
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Two London-based roboticists, Mirko Kovac and Robert Stuart-Smith, have developed new technology that mimics the way bees work together to build a structure. They used two free-flying drones to build a human-sized tower. The “build drone” carried expanding foam and sprayed it in slow, steady circles to form layers, while the “scan drone” surveyed the structure and identified spots where the last layer was either too thin or too thick, and it then created a plan for the build drone to even things out on the next pass to keep the structure straight and sturdy. In a second demonstration of the technology, the drones made a cylinder the size of a large round cake using a cement-like material. The duo exhibited a great deal of precision in stacking the material to within millimeters.
The team plans to take the drones outdoors to deal with the elements and add to the complexity of the objectives and number of drones involved. If the technology can be perfected, these collaborative construction drones could be used in places where it is difficult for humans and heavy machinery to reach, like the tops of buildings, remote pipelines and disaster areas.
A Swedish battery manufacturer, Northvolt, in partnership with Stora Enso, one of the largest private forest owners in the world, has developed a battery for electric vehicles (EV) with an anode made of sustainably raised and harvested wood instead of graphite, paving the way for battery production from a renewable source.
The partners figured out a way to extract lignin, a carbon-rich natural binder that comprises up to 30 percent of many trees, and turn it into a material they call Lignode. According to Stora Enso, by replacing graphite or copper anodes with Lignode, lithium-ion batteries will offer faster charging and discharging, higher cycling stability and more efficient performance in low temperature.
More than 50 percent of the EV’s carbon footprint comes from the manufacture of its battery—both in sourcing raw materials and producing the component. Mining graphite is an expensive and labor-intensive process that requires considerable resources that come from parts of the world where workers’ rights are inadequately protected. While Northvolt’s battery is not on the market yet, this development, along with others like solid-state batteries, may help to reduce the carbon footprint of EVs.
Rapid ocean warming and other effects caused by climate change have stressed and degraded corals around the globe, and scientists have been studying ways to rebuild, manage and conserve these vital ecosystems. A new Australian study published in Journal of Applied Ecology tested whether playing certain sounds underwater at reef restoration sites could boost the recruitment of oysters and enhance their habitat-building activities. Australia’s flat oyster is a key reef-building organism targeted for restoration efforts.
Previous studies had shown that the sound of healthy reefs differs from that of damaged reefs. Using inexpensive marine speakers, the researchers reproduced the sound of a healthy reef at four sites across two of the largest oyster reef restorations in Australia and compared the results to areas that did not receive this soundscape enrichment. The sonically enhanced areas resulted in the presence of more and larger oysters that formed more three-dimensional habitats atop the reef restorations. The scientists propose that the use of marine soundscapes during early stages of new reef restoration projects could reduce the cost of habitat recovery.
There are many ways to be environmentally responsible when shopping for food. Here are a few tips.
Bring Reusable Shopping Bags
Americans use approximately 100 billion single-use plastic bags each year, which accumulate in landfills and waterways and never truly decompose. Some states have banned disposable bags, but many still permit them. Come prepared to the grocery store with reusable bags to reduce the use of single-use plastics.
Shop the Perimeter
Food packaging and containers make up 23 percent of landfill waste. Shop around the perimeter of the store as much as possible to find the freshest, healthiest foods with the least amount of packaging, such as produce, bulk items, dairy, fresh fish and meat. Bulk items like nuts, dry beans, coffee, tea and grains can be purchased in exactly the amount needed with no packaging.
Plan Ahead
The average American wastes about 21 percent of the food they buy, which equates to about $1,800 a year. To avoid overbuying and shrink the carbon footprint of multiple shopping trips, plan meals a week (or month) ahead and come with a shopping list organized by the sections or aisles of the store.
Shop Local and In Season
Local produce has a drastically smaller carbon footprint than fruits and vegetables that must travel long distanc-
es by truck, airplane or ship. Buying local, in-season produce reduces waste because the produce is fresher when purchased and will not spoil as quickly at home. If the family’s diet includes meats, choose pasture-raised, grass-fed products from farmers that practice regenerative organic agriculture, which improves the quality of the land and maintains local ecosystems.
Choose foods that were produced with the environment in mind by looking for the following labels, seals and certifications:
Biodynamic (BDA) for food produced without chemical pesticides or herbicides, using organic, non-GMO seeds
Non-GMO Project Verified for foods that were not genetically engineered
FAIRTRADE Mark and Fair Trade Certified for food producers committed to reasonable wages and the safe, fair treatment of workers
Climate Neutral Certified for food manufacturers committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions
Safe Catch for sustainably caught fish
Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) for sustainably farmed seafood
A full-service beauty studio and spa in the greater Newport area, Enhanced Beauty Ink sets itself apart as Rhode Island’s premier provider of permanent makeup services.
Jaeda Chabot, who opened the studio six years ago, is a licensed tattoo artist, massage therapist, esthetician and cosmetologist. She has an ideal combination of skills and immerses herself in continuing education classes to stay current with her industry. Her permanent makeup services include microblading for fuller low maintenance eyebrows and scalp micropigmentation for thinning or receding hair. She also offers lip blushing and permanent eyeliner.
Chabot helps clients that have overplucked or over waxed, as well as those with hair loss caused by alopecia, cancer, aging and genetic or hormonal changes. She uses a clean line of high-grade vegan and organic inks to support client well-being.
Microblading is a game changer. When it comes to looking naturally beautiful in an effortless way, clients can save time and throw away the eye pencils. Unlike old-fashioned tattoo methods, this new process simulates real hair by creating a three-dimensional natural look, instead of a fake, flat, painted-on look.
Every client leaves their appointment with an essential oil soap and healing balm. Enhanced Beauty Ink’s skin care products are nutrient-rich and plant-derived. These products are handmade by a local goat milk farm. Goat milk is rich in fatty acids and cholesterol, which help treat irritated skin naturally. The milk is a good source of vitamin A, which is shown to have anti-aging properties. It is also a good source of selenium, a mineral shown to support a healthy skin mem-
brane. This skin care support protects the integrity and health of every client’s skin before, during and after each permanent makeup procedure.
Facials and massages round out the studio’s offerings, and Chabot’s team strive to ensure a safe, comfortable and exciting experience. Chabot herself is warm, compassionate and has a gentle and precise touch. According to clients, she is revered as one of the most talented and sought-after permanent makeup professionals in the area.
Enhanced Beauty Ink estheticians work with women and men, people of all hair colors and all skin types. They can even create a natural look for women that tend to shun the use of makeup. After the initial session, clients return for a six-week touch up and then yearly maintenance. Permanent makeup provides dramatic benefits by helping people cut time out of their daily makeup and cleansing routines.
To explore the many possibilities of permanent makeup and cosmetic tattooing, clients can schedule a beauty services consultation. Visit their blog at EnhancedBeautyInk.com for more details and to see before and after photographs that demonstrate results. The transformation is remarkable.
