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The Eyes MEATY Taste the Have It TRUTHS Rainbow A 20/20 View of Bodily Health

Choosing Meat that’s Sustainable and Safe

Expand Your Palate with Colorful Veggies

March 2016 | Columbia Edition | MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

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Columbia Edition

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natural awakenings

March 2016

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contents Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue, readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

20 COLOR ME CALM

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Grownups De-Stress with Adult Coloring Books

by Avery Mack

22 ROLLING FOR FITNESS

DIY Rollers Ease Pain and Aid Flexibility

by Randy Kambic

24 MEATY TRUTHS

Choosing Meat that’s Sustainable and Safe

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

28 THE EYES

TELL OUR STORY

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How Integrative Doctors See Into Whole-Body Health

by Linda Sechrist

30 TASTE THE RAINBOW Expand Your Palate with New Colorful Veggies

by Judith Fertig

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32 NIGHTTIME PARENTING

Fostering Healthful Sleep

by Stephanie Dodd

34 FEEDING THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD

Agrihoods Grow Healthful Food and Community

by April Thompson

36 WELL-MANNERED CATS

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Simple Ways to Get Kitty to Behave

by Sandra Murphy

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7 communitynews 13 business

spotlight

14 healthbriefs 15 healthspotlight

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16 globalbriefs 17 therapyspotlight

19 ecotip 34 greenliving

19 38 wisewords 40 directory 43 calendar 45 classifieds advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings please contact us at 803-233-3693 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.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events at MidlandsHealthyLiving.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 803-233-3693. For franchising opportunities, call 239530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

natural awakenings

March 2016

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letterfrompublisher The Scale and the Mirror …

I contact us Owner/Publisher Annette Carter Briggs Writer Odell Williams Senior Editor Sara Gurgen Design & Production Kristina Parella Billy Briggs Stephen Gray-Blancett Advertising Sales Annette Carter Briggs Sustainability/ Development Consultant Aloysius Anderson To contact Natural Awakenings Columbia Edition: PO Box # 2812 Columbia, SC 29202 Phone: 803-233-3693 Cell: 803-309-2101 Fax: 877-412-4905 Email: ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2016 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

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

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

f there’s one thing that controls what we do, where we go, who we see, how we see ourselves and how we see the world we live in, it’s what we eat. Let’s face it, the scale and the mirror can be a person’s best friends or worst enemies.

The fact is that the word “F-A-T” is the new fourletter word. I remember the cartoon Fat Albert, which I watched many times in my earlier years (showing my age a bit). The main cartoon character, Albert, was always joyous, fun-loving and happy about life as he and his friends explored the world around them together. In fact, his buddies always referred to him as “Fat” Albert … not just Albert, due to his size. To go one step further, the cartoon’s opening line was “Hey, hey, hey … it’s Fat Albert!” Well … it was a very funny cartoon for millions of kids of that day (including me); however, as I have grown older and wiser, I’ve seen and continue to see in the lives of so many, the devastating consequences of that word “fat,” which really translates better to obesity.

It’s true—we are what we eat. It was true for Albert, and the same holds true for all of us today blessed with the wonderful opportunity to make wiser diet and lifestyle choices for better health. World-class chef and award-winning cookbook author Marcus Samuelsson once stated: “We struggle with eating healthily, obesity and access to good nutrition for everyone. But we have a great opportunity to get on the right side of this battle by beginning to think differently about the way that we eat and the way that we approach food.”

Well said! We do have the chance to get on the “right side” of the subject of nutrition. It starts with changing how we think, which determines how we live and the daily choices, good or bad, that we make. How important are the decisions that we make when it comes to food? Well … it’s no laughing matter.

According to statistics, unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are the leading causes of death in the U.S., causing 678,000 deaths each year, with more than 67.5 percent of American adults overweight or obese. In the last 30 years, obesity rates have doubled in adults, tripled in children and quadrupled in adolescents.

More and more, the typical American diet is too high in calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar, and does not contain enough fruits, vegetables, whole foods, minerals and nutrients, which can lead to an increased risk of diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and cancer. Let’s crunch the numbers. It is estimated that better nutrition could reduce the cost of treating these diseases by a whopping $71 billion every year.

It’s a lot to “chew” on, huh? This month’s editorial theme is Food Matters, and yes it does! Albert had close friends, but unfortunately, one of them was not his obesity. A fictional cartoon character can live on forever un-aging and never feeling the effects of poor choices—not so for us in the real world. We’ve got to do the right things to get the right results. Let’s do it … and then maybe the scale and the mirror can become life-long friends.

In health,

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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Columbia Edition

Annette Briggs , Publisher

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

communitynews

Natural Solutions for Allergy Season

Swing into Spring with Great Deals at Riverside Golf

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ime to grab the clubs! Riverside Golf & Recreation Center is open, eager and ready to help the avid golfing aficionado, and even the curious golfer, get that club swing in good shape for this season. This scenic, well-lit facility, nestled in the midst of beautiful grass and trees and highlighted by a great river view, features such amenities as a covered shelter and lighted tee box, strategically positioned to minimize exposure to the late-afternoon sun; a convenient automated ball dispenser; a covered mat area for practice; and a par-3 course with nine holes suitable for those practicing their short game for sharp game play. The center also has areas to practice chipping and putting. People of all ages and skill levels are always welcome, and family members are encouraged to come together.

Professional golf instructors are on hand for anyone in need of golf game assistance. Both individual and group lessons are available. Riverside’s setup is also perfect for seniors looking for early morning practice or working adults making a quick lunch or after-work visit. In addition, Riverside will be expanding its activities by offering such exciting sports as kayaking and paddle-boarding, which will include instructor lessons and rentals.

Starting this month and throughout the golf season, the center will feature monthly deals in Natural Awakenings of Columbia. Call today!

Location: Riverside Golf & Recreation Center, 1600 Garner Ln., Columbia. For more information, call 803-750-1015 or visit RiversideGolfAndRecCenter.com. See ad, page 4.

Riverbanks Zoo Hosts Adult Garden Workshops

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n Saturday, March 12, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden will host its Vegetable Gardening 101 workshop for adults from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in its beautiful Botanical Garden amphitheater area. Participants will learn basic principles, techniques and tips to create a successful vegetable garden this summer. By incorporating good soil and space-saving techniques, a small area can provide a big bounty of home-grown produce. The fun-filled class will feature expert horticulturists that will engage participants with hands-on learning activities and demonstrations in a relaxed and creative environment. They will provide practical advice to maximize time, effort and energy when it comes to growing veggies. Individuals interested in attending are asked to please RSVP. Cost: $15 per person. Location: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, 130 Botanical Pkwy., W. Columbia. For more information, call 803-779-8717 or visit Riverbanks.org.

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he beautiful month of March represents the onset of spring.

Flowers are popping up and blossoming trees are filling the air with clouds of pollen. Let the allergy season begin! Millions of Americans experience seasonal allergies, a condition that greatly impacts both children and adults. With that in mind, there are steps that one can take to help with—or, in some cases, even prevent—allergic reactions. One natural solution that works well for many individuals is the elimination of dairy, grains and sugar from one’s diet. All of these ingredients oftentimes cause inflammation in the body. Eating sugar suppresses the immune system and impairs one’s natural defenses against illness and infectious diseases. Another preventive measure is the implementation of daily nasal washes containing natural agents, such as the neti pot. It helps to keep irritants clear from the nasal passages. It is best to follow the nasal wash with a nasal spray containing xylitol—a sugar alcohol made from birch trees. It works by making it difficult for germs, irritants and pollutants to adhere to the mucous membranes and nasal tissues. Taking these simple preventive measures can provide the relief that so many are looking for … allowing for a wonderful and “breathe easy” spring season.

For more information on how good nutrition can help in the pursuit of better health, call 803-798-8687 or visit AboutYourHealthSC.com. See ad, page 16.

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March 2016

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communitynews Nutrition Education Class Series Hosted in March

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arch is recognized as National Nutrition Month. Today, most health-conscious individuals understand that freshly ground whole grains (including their bran fiber and germ, which contain the grains’ precious oils and nutrients) are an infinitely better food choice than refined grains, which provide little more than starch and a few synthetic vitamins.

And what about the growing number of individuals that for various reasons cannot tolerate gluten and grains in any form? How can they get the important vitamins and oils they are missing from their diets?

Tre-en-en grain oils, available since 1958 but still widely unknown, can supply all of the missing lipids (essential oils) and sterols (good fats) that are removed by product processing and manufacturing. Sourced from organic whole wheat, organic brown rice and organic soybeans (all non-GMO), these oils are essential for building healthy cellular membranes, energy production and cell detoxification throughout the body.

Lee and Susan Adams will host a March class series on Tuesdays (3/1, 3/8, 3/15 and 3/29), titled Basic Nutrition, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. These very informative education sessions will help attendees discover how to confidently fill dietary gaps with simplicity and affordability; learn how to increase overall nutrient utilization by more than 50 percent; and understand the benefits and value of grain oils like Tre-en-en.

For more information and to RSVP, call 803-781-4690. See ad, page 5.

Palmetto Health Foundation Hosts KEMOPALOOZA

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upport a great cause with an even greater mission! On Friday, March 11, from 6 to 10 p.m., join Palmetto Health Foundation for KEMOPALOOZA at EdVenture Children’s Museum. This year’s event will feature an opening musical set by Just Another Distraction, with The Root Doctors headlining the event. Mobile bidding on fantastic silent and live auction items will also be available for event attendees. Event proceeds will benefit Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital’s CAMP KEMO Programs. Last year, more than 600 people attended with more than $118,000, including in-kind donations, raised. Event attire is casual and attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

Cost: $40, per person; $70, couples. The deadline to purchase tickets is March 10. Location: EdVenture Children’s Museum, 211 Gervais St., Columbia. For ticket purchases and more information, call 803-434-7275, or visit KEMOPALOOZA.org or PalmettoHealthFoundation.org. Connect via social media at #KEMOPALOOZA2016.

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ICRC Hosts Breakfast with the Bunny

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n Saturday, March 19, the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) will host its 2016 Breakfast with the Bunny at Seven Oaks Park, located at 200 Leisure Lane, Columbia.

Children are invited to the park to join the bunny for a fun-filled breakfast to celebrate the beginning of spring. The morning will include breakfast, crafts, activities and an egg hunt. Souvenir photos with the bunny will also be included. Parents are encouraged to bring baskets for their children.

Cost: $15, one child; $10, each additional child; adults’ meal tickets, $5 (tickets must be purchased in advance).

Time: 9-11:30 a.m. For more information, call 803-772-3336 or visit icrc.net.

National Wildlife Week

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o you love the wildlife? Well, mark your calendars for the week of March 7 to 13 in observance of National Wildlife Week. This is the National Wildlife Federation’s longest-running education program designed to teach and connect kids from all across the nation to the awesome wonders and importance of wildlife. Each year, a theme is picked with fun and informative educational materials, curriculum and activities provided for educators and caregivers to use with kids.

For more information, including questions on how to participate in the education program, email NationalWildlifeWeek@nwf.org or visit nwf.org.

National Groundwater Awareness Week

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round Water Awareness Week, which highlights the value and importance of ground water as a renewable resource essential to the health and well-being of our planet, will be recognized this year the week of March 6 to 12.

With about half the U.S. population receiving its drinking water from wells and more than 90 percent of the fresh water in our country and around the world being groundwater, public education and awareness are considered vital.

