Natural Awakenings Columbia Edition 0520

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Digital Edition Available Ways to Calm

ANXIETY During This Pandemic

COVID-19 Pet Safety

Facts and Tips

Backyard Gardening Get a Lot From Your Lot

Soul

Nourishment Kitchen as a

Sacred Place

Healing

Dance

Movement Helps the Whole Body

POWER UP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope May 2020 | Columbia Edition | ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com May 2020

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Columbia Edition

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May 2020

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Contents

11 WAYS TO CALM YOUR ANXIETY

With Meditation During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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14 GARDENING FOR KIDS The Fun of Growing Their Own

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

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16 INHALING THE JOY OF LIFE

Conscious Breathwork

18 THE MATRIX OF LIFE

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Boosting Collagen for Better Health

20 SOUL NOURISHMENT

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The Kitchen As Sacred Space

23 HEALING THE

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IMMUNE SYSTEM

Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

26 BACKYARD GARDENING How to Get a Lot From Your Plot

28 DANCING TO YOUR

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OWN DRUMMER

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS

30 CORONAVIRUS

HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings, please contact us at 803-309-2101 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to ColaPublisher@ NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

The Healing Power of Movement

PET SAFETY

Facts and Tips for Dog and Cat Owners

32 JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER

on Conscious Eating to Save the Planet

DEPARTMENTS 8 community news 10 health briefs 12 global briefs 14 healthy kids 18 healing ways 20 conscious

eating

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26 green living 28 fit body 30 natural pet 32 wise words 33 inspiration 36 calendar 37 natural

directory

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events at ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com or email to ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month prior to publication.

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 803-309-2101. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

May 2020

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

COLUMBIA EDITION

letter from publisher ACT (Action Changes Everything) …

Greetings readers! I think it is truly surreal and unnerving (even PUBLISHER Annette Carter Briggs EDITOR Sara Gurgen alarming) how life can seemingly change in an instant. Life as we DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kristina Parella know it can turn on a dime, leaving our comfortable “world” of

Billy Briggs

normalcy and predictability, which we work so very hard to cultivate and maintain, flipped and spinning upside down. Things that were so sure to be counted on can become untrustworthy SALES & MARKETING Annette Carter Briggs and unreliable, fueling instability while feeding anxiety and fear.

WEBSITE Kristina Parella Who can I trust? What can I trust to be true? Am I safe and secure? What does tomorrow Billy Briggs hold for me … my family?

Familiar questions? Maybe you are wrestling with one or more of them even as you CONTACT US read these words. Friends, sadly, this is where we are today—a world shuttered, dislodged PO Box # 2812 and shaken by the COVID-19 virus—socially, psychologically and economically. Yes, it Columbia, SC 29202 Email has reached out and touched nearly all of us spanning the entire globe. Healthcare officials ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com and scientists are desperately searching for effective solutions and answers in the hopes Annette Briggs Ph: 803-309-2101 of producing a cure and calming a very nervous public. Government officials in partnerWebsite ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com ship with business leaders and economic experts are feverishly trying stabilize financial economies teetering on very thin tightropes of decision making. The stakes are high and SUBSCRIPTIONS the margins of error are razor thin. Unemployment numbers are climbing to new heights, Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

401(k) retirement accounts and pension balances are free falling like rain, educational “remote learning” is the new academic normal, to-go orders are exploding, and change is NATIONAL TEAM constant!

CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman

It’s a sobering fact. The world has and continues to change … every day. American COO/ FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne writer and professor of biochemistry, the late Isaac Asimov, said many years ago: “It is

NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today.

MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the

ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope world as it is, but the world as it will be.”

FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert

Wow … isn’t this a relevant thought for today? Asimov had his finger on the very FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs pulse of change. But even with the recent difficult changes, I am determined to remain an WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy optimist even while bombarded by the endless cycle of “breaking” news.

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave

I love acronyms. They can help you to organize your thoughts, prioritize your activities, sharpen your vision, and focus your energy. And the one that I feel is most relevant Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation right now is ACT (Action Changes Things). It truly does. The right action can help 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 guide change, which is inevitable, in a direction that is more likely to produce a favorable Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 outcome. Change can be guided by decisive and effective decisions and wise and informed NaturalAwakeningsMag.com steps of action. As Asimov pointed out, tomorrow’s becoming “world” is very much tethered to the way (right or wrong) that we interpret, process and act on today’s reali© 2020 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be ties. Be wise and smart concerning your “reality.” Your health, finances, relationships and reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. well-being depend on it! Also be safe, listen to wise counsel, and find out the facts about Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed COVID-19. locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please ONTRIBUTING WRITERS Odell Williams C Kristi Antley

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.

ACT-ing on your behalf, Annette Briggs, Publisher

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.

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Coming Together in a Time of Need

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hese are truly challenging times for us all—individually and collectively. We must come together and work together to forge an uncharted path through this very difficult chapter in our history—emotionally, physically, spiritually and even economically. We will survive … we will win … and we will thrive … again! We are South Carolina strong!

Let’s support one another. Be smart and wise with your health choices and decisions. Natural Awakenings of Columbia magazine, along with its staff and advertisers, is committed to providing readers with helpful information, tools, tips, products and services in innovative ways.

Again, let’s support and lift one another up in a time of need. And by all means, please support the advertisers and businesses that partner with Natural Awakenings. They are still here for you … ready and able to provide you with what you need … when you need it. We will get through this … together.

Here’s a list of our valued advertisers and what they provide:

Businesses offering services online, on Facebook, virtual remote, Zoom or by phone: At The Table LLC is offering healthy cooking classes for children and adults on Facebook, Facebook.com/sharon.pinckney.10, or by calling 803-238-5876. See ad, page 25.

Elite Personal Training is offering Zoom classes. Call 803749-4279 or visit ElitePersonalTrainingStudio.com for more information. See ad, page 29.

Forest Acres Well Care stem cell appointments, chiropractic care, and salt spa are open. Call 803-820-9811. See ad, page 3.

Joy Conner, Reiki Master, meditation and healing work is offering phone and FaceTime sessions. Call 803-447-6499. See listing, page 37.

Jubilee! Circle is doing online classes and Sunday 11 a.m. service. Visit JubileeCircle.com or email Info@JubileeCircle.com.

See ad, page 22.

Namaste Yoga is offering Zoom classes. Email Amy Sizemore at Amy@IrmoYoga.com. See ad, page 39.

Original Origins Health and Wellness is offering online, phone and virtual classes. Call 833-678-7229 or visit OriginalOriginshw.com. See ad, page 11.

Rooted Community Yoga is offering live streaming classes. Go to The Rooted Community Mindbody page to sign up. See ad, page 8.

Whole Truth Health and Nutrition is offering online consulting. Visit WholeTruthHealth.org to subscribe. See ad, page 9.

Yoga Mama, Kyla Saphir is offering online yoga classes. Call 312-532-8885 or visit YogaMamaColumbia.com. See listing, page 38.

Businesses that are open or offering curbside pickup or delivery: About Your Health is offering call-in orders with next-day pickup and some online orders. Call in on Monday and/or Thursday and leave a detailed description of what’s needed and pick up the next day; Tuesday and Friday are pickup days.

Call 803-798-8687 or email Info@AboutYourHealthSC.com. See ad, page 24.

Chiropractic Wellness Center is open and scheduling appointments a little differently to maintain patient flow and comfort, taking extra precautions to sanitize common areas, minimize wait time, and reduce the number of people in the office simultaneously. Call 803-771-9990 or email Doc@DrShellyJones.com to schedule an appointment. See listing, page 37.

Clean Juice is offering curbside pickup and third-party pickup.

Call 803-785-8423, or use the Clean Juice app or Grubhub app.

The Coffee Connection is offering curbside pickup. Call 803888-7151 to place an order. See ad, page 30.

Crepes and Croissants is offering carryout and Grubhub and Uber Eats delivery. Call 803-462-4779 to order. See ad, page 21.

Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic is open and spacing appointments consciously, sanitizing its office and waiting areas throughout the day, and wearing personal protective gear. Call 803-376-6293 to schedule an appointment. See ad, page 14.

Peace of Soul Vegan Cuisine is offering carryout and eGift cards. Call 803-253-7889 for more information. See listing, page 31.

May 2020

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community news

Canvases With Candace: An Artistic Path of Purpose During Trials

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Why Pick ICRC to Host Your Next Event?

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eed the perfect place to host a tournament or special event? All searching roads lead straight to the Midlands of South Carolina and the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC).

With more than 45 competition surfaces and an onsite team of planning pros, ICRC’s picturesque parks offer the ideal path to an exceptional competition that will score big with players and parents alike.

ICRC’s responsive professionals provide exceptional and knowledgeable support with detailed tournament planning and unparalleled customer service before, during and after each event. ICRC offers customizable agreements designed to fit each activity’s unique characteristics and requirements, such as those posed by larger-bracket tournaments. If needed, a variety of supplemental fields are conveniently located nearby.

ICRC operates four signature parks: Crooked Creek Park and Melvin Park, in Chapin, and Seven Oaks Park and Saluda Shoals Park, in the Columbia-Irmo area. The newest site, the Michael J. and Mary Meech Mungo Park, located at 2121 Lake Murray Boulevard, in Columbia, is a beautiful and very popular addition featuring walking trails and greenspace. Each facility provides an array of recreational opportunities for youth, teens, adults, seniors and individuals with special needs.

ICRC was formed in 1969 to serve community members living in the Lexington County portion of School District Five. ICRC has earned a reputation for program and facility excellence and has attracted participants from surrounding counties For more information, visit icrc.net. See ad, page 15.

There is nothing like a dream to create the future. ~Victor Hugo

COVID-19 Solid Waste Collection Procedures

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uring the COVID-19 pandemic, the Solid Waste Division is asking all residents to ensure all household garbage is bagged and containerized and all recyclables are containerized in the appropriate city-issued roll carts.

To reduce the risk of infection and spread of COVID-19, only household garbage and recycling that is containerized in the roll carts will be collected. Bags and boxes of garbage and recycling outside of the roll cart will not be collected.

Solid Waste employees are taking extra precaution in handling potentially contaminated household waste. If there is someone sick in a household, the division kindly asks residents to double bag any garbage that may be infectious. Recycling should remain loose in the blue roll cart, as plastic bags are non-recyclable.

The Solid Waste Division remains on normal collection schedule for garbage, recycling and yard trash services. Any schedule adjustments will be updated in the free mobile app (Columbia, SC Solid Waste), on the web calendar, and through other notification options.

To sign up for Solid Waste notifications, visit ColumbiaSC.net/solid-waste/recycling/waste-wizard. For more information, visit ColumbiaSC.net.

