January 2013 - Natural Awakenings

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GMO

Truths and Consequences

January 2013 | North Texas Edition | NA-NTX.com

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contents 12

5 newsbriefs 10 businessprofile 1 1 healthbriefs 14 globalbriefs

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17 ecotip 18 community

spotlight 30 consciouseating 34 fitbody

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35 inspiration 36 naturalpet 37 calendar 44 resourceguide

47 classifieds

advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 469-633-9549 or email publisher@NA-NTX.com. Deadline for ads: noon on the 9th of the month.

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: publisher@NA-NTX.com. Deadline for editorial: feature articles are due by the 5th of the month, news briefs and health briefs are due by noon on the 9th. calendar submissions Submit calendar events online at NA-NTX.com within the advertising section.

Deadline for calendar: noon on the 9th of the month. regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 469-633-9549. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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

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20 GMO TRUTHS AND CONSEQUENCES

Health and Safety are Question Marks

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

22 BE SUPPLEMENT SAVVY How to Choose Wisely for Optimal Health

by James Occhiogrosso

24 HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

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TWEAKS

Surprisingly Simple Changes for Feeling Good

by Kathleen Barnes

28 ADDRESSING AUTISM Families Have Reasons for Hope

by Brita Belli

30 SUSTAINABLE

WEIGHT LOSS

Five Secrets for Feeling

28

Like Yourself Again

by Judith Fertig

32 FOLLOW THE LIFECYCLE Crunching the Numbers on Products We Consume

by Brita Belli

34 STAND UP AND MOVE! How to Sizzle, Not Fizzle

by Debra Melani

35 NO DUST ON THE MIRROR Reflections on a Life of Conscious Wholeness

by Michael Bernard Beckwith

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36 RAW FOOD DIETS

FOR PETS

Weighing the Pros and Cons

by Sandra Murphy

natural awakenings

January 2013

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letterfrompublisher

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contact us Publisher Jim Davis co-Publisher & sales Martee Davis editorial Theresa Archer Beth Davis Robert Dean Linda Sechrist design & Production C. Michele Rose Stephen Blancett distribution Preston Davis Printer Digital Graphics, OKC, OK multi-market advertising 469-633-9549 Franchise sales John Voell 239-530-1377 3245 Main St., Ste 235 - Mailcode 134 Frisco, TX 75034 Phone: 469-633-9549 Fax: 888-442-6501 Publisher@NA-NTX.com NA-NTX.com © 2013 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive FREE monthly digital magazine at NA-NTX.com.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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his season of the year is inspirational for so many reasons—big holiday dinners, extra kickback time with the family, reminiscing with friends about stories long forgotten, thankfulness for God’s blessings and for living in a free, democratic country. With all of that, one personal tradition has resonated with me in January for a couple of years now: the “do-over.”

You might think of a do-over as a second chance; an opportunity to correct something you messed up the first time or to rework a project; and that’s correct. While almost everyone else is making promises to themselves and setting new goals for 2013, I quietly take a do-over, forgiving myself for mistakes I made, irritation I caused and selfishness I may have displayed during the year. Some people might find this silly, but I have come to look forward to the immediate cleansing affect this exercise has on my attitude. It’s not that I don’t have goals or dreams, those are with me every day, but this time of year offers me the chance to openly forgive myself for being human and understanding that none of us, especially me, is perfect.

This year, I am taking the tradition one step further. Not only am I forgiving myself, I am forgiving everyone who has made a less than polite or courteous gesture toward me this past year. I’m tired of wasting my precious time and energy being stressed by conniving individuals or Eeyores that can’t find peace with themselves or life in general. Now mind you, all bets are off if someone toys with my family; but with me, it's okay.

My do-over is a deep emotional detox or purging process that provides my mind and spirit the peace to move forward in pleasure and satisfaction. It’s amazing how much stress and weight is lifted when you just smile and shake your head, versus trying to figure out how to outmaneuver and burn the little snake! Obviously, I still have emotions, but the inner joy that resonates from even the smallest of interactions is now a choice of inner peace that I’ve selected, instead of bitterness that someone has thrust upon me.

This annual renewal, or rebirth, offers me the ability to act with clarity, possessing thoughts and actions filled with positive and progressive vision—much more of the spirit of cooperation than competition. Don’t get me wrong; I am an A-type personality with a deeply competitive spirit and the love of a good challenge. Yet I’m just as deeply committed to enjoying 2013 in the spirit of balanced happiness and well-being. By keeping my stress and anxious feelings in control, I hope I might inspire those around me, as well.

Stay happy, healthy and young at heart. Not only is it more fun that way, but it can be contagious.

Jim Davis, Publisher NA-NTX.com

newsbriefs

Screening with Thermography can detect abnormalities of the breast in the very earliest of stages.

Many times 8-10 years before other screening methods

Climb. Conquer. Cure.

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he fifth annual Big D Climb, the first and largest stair climb in North Texas, presented by Ivie and Associates, is set to take place January 26, at Fountain Place, in Dallas, to raise money for the North Texas Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in their effort to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. The Big Climb has set a fundraising goal for 2013 of $200,000.

Around 1,500 climbers will tackle 52 flights of stairs (1,040 steps), beginning at 8 a.m., competing individually or as a team. Water stations are positioned throughout the climb. Climbers must bring a photo ID and parking is free in the Fountain Place lot.

All registered participants receive a commemorative T-shirt, training recommendations from the personal trainers at 24 Hour Fitness and a pass to train at a 24 Hour Fitness location near them. Awards will be given to individual climbers and teams at the post-climb party for the best time in their age categories and for most funds raised. Families and friends are invited, but must remain on the first floor, due to limited space.

Fee is $45/$60 after Jan. 18. Location: 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas. For more information, call 972-996-5915 or visit BigDClimb.org.

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Legendary Old West Rodeo Returns to Fort Worth

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he Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, the oldest indoor livestock show in the nation, celebrates its 117th anniversary from January 18 to February 9, at the Will Rogers Memorial Center, in Fort Worth.

With 30 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and six specialty rodeo performances, spectators have a unique opportunity to watch the toughest cowboys and cowgirls from all over the nation compete.

A variety of entertainment includes livestock shows, 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors, PRCA extreme bull riding, live music, bronc riding, a fiestastyle Best of Mexico Celebración, a rodeo camp, chuck wagon races, Best of the West invitational ranch rodeo, an art contest, The Cowboys of Color Rodeo, six acres of carnival games, midway rides, food and four acres of shopping.

Kid-friendly, interactive activities and free educational entertainment includes a children’s barnyard, petting zoo, live milking demonstrations and a Planet Agriculture walk-through interactive exhibit. For adults on the town, the Rodeo Roadhouse offers adult beverages and live entertainment from local and regional entertainers. The rodeo ticket also provides admission to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Cattle Raisers Museum and the National Cowgirl Museum.

Location: 3400 Burnett Tandy Dr., Fort Worth. For more information, call 817877-2420 or visit FWSSR.com. natural awakenings

January 2013

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newsbriefs Texas Youths Tackling Hunger

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he Souper Bowl of Caring (SBoC) is a national movement of young people working to fight hunger and poverty in their communities around the time of the Super Bowl football game. This year, from January 15 to February 3, many Texas young people will be asking for one dollar or one item of food for people in need, with 100 percent of the donation going to local hungerrelief charities. This is the first time volunteering for many.

More than 53,000 youths volunteered in 2012, raising more than $4.8 million in Texas, which has the fourth-highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. Their focused efforts ranked them number one in the nation for total donation dollars, which were provided to hunger-relief charities in Texas communities.

Locally, the goal for 2013 is to raise more than 1 million pounds of food for North Texas food banks and local charities. Youth volunteers distribute the donated funds and food directly to the charity of their choice, establishing a bond with that charity and making an impact on hunger through the cumulative effort of thousands working together to fight hunger and poverty.

For more information or to make a donation, call 1-800-3587687 or visit SouperBowl.org.

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Let the Winter Games Begin

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he eighth annual 2013 Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s (TAAF) Winter Games will be held from January 18 to 21, in Frisco, providing a venue for 3,000 amateur athletes in Texas to compete in a multitude of sporting events.

Patterned after the Olympics, the winter games allow the best amateur athletes in Texas to compete on an annual basis in 13 different winter sports, with 11 events played in sports facilities throughout Frisco, one in Plano and one in Dallas. The games in this year’s competition include basketball, bowling, fencing, figure skating, flag football, gymnastics, ice hockey, martial arts, rock climbing, soccer, swimming, table tennis and weightlifting.

Medals will be awarded in each division for first, second and third place. Medalists in basketball, fencing, figure skating, gymnastics, ice hockey, soccer, swimming and martial arts will qualify to advance to the National State Games of America in Hersey, Pennsylvania.

The nonprofit TAAF establishes and maintains the highest ideals of amateur sports in the state of Texas.

For more information, visit taaf.com.

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Skincare Treatments Now Available at Massage Space

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assage Space, in Plano, is providing a new line of skincare treatments that includes microdermabrasion, custom facial treatments, alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) facial peels and waxing services. A licensed esthetician on staff consults with customers and offers recommendations based on individual skin needs and the number of treatments appropriate for their skin type and condition.

Microdermabrasion can be used to treat all five surfaces of the face; forehead, eye area, nose, cheeks and mouth area, whisking away the dead skin and revealing soft, newer cells beneath. Treatments help reduce pores and fine lines, improve skin pigmentation and stimulate collagen regeneration that brings about softer skin. It exfoliates, reduces age spots, treats acne and blackheads and can restore skin texture and renew elasticity. No topical or local anesthetic is needed. Each treatment takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes, and it is sometimes referred to as a “lunchtime peel�.

AHA peels can be done using the benefits of glycolic acid, a gentle acid that works differently than other chemical peeling agents. This peel is for all skin types, and provides a gentle exfoliation that fades fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, sun damage and acne scars.

Massage Space will offer a New Year special in January of 50 percent off the regular price of any of these new facial treatments. Appointments required.

Texas Half-Marathon and 5K Moves to Irving

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he 11th annual Texas Half and 5K run will take place February 3, at the new Irving Convention Center in Irving, moving from White Rock Lake, in Dallas. With around 1,200 runners, the Texas Half begins at 8 a.m., followed by the Texas 5K at 8:15 a.m. The 5K starts and ends at the half-marathon finish line at the convention center. Both the Texas Half & 5K will use a Jaguar Chip timing system, with the chip in the bib to precisely record times from start to finish.

The course has a time limit of three and a half hours.

Everyone crossing the finish line in the half-marathon will receive a finisher medal with the event logo.

Awards begin at 9 a.m. Event shirt and packet information can be picked up on race day at the event, or February 2 at Aloft Hotel, in Frisco, Hyatt House Lincoln Park, in Dallas, or Irving Holiday Inn Express. Walkers are also welcome.

Water and aid stations, Port-O-Lets and race personnel are stationed throughout the course. Parking is free.

Location: 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd. For more information on registration, packet pick-up and pricing, call 817-706-0368 or visit TexasHalf.com.

News to share?

Email details to: Publisher@NA-NTX.com Submittal deadline is noon on the 9th of the month.

Location: 7000 Independence, Ste. 180, Plano. For more information or to book an appointment, call 972-6125363 or visit Massage-Space.com. See ad, page 11. natural awakenings

January 2013

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newsbriefs Texas-Style Mardi Gras Celebration

M

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ardi Gras! Galveston, the state’s largest Mardi Gras celebration, commemorates 102 years on the island from February 1 to 12, in Galveston. It ranks as the nation’s third largest, with more than 300,000 people tossing more than 3 million beads, elaborate parades, headliner performances, family events, Gulf Coast cuisine, an ocean view and island-style festivities.