Location: 966 E Main Rd., Portsmouth, RI. For more information, call 401-366-2544 or visit EnhancedBeautyInk.com. See ad on page 2 and Resource Guide on page 34.
Wendy Nadherny Fachon is a frequent writer for Natural Awakenings. She hosts the environmental and sustainable living podcast The Story Walking Radio Hour on the Dreamvisions 7 Radio Network website, under the Sustainable Living tab. See ad on page 31.
Good bile flow is essential for the proper digestion and absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E and K. Bile is a yellow-green fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It contains bile salts, which emulsify fats and help break them down into smaller droplets that can be more easily digested by enzymes in the small intestine.
When bile flow is inadequate or blocked, it can lead to a range of digestive problems:
◆ Malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids, which can lead to deficiencies and a range of health problems.
◆ Poor digestion of dietary fats, which can cause symptoms such as bloating, gas and diarrhea.
◆ Increased risk of gallstones, which can cause severe pain and require surgery to remove.
◆ Inflammation of the liver or gallbladder can lead to serious health complications.
◆ Increased risk of fatty liver disease, a condition where excess fat accumulates in the liver.
Bile flow plays an important role in bowel movements. When we eat, bile is released from the gallbladder into the small intestines to help break down dietary fats and facilitate their absorption. Bile also helps to move waste materials through the digestive tract and aids in the elimination of stool.
When bile flow is disrupted or inadequate, it can lead to constipation or other digestive problems. For example, when there is not enough bile in the small intestine, the stool may become hard and difficult to pass. Conversely, excessive bile production can cause diarrhea and loose stools. Therefore, maintaining good bile flow is important for maintaining healthy bowel movements. Eating a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, staying hydrated, getting regular exercise, limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption and avoiding exposure to environmental toxins when possible can help support healthy bile flow and promote regular bowel movements. In addition, certain foods such as bitter greens (dande-
lion, arugula), beets and apples can also help stimulate bile production and support healthy digestion.
Bile flow is also important for the detoxification of the body. The liver is responsible for filtering toxins from the blood, and the liver cells secrete many of these toxins into bile for elimination from the body. Bile acts as a carrier for these toxins and takes them from the liver to the small intestine where they can be eliminated from the body through the stool. Supplementing with phosphatidylcholine, digestive bitters, liver supportive blends, dandelion tea or eating the leaves, can all be helpful for liver health and bile flow.
There is evidence to suggest that mold exposure can affect bile flow and contribute to liver dysfunction. Exposure to toxic mold can lead to chronic inflammation and damage to liver cells, which can disrupt the liver’s ability to produce and secrete bile.
In some cases, mold exposure can also lead to the development of gallstones, which can block bile ducts and lead to impaired bile flow. Symptoms of impaired bile flow due to mold exposure may include abdominal pain, digestive disturbances, fatigue and jaundice.
If mold exposure is suspected and symptoms of impaired bile flow are being experienced, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider. Treatment may involve addressing the underlying mold exposure through remediation of the affected area, as well as supporting liver function through dietary and lifestyle modifications, and in some cases, medication or other medical interventions.
Dr. Gary Kracoff is a registered pharmacist with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine at Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, located at 577 Main St., Waltham. For more information about testing and supplementation, call 781-893-3870 ext. 111 or visit Natural Compounder.com. See ad on page 17 and Resource Guide on page 37.
by Sandra Yeyati
We all have to eat, and the food industry is big business, with wide-ranging implications across many arenas. Because agriculture is controlled by a handful of multinational corporations, the priority to maximize profits often conflicts with what is best for human and planetary health. In many ways, our food production and consumption practices are broken or on the brink of failure. They are inhumane, socially unjust, environmentally unsound and unsustainable.
Viable, achievable solutions to these immense challenges exist, and the emerging consensus is that regenerative organic agriculture is the key to preserving human health and helping solve the climate crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered weaknesses in the system, such as supply chain vulnerabilities, and altered human behavior as more people started cooking at home and exploring healthier lifestyle choices. The time is right to make positive changes to the way we grow, distribute and consume food.
For decades, doctors, scientists, farmers and nonprofits at the forefront of the environmental movement have been sounding the alarm about the inherent weaknesses in the national food chain and the harmful effects of industrial agriculture. In his book Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities and Our Planet—One Bite at a Time, Dr. Mark Hyman notes, “Food is the nexus of most of our world’s health, economic, environmental, climate, social and even political crises. While this may seem like an exaggeration, it is not.”
In the late 1800s, American farming began to transition from small, diverse operations that produced a variety of crops and livestock to feed a family or community to an industrialized system dominated by multinational corporations that focused on maximizing yields of just a few crops, primarily corn, soy and wheat. Today, these crops overwhelmingly end up as animal feed, biofuels
and cheap, processed food ingredients—a staple of the standard American diet since the 1950s.
Industrial agriculture is now the dominant food production system in this country, characterized by largescale monoculture, heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and meat produced in confined animal feeding operations (CAFO). Most modest family farms have been forced to either get into business with a big company (contract farming) or go out of business. The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that 90 percent of the 9 billion chickens raised each year in the U.S. are grown under contract, and 57 percent of hogs are owned and slaughtered by just four companies. According to Rodale Institute, only 8 percent of farms produce more than four crops, while specialty crops like fruits, vegetables and nuts are grown on just 3 percent of cropland. With industrial dominance comes numerous devastating consequences.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, industrially produced food is bad for us on several fronts. Heavy pesticide use is poisoning our food, fertilizer is polluting our drinking water, junk food made of corn and soybeans is degrading our health and the overuse of antibiotics in CAFOs is accelerating the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bioethicist Peter Singer advises, “Factory farms are breeding grounds for new viruses. We’ve had swine flu and avian flu coming out of factory farms. It’s quite possible that the next pandemic will originate there.”
Zach Bush, a triple board-certified physician and producer of the documentary Farmer’s Footprint, says, “Over the last 25 years, we have seen the most profound explosion of chronic disease in human history. Research from around the globe now suggests that environmental factors are contributing to a combination of genetic, neurologic, autoimmune and metabolic injuries that underpin the collapse of health in our children and adults.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that chronic and mental health conditions account for 90 percent of the nation’s $4.1 trillion in annual health care expenditures. Obesity affects 20 percent of children
and 42 percent of adults. More than 850,000 Americans die of heart disease or stroke annually, and 37 million have diabetes. Each year, more than 1.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer, while 600,000 succumb to the disease.
“Most of those diseases are caused by our industrial diet, which means they are avoidable if we transform the food we grow, the food we produce and the food we eat. Eleven million people die every year from a bad diet,” Hyman asserts.
Led by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, which includes organizations and brands like Rodale Institute, Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia, the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) standard helps consumers make informed choices about their food purchases. Its three pillars—soil health, animal welfare and social fairness— are designed to ameliorate the problems associated with conventional agriculture.
