Natural Awakenings Tampa Bay

E R F

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HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Healing Joints From Within

The Promise of Regenerative Medicine

Linda Carroll on

LOVE SKILLS

SACRED VESSELS

The Lifeblood of Heart Health

Disrupting Disposables

The Drive to Banish Single-Use Plastics

February 2020 | Tampa Bay-Edition | NATampa.com

Aren't you ready to ďŹ nally be as

ƞr ' ƞż as you should be?

Dr. David Minkoff

Allergies Cancer Crohn’s Chronic fatigue Diabetes EBV Fibromyalgia Fib Heart disease Heavy metals High blood pressure IBS Inammation Joint aches and pains Low libido Lyme disease Menopause symptoms Migraines Rheumatoid arthritis Thyroid issues 2

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At LifeWorks, the focus is on healing & resolving the underlying cause of the illness. We love what we do and get great results routinely every day because we ďŹ x people naturally. We don’t do cover up the symptom’ medicine. We ďŹ nd what is ‘ really wrong with a patient’s body and handle it.

jƞ Y l [ƞƳ ///aƳ Ƴr NATampa.com

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

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PUBLISHER Debbey Wilson

Editor Cheryl Hynes Design & Production Patrick Floresca contributing writers Eleanor Bailey sales & marketing Debbey Wilson CIRCULATION MANAGER Dean Wille accounting Susan Hoffman website Rachael Oppy

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CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne National Editor Jan Hollingsworth Managing Editor Linda Sechrist National Art Director Stephen Blancett Art Director Josh Pope

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Stretch your body, Improve your life

Looking for a way to reduce your aches and pains?

Stretch Rx offers therapeutic stretching, massage therapy, reflexology, ionic foot baths and personal training with practitioners who have over 15 years of experience. Unlike many massage and stretching centers, Stretch Rx caters to the individual needs of each client in a private setting.

Need help with pain at home?

Stretch Rx’s proprietary, field-tested line of CBD products helps relieve pain, reduce inflammation and soak away the stress of the day. Their staff pharmacist is available to review drug interactions and provide medication recommendations.

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Call 813-382-2363 to schedule an appointment or purchase Joint Jam® products.

Visit JointJamCBD.com to purchase Joint Jam® products. Visit StretchRxFlorida.com to learn more.

February 2020

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

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Contents 26 SACRED VESSELS The Lifeblood of Heart Health

30 VITAL STEPS

42

The Path to Vascular Fitness

34 GOOD HEARTS

START YOUNG

Boosting Kids’ Cardiovascular Health

36 DISRUPTING DISPOSABLES The Drive to Banish Single-Use Plastics

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40 LINDA CARROLL

on Skills That Make Love Last

42 HEALING JOINTS FROM WITHIN

The Promise of Regenerative Medicine

44 PAIN RELIEF FOR PETS Prolotherapy Gives Joints New Life

46 A FEAST FOR advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 727-865-9339 or email dwilson@natampa.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

Editorial submissions Advertisers email articles, news briefs to dwilson@ natampa.com. Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month. calendar submissions Email Calendar Events to: dwilson@natampa.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 727-865-9339. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

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ALL SEASONS

Embracing the Rainbow Year Round

49

49 CHOOSING LOVE

How to Cope With Fearful Times

DEPARTMENTS 12 news briefs 16 health briefs 18 global briefs 30 fit body 34 healthykids 36 green living 40 wise words

42 healing ways 44 natural pet 46 conscious eating 49 inspiration 50 calendar 56 resource guide

February 2020

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letter from publisher

W

ith the arrival of February 2020, our Gregorian calendar plays catch-up with E­arth’s natural rhythms by adding a leap year day on the 29th. (Every four years, this extra calendar designation catches up with the actual 365.24 days it takes our planet to circle the sun.) While it’s not celebrated as a “holiday” generally, the unique few born February 29 surely have reason to party to the max.

Hopefully, the exchange of cards and other heartfelt gifts on Valentine’s Day (the 14th) is a reminder to turn loving attention to our own wellness and those we most care about. In keeping with that sentiment, this issue of Natural Awakenings highlights news and views on cardiovascular wellness from leaders in the natural health field.

On page 26, writer Julie Peterson clarifies key connections between the heart and the vascular system. This article, entitled “Sacred Vessels: The Lifeblood of Heart Health”, reveals insight on how to support systematic wellness.

In “Good Hearts Start Young” (page 34), writer Ronica A. O’Hara promotes better understanding of basic, entirely doable paths to cardiovascular wellness in our children. Clearly, significant action taken early on can help reduce future chance of serious heart and circulatory problems.

With respect to the health of planet Earth, in “Disrupting Disposables” (page36), writer Yvette C. Hammett reveals significant ways to reduce the negative effects of plastics at local, national and worldwide levels.

As always, with an open mind and heart, read on.

Colors are the smiles of nature. ~Leigh Hunt 10

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Laser Facial Rejuvenation Very Natural

news briefs

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What is Gnosis?

T

he word gnosis is derived from the Greek language and means “knowledge”.

Gnosis is an intuitive comprehension of spiritual truths achieved through one’s own direct experience. The aim of Gnosis has always sought to provide humanity with knowledge, keys and techniques for the full development of human and spiritual potential.

The talk, What is Gnosis?, will take place from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., February 6, at West Community Library, and is an introduction to a series of lectures in which the ancient system and practice of Gnosis is applied to deliberately and systematically work towards individual development. Seating is limited; it is suggested to arrive early.

Cost: Free. Location: West Community Library, Rm. LI 101, 6700 8th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. For more information, call 727-469-3383 and/or visit GnosisStPete.com.

See ad page 51.

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herapeutic laser (or cold laser) is an effective therapy for stimulating collagen and elastin. When the laser is shined on the skin, it dilates capillaries, allowing fresh blood supply and nutrients to the area, accelerating repair and regeneration of tissue.

Therapeutic laser promotes the increase of oxygen for healthy cell metabolism, increasing lymph flow and speeding up the removal of cellular waste byproducts.

Unlike cosmetic lasers which burn and peel skin, the therapeutic laser does just the opposite. It is effective for the healing of burns, open wounds, severe back pain and many inflammatory and painful conditions.

Oscar Hernandez, owner of Lumina Healing Center, explains, “The therapeutic laser is comfortable and healing to the human body. At Lumina Healing Center, we incorporate the use of various lasers, depending on the condition being treated. Certain lasers are effective for the treatment of severe chronic pain/inflammation (deep penetration) and others for facial (shallow stimulation). For clients who are not afraid of needles, we take it one step further and perform facial rejuvenation with therapeutic laser followed by acupuncture for $65.”

Location: 2903 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. For more information, call 727-898-5900 and/or visit GoLumina.com.

See ad page 22.

Better Health with Stretch Rx and Joint Jam CBD

F

or anyone suffering with pain, stiffness, weak muscles or simply not feeling their best, Stretch Rx is the place. They offer a variety of therapeutic services to help reduce pain from conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and plantar fasciitis. Additionally, their therapies can help to increase balance, flexibility and endurance for sports and everyday activities.

In one-on-one sessions custom tailored to the individual’s needs, in a private room with a serene setting, Stretch Rx offers massage therapy, therapeutic stretching, reflexology, personal training and ionic foot bath sessions. Also offered are small group stretching classes facilitated by practitioners having more than 15 years’ experience.

Their newest addition of Joint Jam CBD® products contains natural, organic and cruelty-free ingredients. Joint Jam products’ proprietary formulations have been field-tested on more than 900 people. The product line includes Bubble Buzz® bubble bath, Salt Buzz® bath salts, Joint Jam® pain salve and Spa Jam® face/skin salve.

There is a pharmacist on staff available to review your medications and make customized recommendations.

Locations: Palm Harbor, Westchase, Naples. To schedule an appointment, call 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, 813-382-2363.

Appointments available seven days a week. See ad page 7.

Happy Feet Plus: February is Heart Health Month

I

n this month of love, Happy Feet Plus celebrates heart health and a fondness for all things local. Kenkoh Massage Sandals, the company’s pinnacle healthy footwear brand, will be on full display February 22, at Localtopia, in Williams Park, downtown St. Petersburg. Stop by the Happy Feet Plus booth to speak with their healthy feet experts about how to rid yourself of foot, leg, and back pain and test drive a pair of Kenkohs.

In 2004, a South Korean medical study demonstrated unequivocally that a daily foot massage can lower blood pressure and help improve heart health. Kenkoh, the original massage sandal, combines elements of traditional Japanese reflexology with orthotic arch support to offer foot pain relief, relaxation and lower blood pressure. Scientific studies of Kenkohs have also demonstrated that the sandals can help to significantly improve circulation and guard against harmful conditions such as DVT.

Recent additions to the Kenkoh lineup include new premium leather styles as well as a new color in the bestselling Spirit style.

For more information and Happy Feet Plus locations, visit HappyFeet.com. See ad page 5.

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St. Pete Weekly Meditation Moves to New Kenwood Location

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he Florida Community of Mindfulness (FCM) is now offering weekly meditation and mindfulness practice, from 7 to 8:45 p.m., on Tuesdays, at King of Peace MCC, 3150 5th Avenue North, St. Petersburg.

As a nurturing and supportive practice community taking inspiration from Thich Nhat Hanh, FCM offers a variety of practice opportunities to support people in their aspiration to cultivate mindfulness and compassion and lead awakened lives. The community was founded by Dharma teacher, Fred Eppsteiner, who received Dharma Transmission (authorization to teach in an authentic lineage descended from the Buddha) from Thich Nhat Hanh after more than four decades of deep study and practice with Buddhist masters in multiple lineages.

FCM’s activities include the teaching and practice of mindfulness, meditation and the Dharma (teachings of the Buddha) through weekly group meditation sessions and Dharma talks; classes on mind-body awareness and relaxation; retreats; home-study intensives; workshops on the application of mindfulness principles to our everyday lives; and a variety of indoor and outdoor social events for the FCM community.

The practices of deep listening and loving, mindful speech are used in all gatherings and activities. Most of these programs are offered at the FCM’s Tampa Center in Seminole Heights.

For further information, visit FloridaMindfulness.org.

See ad page 53.

Therapeutic Elements Center for Massage Therapy Relocates

S

ince 2002, Therapeutic Elements has been empowering natural healing through advanced massage and bodywork in the Tampa Bay area. After 10 amazing years in Palm Harbor, owner Christopher Clarke, LMT decided to relocate the clinic to a larger space to accommodate the demand of more clients. Therapeutic Elements is now located at 28469 US 19 North, Suite 402, Clearwater. Clarke states, “We have such an amazing and diversely educated staff of therapists with over 70 years of combined experience.

Regardless if your stress or pain comes from a physical, mental or emotional origin, we have the right therapist to meet your needs.”

The list of modalities offered at Therapeutic Elements includes Neuromuscular Therapy, Neurosomatic Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Myofascial Stretching, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, Swedish Relaxation Massage, Craniosacral Therapy, Reiki, Reflexology, RockTape and Cupping.