Guests will enjoy 24 parades, including four new ones this year, 26 concerts, 19 balcony parties and five elegant masked balls. A new event this year is the Jolly Jester Jaunt 5K Run for Fun at 11 a.m., February 2, in which participants gallop through the historic Strand district with an optional stick pony.

On February 3, Mardi Gras! transforms into Family Gras! for a day of kid-friendly events.

Gates open at 11 a.m., featuring two parades, live entertainment and free admission to the public. Donations will be taken at the gate to benefit the Sunshine Kids and Shriners Hospitals for Children.

In addition to the parades offered in the downtown entertainment district, krewes from around the region host elaborate parades along Seawall Boulevard and an oceanfront carnival with amusement rides and games, beachfront festivities, fireworks and additional parades.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit MardiGrasGalveston.com.

Team Training for the Cure

New Location for Soup-N-Bowl Fundraiser

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he fourth annual North Texas Soup-N-Bowl will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., January 26, at The Tribute, in The Colony.

Attendees can sample fresh, savory soups while providing support and raising awareness for the Metro Relief Food Pantry (formerly known as The Storehouse) in their efforts to fight hunger and hopelessness in North Texas. All soups are prepared by local chefs and restaurants, and 100 percent of the funds raised are used for direct assistance.

Hosted for the first time at The Tribute Golf Links, on Lake Lewisville, the new location provides abundant space and amenities.

Soups including seafood gumbo, creamy jalapeno, chicken tortilla, chili and grilled vegetable will be served by celebrity guest servers from the North Texas area. Adults can participate in a silent auction, while kids experience Mardi Gras fun in the family area with face painting, games and entertainment.

The nonprofit Metro Relief organization has a mission to mobilize, empower, restore and satisfy the needs of the oppressed.

The food pantry began as a ministry of Horizons Church in in 2006.

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elebrating 25 years as the world’s largest and most successful endurance sports charity training program, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training (TNT), has helped more than 570,000 people achieve their dream of completing a marathon, half-marathon, triathlon, 100-mile (century) bicycle ride or hike adventure, while raising $1.3 billion.

Participants in the TNT program receive four months of training by certified professional coaches in exchange for raising funds to support cancer research and patient services. Coaches craft customized training regiments that fit a participant’s fitness level, in addition to providing advice on nutrition, hydration and injury prevention.

The funds raised through TNT have enabled LLS to fund research to help advance new treatments and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and provide critical education and support to cancer patients and their families. There are more than 200 accredited events in the United States and abroad, from which TNT members may choose to participate.

Participants enjoy the satisfaction of supporting cancer research and helping patients live better, longer lives; the high-caliber coaching that helps accomplish participants’ goal; and getting fit with new acquaintances as part of a supportive team. Many of those that have completed TNT say it is a life-changing experience.

For more information, call 800-482-8326 or visit TeaminTraining.org.

Location: 1000 Lebanon Rd., The Colony. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 214-7053090 or visit NTXSoupNBowl.org.

natural awakenings

January 2013

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businessprofile

The Value of a Comprehensive Energy Audit: Savings, Comfort and Safety

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professional energy auditor acts like a A complete energy audit includes all the detective, poring over past utility bills work of an essential audit, plus a blower door and examining a homeowner’s “scene of test to identify leaks in the home’s atmospheric the crime” in detail, looking for clues. The audienvelope; duct blaster test to diagnose duct tor takes note of problems such as condensation leakage; and a thermographic infrared scan and uncomfortable or drafty rooms, excessive to evaluate the flow of heat through the home energy usage (electric, water and gas) and safety and pinpoint potential problem areas. issues with appliances or devices. This detail

The comprehensive energy audit includes provides a baseline for the audit. all work of the essential and complete audit,

DwellGreen of Dallas, a certified energy plus a nationally recognized benchmark and performance auditor and green building for energy efficiency that is required for an consultant, examines the current condition of Energy Star rating, the Home Energy Rating Roger Taylor, owner a property and identifies improvements that System (HERS) index. save money, address safety, increase energy

Sensitive instruments to measure presefficiency and improve quality of health and comfort in livsure and infrared heat, infrared cameras, furnace efficiency ing areas. Focusing on four categories: energy consumption, meters and surface thermometers are tools of the trade to water management, health and comfort, and structure and detect heat and cooling loss. Other important safety isfortification, DwellGreen approaches the building from a sues an audit can address include carbon monoxide, gas whole system approach in making sure all components work leaks, structural issues, mold, mildew and air/water quality. efficiently together.

Addressing simple issues like rooms that are too hot or too

The outside of the home gets a look to determine its cold, structural improvements for senior citizens or childsize, wall area and number and size of windows. A review of proofing for young children can significantly improve qualresidents’ usage habits includes average thermostat setting, ity of life and increase the value of a home. Solar panels, number of people and degree of usage, especially if anyone solar hot water, geothermal heat pumps and rainwater haris working from home. This information provides the means vesting are environmental initiatives that DwellGreen can for uncovering waste and finding ways to reduce household help with in addition to tuning current energy efficiency of energy consumption. a home or office building.

DwellGreen offers three levels of energy auditing: es As a trusted advisor, DwellGreen works with the cussential, complete and comprehensive. An essential energy tomer to set building performance goals, plans for improveaudit includes a detailed visual inspection of every part of ments, savings and return-on-investment from improvements the home, including doors, walls, insulation, appliances, and the implementation of recommended projects through lighting, HVAC equipment and the attic space. A computervetted service providers, all while making a positive environized checklist referencing hundreds of audited items genermental impact on the world we live in. ates a detailed 10-to-15-page report for the customer that is available online through a personalized portal that posts For a free phone consultation on an existing home or to repair and replacement recommendations in order of work schedule an onsite consultation, call 214-509-8582 or visit sequence for maximum efficiency.

DwellGreen.com/Dallas, See ad, page 17.

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healthbriefs

Functional Training Protects Against Falls

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eniors that integrate strength and balance training into everyday activities experience nearly onethird fewer falls, according to a new study published online by BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal). A team of researchers at the University of Sydney, Australia, designed and tested the Lifestyle Integrated Functional Exercise program to reduce the risk of falls in people over 70. For example, a prescribed activity for improving balance was to stand on one leg while working, and for strength training, squatting to close a drawer. The study found that the average rate of falls per year for those in the program was 1.66, compared with 2.28 in a control group.

Keep Tabs on Radiation Exposure

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he cumulative exposure to ionizing radiation used in medical diagnostic tests from dental and chest X-rays, mammograms, heart health exams and other procedures adds up, often reaching or surpassing the recommended lifetime limit of 100 milliSieverts (mSv) set by the American College of Radiology, according to a recent Harvard Medical School advisory.

Among the tests that emit ionizing radiation are computerized tomography (CT scans), cardiac catheterizations, coronary CT angiograms, cardiac calcium scoring and some types of stress tests. Heart tests that pose no radiation risk include electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Dr. Warren Manning, chief of noninvasive cardiac imaging and testing at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston, and a Harvard Medical School professor, advises, “One or two CT scans over a lifetime is appropriate. But if you have a condition that requires repeated monitoring, a test that does not expose you to ionizing radiation may be preferred.� Many radiologists take precautions to minimize clients’ radiation exposure, such as performing cardiac CT scans with one-sixth the conventional radiation dose.

natural awakenings

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healthbriefs

Red Meat Raises a Red Flag

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teak is still one of America’s favorite meals, but regular consumption of red meat products comes at a high cost for health. In a recent large study, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers found red meat to be causally associated with mortality, including from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Senior author Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at HSPH, and his team observed 37,698 men from the HSPH Health Professionals FollowUp Study for up to 22 years and 83,644 women from the National Institutes of Health Nurses’ Health Study for up to 28 years, all of whom were free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer at the beginning of the study.

The researchers assessed diets via questionnaires every four years and documented a combined 23,926 deaths in the two studies, of which 5,910 were from CVD and 9,464 from cancer. Their evaluation revealed that one daily serving of unprocessed red meat (about the size of a deck of cards) was associated with a 13 percent increased risk of earlier mortality, and one daily serving of processed red meat (one hot dog or two slices of bacon) with a 20 percent increased risk.

Red meat and related products contain heme (meat-based) iron, saturated fat, sodium and nitrites, as well as carcinogens formed during cooking. The researchers recommend turning to healthier protein sources instead, like fish, poultry, nuts, legumes and whole grains.

Black Pepper Fights Fat

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simple, widely available spice and kitchen staple may help us trim our waistlines. New research published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry gives the nod to black pepper. The study provides evidence of a long-sought explanation for the beneficial, fat-fighting effects of the common seasoning. Piperine, the pungent-tasting substance that gives black pepper its characteristic taste, helps block the formation of new fat cells.

Wisdom from Water

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imply drinking a glass of water can prompt better choices at the dinner table, concludes new research by T. Bettina Cornwell, Ph.D., of the University of Oregon, and Anna R. McAlister, Ph.D., of Michigan State University. In separate studies, young adults and children were tested according to their food and beverage choices. When the participants were served a soda, they selected foods that tended to be more salty and calorie-dense. However, when the provided beverage was water, participants ate more raw vegetables.

A GMO-Free Grocery List

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ccording to a recent article published in Green American magazine, 93 percent of Americans believe that genetically modified foods should be labeled. However, only USDA-certified organic products cannot intentionally contain genetically modified organisms (GMO), so identifying GMO foods and products in a typical U.S. grocery store is difficult. The following information can help.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirms that large percentages of the nation’s crops were genetically modified in 2011: 94 percent of conventional soy and soy products; 90 percent of cottonseed, a common ingredient in margarine, salad dressings and oils; and 88 percent of corn, contained in breakfast cereals, corn flour products such as chips and tortillas, high-fructose corn syrup, soups and condiments. More than 90 percent of the U.S. canola crop also is now genetically modified.

The Independent, one of England’s leading newspapers, reported in 1999 that the artificial sweetener aspartame has been made with genetically modified bacteria since 1965.

Aspartame, inconclusively linked with numerous health risks, is present in more than 6,000 products, including diet sodas. Two other ubiquitous artificial sweeteners, Nutrasweet and Equal, also contain aspartame.

The USDA further lists 95 percent of the 2009 U.S. sugar beet crop, used to produce conventional sugar, as genetically modified. NonGMO alternative sweeteners include pure cane sugar and honey from organic farms.

Source: GreenAmerica.org

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suPPlementation cuts colon cancer risk

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diet enhanced with multivitamin and mineral supplements may dramatically lower the risk of developing precancerous colon cancer lesions, according to research published in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. Nearly 150,000 men and women in the United States are diagnosed with this second-most common form of cancer each year.

In the study, rats were fed a highfat (20 percent) diet for 32 weeks.

Those fed a high-fat, low-fiber diet and also exposed to a carcinogen, developed precancerous lesions of the colon. The animals that underwent a similar diet and treatment, but also received daily vitamin and mineral supplements, showed an 84 percent reduction in the formation of precancerous lesions and did not develop tumors.

FrYing Pan FauX Pas

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ried foods may please the palate, but cooking them in the wrong medium, such as sunflower oil, can present a health risk. Researchers from the University of the Basque Country, in North Spain, have discovered that organic aldehyde compounds become toxic when heated. These chemicals, previously linked with some types of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are generated by the degradation of fatty acids in sunflower and other oils high in polyunsaturated fats, and some remain in food after frying. Oils with higher concentrations of monounsaturated fats, such as olive, peanut or coconut, are less worrisome if frying is the only cooking option.