Chemical-heavy farming practices employed by conventional agriculture deplete topsoil, draining it of all its organic matter—the very microbiome needed to nourish the plants we grow and ultimately nourish us. In 2014, Maria-Helena Semedo, of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, said that if current farming practices continue, we have only 60 years of harvest left. The clock is ticking.
Farming techniques proposed by the ROC are designed to continually rebuild soil. They are proven by years of science done at Rodale Institute and practical results achieved by regenerative organic farmers already growing food this way. “On the farm that we operate here at the Institute, we know that Native Americans were farming this land 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. We’d like to be farming this land 8,000 to 10,000 years from now. We probably won’t be using tractors or diesel fuel, but we will be using the soil,” says Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Moyer.
Under ROC standards that include a variety of rotating crops, cover crops, no tillage, no synthetic inputs of any kind, no genetically modified seeds and staggered grazing by animals, farms become biodiverse ecosystems with organically rich soil that absorbs water, doesn’t erode over time and produces safe, nutritious food. As J.I. Rodale said, “Healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people.”
Healthy soil draws carbon from the atmosphere deep into the ground, and that is a boost for our fight against climate change. “Regenerative organic farming has a very positive impact on climate, because we’re sequestering more carbon than we are emitting,” Moyer explains. “Under its current production model, agriculture is part of the problem. If it’s part of the problem, then it can and should be part of the solution. That’s the whole premise behind the [ROC] standard itself—treating agriculture as one of the primary tools that we’re going to use as a society to improve our relationship with the planet.”
Under the ROC model, animals must be raised in a humane way that frees them from discomfort, fear, distress, hunger, pain, injury and disease, while also being able to express normal behavior. To achieve these aims, they need to be taken out of CAFOs and reintegrated into farmland, so that they are pasture-raised and grass-fed, creating meat that is more nutritious and less diseased without chemical interventions. “We’re integrating animals onto the cropland, with livestock, chickens, sheep and hogs. Imagine what the Great Plains of the United States was 500 years ago. You had bison, elk, deer, rabbits, wolves and myriad different birds, because the birds always followed the migrating animals. We’re trying to mimic that to a small degree on our ranch,” says North Dakota farmer Gabe Brown, who started transitioning into regenerative organic practices in the mid-1990s and wrote an influential book on the subject, Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture.
Taking care of the farmers and workers that plant, raise, harvest and transport our food is not just the right thing to do, it also creates a system that is more stable and resilient, says Graham Christensen, a Nebraska farmer and president of GC Resolve. “There are serious issues with how the big agricultural companies are treating workers. We saw horrible situations with COVID in the meatpacking plants and how the workers were being treated. This is just one of the many reasons that this over-centralized, monopolized system is affecting people in bad ways,” he says. “Regenerative organic farming requires more hands-on work, which creates jobs. Structural changes in the food production system to decentralize agriculture in favor of regional markets comprised of smaller farms would allow for more equity and better management of the ecosystem.”
There has been much interest, research and medical applications for Microbiome Restorative Therapy (MBRT). The understanding of the body’s balance with microbes and other organisms living symbiotically within an individual has become crucial in health and medicine. It started first with the microbiome of the gut, but now more is being learned about microbiome of the mouth, skin, bladder, heart, brain and other organs. The champions of these connections have been the holistic and integrative doctors, dentists and veterinarians.
For far too long, antibiotics, antimicrobials, pesticides, herbicides, drugs, chemicals, preservatives, fluoride and chlorine in the water and other damaging products have been detrimental to the balance of the microbiome. Curiously, many of the large companies that have been killing off the microbiome have started caring for it, because the consumer and the medical profession are beginning to understand the need to protect this valuable aspect of our health. Sadly, though, many—both humans and animals— have had their microbiome disrupted, and it is affecting the brain as well as the body. This can explain why so much dis-
connect and depression is present in our society.
Hundreds of veterinarians, physicians and dentist have been taught the importance of the microbiome. Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton (MASH) has been one of the leaders in MBRT. Using medical ozone to reduce the competitive biofilm allows new colonies of microbes to establish their balance and make MBRT more successful.
Opened in 2012, MASH has the world’s first dog and cat fecal bank. Their donors are 30 years and six generation holistically raised, protected with organic food and have not been exposed to pesticides or herbicides. For this reason, their donors are rated number one in the world for diversity and quality.
Dr. Margo Roman, DVM, CVA, COP, CPT, practices at M ASH Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton, where more than 20,000 transplants have been performed. Located at 72 W Main St., Hopkinton, MA. For more information, call 508-435-4077 or visit M icrobiome RestorativeTherapy.com or MASHVet.com . See ad on page 31 and Resource Guide on page 36.
Jeff Moyer is CEO of Rodale Institute, which champions regenerative organic agriculture through scientific research, farmer-support programs and consumer education. On Earth Day, he plans to retire after dedicating 47 years to the influential nonprofit. Moyer revolutionized organic agriculture when he developed and popularized the roller crimper, a device that simplifies no-till crop management and reduces or eliminates the need for herbicides to control weeds. Under his leadership and as a member of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, Rodale Institute helped develop a Regenerative Organic Certified standard that expands USDA Certified Organic requirements to include soil health, animal welfare and social fairness pillars.
Because it boils down the measurement of farming success to one word: yield. By focusing just on yield and sacrificing long-term resource stability to get it, we’re chewing up topsoil at a national rate of fiveand-a-half tons per acre of farmland per year for short-term economic benefit. You can only do that so long before you run out of topsoil. It doesn’t make sense long-term.
What farming practices does Rodale Institute promote?
We’re suggesting a different production model, based on science, that incorporates other metrics of success: soil health and long-term planetary and human health. As a side bar, let’s say you’re a smoker and you stop smoking—your lungs will regenerate. The same is true with soil. If we change production practices, the soil will regenerate.
Under our Regenerative Organic Certified standard, we want wellthought-out crop rotations to get more biodiversity into the system, cover crops and reduced tillage to get more earthworms, and a reintegration of livestock into farms. I’m not going to argue whether people should be eating animals, but if you
are going to have animals in the system, they should be raised on farms with grass, not feed lots with grain.
Why is soil health such a priority?
Healthy soil is more biologically active and has a positive impact on climate because it doesn’t just sequester more carbon, it sequesters it at greater depths. We want carbon to last in the soil for a very long period of time. We don’t want it to be short-cycled in and out of the system, and we want to sequester it at greater depths where we can control it and maintain it for hundreds of years. Ideally, we’ll get it deeper and deeper in the soil over time.
Can regenerative organic agriculture affordably feed the world?
Affordability is a strange term. Can we produce all the food we need at a reasonable cost? Absolutely. The problem with the conventional model is that we don’t pay the true cost of food production at the point of purchase. As an example, when we have to dredge the Mississippi River because of all the soil that’s washing into it from agricultural lands, you don’t pay that bill at the supermarket or restaurant. You pay it as a hidden cost, buried in our tax structure.