Appearing from left to right in the photo: Brendan Walsh, LMT; Scott Morofsky, LMT; Christopher Clarke, LMT; Delon Boyd, Office Manager; Andrea Marchica, LMT. The newest addition, Daniel Litwin, LMT joined the team following this photo.

Enjoy an introductory 75-minute massage treatment for just $69.

FMI or appt., call 727-786-1110 or visit BookAMassageNow.com.

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Contact us today at (727) 571-1688, office@drcolinchanmd.com or visit our website at ColinChanmd.com © Colin Chan, M.D. & Associates, 2019. All Rights Reserved.

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Awakening Into the Sun Festival in March

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he 8th annual Awakening Into the Sun Festival is due to be held March 7 and 8, at North Straub Park, in downtown St. Petersburg. The outdoor wellness festival offers the opportunity to relax, do yoga, listen to original music and transform minds while appealing to all of the senses. Gates open at 9 a.m., with free yoga classes offered by the Body Electric Yoga Company.

Indulge in a combination of leisure, wellness activities, conscious connecting, vendors and sun amidst the park’s waterside setting.

On March 6, you’re invited to float on a healing cloud of sound as author of How to Heal with the Singing Bowls, Suren Shrestha, and the Atma Buti teaching team guide you on a journey. Experience a sound healing meditation like no other as the vibrations of Himalayan singing bowls, gongs, bells and more align your energy and create a balanced state of peace and harmony. Sponsored by Awakening Into the Sun and hosted at Hotel Indigo, Downtown St. Pete.

Join the Awakening Wellness team for the best year yet at their new center in the Grand Central District of Downtown St. Petersburg. For more information regarding events and workshops, visit AwakeningWellness.org.

Cost: $33. Location: 234 3rd Ave. N, St. Pete. Festival is co-sponsored by the City of St. Petersburg. All ages welcome. For details, visit AwakeningIntoTheSun.org. See ad page 9.

Tampa Bay Dental Implants & Periodontics Offers Non-Metal Dental Implants

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ampa Bay Dental Implants and Periodontics, established in 2008

by Dr. Robert J. Yu, in the Tyrone area of St. Petersburg, continually advances to implement the latest in modern technology. Latest cutting edge treatments include the stateof-the-art Cone Beam CT imaging (CBCT), the minimally invasive Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) and the digital intraoral scanner which eliminates messy impressions.

As Dr. Yu’s practice grew, he found an increasing number of his patients were wanting a more natural, metal-free alternative to standard titanium implants. Today, he is the only board certified periodontist and implant surgeon in the Tampa Bay area offering ceramic/zirconia non-metal implants.

If you have an interest in replacing missing teeth, zirconia implants may be the best option. Dr. Yu will complete an oral examination and answer any questions or concerns you might have about the procedure. A CBCT scan is recommended so that a full diagnosis and treatment plan can be made with the most information available.

Location: 6700 Crosswinds Dr., Ste. 200-B, St. Petersburg. For more information, call 727-384-9122 and/or visit tbperio.com.

See ad page 17.

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

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

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

LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com

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

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

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

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

baibaz/Shutterstock.com

Practice Qigong Massage to Improve Autism Symptoms in Children

Stacy Barnett/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

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

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

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

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February 2020

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Seal Deal

global briefs UNESCO Adopts Resolution on Earth Charter

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

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

Thump Thump

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

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

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Clear Thinking

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Fishermen Protect Endangered Sea Mammals

Trees Exhibit ‘Heartbeat’

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Soot Cities

Alaska Battles Air Pollution

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

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

Valentina Razumovar/Shutterstock.com

Alex Yuzhakov/Shutterstock.com

Climate Check

New Label Verifies Carbon Neutral Products

Green Horizons

A Billion Trees in Eight Years

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

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

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

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

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

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

Water Win

Riccardo Mayer/Shutterstock.com

Fresh H20 Comes to Kenya Town

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

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

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

February 2020

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Starving Cancer

by Les Cole, MD, ABAARM, ABIHM and Kathie Gonzales, ARNP, BC

O

ur understanding of cancer has changed dramatically over the past several decades, yet it has not translated into improvements in therapy. In this article, we will discuss our new understanding of cancer and what this can mean for you or your loved ones.

Understanding Cancer Cells

We’ve learned there are two types of cancer cells in each cancer: cancer daughter cells (CDCs) that grow fast and the cancer stem cells (CSCs) that they come from and determine how the cancer acts.

Both CSCs and their CDCs behave much differently than your body’s normal cells.

The current chemotherapy treatment of cancer focuses on only one difference between cancer cells and your normal cells. This focus is on the speed of CDCs’ growth. Chemotherapy is generally a poison to all of your cells, but the fast growing CDCs take it up faster and so die sooner. But the side effects of chemo are evidence that your normal cells are also being damaged. Chemotherapy does not kill CSCs very well. That allows CSCs to mutate, leading to new, fast-growing CDCs that are resistant to chemotherapies, more likely to metastasize, and become more aggressive.

Thankfully, there are many differences between cancer cells and your normal 20

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cells that provide opportunities to treat the cancer. The two main differences are: 1) Signaling molecules of both CSCs and their CDCs behave much differently than your normal cells and 2) Both CSCs and their CDCs feed (to produce energy) much differently than your normal cells.

These provide for two different methods of attacking and killing both CSCs and CDCs. Let’s look at these differences between your normal cells and both CSCs and CDCs, as well, as what can be used to very effectively treat CSCs and CDCs with little to no toxicity to your normal cells. These very effective treatments consist of food, supplements and repurposed medicines, which are medicines that have been used for one condition now repurposed and used “off label” to treat cancer.

Abnormal Signaling Molecules

Signaling molecules in your normal cells keep your cells healthy. Obviously, something has gone wrong in cancer cells and it usually is one or more abnormal signaling molecules. An example of an abnormal cancerous signaling molecule in CSCs and CDCs and the treatments that block it is: • Hedgehog Signaling – present in the majority of cancers.

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• Berberine – various foods/supplement • Metformin – repurposed diabetes medication • Mebendazole – repurposed anti-parasite medication

Different and Varied Methods of Cancer Cells Feeding

Cancer cells feed (for energy production) very differently from your normal cells.

Normal cells utilize glucose and fat in the Krebs cycle. Below is one of the many abnormal ways cancer cells feed and the repurposed medications and foods/supplements that block it: • Cholesterol Pathways • Berberine – foods/supplement • Dipyridamole – repurposed blood thinning medication • Luteolin – foods/supplement • Statins – repurposed cholesterol lowering medication In summary, both CSCs and CDCs can be stymied in every direction they can take by nontoxic food/supplements and no to low side effect repurposed medications.

This roadmap works well for patients who refuse chemotherapy and even better for patients who opt for chemotherapy by increasing cancer kill ratio and reducing toxicity, CSC mutation metastasis, and chemo-resistance.

For example, one study of brain cancer showed a 35 percent cancer kill rate for temozolide chemotherapy, a 40 percent kill rate for metformin and a 94 percent kill rate for both together. Another brain cancer study showed a 38 percent kill rate for carmustine chemotherapy, an 86 percent kill rate for berberine and a 91 percent kill rate for the combined use.

Attend an upcoming free seminar, Starving Cancer, presented by Dr. Les Cole, 6 p.m., March 24, at St. Petersburg Health & Wellness, 2100 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. Seating is limited; RSVP 727202-6807 or visit StPeteHW.com.

See ad right.

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eco tip

Eco-Laundry Tips

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

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

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

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

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

Always assemble a full load of laundry each time.

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

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Clean and Green

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community spotlight Clearwater Family Dental employs the use of generous amounts of ozone to clean teeth, gums and extraction sights.

Employs Magic Potions

oxygen atoms which, when bound, create a powerful therapy for controlling bacteria, virus, fungi and even parasites. Clearwater Dental’s hygiene department uses ozone water when cleaning their patients’ teeth and ozone gas to flush out periodontal pockets. Ozone is also used when a tooth is being restored after the cavity has been cleaned out. This ensures all bacteria in the tooth are eliminated before placing a filling. If a tooth is infected and needs extraction, the extraction site is flushed with ozone to clean out all infection.

The second magic potion utilized by Clearwater Dental comes from the patients themselves. Every person holds their own unique healing capability within their blood. When a patient needs surgery, the dentist will often draw a vial of blood from them and spin it in a centrifuge. The blood divides into several layers, the middle of which contains the patient’s white blood cells, platelets, healing proteins and stem cells. Placing that concentrated potion (called platelet rich fibrin or PRF) into the surgery site enhances healing and bone growth from within one’s own body. There are physicians who have been successfully using PRF for years, but only a few dentists have joined this biological way to heal the body.

Dr. Paul Rodeghero, a 1983 graduate of Ohio State Dental School and a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry as well as the International Congress of Oral Implantology, has completed thousands of hours of continuing education, providing his patients with the latest in leading edge technologies for not only oral health but overall wellbeing.

here are some natural elements that can be used in a dental treatment that will not only enhance your teeth and gums, but your overall healing and health. Clearwater Family Dental employs the use of generous amounts of ozone to clean teeth, gums and extraction sights. Ozone consists of three

Clearwater Family Dental is located at 215 S. Myrtle Ave., Clearwater. For more information and/or to schedule an appointment, call 727-442-3363 or visit MyClearwaterFamilyDental.com. See ad right.

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SACRED VESSELS

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by Julie Peterson

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

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

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

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

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

We’ve seen over and over again that it works. ~Brenda Davis 26

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

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

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

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

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

Know the Risk Factors

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

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The Lifeblood of Heart Health

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

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

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

Take Action to Cut Risks

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

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n Know the Numbers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

n Eat for Heart Health

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some cardiovascular boosters:

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

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

Pomegranate juice lowers blood pressure and reduces plaque formation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

n Stress Less, Socialize More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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n Move It

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

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

n Don’t Smoke

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

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

Julie Peterson writes from rural Wisconsin.

Connect at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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

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

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

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

Standard American Diet (SAD)

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

Inflammation

Assess Personal Risk High Blood Pressure

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

High Cholesterol

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

High Triglycerides

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

Metabolic Syndrome

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

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

Obesity

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

Stress

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

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

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

Physical Inactivity

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

Smoking and Vaping

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

Loneliness

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

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fit body

VITAL STEPS The Path to Vascular Fitness

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

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

Step It Up

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

Results like these are another reason to get up and move. Walking, running, swimming, cycling, jumping rope and playing tennis are all excellent options. “For blood vessel flexibility, any sort of sustained aerobic exercise helps. Find something you enjoy so that you’ll keep doing it in the long term,” says Alex Hutchinson, 30

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New York Times bestselling author of Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?

Fitness Myths, Training Truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise. The Toronto-based, Outside magazine science columnist underscores that treadmills and walking outside foster equal benefits by increasing the heart rate.

