Natural Awakenings Eastern PA February 2020

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

SACRED VESSELS The Lifeblood

of Heart Health

Linda Carroll on

LOVE SKILLS Healing Pain Without Surgery Breakthroughs in Regenerative Medicine

February 2020 | Bucks & Montgomery County, PA Edition | NABuxMont.com

Share the love not the cold

had colds going round and round, but not me.”

Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.”

Some users say copper stops nighttime stuffiness if used just before cientists recently discovered bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had time. He hasn’t had a single cold for 7 a way to kill viruses and in years.” years since. bacteria.

Copper can also stop flu if used early He asked relatives and friends to try Now thousands of people are using it it. They said it worked for them, too, so and for several days. Lab technicians to stop colds and flu. placed 25 million live flu viruses on a he patented CopperZap™ and put it on Colds start CopperZap. No viruses were found alive the market. when cold viruses soon after.

Soon hundreds get in your nose.

Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams of people had Viruses multiply confirming the discovery. He placed tried it and given fast. If you don’t millions of disease germs on copper. feedback. Nearly stop them early, “They started to die literally as soon as 100% said the they spread and they touched the surface,” he said. copper stops colds cause misery.

People have even used copper on if used within 3 In hundreds cold sores and say it can completely hours after the first of studies, EPA prevent outbreaks. sign. Even up to New research: Copper stops colds if used early. and university The handle is 2 days, if they researchers have confirmed that viruses curved and finely still get the cold it is milder than usual and bacteria die almost instantly when textured to improve and they feel better. touched by copper. contact. It kills germs Users wrote things like, “It stopped That’s why ancient Greeks and picked up on fingers my cold right away,” and “Is it Egyptians used copper to purify water and hands to protect supposed to work that fast?” and heal wounds. They didn’t know you and your family.

“What a wonderful thing,” wrote about microbes, but now we do.

Copper even kills Physician’s Assistant Julie. “No more Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper quickly kills deadly germs that Scientists say the high conductance colds for me!” cold viruses. of copper disrupts the electrical balance have become resistant Pat McAllister, 70, received one in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in for Christmas and called it “one of the to antibiotics. If you are near sick seconds. best presents ever. This little jewel really people, a moment of handling it may Tests by the EPA (Environmental keep serious infection away. It may even works.”

Protection Agency) show germs die save a life.

Now thousands of users have simply fast on copper. So some hospitals tried The EPA says copper still works stopped getting colds. copper for touch surfaces like faucets even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of People often use CopperZap and doorknobs. This cut the spread of preventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci different disease germs so it can prevent MRSA and other illnesses by over half, serious or even fatal illness. used to get colds after crowded flights. and saved lives.

CopperZap is made in America of Though skeptical, she tried it several The strong scientific evidence gave pure copper. It has a 90-day full money times a day on travel days for 2 months. inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When back guarantee. It is $69.95.

“Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” she he felt a cold about to start he fashioned Get $10 off each CopperZap with exclaimed. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when code NATA17.

Go to www.CopperZap.com or call gently in his nose for 60 seconds. people are sick around her she uses “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold CopperZap morning and night. “It saved toll-free 1-888-411-6114.

Buy once, use forever. never got going.” It worked again every me last holidays,” she said. “The kids ADVERTORIAL

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Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 12 SACRED VESSELS

22

The Lifeblood of Heart Health

16 VITAL STEPS

The Path to Vascular Fitness

18 HEALING JOINTS FROM WITHIN

The Promise of Regenerative Medicine

20 PAIN RELIEF FOR PETS

Prolotherapy Gives Joints New Life

22 LINDA CARROLL

24

on Skills That Make Love Last

24 GOOD HEARTS START YOUNG

Boosting Kids’ Cardiovascular Health

26 CHOOSING LOVE

How to Cope With Fearful Times

28 DISRUPTING

31

DISPOSABLES The Drive to Banish Single-Use Plastics

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Bucks & Montgomery County, PA Edition

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31 A FEAST FOR ALL SEASONS

Embracing the Rainbow Year Round

DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 8 health briefs 9 eco tip 10 global briefs 16 fit body 18 healing ways 20 natural pet 22 wise words 24 healthy kids

25 teen voices 26 inspiration 28 green living 31 conscious

eating 34 local yoga 36 calendar 37 classifieds 38 resource guide

letter from publisher

Love is the Answer As Valentine’s Day draws near, I am reminded of how my thinking, my feelings, and my behaviors have kept me from love. To be honest, I had zero understanding of the simple yet complicated concept of love. I know now that the need for it was the driving force of my life. In the beginning though, I did not know that I had implanted the wrong foundation for my thinking, and that what I searched for I could never achieve.

Eventually I did find the information, and I already had the need. However, the turning point came with a message that opened my awareness. A simple statement really, that “love is about giving and being able to receive love.” That is the key to being in love and being loved. It’s not enough to love others, you also have to let them close enough to love you.

I had spent my life building walls to keep love out. People had tried to love me, and I wouldn’t let them. At the time, I did not understand how my thoughts affected both my behavior and my feelings in order to protect my fear of intimacy. Life became complicated.

But, as always, love was the answer, and making the decision to allow love in was the key that changed my life.

Truth be told, I still have so much to learn. Valentine’s Day reminds me why my wife, Asta, came into my life. Simply, she came to teach love. She has taught me so much and still teaches me. She has also given this gift to my sons—modeling love, giving love.

Consistency breeds trust, and she is always consistent. Not just around Valentine’s Day but every day. What could be better than that? She always leads with love and still amazes me. My sons always know where they get their love from. They know the safety of coming home. She planted a safe spot in their DNA for the rest of their lives. Unselfish to a flaw, no one ever questions her motives, which always come from simple, pure love. Her ability to accept, give and understand are awe-inspiring.

So, this Valentine’s Day month, I want to thank my wife for just being who she is every day of every year since we met—herself. Happy Valentine’s Day, Asta. Thanks. We love you.

Joe Dunne, Publisher

I strongly believe that love is the answer and that it can mend even the deepest unseen wounds. Love can heal, love can console, love can strengthen, and yes, love can make change.”

— Somaly Mam

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

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February 2020

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Directory of Advertisers

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news briefs

New Wellness Center Opens in East Greenville

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wynn White Walker McGroggan has opened new doors of wellbeing in East Greenville. Talking Feathers Wellness Center, a unique co-op collaboration of practitioners, is now offering services at 239 Main Street and will be celebrating with a grand opening open house from noon until 4 p.m. on February 22.

Attendees can meet the practitioners and experience the space while enjoying door prizes and light refreshments. Mini pay services will be available, such as chirology, Theta Healing and reflexology.

Gwynn White Walker The center expects to be busy McGroggan throughout 2020 with monthly second Saturday special events, classes, seminars, sessions, reiki, crystal meditations, yoga, card readings, Theta Healing, reflexology, intuitively created flower essence remedies and more.

Readers can like and follow Talking Feathers Wellness Center on Facebook for upcoming classes, events and services.

McGroggan, a Holy Fire III Karuna Reiki Master Teacher Practitioner and Certified Angel Oracle Card Reader, offers, “Take a break and experience this peaceful sanctuary in the center of town. Talking Feathers invite us to taste our words before we speak our truth. I invite you to explore and speak your personal truths while visiting us.”

Art From the Heart, for a Cause

S

usan Korsnick, Pennsylvania artist, writer and coach, is selling prints of her most recent work, Family, with 100 percent of the profit going to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Australia.

The hospital provides for the “rescue and treatment of sick and injured koalas and release back to their home range if possible.” Korsnick, currently living in York County, shares, “as bushfires rage across Australia, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the devastation and unfathomable loss of life. Courageous men and women are on site doing what they can. Those of us far from the tragedy feel it deeply and long to help in any way we can.”

In describing her work, she notes that the image represents all of us holding the koalas with love in our hearts. The wavy symbol in the lower background is the Australian Aboriginal symbol for fire, smoke, water and blood. The larger symbol in the upper right is their symbol for family. To Korsnick, the definition of family extends beyond bloodline to include all beings the world over.

10 inch by 14 inch prints available; $35. For more information, or to make a purchase, email SusanKorsnick@gmail.com or visit SusanKorsnick.com.

For more information, call 215-470-0176, email TalkingFeathers WellnessCenter@gmail.com or visit HolyFeathersReiki.Massage Planet.com.

Kindness in words creates confidence.

Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love. ~Lao Tzu

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Qigong, a traditional Chinese massage technique and movement practice, may offer hope for the one in 68 American children suffering from autism spectrum disorder. Researchers at Portugal’s Oporto University reviewed 10 high-quality studies, all of which involved massage for children as young as 2, including two which also employed slow qigong movements and breathwork for older children. Previous studies have found that the qigong type of gentle massage practiced for 15 minutes daily by parents on autistic children helps the children tolerate touch, feel reassured by it and bond more deeply with parents that also feel less stress.

The meta-study affirmed, “Qigong seems to be able to decrease severity of individual sensory, behavioral and language components of autism, and improve self-control, sociability, sensory and cognitive awareness, as well as healthy physical behavior.”

Use Probiotics to Reduce Bone Loss and Newborn Infections Bone loss leading to increased fracture risk occurs in half of postmenopausal women, but new research from Sweden offers a deterrent: a combination of three Lactobacillus probiotic strains. A total of 249 healthy, early postmenopausal women over the age of 50 that took the probiotics for a year suffered no significant bone loss in the lumbar spine compared to a placebo group, report researchers at Gothenburg University. They had slight reductions in bone loss at the neck and no changes at the hip or upper femur.

In a British Medical Journal-published study on probiotics that spanned 10 years and involved nearly 1,000 at-risk babies, researchers from the UK’s Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital found that newborns with gut infections were twice as likely to recover when given probiotics as part of their treatment in intensive care units, with sepsis rates reduced from 22.6 percent to 11.5 percent. The strains used were L. acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and B. longum subspecies infantis. The babies were suffering from necrotizing enterocolitis, a rare infection and inflammation of the intestines which can affect low-birthweight babies.

Use Pumpkin Seed Oil to Dodge Hypertension

Bucks & Montgomery County, PA Edition

Researchers from Cameroon’s University of Buea studied the properties of nine local vegetables and found that celery, Apium graveolens, had some of the highest levels of antifungal properties, as well as high levels of nutritional lipids, protein, vitamin C, copper, zinc and phosphorous.

Also scoring high in nutritional and antifungal value were the seeds of Irvingia gabonensis, African or bush mango, sometimes used in the U.S. in weight-loss products.

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Get Nutritional and Antifungal Benefits from Celery

Postmenopausal women are more likely to develop hypertension than men their age, but taking pumpkin seed oil daily may head off that condition, report researchers from Marymount University, in Arlington, Virginia. In a blind study of 23 participants, women taking three grams of pumpkin seed oil for six weeks had significantly reduced systolic blood pressure, as well as better blood flow in their arteries. The oil “might be effective in the prevention and treatment of hypertension in this population,” write the authors.

