Natural Awakenings Tampa Bay March 2022 Edition

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HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

THE JOY OF

FARMERS MARKETS

Fresh Produce that Helps the Environment and Economy HOW TO READ A PET FOOD LABEL HELP FOR PEDIATRIC EATING DISORDERS JOURNALING YOUR INNER WISDOM March 2022 | Tampa Bay Edition | NATampa.com

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March 2022

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March 2022

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PL ANET

TAMPA BAY EDITION Publisher Debbey Wilson Editor Cheryl Hynes Design & Production Patrick Floresca Contributing Writer Eleanor Bailey Sales & Marketing Debbey Wilson Circulation Manager Dean Wille Accounting Susan Hoffman Website Kyle Hass Operations Amy Hass

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Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

Contents 22 PLANT-BASED FOODS

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GO MAINSTREAM

Healthy Eating Gets Easier with Innovations

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26 THE BOUNTY OF FARMERS MARKETS

Buying Local Boosts Health, the Economy and the Planet

28 BEYOND PICKY EATING Help for Pediatric Eating Disorders

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30 BURNOUT RECOVERY

Ways to Reset and Find Balance

32 ANN ARMBRECHT

on the Business of Ethical Botanicals

34 EASING INTO A

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VEGAN LIFESTYLE

Clever Meat Substitutes that Please the Palate

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39 JOURNALING TO

ACCESS INNER WISDOM

40 BEYOND KIBBLE

How to Shop for the Healthiest Pet Food

DEPARTMENTS 12 news briefs 16 health briefs 18 global briefs 26 green living 28 healthy kids 30 healing ways

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wise words conscious eating inspiration natural pet calendar resource guide

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14th Annual Indian Rocks Beach

Church of the Isles, UCC www.churchoftheisles.org Churchoftheisles@gmail.com

Saturday, March 26th, 2022 10:00 am - 5:00 pm 24th Avenue & 1st Street www.irbgreenfest.com

Local Eco Friendly Products, Services & Non-Profit Organizations Local Food, Beer & Wine, Baked Goods, Children’s Area, Arts & Crafts, Silent Auction, Live Music, Unique Items and More!

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! @ irbgreenfest

Sponsored by:

Contact us: IRBGreenfest@gmail.com - (727) 595-1038 (Church Office)

letter from publisher

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atigue and burnout are very real feelings that can take root within, causing other dis-ease, if not acknowledged and addressed.

This month’s issue offers home-grown solutions to this very real yet sometimes unavoidable state. Burnout Recovery suggests ways to reset one’s self and find balance within. Journaling to Access Inner Wisdom can help to address this state, while enjoying the process of healing.

It is often thought by many that we cannot get enough protein from plant-based foods. That’s becoming passé as more and more plant-based foods are now packed with protein, becoming mainstream fare. In this month’s issue, Buffalo Cauliflower Bites and One-Pan Skillet Eggplant Parm are included for testing in our home kitchens. Clever meat substitutes that please the palate are actually in demand at restaurants around the country, so Easing into a Vegan Lifestyle is a perfectly-timed happening and read.

“Throughout the nation, an estimated 8000 farmers markets offer some of the freshest food anywhere,” shares The Bounty of Farmers Markets article, also leaving behind a much smaller carbon footprint. Eliminated are the needs for many hands to touch the produce, including long-distance travel, debilitating to the produce, the consumer and the planet. Plus, farmers markets are notoriously fun and especially healthy in that you are eating nutrition as close to its peak as possible. Another big boon is seasonal eating, vital to true nutritional hygiene.

As always, with the most open heart and mind, I hope you enjoy reading on.

coming in the april issue

Sustainable Living

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news briefs

14th Annual Indian Rocks Beach GREENFEST March 26

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et ready as Indian Rocks Beach (IRB) Church of the Isles is once again proud to present IRB Greenfest, a wonderfully eco-friendly event for families and friends of all ages, from the IRB community and beyond. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on March 26, enjoy all sorts of vendors with products and services designed to keep our footprint green, as well as representatives from nonprofit organizations; local food, beer and wine; baked goods; a children’s area and playground; arts and crafts; handmade gifts; live music and more!

IRB Greenfest helps bring community awareness to the impact of our carbon footprint and shares how to reduce it by recycling, using ecologically-friendly produce, buying local and organic and shining a spotlight on the importance of conservation efforts to sustain our environment. Based on past averages, there have been 1500 to 2000 attendees for the day with continued growth each year.

Location: 24th Ave. and 1st St., Indian Rocks Beach. For more information and for anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or vendor, check out Facebook.com/irbgreenfest and contact IRBGreenfest@gmail.com. Church office: 727-595-1038.

See ad page 10.

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Intuitive Crystal Healing Sessions with Ronni Ford

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onni Ford has much to offer in the way of helping clients heal and progress forward on their spiritual path. An empath, clairvoyant and intuitive, she has a keen sense of detecting and following the body’s guidance with her healing hands.

A session begins with grounding the client’s energy into their body and clearing any stagnant energy in the field that houses lower vibrational frequencies. She then clears each chakra by “reading” stuck stories or issues, expands this energy, and begins to remove it to more deeply connect with the soul’s imprint.

The pictures or words Ford telepathically receives in-session are clues as to where change can be brought about. She offers clients a higher perspective to understand how situations occurring in physical life are, symbolically, spiritual messages that guide.

In sessions where there is extreme stress, fear, trauma, grief or any other emotion that is overwhelming, Ford will walk through the client’s energy field and channel out some of this heaviness. Additionally, crystals are intuitively placed on the body for their beneficial and supportive powers.

Distance healings available; in-person sessions in Dunedin.

Yoga as an energetically healing practice can also be incorporated into the Intuitive Crystal Healing Session.

For more information and appointments, call 340-626-9642 or email RonniFordyeh@gmail.com. See ad page 45.

True Food Kitchen Opens in Tampa

Enbrel Treats Inflammatory Response

at better. Feel better. This is the mission and motto at True Food Kitchen, the awardwinning, seasonally-inspired restaurant and craft, officially opening its first Tampa-based restaurant on February 28, at 3645 Midtown Drive, Tampa.

The new location will feature a spacious dining room with 127 seats, an open kitchen designed to bring guests closer to the restaurant’s culinary craft, and a full-service bar joining the dining room and outdoor covered patio, accessible by either side.

Co-founded by integrative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil, True Food Kitchen’s menu closely adheres to his antiinflammatory food pyramid which focuses on eating foods that help maintain optimal health. The restaurant will offer a variety of flavor-forward dishes and beverages for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

True Food Kitchen will open with a variety of ordering options. In-store, guests are offered the option to order via their mobile phone, allowing them to scan, order and pay directly from their device. Additionally, True Food will offer guests the convenience of enjoying food in the comfort of their home by featuring the full menu online for pick-up or delivery.

For more information and ordering menu, visit TrueFoodKitchen.com/locations/tampa. See ad page 31.

sed for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, Enbrel is a large molecule drug, and when given as an injection or IV in the arm, it cannot pass the blood-brain barrier. However, research indicates that if Enbrel is injected into the vertebral vascular system, the drug goes directly into the central nervous system—i.e. the spine and brain.

Injected this way, Enbrel stops the inflammatory cascade in the central nervous system within hours—and appears to stop it permanently—thus why it is now being used for spinal stenosis, strokes (of any age), Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, PTSD and any neurological injury or genetic defect that causes an inflammatory response.

Dave, a 74 year old carpenter, had a stroke seven months ago which severely affected his eyesight. His left arm and leg were also affected with less mobility. He started walking with a cane and had to give up his carpentry as well. Within 20 minutes after the Enbrel injection, his eyesight improved; within 48 hours, he was moving his arm and leg better! His neurologist said he would never get back to any normalcy—never say never!

Young Foundational Health Center is located at 7241 Bryan Dairy Rd., Largo. To schedule an appointment, call 727-545-4600.

Most major medical insurances accepted. For more information, visit YoungFoundationalHealth.com. See ad page 5.

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Transfiguring Within to Recalibrate Without

Nature’s Food Patch: Best Health Food Store 3rd Year

argaret Newman, RN has a 30-year history of psychiatric nursing mixed with an education in NLP, Hypnosis, Parts Work, ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy), Core Transformation and EFT. She sees the universe as one large restaurant where we pay attention to what we fancy and drop the focus on what is not wanted.

Newman suggests that words come from the subconscious and can be used to reveal beliefs, values and perceptions that can get in the way of goals. Our experience of life is mostly an inside happening, coming to us through our thoughts and feelings. This means that regardless of outer circumstances, we can choose an empowering response that frees us from the past and that which no longer serves.

All experiences provide an education. The remarkable thing is that we decide what we learn from each event or encounter. Truly, even on a planet of billions, we are each unique because of our individualized education. We are free to choose a different life experience at any time; Newman notes that change does not begin by chance, but by choice.

For more information and appointment, call 813-3903428, email mNewmanSage@gmail.com and/or visit PeacefulThoughtsWithMargaret.com. See ad below.

or the third year in a row, local, family-owned natural foods grocer Nature’s Food Patch Market & Café (The Patch), Clearwater and Downtown Dunedin, has been voted Best Health Food Store by the community in the Tampa Bay Times ‘Best of the Best People’s Choice’ campaign 2019 to 2021.

The Patch placed first, second and third in other ‘Best of the Best’ categories over the course of last year and, for the first time, took the gold title for Best Produce Store/Stand in addition to bronze level Best Juice Bar. For three consecutive years, The Patch was runner-up for Best Grocery Store, competing with one of America’s largest supermarket chains. In Creative Loafing’s annual ‘Best of the Bay’ campaign, they received three first place awards from the Tampa-based publishing company: Best Gourmet Market, Best Place to Shop Green, Best Salad Bar. For the fourth year in a row, The Patch was voted the county’s number one Healthy/Organic Retailer by Tampa Bay Newspapers’ ‘Reader’s Choice Pinellas’.

On a national scale, the store was recognized as a Progressive Grocer’s 2021 Outstanding Independent honoree based on the essential role it has played to ease the pains of the pandemic for the consumer.

Info, NaturesFoodPatch.com.

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March 2022

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health briefs

Depression relief may be as close as the vinegar bottle on the kitchen shelf, according to a new study from Arizona State University involving 25 healthy college students divided into two groups.

Fourteen drank two tablespoons of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar diluted in one cup of water twice daily with meals, while 11 students consumed a vinegar tablet that contained 1/100 as much vinegar twice daily. After four weeks, using psychological tests and urine samples, the researchers found a 20 to 34 percent reduction in self-reported depression scores from the test group compared to slight increases in depression in the control group. Several metabolic alterations were found consistent with improved mood, including enzymatic dysfunction in the hexosamine pathway, as well as significant increases in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. “With over 40 percent of college students self-reporting moderate-to-severe depression—a 77 percent increase over the past decade­­—simple and safe strategies that effectively reduce depression in this population are urgently needed,” the authors write.