The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic exercise. Dr. Regina Druz, a board-certified cardiologist and medical director of the Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island, explains, “This translates into 30 minutes a day, five times a week. A specific exercise program may be helpful for those with a medical condition, but for overall vascular health, any physical activity like walking or taking the stairs will do.” Druz also highlights the role of nitric oxide: “One of the most studied mediators of vascular health is [nitric oxide], which makes arteries flexible.”

Research findings published in 2018 in the journal Hypertension spotlight the correlation between the number of daily steps and arterial plasticity through a technique called pulse wave velocity, which measures

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by Marlaina Donato

how fast blood travels from the heart to the feet. The evidence suggests that 1,000 extra steps a day foster significant vascular improvement.

Judy Heller, a walking coach and founder of Wonders of Walking, a fitness program in Portland, Oregon, concurs: “Moving throughout the day, not just once a day, is most important.” Heller is a firm believer in consistency. “My aunt lived to 107 and remained in her three-story house.

Her words to me were, ‘Judy, don’t ever stop walking.’ Small changes yield greater rewards over time. We’re meant to move.”

Superfoods and Supplements

Nitric oxide, responsible for the dilation and contraction of blood vessels, is produced by

exercising and helps to protect the smooth interior lining of the arteries from excessive plaque accumulation. Adding nitric oxide-boosting foods to an already healthy diet can give us an extra edge over vascular conditions like stroke and peripheral artery disease. “Beets, arugula, spinach and rhubarb are all good sources of dietary nitrate.

They’re not miracle supplements, but if you make these foods a regular part of your diet, you’ll have a positive effect on your arteries,” says Hutchinson.

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

L-citrulline, also packs a nitric oxide punch.

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

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

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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It All Started after the Hysterectomy!

by Dr. Colette Cseszko

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t isn’t uncommon Each organ has its own Once the female organs for people to have function and they work in are gone or partially organs removed gone, a woman will go harmony with each other because they are not through changes which working properly. It is to protect and preserve ultimately compromise vital to understand that overall health of the body. her ability to manage you are an ecosystem, stress. not a malfunctioning Some of the commachine. For females, a hysterectomy is a mon changes include waking up at 4 a.m. common procedure. It could be a partial and not being able to fall back asleep removal or a total removal due to growth for several hours; lightheadedness when of fibroid tumors, excesstanding up; sugar cravings in the middle sive menstrual flow or of the afternoon; and a marked decrease just because other of energy at the end of the day. Other medical situations common issues are weight gain and require it. Whatloss of libido. There are also structural ever the reason, changes that can occur such as dropping we need to consider of the bladder (bladder prolapse). that the female organs

These are the women that you see at are part of the hormonal system. What Starbucks at 1:30 in the afternoon; they is generally unknown is that the female MUST have their caramel macchiato to organs are the backups for the adrenal push themselves through to the end of the glands. The adrenal glands help a woman day. They cannot manage stressful situadeal with the day-to-day stress in her life. tions easily and often will have exaggerated

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emotional reactions to stressful circumstances. You may know such a person— they are overwhelmed by life in general and if one more person puts anything on their overflowing plate— they will freak out! Their family is well aware of their inability to cope and they tippy-toe around their loved one in hopes that they don’t set them off. Perhaps you, yourself, are such a person.

If you have undergone a hysterectomy, there are proactive things you can do to ward off these consequences or at least reduce the symptoms caused by the newly created imbalances. Removing organs of any kind can create problems.

According to Asian medicine, each organ in the body has a corresponding married partner. Let’s consider this example: If the gallbladder is removed, its married partner (which is the liver) has to work extra hard in its absence.

Each organ has its own function and they work in harmony with each other to protect and preserve overall health of the body. Imagine a tug of war: One side has ten guys equal size and weight; the opposing side has nine guys same size and weight. Who would win the game? The ten guy side, right? Because the load is managed by one extra guy!

In the gallbladder example, this is the organ that breaks down fatty foods. There are times when a person has gallstones, causing pain, so they have the gallbladder removed. It is never really considered what caused the gallstones to grow there in the first place. Usually it is just taken out in an emergency situation. Now, the body is missing the organ that breaks down fat. If that person now eats fatty foods, incomplete digestion takes place and the fat which can no longer be broken down starts to accumulate in the blood.

The liver is like the air filter in your house. It filters the blood and gets rid of toxins and other chemicals your body doesn’t need.

If large amounts of fat are circulating in the blood because of the absence of the gallbladder, the liver

If you have had a hysterectomy or any other organ removed, you need to know what you can do now to support the married partner of the organ you are missing. becomes overburdened and gummed up with sludge, just like the dirty air filter. What happens after that is the person will start to experience strange symptoms. They will wake up during the night between the hours of 1 and 3 a.m. They will start to have muscle cramps, tightness in the joints and generalized aching and pain.

Let’s imagine that you accumulate trash in your kitchen. The trash bags pile up and you never take out the trash. Eventually you would smell it in the bedroom! It’s the same concept with the body. If the liver cannot rid the body of toxins because the filter is clogged with fat, then it has no choice but to store the toxins within the body cavity itself. How it accomplishes this is the liver surrounds the toxins in a fat molecule (to get it out of the blood circulation) and ships it off to other places in the body, usually the abdomen and gut region. The liver does this to protect the vital organs in the rib cage area from undue exposure to the toxic elements. The results of this are toxins in the joints and muscles which cause irritation and generalized pain. It also results in stubborn belly fat.

Many people are eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue or autoimmune problems and it all started with the removal of one organ. Consider that your body is an ecosystem, not a chemistry experiment. Organs malfunction because of a specific situation and that needs to be identified and remedied rather than removed. The consequences of removal are vast and often the removal isn’t necessary.

If you have had a hysterectomy or any other organ removed, you need to know what you can do now to support the married partner of the organ you are missing. This will be very valuable for the rest of the body. You can avoid having a downward spiral of medications and more surgeries if you take the time to investigate what caused the organ malfunction in the first place. Even if you are missing an organ, you can still do something about it. Finding out what went wrong in the first place is a huge investment in your overall health moving forward.

Dr. Colette Cseszko has been practicing in the Bay Area since 2001.

As a board certified chiropractic physician and certified to practice medical acupuncture, she provides her patients with a unique treatment approach by combining chiropractic, acupuncture and physical therapy modalities. She is the owner of Gentle Touch Chiropractic and Wellness Center, 10575 68th Ave. North, Ste. D1, Seminole.

For more information and to set an appointment, call 727-235-3265 or visit Gentle-chiro.com. See ad page 35.

GROW Your Business Contact us for ad rates.

727.865.9339

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healthy kids

GOOD HEARTS START YOUNG

Boosting Kids’ Cardiovascular Health

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by Ronica A. O’Hara

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

“Instead of taking a wait-and-see approach by treating disease later in adulthood, we should help children maintain the standards of ideal cardiovascular health that most children are born with,” reports Julia Steinberger, M.D., director of pediatric cardiology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, in Minneapolis, and lead author of a 2016 scientific statement on children’s cardiovascular health from the American Heart Association (AHA).

In a March 2019 update, the AHA noted that fewer than 1 percent of children meet all seven criteria, or metrics, for ideal cardiovascular health; half of all children meet merely half the measures,

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which include physical activity, healthy eating, not smoking, attaining ideal body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose readings.

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

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

Get them moving. Children should be physically active at least 60 minutes a day, the AHA recommends, but among kids 6 to 11, only half of the boys and a third of the girls meet that guideline; by ages 16 to 19, merely one in 10 boys and one in 20 girls do. A review of 50 fitness studies in 28 countries involving 25 million children concluded that American kids today are about a minute and a half slower running a mile than their peers 30 years ago.

“Aerobic exercises like running, swimming and cycling use the big muscles of the body and are excellent ways of stressing and strengthening the heart and lungs,” says study author Grant Tomkinson, Ph.D., professor of education, health and behavior studies at the University of North Dakota.

Simply walking to school in the morning for 10 minutes reduces stress in kids and curbs heart rate and blood pressure increases.

Feed them well. About 91 percent of

U.S. children have what is classified as a “poor” diet that’s heavy in simple carbs like desserts and sugary drinks, the AHA reported. It recommends feeding kids a diet heavy in fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains and low in sodium and sugary foods and drinks.

Don’t smoke or vape. The risk of a

child developing carotid plaque in adulthood was four times higher if one or both parents smoked without taking care to limit the child’s exposure; when they did take care, the risk was still almost two times higher, according to an Australian study in the journal Circulation.

Restrict screen time. Australian

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

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.

Without them humanity cannot survive. ~Dalai Lama February 2020

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Disrupting Disposables The Drive to Banish Single-Use Plastics

by Yvette C. Hammett

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niversities, sports arenas, restaurants and other businesses are taking up the call to “disrupt disposables” as part of a global effort to dramatically cut down on single-use plastics.

The environmental problems caused by those ubiquitous throwaways have become a mainstay of news reporting, and studies on how best to reduce them through public policy abound. A recent Canadian research paper in the Marine Pollution Bulletin explores strategies such as bans, tax levies and education. Experts agree that it is not just a litter problem, but a sobering matter of human and planetary health.

As these plastics wind up in the oceans and landfills worldwide, they can languish virtually intact for up to 1,000 years, entangling and choking marine mammals and terrestrial wildlife. Or, they break into toxic microplastics that enter drinking water supplies, eventually ingested by humans.

Because plastics are made from petroleum, their production also adds to greenhouse gases that contribute to the climate crisis.

Two-pronged efforts by businesses and individuals to divert plastics from the waste system and replacing them with

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Earth-friendly alternatives will eventually pay off, experts say, but it will be a long and slow process. However, momentum is building, spurred by consumer demand and a growing number of enterprising businesses, organizations and academic institutions.

At Penn State University, agriculture and biological engineering professor Judd Michael is working with sports facilities to lower both plastics use and littering; the initiative is working so well that their approaches may be taken up by other schools across the nation. “One of my projects is with NASCAR’s Pocono Raceway [also in Pennsylvania], where the owners of the track wanted to continue to make the venue more green,” he says.

“There is zero waste in suites for that track, and they are initiating a comprehensive recycling program. They try to get tailgaters to participate, as well.”

On campus, Penn State provides bags of different colors for tailgaters with instructions for fans to separate recyclables in one bag and everything else in the other.

That program was exported to Pocono.

Michael is also working with PepsiCo,

sherlesi/Shutterstock.com

green living

which owns Frito-Lay, to develop alternative packaging.

The University of Florida’s efforts began in 2012, when the campus freed itself from plastic bags, getting buy-in from Chick-Fil-A, Subway and other eateries that agreed to switch to alternatives. “We’ve been Styrofoam-free since 2012, as well,” says Allison Vitt, outreach and communications coordinator for the UF Office of Sustainability. “At the end of 2018, we officially switched over all to compostable straws.”