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rt is not just something you do, it’s your contribution to the world. As an artist, I believe we are charged with having vision. I believe there is an artist within each of us, and it has become my mission to unlock the artist within every creative being that I have the pleasure of working with. During and due to this time of quarantine, minds can become clouded and cluttered with the ever-changing dynamics ruling today’s headlines. One can become more anxious, restless or even begin to show signs of depression. The reality and challenges of social distancing can produce traumatic psychological responses.

At Canvases With Candace, we believe that art is the ultimate healer. We have created new ways to stay connected to our artists by providing home kits. The kits include online instructions and provide a way to practice social distancing without being isolated.

We have also implemented private groups with live instruction and interaction. While most are using Zoom to stay connected, Canvases With Candace has chosen to use the Facebook platform due to its level of familiarity and comfort, as most adults maintain an account.

Our CWC@Home kits have actually spawned a whole new idea: the CWC Academy. It is a virtual art school designed for every artistic level. Members can learn, grow and enhance their skills while being connected to an interactive community. Students are enrolling daily into this popular program, which gives them the opportunity to connect and collaborate with the world of home school. This unique collaboration allows our students to learn the styles and structure of the home school segment. Our hope is that Canvases With Candace will become a viable part of your “new normal”—a way to help keep you encouraged with purpose, vision and meaning during this time.

We look forward to creating with you!

SCWF Hosts Wild Summer's Night Auction and Feast

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oin the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) on Saturday, July 25, from 7 to 10 p.m., for its biggest fundraiser of the year—the Wild Summer's Night Auction and Wild Game Feast. To an estimated crowd of nearly 400 people, SCWF will auction off some great items, such as beautiful works of art; jewelry; guided birding and wildlife-watching trips; hunting and fishing excursions, both in South Carolina and other amazing places; guided river and kayak tours; hunting and fishing equipment; and much more. The night’s festivities will also feature great food, music and an open bar. Other activities include live and silent auctions, prize drawings, games, an open bar, music and much more. As a note, attire is business casual.

As a nonprofit organization, SCWF’s primary source of funding is through memberships and general donations. This critical annual event provides 15% to 20% of the federation’s annual operating budget.

Cost: Call for details. Location: Seawell’s Catering, 1125 Rosewood Dr., Columbia. For more information, to order tickets, to donate an auction item, or to sponsor the event, contact Shannon Keenan at 803-256-0670 or Shannon@scwf.org. Also visit scwf.org.

For more information (including how to join the CWC@Home community or enroll in the CWC Academy), email CanvasesWithCandace@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/canvaseswithcandace. Also visit CanvasesWithCandace.com. See ad, page 4.

Become a Lexington County Recycling Champion

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ttention Lexington County residents!

Want to know how to become a Lexington County Recycling Champion? Email Traude Sander at TSander@lex-co.com to learn more about where and how to recycle disposable items correctly. Knowledge is truly power. Champion residents are strategically invaluable to Lexington County’s mission to inform and educate the local population about the importance of sustainability. Recycling Champions are encouraged to share learned knowledge and lessons with neighbors, friends, family and co-workers.

For more information, call 803-785-3340. Also visit lex-co.sc.gov/ solidwaste.

May 2020

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health briefs

Supplementation with quercetin, a plant pigment found in capers, cilantro, fennel, onions, red leaf lettuce, watercress, elderberries, asparagus, kale, cocoa, apples and chia seeds, can significantly reduce both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, lowering each by about three milliliters/Hg, reports a new review of research published in the Oxford Academic Journal, of 17 clinical studies that tested 896 participants. Quercetin also improved HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels when consumed for eight weeks or more.

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Columbia Edition

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Natalia Figueredo/Unsplash.com

Eat Less Sulfur Amino Acids to Reduce Heart Disease Risk A plant-based diet low in such sulfur amino acid foods as meat, dairy, nuts and soy may be key to lowering the risk of heart disease, concludes a study from the Penn State University College of Medicine. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins; a subcategory called sulfur amino acids plays integral roles in metabolism. Researchers correlated diets and blood biomarkers of more than 11,000 participants from a national study and found people that ate foods containing fewer sulfur amino acids tended to have a decreased risk for cardiometabolic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. They also found that the average American consumes almost two-and-a-half times more sulfur amino acids than the estimated average requirement. “People who eat lots of plant-based products like fruits and vegetables will consume lower amounts of sulfur amino acids,” says lead author Zhen Dong, a doctor of public health.

Confirming this, a Northwestern Medicine and Cornell University study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that every two servings of red meat, processed meat or poultry per week increased cardiovascular disease risk by 3 to 7 percent. For every two servings of red meat or processed meat per week, the risk of death from any cause was increased by 3 percent. The findings, based on an analysis of six studies involving 29,682 people, contradict a controversial study published last year that recommended people not reduce the amount of red meat and processed meat they eat. “Everyone interpreted that it was okay to eat red meat, but I don’t think that is what the science supports,” says senior study author Norrina Allen, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern.

WAYS TO CALM YOUR ANXIETY With Meditation During the Coronavirus Pandemic

SK Design/Shutterstock.com

Take Quercetin to Reduce Blood Pressure

1. Guided visualization. Guided visualization involves the meditator intentionally creating a mental image, typically one of a peaceful, beautiful place.

Typically, the goal of a guided visualization is deep relaxation and stress reduction.

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ith all the uncertainty we are facing today causing individuals to develop anxious feelings, now is the perfect time to start a regular mindfulness meditation

practice. Michigan Technological University shows that even a single mindfulness meditation session can significantly reduce anxiety and lower heart rates. In addition, a study out of Trinity College Dublin, in

Ireland, uncovered an anatomical reason why breath-based meditation practices can enhance mental clarity and focus, as yogis have long claimed.

Mindfulness practices go by many names and can be

2. Mantra meditations. Mantra meditations involve continuous repetition of a word, phrase or sound, drawing spiritual power from the sound’s vibration, as well as its meaning. Many mantras are uttered in a tradition’s native language, such as shanti, meaning peace in Sanskrit.

Some teachers prefer to use mantras in English that meditators can more easily grasp, such as, “Love is the way.”

3. Breathing meditation.

Meditation experts say our ever-present breath is a sound foundation for a meditation practice, as well as an easy place to start.

Ljupco Smokovski/Shutterstock.com

Fewer than seven hours of sleep for a child is not only linked to anxiety, depression, impulsiveness and cognitive difficulties, but also impacts a child’s brain structure, suggests new research from the UK’s Warwick University published in Molecular Psychiatry. Researchers used data that included MRI scans of more than 11,000 children ages 9 to 11 from 21 centers in the U.S. Parents also provided information about their child’s sleep duration and mental health conditions, and children performed a battery of cognitive tests. Researchers found that compared to children that slept between the recommended nine and 11 hours, those receiving less than seven hours had 53 percent more behavioral problems and scored 7.8 percent lower on cognitive tests. In children that slept less, volumes were smaller in five brain regions.

Children that slept longer showed less depression and higher cognitive scores, and felt safer and more secure in their homes and neighborhoods.

arilyn barbone/Shutterstock.com

Tuck Kids In Early to Reduce Depression and Cognitive Issues

done sitting or walking, but all are focused on cultivating moment-to-moment awareness. Here are three common practices that you can start today:

May 2020

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Life Perseveres

global briefs

New Bird Species Found on Remote Island

A tax on carbon dioxide emissions in Great Britain has led to the proportion of electricity generated from coal falling from 40 percent to 3 percent over six years, according to research led by University College London (UCL) and the University of Cambridge. In a report entitled The Value of International Electricity Trading, researchers showed the British Carbon Price Support tax caused electricity generated from coal to fall from 13.1 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2013 to 0.97 TWh in September 2019, and that coal was replaced by other less emission-heavy forms of generation such as gas. The decline in coal generation accelerated substantially after the tax was increased in 2015. The tax is one part of the Total Carbon Price, which also includes the price of EU Emissions Trading System permits. Project leader Dr. Giorgio Castagneto Gissey, of the Bartlett Institute for Sustainable Resources, says, “Should EU countries also adopt a high carbon tax, we would likely see huge carbon emission reductions throughout the continent as we’ve seen in Great Britain over the last few years.”

Charging Ahead

New Batteries From Fruit Waste

Carbon aerogels that exhibit high specific surface areas, high proportions of mesopores and significant levels of nitrogen doping have been developed for the first time using waste from durian fruit and jackfruit scraps using a chemical-free, green synthesis procedure. According to the Journal of Energy Storage, the electrodes also displayed long-term cycling stability and rapid charge–discharge processes. Both electrodes are attractive candidates for the next generation, high-performance, yet lowcost supercapacitors for energy storage devices derived from biowastes.

Columbia Edition

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

Wild Things

Wildness a Big Factor in Urban Parks

A new study led by the University of Washington (UW) has found that not all forms of nature are created equal when considering benefits to people’s well-being. Experiencing wildness is particularly important for physical and mental health, according to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. This is the first study to show that wildness in urban areas is profoundly important for human well-being. “The wilder areas in an urban park seem to be affording more benefits to people, and their most meaningful interactions depended on those relatively wild features,” says lead author Elizabeth Lev, a graduate student in the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.

Senior author Peter Kahn, a UW professor of environmental and forest sciences and psychology, says, “Everywhere, development is chipping away at wild areas. Humanity has caused so much destruction and there’s no stopping it—unless we stop. We’re trying to show that if you’re going to develop an area, you at least need to understand the human costs.” The researchers hope studies like this can be used as part of the decision-making process for development proposals in parks and urban natural areas. They compiled their analysis methods into a handbook that can be used in other cities around the world.

Maria Sbytova/Shutterstock.com

Great Britain Coal Use Falls With Carbon Tax

Although thousands of species have been identified and finding new taxa like birds, is rare, a study published in the journal Science describes five new songbird species and five new subspecies found on a single small island near Sulawesi, Indonesia, during a six-week expedition. Scientists targeted the area because of its geological history and complexity, and the historical notes of other explorers.

Two factors that contributed to the description of the large number of species in a small geographic area included knowledge of geographical land connections that helped pinpoint isolated islands likely to harbor substantial endemism and accounts of historic collectors such as British naturalist Alfred Wallace. The findings suggest that human understanding of biogeographically complex regions remains incomplete.

Holy Polygon/Shutterstock.com

Financial Fix

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business spotlight

THE COFFEE CONNECTION An Amazing Experience Far Beyond Coffee …

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by Kristi Antley

here is nothing quite like a steaming, warm cup of coffee to give motivation in the morning or to provide rejuvenation in the afternoon. Whether hot or cold, bold or mild, the classic “cup of joe” has become an important staple in our American culture. As a multi-billion dollar bean-grinding industry, coffee, for many, is a very important start of each day. Sharing conversation, important or not, while enjoying a great cup of coffee during breaks or meetings is not only a treat but a tradition for many.