Drink Coffee and Tea to Reduce Dementia and Stroke Risk There’s good news for coffee and tea drinkers in recent research: consuming two to three cups a day of each beverage has been found to significantly lower the risk of stroke by 32 percent and of dementia by 28 percent compared to abstainers. Researchers from Tianjin Medical University, in China, analyzed a databank of 365,682 UK residents between 50 and 74 years of age that reported their coffee and tea consumption over 11 years and found that drinking both beverages in the course of a day correlates with a lower risk of stroke and dementia compared to drinking either one exclusively. Also, drinking three to six cups of coffee alone or in combination with tea was associated with a lower risk of poststroke dementia. “Coffee and tea are distinct beverages with both overlapping and different contents. One potential mechanism may be related to the combined protective role of the different antioxidants and other biological contents in these two beverages,” the study concluded.

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marek walica/AdobeStock.com

Fatigue that hampers daily activities is a major symptom of heart failure, the leading cause of U.S. hospitalization for people over 65. To explore inexpensive and accessible herbal treatments, researchers at the Aja University of Medical Sciences, in Tehran, Iran, divided 120 heartfailure patients into three groups: one received aromatherapy, breathing in lavender essence every day; another took 530 milligram capsules of valerian root extract daily; and the third group had conventional medical therapy with no herbal supplementation. After 15 days, fatigue was significantly reduced in both herbal groups, while individuals receiving only conventional care did not experience a noticeable relief in fatigue.

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Take Vinegar to Lower the Blues

picture partners/AdobeStock.com

Try Lavender and Valerian to Reduce Fatigue

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Run 10 Minutes for a Brain Boost Exercise is used by people of all ages to elevate a sluggish mood, and new research shows that a mere 10 minutes of moderate-intensity running also boosts cognitive function. In tests with 26 subjects, researchers from the University of Tsukuba, in Japan, found that a short burst of running improved the set of cognitive processes involved in planning, organizing and self-control by increasing blood flow to the bilateral prefrontal cortex. “Given that running is a whole-body locomotive exercise, it may confer more mental health benefits compared to other forms of exercise such as cycling,” says study author Hideaki Soya, Ph.D.

Eat Alpha Lipoic Acid-Rich Foods to Live Longer A high dietary intake of foods containing alpha lipoic acid (ALA), a plant-based amino acid essential to the body’s metabolism, is associated with a 10 percent lower risk of death from all causes, an 8 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease death and an 11 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease, reports a new study in The BMJ, a peer-reviewed medical trade journal published by the British Medical Association. An international team of researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 41 studies involving 1,197,564 participants that were followed for up to 32 years. They found that each additional gram per day of ALA (equivalent to one tablespoon of canola oil or a halfounce of walnuts) was linked to a 5 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease death. “A higher intake of ALA, however, was associated with a slightly higher risk of cancer mortality,” the researchers wrote. ALA is found in nuts, soybeans, canola oil, flaxseed, chia seeds and other food sources such as avocados, dairy products, navy beans and oatmeal.

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global briefs

Spiritual Awakening

As part of a process begun in 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture labeling rule for food products altered at the genetic level was finalized and implemented on January 1 to uphold the integrity of labeling claims and increase marketplace transparency. Bioengineered food is defined as containing detectable genetic material modified by in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid techniques that could not have been modified through conventional breeding or found in nature. Crops include alfalfa, apples, canola, corn, cotton, eggplant, papaya, pineapple, potato, salmon, soybean, squash and sugar beets, and will be updated annually. The rule also applies to food products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Food labels must disclose that the food is bioengineered or contains a bioengineered food ingredient. Exemptions include small food manufacturers with annual sales of less than $2.5 million; food served in restaurants, delicatessens, food trucks, trains and airplanes; and products that contain an unavoidable or accidental presence of a bioengineered substance of up to 5 percent per each ingredient in the final product. Activist groups agree that extensive consumer education is required to avoid confusion.

Most of the world’s organized religious sects contain a doctrine or reference to preserving the environment. Abrahamic religions view humans as stewards that have a unique responsibility to care for the planet. Other faiths like Buddhism, Hinduism and many Indigenous traditions believe that while people need to take care of the planet, they are just one part of the larger ecosystem. The creation stories in Genesis call upon humans to be caretakers of creation and tenders of the garden.

Nona Siegel grew up in Montana, where she became aware of several mining projects. She notes that one of Judaism’s core beliefs is that the land belongs to the divine, and cites the Jewish ideal of tikkun olam, which means healing the world. Tempe, Arizona, Community Christian Church pastor Doug Bland, wearing a cardboard box painted brown, invites people to confess their ecological sins in a ritual he calls “ecofessionals”. Some participants say they fly too much on airplanes. Others say they don’t appreciate the environment enough. He is the executive director for Arizona Interfaith Power and Light, an organization that works to bring a spiritual response to the climate crisis with about 100 congregations of churches, mosques and synagogues. It’s one of 40 chapters nationwide calling for faith leaders and communities to get involved.

photo courtesy of USDA

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Now Labeled as Bioengineered (BE)

People of Faith Find Deep Connection to the Environment

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Shell Game

Floating Families

In the coastal nation of the Netherlands, mostly built on reclaimed land—a third of which is below sea level—Amsterdam has around 3,000 registered houseboats on canals. A Rotterdam city official states, “Instead of seeing water just as an enemy, we see it as an opportunity.”

The newest innovation, a floating house, can be constructed on any shoreline and is able to cope with rising seas or rain-induced floods by floating. Unlike houseboats, Dutch floating homes are fixed to the shore on steel poles, connected to the local sewer system and power grid. They are structurally similar to houses built on land, but instead of a basement, they have a concrete hull counterweight that keeps them stable.

In the Netherlands, the structures are often prefabricated, square-shaped, three-story townhouses built offsite with conventional materials like timber, steel and glass. For cities facing worsening floods and a shortage of buildable land, floating homes are one potential blueprint for how to expand urban housing in the age of climate change. These floating communities are inspiring projects in flood-prone countries such as French Polynesia and the Maldives. Siti Boelen, a Dutch television producer, says, “We feel safer in a storm because we are floating. I think it’s kind of strange that building on water is not a priority worldwide.”

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Sustainably Coping with Sea Level Rise

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Environment Damaged by Winter Road Salt Road crews in regions impacted by snow and ice dump around 25 metric tons of salt on roadways annually, reducing vehicular accidents by approximately 80 percent. All of this salt is wreaking havoc on the environment and our drinking water, according to a University of Toledo (Ohio) study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. Bill Hintz, assistant professor of ecology and lead author, states, “The magnitude of the road salt contamination issue is substantial and requires immediate attention.”

Some easy fixes are within reach. Road salt should always be stockpiled in permanent structures with walls and impermeable floors to prevent seepage.

De-icing involves treating roads with liquid salt brine before a storm rather than scattering salt after the snow has fallen. Live-edge snowplows with multiple blades connected by springs, rather than conventional plows with a fixed edge, can remove more snow and reduce the need for road salt. Keep in mind that ordinary road salt stops working when the temperature falls below 15 degrees.

According to the Salt Smart Collaborative, based in Illinois, most homeowners use too much salt to treat surfaces around their homes. About 12 ounces of salt (a coffee mug’s worth) can treat a 20-foot-long driveway. To prevent harmful chlorides from reaching rivers and streams, they can sweep up excess salt that remains after a storm and throw it away.

Rescue Bugs

Bacteria May Become Plastic Pathfinders

Millions of tons of plastic are dumped in the environment annually, and reducing that amount is critical. A study by the Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden, published in the journal Microbial Ecology, discovered that microbes in oceans and soils worldwide are evolving to eat plastic. The research scanned more than 200 million genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic. This is the first, large-scale, global evaluation of the plastic-degrading potential of bacteria, which found that one in four of the organisms analyzed carried a suitable enzyme. The researchers observed that the number and type of enzymes matched those of plastic pollution in various locations.

Many plastics are hard to degrade and recycle. The explosion of plastic production in the past 70 years, from 2 million metric tons to 380 million metric tons a year, has given microbes time to evolve to deal with plastic. Using enzymes to rapidly break down plastics into their respective building blocks will allow new products to be made from the old, decreasing the need for new production. This research highlights new enzymes that could be adapted for industrial use.

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Slippery Situation

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Flip Side of Melting Glaciers May Benefit Salmon More than 300 melting glaciers between British Columbia and Alaska have the potential to create 3,800 miles of new salmon habitat by 2100, according to a study by a team of scientists modeling glacier retreat in the Pacific mountain region of North America at Simon Fraser University, in Canada, published in the journal Nature Communications. Co-author ecologist Jonathan Moore says, “This showcases how climate change is fundamentally transforming ecosystems; what is now under ice is becoming a brand-new river.” The team looked for glaciers situated at the headwaters of rivers that had the potential to carve out new streams as they melt. The qualifying streams would connect to the ocean, where salmon spend most of their lives, but without steep inclines. The models showed that some new streams could yield increases as high as 27 percent in salmon-accessible habitats.

Lead author and spatial analyst Kara Pitman notes, “Once conditions stabilize in the newly formed streams, salmon can colonize these areas quite quickly. It’s a common misconception that all salmon return home to the streams they were born in. Most do, but some individuals will stray, migrating into new streams to spawn, and if conditions are favorable, the population can increase rapidly.” As the glaciers continue to thaw, that land might become available for mining, but knowing where the streams will appear can help direct conservation plans.

Friendly Flights

operates stably under real-world solar conditions and provides a Airplanes Soar on the unique platform for further research and development.” The technology is Power of Sunlight now ready for industrial application.

Carbon-neutral fuels are crucial The plant will be used to produce for making air and sea transport synthetic liquid fuels that release CO2 sustainable. Aldo Steinfeld, professor extracted directly from ambient air of renewable energy sources during their combustion using solar at Eidgenössische Technische energy. The process yields syngas, Hochschule Zürich, and a team of a mixture of hydrogen and carbon researchers have been operating monoxide, that can be processed a mini solar refinery for two years. into kerosene, methanol or other He says, “This plant successfully hydrocarbons. demonstrates the technical feasibility Johan Lilliestam, a research group of ... converting sunlight and ambient leader at the Institute for Advanced air into drop-in fuels. The system Sustainability Studies and professor

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of energy policy at the University of Potsdam, explains, “Unlike with biofuels whose potential is limited due to the scarcity of agricultural land, this technology enables us to meet global demand for jet fuel by using less than 1 percent of the world’s arid land, and would not compete with the production of food or livestock feed.” Given the high initial investment cost, solar fuels will need political support while the price of solar kerosene is high and production capacities are low. This would have little impact on the cost of flying, but would promote the construction of production facilities and lead to lower prices.

eco tip

The 411 on Styrofoam Why We Should Just Say No

GrabillCreative/GettyImages.co,

Because it is heat-resistant, extremely lightweight and relatively sturdy, Styrofoam is commonly used for takeout food and beverage containers, egg cartons, craft materials, home insulation and product packaging. The harm it causes to human health and the planet outweighs its convenience, however, and a growing number of cities in Asia, Europe and the U.S. have banned its use, including Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, D.C. The word Styrofoam, which stands for a polystyrene plastic foam made from nonrenewable crude oil, is actually a trademark owned by the Dow Chemical Company in more than 90 countries. Despite city restrictions and growing concern over its safety, 3 million tons of it is produced every year in the U.S. Human Health Risks Two known toxins—benzene and styrene—are released during the manufacture of this puffed, #6 plastic. The toxins are also released whenever it is subjected to heat—by contact with a hot beverage or in the microwave, for example. In a 1986 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study, styrene was detected in the fatty tissue of every man, woman and child tested. The tens of thousands of people that live and work in environments with high concentrations of styrene have higher instances of cancer, neurological issues, headaches, depression and fatigue, while chronic exposure to benzene is believed to cause blood disorders, negative reproductive effects and increased incidence of leukemia.