They feel like plastic, but are certified compostable, she says.

UF has engaged with Cupanion, a company that developed an app that has a “fill it forward” program, distributing money to clean-water charities worldwide.

“Since 2016, we’ve been working with them to reduce single-use plastic, rewarding people for reusing their bottles,” says Vitt.

Interested students, staff and faculty are given a barcode sticker to scan on their phone each time a bottle is refilled at a campus retailer or water fountain. The app provides points that can be redeemed for monthly prizes. “It also shows you your

It’s a slow, but steady effort, says Eric DesRoberts, senior manager of the Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program.

“We have worked with a number of restaurants talking about why it is important to be taking action to keep plastics out of the waste stream and out of the ocean.”

More people are volunteering to clean up and cut back on plastics, and

more businesses are asking the nonprofit, Washington, D.C.-based, environmental advocacy organization how they can do their part. “There is momentum, but it is challenging,” says DesRoberts.

Yvette C. Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, Florida. Connect at YvetteHammett28@hotmail.com.

A lot of local folks have really changed their perspective. We see a lot more customers coming in and saying they appreciate that we are using compostable cups and compostable straws. ~Dana Honn personal footprint—your cumulative impact, like how many single-use bottles you have avoided,” she says.

On a smaller scale, Dana Honn and his wife Christina went completely plasticfree upon opening Café Carmo, in New Orleans. “We only had about a dozen seats, but determined to have as little waste as possible. Every year, we were able to build upon it,” he says.

“A lot of local folks have really changed their perspective. We see a lot more customers coming in and saying they appreciate that we are using compostable cups and compostable straws.”

February 2020

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community health spotlight

How to Heal the Body

Naturally

by Hayley Imbriani, LMT

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o you remember back when you were healthy and didn’t have many health concerns and enjoying life was so easy to do? Fast forward 10 years, or even 20 years, and now you’re having aches and pains everywhere, can’t get a good night’s sleep, have no energy to get you through the work day, or have serious conditions like high blood sugar, heart disease or hormonal imbalances creeping up on you. Have your health problems created barriers keeping you from achieving your goals and doing the activities you once loved? What happened? Where did it all go wrong? What can be done to improve this?

A good starting place to finding these answers is with a technique called Nutrition Response Testing. Dr. Kevin Granger, DC and Hayley Imbriani, LMT, of Nutritional Wellness, in Clearwater, are advanced trained practitioners in Nutrition Response Testing in practice for more than five years. They were trained locally in Clearwater, at Ulan Nutritional Systems, founded by Freddie Ulan. They specialize in finding the “why” behind every health condition, symptom and ailment.

Nutrition Response Testing is a technique that gets in communication with the body. This technique can be used to pinpoint areas and organs in the body that are overwhelmed and not functioning correctly. When organs are not working correctly, we start having unwanted health conditions.

Nutrition Response Testing checks the connection of nerves from the brain to all of the organs to make sure that connection is functioning correctly. This connection is the main communication center of the body and its job is to regulate automatically the natural functions that you don’t think about such as breathing, heart rate, resting, digestion and healing. It is crucial that this part of the body is working correctly. If there is a stress or nutritional deficiency interfering with that communication, then the body will not heal or function correctly until it is handled specifically.

Nutrition Response Testing checks the connection of nerves from the brain to all of the organs to make sure that connection is functioning correctly.

An imbalance with how the body regulates can result in reactions such as not sleeping well; waking up at night; fatigue; feeling overwhelmed or stressed; digestion issues; joint or muscle pain; low energy; hormone imbalances; inability to absorb nutrients; weight gain/weight loss; mood fluctuations; inability to think clearly; and much more.

At Nutritional Wellness, their goal is to address the underlying cause as to why the body is not functioning well in the first place by figuring out what nutritional support, in the form of whole food supplements, is needed to safely and naturally feed the body in order to encourage healing and restoration without medications and surgery.

Location: 205 S Myrtle Ave., Clearwater. To schedule a $50 consultation, call 727-248-0930. For more information, visit GrangerHealth.com. See ad page 15.

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February 2020

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wise words

Linda Carroll on Skills That Make Love Last

by Kajsa Nickels

photo by Le Studio NYC

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

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

What is the Love Cycles model?

It is based on the fact that feelings of love are seasonal. Like the seasons of the year, they are a natural progression of a relationship. If you understand the seasons, you 40

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can pass through them.

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

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

Each stage has its own unique challenges.

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

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

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

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

What was your impetus for writing Love Skills?

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

Who is most likely to benefit?

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

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

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

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

Connect at FidelEterna45@gmail.com.

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healing ways

MicroOne/Shutterstock.com

range of motion in both the short term and long term without adverse effects.

Eighty-two percent of patients were satisfied with the treatment.

Controlled Inflammation

HEALING JOINTS FROM WITHIN The Promise of Regenerative Medicine

by Marlaina Donato

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omeday, medical science will allow us to infuse damaged or aging organs with new cells, or to manufacture made-to-order organs on a 3-D printer. These emerging techniques to revitalize worn-out body parts are on the drawing board in the field of regenerative medicine. However, for the injured college athlete or the grandmother with compromised joint function, healing and pain relief can already be found in the form of prolotherapy and other non-invasive

approaches that stimulate the body to heal itself.

Injection therapies using dextrose or the patient’s own platelets or stem cells are being used to naturally stimulate the body to produce collagen and rejuvenated tissue, offering hope to those with soft tissue injuries, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease and even pain syndromes like fibromyalgia. A recent review in the British Medical Bulletin of 10 high-quality studies of dextrose prolotherapy in adults with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee showed patients experienced significantly less pain and improved

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

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

Naturopathic physician Brent Cameron, of Aurora Natural Medicine, in Gilbert, Arizona, suggests individualized treatment plans for best results.

“My recommendations are very patientspecific, which is an important piece in prolotherapy.” Cameron says his patients are likely to start seeing relief in the first week. “In many instances, they experience complete relief and mobility after a series of treatments.”

While Cameron attests to the efficacy of dextrose prolotherapy, he is cautious with recommending it for people with systemic inflammatory conditions.

“Someone with a history of joint-related autoimmune response tends to mount stronger inflammatory responses. Other forms of regenerative medicine can be helpful for rheumatoid arthritis [RA], but not in the inflammation-mediated way, like prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.”

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

The Power of Platelets

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

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

Harris subscribes to the power of persistence. “Don’t give up. With proper treatment there is a strong likelihood that you can live a happy, healthy life free from chronic pain.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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natural pet

Pain Relief for Pets Prolotherapy Gives Joints New Life

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by Julie Peterson

rian Engler, vasive, involving the Prolotherapy offers an of Drexel Hill, injection of a sugar effective alternative to Pennsylvania, solution directly into surgery in a significant the affected area. The was asked to provide hospice care for a senior number of partial ligament body’s inflammation Akita. Tadao was tears or persistent joint response kicks in, reunderweight, weak, sulting in regrowth of pain issues. arthritic and had been new fibers in ligaments ~Judith M. Shoemaker severely neglected. He and tendons. needed a place to live Prolotherapy has out his remaining days in comfort. Even been around a long time. It was used to though Tadao was unstable with severely treat lame animals around 1350 B.C. Back limited mobility, Engler believed that the old then, a hot poker was used to induce the dog had more than a little life left in him. inflammation response. In the 1930s, injec Engler’s veterinarian tried prolotion of an irritant solution at the site of the therapy injection treatments for Tadao’s injury became the new method, and has joint pain and he soon became more since been shown in scientific studies to comfortable and gradually more active. “By facilitate the repair and regrowth of conthe time we completed the treatments, he nective tissue, ligaments, tendons, cartilage was able to get up and down with ease and and other joint-stabilizing structures. started cruising around the kitchen looking Modern prolotherapy has remained for snacks on the counter,” says Engler. basically the same for the last 80 years,

Prolotherapy, short for proliferative although the injected irritant solution is therapy, isn’t just for dogs. Any animal modified according to the veterinarian, with a joint can receive the regenerative the type of animal and the injury. Every injection therapy, which relieves pain by vet uses a slightly different prolotherapy strengthening ligaments and tendons “cocktail”, which typically includes 50 supporting the joint. It’s minimally inpercent dextrose and possibly several other

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ingredients the practitioner finds useful, such as saline, vitamin B12, lidocaine and homeopathic combinations. Some vets also offer platelet-rich plasma or stem cells in the injection mixture.

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

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

Animals may have joint issues from falling, but other causes include overweight, long toenails or chiropractic issues.

Prolotherapy stabilizes joints after an injury and achieves pain-free motion, but it’s only successful if the cause of the injury is remedied.

By the time we completed the treatments, he was able to get up and down with ease and started cruising around the kitchen looking for snacks on the counter. ~Brian Engler

“Prolotherapy is a very important tool in integrative veterinary care, but it’s not a panacea, and it’s never a stand-alone treatment,” says Christin Finn, DVM, owner of the Canine Rehabilitation & Integrative Veterinary Center, in Kingston, Washington. “It’s part of a combination of integrative treatments based on what is best for your pet.”

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

Using prolotherapy in conjunction with other posture-correcting and integrative therapies is a win for pets and

their owners. Surgery is fraught with complications and expensive. When prolotherapy is used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, animals can recover from injuries that may have been debilitating or even fatal.

Ivey Sumrell’s Irish sport horse recovered from a severe injury. At 8 years old, Johnny was bitten on the neck by a stallion. “His neck became unstable and he had severe problems walking,” says Sumrell, of Tryon, North Carolina.

“Ultrasound-guided prolotherapy was done three times to all of his neck joints.”

Johnny was able to be ridden and lived to be 22.

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

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

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

A Feast for All Seasons Embracing the Rainbow Year Round

by April Thompson

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

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

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

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

“Food always tastes better in the season 46

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

Winterizing the Kitchen

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

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

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

Satterfield suggests that specialty citrus like blood oranges, Meyer lemons NATampa.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winter Health Boosters

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

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

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

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

ffolas/Shutterstock.com

conscious eating

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

photo by Ray Kachatorian

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

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

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

photo by Ray Kachatorian

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

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

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

Chard and Squash Salad 1 small winter squash, such as sweet dumpling, acorn or golden 2 small beets, trimmed 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 bunch Swiss chard, tough ribs removed and leaves torn Red wine vinaigrette or vinaigrette of choice Sea salt and freshly ground pepper Cut the winter squash into wedges and remove the seeds, if desired. Transfer the wedges to a baking dish. Halve the beets and add to the dish. Drizzle with the oil and toss to coat. Bake in a preheated 450° F oven, stirring once, until tender and lightly browned, 20 to 40 minutes. Let cool. Peel and slice the beets. Place the chard in a bowl, drizzle with some of the vinaigrette. Toss to coat. Add the squash and beets, drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

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

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

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

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

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Share the love not the cold

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

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

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

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

Soon hundreds get in your nose.

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

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

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

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

Protection Agency) show germs die save a life.

