Natural Awakenings Columbia Edition 0421

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

CELEBR ATE

EARTH DAY!

Natur al Remedies for ALLERGIES

Why Kids Thrive

Outdoor s

HEALTHY

PLANET

SPRING CLEAN

YOUR BODY

Wor kout with the Planet in Mind

April 2021 | Columbia Edition | ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2021

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Columbia Edition

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

April 2021

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Contents 15 EEASC: ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS ON A MIDLANDS MISSION

18 BREATHE EASY

Natural Remedies for Allergy Woes

20 SPRING CLEANING

18

THE BODY

Simple Ways to Detox Naturally

23 CLIMATE CHANGE AND OUR HEALTH

The Human Costs of a Warming Planet

26 NATURE TO THE RESCUE Kids Come Alive Outdoors

28 HEALTHY HOME

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How to Detoxify a Living Space

30 ECO-ATHLETES

Working Out with the Planet in Mind

32 SHERYL DEVORE

on Appreciating Nature and Wildlife

39 CREATE A

NURTURING NEST

39 DEPARTMENTS 7 community news 13 health briefs 14 global briefs 18 healing ways 20 conscious

eating 26 healthy kids 4

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28 green living 30 fit body 32 wise words 33 eco tip 36 calendar 36 classifieds 37 natural

directory

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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

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April 2021

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

COLUMBIA EDITION

letter from publisher

The Sensibility of Sustainability …

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ne of the things that I love to do in the morning is put

PUBLISHER Annette Carter Briggs on a fresh pot of coffee, pour me a hot cup of “liquid EDITOR Sara Gurgen motivation,” sit down and sip away as I gaze out of my DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kristina Parella bay windows in front of the bistro table. The view is gorgeous

Billy Briggs

and my morning therapy as I watch the squirrels, birds, hawks (that chase everything away … ugh!), colorful insects and a host SALES & MARKETING Annette Carter Briggs of other visiting friends from the natural world—all of which col or my morning and jumpstart my day. The gifts and treasures of WEBSITE Kristina Parella God’s Earth surround us, all waiting to be explored, experienced and appreciated; howev Billy Briggs er, the sad and very sobering reality is that the masterpiece of creation (with all its beauty and wonder) is not only ignored but, even worse, neglected and abused more times than I CONTACT US care to mention. I see it, you see it, we live it every day!

PO Box # 2812 Columbia, SC 29202

From litter carelessly strewn around to water pollution that threatens our critical Email water sources, our planet is under siege by the very ones that need it most—humans!

ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakenings.com Ponder this thought: “Sooner or later, we will have to recognize that the Earth has rights, Annette Briggs Ph: 803-309-2101 Website too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com without the Earth, but the planet can live without humans.” What words of stinging truth and wisdom from Bolivian politician and activist Evo Morales.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24

Let’s dig a little deeper into this critical topic and talk water and oceans. According (for 12 issues) to the above address. to research, in numerous developing countries, 90 percent of wastewater and 70 percent of industrial waste is discharged without treatment or processing. Moreover, land-based NATIONAL TEAM sources account for 80 percent of marine pollution. Think about this: Annually, 6.5 mil CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne lion tons of litter finds its way into our oceans, and 50 percent of that will unfortunately

Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo drift for hundreds of years before degrading. Nearly 100,000 marine mammals and turtles

Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert worldwide are killed annually by plastic litter. According to estimates, 267 marine species Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs have been reported entangled in or as having ingested marine debris. In America, approxi Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy mately 40 percent of our lakes are too polluted for fishing, aquatic life, or swimming!

National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell

Yes, the Earth has rights too, and we need to recognize that by becoming better Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan stewards of this priceless jewel seriously threatened by neglect, abuse and apathy. Are you Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation ready for some good news? Although still a serious problem, litter and littering have de4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 creased in the past 40 years. In a recent litter characterization study, visible roadside litter Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 was found to have decreased by about 61 percent since 1968—largely due to focused litter NaturalAwakeningsMag.com campaigns and mobilization efforts by such organizations as Keep America Beautiful.

We can and should do more to protect our planet. We, in fact, must … the facts are © 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be clear.

You and I must take a more active and vigilant position as Earth’s caretakers by living reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. more sustainable lifestyles, marked by smart, conscious decisions and choices that reflect Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed our care and concern for this planet we call home. locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like

Now, time for some kudos! To organizations such as Keep the Midlands Beautiful, copies placed at your business.

PalmettoPride, Sonoco Recycling, Lexington and Richland counties offices, and many othWe do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we ers, I say with all sincerity “thank you” for your hard work and invaluable contributions to responsible for the products and services advertised. make and keep South Carolina one of the most beautiful states in the country!

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the ONTRIBUTING WRITERS Odell Williams C Kristi Antley

appropriate use of any treatment.

Happy Earth Day, Annette Carter Briggs, Publisher Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

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

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Columbia Edition

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community news

Lexington County Hosts April Recycling Sweet Feet Foot Care Teams Up with Run Faster Event

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weet Feet Foot Care, located at 9153 Two Notch Road, in Columbia, is a holistic foot care practice that offers pedicure treatments to help correct foot and body disorders, such as calluses, ingrown toenails, and knee and back pain. These debilitating issues often hinder many from participating in exercise. How can you exercise if your feet and back are hurting? Sweet Feet Foot Care can show you the way with proper footwear, foot care maintenance, and safe treatment options. Better feet equals better health!

Sweet Feet Foot Care has now teamed up with coach Travis Nichols, of Run Faster with Coach T. Nichols is a very successful cross country track and field coach with numerous accolades from both the high school and college level. Nichols continues to train athletes and beginners—helping them to reach their full running potential, whether running half a mile or a marathon. “My goal is simple: Help all runners to reach their goals. I customize what I do to fit each athlete,” says Nichols.

On Thursday, April 15, starting at 6:30 p.m., Sweet Feet Foot Care invites Midlands residents out to Owens Field, located at 1351 Jim Hamilton Boulevard, in Columbia, to begin the journey of learning how to run for better health and fitness. Open to all ages, the first class is free, and the cost of the 12-week program is only $80.

For more information or to register, contact Mona Patterson at 803-394-4421 or visit SweetFeetCare.com. See ad, page 29.

USC’s Hosts Its Healthy Carolina Farmers’ Market

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ocal residents are invited to shop for fresh, locally grown produce at the University of South Carolina’s (USC) Healthy Carolina Farmers’ Market. Those interested can visit the market located on Greene Street on Tuesdays (April 6, 13 and 20) between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.—rain or shine. One of the purposes of the market is to emphasize the direct connection between the food choices that people make and the subsequent impact on one’s quality of life and the environment. The market promotes comprehensive wellness through campus resources, cooking demonstrations, health screenings, and community engagement while still providing access to healthy, fresh and locally grown goods.

Vendors must sell sustainable and locally grown or sourced products. By providing farmers and growers with a direct market for their products, USC’s market helps to sustain the regional agricultural economy and support farming in South Carolina.

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n recognition of Earth Day, Lexington County is sponsoring a recycling collection event for Lexington County residents only on Saturday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Batesburg-Leesville High School, located at 600 Summerland Avenue. The list of acceptable items includes computers, accessories and household electronics, used cooking oil, tires, scrap metal, shreddable paper and more.

For more information (including a complete list of acceptable items and guidelines), call 803-785-3340 or visit Lex-Co.SC.Gov.

Goodbye Junk.

Hello Relief.

Trusted Junk Removal Since 1989 1-800-468-5865 | 1800gotjunk.com

For more information, visit sc.edu.

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community news Ground-Level Ozone Season Is Here … Sign Up for the Air Quality Forecast

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he months from April through October are designated as ground-level ozone season because conditions are favorable for its formation. Also known as smog, ground-level ozone is formed when exhaust from cars, trucks, industries and electric utility plants react in sunlight and heat. Citizens are encouraged to sign up for ozone forecasts because high ground-level ozone levels can have health implications, especially for children, the elderly and those with asthma.

There are some simple actions one can take to limit further ground-level ozone, such as refueling vehicles after dusk, limiting engine idling, and combining and consolidating errands. Other helpful activities include taking The Comet’s free Soda Cap transportation service to lunch or waiting until dusk to mow the lawn.

For more information, visit baaqmdSpareTheAir.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm.

The 2021 Great American Cleanup

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he great cleanup continues!

Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB), in partnership with Keep America Beautiful (KAB), will continue the national Great American Cleanup campaign across the Midlands. The Great American Cleanup is an annual event hosted

by KAB, providing an opportunity for citizens to volunteer and make a tangible difference in the amount of litter left in the environment.

An estimated 15,000 communities participate in this grassroots effort to unite neighbors, local businesses, and civic leaders in the fight against litter accumulation.

The 2021 Great American Cleanup started Saturday, March 20, and will run through Sunday, June 20.

The cleanup initiative is designed and tailored to the unique needs of local neighborhoods and communities throughout the state and nation. Activities include beautifying parks and recreation areas, cleaning waterways, holding recycling collections, picking up litter, planting trees and flowers, and conducting educational programs and litter-free events.

For more information, including participation guidelines, call 803733-1139, or visit KeepTheMidlandsBeautiful.org or kab.org.