Environmental Impacts The manufacturing process of polystyrene was rated as the fifth-largest source of hazardous waste by a 1986 EPA report. It is estimated that 680 pounds of greenhouse gas are emitted to produce 10,000 plastic foam cups. Styrofoam is virtually non-biodegradable, and only 1 percent of it is recycled. Approximately 2.3 million tons end up in landfills every year, releasing toxins into the air and breaking into smaller particles that make their way into waterways, polluting the human drinking supply and posing great risk to marine life that ingests microplastics.

Better Alternatives It is best to avoid using Styrofoam altogether, opting instead for plant-based, stainless steel, ceramic or glass containers to carry food and beverages. Choose manufacturers and shipping companies that use biodegradable packing materials instead of foam. At the grocery store, purchase eggs in paperboard cartons and get fresh cuts of meat from the butcher rather than those packed in foam trays. At home, select Earth-friendly insulation and steer clear of foam-based craft supplies.

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Plant-Based Foods Go Mainstream Healthy Eating Gets Easier with Innovations

by Carrie Jackson

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lant-based eating has seen an explosion in the past few years as consumers become increasingly aware of how their food choices impact their health and the environment and align with their ethics. According to market research firm SPINS, plant-based eating is now a $7 billion market in the U.S., with $1.4 billion represented by plant-based meat. Consumers can now expect to see veggie burgers at the ballpark, vegan dairy at the cafe, tuna substitutes in every grocery store and a plant-based entrée at Michelin-starred restaurants.

Whether vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian, almost 40 percent of Americans are shifting to a plant-based diet, according to a 2018 Nielsen report. While a plant-based diet supplies essential nutrients and reduces the risk for some cancers, consumers now rank the health of the planet as their number one concern, overtaking personal health, which has been the top priority in recent years, according to market researcher Innova Market Insights. Such an eating regimen can lead to a more sustainable use of resources, combat climate change and help preserve biodiversity. According to a University of Illinois study published in the journal Nature Food, animal agriculture is responsible for 57 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions from food production, which accounts for 35 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Plant-Based Companies Align with Values

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Elysabeth Alfano, the founder of Plant Powered Consulting, sees a plant-based diet becoming a lifestyle as consumers demand a broader range of options. “It’s becoming increasingly normal to find plant-based foods and meat alternatives in every grocery store. Oat yogurt, seafood alternatives and vegan honey are now mainstream. People are seeing how inefficient and harmful meat production is and are making the connection between saving the environment and their lifestyle choices,” she says.

Alfano is also the co-founder and CEO of VegTech Invest, an investment management firm that is the first global exchange-traded fund of plant-based companies; it launched January 4 on the New York Stock Exchange, comprising 37 publicly traded companies actively innovating with plants and plant-derived ingredients, and producing products that are animal-free. “We believe that today’s investors want a more resource-efficient, climate-friendly and cruelty-free food and materials supply system, and want to invest their dollars in the same,” says Alfano.

Dairy and Seafood Alternatives Abound In the grocery store, it’s never been easier to shop for plant-based options. Companies are getting creative and optimizing products that stand on their own merits, instead of just mimicking meat, fish and dairy. With alternatives such as oat, almond and even potato milk touting sustainable credentials, as well as a creamy texture, plant-based dairy is having a surge.

Sales in the plant-based seafood sector grew 23 percent from 2019 to 2020 according to market data from The Good Food Institute. Nestlé recently launched Vuna, a vegan tuna alternative made of pea protein, wheat gluten, rapeseed oil, salt and a flavor blend, and other companies are jumping on board as consumers are becoming more aware of the seafood industry’s environmental problems, particularly overfishing. While a handful are specializing in proteins derived from fermentation and others are developing lab-grown seafood, most are focusing on plant-based products. Due to their fibrous consistency, jackfruit and yam root are ideal fish alternatives for fillets and sticks. Vegan fish stock, as well as plant-based scampi and king prawns, can be found in vegan grocery stores and such online shops as ShopVejii.com and GTFOItsVegan.com.

Mushrooms Become a Plant-Based Superfood Mushrooms are having a heyday due to their versatility, and companies are harnessing them as a source of fiber, protein and antioxidants. Meati.com is a Boulder-based startup that uses mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, to create a whole-cut product that offers the protein of animal meat with the nutrients of fungi. “We believe that systemic change can start with people replacing animal meat even a couple of times a week. Eating Meati chicken or steak shouldn’t feel like a huge departure from animal products, and the nutrition offered is superior to any food out there,” says Christina Ra, vice president of marketing and communications. “People can enjoy eating Meati and feel great about how they’re nourishing their bodies.”

With $50 million in recent venture capital funding, the company is building an 80,000-square-foot production facility and plans to start selling its substitute chicken and beef in national markets later this year.

Meati has drawn on ancient, natural processes to grow clean, sustainable sources of nutrition. “Mycelium is an infinite, selfreplenishing food source. Made from a closed-loop system, Meati uses less than 1 percent of the water and land needed for animal meat production,” says Ra. The company grows and harvests the mycelium indoors in stainless steel fermentation tanks using only water, sugar and nutrients. Unlike the animal agriculture industry, no antibiotics, growth hormones or pesticides are used.

Vegan Coaching and Delivery Make It Easy For people that aren’t ready to experiment with plant-based cooking themselves, vegan and vegetarian meal-delivery services are popping up. One such program is Plantable.com, founded by Nadja Pinnavaia and designed to give clients the tools to transiMarch 2022

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Eating Out Gets Healthier For people dining out, there is no shortage of plant-based options, and that goes beyond a salad and fries. Eleven Madison Park, in New York City, is the first vegan restaurant to receive a Michelin star. Even fast-food chains are getting on board, with McDonald’s introducing the McPlant burger and KFC debuting a Beyond Chicken made of soy and wheat.

Joe Hehl, the founder of Dragged Through the Garden, a Chicago-based company that consults with restaurants and breweries looking to expand vegan options, has seen an uptick in interest.

“Adding a plant-based option or two on the menu can absolutely set some new eyes on a restaurant’s operation. Now this place will show up in searches for ‘restaurants with vegan options’ and appeal to an audience who potentially wouldn’t have eaten there

photo courtesy of VegNews.Plantable.com

tion into a plant-based lifestyle. Customers sign up online for either a seven- or 28-day program that includes daily shipped meals, one-on-one counseling through phone calls and texts, and lifestyle recommendations to form new habits. “Our goal is to make plant-based eating so tasty and effortless that it becomes a way of life,” Pinnavaia explains.

She says the idea behind Plantable, which is based in New York, but will ship anywhere in the country, is to make plant-based eating less of a barrier for people. “Most of our clients are either looking to kickstart a new lifestyle and don’t know how to begin, or they are busy and want the ease of prepared meals made from scratch with real, clean ingredients. Our menu is a whole-food, plant-based way of eating that is filled with fiber and packed with nutrients. We focus on legumes, tofu and nuts as sources of protein,” she says.

Pinnavaia, who holds a Ph.D. in quantum chemistry, became interested in food and nutrition after having too many family members diagnosed with cancers. Since launching Plantable in 2016, she has observed more clients coming in on their doctor’s recommendation. “We’re seeing a shift towards more consumerdriven health care, where doctors are understanding that meal planning and nutrition are critical to overall health. The community in general is also taking more ownership of their own health and gaining more knowledge of the benefits of a plant-based diet,” she says.

otherwise. Plus, it’s not super-costly on the bottom line,” he explains.

He adds that the availability of meat substitutes on a menu, such as an Impossible Burger, makes it easy for people trying to cut down on their meat intake. “Mainstream substitutes are a little more accessible than something like a bowl of quinoa to someone who is not vegan. This new era of plant-based burgers offers an alternative for those who want to wind down their meat intake, but are unsure how to start,” he says.

Hehl also offers clients recipes and guides for recreating vegan versions of traditional fast food and kitsch menus.

Past recipes have included a Vegan Philly Cheesesteak and the Vegan Chorizo Sloppy Joe, for which he offers step-bystep instructions and encourages followers to have fun and experiment with ingredients such as oat milk. “I grew up in a very meat-and-potatoes household and had no knowledge of cooking whatsoever. As I learned about some of the benefits of a plant-based diet, I decided to embrace it as a challenge to myself,” he says. “My favorite plant-based ingredients to use are garlic powder and smoked paprika! Some people are eating plant-based ingredients without even realizing it.”

Consumers have no shortage of options as plant-based eating and lifestyle choices continue to go mainstream. Companies are meeting the demand with creative, sustainable products and services that are better for the planet, healthier for the body and allow people to align their values with their purchases. As the interest increases, new innovations are likely to explode on the scene and the plant-based followers are ready.

Carrie Jackson is an Evanston, IL-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

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community spotlight

Bohemian Gypsea Metaphysical Gift & Crystal Shop Ginger Alemaghides, Proprietress

B

ohemian Gypsea is a metaphysical gift shop and apothecary built on Love. In business just over two years, they recently relocated to a larger storefront right before their two-year anniversary. Ginger Alemaghides, owner, states, “We are a small business with just me and three other employees—Vicki Roche, Collen Dellavolpe and Sarah Hooper.

“I have always had an interest in health and the spiritual-metaphysical world which was inspired by my mother.”

Alemaghides learned to eat right, take care of herself and develop a deep understanding of spirituality, including training in yoga, meditation, martial arts and, more recently, tarot and astrology.

“Bohemian Gypsea is dedicated to my mother who died way too young, at 56 from cancer,” she explains. “She taught

me how to honor Earth, animals and the true soul of humans. She didn’t have the information that I have studied and learned to help keep me and others healthy. Since her passing, I have used what is referred to as alternative medicine to enhance traditional medicine. I have included acupuncture, herbs, essential oils, crystals and CBD to increase my ability to have a full life. I am inspired every day to share with my customers the things that have helped me.”

Alemaghides opened for business just a couple of months before the Covid epidemic hit the U.S. “It was scary to open a business and have to close it a couple of months later,” she expounds, “but somehow what I have to offer has resonated with the community, and the business not only survived but it has thrived.”

With the intent to help her community become healthier—spiritually, mentally and physically—while also embracing joy as an important part of life, Bohemian Gypsea offers beautiful products that bring joy to the recipient, including meaningful jewelry and clothes, and soon plants—another passion Alemaghides gleaned from her mother.

With today’s new rules and new normal, Alemaghides’ challenges to-date are no different than most are experiencing in starting and sustaining a business. She shares, “The biggest rewards are hearing the stories from my customers about how much they loved a product and how it enhanced their life. I am also so honored by the artists and artisans that choose Bohemian Gypsea to host their works.”

