25 minute read
global briefs
Exercise to Boost Sperm Quality
A new Harvard study of 746 young sperm donors reports that men that exercise more have better sperm quality. The men, with an average age of 26, at least a high school education and no radiation exposure or sexually transmitted diseases, were qualified to donate to a sperm bank in their area. Compared to men that seldom exercised, those that reported the most total exercise and logged the most time doing intense workouts had better sperm motility, which increases the chances for sperm to move through the female reproductive tract to reach an egg.
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Take Quercetin to Reduce Blood Pressure Supplementation with quercetin, a plant pigment found in capers, cilantro, fennel, onions, red leaf lettuce, watercress, elderberries, asparagus, kale, cocoa, apples and chia seeds, can significantly reduce both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, lowering each by about three milliliters/Hg, reports a new review of research published in the Oxford Academic Journal, of 17 clinical studies that tested 896 participants. Quercetin also improved HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels when consumed for eight weeks or more.
Cool Solution
Biodegradable Cooler Keeps Food Cold and Dry The ice chests we haul to picnics are typically made of Styrofoam, Dow Chemical’s trademarked name for extruded polystyrene, but it is a highly flammable source of greenhouse gases that animals can mistake for food and won’t degrade for hundreds of years, leading thousands of landfills to ban it. Now, Igloo, the top global cooler maker, has introduced a new, less-destructive alternative made out of paraffin wax and recycled tree pulp called Recool. The 16-quart, water-resistant cooler, sold at REI and other stores, keeps 75 pounds of contents ice-cold for up to 12 hours and goes up to five days without leaking water. The coolers can be stored and reused many times and then recycled, composted or used as a dry storage container. It’s also less likely to break or chip than Styrofoam.
Unsafe Sipping
Widespread Drinking Water Contamination Found The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found contamination of U.S. drinking water with manmade “forever chemicals” to be much worse than estimated. Miami, Philadelphia and New Orleans have some of the highest levels. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are resistant to breaking down in the environment and some have been linked to cancer, liver damage, low birth weight and other health problems. David Andrews, a senior scientist at EWG and co-author of the report, says, “It’s nearly impossible to avoid contaminated drinking water from these chemicals.” Sources include products like Teflon, Scotchguard and firefighting foam. Only one location in the country, Meridian, Mississippi, which has 700-foot-deep wells, had no detectable PFAS, while Seattle and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, had levels below 1 part per trillion, the limit EWG recommends. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has known since at least 2001 about the problem of PFAS in drinking water, but has so far failed to set an enforceable, nationwide legal limit.
Hot Spots
Climate Change City Index for 2050 Temperature changes, water shortages and rising sea levels will impact some of the world’s most populous cities during the next 30 years. Apartment rental hub Nestpick.com commissioned researchersto comb through data and determine how the ongoing climate shift could impact specific cities to help people choose where to live and add to the debate about procedures that can be put in place to ensure the longevity and livability of cities. Bangkok faces the highest risk of flooding from rising sea levels and a projected temperature increase of 3° F. Nairobi may move from a temperate humid warm summer climate to a tropical-type savanna wet summer climate due to rising temperatures. The demand for water is projected to be double the supply in Melbourne. Ho Chi Minh City and Amsterdam are also very high on the list.
Wild Things
Wildness a Big Factor in Urban Parks A new study led by the University of Washington (UW) has found that not all forms of nature are created equal when considering benefits to people’s wellbeing. Experiencing wildness is particularly important for physical and mental health, according to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. This is the first study to show that wildness in urban areas is profoundly important for human well-being. “The wilder areas in an urban park seem to be affording more benefits to people, and their most meaningful interactions depended on those relatively wild features,” says lead author Elizabeth Lev, a graduate student in the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.
Senior author Peter Kahn, a UW professor of environmental and forest sciences and psychology, says, “Everywhere, development is chipping away at wild areas. Humanity has caused so much destruction and there’s no stopping it—unless we stop. We’re trying to show that if you’re going to develop an area, you at least need to understand the human costs.” The researchers hope studies like this can be used as part of the decision-making process for development proposals in parks and urban natural areas. They compiled their analysis methods into a handbook that can be used in other cities around the world.