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LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com

Practice Qigong Massage to Improve Autism Symptoms in Children

Stacy Barnett/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

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New Africa/Shutterstock.com

Try Mind-Body Options to Reduce Opioid-Treated Pain People suffering from acute pain often turn to addictive opioid treatments, but research from the University of Utah School of Social Work published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine concluded that certain mind-body therapies significantly reduce pain and the use of opioids. Reviewing 60 randomized, controlled, published clinical trials with more than 6,400 participants, researchers found that meditation/mindfulness, therapeutic suggestion and cognitive behavioral therapy all significantly reduced pain severity along with opioid use and misuse. Hypnosis also helped lower pain.

Mind-body therapies proved effective at reducing short-term, acute pain from medical procedures, as well as chronic pain. Lead author and Associate Dean for Research Eric Garland pointed out that 82,000 Americans are projected to die from opioid overdoses in the next five years and noted, “If all of us—doctors, nurses, social workers, policymakers, insurance companies and patients—use this evidence as we make decisions, we can help stem the tide of the opioid epidemic.”

New Africa/Shutterstock.com

Consider Vitamins to Reduce Eczema Severity Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, affects one in five people over the course of a lifetime, causing itchy, red, swollen and cracked skin, especially on the arms, hands and feet. Genetics, immune system dysfunction and environmental exposure, including to chemicals, are some causes, and treatment usually involves moisturizers and corticosteroid creams. Research from China’s Chongqing Medical University reviewed clinical research on treating eczema with vitamins and found 10 studies totaling 456 patients. Their study concluded that supplementing with vitamin D3 significantly reduced symptoms for patients with moderate to severe eczema, and that a vitamin B12 cream was also effective in soothing symptoms, as was vitamin E supplementation. A combination of 600 IU of vitamin E and 1,600 IU of D3 scored highest in a study included by the researchers, lowering symptoms overall by 64 percent in 60 days.

eco tip

Clean and Green Eco-Laundry Tips

By laundering clothes using simple ingredients and wise eco-practices, consumers can both save money and lower their carbon footprint.

Natural cleaning ingredients cited by TheEcoGuide. org include white vinegar, baking soda, lemons, borax and castile soap, all of which “can be bought in bulk with minimal packaging and have known cleaning properties that make them safe, effective and carbon-friendly alternatives.” Coarse salt is also suggested due to its moldfighting power.

Look for biodegradable laundry detergents made with plant oils and other natural ingredients that are free of phosphates, bleach and surfactants such as petroleum-based nonylphenol ethoxylates.

Consider coldwater washing. About 90 percent of the energy a washing machine uses goes toward heating water. By washing four out of five loads in cold water, a household could cut its carbon emissions by 864 pounds a year, according to Energy Star data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Because the cold setting may still heat the water to as much as 80° F, see if the washer has a preferable “tap cold” option. Also, the temperature recommendations on clothing labels represent “the highest spectrum clothes can handle,” Melissa Hockstad, president and chief executive of the American Cleaning Institute, recently told The New York Times, so the hottest water won’t necessarily clean clothes better.

During rinsing, natural disinfectants that can be added include a few drops of peppermint or lavender essential oil; two teaspoons of tea tree oil; white vinegar (one-half cup per load); or one teaspoon of grapefruit seed extract.

Always assemble a full load of laundry each time.

Line drying outdoors or on a drying rack indoors also conserves energy and is gentler on fabrics. Further, learn how to make homemade, felted wool dryer balls at DIYNatural. com; tossing four to six of them in each dryer load saves time, energy and money plus reduces static cling. And consider running the dryer early in the morning or overnight: this shifts energy consumption to off-peak hours, which lowers the demand on power plants and could help reduce national reliance on fossil fuels.

February 2020

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Seal Deal

global briefs UNESCO Adopts Resolution on Earth Charter

The 40th General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), held last November, adopted a resolution that reaffirms the importance of the Earth Charter (EarthCharter. org) as an ethical framework for sustainable development.

The Charter’s four pillars— respect and care for the community of life; ecology integrity; social and economic justice; and democracy, non-violence and peace—have guided and underpinned UNESCO’s sustainable development work. Taking into account the current world situation and environmental crises, delegates felt it was time to act and that the Earth Charter provides the needed principles and values. Although it has no binding force, like previous UNESCO resolutions, its ethical foundation may surface in future battles in international courts.

Thump Thump

In 1969, there were only 100 South American fur seals and sea lions along the coastline of Lima, the capitol of Peru, but that has increased to more than 8,000 today, thanks to local fishermen that have realized over the intervening years that a balanced ecosystem benefits all. Once hunted almost to the point of no return for their pelts and because they ate so many fish, the sea mammals have slowly rebounded since Peru established its first marine protection area there in 1979, the Paracas Marine Reserve. Today, the Fishermen’s Union has defined these areas, in which each local fishing collective is dependent economically, and has assigned responsibility to that group for protecting those marine resources. Impetus for species protection is also being driven by the rise of tourism and artisanal fisheries.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which maintains a “Red List” database of species and the degree to which they are threatened with extinction, has also been involved. It also compiles a “Green List” to recognize global best practices for areabased conservation, a program working with marine reserves along the Pacific coast.

robert_s/Shutterstock.com

Clear Thinking

Philip Bird LRPS CPAGB/Shutterstock.com

Fishermen Protect Endangered Sea Mammals

Trees Exhibit ‘Heartbeat’

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Bucks & Montgomery County, PA Edition

Soot Cities

Alaska Battles Air Pollution

Alaska, which has some of the most pristine environments in the U.S., also has some of the worst air quality in its cities. According to the American Lung Association 2019 State of the Air report (Tinyurl.com/StateOfTheAirPDF), Fairbanks ranked third and a section of Anchorage ranked 21st in cities with high levels of short-term particle pollution between 2015-2017, the latest years that figures are available. Although the numbers are poor, they still represent an improvement from the last air quality report. “Particle pollution is made of soot, or tiny particles that come from coal-fired power plants, diesel emissions, wildfires and woodburning devices. These particles are so small that they can lodge deep in the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, and can even be lethal,” warns Marge Stoneking, executive director at the American Lung Association in Alaska.

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MarcelClemens/Shutterstock.com

Scientists have discovered that some trees raise and lower their branches several times in the course of the night, indicating a cycle of water and sugar transportation, but they didn’t know why. Plants need water to photosynthesize glucose, the basic building block from which their more complex molecules are formed. For trees, this entails drawing water from the roots to the leaves. Dr. András Zlinszky, at Aarhus University, Denmark, used a laser scanning technique to measure the exact location of branches and leaves of 22 tree and shrub species, and published his observations of substantial unexpected movement cycles. He says, “We detected a previously unknown periodic movement of up to 0.4 inches in cycles of two to six hours. The movement has to be connected to variations in water pressure within the plants, and this effectively means that the tree is pumping. Water transport is not just a steady-state flow, as we previously assumed.” Some might call that pumping action a heartbeat.

Valentina Razumovar/Shutterstock.com

Alex Yuzhakov/Shutterstock.com

Climate Check

New Label Verifies Carbon Neutral Products

Green Horizons

A Billion Trees in Eight Years

Marrying forestry to technology, the startup Flash Forest, in Toronto, is using aerial drones to plant trees 10 times faster than human planters with a goal of 1 billion trees by 2028.

Since testing prototype devices last year, it has already planted several thousand trees across Ontario using pregerminated seed pods containing a mixture of species. The drones are capable of planting trees at just 50 cents per pod, or a quarter of the cost of typical planting methods.

Funded partly by a Kickstarter campaign, the group will start planting trees in April, with at least 150,000 in the ground by the end of this year. At full capacity, one drone operator will be able to plant 100,000 seed pods per day.

Flash Forest spokesperson Angelique Ahlstrom says, “Our goals are to have a significant and measurable impact on mitigating climate change in the next decade, while combatting deforestation and biodiversity loss on a global scale. We feel we are one of the only ways that the federal government will be able to fulfill its pledge to plant 2 billion trees in the next 10 years.”

A new Climate Neutral product label is joining others like Fair Trade, 100% Organic and Made in America, and is closing in on a Kickstarter (Tinyurl.com/ CarbonNeutralKickstarter) funding goal to raise $100,000. The idea for the label was hatched by the founders of San Franciscobased backpack and camera equipment maker Peak Design and Brooklynbased Biolite, which sells sustainable energy products.

Participating companies start by establishing baseline emissions, evaluating such factors as raw materials, the energy costs at their facilities, the amount that employees travel, and how and where their products are shipped. They work to reduce and balance them through greener strategies, switching to renewable power and investing in carbon offsets before they can display the label on their products. According to Climate Neutral, it only costs 12 cents to offset the carbon emissions required to produce a $120 running shoe. More than 40 brands have already signed up.

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A drought-plagued Kenyan region is using a new, solarpowered, desalination plant from the international nonprofit GivePower to obtain clean water.

Before the plant’s arrival in the town of Kiunga, villagers had completely run out of clean drinking water and had to use dirty well water and saltwater from the Indian Ocean. The new solar water farm produces enough drinking water that’s cleaner than typical desalination plants for more than 35,000 people every day.

GivePower has a mission of using renewable energy as a means of bringing water, food and energy to places that need it most. They plan on building similar facilities in other drought-prone countries such as Colombia and Haiti.

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February 2020

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SACRED VESSELS

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by Julie Peterson

hen people think about heart health, what generally comes to mind is the fist-sized muscle that pumps and oxygenates the body’s lifeblood. However, the heart of the matter is not the pump itself, but the vascular system— the network of veins, arteries and capillaries that distributes blood to every cell in the body, delivering nutrients and eliminating waste.

Each human adult harbors an astonishing 60,000 miles of blood vessels— enough to wrap around the planet twice.

Keeping these hard-working vessels supple and open is the key not only to avoiding disease, but also to ensuring a long and healthy life.

The alternative—arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries—can slowly and silently bring on cardiovascular disease (CVD), which can result in a heart attack, stroke, vision loss and cognitive decline. CVD is the leading cause of death in the U.S., killing one in four Americans,

When a disease is lifestyleinduced, the only thing that can reverse it is a dramatic change in diet and lifestyle.

We’ve seen over and over again that it works. ~Brenda Davis 12

Bucks & Montgomery County, PA Edition

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according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By 2035, nearly half the population—45 percent—is predicted to have some form of the disease.

“A hundred years ago, we were farming the back 40 with a team of horses, eating what we grew. Kids don’t get out and ride bikes; they’re playing video games and eating crap. There’s very little doubt how we got to this problem,” says John Osborne, M.D., director of cardiology at State of the Heart Cardiology, near Dallas.

Yet, the nation’s number one killer, which can fester for decades without symptoms, is largely preventable and reversible.

Only 15 percent of CVD is related to genetics; the rest is attributed to lifestyle, and the right choices can make all the difference. The key is to adopt heart-healthy habits before the body delivers a potentially fatal warning.