Alemaghides goes on to say, “We find joy [at Bohemian Gypsea] in providing the highest quality information, products and services. We love having conversations with our customers that include health, spiritualism, psychology and belief systems. As we grow as a business, we promise to learn and change as needed to best serve our customers.

“We are so excited to offer new and growing lines of products, including gifts, clothes, crystals, essential oils, supplements, candles, spiritual items, seminars and, soon, rare and exceptional plants. We will also be expanding our metaphysical readings to include astrology and reiki and have already added free seminars that are becoming very popular.”

Voted “Best of the Best” Tampa Bay Times People’s Choice 2021, Bohemian Gypsea is located at 12 West Orange St., Tarpon Springs, 727-822-5091. Learn more at BohemianGypsea.com. See ad page 17.

March 2022

25

green living

THE BOUNTY OF FARMERS MARKETS

Buying Local Boosts Health, the Economy and the Planet

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by Sandra Yeyati

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hroughout the nation, an estimated 8,000 farmers markets offer some of the freshest food available anywhere. Often open on weekend mornings or select weeknights, these nutritional meccas allow local farmers to sell their fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat and dairy directly to consumers, thereby providing an attractive business channel for them. “If you buy direct from a farmer, 97 cents of every dollar goes home with the farmer, whereas if you buy from a traditional grocery store, only 17 cents makes its way back to that farmer,” says Janie Maxwell, executive director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association.

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Dollars spent at farmers markets boost local economies. “When farmers make money, they buy seeds at their local co-op or purchase tools from a nearby hardware store, which infuses economic capital into rural communities,” says Katie Myhre, technology research manager at the Farmers Market Coalition. “If we can focus on

the producer on it. This is their life’s work, and their reputation is on that label. I sense that there’s a real desire to ensure great quality and safety.”

Regularly buying fresh food from a farmers market allows families to get into the habit of eating in season.

“Cooking seasonally allows you the opportunity to capture the incredible flavor profiles of what’s fresh. It has just been picked and tastes incredible—very different from the flavors you get from grocery store products that were produced someplace else, maybe even weeks or months ago,” Maxwell explains.

Myhre concurs: “If we can build our habits, cooking preferences and skills around those seasonal rhythms, that’s a really beautiful benefit. It’s awesome for me to know that these herbs were harvested yesterday. There’s also a wide diversity of products. You’re not going to see 12 varieties of squash at your big-box grocery store.

I’m always surprised by what I see, and it’s a really fun experience as somebody who loves food. Taking home really great-tasting products that were produced with so much care is a central benefit.”

For many, the farmers market is a community gathering. In addition to local growers, they often include cottage food vendors offering homemade jams and jellies, baked goods, sauces, preserved and pickled items and other delicious foods, as well as arts and crafts vendors and musical entertainment. “The wonderful thing about the farmers market is that it leads with joy,” Myhre says. “It’s fun. You don’t invite friends to the grocery store, but you might meet your friends for coffee at the farmers market.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor.

Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.

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growing the capacity of our farms within our region and building consumer habits around what we can grow locally, that’s going to help our region become more resilient.”

This type of localized commerce offers environmental benefits, too. Produce from a local source carries a much smaller carbon footprint than one that travelled halfway across the country.

“Farmers markets are uniquely positioned to encourage environmentally responsible farming by providing a solid economic platform to climate-positive farmers that are taking care of land and water quality,” Myhre asserts.

According to a study commissioned by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, 72 percent of consumers know “nothing” or “very little” about farming or ranching. Farmers markets facilitate ongoing dialogues between growers and consumers, serving as valuable educational sites.

“Getting to know your farmer offers you an opportunity to ask questions directly to the person growing the product and make a choice accordingly, whereas when you go into grocery stores, you’re fed a lot of advertising and greenwash labeling with terms that you don’t understand,” Myhre says, adding, “While many small farmers decide not to go through the costly United States Department of Agriculture organic certification process, their farming practices are often just as clean or even more so, and at a farmers market, consumers are able to look the farmer in the eye and learn about their growing methods.”

Maxwell appreciates the opportunity to make an educated choice. “As a consumer, you have to decide what is your highest value. For me, the most compelling reason to shop at a farmers market is the peak, in-season, quality of the food, the incredible taste and nutrition that you get because it was freshly harvested and didn’t have to be transported over long distances. The number of people that touch your food is significantly lower at a farmers market, so there’s less opportunity for it to be mishandled or cross-contaminated. It carries the name of

March 2022

27

healthy kids

Beyond Picky Eating Help for Pediatric Eating Disorders

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by Marlaina Donato

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ost kids go through food phases and bouts of fussiness during mealtime, but more serious problems can lurk beneath the surface of such all-too-common behaviors. Eating disorders are often associated with teen and adult females, but children of any gender under 12 can be afflicted with anorexia nervosa, bulimia and other conditions unique to younger kids.

“Eating disorders used to be primarily a college-aged issue; now eating disorders show up in young teens and even children as young as 5 years old,” says Marcia Herrin, a dietitian and nutritional counselor in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and author of Nutrition Counseling in the Treatment of Eating Disorders and co-author of The Parent’s Guide to Eating Disorders.

Consequences of childhood eating disorders can include permanently stunted growth, impaired immunity, hypoglycemia and delayed puberty, but healing from an eating disorder can occur with early detection, quality care and proactive efforts by the

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family. Current research has broadened the medical definition, allowing earlier diagnosis and prevention, reports the New York City-based National Eating Disorders Association.

More than Body Image While eating disorders are fueled by many factors, each child is an individual, and so any child’s struggles around food will be particular to them. Herrin, the founder of the Dartmouth College Eating Disorders Prevention, Education and Treatment

Kids’ Eating Disorders WARNING SIGNS FROM CASSANDRA LENZA INCLUDE: n Child discussing dieting, food obsessions or weightcontrol measures; discussing exercise with greater interest, especially if she/he has not discussed exercise or movement before n Social confinement and isolation n Increased body dissatisfaction n Changes on child’s growth chart Other signs: delayed puberty, eating smaller food portions, weight changes, thinning hair, hiding food, digestive problems, downy hair growth on body, severe mood swings or tantrums, excessive movement TIPS FOR PARENTS FROM MARCIA HERRIN INCLUDE: nAvoid labeling food as good or bad. It is better to serve all kinds of foods in moderation. n Avoid talking about dieting, weight or judgments about different body types or sizes. n Never tease a child about their weight or changing body.

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program, says, “It is important for parents to know that the main risk factor for developing an eating disorder is genetic. This means some children are genetically at risk and others are not.”

The fires of predisposition can be fueled by “body dissatisfaction, dieting and involvement in activities that favor thinness, such as dance, gymnastics and running,” says Herrin, adding that the disorder defies stereotypes. “Because a child is male or has always been on the heavier side doesn’t mean that child is immune from developing an eating disorder.”

Being repelled by foods with certain colors, tastes, textures or smells and having phobias around vomiting or choking are often catalysts to disorders. “Extreme picky eating that leads to restricting food intake is now considered an eating disorder in its own right, called avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID),” says Herrin. “The main difference between the child restricting food intake because of anorexia nervosa and the child with ARFID is that those with ARFID don’t care about weight or have body image issues.”

For Cassandra Lenza, an eating disorder therapist and the owner of Healing on Hudson, in Hoboken, New Jersey, the lasting imprints of a pervasive “diet culture” cannot be ignored. “The main and persistent risk factor for the development of eating disorders is early dieting,” she says. “Children under 12 who are dieting or exposed to dieting in their environment are more susceptible to the development of eating disorders than children who are not.” It is imperative, she says, that parents model healthy eating and provide a child with the tools for success.

A Whole-Child Approach Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness training and yoga have been shown in studies to help both children and adults to process critical emotions, thoughts and eating patterns. Lenza attests to the effectiveness of holistic, multidisciplined care for reversing the common effects of eating disorders like exhaustion and gastrointestinal, hormonal or cognitive impairment. “We recommend a three-pronged treatment approach for all children which includes working with a therapist who treats eating disorder behavior, a registered dietitian who can help nutritionally and a pediatrician who can monitor the child medically,” she says.

Habits and bonds within the family unit go a long way toward prevention. “Having a family dinner most days of the week substantially reduces the risk of a child developing an eating disorder,” says Herrin. For recovery, she advises, “The most effective treatment for children up to age 19 is family-based treatment (FBT). In FBT, clinicians show parents how to help their child eat enough to restore health. The type of eating that is most effective is good old-fashioned meals with plenty of calories from carbs, fat and protein.”

With observant parents and quality care, children have a brighter future. “The early signs are often subtle,” counsels Herrin.

“Trust your intuition.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

March 2022

29

healing ways

Burnout Recovery Ways to Reset and Find Balance

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by Ronica O’Hara

“I

’ll sleep when I die,” Kristina Shea used to joke about her three hours of nightly shut-eye.

In retrospect, she says ruefully, “It almost became a reality.” Her hectic life as a single, widowed mother juggling her child’s needs, a high-powered career, university classes, fitness teaching and a two-hour work commute came to an abrupt stop eight years ago when she got off an escalator in the Toronto business district and collapsed. “It was burnout which manifested into physical symptoms such as extreme high blood pressure, red rashes, eczema and even a brain cyst,” she recalls. “I was emotionally and physically drained, with little joy left for life.”

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Determined to reset, she switched jobs, prioritized sleep, practiced yoga, meditated and took long nature walks. When COVID-19 shutdowns hit and she was laid off, she was at a loss, but rebounded, and inspired by her own healing process, started a CBD-enhanced natural skincare product line. “Still to this day, it is an active healing process,” she says. “It is very easy to go back to old patterns of behavior.”

Burnout, once primarily a workplace concern, is turning into a societal norm.

During the long slog of the pandemic, its telltale symptoms have become commonplace: fatigue, cynicism, apathy and feeling ineffective and disconnected. Among American employees, 52 percent reported NATampa.com

feeling burned out in a March 2021 study, with two-thirds saying it had worsened during the pandemic. Belgian researchers found parental burnout in the U.S. to be among the highest in the world—even before COVID-19 closed schools. Record numbers of healthcare workers, caregivers and therapists report feeling physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, with grave implications for those they are helping. Over time, burnout can bring on such health consequences as depression, insomnia, cardiovascular disease and immune disorders.

Turning around burnout requires a simple first step. We must admit what’s going on, says Eileen McDargh, author of

“Until we stop and literally look at what we are doing, we remain on the hamster wheel.”

– Eileen McDargh Burnout to Breakthrough and an executive coach in Dana Point, California. “Until we stop and literally look at what we are doing, we remain on the hamster wheel,” she says. “And then, we must listen to what our head is saying to us, and perhaps even more important, what our heart—our intuition—is telling us. The heart knows the truth.”

From this self-assessment, other steps can follow, she says, such as asking, “What can I change about this? What can I avoid?