For more information, call 800-5517379, or visit ngwa.org or usgs.gov.

natural awakenings

March 2016

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communitynews The We All Need Trees Conservation Poster Contest Is Open

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he National Conservation Poster Contest is well under way and open to students in grades K-12 that would like to participate. Richland County students should submit their posters to the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District for local judging by April 8; students in other S.C. counties should contact their local conservation district n Saturday, March 19, the for entry deadlines and details. Posters American Heart Association will be evaluated by grade level accord(AHA) will host the Midlands Heart ing to the following criteria: conservation Walk, the association’s premier message (50 percent), visual effectiveness fundraising event to combat (30 percent), originality (10 percent) heart disease and stroke. These and universal appeal (10 percent). Each life-threatening illnesses are two of entry must include a signed entry form. the leading causes of deaths in the Although younger students may receive help in planning their posters from parents U.S. Designed to promote physical or teachers, students are encouraged to complete as much of the work as possible activity and heart-healthy living, the themselves. Entries completed by students in their own handwriting and coloring Heart Walk creates an environment will score better than those designed, drawn and/or colored with adult assistance. that’s fun and rewarding for the en Trees are essential for the survival of humans and other organisms. They protire family. More than 5,000 walkers duce oxygen, remove pollutants from the air, capture and cleanse runoff, protect soil from erosion, mitigate climate change, provide shade and1/1 create habitat for and more than 100 companies wildlife. Trees and forests are important economically; forestrySEI-Columbia is the number one will come together to participate manufacturing sector in S.C.’s economy, with an $18.6 billion540-1216-NA-revitalize-PCMT-4x3 impact statewide. in and support this noncompetitive Natural Awakenings 3.3-mile signature walk designed 4.75 x 3.25rules and For more contest information, including a complete list of participation to support the mission and efforts PKRCgov.us. guidelines, call 803-576-2080, email FisherC@RCgov.us or visit of AHA. Money raised goes toward 12/22 AHA’s efforts to reduce deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Invite a friend or coworker for a great day of beneficial exercise and bonding for a great cause. Fundraising is encouraged, with donation prize levels available. Walkers that raise at least $100 in funding will Train TODAY for an exciting future in be eligible to receive a commemorative Heart Walk T-shirt.

2016 AHA Midlands Heart Walk

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Revitalize Your Career Path Professional Clinical Massage Therapy

Main Campus

Columbia 1420 Colonial Life Blvd. W., Suite 80

888.212.7728

SoutheasternInstitute.edu

For information on graduation rates, student debt levels, and other disclosures, visit www.SoutheasternInstitute.edu/ConsumerInfo

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Cost: Free, fundraising encouraged.

Times: Activities begin at 8 a.m.; Heart Walk begins at 9 a.m. Starting location: Colonial Life Arena: 801 Lincoln St., Columbia. For more information, call 803-806-3091, email Catherine.Ramsey@Heart.org or visit Heartwalk.Kintera.org/faf/ home/default.asp?ievent=1139745.

PATIENT TESTIMONIALS

2016 S.C. Walk & Bike to School Day Campaign

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he 2016 South Carolina Walk & Bike to School Day campaign will take place on Wednesday, March 9.

Sponsored by the S.C. Department of Transportation, the S.C. Safe Routes to School program launched the first S.C. Walk to School Day event in the spring of 2012, with nearly 150 schools participating. S.C. Walk to School Day continues to grow in popularity each and every year. In 2015, 219 schools registered their events, indicating that walking celebrations have become part of school culture statewide. Even though the event falls on March 9, schools can host events anytime throughout the entire month of March!

Walk to School Day is a great way for parents, students, school personnel and other community members to directly understand the fun and healthy benefits of walking by experiencing the trip to school on foot as they walk and bike with students. The program also emphasizes the importance of practicing safety when traveling on foot with the use of helpful tips and precautions. Local schools are invited to plan a walking event. School organizers can plan a walk day to school, a walk day from school, or a walk day at school from one location to another. Interested schools are asked to contact their respective outreach coordinators. No matter the event type, the goal is to emphasize how walking and biking are both healthy and fun activities.

-Nutrition Counseling and Supplements -Ionic Footbath Detox -Custom Orthotics -Orthopedic Pillows, Lumbar Supports, etc.

No Referral Needed

Dr. Jim Minico D.C.

THE FUTURE OF

SPINAL DECOMPRESSION IS HERE

*Orthopedic Technology Review, Vol. 5-6, Nov-Dec 2003

For more information, call 855-4727787 or visit SCSafeRoutes.org.

natural awakenings

March 2016

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communitynews

kudos

Southeastern Institute Hosts Health Fair and Academic Open House

Keep the Midlands Beautiful Earns Keep America Beautiful Award

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outheastern Institute will host a Health Fair and Academic Open House for prospective students, the general public and community partners to learn more about the school and its programs. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 19, at the Columbia Southeastern Institute campus. Complimentary chair massage, blood pressure checks, classroom demonstrations, refreshments and campus tours will be provided for attendees.

High school graduates or others wanting to advance their careers may benefit from the mission of Southeastern Institute to help students achieve their career goals. Students can complete one class at a time and take advantage of flexible scheduling, which leaves more time for family, work and other pursuits. Small classes ensure personal attention, practical training and accessibility to instructors experienced in the industry.

Southeastern Institute offers quality career education in such programs as medical assisting, electronic medical billing and coding, pharmacy technology, and professional clinical massage therapy.

Location: Southeastern Institute, 1420 Colonial Life Blvd., Ste. 80, Columbia. For more information, call 888-782-8459 or visit seiOpenHouse.com. See ad, page 10.

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eep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB) received the 2015 Keep America Beautiful President Circle Award recognition at Keep America Beautiful’s recent national confer- Jacqueline Buck, Jennifer Jehn ence, in Orlando, Florida. The President’s Circle Award recognizes exemplary performance made by certified affiliates of the national nonprofit in creating clean, green and beautiful communities.

In qualifying for a President’s Circle Award, KMB has met Keep America Beautiful’s standards of merit by conducting an annual Community Appearance Index, calculating the affiliate’s cost/benefit ratio, and administering activities in the areas of litter prevention, recycling and waste reduction, and beautification and community greening. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful consists of a national network of more than 600 statewide and community-based affiliates whose programs, initiatives and efforts, supported by millions of volunteers, help transform public spaces into beautiful places.

“One of Keep America Beautiful’s most effective tools is the work of our grassroots network of community-based affiliate organizations, which has an impact on millions of Americans each year,” says Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Jennifer Jehn. “Our affiliates are providing real solutions that help create communities that are socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound.”

Kudos to Jacqueline Buck (KMB executive director) and her very capable staff!

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businessspotlight

made to order with nutrient-dense ingredients that cleanse and nourish at the cellular level.

To meet a growing demand for a cooked side to the menu, the café installed new high-end double ovens, a grill and a steam table. The café’s new cooked items and daily specials reflect popular dishes from every continent, with fresh ingredients enhanced with a variety of organic spices and special spice blends. The word is quickly spreading. Main Street shoppers, downtown residents and the general workforce come to the café to enjoy its great raw menu items, new daily cooked vegetables, from-scratch soups and vegan burgers. The café’s latest “crave” is the recently installed kombucha bar.

A Café with Wright Motives …

and Your Well-Being at Heart!

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by Anne Buck

n the heart of downtown Columbia sits a popular café run by three visionaries driven by distinct passions: the health and well-being of others, the healing powers of a plantbased diet, and the revitalization of Main Street.

Because of these shared priorities, Good Life Café co-owners Scott Middleton, Sharon Wright and Danny Hutto have invested great energy and effort in their collective pursuit of excellence.

And, since many others also share these passions, they keep their fingers on the pulse of what customers want, need, and even demand.

Wright, executive chef at the café, spent much of her early life eating the Standard American Diet. She switched to a macrobiotic diet 24 years ago when her grandfather was diagnosed with colon cancer. Later, she transitioned into an all-raw vegan lifestyle while her father also battled cancer.

She noticed that he did well as long as he stuck to a plant-based diet, but when he began to deviate from this, his cancer returned and led to his death.

His experience further cemented her commitment to educating others on the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Her devotion to a vegan diet was also born from her love and compassion

for animals, and an awakening that occurred after she viewed documentaries on the often brutal treatment of animals through factory farming. Wright wanted to have a café where others could enjoy foods without harming animals and where she could promote health through whole food cuisine.

As with any restaurant, Wright, Middleton and Hutto pay attention to the business side of running the café, but their conversations often turn to the human aspect—how the café can help the large suffering segment of our city thrive in a healthier lifestyle through wise food choices, ongoing classes, demonstrations and more. They’ve seen exciting transformations take place in first-time customers that were once discouraged, overweight, on numerous medications and with serious health issues. After switching to a plant-based diet, many proactive customers return again and again, very grateful and transformed on many personal levels.

Health-savvy vegans especially appreciate Good Life Café’s pure standards in the kitchen. While some restaurants grill a “vegan” burger next to greasy hamburgers, Good Life has no cross-contamination with animal fats (that may be laced with hormones and antibiotics). Every item is vegan and

March is National Nutrition Month. With that in mind, make an investment in your health and well-being by visiting Good Life Café, conveniently located in beautiful downtown Columbia, just across from Mast General Store and Nickelodeon Theatre. It is within easy walking distance from USC, a major hospital, several hotels, corporate offices, retailers, salons, medical offices, urban dwellers and more. Soda City Market, a popular downtown event that draws thousands from all over, hosts its activities on Saturdays, only a stone’s throw away.

Location: 1614 Main St., Columbia. For more information, call 803-726-2310 or visit GoodLifeCafe.net. See ad, page 22.

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March 2016

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healthbriefs

Neti Pot Solutions for Sinus Problems

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eti pots, used for centuries in Asian cultures to support nasal health and eliminate toxins from the nasal mucosa, have become increasingly popular in the Western world.

People use the small Aladdin’s lamp-looking pots to help flush sinuses, usually by pouring a mild solution of unrefined sea salt and water from one nostril through the other (avoid common table salt because it can irritate mucous membranes). The process flushes out unwanted mucus, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. Frequent nasal flushing is credited with preventing and relieving sinus infections. Some experts recommend a stronger remedy if an infection is present.

“The bacteria and fungi stick rather well to the nasal mucosa and are often not flushed out with saline flushes,” remarks Herbalist Steven Frank, of Nature’s Rite LLC. “Most of these nasty pathogens adhere to the mucosa with what is called biofilm. Within this slimy layer, they are well protected and thrive in the warm, moist sinuses, so a small saline bath once a day doesn’t really bother them much at all.”

To deal with stubborn sinus problems, Frank likes using the neti pot with a colloidal silver wash that is retained in the nostrils for 10 minutes. This can be supported with regular intranasal spraying of the colloid throughout the day.

For more information, call 888-465-4404 or visit NaturesRiteRemedies.com. See ad, page 27.

Probiotics Reduce Aggressively Negative Thoughts

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ecent research from the Netherlands’ Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition has discovered that negative and aggressive thinking can be changed by supplementing with probiotic bacteria. The triple-blind study followed and tested 40 healthy people over a period of four weeks that were split into two groups; one was given a daily probiotic supplement containing seven species of probiotics and the other, a placebo.

The subjects filled out a questionnaire that measured cognitive reactivity and depressed moods using the Leiden Index of Depression Sensitivity, which measures negative and depressed thinking. After four weeks, the probiotic group showed significantly lower scores in aggression, control issues, hopelessness, risk aversion and rumination, compared to the placebo group.

“The study demonstrated for the first time that a four-week, multispecies, probiotic intervention has a positive effect on cognitive reactivity to naturally occurring changes in sad mood in healthy individuals not currently diagnosed with a depressive disorder,” the researchers concluded.

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Channel-Surfing Couch Potatoes May Lose Cognitive Skills

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esearchers from the University of California at San Francisco, working with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and other research agencies, have found that watching television may affect cognition, specifically as it relates to executive function and processing speeds.

The study followed 3,247 people over a 25-year period, beginning in their early adult years. Those that frequently watched television during their early adult years had a 64 percent higher incidence of poor cognitive performance compared to less frequent television watchers. This was after adjusting results for the effects of many other known lifestyle factors that affect cognition such as smoking, alcohol use and body mass index.

The effects of television watching worsened when combined with reduced physical activity during young adult years. Those with low physical activity and a high frequency of watching television were twice as likely to have poor cognition compared to those that had low television viewing combined with high physical activity during that period.

healthspotlight

containing high-fructose corn syrup.

Make a real effort to reduce all sugar from food choices. Sugarcane naturally contains a rich source of the mineral chromium, which is necessary for the safe and efficient metabolism of carbohydrates—sugars and starches. However, when it is refined, as is the case in our present food supply, 90 percent of the chromium is removed, making cane sugar a disease-causing food.

2. Being overweight raises the risk of NAFLD and NASH significantly. To be more fit and/or to avoid adding on pounds, make changes in both diet and lifestyle.

CHRONIC LIVER

DI SEASE:

The New Ominous Epidemic

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by COEM

he liver as a vital organ and the diseases that can affect it are rarely thought about but should be seriously considered. An epidemic is occurring, resulting from our eating and drinking massive amounts of sugar. In the modern age, we have been dealing with an increasing amount of cane and beet sugar in our diet. When the food industrial complex switched our source of sugars to high-fructose corn syrup, an epidemic began of an unheard of disease—non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which staggeringly affects up to 25 percent of people in the United States.