“The initial presentation of heart disease can be an acute catastrophic event that results in death in half the men and two-thirds of the women. That’s not treatable,” warns Osborne.

Know the Risk Factors

The first step toward cardiovascular health is awareness. Important indicators of CVD risk include: 4 High blood pressure (over 140/90) 4 High cholesterol (over 240 mg/dL) 4 High triglycerides (over 200 mg/dL) 4 High blood glucose (over 140 mg/dL) 4 Obesity (BMI over 30) 4 Inflammation (hsCRP test above 2 ml/dL) 4 Physical inactivity (less than 30 minutes a day) 4 Smoking or vaping (any at all) 4 Chronic stress 4 Loneliness

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The Lifeblood of Heart Health

Any of these factors can increase the risk of CVD, but possessing a cluster of the first five comprises a condition called metabolic syndrome, which significantly increases the potential for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes—itself a significant risk factor that can damage blood vessels, as well as the organs they support.

“While diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States, this figure belies the fact that most people with diabetes die of heart disease, kidney failure and other complications,” says Brenda Davis, RD, of Alberta, Canada, author of Kick Diabetes Essentials: The Diet and Lifestyle Guide.

Metabolic syndrome, like CVD, has few obvious symptoms and is on the rise: Nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. have it, according to the CDC. The one distinct marker for the condition is an accumulation of fat around the waistline, characterized by a measurement of over 35 inches for women and 40 for men.

Take Action to Cut Risks

“When a disease is lifestyle-induced, the only thing that can reverse it is a dramatic change in diet and lifestyle,” says Davis. “We’ve seen over and over again that it works.”

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n Know the Numbers

CVD flies under the radar even though it’s increasingly common at younger ages. The Journal of the American Medical Association released a study in December 2019 stating that about one in four young adults in the U.S. have pre-diabetes, putting them at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes and CVD.

Lisa McDowell, director of clinical nutrition and wellness at St. Joseph’s Mercy Health System, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and team dietitian for the Detroit Red Wings, works with elite athletes of all ages and notes that they more likely know their favorite player’s jersey number than their own health numbers. “Learn what your blood pressure is, know your body mass index, get your cholesterol levels and triglycerides and your [hemoglobin] A1C.

There’s not an excess of blueberries in the American diet; there’s an excess of relatively inexpensive, highly processed junk foods in large containers. ~Lisa McDowell Know these numbers early on and, if there’s a problem, fix it,” she advises.

While simple blood tests help monitor indicators for CVD, more sophisticated tests can be even more revealing. In 2018, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (AHA) jointly issued new guidelines for patients over age 50 to get a computerized tomography (CT) scan to determine their calcium score. The procedure checks for hardening of the arteries and predicts the risk of a 10year future cardiovascular event.

“This identifies people who have preclinical atherosclerosis, regardless of risk factors,” says Osborne. “It also helps people modify behaviors, because they are faced with a diagnosis.”

Yale R. Smith, a Melbourne, Florida, M.D., who specializes in metabolic and functional medicine, utilizes the U.S. Food & Drug Administration-approved protein unstable lesion signature (PULS) blood test. Recommended for patients in their 40s, it measures inflammatory biomarkers for the body’s immune system response to arterial injury and provides a chronological heart age and risk of a CVD event.

“If you can show someone the future, it’s a wake-up call to make lifestyle changes to increase longevity,” Smith says.

n Eat for Heart Health

Perhaps the single most important change that people can make is diet.

“But a lot of people don’t want lifestyle medicine—they’d rather take a statin with their Big Mac,” says McDowell.

Preventing or reversing CVD requires diligence, but it’s largely about eating real, whole food—and mostly plants.

This means avoiding processed foods and consuming less salt, trans fats, saturated fat and cholesterol; and more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

“There’s not an excess of blueberries in the American diet; there’s an excess of relatively inexpensive, highly processed junk foods in large containers,” says McDowell. Overcoming the urge to grab fast and easy foods requires education.

“Everyone needs to learn how to read a food label and avoid foods linked to vascular disease,” she adds.

Vegans have healthier cholesterol levels in their blood compared to vegetarians, which in turn have better levels than meateaters. Study-verified diets that lower CVD indicators also include the Mediterranean diet, as well as two developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet, which also addresses exercise and weight control.

“I don’t believe that one diet fits everybody, but there’s a preponderance of evidence that the more plant compounds you get, the better off you are,” says McDowell.

Some cardiovascular boosters:

Leafy greens flush out excess sodium and magnesium, and reduce inflammation.

Berries improve circulation by boosting nitric oxide, which expands blood vessels.

Pomegranate juice lowers blood pressure and reduces plaque formation.

Walnuts, peanuts and almonds lower LDL, the “bad cholesterol”.

Oily fish, chia and flax seeds with omega-3 fatty acids lower triglycerides.

Soy with anti-inflammatory isoflavones helps dilate blood vessels. “We could eat tofu, tempeh, miso, edamame, soy beans or even organic soy ‘veggie meats’ in place of red meat,” says Davis.

Yogurt, kefir and other fermented probiotic dairy products help improve glycemic control, blood lipids, cholesterol and blood pressure.

Supplements can be very helpful: Red yeast rice extract, much like a statin, significantly lowers total cholesterol and LDL. February 2020

13

n Move It

Sitting all day and then briefly exercising doesn’t provide the same benefit as moving periodically throughout the day.

Take more frequent breaks from sitting, get up to move around for a couple of minutes every 30 minutes.

Exercise strengthens the endothelium, the innermost of an artery’s three layers, and produces nitric oxide, which helps

14

keep arteries open and healthy. Getting the blood moving lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and increases oxygen and nutrients to the body.

Exercising outdoors provides additional benefits. Research from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found that exposure to green spaces helped prevent metabolic syndrome.

n Stress Less, Socialize More

Spending even 20 minutes outdoors in nature can do wonders for high blood pressure and cortisol levels, studies show.

Walking or talking with a friend deepens social engagement, a key factor in lowering CVD risk: “Having the right tribe is crucial,” says McDowell. “If you’re with people who support you and make you laugh, you feel less stress.”

Walking a dog outdoors gets three cardiovascular pluses—exercise, nature and

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sociability, as dogs tend to be tail-wagging ice-breakers. Further, merely stroking a pet lowers blood pressure.

Apps like Headspace and Insight Timer make it easy to do meditation, which studies suggest may reduce overall CVD risk.

n Don’t Smoke

Not starting to smoke or vape at all is ideal for cardiovascular health, but quitting allows the body to begin to heal, reducing the risk of coronary heart disease after one year by 50 percent, reports the AHA; 14 years later, the risk is the same as a non-smoker’s.

“It’s not intuitively easy to make healthy decisions,” says McDowell. “We have to learn how to make good choices.”

Julie Peterson writes from rural Wisconsin.

Connect at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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Coenzyme Q10, a powerful antioxidant, lowers blood pressure and combats the side effects of statins.

Omega-3s in fish oil supplements reduce heart risk in healthy people and those already diagnosed with CVD risk.

Nicotinamide riboside improves blood pressure and arterial health in those with mild hypertension.

Garlic, fresh or in capsules, can lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Standard American Diet (SAD)

Lightspring/Shutterstock.com

Previous studies have linked processed foods to hypertension and high cholesterol, and a 2019 British Medical Journal study of 105,000 adults reported that a 10 percent increase in the consumption of processed foods corresponded to a 12 percent overall increase in cardiovascular disease.

Inflammation

Assess Personal Risk High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood pushing against the vessel walls is too high, making the heart and vessels work harder. The friction damages the endothelium— the inner lining of veins and arteries—plaque builds up, the vessels narrow and blood pressure increases even more. Contributing factors include being sedentary, overweight and consuming excessive alcohol or salt.

High Cholesterol

A waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells of the body, cholesterol can pile up (mostly as a consequence of poor diet) and stick to arterial walls, creating plaque that stymies blood flow to the heart.

High Triglycerides

The end product of digesting fats in food, triglycerides become fat in the blood that gives the body energy. Numbers climb with consumption of refined carbohydrates, simple sugars and fatty foods, contributing to arteriosclerosis.

Metabolic Syndrome

A cluster of conditions that affect up to a third of Americans, metabolic syndrome

is defined by high blood pressure; high levels of blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides; and excess fat around the waist. It’s closely linked to Type 2 diabetes, another CVD risk factor.

Obesity

Obesity—which afflicts almost 40 percent of American adults—causes chronic inflammation, harms the endothelium and causes poor cholesterol numbers. A 12year study of 17,640 Europeans, published in the European Heart Journal, found that obese people with metabolic risk factors were two-and-a-half times as likely to have heart disease as those of normal weight.

Stress

When stressed by such factors as work overload, family strife or traumatic memories, the body releases adrenaline, which causes acceleration of breathing and heart rate, contraction of vessels and a rise in blood sugar. Chronic stress can cause constricted arteries that lead to arteriosclerosis and inflammation of the endothelium.

Further, stressed people often turn to vascular-destructive activities such as smoking, drinking and binge eating.

Chronic inflammation, caused by such factors as fried and processed foods, smoking, obesity, alcohol and stress, can trigger the immune system to attack healthy tissues, including the endothelium, raising CVD risk. C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation marker, is measured by the hsCRP blood test. Men with higher CRP levels had three times the risk of heart attack and twice the risk of stroke, Harvard scientists have found.

Physical Inactivity

A lack of regular, ongoing physical activity has been shown to dramatically increase obesity, blood pressure, cholesterol and inflammation. A 2019 British study found that artery functions declined and CVD risk factors worsened in just two weeks when active exercisers reduced their daily steps from 10,000 to 1,000.

Smoking and Vaping

Nicotine, carbon monoxide and chemicals in cigarettes increase blood pressure and heart rate, damage the endothelium and cause blood platelets to clot more, which is why smokers are two to four times more likely to get cardiovascular disease. E-cigarettes and cigars may be worse due to higher doses of nicotine, the AHA warns.

Loneliness

People need people: Harvard researchers examined 23 studies that involved 181,000 adults and found that loneliness, social isolation or both were associated with increased risks of heart attacks (29 percent) and strokes (32 percent).

February 2020

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VITAL STEPS The Path to Vascular Fitness

by Marlaina Donato

I

t is well-known that exercise combats cardiovascular disease by balancing blood pressure and managing blood sugar, but aerobic exercise, not resistance training, takes the prize for keeping the body’s thousands of miles of blood vessels more supple. A 2017 study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that all-extremity exercise like brisk walking improves arterial flexibility in older individuals; even those with a sedentary history.

Moving the body regularly also lowers stress hormones like cortisol that can ignite damaging vascular inflammation. A West Virginia University study presented at the 2016 Experimental Biology meeting in San Diego showed that aerobic exercise fosters healthy blood vessels in rats exposed to chronic stress. Combining aerobic exercise with good diet and paying attention to triglyceride levels all help to keep us young from the inside-out.