Flame Retardant May Pose Health Risks

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besity, anxiety and developmental and reproductive problems have all been linked to small quantities of a flame retardant frequently used in furniture and baby products, according to a recent, limited study on rats by researchers at Duke University. Baby rats with mothers that ingested small amounts of the chemical Firemaster 550 gained more weight than those that weren’t exposed, and exposed female offspring displayed more anxiety, reached puberty earlier and exhibited abnormal reproductive cycles.

Study co-author Heather Stapleton, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental chemistry at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, is a leading expert on flame retardants, particularly children’s exposure to the toxic chemicals they can release. She specifically notes that the new research assessed exposure to doses far lower than those of earlier studies. “This raises red flags about a widely used chemical that we know little about,” advises Stapleton. “What we do know is that it’s common in house dust, and people, especially kids, are being exposed to it.”

“Firemaster 550 was put on the market with almost no study,” says Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which funded the new research. She says the preliminary findings strongly suggest the need for more studies.

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

Cut Abuse

Government Steps In to Curb Greenwashing The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued updated green marketing guidelines intended to stop advertisers from making deceptive or unqualified claims about products being environmentally beneficial or eco-friendly, called “greenwashing”. The FTC said that few products deliver the far-reaching environmental benefits that consumers associate with such claims, and they are nearly impossible to substantiate.

The revision is the first since 1998, when phrases like “carbon footprint” and “renewable energy” were relatively new.

Using input from consumers and industry groups, new sections address the use of carbon offsets, “green” certifications and seals, and renewable energy and renewable materials claims. Marketers are warned not to make broad, unqualified assertions that their products are environmentally benign or eco-friendly.

Arthur Weissman, president and CEO of Green Seal Inc., a nonprofit environmental certification organization based in Washington, D.C., says, “We hope that there will be enforcement to help rid the marketplace of the many less-than-credible seals and greenwashing that exist.”

The new guidelines are not rules or regulations, but general principles that describe the types of environmental claims the FTC may find deceptive. They do not address use of the terms “sustainable”, “natural” and “organic”.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Dirty Pool

Great Lakes Under Siege

by Global Warming Don Scavia, director of the University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute, stated in a regional leaders’ conference that climate change is aggravating the effects of devastating algae blooms in the Great Lakes by increasing the intensity of spring rains that wash phosphorus into the water.

Rampant algae levels degrade water quality because as algae decompose, oxygen levels can drop low enough to kill fish. After the United States and Canada signed the initial Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1972, many local governments banned detergents containing phosphorus and the algae problem faded, but it has returned in the past decade.

Analysts note that while the practice of planting crops without plowing the ground may help prevent erosion, it leaves high concentrations of fertilizer phosphorus in the upper layers of soil, where it easily runs off into waterways. A task force of academic and government experts has recommended more than 50 helpful practices, including providing funding and technical assistance for phosphorus reduction projects; authorizing state regulators to require pollution reduction measures in stressed watersheds; and working with farmers and equipment manufacturers to develop fertilizer application methods that avoid runoff.

Source: EarthKnowledge.net

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Shell Game

Turtles Facing Extinction Get Help The Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation (TSA) is opening a facility to house some of the world’s most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises near Charleston, South Carolina. The 50-acre Turtle Survival Center will maintain living groups, or assurance colonies, of many species facing an uncertain future in the wild.

The center will house 20 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises ranked “critically endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Nine are also on the Turtle Conservation Coalition list of the world’s most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles.

According to TSA President Rick Hudson, “No group of animals is under greater threat or faces a higher risk of extinction than freshwater turtles and tortoises.” The center will focus on species that have little chance of being recovered in nature because of habitat loss and intensive hunting pressures.

Some species have undergone such dramatic declines that without intervention, their extinction is imminent. It’s hoped that offspring born at the center will eventually repopulate their ancestral habitats.

Contribute to the TSA Turtle Survival Center capital campaign to help at TurtleSurvival.org.

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globalbriefs People Power Modified Bicycles Recycle Electronic Waste Harvard graduate Rachel Field, 22, has invented the Bicyclean device, a contender for an international James Dyson Award recognizing the next generation of design engineers. The Bicyclean helps people in Third World countries separate valuable recyclable materials from the mountains of refrigerators, computers, cell phones and other electronic e-waste dumped in their “backyards” by richer nations. She aims to show that the needlessly harmful process can be made healthier, using simple bicycle technology that can be implemented virtually anywhere.

Her solution is to stand up a bike in the normal position, but with the back wheel removed and replaced with an enclosed, pedal-powered, grinder-and-separation system. Pushing bits of circuit board down an attached chute onto a grinding mill of coarse cement ejects crushed e-waste fragments. Magnets collect the ferrous metals, and a battery-powered electromagnetic current pushes away nonferrous metals. The device is more sustainable, plus it deposits and emits much less pollution into nearby waterways and air than other methods.

Zapped Tap

UV Light Cleans The Big Apple’s Water Supply New York City has opened the world’s largest water disinfection plant, using ultraviolet (UV) light as a sanitizing agent to eliminate cryptosporidium, giardia and other pathogenic microorganisms that can cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea and more serious ailments. Fifty-six massive UV units will neutralize waterborne pathogens in all drinking water derived from the city’s major sources.

The Catskill and the Delaware water supply systems, completed in 1927 and 1967, respectively, provide about 90 percent of the city’s water. The facility will process up to 9 billion liters daily, adding a second layer of sanitation to the city’s traditional chlorine treatment. While cryptosporidium is highly resistant to chlorine, UV has proved effective at controlling the parasite. Adenovirus is resistant to UV disinfection, but can be killed using chlorine.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that if unfiltered surface water treatment systems don’t filter drinking water, another barrier for microorganisms besides chlorine treatment needs to be installed. The alternative to UV would have been to build a much more expensive filtration facility that passes drinking water through a series of porous materials such as layers of sand, gravel and charcoal to remove chemicals, hazardous materials and toxins.

Source: Scientific American

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ecotips Repair and Reuse

Mending a Throwaway Culture Countries can learn much from each other, and people that know how to fix things now have another model for benefiting their community by reducing the burden on landfills. Conceived three years ago in Amsterdam as a way to help reduce waste, the Repair Café concept—in which citizens gather one or more days a month to socialize while mending clothes and broken household items like coffeemakers and vacuum cleaners—currently operates in more than 30 locations throughout The Netherlands. The effort in sustainability has been bolstered by a government grant, support from foundations and small donations that pay for staffing, marketing and even a Repair Café bus.

“In Europe, we throw out so many things,” says Martine Postma, a former journalist who initiated the idea after attending an exhibit on the benefits of repairing and recycling.

“It’s a shame, because the things we throw away are usually not that broken.”

“I think it’s a great idea,” says Han van Kasteren, a professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology, who works on waste issues. “The social effect alone is important. When you get people together to do something for the environment, you raise consciousness, and repairing [something] gives a good feeling.”

The forum harbors two other positive aspects: It’s a way for handy retirees and others to ply and mentor skills that may have been dormant and also saves families the cost of buying a new product, a common occurrence as repair shops vanish along with handymen that make house calls.

The Repair Café Foundation provides lists of tools, tips for raising money, marketing materials and helpful insights for interested groups. To date, Postma has received inquiries from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, South Africa and Ukraine.

Easy Does It

Best Snow Removal Tips For homeowners in colder regions, winter calls for snow removal. Driveways and walks need to be cleaned off for function and safety with as much ease as possible. Here are some tips from OldHouseWeb.com that can help.

Clear the snow early in the day and then let the sun’s radiant heat warm the surface to keep it safe and dry. Be kind to yourself—shovel before the snow reaches more than a few inches high. Removing relatively low layers several times is less taxing on the body than waiting and trying to deal later with a higher pile from a major storm. Make sure to bend at the knees and keep the back as vertically straight as possible when shoveling, to avoid back strain.

If opting for a snow blower, an electric machine is cleaner, quieter and easier to maintain, especially if it has solar panels. For more power, consider a dieselpowered unit that uses bio-diesel fuel. As a step up from old-fashioned fossil fuel machines, Honda makes a hybrid model with emissions 30 percent lower than Environmental Protection Agency Phase 2 standards.

Putting down some sand or black wood ash on dry surfaces will effect more traction during snow removal, plus help melt and evaporate some snowflakes when they land. A green option is EcoTraction, made by Earth Innovations from hydrothermal volcanic materials that absorb water. Sand should be used sparingly because it can clog local storm drains and create excess silt in waterways.

When considering ice-melting agents, be careful and wise. Many products claim to be green or ecofriendly, but contain harmful chlorides or acetates. Salt is bad for pets, grass, plants and vehicles, and will pollute local waterways. Products containing acetates are generally less corrosive than salts, but recent research has shown that potassium acetate, often used at airports, is toxic to marine life.

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communityspotlight

Dental Arts of Plano Passionately Caring for Patients

by Beth Davis

D

r. Nevein Amer can’t recall condition of the body as a whole. For ever wanting to be anything example, when an individual’s mouth other than a dentist. She is healthy, the chances are their overall began her journey by working at a health is also good. On the other dental practice in high school and hand, if an individual has poor oral then went on to attend the Univerhealth, other health problems also sity of Texas, in Arlington, where may be present. she received a bachelor’s degree in

“Your mouth is full of bactebiology. Amer later graduated from ria—most of them harmless,” notes the Baylor College of Dentistry, Amer. “Daily brushing and flossing, in Dallas. combined with regular deep clean After graduation, she moved ings, can keep the bacteria under to California and began practicing control. However, harmful bacteria at a local dental office in Torrance. can sometimes cause oral infecCraving a slower pace that would tions such as tooth decay and allow her to provide more persongum disease.” alized care, she opened her own According to the Academy practice. “I wanted to know my of General Dentistry, there is a patients’ first and last names,” she relationship between periodontal explains. “I wanted to know their (gum) disease and health complifamilies and their health history—I cations such as stroke and heart craved that connection.” disease. Amer says what’s troubling

With a growing family of her is that 75 percent of Americans own, Amer decided to pack up and over the age of 35 have some sort move back to Texas in 2006 to be of gum disease. “Educating patients ~Dr. Nevein Amer closer to her parents and brother. is one of the most important things It was then that she opened Dental that we do,” notes Amer. “People Arts of Plano, a practice dedicated simply don’t understand that the to combining the newest technologies in the dental field mouth is the gateway to health.” with a holistic approach to care.

As part of its holistic approach, Dental Arts of Plano is

Her longtime personal interest in overall health and wellmetal-free—meaning they use no mercury fillings and no ness extends into her practice as she strives to educate her crowns or bridges with metals. They will even remove and patients about the importance of oral health. She explains that replace old amalgam (mercury) fillings, following a strict regular dentist visits can do more than just keep a smile attracsafety protocol. tive. Amer points out that the health of the mouth mirrors the

Amer offers a wide range of services, including cos-

“Educating patients is one of the most important things that we do. People simply don’t understand that the mouth is the gateway to health.”

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metic dentistry, extractions, root canals, dental implants, porcelain veneers, whitening, Invisalign and more. She specializes in catering to patients with a phobia of dentists by making them as comfortable and relaxed as possible. “We don’t want fear to be a reason for poor oral health,” states Amer. “With sedation dentistry, we can relax anxieties and ensure smooth dental procedures.” Options include oral sedatives, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and for major work, an anesthesiologist.

A passionate and caring individual, Amer is completely committed to her patients, and often goes above and beyond the services of other similar practices. “We are here to help, and we’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen,” she explains. “We offer payment plans, financing and accept a lot of insurance plans that others don’t. Dental treatment is an excellent investment in an individual’s medical and psychological well-being. Financial considerations should not be an obstacle to obtaining proper dental care.”