In an organic system, you’re paying the true cost of the production of that food at the point of purchase, which makes more sense. And if you add the cost of human health—diabetes, heart disease—all the things that our current food production and food consumption model embodies, then the system we have now is outrageously expensive, and regenerative organic food is cheaper than conventional food.
Can regenerative organic agriculture produce the amount of food needed worldwide?
Yes. In most parts of the world, we use agricultural lands to produce all kinds of commodity products that aren’t food. Forty percent of the corn we produce in the U.S. goes to ethanol production and another 40 percent goes to livestock feed. The ink in your pen was made with soybean oil. If we decided to produce the most amount of food on an acre or hectare of land, we can produce way more food than we need.
What we’re saying is that conventional agriculture cannot feed the world long-term. In the short-term, we’re producing a lot of cheap food, but our current production model is doomed to failure over time because we’re going to run out of healthy soil to farm.
Are you hopeful about the future of agriculture?
Very hopeful. The USDA says that most organic farms are more profitable and expanding at a more rapid rate than their conventional counterparts, and that’s because we have a growing population of support in the marketplace. People are beginning to pay attention to how their food is produced, asking the right questions and recognizing that they have a vote with their food purchasing dollars. We’re seeing the concept of regenerative organic enter into the daily conversation, just like we did a few years ago with organic. People didn’t know what organic meant at first. Recent USDA statistics suggest that
roughly 80 percent of the nation’s population has eaten something organic in the last 30 days, so people are seeking out organic, and we’re going to follow the same course with regenerative organic.
Knowing which foods have the least environmental impact is not always easy. Organic blueberries are considered Earth-protective because no pesticides were used to grow them, but if they were shipped from California to a Florida grocery store, the transportation represents a steep carbon footprint. And if we waited too long to eat those blueberries and had to throw them away, all of the resources spent on producing those fruits were wasted.
To get a fuller picture of our food-related environmental impacts, we need to take into consideration the many variables associated with the production, transportation and consumption of food, and that’s where the “foodprint” comes in—a barometer of eco-friendliness. There are many ways to calculate a foodprint; EarthDay. org/foodprints-calculators lists a few automated calculators and food quizzes that can help. Here are noteworthy examples:
n EatLowCarbon.org compares the carbon emissions associated with different meals—ranging from bean soup (lowest CO2 emissions) to a Philly cheesesteak (highest).
n FoodPrint.org offers a questionnaire about a person’s food choices and follows up with tips to reduce their foodprint.
n FoodEmissions.com calculates the foodprint of specific foods like dairy or seafood by asking about
the origination and destination of the food to determine transportation emissions, and by asking the consumer to self-report their percentage of waste to calculate the loss of natural resources.
When shopping for groceries, consider buying from food producers that support environmental stewardship, sustainability and regenerative farming practices in their production systems. A list of third-party certifications that can help identify responsibly manufactured foodstuffs can be found at Foodprint.org/eating-sustainably/food-label-guide
Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, owner of Sound Bites Nutrition, encourages her clients to eat local, seasonal produce. “[It] spares the environment, as it doesn’t need to be flown across the country, reducing fuel costs,” she explains, adding that local produce is generally more nutritious and cost effective.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 30 to 40 percent of the available food supply is wasted. While there are many reasons for food loss at all stages of production and delivery, consumers can have a major impact in reducing how much food is wasted.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides advice for properly storing foods in the refrigerator: leafy veggies go in the high-humidity drawer, while most fruits should be placed in the low-humidity bin. Some fruits like apples and avocados release ethylene gas and can cause nearby produce to spoil, so they should be stored separately. Wash berries just before eating them to
prevent mold. Store potatoes, onion and garlic in a cool, dry, dark and well-ventilated place. Freeze bread, meat or leftovers that won’t be eaten before they spoil.
According to Registered Dietitian Lauren Panoff, one way that consumers can benefit the environment is by transitioning to a more plant-predominant lifestyle. “Plant foods utilize far fewer natural resources than industrial animal agriculture, which is also one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases and drivers of Amazon deforestation,” Panoff explains.
Patricia Kolesa, MS, RDN, founder of the Dietitian Dish, notes, “Plantbased proteins tend to be more affordable and can be stored longer than your animal proteins, helping reduce food waste.”
Nutritics, a food information company, offers a list of the highest-ranking foods when it comes to sustainability, considering inputs like water usage, carbon emissions or capture, land usage and nitrogen storage capabilities. Their list includes mussels, beans, lentils, peas and other legumes, mushrooms, seaweed, cereals and grains, and organic fruits and vegetables.
Perfectly fresh food that the family has decided not to eat can be donated to people in need. Visit FoodPantries.org to find a nearby soup kitchen or food bank. Compost scraps and spoiled items to divert them from landfills. For composting instructions by the USDA, visit Tinyurl.com/USDAcompost
Ana Reisdorf is a registered dietitian and freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience in the fields of nutrition and dietetics.
Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do.
~Michel de Montaigne
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YIELD: 6 SERVINGS
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 cup green cabbage, finely shredded
1 cup purple cabbage, finely shredded
½ cup carrot, finely shredded
¼ onion, sliced
½ cup peanut butter
3 Tbsp coconut aminos
2 Tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp garlic
Salt to taste
Konjac noodles (optional)
Sesame seeds
In a skillet, heat one tablespoon of sesame oil. Add the sliced onions and cook until softened. Add shredded chicken, cabbage, carrot, coconut aminos, remaining sesame oil, garlic and salt to taste. Once the cabbage has wilted and cooked, add the peanut butter. Mix in noodles. Serve hot, sprinkled with sesame seeds. For a vegan or vegetarian alternative, omit the chicken.
Used with permission of Madiha M. Saeed, M.D.
YIELD: 10 SERVINGS
1½ cups cooked sushi rice, cooled
3 sheets nori paper
SALMON OR MUSSELS
1 lb boneless, skinless wild-caught sockeye salmon, cubed (can substitute with mussels)
2 Tbsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp honey or maple syrup
½ tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp coconut amino teriyaki sauce
Salt to taste
SPICY MAYO
¼ cup avocado mayo
2 tsp sriracha sauce
1 tsp coconut aminos
½ avocado, diced small
2 tsp black sesame seeds
Preheat oven to 350° F. Cook rice according to package instructions and set aside to cool. Mix spicy mayo ingredients and set aside. Mix salmon ingredients and set aside. Cut each nori sheet into four equal squares.
Line a muffin pan with unbleached muffin liners. To each nori square, add about 1 tablespoon of rice and top with the salmon mixture. Transfer the filled squares to the muffin pan. Bake 15 to 17 minutes for salmon or 7 to 10 minutes for mussels. Allow the sushi bites to cool slightly and top with avocado, sesame seeds and a drizzle of spicy mayo.
Used with permission of Madiha M. Saeed, M.D.