Nutty News
Eco-Sunscreen Made from Cashew Shells A “green” sunscreen has been synthesized from discarded cashew-nut shells by a team of scientists from South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania and Germany, reports the European Journal of Organic Chemistry. Using xylochemistry (wood chemistry), the scientists produced new aromatic compounds that show good UVA and UVB absorbance, which can protect humans, as well as polymers and coatings, from harmful rays from the sun. The research was published in the European Journal of Organic Chemistry. UV rays can lead to sunburn, premature aging and the development of lethal melanomas in humans and animals, and are also damaging to most materials, causing the discoloration of dyes and pigments, weathering, yellowing of plastics and the loss of gloss and mechanical properties.
Charging Ahead
New Batteries From Fruit Waste Carbon aerogels that exhibit high specific surface areas, high proportions of mesopores and significant levels of nitrogen doping have been developed for the first time using waste from durian fruit and jackfruit scraps using a chemical-free, green synthesis procedure. According to the Journal of Energy Storage, the electrodes also displayed long-term cycling stability and rapid charge–discharge processes. Both electrodes are attractive candidates for the next generation, high-performance, yet lowcost supercapacitors for energy storage devices derived from biowastes.
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ALCHEMISTS
Books & Gifts for the Spirit AlchemistsBooksAndGifts.com Alchemists@verizon.net Curb pickup by appointment. Sage, votives, palo santo, clearing sprays, abalone shells. Beekman fragrance-free goat milk soap & hand cream. Singing bowls, crystal lamps, Jellycat Soft Animals, Microwaveable neck pillows. Phone readings with Sandy Kalaora or Jamie Dawn. Email for more information.
ARIYA FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC CENTERS
804-526-7125 AriyaChiro.com We continue to follow our stringent protocols for sanitation as well implementation of additional social distancing protocols. Our offices are not over-crowded and we are staggering patient appointments to maintain distancing. We are taking new patients daily— and our team is here to protect your health, now and always.
BLISSFUL HEART- WOMEN’S INTEGRATIVE HEALTH
804-505-3010 Jacqueline@BlissfulHeartCenter.com BlissfulHeartCenter.com We are offering virtual video appointments for our Integrative Medicine and Health Coaching services. There are many labs that can be done as home collection kits. We are also offering new sessions of our free online Women’s Wellness Book Club, featuring the books Wild Feminine and Hangry. Details online.
ECHO + LIGHT
EchoAndLight.com 540-266-8950 Kristin@EchoAndLight.com Echo & Light, LLC, blends the edges of traditional counseling and evolutionary astrology. When self-knowledge is explored and highlighted through the lens of a natal chart it allows like to get on the schedule. The podiatry clinic at Johnston Willis (where the Spa) is located is currently open for foot issues that might need addressing during the Spa’s closure.
FOOT & HAND SPA
804-320-FOOT (3668) FootAndHandSpa.com The Foot & Hand Spa, Richmond’s true medical-grade clean nail salon can’t wait to reopen and, once open, will be expanding its weekend hours to accommodate clients. Please call 804- 320-4322 and leave a message if you would Here is a list of local businesses and practitioners still open and offering new or modified products and/or services (be sure to call, email or check the website for any updates or changes…) P E N
HEALTH INSYNCS
804-377-2222 Info@HealthInSyncs.com Socially distant, at-your-convenience webinar/workshops available on natural health topics. Pre-register if you can’t attend the webinar, and you’ll have access to the webinar recording for three weeks. Check the Natural Awakenings calendar for topics, times and dates, or join our email list to register for our monthly online webinars. Call or email for more information.
GLENMORE YOGA & WELLNESS CENTER
804-741-5267 Info@GlenmoreYoga.com GlenmoreYoga.com Glenmore Yoga has transitioned to online yoga classes given the current health crisis until group classes are able to resume. Online classes include beginner to intermediate level and ageless yoga, restorative and yin yoga, prenatal yoga and meditation. Teacher Training sessions are also available online for CEUs. Email for details.
HEALING CREATIONS
804-980-4021 EPels@aol.com • EmilyPels.com This is an important time to keep your energy field spiritually strong. Distance energy healing is one of my specialties. There are no boundaries when it comes to sending and receiving healing energy. The session would be conducted by phone or by FaceTime with you relaxed at home.
THE INNERWORK CENTER
Hello@InnerworkCenter.org InnerworkCenter.org for the breaking of behavioral and emotional We’ve launched Innerwork Online! This inpatterns to truly heal the soul. Learn how to cludes tons of online events and programs break old cycles with practical techniques that that can be accessed via Zoom. We have our enhance your quality of life and heal trauma. regular types of programming that can be regOnline and telecounseling sessions available. istered and paid for via our website, as well as drop-in groups that are donation-based. Greater Richmond Edition NARichmond.com Greater Richmond Edition NARichmond.com
INTEGRAL YOGA® CENTER OF RICHMOND (IYCOR)
Nora Vimala Pozzi, Owner/Director 804-677-3199 YogaHelps.com Vimala@YogaHelps.com IYCOR has switched to online classes so you can continue to enjoy the many benefits of yoga. Please check our website for updates or call or email for additional information.
