Natural Awakenings Tampa Bay February 2022 Edition

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

LOVE as a Way of Being

How Thoughts & Emotions Affect Your

HEART HEALTH

Why Sex is Sacred PETS WITH FOSTER PARENTS

FOSTERING A CAT OR DOG SAVES A LIFE February 2022 | Tampa Bay-Edition | NATampa.com

2

3

4

5

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PL ANET

TAMPA BAY EDITION

EDIBLES NOW AVAILABLE

PRE-CERTIFICATION BY PHONE, NO NEED TO LEAVE HOME.

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

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Tampa Bay Ph: 727-865-9339 dwilson@natampa.com NATampa.com Follow us on Facebook!

DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS FREE email: dwilson@natampa.com to request or visit NATampa.com

NATIONAL TEAM Sharon Bruckman Joe Dunne Josh Pope Gabrielle W-Perillo Yolanda Shebert Heather Gibbs Rachael Oppy Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Anne-Marie Ryan

CEO/Founder COO/Franchise Sales Art Director Layout & Design Financial Manager Asst. Director of Ops Digital Content Director National Advertising Administrative Assistant

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

© 2022 - by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

You, yourself, as much as anyone in the entire Universe, deserve your love and affection. ~Buddha 6

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

7

Contents

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

24 THE HEART-MIND

24

CONNECTION

34

How Thoughts and Emotions Affect Our Heart Health

27 LIVING IN THE

FREQUENCY OF LOVE

28 PARENTS AS ROLE MODELS

How to Help Kids Discover Positive Behaviors

36

30 SECONDHAND FASHION

Online Used Clothing Stores Good for the Wallet and Planet

32 DAVID PERLMUTTER on the Role of Uric Acid in Metabolic Health

34 POWER UP

YOUR WORKOUTS

A Guide to Protein Powders and Shakes

36 TRULY MAKING LOVE

38

Sex and Intimacy as a Healing Force

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.

8

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

38 FOSTERING LOVE

Tips for First-Time Pet Foster Parents

41 FERMENTING FOR FOODIES

Preserving Food and Traditions

DEPARTMENTS 12 news briefs 16 health briefs 20 global briefs 27 inspiration 28 healthy kids 30 green living

32 wise words 34 fit body 36 healing ways 38 natural pet 41 conscious eating 42 calendar 44 resource guide

9

letter from publisher

W

BOHEMIAN GYPSEA

“

Crystals Metaphysical Cards Books Clothing and Jewelry Candles and Sage Incense and Essential Oil CBD for People and Pets Delta 8 and 10

Gifts, Gifts, Gifts BohemianGypsea.com

Gift Shop-Main Store

12 West Orange Street Tarpon Springs Florida 34689 Metaphysical Healing Center 740 N. Pinellas Ave Tarpon Springs Florida 34689

hat’s on your mind really does affect your heart,” states Michael Miller, MD, author of Heal Your Heart. “Our hearts require emotional health in order to maintain cardiovascular health.” What more ideal month than February to be extra mindful of our emotions. It has been documented how the brain and the heart form an interwoven feedback loop and what affects one, ditto the other. Unconditional love can heal, as is so well expressed in this month’s article, The Heart-Mind Connection by Ronica O’Hara.

“Intimately connecting with a loved one is one of life’s most precious gifts,” shares Marlaina Donato in her article on Sex and Intimacy as a Healing Force. Experts in the field share that many men have no idea what they’re missing because they’ve never had an emotionally intimate relationship without the negative influence of porn. “When people open their view of what sex is, it can become an act of worship.”

Oftentimes, parenting is done on autopilot, from kneejerk reaction rather than from a centered state of balance. Teaching children via our own proper behavior rather than words is the way to Help Kids Discover Positive Behavior. Author Sandra Yeyati points out the monkey-see, monkey-do approach and how Parents as Role Models can help develop healthy emotional intelligence in children, including how to manage anger, live ethically, and dissipate anxiety.

As always, with an open heart and an open mind, I hope you enjoy reading on!

Largo

Metaphysical and Holistic Fair

Vendors, readers, artists, authors, crystals and much more!

February 19 & 20 • 10am-6pm Largo Event Center • 6340 126th Ave. North

Speakers all day, each day, included with daily admission FOOD AVAILABLE ON SITE

FREE PARKING

For more details visit:

SpiritFestFL.com 10

Tampa Bay Edition

ONLY

$10

ADMISSION

NATampa.com

coming in march issue

Food & Nutrition

February 2022

11

news briefs

BREATHE 2-22-22 Global Livestream

‘Spirit Fest’ Holistic Expo in Largo

ith more division in our world than ever, it’s time to come together to use the power of breath and send synchronized prayers of healing around the entire planet.

Repeating digits on dates and times is recognized worldwide to carry a harmonic signature in collective consciousness. On 2-22-22, we will collectively expand our lifeforce in breath and prayer all together at the same time from home! Using a simple power-breathing technique, we will all feel God’s divine light in our body at the same time and hold the same prayers for peace within ourselves, our loved ones and global family.

The time is now. Let us breathe powerfully, together in resonance. For details, visit Breathe22222.com. See ad page 23.

he Spirit Fest: Metaphysical and Holistic Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., February 19 and 20, at the Largo Event Center in Largo. There will be 50-plus booths with vendors, practitioners, readers, artists, authors and demonstrations.

“We’re very excited to be bringing Spirit Fest to this area,” says producer Mary Ellen Popyk. “You’ll find some of the best intuitive readers in the country, plus crystals, jewelry, spiritual supplies, holistic health specialties, natural products and much more.”

Speakers are scheduled throughout both days on a variety of topics, included with daily admission. There will also be special guests, workshops, and things for kids. Some vendors speak Spanish. Food and free parking will be available on-site.

Location: 6340 126th Ave. North, Largo. Entrance fee: $10/ day or $15 for the weekend. Children 12 & under free. For more information, visit SanctuaryFL.com or call 321-313-2543. See ad page 10.

W

Spread love everywhere you go.

Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. ~Mother Teresa

12

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

T

Awakening Into the Sun Festival in March

Opening to Joy Dolphin Retreat with Eluv

wakening Into The Sun’s 9th annual spring festival returns March 5 and 6, to North Straub Park, downtown St. Pete.

Co-sponsored by the city of St. Pete, the outdoor weekend event features free live music and yoga, food trucks, a 125-plus vendor market and more. Gates open 9 a.m. with free admission, all ages welcome! View the full music line-up, find more info and purchase after-hours tickets at AwakeningIntoTheSun.org.

Taking place after-hours on March 5, there will be a transformational evening of love and healing. At 6:30 p.m., best-selling author and surgeon, Dr. Russell Clayton, passionately shares his perspective on life, love and the journey of Self-realization. His newest book, Love and Healing, serves as a guidebook intended to relieve emotional suffering. Books will be available for purchase and signing immediately following.

At 7:30 p.m., Suren Shrestha, one of Nepal’s most respected master healer teachers, will guide attendees on a tranquil sound journey. Experience an immersive 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.

Location for after-hours: St. Petersburg Women’s Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg. See ad page 15.

olphins carry some of the highest and most profound wisdom on Earth.

Swimming with these enchanting beings is truly a heart-opening experience into bliss.

Join Eluv for the experience of a lifetime in Bimini—Gateway to Atlantis, from May 8 through 14, to assist and support shifting our old energy vibration into the highest expression of ourselves. Do you desire a shift in your life with more joy, inner peace and enlightened inspiration? This is a magical opportunity to experience yourself as the frequency of joy, have fun, reset, heal and play.

Eluv will guide and support you on this deep dive into joy with tools to advance inner transformation, heart-healing, new beginnings and deeper connection into your sacredness. Bring your heart’s intentions to this fertile ground for nurturing, renewal, creating and manifestation.

Australian Music Artist, Intuitive Psychic Channeler and WMNF Tampa Radio DJ, Eluv creates beautiful inspirational music and meditations with her angelic vocals, crystal singing bowls, angel harps and more. An Advanced Ancestral Healing Practitioner, Epigenetic Health Coach, Animal Communicator, and Shamanic Practitioner, Eluv offers private readings for people and animals.

For Early Bird Special, register now at EluvSoulWhisperer. com/retreats. See ad page 29.

A

D

February 2022

13

Come Grow at Sacred Path

Everyone is Born with a Bag of Crap

S

eeking greater personal growth, abundance and wellbeing?

Ready to discover your superpowers? Come to Sacred Path! Ready to manifest greater health, greater wealth and a more beautiful you?

Come grow at Sacred Path. Be the

architect of your life.

February brings new and exciting classes, beginning with Dr. Michael’s Pagan Holidays: Imbolc, to be held 6 to 8 p.m., February 2. Reverend Carolyn Ballenger offers from 6 to 8 p.m., Treasure Mapping on February 8, and Mystical Messages on February 15.

Reverends Mari and Michael are offering Root Chakra and Untold Abundance to open your flow, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on February 26, lunch included. Pre-registration required.

Available in person and via Zoom: For 6 weeks, from February 21 to March 30, Rev. Drs. Michael and Mari will offer their first accredited courses as affiliates of Emerson, from 6 to 8 p.m., every Monday and Wednesday, Theological Institute: New Thought Literacy 101 (1 semester unit). This is an immersive course.