Café culture has evolved to being more than just a place to eat and drink; it has become

a place where colleagues meet, couples date, students work, and friends chat and socialize.

The Coffee Connection, located at 6903 St. Andrews Road, in Columbia, is one of the most innovative, cutting-edge cafés in the Midlands. The unique hot spot offers a wonderfully aromatic atmosphere of health, local support, positive vibes, art and relaxation.

At the Coffee Connection, the relationship between the coffee cup and the consumer extends far beyond just basic nourishment.

Not only can you order any number of signature drink options served to order, but you can purchase locally produced organic health

products and natural supplements. Café patrons can also enjoy playing pool or darts, and relaxing in the lounge. With free Wi-Fi, eclectic décor, open seating, music and more … there is something for people of all ages.

Owned by Ashley Adams and Justin Moon, one of the main purposes of the Coffee Connection’s existence is to support local businesses by carrying and offering their products and giving back to the local community. There is a wide variety of unique items on hand to fill one’s needs, including healthy alternatives to coffee, such as organic herbal teas, kratom drinks, and anti-inflammatory blends infused with CBD (cannabidiol) oil, honey, B-12 complex, mushroom cream, coconut powder, or cacao. South Carolina CBD oil, hemp flower, essential oils, and locally made herbal tinctures are available as well as coffee from Indah Coffee, located in the Columbia area. Need the perfect piece of jewelry for that important person in your life?

Coffee Connection has it! Come and browse the café’s impressive art and jewelry selections created by local artists and choose a gift that will make someone’s day.

A full menu and “coffee of the day” are available on the Coffee Connection’s website (AJMoonCoffee.com) and Facebook page (Facebook.com/baristaninja20). There you will find pictures and descriptions of available products and upcoming events. Looking for a place to host a party or meeting? Coffee Connection’s space is very affordable and available for family parties, special occasions, and business meetings. In addition, delivery and curbside pickup are available for your convenience and safety. If there is a specific product you need, simply make the request and it can usually be ordered.

The next time you are in search of a place to meet with friends, connect with business associates, or buy locally produced art or health products, just stop by and see Ashley and Justin at the Coffee Connection for an unforgettable experience time and time again.

For more information, call 803-888-7151 or visit AJMoonCoffee.com. See ad, page 30.

May 2020

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healthy kids

26 percent more vegetables and fruit after growing a school garden, and a University of Florida study of 1,351 college students showed them more likely to eat veggies if they had gardened as children.

For the most gratifying results, give kids a sense of ownership. “Let them make the decisions and be in charge of the care of the garden as much as developmentally possible,” advises Sarah Pounders, senior education specialist at KidsGardening.org, in Burlington, Vermont.

The Fun of Growing Their Own

by Ronica A. O’Hara

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t’s May, and the temperature is rising, as is the sap and green shoots. It’s the perfect time to involve kids in growing their own garden that will get them outdoors, teach them planning and perseverance, and develop their motor, literacy and

scientific skills.

A South Korean study found that gardening provides both high- and moderate-intensity exercise for kids. It builds good eating habits, too: A British study of 46 9- and 10-year-olds found that they ate

Help them read and interpret the seed package directions, if necessary, and use a ruler to measure proper spacing. “I always try to have a mix of plants that start from seed and from transplants, so that kids can have both immediate and delayed gratification,” says Pounders.

“Let them add personal touches like stepping stones, signs and other decorations that let them express their personality in their garden space,” says Pounders. Help them build a scarecrow, bird feeder, toad house, bird bath, sundial or a tent. Make a teepee or small enclosure and cover it with flowers, vines or climbing beans.

Show them how to use the watering can or hose properly, usually watering only when the soil is dry to a depth of one inch. They can mix their own non-toxic pesticide out of vinegar and salt, and spread such organic mulches as straw, newspaper, grass clippings and leaves to discourage weeds.

Tatevosian Yana/Shutterstock.com

Gardening for Kids

Have Fun

Water, Weed and Mulch

Getting Started Order some seed catalogues, look online—or better yet, take a child to the local garden nursery. Let them decide what to grow. Their choices are as diverse as their interests.

Veggies, flowers and plants that draw butterflies each have their own appeal.

Some, like sunflowers, radishes and lettuce, are fast-growing, offering quick gratification. Or, they can choose a theme.

“If your child likes Italian food, plant tomatoes and basil. If they enjoy Mexican food, then peppers and cilantro. For flowers—zinnias and cosmos—let them make flower arrangements from early summer into the fall,” suggests Susan Brandt, of Bristow, Virginia, co-founder of the gardening site Blooming Secrets.

Visiting a plant nursery offers the perfect opportunity to put kids on the path to healthy living. Point out and discuss the differences between organic and nonorganic seeds and between chemical fertilizers containing Roundup—labeled “Keep Out of Reach of Children”—and organic fertilizers containing fish, seaweed and other natural nutrients.

Plant the Seeds

Harvest the Crop After picking ripe vegetables, kids can find recipes and prepare snacks or a dish;

arrange plucked flowers in vases and take photos; do craft activities with seeds, plants and flowers, like making potpourri or framing dried flowers; or throw a garden-themed party with favors that include herbs or seed packets. “You could have a ‘pa-jam-a’ party. Kids could wear their pajamas, pick berries, and make jam to take home,” suggests Sandborn.

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

Get Scientific “They can look at the soil to see all the living creatures in it, which is especially fun through a microscope,” says Dixie Sandborn, an extension specialist at Michigan State University. “They can learn about vermiculture by making a worm bin and feeding the worms their table scraps.”

With a ruler, they can measure the growth of various plants and create a chart comparing rates. By taking photos or drawing pictures on a daily or weekly basis, they can compile an album, along with their commentary on weather patterns.

Choose the Spot A three-foot-by-three-foot plot is an ideal size for a child’s garden, as long as it gets lots of sunshine. If living in an urban area, go with pots of soil in a sunny window.

Get the Right Tools For young kids with short attention spans, small plastic spades, rakes and hoes might work. But older kids need hardier tools.

Get them properly fitted garden gloves, plus sunhats and sunscreen.

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healing ways

found that 20 minutes of mindful breathing at bedtime fostered a good night’s rest for people with insomnia.

INHALING THE JOY OF LIFE

Conscious Breathwork

by Marlaina Donato

O

ur first breath is instinctual and belly-deep, but as we grow into life, everyday stress and trauma can bring us into the shallows. Mindful breathing can help guide our breath back to its original, healthy rhythm. Both the brain and organs benefit from increased oxygen, and the vagus nerve that connects the two— prompted by changes in the body’s pH levels—releases acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for lowering heart rate.

Breathwork can improve vagal tone, a major component in a wide range of conditions like depression, pain syndromes, sleep disturbances, anxiety disorders and chronic inflammation. A 2016 study by the Medical University of South Carolina published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows a lower number of proteins associated with inflammation in the saliva of participants that employed breathing exercises. A study that appeared in the journal Psychophysiology in 2015

From traditional rebirthing techniques using circular breathing to Middendorf Breath Work for somatic awareness, there are many styles of conscious breathing.

The gentler approaches best suit everyday needs and taking a breathing break can actually provide more refreshment than one featuring coffee.

“Many people have found that a regular breathing practice has helped them increase energy and decrease anxiety. It is a powerful tool to reset the nervous system when we’re overwhelmed and stressed,” says Somatic Breath Therapy (SBT) practitioner Rachael Walter, owner of Breathe-Here-Now, in Keene, New Hampshire. Like many forms of breathwork, SBT bridges the chasm between mind and body. “Conscious breathing can also help people access and understand their emotions,” notes Walter.

Pranayama, an ancient technique of yoga that focuses on breath control and employs alternate nostril breathing, can be performed while lying down, seated or on the yoga mat. Kundalini yoga teacher Melissa Crowder, owner of 4 States Yoga, in Joplin, Missouri, advises students to start out slowly, three to six minutes a day, and then work up to a longer practice. “Alternate nostril breathing is a great practice for everyone. As little as six minutes of yogic breathing, as needed, can make a profound difference in decreasing pain and stress,” she says.

Belly Benefits The American Lung Association recommends a variety of exercises, including diaphragmatic (belly) breathing, for con-

Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock.com

Breathing Breaks

ditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Engaging the diaphragm is key in breathing to fullest capacity. Walter explains, “An open, healthy breath is one in which we use the diaphragm to initiate the breath, followed by the belly expanding and the breath moving into the chest.”

Most of us unconsciously fall into shallow and sometimes self-conscious breathing patterns at an early age.

“During my training, I read that by age 6, we pick up on cues telling us to tuck in our tummies. This simple, bad habit begins a cascade of physiological responses.

Upper chest breathing can create anxiety symptoms and poor digestion,” explains Colleen Breeckner, owner of Colleen Lila Yoga, in New York City. “Diaphragmatic breathing causes the diaphragm to become flat and wide, and in turn, presses upon the stomach and helps to churn the gastric juices. For this reason, it can aid earlier stages of digestion.”

When used in conjunction with other modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, diaphragmatic breathing might be beneficial for irritable bowel syndrome.

Breathing Into Feelings The depth and quality of the breath can help us to become aware of emotional states that include “holding patterns”.

“Conscious breathing is a doorway into deep meditation, which can help alleviate anger and insecurities. It can also be helpful in dropping addictions,” says Crowder.

“Linking pranayama with physical movement [asanas] helps to release tension and emotions that can be held in the body’s soft tissues.”

Breeckner agrees, “Developing this awareness can help us to move unpleasant and stuck emotions through the body.”

Well-being can be just a breath away, says Walter. “When we open up our breath, we open ourselves to a fuller experience of being human. It has the capacity to bring us into the present moment to access our joy and our life’s purpose.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and a composer.

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May 2020

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for Better Health

by Maya Whitman

C

ollagen, a protein, holds us together from the inside-out, helping to build bones and providing the scaffolding that knits our bones and organs together. Stress and poor lifestyle habits, such as smoking and eating too much sugar, can contribute to its breakdown and accelerate the aging process, but strategic dietary choices and supplements can have a significant positive impact on our skin, as well as underlying conditions.

Although celebrated for its cosmetic effects, “Most people are surprised to learn that collagen is equally important for blood vessels and tissues surrounding and supporting the internal organs,” says Pamela Schoenfeld, a dietitian and nutritionist in Raleigh, North Carolina, and author of The Collagen Diet: Rejuvenate Skin, Strengthen Joints and Feel Younger by Boosting Collagen Intake and Production.