For Amer, the best part of her job is the relationships she has built with her patients over the years. “Every case has a story and holds a place in my heart. Giving a person the gift of a great smile—watching as their confidence grows and their personality shifts—is very rewarding.”

Dental Arts of Plano is located at 4701 W. Park Blvd., Ste. 201, in Plano. For more information, call 972-985-4450 or visit DentalArtsOfPlano.com. See ad, page 15.

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wisewords

GMO Truths and Consequences Health and Safety are Question Marks

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

T

he food industry tells consumers that genetically engineered foods are safe. On university campuses, agriculture students learn that such genetically modified organisms (GMO) are both safe and necessary to feed the world. The Council for Biotechnology Information, a biotech industry-supported nonprofit, even created a coloring book to teach children about the many benefits of GMO crops, including improved nutrition.

Most GMO crops have been genetically engineered to withstand spraying with herbicides, such as Monsanto’s Roundup-Ready soybeans, or to produce their own pesticides, such as “Bt” corn and cotton. Bill Freese, a science policy analyst at the nonprofit Center for Food Safety, warns us to be leery of simplistic claims that don’t take into account unintended consequences.

For example, he points out that, “GMO crops have nothing to do with feeding the world, because almost all genetically engineered crops are corn and soybeans... used to feed livestock in rich countries, or to feed automobiles.”

Approximately 40 percent of corn currently is used to make ethanol.

Freese adds, “They don’t increase yields and they don’t increase nutrition.” But GMO crops have led to a staggering increase in herbicide use, putting both farmers and consumers at greater risk for exposure to these toxins 20

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and related diseases, according to the Center for Food Safety.

So the question is: Are GMOs the panacea industry wants us to believe, or are they contributing to chronic disease?

Here are three claims commonly heard about GMOs, generally made by the biotechnology industry and their funded researchers.

Claim: GMOs are safe.

Fact Check: Little research exists

on the long-term effects of consuming GMO foods. According to Douglas Gurian-Sherman, a senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, safety assessments have left us with significant uncertainties about whether GMO food is safe or not. However, concerns voiced by the Center for Food Safety revolve around potential allergens and toxins from both herbicide and pesticide residues and new genetic material.

New research from the European Union published in Food and Chemical Toxicology adds to growing concerns about the risks. Researchers discovered that rats fed GMO corn and drinking water containing Roundup herbicide experienced negative health effects during their two-year lifespan, including mammary tumors and disabled pituitary function in females, and liver and kidney damage in males. These outcomes were attributed to the endocrine-disrupting ef-

fects of Roundup, as well as the genetic makeup of the engineered corn.

What makes this study unique and troubling is that it’s the longest such study period to date. Most studies funded and conducted by industry last just 90 days—not long enough to fully document potential harm.

Michael Hansen, Ph.D., a senior scientist at Consumer Reports, states in a memo to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Council on Science and Public Health, “Unlike all other developed countries, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require safety testing for GE [genetically engineered] plants.”

Hansen explains, “In addition to the FDA not requiring any premarket safety testing, there is virtually no independent safety testing of these crops in the United States, due to intellectual property rights. When farmers buy GE seed in the U.S., they invariably must sign a product stewardship agreement that forbids them from giving such seeds to researchers.” Plus, “Researchers must get permission from the biotech companies before they can do research, which means there is a paucity of independent research.”

The good news is that last June, the AMA recommended mandatory pre-market safety testing to better characterize the potential harms of bioengineered foods.

Claim: GMO crops use fewer pes-

ticides, and those used are safer than most others and break down quickly.

Fact Check: Roundup herbicide is

increasingly sprayed on a growing number of herbicide-resistant GMO crops, including corn, soy, canola, sugar beets and most recently, alfalfa. By tracking the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s pesticide use data, Charles Benbrook, research professor at the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, at Washington State University, discovered that herbicide-resistant crop technology led to a 527-million-pound increase in herbicide use in the United States between 1996 and 2011.

With the growing presence of herbicide-resistant weeds, new GE forms of corn and soybeans have been developed to resist stronger and more

dangerous herbicides, such as 2,4-D, one of the two ingredients in Agent Orange, a defoliant used in the Vietnam War. Benbrook projects that these new GMO crops could drive herbicide usage up by about another 50 percent.

According to Warren Porter, Ph.D., a biologist and environmental toxicology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Theo Colborn, Ph.D., president of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, glyphosate, the active chemical ingredient in Roundup, is an endocrine disruptor, meaning it interferes with hormone systems.

Porter says we can expect higher levels of herbicide residues in GMO food crops. A report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) found that glyphosate is now commonly found in rain, streams and air during the growing season. “Though glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, we know very little about its long-term effects to the environment,” cautions Paul Capel, a USGS chemist.

A Canadian study showing that the Bt toxins from GMO corn are showing up in umbilical cord blood and the blood of pregnant women is another concern. Monsanto claims Bt is harmless and will break down in our digestive tracts. But we have no way of knowing the effect of these toxins on developing fetuses, says Marcia IshiiEiteman, Ph.D., a senior scientist with the Pesticide Action Network.

Claim: GMO labeling isn’t necessary.

Fact Check: Hansen believes that

if there are unexpected adverse health effects resulting from consuming GMO foods, a product label would allow people to begin connecting symptoms with foods consumed. Until there is consistent, national GMO food labeling, everyone is just dining in the dark.

GMO – An Unfolding Catastrophe

by Karen Asbury, MD

T

he hazards of ingesting GMO (genetically modified organism) foods are becoming apparent as more studies are showing their devastating effects on animal subjects. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine has stated that GMO foods are not safe. They base their opinion on animal studies that connect GMO with serious health problems, including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, end organ damage and changes in the gastrointestinal tract. No long-term studies have been done that demonstrate the technique’s safety.

Some of the findings of animal studies have shown thousands of sheep, buffalo and goats in India died after grazing on Bt (GMO) cotton plants; mice eating GM corn for the long term had fewer and smaller babies; more than half the babies of mother rats fed GM soy died within three weeks, and were smaller than normal; and the stomach lining of rats fed GM potatoes showed excessive cell growth, a condition that may lead to cancer.

Other studies showed organ lesions, altered liver and pancreas cells, changed enzyme levels and other changes. A study in Russia showed hamsters to be sterile by the third generation when fed GM soy. They also had hair growing inside their mouths.

The primary foods now genetically modified are corn, soy, canola (oil), cottonseed (oil), rice, potatoes and sugar beets. Avoid all genetically modified foods. Until proper labeling is in place, use organically grown foods, especially any of the above.

These effects on health are slow and insidious. Some critics are saying that history will look back at this period and call it, “The time of the great dying.” Research GM foods for yourself. There is so much information and many good solid scientific studies to back up the health concerns now facing us.

Demand labeling: write to your state legislators and do everything you can to inform others. Two states, California and Connecticut, have come very close to passing this important legislation and in the process, have brought more attention to health issues that Monsanto and other GM manufacturers would rather not have us know about.

Karen Asbury, M.D., specializes in functional (integrative) medicine, in Plano. For more information, call 972-867-7790 or visit KarenAsburyMD.com. See ad, page 25.

Learn more and take action at JustLabelIt.org.

Melinda Hemmelgarn, aka the “Food Sleuth,” is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and radio host at kopn.org, in Columbia, MO (Food Sleuth@gmail.com). She advocates for organic farmers at Enduring-Image. blogspot.com. natural awakenings

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healingways

Be Supplement

SAVVY How to Choose Wisely for Optimal Health

by James Occhiogrosso

According to the U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements, nearly half of us regularly use some kind of dietary supplement, including vitamins, minerals and botanical herbs.

W

hile mainstream media have recently targeted supplements with alarming coverage about their value and safety, James J. Gormley, former editor of Better Nutrition and author of User’s Guide to Brain-Boosting Supplements, helps set the record straight. In an open letter on the Citizens for Health website, at Tinyurl.com/LetterRebuttal, he contends the worst part about misleading articles is that they can scare readers away from benefits that safe supplements might offer. He notes that although nothing in life is 100 percent risk-free, supplements are inherently benign, while pharmaceutical drugs frequently have unhealthy side effects.

Controversy over supplements seems to arise primarily from misinformation. Following are some guidelines and resources to help ensure their wise use and maximum benefit.

chemicals that target one body system or organ, causing it to alter its function; they mask symptoms, but do not cure disease. On the other hand, the goal of vitamins, minerals and plant-derived supplements is to provide nutrients to help a troubled body system by supporting health and healing.

Some confusion occurs because many pharmaceutical and supplement manufacturers take advantage of people’s desire for a one-bullet solution, which rarely exists in either source. Stephen Lawson, administrative officer of the Linus Pauling Institute, at Oregon State University, maintains that, “Lumping together items like vitamins, minerals and botanicals, each of which can have profoundly different physical profiles and effects on the body, is dangerous and misleading.”

Supplements Versus Pharmaceutical Drugs

Everyone can benefit from taking the right supplements to address specific health needs. Numerous studies attest that many diseases, especially in older adults, are caused by a deficiency of certain vitamins or minerals. For example, pernicious anemia, common in adults over the age of 60, is due to

Natural health practitioners report that their clients tend to mentally group pharmaceuticals and supplements together. However, pharmaceutical drugs are typically synthetic, single-action 22

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Who Needs Supplements?

a long-term deficiency of vitamin B12.

The condition often proved fatal until researchers discovered that taking such supplements could effectively treat it.

Another common nutritional deficiency disease among aging adults is osteoporosis, a loss of bone minerals that often leads to fractures. Its primary cause is chronic deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D levels. The latter is crucial for absorbing calcium—a primary mineral for building bone. According to the National Institutes of Health, older adults are likely to spend more time indoors, plus, even when they are exposed to the sun, their skin does not synthesize vitamin D as efficiently as when they were younger.

Serious nutrient deficiencies rarely cause fatal outcomes, but deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals can deter organs from optimal functioning.

General medical tests do not always show minor shortfalls, and practice shows that supplementing with the appropriate vitamin or mineral can often both eliminate symptoms and resolve an underlying problem.

Choosing Helpful Supplements Determining which supplements can best meet individual needs requires sound information. First, determine if a perceived condition could be caused by a vitamin or mineral deficiency, and then identify the best dosage. It is also vital to know how a supplement might interact with any current medications.

Most vitamin and mineral supplements are safe when used properly, but always consider asking an experienced professional for guidance; this is especially true for botanicals, because some manufacturers make unsupported claims based only on their own research. Generally, nonprofit organizations such as the Linus Pauling Institute (lpi.Oregon State.edu) that do not sell supplement products, present unbiased information.

Final Word Although conflicting information continues to circulate, abundant scientific evidence verifies that commonsense use of vitamin and mineral supplements is safe and usually helpful. The recom-

mendation is to take enough, but not too much, of a deficiency-specific supplement, along with nutritious foods, in order to achieve a normal balance.

A 2009 report by the U.S. National Poison Data System indicated that the number of serious adverse events that year from the use of vitamins, minerals, amino acids or herbal supplements was extremely low, with no related U.S. deaths.

Many natural healthcare experts, including naturopaths, nutritionists and dieticians, conclude that supplements are useful and in some cases, necessary, especially when treating a significant nutrient or hormonal deficiency. It’s wise to consult a knowledgeable professional before buying the antioxidant du jour mentioned by a friend from the gym.

50% Off a Comprehensive Evaluation

James Occhiogrosso, a natural health practitioner and master herbalist, specializes in salivary hormone testing and natural hormone balancing for men and women. Find helpful articles at HealthNaturallyToday.com.

Connect at 239-498-1547 or DrJim@ HealthNaturallyToday.com.