Are you seeking peace or want to be a leader for peace? For 6 weeks, beginning February 22, 6 to 8 p.m., every Tuesday, Becoming a Peacemaker 820 (1 semester unit). Become the change.

Location: Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, St. Petersburg. Call to reserve your seat, 727-289-6599.

See ad page 16.

14

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

J

en Penick is a medical intuitive with over 25 years’ experience. Having mastered the ability to read the energy of anything and anyone, Penick is passionate about mapping out the generational and situational crap that is creating areas of dis-ease in the physical and emotional bodies. Once these blocks are identified, one then has the power to transform any situation.

Penick offers elite listening skills in her abilities to coach clients into what their heart desires as they master the fine art of who they really are and how they wish to flourish in life. Penick believes you never get rid of your crap— you simply master how you allow it to define you.

Business transformation is also one of Penick’s areas of passion. Every business hosts a plethora of unique energies that can build or tear apart what you have created from your heart.

Identifying the blocks of the proprietors, the employees and reading the heart of the community will allow a business to thrive on whole new levels financially.

Whatever changes in life are calling out now, Penick offers her assistance in leading you into all of these next phases.

Medical Intuitive Jen Penick has an office at 214 Pasadena Ave. South, St. Petersburg. For more information and to make an appointment, call 720-401-0055 and/or visit JenPenickHealing. com. See ad page 45.

February 2022

15

Eat Fewer Sweets to Save the Planet

Improve Sleep and Lower Anxiety with Black Cumin Oil

Sugary foods and drinks don’t just expand our waistline and hurt our health, they also harm the environment, according to new research from the University of South Australia. Analyzing 20 studies on the environmental impacts of food consumption, researchers found that nutrient-poor foods like sugar-sweetened drinks, alcohol, baked sweets and processed meats account for 27 to 33 percent of foodrelated greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.

Meat, grains and dairy contribute the most emissions, while fruit and vegetables are two of the lowest contributors. In New Zealand, the highest greenhouse gas emitters are meat, seafood and eggs at 35 percent, followed by highly processed foods such as pastries and ice cream at 34 percent. “Discretionary foods have a higher cropland, water scarcity and ecological footprint,” says review author Sarah Forbes. “By 2050, the world’s population is projected to reach 10 billion people.

There is no way we can feed that amount of people unless we change the way we eat and produce food.”

Black cumin seeds that come from the flowering fennel plant (Nigella sativa) flavor cuisines from the Middle East to the Far East and have been used for centuries to treat chronic and infectious diseases. In a new study in the Journal of Herbal Medicine, Indian researchers report that 15 volunteers with insomnia that took 200 milligrams of black cumin oil after dinner for 28 days experienced significantly better sleep. They fell asleep sooner, slept longer and recorded increases of 82 percent in non-rapid eye movement sleep and 29 percent in rapid eye movement sleep. Stress and anxiety levels were also dramatically reduced.

Look With-In, Discover Peace More than a Sunday Service, we are an all-inclusive, active center of Oneness.

Wherever you are on your Spiritual Path, we will meet you there.

Spiritual Services Sundays, 10:30-11:30am. Presenters: Rev. Drs. Mari and Michael.

Accredited Classes through Emerson Institute Credits can be applied toward ministerial credentialing, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate Degrees for qualified applicants.

Meditation Circle Thursdays,

7-8pm. Led by Rev. Drs. Michael and Mari as well as occasional guest leaders.

$75/per semester hr. of credit.

Energy Healing, available by appointment only, includes Reiki, Thai Energy Movement and Four-Hands Energy Transference. Spiritual Counseling also available by appointment.

727-289-6599 16

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

Sacred Path Spiritual Center 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 17, St. Petersburg

margo555/AdobeStock.com

suns07butterfly/AdobeStock.com

health briefs

Try Probiotics to Lower Pregnancy Nausea and Soothe Fussy Babies

February 2022

alenaorsh/AdobeStock.com

Two new studies suggest that the right probiotics can offer relief for the 85 percent of pregnant women with nausea and for the 25 percent of fussy newborns with colic. In the journal Nutrients, University of California, Davis researchers reported on a study in which 32 pregnant women that had nausea, vomiting and constipation took a probiotic capsule twice a day. The over-the-counter probiotics formula contained 10 billion live cultures, mainly Lactobacillus. After 12 days, the number of hours participants felt nauseated was reduced by 16 percent, and they vomited one-third fewer times. Constipation was also reduced. Quality of life markers such as fatigue, poor appetite and difficulty maintaining normal social activities also improved. Examining biomarkers in fecal samples, the researchers found the probiotics increased vitamin E and a bile salt enzyme that helps prevent vomiting and nausea.

In a second study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Naples researchers explored whether a particular probiotic strain (Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis BB-12) could help soothe babies with colic, a common gastrointestinal disorder in the first three months of life that studies have linked to maternal postpartum depression, parental guilt and frustration, drug use and long-term behavioral and sleep problems. They found that the probiotic reduced the duration of daily crying by 50 to 80 percent in the 40 infants that received it once daily for 28 days, compared to a 32 percent reduction among 40 babies receiving a placebo. The probiotic also had beneficial effects on sleep duration and on stool frequency and consistency. It increased gut production of butyrate, which positively regulates intestinal transit time, pain perception, the gut-brain axis and inflammation.

17

About 1 percent of the global population suffers from the crippling fatigue, brain fog and joint pain of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), yet its origins remain obscure, and medications and therapy have been largely ineffective. A new meta-analysis from China’s Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine points to moxibustion, a 2,500-year-old practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as a possible treatment. It involves burning a cone or stick made of ground mugwort leaves on or near a patient’s acupuncture points, typically on the stomach.

Analyzing data from 15 studies of 1,030 CFS patients comparing moxibustion with either acupuncture or medications, researchers found that moxibustion significantly reduced fatigue more effectively than the other approaches and yielded minimal side effects.

leungchopan/AdobeStock.com

Consider Moxibustion to Reduce Chronic Fatigue

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, people were sitting around a lot more and getting depressed, report researchers from Iowa State University. Analyzing data between April and June 2020 from 3,000 participants throughout the country, they found that people that ordinarily met the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines of exercising 2.5 to five hours a week reported cutting back their exercise routines by 32 percent when pandemic restrictions kicked in. The same participants reported feeling more depressed, anxious and lonely. In a second study in the following months, people’s mental health generally improved as they adjusted to life’s new rhythms. “But for people whose sitting times stayed high, their depressive symptoms, on average, didn’t recover in the same way as everyone else’s,” says lead author Jacob Meyer, assistant professor of kinesiology. He suggests taking short walks before and after Zoom calls at home, as well as walking around the block before and after the workday to mimic the pre-pandemic commute.

18

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

viorel sima/AdobeStock.com``

Keep Moving to Sidestep Depression

CLASSES START MARCH 7 TH Bachelor’s Degrees

Master’s Degrees

♥ Alternative & Renewable

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Energy Management Alternative Medicine Aviation/Aerospace* Business Administration Construction Management Crisis & Disaster Management Environmental Policy & Management Hospitality Management Healthcare Administration International Business Land & Energy Management Marine Resources Management Parks, Recreation and Leisure Management Surveying Management Sustainability

Aviation/Science* Business Administration* Construction Management Entrepreneurship Hospitality Management Leadership Public Health Administration* Sustainability * Degree concentrations available

EvergladesUniversity.edu Tampa • Sarasota • Orlando Boca Raton • Miami • Online

Everglades University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

February 2022

19

global briefs

Almond Joy

Confined Kitties

Unfettered Felines Pose Toxic Hazard to Wildlife

A study by the University of British Columbia published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B discovered that free-roaming cats are likely infecting other animals with Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis, a disease linked to nervous system disorders, respiratory and heart disease, and other chronic illnesses that can be passed to both humans and wildlife. Conservationists have long emphasized the interconnectedness of human and wildlife health. Forestry adjunct professor Amy Wilson says, “It is important to understand the risk factors for this infection, because toxoplasmosis can have severe impacts on susceptible individuals, but even in healthy individuals, hosts are infected for life.”

Researchers analyzed more than 45,000 cases of toxoplasmosis in wild animals using data gathered from 202 studies that included 238 different species in 981 locations around the world. Only wild and domestic cats (felids) can spread the infectious form of toxoplasma into the environment through eggs, called oocysts, in their feces. “By simply limiting free roaming of cats, we can reduce the impact of toxoplasma on wildlife,” reports Wilson. “Domestic cats outnumber wild felids by several orders of magnitude, so when you consider their population size and that they can shed millions of long-lived oocysts intermittently throughout their life, the potential for environmental contamination is considerable.”

20

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

mates/AdobeStock.com

A study from the University of East Anglia School of Biological Sciences (UK) published in the journal Nature Communications suggests that our natural environment is becoming quieter and less varied due to changes in the makeup of bird populations. Researchers used annual bird monitoring data collected as part of the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme and North American Breeding Bird Survey, plus recordings of birds in the wild, to reconstruct the soundscapes of more than 200,000 sites over the last 25 years.