The Earth is both our mother and our muse, sustaining our lives and blessing us with beauty when we make time to notice her perpetual creative forces. She has long inspired expressive souls of all disciplines, but some of our modern innovators are merging talent with the urgent need to minimize toxic impact. This eco-vision has resulted in some awe-inspiring efforts.
In an awareness-based art installation he calls Ice Watch, Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson collected 30 blocks of glacial ice found free-floating near Greenland and placed them in public settings across London where passersby could observe them melting.
Artists John Dahlsen and Rox De Luca spotlight the plastic waste catastrophe in their sculptures and paintings by using debris washed up on the shores of Australia’s beaches. Their sculptural assemblages hang from ceilings and criss-cross walls, driving home the prediction by the World Economic Forum that by 2050 our precious oceans will be more crowded with plastic than marine life.
When creating our own art, we can join these stirring visionaries by minimizing toxic impacts.
Buy Earth-friendly art supplies for the kids. The common crayon contains chemicals like formaldehyde and asbestos, which are harmful to humans and the planet. Opt for biodegradable glitter, non-toxic modeling clays and recycled paper. For more sustainable supply ideas, visit Tinyurl.com/ EcoArtSupplies
Get creative with single-use trash items. Paper towel cardboard rolls, plastic shopping bags, bottles, straws and cutlery can be turned into fun projects for kids, teens and adults. Whimsical mobiles, sculptures and magical miniature cities are just a few ideas to conjure while contributing to Earth Day every day. For more ideas, visit Tinyurl.com/SingleUseTrashToArt
Inspire environmentalism by choosing art implements that celebrate nature. Consider using alternatives to toxic solvents, pigments and varnishes. Look for sustainable brushes made from bamboo or corn and easels fashioned from eucalyptus wood.
Marlaina Donato is a visionary painter who hosts art exhibits for community healing. She is also an author and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by challenges with social interaction and communication. For parents of children with autism, learning to manage this condition requires a multidimensional approach, including consideration of food and nutrition. A personalized, nutritious diet can help manage behavioral problems, health risks and quality of life for kids with autism.
Beth Lambert, executive director of Epidemic Answers, says, “Once you come to understand autism as a whole-body condition, rather than just a brain-based or genetic condition, you start to understand the importance of nutrition in treatment and symptom management.”
Not only does a nutritious diet help maintain brain balance, it also helps address many of the nutrition-related concerns that children with autism face, such as food sensitivities and allergies, digestive disruptions, sensory issues with textures and nutrient deficiencies. Each of these issues can impact a child’s behavior.
An essential piece of the autism and diet connection is gut health. Gaby McPherson, MS, RDN, LDN, at Fruitful Nutrition says, “Because a child’s gut health is linked to their brain health, it’s crucial to boost their gut function to reduce these symptoms that can impact their behaviors. Who wants to go around with a tummy ache and constipation every day?”
Yaffi
Lvova, RDN,author of Beyond a Bite: Playful Sensory Food Exploration for ASD and Neurodivergent Kids, advises that individual abilities also should be considered when developing a nutrition plan. “Autistic children often have sensory sensitivities that make it difficult to eat certain (sometimes many) foods,” she says.
Many therapeutic diets have been evaluated for children with autism. Most involve the elimination of one or more foods, which can be challenging for a child that already has difficulty getting a wide variety of nutrients.
A popular option is the gluten-
and casein-free diet. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Casein is a protein found in milk and other dairy products. While some children with autism may be sensitive to gluten or dairy, this is not a onesize-fits-all approach, and there is mixed data in support of this regimen. Another choice is the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), which involves limiting certain carbohydrates, processed foods, most dairy, sugar and more, with the goal of reducing food sensitivities and improving the gut microbiome. Mixed outcomes have been reported with this diet due in part to its elimination of high-fiber foods that may be beneficial for brain health. McPherson explains, “Gut bacteria digest (or ferment) fiber in the large intestines to produce short-chain fatty acids, which are known to improve brain health significantly.”
The Feingold diet is another approach that eliminates artificial flavors, sweeteners, preservatives and salicylates. Salicylates are compounds found in certain fruits and vegetables. While there is some evidence that food dyes may play a role in children’s behavior, most studies on this diet have not demonstrated a significant impact on ASD symptoms.
Instead of following a specific therapeutic diet, most experts now understand that a diet for ASD needs to be personalized to each child. It is ideal to work with a registered
dietitian that can address nutrient and feeding concerns and is trained to make individualized recommendations. A primary area to focus on, according to Lambert, is correcting vitamin deficiencies, which may play a role in improving behavioral and digestive challenges. Nutrients of concern include zinc, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium and essential fatty acids.
McPherson also relates that fiber should be at the forefront of any diet to address digestive concerns. “While many children on the spectrum may strongly prefer foods like chips, crackers, bread or white pastas, these foods tend to be lacking in fiber,” she says. “Good sources of fiber are split peas, multigrain breads and pears.”
A registered dietitian can also help
families evaluate whether a diet is working. Lvova says, “It can be challenging to see whether a specific diet is working or not. When a change is made, the parents and caregivers often pay more attention in order to see if there is a difference, and the child responds positively to the change in attention. By keeping expectations realistic and ensuring a relaxed mealtime atmosphere, your child will have the best chance to meet their nutritional needs.” Ultimately, the goal is to make meals a positive experience for the child, with less emotional investment on which foods they can or cannot eat.
Ana Reisdorf is a registered dietitian and freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience in the fields of nutrition and dietetics.
by Madiha M. Saeed, M.D.
Toxins are in the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chemical Substances Control Inventory shows the magnitude of our potential exposure, listing more than 86,000 industrial chemicals that are manufactured or processed in this country. Despite regulations and safety protocols, a number of these dangerous compounds run off into waterways or are released into the atmosphere. Food manufacturers use some of them to preserve or beautify their products.
“We live in an increasingly toxic world, and the best defense against becoming overwhelmed by toxins is limiting what we take in as much as possible,” emphasizes Paul Anderson, an integrative and naturopathic clinician and co-author of Outside the Box Cancer Therapies. While our bodies are not designed to handle the accumulation of industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and radiation that seep into our personal space, we can take measures to reduce the assault and protect our health.
“For the health-conscious individual, toxins in the water is the top threat often overlooked or inadequately addressed,” says Rajka Milanovic Galbraith, an Illinois-based functional medicine practitioner, noting that drinking water is packed with chemicals like per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (also known as forever chemicals), solvents, pesticides, metals, bleach and radiological contaminants such as uranium and cesium. These substances can cause cancer, reproductive health concerns, and kidney and liver problems.
“I have treated hundreds of patients who have restored their health and are already eating and living clean by properly filtering their water, but sometimes, even when using a very expensive water filtration system, people will still find high levels of contaminants like MTBE [methyl tertiary-butyl ether], an additive in unleaded gasoline that is banned in several states,” Galbraith says. “Reverse osmosis typically filters most hazardous chemicals from your water, but they can be pricier. An inexpensive alternative are the filters from Clearly Filtered, which reportedly remove 99 percent of MTBE, among many other chemicals.”