Step It Up

According to a 2015 study by the University of Missouri School of Medicine published in Experimental Physiology, walking just 10 minutes after prolonged sitting can restore blood flow in the legs and improve impaired vascular function.

Results like these are another reason to get up and move. Walking, running, swimming, cycling, jumping rope and playing tennis are all excellent options.

“For blood vessel flexibility, any sort

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of sustained aerobic exercise helps.

Find something you enjoy so that you’ll keep doing it in the long term,” says Alex Hutchinson, New York Times bestselling author of Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights? Fitness Myths, Training Truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise. The Torontobased, Outside magazine science columnist underscores that treadmills and walking outside foster equal benefits by increasing the heart rate.

The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic exercise.

Dr. Regina Druz, a boardcertified cardiologist and medical director of the Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island, explains, “This translates into 30 minutes a day, five times a week. A specific exercise program may be

Digital X-rays Orthodontics TMJ/Facial Pain Surgical Extractions

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fit body

For blood vessel flexibility, any sort of sustained aerobic exercise helps.

Find something you enjoy so that you’ll keep doing it in the long term. ~Alex Hutchinson helpful for those with a medical condition, but for overall vascular health, any physical activity like walking or taking the stairs will do.” Druz also highlights the role of nitric oxide: “One of the most studied mediators of vascular health is [nitric oxide], which makes arteries flexible.”

Research findings published in 2018 in the journal Hypertension spotlight the correlation between the number of daily steps and arterial plasticity through a technique called pulse wave velocity, which measures how fast blood travels from the heart to the feet. The evidence suggests that 1,000 extra steps a day foster significant vascular improvement.

Judy Heller, a walking coach and founder of Wonders of Walking, a fitness program in Portland, Oregon, concurs: “Moving throughout the day, not just once a day, is most important.”

Heller is a firm believer in consistency. “My aunt lived to 107 and remained in her three-story house. Her words to me were, ‘Judy, don’t ever stop walking.’ Small changes yield greater rewards over time. We’re meant to move.”

Superfoods and Supplements

Nitric oxide, responsible for the dilation and contraction of blood vessels, is produced by exercising and helps to protect the smooth interior lining of the arteries from excessive plaque accumulation. Adding nitric oxide-boosting foods to an already healthy diet can give us an extra edge over vascular conditions like stroke and peripheral artery disease. “Beets, arugula, spinach and rhubarb are all good sources of dietary nitrate. They’re not miracle supplements, but if you make these foods a regular part of your diet, you’ll have a positive effect on your arteries,” says Hutchinson.

Research by Florida State University published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reveals that a one-cup daily serving of blueberries helps to protect the arteries from stiffness. Watermelon, rich in the nonessential amino acid L-citrulline, also packs a nitric oxide punch.

Full-spectrum vitamin E is another good option, especially for addressing peripheral artery disease and reducing serum triglyceride levels that are often seen as secondary to “bad” cholesterol levels, but which low levels are vital to cardiovascular health.

Druz cautions against using supplements as substitutes for healthy nutrition and exercise, and underscores the importance of dialing down stress, “I advise my patients to build stress resiliency, which involves recognizing and practicing stress response. This, along with nutrition and consistent exercise, will lower inflammation and help build stress resiliency.”

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Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at Autumn EmbersMusic.com.

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HEALING JOINTS FROM WITHIN The Promise of Regenerative Medicine

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omeday, medical science will allow us to infuse damaged or aging organs with new cells, or to manufacture made-to-order organs on a 3-D printer.

These emerging techniques to revitalize worn-out body parts are on the drawing board in the field of regenerative medicine.

However, for the injured college athlete or the grandmother with compromised joint function, healing and pain relief can already be found in the form of prolotherapy and other non-invasive approaches that stimulate the body to heal itself.

Injection therapies using dextrose or the patient’s own platelets or stem cells are being used to naturally stimulate the body to produce collagen and rejuvenated tissue, offering hope to those with soft tissue injuries, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease and even pain syndromes like fibromyalgia. A recent review in the British Medical Bulletin of 10

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high-quality studies of dextrose prolotherapy in adults with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee showed patients experienced significantly less pain and improved range of motion in both the short term and long term without adverse effects. Eighty-two percent of patients were satisfied with the treatment.

Controlled Inflammation

A type of regenerative medicine innovated by osteopathic physician Earl Gedney in the 1930s, prolotherapy induces low-grade, temporary inflammation with the intention of triggering connective tissue cells called fibroblasts in and around the injection site. “If you cut your arm or twist your ankle, various immune cells rush to the area to begin the repair process. This is a very basic comparison of what prolotherapy does with injections directed to specific anatomical points,” says Ross A. Hauser,

M.D., founder of Caring Medical Regenerative Medicine Clinics, in Fort Myers, Florida, and Chicago.

“Prolotherapy is used to treat osteoarthritis because it helps correct the underlying reason why it has occurred, which is joint instability. The body overgrows bone as a long-term response in an effort to stabilize an unstable joint,” Hauser says.

Naturopathic physician Brent Cameron, of Aurora Natural Medicine, in Gilbert, Arizona, suggests individualized treatment plans for best results. “My recommendations are very patientspecific, which is an important piece in prolotherapy.” Cameron says his patients are likely to start seeing relief in the first week.

“In many instances, they experience complete relief and mobility after a series of treatments.”

While Cameron attests to the efficacy of dextrose prolotherapy, he is cautious with recommending it for people with systemic inflammatory conditions. “Someone with a history of joint-related autoimmune response tends to mount stronger inflammatory responses. Other forms of regenerative medicine can be helpful for rheumatoid arthritis [RA], but not in the inflammation-mediated way, like prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.”

One option, according to the Institute of Regenerative Medicine, in Boca Raton, Florida, might be very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELS), an emerging form of regenerative stem cell therapy. These have shown promise in dealing with RA and other autoimmune diseases. Meanwhile, the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine is ramping up its research into approaches that stimulate the body to repair itself, with numerous ongoing clinical trials utilizing different injection therapies for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

The Power of Platelets

PRP injections are similar to prolotherapy, using platelets from the patient’s body instead of dextrose. “As blood flows through an injury site, the inflammatory chemicals trigger the platelets to release growth factors, which causes the torn fibers of the damaged structures to heal,” says Fort Worth osteopath Gerald Harris, of Texas Prolotherapy and Neural Therapy. PRP is sometimes used in conjunction with stem cell therapy, which is typically applied in cases in which something needs to be replaced, to help fill in gaps in ligaments or tendons, Harris says.

PRP injections have proven to be effective in easing chronic low back pain from damaged vertebral discs. An overview of research published in the Journal of Spine Surgery in 2018 found it to be safe, effective and feasible, with promising potential for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Harris says that people that wish to avoid surgery or cortisone injections can benefit from PRP, which can also be applied topically to treat non-healing wounds like bedsores and diabetic ulcers.

Harris subscribes to the power of persistence. “Don’t give up.

With proper treatment there is a strong likelihood that you can live a happy, healthy life free from chronic pain.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books and a composer.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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Pain Relief for Pets Prolotherapy Gives Joints New Life

B

by Julie Peterson

rian Engler, of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, was asked to provide hospice care for a senior Akita. Tadao was underweight, weak, arthritic and had been severely neglected. He needed a place to live out his remaining days in comfort. Even though Tadao was unstable with severely limited mobility, Engler believed that the old dog had more than a little life left in him.

Engler’s veterinarian tried prolotherapy injection treatments for Tadao’s joint pain and he soon became more

comfortable and gradually more active. “By the time we completed the treatments, he was able to get up and down with ease and started cruising around the kitchen looking for snacks on the counter,” says Engler.

Prolotherapy, short for proliferative therapy, isn’t just for dogs. Any animal with a joint can receive the regenerative injection therapy, which relieves pain by strengthening ligaments and tendons supporting the joint. It’s minimally invasive, involving the injection of a sugar solution

directly into the affected area. The body’s inflammation response kicks in, resulting in regrowth of new fibers in ligaments and tendons.

Prolotherapy has been around a long time. It was used to treat lame animals around 1350 B.C. Back then, a hot poker was used to induce the inflammation response. In the 1930s, injection of an irritant solution at the site of the injury became the new method, and has since been shown in scientific studies to facilitate the repair and regrowth of connective tissue, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and other joint-stabilizing structures.

Modern prolotherapy has remained basically the same for the last 80 years, although the injected irritant solution is modified according to the veterinarian, the type of animal and the injury. Every vet uses a slightly different prolotherapy “cocktail”, which typically includes 50 percent dextrose and possibly several other ingredients the practitioner finds useful, such as saline, vitamin B12, lidocaine and homeopathic combinations. Some vets also offer platelet-rich plasma or stem cells in the injection mixture.

“Prolotherapy offers an effective alternative to surgery in a significant number of partial ligament tears or persistent joint pain issues,” says Judith M. Shoemaker, DVM, owner of Always Helpful Veterinary Services, in Nottingham, Pennsylvania. “It’s quite inexpensive and the success rate is very good. Many animals respond after just a few treatments.”

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natural pet

Shoemaker typically does prolotherapy treatments in three- to five-week intervals until the joint heals. She also looks to correct the underlying issues of the problem. “Joints don’t get torn up with normal movement,” she says.

Animals may have joint issues from falling, but other causes include overweight, long toenails or chiropractic issues. Prolotherapy stabilizes joints after an injury and achieves pain-free motion, but it’s only successful if the cause of the injury is remedied.

“Prolotherapy is a very important tool in integrative veterinary care, but it’s not a panacea, and it’s never a stand-alone treatment,” says Christin Finn, DVM, owner of the Canine Rehabilitation & Integrative Veterinary Center, in Kingston, Washington.

“It’s part of a combination of integrative treatments based on what is best for your pet.”

The right balance of treatments to help an animal feel comfortable could include laser therapy, osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture, physical therapy, custom braces, prolotherapy or rest.

Using prolotherapy in conjunction with other posture-correcting and integrative therapies is a win for pets and their owners. Surgery is fraught with complications and expensive. When prolotherapy is used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, animals can recover from injuries that may have been debilitating or even fatal.

Ivey Sumrell’s Irish sport horse recovered from a severe injury. At 8 years old, Johnny was bitten on the neck by a stallion.

“His neck became unstable and he had severe problems walking,” says Sumrell, of Tryon, North Carolina. “Ultrasoundguided prolotherapy was done three times to all of his neck joints.” Johnny was able to be ridden and lived to be 22.

And Tadao, the dog that was expected to die in hospice care a year ago, is enjoying life. He’s now well-nourished and loved, and painlessly goes for walks and plays at the park. “Tadao is the poster child for what prolotherapy can do,” says Engler.