Lead author Simon Butler states, “We’re living through a global environmental crisis with ongoing and widespread declines in biodiversity. This means that the quality of our interactions with nature is likely to be declining, reducing its potential benefits, but this has not previously been examined.” Other groups that contribute to natural soundscapes such as insects and amphibians are also declining, while road traffic and other sources of manmade noise are increasing. Butler explains, “As we collectively become less aware of our natural surroundings, we also start to notice or care less about their deterioration. We hope this study can help heighten awareness of these losses and encourage support for conservation through actions to protect and restore high-quality, natural soundscapes.”

To grow one orange requires 14 gallons of water, a cup of coffee 35 gallons, one potato 100 gallons, a glass of dairy milk 48 gallons and a half-cup of tofu 61 gallons. One almond (technically a seed, not a tree nut) needs about 3.2 gallons to reach maturity; almost 1,300 gallons are needed to grow a pound. The source of almond milk, although positioned as an eco-friendly alternative to cow’s milk, is usually treated with methoxyfenozide, which threatens honeybee health. With a global market of more than $5 billion, the beverage’s footprint is increasingly detrimental to the drought-plagued state of California. Walnuts, hazelnuts and pistachios consume as much water or more, but almonds are in higher demand. The “Eureka” state supplies 80 percent of the world’s almond supply, covering more than 1.5 million acres in the Central Valley. Water from ancient aquifers there is being pumped out for irrigation faster than it can be recharged.

According to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, almond orchards were treated with more pesticides than any other local crop in 2017. Harmful chemicals are sprayed year-round to combat ants, mites, leafrollers, peach twig borers and weeds.

Also, fertilizer pollution can spike drinking water with hazardous nitrates.

Instead, consumers can purchase milk that is packaged in sustainably sourced and recyclable materials and buy shelf-stable milk to conserve energy from refrigeration.

adogslifephoto/AdobeStock.com

Sounds of Nature are Fading

eric isselée/AdobeStock.com

Nut Milk Carries Hefty Environmental Burden

Silent Spring

Mucky Luck

kazakova maryia/AdobeStock.com

Peat’s Potential to Forestall Climate Change Although peatlands are often disregarded as anaerobic wastelands, Christian Dunn, a wetlands scientist at Bangor University, in Wales, claims, “Peat is the superhero of the natural world.” Whether they are called moors, bogs, fens, mires, swamps or sloughs, the acidic, low-nutrient ecosystems are the most carbon-dense lands on the planet and can safely store twice as much carbon as all forests combined in one-tenth the landmass for 1,000 years. Climate scientists know the role oceans and forests play in storing carbon and are now coming to appreciate the power of peat and the need to preserve existing bogs and to restore those that have been damaged. On the flip side, carbon already locked up can be quickly released, hastening a warming climate. Because peatlands store an estimated 30 percent of sequestered carbon in 3 percent of the world’s land mass, climatologists call its potential discharge a “carbon bomb”.

Human agricultural practices are at the heart of the problem, as about 15 percent of peat has already been lost worldwide. Farmers have been paid to convert peatlands with government tax breaks and cash subsidies. Indonesia, one of the world’s top five greenhouse gas emitters, is clearing peat for palm oil plantations, with farmers burning soil that can smolder for months. Britain, one of the first countries to focus on peat in in a strategy to reach netzero emissions by 2050, has pledged more than $1 billion by 2025 on peat restoration, woodland creation and management.

Super Shader

golden sikorka/AdobeStock.com

Solar Canopies Green Urban Parking Lots When large collections of photovoltaic panels are erected as solar farms on undeveloped land, they can harm underlying ecosystems. As an alternative, large parking lots make use of land that is already cleared and produce electricity close to where it’s needed. Plus, they can also shade the cars. A solar parking facility at Rutgers University, in Piscataway, New Jersey, boasts an output of eight megawatts of electricity. If Walmart converted all 3,571 of its U.S. super center lots, the total capacity would be 11.1 gigawatts of solar power, roughly equivalent to a dozen, large, coal-fired power plants.

Most solar installation presently occupy croplands, arid lands and grasslands, not rooftops or parking lots, according to a global inventory published in Nature. Building alternative power sources quickly is important to replace fossil fuels and avert catastrophic climate change, and the process is cheaper and easier to manage by building on undeveloped land than on rooftops or in parking lots. Ironically, putting solar facilities on undeveloped land is often not much better than building subdivisions there. Rebecca Hernandez, an ecologist at the University of California at Davis, notes that developers tend to bulldoze sites, removing all of the above-ground vegetation. That’s bad for insects and the birds that feed on them. The trend to cluster solar facilities in buffer zones around protected areas can confuse birds and other wildlife and complicate migratory corridors.

February 2022

21

community spotlight

THE COLORS OF FOOD Healthy, Family-Owned Meal Prep Available in Pinellas County

T

he Colors of Food is a family-owned company dedicated to providing high-quality food to all who seek it. After learning about Keto and Paleo, owner and Chef Melian De Carolis (Chef Mel) decided to study these life-changing diets and now dedicates her life to making people better, incorporating these into great meal prep.

Located in central Clearwater and serving Pinellas County, The Colors of Food consists of a staff of six and more than 10 years’ experience. “We are more than equipped to create perfect meals for your healthy diet and improve your life with delicious Keto and Paleo meals,” states Chef Mel. Hailing from Italy, Chef Mel spent her teen years in England and eventually ended up in America where she met her husband and began a family. Her passion for food began in Italy where she would follow her Italian grandmother around asking questions about cooking. To her, grandmother’s meals were magical, and she states, “To this day, I have never found anything better!” Chef Mel applies her grandmother’s styles and techniques in her cooking. “Each time I go visit her in Italy, I learn more every time.

“When I moved to England, I got more curious about cooking foods from different cultures and so I started working at restaurants in the area where I made friends with the chefs and started shadowing them. I learned a lot from them.”

Chef Mel migrated to America from the UK to take a cooking position where they were also offering training and certification. She was

22

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

professionally trained and became a pastry chef.

As a pastry chef, however, the more she learned about healthy diets, the stark and hard reality that refined sugar is truly harmful to the human biome hit hard, requiring some serious changes. Over time, she began learning extensively about Paleo and Keto, expanding her abilities to experiment, evolving her own signature styles and flavors of foods. Thus was born her new vocation as a private chef preparing healthful, wholesome meals for individuals and families. She tops off her offerings of Keto and Paleo meals with extraordinary cakes and desserts, all fit for the Keto or Paleo diet.

“I have watched people change their lifestyles from bad to good and physically improve immensely by being on a Keto or Paleo diet—being able to finally lose weight, get a good night’s sleep, or have overall more energy in their life and the ability to enjoy it to the fullest,” Chef Mel explains. “It’s eye-opening to see what eating well can do to someone and this is why I dedicate my life to making yours better.

“My biggest challenge was to overcome my fears of owning my own company. The stress that comes with having a whole company on your shoulders is overwhelming for a new mom and entrepreneur, especially right at the beginning of Covid. I had lost my job at the nutritional company due to Covid and not much work was being offered during that time. So I took things in my own hands, and with my family’s support, I started The Colors of Food. After seven years of being a personal chef and working in nutrition, I knew that was the right thing to do. I had to learn a lot, and with English being my second language, this was not easy; I had to get a license, insurance and much more, lots of new terms. I had to put a lot of time and money into this company at a very critical time, but I did it and now we are flourishing and expanding fast.”

Chef Mel has very big dreams for the Colors of Food. Not just a meal prep, Colors is offering catering, including wedding cakes and desserts. To run the catering, she brought onboard Chef Nicci Stokes, with over 30 years’ experience. “We are now splitting the company into three, and with our fantastic staff, we can well look into a busy future. As for the meal prepping side of the business, be prepared to see bus advertisements and billboards with our logo on it.”

The Colors of Food is located at 1760 Turner St., Clearwater. For menus, visit TheColorsOfFood.com, call 727-600-5509, or email TheColorsOfFoodllc@ gmail.com. See ad page 31.

February 2022

23

The Heart-Mind Connection How Thoughts and Emotions Affect Our Heart Health

by Ronica O’Hara

24

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

“D

wayhome studio/AdobeStock.com

oes your wife show you her love?” In a study of 10,000 married men, this question turned out to be revelatory. Among men with high levels of anxiety, a whopping 93 percent that answered “No” developed anginarelated chest pains within five years—nearly twice the rate of those answering “Yes.” This 1976 Israeli study was one of the first to clearly document how emotions affect the physical heart. Today, the research is so vast and compelling that last year, the American Heart Association issued a statement urging that psychological factors be taken into account in cardiovascular care—which may result in doctors asking patients about depression and anxiety as well as testing for blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

“What’s on your mind really does affect your heart,” says leading researcher and cardiologist Michael Miller, M.D., author of Heal Your Heart and director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical System.

“Our hearts require emotional health in order to maintain cardiovascular health.”

Two emerging fields are probing the mind-heart connection: neurocardiology, which studies their neurological interplay; and behavioral cardiology, which examines how psychological and social factors lead to heart disease. Increasingly, researchers are documenting that the brain and the heart form an intricate feedback loop that works neurologically, biochemically and electromagnetically to optimize well-being. What hurts one—be it arteryclogging foods or angry outbursts—can hurt the other. What heals one—be it exercising or a good belly laugh—can heal the other. There’s good news in that, says Miller: “You can heal your heart by actively engaging in positive emotions each and every day.”