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Lexington County Richland Recycles Day n Saturday, May 15, from 8 a.m. to 3 Hosts Hazardous p.m., the county of Richland is hosting Waste Recycling Event its Richland Recycles Day at the S.C. State Fair

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he Lexington County Solid Waste Management and the Lexington Countywide Stormwater Consortium are partnering to host a hazardous waste disposal and collection event on Saturday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Chapin Collection and Recycling Center, located at 103 Distant Lane.

For Lexington County residents only, the list of acceptable items includes acids, brake fluid, degreasers, glue and solvents, paint (up to 8 gallons), pesticides and much more. Participants are asked to stay in their vehicles and carefully follow the instructional signs.

For more information (including a complete list of acceptable items and guidelines), call 803-785-3340 or visit Lex-Co.SC.Gov.

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Grounds, located at 1200 Rosewood Drive, in Columbia. For Richland County residents only, the list of acceptable items includes electronics (limit eight devices/car), scrap metal, paint (limit 8 gallons per car), tires (limit eight per car), household hazardous waste (chemicals, cleaners, pesticides) and more. This is a drive through, drop-off event for non-businesses only. As a note, commercial materials will not be accepted. Participants are asked to enter the site through Gate A (on Rosewood Drive).

For more information, call 803-576-2440.

KMB Partners for Neighborhood Cleanup

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eep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB) is partnering with the Columbia City Council of Neighborhoods, a nonprofit, umbrella organization representing more than 100 neighborhoods in the city of Columbia, to conduct a city-wide Great American Cleanup litter pickup this spring. Neighborhood group leaders are asked to preregister volunteers so that supplies can be prepared.

For more information, call 803-733-1139 or visit KeepTheMidlandsBeautiful.org.

About Your Health Thermography in Balance for Life

Columbia

Have you heard of Thermography?

(Digital Thermal Imaging)

No Radiation, Painless

A safe way to monitor & discover changes in the body. Great for early detection.

Thermography available for breast, whole body, or half body imaging for men, women and children.

About Your Health, Inc. 803-798-8687 aboutyourhealthsc.com April 2021

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community news KMB Hosts Recycle Shoe Drive Challenge

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rom Thursday, April 1, through Wednesday, June 30, Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB) will host a Shoe Recycling Drive to support local area conservation and sustainability while helping families in need. The shoes collected through this effort would otherwise find their way to local landfills. KMB has partnered with Funds2Orgs.com to support micro-enterprise vendors in developing nations, so local families, neighborhoods, businesses and church congregations are encouraged to join the effort by organizing group campaign support.

Any style and size of gently worn shoes are accepted. Drop-off locations will be available on KMB’s website soon. Bags will be supplied, which can comfortably hold 25 pairs.

For more information, call 803-733-1139, email Info@KeepTheMidlandsBeautiful.org or visit KeepTheMidlandsBeautiful.org.

KMB Adds Spotless Service Saturdays to Its Campaign Lineup

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ue to the impact that COVID-19 has had on recruiting volunteers for Keep the Midlands Beautiful’s (KMB) litter collection campaigns, KMB has now added Spotless Service Saturdays (SSS) to its campaign lineup. SSS has helped to decrease some of the litter accumulation on roadways and green spaces.

The initiative grew out of a partnership with the University of South Carolina’s Leadership and Service Center. The brand new monthly program provides an opportunity for individual volunteers to join in a KMB-led litter pickup to address a specific trashy site in the Midlands. Cleanup locations rotate each month between the city of Columbia and Richland and Lexington counties. In February, volunteers removed 32 bags of litter from a half-mile stretch of South Assembly Street, in Columbia.

For more information, including future campaign sites, call 803-733-1139 or visit KeepTheMidlandsBeautiful.org.

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ICRC Hosts Spring Market

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pring is in the air! On Saturday, April 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) will host its Spring Market celebration at Seven Oaks Park, located at 200 Leisure Lane, in Columbia. Local area artists, crafters and business owners are invited to participate as event vendors. Shoppers can purchase one-of-a-kind items, including paintings, handmade jewelry, home decor pieces, and much more. Those interested in selling items must complete and submit an event application form. Admission is free to the public. Please note, the market has been modified for social distancing.

Vendors will be positioned further apart and masks will be required.

For more information, call 803-7723336 or visit icrc.net.

ICRC Hosts Annual Egg Hunt

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t’s time to hunt for eggs! The Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) is hosting its annual Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Saluda Shoals Park. Children will be divided by age, and participants are asked to bring baskets for egg collection. In addition, food trucks will be onsite and available for food purchases. Space is limited, so online preregistration is required

by Friday, April 2, and must be done online.

Saluda Shoals Jazz Series with the Reggie Sullivan Band

Cost: $5 per child. Hunting times by age: See website for details. Location: Saluda Shoals Park (the fields), 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia. To register or for more information, call 803-772-1228 or visit icrc.net.

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ttention all music and dance lovers! On Friday, April 9, Saluda Shoals Park will kick off its live music jazz series with the Reggie Sullivan Band. On Friday, April 16, the Les Flat Out Strangers will be featured. And on Friday, April 23, the Mark Rapp Group will take the stage. This fun-filled series is for music aficionados of all ages. In addition, beer and wine will be available for purchase for adults. In the event of rain, the event will be held at the cattail shelter.

Cost: $10. Time: 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Location: Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia. For more information, call 803-731-5208 or visit icrc.net.

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kudos

Clear Dot Charter School Received Esteemed Grant

Clear Dot Charter School, in Columbia, received a $5,000 environmental stewardship grant from Dominion Energy to grow coral and later plant it along the state’s coastline. The coral is growing in a cold water South Carolina native reef tank, which is one of 16 fish tanks in the school. Clear Dot Charter School is one of only 118 organizations awarded with a Dominion Energy environmental stewardship.

Kudos to Clear Dot Charter School and Dominion Energy!

Annual KMB Grinding of the Greens Was a Huge Success!

Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB), in partnership with Lexington and Richland counties, the town of Lexington, the city of Columbia, the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission, the Richland County Recreation Commission, and Hollow Creek Tree Farm, processed a total of 132,190 pounds of Christmas trees through its Grinding of the Greens campaign. These are trees that would have ended up in local landfills. In addition, a special “thank you” is in order for Daniel Hunsucker, owner of Alpine Tree Care, for donating his time and equipment to process the trees into the mulch for area residents.

Kudos to KMB and all of its campaign partners!

Columbia Recognized for Building on Success of Advanced Monitoring Stations

The city of Columbia is on the cover and is featured in the American Public Works Association’s February 2021 edition of the APWA Reporter, an internationally distributed magazine. The article highlights the ways in which the city has consistently and strategically upgraded its water monitoring system to provide valuable data for users, analysis and specific needs.

One of the more recent advances is the installation of an Esri ArcGIS dashboard to streamline data visualization, thus enabling users to view weather patterns and all other data points in one location. This also aids stakeholders in making connections, spotting trends and decision-making.

Visit APWA.partica.online/reporter/february-2021/flipbook/1 to view the article online.

Kudos to the city of Columbia!

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health briefs

vercaAdobestock.com

Drink Beet Juice to Lower Blood Pressure Hypertension is a global disease that particularly affects people in low-income communities, but a new study by the UK University of Nottingham suggests that beetroot juice may be a practical solution for people with high blood pressure that have little access to diagnostic help or money for medication. Researchers divided 47 people between 50 and 70 years of age in Tanzania into three groups. For 60 days, one group drank nitrate-rich beetroot juice and folic acid; another was given nitrate-rich beetroot juice and a placebo; and the third drank nitrate-depleted beetroot juice. The researchers found that systolic blood pressure dropped by 10.8 millimeters (mm) Hg (mercury) in the nitrate-rich plus folic acid group and 6.1 mm Hg in the nitrate-rich and placebo group. Studies have shown that the high level of nitrates in beets is converted by the digestive system into nitric oxide, which relaxes and widens blood vessels.

Consider Curcumin and Nano-Curcumin for Heart Health Iranian researchers tested 90 patients undergoing elective heart angioplasty, giving one group 500 milligrams (mg) curcumin, the second group 80 mg nano-curcumin, and the third a placebo.

After eight weeks, both types of curcumin significantly improved cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C levels. They also boosted antioxidant levels, superoxide dismutase and glutathione, and reduced C-reactive protein levels, indicating less inflammation. The nano-curcumin, however, produced even better results in five of those indexes, leading the authors to conclude that the effects of curcumin on the nano formula may be more conducive for cardiac patients due to its high bioavailability. Nano-curcumin is made through a process that encapsulates the herb, allowing it to be metabolized better.

thanamatAdobestock.com

B12 and Prenatal Supplements Gain Official Nod In updated 2020-2025 dietary guidelines, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have endorsed the specific use of certain supplements, noting that under-consumption of some nutrients among Americans is linked to health concerns. The guidelines advise that infants being fed breast milk exclusively or partially should be given a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU per day beginning soon after birth and perhaps continuing for more than a year. Women that are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should take a daily prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement. Pregnant or lactating women that follow a vegetarian or vegan diet are advised to talk to their healthcare provider about supplementation to ensure that they get adequate amounts of iron, vitamin B12, choline, zinc, iodine and omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The guidelines also state that some older adults may require vitamin B12 supplements, noting concerns over the amount of the vitamin absorbed from food.