Collagen is mostly found in tendons, ligaments and skin, and is also abundant in bones, cartilage, muscles, corneas, blood vessels, the gut, vertebrae discs and teeth.

In studies, collagen supplements show promise for joint pain, arthritic conditions, osteoporosis and heart health.

A Penn State study of 147 student athletes found that those that took 10 grams of collagen hydrolysate daily for 24 weeks had significantly less joint pain while walking and at rest compared to a placebo group.

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A 2012 study featured in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that 1,200 milligrams of collagen hydrolysate taken daily decreased joint pain in older people by 20 percent compared to a placebo. In a 2018 study, post-menopausal women that took five grams of collagen daily for a year had better bone buildup and less bone degradation. A 2017 Japanese study of 31 healthy adults found that those that took 16 grams of collagen daily had more flexible arteries after six months.

Essential Foods

Collagen health starts with our diet.

Leafy greens and jewel-toned, lycopene-rich vegetables, like beets, red peppers, tomatoes, berries and pomegranates, as well as seeds, including chia, sunflower and pumpkin, all pack a collagen punch.

Schoenfeld recommends bone broth, too, for its joint-lubricating molecules called glycosaminoglycans, which hold many times their weight in water.

Kellyann Petrucci, a naturopathic doctor in Philadelphia and author of Dr. Kellyann’s Bone Broth Diet, concurs: “Bone broth is more than a soup. It’s concentrated healing and contains a bioavailable form of collagen your body can use immediately. It contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, amino acids and

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THE MATRIX OF LIFE Boosting Collagen

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healing ways

so much more.” She also recommends sulfur-rich foods like eggs, broccoli, onions, garlic and cauliflower, as well as shellfish and red meat in moderation for copper. “Copper activates the enzyme that is critical in producing collagen,” she explains.

Also important, according to Petrucci, is vitamin C: “If you’re depleted of vitamin C, your body won’t make any collagen.

Experiment with broccoli, kiwi, tomatoes and various citrus fruits. Bioflavonoids also improve the ability of vitamin C to be absorbed and utilized.”

Schoenfeld recommends chicken, including the skin; omega-3-rich fish with edible bones, such as sardines and canned salmon; and proline-rich, aged cheeses and yogurt. “Gelatin is also a fantastic way for the whole family to enjoy collagen and can be added to foods high in water like soups, stews, hot cereals, as can bone broth and collagen powders,” she says.

Supplements

A 2019 review of 11 studies published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology found that oral collagen hydrolysate or tripeptide at dosages ranging from 2.5 grams to 10 grams a day increased “skin elasticity, hydration and dermal collagen density” and showed promise for wound healing and skin aging. Aloe vera, ginseng, berries, garlic, hyuralonic acid and red light therapy also boost collagen production, according to osteopathic physician and author Joseph Mercola.

For vegans, British homeopath Melissa Foreman recommends homeopathically-based minerals known as tissue salts at low potency, “which offer the benefits of meat-derived collagen and bone broth without having to ingest a meat product.” She personally relies on a combination of Nat phos, Calc phos and Kali sulph to promote new skin cells and improve the skin cell matrix. “These remedies are totally animal-free,” she says.

“You can produce a supplement similar to collagen powder and it has the same health benefits of bone broth.”

Homeopathic Collagen-Boosters

H

omeopathic physician Melissa Foreman, of Brighton, England, recommends the following tissue salts:

Calc phos for strengthening bones and easing stiff joints, is particularly recommended for active people, aging athletes and menopausal women. It supports growth, builds cells, supports teeth and nail strength, and helps ease irritable bowel syndrome.

Calc fluor promotes elasticity and

flexibility. It’s essential for tendon and bone health; softens, strengthens and tones the skin; and helps when the digestive organs have lost their elasticity and become compromised.

Silica is found in hair, nails and bones.

It decreases inflammation, eases painful joints, supports and strengthens nails, encourages new hair growth and improves the length and quality of eyelashes.

Nat Mur brings moisture to the skin and

regulates the moisture content of every cell in the body. It promotes hydrochloric acid, helping to prevent heartburn, bloating, colic and flatulence.

Nat phos is known as the antacid of the biochemical world and like collagen, can protect the gut by neutralizing acids.

Maya Whitman is the author of several books.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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SACRED SERVINGS Spring Fever Salad with Flowers and Fruit Yields: 4 servings 1 head romaine or green leaf lettuce 8 medium-large organic strawberries, thinly sliced, or 2 small packages of fresh organic raspberries Handful of fresh, chemical-free flowers from the garden or store’s produce section: nasturtium, pansies and/or calendulas; gathered wild: spring violets and dandelion blooms

photo by Marlaina Donato

Laugh throughout the meal preparation.

Dance as you cook. Do the same thing if you live alone.”

Preparing food, whether a healthy smoothie or a gourmet weekend dinner for two, is a way to express love for ourselves and others. Baron loves the presence of plants, lovely ceramics and interesting platters and dishes, and notes, “Families can definitely shop, chop, cook and mealplan together to make the kitchen a fun place to be. Doing these things together is very bonding and sends the message that looking after yourself is important.”

conscious eating

Practical Magic

by Marlaina Donato

I

n our busy lives, grabbing food on the run or eating while standing at the kitchen counter is often the norm. Designating the kitchen as a practical sanctuary and seeing the sacredness of food not only makes it more conducive to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but also gives our spirits much-needed satiety.

“If we don’t touch the transcendent— emotionally and spiritually—physical nourishment won’t fill us up,” says Ronna Kabatznick, Ph.D., former psychological consultant to Weight Watchers International and the author of The Zen of Eating: Ancient Answers to Modern Weight Problems. “Seeing the kitchen as sacred is something that represents gratitude, beauty and blessings.”

Delia Baron, co-author of Better Together Kitchen: Beautiful Recipes to Share With People You Love and the host of seasonal food workshops with partner Ronnit Hoppe in Melbourne, Australia, concurs, “The kitchen is often the heartbeat of the home and the best place to gather, feast, chat and create beautiful memories and rituals. The kitchen is also a place to connect to our food source.”

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Fun and Felicity

Preparing meals the old-fashioned way can slow us down and foster mindfulness, but Kabatznick emphasizes that cooking is irrelevant. “Look at the kitchen in terms of possibilities: ‘What can I create in this space?’ You don’t have to turn into Julia Child,” she says, adding, “You could be eating Chinese takeout or a prune; it’s all about mindset and simple rituals like saying a blessing, appreciating what we eat as a great gift.” Kabatznick encourages everyone to eat with dignity, and this includes using the good dishes, putting fresh flowers on the table and eating with awareness.

Seeing the kitchen as the inspired nucleus of the home, it’s natural to add favorite items like art prints, colorful jars, sentimental treasures, dried flowers and other seasonal delights to nourish daily contentment. Conjuring an element of joy adorns the mundane. “Put on some music to put you in either a peaceful or joyful mood,” says Molly Larkin, author, healing practitioner and blogger at Ancient Wisdom for Balanced Living (MollyLarkin.com), in Corrales, New Mexico. “Turn off the TV and give everyone in the family a job.

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

In-the-Bowl Dressing:

Moroccan-Spiced Red Lentil Soup Yields: 4 servings 4 cups water 1½ cup red lentils 1 tsp sea salt 1 medium-size organic carrot, chopped in bite-size pieces 2 soft, dried apricots, chopped, or 1 Tbsp golden raisins or 2 dates, chopped ¼ tsp ground cloves ¼ tsp ground turmeric ¼ tsp ground coriander seeds or ½ tsp crushed coriander seeds ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp crushed or ground cumin seeds 2 tsp extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil photo by Marlaina Donato

Soul Nourishment The Kitchen As Sacred Space

Meal prep can be enjoyable and even relaxing in a calm environment. For Baron, organization is key. She advises, “Having all the ingredients you need and working in a clean space also helps make the experience rewarding.”

The smallest of kitchens can be abundant and organized with the help of a little innovation. A simple bookcase can offer additional shelf space for dry goods, bowls of produce or favorite cups. A small end table can hold a favorite tea pot and a jar of gourmet dark chocolate. A beautiful basket can hold go-to spice jars, and a pretty pitcher near the stove can accommodate a multitude of cooking utensils. “If you can’t fit it all out of sight in a cabinet, get some glass jars, fill them with grains, flours and legumes and line them up on the countertop. It will be neat, and you can see what you have,” suggests Larkin.

In the end, a well-nourished body and spirit fosters a beautiful life and inspires the same in others. An advocate for supporting the hungry in all communities, Kabatznick underscores local efforts and seeing the big picture of our relationship with food: “Taking out the garbage and cleaning up is also a sacred act if we bring that attitude into it. Food connects us to the Earth, the moon and the stars. From the seed to the truck driver—everything and everyone involved—the process of food is miraculous.”

Juice from one fresh tangerine 1 part organic apple cider vinegar to 2 parts avocado oil Dash of sea salt Add avocado oil, apple cider vinegar and salt into a large bowl, swirl around twice. Tear (don’t chop) lettuce and add to the preliminary dressing. Squeeze tangerine juice over lettuce and toss lightly until well-dressed. Place strawberry slices over salad. Sprinkle (don’t toss) flowers on top or artfully place where desired.

Serve immediately.

Bring water, carrots, apricots and all spices and seasonings to boil. Add red lentils, stir once and set heat to low. Cover pot with lid. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, remove from heat. Add olive oil and allow to sit for five minutes before serving.

Optional toppings for each bowl: finely chopped red onion, red pepper flakes, fresh cilantro and/or a sprinkle of turmeric.

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

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Yields: 12 muffins ½ cup organic whole-wheat flour, sifted (protein-rich, gluten-free option: 1 cup organic brown rice flour and ½ cup organic soy flour or 1 cup organic brown rice flour and ½ cup garbanzo flour) ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ½ cup coconut sugar, evaporated cane juice or turbinado ½ tsp salt 3½ tsp fresh baking powder 1 cup water or unsweetened non-dairy milk (or half of each to make a cup) 2 tsp extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil or cold-pressed sunflower oil 2 organic eggs, beaten (for vegan option: ¼ to ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce) 2 tsp natural vanilla extract 1½ mashed ripe bananas 2 tsp molasses 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp cloves ¼ tsp dried ginger 2 dashes of nutmeg 1 dash of allspice (optional) Pre-heat oven to 400° F and grease muffin tin with sunflower or olive oil (or line with cupcake papers). Sift flour and cocoa powder into bowl. Add baking powder, salt, sugar and spices; mix well. Combine water/milk,

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Whole-Grain Dark Chocolate-Banana Muffins

vanilla, molasses, oil and eggs (or apple sauce), and add to dry mixture. Stir, lifting the spoon high with each stirring to get air into the mixture. Do not beat or overmix.