As its name suggests, NAFLD is the buildup of extra fat in the liver that is not caused by alcohol. It’s normal for

the liver to contain some fat. But if more than 5 to 10 percent of the liver’s weight is fat, then it is called a “fatty liver.”

If not treated, NAFLD can progress into non-alcoholic steatotic hepatitis— NASH for short. It begins with the infiltration of our liver with fat; increasing inflammation, characterized by higher levels of liver enzymes; and progressing to fibrosis or scarring, referred to as cirrhosis. The end result is liver failure and ultimately death. NASH is now the number one cause of liver failure and the number one need for liver transplantations.

In the past, patients were rarely diagnosed with this disease. But now there are more and more cases, often coming unfortunately at the terminal phase of this disease. There are more than 30 million Americans with some form of liver disease, and even 1 in 10 children are thought to have NAFLD. The good news is that diagnosing this disorder early is easy and reversing its pathology is also relatively easy to achieve, although demanding.

Prevention is first and foremost the primary focus and can be achieved through the following steps: 1. Stop eating or drinking any products

3. Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement containing B-complex vitamins, inositol, choline and at least 2000 mcg of chromium.

Ways to Diagnose NAFLD and NASH: 1. Annual lab testing for CBC/multichem, including a liver panel. Look for elevated levels of the liver enzymes ALT, AST, GGT and alkaline phosphatase as well as an elevated level of albumin. All of these will alert one to abnormal liver function.

2. Liver ultrasound will demonstrate fatty infiltration of the liver.

Treatment options can include: 1. IV therapy, average up to six weeks (five days/week) using intravenous alpha lipoic acid in addition to oral alpha lipoic acid in the amount of 300 mg three times a day. Add to the above regimen liver-supporting nutrients, including milk thistle, L-glutathione, N-acetyl cysteine and B-complex vitamins.

2. Anti-scarring therapies to reverse liver failure.

COEM, Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, can assist with the prevention and treatment of liver disease. For more information, visit COEM.com; for an appointment, call 843-572-1600. See ads, pages 2 and 47, and listings, page 41.

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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Nixing Monsanto Guatemala Just Says No

The government of Guatemala has repealed legislation dubbed the “Monsanto law”, which was approved last year to grant the biotech giant special expansion rights into ecologically sensitive territory, after widespread public protest. The demonstrations included groups of indigenous Mayan people, joined by social movements, trade unions and farmers’ and women’s organizations.

Following political party battles, the Guatemalan Congress decided not to just review the legislation, but instead cancel it outright.

The Monsanto law would have given exclusivity on patented seeds to a handful of transnational companies. Mayan people and social organizations claim that the new law would have violated their constitution and the Mayan people’s right to traditional cultivation of the land in their ancestral territories.

Lolita Chávez, of the Mayan People’s Council, states, “Corn taught us Mayan people about community life and its diversity, because when one cultivates corn, one realizes that a variety of crops such as herbs and medicinal plants depend on the corn plant, as well.”

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Whistleblowing Allowed

Court Overrules Law Gagging Animal Abuse Probes U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill has written that in a pivotal case of animal cruelty undercover reporting, the Idaho Dairymen’s Association responded to the negative publicity by drafting and sponsoring a bill in a class known as Ag-Gag legislation that criminalizes the types of surreptitious investigations that expose such violent activities. Seven other states currently have similar Ag-Gag laws on the books.

Winmill declared the law unconstitutional in his decision, stating that its only purpose is to “limit and punish those who speak out on topics relating to the agricultural industry, striking at the heart of important First Amendment values.” The law was deemed to violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, “as well as preemption claims under three different federal statutes,” cites Winmill.

“This ruling is so clear, so definitive, so sweeping,” says Leslie Brueckner, senior attorney for Public Justice and co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the case. “We couldn’t ask for a better building block in terms of striking these laws down in other states.”

Source: Food Safety News

therapyspotlight

Himalayan

SALT: Allergy Season’s WORST ENEMY

T

by Odell Williams

he season for hay fever, allergies, asthma and bronchitis is here. A Himalayan salt inhaler can prove to be a great natural way to combat these nasty airborne pollutants and allergens causing such adverse and disruptive respiratory conditions.

The Himalayan salt inhaler is a ceramic canister filled with dry salt that is breathed in through the mouth and exhaled through the nose. Himalayan salt is antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory, and also exhibits the properties of an expectorant or antihistamine.

Two important benefits are that it is all natural and has no side effects. Given that salt is moisture absorbent, once it enters the lungs and sinuses, it acts like a “scrub brush” by removing the sticky and problematic mucus from the little hairs, called celli, in the lungs. In addition, the salt unblocks the lungs’ crucial air sacs, called alveoli, by shrinking the swollen membranes, thus opening up the airways for proper breathing.

Another great way to take advantage of Himalayan salt’s power to combat seasonal allergens is by visiting a salt spa like the one featured at Breath of Salt Spa, located at 1410 Colonial Life Boulevard West, Suite 250, Columbia. At this spa, individuals will breathe and experience a healing salt environment in a zero-gravity lounger for 45 minutes in a relaxing, ambient and softly-lit room while listening to soothing meditative music. A Halo generator grinds and continuously blows Himalayan salt into the air. The salt is ground into micro-sized particles of 1 to 5 microns (about the size of a blood cell). This opens the airways to make it easier to breathe, helps build the immune system and detoxifies the body. The experience is similar to being at the beach without the hot sun, humidity and overcrowding.

There are also salt lamps available that exhibit a warm and beautiful amber glow and emit negative ions. Salt lamps are attractive and healthy for both the body and the atmosphere. The negative ions help alleviate symptoms caused by allergies, sleep disorders, migraines, headaches, asthma and depression. The ions also help eliminate common indoor air pollutants, such as dust and mildew, and electronic fields from TVs, computers and other electronic devices. Himalayan salt can also be used as a detoxification agent in the form of brine, called sole (so-lah). A quarter of a teaspoon in the morning in a glass of water will help balance the body’s pH levels and flush out heavy metals by breaking down their molecular structure. Himalayan salt contains 84 minerals and trace elements. Himalayan salt has 84 out of 92 possible matches of the same trace elements and minerals found in the plasma in our bodies. What could be healthier?

These are just a few very helpful ways that Himalayan salt can help one stay healthier and happier this allergy and hay fever season. Individuals should be proactive and not wait until the symptoms attack before beginning some form of treatment. Call Breath of Salt Spa to schedule an appointment and learn more about the many ways that Himalayan salt can help one fight and win the allergy war … naturally.

For more helpful tips and to learn about the history of Himalayan salt, visit SaltTherapyAssociation.org. For more information about Breath of Salt Spa, call 803-772-7258 or visit BreathOfSaltSpa.com. See ad, page 37. natural awakenings

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ecotip Efficient Cook

Kitchen Recipes for Daily Energy Savings The kitchen is a hotbed of energy consumption when family meals are being prepared and even when dormant. Appliances make a big difference, and the tools and methods we cook with can reduce utility bills. According to Mother Earth News, cooking in a convection oven is 25 percent more efficient than a conventional oven.

Switching to an Energy Star-approved refrigerator that consumes 40 percent less energy than conventional models can save up to $70 in energy bills annually, according to ChasingGreen.org. They suggest performing defrosts routinely and keeping the door tightly sealed, especially on an older model. Position the fridge so that it isn’t next to heat sources such as sunlight, the oven or dishwasher.

While cooking, refrain from opening and closing a hot oven door too frequently, put lids on pots while heating and select the right size pans. Cooking with a six-inch-diameter pan on an eight-inch burner wastes more than 40 percent of the heat produced. For cleanup, a full load of dishes in a water-efficient dishwasher uses four gallons of water versus 24 gallons for hand washing, according to flow meter manufacturer Seametrics.

A slow cooker uses less energy and needs less water to wash afterward (VitaClayChef.com), plus it doesn’t strain household air conditioning as a stove does. It’s good for cooking hearty stews and soups made from local seasonal vegetables, steaming rice, making yogurt and baking whole-grain breads.

Consider taking a break from the kitchen by ordering a week’s worth of organic, natural meals and ingredients delivered to the door by an eco-friendly meal distribution service, which cuts down on individual trips to the grocery. Search online for local service options.

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March 2016

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inspiration

COLOR ME CALM Grownups De-Stress with Adult Coloring Books

by Avery Mack

C

oloring books are no longer solely the domain of children.

Immersion in this fun, creative pastime by adults even for just 30 minutes can constitute a focused meditation that relieves stress. Doctor of Psychology Nikki Martinez, in Chicago, says that famed psychotherapist Carl Jung believed coloring helps patients release anxiety.

“It uses both sides of the brain and improves organizational and fine motor skills,” says Martinez. “After I underwent a major surgery, I was on bed rest for eight weeks, and adult coloring books were a lifesaver. They passed the time, were pretty and kept me in a constant state of calm. I devoured them.”

Publishers Weekly reported combined 2015 sales of 1.75 million copies for the 10 bestselling adult coloring books through November. This trend was years in the making, originating when parents colored with their kids and sometimes on their own. Adults around the world now join coloring book clubs, hold related parties and take coloring breaks at work. Last fall, Barnes & Noble hosted the one-day All-American Art Unwind, where customers colored and uploaded their results to Instagram and Twitter. Hallmark sent a crew of artists and calligraphers to select locations to help customers color their greeting cards.

“We scheduled a coloring session for a 55-plus community workshop,”

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relates Ninah Kessler, a licensed clinical social worker with the Sparks of Genius Brain Optimization Center, in Boca Raton, Florida. “People had so much fun they wouldn’t leave. It’s creative, portable and inexpensive. You never face blank paper because the lines are there; you just pick the colors. There’s no stress about possibly making mistakes.”

“Animals, jungle or floral themes,

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and Zen-inspired mandalas are popular.

Customers like realistic, intricate drawings,” explains Idalia Farrajota, a Dallas executive with Michaels craft stores, which offers free, in-store coloring sessions and provides supplies. (Download a free sample book at Tinyurl.com/ BotanicalColoringPages.) Johanna Basford, a renowned illustrator from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is a hit with colorists, catering to their penchant for nature with Secret Garden, Enchanted Forest and her latest, Lost Ocean.

“My daughter wanted to color her life, not do generic drawings,” says Dieter Marlovics, prompting him to establish ReallyColor.com, in Chicago. “Really-Color converts photos into coloring book pages to make individually tailored pages.”

Try these eco-tips: Sprout pencils, made with sustainable wood and fruit-and-vegetable-based dyed clay instead of lead, are topped by nonGMO seeds that can be planted when the pencil becomes short. Inktense’s water-soluble brightly colored pencils mimic pen and ink; add water for translucency. Select recycled paper books, soy crayons, watercolor paints and non-toxic markers.

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fitbody

ROLLING FOR FITNESS DIY Rollers Ease Pain and Aid Flexibility

by Randy Kambic

M

ore amateur and serious athletes, people wanting to ease stiffness due to sedentary work and seniors are enjoying a new DIY way to massage out the kinks at home that’s becoming recognized for its benefits by experts worldwide.

For the first time, flexibility and mobility rolling ranks in the top 20 of the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends. Made predominantly of foam and hard rubber, the rollers can “massage, relieve muscle tightness and muscle spasms, increase circulation, ease muscular discomfort and assist in the return to normal activity,” according to the organization’s Health & Fitness Journal, which notes a growing market for the devices.

Dr. Walter Thompson, professor of kinesiology and health with Georgia State University, in Atlanta, was the lead author of the survey. He says, “Personal trainers have found that it works for their clients. We’ve also seen an increase in popularity in gyms and fitness clubs.” The trend is partly spawned by their use in Pilates. Thompson adds, “Tech devices, now central to our daily lives, have changed the way we plan and manage our workouts.” Yet, as with other such

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equipment, users must be educated on how to employ the rollers on their own.

Most rollers are available in smooth or ribbed textures in different sizes and densities. Sets include one for deep tissue rolling, self-myofascial release and trigger point relief, designed to aid muscles related to the back, hips, arms, glutes and hamstrings.

Dr. Spencer H. Baron, president of NeuroSport Elite, in Davie, Florida, was the 2010 National Sports Chiropractor of the Year and served as a chiropractic physician for the Miami Dolphins football team for 19 years. He starts patients out with rollers during office appointments, especially those with sports injuries.