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global briefs

Silver Lining Discarded Safety Gear Used to Build Highways

World Watchers

Deforestation Alert System Mitigates Climate Change

sarah brown/Unsplash.com

Deforestation, which contributes to warming the planet, is a key factor behind the 40 percent increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide since the beginning of the industrial age. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the global average atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration in 2018 was 407.4 parts per million, higher than it’s been in almost 1 million years. Avoiding deforestation is much better than conducting reforestation efforts after the fact, and should be a key global climate change mitigation strategy, says Jennifer Alix-Garcia, a researcher at Oregon State University.

The Global Land Analysis and Discovery System (GLAD), founded in 2016 by the University of Maryland’s Department of Geographical Sciences, is based on high-resolution satellite imaging from the NASA Landsat Science program. Subscribers can access data via a free interactive web application, Global Forest Watch. So far, forest loss has declined 18 percent in African nations where GLAD provided alerts when detecting deforestation activities. Previously, government agencies and other groups had to use reports from volunteers or forest rangers.

Honest Ingredients

Global sales of organic products totaled $90 billion in 2017 according to the 2018 edition of the study The World of Organic Agriculture, published by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and Organics International. In the U.S., the figure is $50 billion, or 5 percent of all grocery store sales. Demand for organic products is increasing, more farmers cultivate organically, more land is certified organic and 178 countries report organic farming activities.

The challenge is to safeguard organic standards from large corporations that buy up organic brands and try to weaken U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements. This has led to an erosion of both organic standards and consumer trust in the organic labeling of products such as eggs, milk and grains.

To restore public trust, the Organic Consumers Association is committed to exposing the fraudulent players in the organic industry while fighting for stronger organic protections. At one time, states could develop their own rules for organic food production and processing.

But in 1990, Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act, which created the National Organic Program and the National Organic Standards Board. Foods labeled USDA Organic are the gold standard for health and sustainability.

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Protecting the Organic Marketplace

With the plethora of used, disposable face masks accumulating worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, avenues of incorporating them into the recycling stream are underway. An estimated 6.8 billion disposable masks are used around the world each day. Researchers at RMIT University, in Melbourne, Australia, have formulated a new road-making material comprised of a mix of shredded single-use face masks and processed building rubble designed to meet civil engineering safety standards.

Their study in the journal Science of the Total Environment shows that using the recycled face mask material to make one kilometer of a two-lane road would use up about 3 million masks, preventing 93 tons of waste from going to landfills. Roads are made of four layers—a subgrade, base, sub-base and asphalt on top. All the layers must be both strong and flexible to withstand the pressures of heavy vehicles and prevent cracking. Processed building rubble, or recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), can be used on its own for the three base layers, and adding shredded face masks to RCA enhances the material while addressing environmental challenges.

environmental spotlight

EEASC: Environmental Champions on a Midlands Mission

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by Chanda Cooper and Jane Hiller

arth Day is a great time to celebrate environmental educators that work tirelessly to educate children and adults about keeping South Carolina clean and healthy.

Last year, despite many challenges, the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina (EEASC) hosted 24 professional development events for environmental educators, including a virtual conference with 140 participants from nine states. Through support from grants, sponsors and fundraising contributions, the organization awarded three mini-grants and recruited three part-time contractors to assist with its mission.

EEASC also adopted the S.C. Green Steps Schools Initiative and joined the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance’s Landscape Analysis project. EEASC’s listserv is reaching more than 800 people statewide, with membership increasing nearly 40 percent in the past 12 months.

EEASC has big plans this year. The organization is thrilled to announce that it will adopt the Palmetto

Environmental Education Certification program. Its mini-grant program will offer more and larger awards to members to support service projects, professional development, and student experiences.

Preparation is underway for its annual hybrid conference to be held Thursday, June 10, through Saturday, June 12. The organization will continue its free monthly Meetups for anyone interested in networking with members.

EEASC is a nonprofit association with a leadership role in environmental and natural resource conservation education in South Carolina. It was formed in 1977 from the Environmental Education Advisory council, which guided efforts in environmental education for the S.C. Department of Education from 1960 to 1977.

The organization has three main goals: to provide a forum for formal and non-formal educators, agencies, administrators, researchers, concerned citizens, and industrial/commercial leaders to share information, ideas and resources pertaining to South Carolina’s natural resources and environmental initiatives; to assist with the development, review and dissemination of environmental education resources and certifications for teaching in both formal and non-formal settings; and to recognize and reward outstanding contributions in environmental education by students, teachers, legislators and industry leaders in South Carolina.

In the lead-up to Earth Day, the EEASC board of directors plans to launch a fundraiser with the hope that Midlands area citizens will consider making a contribution to support the mission.

For more information, visit eeasc.org.

Note: Chanda Cooper is president of Richland County Conservation Education and EEASC. Jane Hiller is Sonoco Recycling’s Education Specialist. She is also EEASC’s Central Section Director.

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April 2021

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healing ways

Common remedies like over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants bring their own share of afflictions, including drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision and dizziness. “By undertaking natural therapy for allergies, however, one can avoid and mitigate the unpleasant symptoms of allergies with no need for medication,” says Carrie Lam, M.D., an integrative and functional medicine doctor in Tustin, California. “Instead of loading up on drugs, you can take care of yourself in a more natural way and avoid nasty side effects.” Here are some non-pharmaceutical approaches.

Breathe Easy Natural Remedies for Allergy Woes

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by Ronica O’Hara

s the one in five Americans suffering from allergic rhinitis can miserably testify, the fragrant breezes of spring aren’t much fun when they bring on sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and a runny nose. The fifth-most common chronic disease in the country, allergic rhinitis—also known as hay fever—is aggravated in spring by rising pollen levels, but can occur year-round from exposure to mold, household dust mites, pet dander and vehicular air pollution.

Probiotics: In a 173-person, double-blind study, a probiotic blend of Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 and Bifidobacterium longum MM-2 lowered hay fever symptoms and improved participants’ quality of life during allergy season, report University of Florida researchers in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (Read labels to locate these strains in yogurts, kefirs and supplements.)

laura negrato/AdobeStock.com

Sublingual Immunotherapy: To desensitize the body, small amounts of specific allergens in the form of tablets or liquid drops are placed under the tongue, making it a gentler and safer process than allergy shots. Numerous studies have shown it to be safe and efficient in the treatment of respiratory tract allergies, reports JoAnn Yanez, ND, executive director of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC). After getting a diagnosis and a first dose from a health practitioner, the tablets or drops can be taken at home.

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Quercetin: Found naturally in apples, berries, red grapes, red onions, red wine and black tea, this antioxidant inhibits the release of histamine and hampers the IgE antibodies formed during allergic reactions. As a 400-milligram (mg) supplement, it takes about a month to kick in.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): When freeze-dried as an extract or used as a tea,

this prickly roadside weed is a nontoxic natural antihistamine. In one study, 58 percent of participants found that 300 mg per day relieved their symptoms.

Omega-3s: Anti-inflammatory fatty acids found in such foods as tuna, salmon, walnuts and flaxseed oil can help reduce symptoms, research suggests. In a Japanese study, eating fish lowered respiratory symptoms for women, while fast food and sugary drinks worsened respiratory stress.

Nasal Rinse: Using a neti pot with saline solution to rinse allergens out of nasal passages provides quick relief for stuffy, runny, irritated noses. In one study, people using them reported a 64 percent improvement in chronic sinus symptoms and a better quality of life. An ancient Ayurveda technique popularized by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz, the pots cost about $20 in pharmacies.

Nasal sprays, although easier to use initially, aren’t as effective, studies show.

Unpasteurized Honey: “Local honey contains tiny amounts of pollen from nearby flowers, which can make you less sensitive when you’re exposed to them outdoors,” says chiropractor and nutritionist Josh Axe, Nashville-based author of Ancient Remedies. A Malaysian study of 40 hay fever sufferers found that high doses of local honey, taken along with an antihistamine, reduced sneezing and nasal decongestion more effectively than the antihistamine alone.

Acupuncture: Based on established research, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation recommends acupuncture for hay fever patients that want to avoid pharmaceuticals.

Homeopathy: To stimulate the body’s natural healing process, homeopathy uses highly diluted doses of herbs and other

substances. Although it’s best to work with a homeopath, two helpful remedies commonly found in health food stores are Allium cepa 30C, for watery eyes, sneezing and a runny or irritated nose; and Kali bichromicum 30C, for persistent sinus congestion with thick nasal discharge.

Anti-Allergen Cleaning: Simple steps recommended by AANMC to lower airborne allergens include using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in the vacuum cleaner; replacing AC filters frequently; changing out of clothes and showering when coming in from the outdoors to rinse off pollen; leaving shoes outside; changing the air filter in the car; and avoiding toxic inhalants with synthetic ingredients like perfumes, body sprays, scented candles, room sprays, air fresheners and dryer sheets.

Ronica O’Hara, a natural health writer, can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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conscious eating

Spring Cleaning the Body Simple Ways to Detox Naturally

by April Thompson

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s we shake off the sluggishness of winter, many of us feel an urge to “spring clean” our bodies with a detox or cleanse. Yet health experts say such programs should help jumpstart new healthy habits and not necessarily be seen as a short-term fix.

“The air we breathe, the water we drink, the cosmetics we use, the materials we build with and most notably, the food that we eat, are loaded with chemicals that are toxic to our metabolism,” says Alejandro Junger, a Los Angeles cardiologist, author and founder of CleanProgram.com. “The systems in the body designed to clear toxicity are overwhelmed, and this leads to the imbalances and damage that is at the root of most diseases today.”