Unveiling the Heart’s Role

In Western medicine, the heart has been downplayed historically as a pump mechanistically taking orders from a bossy brain, but recently, the heart’s role is being reexamined: With 40,000 neurons, it sends more signals to the brain than it receives. As integrative cardiologist Mimi Guarneri, author of The Heart Speaks, puts it, “The heart is a multilayered, complex organ, possessing intelligence, memory and decision-making abilities independent from the mind.”

The electromagnetic field it generates is about 100 times stronger than the brain’s magnetic range and can be detected up to three feet away from the body, report researchers at the pioneer-

ing HeartMath Institute, in Boulder Creek, California. They found that one person’s brain waves can synchronize to another person’s heart and two hearts can synchronize to each other, which may help explain why people are drawn to or repelled by each other.

When the heart’s rhythm pattern becomes erratic and disordered during stress and negative emotions, they report, the neural signals traveling to the brain’s emotional centers also get disrupted, hindering clear thinking and reasoning—which may help explain why we make dubious decisions under stress.

The High Toll of Tough Emotions Although scientists debate whether emotions start in the brain, heart or from physical sensations elsewhere in the body, it’s clear through magnetic imaging technology that it’s the brain’s task to process and regulate emotions via the flow of neurotransmitters through the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and other brain regions. Emotions like anger, fear, grief and anxiety set off a cascade of reactions involving the hormone cortisol and proteins called cytokines, creating an inflammatory response that, if it becomes chronic, can promote the accumulation of plaque in the arteries that can become unstable and rupture, triggering blood clots that lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Surveying 25,000 participants in 52 countries, the landmark INTERHEART Study in 2004 concluded that about 30 percent of heart attacks and strokes are due to psychological factors, and ongoing research supports this finding.

DEPRESSION. Adults that are depressed are twice as likely to develop heart disease. In one study, moderate to severe depression quadrupled the death rate in heart failure patients.

ANXIETY. Researchers have linked chronic anxiety with a 48 percent increased risk of cardiac-related death over 11 years. It has also been shown to be a risk factor for angina, heart attacks and ventricular arrhythmia.

SHOCK. A sudden emotional or physical shock, like a death in the family or an earthquake, can trigger stress cardiomyopathy, known as broken heart syndrome, which resembles a heart attack.

ANGER. An episode of intense fury—described as “body tense, clenching fists or teeth, ready to burst”—increases by 8.5 times the risk of a heart attack within the next two hours.

LONELINESS. Being socially isolated and lonely is linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular death than hypertension and obesity—alarming information since more than 60 percent of Americans report feeling lonely, left out, poorly understood and lacking companionship, according to a 2020 survey.

Boosting Both Brain and Heart “There’s no damage caused by negative emotions that positive emotions can’t heal,” says Miller. A large body of research has shown that cardiovascular disease risk can be reduced by up to half with optimism, a sense of humor, forgiveness, social support, religious faith, vitality, gratitude, altruistic behavior, emotional flexibility and coping flexibility. People that are optimistic are February 2022

25

DOING THE BASICS. Exercising a halfhour daily and eating a largely plant-based, Mediterranean-type diet that’s low in saturated fats has been found in numerous studies to lower the risk of both cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.

Working with health practitioners to get blood pressure, blood sugar and inflammation levels under control, perhaps using supplements or medications, is also a key preventive step.

GIVING AND GETTING HUGS. Oxytocin, the “love hormone” released from the pituitary gland during touching and hugging, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and regenerates new heart tissue in animal studies. Proactively reaching out to family, friends, neighbors and co-workers can nurture affectionate ties, but if a human isn’t nearby, even hugging a teddy bear has been shown to release oxytocin— which may explain why 40 percent of U.S. adults sleep with stuffed animals. Owning a dog, but not necessarily a cat, makes us more likely to survive a heart attack, report researchers.

MINDFULLY LETTING GO. As studies with police officers, healthcare workers and firefighters have demonstrated,

mindfulness training effectively lowers anxiety and depression, even for those in life-threatening situations. “To be present, ever acutely aware of our thoughts, emotions, feelings and how we are choosing to react is critical,” says cardiologist Cynthia Thaik, author of Your Vibrant Heart and the founder of the Holistic Heart Healing Center, in Los Angeles. “Once we are aware of our reaction, the ability to let go—of judgment, doubt, anger, resentment, fear, all our negative thoughts, emotions and feelings—is crucial to our healing process.”

LAUGHING A LOT. Many of us have a chuckle deficit in our lives: The average 5-year-old laughs up to 300 times a day, the average adult only four. To lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, find ways to laugh long and hard—such as watching hilarious films or videos on YouTube or TikTok. Physiologically, the endorphins released by a hearty belly laugh bind to receptors that release nitric oxide, relaxing blood vessels.

BREATHWORK. To bring the mind and heart into a healthy, coherent rhythmic pattern, the HeartMath Institute suggests heart-focused breathing, which involves imagining that we are breathing in through the heart as we inhale in a smooth, comfortable manner to the count of five or six, then breathing out for five or six counts while visualizing that the breath is flowing out of the heart.

MEDITATION. People that practice meditation are significantly less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, perhaps because it has been shown to lower heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, oxygen consumption and cortisol levels. Alzheimer’s expert

prostockstudioo/AdobeStock.com

less likely to be rehospitalized or die from heart disease, Finnish researchers report.

“For optimal health, maximize the health of both brain and heart. For example, if you eat well and exercise, but are still stressed out, your heart will suffer. Conversely, if you are not stressed out, but overeat and do not exercise, your brain will suffer,” says Miller. Some heart-and-mindhealthy strategies include:

Dharma Singh Khalsa, author of Meditation as Medicine, advocates kirtan kriya, a 12-minute, daily meditation that includes chanting, finger movements and visualization. Research has demonstrated that it slows cognitive decline, eases depression and increases anti-aging telomerase activity at a cellular level by 43 percent in eight weeks.

YOGA OR TAI CHI. In studies, yoga has been shown to lower inflammation and metabolic syndrome markers linked to heart disease and reduce atrial fibrillation episodes. The slow, graceful movements of tai chi reportedly lower blood pressure and strengthen the hearts of people with heart failure.

MUSIC. Whether it involves listening, playing an instrument or singing, music has been shown to lower heart rate, reduce inflammation, enable longer exercise periods, ease anxiety after heart surgery and heart attacks, and help stroke victims regain the ability to speak. Choose music of whatever genre inspires joy and sing along for extra benefit, advises Miller.

“If your partner is flummoxed by your enthusiasm for yodeling or your neighbor doesn’t exactly approve of your attempts at arias, kindly inform him or her it’s doctor’s orders,” he jokes in Heal Your Heart.

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

26

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

inspiration

Living in the Frequency of Love

Benjavisa Ruangvaree/AdobeStock.com

by Marlaina Donato

M

ost of us refer to love as an emotion, but in essence, love is a verb, a powerful call to action. When we remember its true nature, we can answer its call with our unique signature. Some brave souls like Martin Luther King, Jr. leap into uncharted territory with authentic truths, while others sprinkle their quiet corner of the world with small gestures of kindness. Telling someone how much they mean to us, holding the door for a stranger, asking a cashier how their day is going or welcoming a new neighbor is like handing out a piece of light. Added up at the end of the day or a lifetime, we create a mural of stars against the darkness.

The frequency of love not only inspires, but heals. The energy of giving and receiving is literally wired into our neurochemistry, flooding our bloodstream with endorphins that combat systemic inflammation, influence mood, accelerate recovery and raise the pain threshold.

We can freely stream waters of genuine kindness, love and affection, but if there is no waiting vessel for love’s outpouring, the potential of its power is diminished and incomplete. Our willingness and that of others to receive activates kindness, awakens what is dormant inside of us and quickens our capacity to thrive.

Mother Teresa once said, “We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair and hopelessness is love.” With our willingness to gift one another with our full and authentic presence, all else is possible.

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

February 2022

27

healthy kids

Parents as Role Models

How to Help Kids Discover Positive Behaviors

by Sandra Yeyati

L

they’re angry. To teach them constructive ways to express anger—like taking deep breaths or running around the block— you’ve got to employ those tools yourself.”

Actions speak louder than words. “To teach your child good values, you have to demonstrate them through your deeds.

If you tell your child that they must always be on time for school, but you’re late for work every day, your child hears one thing, but sees another,” MacDonald explains, adding that kids are adept at sniffing out these inconsistencies.

Halfpoint/AdobeStock.com

ike the familiar adage, “Monkey see, monkey do,” children learn habits, attitudes and values by observing and mimicking their parents. This phenomenon, known as modeling, is a double-edged sword. Sometimes parents unintentionally teach their kids by example to smoke, eat too much candy or bully people. On the other hand, with awareness, planning and strategic modifications, parents can use modeling to instill in their kids good habits, positive attitudes, healthy emotional intelligence and strong self-esteem.