“It empowers them to take charge of their fitness,” he says. “Those standing or sitting all day at work may need it even more than athletes do to improve circulation and stimulate the nervous system.”

While rollers can be administered to hamstrings and quadriceps by hand, he attests that the back is the most commonly targeted region, and suggests two corresponding maneuvers: Lie down with a foam roller under the neck at home. Gently roll it across to each shoulder blade, and then center it and roll it down to the buttocks; even to the hamstrings. Next, assume a squatting position against a wall and place a roller between the center of the back and the wall, gently rise up, and then sink down. It’s also possible do this at work in private.

Baron and his colleagues believe that rollers are beneficial to use on the shoulders and arms of tennis players and baseball pitchers. “I like the metaphor of a chef rolling dough in the kitchen. With a similar motion, you’re kneading muscles and tendons, improving blood flow and circulation to sore areas,” he says.

Jason Karp, Ph.D., the 2011 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Personal Trainer of the Year and creator of his company’s Run-Fit certification program, has seen the popularity of the devices on the rise with runners. “People like gadgets” that can help them, he notes. “Runners get tight from running, and rollers can help alleviate that tightness. I know a lot of runners that swear by them.”

Karp, a California author of six books, including Running for Women and his upcoming The Inner Runner, feels that rollers are especially well-suited for post-workout use. “The rollers are basically a form of self-myofascial release, which helps relax muscles by putting pressure on tight areas to cause the muscle to relax via its reflex to tension,” he explains.

It looks like this universally applicable and simple fitness tool will keep on rolling through this year and beyond.

Randy Kambic, in Estero, Florida, is a freelance editor and writer for Natural Awakenings and other magazines.

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- Mahatma Gandhi natural awakenings

March 2016

23

Meaty Truths Choosing Meat that’s Sustainable and Safe

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

I

n his essay The Pleasures of Eating, Wendell Berry, a Kentucky farmer and poet, writes: “If I am going to eat meat, I want it to be from an animal that has lived a pleasant, uncrowded life outdoors, on bountiful pasture, with good water nearby and trees for shade.” He, like a growing number of conscious eaters, wants no part of the industrial meat system in which animals are raised in concentrated animal feeding operations.

Media coverage has helped educate consumers previously unaware of how their food is produced and why it matters. The documentary film Food Inc., as well as books like Fast Food Nation,

by Eric Schlosser and The Chain, by Ted

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Genoways, describe common livestock industry practices that mistreat animals, pollute water and air, endanger workers and threaten public health. With increased understanding of the connections between diet and health, climate, environment and social justice, even many Americans that still like the taste of hamburger and steak have sided with Berry; they want sustainably raised, humane and healthful red meat.

Unsustainable Corporate Lobby Every five years, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines are revised to reflect the

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latest nutritional science. In 2015, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee attempted to include the concept of sustainability. The committee, which included top nutrition scientists, defined sustainable diets as “a pattern of eating that promotes health and well-being and provides food security for the present population while sustaining human and natural resources for future generations.”

It made the case that a diet higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based foods both promotes health and protects the environment—resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions, and less energy, land and water use.

But political pressure from the livestock industry prevailed, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell jointly announced, “We do not believe that the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the appropriate vehicle for this important policy conversation about sustainability.” Instead, they advised the committee to focus solely on nutritional and dietary information.

In her book Food Politics, nutritionist and author Marion Nestle explains that recommendations to decrease consumption have never been popular with the food industry. Nonetheless, Roni Neff, Ph.D., who directs the Center for a Livable Future’s Food System Sustainability and Public Health Program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore, recommends consuming less red meat in particular, because of its large environmental footprint. Neff points out, “Thirty percent of greenhouse gas emissions are connected to red meat.”

Because climate change is accelerating and is already causing a multitude of adverse effects, and the footprint of our current food system is massive, we urgently need to create a national food supply that is both healthy and sustainable. ~Dr. Walter Willett, Harvard School of Public Health

However, not all red meat is created equal. In her book Defending Beef, environmental lawyer and cattle rancher Nicolette Hahn Niman makes a case for sustainable meat production, noting, “Well-managed grazing could be part of an effective strategy to combat climate change.”

In their book The New Livestock Farmer, authors Rebecca Thistlethwaite and Jim Dunlop praise the increase in farmers producing pasture-raised, ethical meats and the growing number of farmers selling directly to people that reject the industrial system. Neff likewise supports such sustainable livestock agriculture, which integrates pasture-raised animals on farms, rather than isolating them on feedlots, where they typically eat a grain-based diet (such as genetically engineered corn) and receive growth stimulants, including hormones and antibiotics.

Risky Hormones and Antibiotics Mike Callicrate, a St. Francis, Kansas, rancher educated in the industrial model of meat production, is considered an expert on its negative consequences.

He served as an advisor for Food Inc., and Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Callicrate observes, “The same chemical compounds that athletes are banned from using in baseball are used to produce our food animals, which our children eat in the hot dogs

at the ballgame.”

According to the USDA, about 90 percent of feedlot cattle receive hormone implants to promote growth.

Yet the European Union Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures Relating to Public Health reports that the use of natural and artificial growth hormones in beef production poses a potential risk to human health, especially among children.

Concerns about growth-promoting drugs led the American Academy of Pediatrics to call for studies that direct-ly measure their impact on children through milk and meat. The President’s Cancer Panel Report on Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk also states, “Growth hormones may contribute to endocrine disruption in humans.”

Their dietary recommendations include choosing meat raised without hormones and antibiotics.

Rising Resistance Antibiotic resistance is now one of the world’s most critical public health problems, and it’s related to misuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Antibiotic resistance— when bacteria don’t respond to the drugs designed to kill them—threatens to return us to the time when simple infections were often fatal.”

Veterinarian and food safety consultant Gail Hansen, of Washington, D.C., explains that bacteria naturally develop resistance anytime we use antibiotics. “The problem is overuse and misuse; that’s the recipe for disaster.”

She explains that more than 70 percent of the antibiotics sold in the U.S. are not used to treat sick animals, but to promote growth and reduce the risk of infection related to raising animals in unsanitary, overcrowded spaces.

A recent report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states: Adding antibiotics to the feed of healthy livestock “often leave the drugs ineffective when they are needed to treat infections in people.”

The AAP supports buying meat from organic farms, because organic farming rules prohibit the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics. Stacia Clinton, a registered dietitian in Boston

Smarter Meat Choices

by Melinda Hemmelgarn Choose certified organic meat.

Organic certification prohibits antibiotics, added hormones and genetically modified (GMO) feed.

Select grass-fed and grass-finished meats. Look for the nonprofit American Grassfed Association (AGA) certification, which ensures animals eat only grass and forage from the time of their weaning until harvest, and are raised without antibiotics or hormones (AmericanGrassfed.org). AGA standards apply to ruminant animals only: beef, bison, goat, lamb and sheep.

Support Country of Origin Labeling. This mandates that retail cuts of meat must contain a label informing consumers of its source. The U.S. meat industry has worked to stop such labeling.

Beware of misleading labels.

“Natural” provides no legal assurance about how an animal was raised. “Vegetarian feed” may mean GMO corn and/or soy. (See Greener Choices.org.)

Buy directly from family livestock farmers. Check out sites like Local Harvest.org and Tinyurl.com/Farmers MarketsDirectory.

Pay attention to portions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture serving size weighs three ounces, about the same size as a deck of cards. Think of meat as a side dish and balance the rest of the plate with vegetables, leafy greens, beans and other legumes.

Once a week, cut out meat. Participate in Meatless Mondays (Meatless Monday.org).

Assume all retail meat carries bacteria that can cause food-borne illness. Practice safe food handling as directed on package labels. (Also see FoodSafety.gov and KeepAntibiotics Working.com.)

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who works with the To be interested his the first state to ban the international nonprofit of routine low doses in food, but not in use Health Care Without of antimicrobial drugs that Harm, assists hospitals food production, are medically important to in both reducing meat to promote liveis clearly absurd. humans on their menus and stock weight gain or feed increasing purchases efficiency. The bill doesn’t ~Wendell Berry of meat from animals go into effect until January raised without antibiot2018, but will contribute ics. The goal is to reduce the growing to making meat safer and antibiotic number of antibiotic-resistant infecdrugs more effective. tions that cost hospitals and patients billions of dollars each year.

Red and Processed

A Friends of the Earth report, Meats Targeted Chain Reaction: How Top Restaurants Dietary advice to reduce the conRate on Reducing Use of Antibiotics in sumption of red and processed meats, Their Meat Supply, revealed that most regardless of how the animals are raised, meat served by American’s top chain restaurants come from animals raised in is not new. Kelay Trentham, a registered dietitian in Tacoma, Washington, who industrial facilities where they are fed specializes in cancer prevention and antibiotics. Only two out of 25 chains, treatment, points out that joint reports Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panera from the World Cancer Research Fund Bread, report that the majority of their International and American Institute for meat is raised without routine antibiotics. A recent study by Consumers Union Cancer Research (AICR) since 2007 have recommended restricting consumption also found antibiotic-resistant bacteria of red meat to less than 18 ounces a on retail meat samples nationwide. week and avoiding processed meats.

In California, Governor Jerry

In 2015, the World Health OrBrown signed Senate Bill 27, making

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ganization International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified processed meat (like hot dogs, ham, sausages, corned beef and beef jerky) as “carcinogenic to humans” and red meat (beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse and goat) as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Risk increases with amount consumed, and the evidence is strongest for the relation of processed meats to colorectal cancer.

Trentham explains some factors that make red and processed meats risky. “Heating or smoking meat creates cancer-causing compounds. Processed meats contain salts, nitrates and nitrites; a chemical mélange of preservatives that can increase risk,” she says. Trentham and Karen Collins, a registered dietitian and advisor to the AICR, concur that the form of iron found in meat also contributes to cancer risk.

Still, the IARC report recognizes, “Eating meat has known health benefits.” Meat is a rich source of protein and B vitamins, iron and zinc. Livestock feed further influences nutritional composition, with meat from cattle raised on pasture (grass) containing higher

levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids compared to meat from animals fed grain.

According to medical doctor and National Institutes of Health researcher Captain Joseph Hibbeln, consuming fewer omega-6 fatty acids and more omega-3s may be one of the most important dietary changes for cutting the risk of chronic diseases, reducing inflammation, improving mental health, enhancing children’s brain and eye development and reducing worldwide incidence of cardiovascular disease by 40 percent.

When it comes to eating meat, the agricultural practices, quantity consumed, and methods of processing and cooking make a difference.

It turns out that what’s good for the environment is good for animals and people, too.

Melinda Hemmelgarn is an awardwinning registered dietitian, writer and Food Sleuth Radio host with KOPN.org, in Columbia, MO. Connect at FoodSleuth@gmail.com.

Grilling a Grass-Fed Steak Just Right

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

S

hannon Hayes, farmer, nutritionist and author of The Farmer and the Grill: A Guide to Grilling, Barbecuing and Spit-Roasting Grassfed Meat… and for Saving the Planet, One Bite at a Time, says cooking grass-fed steaks at too-high temperatures, especially when grilling, is a common mistake.

The West Fulton, New York, food expert describes how to achieve “a gorgeous sear on the outside, and a pink and juicy inside.”

When working on a grill, light only one side. When hot, sear an inch-and-a-quarter-thick steak for no more than two minutes per side, with the grill lid off. Make sure fat drippings don’t flare up flames, which will blacken and toughen the meat.

After the sear, move the steaks to

the unlit side of the grill and put the grill lid on. Let them finish cooking indirectly for five to seven minutes per pound. The lower temperature cooks the internal muscle fibers, but prevents them from contracting too rapidly and becoming chewy.

As an alternative to grilling, use an oven and cast-iron skillet. Preheat the oven to 300° F. Next, heat the skillet over a high flame until smoke begins to rise off its surface. Coat the skillet with butter or tallow, then sear the meat for two minutes per side. Turn off the stove; leave steaks in the pan and move them to the oven, where they can finish cooking for five to seven minutes per pound.

Source: TheRadicalHomemaker.net

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healingways

The Eyes Tell Our Story

How Integrative Doctors See Into Whole-Body Health

by Linda Sechrist

T

o poets, the eyes have long been known as windows to the soul. Systemically trained ophthalmologists, optometrists and functional medicine doctors see these organs as a potential indicator of high blood pressure, diabetes, stress-related effects and nutritional deficiencies, as well as sites for potential glaucoma and macular degeneration.