Detoxification functions are performed by many different organs and tissues, including intestinal flora, the immune system, the nervous system and the liver, so its imbalances can manifest in diverse ways, according to Junger. “Symptoms of detox imbalance include sleep and mood disorders, anxiety, rashes, lack of energy and libido, autoimmune disorders, inflammation and cancer.”

While some health professionals say that detoxes are unnecessary because the body is capable of cleansing itself, others make a compelling case for the need to help it along, given our heightened exposure to manmade toxic elements. Information of varying repute swirls around the internet, offering approaches ranging from juice cleanses to total fasts.

Simple dietary strategies can help sweep out toxins, explains Robin Foroutan, an integrative dietitian and nutritionist in New York City. She points to cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, collards and kale, which promote cytochromes P450, a family of enzymes critical in helping toxins clear the body. She also recommends foods high in fiber that can bind to toxins and bile, and transport them out of the body through the stool. Berries, green tea and turmeric are also helpful for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; even water facilitates the excretion process, supports the lymphatic system and replenishes fluids lost through sweat. Using a water filter and eating organic foods when possible also reduces incoming toxins, she says.

Healthy smoothies are a great way to get water, fiber and easily digestible nutrients into our body at the same time, according to Junger. “When using a good, clean, protein powder in addition to fruits and leafy greens, healthy fats such as nuts, and coconut or cashew milk, a smoothie can provide us the nutrients needed to support our energy for hours,” he says. Adding herbs like mint or holy basil (tulsi) and spices like turmeric and cinnamon elevate both flavor and healing. Liquids such as celery juice provide highly concentrated nutrients and hydration, but lack the fiber of a blended drink. Both juices and smoothies give overtaxed digestive systems a needed break.

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knappe/GettyImages

Everyday Toxin Cleaners

Deep Detox

Fasting (occasionally for a prolonged period, such as three days without food) and intermittent fasting (abstaining from food for a shorter period, such as 16 hours per day on a regular basis) are great tools for deeper detoxification, says Junger. “Digestion takes energy and resources from the detox functions, so eating less, eating less often and allowing time for digestion to stop so that detox can intensify is crucial.”

For a comprehensive detox, experts recommend working with a health practitioner to assess toxic burdens and develop a personalized plan. Russell Jaffe, a physician in Ashburn, Virginia, crafts a detox program based on four self-assessments, including digestive transit time, urine pH, hydration levels and vitamin C levels.

Jaffe claims our bodies are burdened by excess acid, rendering them less resilient to stress and resulting in fatigue, illness and infection risks. “When we enjoy a diet rich in greens, fruits, vegetables, minerals and antioxidants, our cells become more alkaline and more resistant to everyday stress,” he states.

Experts emphasize that a short-term program must be part of a longer-lasting lifestyle and diet shift. “It is not enough to do periodic detoxes if you go back to old habits. I offer these programs as a jumpstart in hopes that participants feel so much better that they never want to go back to what they were doing and eating before,” says Junger.

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

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Detox Delights Sweet Mango Smoothie

1 cup fresh or frozen mango 1 to 3 cups spinach ¼ cup packed mint ½ cup coconut water ½ cup coconut milk 1 Tbsp chia seeds 1 serving dairy-free protein powder Handful of ice Skin and chop mango. Wash spinach. Remove mint leaves from their stems and rinse them with water. Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth (30-60 seconds). Pour and serve immediately. Sprinkle chia seeds on top if desired.

photo by kaitlyn noble

Sweet fruit paired with spinach for an extra dose of fiber, vitamins and super-green-detoxifying antioxidants won’t change the taste of this beloved fruit smoothie.

Recipe by Kaitlyn Noble of the Clean Program.

Vegetable Yum Soup Soups help provide the body with nutrient- and fiber-rich vegetables in an easy-to-digest format, while soup broths help supply water for detoxification and a sense of satiety.

Yield: 4 to 6 Servings

Heat the oil in a large pot and sauté garlic, ginger, lemongrass and crushed red pepper. Stir in the mushrooms, sweet potatoes and bell pepper, and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Add the stock, bring to boil and then reduce heat. Simmer for 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add the coconut milk and soy sauce, and stir. Serve sprinkled with cilantro or parsley (optional).

Source: Russell Jaffe, The Joy in Living: The Alkaline Way. 22

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photo by kaitlyn noble

1 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 garlic clove, minced 2 Tbsp fresh ginger, grated 1 stalk lemongrass, minced ½ tsp crushed red pepper ¾ cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced 2 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped ½ cup green bell pepper, chopped 5 to 6 cups vegetable stock 1 (14-oz) can coconut milk 2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce 3 Tbsp cilantro or parsley, chopped

CLIMATE CHANGE AND OUR HEALTH cottonbro/Pexels.com

The Human Costs of a Warming Planet

by Sandra Yeyati

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This is no time to panic, say climate and public health advocates, but rather a moment for preparation, adaptation and mobilization. Prospects are hopeful as we tackle new realities together and evolve our conversations about climate change so we can build resilient, thriving communities.

The good news is that many of the individual and policy changes we need to make are exciting opportunities for positive transformation and justice.

lobal warming is not just threatening polar bears far away in the Arctic, and its effects are not somewhere in the distant future. With every new wildfire, hurricane and flash flood, people are understanding that the warming of the planet poses dire consequences for human health right here, right now. It’s personal, and while some sectors of the population are unfairly and disproportionately impacted, we are all in harm’s way.

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Health Threats in Our Midst The warming of the planet is becoming more noticeable. “That historic two weeks anywhere in the United States where it’s the heat wave of high summer is now six weeks to two months,” says Jay Lemery, M.D., professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado and co-author of Enviromedics: The Impact of Climate Change on Human Health. “There are parts of the Middle East now where you can’t be outside and meaningfully cool your body during certain parts of the day.”

“With warming, we’re seeing drought, wildfires, hurricanes, extreme precipitation, flooding and sea level rise, all of which have health consequences,” says Surili Patel, director of the Center for Climate, Health and Equity at the American Public Health Association. “With rising temperature and heat waves, we’re seeing heat stroke, dehydration, diarrheal disease, cardiovascular distress and respiratory illnesses. Extreme weather like wildfires, hurricanes and flooding cause direct injuries, as well as vector-borne illnesses (Lyme April 2021

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drinking water supplies and exposing us to diarrheal diseases. We also see offices and industrial sites getting flooded and, whether it’s paint, fertilizers or other toxins, those get into our water and it’s very unhealthy,” Roberts says.

they’re going to be going under increased storm surge stress and flat-out flooding.”

Achievable Public Health Solutions

The Most Vulnerable Among Us Certain segments of the population are more at risk. “Lower socioeconomic groups are suffering more from extreme heat events. The urban heat island effect, which unfortunately correlates very well with poorer neighborhoods, means that they’ll have heat waves seven to 10 degrees hotter in their neighborhoods than surrounding places with more green space,” Lemery says.

“You see the public health infrastructure less robust to be able to attend to communities of color—like you saw with COVID. There are also physiologic vulnerabilities. Climate change affects the very young, the very old and the very sick much more because of their preexisting vulnerabilities, and then we have geographic vulnerabilities—people who live on the coast without sea walls or in flood plains. As sea level rise proliferates, and that data is really straightforward,

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tomas anunziata/Pexels.com

disease carried by ticks or dengue fever and malaria by mosquitoes), mold and harmful algal blooms that happen when it’s really hot, but also show up in places that otherwise wouldn’t have because of the combination of heat and flooding.”

Lemery notes that incidences of mosquito- and tick-borne diseases are moving higher in altitude and latitude, affecting historically naive populations that have not had levels of disease immunity, the infrastructure or cultural habits to protect them. “These are huge killers worldwide, and we’re seeing more and more of that,” he says.

“When you have a warmer winter, spring starts earlier, trees bloom early and pollen season starts early too, and longer exposure to pollen increases your risk of having an asthma attack,” says Professor Amir Sapkota at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, adding that the Northeast is heavily impacted by this phenomenon.

“Here in Colorado, in the summer heat, we have these huge swaths of wildfire smoke hanging over Denver, and people come in to the emergency department.

Their inhalers aren’t working anymore, and they’re having chest pain and shortness of breath when they’re on oxygen at baseline,” says Lemery. “These are people normally able to walk across a parking lot with their walker and their oxygen, but now they can’t. We see this all summer long, and we admit them for asthma exacerbation, shortness of breath and COPD (i.e., emphysema), but what we don’t write down is that the air quality is the worst it’s been all year, or that it’s the hottest day of the year.”

“Air pollution contributes to climate change, but it also gets into your lungs and irritates them, exacerbating chronic respiratory illnesses, and can even lead to a heart attack,” says Jennifer Roberts, director of the Path of Positive Communities program at EcoAmerica, noting that the biggest culprits are carbon emissions from coal-burning power plants, diesel fuels and ground-level ozone, which is created when pollution reacts to heat and sunlight.

“With sea level rise, things are flooding more often and we get septic tanks overflowing, sending fecal matter into our

The experts agree that it’s important to frame climate change as a public health issue because it brings a sense of urgency to act. “If it isn’t a crisis, if it isn’t something we’re seeing every day on the front page, then you forget about it. And when you forget about it, the funding doesn’t come,” says Patel, whose work focuses on underprivileged communities that need special attention and funding.