What can I amend? And what—at least for the short term—can I accept?” A stressful situation can also be proactively reframed by viewing it as a challenge, a learning opportunity, a way to help others or as having a higher purpose. Other helpful strategies include: ACCESS POINTS OF JOY. By asking ourselves what three specific activities or things truly make us feel alive, engaged and happy, we can figure out how to work them into our days and restructure our life. In one study, physicians that spent about 20 percent of their time—roughly one day a week—on the activity they found the most meaningful had half the rate of burnout as those spending less time on those pursuits.

FIND POINTS OF CONTROL. Feeling helpless is a trademark of burnout, “but there is always something we have control over.

Our physical body is a great place to start: sleep, exercise, diet….” says McDargh. Even little steps matter, such as putting greens into smoothies, turning off digital devices a half-hour before sleeping or dancing to a short tune.

TAKE MICRO-BREAKS. “You don’t have to wait for the next vacation to recharge,” says Michelle Risser, a licensed clinical social worker and burnout expert in Worthington, Ohio. “Some examples: stand up and stretch between meetings. Feel your feet on the ground and take a nice, slow breath. Breathe in on a count of five, out on a count of seven. Listen closely to a piece of music.”

As few as 10 minutes sitting or walking in nature improves mood, focus, blood pressure and heart rate, report Cornell researchers.

Opens Feb. 28 I Midtown Tampa Make a reservation or order online for pick up or delivery TrueFoodKitchen.com

ENHANCE GRATITUDE. Studies among firefighters and professional athletes have found gratitude to be significantly protective against burnout—in part because it causes us to pause and savor an uplifting feeling. Developing the habit is as simple as writing down a few specific reasons to be grateful before bedtime several days a week. “Gratitude is a powerful energy enhancer,” says McDargh.

Shea concurs, “When we take the time to just be, feel gratitude, the sun on our face, this helps rewire the way we think—and we can then begin to heal our bodies.”

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com.

March 2022

31

wise words

Ann Armbrecht

on the Business of

Ethical Botanicals

photo courtesy of Bryce Youk

by April Thompson

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What surprised you the most in your journey around the world tracking the herbal supply chain?

I was surprised by the level of mechanization and scale, and the careless way plants were often handled—sometimes stored in open sacks and huge piles, with one type of plant spilling into another without controls for moisture and rodents. But I was also surprised to discover my own naiveté about the supply chain. These were both important realizations to help me come to a more nuanced, realistic assessment of the challenges the different stakeholders face in bringing herbs to market.

What should consumers consider when purchasing herbal products?

Alternative medicine and health care frame wellness as a personal choice, focused on the individual’s health, yet we have a responsibility back to the plants that heal us and the people who care for them. We can’t be well unless the planet is well.

By purchasing an herbal product that has been produced in ways that care for the Earth and local communities, we can start to heal the planet and address social inequities.

Purchasing Organic Certified products is a start. Someone I met at Organic India said every time you have a cup of herbal tea that isn’t certified organic, it’s like steeping a cup of pesticides. It doesn’t make any sense to consume something for its medicinal properties that has been made with pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Certified Organic is not a perfect system—no certification is—but it operates as a stand-in for relationships and trust. These herbs change hands up to 15 times to get to a consumer, so there has to be a way to keep a paper trail and ensure product integrity. When consumers ask for Certified Organic, it signals to the marketplace that sustainability matters and helps drive change in the industry.

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riter and anthropologist Ann Armbrecht explores the relationship between humans and the planet, notably through her work with plants and plant medicine. Her book The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines in a Global Industry tells the stories of the people and places behind the global industry of herbal products which are largely invisible to the consumers that spend $9 billion annually on them. Armbrecht is the director of the American Botanical Council Sustainable Herbs Program and is co-producer of the documentary film Numen: The Nature of Plants, inspired by her experience studying herbal medicine with herbalist Rosemary Gladstar.

Although her current work focuses on the herb industry, she is interested in broader questions about how the purchasing choices everyday citizens make impact the world. Armbrecht is also the author of the memoir Thin Places: A Pilgrimage Home, based on her time conducting ethnographic research in Nepal and her continued questioning of culture and community back home in the U.S.

Seeking out fair trade products is also great when possible. The FairWild certification, for example, works toward ecological, social and economic sustainability in the supply chain of wild-collected products.

What key trends are you seeing in the herbal industry?

There is a trend toward regenerative farming, which focuses on issues like how cultivating plants affects soil and biodiversity.

There is also a new focus on social equity for people growing and collecting herbs, as many of them are living on the fringes of society in precarious situations. We are doing case studies to look at details like how the structure of contracts and timing of payments affect smallholder herb farmers so we can make appropriate recommendations and hold companies accountable.

What gives you the most hope about the herbal industry right now?

The people I got to know in my travels are working really hard to take care of the plants and of the communities to bring a sense of ethics, equity and transparency into the system. A lot of money is made at the very end of the value chain and not at the source.

Individuals and companies in the industry are working to address these imbalances.

More consumers are asking questions and becoming empowered citizens, and that also gives me hope. When I studied herbal medicine, what was most powerful for me was learning simple ways to take care of myself and my then-1-yearold daughter. Learning to make these simple remedies was deeply empowering.

Without that knowledge, it’s easy to be overwhelmed walking through the supplement aisle of the drugstore, not knowing where to begin other than to read labels and try to compare one marketing claim to another. Taking steps to learn more about herbs and where they come from helps people make a shift from consumer to citizen. That level of engagement also brings more meaning and connection, which people are hungering for.

Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

March 2022

33

conscious eating

Easing into a Vegan Lifestyle CLEVER MEAT SUBSTITUTES THAT PLEASE THE PALATE

by Sheila Julson

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oday’s wide availability of vegan meat substitutes in the grocer’s freezer helps break the ice for people that want to experiment with plantbased foods. The taste, convenience and quality of these products has improved greatly over the past decade, but like many convenience foods, some packaged faux meat products can be high in sodium or fillers. While packaged, meat-alternative products are ideal for a tasty occasional treat, there’s a whole world of options beyond the freezer aisle for those that want to expand their vegan palates.

Arielle and Brandon Hawthorne, coowners of Twisted Plants, a popular, plantbased restaurant in the Milwaukee area, make their vegan food approachable by creating plant-based foods that mimic everyday, non-plant-based options. “I think that motivates people to try it because they feel they can still have the same flavor and taste they’re used to, but in a healthier version,” Arielle says. They use items like jackfruit, a species of tree in the fig family, which takes on the taste and consistency of pulled pork when shredded and marinated in sauces or spices.

Going plant-based does not mean going without. Del Sroufe, a vegan chef based in Columbus, Ohio, culinary specialist at the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutritional Studies and author of the Forks Over Knives companion cookbook, recommends that people craft satisfying, plant-based entrées at home by starting with recipes they like, and then looking for plant-based versions of those. “If you like pizza, you can still have pizza. If you like Italian cuisine, there are plenty of Italian recipes,” he says.

Priyanka Naik, a self-taught Indian vegan chef, Food Network champion and

author of the new vegan cookbook The Modern Tiffin, advises to gradually start a plant-based diet with one meat-free day per week and then increase. She adds that when eating out, opt for vegetarian or vegan options to be sure a plant-based lifestyle is sustainable outside of the home kitchen.

Plant-Based Options BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER BITES

This healthier version of buffalo wings is meat-free and baked instead of fried, but full of flavor and spice. It can be eaten plain or, as Sroufe recommends, as a Buffalo Po’ Boy sandwich, served on a whole-grain hoagie or sandwich buns with cabbage and peanut slaw. ½ cup water ¼ cup almond butter ½ cup red hot sauce, plus extra for tossing with the cooked bites ¾ cup whole-wheat pastry flour ¼ cup nutritional yeast 1 ½ Tbsp granulated garlic 1 large-head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets (about 6 cups) Preheat the oven to 375° F. Combine everything except the cauliflower in a large bowl.

Mix well. Add the cauliflower florets and toss until thoroughly coated.

Place the coated florets on a nonstick baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Toss with extra red hot sauce if desired.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Del Sroufe.

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The concept of protein at the center of every dinner plate has been ingrained in American culture. Dismantling that perspective opens up a whole new world and encourages thinking about vegetarian and vegan food in a new light, Naik says.

Sroufe adds that we often believe we won’t get enough protein from plant-based foods. “There’s been a lot of science to refute that. The World Health Organization has identified people that exist healthfully on less than 6 percent protein in their diets.”

Fruits, vegetables and grains are often more economical than packaged convenience foods, especially when purchased from local farmers markets. Pasta, rice and beans, which can be purchased in bulk, are budget-friendly. Naik cooks with the objective of putting vegetables at the forefront, using her Indian ancestry and global influences to make veggies the star of the show.

Cauliflower and eggplant can be prepared in “steak” form as a main course or stand in as healthier versions of pub-food appetizers like buffalo chicken wings. For those craving meatier flavors, chickpea flour becomes crumbly when water is added, effecting a good substitute for ground beef. Adding chipotle, cumin and other seasonings emulates taco meat. “Chickpea flour is high in protein and is used in a lot of Indian cuisine,” Naik says. “You can buy the flour or grind dry chickpeas to make the flour.”

Jackfruit adapts easily to myriad recipe styles. Sroufe notes it can be used in dumplings and tacos. Hawthorne also uses it to make vegan ribs and in beef-style stews.

Don’t toss that banana peel—Naik says using clean, organic banana peels after the flesh has been removed is a zero-waste approach to plant-based eating. Cooks can shred the peel with a fork and sauté it with soy sauce and other spices to mimic pulled meat.

Tofu gets a bad rap, Sroufe says, noting that many people worldwide eat soy products without experiencing digestive issues.

He often uses tofu for a number of presentations. “Silken tofu can be used to make pudding. Crumbled tofu can be substituted for ricotta in lasagna, or you can marinate tofu to make bacon for sandwiches. It’s a good, filling food.”

Sroufe also uses millet as a base for meatloaf, meatballs and sloppy joes. Several mushroom varieties have meaty textures, and when battered and fried, they emulate fried chicken. Hawthorne also uses mushrooms as a meat replacement in Philly cheese steak sandwiches. Seitan, made with a vital wheat gluten base, can be used for meatballs.

By experimenting with an array of vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds to create balanced textures and flavors, even the choosiest omnivores won’t miss the meat.

photo courtesy of Del Sroufe

Substitutes at Home

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.

March 2022

35

Nature’s Virus Killer

not a sniffle!” she exclaimed.

Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people around her show signs of cold or flu, she uses copper morning and night.

“It saved me last holidays,” she said.

“The kids had crud going round and round, but not me.”

Attorney Donna Blight tried copper for her sinus. “I am shocked!” she said.

By Doug Cornell “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” cientists have discovered a cold never got going. That was A man with trouble breathing natural way to kill germs fast.

September 2012. I use copper in the through his nose at night tried copper Now thousands of people nose every time and I have not had a just before bed. “Best sleep I’ve had in are using it against viruses and bacteria single cold since then.” years!” he said. in the nose and on “We can’t In a lab test, technicians placed 25 the skin. make product million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. Colds start health claims,” he No viruses were found surviving soon when cold viruses said, “so I can’t after. get in your nose. say cause and Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply effect. But we confirming the research. He placed fast. If you don’t know copper is millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, antimicrobial.”