RVA PHYSICAL THERAPY & SPORTS REHAB
804-396-6753 RVAPBHS@RVAPhysicalTherapy.com RVAPhysicalTherapy.com We are open from 9am-2pm, Monday - Friday and closed on the weekends. We offer telehealth for our existing clients. As always, we are committed to providing excellent service to get exceptional results.
LIFESTYLE DESIGNS
804-683-7774 LifestyleDesignsWellness@gmail.com LifestyleDesignsWellness.com Lifestyle Designs, in partnership with eLEEte Physicians, has been your thermography resource for nearly seven years – ask about our special pricing for June and July. Debbie Troxell, RN, MSNH, Thermographer, offers several additional remote services during these challenging times to assist with stress management, provide nutritional assessments and recommend healthy lifestyle choices to support the immune system. Please visit website listed above for more information and check out UltaLabTests.com/LifestyleDesigns to order labs online.
MIND FITNESS RVA
804-690-7783 MindFitness@MindFitnessRVA.com TheEnergyHacker.net MindFitnessRVA.com Offering Neurofeedback, “Energy & Information” medicine (bioenergetics), remote BodyField online scans & consultations and online & in-person Dance Therapy (Belly Dance). Visit website for more information.
PROJECT YOGA RICHMOND (PYR)
804-447-6058 Abbey@ProjectYogaRichmond.org ProjectYogaRichmond.org In an effort to maintain community while following recommendations for physical distancing, PYR launched an online membership platform at Patreon.com/ProjectYogaRichmond where you can remotely access yoga and mindfulness content from PYR ambassadors. As a member, you’ll receive regular content to support your practice at home and the pride of fueling work that matters to you.
RVA HEALTH & WELLNESS
804-929-0494 (text for consultations) Info@RVAHealthAndWellness.com RichmondBHRT.com We are excited to offer LDI, low-dose immunotherapy and LDN, low-dose naltrexone. LDI is a very safe way to induce tolerance to multiple allergens and autoimmune disorders. LDN can be used alone or with LDI to stimulate endorphins and T cells to improve many autoimmune conditions.
RX3 COMPOUNDING PHARMACY SHORT PUMP RX3 COMPOUNDING PHARMACY CHESTER
804-717-5000 Kathryn@Rx3Pharmacy.com Rx3Pharmacy.com We offer FREE Rx mailing*, FREE CBD mailing, Hand Sanitizer (while supplies last), Rx Delivery, Curbside Rx pick-up, Online refills and supplement sales and Veterinary compounded Rx.*restrictions apply
ILONA SCHENK-CHERRY, LMSW
Experiential and Trauma Therapy 570-412-2043 IlonaSchenkCherry.com Are you focused on everyone except yourself? Imagine a life where your relationships are life-giving, boundaried and healthy. This can become your reality and I am here to help. I’m offering secure telehealth appointments for individuals anywhere in Virginia. Specializations include relationships, codependency, love addiction and trauma. Free 15-min consultation.
ADINA SILVESTRI, EDD, LPC
804-536-9143 Adina@AdinaSilvestri.com AdinaSilvestri.com Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and owner of Life Cycles Counseling currently offering tele-counseling services to help you achieve balance and clarity during these uncertain times. Schedule your free 15-minute consultation by calling 804-536-9143. Tune into my podcast via the website; Episode 36 offers 5 Ways to Maintain Sobriety When You’re Stuck at Home.
SOULSHINE STUDIOS
804 335 0593 Info@SoulShineStudios.com SoulShineStudios.com We are here to support you. Our studio doors may be closed - but our community is going strong - bringing health, well-being, connection and support during this difficult time. Enjoy our live online Nia and yoga classes daily in the comfort of your own home. EveryBody is welcome! (sliding scale pricing)
Keep Our Local Businesses Thriving
SOUTH RIVER COMPOUNDING PHARMACY
804-897-6447 1-888-879-7713 Info@SouthRiverRx.com SouthRiverRx.com Personal Shopper in store – give us a list and we will shop for you. Curbside Service – call or email your order and we will have it ready for you when you arrive and deliver to your car. Shipping – Free USPS shipping on all prescriptions, vitamins and supplements for orders over $20.