“We parent what we know, very often on automatic mode,” says Debra MacDonald, a certified parenting educator at the Center for Parenting Education, in Abington, Pennsylvania. “How many times have you said, ‘I will never say that to my kids,’ and then fast-forward several years, those words are coming out of your mouth. Awareness is your first step.”

“Look at how you handle stress or express anger,” MacDonald suggests. “If you slam the table, break something and yell, that’s what you’re teaching your children to do when

28

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

Saying, “Eat your spinach,” while regularly gobbling ice cream won’t inspire desired results. When MacDonald’s son was young, she realized she wasn’t setting the right example at the dinner table. “Slowly, over time, I began to improve our family’s lifestyle choices, and now that he’s in college, he knows how to cook healthy meals, practice portion control and clean up after himself,” she boasts.

Tackling Childhood Anxiety Through Modeling In his 2021 book, Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD, Yale University Professor Eli Lebowitz offers a scientifically proven parental modeling program called Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). Although the goal is to treat a child’s anxiety, parents meet with a therapist and learn tools to modify their parenting approach in two ways: being more supportive and reducing accommodations.

On the support side, SPACE parents learn to show a genuine acceptance and understanding of their child’s distress and to communicate their confidence in the child’s ability to tolerate and cope with the anxiety. The support can be as simple as saying, “I get it.

This is really hard. You’re upset, but I know you can handle this.”

“Supportive statements aren’t always intuitive for parents,” says Lebowitz, director of the program for anxiety disorders at the Yale Child Study Center. “Sometimes they don’t believe that their child is feeling anxiety. They might think that the child is being manipulative or attention-seeking. Or, when parents do believe that their child is anxious, they want to protect, soothe and reassure them, but by doing these things, parents aren’t communicating their belief that the child can handle it, which is critical to helping them overcome the anxiety.”

The second change that SPACE parents learn to make is to gradually and systematically reduce all the accommodations they have been making to help their child not feel anxious, such as sleeping beside a child that is afraid of being alone or not inviting company to the house to avoid upsetting a socially anxious kid.

“Research indicates that even though parents are trying to help, accommodations that rush to the rescue tend to maintain or worsen anxiety over time,” Lebowitz says. “I worked with parents of a child who had panic attacks at night and would say, ‘My heart is racing. I can’t breathe. I think I’m going to die.’

Feeling overwhelmed and scared, her parents would rush her to the hospital again and again, even after doctors assured them that she was healthy and didn’t need to come in. From the child’s perspective, when your parents rush you to the ER, that confirms that this is literally an emergency. You feel more worried and scared. When the parents were able to take a breath, give her a hug and say, ‘We know this is uncomfortable, but it’s going to pass, and you’re going to be okay,’ she began to learn that she didn’t need to be afraid of anxiety. She could handle it and didn’t need to avoid it.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

February 2022

29

stokkete/AdobeStock.com

green living

SECONDHAND FASHION Online Used Clothing Stores Good for the Wallet and Planet

by Sandra Yeyati

T

he online commerce of used clothing is booming. According to ThredUp.com, a prominent virtual consignment and thrift store, the secondhand market is projected to double in the next five years, reaching a whopping $77 billion. “The pandemic and resulting economic downturn boosted this surge,” says Hyejune Park, Ph.D., associate professor of fashion merchandising at Oklahoma State University. “Stuck at home in 2020, people looked into their closets, found items they no longer wore or wanted and went online to sell and buy clothes to save money.”

Popular Resale Platforms Younger, tech-savvy shoppers are the principle drivers of this growth, and a host of apps and websites are responding to the demand, including UK-based marketplace Depop.com, which caters to cash-strapped Generation Z and millennial shoppers, and Poshmark.com, a leading social marketplace boasting 80 million users across the U.S., Canada and Australia.

30

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

Several well-known platforms serve vintage and luxury brand consumers worldwide, offering authentication guarantees to reassure buyers about counterfeits. Among them are Santa Monica-based Tradesy.com, founded by women for women; Paris-based reseller VestiaireCollective.com; and TheRealReal. com, out of San Francisco.

Other notable players include brickand-mortar thrift store Goodwill Industries, which has partnered with resale app OfferUp.com to upload their inventories; eBay.com, one of the first online,

peer-to-peer marketplaces; and Etsy.com, featuring vintage and upcycled fashion by smaller shops.

care of their gear, offer alteration services and encourage the long-term wear and resale of their clothes,” she explains.

Brand-Name Manufacturers and Retailers React

The Secondhand Surge and the Environment

Many fashion brands are considering or ThredUp.com’s marketing materials ashave already formed partnerships with sert that by extending the life of used established resale platforms to reach clothing, fewer new garments need to be this engaged, younger demographic of produced, helping to reduce the carbon, shoppers. For example, Gucci is partnerwaste and water footprints associated ing with TheRealReal.com, while Adidas with the production of textiles and apis working with parel. In 2021, ThredUp.com. In Manish Chandra, To protect the planet, 2021, Poshmark. founder and CEO com launched Park advises, the goal should of PoshMark.com, their Brand be to buy nothing or buy less. stated, “ConsumClosets initiative, ers are prioritizinviting branded ing the impact manufacturers to interact with their users that their purchases have on the environand opening the platform to sell a combiment.” nation of used and new fashion. “The fact Park cautions that even though resale that all this is happening is an indication platforms tout environmental benefits, that we’re witnessing a new wave of econsumer behavior will ultimately decommerce,” Park says. “I don’t think it’s a termine whether the online surge makes temporary boom. From a retail business a positive environmental impact. In a perspective, this is a huge trend that will recent study involving young consumers living in Oklahoma, Park sought to go mainstream and continue to grow.” understand why they were choosing to Other brands are launching resale buy and sell secondhand clothing online. operations in-house, such as Levi’s Their most prominent motives were savSecondhand.Levi.com and fast-fashion ing money and shopping convenience. giant H&M’s Rewear.hm.com, claiming “Not many respondents saw this type to provide a sustainable fashion-buying of consumption as a way to save the alternative, but Park cautions, “I’m not environment,” she laments. “If consumconfident that secondhand fashion can ers buy secondhand goods to curtail their solve the sustainability issues that fast spending on new clothes or to find better fashion has created over the past decade.

Depending on how brands are participat- quality garments than fast fashion, then it will be good for the environment, but if ing in their resale operations, it could be they buy and sell used clothes in addition a greenwash claim—just another way to to their regular shopping as another way make sales and reach more consumers.” to shop for marked-down products, then Notably, H&M’s Conscious Collection there will be no environmental benefit.” that is marketed as sustainably-made To protect the planet, Park advises, the clothing caters to only a small fraction goal should be to buy nothing or buy less. of its customers, suggesting that the “It’s okay to purchase $10 jeans, but get company cares less about environmental one pair, not five. Don’t have a one-nightimpacts and more about satisfying a segstand relationship with your clothes. Love ment of its customer base.

In contrast, Park says, Patagonia’s resale them, take care of them and wear them until they’re falling apart.” program is an enviable environmental example. “Patagonia began running their Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer Worn Wear resale campaign long before and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ this secondhand shopping boom. They educate consumers about how to take gmail.com.

Natural Awakenings is published in more than 60 U.S. markets.

To advertise with us, call 727-865-9339.

February 2022

31

wise words

David Perlmutter on the Role of Uric Acid in Metabolic Health

photo by Peter Russell

by Sandra Yeyati

B

oard-certified neurologist David Perlmutter, M.D., has written five New York Times bestsellers, including Brain Wash, Grain Brain and Brain Maker. His latest book is Drop Acid: The Surprising New Science of Uric Acid—The Key to Losing Weight, Controlling Blood Sugar, and Achieving Extraordinary Health.

A recipient of the Linus Pauling Award for his innovative approaches to neurological disorders and the National Nutritional Foods Association Clinician of the Year award, he has appeared on 20/20, CNN, Fox News, The Today Show, Oprah and CBS This Morning.

What is the most significant threat to our health and longevity today?

Metabolic issues like high blood pressure, increased body fat and high blood sugar are at the root of our most pervasive health challenges. According to the World Health Organization, the number one cause of death on planet Earth are chronic degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, coronary 32

Tampa Bay Edition

artery disease, diabetes and cancer, all of which are fundamentally metabolic problems. Astoundingly, 88 percent of American adults have at least one component of what is called the metabolic syndrome, which means only 12 percent of Americans are metabolically healthy.

protect them during times of food scarcity.

Today, high levels of uric acid are leading to elevated blood sugar, increased production and storage of fat, and high blood pressure. Everything we do that raises our uric acid puts us at risk for these profound metabolic threats to our health.

What is the basic premise of Drop Acid?

What foods and beverages should we reduce to control uric acid levels?

The book shows how uric acid elevation, previously thought of only in terms of gout, is the centerpiece for metabolic dysfunction and how you can easily bring your uric acid under control and regain metabolic health. You can test uric acid levels at your doctor’s office or with a home monitor that you can buy online, so this is a powerful new tool to help you be healthier.

What is the role of uric acid in our body?