Sapkota advocates for the development of early warning systems so that local health departments can anticipate and adapt to impending extreme weather events, directing resources to the most impacted and vulnerable communities. In some cases, moving people out of flood plains and vulnerable coastal areas through eminent domain might be needed.

Lemery believes that doctors are in a prime position to counsel their patients on preventive measures against climate hazards with “credible messaging repeated over and over again with clarity and no hedging: Wear a mask. Stay indoors during high-heat events. Don’t let children play outdoors when the air quality index is at a dangerous level.”

There are many ways to mitigate threats.

As experts point out, we know what to do, and it’s just a matter of putting our attention and resources on their implementation. “One of the biggest ways is let’s remove the sources of harmful spewing pollution—move away from coal, oil and gas—and invest in clean sources of energy, which will also create jobs in these new industries,” says Patel.

Another big step would be to promote mass transit and active transportation— walking and biking—over individual, gas-guzzling vehicles. Patel advocates for local investments in bike lanes and sidewalks that encourage the switch. Both Lemery and Roberts express excitement about clean-running electric cars as potential game-changers in transportation.

Planting trees and vegetable gardens are

easy, community-building solutions. “Trees are very beneficial to everything from shade to water filtration to producing oxygen and taking up carbon,” says Roberts, who adds that much can be done to restore and protect streams, ponds and lakes from the ill effects of pollution and development.

“You get volunteers to clean up the gunk and increase regulations for developers to keep stuff out of the waterways.”

Eco-Anxiety and Making Positive Change

Jessica Schiff, a second-year master of science student at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, struggles with eco-anxiety—the depression, anxiety or dread associated with climate change. She says, “It impacts the decisions I make for my life and the future, just trying to think about overall impacts. Where is my food coming from? Do I want to have kids or adopt? Should I live in the suburbs or the city because of transportation and fossil fuel consumption? This all adds a layer of unease or uncertainty about the future. Sometimes I look at Greta [Thunberg] and how far she’s taken things, and feel guilty about not taking things to such an extreme. Is it hypocritical for me to care about climate change but still eat meat occasionally or take a plane to explore the world?”

Schiff deals with eco-anxiety by taking action. “We’re not going to reverse climate change at this point, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take steps to slow it down or reduce emissions. There are many small things we can each do, like biking or walking instead of taking a car or bus and reducing our use of plastic. It’s a process. You can’t do it overnight, but if you make a lot of small changes, and if everybody makes small changes, that has a bigger effect.”

Roberts acknowledges the power of small, individual actions, but stresses that we should not let the big polluters off the hook. “We need to continue to press for policy changes, holding polluters accountable, passing regulations based on protecting human health and climate, requiring cleaner cars and buildings, and more.

That’s the only way we will get to the scale of change needed to truly bring global warming to a halt.”

Coming Next Month MAY

Top Women’s Health Concerns Plus: Sustainable Fashion

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

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

April 2021

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healthy kids

Nature to the Rescue Kids Come Alive Outdoors

image courtesy of Meraiko

by Ronica O’Hara

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s Angela Hanscom of Barrington, New Hampshire, watched her preschool daughters at play, she realized that a surprising number of their friends had problems with balance, coordination and muscle weakness, conditions she was attuned to as a pediatric occupational therapist. Teachers told her that compared to past years, young children were falling out of chairs and bumping into each other and walls more often—all evidence of poor proprioceptive skills, the “sixth sense” ability to feel and position the body in space.

Hanscom also realized that almost none of the children played outdoors, which “fascinated and scared” her. Nationwide, even before the lockdowns and online schooling 26

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brought on by the pandemic, the average child spent seven hours per day looking at screens and only seven minutes per day playing freely outdoors. Recent studies show that today’s children have poorer hand grip strength, slower running speeds and lower cardiovascular fitness levels than previous generations. Meanwhile, a growing body of research finds that spending time in nature makes kids happier, healthier and more functional.

Hanscom’s solution was to establish TimberNook, camps in which children from 18 months to 14 years of age are encouraged to explore natural settings in imaginative, largely unstructured, minimally supervised play. Now in its eighth year, 38 TimberNook-affiliated camps are located in the U.S., Canada, the UK and Australia. Hanscom’s book, Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children, has garnered more than 300 fivestar reviews on Amazon.com.

“Children thrive physically, mentally and emotionally when they are given frequent outdoor play experiences, especially with other children. When children do not get enough of these opportunities, it comes at a great cost to their development,” she says.

Journalist Richard Louv, author of the seminal Last Child in the Woods, agrees.

“The scientists who study the human senses no longer talk about five senses, they list conservatively nine or 10, and some believe that humans have as many as 30 senses,” he says. “Yet today, children and adults who work and learn in a dominating digital environment expend enormous energy blocking out many of the human senses—including ones we don’t even know we have—to focus narrowly on the screen in front of the eyes. That’s the very definition of being less alive. What parent wants his or her child to be less alive? Who among us wants to be less alive?”

That dawning realization is motivating parents and teachers to find ways to get their children actively involved with nature in ways that open their senses while also moving their bodies. This often means hitting the local trails and nature preserves, sometimes with binoculars, bug jars, bird and plant guides and a

scavenger list in hand. “‘Hiking’ can be a bit of a drag to young children, but ‘exploring’ (while still hiking) helps open their minds to the beauty and wonder of the outdoors,” says Tanya Gray of Woodstock, Georgia, a homeschooling blogger at TwoPineAdventure.com.

To improve kids’ hearing, Lilach Saperstein, an Israeli audiologist who hosts the podcast All About Audiology, asks children to close their eyes and describe only what they hear. “The wind, the rustle of leaves, a running water stream, crickets, birds, their own breathing, the swish of their sleeve or pant—this is a great way to introduce mindfulness, as well.”

To awaken sight, sound and smell, Boston plein air artist Diana Stelin hands kids paper and art supplies out in nature. “Allowing kids to sit with sounds around them and with smells of various seasons makes them truly feel part of our grand universe.

It also allows their minds to quiet down and reset, making them pay more attention to detail, to their inner landscapes and to people around them.”

To engage the sense of taste, Malorie Thompson, editor of TheVeganInsider.com, takes her children foraging for edible plants on treasure hunts on a trail or around their Northern California neighborhood. She says, “Bonus activity: use the foraged food to make a meal afterward!”

Most of all, nature should be both physical and fun. “Point excitedly at the full moon, shout at it and say hello. Pick

up leaves and chestnuts and rocks and create beautiful art together. Stop to smell the twigs and flowers and roll on the grass—who can make it faster down the hill? Make sandcastles and animals. Tie colorful ribbons on tree branches. Look for the shapes of animals in the clouds,” says Milana Perepyolkina, of Salt Lake City, who wrote about forest bathing in Gypsy Energy Secrets.

“The only way to get your children to be excited about nature is for you to be excited about nature first,” she notes.

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

Family Time in the Woods Richard Louv, a prominent nature writer and a co-founder of The Children & Nature Network (C&NN), offers 500 ways for families and communities to connect to the natural world in his book Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life. Here are more wise words.

Be a hummingbird parent. One parent says, “In the range from helicopter to neglect—I probably fall a bit more toward helicopter. In fact, I call myself a hummingbird parent. I tend to stay physically distant to let them explore and problem-solve, but zoom in at moments when safety is an issue (which isn’t very often).” Notice that she isn’t hovering over her kids with nature flash cards. She stands back and makes space for independent nature play—albeit not as free as she experienced as a child; this play is important, nonetheless.

Create or join a family nature club. Nature clubs for families are beginning to catch on across the country; some have membership lists of 400-plus families. The idea is that multiple families meet to go for a hike, garden together or even do stream reclamation.

We hear from family nature club leaders that when families get together, the kids tend to play more creatively—with other kids or independently—than during singlefamily outings. C&NN’s Nature Clubs for Families offers a free downloadable guide on how to start your own.

Get the safety information you need. Become familiar with good resources for safety tips in the outdoors, including those with information on how to guard against ticks.

Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s cdc.gov. AudubonPortland.org offers tips on living with a variety of urban wildlife.

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green living

Healthy Home

How to Detoxify a Living Space

by Yvette Hammett

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s the world moves into its second year of a viral pandemic, many of us are still spending most of our time at home—working, exercising, hanging out with family and as with any other year, cooking and cleaning. There’s no better time to take stock of these surroundings and purge them of any toxins—gases, inhalants or fumes—that may be contributing to a harmful environment.

Start with the air. Research shows that indoor air is two to five times more toxic than the air outside, due to inadequate ventilation. This condition, coupled with fumes from synthetic fibers, makeup, paints, cleansers or even a baby’s plastic toys, can contribute to health issues and a less environmentally beneficial abode. A straightforward solution—in addition to getting rid of the pollution-causing objects—is to open the windows and use fans to recirculate the air. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can safely remove many contaminants, but don’t spritz a commercial air freshener: A University of Washington study found that eight widely used air fresheners released an average of 18 chemicals into the air, some of them hazardous, including the likely human carcinogen acetaldehyde.

tatiana/Pexels.com

Purge plastics. Perfluorinated compounds PFAS and PFOS, known as “forever chemicals”, are found in nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, and products that resist grease, water and oil. They have been found to cause a wide range of health problems from kidney and testicular cancers to endocrine disruptions. Consider doing a clean sweep of the house to determine which of these can be replaced, paying special attention to plastics. “If you really limit plastics to a few things, you are fine,” says Heather Patisaul, Ph.D., a neuroscience and toxicology expert at North Carolina State University.