VITAL SOLUTIONS 4U LLC
804-437-0243 BarbSatterwhite@gmail.com Nikken.com/NA/Satterwhite Weekly demonstrations of energy technologies/products via Zoom. Creating your “Wellness Home” with individual consults via phone or Zoom. Determine solutions for better sleep, hydration, less stress, less hurts, more energy & immune support. Introduction to “A Better Way”.
WELL INTO LIFE MASSAGE & BODYWORK
804-818-6281 CustomerService@WellIntoLife.com WellIntoLife.com Now might be a great time to add yoga to your wellness routine! We have something that will help get you started at home—check out our free yoga videos at WellIntoLife.com/Yoga. Our yoga instructor, Ariana, goes through some beginner to intermediate poses in both 15- and 30-minute sessions.
ZOE THERAPY SERVICES
804-303-9622 ContactUs@ZoeTherapyServices.com ZoeTherapyServices.com Zoe Therapy Services is pleased to support our community by offering tele-psychiatry, telecounseling, tele-nutrition and tele-health coaching. In addition to self-pay, we accept most insurance for all services except health coaching. As an added bonus, most insurance companies have waived their copays during this time of crisis. Call now!
Please Support LOCAL Businesses
We’ll be Open Again Soon
Healing the Immune System Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope
by April Thompson
Some 23 million Americans suffer from one or more autoimmune diseases—a category comprised of more than 80 conditions, including fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and Type 1 diabetes. These pernicious disorders are notoriously difficult to diagnose, even harder to treat and can be debilitating, diminishing the quality of life for sufferers. Another commonality is the increased prevalence of autoimmune disease in women versus men; in the case of lupus, for example, a nine-fold difference. Some early indicators are that this may be related to a “gene dosage effect”, as men with XXY chromosomes have the same risk of developing lupus as other women, and women with XXX chromosomes (known in medical parlance as “superwomen”) have an even higher risk of autoimmune disease, according to Judith James, chair of the Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, in Oklahoma City. Yet there is hope on the horizon, as scientific discoveries unlock important insights about the manifestation and progression of autoimmune diseases leading to new treatments and prevention tips. Evidence is also mounting around the role of diet and lifestyle in autoimmune conditions, giving patients new avenues for taking charge of their health instead of simply waiting for a cure. Autoimmune diseases are chronic and can affect almost
any part of the body, including the heart, brain, muscles, skin, and promotes vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods. However, every eyes, joints, lungs, kidneys, glands, digestive tract and blood individual comes out of the AIP process with a customized diet. vessels. Each disease carries its own set of symptoms, but For Trescott, “Gluten is a forever-no, and I am also allerinflammation is nearly always present, and are all connected gic to dairy and sensitive to a lot of nightshade vegetables, like by how the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissues. tomatoes and peppers.” It took three years to recover most of her “Those shared characteristics hold the potential for shared functioning, and although she had been a personal chef, it was treatments, and ultimately potentially common cures,” says Jane still challenging to determine a new approach to eating that didn’t Buckner, president of the Benaroya Research Institute (BRI), at include the grains and legumes that had been staples of her diet. Virginia Mason, in Seattle, which works to advance the predicTrescott is still on medications, including the same thyroid tion, prevention, reversal and cure of immune system diseases. support she’s relied on from the start. “There is a misconception “I’m excited about our progress toward prevention. We that the AIP is an alternative to conventional medicine. We really are working to understand those tipping points in transitioning pride ourselves on using all the tools in our toolbox, including into disease that help us understand who is at highest risk, and surgery, medication and lifestyle changes,” she says. helps give very directed therapies,” says James. Anecdotal successes like Trescott’s have led researchers to pursue funding to test the AIP’s efficacy. In a pilot study of SELF-HEALING FROM AUTOIMMUNITY 18 individuals with an average sick time of 19 years that didn’t By her early 20s, Mickey Trescott, of Willamette Valley, respond to traditional medication, 73 percent were in clinical reOregon, was bedridden and had lost her job to autoimmune mission at the end of the trial, having followed the AIP. “It was a disease. At one point, doctors thought it was multiple sclerosis small sample size, but the results are promising,” says Trescott. (MS); she was dizzy, numb, falling over and slurring her speech. Eventually, she was diagnosed with both Hashimoto’s and celiac PHYSICIAN, HEALED THYSELF diseases, affecting the thyroid and small intestine, respectively. Like many physicians, Terry Wahls focused on treating her paTrescott, a nutritionist, chef and author of The Autoimmune Paleo tients with drugs or surgical procedures—until the Iowa City docCookbook, had been vegan for 10 years, but had a feeling that tor was diagnosed with MS in 2000. Within three years, despite her body needed something different. conventional medical treatments, her back and stomach muscles She found an early version of what would become known had weakened to the point where she needed a tilt-recline wheel as the autoimmune protocol (AIP), and in following its guidechair, and by the summer of 2007, she could no longer sit up. lines, began to find relief. Trescott connected with other Though Wahls had been a vegetarian on a low-fat diet for women and started a private Facebook group to share informa20 years, she went back to eating meat and gave up all dairy, tion on what was improving their condition from which the AIP wheat and grains, but still wasn’t improving. Delving back into community sprung. AIP, an elimination diet that seeks to reset the science of her condition, Wahls realized that mitochondrial the immune system by cutting out inflammation-causing foods support was key, and the speed of her decline slowed while and treating leaky gut, has much in common with the paleo diet taking a cocktail of vitamins to support its functioning. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in | May/June 2020 19