Leave it a bit lumpy.

Fold in bananas. Fill muffin cups half to three-quarters full and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden toothpick comes out clean. Place muffin tin on wire rack and allow to cool for 15 minutes before removing each muffin by hand (avoid turning tin over to get muffins out, or the extra-moist, fruit-filled muffins might come apart).

Optional treat: Dip muffin tops into melted coconut oil and roll in coconut sugar or turbinado. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Recipes by Marlaina Donato, author of several books and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Healing the Immune System Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

S

ome 23 million Americans suffer from one or more autoimmune diseases—a category comprised of more than 80 conditions, including fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and Type 1 diabetes. These pernicious disorders are notoriously difficult to diagnose, even harder to treat and can be debilitating, diminishing the quality of life for sufferers.

Another commonality is the increased prevalence of autoimmune disease in women versus men; in the case of lupus, for example, a nine-fold difference. Some early indicators are that this may be related to a “gene dosage effect”, as men with XXY chromosomes have the same risk of developing lupus as other women, and women with XXX chromosomes (known in medical parlance as “superwomen”) have an even higher risk of auto-

by April Thompson immune disease, according to Judith James, chair of the Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, in Oklahoma City.

Yet there is hope on the horizon, as scientific discoveries unlock important insights about the manifestation and progression of autoimmune diseases leading to new treatments and prevention tips. Evidence is also mounting around the role of diet and lifestyle in autoimmune conditions, giving patients new avenues for taking charge of their health instead of simply waiting for a cure.

Autoimmune diseases are chronic and can affect almost any part of the body, including the heart, brain, muscles, skin, eyes, joints, lungs, kidneys, glands, digestive tract and blood vessels. Each disease carries its own set of symptoms, but inflammation is nearly always present, and are all con-

nected by how the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissues. “Those shared characteristics hold the potential for shared treatments, and ultimately potentially common cures,” says Jane Buckner, president of the Benaroya Research Institute (BRI), at Virginia Mason, in Seattle, which works to advance the prediction, prevention, reversal and cure of immune system diseases.

“I’m excited about our progress toward prevention. We are working to understand those tipping points in transitioning into disease that help us understand who is at highest risk, and helps give very directed therapies,” says James.

Self-Healing from Autoimmunity

By her early 20s, Mickey Trescott, of Willamette Valley, Oregon, was bedridMay 2020

23

About Your Health Balance for Life

vidual comes out of the AIP process with a customized diet.

For Trescott, “Gluten is a forever-no, and I am also allergic to dairy and sensitive to a lot of nightshade vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers.” It took three years to recover most of her functioning, and although she had been a personal chef, it

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was still challenging to determine a new approach to eating that didn’t include the grains and legumes that had been staples of her diet.

Trescott is still on medications, including the same thyroid support she’s relied on from the start. “There is a misconception that the AIP is an alternative to conventional medicine. We really pride ourselves on using all the tools in our toolbox, including surgery, medication and lifestyle changes,” she says.

Anecdotal successes like Trescott’s have led researchers to pursue funding to test the AIP’s efficacy. In a pilot study of 18 individuals with an average sick time of 19 years that didn’t respond to traditional medication, 73 percent were in clinical remission at the end of the trial, having followed the AIP. “It was a small sample size, but the results are promising,” says Trescott.

Physician, Healed Thyself

Like many physicians, Terry Wahls focused on treating her patients with drugs or surgical procedures—until the Iowa City doctor was diagnosed with MS in 2000. Within three years, despite conventional medical treatments, her back and stomach muscles had weakened to the point where she needed a tilt-recline wheelchair, and by the summer of 2007, she could no longer sit up.

Though Wahls had been a vegetarian on a low-fat diet for 20 years, she went back to eating meat and gave up all dairy, wheat and grains, but still wasn’t improving. Delving back into the science of her condition, Wahls realized that mitochondrial support was key, and the speed of her decline slowed while taking a cocktail of vitamins to support its functioning.

It wasn’t until she took a comprehensive approach to optimize everything she could take in through her food rather than relying on supplements that she saw radical results: Her brain fog, fatigue and pain went away and she biked around the block for the first time in six years. “Taking in nutrients in the form of food rather than supplements, you get related compounds and thousands of others in biologically anticipated ratios,” explains Wahls. “I still do take some supplements, but the magic is

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den and had lost her job to autoimmune disease. At one point, doctors thought it was multiple sclerosis (MS); she was dizzy, numb, falling over and slurring her speech.

Eventually, she was diagnosed with both Hashimoto’s and celiac diseases, affecting the thyroid and small intestine, respectively. Trescott, a nutritionist, chef and author of The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook, had been vegan for 10 years, but had a feeling that her body needed something different.

She found an early version of what would become known as the autoimmune protocol (AIP), and in following its guidelines, began to find relief. Trescott connected with other women and started a private Facebook group to share information on what was improving their condition from which the AIP community sprung. AIP, an elimination diet that seeks to reset the immune system by cutting out inflammation-causing foods and treating leaky gut, has much in common with the paleo diet and promotes vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods. However, every indi-

the food.”

Those key ingredients, says Wahls, include magnesium, zinc, selenium, sulfur, amino acids, cholesterol, omega-6 and omega-3s, fats, carnitine and creatine. Her rule of thumb for daily intake is three cups of leafy green vegetables; three cups of sulfuric vegetables like cabbage, mushrooms and onions; and three cups of deeply pigmented vegetables, plus sources of protein for meat eaters and vegetarians.

While her work was initially not accepted, today she has funding from the National MS Society and her research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. “Basic science is now showing that the microbiome has a huge impact on the immune system activity and the brain; the food we eat can turn gene expression on and off,” says Wahls, who hasn’t taken any drugs for her autoimmune condition since 2008.

Buckner cautions against patients trying to manage disease with lifestyle changes alone, without giving available allopathic treatments a fair try. “People do better if they are treated early and aggressively. They are reliant on fewer medications down the road and don’t have permanent damage if they seek treatment early.”

However, even researchers focused on pharmaceutical approaches acknowledge the importance of diet and lifestyle.

Meggan Mackay, professor of Molecular Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, at Northwell Health, in Manhasset, New York, believes this can play a critical role in disease management.

She cites numerous studies showing exercise as a stress-buster positively influencing disease outcomes, as well as a more specific study looking at the benefits of adding fish oil and vitamin D to the diets of lupus patients. “The rise in obesity, which is linked to increased inflammation in the U.S., may be one of reasons we are seeing more autoimmune disease than ever,” says Mackay.

At-risk individuals should be aware of factors under their control, adds James. “If someone is worried about autoimmune disease running in their family, monitoring and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels and avoiding smoking and other high-risk behaviors can help improve their chanc-

es.” Even sleep patterns can play a role in disease manifestation, says the researcher.

In one study, individuals at high risk for autoimmune disease that slept less than seven hours per day were more likely to develop an autoimmune condition, according to James.

Common Links Serve as Research Clues

There are some clear links between autoimmune diseases, such as the genetic predisposition that runs in families. “Someone with rheumatoid arthritis may have a sister with celiac disease, for example, and one individual may suffer from multiple autoimmune conditions. We can learn from these common genetic links,” says Buckner. These common links can serve as important clues. For example, Buckner says they are able to demonstrate changes in T cells in diabetes and MS that are the same, which might lead to common treatments for the two conditions.

While the process from basic scientific discovery to development of effective treatment can be slow, there are some concrete breakthroughs autoimmune researchers are excited about, having demonstrated ability to both prevent and delay disease. Citing a recent clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “They have demonstrated in kids at high risk for developing Type 1 diabetes the ability to delay onset for at least two years. It’s an incredibly exciting finding,” says Buckner.

Mackay is hopeful about advances in basic science addressing specific immune system abnormalities linked to inflammatory problems. “Lupus is very challenging to diagnose and treat because it can affect every system in the body,” says Mackay, whose research team has focused on lupus for decades. “The only forms of treatment have been very immune-suppressive medications that shut down the immune response. None of these medications are specific, so in shutting down the immune response to treat lupus, they in turn interfere with the body’s ability to fight off infection and cancer.” Researchers are now honing in on single cells from biopsies that indicate which proteins are abnormal, thereby helping develop more selective therapies, she says.

Seeing progress in the lab is one thing; seeing it in the waiting room is another, and that’s where autoimmune scientists and clinicians are really beginning to note a difference. “I’ve seen patients for 25 years, and when we started, we had very few options in my clinic, which was full of wheelchairs,” says Buckner. “In the last 20 years, we have seen an explosion in research and available treatments. I don’t have wheelchairs in my office anymore.”

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

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green living

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organic farmers are growing. Any crop that grows well in a neighbor’s field is likely to also do well in your garden.

Keep Your Cool. Take on big garden tasks early in the morning or in the evening, when it’s cool. If you must work outdoors on a hot day, try freezing damp kitchen towels into a U-shape and drape a frozen collar around your neck to keep from overheating.

Bet on Beans. Most vegetables are fast-growing annuals that decline after they have produced for several weeks. Replace tattered spring crops with fast-growing bush snap beans, which will promptly

sprout and grow in all but the hottest climates. Where summers are sultry, there is often time to follow spring crops with a planting of edamame (edible green soybeans), which offer sensational taste, texture and nutrition.

Sow More Salad. Lettuce and other salad greens often go to seed and turn bitter when hot weather comes, but a second salad season is right around the corner. Leafy greens, from arugula to tatsoi (a gorgeous Asian mustard), thrive from late summer to fall in most climates. Keep seeds left over from spring in the refrigerator and start planting them outside as soon as cooler

nights arrive in late summer. In subtropical areas, start seeds indoors and set the seedlings out after the hottest months have passed.

Fortify Soil. Each time you cultivate a bed, mix in a generous helping of compost or another form of rich, organic matter.

Over time, the soil will become better and better, which means ever more beautiful homegrown veggies, fresh from your own garden.

Barbara Pleasant is the author of numerous gardening books; this year’s release is Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens.

Backyard Gardening How to Get a Lot From Your Plot

by Barbara Pleasant

W

hether this is your first year growing a kitchen garden or your thumb glows green from years of use, it’s possible to quickly turn dreams of bountiful organic harvests into a reality. Even small gardens can be surprisingly productive, sometimes yielding enough squash to feed the neighborhood.

These 10 tips will help you reap top harvests of superb vegetables and herbs.

Shop from Your Garden First. After a lifetime of buying food in stores, you may need to change your shopping habits to accommodate the stream of veggies from your own produce patch. It makes sense to shop here first. When you plan meals based upon your garden’s abundance, much less overripe produce ends up as compost.