Helpful Resources Alliance for Natural Health Tinyurl.com/HelpfulReading Dr. Andrew Weil DrWeil.com HerbReference.com Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center lpi.OregonState.edu/infocenter National Institutes of Health Tinyurl.com/NIH-Supplements NutrientReference.com SupplementReference.com

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natural awakenings

January 2013

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Healthy Lifestyle Tweaks Surprisingly Simple Changes for Feeling Good

by Kathleen Barnes

A

ll of us have heard the admonition: “Eat lots of veggies and exercise daily and you’ll live a long, healthy life.”

There’s no question this advice is sound, but what about other helpfully healthy lifestyle adjustments we can make? Experts attest that doing easy things, such as going braless, walking barefoot or using a plug-in model instead of a cordless phone can all support wellness. Results range from stress relief to prevention of cancer, heart disease and other ailments often associated with aging.

“Making some of the simplest changes can have far-reaching positive effects on your health,” contends Frank King, a doctor of chiropractic and naturopathic medicine, president of King Bio Natural Medicine, in Asheville, North Carolina, and author of The Healing Revolution. “When we consider the huge negative effects shadowing the field of prescription drugs, it is just good sense to try things foundational to our health that are

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natural, inexpensive, effective and free of problematic side effects.”

Muscle Testing

“The human body is an excellent lie detector. It is the world’s most sophisticated laboratory, with more wisdom than all medical professionals put together,” says King. His favorite technique is to tap into the body’s vast wisdom using applied kinesiology, or muscle testing. “The principal is simple.

When you are telling a truth or when something is good for the body, whether you are conscious of it or not, your body loosens up. When you are telling a lie or the body is rejecting something, your body tightens.”

Many holistic practitioners use applied kinesiology as a diagnostic tool. An easy way to use muscle testing at home is to bend forward, fingers stretching toward the toes. Set a baseline truth by saying out loud, “My name is _______,” and notice the length of the stretch.

Then utter an untruth, like calling yourself by a different name. Most people

will find their range of motion is noticeably limited in the event of an untruth or something else that is not helpful.

A practical solution: Apply this technique in making any choice related to personal health.

Control Electronic Pollution Turn away from using cordless phones and turn off the Wi-Fi. Keep cell phones out of pockets and purses. Move the TV out of the bedroom. These devices emit enormous amounts of radiation, disturbing our sleep patterns, thickening our blood and causing inflammation and a number of associated diseases, according to Dr. Stephen Sinatra, an integrative cardiologist and co-author of The Great Cholesterol Myth.

Recent findings of Sinatra’s research team at the University of California-Irvine, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, confirm that physical contact with the Earth naturally thins blood.

“Grounding appears to be one of the simplest and yet most profound interventions for helping reduce cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular events,” the researchers concluded.

A recent study of animals by the Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory at Zhejiang University School of Medicine-Hangzhou, in China, shows that exposure to radio and electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) like those found in cell phones can alter some genes. An Indian study by the Bioelectromagnetic Laboratory at Jawaharlal Nehru University-New Delhi suggests that EMF exposure increases the production of free radicals in animal brains, which can lead to inflammation, cancer, heart disease and other serious diseases.

Swiss research published in the journal Somnologie by University of Bern scientists shows a clear connection between radio frequencies (RF) and sleep disturbances. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) admits a possible link between extensive cell phone use and exposure to RF waves and brain cancer.

Sinatra calls Wi-Fi signals “the new coronary risk factor” and warns, “Be aware that if you are on a computer at home on Wi-Fi, that is toxic

to your body.”

A practical solution: Use an ethernet cable to connect computers rather than wireless; switch to an old-fashioned plugin phone with a handset attached; and stay three feet away from cell phones— never wear them. Sinatra says his research shows that men that put a cell phone in a pocket experience a reduction in testosterone within four hours.

Change Footwear In addition to unplugging from potentially harmful devices, Sinatra recommends plugging into Earth’s healing energies. “Our ancestors walked barefoot and slept on the ground. They were connected to Earth’s electrical energies that kept them balanced and healthy,” explains the co-author of Earthing.

New research from the University of California-Irvine published in the Journal of Environment and Public Health explains how modern lifestyles tend to separate us from the healing electrical energies of the Earth. Because we rarely walk barefoot or sleep on the ground and most people wear rubbersoled shoes that break the currents, few are benefitting from this wealth of easily accessed healing energies that benefit the heart, brain, muscles and nervous and immune systems.

“Practically no one has the slightest notion of an electrical or energetic connection between his or her body and the Earth,” explains Sinatra. “The ground provides a subtle electric signal that governs the intricate mechanisms that help maintain health and make our bodies work, just like plugging a light into a power socket.”

Taken together, the research points to many health benefits gained by staying connected with our home planet, which Sinatra reports in Earthing, including reduced inflammation, relief from chronic pain muscle tension and headaches, lower blood pressure and tempered hormonal swings.

As a practical solution, Sinatra prescribes taking a little

Ditch Antiperspirant Along with the Bra Most commercial antiperspirant deodorants contain aluminum compounds, which have estrogen-like properties. Because estrogen imbalances can promote the growth of breast cancer tissue, aluminum may have the same effect when absorbed through the skin.

Source: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health “vitamin G” (for grounding) every day: Walk barefoot as much as possible. Sit or lie on the ground with as much skin as possible in contact with living things such as grass, trees, pine needles or earth. During the winter, touch grounded electrical outlets or metal plumbing pipes. Also, wear comfortable, leathersoled shoes without socks indoors and out, because leather is an excellent conductor of Earth’s energies.

Ditch the Bra “Breast cancer is caused by bras,” medical anthropologist Sydney Ross Singer states unequivocally. He is coauthor of Dressed to Kill, with Soma Grismaijer, and director of the Institute for the Study of Culturogenic Disease, in Pahoa, Hawaii.

“Bras are designed to change the shape of a woman’s breasts to a culturally approved image,” remarks Singer.

“But bras also create a pressure band between the breast and the lymph nodes, causing inflammation and swelling, and causing lymph to back up, restricting the body’s natural detoxification system.”

“Cancer-causing toxins are delivered to the breast tissue by the bloodstream and are kept there by the bra,” he explains, likening the toxins to bullets. “The bra holds them in place, pointed directly at the breasts.”

Singer’s research, conducted in the early 1990s, showed that women that wore bras 24/7 had a breast cancer risk 125 times that of women that never wore bras. Yet Singer’s findings have natural awakenings

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been largely dismissed by the medical community, and bra manufacturers still offer few wire-free styles.

A Harvard School of Public Health study, published in the European Journal of Cancer Care in 1991, also discovered that bra-free women had a lower rate of breast cancer. Because the results were not central to the focus of the university’s research at the time, there’s been no follow-up.

A practical solution: Wear a bra as little as possible. If it is sometimes necessary, wear one without wires, and engage in regular breast massage.

This can be enjoyable and is an ideal partner activity.

Hum Often Another Singer assertion is that simply humming “mmmmmmmmm” a couple of minutes a day can stimulate the thyroid and increase the production of thyroid hormones of those with an underactive thyroid. The but-

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Simple Stress Relief Resets Brain Function Using the index fingers, find two small knobs, usually about an inch above the midpoint of the eyebrows, known as the neurovascular reflex points.

Rest fingers very lightly on these points until a pulse is felt. It may take several minutes. Be patient.

Mentally review a current stressor using all the senses; see, feel, smell, hear and taste it.

Source: Dr. Frank King, president, King Bio Natural Medicine, Asheville, NC terfly-shaped gland wraps around the larynx, or voice box, which Singer contends is part of nature’s elegant design, meant to be stimulated by sound.

The Cleveland Clinic reports that 10 percent of the U.S. population age 65 and over suffers from hypothyroidism, with the rate in the general population between 1 and 2 percent.

The condition is a special problem for women encountering perimenopause or menopause, when hormone levels can fluctuate wildly.

“The medical community has considered the effect of the thyroid on the voice but not the vibratory effect of vocalization on thyroid function,” says Singer. “It stands to reason that hum-

ming, singing or quietly talking is preferred to the overstimulation of shouting or yelling.”

Adopt a Pet “Animals are among our best teachers,” says Dr. Carol Roberts, the author of Good Medicine: A Return to Common Sense, who teaches holistic care at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine. “Animal companions give us so much more than they ask for and live in a state of unconditional, open-hearted love.”

Roberts notes numerous studies that show the simple presence of a loving animal can lower our blood pressure and slow the heart rate. A CDC heart study, for example, showed subjects that had owned a cat at any time were 40 percent less likely to die of a heart attack.

Japanese researchers from Azabu University, in Kanagawa-ken, found that dog owners experienced a spike in oxytocin—a neurotransmitter that helps us cope with stress—by simply meeting their pet’s gaze. While people widely recognize that walking the dog is great exercise, other loving interactions with our pets support happiness and health, as well.

Exercise Artistic Skills Giving oneself artistic license is also healthy, advises Roberts. “Just bring a

Supplement Cocktail Counters Radiation Coenzyme Q10 – 100-200 mg a day Melatonin – 1-5 mg a day Nattokinase enzyme – 50 mg a day Vitamin C – 100 mg a day

little beauty into your life, whether it’s choosing which clothing and accessories to wear, arranging a vase of table flowers or dancing to favorite music. Just do something creative every day.”

Energy therapists maintain that exposure to creative activities improves circulation to the brain and thyroid; on a psychological level, it also works to improve self-confidence and selfexpression.

A recent study at the University of Colorado published in the journal Palliative & Supportive Care confirmed that individual art therapy is useful in supporting cancer patients during chemotherapy. Fifty-one of the 54 participants said it helped them to relax, talk about their situation or explore and express emotions to their benefit.

Roberts adds, “It’s even better if you join a group engaged in a creative activity. I think people in general do better when we come together to create something beautiful.”

These experts’ prescriptions for such simple lifestyle changes have shown how commonsense adjustments in everyday living can have profound, health-altering results, with only good after effects.

localresources FrESH PrODucE & PrODucTS dedicated “locavores” can easily find delicious, nutritious choices, at these food stores and local marketplaces in the north texas area.

MARKET STREET - PLANO 1929 Preston Rd, Plano 75093 972-713-5500

CENTRAL MARKET – PLANO 320 Coit Rd, Plano 75075 469-241-8300

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET 2301 Cross Timbers Rd, Flower Mound 75028 972-874-7380

CUPBOARD NATURAL FOODS 200 W Congress St, Denton 76201 940-387-5386

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET 5190 Preston Rd, Frisco 75034 972-464-5776

KEN’S PRODUCE 410 N Bell Ave, Denton 76201 940-382-6368

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET 207 East FM 544, Murphy 75094 972-265-4770 SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET 4100 E Legacy Dr, Plano 75024 972-618-8902

MARKET STREET – ALLEN 985 W Bethany Dr, Allen 75013 972-908-3830 MARKET STREET – FRISCO 11999 Dallas Pkwy, Frisco 75034 214-872-1500

WHOLE FOODS – FAIRVIEW 105 Stacy Rd, Fairview 75069 972-549-4090

MARKET STREET – MCKINNEY 6100 W Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney 75070 972-548-5140

WHOLE FOODS – PLANO 2201 Preston Rd, Plano 75093 972-612-6729

Kathleen Barnes is a natural health advocate, author and publisher. Among her many books is The Super Simple HCG Diet (Square One). Connect at KathleenBarnes.com. natural awakenings

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healthykids

Addressing Autism Families Have Reasons for Hope

by Brita Belli arents of autistic children are encouraged when they witness improvements after eliminating gluten (wheat) and casein (dairy) from their kids’ diets. Now a parental study supports the correlation—for some kids on the autism spectrum, the gluten- and casein-free (GFCF) diet appears to be connected with remarkable changes.