The connection between overall health and eye health is rarely addressed during conventional eye exams, which are based on standard protocols for prescribing eyeglasses, drugs or surgery. Conventionally trained optometrists and ophthalmologists, lacking education in nutrition and alternative approaches, treat the eyes as isolated organs. In contrast, systemically oriented, holistic eye experts treat them as integrated parts of the whole body.

Eye doctors like Marc R. Grossman,doctor of optometry, a co-founder of Natural Eye Care, Inc., of New Paltz, New York, and Edward C. Kondrot, a medical doctor and founder of the Healing the Eye & Wellness Center, in Fort Myers, Florida, take such a preventive and integrative approach. They recommend good whole

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foods nutrition, supplemented with antioxidants and plant-based formulations of omega-6 and omega-3 oils, together with adequate sleep and exercise. Key complementary treatments can be effective in improving sight and reversing some conditions.

Grossman, also a licensed acupuncturist, explains in his book Greater Vision: A Comprehensive Program for Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Clarity how he incorporates the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of vision into his philosophy of eye care. At Somers Eye Center, in Somers, New York, he uses a full range of mind-body therapies, combined with conventional methods to address dry eye syndrome, nearsightedness, farsightedness, macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.

Kondrot, a leading board-certified homeopathic ophthalmologist, uses a slit-lamp binocular microscope to examine the complex living tissue of the eyes. The author of 10 Essentials to Save Your Sight, he’s experienced in regeneration nutrition and maintains that our overall health impacts our vision. His toolbox includes multimodal protocols like homeopathy, detoxification, oxygen therapy, low-level microcurrent to stimulate cellular activity, palming (using the hands over closed eyes) and other alternative methods to reverse visual loss. He regularly uses the Myers’ cocktail, an intravenous therapy with a high concentration of B-complex and C vitamins, taurine (an amino sulfonic acid), trace minerals and zinc.

“Regardless of your eye condition, regular eye exercises can increase eye muscle flexibility and support circulation for better delivery of oxygen, essential nutrients and the flow of energy to the eyes,” says Grossman. He notes that “Aerobic Exercise Protects Retinal Func-

tion and Structure from Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration,” a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience in 2014, was the first of its kind to link physical exercise with improved retinal health and prevention of common eye diseases.

While Kondrot emphasizes that vitamins A, C, D and E are essential to eye health, particularly in preventing macular degeneration, he cautions that taking a supplement is no substitute for expanding the diet to include foods such as kale, spinach, parsley, collard greens, cooked broccoli, green peas, pumpkin and Brussels sprouts. All include lutein and zeaxanthin, two types of important carotenoids contained within the retina and found in the leaves of most green plants. Digestive enzymes, probiotics and the amino acid betaine are also necessary to facilitate better absorption of nutrients.

Dr. Connie Casebolt, board certified in family medicine and founder of GFM Wellness, in Greenville, South Carolina, practices with a whole body-mind perspective and incorporates supplements in patient disease prevention and wellness plans.

“As the eye is bathed in the same chemicals and nutrients as the rest of the body, eye conditions can be affected by problems affecting the rest of the body,” she says. “Low adrenals can contribute to macular degeneration. Additionally, disruption of the energy flowing through acupuncture meridians related to teeth affected by root canals can also affect the eyes. “

She likes the book Whole Body Dentistry, by Mark Breiner, a doctor of dental surgery, because it includes numerous case histories of systemic illnesses, including eye disorders, that improve with better oral health. “Trying to sustain good health and avoiding toxins such as tobacco and excess sugar can definitely help in maintaining good vision,” explains Casebolt.

Sensitive, complex and composed of more than 2 million working parts, the eyes are their own phenomenon. Annual eye exams are important at every age to help us do what’s needed to maintain our precious gift of sight.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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consciouseating

Taste the Rainbow, Expand Your Palate with New Colorful Veggies

by Judith Fertig

A

mericans’ vegetable habits are in a rut. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 50 percent of the vegetables and legumes available in this country in 2013 were either tomatoes or potatoes.

Lettuce came in third, according to new data released in 2015, advises Tracie McMillan, author of The American Way of Eating.

Further, 87 percent of U.S. adults did not meet basic vegetable serving recommendations from 2007 through 2010, a fact cited in the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey. Yet, urban supermarkets overflow with a wealth of common and exotic vegetables, often displayed sideby-side: broccoli and broccolini, green bell and Japanese shishito peppers, and iceberg lettuce and leafy mâche, or lamb’s lettuce.

Trying one new vegetable dish a week is a great way to increase our vegetable literacy, says functional medicine expert Terri Evans, a doctor of Oriental medicine in Naples, Florida. “Our diet should be 60 percent produce—40 percent

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vegetables and 20 percent fruit,” she says. “To keep this sustainable for the long term, we should eat what tastes good, not what we think is good for us. Some days, we crave the sweetness of carrots; other days, the bitterness of artichokes or the heat of hot peppers.

Our bodies can tell us what we need.”

Keep Expanding Choices

Going Green. Dark green and slightly peppery arugula is good with a little olive oil and lemon juice. Finely shredded Brussels sprouts bulk up a mixed salad, while adding the benefits of a cancer-fighting cruciferous vegetable. Instead of mineral-rich baby spinach, try baby Swiss chard, suggests Matthew Kadey, a registered dietician in Waterloo, Ontario. He also suggests microgreens, the tiny shoots of radishes, cabbage, broccoli and kale, all rich in vitamins C and E. Squash It. Varieties of summer and winter squash add color, body and flavor to one-dish meals, with the added benefits of B vitamins, magnesium and fiber. LeAnne Campbell, Ph.D., author of The China Study Cookbook, simmers a mix of fresh chopped vegetables including yellow summer squash or zucchini, and flavors with coconut and

Eating a rich variety of plant-based foods is fast, easy and satisfying. ~LeAnne Campbell curry powder. Vegan Chef Douglas McNish, of Toronto, makes an okra and squash gumbo in the slow cooker.

Sneak in a Smoothie.

Change up a smoothie routine by swapping out the usual baby spinach for a blend of cucumber, apple and fresh mint, or else sweet potato and carrot, suggests Sidney Fry, a registered dietitian and Cooking Light editor, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Snack Attack. An array of colorful vegetables served with dips and spreads can be an easy way to experiment with veggies. Carrots in deep red, vibrant yellow, purple and orange are delicious raw and supply beta-carotene, promoting eye health. Leaves from pale green Belgian endive spears are tender and crunchy. Orange or “cheddar” cauliflower has a more creamy and sweet flavor than its pale cousin.

“Colors equal health, and the more colors we eat, the better our overall health,” says Susan Bowerman, a registered dietitian, lecturer in food science and nutrition at California State Polytechnic Institute, San Luis Obispo, and co-author of What Color Is Your Diet? “We also have to be willing to try new foods or new varieties of foods, or maybe to prepare unfamiliar foods in a way that will make them taste good, so that we will be willing to add more plant foods to our diet.”

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle. blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

A Rainbow of Benefits

by Judith Fertig

T

he colors found in fresh vegetables can indicate an abundance of necessary phytochemicals and nutrients. “Many people I see in my practice consume excess food, but have nutrient deficiency,” says Terri Evans, a functional medicine expert and doctor of Oriental medicine.

Eating a variety of colorful vegetables can be part of the remedy.

“Each color in a vegetable represents 10,000 micronutrients,” explains Evans. “The more colorful you make your diet, the happier your body will be.” She notes that supplements supply a lot of one nutrient, while vegetables gift us with tiny amounts of many requisite nutrients.

According to the nonprofit Produce for Better Health Foundation, plant phytochemicals may act as antioxidants, protect and regenerate essential nutrients and work to deactivate cancer-causing substances. So, the more color on our plates, the better.

Yellow and orange—in squash and some tomatoes—point to higher levels of vitamins C and A. The beta-carotene behind these colors is renowned for supporting healthy eyesight.

Dark green—in leafy greens and cabbages—evidences higher levels of vitamins K, B and E. Chlorophyll creates the color and indicates its well-documented detoxifying properties.

Red—in red bell peppers and tomatoes—indicates vitamin C. Lycopene, which provides the color, is widely associated with lowering the risk of prostate and breast cancers.

Purple and blue—in radicchio, red cabbage and eggplant—deliver vitamins C and K. Anthocyanins that create the color are powerful antioxidants geared to keep us heart-healthy. natural awakenings

March 2016

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Every Day Can Be A Day Without Pain!

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MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

Nighttime Parenting

Fostering Healthful Sleep

by Stephanie Dodd

According to the American Psychological Association, up to 70 percent of children experience sleep disturbances that affect their emotional and physical well-being.

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arents frequently awakened by a child’s interrupted slumber typically are torn between the need to care for their own health and that of their child. The goal is to meet everyone’s needs, so that adequate adult sleep doesn’t feel like child neglect. Solutions are feasible if the parent is emotionally equipped to feel continuing empathy for their little one and secure in their choices for resolution, regardless of setbacks or delays.

Uncovering the real reasons that a child stays alert at bedtime or wakes during the night—such as inconsistent timing of sleep cycles, excessive fatigue, insufficient physical activity, hunger, pain, anxieties, inadequate downtime or a desire for continued interaction with a parent—is the first step. With so many variables, frustration can impede the workings of parental intuition, which is key to the process, as is testing individual possible solutions long enough to assess the result and then confidently move forward.

Internal Calm Expecting a child to feel so empowered that they can fall asleep on their own is a good beginning. Lindsay Melda, of Atlanta, relates, “Our daughter used to wake us up by com-

Parents that model self-care help their children learn to care for themselves.

tional Institute for Ining into our bed each tegrative Healthcare, night. Once I realized EFT has been shown I was anxious about to counter the stress her sleeping alone in hormones adrenaline her room and was able and cortisol, contribto instead trust she uting to decreased was okay, she easily sleep disturbances. slept through the night, Marissa Wolf, waking more rested. of The Woodlands, My own anxiety was Texas, relates, “We ~ Sheila Pai, author, causing her moved here from Nurturing You sleep disturbances.”

San Diego when

Christine Gipple, my son was 34 months old.

He was of Oaklyn, New Jersey, a practitioner acting out in ways I’d never seen of non-violent communication, before, mourning the loss of his roushares, “When my daughter is chatty tine. Within weeks after we started at bedtime and I’m past ready for her tapping before school and at night, to be in bed, I have to consciously he was back to his happy self. Last pause, or I can snap at her, thus denight, he simply went to bed and fell laying bedtime. Granting myself just asleep. Now when I see his built-up five minutes to reset myself and be emotions, I know we need to tap.” (To present in the moment before I gently learn more about EFT methods, visit re-engage is critical to the outcome.” emofree.com.)

Such checking in with ourselves helps keep a parent thinking positiveNourished Rest ly. Law of Attraction specialist Cassie Good nutrition is also important to Parks, of Denver, Colorado, advishealthy sleep. According to Health es, “When you focus on the feeling Coach Sarah Outlaw, owner of the you desire once a child is peaceNatural Health Improvement Center of fully asleep, rather than the feeling South Jersey and an advanced Nutrition you want to move away from, your Response Testing practitioner, “Children chances for success greatly increase.” may be devoid of minerals because Noting how we envision nighttime of the filtered water we drink. Suppleunfolding or creating a nighttime vimenting with minerals like magnesium sion board can help focus and mainor enriching the diet with trace mintain these feelings. erals, sea salt and mineral-rich bone broth will promote a healthy immune Releasing Stress system, along with a nervous system One method parents have successfully programmed for sleep.” used is the Emotional Freedom Tech Outlaw also advises, “A whole nique (EFT). It involves light tapping on specific points along the body’s energy meridians, like the collarbone or between the eyebrows, often accompanied by attention to current thoughts and feelings, in order to restore a balanced feeling.

Karin Davidson, of Media, Pennsylvania, co-founder of the Meridian Tapping Techniques Association, says, “Including tapping with a supportive nighttime routine can be a godsend.

It can relieve distress, whatever its source, increase feelings of security and promote a peaceful transition to sleep.” In clinical studies from the Na-

foods diet is paramount to children’s health and sleep ability. Parents should limit or eliminate artificial flavors, sweeteners and sugar; preferably at all times, but at least an hour before bedtime.”