“They started to die literally as soon as they spread and He asked they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. relatives and Some people press copper on a lip New device puts copper right In hundreds friends to try it. right away if a warning tingle suggests where you need it. of studies, EPA and They reported unwanted germs gathering there. university researchers have confirmed the same thing, so he patented The handle is curved that viruses and bacteria die almost CopperZap® and put it on the and textured to increase instantly when touched by copper. market. contact. Copper can That’s why ancient Greeks and Soon hundreds of people had kill germs picked up on Egyptians used copper to purify water tried it. The feedback was 99% fingers and hands after and heal wounds. They didn’t know positive if they used the copper you touch things other about microbes, but now we do. within 3 hours after the first sign people have touched.

Scientists say the high conductance of unwanted germs, like a tickle The EPA says copper of copper disrupts the electrical balance in the nose or a scratchy throat. still works even when Dr. Bill Keevil: in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in Early user Mary Pickrell tarnished.

Copper quickly kills seconds. said, “I can’t believe how good CopperZap is made cold viruses.

Tests by the EPA (Environmental my nose feels.” in the U.S. of pure Protection Agency) show germs die “What a wonderful thing!” copper. It has a 90-day full money back fast on copper. So some hospitals tried exclaimed Physician’s Assistant Julie. guarantee. It is available for $79.95. Get copper for touch surfaces like faucets Another customer asked, “Is it supposed $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA27. and doorknobs. This cut the spread of to work that fast?”

Go to www.CopperZap.com or call MRSA and other illnesses by over half, Pat McAllister, 70, received one for toll-free 1-888-411-6114. and saved lives.

Christmas and called it “one of the best Buy once, use forever.

The strong scientific evidence gave presents ever. This little jewel really Statements are not intended as inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When works.” product health claims and have not been he felt a cold about to start he fashioned Frequent flier Karen Gauci had been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to a smooth copper probe and rubbed it suffering after crowded flights. Though diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any gently in his nose for 60 seconds. skeptical, she tried copper on travel disease.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and ADVERTORIAL

Copper can stop a cold before it starts

S

36

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

ONE-PAN SKILLET EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA

photo courtesy of Priyanka Naik

Inspired by the Italian restaurants of her Staten Island neighborhood while growing up, Naik has created a vegan version of this Italian favorite.

1 Tbsp neutral oil (such as canola or vegetable oil) 1 medium-sized Italian eggplant, split in half lengthwise 2 tsp olive oil 1 tsp Calabrian chili oil 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 1 sprig of fresh oregano 1 cup of jarred marinara sauce

1 sprig of fresh basil (extra for garnishing) 3-4 Tbsp water 1 Tbsp sugar 1 Tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp red pepper flakes 4 slices vegan mozzarella ⅓ cup plain breadcrumbs Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pour about 1 Tbsp neutral oil into a medium or large nonstick skillet. Heat over mediumhigh flame. Meanwhile, score the meat of the eggplant in crosshatches. Do not to cut all the way through the skin.

Place eggplant slices meat side down into the hot skillet and cover with a lid. After 3 to 4 minutes, check the eggplant to be sure it’s turning golden brown; if it looks charred, lower the heat. Cover with lid and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. Flip eggplant slices (meat side should be tender and able to pierce with a fork).

Sprinkle with a bit of kosher salt, cover with the lid and cook another 4 to 5 minutes. Eggplant should be very soft, fork tender and cooked, but not falling apart. Remove from pan.

Lower heat slightly and pour in olive oil and Calabrian chili oil. Once hot, add garlic, sautéing until slightly golden. Add the sprig of oregano.

Once super-fragrant, pour in the jar of sauce and a sprig of basil and water. Lower the heat to medium-low. Add sugar, tomato paste, salt, black pepper and chili flakes. Mix until incorporated and smooth. Once the sauce starts bubbling, add eggplants meat side-up.

Cover the lid and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Put cheese slices on top of the eggplant and close with the lid. While the cheese is melting, toast breadcrumbs in a separate pan.

Sprinkle in salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toast until golden brown and crispy. Turn off heat.

Remove lid from eggplant and once cheese is fully melted, top with breadcrumbs and fresh basil, and remove from heat. Serve with Italian crusty bread.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Priyanka Naik.

“Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies.” ~Paulo Coelho

March 2022

37

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inspiration

Journaling to Access Inner Wisdom

GET INTO THE BRAIN OF THE OLDER, WISER YOU. Imagine the version of you six months from now that has gotten through the muck you’re currently in. What deep wisdom and advice does it carry?

by Nadine Kenney Johnstone

START WITH A LOVING GREETING. Address your present self compassionately, the way you would to a child or dear friend. “Hi darling. It’s a brand-new day, sweetheart.”

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR HARDSHIPS WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. What is your wiser self observing from the outside? Let it state what it notices. “I can see that you’re hurting. You’ve been through it, haven’t you?”

LET THE PAST BE PROOF OF YOUR EMOTIONAL ENDURANCE. Be an investigator and dig up examples of how you’ve coped with previous hardships.

Remember that time you thought you couldn’t deal, but you did?

O

n a summer afternoon in 2015, I sat in my favorite coffee shop waiting on lifechanging news. With each minute, my anxiety mounted, so I turned to the only thing that calms me in a stressful situation—my journal. As my pen scrawled across the page, I instinctively wrote a letter from my future self to my present self. I just needed someone to reassure me. And that “someone,” apparently, was me.

I’ve been writing these inner-wisdom letters ever since, and it has been one of the most helpful practices in managing my anxiety. Women that have attended my retreats say it is the most impactful thing we do. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, grab a pen and follow these simple steps.

CREATE A SIMPLE CEREMONY. Sitting down with your favorite mug or journal makes this exercise feel sacred. Write in the light of dawn or by the glow of a candle, whatever brings you joy.

SET A TIMER SO YOU DON’T OVERTHINK IT. Perfectionism is the enemy of creativity. For 10 minutes, tell yourself to just write whatever comes, no matter how imperfect.

ashlyn ciara/Unsplash.com

STATE WHAT THE WISER-YOU KNOWS. What does this perspective offer to the situation? Be the scribe as you channel wiser-you’s messages. Try this prompt: “Your heart knows that ...”

REQUEST THE NEXT RIGHT STEP. Ask your wiser self, “What do I need in order to heal from this?” Listen for the answer. It might take the form of advice, a mantra or a simple step: Rest. Pause.

Stay. Hug. LIST WHAT YOU CAN LET GO OF. Dump your obsessive thoughts onto the page, as well as anything you can’t control.

While you think you can control other people’s reactions, you can’t.

CLOSE WITH LOVE AND SUPPORT. “I love you and I’m here for you in your heart.”

READ WHAT YOU WROTE. Be amazed by the wisdom that came simply because you tapped in and asked. Bring your hands to your heart and say thank you.

Nadine Kenney Johnstone is the host of the podcast Heart of the Story, a writing, meditation and yoga nidra instructor, and a workshop and retreat leader.

March 2022

39

natural pet

Beyond Kibble How to Shop for the Healthiest Pet Food

by Sheila Julson

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Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

To compensate, synthesized vitamins are often sprayed onto the finished product, similar to how many children’s breakfast cereals are produced, she explains.

When purchasing kibble, look for brands that are minimally processed and provide vitamins directly from the ingredients; a long list of supplements on an ingredient list means the food has been highly processed.

There has been recent debate within the animal care community as to whether grainfree diets are more helpful or harmful to pets.

O’Brien Greenleaf notes the jury is still out on how some grains affect pets or whether grain-free diets are better. “It depends on how contaminated or genetically modified the grains are, and whether grains agree with your pet,” she says. Testing is now available to help determine ingredients to which a pet may be allergic.

She also recommends adding high-quality fish oil to pet’s food to help quell inflammation that can cause skin issues and other disorders.

Smaller Manufacturers Emphasize Quality Control Randi Ross owns the franchise in Campbell, California, for Ben’s Barketplace, a Northern California pet food store chain that specializes in quality foods for dogs and cats. She notes that corporate mergers and acquisitions over the years have put many large

mat hayward/AdobeStock.com

P

eople are always striving to improve the quality of life for their pets. For some, this means making homemade dog and cat food or buying meat directly from a local butcher, but not all pet parents have the necessary time, space or finances. While there are better quality kibble and canned pet foods available today than in the past, along with frozen raw and freeze-dried raw foods, an overwhelming volume of choices can confuse even the savviest consumer.

Cecille O’Brien Greenleaf, a holistic veterinarian in San Jose, California, advises pet parents to use the same criteria they do when shopping for human food—look for the freshest, cleanest ingredients possible, a limited ingredient panel and no chemicals and pesticides.

“Look for human-grade ingredients that offer the most vitality,” she emphasizes. She notes that some larger manufacturers have been caught using the least expensive ingredients they could find, including diseased animals that have been rejected from the human supply chain.

Ingredients on panels are listed by weight from highest to lowest, so the first one listed is the one that weighs the most. It should be pure meat—chicken, beef, venison or fish. Proteins such as chicken liver, organ meat or eggs may follow. “If there are many synthesized items in the ingredient list, that is to be avoided,” she says.

Frozen raw and dehydrated raw foods provide optimal nutrition while more closely mimicking pets’ primal eating patterns. The extrusion process that some pet food manufacturers use to make kibble can overcook the product.

279photo/AdobeStock.com

pet food brands that are carried at big-box stores into the hands of conglomerates that also produce candy, soap and other non-pet products. This can lead to lack of oversight and quality control issues.

Many smaller, specialty pet food stores carefully screen the brands they carry.

They offer products made by smaller companies that produce just pet food and embrace a holistic, farm-to-table philosophy regarding how they source their ingredients and manufacture their foods.

The melamine pet food recall of 2007, in which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found chemical contaminants in vegetable proteins imported from China used as ingredients in pet food, prompted many people to look for “Made in the United States” on packages. However, even if a brand is labeled as American- or North American-made, it doesn’t necessarily mean all of the ingredients were sourced from America, Ross says.

Freeze-dried raw meal toppers and pour-over broths have become popular ways to add nutrition and flavor to kibble. When purchasing those products, she says, the same rules apply as when shopping for food: look for single or limited-ingredients on product panels and be wary of excessive filler ingredients like corn or wheat.

“We help educate people on the true cost of pet ownership,” Ross says. “Spending a little more money now on high-quality pet food ultimately keeps dogs and cats healthier, reducing the need for veterinarian visits, pharmaceuticals and antibiotics.”

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.

March 2022

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calendar of events

Printed calendar is a gratis feature exclusively for advertisers who make this magazine possible. Non-advertisers are free to use the on-line calendar at NATampa.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 3 Create Your Ideal Healthy Body – Noon-1:30pm (1st & 3rd Thursdays-Oldsmar). The Mind-Body Cohesion System developed by Patricia V. Scott, PhD, combines Hypnosis, NLP & Pivotal Response Conditioning to create healthy habits, confidence & exercise motivation, eliminate blocks & limiting beliefs. Hypnotic process each class, handouts & hypnosis recording. $20 (1 class) or $50 (3 classes).