Laura Cousino Klein, associate professor of biobehavioral health and human development at the Penn State College of Medicine, helped lead research that surveyed 387 parents or caregivers with affected children. For those diagnosed with combinations of autism and gastrointestinal issues or food sensitivities, the GFCF diet brought marked improvements in their autism spectrum disorder (ASD) behaviors—reducing hyperactivity and tantrums; minimizing constipation and seizures; and improving social behaviors.

Klein says scientists are still working to understand the interaction between the brain, gut and behaviors, but recent findings suggest that significant links exist. “One hypothesis is that by eliminating dietary triggers in the presence of food allergies or gastrointestinal distress, you’re reducing inflammation or irritability of the immune system, and that’s affecting the way the brain is functioning,” she says.

P

Dietary Turnaround One Racine, Wisconsin, mom, Cindy Schultz, a tireless advocate for her autistic son, says, “As an infant, he either had constipation or diarrhea. There was never a happy medium.” The GFCF diet has improved his health and his ability to communicate.

Shauna Layton, in Clinton, Indiana, says her son experienced similar bowel problems and she also saw a remarkable turnaround in his language abilities and social interactions as they adhered to a GFCF diet and eliminated sugar and yeast. Other parents from her online support group, Together in Autism, report similar success. “Some children have never talked, and now they are saying ‘Mom,’ ‘Dad,’ or ‘I love you,’ for the first time,” Layton says.

A definitive gut-brain link with autism has yet to be identified. Some scientists suggest that kids with autism are more 28

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likely to have leaky gut syndrome (intestinal permeability), which allows peptides from gluten and casein to escape from the digestive tract, cross the intestinal membranes, enter the bloodstream and go to the brain, causing the neurobehavioral symptoms known as ASDs, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. While the AAP knows of no scientific proof that a GFCF diet will bring benefits, they note that it’s possible, especially in people suffering from celiac disease.

Parents have also observed that food dyes can exacerbate hyperactivity in children, a connection unconfirmed by the federal government. In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Advisory Committee suggested further testing, while voting against additional food labeling requirements for potentially problematic dyes.

Meanwhile, some parents affirm that eliminating such dyes has helped them better manage their children’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A 2011 study taking into account 35 years of research found that many ADHD children showed significant improvement after eliminating dyes from their diets; it also registered that greater than 70 percent were positively influenced by various dietary changes. The results were promising enough for researchers to conclude, “A trial elimination diet is appropriate for children that have not responded satisfactorily to conventional treatment.”

The Role of Vitamin D A 2012 study in the Journal of Neuroinflammation found that autistic children had significantly lower levels of vitamin D than control subjects. Vitamin D, the study notes, regulates immune function and thus autoimmunity; when the immune system is disrupted and the body attacks itself, it may play a role in the development of autism.

Dr. John Cannell, founder of the nonprofit Vitamin D Council, remarks that fear of sun overexposure has led to the deficiencies. “Vitamin D is not a vitamin,” Cannell clarifies. “It’s a steroid hormone system that begins in the skin. If children aren’t getting any photons of UVB light, they’re not making any vitamin D.”

He notes that the rise in autism rates during the last 25 years tracks with increases in 50-plus SPF sunscreen use, more time spent indoors and a rise in breastfeeding. Because breast milk contains low amounts of vitamin D, since 2003 the AAP has emphasized the importance of parents giving vitamin D supplement drops to breastfed infants.

The same vitamin D study showed that the severity of autism correlated strongly with deficiencies of this vitamin and that the higher the level, the less severe the symptoms.

Cannell has witnessed this phenomenon via a clinic hosted by the Vitamin D Council, recommending increases in vitamin D levels for autistic children to “high normal levels” and reducing vitamin A, which blocks the action of vitamin D.

“We have children on 5,000 to 10,000 units of vitamin D a day,” Cannell reports. “We see improvements in terms of sleep, meltdowns, eye contact, cognitive capacity, fine motor skills, language and reading—across the spectrum.”

Brita Belli is the author of The Autism Puzzle: Connecting the Dots Between Environmental Toxins and Rising Autism Rates.

The Neurology of Autism & Asperger Syndrome by dr. marvin sams

T

he quantitative EEG (computerized brain wave analysis) has shown that the limited social interactions, impaired communication, narrow interests and repetitive behaviors of autism and Asperger syndrome are related to multiple areas of brain dysfunction. Neurofeedback and other neurological training techniques can then remediate what is found, allowing for a much higher quality of life.

The quantitative EEG typically reveals multiple neurological dysfunctions:

inappropriate behaviors and social skills issues.

Mirror Neuron System—Empathy and Social Skills Your warm feelings about Aunt Tilly are not something you were born with. Empathy, our ability to understand the emotions and feelings of others, is a process our brain learns from an early age. As a baby, our mom smiled and we smiled back. As adults, when someone yawns, we also yawn.

We learn empathy with our brain’s mirror neuron system. In the EEG, we see the expression of this system as mu rhythms. Mu rhythms are rhythmic oscillations that occur intermittently over the center areas of our brain.

With normal brain functioning, seeing and reaching for an apple, or even thinking about reaching for it or watching someone else pick up it up causes the mu rhythms to inhibit or block. This system is typically defective in those with autism; that is, the mu rhythms don’t inhibit the way they should. This can be thought of as a “gate” staying closed so incoming information cannot be efficiently allocated and processed. The mirroring of the behaviors of others does not occur; thus social engagements and behaviors are not learned.

Left Hemisphere Dysfunction—Speech Expression and Understanding If there are language deficits, there is dysfunction of the left hemisphere. Communication is hampered because it is our left hemisphere that is responsible for the understanding and mechanics of language.

Right Hemisphere Dysfunction—Miscuing and Misinterpreting Our World Information coming into the brain system is first processed in the right side of the brain. This initial processing is “fuzzy” and indistinct, with no assigned value or meaning. The information is then rapidly transferred to the left hemisphere, where it is “sharpened up” and we are made aware of what is going on in our world. When the right hemisphere is dysfunctional, the information transferred is distorted, and therefore not a true representation of what is occurring. This dysfunction leads to the

Frontal Lobe Dysfunction—Understanding, Learning, Focus and Attention Our frontal lobes make us aware of what is going on in our environment and helps us consciously create and act with a purposeful plan of action. Those with autism and Asperger syndrome tend to show excessive slow waves in the frontal regions, which blunt response control, focus and attention.

Connectivity Issue—Brain Communication and Learning Our brain talks to itself to understand the complexity of the world and to make and execute decisions on how to best function in it. To carry out a particular task, for example, the brain connects multiple performance centers and then, just as rapidly, releases to connect to other task-specific areas. If this highly dynamic connect/disconnect method is compromised, focus, attention, memory, mood or learning is negatively impacted. Those with autism and Asperger syndrome typically show mixed excessive and deficient connectivity characteristics.

Remediating the Issues Neurofeedback, rhythmic light-sound therapy and transcranial DC stimulation teach the brain to remediate these dysfunctions. As a result, incoming information can be efficiently processed, the world can be seen as it is, and language and learning can occur.

Dr. Marvin Sams is a board-certified neurotherapist and director of The Sams Center, in Plano. For more info, call 972-612-0160 or visit GreatBrain.com.

See ads, pages 14 and 31.

natural awakenings

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consciouseating

SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS Five Secrets for Feeling Like Yourself Again

by Judith Fertig

Health experts agree that many foods can play multiple roles in weight loss.

S

tarting in the 1970s, natural foods advocate and journalist Kathleen Barnes, of Brevard, North Carolina, avidly practiced vegetarianism, yet through the years she still gained weight. Searching for answers, she shared her findings in an array of books that include 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health: A Take Charge Plan for Women (coauthored with Dr. Hyla Cass) and Rx from the Garden: 101 Food Cures You Can Easily Grow.

“When I at last learned which key foods to add to my diet, I lost 100 pounds—and kept them off,” says Barnes.

Burn fat. Foods with thermogenic properties help heat up the body and may help burn fat. “You feel a flush when you eat or drink them,” Barnes notes. Chili peppers, curry powder, horseradish, mustard, garlic, onion, wasabi, ginger, black pepper and radishes are especially good choices in cold weather, when we want to feel warm anyway.

The intense flavors delivered by such foods help us to practice the principle of portion control, Chester Ku-Lea, a health and nutrition consultant in Vancouver, British Columbia, says, “Adding these foods to dishes generates a higher rate of caloric burn, and their powerful flavors prompt people to eat far less than they normally would. Plus, red, cayenne and jalapeño peppers, hot sauces and any other spicy foods are all very low in calories.”

Enhance mood. We don’t want to feel hungry or deprived when trying to lose weight. The protein in turkey, chicken and cold-water fish like salmon and mackerel helps us feel more satisfied and on top of things. Barnes also suggests eating low-fat cottage cheese, avocado, wheat germ, whole-grain crackers and bananas to help increase serotonin levels and feelings of well-being. “When you crave something sweet or feel

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like you’re crashing mid-afternoon, that’s the time to eat a small amount of these foods to get you back on track,” she advises.

Julia Ross, author of The Mood Cure and The Diet Cure, agrees. This Mill Valley, California, nutritional psychotherapist recommends complex carbohydrates such as whole grains to keep us on an even keel during weight loss. “This means pushing away the leftover cake and eating sensible carbs to stimulate serotonin,” she says.

Promote digestion. The fiber in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains helps move things along in the digestive system, making our bodies work more efficiently.

Barnes favors drinking peppermint and other herbal teas and incorporating sage, dill, oregano and other herbs in savory dishes to aid digestion.

According to a recent University of Illinois study, soluble fiber found in oat bran, fruits, vegetables and nuts not only facilitates digestion, but also supports the immune system. Professor Gregory Freund, who teaches at the university’s medical school in Champaign, explains, “Soluble fiber changes the personality of immune cells—they go from being pro-inflammatory, angry cells to anti-inflammatory, healing cells that help us recover faster from infection.”

Feel full. Hunger pangs can derail anyone’s best efforts to eat better. Barnes learned that liquids, including up to two quarts of water a day, help retain a satisfied feeling. In cooler months, she makes soups that incorporate leafy green vegetables, onion, garlic, chili peppers and herbs.

An apple a day might keep the doctor away—and help in other ways, as well. “Apples have a high water content and are packed with fiber, two factors that leave you satiated,” says Keren Gilbert, a registered dietitian and founder of Decision Nutrition, in Great Neck, New York. “For a tasty proteinpacked snack, top apple slices with natural almond butter.”

Accept treats. Leaving room for a treat, like a piece of fine chocolate, can leave us feeling satisfied rather than stuffed, says Katherine Harvey, a registered dietitian in Kansas City, Missouri.

Indulging in a little sweet treat from time to time reinforces the perception that eating right can be simple and pleasurable, says Barnes. In cold months, she likes to bake apples sweetened with Stevia and cinnamon, or poach pears in fruit juice and spices. She might break open a pomegranate and slowly munch each ruby-colored seed, or stop at a coffee shop to sip a latte made with low-fat milk.

Barnes’ evolved natural foods strategy has helped her maintain a desirable weight for many years now. “Sustainable weight loss involves sustainable eating,” she says, “finding healthy foods that we can enjoy for the rest of our lives.”

Award-winning cookbook author Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle. blogspot.com.

Keys to Weight, Health & Healing

by Sonja Kabell

F

or individuals that are struggling with their weight and health, it is not always easy. There are three key items that if followed, will allow not only weight loss to occur, but for the person to maintain a healthy body weight and lifestyle. This “golden triangle of health” comprises eating a well-balanced diet, taking a complete supplement to provide nutrients that support health and healing, and getting active. These three simple items will promote a lifetime of health.