When a parent takes the time to plan each step toward their goal of optimum sleep and feels secure in following through, they can create a personalized and consistent bedtime routine that fosters a sense of safety for children that feel heard and tended to and know what to expect. Children that gain the ability to naturally develop sleep skills reap lifelong health benefits.

Stephanie Dodd is the author of the international bestseller, Good Baby, Bad Sleeper. She blogs at HeartCenteredSleep.com.

natural awakenings

March 2016

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greenliving

FEEDING THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD Agrihoods Grow Healthful Food and Community

by April Thompson

F

or thousands of homeowners in “agrihoods” across the U.S., homegrown is a way of life.

Planned developments incorporating neighborhood agriculture are sprouting up in record numbers, according to Ed McMahon, a senior resident fellow specializing in sustainability with the Urban Land Institute. He estimates there are a few hundred agrihoods nationwide, in all regions and at all price points. “The trend is the convergence of several things, including a growing interest in local business, local food, healthy lifestyles and the foodie culture,” says McMahon.

He adds, “Today’s developers have to differentiate their properties to survive, and farms have become the new golf course of real estate development.”

Agriculture is a far lower-cost amenity that can even return a modest profit by

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selling its harvest to the community.

Beyond food, agrihoods help grow community, a huge draw for those living in isolated suburban areas. In 2014, Abby and Michael Wheatfill moved their family to Agritopia, a planned community in Gilbert, Arizona, near Phoenix. Billed as an urban farm, the central feature of Agritopia’s 166 acres, knitting together commercial, agricultural and open space with 450 residential homes, is a working farm, with roving pigs, lambs and chickens, a citrus grove and rows of heirloom vegetables.

Farm, family and community life are interwoven. The Wheatfills lease a plot in an on-site community garden.

Other residents buy shares in the community supported agriculture project or purchase produce or eggs from the community farm on the honor system.

“We especially love the narrow,

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tree-lined streets and wide porches, and that we can walk or bike to fun, locally sourced restaurants,” says Michael, a technology consultant.

Private backyards are small in favor of community space, nudging residents to meet each other, Abby says.

The Cannery, in Davis, California, is one of the newest agrihoods and also one of the few that redeveloped an industrial tract. This 100-acre development, still under construction, will feature 547 new homes on the former site of a tomato processing facility, in addition to affordable rentals for low-income families. Its heart and soul is a working farm that will feed the community’s households and supply its restaurants. The Cannery is a pioneer in clean green energy, with solar-powered homes, connections for electric cars, and many other energy-conserving features. Thirsty homeowner lawns are prohibited in most of The Cannery’s mini-neighborhoods, but no home is more than 300 feet from public green space.

Samrina and Mylon Marshall, both physicians in their mid-50s, will be among the first residents to move in this spring. “We like that it’s a green energy community featuring multigenerational living. We’re also big on eating locally and seasonally, so the urban farm was a key draw,” says Mylon.

North Atlanta family Gil and Jeny Mathis and their two daughters, 12 and 14 years old, discovered Serenbe, a planned community in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, two years ago. Now it’s literally their second home. “It provides a different life for our children on weekends they couldn’t otherwise have.

The community aspect has penetrated our lives in a way that we couldn’t have predicted,” says Gil.

Both girls love it, and the younger sibling is lobbying to relocate there full time. The family likes the people Serenbe draws and the opportunities to engage with them, the consistent access to natural and organic food and its artist-in-residence program.

Serenbe was the inspiration for the Olivette Riverside Community and Farm, a 346-acre, back-to-the-land

project near Asheville, North Carolina.

Its owners are transforming a failed high-end gated community and adjacent historic farm along the French Broad River into an agri-centered development featuring a blueberry orchard, community gardens, vegetable farm and greenhouse.

“It’s vital that we re-localize our food supply,” says Olivette co-owner Tama Dickerson. “One of the first things we did was to incorporate this farm and see what areas we could preserve, because what you keep is just as important as what you develop.” Future plans include hiking trails, artist live-work spaces, tiny houses, little free libraries and a K-8 school.

Agrihoods aren’t solely for agriburbs. Creative public housing developers are bringing agriculture to high-density neighborhoods. The smoke-free Healthy High-Rise Arbor House, a 124-unit, low-income apartment in the Bronx, in New York City, features a 10,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse and a living lobby wall that grows organic vegetables for the community year-round. Residents can obtain a discounted share from the farm using SNAP benefits (food stamps) and take free classes in cooking fresh. Arbor House also allocates 40 percent of its rooftop crop harvests for the larger community.

Agrihoods can take many forms, including those involving gardens cropping up in schools, parks and hospitals nationwide, as well as informal, guerilla gardens in vacant lots. Many cities, including Falls Church, Virginia, and Takoma Park, Maryland, have even changed local zoning laws so residents can keep chickens and bees in their backyards for eggs and honey, according to McMahon.

“The era of the 2,000-mile Caesar salad has come to an end,” says McMahon, citing high transportation costs that make locally sourced food good for businesses and consumers alike. “The trend of growing food closer to home—in some cases at home—is here to stay.”

Connect with April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com. natural awakenings

March 2016

35

naturalpet

WELL-MANNERED

CATS

Simple Ways to Get Kitty to Behave

by Sandra Murphy

T

hree million cats end up in shelters every year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Owners cite landlord restrictions or allergies in the family as leading reasons. Often, the animal is blamed for an easily fixed behavior problem; the Wake County Animal Center, in Raleigh, North Carolina, interprets rationales such as, “Kitty has a sensitive stomach [throws up] or pees under the bed [likely a urinary tract infection].” “I prefer to call such things issues, not problems. They’re often evidence of natural instincts that need to be redirected,” says Anne Moss, owner of TheCatSite.com, from Tel Aviv, Israel. “A vet visit will rule out physical concerns so you can move on to behavioral issues.” Once a cat’s

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MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

adapted to living with humans, life becomes more pleasant for everyone.

Cats can be trained. Dallas cat owner Bettina Bennett of WhichBoxMedia.com advises, “Start early, attach rewards and be consistent. Our four cats don’t scratch the furniture, come when called and know when it’s bedtime.”

Clicker training works well, adds Becky Morrow, a doctor of veterinarian medicine who teaches at Duquesne University, in Pittsburgh. “I have 13 cats living in my home and a sanctuary housing 65 more. They’ve learned to walk on a leash and obey commands.”

Dr. Jeff Werber, a Los Angeles veterinarian, has found that scratching furniture, biting people, nocturnal activity, throwing up and ignoring the litter box are the five most common complaints.

Scratching lets Kitty leave her scent,

stretch and shed old claws. He suggests, “Get a scratching post, but don’t put it in an-out-of-the-way location. Cats like to be where we are. Start with it in the center of the room and gradually move it to the corner.”

Measure how tall a cat is when standing on her hind legs with front legs fully extended. Get a post that is half again as tall so she can really stretch. Gently rub her paws on the post first, and then dab on a bit of catnip as added enticement. Cats don’t like unfamiliar textures, so avoidance training tools can include laying aluminum foil or backing-side-up carpet runners over furniture arms and cushions plus double-sided sticky tape at the corners to preserve upholstery.

When humans become a target for a cat’s pounces, use toys as decoys. A short play session will satisfy their desire to hunt.

Leave curtains open so she can see outside, clear shelves for climbing and have a cat tree or window shelf for optimum viewing. A nearby bird feeder will hold a feline’s attention for hours.

Werber advises, “For undisturbed household sleep, get the cat toys out about an hour before your bedtime. Fifteen minutes of play will tire a pet. Let him calm down and then feed him. A full cat is a sleepy cat.”

Some cats nibble, while others gulp food and then throw up. The recommended antidote is to feed smaller amounts several times a day. Cats should eat both dry and wet food to get carbohydrates and meat, Werber advises. Throwing up can be a sign of hairballs, even if unseen. Put the cat on a natural hairball remedy once a day for four days, then two times a week, until the vomiting stops. A touch of non-petroleum jelly on the cat’s nose or a bit of fish oil or pumpkin in her food will work.

When cats ignore the litter box, note what’s changed— the type of litter, location of the box, a lurking stray cat or the pet’s health. Arthritic cats find it hard to climb into a tall-sided box. Felines feel vulnerable when using the box, and like to know what’s around them—a lidless box makes them feel safer says Werber. The rule is to have one more litter box than there are cats. If the house is more than one story tall, food, water, beds and litter should be available on every level.

“All cats should be kept indoors, microchipped and wearing a colorful collar and tags,” says Werber. Colors give birds fair warning if a cat ever goes outside.

With time and attention, any cat can become an active, well-behaved family member.

Connect with Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

natural awakenings

March 2016

37

wisewords

Land Manager Allan Savory on Holistic Pasturing

How Cows Can Help Reverse Climate Change

by Linda Sechrist

W

hen concurrent dangers arising from overpopulation, desertification (fertile land turning to desert) and climate change were just beginning to attract technological solutions, pioneers like Allan Savory, a young wildlife biologist in Zimbabwe, Africa, were researching how healthy soil captures carbon dioxide and stores it as carbon. It’s the way nature renders the most pervasive greenhouse gas more helpful than harmful and a major reason why this is not happening globally is because of desertification.

This innovative game-changer has since received Australia’s 2003 Banksia International Award for “doing the most for the environment on a global scale” and the 2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge, recognizing solutions that address humanity’s most pressing problems. The Savory Institute, founded in 2009, and its Africa Center for Holistic Management, demonstrate how using livestock to improve soil and decrease dependence on water— plus increase its ability to hold moisture and carbon—grows more grass and improves profits for ranchers, landowners and investors.

What prompted your examination of soil biology?

In the 1960s, I first became alarmed at the rate of land degradation in Africa’s vast grasslands, which were turning to desert. Looking for a solution, I hit upon a profound relationship—that the

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grasslands, their soils, soil life, plants and animals had evolved symbiotically with large, grazing herbivores of many species and pack-hunting predators. As my inquiry led beyond Africa, I noticed that the same was true of similar ecosystems worldwide, including those of the U.S. Great Plains.

Long ago, the Great Plains supported herbivores that traveled in immense herds for safety from predators. Where there are now approximately 11 large mammal species, there were once more than 50. The trampling of dung and urine, as well as grazing of such vast numbers constantly on the move, developed deep carbon-storing and rain-holding soils that also break down methane. Only in the presence of large roaming herds of herbivores periodically working the surface soil does this happen; it works much like a gardener does, breaking bare surfaces and covering them with litter and dung.

Only in this way do grasslands thrive.

How did this revolutionize your thinking about land and livestock management?

Being trained at a university to believe that grazing livestock causes land degradation blinded me to the deeper understanding that humans’ management of the animals, not the animals themselves, has been the problem.

Historically, the healthiest soils in the world’s vast grain-growing regions were those that had supported the largest populations of natural wildlife and

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

intact pack-hunting predators.

We now have in hand a natural solution able to reverse U.S. and global desertification, which is contributing to increasing severity and frequency of floods and droughts, poverty, social breakdown, violence, pastoral genocide and mass movement into cities and across national borders. Restoring brilliant natural functions through holistic management of even half of the world’s grasslands has the potential to pull all of the legacy carbon out of the atmosphere, put it back into the ground where it belongs and keep it there for thousands of years. Livestock aided by holistic, planned grazing that mimics nature can return Earth’s atmosphere to preindustrial carbon levels while feeding people with cleaner meat.

I can think of almost nothing that offers more hope for our planet for generations to come. In fact, it has so many benefits—including an eventual net cost of zero or less—that even if climate change wasn’t an issue, we should be doing it anyway.

How is holistic pasturing proceeding?

Ultimately, the only sustainable economy for any nation is derived from growing plants on regenerating soil. Today’s conventional agriculture is producing more than 75 billion tons of dead, eroding soil every year—more than 10 tons for every human alive. The largest areas of the world’s land are either grasslands or former grasslands.

Holistic, planned grazing to reverse desertification has gained support from thousands of individual ranchers, scientists, researchers, pastoralists and farmers. Currently, it is practiced on more than 30 million acres over six continents with encouraging success.

The Savory Institute encourages and links locally led and managed holistic management hubs around the world, now numbering 30 in Africa, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and U.S., with more forming every year.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

natural awakenings

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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.