727-943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

UP Hypnosis Institute, open to Hypnotists for CEUs. Advanced Techniques, Pain & Hypnosedation. Prior hypnosis training necessary. Approved: International Association of Counselors & Therapists. Single Day: $45 (UPHI, IACT, IMDHA or HEA Member); $55 (Non-Member). Two Days: $75 (Member); $95 (Non-Member) Includes materials & scripts.

727-943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 SATURDAY, MARCH 5 Awakening Into the Sun Festival – 9am-6pm; 10am-6pm, Mar. 5-6. Ninth annual premiere health and wellness festival, with yoga, live music, healthy vendors, arts and guest speakers. Free admission.

North Straub Park, downtown St. Pete. Info, AwakeningIntoTheSun.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12 Hypnosis Training Online – 10am-4pm. Part of certification program with Patricia V. Scott, PhD,

Interactive Service: Myths that Keep Us Stuck – 10:30am. Be more than an audience; participate in a spiritual conversation. A whole new concept in Sunday services. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, Seminole. 727-289-6599.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 Pagan Holidays (Part 2 of 8): Ostara – 6-8pm.

Come study with Dr. Michael and learn about the Pagan Wheel of the Year. $25. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, Seminole 813409-5022 or 727-289-6599.

Free Hypnosis Webinar: Hypnosis to Put You to Sleep – 7:30-8:30pm. Interactive webinar with Certified Master Trainer, Patricia V. Scott, PhD. With 30 years of experience as a Medical Hypnotherapist & NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer, Patti shares practical, easy-to-use techniques with Q&A. (Usually 3rd Wednesday monthly w/various topics.)

Register by 5pm for log-in details: UPHypnosis@ outlook.com, 727-943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 Create Your Ideal Healthy Body – Noon-1:30pm (1st & 3rd Thursdays-Oldsmar). The Mind-Body Cohesion System developed by Patricia V. Scott, PhD, combines Hypnosis, NLP & Pivotal Response Conditioning to create healthy habits, confidence & exercise motivation, eliminate blocks & limiting beliefs. Hypnotic process each class, handouts & hypnosis recording. $20 (1 class) or $50 (3 classes).

727-943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

Meditation for Beginners – 6:30-8pm, every Thursday. A true beginner’s class. Never meditated?

Tried to meditate, only to feel frustrated? Attend all 6 classes, do your at-home practice and we guarantee you will meditate or your money-back. $10 per class or $50 in advance for the entire 6-week program. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, Seminole, 727-798-3363 or 727-289-6599.

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Join the Largest Online Community of Holistic-Conscious Singles who value Authentic & Loving Relationships Natural Health & Sustainable Living Living a Conscious Life Honoring Diversity

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FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

Tampa Bay Edition

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SATURDAY, MARCH 19 NLP FUNdamentals 2-Day Training Online or “Live” (Oldsmar) – 10am-5pm, March 19-20. No prerequisite for this fun, interactive class. Patricia V. Scott, PhD, certified master trainer, teaches Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) principles & techniques for immediate personal or professional use.

Register by 3/10: $125 ($95 UPHI Member). After: $145 ($125 Member). Repeat $65. Includes materials & post-training videos. 14 CEUs-hypnotists.

UPHypnosis.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26 The Doctors Are in the House – 9am-5pm.

Awaken your body, balance your emotions and discover a more youthful vitality with two of the top doctors of Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

Advanced tickets only $99. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, Seminole.

727-289-6599 or 727-798-3363.

Hypnosis Training Online – 10am-4pm. Part of certification program with Patricia V. Scott, PhD, UP Hypnosis Institute, open to hypnotists for CEUs. Advanced techniques. Prior hypnosis training necessary. Approved by International Association of Counselors & Therapists. Single Day: $45 (UPHI, IACT, IMDHA or HEA Member); $55 (Non-Member). Two Days: $75 (Member); $95 (Non-Member). Includes materials & scripts. 727943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

Indian Rocks Beach Greenfest – 10am-5pm.

Enjoy this eco-friendly family event in its 14th year, including Earth-conscious businesses, services, vendors, artisans and nonprofits. Healthy food, live music, kids events. Sponsors include The Original Crabby Bills IRB; Country Day School; Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty; Tampa Bay newspapers; and Natural Awakenings Tampa Bay. 24th Ave. & 1st St., Indian Rocks Beach. Info, irbGreenfest.com.

PLAN AHEAD SATURDAY, MAY 21 Hypnosis International Certification begins – Receive 2 certifications: International Association of Counselors & Therapists and UP Hypnosis Institute, with Patricia V. Scott, PhD (Certified

Master Trainer). Training “Live” (Oldsmar) and/ or On-line (Zoom). Learn basic & advanced techniques, medical uses, regression, parts-integration, time-line techniques, smoking cessation, weight/ diet control, NLP & more. Enroll by 4/25: $3095; $2895 (UPHI Members); After: $3395/$3095. 727943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

Meditation Group – 8:45pm. Join Nana Hendricks, spiritual teacher / intuitive visionary, for insightful guided meditations, exploring various meditation techniques from beginners to advanced. Meditation is an exploration of self and our connections to all things; experience Self-realization, transformation, relaxation, rejuvenation, healing, clarity and guidance. $15. Dunedin Health and Wellness, 1000 Bass Blvd., Dunedin. 828-337-5512, NanaHendricks.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1 Medical Hypnotherapy Specialty Certification Begins – 10am-3pm. “Live” (Oldsmar) and/or interactive online (Zoom). Certification through UP Hypnosis Institute. Optional additional certification through International Medical & Dental Hypnotherapy Association. Learn advanced medical hypnotherapy techniques, theory & practice. Prerequisite: 200 hours hypnosis training. Enroll by 5/10: $695; $525 (Members); After: $795; $695 (Members). Includes workbook, PowerPoints, scripts & private coaching. 727-943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

ONGOING EVENTS WEDNESDAY Lightness of Walking – 1-3pm, Apr 6-May 11, June 8-July 13. Online! Join Bonnie Kissam M.A., Feldenkrais Practitioner, for her 6-week Lightness of Walking Program. Learn how to re-design your ABCs for walking. Past attendees have reported pure amazement at how much lighter and more efficient their balance and walk can be when they use the Lightness of Walking tools to realign, rebalance, and re-coordinate. Registration, receive your free E-Book and more info at LightnessOfalking.com, 941-360-2248.

THURSDAY Meditation for Beginners – 6:30-8pm. A true beginner’s class. Never meditated? Tried to meditate, only to feel frustrated? Attend all 6 classes, do your at-home practice and we guarantee you will meditate or your money-back. $10 per class or $50 in advance for the entire 6-week program. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, Seminole, 727-798-3363 or 727-289-6599.

FRIDAY Intuitive Readings / Cacao Readings & Ceremony – 6-10pm, 1st Friday, 3rd Saturday. Join Nana Hendricks, spiritual teacher / intuitive visionary, in Gulfport at Sumitra’s, the enchanting Moroccan Tea House and Expresso Lounge, during the festive downtown evening marketplace. Intuitive Readings, Cacao Readings and monthly Cacao Ceremonies. Sumitra’s, 2838 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport. Prices vary, check website or call for details/reservations, 828-337-5512, NanaHendricks.com.

SATURDAY Women’s Group – 3pm, 2nd Sat. Join Nana Hendricks, spiritual teacher and intuitive visionary, for a celebration of the Divine Feminine, in an uplifting empowering group of conscious, high-vibe ladies who want to harness their potent power and presence and make a difference. Enjoy different themes monthly, open forum dialog, set intentions, join in meditation and weave magic into one’s life.

Dunedin Health and Wellness, 1000 Bass Blvd., Dunedin. 828-337-5512, NanaHendricks.com.

SUNDAY Lightness of Walking – 5-7pm, May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5 & 12. Online! Join Bonnie Kissam M.A., Feldenkrais Practitioner, for her 6-week Lightness of Walking Program. Learn how to re-design your ABCs for walking. Past attendees have reported pure amazement at how much lighter and more efficient their balance and walk can be when they use the Lightness of Walking tools to realign, rebalance, and re-coordinate. Registration, receive your free E-Book and more info at LightnessOfWalking.com, 941-360-2248.

March 2022

43

community resource guide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community.

ACUPUNCTURE ACUPUNCTURE & ORIENTAL MEDICINE Chris Dziubinski, DOM, AP, L. Ac 12952 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa 813-935-CARE (2273) MindBodySpiritCare.com

Florida Board Certified Acupuncture Physician offering acupuncture therapies for the whole family. Established, comfortable, caring and professional integrative medicine clinics in South & North Tampa. Innetwork with most medical insurances; accept payments from HRA, HSA and FSA.

PROFESSIONAL HERBALISTS TRAINING PROGRAM Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies 2520 Central Ave., St. Petersburg 727-551-0857 AcuHerbals.com

The 2-year program meets one weekend each month for class and Wednesday nights for our handson student clinic. This program is designed to create clinical herbalists in a combination of Chinese and western herbalism. Designed to meet American Herbalists Guild standards. See ad page 21.

TCL MEDICAL

Islam Ganie, PN, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, APRN 6613 49th St. North, Pinellas Park 33781 727-954-4543, 1tclmedic@gmail.com Instagram: TCL_Medical Facebook: TCL Medical Providing optimal and affordable integrative and holistic health care, including weight loss; antiaging; IV hydration/chelation (including IV vitamin C, ozone); gut; thyroid; asthma/respiratory; fatigue/stress & much more.

NATURAL MED THERAPIES Machelle Perkins, D.O.M. 7600 Bryan Dairy Rd # C, Largo 727-541-2211 NaturalMedTherapies.com

National & state board certified with 15+ years experience in Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Cold Laser & more.

Bio-Puncture and Mesotherapy to treat pain, ADHD, anxiety, depression. Lab testing, most insurances. Free Nutritional Consultation.

ANGELIC HEALING TRACY SPURLING, MASTER INSTRUCTOR Integrated Energy Therapy Palm Harbor 315-830-7847 FourEverEvolving.com

Powerful angelic energy therapy system supports you in releasing limiting energy patterns, empowering and balancing you in the present. Reach for the stars as you evolve.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE LIFEWORKS WELLNESS CENTER

Dr. David Minkoff, M.D. Sue Morgan, APRN, Karima Redouan, APRN Rose Tyler, APRN & Lindsay Williamson, APRN 301 Turner St., Clearwater 727-466-6789 LifeWorksWellnessCenter.com Specializing in Ozone Therapy, IV Therapy, Heavy Metal Detoxification, Neurological Issues, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Gut Issues, Thyroid Issues and IPT for Cancer treatment.

See ad inside front cover.

ORTHOMOLECULAR NUTRITION & WELLNESS 9225 Ulmerton Rd., Ste. 312, Largo 727-518-9808 OrthoLiving.com

We address the underlying root cause of disease by using a variety of modalities such as Nutrient IV’s, Chelation, Weight loss, HRT, PEMF, Ozone Therapy and more. To see if you qualify for Medical Marijuana go to OrthoMMJ.com.