Julie Peterson writes about health and environmental issues. Reach her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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Linda Carroll on Skills That Make Love Last

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sychotherapist Linda Carroll was drawn into the dynamics of couples’ counseling three decades ago when she saw how in her own marriage, petty disagreements could turn into full-blown arguments with the potential for deep wounds. She and her husband Tim worked on their issues by attending workshops across the country, including Imago therapy and PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills), which were so effective that she developed a curriculum called Love Skills by combining those tools, her experience as a married person and counselor, personal training from consciousness pioneers and resources from ancient mythology and spiritual/religious traditions.

She has co-taught the course with her husband for more than 25 years. Her first book, Love Cycles: The Five Essential Stages of Everlasting Love, has been translated into several languages and details stages in romantic relationships. Her new book, Love Skills: The Key to Unlocking Lasting, Wholehearted Love, is a guide to developing a relationship toolkit.

What is the Love Cycles model?

It is based on the fact that feelings of love are seasonal. Like the seasons of the year, they are a natural progression of a relationship. If you understand the seasons, you

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can pass through them.

All relationships are teachers. If we allow them to teach us, we become free to love deeper and better.

What is the most difficult Love Cycles stage, and why?

Each stage has its own unique challenges.

For example, the first stage, the Merge, has a magic to it due to the chemical cocktail that floods your body when in the presence of your significant other. But this stage can be treacherous in that you can mistake your feelings for evidence that this is the “right” person for you. In the Power Struggle stage, feelings will have worn off and power struggles will start to show up. The third stage is Disillusionment.

Differences between both of you really start to show up at this time. The fourth stage is the Decision stage. At this point, many couples find themselves wanting out. The key to making it through this stage is to remember that this, too, shall pass and to commit to working it out. It’s important to realize that life is not about getting an A+ at all times. Sometimes, we need to accept that a C- is okay; and if you do need to leave a relationship, it is possible to do it in a wholehearted way at best—at the least, to minimize damage.

The fifth stage I call Wholehearted Love, a stage reached only through mindfulness and unconditional love. Because love has changing seasons, a couple will not stop at

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the fifth stage forever, but getting back to this state will become easier and easier as time goes on.

Celebrate Your Sexuality Together we will:

What was your impetus for writing Love Skills?

I have been teaching the program for 25 years and drew from my almost 40 years as a couples therapist, many trainings all over the country and own life experiences in my relationship with my husband to compile the program. Most couples lack the skills to manage the troubles of life. There is a skill to every aspect of a relationship, especially in communication: listening, speaking, knowing when to speak and when to be silent.

Who is most likely to benefit?

The relationship you have with yourself is a core part of the Love Cycles model. If you do not have a good relationship with yourself, you cannot have a solid and meaningful relationship with another person. This is a couples’ book, although it can also be gone through by a single person if the partner is not interested in it. What I tell people is that you can only work on your part. If the other person doesn’t want to buy in or isn’t wholeheartedly on board—or at least partially willing—there is nothing that you can do about it. You need to be able to be okay and confident in yourself. You cannot change another person, but you can always change yourself.

RECLAIM sexuality and sensuality CREATE sense of self love and self acceptance EMBRACE authentic sexual expression RELEASE trauma, shame and guilt AWAKEN sexual energy to bring renewed vitality to your life and your relationships

Michelle provides Sacred Sexuality, Love and Relationship Coaching helping women love, nourish and heal themselves.

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What is one of the most important pieces of advice you have for couples?

I hope that couples come to realize that feelings of love are like clouds, always changing. A good relationship requires a skill set, which we practice whatever the feelings are. We are not born knowing how to love skillfully, but this skill set can be learned by anyone and will make you able to listen better and appreciate each other more.

Kajsa Nickels is a freelance author who resides in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Connect at FidelEterna45@gmail.com.

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February 2020

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~Julia Steinberger

GOOD HEARTS START YOUNG

Boosting Kids’ Cardiovascular Health

W

by Ronica A. O’Hara

e don’t often think of children as having cardiovascular problems, but evidence is mounting that many youngsters today—because of scant exercise, poor eating habits and excessive screen time—are on track to experiencing serious heart and circulatory problems later in life.

“Instead of taking a wait-and-see approach by treating disease later in adulthood, we should help children maintain the standards of ideal cardiovascular health that most children are born with,” reports Julia Steinberger, M.D., director of pediatric cardiology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, in Minne-

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apolis, and lead author of a 2016 scientific statement on children’s cardiovascular health from the American Heart Association (AHA).

In a March 2019 update, the AHA noted that fewer than 1 percent of children meet all seven criteria, or metrics, for ideal cardiovascular health; half of all children meet merely half the measures, which include physical activity, healthy eating, not smoking, attaining ideal body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose readings.

Poor metrics in a child are linked to such adverse outcomes as heart attacks, heart failure and stroke in adulthood, advises Elaine Urbina, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, adding that poor metrics in teens are linked to fatty build-up in the neck arteries and arterial stiffness later in life.

But starting in utero, crucial strategies can promote strong cardiovascular systems in kids. Children born to mothers with low vitamin D levels have about a 60 percent higher risk of elevated systolic blood pressure between ages 6 and 18, reports a Boston Medical Center study in the journal Hypertension; vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may head that off. Other important strategies include:

Get them moving. Children should be physically active at least 60 minutes a day, the AHA recommends, but among kids 6 to 11, only half of the boys and a third of the girls meet that guideline; by ages 16 to 19, merely one in 10 boys and one in 20 girls do. A review of 50 fitness studies in 28 countries involving 25

BlurryMe/ Shutterstock.com

Instead of taking a waitand-see approach by treating disease later in adulthood, we should help children maintain the standards of ideal cardiovascular health that most children are born with.

healthy kids

S-F/ Shutterstock.com

million children concluded that American kids today are about a minute and a half slower running a mile than their peers 30 years ago.

“Aerobic exercises like running, swimming and cycling use the big muscles of the body and are excellent ways of stressing and strengthening the heart and lungs,” says study author Grant Tomkinson, Ph.D., professor of education, health and behavior studies at the University of North Dakota. Even simply walking to school in the morning for 10 minutes reduces stress in kids and curbs heart rate and blood pressure increases, a University of Buffalo study found.

Don’t smoke or vape. The risk of a child developing

carotid plaque in adulthood was four times higher if one or both parents smoked without taking care to limit the child’s exposure; when they did take care, the risk was still almost two times higher, according to an Australian study in the journal Circulation. Discouraging a teen from vaping is also critical to future health: New research from the University of Kansas School of Medicine shows that adults that vape are significantly more likely to have a heart attack, coronary artery disease and depression compared with those that don’t vape or use any tobacco products.

Feed them well. About 91 percent of U.S. children have what is classified as a “poor” diet that’s heavy in simple carbs like desserts and sugary drinks, the AHA reported. It recommends feeding kids a diet heavy in fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains and low in sodium and sugary foods and drinks. A 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of 2,142 children found that nine of 10 kids exceeded recommended sodium levels.

A Cleveland Clinic study found that obese children eating a low-fat, plant-based vegan diet for four weeks began lowering their risk of heart disease by improving their weight, blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity.

Restrict screen time. Australian 6-year-olds

that spent the most time in front of TVs, computers and video games had narrower arteries in the back of their eyes—a marker of future cardiovascular risk—reported a study in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular. A study from Canada’s McMaster University found that kids with video game addictions sleep less, which in turn elevates blood pressure, lowers helpful HDL cholesterol and raises triglycerides.

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer.

Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

teen voices

All You Need is Love

by Isabella Dussias

H

appy winter to all! February brings us cold weather superimposed with the warmth of Valentine’s Day. In my elementary school years, winter was a time of cold days and hopeful school closings that felt as if it dragged on forever. Valentine’s Day was always a highlight—getting candy and exchanging cards with school friends broke up the doldrums of winter.

So, why do we celebrate love? Countless songs and love stories have been written about it, and there is an abundance of romantic comedies shown on TV. There is puppy love, love handles, love seat and love potions—those endearing terms are endless. There is love of country, love of

friends, love of family, love of self. There are lovebugs and love birds, lovesick and love songs.

In asking my friends if Valentine’s Day is important to them as teens, I got many different responses. Some were looking forward to getting flowers or candy from a parent or from someone special. Others were excited to give a card or stuffed animal to their little brother or sister. One of my friends spends every Valentine’s Day having dinner with her grandparents.

My other friend donates his time at an extended care facility.

It’s been said that “love makes the world go ‘round.” The goodness of humanity is essential to that, and love plays a

fundamental role. In polling my friends, I found that the four-letter word “love” became synonymous with another four-letter word, “kind”. What we, as teens, seem to be seeking out to celebrate is the kindness and love that is inherent within us all.

Now it’s halfway through winter.

Hope you have a lovely February!

Isabella Dussias is a 17-year-old singersongwriter/composer from New Jersey. She enjoys writing about issues that are important to today’s youth, and she believes music is an important outlet to connect people and share messages through the creativity of lyric and melody. For more information, please visit IsabellaDussias.com.

February 2020

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Scarlett Lewis and pirtuss/Shutterstock.com

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CHOOSING LOVE How to Cope With Fearful Times

by Scarlett Lewis

I

t’s hard to make sense of some of the troubling things we see on TV and read about in the news. Our kids ask us, “Why are these things happening?” It’s an important question and it all comes down to two competing feelings: fear versus love.

When we see disturbing images such as school shootings or political opponents attacking one another, it cultivates anxiety, which is epidemic in our society.

When left untreated, it can lead to negative outcomes including substance abuse, depression, suicide and violence. Often, we look to those in perceived power to solve these issues. Perhaps what we haven’t considered is that these are not political issues; rather, they are issues of the heart and only we can solve them.

So we continue to see pain and suffering played out before us. We feel powerless and this feeds our unease. Our personal safety is a priority and external safety measures sometimes fail. If we don’t feel safe, nothing else matters. There is a solution.

The opposite of anxiety and fear is love.

When we examine the trajectory of most societal ills, there is often an arc of loneliness, depression, isolation and often abuse.

From a young age, we can learn to choose love as a thoughtful response to any situation. When we do this, we take back our personal power. We become part of the solution to the issues we see, and science tells us that others will do the same.

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There is a formula for choosing love. It starts with courage. My son Jesse was a 6-year-old boy who stood up to the shooter that came into his first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School and saved nine of his classmates’ lives before losing his own. We all have that courage within us: the courage to be kind, to speak our truth, to do the right thing.

We can only have one thought at a time, so we can shift our thinking by replacing a negative thought with a grateful one. Forgiving helps us to take back our personal power and is a gift we give ourselves. It is the foundation of healthy relationships that lead to greater happiness and connection in our lives. Compassion in action helps us step outside our own busyness, distraction and even pain to help others.

When we do this, we’re choosing love and helping to create a safer, more peaceful and loving world. When we model the practice of these character values as a thoughtful response for our children, they grow up to do the same.

Scarlett Lewis is the founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure every child has access to social and emotional education and support. Connect with her at Info@JesseLewisChooseLove.org.