“Everyone should try to filter their water with any means available, from a carbon block pitcher to the most aggressive method using a reverse osmosis water filter under their sink. Given the state of municipal—and well—water and the amount we need to clean our bodies and brains every day over a lifetime, we need to get this right,” advises Aly Cohen, M.D., an integrative rheumatologist, founder of The Smart Human and co-author of Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World
“For the individual newer on their health journey, I would say food additives are the ‘hidden’ environmental exposure that is a serious cause for concern, contributing to autoimmune diseases and from a metabolic standpoint, think weight gain, obesity, pre-diabetes and diabetes,” Galbraith says. “These additives are used to increase palatability, shelf life and texture and can include some you may have heard of, like sucralose, citrate and carrageenan, and others you may not have, like carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80. Carrageenan is common in many nondairy milk alternatives that have made their way into coffee shops.”
According to Galbraith, the most effective way to steer clear of food additives is to avoid or greatly minimize the consumption of highly processed foods. She recommends eating whole foods, especially for those dealing with chronic health issues or experiencing signs or symptoms of an ailment. She also encourages people to read food labels and avoid products with artificial colors, carrageenan, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates and nitrites, polysorbate 80, propyl gallate, propylparaben, methylparaben, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and titanium dioxide.
“You are what you eat!” Cohen exclaims. “Eating clean food, without synthetic chemicals that break down the protective microbiome of the gut, is critical
to the health of our immune system and our mental health, so we should try to eat whole, unprocessed foods that are USDA [U.S. Department of Agriculture] Certified Organic whenever possible.”
According to the EPA, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.” The Environmental Working Group offers a comprehensive blueprint at ewg.org/healthyhomeguide that identifies dangerous chemicals found indoors (from lead, asbestos and flame retardants to volatile organic compounds, antimicrobial agents and radon) and recommends actions to clean up our sanctuaries.
“We can lower our toxic burden by decreasing the chemicals in the air that we breathe, and that begins by reducing the junk we bring into our homes,” Cohen remarks. “Start by removing air fresheners, perfumes, bug sprays, scented cleaning and laundry products, and by opening the windows daily, adding lots of plants and possibly adding an air filter for those who live in cities and areas with poor air quality.”
Madiha Saeed is a holistic, functional and integrative doctor in Naperville, Illinois, and director of education for Documenting Hope and KnoWEwell.
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INTO THE AKASH WITH ASTRID!
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Curious to learn how your other lifetimes are impacting your life? Ready to clear trauma, negative belief patterns, relationship dynamics, vows and soul contracts? Through consulting your Akashic Records, I facilitate the clearing of energies blocking your True Self, and coach you through conscious meaning-making to create the life you want.
ENHANCED BEAUTY INK
966 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI 401-366-2544
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We specialize in creating realistic looking eyebrows, eyeliner, lip blushing and scalp pigmentation. We work with clients who just want to enhance their look to clients who have lost all hair due to genetic disorders, alopecia and cancer. See ad, page 2.
RI NEUROFEEDBACK | ZEN BRAIN TRAINING
401-282-0230
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Most of us don’t realize how much we can benefit from training our brains. Like our bodies, our brains benefit from healthy exertion and positive attention. Many of us suffer from symptoms of brain dysregulation that vary from lethargy to mania, ADD to OCD, depression to anxiety. Training the brain can strengthen its response to these symptoms and provide a clarity, ease and peacefulness that is hard to describe until you experience it. Call today for a free discovery conversation.
MALCHAR CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER
33 College Hill Rd, Bldg 30C Warwick, RI 02886 401-826-7600
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I support healing in the modality, the Internal Family Systems or Parts Work. Together, we will explore your parts and how they support your system employing the leadership of your Self, or your inner resource.
MCARDLE CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER
Catherine McArdle, DC Robert Sedlor, DC 2013 Plainfield Pk, Johnston, RI 02919 401-383-3400
McArdleChiropractic.com
Family chiropractic practice offering holistic care to patients of all ages. Based on the initial evaluation, patients will be given a treatment plan which addresses ergonomics, exercise, stretching and nutrition in addition to their spinal alignment. See ad, page 28.
A CREATIVE HEALING PLACE
Benjamin B. Blackett 401-855-2008
BBB3pips@gmail.com
Facebook.com/BenjaminBBlackett ACreativeHealingPlace.com
Benjamin Blackett is a multi-certified, International Life Mastery Consultant and motivational speaker. He helps people pull their dreams into their lives. His clients experience better health, deeper and more meaningful relationships, more satisfying careers, and expanded time and money freedom. You are invited to get to know him through his livestream “Morning Mindset Book Studies” on his Facebook page, A Creative Healing Place, Mon-Fri, 9:05-9:25am. See ad, page 8.
LIFE COACH DAVID
David Scott Bartky, Law of Attraction Life Coach 973-444-7301
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Find out how to attract what you want, feel happier, and become the best version of yourself with Law of Attraction coaching. You have the ability; you just have to know how to use it.
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS PRACTITIONER
We Breathe Wellness
Pavlina Gatikova Walpole, MA 508-375-8465
GatikovaP@gmail.com
I support healing in the modality, the Internal Family Systems or Parts Work. Together, we will explore your parts and how they support your system employing the leadership of your Self, or your inner resource. See ad, page 25.
Kim Childs
1025 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 617-640-3813
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Need help clarifying and realizing your desires? Asking
“What’s next?” or “How do I get started?” Kim is a certified life and career coach specializing in Positive Psychology, creativity, and midlife transitions, to help clients create more personally fulfilling, meaningful and empowered lives. Initial consultations are free.
INTERNAL WELLNESS CENTER
Liz Marcano-Pucillo
150 Wood Rd, Ste 403, Braintree, MA 02184
781-228-6915
Liz@InternalWellnessCtr.com
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BIRD’S HILL COMPOUNDING PHARMACY
401 Great Plain Ave, Needham, MA 02492
781-449-0550
Pharmacist@BirdsHillPharmacy.com
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Familyowned and -operated since 1960, we have evolved from a traditional pharmacy to a worldwide compounding and nutritional resource. Our unique one-on-one patient consultations produce a full understanding of your health needs. You, your physician, and one of our compounding pharmacists work as partners to ensure that you will receive the best care possible.
DINNO HEALTH
Acton Pharmacy
563 Massachusetts Ave, Acton, MA 01721
978-263-3901
Keyes Drug
2090 Commonwealth Ave
Newton, MA 02466
617-244-2794
Theatre Pharmacy
1784 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA
781.862.4480
West Concord Pharmacy
1212 Main St, Concord, MA 01742 978-369-3100
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For more than a quarter of a century, Dinno Health has been a trusted provider of pharmacy services and is committed to providing the highest quality of individualized care for each customer. At our four independent pharmacies, we offer prescriptions, compounded medications, medical supplies, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and vaccines. See ad, page 7.