It wasn’t until she took a comprehensive approach to optimize everything she could take in through her food rather than relying on supplements that she saw radical results: Her brain fog, fatigue and pain went away and she biked around the block for the first time in six years. “Taking in nutrients in the form of food rather than supplements, you get related compounds and thousands of others in biologically anticipated ratios,” explains Wahls. “I still do take some supplements, but the magic is the food.” Those key ingredients, says Wahls, include magnesium, zinc, selenium, sulfur, amino acids, cholesterol, omega-6 and omega-3s, fats, carnitine and creatine. Her rule of thumb for daily intake is three cups of leafy green vegetables; three cups of sulfuric vegetables like cabbage, mushrooms and onions; and three cups of deeply pigmented vegetables, plus sources of protein for meat eaters and vegetarians. While her work was initially not accepted, today she has funding from the National MS Society and her research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. “Basic science is now showing that the microbiome has a huge impact on the immune system activity and the brain; the food we eat can turn gene expression on and off,” says Wahls, who hasn’t taken any drugs for her autoimmune condition since 2008. Buckner cautions against patients trying to manage disease with lifestyle changes alone, without giving available allopathic treatments a fair try. “People do better if they are treated early and aggressively. They are reliant on fewer medications down the road and don’t have permanent damage if they seek treatment early.” However, even researchers focused on pharmaceutical approaches acknowledge the importance of diet and lifestyle. Meggan Mackay, professor of Molecular Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, at Northwell Health, in Manhasset, New York, believes this can play a critical role in disease management. She cites numerous studies showing exercise as a stress-buster positively influencing disease outcomes, as well as a more specific study looking at the benefits of adding fish oil and vitamin D to the diets of lupus patients. “The rise in obesity, which is linked to increased inflammation in the U.S., may be one of reasons we are seeing more autoim20 Greater Richmond Edition NARichmond.com
mune disease than ever,” says Mackay. At-risk individuals should be aware of factors under their control, adds James. “If someone is worried about autoimmune disease running in their family, monitoring and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels and avoiding smoking and other high-risk behaviors can help improve their chances.” Even sleep patterns can play a role in disease manifestation, says the researcher. In one study, individuals at high risk for autoimmune disease that slept less than seven hours per day were more likely to develop an autoimmune condition, according to James.
COMMON LINKS SERVE AS RESEARCH CLUES
There are some clear links between autoimmune diseases, such as the genetic predisposition that runs in families. “Someone with rheumatoid arthritis may have a sister with celiac disease, for example, and one individual may suffer from multiple autoimmune conditions. We can learn from these common genetic links,” says Buckner. These common links can serve as important clues. For example, Buckner says they are able to demonstrate changes in T cells in diabetes and MS that are the same, which might lead to common treatments for the two conditions. While the process from basic scientific discovery to development of effective treatment can be slow, there are some concrete breakthroughs autoimmune researchers are excited about, having demonstrated ability to both prevent and delay disease. Citing a recent clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “They have demonstrated in kids at high risk for developing Type 1 diabetes the ability to delay onset for at least two years. It’s an incredibly exciting finding,” says Buckner. Mackay is hopeful about advances in basic science addressing specific immune system abnormalities linked to inflammatory problems. “Lupus is very challenging to diagnose and treat because it can affect every system in the body,” says Mackay, whose research team has focused on lupus for decades. “The only forms of treatment have been very immunesuppressive medications that shut down the immune response. None of these medications are specific, so in shutting down the immune response to treat lupus, they in turn interfere with the body’s ability to fight off infection and cancer.” Researchers are now honing in on single cells from biopsies that indicate which proteins are abnormal, thereby helping develop more selective therapies, she says. Seeing progress in the lab is one thing; seeing it in the waiting room is another, and that’s where autoimmune scientists and clinicians are really beginning to note a difference. “I’ve seen patients for 25 years, and when we started, we had very few options in my clinic, which was full of wheelchairs,” says Buckner. “In the last 20 years, we have seen an explosion in research and available treatments. I don’t have wheelchairs in my office anymore.”