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U

niversities, sports There is momentum, Two-pronged efforts arenas, restaubut it is challenging. by businesses and indirants and other viduals to divert plastics businesses are taking up ~Eric DesRoberts from the waste system the call to “disrupt disposand replacing them with ables” as part of a global effort to dramatiEarth-friendly alternatives will eventucally cut down on single-use plastics. The ally pay off, experts say, but it will be a environmental problems caused by those long and slow process. However, momenubiquitous throwaways have become a tum is building, spurred by consumer mainstay of news reporting, and studies on demand and a growing number of enhow best to reduce them through public terprising businesses, organizations and policy abound. A recent Canadian research academic institutions. paper in the Marine Pollution Bulletin

At Penn State University, agriculexplores strategies such as bans, tax levies ture and biological engineering profesand education. Experts agree that it is not sor Judd Michael is working with sports just a litter problem, but a sobering matter facilities to lower both plastics use and of human and planetary health. littering; the initiative is working so well

As these plastics wind up in the oceans that their approaches may be taken up by and landfills worldwide, they can languish other schools across the nation. “One of virtually intact for up to 1,000 years, entanmy projects is with NASCAR’s Pocono gling and choking marine mammals and Raceway [also in Pennsylvania], where the terrestrial wildlife. Or, they break into toxic owners of the track wanted to continue microplastics that enter drinking water to make the venue more green,” he says. supplies, eventually ingested by humans.

“There is zero waste in suites for that Because plastics are made from petroleum, track, and they are initiating a compretheir production also adds to greenhouse hensive recycling program. They try to get gases that contribute to the climate crisis. tailgaters to participate, as well.”

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sherlesi/Shutterstock.com

Welcome!

On campus, Penn State provides personal footprint—your cumulative imA lot of local folks have bags of different colors for tailgaters with pact, like how many single-use bottles you really changed their instructions for fans to separate recyclables have avoided,” she says. perspective. We see a lot in one bag and everything else in the other.

On a smaller scale, Dana Honn and more customers coming That program was exported to Pocono. his wife Christina went completely plasticMichael is also working with PepsiCo, free upon opening Café Carmo, in New in and saying they which owns Frito-Lay, to develop alternaOrleans. “We only had about a dozen seats, appreciate that we are tive packaging. but determined to have as little waste as using compostable cups

The University of Florida’s efforts possible. Every year, we were able to build and compostable straws. began in 2012, when the campus freed upon it,” he says. itself from plastic bags, getting buy-in from “A lot of local folks have really changed ~Dana Honn Chick-Fil-A, Subway and other eateries that their perspective. We see a lot more cusagreed to switch to alternatives. “We’ve been tomers coming in and saying they appreciStyrofoam-free since 2012, as well,” says Allison Vitt, outreach ate that we are using compostable cups and compostable straws.” and communications coordinator for the UF Office of Sustainability.

It’s a slow, but steady effort, says Eric DesRoberts, senior “At the end of 2018, we officially switched over all to compostable manager of the Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program. straws.” They feel like plastic, but are certified compostable, “We have worked with a number of restaurants talking about why she says. it is important to be taking action to keep plastics out of the waste

UF has engaged with Cupanion, a company that developed stream and out of the ocean.” an app that has a “fill it forward” program, distributing money to

More people are volunteering to clean up and cut back on clean-water charities worldwide. “Since 2016, we’ve been working plastics, and more businesses are asking the nonprofit, Washingwith them to reduce single-use plastic, rewarding people for reuston, D.C.-based, environmental advocacy organization how they ing their bottles,” says Vitt. can do their part. “There is momentum, but it is challenging,”

Interested students, staff and faculty are given a barcode says DesRoberts. sticker to scan on their phone each time a bottle is refilled at a campus retailer or water fountain. The app provides points that Yvette C. Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, can be redeemed for monthly prizes. “It also shows you your Florida. Connect at YvetteHammett28@hotmail.com.

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conscious eating

Food always tastes better in the season it was intended to be eaten in.

ffolas/Shutterstock.com

~Brigit Binns

A Feast for All Seasons Embracing the Rainbow Year Round

N

by April Thompson

o matter where we live, eating seasonally in winter doesn’t have to be boring or limiting; a culinary adventure awaits the home chef that’s willing to leave avocados and asparagus to their rightful seasons and embrace the winter rainbow of bitter greens, sweet potatoes, sunny citrus and fuchsia beets, among other timely delicacies.

“Sometimes people think of winter foods as brown and soft and boring, and it’s absolutely not the case. Winter brings bright things like pomegranates, beets and citrus, which offer color and acidity,” says Brigit Binns, the Paso Robles, California author of 30 cookbooks, including Cooking in Season: 100 Recipes for Eating Fresh.

Eating seasonally is especially important in winter, says Shannon Stonger of Texas, author of Simple Food for Winter: 30 Grain-Free Recipes to Get You Through the Dark Days. “Winter foods like fermented vegetables, root vegetables, squashes and hardy greens are especially helpful in the colder, darker months, when our bodies are in need of comfort foods as well as pre- and probiotic foods,” says Stonger, a homesteader and founder of the blog NourishingDays.com.

There are plenty of other reasons to stick to a seasonal diet in winter, adds Binns.

“Food always tastes better in the season

it was intended to be eaten in. Seasonal foods are naturally ripened, rather than harvested early and trucked in. In addition to enhanced flavor, eating seasonally helps minimize use of fossil fuels to bring our food to us, and is likely to be less expensive.”

Winterizing the Kitchen

Much of the fall harvest, particularly root vegetables, stores well through the winter (hence the idea of a root cellar), extending produce across seasons, according to Steven Satterfield, chef and author of Root to Leaf: A Southern Chef Cooks Through the Seasons. There are lots of root vegetables beyond just carrots and potatoes to be enjoyed in winter, including sunchokes, parsnips and turnips, which can be used creatively rather than “boiled to death,” says Satterfield. For example, the Atlanta restaurateur incorporates parsnips into an upside-down cake with winter spices like nutmeg, black pepper and ginger.

Binns likes to add texture to winter dishes with nuts, color with herbs, and crunch with a winter vegetable like fennel.

Warming soups are always comforting during the coldest season, but she also likes warm salads, like a beet and escarole salad drizzled with a warm sherry vinaigrette.

Satterfield suggests that specialty citrus like blood oranges, Meyer lemons

and cross-hybridized varieties such as tangelos and pomelos are fun to intersperse with winter vegetables to maximize brightness and freshness. A lot of winter produce can be great in raw form as well, he adds, including Brussels sprouts, rutabaga or daikon radish, shaved thinly or julienned into a salad.

Winter squash is a favorite staple of the Stonger family in the cooler months.

“It is easy to grow, easy to store and so deliciously sweet and rich. We roast it as a side dish, mash it as a sort of breakfast porridge or make soups and curries from it,” says Stonger.

Satterfield suggests using all the parts of winter vegetables to maximize the harvest and minimize food waste.

For example, the seeds of winter squashes can be roasted with herbs and spices and eaten as is, churned into other dishes such as a squash seed granola or blended and strained into a homemade broth to add some texture, fat and flavor. After roasting carrots with Moroccan spices, Satterfield suggests taking the leafy carrot tops and chopping them with cilantro and garlic to make a green sauce to crown the carrots.

Swiss chard stems can also be chopped and cooked into Portuguese bread soup, with leftover stale bread made into olive oil croutons and egg whites stirred in at the end.

Winter Health Boosters

Beyond selecting seasonal produce, chefs recommend a few key dietary tweaks in winter, such as stepping up vitamin D consumption. “Since you’re not seeing a lot of sun this time of year, it’s more important to get it through colorful vegetables like carrots, cabbage or radicchio.

Watermelon radishes are another winter vegetable full of vitamins,” says Binns.

“You can grow your own sprouts throughout the winter as a great microgreen option. Sprouts are incredibly high in enzymes, something often lacking in other winter dishes,” suggests Stonger. “Fermented vegetables and other fermented foods can make up the difference in winter.”

April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

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Cut the celery in half lengthwise. Using a serrated vegetable peeler or a mandoline, shave the celery into thin strips lengthwise down the ribs. Cut the strips in half crosswise and place in a bowl of water. Set aside.

Separate the mâche leaves and transfer to a shallow serving bowl. Working on a plate to capture all the juices, use a serrated knife to cut a thick slice off the top and bottom of each citrus fruit. Working with one fruit at a time, stand it upright and, following the contour of the fruit, carefully slice downward to remove the peel, pith and membrane. Set the fruit on its side and cut crosswise into slices about ⅜-inch thick, discarding any seeds. Transfer the slices to the bowl with the mâche, reserving the juices for the vinaigrette.

Mixed Citrus Salad With Mâche, Fennel and Celery Winter is the height of citrus season, with an appealing display of oranges, mandarins, tangerines, tangelos, pomelos and more in the best-stocked markets. Use a varied mixture of sweet-tart types for the prettiest, tastiest salad.

Yields: 4 servings 2 ribs celery 2 bunches mâche 2 lb mixed citrus fruits, such as navel oranges, blood oranges, tangerines, mandarins and pomelos ½ fennel bulb, trimmed 8 kumquats ¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Cut the fennel lengthwise in half. Using a mandoline or a sharp knife, cut the fennel crosswise into very thin slices and tuck among the citrus slices. Drain the celery and distribute evenly over the salad. Using the serrated knife, cut each kumquat crosswise into very thin slices, discarding any seeds. Scatter the kumquat slices evenly over the salad, then sprinkle the almonds over the top.

To make the vinaigrette, pour the reserved citrus juices into a measuring cup. Add enough additional orange juice to measure ½ cup then add the vinegar. Whisking constantly, slowly add the olive oil and whisk until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad, toss gently to coat, and serve.

From Cooking in Season: 100 Recipes for Eating Fresh, by Brigit Binns

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

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~Shannon Stonger

Chard and Squash Salad 1 small winter squash, such as sweet dumpling, acorn or golden 2 small beets, trimmed 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 bunch Swiss chard, tough ribs removed and leaves torn Red wine vinaigrette or vinaigrette of choice Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

photo by Ray Kachatorian

For the vinaigrette: Fresh orange juice or as needed 1 Tbsp champagne vinegar ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

You can grow your own sprouts throughout the winter as a great microgreen option.

Cut the winter squash into wedges and remove the seeds, if desired. Transfer the wedges to a baking dish. Halve the beets and add to the dish. Drizzle with the oil and toss to coat. Bake in a preheated 450° F oven, stirring once, until tender and lightly browned, 20 to 40 minutes. Let cool. Peel and slice the beets. Place the chard in a bowl, drizzle with some of the vinaigrette. Toss to coat. Add the squash and beets, drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

From Cooking in Season: 100 Recipes for Eating Fresh, by Brigit Binns

photo by Ray Kachatorian

Winter Salad Wonders

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Rosie Lazroe, coordinator of our Natural Awakenings Local Yoga Directory

The Shades of Gratitude

W

by guest contributor Nicole Zornitzer

hen I was a child, gratitude meant saying thank you.