ACCOUNTING CHRISTINA A. BOSWELL, CPA, LLC Quick Books Pro Advisor CBoswell@CABCPASC.com 803-233-9303 • CABCPASC.com

Christina A. Boswell has more than 25 years accounting and bookkeeping experience.

Boswell is a member of the SCACPA (SC Association of CPAs) and the AICPA (American Institute for CPAs). Her customized services include general ledger review and adjustments, bank reconciliations, light payroll services, quarterly/ annual payroll tax filings (including preparation of W-2s and 1099s), monthly tax filings and more.

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 9.

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 ad, back page.

BUSINESS COACH/LIFE COACH MATRX COACHING

Suzanne Riley Whyte 803-760-6403 • info@MatrxCoaching.com MatrxCoaching.com

Are you struggling to achieve your professional or personal goals? Success in business and success in life go hand in hand.

Locally owned Matrx Coaching is uniquely qualified to enhance your inner strengths and incorporate them into your business and personal life. Customized training, tools and instruction. Call to schedule a free consultation.

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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.

FAMILY PRACTICE OF CHIROPRACTIC

Dr. Jim Minico, DC 203 Amicks Ferry Rd, Chapin 803-932-9399 • DrMinico.com PatientServices.fpc@gmail.com

It is our mission to provide the community with the highestquality chiropractic care possible.

Exceeding your expectations in a caring, modern and positive environment. Restoring the body’s natural healing process.

A holistic approach to health utilizing chiropractic, massage therapy, exercise therapy, nutrition, weight management and homeopathy. See ad, page 11.

COLLABORATIVE LAW LAW OFFICE OF SHANNON K. BURNETT

109 N. Main St. Blythewood 803-786-1758 • 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. See ad, page 9.

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. Special pricing every third week of the month. See ad, page 31.

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CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY CENTER FOR HEALTH INTEGRATION

Pamila Lorentz, MSW, RN, LMBT 6136 Old Bush River Rd, Columbia 803-749-1576 • CenterForHealthIntegration.com

Feeling scattered, disconnected, achy, or fatigued? CHI’s essential touch therapies help to restore, renew and revitalize the wellbeing experience. Services include: Craniosacral therapy, lymphatic drainage, directional healing, sound/vibrational therapies and integrative massage.

CHI also offers accupressure for emotions and young living therapeutic essential oils. See ad, page 23.

DENTIST ART OF DENTISTRY

Dr. Gregory J. Wych, DDS 7505 St. Andrews Rd, Irmo 803-781-1600 • IrmoCosmeticDentistry.com

Dr. Wych and his staff are committed to giving each patient the quality care and attention each desire and deserve. He believes that in dentistry, discovering the cause of the problem is the key to resolving it and to preventing its recurrence. Something he has done successfully for his patients for more than 28 years. Call today to schedule your appointment.

See ad, page 3.

FOREST DRIVE DENTAL CARE

Dr. Joanna Silver Dover, DMD 5101 Forest Dr, Ste A, Columbia 803-782-8786 • ForestDriveDental.com

Dr. Dover provides comprehensive, and compassionate dental care. BPA- and Bis-GMA-free composites, BPA-free occlusal guards, natural periodontal therapy, fluoride-alternatives for tooth remineralization, and mercuryfilling removal following IAOMT standards using supplemental oxygen, special filters and amalgam separators to keep toxic metals out of our waterways.

See ad, page 19.

PALMER DISTINCTIVE DENTISTRY Dr. Joe Palmer; Dr. Daniel Knause 134 Milestone Way, Greenville, SC 864-438-0903 • PalmerDMD.com

Biological Dentistry using the highest standards of biocompatible dentistry as defined by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. One-visit crowns, laser-assisted periodontal therapy and ozone therapy; fluoride-free office. See ad, page 18.

ESSENTIAL OILS doTERRA-CPTG® ESSENTIAL OILS William Richardson 109 Coots Way, Irmo • 803-665-2943 WRichardson.doterra@gmail.com

Dedicated to sharing, teaching and educating others in the uses and common applications of doTERRA’s Certified Pure Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils. William offers Aromatouch Therapy, extensive knowledge of Reflexology, biological surveys and is available for personal consultations and classes. Call for consultation. See ad, page 24.

FUNCTIONAL & INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE CENTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE Drs. Lieberman, Weirs & Herbert 843-572-1600 • coem.com

Preventative and Personalized Health Care w/more than 75 years of combined medical practice.

Board-Certified Environmental, Functional and Integrative Medicine. We get to the root cause of your illness. Allergy Testing. Autoimmune Diseases. Women’s Health. See ad, page 47.

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.

HEALTH/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COACHING KATHY COOPER

Certified Holistic Health Coach 803-546-4464 • KathyJCooper.com KathyCooper02@gmail.com

Kathy Cooper is passionate about helping women live a healthy, balanced life. Each health coaching program is personalized to help improve your mind, body and spirit. Kathy offers individual and group health coaching programs, as well as health and nutrition workshops and cooking classes.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

MASSAGE THERAPY

GROWING HEALTHY WITH NEOLIFE

A KNEAD FOR NURTURING

Since 1958, families all around the world have counted on NeoLife to provide whole food nutritional products that are based in nature and backed by science. Our core products are essential to creating a foundation for health and wellness.

Based on cellular nutrition, these products are aimed at getting your cells healthy and feeding them with key nutrients. See ad, page 5.

Jenny Sepulveda is a licensed massage therapist with more than 14 years’ experience with a degree in occupational studies from The Swedish Institute of Manhattan.

Sepulveda is certified in prenatal, cranial sacral, reflexology, and hot and cold stones treatment. She is dedicated to providing stress and pain relief through massage for people of all walks of life. Come and experience what relaxation massage therapy has to offer you.

See ad, page 30.

Lee & Susan Adams, Nutritional Consultants NeoLifeClub.com/GroHealthy 803-781-4690 • GroHealthy@gmail.com

HYPNOSIS

1903 Marshall St, Columbia 803-851-4563

HEALING MEDICINE

Pamela Swanson, LMT, CRMT 803-404-4807 • SC# MA8050 PamSwanson58@hotmail.com

SOUTH CAROLINA HYPNOSIS LLC Steven H Lyles, BCH, CI Board Certified Hypnotist & NGH Instructor 7801 St. Andrews Rd, Irmo 803-622-9844 SouthCarolinaHypnosis.com

Free hypnosis screening from professional consultant Steven Lyles. His team gives a 30- to 40minute free screening, including a complete in-depth explanation of hypnotism. A personal evaluation will be completed as well. Weight loss, smoking cessation, stress relief and corporate plans are available. Call today.

INTEGRATED HEALING

Pamela is offering clients more availability, lower fees and longerlasting results! Enjoy the benefit of her 25 years’ experience and clinical and holistic approach.

You can expect to experience decreased pain and stress, and increased comfort, movement and relaxation. Enjoy individually created treatment plans with customblended oils. Therapeutic Massage is my passion!

Schedule your appointment today.

NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

PHOENIX RISING

JUST WANNA MELT LLC

Are you unhappy in your relationships, current job or career choice? Are you frustrated with not feeling well or being in pain? Katz can guide you to greater health and a better life by combining her traditional and intuitive skills to help you. Call Katz Delauney-Leija today to schedule an appointment.

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, Wingard’s Nursery, Whole Foods and more.

For a complete list of retail locations, visit our website.

Katz Delauney-Leija, MSW, EFT-CC, TAEE Psych-K, Health & Wellness Intuitive 803-530-6199 • Katz-PhoenixRising.com

INTEGRATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE

Misty Rawls • 803-331-0063 Info@JustWannaMelt.com JustWannaMelt.com

OSTEOPATHY

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 12.

CENTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE Dr. Bettina Herbert 843-572-1600 • coem.com

Dr. Bettina Herbert, M.D., has 25 years of osteopathic experience and is board certified in Physical Medicine. Treatment uses gentle manipulation primarily using cranial osteopathy to relieve pain, improve performance and promote healing.

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March 2016

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naturaldirectory RECREATION RIVERSIDE GOLF & RECREATION CENTER

Denis Yeo • 803-750-1015 RiversideGolfAndRecCenter.com

A scenic, well-lit golf and recreation facility welcome to people of all ages and skill levels.

Featured amenities include a covered driving shelter; lighted Tee-box; a convenient automated ball dispenser machine; a covered practice mat area; practice areas for chipping and putting; individual and group instructor lessons; and a Par-3 course with nine holes suitable for practicing the short game. The center will soon be launching both watersports rental and instruction.

See ad, page 4.

SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL DISCUSSION GROUP

Contact Steve 803-318-1887 • ECK-SC.org Meetup.com/Columbia-Spiritual-Seekers

Eckankar hosts open discussions (meetups), worship services and more at no charge. All are welcome.

Topics include understanding past lives, dreams, coincidences, God’s creative life force, and more. Call ahead: time and date may vary.

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT THE SOURCE WITHIN YOU

Julie Bradshaw 803-800-9211 • Juleseck@aol.com TheSourceWithinYou.com

Have you tried everything you possibly can think of to achieve more happiness, joy and peace in your life but feel pieces of the puzzle are still missing? Try my Connecting with Your Soul session, where you can learn from the “Soul’s” perspective what is really needed to finally create and enjoy the life you want.

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. ~William Arthur Ward

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THERMOGRAPHY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC.

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

About Your Health Inc.’s main focus is health education and health-enhancing services.

Including 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 16.

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! We are proud to say that our knowledge allows us to encourage choices that will positively impact the heath and future of our community and environment. See ad, back page.

WATER/HYDRATION INCREDIBLE WATER

Eddie and Nilah Gann 803-404-1378 • KangenDemo.com

Every functional process that takes place within the human body is dependent upon water in some way. With this foundational element correct, all other body processes function properly.

Incredible Water represents a Japanese company that has been changing lives for over 40 years. Individuals interested in alkaline, antioxidant and cellular hydration are encouraged to call. See ad, page 35.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by March 12 (for April issue) and adhere to our guidelines. To submit listings, visit MidlandsHealthyLiving.com. $20 for 30 words each month.

ALWAYS CALL AHEAD BEFORE ATTENDING EVENTS TO AVOID LATE CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES

MARCH 8, 16, 20, 25, 31

SUNDAYS, MARCH 6, 13, 20 & 27

Discount Days at Rosewood–8am-8pm. 20% off purchase price; mention this listing. Deli sale items not included. Rosewood Market, 2803 Rosewood Dr, Columbia. Info: 803-530-3270, RosewoodMarket.com.

Raw Talk Wellness Event–8:30pm. An innovative approach to wellness online and by phone. Info/ RSVP: Call Carla DeRosa, wellness coach and food medicine educator, at 770-413-9046 or visit RawTalkCoach.com.

TUESDAYS MARCH 1, 8, 15 & 29

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

Basic Nutrition Class Series–6:30-8pm. Discover how to fill dietary gaps with simplicity and affordability, and increase overall nutrient utilization and understand the benefits and value of grain oils like Tre-en-en. Info/RSVP: Call Lee or Susan Adams at 803-781-4690.

Raw Mexican Class–10am-noon–w/Sharon Wright. Learn the flavors of the Mexican raw style.

Cost: $25 (RSVP and pay at GoodLifeCafe.net).

Good Life Café, 1614 Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-726-2310.

FRIDAY, MARCH 4 Dances of Universal Peace–7-9pm–w/Marguerite Frongillo. The dances lift our spirits and open us to awareness of the divine in each other. Free; donations accepted. Near Midtown Mall in Forest Acres, Columbia. Info/directions: Call Frongillo at 803-743-0731 or email Mff426@gmail.com.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MARCH 5&6

SATURDAY, MARCH 12 & SUNDAYS MARCH 13 & 20 Shibori Indigo Beginner Workshop–1-4pm. Let’s go back to the natural dyeing processes with indigo, a native dye plant of the South. During this 3-hour workshop, you will learn to make a vat of non-fermented indigo and dye cotton to become familiar with the dyeing properties of indigo. We will use four shibori techniques, a Japanese ancient practice.

Cost: $50. Space is limited. Info: 803-467-2800, ChiDesignGraphics.com/services.

Polarity Therapy Class–Air element. The class is open to all interested in learning about polarity but is also eligible for NCBTMB CEUs for massage therapists. The Balance Institute, 1905 Sunset Blvd, Ste C, W Columbia. Info/times/prices/register: Call Liz Ferrara at 917-288-6162 or email mzLiz@aol.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13

SUNDAYS MARCH 6 & 20

THURSDAY, MARCH 17

Creative Meditation–6pm–w/Victoria Keeton.