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

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

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

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

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

New device stops cold and flu

S

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Scarlett Lewis and pirtuss/Shutterstock.com

inspiration

CHOOSING LOVE How to Cope With Fearful Times

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by Scarlett Lewis

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

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

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

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

The opposite of anxiety and fear is love.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Reiki I & Reiki II – 10am-2pm Sunday. 6-9pm Monday. Feb 2-3. Class Certification when completed Reiki II and also Reiki III and CEUs available for LMT, Provider Number MCE 50-13619, for Reiki credits. Reiki is a noninvasive & practical tool for regeneration, transformation and healing.

Rev. Maria Antonieta Revello, Holy Fire & Karuna Reiki & Qigong Master, Light Therapist from the European Institute of Light Therapy. Love donation.

Carrollwood Revello Medical Center, 10213 Lake Carroll Way, Ste. D, Tampa. Limited space; call/text 813-334-7424 or email ReikiShrine@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Stretch Rx - Small Group Therapeutic Stretching Class – 1-1:45pm. Bring your mat and join us for an intimate small group class focused on learning effective stretches for the entire body. There is a 5 participant maximum for each class. $15/in advance.

2445 Tampa Rd., Unit J, Palm Harbor. Info & registration, 813-382-2363, StretchRXFlorida.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Thai Tempeh Lettuce Wraps – 6:30pm. Venus DeMarco, A Healthy Life Made Simple, will be using local Non-GMO tempeh to make easy high protein delicious lettuce wraps. Free. Nature’s Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-4436703, NaturesFoodPatch.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Stretch Rx - Small Group Therapeutic Stretching Class – 8:15-9am. Bring your mat and join us for an intimate small group class focused on learning effective stretches for the entire body. There is a 5 participant maximum for each class. $15/in advance.

2445 Tampa Rd., Unit J, Palm Harbor. Info & registration, 813-382-2363, StretchRXFlorida.com.

Integrative NLP Practitioner Certification Training – 8:30am-8pm. Feb. 6-9. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) teaches proven techniques to communicate effectively, build rapport easily, release limiting beliefs, and overcome procrastination, lack of motivation, depression and phobias. Tap into your conscious and unconscious mind. $144 with promo code NATURALTAMPA. Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore (Airport area), 700 N Westshore Blvd., Tampa. Info & registration, 800-800-6463, EmpowermentPartnership.com.

Intro to Energy Mastery – 6-7pm. What if you had the tools to solve that issue once and for all, that thing keeping you from the relationship, finances, promotion, adventure or state of joy, health or well-being you secretly crave? What would that be worth to you? Free.

Integrative Therapeutics, 8320 Stone Run Ct., Tampa.

Info, 813-322-6171, IntTherapeutics.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 6th Annual Cape May Awakening Retreat – Feb. 7-9. Join Lisa Miliaresis, psychic medium & author and Tricia Heiser, E-RYT, energy healer & intuitive

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Tampa Bay Edition

for this transcendent weekend at the lovely Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ. Lisa and Tricia combine their individual practices to bring a complementary awareness to the symbolic language of the soul. Lovers of all things yoga and metaphysical share a weekend of yoga, meditation, channeling and interactive awakening classes. $322. Limited rooms have been reserved at Congress Hall at a reduced rate of $149/night through January 4. Info, http://2communicate.net/CapeMayRetreat.html.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Winter Wellness Elixirs – 11am. NFP Demo Specialist Di will be using whole foods & herbs such as elderberry, apple cider vinegar, garlic & lemon to create wonderful winter wellness elixirs to keep us feeling good through to the spring. Free. Nature’s Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-443-6703, NaturesFoodPatch.com.

Yoga for Scoliosis – 12:15-2:15pm. With Stacy Renz, OTR/L, C-IAYT, E-RYT500. CEUs for OTs and yoga teachers. Everyone welcome. $45. Living Room Yoga, 8424 4th St. N, Ste. G, St. Petersburg.

Register, 727-826-4754, LivingRoomYoga.biz.

Chest, Neck & Shoulder Decompression – 1-3pm.

Chris De Vilbiss PhD, E-RYT, 200-hour certified Hatha Yoga instructor, E-RYT 200, certification in Sadhana Yoga Chi method of multi-disciplined approach to yoga and wellness. Successfully relax your nervous system and soften the muscles around your shoulders and upper spine. Gently awaken the most underutilized muscles of your shoulder blades; make lasting change to how you apply load on your hands and arms. $40/in advance; $45/day of event. Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater. 727-712-1475, Info@AYogaVillage.com, AYogaVillage.com/events.

Restoring the Hips & Sacroiliac Joint – 4-6pm.

Chris De Vilbiss PhD, E-RYT, 200-hour certified Hatha Yoga instructor, E-RYT 200, certification in Sadhana Yoga Chi method of multi-disciplined approach to yoga and wellness. Balance your pelvis, hips and lower torso through small, isolated movements of antagonistic muscle pairs. This class is well suited for those with injuries, back fusions or hip replacements. $40/in advance; $45/day of event. Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater. 727-712-1475, Info@AYogaVillage.com, AYogaVillage.com/events.

Meditation and Yoga for Chronic Disease – 6-7pm. Meditation and yoga offer many benefits for individuals with chronic disease. Yoga supports mental and physical endurance for individuals at any age and physical ability level. These are two of the oldest mind-body health systems in existence. They are widely practiced for health and relaxation. $20.

Integrative Therapeutics, 8320 Stone Run Ct., Tampa. Info, 813-322-6171, IntTherapeutics.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Just in Time for Valentine’s – 1pm. Don’t go out with your sweetheart for this special day, stay in and enjoy a delicious “date night” dinner of decadence and romance. Join Chef Parker Stafford, Peninsula Food, as he walks us through how to prepare the

NATampa.com

perfect grass-fed prime rib roast, brandied au poivre sauce and creamy truffled twice baked potatoes. Free. Nature’s Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-443-6703, NaturesFoodPatch.com.

Full Moon Gong Meditation – 7-8pm. Join Adele Giotta, DC (Joti Nam Kaur), master gong practitioner, to celebrate the abundance of the full moon. Enjoy a deep relaxation with the sound of multiple gongs while you lie on a futon in candlelight with a blanket, bolster and pillows. Then you are ready to meditate.

This meditation is used to open your energy channels and to make you peaceful and secure. $20. Psycho Gong Yoga, 11561 Walsingham Rd., Ste. C, Largo.

727-914-4900, PsychoGongYoga.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Zumba and More – 6-7pm. Facilitated by excellent instructor Ana Rubenstein. Movement helps to brighten your spirit, be flexible, more endorphins, empathy with others, improves balance, keeps you young & your brain, too! Love donation $5.

Carrollwood Revello Medical Center, 10213 Lake Carroll Way, Ste. D, Tampa. Limited space; call/text 813-334-7424 or email ReikiShrine@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Stretch Rx - Small Group Therapeutic Stretching Class – 1-1:45pm. Bring your mat and join us for an intimate small group class focused on learning effective stretches for the entire body. There is a 5 participant maximum for each class. $15/in advance.

2445 Tampa Rd., Unit J, Palm Harbor. Info & registration, 813-382-2363, StretchRXFlorida.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Reverse the Signs of Aging – 6pm. Tami Horner, MD presents a live demo and seminar, using stem cell derived exosomes and microneedling. Free.

Success by Design Wellness Center, 9095 Belcher Rd., Pinellas Park. 727-548-0001. SuccessByDesignWeightloss.com.

Women’s Nutritional Wellness: Balancing Hormones & Emotions – 6-7pm. Hayley Imbriani, LMT and Dr. Kevin Granger will be discussing the “causes” behind hormonal and emotional imbalances and what is needed to improve them. Special guests “Chocolate on Tap” will be providing free samples of healthy chocolate along with other guest speakers. Clearwater Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center, 610 S Ft Harrison Ave., Clearwater. FMI call 727-248-0930, email 4nutriwell@gmail.com or visit GrangerHealth. com. RSVP appreciated, walk-ins welcome!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Stretch Rx - Small Group Therapeutic Stretching Class – 8:15-9am. Bring your mat and join us for an intimate small group class focused on learning effective stretches for the entire body. There is a 5 participant maximum for each class. $15/in advance.

2445 Tampa Rd., Unit J, Palm Harbor. Info & registration, 813-382-2363, StretchRXFlorida.com.

Symphony of Hormones: Where’s the Conductor?

– 6pm. Presented by Tracie Leonhardt, DO. Free.

Special at seminar: $100 off Bio-Identical Hormone Pellet insertion, New Patient Only, for attending and booking at seminar. Peaks of Health Metabolic Medical Center, 1120 Belcher Rd. S, Ste. 2, Largo.

RSVP 727-826-0838. PeaksOfHealth.com.

Valentine’s Day Partner Yoga – 7-8:30pm. Come celebrate with a Venus Kriya for couples. Couples meditations can enhance your relationship and elevate it to a higher level. This kriya and meditation will focus at the heart, projecting love and caring for both participants. We will do a couples kriya followed by a meditation for couples and end by relaxing to the sound of multiple gongs. $30. Psycho Gong Yoga, 11561 Walsingham Rd., Ste. C, Largo.

727-914-4900, PsychoGongYoga.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY Valentine’s Sip N Shop Event – 2-5pm. Happy Feet Plus Sarasota. Join our Sarasota store staff for complimentary refreshments, relaxing foot massages, a raffle for a free pair of Kenkohs and discounts on select Kenkoh styles. 1453 Main St., Sarasota. 941-924-2536.

Date Night: Thai Yoga for Partners – 7-9pm.

Laura Lauraityte, CYT-200, certified Thai Yoga practitioner, certified Budokon Yoga and Budokon Mobility Sensei. Explore true connection and intimacy (IN-TO-ME-I-SEE) through touch as a Language of Love! Join this 2-hour experience which introduces you and your partner to the art of Thai Yoga and more, including chocolate!. $90/ partners by February 11; $100/after. Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater. 727-712-1475, Info@ AYogaVillage.com, AYogaVillage.com/events.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Pine Needle Craft Class – 10am-noon. Patricia Zimmer, Heartwood Family and skilled basket weaver, will donate her time to teach others how to make a coaster from pine straw found here at Heartwood Preserve. She will instruct the class how to start, and learn a couple of designs. You could make a small dish from the basic coaster pattern after you leave if you wish. 4100 Starkey Blvd., Trinity. Space is limited. RSVP Info@HeartwoodPreserve.com.

Intuition, Awareness & Practice – 1:30-3:30pm.

Psychic, medium and author, Lisa Miliaresis, 2communicate.net, will introduce you to tools that can be used to tap into your intuition. Come practice interactive exercises to awaken your awareness and the light within you. Learn how to connect with and trust the voice within. $35/in advance; $40/day of event. A Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater.