From a food prospective, eating “close to the ground” provides the proper nutrients our body needs. The more the product is in its natural state, the better. Whole fruits, vegetables, lean meats and grains are great choices. Avoid over-processed, high-calorie, low-nutrition and high-fat foods. Have healthy foods on hand at all times, so it is easy for you to make good, healthy choices.

Supplementation is key. What your body does not get from foods, you must supplement. Look for CAPPS—products that are complete, absorbable, pure, potent and safe.

A great reference is the Nutrisearch Compative Guide to Nutritional Supplements, which provides scientifically based information about dietary supplements, particularly multiple vitamin and mineral supplements, so individu-

als can choose the best supplement for their particular needs. Everyone, including children and seniors, should take a trustworthy supplement. The right supplementation, along with diet and exercise, can help prevent a number of chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and fibromyalgia.

Get moving. People that are active have a better chance of getting slim and staying slim. Activity not only burns calories, but reduces stress, revs up our metabolism and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Just 20 minutes a day of exercise can produce a healthier, more youthful feeling of well-being.

Our bodies are bombarded daily with toxins, chemicals and stress. Anything you can do to protect your most precious and valuable asset, your health, should not be taken lightly. Take care of your body—it is the only one you have.

Sonja Kabell is the founder of Creating Healthy Lifestyles, in Plano, and is a weight loss and wellness consultant. Contact her at 972-935-6484 or SlimmingWorldPlano@ gmail.com.

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greenliving

Managing End of Lifecycle Electronics

by Mike Wisecup lectric and electronic equipment comprises 6 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, up from 5 percent 10 years ago, although the process of manufacturing an electronic device hasn’t changed much in the last 10 years. Significant amounts of natural resources and fossil fuels are consumed in making these new devices. To manufacture one computer and monitor—made of steel, aluminum, plastic, copper and gold—it takes 530 pounds of fossil fuels, 48 pounds of chemicals and 1.5 tons of water.

Many electronic devices contain such toxins as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium, all of which pose a hazard to the community, environment and workers if not managed properly. Electronic waste, or E-waste, constitutes as much as 5 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream and continues to grow five times faster than all other waste streams. The electronic waste industry represents a $40 billion industry. Millions of devices are recycled each year, representing a significant amount of hazard, but also a significant amount of value in their component commodities.

The exponential growth of the industry and low barrier to entry has created thousands of jobs and new business opportunities. Without proper oversight though, hundreds of “electronics recyclers” have started operating recycling events for you to recycle your electronic device. In 2011, the owners of a recycling corporation in Colorado were convicted of fraud and environmental crimes related to shipping thousands of hazardous computer monitors and televisions to third-world countries for “recycling.”

They obtained the equipment by advertising proper recycling in the USA, when in fact they were shipping the material halfway around the world.

In this way, millions of pounds of electronic waste is dumped illegally in the United States and abroad.

Beginning in 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, equipment manufacturers, electronic recyclers and non-governmental organiza-

E

Follow the Lifecycle Crunching the Numbers on Products We Consume

by Brita Belli

E

very product we use has a lifecycle, or duration of environmental impact. According to the State of the World 2012: Transforming Cultures from Consumerism to Sustainability, by the Worldwatch Institute, humans collectively are consuming resources equivalent to 1.5 Earths, or 50 percent more than is sustainable—and that’s before projected population growth. In short, we’re depleting more resources than the planet can replenish; hence, our personal consumption habits matter.

In an ideal world, all the appliances, furniture and electronics we use and later discard would be “cradle-tocradle,” or C2C, certified, a term popularized by German chemist Michael Braungart and American Architect William McDonough for describing products designed never to become waste. Such innovative products typically are made of both technical components that can be reused and biological components that decompose back into the natural world.

Current examples of products that have obtained C2C certification include gDiapers—biodegradable cloth diaper liners that can be flushed or composted—and Greenweave recycled fabrics.

But smart, sustainable design is not yet the norm, so we have to monitor our own consumption and waste habits to try limiting our support of polluting industries and contribution to ever-

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growing landfills.

Such product assessments are challenging, because it’s not only about what happens after a cell phone, for example, is thrown into a landfill that takes an environmental toll. It also entails the chemicals used, toxins released and fossil fuels burned to manufacture and ship that phone.

To help us sort out the best approaches, The Green Design Institute at Carnegie Mellon University has created the online Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIO-LCA) that crunches the numbers for commonly used products—from household cleaners to mattresses—to provide us with the bigger-picture impact. So, as their website explains, “The effect of producing an automobile would include not only the impacts at the final assembly facility, but also the impact from mining metal ores, making electronic parts, forming windows, etc., that are needed for parts to build the car.”

The accompanying chart, using the latest available EIO-LCA figures, provides comparisons for some common products—from the most to the least energy-intensive—as well as recycling rates and suggested alternatives for keeping our own resource usage and waste load to a minimum.

Brita Belli is the editor of E-The Environmental Magazine.

tions recognized the need for oversight.

The collaboration between these groups crafted two standards: Responsible Recycling (R2) and e-Stewards, for the purpose to rigorously audit electronic recyclers for responsible recycling and reuse of electronic equipment.

The standards include verification of a recycler’s refurbishment and end of lifecycle recycling processes. Both establish guidelines for protecting the environment, information security and worker’s health and safety. Compliance with these standards is facilitated via third-party audits by accredited regis-

trars, similar to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification. The importance of using an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler to recycle electronics is that now there is verification that the recycler has been audited by a third party and their processes have been found to be compliant with the e-waste industry’s best practices.

With each new device purchased in the United States, we remain the largest contributor in the world to the electronic waste industry. It is important to ensure that it is managed properly to protect ourselves, our community

and the workers that are responsible for recycling the devices. Please use a certified recycler for disposal Mike Wisecup is a business development executive at Global Electric Electronic Processing (GEEP), a global leader in electronic asset management and end-of-life electronics recycling, located in Grand Prairie. The facility is certified to ISO (9001 and14001) and Responsible Recycling (R2) standards. For more information, visit GEEPglobal.com.

Cradle-to-Cradle Product Lifecycle MATERIAL ENERGY COST TO

PRODUCE $1,000 WORTH

Paper

GREENHOUSE GASES PRODUCED

AMOUNT RECYCLED

LANDFILL LIFESPAN

10,611 3,373 pounds 63.5 percent 2 to 4 weeks kilowatt- (2010) hours (kWh) -

Glass 7,778 kWh 3,373 pounds 33.4 percent 1 million years containers (2010)

Plastic bottles 6,361 kWh 2,910 pounds

28 percent 450 years HDPE bottles; 29 percent PET bottles (2010)*

Plastic bags 5,889 kWh 2,712 pounds 12 percent Up to 1,000

and film (2010) years or more

Carpets and 5,083 kWh 2,469 pounds 8.1 percent Up to 20,000

rugs (2009) years

Soaps and 3,500 kWh 1,715 pounds Not applicable

cleaners

Less than 10 percent (2012)

Use recycled and scrap paper and limit printing.

Recycle or reuse glass bottles and jars as glassware or to store food.

Save money by choosing refillable bottles over throwaways.

Use washable cloth shopping bags and non-plastic food storage containers.

Use individual carpet tiles or carpet that meets Carpet Area Recovery Effort (CARE) standards.

Toxins from Recycle plastic bottles and cleaners can use biodegradable cleaners. contaminate water supplies.

Light bulbs 2,328 kWh 1,023 pounds 2 to 6.7 Up to 1,000 and parts percent of years or more

household

CFLs (2009)*

Mattresses 2,281 kWh 1,122 pounds

ALTERNATIVES

Up to 1,000 years or more

Use CFL and LED energyefficient lights and recycle CFLs at major hardware stores or check Earth911.com.* Consider solar exterior lights.

Buy organic mattresses and recycle old ones (Earth911.com).

Computers 1,183 kWh 586 pounds 38 percent Up to 1,000

(2009) years or more

Look for recycled content in electronics and recycle equipment. See Earth911.com.

Cell phones 1,322 kWh 665 pounds 8 percent Up to 1,000 and other (2009) years or more

devices

Only upgrade when needed.

Trade old phone in to recycle (SecureTradeIn.com) or donate to charity (ReCellular.com).

*HDPE means high density polyethylene; PET means polyethylene terephthalate; CFL means compact fluorescent lamp (or light); LED means light-emitting diode. Additional sources include epa.gov, PaperRecycles.org and ProductStewardship.us. natural awakenings

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fitbody

STAND UP A ND MOVE! How to Sizzle, Not Fizzle

by Debra Melani

A

s millions of Americans ponder quitting newly launched fitness resolutions after finding it tough to squeeze in toning workouts or sweat off a few extra pounds, researchers implore: Don’t give up. Just pump out 20 minutes a day of any kind of exercise—take a brisk walk, jog, lift weights—and stop sitting so much.

Results can bring a healthier, more youthful feeling of well-being, akin to what explorer Juan Ponce de León sought in the Americas long ago.

In a recently completed study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers followed up with more than 18,000 middle-aged men and women that had been tested an average of 26 years earlier for cardiorespiratory fitness via a treadmill test. They compared those results with the individuals’ current Medicare data at the Cooper Institute Clinic, in Dallas, Texas

“We found those who were fitter had a much lower rate of heart failure, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, certain kinds of colon cancer and coronary artery disease,” says coauthor Dr. Benjamin Willis. “Fit people that did become ill did so at a much later age than their non-fit counterparts.

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They were able to enjoy a healthier life longer.”

Researchers found that for every higher MET fitness level (standard metabolic equivalent, a unit for measuring fitness related to the amount of oxygen used by the body during physical activity), the risk of chronic disease decreased by about 6 percent. “So those that can raise their fitness levels by three METs have an estimated 18 to 20 percent reduced risk of developing a chronic disease,” Willis explains.

The take-away message is, “Just move,” says study co-author Dr. Laura DeFina. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends investing in a weekly total of 150 to 300 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous exercise, either of which can be broken down into two or three 10-minute increments a day, DeFina confirms.

As simple as it sounds, few people are doing it, something New York Times fitness columnist Gretchen Reynolds underscores in her recent book, The First 20 Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can: Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer. “Most of us sit an average of eight hours a day,

whether it’s at a desk or in front of a television,” Reynolds says. “The human body was not meant to be sedentary.”

More than three-quarters of Americans are not meeting exercise recommendations, with one-quarter remaining completely sedentary, the CDC reports.

Breaking this cycle does not need to be difficult, Reynolds notes. “You get the benefits from just moving. Start by standing up more and moving around in your office.”

Reynolds, who hops on one foot while brushing her teeth and reads standing up using a music stand, says studies have shown that bad things happen to bodies that sit for long stints, even those that start each day with an hour of exercise, and good things happen to bodies that stand often, even if it’s just for two minutes every half-hour. “For instance, when you stand, the big muscles in your legs and back contract, releasing enzymes that stabilize blood sugar,” Reynolds says, echoing findings of a study of more than 120,000 men and women published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The researchers found that the combination of both sitting more and being less physically active was associated with a significant increase in accelerated death rate, particularly in women, at 94 percent, as well as men, at 48 percent.

As Reynolds’ book title suggests, the majority of health benefits are derived from the first 20 minutes of exercise and begin to flatten out after 30 minutes or so. Dr. Carl Lavie, medical director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at the Ochsner Medical Center, in New Orleans, points out that this timeframe supports general health. He and Reynolds agree that to reach specific goals, such as increased running speed or dramatic weight loss, moderate levels won’t do the trick, so do more, if possible.