Cost: donation. 7 Rays Bookstore, 3701 N Main St, Columbia. Info/registration: 803-404-4519, Victoria.SevenRays@gmail.com.

St. Patty’s Day Green Beer Fire Sale–4-8pm.

Kale no! There’s no kale in this ale! Good Life Café, 1614 Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-726-2310, GoodLifeCafe.net.

Lotus Women’s Lodge Open House–2-6pm. A sacred retreat and meditation space for women.

5436 Mead Ct, Columbia. Info/registration: 803220-7401, Victoria.SevenRays@gmail.com.

ICRC-Breakfast with Bunny–9-11:30am. Includes breakfast, crafts, activities and an egg hunt. Bring your basket. Cost: $15, one child; $10, each additional child; adults’ meal tickets, $5. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia. Info: 803-772-3336, icrc.net.

Southeastern Institute Health Fair & Academic Open House–10am-1pm. A Health Fair Open House for prospective students and the general public to provide an opportunity to learn more about Southeastern Institute and its programs offered and designed to help you achieve your goals by getting on a path to a bright future. Southeastern Institute Campus, 1420 Colonial Life Blvd, W, Ste 80, Columbia. Info: 888-782-8459 or visit seiOpenHouse.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 20 Harmony School Spring Fling–11am–3pm. A wonderful opportunity for parents and caregivers to see all that we have to offer in educational learning. Harmony School is a small, affordable nonprofit private preschool, kindergarten and elementary school offering a unique curriculum of Montessori, Waldorf-inspired and inquiry-based learning plus arts and music. Harmony School, 3737 Covenant Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-787-1899, HarmonySchoolSC.com.

planahead FRIDAY, APRIL 1 Dances of Universal Peace–7-9pm–w/Marguerite Frongillo. The dances lift our spirits and open us to awareness of the divine in each other. Free; donations accepted. Near Midtown Mall in Forest Acres, Columbia. Info/directions: Call Frongillo at 803-743-0731 or email Mff426@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 14 Core Nutrition–w/world-renowned scientist John Miller. Meet and greet, 6:30pm and 7-8:30pm presentation with Q&A afterward. Cost: $10. Includes samples. Space is limited. Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Info/registration: Call Lee or Susan Adams at 803-781-4690.

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ongoingevents sunday Eckankar Spiritual Discussions and Community HU–10am. Free. Every 2nd Sunday. An esoteric approach to God realization without dogma or judgment. 7 Oaks Rec Center, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia. Info: Call Steve Fischer at 803-318-1887, or visit Eck-SC.org or Meetup.com/Columbia-Spiritual-Seekers.

monday Infant Massage Classes–4-week series on Mondays. Parents and caregivers learn how to build confidence, develop a nurturing touch, and a massage routine for their babies. Cost: $75, person; $100, couple. The Balance Institute, 1905 Sunset Blvd, Ste C, W Columbia. Info/times: Call Liana Marconyak at 803-386-7261 or visit tbiHealth.net.

Poetry Night at Good Life Café–7-9pm. Every 3rd Monday. Magnify Magnolias Poetry & Live Music Night/Open Mic. Good Life Café, 1614 Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-726-2310 or email ABuck@ GoodLifeCafe.

Prenatal Massage Consultations–10am-4pm.

Every Monday in March. Free. Learn the benefits of massage during your pregnancy and how it will help prepare your body for delivery. A Knead for Nurturing, 1903 Marshall St, Columbia. Info/to schedule an appointment: 803-851-4563.

Seidokan Aikido of SC–6:30-8:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Monthly cost: $40/adult; $30/students; $20/children. The Balance Institute, 1905 Sunset Blvd, Ste C, W Columbia. Info: tbiHealth.net.

tuesday Business Training Program–7-9pm. 1st and 3rd Tuesday. Professional business training for those looking to grow their business or to start a new business. Join Julie Bradshaw and Katz Delauney-Leija.

Cost: $35, single session; $65, two sessions. Anew Acupuncture, 1830 N Lake Dr, Lexington. Info: Call Delauney-Leija at 803-530-6199 or visit bit. ly/21NF6Ed.

Essential Oil Classes–7pm. Every Tuesday. Learn about the benefits of essential oils. Free. Just Breathe Learning Center, 7522 Irmo Dr, Ste 4, Irmo. Info: Call Teresa Jenkins at 803-730-9083.

Kundalini Yoga and Meditation–6:30-8pm–w/ Anahata Musick. Life-changing yoga exercise, breathing, meditation, mantra. Cost: $96/8 classes.

Frontier Movement, 2730 Millwood Ave, Columbia.

Info: 803-765-2159, YogaAndWellness.com.

Columbia Edition

First Thursdays on Main–7-9pm. Live music with Palmetto Latin Orchestra. Good Life Café, 1614 Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-726-2310.

Prenatal Yoga–5:30-6:45pm–w/Channing, RYT200. Open to all students. Prepare the mind and body for labor and more. Cost: 1st class free, $10-$14/class packages. Expecting Well, 130 Suber Rd, Ste D, Columbia. Info: 803-661-8452, ExpectingWell.com.

Gentle Yoga and Energy Self-Care–1011:15am–w/Joy Connor, LMBT. Touch for health instructor/practitioner. Learn body awareness and restorative breath techniques. Recommended for women healing from trauma and/or chronic stress.

Class is free to Richland County residents. St. Mark UMC, 3200 Lyles St, Columbia. Info/registration: Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

Healing Through the Senses–10-11:15am. A women’s group exploration of healing trauma and chronic stress through reconnecting and grounding one’s sense of self. Learn how to activate personal energy centers through toning, sound healing and aromatherapy. Class is free to Richland County residents.

St. Mark UMC, 3200 Lyles St, Columbia. Info/ registration: Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

Kundalini Yoga and Meditation–9:30-10:45am–w/ Anahata Musick. Life-changing yoga exercise, breathing, meditation, mantra. Cost: $96/8-classes.

Frontier Movement, 2730 Millwood Ave, Columbia.

Info: 803-765-2159, YogaAndWellness.com.

friday

wednesday

Columbia Zen Buddhist Priory Orientation–6pm.

Meditation instruction and introduction to our practice. Please make reservations before the Friday you wish to come. 426 Arrowwood Rd, Columbia.

Info: 803-772-7552, ColumbiaZen.org. Please call before visiting.

7 Rays Wednesday Meditation–12:30pm–w/Victoria Keeton. Cost: donation. 7 Rays Bookstore, 3701 N Main St, Columbia. Info/registration: Call 803404-4519 or email Victoria.SevenRays@gmail.com.

Biergarten at Gardener’s Outpost–5:30-7:30pm.

Every 1st Wednesday. Live entertainment and refreshments. Browse Biergarten’s unique garden gifts. Gardener’s Outpost, 709 Woodrow St, Columbia. Info: 803-252-0041, GardenersOutpost.com.

Stretch and Relax Yoga–4:30-5:30pm–w/Anahata Musick. Need help with pain management and mobility? Unwind with breathing, transcendent stretch and gentle waves of the gong sound. Cost: $15 dropin. Frontier Movement, 2730 Millwood Ave, Columbia. Info: 803-765-2159, YogaAndWellness.com.

Health and Wellness Dimensional Dowsing–7pm–w/Katz Delauney-Leija, MSW. Every 3rd Wednesday. You can learn new energetic skills to apply throughout your life for better health and wellness. Cost: $20. Anew Acupuncture, 1830 N Lake Dr, Lexington. Info: Call Delauney-Leija at 803-530-6199 or visit Katz-PhoenixRising.com.

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thursday

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

Conscious Communication/Energetic Listening Skills–6-9pm. Learn to make proper relationships between one’s self and others. Polarity trainees and NCBTMB CEUs for massage therapists. The Balance Institute, 1905 Sunset Blvd, Ste C, W Columbia. Info/prices/registration: Call Liz Ferrara at 917-288-6162 or email mzLiz@aol.com.

Rosewood Sidewalk Farmers’ Market–4-7pm.

Every Friday. Meet your SC growers. Rosewood Market, 2803 Rosewood Dr, Columbia. Info: 803530-3270, RosewoodMarket.com.

saturday Prenatal Yoga–w/Rachel Hall, MD, RYT-200. Prepare mind and body for labor, delivery and welcoming new life. Open to all students. Time varies each week. Cost: 1st class free; $10-$14/class packages.

Expecting Well, 130 Suber Rd, Ste D, Columbia.

Info: 803-661-8452, ExpectingWell.com.

Tai Chi/Qigong–10:30-11:45am–w/Suzanne Riley Whyte. Open to all; no training necessary. Experience peace through relaxed movement. Cost: $10.

Lexington Leisure Center, 108 Park Rd, Lexington.

Info: 803-760-6403, MatrxCoaching.com.

Story Time/Halo Therapy for Children–1010:45am. Every other Saturday. Led by Raegan Lubold, a senior at AC Flora High School. Lubold will read a story, sing songs and do some stretching exercises with the children in the salt spa. Parents must accompany their children. Cost: $35, child and parent/guardian. Multiple-session passes are available. Info/to reserve space: 803-772-7258, 803-397-7753, BreathOfSalt@att.net.

classifieds

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

To place a classified listing, email content of listing to ColaPublisher@ NaturalAwakeningsMag.com or mail with payment to Natural Awakenings, P.O. Box 2812, Columbia, SC 29202. $20 for 30 words each month.

Additional .50 per word over 30 words. Please include billing contact information.

Deadline is the 12th of the month prior.

Columbia Resilience has been awarded the 2016 Richland County disbursement grant to create the Hands for Peace Women’s Trauma Clinic. Any experienced alternative health practitioners interested in volunteering (training available for volunteers on Trauma Clinic protocols) one day a week, please contact community health chair Pamila Lorentz at the Center for Health Integration at 803-749-1576.

WANTED CAREER OPPORTUNITY LMTCPT is hiring contract personal trainers part-time in the afternoons, evenings and Saturday mornings. Compensation $14 per hour. Need current national certification, CPR certification, and liability insurance. Email resume, along with availability, to Info@lmtcpt.com.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Rejuvenation Studio – Add a Rejuvenation Studio to your existing beauty, fitness or health/wellness business. Bring in new customers, gain revenue from several sources, and your customers will love it. For more information, call 864-569-8631.

Helping Hands Caregivers/Certified CNAs or Experienced PCAs. Must have experience working with the elderly in homes and for an agency. Please apply in person at Helping Hands Caregivers (Tuesday-Thursday) between 10am-4pm at 9444 Two Notch Rd, Ste C3, Columbia.

ROOM FOR PROFESSIONAL Room for Rent at About Your Health. Perfect for massage therapists, reflexologists or energy workers. $10 an hour. Call About Your Health at 803-7988687 for more information.

Massage Therapist – Breath of Salt Spa is in search of a massage therapist with a variety of disciplines.

Call for an appointment interview at 803-772-7258.

Send printed resume to Breath of Salt, 1410 Colonial Life Blvd W, Columbia, SC 29210. Email resume to BreathOfSalt@att.net.

The Balance Institute Is Looking for PT/FT Practitioners. We’re looking for self-starters, team members, contributors to client health and able to do community service. Email resume to Info@ tbiHealth.net.

SERVICES

South Carolina Mentor is seeking families/individuals willing to foster a child in need of a home.

Must be 21 years or older, and have a spare bedroom, driver’s license, vehicle, high school diploma/GED. For more information, contact LaKeisha Myers at 803-451-3984 or visit SC-Mentor.com.

Integrative Health Clinic – Experience multiple modalities at your church or community organization. Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

Yoga and Meditation Teacher – Breath of Salt Spa is searching for a certified yoga instructor to teach yoga and meditation in the salt room. Call for appointment interview at 803-772-7258. Send printed resume to Breath of Salt, 1410 Colonial Life Blvd W, Columbia, SC 29210. Email resume to BreathOfSalt@att.net.

If you wish to reach the highest, begin at the lowest.

- Publilius Syrus

Publish a Natural Awakenings Magazine in Your Community Share Your Vision and Make a Difference • Meaningful New Career • Low Initial Investment • Proven Business System • Home Based Business • Exceptional Franchise Support & Training

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For more information visit our website NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/mymagazine or call 239-530-1377

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natural awakenings

March 2016

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