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Reconsider kitchenware. Eliminate all nonstick cookware, Patisaul advises. “Use ceramic and other materials that do not have perfluorinated chemicals.”

Debbie Steinbock, a nutrition counselor at Mindful Family Medical, in Boulder, Colorado, suggests replacing plastic storage containers, which can leach chemicals when heated. “Use a cast iron skillet and use glass jars and mason jars for food storage.”

Chuck out toxic cleaners. Many commercial kitchen, bathroom and other cleaning products are loaded with chemicals linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive disorders, hormone disruption and

neurotoxicity. They can be particularly toxic for children: A recent Canadian study found that repeated use of a disinfectant reduced beneficial gut bacteria in toddlers, probably contributing to obesity. A good place to start in cleaning out the cleaners is at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website ewg.org; its Healthy Living Home Guide evaluates the health risks of 2,500 cleaning products. It also advises a simple strategy of using vinegar and water or baking soda.

Get the lead out. Andrew Rooney, deputy director at the National Toxicology Program of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, sees lead, which causes brain damage and other serious defects, as a major risk present in water supplies and the paint of older homes.

“The thing I want to emphasize is there is no safe level of lead exposure, so eliminating exposure sources is the best protection for your health,” he says.

Drinking water contamination comes from the distribution lines and plumbing fixtures, with lead leaching out from repairs or adjustments. “Having your household water tested by a certified lab is the best option to determine if you have water issues,” he says. Consult state and local health agencies for guidance on lead paint or lead in the water lines and how to remove it. Also consider a water filter: ConsumerReports.com has a comprehensive rating of models from pitchers to under-sink setups.

Take it a step further. The new EWG downloadable Healthy Living app makes it easy to use a smartphone to check out 120,000 products for toxic ingredients, including cosmetics and foods. “It has a barcode scanner to scan your favorite lipstick or shampoo, and it will pop up an ingredient list and give it a score,” says Patisaul. The database includes ingredients not found on packaging and scores products on a zero to 10 scale. “It pretty much has to be water to get a zero,” she says.

Yvette Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, Florida. She can be contacted at YvetteHammettHull49@gmail.com.

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Eco-Athletes

Working Out with the Planet in Mind

by Marlaina Donato

F

it’s personally gratifying, it also makes you keenly aware of just how far the world is from taking action sufficient to keep climate change in check. We all need to do more,” says Bruce Rayner, founder and chief green officer at Athletes for a Fit Planet, in Portland, Maine, who was enlightened to the problems firsthand at a half-ironman distance race. “When I got to the finish line, I was given my obligatory plastic water bottle.

I looked around for a recycling bin, and all I saw was an overflowing trash bin.” Founded in 2008, Rayner’s organization partners with pro-environment races like the TD Beach to Beacon 10K, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, recently named the most sustainable 10-milesor-less race in the country.

rom human-powered gyms that generate electricity to Earth-friendly activewear, professional and recreational athletes alike are increasingly working out with the planet in mind. Taking a recycled yoga mat to class, nixing the plastic water bottle and going “plogging”—picking up litter while out for a run—are just a few examples of eco-fitness in motion.

“We believe that movement and nature go hand-in-hand, yet the world of sports isn’t as green as it should be, with plastic bottles at events, junk food in canteens and monotonous movement in the gym,” says Saraï Pannekoek, co-founder of the Sustainable Athlete Foundation, which strives to create a sustainable sports environment through coaching, workshops and campaigns.

djileAdobeStock.com

Fueling Up, Protecting Natural Resources

Working Out Green Links between personal fitness and environmental toxicity are critical. Sixty percent of clothing is manufactured with fossil fuel-derived plastics, and activewear rates highest for eco-toxic fibers. Choosing workout clothes made from sustainable bamboo and cotton can soften the impact. With name brands like Adidas offering sustainable footwear, staying fit doesn’t need to increase the toll on the environment. Pannekoek, who hosts the Sustainable Athlete Podcast with co-founder Paul Venner in Amsterdam, emphasizes personal responsibility. “We believe that there isn’t a quick fix. It’s all about habits and conscious behavior, while still being able to peak perform.”

Supplementing the usual gym routine with self-powered workouts and outdoor activities like gardening, sustainable charity races and hiking are sound choices that can help to buffer climate change. “Being eco-centric enriches life and enhances health, but while 30

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A pillar of the eco-fitness movement is eating clean and going plant-based for the health of people and planet. “Diet is a big part of being eco-fit. The best action you can take is to support local farms, specifically organic farms,” emphasizes Rayner.

To minimize global greenhouse gas emissions and water usage, eating more nutrition-packed produce, whole grains, legumes and nuts instead of animal products supports sustainability. For Adam Layzell, sports therapist, nutritionist and author of How to Train Your Vegan: The Comprehensive Guide to Plant-Based Fitness, going vegan is a win-win situation.

“A vegan diet encourages fat loss, improves endurance and recovery and has plenty of all the necessary components such as protein to build strength and muscle.” Layzell underscores that the vegan diet preserves animals and their ecosystems, prevents deforestation and destruction of wild land and lowers the impact on climate change and global warming.

Athlete Engagement

75th ANNIVERSARY!

For Lewis Blaustein, managing editor of GreenSportsBlog.com, climate change action and sports are an ideal marriage. He recently launched EcoAthletes.org to encourage sports figures to speak up about global warming. “Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Sport has the power to change the world.’ EcoAthletes aims to show that athletes are the agents of that change and that they, by mobilizing millions if not billions of fans, can do so on climate.” Blaustein sees a surge of climate-concerned athletes leading radical changes. “There will be many different looks—from athletes endorsing green products à la solar power, electric vehicles, etc., to athletes speaking out for environmental/climate justice in a similar fashion to WNBA and NBA players on Black Lives Matter.”

Pannekoek concurs, “All small steps taken still go a great distance. Elite athletes are role models. If they would support more conscious brands to influence the youth, we believe that they can make such a difference.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

WHAT WE CAN DO Bruce Rayner: n After pandemic restrictions lift, when signing up for a race, pick one that’s local and carpool with friends.

n Washing polyester clothing means microplastics are in the wastewater, which means they make their way into the environment. Consider getting a filter for your washing machine that catches microplastics. n Tell race directors that you appreciate their efforts to be more sustainable.

Adam Layzell: n Reuse clothes to lower the carbon footprint and plastic production. Go to the charity shop, borrow, repair and buy second-hand.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI

n Choose reusable water bottles.

The book that has c hanged the lives of millions

n Exercise in nature, a great way to appreciate what we need to be protecting. n Litter pick when exercising in nature. Have a

small backpack and clean up as you run.

Saraï Pannekoek: n Consume intentionally and more mindfully.

Think and act long-term instead of going for quick fixes.

n Replace sugary snacks with quick, energizing exercises throughout the day. (We call this “movement snacks”.)

Also available in eBook and audio editions

mast3r/AdobeStock.com

n Change your movements instead of doing simple repetition over and over again.

Quality Paperback, only $12.50

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y o g a n a n d a . o r g April 2021

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wise words

Sheryl DeVore on

Appreciating Nature and Wildlife

by Randy Kambic

A

s we spend more time outside for pandemic safety to exercise and reduce stress, Sheryl DeVore suggests maximizing these experiences by being more aware of the wonders we see and the need to preserve them.

The award-winning author of five books on science, health and nature also writes for the Birds & Blooms national magazine, the Chicago Tribune and Natural Awakenings Chicago.

With degrees in writing and education from Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University, respectively, plus extensive studies in biology and botany, she assists the Illinois Audubon Society, including writing for and editing a 2019 book on the state’s endangered species.

Is climate change impacting wildlife and nature?

Recent worldwide studies are showing how climate changes affect bird migration times, bloom times of plants and mammal behavior. All of this is interconnected and can harm the environment and the flora and the fauna that live within it. For example, we’re finding that the relationship between healthy oak woods and migratory birds like warblers is being affected by climate change. Warblers time their migrations to pass through regions when oaks are just starting to leaf out. Insects are attracted to the buds and the early leaves, and warblers 32

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are attracted to the insects. Once the leaves emerge, chemicals in the oaks deter the insects and there isn’t any food for the warblers. Climate change can cause the oaks to leaf out early, so if warblers arrive on their normal schedule, they’ll find less food and therefore have less energy to make it to their nesting grounds. Plants and animals are trying to adapt in different ways, and this can be a huge issue if climate change continues.

Are there any new trends you’ve noticed in people growing vegetables at home?

Especially during the pandemic, people that have limited space are learning that they can grow their own food at home—growing vegetables and herbs in containers, both indoors and outdoors. Online classes can be helpful in teaching them to grow vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, spinach and peppers, which are great sources for antioxidants and vitamins. This trend coincides with the movement to eat healthier.

Have you seen any changes in how people observe nature during the pandemic?

When I go to forest preserves, parks and nature centers, even in my neighborhood, I have noticed more people, including families with their children, outdoors. Parents can inspire their children anywhere to learn

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

to appreciate nature. Ask a child what kind of tree is in the yard. Maybe they can take a photo or draw a picture of it to create a memory and inspire them to want to learn more. Ask them, “What’s that bug on that plant?” or, “What is the bird that’s singing?”