Having elevated uric acid was a survival mechanism for our hunter/gatherer, Paleolithic and primate ancestors because it allowed their bodies to make more fat to NATampa.com

Alcohol, purines (the breakdown product of DNA and RNA in certain foods) and most importantly, fructose. In the 1900s, we consumed 10 to 15 grams of fructose per day, as opposed to over 70 grams today. The average American consumes 55 pounds of sugar each year. It’s absurd.

High-fructose items like sodas, sauces and desserts are absolutely off the table, as is fruit juice, a powerful initiator of high uric acid. Fruit isn’t an issue. There may be five grams of fructose in an apple, and fruit contains vitamin C, which dramatically lowers uric acid, and fiber, which slows fructose release.

High-purine foods are organ meats, shellfish and small fish like anchovies and sardines.

There are modest amounts of purines in red meat and chicken. I’m not saying these foods should be avoided; we want people to limit their consumption of chicken, fish and red meat to six ounces a day.

With alcohol, the big issues are hard liquor and beer. Beer contains a very concentrated source of purines because it’s made with brewer’s yeast. Though wine contains alcohol, it has polyphenols that help to reduce uric acid, possibly by nurturing the gut bacteria. Research demonstrates that a glass or two of wine is associated with either no change or a minimal decrease in uric acid. Coffee seems to lower uric acid.

Will these lifestyle choices really make a difference?

Patients are confronted with a mentality from marketing that you can do whatever the heck you want with your food and lifestyle, and then take a pill. I’ve been to dinner with diabetics who eat the creme brûlée then pop a pill. But pills don’t treat diabetes. They may lower blood sugar, but they won’t treat the underlying problem, which is that the body isn’t responding to insulin. The moment patients stop the drug, much to the joy of the drug maker, their blood sugars go right back up. You’ve only treated the smoke. You haven’t looked at the fire. This approach of lowering uric acid puts the fire out.

Are you hopeful that more people will make better lifestyle choices?

I see a bit of a trend where people are looking for more empowerment. They have greater access to data with wearable devices like continuous glucose monitors or an Oura Ring to tell you how you sleep. By better understanding moment-to-moment how our choices affect certain measurable factors, we’re slowly getting into the driver’s seat and becoming empowered to keep ourselves healthy.

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.

February 2022

33

fit body

POWER UP YOUR WORKOUTS a guide to protein powders and shakes

by Maya Whitman

P

rotein, from the Greek proteios, means “primary”, which sums up its vital role in the human body. Its structure of amino acids enables myriad bodily functions, from repairing and building tissues to creating biochemical reactions that form enzymes, hormones and neurotransmitters, and maintaining pH and fluid balances. When we fortify our diet with digestible, nutritionally dense, non-meat protein, we also amp up our fitness efforts, enhance immunity and offset premature aging. Whole-food and plant-based proteins like pea, quinoa and chia seeds are also strong allies against Type 2 diabetes, research shows.

expressiovisual/AdobeStock.com

The Protein Promise

34

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

Whipping up a protein drink before or after a workout can foster muscle and joint integrity, and it can nourish soft tissue after injury. “Protein is vital for muscle synthesis. An individual who exercises at a higher intensity should focus on getting more protein in their diet to aid in better recovery,” says Hannah Davis, a personal trainer and owner of Body By Hannah, in Cleveland, Tennessee. “Protein is also important in overall nutrition to better balance hormones that control hunger, blood sugar and mood.”

Dominic Kennedy, a Los Angeles trainer and the creator of The Dominic Effect health and fitness app, concurs.

“Protein is considered a ‘macronutrient’, which means we typically need a large amount to stay healthy. Certain protein powders can be very healthy for you and help to build and repair tissue.”

The average daily protein requirement for adults is 50 to 70 grams, but can be higher during times of stress, injury, illness, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Vegan fitness and nutrition coach Karina Inkster, in Powell River, British Columbia, gives a nod to protein shakes for their convenience, but advises, “Just make sure you’re not relying just on protein powder to hit your daily protein.” She highlights the importance of diet diversity with other protein sources like tofu, tempeh, legumes, nutritional yeast, nuts and seeds.

Choosing Nutrition, Nixing Added Sugar

Thirty years ago, heavily sweetened, incomplete protein powders seemed to be the only game in town. “Nowadays, we have countless plant-based options for protein powders—pea, rice, soy, hemp, pumpkin seed, quinoa … the list goes on,” says Inkster. “I like to stick to the basics, as I have a lot of serious food allergies.

I go with brown rice and/or pea protein. Single ingredients, no flavors and no sweeteners.”

For Kennedy, shakes and powders with sugar and dairy can contribute to bloating and store fat in the body, “which we need to work harder to burn off. I cannot stress the difference this has made in my body once I gave it up years ago. Not only do I look better physically, but most importantly, I feel better on the inside.

Sugar is highly addictive and can also affect your mood.”

Davis prefers sourcing her protein requirements from whole foods, but recommends whey-based powders when her clients want a reliable power shake and can tolerate it well.

Protein-to-carbohydrate ratio is paramount, especially for those with weight-loss goals or blood sugar instability. Reading labels is important, especially when food intolerances are an issue. Kennedy recommends experimenting with various protein sources. “If you are using whey protein and having trouble digesting it, it may just be a lactose intolerance. Trying one that is plant-based could be a game-changer.”

Among Inkster’s clients, brown rice and pea protein powders score high for digestibility and assimilation.

Fortifying Additions

From antioxidant-rich pomegranate powder to blood-sugar-supportive monk fruit and adrenal- and thyroid-nourishing maca, nutritional extras abound. However, Inkster notes that supplemental products marketed as superfoods, including collagen, do not necessarily pack a powerful punch to an already nutrientdense diet. “When we ingest collagen or a vegan alternative, this protein gets broken down into amino acids in the exact same way as any other protein we eat.”

Kennedy points to super-green and pomegranate powders as ways to help the body combat chronic disease. “It’s a great way to get more greens and vegetables and in turn, promote a healthy immune system. We could all use more of that.”

Davis reminds us that one person’s nutritional ally can be another’s bane. “Supplementation is very personal. I always encourage focusing on a whole foods diet that includes a lot of variety to create a micronutrient balance in the body and then experiment with some supplements to see how they may help.”

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

†

Maya Whitman writes about natural health and living a more beautiful life. Connect at Ekstasis28@gmail.com.

February 2022

35

healing ways

Truly Making Love Sex and Intimacy as a Healing Force

deagreez/AdobeStock.com

by Marlaina Donato

36

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

Stripping Down to Basics A few lifestyle adjustments can do wonders for worn-out romance. Quality sleep itself can be a potent aphrodisiac. Women are more likely to be “in the mood” after a good night’s sleep, even with just an extra hour of shut-eye, according to a 2015 pilot study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Therapist Kurt Smith, clinical director of Guy Stuff Counseling and Coaching, in Roseville, California, advocates limiting phone use and engaging in non-technological activities. “Phones have moved from being used as a communication device to becoming many people’s connection to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, when used as such, they pose a threat to the emotional connection with our partners,” he says. “With all distractions removed, sit on the sofa, face each other and talk. This suggestion can make many people very uncomfortable, because they have no idea what they’d say to their partner. Actually, talking to your partner without a purpose other than to just listen and connect with each other has become rare.”

An element of fun can go a long way in the quest to stay connected. “Approach your sex life like a science experiment or an art project instead of a math problem,” says Jamie Elizabeth Thompson, a holistic intimacy expert in Austin. “It’s an exploration with no one right answer. Attitude is important when it comes to sex because people can take it so seriously and place crippling pressure on having this fantasy Hollywood sex life.”

Aphrodite’s Plate Feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin all contribute to the pleasure response, and sharing luscious food with a lover can be sensuous, as well as endorphinfriendly. Nutritious foods such as almonds, walnuts, asparagus and avocados support reproductive health, and a dessert of dark chocolate and honey-drizzled fruits like berries, figs and cherries can support libido in both women and men. Nixing excessive alcohol and sugar is also a good romantic investment.

vulnerable. “Porn is a drug that people unknowingly use to selfmedicate and manage uncomfortable thoughts and emotions,” explains Smith. “Many men have no idea what they’re missing because they’ve never had an emotionally intimate relationship without the negative influence of porn. Porn makes sex self-focused, rather than what it’s supposed to be, which is the intimate connection of two people. Porn is selfish, rather than loving, giving and sharing with a partner.”

Thompson attests that lovemaking can help us align with the divine, especially “when people have reverence for the power of their erotic life force. When people open their view of what sex is, it can become an act of worship.”

Love prompts us to become more ourselves. “When erotic life force is flowing freely, the body is vital and the system is turned on. When channeled properly, this energy is highly creative,” muses Thompson. “It’s the fuel of your vehicle, the charge of your battery, and when you are full on life force, it organically overflows into service.”

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

Fun Homework for Couples From Kurt Smith: Remain connected by having “no-tech nights”. Try turning all devices off for an evening and find something to do together that doesn’t require them. This could be watching a movie, playing board games (yes, they still exist), going out for dessert, etc. It can be fun to brainstorm creative, low-cost ideas.

From Jamie Elizabeth Thompson: Journal about why sex and intimacy are important to you, how it serves the rest of your life and what you see available through having a consistent, potent, deep, hot erotic life. Share this vision with your partner and keep it somewhere you see it often. Knowing why something is a priority makes you far more likely to follow through.