When I was a teenager, gratitude meant being allowed to stay out past curfew with my friends.

When I was in college, gratitude meant getting grades good enough to welcome a successful career.

When I was 23, gratitude meant being thankful for having 23 good years with my father and having to say goodbye much too soon.

When I was 30 and birthed my son, gratitude was everything, and love was all-consuming.

When I was 33, gratitude was finally giving birth to the daughter I had waited for my entire life, and my world was complete.

When I was 36, gratitude became the ability to remain strong in the winds of change and move forward in my world without my husband. It was raising two children and learning to breathe all over again.

When I was 43, gratitude was surviving a stroke that nearly took my life.

Today, at 47, gratitude is being with the most loving, selfless, caring, nurturing, brilliant woman I have ever known—my beloved mother.

My mother has terminal cancer, glioblastoma.

Am I grateful today? Yes, I suppose, as I watch my mother swallow her first dose of chemotherapy and prepare for radiation treatment.

Gratitude has so many shades; the one I wear today is not one I want, but it is what is.

I will cry myself to sleep tonight as I have each day of the last seven weeks. I will cry for what the universe has “gifted” my mother, myself, my brother and our children. I will plead with my deceased father and grandmother to spare her from this.

I will mourn prematurely for a life that is going to be cut short.

I am grateful for the woman that I have been given the honor of calling my mother, my friend. My mother is so much more than a mother to my brother and me—she is the woman who picked up the pieces when our father committed suicide and continued to be the adoring mother she is.

So yes, I am grateful every single day that I rise and my mother is with me by my side, experiencing life, breathing air and appreciating all that is.

Gratitude takes on many shades; let us all appreciate and cherish every one of those shades, even the darkest of them all.

Nicole Zornitzer, ERYT 1000, yoga therapist, founder of Niyama Yoga & Wellness Studio in Randolph, New Jersey. Niyama YogaStudio.com.

Your input helps shape this section while our input helps you grow!

For information, email YogaByRosie@gmail.com February 2020

35

calendar of events SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Deepen Your Yoga Practice with Pranayama – 1-3pm. This workshop is an exploration of yoga breathing techniques weaved into yoga poses. We will explore the how, the why and the benefit of pranayama in your yoga practice. Six yogic breathing techniques will be taught, followed by a practice where we will put them to use. $40. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215-661-0510. Patty@WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

WholeBodyYogaStudio.com/workshops.

Cardiometabolic Food Plan Group Coaching – Three consecutive Tuesdays, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18. 6-7:15pm. The cardiometabolic food plan is designed for individuals with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic conditions including type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and belly fat. Learn how to use food medicinally to treat the common causes of these conditions. $135. Medicine In Balance, 940 Town Center Dr, Ste F-90, Langhorne. Kristin Tomlinson, 215-741-1600. Kristin@MedicineInBalance.com.

MedicineInBalance.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Reiki Meditation Class – 10:30-11:30am. A onehour class hosted by Wally of Enlightenment Health & Wellness that includes fitness training combined with reiki meditation. Please bring your own floor mat for meditation, a towel and water. $15 at Eventbrite.com. Well Crafted Beer Co., 310 Madison St, Lansdale. WellCraftedBeer.com.

Yes, No, Maybe So: A Conscious Consent and Boundaries Workshop – 2-6pm. In this 4-hour experiential workshop you will have the opportunity to learn, explore, experience and practice the art of conscious consent and intentional boundary setting. $55/single, $80/couple. Koru Real Wellness, 4050 Skyron Dr, Doylestown. BodhiSacredSanctuary.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Cardiometabolic Food Plan Group Coaching – Three consecutive Mondays 2/3, 2/10, 2/17. 9-10:15am. The cardiometabolic food plan is designed for individuals with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic conditions including type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and belly fat. Learn how to use food medicinally to treat the common causes of these conditions. $135. Medicine In Balance, 940 Town Center Dr, Ste F-90, Langhorne. Kristin Tomlinson, 215-741-1600. Kristin@MedicineInBalance.com.

MedicineInBalance.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Headstand Workshop – 1-3pm. Learn how to safely move into tripod and classical headstand, while learning which variation is right for you. Adding headstand to your regular yoga practice can have many benefits, including increased focus, increased blood flow, improved digestion and increased strength in arms, shoulders and core muscles. $35.

Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215-661-0510. Patty@Whole BodyYogaStudio.com. WholeBodyYogaStudio. com/workshops.

J-Bone's Army Fundraiser – 2/8, 2/9. 7pm -12am.

Faced with the unimaginable, we are hosting a fundraiser to raise money to offset the costs of a prosthetic leg and all that comes with amputation.

We hope to see you there in support of our cause.

Let's come together and raise money so that Jacob can get the best prosthetic leg he can, so he can walk and run again. Donation. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Rd, Maple Glen. Eventbrite.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Caring for Your Body Along the Path of Parenthood – 7-8pm. Learn how to manage the many physical changes your body endures during and after pregnancy. Topics will include pre- and postnatal exercise guidelines, abdominal split (diastasis recti), pelvic floor and spinal changes. Registration required at Eventbrite.com. Free. Doylestown Hospital, Conference Room J, 595 W State St, Doylestown. DoylestownHealth.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13

PLANS CHANGE

Call Ahead 36

Vision Screening – 10am-1pm. Successful aging involves taking good care of your eyes and vision.

Matossian Eye Associates will be providing vision screenings that will look for potential vision problems. If a problem is found, you may be referred to an eye care specialist for diagnosis and treatment.

Screening is not used to diagnose vision problems.

Free. Appointments required. Register at Eventbrite. com. DoylestownHealth.org.

Kids Yoga (& Coffee for Grownups) at Wake – 10am-1pm. Enjoy some calm and a cup of coffee.

This class is best for ages 1.5-5, but all are welcome.

Wake Coffee Roasters, 133 S Main St, Ambler.

HeartwellYoga@gmail.com.

Bucks & Montgomery County, PA Edition

Got Events? Get Noticed!

Advertise in our calendar!

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Intro to Mindfulness Workshop – 1-2pm. Either on cushions or on chairs. The essence of what mindfulness is, how it works and what it takes to make it part of your life. Classes are for adults, 18 years and older, maximum 10 students per class.

Free with registration. Blue Sky Meditation, 1108 E Willow Grove Ave, 2nd floor, 2nd room on left, upstairs at Montgomery Integrative Health Group, Wyndmoor. Theresa, 267-235-9730. Theresa@ BlueSkyMeditation.com. BlueSkyMeditation.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Reiki Share – 1-2:30pm. A reiki share is a cocollaborative healing event where all participate in the energy healing of each other. We will divide the time equally among each participant. Alyson utilizes crystals, Tibetan chimes and custom aromatherapy blends during the sessions to create a meditative, comprehensive and multi-faceted experience. No experience needed. $20. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215661-0510. Patty@WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

WholeBodyYogaStudio.com/workshops.

Thai Yoga Massage for Two – 4-6pm. Learn how to apply some simple Vedic Thai yoga techniques to help relieve tension and invite relaxation. We’ll talk about how your touch affects the energy of the body, as well as the anatomy. No experience necessary.

Price is per couple. $85. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry, 215661-0510. Patty@WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

WholeBodyYogaStudio.com/workshops.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Advances in Heart Disease Care – 1-2pm. Heart disease refers to any disease that restricts blood flow through the body. It is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Lawrence Bish, MD, PhD, from Doylestown Health Cardiology will talk about heart disease and the newest treatments available to live a longer, healthier life. Registration required at Eventbrite.com. Free. Health & Wellness Center, VIA Auditorium, 847 Easton Rd, Warrington.

DoylestownHealth.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Kundalini Reiki 1 Attunement – 10am-3pm.

This beginners kundalini reiki training will cleanse and clear your energy channels, attuning you to this flow of healing energy. Reiki is a gentle and effective energy healing modality that channels life force energy to the self and others. This attunement process occurs over an afternoon of lesson, attunement and practice. $150. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. Patty Ferry,

215-661-0510. Patty@WholeBodyYogaStudio. com. WholeBodyYogaStudio.com/workshops.

Marjan Kamali - The Stationery Shop – Noon2pm. Welcome author Marjan Kamali for a discussion and book signing in celebration of her latest release, The Stationery Shop. A heartfelt tale, this book explores the ideas of political upheavals, grief, fate and lost love. We hope to see you there. The Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S Main St, Doylestown.

215-230-7610. Mail@DoylestownBookshop.com.

DoylestownBookshop.com/event.

savethedate Grand Opening Open House February 22 • Noon-4pm Come celebrate with us. Door prizes, light refreshments. Meet some practitioners, mini $ services. Mini chirology, Theta Healing, reflexology, more. Take a break and experience the peaceful sanctuary in the center of town. A unique co-op wellness center, collaborating to provide well-being. Classes, sessions, reiki, meditations, yoga, readings, flower essences. Like Talking Feathers Wellness Center on Facebook.

Talking Feathers Wellness Center 239 Main St, East Greenville Gwynn White Walker McGroggan 215-470-0176

TalkingFeathersWellnessCenter@gmail.com

HolyFeathersReiki.massageplanet.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Parenting and the Newborn – 9am-1pm. Onetime, 4-hour class. Nurse educators provide up-to-date information on how to safely care for, feed, protect and comfort a newborn. Expanded program to include more discussion about common challenges experienced by new parents in the early months. Registration required. $40/couple.

Doylestown Hospital, Conference Room J, 595 W State St, Doylestown. Eventbrite.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Patrick Radden Keefe - Say Nothing – 6:307:30pm. Welcome award-winning New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe for the paperback release of Say Nothing, a stunning, intricate narrative about a notorious killing in Northern Ireland and its devastating repercussions. The Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S Main St, Doylestown. Krisy Paredes, 215-230-7610. Mail@DoylestownBookshop

plan ahead FRIDAY, MARCH 27 Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo – Mar 27-29; Fri 5-6pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm. A collective event dedicated to wellness, spiritual growth and the conscious evolution of humanity. $5 Fri, $10 Sat, $15 Sun, $15 weekend pass. Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo, 97 Sunfield Ave, Edison NJ. Tickets available on Eventbrite. 732-508-7990. Info@ HeartofOnenessHolisticExpo.com. HeartofOneness HolisticExpo.com.

ongoing events Submit your listing online at NABuxMont.com by the 5th of the month, one month prior to publication. Please email Editor@NABuxMont.com with questions.

sunday 60+ Yoga – Noon-1pm. A regular yoga practice will help you improve mental well-being, decrease chronic pain, sleep better and live with more ease and peace. Class meets every Wednesday and Sunday. Mention Natural Awakenings to get your first class free. Kindred Yoga, 1364 Welsh Rd, North Wales. Christa Stebbing, 267-664-1022. Christa@ KindredYogaStudio.com. KindredYogaStudio.com.