Register 727-712-1475.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Cooking for Dogs – 11am. Venus DeMarco, A Healthy Life Made Simple, shows how preparing wholesome meals from scratch is an excellent way to show your dog you care. Enjoy the benefits of knowing everything that goes into your pet’s food.

Learn how to make nutritious homemade recipes for the health of your fur baby! Free. Nature’s Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-4436703, NaturesFoodPatch.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Healing Your Joint Pain & Disease with Exosomes – 6-7:30pm. Join Les Cole, MD ABAARM, ABIHM & Kathie Gonzales, ARNP-BC as they share their knowledge on how to treat painful,

damaged joints and tissues using exosomes. St. Petersburg Health & Wellness, 2100 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. Limited seating; RSVP 727202-6807 or SPHW@StPeteHW.com.

Meditation and Yoga for Chronic Disease – 6-7pm. Meditation and yoga offer many benefits for individuals with chronic disease. Yoga supports mental and physical endurance for individuals at any age and physical ability level. These are two of the oldest mind-body health systems in existence.

They are widely practiced for health and relaxation. $20. Integrative Therapeutics, 8320 Stone Run Ct., Tampa. Info, 813-322-6171, IntTherapeutics.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Free Mini Webinar: Hypnosis-NLP for Everyday – 7:30-8:15pm. Live webinar discussing Hypnosis & NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Fundamentals with Certified Master Trainer, Patricia V. Scott. With 28 years’ experience as a Medical Hypnotherapist & NLP Master Practitioner, Patricia will discuss & answer questions on this live Zoom webinar. Must register by Noon 2/19; log-in details: 727-943-5003, UPHypnosis@outlook.com, UPHypnosis.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Adrenal Fatigue – 6-7pm. This seminar is dedicated to explaining why you may feel tired all the time, have difficulty sleeping, low energy, lack of motivation, depression, anxiety and low libido, some of the many symptoms of adrenal fatigue.

It is a common issue affecting many different individuals. This seminar is dedicated to helping you understand the prevalence, effective solutions and treatment methods. We will also help you understand this disease to help promote clarity.

Free. Integrative Therapeutics, 8320 Stone Run Ct., Tampa. Info, 813-322-6171, IntTherapeutics.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Localtopia – 10am-5pm. Williams Park in downtown St. Pete. Come visit the Happy Feet Plus booth at this huge annual celebration of all things local for special pricing on select Kenkoh styles and to see how you can rid yourself of foot, leg and back pain.

More Info 727-345-7587.

Yoga for Scoliosis – 12:15-2:15pm. With Stacy Renz, OTR/L, C-IAYT, E-RYT500. CEUs for OTs and yoga teachers. Everyone welcome. $45. Living Room Yoga, 8424 4th St. N, Ste. G, St. Petersburg.

Register, 727-826-4754, LivingRoomYoga.biz.

Self-Hypnosis Made Easy – 1-3pm. Learn easy self-hypnosis techniques that put YOU in control to achieve goals, end internal conflicts, change unwanted habits & behaviors into healthy, positive ones with Patricia V. Scott, Certified Hypnotherapist (since 1992) & Master Trainer. $25 or $20 (UPHI Members); Repeat: $15. Includes Hypnosis recording, scripts/materials. Dunedin location. Must register

by Midnight 2/21, 727-943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

Introduction to Somatic Movement – 1:30-3pm.

Lisa Abernethy, E-RYT 500, certification in Amrit Yoga Therapy Method of body Psychology. This workshop will introduce you to the basic Somatic Exercises that can help you eliminate or significantly

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be your own boss and earn a living doing something you are passionate about while making a difference in your community.

Natural Awakenings is a franchise family of 70 healthy living magazines, celebrating 26 years of publishing! This rewarding home-based franchise opportunity provides training and ongoing support, following an established and proven business model.

To learn more information and current franchise availability, visit or call:

NaturalAwakenings.com/Franchise • 239-530-1377 No previous publishing experience is required.

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Tampa Bay Edition

reduce chronic muscle pain in your back, shoulders, neck, hips and knees. Somatic Movement is a safe alternative to static stretching. $45. Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater. 727-712-1475, Info@ AYogaVillage.com, AYogaVillage.com/events.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Sushi Sunday – 1pm. Let’s get ready to roll! Brad Myers, The Vegabond Chef, will show you how to assemble the best vegan sushi roll from coconut, panko fried asparagus & mango. Free. Nature’s Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727443-6703, NaturesFoodPatch.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Hypnosis & NLP to Control Weight – 7-9pm.

On-line live webinar. Learn exciting Mind-Body Cohesion System developed by Patricia V. Scott, PhD, which uses Hypnosis, NLP, guided imagery & more for confidence, control cravings, exercise motivation & self-empowerment. Hypnosis Recording, Scripts/Materials provided. $25 or $20/UPHI Mbrs.

Repeat $15 (last Tuesday monthly). Must register

by Noon 2/25, 727-943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Hormones and Heart Disease Prevention – 6pm.

Speaker Tami Horner, MD. Free. Success by Design Wellness Center, 9095 Belcher Rd., Pinellas Park. Info, 727-548-0001, SuccessByDesignWeightloss.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Intuition, Awareness & Practice – 6-8pm. Lisa Miliaresis, 2communicate.net, will introduce tools that can be used to tap into your intuition. Come practice interactive exercises to awaken your awareness and the light within you. Learn how to connect with and trust the voice within. Registration $40. The Violet Butterfly Metaphysical Healing Center, 35154 US Hwy 19 North, Palm Harbor. Register 727-386-4535.

Medical Applications of Hypnosis & NLP – 7-9pm. On-line live “Zoom” webinar with Patricia V. Scott, PhD, Certified Medical Hypnotherapist (since 1992) & Life Fellow, International Medical & Dental Hypnotherapy Assoc. Learn medical uses of hypnosis & NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) for personal & professional use. Scripts/Materials provided. $25 or $20/UPHI Mbrs. Must register

by Noon 2/27, 727-943-5003, UPHypnosis.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 Cleanse and Detox Program – 9am-1pm. Detox diets are generally short-term dietary interventions designed to eliminate toxins from your body. This program may address various health problems, including obesity, digestive issues, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, allergies, bloating and chronic fatigue. $100. Natural Health Hut, 26403 Chianina Dr., Wesley Chapel. Info & reservations, 813-991-5177. ImHerbalist.com.

Sound Extravaganza – 6-8pm. Travis Lacey, a self-taught musician working with sound since he was a child, has a passion which allows him to reach people in times of emotional, physical and spiritual transitions through sound and music, nutrients for the nervous system. $25/in advance; $30/day of event. Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater. 727-712-1475, Info@AYogaVillage. com, AYogaVillage.com/events.

PLAN AHEAD FRIDAY, MARCH 6 The Healing Modality of the Singing Bowls with Suren Shrestha – 5-6:30pm. In this workshop, Suren Shrestha, author of How to Heal with the Singing Bowls, will explain the vibrational process using singing bowls incorporating volunteers from the audience. Learn about chakras and how they relate to sounds, different ways of arranging the bowls, how they work together and more. $33. Hosted at The Hotel Indigo, 234 3rd Ave. N, St. Petersburg.

Info and registration on Facebook event page, via Eventbrite link. 727-289-4747.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 Awakening Into the Sun Festival – 9am. Mar. 7 & 8. This 8th annual outdoor wellness festival co-sponsored by the City of St. Petersburg offers the opportunity to relax, do yoga, listen to original music and transform minds while appealing to all of the senses. Indulge in a combination of leisure, wellness activities, conscious connecting, vendors and sun amidst the park’s waterside setting. Cultivate mindfulness while easily engaging the senses to align with your highest self. North Straub Park, Downtown St. Peter. Info, AwakeningIntoTheSun.org.

MONDAY, MARCH 9 Full Moon Gong Meditation – 7-8pm. Join Adele Giotta, DC (Joti Nam Kaur), master gong practi-

tioner, to celebrate the abundance of the full moon.

Enjoy a deep relaxation with the sound of multiple gongs while you lie on a futon in candlelight with a blanket, bolster and Pillows. We will also do a Full Moon Meditation to open your energy channel and make you peaceful and secure. $20. Psycho Gong Yoga, 11561 Walsingham Rd., Ste. C, Largo. 727914-4900, PsychoGongYoga.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 Herb Walk – 10am-noon. Join Herbalist Rose Kalajian on a tour of her organic herb farm at the Natural Health Hut in Wesley Chapel. Rose will identify over 40 plants, many native to Florida, and explain their healing properties and medicinal uses. Free. 26403 Chianina Dr., Wesley Chapel. Info and reservations, call 813-991-5177 or visit ImHerbalist.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 19 Extreme Communication: Connecting to the Other Side – 6-8pm. Join Lisa Miliaresis, medium and author, as she channels in a gallery setting. Embrace the opportunity to connect to loved ones on the other side. Pre-registration suggested. $50. The Violet Butterfly Metaphysical Healing Center, 35154 US Hwy 19 North, Palm Harbor. Register 727-386-4535.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24 Starving Cancer – 6-7:30pm. Presented by Dr. Les Cole. Free. St. Petersburg Health & Wellness, 2100 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. Seating is limited; RSVP 727-202-6807.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4 Beginning Gong Technique – 1:30-4:30pm. Dr. Adele Giotta, DC, Florida-licensed chiropractic physician, holds an RYT-200 and a 200 Hour Kundalini Yoga Instructor certification. She has completed both the Gong Practitioner and Gong Master Practitioner.

Learn techniques to play a gong well. Create a zone of relaxation and healing for yourself and others. $49/three day advanced purchase; $59/after. Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater. 727-712-1475, Info@AYogaVillage.com, AYogaVillage.com/events.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 Medical Hypnotherapy Specialty Training – 8am6pm, April 22 & 23. Patricia V. Scott, PhD & Dr. Eric Rosen offer advanced Medical Hypnotherapy techniques, theory & practice for Certified Hypnotists at Hypno Expo in Orlando. Includes workbook, PowerPoints, scripts & Certificate of Completion.

Optional IMDHA Certification as a Medical Hypnotherapist post-conference available (on-line training at an additional fee). Register at IMDHA.com.

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on going events

sunday Mindfulness Meditation & Practice – 10am-noon.

In the spirit of Thich Nhat Hanh. Mindfulness practice helps to cultivate compassion, develop inner peace and experience joy in daily life. FCM Practice Center, 6501 N Nebraska, Tampa. Info FloridaMindfulness.org.

25 Years of Teaching Meditation – 10:30-11:30am Sun; 6:00-7:15pm Weds; 6-7pm Fri. Learn three unique pre-Buddhist approaches to practicing meditation; techniques used by the earliest Yogis designed to awaken into the freedom and fullness of yourSelf. Practice the fundamentals, avoid common pitfalls, and get guidance creating a practical, sustainable, life-changing practice.