Flirt with each other. Couples who flirt their way through their communication fight much less. Flirting creates a playful, fun flow of energy between you. It’s a way of keeping the fire stoked so you’re not completely restarting from cold coals every time you want to heat up the house.

JessBaileyDesigns /Pexels.com

I

ntimately connecting with a loved one is one of life’s most precious gifts, but it’s easy to lose sight of our innate sensual energy in the maze of the mundane. Through lovemaking, we can harness our life force, and according to abundant research, reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, manage pain and improve brain health. A significant correlation also exists between higher ejaculation frequency and a reduced risk for prostate cancer later in life, Boston University researchers report in European Urology.

Making love is also good for boosting our natural immunity.

College students that engaged in amorous activity once or twice a week—especially with long-term partners—had 30 percent higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A in their saliva, concluded research by Wilkes University, in Pennsylvania.

Partnership as Sacred Deep relationship is only possible when we are willing to be February 2022

37

natural pet

Fostering Love Tips for First-Time Pet Foster Parents

Alan/AdobeStock.com

by Karen Shaw Becker

F

or people that love cats and dogs but can’t adopt one—or one more—a heartwarming solution is to foster pets without homes that need a place to temporarily lay their heads and be loved until a forever home comes along. Fosters are needed when a shelter is filled to capacity or has too many large or old dogs, or orphaned puppies and kitties, for example, or when a rescue operation needs to quickly place shelter dogs that would otherwise be euthanized. As important and rewarding as the task of fostering is, it also comes with responsibilities and pitfalls worth considering in advance.

38

Tampa Bay Edition

check out the possibilities.

In addition to Googling local animal shelters and rescue operations, online groups like PetFinder.com and PoorPawsRescue.com provide links to fostering options locally and nationwide.

Visit local shelters to observe both how they treat their animals and how they interact with the fostering volunteers.

Staff members can help with finding compatible pets and offer support when a foster situation doesn’t work for whatever reason. Also find out if the organization is involved every step of the way, including providing onsite veterinary care, or NATampa.com

whether it relies heavily on the dedication and resources of foster parents.

think about short-term fostering. To give it a try,

volunteer for a short-term commitment—a few days or weeks. Vacation time is one big reason rescue organizations look for people willing to provide short-term fostering because they need volunteers to fill in while their “regulars” are away.

be fair to other pets at home. Don’t get caught up in the

needs of a new kitten or puppy so much that the needs of other pets go unnoticed.

borzebra/AdobeStock.com

borzebra/AdobeStock.com

Forever pets may even help out with newcomers. “In my home, puppies work well, as my dogs mother them and show them the ropes on how to be a good dog,” says Stasia Thompson, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a volunteer with Almost Home Dog Rescue and Poor Paws Rescue.

don’t stress about cost. Food, litter, toys and even veterinary care is often

offered to foster pet parents. In other cases, rescue centers may be struggling for support or getting slammed with natural disasters that create an influx of homeless pets, and foster parents may be asked to help with such items as crates and carriers, food and water bowls, collars, leashes and treats. “Homeowners who purchase items for their fosters can write them off as tax-deductible donations to the rescue organization, which is a great way to put your donation dollars to work,” says Karen Winkler, a volunteer with the Bucks County SPCA and the Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia.

don’t stress about placement. Possibly the most-asked question about

fostering a puppy or kitty is, “What if they never find a home for her?” Never fear; shelters and rescue groups are constantly putting out feelers. Foster parents can get in on the action by posting sweet, winsome or funny photos of the animal on social media and extolling its virtues to others when out in public with it. Thompson found new owners for her foster dogs by walking them around town wearing bright yellow “Adopt Me” vests.

it’s okay to fall in love with a foster pet. Many people hesitate to

foster pets because they’re afraid they’ll fall in love with a small ball of fur or a big pair of liquid eyes just begging to be adored. But that’s one of the risks of loving a creature with an open heart. “There is an amazing rush and deep sense of relief when you hear from the person who adopted your foster and you know the people found their true love in your foster,” says Winkler. “They know I helped save them. You can see it in their eyes.”

it’s even fine to adopt a foster. It does happen sometimes; foster

warmworld/AdobeStock.com

parents discover that the dog or cat that came into their home supposedly for a while happened to fit in perfectly, and no one can imagine living without it. While that’s been called a “foster failure”, it’s anything but. Any time an animal with no home finds one filled with love and caring, even if it’s their so-called temporary foster placement, it’s a success. Pet parents know when the animal they love is forever.

Veterinarian Karen Shaw Becker has spent her career empowering animal guardians to make knowledgeable decisions to extend the life and well-being of their animals. For more information, visit DrKarenBecker.com.

February 2022

39

Nature’s Virus Killer

not a sniffle!” she exclaimed.

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

“It saved me last holidays,” she said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tests by the EPA (Environmental my nose feels.” in the U.S. of pure Protection Agency) show germs die “What a wonderful thing!” copper. It has a 90-day full money back fast on copper. So some hospitals tried exclaimed Physician’s Assistant Julie. guarantee. It is available for $79.95. Get copper for touch surfaces like faucets Another customer asked, “Is it supposed $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA26. and doorknobs. This cut the spread of to work that fast?”

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

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

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

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

Copper can stop a cold before it starts

S

40

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

FERMENTING FOR FOODIES

Preserving Food and Traditions

M

by April Thompson

ore and more people are rediscovering the timehonored foodways of fermentation to promote health, boost flavor and preserve the bounty of the seasons. “There is huge potential to use high-quality fermented foods to enhance our health and well-being,” says Sandor Katz, a so-called “fermentation revivalist”, in Liberty, Tennessee, and the author of several bestselling books on fermentation, including the newly released Sandor Katz’s Fermentation Journeys: Recipes, Techniques, and Traditions from Around the World.

Fermentation transforms the nutrients in food in several ways,

Vinagre de Piña (Mexican Pineapple Vinegar) Pineapple vinegar, vinagre de piña, is delicious and super-acidic. Many Mexican recipes call for pineapple vinegar, although it can be used in place of any kind of vinegar. Since this uses only the skin of the pineapple, we are eating the pineapple flesh. This recipe was inspired by a recipe in The Cuisines of Mexico, by Diana Kennedy.

YIELD: 2 CUPS/500 MILLILITERS 2 Tbsp sugar Peel of 1 pineapple (organic, because the skin is used; overripe fruits are fine) Combine the sugar with 2 cups/500 milliliters of water in a jar or bowl. Stir to dissolve. Coarsely chop and add the pineapple peel. Use a small plate to weigh down the pineapple and keep it submerged. Cover with a cloth to keep flies out.

Ferment at room temperature. Stir daily while the pineapple peels are in it. Strain out the pineapple peels and discard after about one week when the liquid is darkening.

Ferment the liquid for an additional two to three weeks, stirring or agitating periodically. Bottle and enjoy.

From Sandor Katz’s book, Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2016).

Katz explains. In a process known as predigestion, it breaks macronutrients down into more digestible forms (think proteins turned into amino acids) and renders minerals more bioavailable. Gluten, too, is broken down by fermentation, he says, as are potentially toxic compounds in foods such as cyanide and oxalic acid. The process also releases vitamins B and K and other micronutrients as metabolic byproducts.

Fermentation reduces the short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and are prone to absorb water and ferment in the colon, causing gas and bloating.

Found in wheat, beans and other foods, they can pose digestive problems for people with irritable bowel syndrome and other conditions, says Tayler Silfverduk, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in celiac disease.

“The most profound nutritional benefit of fermentation is the live bacteria itself. You are ingesting a rich biodiversity of beneficial bacteria that can potentially improve immune function,” says Katz, an AIDS survivor who considers fermentation an important part of his healing process.

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

Rosy Raspberry Soda YIELD: 2, RESEALABLE, 1-QUART-SIZE AND 1-LITER PLASTIC BOTTLES ½ cup/70 grams raspberries Juice from ½ lemon 2–4 Tbsp honey 1 tsp rose water Yeast

maria medvedeva/AdobeStock.com

conscious eating

Combine and blend. Place all the ingredients except the yeast in a bowl with a bit of water and mash together with a fork, or put them all in the blender.

Divide between two, 1-quart/1-liter bottles. Top off with warm water. Add yeast. Sprinkle about ¼ tsp bread or champagne yeast into each bottle. Let it sit for a few minutes, then shake the bottles to dissolve and distribute the yeast.

Let ferment on the counter. Check the carbonation after a few hours. Bleed carbonation by gently and slowly opening the bottles. Refrigerate when they seem strongly carbonated, generally within six to eight hours.

From Sandor Katz’s book, Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2016).

February 2022

41

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.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Pagan Holidays (Part 1 of 8): Imbolc – 6-8pm.

Come study with Dr. Michael and learn about the Pagan Wheel of the Year. $25. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, St. Petersburg.

Call to reserve your seat, 727-289-6599.

Hypnosis Volunteers Needed for Smoking Cessation! – 12:30-3:30pm. Patricia V. Scott, PhD (UP Hypnosis Institute) needs volunteers to work with hypnosis students as practice clients for smoking cessation. Experience positive hypnosis sessions with different students under supervision and receive a free hypnosis CD as our “Thank You”.