JOHNSON COMPOUNDING AND WELLNESS
577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452 781-893-3870 • Fax: 781-899-1172
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JCW is the only sterile and non-sterile PCABaccredited pharmacy in Massachusetts. In addition to our compounding service, we offer a full range of nutritional supplements, natural products, homeopathic remedies and home health care equipment. See ad on page 17.
ARROW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
1329 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, RI 200 Tollgate Rd., Unit 103, Warwick, RI 117 Bellevue Ave., Unit 200B, Newport, RI 401-477-9446
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We are dedicated to helping you on your journey to better mental health. Whether it is a recent concern or a long-standing need, we are happy to assist you with finding the best solution. See ad, page 22.
DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID
Amparo M. David, DMD 563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-2888
BoltonDental.com
We look beyond our patients’ teeth in order to improve both their smiles and their quality of life. Our practice offers full preventive services: biological, holistic, functional dentistry, ozone therapy, reconstructive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, dental sleep medicine, implant dentistry, in addition to TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders) therapy. See ad, page 25.
FLOAT BOSTON
515 Medford St, Somerville, MA
844-443-5628
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A float tank is a small shallow pool filled with water nearly saturated with Epsom salt. You float completely effortlessly. It’s completely dark and quiet: your own private world. It’s utterly relaxing. See ads, pages 10 and 15.
DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID
Martin Kaplan, DDS
563 Main St, Bolton, MA
978-779-2888
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Specializing in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Kaplan uses the latest technology available to diagnose and treat infants as well as children and adults. In 2015, he was instrumental in developing the first-in-the-country “Infant Laser Frenectomy” training class through the continuing education department at Tufts Dental School and is an international leader in the field of dental laser surgery. See ad, page 25.
ALORA FREDERICK, RDN
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Integrative and Functional Registered Dietitian who strives to motivate individuals on their health journey. Alora loves to help people feel their best and has a special interest in GI health and mental health (depression & anxiety). See ad on page 17.
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NEW BEDFORD SOAP COMPANY
NewBedfordSoapCompany.com
We have been making soap for over 10 yrs and have over 60 blends. We have scrubs, face, hand and foot creams, fragrance stones, along with perfume sticks, lip and cuticle balms. We also have dog shampoo and balms. Open M-F, 11am-4pm and Saturdays, 10am-2pm.
NATURE’S GOODNESS
510 East Main Rd, Middletown, RI
401-847-7480
Facebook.com/NaturesGoodness
NaturesGoodnessRI.com
Since 1984 we have been providing the finest quality Natural & Organic Whole Foods including many gluten-free products, natural body care, athletic supplements & protein powders, incense, smudging supplies and candles made with essential oils. Natural pet care food & supplements. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. Visit website for more information.
VANDANA PITKE
Om Homeopathy, It’s My Health Cumberland, RI
401-573-3757
OmHomeopathy.com
With 16+ yrs experience in classical homeopathy, Vandana Pitke has helped many clients restore and achieve health. A certified classical homeopath, she looks at the clients from a holistic perspective focusing on mind, body and spirit. She also incorporates many other holistic modalities in her practice, which makes healing faster, better and from within when combined with homeopathy
MASH MAIN ST ANIMAL SERVICES OF HOPKINTON
Margo Roman, DVM
72 W Main St, Hopkinton, MA 01748
508-435-4077
MASHVet.com
NJP TAROT
Nicole Pirani
NJPTarot.com
Instagram.com/njptarot
Tiktok.com/@njptarot
A full-service integrative veterinary clinic offering caring and healthful options and modalities like acupuncture, functional nutrition, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs, ozone therapy, surgery and dentistry. See ad, page 31.
IT’S MY HEALTH
Marie Bouvier-Newman
1099 Mendon Rd, Cumberland, RI 401-305-3585
Its-My-Health.com
We provide much more than products, services and education. We provide the tools you need to optimize your health in a comfortable environment. We care. See ad on page 8.
QUANTUM HEALING UNIVERSE
Cileimmar Oliveira, MEd, CAGS, Founder 999 Broadway, Ste 303, Saugus, MA 781-558-1561
QuantumHealingUniverse@gmail.com
QuantumHealingUniverse.com
An integrative wellness center (on-site and virtual) for self-care and health practitioners. Biocommunication scanning and treatments, energy work and reiki, chromotherapy, aromatherapy, therapeutic counseling, coaching, Access Bars and Access Energetic Facelift, feng shui and more
Nicole uses the tarot cards to help clients intuit their own life paths, clarify life situations, make difficult decisions or simply let go of fears. Think of the reading as a mini-brainstorming session with a trusted mentor/friend. Sessions are positive and heartfelt with a touch of humor.
HEALING LIGHT JOURNEY
By appointment only 401-282-0230
Raff@RINeurofeedback.com HealingLightJourney.com
The healing powers of light & sound are well documented. It is now possible to travel through amazing lightscapes and absorb beautiful sound energies to facilitate beneficial states of trance, healing and even psychedelic experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience something truly out of this world (or your body!) Call today for a free discovery session to determine if this technology is for you.
IT’S YOUR BODY’S SYMPHONY
14 Hayward St, Cranston, RI 02910 401-464-6100
ItsYourBodysSymphony.com
Massage helps with anxiety, stress, injuries and improves circulation, while relaxing the heart rate and soothing the nervous system. Offering deep tissue/ sports massage, Swedish massage, heated stone therapy, CBD oil massage, cupping and reflexology. One-hour and 90-minute individualized sessions available. You owe it to yourself! Text 401-464-6100 for appointment. See ad, page 27.
WEST SHORE WELLNESS
Massage Therapy & Transformational Breath
Jane McGinn, LCMT, CTBF
459 Sandy Ln, Warwick, RI 02889
401-450-4172
WestShoreWellness.com
Massage therapy relieves muscle tension, improves sleep, supports feelings of well-being. Transformational Breath helps to eliminate restrictive breathing patterns, clear the subconscious and access higher levels of awareness. Live more joyfully. Call today.
CÉCILE’S WISE WAYS
857-245-9488
Contact@CecileRaynor.com
CecileRaynor.com
Chronic tension or pain? Joint issues or headaches? Coping with poor posture? Tendency to live in your mind? Using the Alexander Technique, reclaim ease of movement, natural good posture and well-being with Cécile’s Wise Ways.
ANASA PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
Chrysanthi Kazantzis, ND, MS
245 Waterman St, Ste 308 Providence, RI 02906
401-484-1882
AnasaMedicine.com
Owner and founder of Anasa Personalized Medicine, Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Clinical Nutritionist and Reiki Master. Specializing in digestive disorders, thyroid disorders, diabetes, Lyme disease and chronic pain. Addressing these conditions by treating the underlying cause through herbal medicine, supplements, homeopathy, clinical nutrition and lifestyle counseling. Book an appointment to start your journey to optimal health. See ad on page 8.