There’s so much for them to enjoy.

What can we do to try to protect and preserve the environment?

Sometimes people think they can’t make a difference as individuals. Small things can make a difference—have a ripple effect. People volunteer to return native habitats to their past, remove non-native species, plant new ones. Volunteers are planting and restoring prairies, woodlands. In your own backyard, you can plant native species or create a butterfly garden or capture rainwater in a rain barrel to water your plants, which will conserve resources. There are so many things you can do with the family.

Why should we care about endangered species?

Endangered species serve as canaries in a coal mine. When their numbers decline, that can be a signal that something is going wrong with the environment.

When DDT was widely used in the U.S., the bald eagle and other species began to decline. The DDT thinned their egg shells so they weren’t able to raise their young.

They showed us that DDT pollutes and harms the environment, and in turn, humans. By discovering that, by saving eagles, we helped save ourselves.

By protecting endangered species, we truly are saving ourselves. We don’t know what unknown species are out there that might be useful in helping to treat diseases. Anyone who sees an endangered species knows how satisfying an experience this is, and to me, it also translates to a healthier mind and body.

For more information, visit SherylDeVore.wordpress.com.

Randy Kambic, in Estero, Florida, is a freelance editor and writer.

eco tip

The Benefits of Planting Trees More Foliage Means Lower Temperatures

Planting more trees can slow down climate change. Science magazine reports, “The restoration of trees remains among the most effective strategies for climate change mitigation.” The Arbor Day celebrations this month make it an apt time for taking actions that benefit both urban areas and open spaces.

More than 166,000 square miles of forest habitat—approximately the size of California—in the tropics and subtropics have been decimated in the last 13 years, and about 2.7 million square miles of forest worldwide remain threatened, according to a recent study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Some major ways to take action include: Avoid buying products linked to deforestation.

Pressure lawmakers to make supply chains sustainable while balancing the need for regulation with the concerns of farmers and businesses. Urge policymakers to enact zero-deforestation policies and bolster the rights and control of forests for local communities and indigenous people, says the WWF. Donate spare change. By joining Plant Your Change for All (PlantYourChange. com), all debit or credit card purchases are automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar and the balance applied toward planting trees. Working together with the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) (ArborDay.org) and Eden Reforestation Projects, the initiative has already planted more than 3 million trees, offsetting 5 million miles of vehicle carbon emissions.

The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. ~Robert Swann

Support the planting of city trees. According to a recent study from the U.S. Forest Service reported in Treehugger.com, the nation’s urban canopies, currently home to approximately 5.5 billion trees, provide roughly $18 billion in annual benefits via the removal of pollution from the air, carbon sequestration, reduced emissions and improved energy efficiency in buildings.

thanamatAdobestock.com

Become a member of the ADF and receive 10 free trees, along with tree nursery discounts; help to qualify a community to receive the Tree City USA designation; or get involved with National Arbor Day, generally celebrated on the last Friday in April, but observed on different days in some states.

The organization’s website includes ideas for conducting virtual celebrations if local chapters are not holding public events due to the pandemic. Also consider participating in other ADF programs such as the Alliance for Community Trees and NeighborWoods Month.

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calendarofevents To place a calendar/ongoing/classified event, email content to ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakenings.com. Entries must adhere to our guidelines and be submitted by April 12 (for May issue). Costs $20 for 35 words each month. Call ahead before attending events to avoid any cancellations or changes.

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 2

Egg-cessible Egg Hunt–6-6:30pm. Open to individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities.

Bring your own basket. Preregistration is required.

All ages. Free. Saluda Shoals Park East, 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info/join mailing list: 803772-1228, icrc.net.

SATURDAY, APRIL 3

Backyard Saturday—Beaver Day–10am-noon.

Through play, families can experience nature.

Cool biofacts to investigate and an explorative hike through the park. Ages 0-7. Cost: $5/parking. Leo’s Landing Playground at Saluda Shoals Park, 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info/join mailing list: 803-772-1228, RKennerly@icrc.net.

SATURDAYS APRIL 3, 10, 17 & 24

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

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, APRIL 10 & 11

Reiki Level 1–Sat,11am-3pm; Sun, noon-3pm.

In-person class with Joy Lee Connor (or via Zoom).

Cost: $325. Springhill AtONEment Center, 2317 Chapin Rd, Chapin. Info/preregistration: Contact Connor at 803-447-6499 or JoyLeeConnor@ BellSouth.net.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15

Learn to Run with Coach T–6:30pm. Learn how to run for better health and fitness—beginners and marathon runners. All ages. Cost: First class is free; $80 for 12-week program. Owens Field, 1351 Jim Hamilton Blvd, Columbia. Info: Contact Mona Patterson at 803-394-4421 or SweetFeetCare.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17

Hazardous Waste Recycle Event–9am-3pm. Lexington County residents. Acceptable items include acids, brake fluid, degreasers, glue and solvents, paint (up to 8 gallons), pesticides and much more.

Chapin Collection and Recycling Center, 103 Distant Ln. Info: 803-785-3340, Lex-Co.SC.Gov. Shuckin’ on the Shoals–4-7pm. Join us for our Annual Fundraiser, and enjoy delicious oysters, BBQ, craft beer, wine and live music with Lawhead Brothers Band. Raffles and mystery prize drawings.

Space is limited. Must purchase advance tickets by Apr 9. Adults only. Saluda Shoals Park East, 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info/costs/tickets: 803213-2035, SaludaShoalsFoundation.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24

Lexington County Recycle Event–9am-1pm. Lexington County residents. Acceptable items include computers, accessories and household electronics, used cooking oil, tires, scrap metal, shreddable paper and more. Batesburg-Leesville High School, 600 Summerland Ave. Info: 803-785-3340, LexCo.SC.Gov. Touch for Health Intro–1-5pm. Learn accurate muscle testing and self-care tools (or via Zoom).

Cost: $150. Springhill AtONEment Center, 2317 Chapin Rd, Chapin. Info/preregistration: Contact Joy Lee Connor, LMT, at 803-447-6499 or JoyLeeConnor@BellSouth.net.

Drive-in Movie Night–6-9:30pm. The Croods: A New Age. Food trucks (from 6-8pm): Chick-fil-A, Pelican's, cupcakes and cotton candy. All ages. Cost: $15 per vehicle. Saluda Shoals Park East, 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info/register: 803-2132035, icrc.net.

planahead

SATURDAY, MAY 15

Richland Recycles Day–8am-3pm. Richland County residents. Acceptable items include electronics (limit eight devices/car), scrap metal, paint (limit 8 gallons per car), tires (limit eight per car), household hazardous waste (chemicals, cleaners, pesticides) and more. SC State Fair Grounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr, Gate A, Columbia. Info: 803-576-2440.

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

Every 2nd Sunday. In building and online. Spiritual Director Candace Chellew-Hodge, published author and songwriter, leads workshop to help participants use creative writing as a way to grow their spiritual practice. Bring pen and paper or laptop for writing exercises. Free, but donations are accepted.

Jubilee! Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia.

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

A Course in Miracles–Original Edition–4:30-6pm.

Every Sunday. Study group via Zoom/phone. We read together and discuss questions, insights and experiences. Donations are accepted. Info: Call Joy Lee Connor at 803-447-6499 or email JoyLeeConnor@BellSouth.net.

tuesday

Healthy at Home Facebook Live–7pm. Every Tuesday. Please join Ms Tracy for her Healthy at

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ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

Home segment live on Facebook. Info: Contact Ms Tracy at 833-678-7229 or OriginalOriginshw@ gmail.com.

wednesday

Debtors Anonymous–6-7pm. Every Wednesday.

In building and online. Debtors Anonymous offers hope for people whose use of unsecured debt causes problems and suffering. Find relief by working the DA recovery program based on the 12-step principles. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee!

Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info: RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

friday

A Talk on A Course in Miracles–6:30pm. Every 2nd Friday. In building and online. Facilitator Gina Gibson continues a series of monthly talks. Q&A to follow. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee!

Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info: RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

saturday

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

Every 2nd Saturday. Workshop held in person at Jubilee and online. Minister Candace Chellew-Hodge, published author and songwriter, leads workshop to help participants use creative writing as a way to grow their spiritual practice. Bring pen and paper or laptop for writing exercises. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info/register: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@ JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

Health on Digital Radio–1pm. Every Saturday.

Health, Hope and Healing digital radio broadcast.

WDRB media on iHeart Radio or TuneIn app.

Info/cost: Contact Ms. Tracy at 833-678-7229 or OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com.

CLASSIFIEDS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY Find a New Beginning with Arbonne–8:30pm.

Every Sunday in April. Zoom and discover Arbonne. Start the year earning extra money while making a difference in your life and the life of others. Info: Call Sasha Davis at 803-665-4352.

SPACE AVAILABLE Massage therapists looking for a like-minded practitioner to share space in a quiet setting on 12th Street in West Columbia. The room is $300/month and is 10×12 with a shared waiting room and two bathrooms. Serious inquiries only.

Please call Debra at 803-318-1664.

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 803-309-2101 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakenings.com.

ACUPUNCTURE THE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC

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

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

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

Call to schedule an appointment. See ad, page 29.