Connect with Washington, D.C. freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.
Bras and Cancer Risk
by Tessa Broadwater
There is an ongoing debate in medical circles as to whether wearing bras can predispose the wearer to breast cancer. A 1978 California study showed that high breast temperature influences the growth of cancer. It examined women in different cultures that all had breast cancer, and the common variable among them was the increased temperature of their breasts. This increased heat may come from the body-hugging, restricting fabric that makes up a typical bra. Along with increased heat, the tight framework of a bra adds unnecessary pressure on the lymph nodes, blocking lymphatic drainage. When this happens, it prevents the detoxification of the lymph nodes, thus trapping toxins in the body and potentially making bra-wearers more susceptible to breast cancer. One of the most popular bras is the underwire model, but it may actually be the most health-damaging design. In “Can Wearing Your Bra Cause Cancer?” Dr. Joseph Mercola explains how the metal found in the underwire bra can act as an antenna, attracting electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Constant exposure to EMFs can cause molecular change in our cells, leading to possible cancer formation in the breasts. If underwire bras are a go-to and not an easy option to give up, a healthy and beneficial fix would be to remove the metal wire and exchange it with plastic. This immediately lessons the chance of EMF being attracted to the body and could reduce the risk of breast cancer. Additionally, constantly wearing a bra can form weak, underdeveloped pectoral muscles. This creates an undesirable response from the body’s natural ability to support the breasts, causing them to sag. Good advice is to reduce the amount of time wearing a bra throughout the day. Many studies prove that women that wear bras less often or not at all have a significantly lower risk of breast cancer. Switch out underwire bras for a wireless style, or even camisoles with built-in bras that are less constricting. Let the body breathe.
For more information, visit Tinyurl.com/MercolaBraCancer.
Tessa Broadwater is a Laser Therapy Technician/Patient Support team member with Dr. Sherron Marquina at Health InSyncs in Bon Air. See ads on pages 27 and 38.
Two local businesses specializing in women’s health and wellness…
BLISSFUL HEART, PLLC
Women’s Integrative Health 804-505-3010 Jacqueline@BlissfulHeartCenter.com BlissfulHeartCenter.com Blissful Heart, PLLC, is an integrative medicine practice focused on helping busy women reclaim their health. We offer integrative medicine consults, health coaching, Holistic Pelvic Care™ and group classes as well as in-office lab draws, hormone and food sensitivity testing and a state-of-the-art online client portal. Through our unique approach to care, we put the client at the center and address the full range of physical, emotional, social and environmental influences that affect a person’s health. We believe women are the experts of their own bodies and we partner with our clients to help them achieve their health goals. We understand the unique challenges women face, so we customize our treatment plans to meet each woman’s schedule and needs while providing the ongoing support to help her be successful.
ADINA SILVESTRI, EDD, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist 804-536-9143 Adina@AdinaSilvestri.com AdinaSilvestri.com Adina Silvestri, EdD, LPC, is a licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. She specializes in treating women with substance abuse issues and in helping children who have experienced trauma lead full and productive lives. Dr. Silvestri also helps women with Binge Eating issues recover from shame and find hope and healing. Her services include Individual Counseling, Family Counseling, Couples Counseling and Group Counseling. Her practice style is spontaneous, creative and designed to fit each client’s unique needs. Dr. Silvestri utilizes hypnotherapy to help treat complex disorders, from pain management to anxiety and depression. Hypnotherapy can be used to treat phobias, sexual dysfunction, undesirable spontaneous behaviors, bad habits and substance abuse (including tobacco use). It can also help resolve sleep issues, relationship issues and challenges with learning disorders and communication. Schedule your free 15-minute consultation today to begin living a life with purpose, joy and authenticity.