BALANCE NATURAL MEDICINE
Dr. Abby Egginton
Arlington, Lexington & online appts
BalanceNaturopathic.com
Dr. Abby partners with her patients to find personalized health solutions for lasting wellness. She specializes in women’s and LGBTQ health, oncology, mental health and pediatrics. Call or text to schedule an appointment. See ad on page 21.
DELONNAY HOLISTICS
Martine Delonnay, ND
182 Gano St, Providence, RI 774-425-9519
DelonnayHolistics.com
An integrative medical practice combining naturopathic medicine with an allopathic medical background. Special interest in skin issues, nutrition and supplements, detox and cleanse cures, men’s and women’s health, and mental and emotional challenges. Currently seeing patients on Zoom and in-office for bodywork.
GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD
Johnson Compounding and Wellness
781-893-3870
Gary@NaturalCompounder.com
Dr. Gary Kracoff provides guidance and in-depth consultative services to find the “why” to what is happening physically and mentally, working with individuals to restore balance in the body. Specializes in customizing medications to meet individualized needs of patients, and he suggests nutritional supplements, natural products and homeopathic remedies to aid in faster healing and recovery. See ad on page 17.
ELAYNE HEWITT
Master Colorist/Stylist
Riverside, RI
401-273-7005
ElayneOrganic@gmail.com
A full-service green salon that’s Certified Organic for hair color, straightening/relaxing and permanent wave. No ammonia, parabens, plastics or thioglycolates. Call today for an appointment.
FLIPP SALON APOTHECARY
38 Transit St
Providence, RI 02903
401-274-1981
FlippSalon.com
A small boutique salon promoting a holistic approach to beauty, herbalism, art and music. Offering a full range of hair services using organic, plantbased products, full apothecary of loose herbs, blends and organic self-care items and accessories. Herbalist on staff. Gallery walls featuring local artisans; all mediums welcome. Live music in semi-acoustic for Music Nights. We believe that all these mediums are symbiotic in promoting joy and wellness in the individual and the community.
ARROW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Brittany Carr, Reiki Practitioner
200 Tollgate Rd, Unit 103
Warwick, RI 401-477-9446
I am an advocate for utilizing energy healing and holistic alternatives to help individuals access undiscovered emotions and reconnect with their authentic self. I have personally experienced the profound transformations that can be fostered by utilizing Creative & Expressive Arts practices. See ad on page 22
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BOSTON REIKI MASTER
34 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands
617-633-3654
BostonReikiMaster.com
Are you stressed from the pressure of your job, home life, kids or an illness? Do you want to feel calm and relaxed?
Experience reiki. Certified Reiki Master/Teacher with over 20 years’ experience in energy medicine providing pure Usui Reiki healing/relaxation sessions.
TMJ & SLEEP THERAPY CENTRE OF NEW ENGLAND
563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-0865
Info@TMJSleepMa.com; TMJSleepMa.com
Our facility addresses the root problem of most people’s sleep issues. Symptoms like facial pain, jaw pain, headaches, ringing in the ears, clenching, grinding and sleep disturbance must be examined thoroughly in order to treat a patient with individualized care. This usually involves the fabrication of a custom oral appliance. See ad on page 25.
CENTERS FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING
GREATER BOSTON
340 Salem St, Medford, MA 02155
617-947-2743
Info@CSLBoston.org; CSLBoston.org
We are a spiritual family that honors all paths to the Spirit of your understanding and can help you experience a personal relationship with the Inner Divine. All are welcome here. See ad, page 10.
CENTERS FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING SOUTH COASTAL, MA TEACHING CHAPTER
Barbara M. Fuyat
401-793-1753
Barbara@CSLSouthcoast.org
CSLSouthcoast.org
We are a warm, welcoming community studying the Science of Mind, a philosophy and a way of life that embraces all spiritual paths, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and ages. We believe we are all connected. It is in this oneness that we come together in nature, celebration, services, classes, workshops to understand our own spiritual magnificence and choose to live in love, peace and equality. Our vision is a world that embraces and empowers each and everyone. Everyone includes you. See ad, page 10.
SACRED TEMPLE ARTS
Sacha L. Fossa, Masters Health Arts & Sciences, Certified Sex & Tantric Educator, Licensed Erotic Blueprint Coach, Healing Arts Practitioner 978-309-9399
SacredTempleArts.com
Ready to have better sex and love your life more, partnered or not? Holistic, cutting-edge sex, intimacy and relationship coaching, energy and bodywork, for your sexual healing and empowerment. In-person and/or virtual sessions and programs. See ad, page 29.
IT’S YOUR BODY’S SYMPHONY
14 Hayward St, Cranston, RI 02910 401-464-6100
ItsYourBodysSymphony.com
Each talented unique therapist at It’s Your Body's Symphony brings varied tools and techniques to help you relax, relieve pain and leave feeling balanced and refreshed. Our clients report feelings of euphoria from their massage sessions. Also offering; reflexology, facials, hot stone treatments, hypnosis, ear coning, lymphatic drainage and counseling. See ad, page 27.
THE IVY DRIP BAR AND WELLNESS CENTER
7 Brighton St, Belmont, MA 02478 617-221-5070
TheIvyDripBar@gmail.com
The Ivy Drip Bar offers IV nutrient infusions and aesthetic treatments. Infusions include “Meyer’s Cocktail,” immunity, inner beauty, hangover, recover and performance. IV therapy helps with dehydration, athletic recovery, immune booster, hangovers and malabsorption ailments. See ad, page 9.
BETH GARDNER
Acton Pharmacy
Keyes Drug
West Concord Pharmacy
BGardner@DinnoHealth.com 508-259-7851
Certified lifestyle educator and the director of health and wellness at Acton Pharmacy, Keyes Drug and West Concord Pharmacy. Beth Gardner works one-on-one with patients to help create ways to improve diet and overall health as a means for disease and illness prevention. See ad, page 7.
BODY & BRAIN YOGA TAI CHI
Arlington, Brookline, Cambridge & Riverwalk 781-648-9642
BodyNBrain.com
Body & Brain provides a unique blend of yoga, tai chi, breathwork and meditation exercises for people of all ages and abilities to reestablish the body’s natural energy flow. See ad, page 15.
TIME FOR YOU YOGA
Maria Sichel, RYT, CSYT
2155 Diamond Hill Rd
Cumberland, RI 02864
401-305-5319
Maria@TimeForYouYoga.com
TimeForYouYoga.com
Private Svaroopa® yoga therapy sessions are tailored to meet your needs. Specially trained in treating pain, including back pain and neck and shoulder issues. Yoga therapy is more powerful than weekly yoga classes and moves you more quickly toward health and well-being. Experience pain relief, greater mobility, improved sleep, easier breathing, deep relaxation, increased flexibility and a deep sense of peace.