Spread on the Mulch. Everywhere but in the subtropics, rain often becomes scarce in summer, so do everything you can to keep plants supplied with consistent mois26

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ture. Tomatoes, in particular, are sensitive to changes in soil moisture that can lead to black spots on the bottoms of ripening fruits. In any climate, drip irrigation from soaker hoses on the surface makes watering easy and efficient. Covering the hoses with mulch reduces surface evaporation and discourages weeds at the same time.

Harvest Often. From snap beans to zucchini, vegetables will be longer and stronger if you keep them picked. Gather what’s ripe at least three times a week.

Early morning is the best time to gather garden-fresh veggies.

Make Plenty of Pesto. A fast-growing annual herb that loves hot weather, basil will keep producing new leaves over a longer time if you harvest big bunches just as the plants develop buds and flowers (the flowers are edible, too). If you have too much basil to use right away, purée washed leaves with olive oil and lemon juice, then

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cover with water in ice cube trays and freeze. Store the hard cubes in freezer bags for use in making pesto during non-harvest months.

Squeeze Tomatoes. In choosing your favorite tomatoes, taste them fairly by keeping them in a warm place because cool temperatures can destroy their flavor compounds. In addition to watching the vines for ripe colors, make a habit of gently squeezing tomatoes to judge their firmness, the same way you might check an avocado or peach. Heirloom varieties, in particular, are at their best just as they begin to soften, but may become mealy if you wait too long.

Taste Local Favorites. Trying new crops is always fun, especially if you know they grow well in your region. To learn more about which vegetables and herbs naturally grow well in your climate and soil, visit local farmers’ markets to see what local May 2020

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fit body

those even in the ICU, some who were partially or even completely paralyzed, people who maybe could dance only with their eyes. And yet they danced,” marvels Durham. “Getting the lymphatic system, endorphins and breath flowing all elevate the body out of pain mode.”

DANCING TO YOUR OWN DRUMMER

Dancing from the Soul

The Healing Power of Movement

by Marlaina Donato

ovement comes in many colors, from modern dance to country line dancing, and there’s something for everyone, including those that claim to have two left feet. Dancing is healthy for the heart and improves cognitive function by forging new neural pathways in the brain. It builds stronger bones, helps balance and improves flexibility and endurance. Putting on dancing shoes also has a positive effect on depressive disorders, flooding the brain with endorphins that uplift mood and jumpstart motivation. Dance has found its way into the clinical setting as a psychotherapeutic tool for healing trauma, eating disorders and addictions.

Dancing, in essence, is for everyone. “Dance is a human right, a feature of almost every culture in the world, and our natural inclination to dance is one of the things that makes us human,” says David Leventhal, program director of Dance for PD, a nonprofit Parkinson’s Disease program of the Mark Morris Dance Group, in Brooklyn.

Valerie Durham, a modern dancer in Baltimore specializing in the Isadora Duncan technique, concurs, “Birds don’t consider if they have talent for singing, they just sing. They sing because they have a voice.

Similarly, dance is a right offered to anyone with a body.”

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A Deterrent for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease and Cancer

Going dancing on a Friday night also proves to nourish the brain. A 2017 study published in Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience shows evidence that dance increases white matter that diminishes with cognitive decline. An older study sponsored by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and published in the New England Journal of Medicine spotlights data gathered during a 21-year period and reveals that regular social dancing can reduce the risk for dementia in seniors by 76 percent.

“A number of peer-reviewed research studies point to dance’s ability to improve motor skills and function of people living with Parkinson’s disease—balance, gait and tremor.

Dance is expressive, giving people a creative voice when it feels that their capacity for physical, vocal and facial expression is being taken away,” says Leventhal.

Durham, who worked with patients at the University of Florida Shands Hospital Arts in Medicine Program in the 1990s, witnessed memorable responses from cancer patients. “We danced with patients who were attached to IVs and

Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. ~Lyndon B. Johnson

Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at AutumnEmbers Music.com.

Luis Molinero /Shutterstock.com

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All forms of dancing have the capability to free the spirit and heal deep emotional wounds buried in the memory-holding fascia of the body’s soft tissues. Ecstatic dance, which has roots in ancient spiritual practices, is an unstructured option that dilutes limiting, self-conscious habits.

These days, ecstatic dance gatherings have been organized in cities around the world.

“There’s a vast movement in the dance world that has nothing to do with performance, but rather, is done for the joy of inhabiting a body in motion. Ecstatic dance is a free-form conscious dance and is a vibrant global community for people who love music and movement,” says Donna Carroll, founder of Ecstatic Dance International, in San Francisco. “When we

can be courageous enough to turn away from our cultural norms that say you need ‘talent’ to dance, we get a chance to experience music through our bodies, and it can be quite pleasurable and life-affirming.

Ecstatic dance is one of the most effective methods to return to what matters, to our bodies, to our ‘home’, and is accessible for people of all abilities.”

In her artistic sphere of performance art, Durham has seen her students blossom from the inside-out. “They are able to connect with the deep wisdom in their bodies, thereby releasing old energetic wounds. Depression and anxiety are relieved during dance because you are so consciously consumed with the present moment of the steps and the music. Dancers will find that they feel more joyful and at peace at the end of a dance session.”

For Leventhal, moving the body is a blessing for all: “Dance should be accessible and enjoyable to everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive challenges.”

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natural pet Gladskikh Tatiana/Shutterstock.com

It is unlikely a pet will become infected and serve as a source of infection for people.

Coronavirus Pet Safety Facts and Tips for Dog and Cat Owners

by Shawn Messonnier

T

here are many types of coronavirus. COVID-19 is new—a novel coronavirus— and there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in dogs or cats. Dogs can become infected with a canine coronavirus. It is fairly species-specific and will not infect people, but can infect cats (without causing clinical disease in naturally infect-

ed cats). Most infected dogs do not show symptoms and recover without showing signs of infection; young puppies may exhibit mild diarrhea.

Cats have their own coronavirus that, like dogs, usually causes an asymptomatic infection, or may cause mild diarrhea or mild respiratory infection (especially in kittens). However, this coronavirus, for unknown reasons, can mutate in the GI tract and transform into the (usually) lethal feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus (this occurs in about 10 percent of infected cats).

Again, this feline coronavirus will not infect dogs or people, and only infects felids. (A curious note is that cats can become infected with the human SARS coronavirus experimentally and naturally, but do not become ill, and the original SARS virus was suspected to have originated from a mongoose.) As with human coronaviruses, canine and feline coronaviruses can survive outside of the pet’s body for a period of time, especially in a colder environment, but are easily killed with most soap or disinfectants.

Dogs and cats that develop their own coronaviral diseases will not infect people.

However, by serving as fomites (objects that can carry an infectious organism on the surface), dogs and cats could potentially carry a virus on their coat or skin if an infected family member gets infected material (saliva, respiratory droplets, etc.) onto the animal.

Like any other surface in the home, the virus could transfer from the surface of the pet to other uninfected family members. (This is usually by hand to face transfer.)

To be safe, it may be wise to keep the family pet away from the infected family member, or at least have the infected family member bathe and/or wipe the pet’s coat with a wet washcloth before the pet is exposed to uninfected family members.

Keep in mind that maintaining proper blood levels of vitamin D in people and in pets is important in minimizing infectious diseases.

Shawn Messonnier, DVM, is the owner of Paws & Claws Holistic Animal Hospital, in Plano, Texas, and an award-winning author and host on Martha Stewart Radio.

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Jonathan Safran Foer on Conscious Eating to Save the Planet

by Julie Peterson

J

onathan Safran Foer, the prize-winning author of bestselling novels that include Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, turned to nonfiction in his 2009 book, Eating Animals, about the morality of food choices in a factory-farm age. His most recent book, We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast, argues that only collective action will save our home and way of life, and it starts with what is on our plate.

He points out that there’s often a painful disconnect between the way we think of ourselves and the actions that we take that inadvertently and negatively affect the planet, and that science can help us make more informed choices.

How did you make the connection between diet and climate change?

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For anybody who has even the tiniest amount of curiosity about human interaction with the climate, it’s something you can’t possibly avoid learning about.

The science is readily available now, and it’s extremely comprehensive. It’s important to continuously come back to that scientific consensus to make clear that this is nobody’s theory or perspective. Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree.

Did anything in researching climate science surprise you?

There’s a lot that startled me. A lot that scared me. I was surprised by how wrong we have been and how wrong we often are about what matters… putting the emphasis in the wrong places or not knowing where to put it at all.

There are four activities that matter more than all others in terms of an individual’s relationship with the environment: having fewer children, eating less meat or animal products, flying less and driving less.

As somebody who has spent a lot of time recycling and not using plastic straws, I was surprised to learn that those activities are very low impact compared to the four I mentioned. I was surprised by how broad that misunderstanding is. Think about our response to coronavirus compared to our response to climate change. The way governments are acting together to do what

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

needs to be done for a virus makes it all the more puzzling how ineffectual the response to climate change is.

If people can’t do everything that needs to be done, what small steps can they take that will have a collective impact?

We all need to question what our own limits are, what we can do and then do that with rigor. We don’t need to stop flying, we just need to do it a lot less. I wouldn’t encourage anyone to suddenly become vegan.

I think a better idea is to eat as few animal products as possible, and if that amount is zero, great. If it’s once a week or once a day, then that’s a hell of a lot better than doing nothing. Rather than measuring the distance from some ethical perfection, we want to measure the distance from doing nothing at all.

Why is it such a struggle for people to follow through on climate change goals?

I think that if we approach change as if it isn’t difficult, then we diminish our chances of being able to sustain change.

A lot of the things we need to give up are fun. It’s a shame we can’t solve climate change by not eating broccoli; we would have done it already.

Climate change requires a different sort of moral imagination because, realistically, you and I aren’t going to die because of it. Human nature makes it more difficult to have an energetic response for something less immediate.

inspiration kpboonjit/Shutterstock.com

wise words

FINDING CALM During Trying Times

by Laurie Nadel

F

rom the moment we wake up and log on to our day, we are flooded with news about people whose days started off much the same, with an expectation of going from point A to point B, to lunch, to point C and then back home.

But something happened. A tornado touched down in the neighborhood. Or a train derailed in a cousin’s hometown. Or, like now, an invisible killer stalks the globe, threatening to take our life or the life of someone we know.

Within seconds, we are flooded with horror and helplessness. Unable to stop the cascade of acute stress hormones, our

bodies shift into fight-or-flight mode or leave us frozen like deer in the headlights.