Training Location: Holistic Center for Vibrant Health, Oldsmar. Call for pre-screening, 727-9435003. More info, UPHypnosis.com.

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

727-943-5003. UPHypnosis.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Hypnosis Training “Live” (Locals) or Online (out-of-area) – 10am-4pm. Part of certification program with Patricia V. Scott, PhD, UP Hypnosis Institute. Topic: Parts Therapy/Integration. Prior hypnosis training necessary (6 CEUs). Approved by International Association of Counselors & Therapists. Single Day: $45 (UPHI, IACT, IMDHA or HEA Member); $55 (Non-Member). Two Days: $75 (Member); $95 (Non-Member). Includes materials & scripts. 727-943-5003. UPHypnosis.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Treasure Mapping for New Beginnings – 6-8pm.

Also Feb. 15. Have fun with Carolyn Ballenger as you discover what 2022 has in store for you via Mystical Messages. Become quiet and settle in to receive your individual divine message. $25/per class; 20% off/both. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, St. Pete. Limited seating. 727-289-6599.

42

Tampa Bay Edition

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 FREE Hypnosis Webinar “Be a Positive People Magnet” – 7:30-8:30pm. Interactive webinar with Certified Master Trainer Patricia V. Scott, PhD. With 30 years’ experience as a Medical Hypnotherapist & NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer, Patti shares practical, easy-to-use techniques with Q&A. (Usually 3rd Wednesday monthly w/various topics.)

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

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

727-943-5003. UPHypnosis.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Spirit Fest: Metaphysical and Holistic Fair – 10am-6pm, Feb. 19-20. Enjoy 50-plus booths with vendors, practitioners, intuitive readers, artists and demonstrations. Entrance fee: $10/day or $15/

NATampa.com

weekend. Children 12 & under free. Largo Event Center, 6340 126th Ave., N, Largo. For more details and discounted admission, visit SanctuaryFL.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 New Thought Literacy 101 1 Semester Unit – 6-8pm. Join Rev. Drs. Michael and Mari every Mon. and Wed. for 6 weeks for the first of a 5-part series in New Thought Philosophy from basic to advanced, each eligible for 1 Semester Unit from Emerson Institute or can be for certification only. $75. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd.

N, Ste. 207, St. Pete. In-person is limited; seating also available via Zoom. 727-289-6599.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Becoming a Peacemaker 850 1 Semester Unit – 6-8pm, every Tuesday for 6 weeks. Become a beacon and a leader for peace and prepare to guide others along the path. A practical as well as academic course requiring action on the part of the student. $75. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, St. Pete. Limited in-person seating, also available via Zoom. 727-289-6599.

BREATHE 2-22-22 Global Livestream – 7-9pm.

Join live or watch anytime. Using a simple, powerful breathing technique, we will all feel God’s divine light in our body at the same time and hold the same prayers for peace within ourselves, loved ones and global community. The time is now. Let us breathe powerfully together. $22. Breathe22222.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Hypnosis Training “Live” (Locals) or Online (outof-area) – 10am-4pm. Part of certification program with Patricia V. Scott, PhD, UP Hypnosis Institute.

Prior hypnosis training necessary (6 CEUs). Approved by International Association of Counselors & Therapists. $45 (UPHI, IACT, IMDHA or HEA Member); $55 (Non-member). Includes materials & scripts. 727-943-5003; UPHypnosis.com.

Root Chakra and Untold Abundance – 10am4pm. Open your flow. Lunch included. Pre-registration required. $60. Sacred Path Spiritual Center, 9011 Park Blvd. N, Ste. 207, St. Pete. 727-289-6599.

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

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

Skipper and Selena, 13-y-o Havanese pups, live in St. Pete with their human, Sandy. Alpha female Selena loves company and monitoring the household. Selena’s brother-from-another-mother, Skipper, is playful and loves to run and fetch his fave toy. Together, they dance for treats.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 NLP FUNdamentals Two-Day Training Online – 10am-5pm, March 19-20. No prerequisite for this fun, interactive class. Patricia V. Scott, PhD, Certified Master Trainer teaches Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) principles, presuppositions & techniques for immediate personal or professional use. Register by 3/10: $125 ($95 UPHI Member). After: $145 ($125 Member).

Repeat $65. Includes materials & post-training link to videos. 14 CEUs-Hypnotists. UPHypnosis.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 8 Dolphin Retreat with Eluv “Opening to Joy” Bimini – May 8 to 14. Join Eluv on this experience of a lifetime swimming with wild dolphins and the opportunity to experience yourself as the frequency of joy; have fun, reset, heal and play. Dolphins hold the frequency of joyful enthusiasm, play & love and swimming with Dolphins is a magical experience beyond words. Register now with Early Bird Special at EluvSoulWhisperer.com/retreats.

Email your favorite pet picture to Debbey at dwilson@natampa.com for inclusion in the magazine.

YOUR ONE TRUSTED GLOBAL ONLINE DESTINATION FOR

Regenerative Whole Health™ Benefits 24/7 ACCESS

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

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

SATURDAY Women’s Group – 1pm, 2nd Sat. Join Nana Hendricks, spiritual teacher and intuitive visionary, for a celebration of the Divine Feminine, in an uplifting empowering group of conscious, high-vibe ladies who want to harness their potent power and presence and make a difference. Enjoy different themes monthly, open forum dialog, set intentions, join in meditation and weave magic into one’s life.

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

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

Find best-matched Vetted Practitioners.

Learn from Top Educators and Experts.

Access Evidence-Based Resources.

Make Meaningful Connections in Community Topic Groups.

Explore Funding Help for Outof-Pocket Costs of Practitioner

Services.

Invest in Your Optimal Health & Well-Being.

Visit KnoWEwell.com Today and receive 50% Off your first year.

Practitioners Apply: NAPUB0221P | Individuals Apply: NAPUB0221

February 2022

43

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

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

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

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

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

TCL MEDICAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE LIFEWORKS WELLNESS CENTER

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

See ad inside front cover.

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

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

44

Tampa Bay Edition

APOTHECARY BOHEMIAN GYPSEA

12 West Orange St., Tarpon Springs 727-935-6046 BohemianGypsea.com Metaphysical Gift Shop, Crystals, Jewelry, Clothing, Local Artist, CBD, Delta 8, Tea, Supplements, Greeting Cards, Sage, Incense, Essential Oils, Books, Energy Healing, Candles. See ad page 10.

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

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

NATampa.com

ASTROLOGY ASTROLOGY FOR YOUR SOUL

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

Over 25 years of experience.

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

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

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

Jin Shin Jyutsu & craniosacral therapy.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY RENEW LIFE

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

30 years experience. Expert in colon hydrotherapy using pressure points, abdominal massage, essential oils, and lymphatic drainage. All disposable tubing used. Very comfortable and relaxing room with private bathroom. See ad page 33.

DENTISTS BEATA CARLSON, DDS

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

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

CARLO LITANO, DMD

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

PAUL T. RODEGHERO, DDS

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

ROBERT J. YU, DMD

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

See ad page 18.

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

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

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

Functional, Aesthetic and Intravenous Medicine. Offering hormone therapy; nutritional evaluation and therapy; fatigue and stress management; detoxification; diabetes; cardiovascular diseases; weight control; aesthetics. Outof-Network Provider. See ad page 12.

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

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

HERBALIST ROSE KALAJIAN—HERBALIST

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

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

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

HYPNOSIS UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES HYPNOSIS, INC.

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

See ad page 33.

Buy into your community …Support our advertisers

MIND BODY SPIRIT CARE

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

Affiliated with St. Joseph Hospital.

Most insurance accepted.

SUCCESS BY DESIGN

9095 Belcher Road, Pinellas Park 727-548-0001 SBDWellness.com A Wellness Center for Age-Management, Functional Medicine and Medical Weight Loss. Specializing in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement including Pellet Therapy, Gut Health/Food Allergies, Detoxification, Nutritional Evaluations, Acupuncture, Massage therapy and more. See ad page 5.

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 7.

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

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

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

MEDICAL INTUITIVE JEN PENICK HEALING

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

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

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

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

MEDITATION LARRY CASTELLANI, PH.D.

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

Equitable fee, sliding scale.

February 2022

45

NANA HENDRICKS

REFLEXOLOGY

Intuitive Visionary/Conscious Life Coach 828-337-5512 NanaHendricks.com

REED ‘NAHAM’ MYLES

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

For those seeking direction, yearning for Self/deeper connection, Nana can commune with your Soul Light and Higher Self to bring forth purest forms of support.

See ad page 42.

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

SPIRITUAL INTUITIVE LISA MILIARESIS

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

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 18.

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

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

See website.

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

FIND YOUR

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

See ad page 26.

Certified Clinical Thermographer 2008. Mindful Wellness with Thermography!

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

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

We invite you to join and experience a truly conscious, loving, dating environment with amazing members.

TRY FOR FREE!

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

See ad page 39.

MEDICINE RIVER ANIMAL HOSPITAL 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 39.

Visit us at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com 46

Tampa Bay Edition

NATampa.com

Always do your best.

What you plant now, you will harvest later. ~Og Mandino

47