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Tampa Bay Edition

APOTHECARY BOHEMIAN GYPSEA

12 West Orange St., Tarpon Springs 727-935-6046 BohemianGypsea.com Metaphysical Gift Shop, Crystals, Jewelry, Clothing, Local Artist, CBD, Delta 8, Tea, Supplements, Greeting Cards, Sage, Incense, Essential Oils, Books, Energy Healing, Candles. See ad page 17.

SIX OAKS WELLNESS APOTHECARY Carolyn Zinober, LMT, Esthetician, Clinical Herbalist, Aromatherapist 607 1st. Ave. SW, Largo 727-501-1700 SixOaksWellness.com

Clinical herbalist and massage therapist offering consultations, extensive line of Eastern/Western Herbs, Teas, Essential oils, CBD, Supplements, and learning workshops. Visit your neighborhood apothecary today! See ad page 6.

NATampa.com

ASTROLOGY ASTROLOGY FOR YOUR SOUL

Aluna Michaels, M.A., Esoteric Astrologer Dunedin 248-583-1663 AlunaMichaels.com Second-generation astrologer and Soul Evolutionist practitioner.

Over 25 years of experience.

Insightful, unique perspective on goals and issues. “Together we will unveil your soul’s purpose.”

CHIROPRACTIC NATURAL LIVING CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTER Dr. Paula Giusto 310 South Brevard Ave., Tampa 813-253-2565 NaturalLivingChiropractic.org

Family chiropractic care, wellness care, nutritional counseling, neuromuscular massage therapy.

Jin Shin Jyutsu & craniosacral therapy.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY RENEW LIFE

Bonnie Barrett 28469 US Hwy 19 N. #402, Clearwater 727-461-7227 RenewLifeFla.com, Lic# MA14802, MM35406

30 years experience. Expert in colon hydrotherapy using pressure points, abdominal massage, essential oils, and lymphatic drainage.

All disposable tubing used. Very comfortable and relaxing room with private bathroom. See ad page 33.

DENTISTS BEATA CARLSON, DDS

1825 Sunset Point Rd, Clearwater 727-888-6523 NaturalAndCosmeticDentistry.com Natural, Holistic, Aesthetic Dentistry. Careful Silver filling removal.

Non-metal crowns and bridges. Be pampered in our Spa-like atmosphere. See ad back cover.

CARLO LITANO, DMD

Natural Smiles of Tampa Bay 9087 Belcher Rd., Pinellas Park, 33782 727-300-0044 Natural-Smiles.com Offering Holistic/Biological dentistry. Swiss dental protocols, ceramic implants, safe mercury removal, ozone cleaning and on site sedation. See ad page 4.

PAUL T. RODEGHERO, DDS

Clearwater Family Dental 215 S Myrtle Ave., Clearwater 727-442-3363 MyClearWaterFamilyDental.com We are a full service family dental practice that stresses metal free restorations, safe mercury removal, ozone and laser dentistry. We welcome patients of all ages and can handle any concern that you may have. See ad pages 3, 9 & 13.

ROBERT J. YU, DMD

Tampa Bay Dental Implants & Periodontics 6700 Crosswinds Dr., Ste. 200-B, St. Petersburg 727-384-9122 TBPerio.com

See ad page 10.

The only board certified periodontist and implant surgeon in Tampa Bay offering ceramic/ zirconia non-metal implants.

State-of-the-art treatments include CBT imaging, LANAP and digital intraoral scanner, eliminating messy impressions.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE CHRISTIE MD FUNCTIONAL & AESTHETIC MEDICINE Dr. Heather Christie 2837 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg 727-220-9080 ChristieMDfam.com

Functional, Aesthetic and Intravenous Medicine. Offering hormone therapy; nutritional evaluation and therapy; fatigue and stress management; detoxification; diabetes; cardiovascular diseases; weight control; aesthetics. Outof-Network Provider. See ad page 19.

INTEGRATIVE THERAPEUTICS Dr. Prudhvi Karumanchi 8320 Stone Run Ct., Tampa 33615 813-322-6171 IntTherapeutics.com

Committed to finding the root cause, Holistic MD offers: IV Nutrition, Regenerative Treatments, Functional Medicine, Heavy Metal Detox, Energy Healing, Weight Loss, Antiaging and more. Out-of-Network Provider.

HERBALIST ROSE KALAJIAN—HERBALIST

Natural Health Hut Clinic and Herb Farm 813-991-5177 ImHerbalist.com Specializing in growing the herbs used in my clinic practice and in the Herbal Remedies I formulate.

Consultations are available for humans, dogs, cats, and horses.

Promoting health through the use of Herbs. See ad pages 29.

HYPNOSIS UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES HYPNOSIS, INC.

Patricia V. Scott, President 727-943-5003 UPHypnosis@yahoo.com, UPHypnosis.com Professional Hypnosis & NLP Certification Training, Weekly classes & Private sessions (Smoking, Weight, Stress, Sports, Habits), Clinical/Medical Hypnotherapy available w/referral. Speaking Services & Corporate Programs.

See ad page 33.

Buy into your community …Support our advertisers

MIND BODY SPIRIT CARE

Ron N. Shemesh, M.D. 12952 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa 813-935-CARE (2273) MindBodySpiritCare.com Integrative & holistic medicine for women & men: Natural Hormone Therapy, Anti-Aging, IV Chelation, Nutritional Vitamin Therapy, Fatigue & Stress Management, Weight Loss, Yoga, Nutritional Counseling.

Affiliated with St. Joseph Hospital.

Most insurance accepted.

SUCCESS BY DESIGN

9095 Belcher Road, Pinellas Park 727-548-0001 SBDWellness.com

A Wellness Center for Age-Management, Functional Medicine and Medical Weight Loss. Specializing in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement including Pellet Therapy, Gut Health/Food Allergies, Detoxification, Nutritional Evaluations, Acupuncture, Massage therapy and more. See ad page 7.

YOUNG FOUNDATIONAL HEALTH CENTER John D. Young, M.D. 7241 Bryan Dairy Road, Largo 727-545-4600 YoungFoundationalHealth.com

Author of Beyond Treatment.

Creator of Young Health Products. Offering specialized treatments for chronic diseases.

Therapies include Bio-identical Hormone, Stem Cell, Vitamin IV, Chelation, Ozone. Special Testing and Nutritional Education. See ad page 5.

INTUITIVE HEALING RONNI FORD YOGA AND INTUITIVE CRYSTAL HEALING Dunedin 340-626-9642 RonniFordyeh@gmail.com

Intuitive crystal healer and yoga instructor; 22 years’ experience.

Awaken: messages from your incarnated soul; energy and energetic healing; food sensitivity awareness. Group yoga and private healing sessions available online, by phone or in-person.

MEDICAL INTUITIVE JEN PENICK HEALING

PEAKS OF HEALTH METABOLIC MEDICAL CENTER Tracie Leonhardt, DO 1120 Belcher Rd. S., Ste. 2, Largo 727-826-0838 PeaksOfHealth.com

Dr. Leonhardt is Board Certified & Fellow of the American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. Offers a personalized program for each individual patient. Hormone replacement therapy, weight loss, thyroid, GI issues, Diabetes, infrared sauna, IV nutrition, Anti-aging, Chronic fatigue, adrenal fatigue, and toxicities. See ad pages 11 and 47.

To Advertise in the Resource Guide, email Debbey at dwilson@natampa.com or call 727.865.9339.

214 Pasadena Ave. South, St. Petersburg 720-401-0055 JenPenickHealing.com My readings identify the disease in the physical body, the dis-ease of the mind and the ease of your healing housed in your spirit.

MEDITATION LARRY CASTELLANI, PH.D.

Integral Awareness Meditation 716-816-5464 I.Am.Meditation108@gmail.com InCommunionWithTruth.blogspot.com I have 30 yrs. experience helping people along the spiritual path. Expect an effortless awakening of freedom, peace and happiness. Overcome worry, craving and pain.

Equitable fee, sliding scale.

March 2022

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REFLEXOLOGY REED ‘NAHAM’ MYLES

Certified Reflexologist and LMT 727-543-3048 by appointment Clearwater, MA0028171

NANA HENDRICKS

Intuitive Visionary/Conscious Life Coach 828-337-5512 NanaHendricks.com For those seeking direction, yearning for Self/deeper connection, Nana can commune with your Soul Light and Higher Self to bring forth purest forms of support.

See ad page 43.

Whether you need deep therapy, a tuneup or just a relaxing treatment, I can help you. Just call me.

SPIRITUAL INTUITIVE LISA MILIARESIS

Extreme Communication 727-239-0656 Lisa@2Communicate.net 2Communicate.net

GREENPOINT THERMOGRAPHY John D. Bartone MD Thomas Hudson MD 7901 4th Street North, Suite 316 St. Petersburg, FL 33702 727-576-0100 GreenPointThermography.com

The only physician owned and operated thermography practice in Tampa Bay - serving Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties. Accredited by the American College of Clinical Thermology.

See ad page 17.

UNIVERSOULLIGHT CONSULTING Rev. Amanda Segovia, Reiki Master Certified SRT Personal Consultant UniverSoulLight.com UniverSoulLight@gmail.com

Private sessions using various healing, clearing & spiritual modalities. Akashic Records, Intuitive Medium, Astrologer, Numerologist, Meditation, Chakra-Balancing, Tarot/Oracles, Candles, EOL Transition, Teacher/Mentor & more.

See website.

Lisa offers private individual and group channeling sessions, as well as private counseling sessions for those looking for direction in developing their own personal practice.

YOUR ONE TRUSTED GLOBAL ONLINE DESTINATION FOR

Regenerative Whole Health™ Benefits

FLORIDA MEDICAL THERMOGRAPHY June Drennon, CCT 2008 JuneDrennon@FloridaMedicalThermography.com 727-729-2711 FloridaMedicalThermography.com

See ad page 24.

Certified Clinical Thermographer 2008. Mindful Wellness with Thermography!

Knowledge is power: Know your risk factors to make corrections and avoid developing pathology. Call for location convenient for you.

VETERINARIAN HEALTHY PAWSIBILITIES NATURAL PET WELLNESS CENTER Dr. Cathy Alinovi, DVM 628 Cleveland St., #17, Clearwater 727-510-3665 HealthyPawsibilities.com.

24/7 ACCESS

Offering only holistic health options. Nutrition, herbal support, body balancing, canine fitness, reiki and more.

See ad page 41.

KnoWEwell is a One-Of-A-Kind Platform that centralizes today’s trusted global knowledge, resources and community to Prevent and Address the Root Causes of Chronic Diseases.

Find best-matched Vetted Practitioners.

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Explore Funding Help for Outof-Pocket Costs of Practitioner

MEDICINE RIVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL Shawna L. Green, DVM 13495 Gulf Boulevard Madeira Beach 727-299-9029 MedicineRiverAnimalHospital.com

Services.

Invest in Your Optimal Health & Well-Being.

Visit KnoWEwell.com Today

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THERMOGRAPHY

Compassionate health care catered toward the needs of your pet offering preventative medicine, surgery, dentistry, senior wellness, and more.

See ad page 41.

and receive 50% Off your first year.

“A good friend is like a four-leaf clover–hard to find and lucky to have.”

Practitioners Apply: NAPUB0221P | Individuals Apply: NAPUB0221

~Irish Proverb

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

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