St. Petersburg Yoga, 2842 Dr. MLK St. N., 727-8949642, info@stpeteyoga.com, StPeteYoga.com.

monday Guided Meditation First & Third Mondays – 12:30-1:15pm. Jan. 6 to Apr. 20, 2020 (No session Jan. 20 & Feb. 17 as Morningside will be closed for holidays.) Join guide Ellen Mooney and experience easy, enjoyable techniques to relax and create inner calm. Benefits of meditation may include less stress, better focus and increased sense of well-being. $3/ with Recreation Card, $4/without. Clearwater Morningside Recreation Center, 2400 Harn Blvd., Clearwater. Info, 727-754-4340, EllenMooney7@gmail. com, SolGardenHolistic.com. Rec Ctr 727-562-4280.

Core Bungee – 3:30pm Mon, Weds, Fri. 2pm Sat. Engage your core in a gravity defying workout. Practice static movement combinations that strengthen and balance your core. Inversions on the bungee assist in spinal decompression and allow expanded range of movement. $20. Kinesis, The Movement Studio, 4760 East Bay Dr., Ste. D, Clearwater. Info & Class Booking, 727-331-0751, KinesisMovementStudio.com Ki Hara – 5:30pm. Stretch and strengthen your muscles in this eccentric resistance stretching technique focused on improving strength and length of full ranges of motion while correcting muscular imbalances. $15. Kinesis Movement Studio, 4760

E. Bay Dr., Clearwater. Info & Class booking, 727331-0751, KinesisMovementStudio.com.

Info & Class Booking, 727-331-0751, KinesisMovementStudio.com.

Life Balance Yoga – 6-7:15pm. Alignment-based class emphasizing poses that help students balance out the effects of daily life. Props and individualized attention are used and options are offered to help each student practice at their desired level of challenge. Created by Stacy Renz OTR, C-IAYT. $18/class. Living Room Yoga, 8424 4th St. North, Ste. G, St. Petersburg. Register, 727-826-4754, LivingRoomYoga.biz.

Beginner Bungee – 3:30pm & 6:30pm, Tues & Thurs.

9:30am Sat. Enter the world of weightlessness. Experience a feel for every aspect of the bungee and engage your core while being suspended. Beginner class is for everyone from the unfamiliar to professional dancers. $20. Kinesis, The Movement Studio, 4760 East Bay Dr., Ste. D, Clearwater. Info & Class Booking, 727331-0751, KinesisMovementStudio.com.

Sound Spa with Mystic Voices – 6:30-7:30pm. This unique and soothing sound healing journey facilitated by “The Mystic Voices” blends music and mindfulness while incorporating essential oils for a well-rounded experience of acoustic guitar, dulcimer, ukulele, singing bowls and gentle percussion to bring love and balance to the mind, body and spirit. Come as you are. $15. Awakenings Wellness, 2126 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Info and registration, 727-289-4747 and on Facebook event page via Eventbrite.

Beginning Tribal Belly Dance – 6-7pm. Balance your life with belly dance workouts that burn fat fast, raise metabolism and build tone immediately.

This class includes basic movements and exercises for building muscle. $20. Essential Balance Holistic Wellness Center, 5606 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. Drop-ins welcome. To reserve your spot, text 856-379-8510.

tuesday Reiki Share – 10am-2pm. Experience the most profound, powerful & gentle relaxation technique which helps re-establish healthy frequencies of cells over your whole vibrational field, bringing back health to tissues and organs. Complements any form of therapy. Carrollwood Revello Medical Center, 10213 Lake Carrol Way, Ste. D, Tampa. Call or text 813-334-7424 Maria or 352-942-0396 Rolly or email ReikiShrine@gmail.com.

Somatics & Yoga – 10-11am. Somatics, the intentional movement to practice subtle awareness of the body, is gentle with slow, non-habitual movements.

Paired with yoga and the practice of breath and meditation, it brings a body-mind coherence that is relaxing and beneficial. Tampa Yoga Therapy, 6104 River Ter., Tampa. Info & registration, Tish 678-772-7912, TampaYogaTherapy.com.

Functional Movement through Dance – 12:30pm Tues, Thurs, Sat. This specialized class is designed for people with mild movement / coordination disorders such as Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy or stroke. Must be able to stand for extended periods and explore movements in dance. $10.

Kinesis, The Movement Studio, 4760 East Bay Dr., Ste. D, Clearwater.

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NATampa.com

Kids Mindful Yoga – 4-5pm. Also Thurs. Kids ages 5 to 9 can learn the fundamentals of Mindfulness in body, breath, mind & life through yoga. Taught by our Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Yoga Instructor, and Mom of two. Parents can relax at the same time in their own separate Restorative class. 4-5pm, St. Petersburg Yoga, 2842 Dr. MLK St. N., 727-894-9642, info@stpeteyoga.com, StPeteYoga.com.

Acupuncture & Cupping with Amparo – 4:307:30pm. 60-minute sessions with our certified Florida licensed acupuncturist, Amparo Parades. $45. Awakening Wellness Center, 6161 MLK Jr. St. N, Ste. 100, St. Petersburg. 727-289-4747. AwakeningWellness.org. Text Amparo 727-287-8350.

Flight Club – 5:30pm, Tues & Thurs. Aerial Bungee fitness movements targeting coordination and balance through dynamic core movements.

Learn to leap and fly into the air safely in a low impact workout. Support joint health through training proper mechanics in your legs and core. $20. Kinesis Movement Studio, 4760 E. Bay Dr., Clearwater. Info & Class booking, 727-331-0751, KinesisMovementStudio.com.

Gong Relaxation/Meditation – 5:30-6:30pm. Tues. & Thurs. Class starts with a short warm-up to get prana flowing. Then you will lie on a futon and get comfortable with blankets, bolsters and pillows. Multiple gongs will be played as you relax and focus on the sound. The sound waves will vibrate every cell of your body bringing you into a spontaneous meditative state, opening blocks. $15. First class $10. $100/10 class pass. Psycho Gong Yoga, 11561 Walsingham Rd., Ste. C, Largo.

727-914-4900, PsychoGongYoga.com.

Health and Weight Loss Club Cooking Class – 6-7pm. Join us for a fun evening with Dr. Kevin Granger and Chef Trevor Granger while eating a delicious dish, and attain the skills to prepare healthy, tasteful meals that will help you lose weight. $5/per person. Granger Health, 205 S. Myrtle Ave., Clearwater. Info & registration, 727-248-0930, GrangerHealth.com.

Acupuncture Intern Clinic $25 + Cost of Herbs – 6-8pm. Students spend about an hour or two using the Chinese medicine system of evaluation to see what herbs and herbal formulas to recommend for you. They are supervised by one of our experienced acupuncture & herbal practitioners. Appointments only. Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies, 2520 Central Ave.,St. Pete, 727-551-0857, AcuHerbals.com.

Roll & Renew – 6:30pm. Yoga for Stress with Stacy Renz, E-RYT, PYT, OTR. Spend the hour on

the floor luxuriating in breath, long stretches and self-massage. Learn to use the foam roller and yoga tune-up balls to alleviate trigger points and stimulate meridian lines. $16. Living Room Yoga, 8424 4th St. N, Ste. F, St. Pete. 727-826-4754, Schedulicity. com/scheduling/LRYQK9/classes.

Open Hatha Yoga Class – 6:30-7:45pm. Barney Chapman, certified in Hot and Sivananda Yoga, presents a nurturing practice of breath and form with a variety of postures to enhance overall range of motion and flexibility. Infused with yoga philosophy, become more aware of the possibilities of your practice and more responsible for inner experience. First come, first served. $15. Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater. 727-712-1475, Info@AYogaVillage. com, AYogaVillage.com/events.

Minding Your Weight: Create Your Ideal Healthy Body – 6:30-8:30pm, 2nd Tues. monthly. Patricia V. Scott, Ph.D., teaches hypnosis & NLP techniques for achieving and maintaining a fit, healthy body & lifestyle. Guided hypnosis included. $25/One class or Buy five/get one class free. UP Hypnosis Institute, Terrace Plaza, 1810 S. Pinellas Ave., Suite G, Tarpon Springs. 727-943-5003. UPHypnosis.com.

Mindfulness Meditation & Practice – 7-8:45pm.

In the spirit of Thich Nhat Hanh. Mindfulness practice helps to cultivate compassion, develop inner peace and experience joy in daily life. First Unity Campus, 460 46th Ave. N, St. Petersburg.

Info FloridaMindfulness.org.

wednesday Chair Yoga – 10-11am. Gentle and appropriate for beginners and those with balance and mobility challenges. Seated in a chair with some standing optional poses, Tish Ganey leads this class in the Kripalu tradition of yoga, focusing on body awareness and mind-body connection. Tampa Yoga Therapy, 6104 River Ter., Tampa. Info & registration, Tish 678772-7912, TampaYogaTherapy.com.

Kundalini Yoga with Gong Relaxation – 10:3011:30am. Mon-Wed-Fri. This style of yoga uses breath work, exercise sets done in a specific order and timed for a specific purpose, meditation and chanting. The gong is played in all classes to assist the students in their meditation, relaxation and/or kriyas. Gongs have been used for thousands of years to reduce stress and increase health and happiness. $15. First class $10. $100/10 class pass. Psycho Gong Yoga, 11561 Walsingham Rd., Ste. C, Largo.

727-914-4900, PsychoGongYoga.com.

Breakdance Fitness – 5:30pm Wed & Fri. Learn breakdancing moves in positions targeted from the fitness standpoint. Gain mobility and strength by conditioning different techniques done by B-Boys / B-Girls. All ages and fitness levels welcome. Must be comfortable putting weight on hands for periods of time. $15. Kinesis Movement Studio, 4760 E. Bay Dr., Clearwater. Info & Class booking, 727331-0751, KinesisMovementStudio.com.

Core Bungee – 6pm. Engage your core in a gravity defying workout. Practice static movement combinations that strengthen and balance your

core. Inversions on the bungee assist in spinal decompression and allow expanded mobility. $20. Kinesis Movement Studio, 4760 E. Bay Dr., Clearwater. Info & Class booking, 727-331-0751, KinesisMovementStudio.com.

Herb Student Clinic $10 + Cost of Herbs – 6-8pm.

Students spend about an hour or two using the Chinese medicine system of evaluation to see what herbs and herbal formulas to recommend for you.

They are supervised by one of our experienced acupuncture & herbal practitioners. Appointments only. Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies, 2520 Central Ave.,St. Pete, 727-551-0857, AcuHerbals.com.

Open Restorative Yoga with Sandbags Class – 7:30-8:30pm. Andrea Seiler, 200 RYT hatha yoga teacher, 200 KRI certified kundalini yoga teacher, certified in restorative yoga. First come- first serve; no advance reservations available. Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater. 727-712-1475, Info@ AYogaVillage.com, AYogaVillage.com/events.

thursday Living Your Truth Guided Meditation - 6:30-8pm.