Whether we see what is happening online, on screen or in real time, we feel unsafe in our own skin. Although disturbing images can be swiped away, when something bad happens to us, we don’t know what to do.

We can’t change the channel.

Even during these tough times, we can find opportunities to develop new strengths and grow individually and together. To start with, we need emotional first aid to help us find calm quickly. We can do this by locating the tension points in our body and asking them what color

would help them feel calm. Then we can inhale that color, letting it find its way within to soothe our cells, and exhale our stress by breathing out a different color. We can repeat this technique as long and as often as needed. Teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, report that this really works for kids, too.

To heal means to make whole.

It doesn’t mean to make something go away. Hardship is part of life’s journey.

Even this global pandemic can serve as our spiritual wake-up call to learn how different spiritual traditions heal from life-shattering events. Five gifts offer us the keys to wholeness: n Humility helps us accept what we cannot change. n Patience takes the edge off when the hurt lasts longer than we want. n Empathy keeps us connected for the long haul. n Forgiveness means forgiving ourselves, our leaders and God. n Growth lets us look back with thanks for what we learned when the journey of life was anything but comfortable and easy.

Let’s journey together.

Laurie Nadel, a Manhattan psychotherapist, is the author of The Five Gifts: Discovering Hope, Healing and Strength When Disaster Strikes.

What call to action would you like to convey?

We have a feeling of helplessness, a feeling that there’s nothing we can do, but there is a lot that we can do and must do. The easiest and most powerful way to begin is with what we eat. That doesn’t mean you become vegan tomorrow, but tomorrow is a wonderful time to start eating fewer animal products. It’s a journey, not an event.

Julie Peterson writes about health and the environment. Connect at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

Eye Care for Kids A Clear Path to Healthy Vision

by Ronica A. O’Hara

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he blurry distant vision of myopia is a worldwide epidemic. Nearsightedness has doubled in the U.S. since 1971 to 42 percent, and in some Asian countries it affects 90 percent of teens and adults, reports the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye doctors say the key time to pay attention is during childhood, because myopia and other eye and vision problems can be reversed or stabilized if addressed at an early age.

“Parents tend to assume that vision problems aren’t a concern for the young and healthy, but it’s never too early to promote healthful habits or to be on the lookout for potential vision issues,” advises ophthalmologist Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., medical director of the Clearview Eye & Laser Medical Center, in San Diego.

Ophthalmologists and optometrists recommend having a child’s eyes tested at 6 months, 3 years and 5 or 6 years to detect nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, “lazy eye” (amblyopia), crossed or misaligned eyes (strabismus) and other potential problems. “For signs of trouble, I ask parents if they have seen their child have an eye that wanders or if the child covers an eye regularly, they are rubbing their eyes or playing with their 34

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toys close to their face,” says optometrist Nathan Langemo, of the Hopkins Eye Clinic, in Hopkins, Minnesota.

If myopia becomes severe, it can lead to retinal detachment, premature cataracts and glaucoma in adulthood, but early detection is possible. An Ohio State University study of 4,500 children found that myopia in eighth-graders could be predicted in the first grade by their eyeglass prescription.

Children at age 6 are naturally slightly farsighted, and those with normal vision are more likely to become myopic later.

A common medical treatment to slow myopia in kids is daily use of 0.01 percent atropine eye drops, the medication used to dilate an eye before an exam. It slowed down nearsightedness by roughly 50 percent in Singapore children. A new, twoyear study shows that combining the eye drops with nightly contact lens-wearing is 28 to 38 percent more effective. For preschoolers with amblyopia, an iPad game called Dig Rush was shown to be helpful in a University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center study. Hong Kong researchers report that 15 weeks of acupuncture beat out eye patches for treating children with lazy eyes, resolving the condition in 41 percent of cases, compared to 16 percent.

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

The simplest preventive strategy for myopia may be simply to shoo children outdoors every day, including involving them in outdoor sports. Researchers aren’t sure whether it’s the vitamin D effect or the fact that when they are outdoors kids focus more on distant objects like trees and balls than when reading a book or screen, but recent studies in Taiwan and Denmark have verified that more time outdoors is linked to less myopia. Even sitting in sunlight inside while reading or using full-spectrum light bulbs is protective, say researchers. When outdoors, “Make sure the child has 100 percent UVA and UVB sun protection for the eyes,” advises Langemo, including using UV contact lenses.

Evidence is mixed on whether closeup reading brings on childhood myopia, but a study of 500 college students that heavily used computers found 53 percent reporting headaches, 55 percent with burning sensations in the eyes and 48 percent with tired eyes. When kids focus on a computer, their eye-refreshing blinking rate slows from 10 to 12 times a minute to three or four times a minute, says optometrist Marc Grossman, of New Paltz, New York, author of Natural Eye Care: Your Guide To Healthy Vision and Healing.

He recommends taking breaks at least 10 minutes every hour, using homeopathic eye drops and gently massaging the eyes by moving fingers from the inner corner, around the upper socket and underneath, stopping about six times to massage each point for five to 10 seconds.

It’s also important to remove household hazards. Medical emergency rooms increasingly report eye injuries in kids from popular toy weapons like Nerf, BB guns and paintball guns, as well as colorful detergent pods that preschoolers love to squeeze or bite, plus aerosol spray from paint, hairspray, cleaning products and bug repellants.

Feeding children the right foods, including lots of vegetables, fruits and grains, also benefits their eyes. The omega-3s in fish oil, nuts and seeds help minimize dry eye, and leafy greens and eggs have the eye-protective antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.

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

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calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by May 10 (for June issue) and adhere to our guidelines.

To submit listings, email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Costs $20 for 35 words each month.

ALWAYS CALL AHEAD BEFORE ATTENDING EVENTS TO AVOID LATE CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES At the Table Online Classes–Sharon is offering online children and adult healthy cooking classes.

Info: Call Sharon at 803-238-5876 or visit AtTheTablellc.com.

Canvases With Candace Virtual Art School–We are providing art “at-home” kits. Our kits include online instruction with live teaching and interaction.

Enrolling students daily hoping to connect to the home school population and collaborate with their learning styles and structures. Join on Facebook at Facebook.com/canvaseswithcandace, or Candace at 718-924-1752 or CanvasesWithCandace@ gmail.com.

Chiropractic Wellness Center–Our office is open.

We are scheduling appointments a little differently to maintain patient flow and comfort. We are taking extra precautions to sanitize common areas, minimize wait time, and reduce the number of people in the office simultaneously. Call 803-771-9990 or email Doc@DrShellyJones.com to schedule an appointment.

Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic–We are open and spacing appointments consciously. We are sanitizing our office and waiting areas throughout the day and wearing personal protective gear. Call 803-3766293 to schedule an appointment.

Elite Personal Training Online Coaching–We are offering classes on Zoom. Get in shape and destress while being home in this strange time that we’re all in together. Call 803-749-4279 or visit ElitePersonalTrainingStudio.com.

Namaste Yoga Online Classes–Our classes are being offered on Zoom. Info: Email Amy Sizemore at Amy@IrmoYoga.com or visit IrmoYoga.com.

Rooted Community Virtual Yoga Classes–Sign up on Mindbody. Info: Call Anne Miller at 803730-3976.

Virtual Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Classes– Practice yoga with me in your own home with your baby/babies! Classes will be targeted to lower stress and anxiety levels during this unpredictable time. They are appropriate for all trimesters of pregnancy and for new moms that are at least 4-6

weeks postpartum. Online group or private lessons are available. Info: Contact Kyla Saphir at KylaJSaphir@gmail.com or visit YogaMamaColumbia.com.

Whole Truth Health and Nutrition Online Coaching–Get healthy with a 7-Day Detox, with approved dinner guide with recipes, or take advantage of the Spring Coaching Specials while being stuck at home. Visit WholeTruthHealth.org to subscribe.

SATURDAYS MAY 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30

Murraywood Health Foods 20% off Saturdays–10am-6pm. 20% off all grocery items, excluding local honey. Murraywood Shopping Center, 7001 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-732-3847.

THURSDAY, MAY 14

Wellness Healthy Living Online Discussion–7-8pm.

Facilitated by Ms. Tracy and Original Origins Health and Wellness. Discussion on various health topics, including cancer, kidney failure prevention, and reversing diabetes. Also offering consultations by phone. Cost: Free. Info: Call Ms. Tracy at 833678-7229 or email OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com.

SAT & SUN, MAY 23 & 24

Reiki I Online Class–Sat, 11am-3pm; Sun, 12:303:30pm. Instructed by Joy Lee Connor, reiki master.

Learn the principles of practitioner-level reiki with advanced interpretations of the reiki healing symbols and absentia healing protocol. Info/preregistration/cost: Call Connor at 803-447-6499.

ongoing

sunday

Writing as a Spiritual Practice–10am-12:30pm.

Visit the website or email to see if this is temporarily offered online. Every 2nd Sunday. Spiritual Director Candace Chellew-Hodge, published author and songwriter, leads workshop to help participants use creative writing as a way to grow their spiritual practice. Bring pen and paper or laptop for writ-

ing exercises. Free, but donations are accepted.

Jubilee! Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia.

Info/register: RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

A Course in Miracles–Original Edition– 4:306pm. Every Sunday. This session will be via telephone in May. We read together and discuss questions, insights and experiences. Donations are accepted. Call to schedule introductory sessions with Joy Lee Connor. Info: 803-447-6499.

wednesday

Debtors Anonymous–6-7pm. Visit the website or email to see if this is temporarily offered online.

Every Wednesday. Debtors Anonymous offers hope for people whose use of unsecured debt causes problems and suffering. Find relief by working the DA recovery program based on the 12-step principles. Cost: Free. Jubilee! Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info: RevCandace@JubileeCircle. com, JubileeCircle.com.

friday

A Talk on A Course in Miracles–6:30pm. Visit the website or email to see if this is temporarily offered online. Every 2nd Friday. Facilitator Gina Gibson continues a series of monthly talks. Q&A to follow. Free and open to the public; donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info: RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

saturday

Writing as a Spiritual Practice–10am-12:30pm.

Visit the website or email to see if this is temporarily offered online. Every 2nd Saturday. Minister Candace Chellew-Hodge, published author and songwriter, leads workshop to help participants use creative writing as a way to grow their spiritual practice. Bring pen and paper or laptop for writing exercises. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee!

Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info/register: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@JubileeCircle. com, JubileeCircle.com.