Philly Lyme Support Group – 2-4pm. 1st Sun. Our peer support group is for individuals with Lyme disease or co-infections and their loved ones. Online meetings also available. Check our sites on FB and Meetup for details. Free. 1108 E Willow Grove Ave, Wyndmoor. Emily Yost, 267-586-0482. EYost@ RiverRock.org. MeetUp.com/Philadelphia-LymeDisease-Support-Group.

monday Yoga with Dr Cheikin – 6:15-7:30pm. Ongoing class taught by a medical doctor, offered at gentle/ beginner level. Includes informal discussion of relevant health topics. Dr Cheikin has studied yoga, Feldenkrais and dance for over 40 years and has taught for over 20 years. Beautiful quiet studio with easy parking. Please call before coming to first class. $15. Center for Optimal Health, 832 Germantown Pike, Ste 3, Plymouth Meeting. Office staff, 610239-9901. Query@C4oh.org. Cheikin.com/yoga.

Mental Health Support Group – 6:30-7:30pm.

Join 4 The M.I.N.D.S. for its weekly peer-to-peer support group. We welcome family, friends and individuals that suffer from mental illness. Aldie Medical Arts Building, 11 Welden Dr, Doylestown.

4TheMINDS@gmail.com. 4TheMINDS.org.

wednesday 60+ Yoga – Noon-1pm. A regular yoga practice will help you improve mental well-being, decrease chronic pain, sleep better and live with more ease and peace. Class meets every Wednesday and Sunday. Mention Natural Awakenings to get your first class free. Kindred Yoga, 1364 Welsh Rd, North Wales. Christa Stebbing, 267-664-1022. Christa@ KindredYogaStudio.com. KindredYogaStudio.com.

thursday Intuitive Medium Counseling Sessions – 5-8pm.

One Thursday per month – occasionally moved to accommodate need, by appointment only. In-person sessions with Linda Harbaugh. Linda has over 20 years of experience as a teacher, psychic and coach.

Linda receives intuitive messages identifying root causes of blockages associated with physical and

emotional pain. She helps refine client attitude and lifestyle for optimal health. $50. Center for Optimal Health, 832 Germantown Pk, Plymouth Meeting.

Michael Cheikin, 610-239-9901. Query@CohLife. org. CohLife.org.

Yoga with Dr Cheikin – 7:30-8:45am. Ongoing class taught by a medical doctor, offered at gentle/ beginner level. Includes informal discussion of relevant health topics. Dr Cheikin has studied yoga, Feldenkrais and dance for over 40 years and has taught for over 20 years. Beautiful quiet studio with easy parking. Please call before coming to first class. $15. Center for Optimal Health, 832 Germantown Pk, Ste 3, Plymouth Meeting. Office staff, 610-2399901. Query@C4oh.org. Cheikin.com/yoga.

friday Spirituality Health & Awareness Group – 1011am. Awaken your spirituality from within every Friday morning. Experience and discover your own spirituality, health and awareness. Through interactive discussions, participants will reveal their own blocks and fears toward health and create a life of awareness, using ancient philosophies that provide insight into the essence and meaning of life. All are welcome. $30. M.E. Matters, 668 Woodbourne Rd, Langhorne. David Piltz, 215-914-5344. Admin@ MeMatters.org. MeMatters.org.

saturday Breakfast Benefits: Learn about Laser Treatment – 9am. 2nd Sat. All are welcome to share breakfast and learn about the benefits of laser treatment. Facilitated by Dr Paul M Bizzaro, DC. Free.

The offices of Dr Bizzaro, 81 S Main St, Yardley.

RSVP to 215-493-6589. DrPaulBizzaro.com.

classifieds $30 for 30 words, then $1/word. Email Editor@NABuxMont.com by the 5th, or call Joe at 908-405-1515.

FOR RENT BEAUTIFUL ROOM(S) in professional setting in Warrington. Massage, counseling, nutrition, etc.

Work free for 30 days. 267-406-0782.

TRAINING Attention yoga teachers, massage therapists, nutritionists, reiki and healing practitioners: supplement your income and expand your repertoire of expertise as a COLON HYDROTHERAPIST. This unique healing modality has immediate earning potential. Train and work locally within months. Cathy@InnerSpa.org.

February 2020

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Bucks/Montgomery Community

business directory

Join the community! Request our media kit today by emailing Publisher@NABuxMont.com

Your local source for natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle

Behavioral Health M.E. Matters

668 Woodbourne Rd, Ste 108, Langhorne 215-914-5344 MEMatters.org

Lanap & Implant Center of PA David DiGiallorenzo, DMD Henry Hsu, DMD

184 W Main St, Collegeville 610-409-6064 • PerioImplants.us

Medical Doctor - Holistic Michael Cheikin, MD Center for Optimal Health

832 Germantown Pk, Ste 3, Plymouth Meeting 610-239-9901 • Cheikin.com

Providing oral health solutions through holistic, biologically compatible and organic practices. One of the world's most accomplished centers for periodontal and implant care, which integrates wellness services into their therapeutic approach. Experience with immediate total tooth replacement with metal-free dental implants, treating gum disease with LANAP, a no-cut, no-sew method of treating gum disease, comfortable gum grafting with PRGF, implant denture solutions, and chronic pain management. See ad, page 3.

For 30+ years, Dr Cheikin has helped patients achieve root-cause level healing using education, nutrition, yoga and other methods. Specializing in physiatry, pain and medical acupuncture, he also offers special testing for deficiencies, toxicities, infections and allergies. See ad, page 3.

81 S Main St, Yardley 215-493-6589 • DrPaulBizzaro.com

Hospice

Journey To The Self

My mission is to educate people to the benefits of chiropractic, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Over 40 years experience (personal and professional) allows me to relate to your problem(s).

Services include non-force chiropractic, nutritional testing, utilizing test kits/panels, Chirothin weight loss, massage (covered by most insurance) and laser therapy for pain. Personalized attention guaranteed. See ad, page 27.

Ascend Hospice

Psychological and behavioral health services for individuals, couples, teens and families where mind, body and spirit matter. We offer neurofeedback, therapy and a spirituality awareness group. Our goal is to help you experience life with increased awareness and without fear. See ad, page 19.

Chiropractic Care Dr Paul M Bizzaro, DC

108 Cowpath Rd, Stes 3 & 4, Lansdale 215-542-2100 AscendHospice.com Bringing a personalized and holistic approach to hospice care.

Our trained volunteers offer aromatherapy, massage therapy, reiki and pet therapy to bring healing and wholeness to clients and their families. See ad, page 7.

Dentistry - Holistic

Life Coaching - Gestalt

Dental Wellness Centre

Step Into Joy Healing Arts

Hyo J. Lim DMD

216 Mall Blvd, Ste 11, King of Prussia 610-265-4485 DentalWellnessCentre.com Dr. Hyo Lim provides a holistic approach to exceptional dentistry, in a warm and caring environment. At Dental Wellness Centre, mercury- and metal-free restorations are used for the most biocompatible results. Biocompatibility testing for dental materials is available. Invisalign is offered as an alternative to metal braces. Zirconium and titanium implants are offered to replace damaged or missing teeth. Free digital X-rays with initial consultation. See ad, page 16.

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Joan Summers, Certified Gestalt Coach,

Trauma Professional and Reiki Master 267-272-9343 • StepIntoJoyHealingArts.com Joan@StepIntoJoyHealingArts.com Experience deep and long-lasting healing. Joan offers healing for her clients who are tired of feeling stuck, disconnected or without purpose.

She offers Gestalt Life Coaching, Equine Gestalt Life Coaching and reiki, and you may choose to customize your session. See ad, page 23.

Bucks & Montgomery County, PA Edition

NABuxMont.com

Metaphysical Services Linda Harbaugh, Intuitive Medium

Certified Life Coach/Reiki Practitioner Linda@JourneyToTheSelf.com JourneyToTheSelf.com • 484-904-9268 Delivering messages of love and guidance from deceased loved ones and spirit guides via readings and intuitive reiki sessions. A certified life coach, Linda also offers intuitive coaching packages to help you navigate life, jobs and relationships. Psychology degree, former teacher, 30 years business experience. Telephone or in person.

MLS Laser Therapy MLS Laser Therapy Dr Paul Bizzaro, DC

81 S Main St, Yardley 215-493-6589 • DrPaulBizzaro.com Get permanent relief for your pain without drugs, shots or surgery with FDA-approved laser therapy.

Benefits include speedy healing process, pain-free, extremely safe with no known side effects. Don’t live in pain anymore. See ad, page 27.

Nutritional Healing

Sexuality Coaching

Center for Natural Healing

Michelle Christine

Jeffrey L Griffin, DC

Sacred Rose

Bailiwick Office Campus, Ste 26, Doylestown 215-348-2115 • C4NH.com Feeling poorly? Lacking answers? Improvement at a standstill? Locate the source of stress and the treatment becomes obvious. Mention Dr. Jeff’s 35 years of experience when you call and receive a free phone consultation to learn how we can start helping you today.

Unity Barn, 4000 Sawmill Rd, Doylestown MichelleChristine@SacredRose444.com 215-840-8139 • SacredRose444.com Michelle Christine supports women to reclaim and redefine their sexuality in any stage of their lives. Together we will work on helping you to love, nourish and celebrate yourself and your divine femininity. See ad, page 23.

See ad, page 14.

Naturopathic School Health Queen Avis Gardell-Feldstein

1 Shadowbrook Ln, Basking Ridge, NJ 732-547-1196 (call or text) HealthQueenAvis@gmail.com We are so excited to be able to bring the most cutting-edge information in the health industry through our Certification in Naturopathy. Private consultations with Matrix Decoder diagnostics and Biofeedback plus testing available for food sensitivities, hormones and more! See ad, back cover.

Reiki Step Into Joy Healing Arts Joan Summers, Certified Intuitive

Reiki Master and Gestalt Coach 267-272-9343 • StepIntoJoyHealingArts.com Joan@StepIntoJoyHealingArts.com Experience peace of mind, enlightened awareness and physical restoration. The connections between physical pain and emotional trauma are often revealed during an intuitive reiki session. It is a practice of compassion and spiritual connection. See ad, page 23.

Spa - Holistic Inner Spa

4 Terry Dr, Ste 12, Atrium Bldg, Newtown Info@InnerSpa.org • 215-968-9000 InnerSpa.org • InnerVitalitySpa.com A fully organic, holistic, eco-friendly wellness spa featuring an array of detoxification, cleansing and therapeutic services. The spa is one of the only facilities in the area to offer colon hydrotherapy. See ad, page 11.

Veterinary - Holistic Doylestown Veterinary Hospital & Holistic Pet Care 380 N Shady Retreat Rd, Doylestown 215-345-6000 DoylestownVeterinaryHospital.com

Improving the lives of pets through acupuncture, herbal therapy, homeopathy, nutritional counseling and integration of holistic therapies with conventional medicine for customized approach to care.

See ad, page 21.

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