AROMATHERAPY GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

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

Improve your level of stress, depression and mood with natural products from a locally owned family business. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you using aromatherapy for pain, anxiety, energy enhancement and more. We carry several brands of essential oils, including doTERRA. See ads, page 3, 21 and back page.

CHIROPRACTIC CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER INC

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

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

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

Dr. Gerald Rudolph, DC, focuses on finding the root cause of your problems and not just treating your pain. He utilizes digital X-rays to help diagnose problems, spinal adjustments to stimulate proper movement of spinal and extremity joints, active therapeutic movement exercises to correct movement disorders, and spinal decompression to help relieve numbness and tingling down your arms and legs. Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic also offers a state-of-theart full-body lounge hydromassage table that can help you feel more rejuvenated and relaxed. See ad, page 29.

FLEX CHIROPRACTIC

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

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

COLLABORATIVE LAW LAW OFFICE OF SHANNON K. BURNETT

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

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

COLON HEALTH SPRING RAIN HYDROTHERAPY

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

All disease begins in the colon.

Constipation; slow, sluggish bowel; gas and bloating? A colonic will help to rid you of these problems. Colonics promote good digestion, help speed metabolism, help lower cholesterol, and help relieve joint pain. Linda Salyer is IACN certified and a retired nurse. Saturday appointments available with an additional small convenience fee. See ad, page 11.

ECO-RICH SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

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.

HEALTH FOOD STORE MURRAYWOOD HEALTH FOODS

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

Locally owned and proudly serving Irmo and the Midlands area for more than 25 years, Murraywood Health Foods is a health and specialty food store featuring the very best natural product brands, vitamins and minerals, herbs and homeopathic remedies. The store also carries natural and organic gluten-free foods and health and beauty products. Call today for more information or to schedule a special appointment. See ad, page 7.

HEALTH & WELLNESS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC

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

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aqua-chi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hard-to-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 9.

ARBONNE

Certified B Corporation Sasha Davis 803-665-4352 SashaDavis.Arbonne.com

Healthy Living to Improve Mind. Body. Skin. We utilize a holistic approach to beauty, health and well-being. Our products are vegan, cruelty-free and formulated without gluten.

We use plant-based ingredients grounded in science and clinical research with high standards for safety.

Nutrition, skin care, makeup and personal care products. Call Sasha today for more information.

See ad, page 4.

JUST WANNA MELT LLC

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

A green skin care company that creates high-quality, non-GMO, all-natural products that are gentle to the skin and safer for the environment. Our brands include

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. ~Seneca

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INVODRIP VITAMIN BAR

160 Medical Cir, Ste C, W Columbia Book@INVODrip.com 803-830-7212

At INVODrip, we care about your overall wellness. Our goal is to increase your energy levels, help meet your weight-loss goals, and ensure you’re well hydrated—not just with water, but also by incorporating the vitamins, minerals and electrolytes your body craves.

The absorption rate of our vitamins and minerals surpasses any oral supplements you may have taken.

Give us a call today to book your drip now. See ad, page 19.

ORIGINAL ORIGINS HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Tracy R. Jacox • 833-678-7229 OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com OriginalOriginshw.com

Ms. Tracy has over 30 years of experience in the medical field.

The mission of Original Origins Health and Wellness is to educate, equip and empower the community to adopt a predominately whole food, plant-based lifestyle, which will improve and optimize your quality of life, health and wellness while preventing, delaying, reversing or eliminating chronic illnesses. Original Origins can assist you with maximizing your health and wellness holistically! Our wide range of services include health coach partnering, comprehensive health evaluations, comprehensive cooking experiences, and a comprehensive kitchen evaluation. Your health is your wealth! See ad, page 10.

HOLISTIC FOOT CARE ELEVATE FOOTCARE

Geneva Holiday, MSN, WCC, RN-Bc 160 Medical Cir, Ste C, W Columbia ElevateFootCare.com 803-373-2299

Elevate FootCare recognizes the importance of caring for your feet. All services are provided by a board-certified and registered foot care and wound care nurse who cares about the health of your feet. “My goal is to help those with diabetes, thick toe nails, poor circulation, or anyone who is unable to complete the basic maintenance of their feet. We come to your home or you can visit us in West Columbia,” says Geneva Holiday.

SWEET FEET FOOT CARE

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

Columbia’s foot care service with a holistic approach. Here at Sweet Feet Foot Care, we focus on Preventive Care, Effective Pedicure Treatments and Cleanliness. With advanced knowledge and skills, we help correct disorders of the feet and lower limbs with pedicure treatments and orthotics. Services are ideal for Diabetics, Seniors and Knee- and Back-Pain Issues. Gel manicures available. Call today to learn more about our services. See ad, page 29.

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LOCAL RETREAT JOY LEE CONNOR, LMT (SC#1229) Healing Minster at Springhill AtONEment Center 803-447-6499

Retreat to the trees! Come and experience 100 beautiful acres near Chapin, South Carolina.

Joy Lee Connor invites you to bathe in the forest and “ground” in the peaceful fields of Earth.

Breathe in love, heal your mind, and nurture your spirit. We are often overwhelmed by body pains and emotions. Experience mind and body transformation while being loved, forgiven and released. Your energy field will be restored and balanced, allowing you to feel lighter and burdenfree. Joy offers instruction in reiki, Touch for Health, meditation, yoga, meridian movement, and selfcare—both online and in person. Private or small groups are available. Call Joy today!

INTEGRATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE EXPECT WELLNESS

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

Integrative/Holistic medicine consults for anyone wanting to approach their health more naturally. Dr. Rachel Hall is board certified in both family medicine and integrative holistic medicine.

Together we will focus on finding the root of the problem, not just treating symptoms.

Call today for a consult if you are looking to achieve balance. In-house diagnostic labs and therapies. See ad, page 5.

PROHEALTH CENTER

500 Plaza Cir, Ste J, Clinton, SC 864-681-0555 MyProHealthCenter.com

Our integrative approach offers traditional and holistic health and wellness services. We don’t believe in just treating symptoms, but rather getting to the root of the problem. Our practitioners customize patient care through functional medicine specifically tailored to each individual. At our clinic, you are not just a patient number … you become part of our ProHealth Center family. We serve all of South Carolina. See ad, page 39.

SPIRITUAL ECKANKAR THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL FREEDOM

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

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

ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS Justin Williams 803-467-8322 Justin.Williams2@gmail.com

Justin is an intuitive counselor and energy worker who has studied spirituality for more than a decade. Justin power cycles, overhauls and unblocks energy fields from afar to remove negativity from your life while jumpstarting your career, relationships, money and general blessings. Justin also provides distance house cleansings to produce a peaceful home and comfortable environment tailor-made for abundance and success.

THERMOGRAPHY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC

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

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aquachi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hard-to-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 9.

PALMETTO THERMAL IMAGING

Mobile Thermography Unit Heather Terry, Certified Thermographer 864-681-0555 • 803-924-0813

Thermography is a noninvasive, radiation-FREE and pain-FREE thermal scan of the body. This exclusive technology uses a clinical imaging procedure to create a map of the body’s infrared patterns. It is a valuable tool for alerting your healthcare provider to changes that could indicate early stages of disease. Heather Terry travels to multiple locations in South Carolina.

Call today to schedule your session for this amazing health and monitoring screening! See ad, page 39.

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

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

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

See ads, page 3, 21 and back page.

Connect with us naturally!

inspiration

Create a Nurturing Nest

kelly sikkema/Unsplash.com

by Marlaina Donato

M

ore than being a roof over our heads, home is where we live, love and heal. This past year, we all have been reminded of the importance of having a refuge; a place that shelters not only our physical beings, but our souls, too.

With ongoing pandemic restrictions, we have more time on our hands, and with this comes a blessed opportunity to catch up with our bliss. Living space should be inspired space.

Creating a haven doesn’t require remodeling the kitchen or buying new furniture, only distilling new joy from the mundane. Adding a luxurious throw to a sofa or putting books to read in a pretty basket by an easy chair invites us to tend to the much-neglected inner life. Putting cut flowers at the bedside or turning a chair toward the sunlight says, “Yes” to life and renewal. Playing uplifting, infectious music on laundry day rouses an element of fun.

Practicing easy principles of feng shui—the art of placement—can get previously stagnant energy moving. Repositioning furniture for optimal flow and creating more open space are simple actions that can lighten heavy thoughts or memories. Home is a harbor of habit, and breaking out of the usual routine can be transformative.

Here are some activities to try.

n Reserve an evening every week for an old-fashioned “Sunday supper” by candlelight or have a rainy-day indoor picnic on the floor in the living room. n Add one item per day for a month to a bag intended for a local thrift store and then follow through by dropping it off. n Tidy the desk every other day and keep it uncluttered. n Hang new art prints, photos or paintings to set a new mood.

Consider bright splashes of color—a set of red cups, a turquoise pillow or sunny yellow bathroom towels.

n Bring the seasons in; hang a garland of faux ivy, roses or autumn leaves over the showerhead. n Buy or adopt low-maintenance indoor plants like philodendrons and snake plants for a spot of lovely green, even in deep winter.

In a world that fosters a “grass is always greener on the other side” mentality, cultivating soul-nourishment is a sure way to turn the humblest space into a castle.

Marlaina Donato is the author of Spiritual Famine in the Age of Plenty: Baby Steps to Bliss. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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