Columbia Resilience Integrated Health Community Clinic–10am-2pm. Every 1st Saturday beginning June 6. CranioSacral Therapy, energy-based modalities, self-care techniques, and a simple meal are offered by trauma-trained practitioners for the relief of chronic stress and post-trauma care. Suggested donation: $15/session. First-come, first-served. Only six participants permitted in clinic at any one time according to new COVID-19 guidelines. Call for waiting times. St Mark United Methodist Church, 3200 Lyles St, Columbia. Info/ appointment: Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

Murraywood Health Foods 20% off Saturdays–10am-6pm. 20% off all grocery items, excluding local honey. Murraywood Shopping Center, 7001 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-732-3847.

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naturaldirectory Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Natural Directory, call 803-233-3693 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

ACUPUNCTURE THE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC

William D. Skelton, DAc 620 Sims Ave, Columbia 803-256-1000 • SCAcupuncture.com

Bill Skelton is dedicated to helping people live happier, healthier, active lives with safe, gentle and effective techniques.

He has 38 years’ experience and trained in the Republic of China.

Call to schedule an appointment. See ad, page 36.

AROMATHERAPY GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15-A, Columbia Trenholm Plaza, in Forest Acres 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

Improve your level of stress, depression and mood with natural products from a locally owned family business. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you using aromatherapy for pain, anxiety, energy enhancement and more.

We carry several brands of essential oils, including doTERRA. See ads, page 3 and back page.

CHIROPRACTIC CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER INC

Dr. Shelly Jones, DC 5209 Forest Dr, Ste C, Columbia 803-771-9990 • DrShellyJones.com

Webster Technique certified, Dr. Jones provides family chiropractic care, health information and wellness resources to support the body’s natural ability to heal, allowing one to feel better and enjoy living a more active lifestyle! Call to schedule your appointment or discuss bringing our onsite chiropractic care and health-education services to your business, school or athletic team.

DOWDY RUDOLPH CHIROPRACTIC LLC Dr. Dowdy Rudolph, DC 1444 Barnwell St, Columbia 803-376-6293 • DowdyRudolphChiro.com

Dr. Gerald Rudolph, DC, focuses on finding the root cause of your problems and not just treating your pain. He utilizes digital X-rays to help diagnose problems, spinal adjustments to stimulate proper movement of spinal and extremity joints, active therapeutic movement exercises to correct movement disorders, and spinal decompression to help relieve numbness and tingling down your arms and legs. Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic also offers a state-of-the-art full-body lounge hydromassage table that can help you feel more rejuvenated and relaxed. See ad, page 14.

FLEX CHIROPRACTIC

Dr. Angela Larson Dr. Felicia Danio 1811 Bull St, Columbia 803-252-0108 • FlexChiros.com

With more than 22 years of experience in the chiropractic i n d u s t r y, o u r t e a m i s knowledgeable, experienced and courteous. Combining a passion for healing and alleviating pain with two decades of good oldfashioned know-how, we give you the customized chiropractic treatment you truly deserve. Our vast list of services includes: decompression; Pro Adjuster; pregnancy care; newborns, infants and toddler care; massage therapy; ultrasound; Kinesiology taping; and cold laser. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Larson or Dr. Danio. Let our team help you achieve a happy, healthy life through chiropractic care!

COLLABORATIVE LAW LAW OFFICE OF SHANNON K. BURNETT

109 N Main St, Blythewood 803-786-1758 • ShannonBurnettlaw.com Shannon.skblaw@gmail.com

Shannon Burnett helps families through legal issues that normally tend to tear families apart. She works in a collaborative fashion with other trained professionals to minimize the damage done to your family; it is her goal for your family to achieve a successful outcome and healthy resolution.

COLON HEALTH SPRING RAIN HYDROTHERAPY

Linda Salyer 120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste H, Columbia 803-361-2620 • LSalyer@ymail.com

All disease begins in the colon.

Constipation; slow, sluggish bowel; gas and bloating? A colonic will help to rid you of these problems. Colonics promote good digestion, help speed metabolism, help lower cholesterol, and help relieve joint pain. Linda Salyer is IACN certified and a retired nurse. Saturday appointments available with an additional small convenience fee. See ad, page 32.

Connect with us naturally!

CRANIOSACRAL CHI ENERGY BALANCE

Pamila Lorentz, MSW, RN, LMBT 1544 Highway 6, Gaston 803-749-1576 ChiEnergyBalance.com

Pamila is a former hospice and home-health nurse who now provides CranioSacral Therapy (CST), energy balancing, and sound vibrational healing techniques at her clinic in Gaston and in in-home settings. CST and sound healing are "light touch" therapies that are offered while the client is fully dressed and resting on a massage table or chair. CST has a profound positive effect in facilitating relief of conditions related to chronic stress, physical and emotional trauma, and neuromuscular and nervous system impairment. Group sessions for sound and vibrational healing are limited to three participants due to COVID-19 guidelines. Individual home sessions are offered with restrictions. Remote energy healing sessions are scheduled according to the client’s need. Schedule appointments online at ChiEnergyBalance.com or text to 803-749-1576.

DISTANCE HEALING JOY LEE CONNOR, LMT (SC#1229)

Touch for Health Instructor and Consultant Reiki Master, A Course In Miracles Teacher Chopra Instructor, Meditation, Yoga, Ayurveda 803-447-6499 • JoyLeeConnor@BellSouth.net

Joy is committed to being the "Light of the World" during this time of need, offering miracles (shifts in perception). When we see differently, our mind, emotions and even our body can shift, change and HEAL. While Joy has practiced as a Licensed Massage Therapist in the Columbia area for many years, she has also worked with friends and clients around the globe doing healing work. By phone, FaceTime, email, Joy offers healing sessions and consultations from 20 minutes to two hours.

ECO-RICH SKIN CARE PRODUCTS JUST WANNA MELT LLC Misty Rawls • 803-331-0063 Info@JustWannaMelt.com JustWannaMelt.com

A green skin care company that creates high-quality, non-GMO, all-natural products that are gentle to the skin and safer for the environment. Our brands include ingredients such as organic oils, butters, flowers, herbs, botanicals, local grains, beeswax and honey. Find our products at such stores as Garner’s Natural Life, Four Oaks Farm,

May 2020

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naturaldirectory Wingard’s Nursery, Whole Foods and more. For a complete list of retail locations, visit our website.

HEALTH FOOD STORE MURRAYWOOD HEALTH FOODS

Richard Beale, Owner • 803-732-3847 7001 St. Andrews Rd, Irmo In Murraywood Shopping Centre Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm

Locally owned and proudly serving Irmo and the Midlands area for more than 25 years, Murraywood Health Foods is a health and specialty food store featuring the very best natural product brands, vitamins and minerals, herbs and homeopathic remedies. The store also carries natural and organic gluten-free foods and health and beauty products. Call today for more information or to schedule a special appointment. See ad, page 16.

HEALTH & FITNESS THE FITNESS FACTOR LLC Certified Holistic Health Coach Jermika Kennedy 803-804-8027

Are you a woman age 30 to 65 suffering from Endometriosis or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and tired of the painful menstrual cycles? Getting into shape may help. Ready to get fit?

Contact Jermika (registered nurse, certified personal trainer for women, and certified holistic health coach). Her services include mobile personal training sessions and personal health coaching sessions with recipes and discussion topics. Call today!

HEALTH & WELLNESS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC.

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aqua-chi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hard-to-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 24.

ORIGINAL ORIGINS HEALTH AND WELLNESS Tracy R. Jacox • 833-678-7229 OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com OriginalOriginshw.com

Ms. Tracy has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. The mission of Original Origins Health and Wellness is to educate, equip and empower the community to adopt a predominately whole food, plantbased lifestyle, which will improve

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and optimize your quality of life, health and wellness while preventing, delaying, reversing or eliminating chronic illnesses. Original Origins can assist you with maximizing your health and wellness holistically! Our wide range of services include health coach partnering, comprehensive health evaluations, comprehensive cooking experiences, and a comprehensive kitchen evaluation. Your health is your wealth! See ad, page 11.

HOLISTIC FOOT CARE SWEET FEET FOOT CARE

Mona Patterson/Master Pedicurist 9153 Two Notch Rd, Ste 11-C, Columbia 803-394-4421 • SweetFeetCare.com

Columbia’s foot care service with a holistic approach.

Here at Sweet Feet Foot Care, we focus on Preventive Care, Effective Pedicure Treatments and Cleanliness. With advanced knowledge and skills, we help correct disorders of the feet and lower limbs with pedicure treatments and orthotics. Services are ideal for Diabetics, Seniors and Knee- and Back-Pain Issues.

Call today to learn more about our services.

HOLISTIC HEALING CHAPIN HOLISTIC HERITAGE Apothecary and Wellness Center 211 E Boundary St, Chapin

803-941-7083 • ChapinHolisticHeritage.com Our center focuses on holistic health and spiritual awareness. We provide a wide array of services, including chiropractic care offered by Dr. Aleisha Taylor, Reiki sessions hosted by certified practitioners, herbalist consultations with Ashley Adams, tinctures, herbal medicines available for purchase and much more. Come see all of the different services the center has to offer for all of your health and wellness needs.

INTEGRATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE EXPECT WELLNESS

Dr. Rachel Hall 130 Suber Rd, Columbia 803-796-1702 • DrRachelHall.com ExpectWellness@sc.rr.com Find us on Facebook for great health tips.

Integrative/Holistic medicine consults for anyone wanting to approach their health more naturally. Dr. Rachel Hall is board certified in both family medicine and integrative holistic medicine. Together we will focus on finding the root of the problem, not just treating symptoms. Call today for a consult if you are looking to achieve balance. In-house diagnostic labs and therapies. See ad, page 5.

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

SPIRITUAL ECKANKAR THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL FREEDOM

Contact Dee 803-749-2459 • ECK-SC.org Meetup.com/columbia-spiritual-seekers.com

Eckankar has suspended ALL group events worldwide through May 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will update this information as changes occur on our websites listed above and in this Natural Awakenings of Columbia listing.

THERMOGRAPHY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC.

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aquachi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hard-to-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 24.

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15a, Columbia Trenholm Plaza 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

At Garner’s Natural Life, we offer the purest, most innovative highquality natural products. With more than 130 collective years of wellness experience! Allows us to encourage your healthy choices. See ads, page 3 and back page.

YOGA YOGA MAMA COLUMBIA

Kyla Saphir Pre- and Postnatal Yoga Instructor 312-532-8885 YogaMamaColumbia.com

Kyla is passionate about teaching women in her prenatal and postnatal yoga classes since she experienced the benefits when she was pregnant with her daughter. She is the founder of Yoga Mama Columbia, which supports expectant women and new moms through yoga around the Columbia area. The classes focus on using breathwork to relax, strengthening the body for labor and healing afterward, and building a community of new moms. Visit her website for more information on classes and upcoming workshops.

Connect with us naturally!

May 2020

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ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com