Join Phillip Walker for a gentle but powerful journey to connection. His guided imagery meditation technique allows you to focus imagination, align with intuition and deepen the insights into your True Self. The sounds of crystal bowls and drumming will bring you deeper into the experience, which creates powerful healing and balances mind, body and spirit. $10. Awakening Wellness Center (South), 2126 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg, 727-295-5147. AwakeningWellness.org.

Yin Yoga – 7-8:15pm. Presented by Barbara Allen, LMT, RYT. Emphasizing how a pose feels versus how it looks. Yin is a delicious, slow, long hold practice that addresses connective tissue, bones, tendons, ligaments and collagen, applying gentle pressure to an area to facilitate deepening in the pose. $18/class. Living Room Yoga, 8424 4th St. North, Ste. G, St. Petersburg. Register, 727-8264754, LivingRoomYoga.biz.

friday Feldenkrais’ Awareness through Movement Classes – 1:30-2:30pm. Jan. 24-Feb. 28. Bonnie Kissam, MA & Fon Nguyen, PT, Feldenkrais practitioners, help you through specifically designed movement lessons to enhance anyone, regardless of age, to regain the ability to move without strain or discomfort. $100/series of 6 classes. Hip Expressions, 2033 54th Ave. N, Ste. B, St. Petersburg.

Register, 727-251-5241, HipExpressionInfo@ gmail.com. For further Feldenkrais info, 941-3602248, FeldenkraisInSarasota.com.

Art for Stress Reduction – 6:30-8:30pm, second Friday monthly. Join Naty from Londono Designs by Naty Londono, as she guides you step-by-step through the process of creating your own beautiful mandala to take home. The beauty of mandalas is they combine meditation, therapy, creative process and play all in one. $25/includes all supplies. Awakening Wellness, 2126 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Info and registration on Facebook event page. 727-289-4747.

Achieving Wellness through Healthy Habits Part I – 6-8pm. 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Fridays. Modules 3–6. Karampreet, Kundalini Yoga Teacher. Join the Yoga Village Community in any class in this 16-week program on how to apply yoga to your life. Begin or deepen your practice of yoga, meditation, pranayama and the process to heal limiting habits so you can recover your soul. $18/class; $108/reserve for 8. Yoga Village, 2760 Daniel St., Clearwater, 727-712-1475. Info@ AYogaVillage.com, AYogaVillage.com/events.

Beginner Bungee – 6:30pm Mon/Wed/Fri; 9:30am Sat. Enter the world of weightlessness. Explore movements on the bungee and build core strength while engaging the bungee. Aerial bungee is for all levels of fitness, featuring progressive and modular movements.

From the unfamiliar to professional dancers, all are welcome. $20. Kinesis Movement Studio, 4760 E. Bay Dr., Clearwater. Info & Class booking, 727-331-0751, KinesisMovementStudio.com.

saturday Awakening Wellness Center Affordable Saturday Clinic – 9am-4pm. Treat yourself to any of our services at a reduced price! Includes Tibetan Bowl Relaxation Therapy, Nutritional Counseling, Acupuncture, Cupping, Sound Therapy, Individual Yoga Instruction. 50 minute sessions with our certified professionals are $25. Awakening Wellness Center, 6161 MLK Dr., Ste. 102, St. Petersburg. Call for appointment, 727-289-4747. AwakeningWellness.org.

Seasonal Qi Gong & Walking Meditation Classes – 10am. Blue Dragon Healing Center is offering seasonal classes at Seminole Park, taught by Dr. Stephen Belmore. Learn powerful meditation techniques and life enhancing qi gong exercises that will make a profound impact on your mind, body and spirit. $5/Suggested donation. Seminole Park, 10015 Park Blvd N, Seminole. Blue Dragon, 4431 Park Blvd. N, Pinellas Park. Info and registration, 727-685-1390, BlueDragonHealingCenter.com.

Yoga for Scoliosis – 10:30am-12:30pm. 2nd Sat. monthly. Stacy Renz, occupational and yoga therapist, shows the proper application of yoga to stretch the muscles that are over-tight and strengthen the muscles that are weak, offering relief from back pain. Living Room Yoga, 8424 4th St. N, Ste. G, St. Petersburg. Info & registration, 727-826-4754, LivingRoomYoga.biz.

Tai Chi Saturday – 11am-noon. This class is poetry in motion, revitalizing the body, freeing the mind and illuminating the spirit, on your way to creating vibrant health. Our class is designed to create interconnection between mind body & spirit. We will be working to build fluidity, flexibility and gentleness of movement. Class is perfect for anyone dealing with health issues, mental anxiety and stress. Awakening Wellness, 2126 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Info on Facebook event page. 727-289-4747.

Now Playing Saturdays: The Dr. Tracie Show – 3-4pm. Listen Live on iHeart Radio to “Your expert in Integrative Medicine.” NewsRadio WFLA 970.

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community resource guide

Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide call 727.865.9339 or go to NATampa.com and request a media kit.

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. In-network with most medical insurances; accept payments from HRA, HSA and FSA.

Jade Tree Wellness Center Tom Elman, AP, LMT 3039 - 49th St. N, St. Petersburg 727-344-8690 JadeTreeWellness.com

Happy, Healthy, Whole! Acupuncture, Herbs and Massage to help you feel better. We treat everything from asthma to emotional issues, from Acid Reflux to Fibromyalgia. Free Consultations!

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.

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 hands-on student clinic. This program is designed to create clinical herbalists in a combination of Chinese and western herbalism.

Many open classes. Designed to meet American Herbalists Guild standards.

See ad page 34.

Orthomolecular Nutrition & Wellness 9225 Ulmerton Rd., Ste. 312, Largo 727-518-9808 OrthoLiving.com.

Dr. David Minkoff Dr. Rodney Soto Sue Morgan, ARNP and Karima Redouan, ARNP 301 Turner St., Clearwater 727-466-6789 LifeWorksWellnessCenter.com Specializing in natural hormone replacement therapy: the natural, bioidentical way and other safe, natural nutritional solutions for menopause symptoms, including weight loss, acupuncture, chelation and allergy elimination. See ad inside front cover.

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Tampa Bay Edition

GENTLE TOUCH CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER Dr. Colette Cseszko 10575 68th Ave., Seminole 727-235-3265 Gentle-Chiro.com

Spa-like wellness center offering chiropractic, acupuncture and physical therapy modalities. 18+ years’ experience in treatment of spine-related conditions, including tailbone misalignments, chronic sacroiliac dysfunction, piriformis issues and upper cervical disorders.

On site X-ray. See ad page 35.

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.

We address the underlying root cause of disease by using a variety of modalities such as Nutrient IV’s, Chelation, Weight loss, HRT, PEMF and more.

To see if you qualify for Medical Marijuana go to OrthoMMJ.com.

apothecary 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 37.

alternative medicine LIFEWORKS WELLNESS CENTER

chiropractic

astrology Astrology for Your Soul

Aluna Michaels, M.A., Esoteric Astrologer Dunedin 727-239-7179 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.”

NATampa.com

colon Hydrotherapy RENEW LIFE

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

25 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 6.

dentists Beata carlson, DDS

2701 Park Dr. Suite 4, Clearwater 727-712-3837 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.

David F. Doering, DDS

Doering Family Dental 1201 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa 813-933-5365 TampaDentalCare.com Cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Conservative approach to periodontal (gum) treatment. See ad page 6.

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, dog, cats, and horses.

Promoting health through the use of Herbs. See ad page 28.

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.

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 page 25.

Robert J. Yu, DMD

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

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.

See ad page 17.

feldenkrais method Bonnie Kissam, M.A., Feldenkrais Practitioner, LMT, CE Provider 941-360-2248 Bonnie@FeldenkraisInSarasota.com FeldenkraisInSarasota.com Lessons for Children (ABM), Adults, Classes, Professional Seminars

Revolutionary somatic approach that expands abilities through quieting old patterns, developing new. Offering: Touch to Inform Professional Seminars; Feldenkrais Awareness Classes with Fon Nguyen, PT.

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 43.

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 39.

INTUITIVE HEALING SolGarden Holistic Therapy, LLC Ellen Mooney, Reiki Master 727-754-4340 EllenMooney7@gmail.com SolGardenHolistic.com

Relax, de-stress and come back to the peace of your Soul with Guided Meditations, Intuitive Healing or Usui Reiki sessions by phone and in-person. With over 25 years’ experience and training, I will help you release energy clutter and shift you to your true light-filled self. Gift Certificates available.

St. Petersburg Health & Wellness Dr. Les Cole Kathie Gonzales, ARNP 2100 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg 727-202-6807 StPetehw.com AwakeningWellness.org Functional, Regenerative, Integrative & Preventative Medicine.

Treating Thyroid, Autoimmune Diseases, Cancer Support, Natural Hormone Replacement, Stem Cells, Exosomes, PRP and Joint Rejuvenation, IV Nutritional Therapy. See ad pages 21 and 41.

integrative medicine 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, Anti-aging and more. Out-of-Network Provider. See ad page 13.

Success by design

9095 Belcher Road, Pinellas Park 727-548-0001 PoundsAwayTampaBay.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 23.

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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 4.

thermography 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 19.

6251 Park Blvd., Ste. 9C, Pinellas Park 33781 727-300-9382 esLifeCoach.com, License SW15178

Tampa Bay Thermography

June Drennon, CCT 2008 JuneDrennon@TampaBayThermography.com 727-729-2711 TampaBayThermography.com 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.

See ad page 43.

Heal the whole being including body, mind, spirit and emotions.

Increase your quality of life; facilitate emotional healing.

Specializing in Anxiety, Mood, Behavior, Trauma, Family.

See ad page 53.

spiritual intuitive Lisa Miliaresis

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

Healthy PAWsibilities Natural Pet Wellness Center Dr. Cathy Alinovi DVM 628 Cleveland St, #17, Clearwater 727-510-3665 HealthyPawsibilities.com.

Offering only holistic health options. Nutrition, herbal support, body balancing, canine fitness, reiki and more. See ad page 44.

Medicine River Animal Hospital

58

Tampa Bay Edition

LifeWorks Wellness Center Sue Morgan, ARNP 301 Turner Street, Clearwater 727-466-6789 LifeWorksWellnessCenter.com

Experience this revolutionary, medically supervised weightloss program, where patients lose 14-20lbs in 24 days.

See ad inside front cover.

Psycho Gong Yoga

Adele Giotta, D.C. (Joti Nam Kaur), RYT-200, Master Gong Practitioner 11561 Walsingham Road, Suite C, Largo 727-914-4900 PsychoGongYoga@gmail.com PsychoGongYoga.com A soothing space for the community to come and relax. This studio specializes in Kundalini Yoga and all classes include a gong relaxation or gong meditation.

See ad page 30.

veterinarian

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.

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

MEDICALLY SUPERVISED DIET

yoga

psychologist Elizabeth Rice, LCSW

weight loss

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

Compassionate health care catered toward the needs of your pet offering preventative medicine, surgery, dentistry, senior wellness, and more. See ad page 44.

NATampa.com

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