The most vital message, experts agree, is to do something every day, consistently. Willis observes that, “The effects can quickly reverse if you stop.”

Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health care and fitness from Lyons, CO. Connect at Debra Melani.com or DMelani@msn.com.

inspiration

No Dust on the Mirror Reflections on a Life of Conscious Wholeness

by Michael Bernard Beckwith

W

e spend a good deal of time gazing at ourselves in a mirror with the physical eye, as well as into the mirror of our mind with an analytical eye, endeavoring to size ourselves up in our own estimation, and also determining how others might evaluate us. Both of these mirrors are clouded with ego-related dust that distorts our vision. Only when we turn our gaze inward with the intuitive eye of awareness can we perceive our innate wholeness, for there is no dust on the mirror of the soul.

Consider this: A consciousness of

wholeness reunifies us with our authentic self, so that even during those times when we are unaware of it, our wholeness is intact and utterly dust-free—only our awareness of it is missing. When awareness returns, we live free from ego’s bondage and its ignorance-soaked history and habits. We are reunified with the reality of our being.

Our daily practice is to be ever mindful—on the dot—the moment we lose sight of our true nature. Everyday experiences grace us with reminders by mentally tapping us on the shoulder and returning us to the qualities we

wish to express in our interactions with our self, others and all of life. We are continually given the opportunity to reconnect with the high vision we hold for ourselves in our mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, professional, relational and communal life structures.

It serves us well to remember that we are here learning to mother our consciousness, just as the universe mothers us throughout our lifetime and beyond. Intelligence, wisdom, intuition, joy and creativity—these are the qualities we want to mother within ourselves in order to unveil our original face. As we set a conscious intention to evolve, we live as the master artists we are—creating, directing and producing our lives.

The more time we set aside for meditation, contemplation and life visioning, the more we can have 20/20 vision in foresight, rather than hindsight. Through practice, we activate our intuition, clean off egoic dust and enter a more consistently clear-sighted state of mindful being. Thus we actualize our highest potential and realize our organic, enlightened consciousness.

Michael Bernard Beckwith is the founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center, in Los Angeles, California, author of Life Visioning: A Transformative Process for Activating Your Unique Gifts and Highest Potential (Sounds True, 2011/2013), and originator of the Life Visioning process.

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naturalpet

rapidly rehydrates to four times its original weight by adding warm water. A meatless variety allows owners to add their choice of raw meat, meaty bones or cooked meat and can be suitable for sensitive dogs, raw feeders and dogs that need a unique protein source.

“Dehydrated foods are also a good way for a squeamish owner to start a raw diet for their dog,” remarks Dr. Laurie Coger, an associate veterinarian at the Bloomingrove Veterinary Hospital, in Rensselaer, New York, who also offers consultations through TheHonestKitchen.com. Coger suggests, “First, determine what a dog or cat needs in his diet, then transition gradually from kibble to a cooked or raw diet. Cats may resist change, while dogs can be more flexible.”

by Sandra Murphy

Pet food maker Steve’s Real Food is another option as it s with their own food, dog and cat owners are readdoes not use lamb, pork or venison. Each poses a greater risk ing pet food labels more closely these of carrying toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease days to evaluate ingredients and their that can be passed on to pets, especially cats.

“You can spend sources. American pet food companies may “If you decide to incorporate raw foods, find money on vet visits a wholesale meat supplier so you can buy in outsource to foreign manufacturers, sometimes with disastrous results. Various brands You’ll need a freezer to take full advanor on better food.” bulk. of dry dog food (kibble) and treats have been tage,” suggests Coger. “Feeding raw is not an recalled for melamine contamination or ~ Veterinarian Laurie Coger all-or-nothing proposition, so mix and match. other problems—even brands manufactured Cook when you have time, feed raw several here have been recalled for salmonella contamination. days a week and use high-quality dehydrated or dry food

To ensure that what we’re serving our dogs contains a when traveling.” proper balance of protein, vitamins and minerals for overall

Dr. Cathy Alinovi, owner of Hoof Stock Veterinary Serhealth, the Dog Food Advisor rates dog foods and treats by vice, in Pine Village, Indiana, found that switching to a raw brand name, explains the ingredients, including byproducts diet solved an itching problem with her mixed-breed dog. not fit for human consumption, and recommends the best opShe reports that, “Eighty percent of the reasons my clients tions. Owners can sign up for emails about recalls and other bring their pets to me are cured by changing to better food.” alerts at DogFoodAdvisor.com.

Alinovi points out two drawbacks of serving raw food:

Other reasons to read labels include potential allergic “You can’t leave it out all day and it can be a challenge to reactions to foods, especially chicken and corn, common transport home on a hot day.” But she’s found that the benefits ingredients in kibble. The educational website notes, “Corn is are many, “Dog and cat furs shine and shed less; even their an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest behavior improves.” Dog owners also note cleaner teeth, with nutritional value to a dog.” no tartar buildup, cutting down on trips to the vet.

Raw Food Diets for Pets Weighing the Pros and Cons

A

Homemade Meals

To have more control over what the family dog or cat eats, many owners turn to home-cooked meals, but know-how is key.

“A big risk with home-prepared diets is that they are almost always nutritionally inadequate for long-term feeding, even when using published recipes,” advises Dr. Brennen McKenzie, president of the Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Association.

“Consult a board-certified nutritionist for the unique nutritional needs of the pet, based on age, breed, health condition and other factors. Don’t substitute ingredients.”

Cooking for pets can be timeconsuming. Some owners have found dehydrated foods like those from The Honest Kitchen, made in the United States using human food-grade ingredients, both cost-effective and easy to prepare.

While the purchase price can be higher than other options, the food 36

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Not Everyone Agrees

Feeding a raw food diet is not without controversy. The American Veterinary Medical Association voted last summer to advise veterinarians to recommend clients against feeding raw meats and bones to pets. Pet Partners, formerly known as the Delta Society, which registers pets as therapy animals, has instituted a policy that states, “Animals may not be fed a raw protein diet. Animals previously fed [such] a diet must be off it for at least four weeks before registering them.” (See PetPartners.org/rawdiet.)

Deciding which foods to feed our pets requires extra research and meal preparation time, as well as money, but motivated owners like the results they see in their pet’s health.

Missourian Sandra Murphy may be reached at StLouisFreelance Writer@mindspring.com.

Safe Pet Food Prep

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by noon on the 9th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at NA-NTX.com (within advertising section).

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8

T

o handle raw meat and bones safely, follow the same guidelines as when cooking for family members.

When shopping, keep meat, seafood and poultry separate from other foods—double-bag them to keep juices contained.

In the fridge, store meat products in sealable containers on the lowest shelf, so that potential drips won’t touch other foods. Fridge temp should be 40° Fahrenheit or lower.

Use one cutting board for meats and another for produce.

Wash hands before and after handling meat. Sanitize countertops, wooden cutting boards and knives with white distilled vinegar (5 percent), undiluted, heated to 130° F and left on the surface for one minute; then dry with a recycled-paper towel or air dry. It will kill 99 percent of germs. Plastic cutting boards go in the dishwasher.

Deep clean wooden boards by scrubbing with natural coarse salt and lemon juice (the second half of the lemon face works as a scrubber); rinse with hot water and dry upright. Keep wood from drying out by periodically applying beeswax or walnut or almond oil.

Refrigerate or discard any uneaten food, wash dog bowls after every feeding with soap and hot water, and then let air dry or wipe with a recyclable paper towel.

Sponges hoard germs. If used, sanitize them in the microwave at least every other day. Make sure the sponge is wet, not dry. Two minutes will kill 99 percent of most disease-causing germs. Let it cool before handling.

Primary sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Organic Authority.com

Twilight Toddler Time – 6:30pm. Bring your toddler (ages 12-24 months) for this evening Toddler Time that promotes literacy and caregiver bonding.

Emily Fowler Library, 502 Oakland St, Denton.

940-349-8752.

Dallas Sierra Club Meeting – 7-8:30pm. Learn about the Hagerman Wildlife Refuge and its wonderful free outdoor activities. Also learn what Texans can do to prevent shark finning and why it matters.

Free. REI Dallas, 4515 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Dallas. Kirk Miller: 972-699-1687.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9

Big D Climb, in Dallas: Jan. 26

January 1-7 Recycle your Live Tree – At any Dallas Home Depot Store thru January 7. More info: Waste Diversion Hotline: 214 670-4475. GreenDallas.net.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1 Cedar Hill Bird Count – 8am-5pm. Count birds across Cedar Ridge Preserve, Cedar Hill State Park, Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Joe Pool Lake, and the cities of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, DeSoto, and Midlothian. Birders of all levels of expertise welcome and needed. RSVP, Tania Homayoun: 469-526-1986 or THomayoun@Audubon.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 4 LEGO Builders Club Extra – 4pm. Join us for an extra LEGO building day during the school break.

Drop in and make something with the library’s LEGOs. Ages 6 & up. Emily Fowler Library, 502 Oakland St, Denton. 940-349-8752.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5 Trinity River Audubon Bird Count – 8am-5pm.

Birders of all levels are needed for this important effort. Trinity River is home to more than 160 species of birds at different times of the year. RSVP, Sahar Sea: 214-309-5813 or SSea@Audubon.org.

Cleanse for a New You – 6-7:30pm. Cleanse your body of unwanted toxins with nutrition & learn steps to reduce your toxic exposure for health in today’s modern world. Free. HealthWorks: A Creating Wellness Center, 2317 Coit Rd, Ste B, Plano. Register, Shari Miles: 972-612-1800. HealthWorksTX.com.

Reading and Understanding Nutrition Labels – 6:30-7:30pm. Do you find nutrition labels difficult to understand? Struggle recognizing many of the listed ingredients? As part of our Child Nutrition Seminar Series, parents, children, and professionals will join Brain Balance Nutritionist, Stephanie Oliveras, MS, BS, for an informative hour. Free.

Brain Balance of Plano, 1501 Preston Rd, Plano.

RSVP: 972-248-9482.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10 Organic Gardening: Healthy Soil, Healthy Food – 7-8pm. Plano community gardeners share their experience. Free. Davis Library, 7501 Independence Pkwy, Plano. LiveGreenInPlano.obres.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 Salt Escape Open House – 5-8pm. Complimentary Salt Room Therapy sessions, chair Massages and more. Win wellness prizes and enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres. Salt Escape Wellness Center, Polo Town Crossing, 2100 Dallas Pkwy, Ste 140, Plano.

972-378-4945.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 Nature Explore Family Club – 3-4pm. Event aims to connect children and families with nature through fun, age-appropriate activities. Free. Environmental Education Center, 4116 W Plano Pkwy, Plano.

LiveGreenInPlano.obres.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 7 Soil Lesson with Texas Plant & Soil Lab – 7-8:15pm. Learn more about what your soil needs from Frank Schultz. Hear about what soil tests can do for your gardens (vegetable or perennial) and how to submit a soil test. $40. Garden Inspirations, 108 Ridgecrest, Waxahachie. More info: FarmGirls@GardenInspirations-TX.com.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 12

Rd, Plano. RSVP: 972-248-9482.

Mindful Mommy to Be – 9:30am-12pm. Nutrition, overcoming fears, birth planning, and how chiropractic care benefits mother and baby; for couples to learn holistic support tools for a successful pregnancy. $20/ couple. HealthWorks: A Creating Wellness Center, 2317 Coit Rd, Ste B, Plano. Registration required, Deja Erwin: 972-612-1800. HealthWorksTX.com.

Creating Healthy Soils – 7-9pm. Learn about Plano soils and how to improve soil fertility through YardWise practices, including composting, grasscycling and mulching. $5/residents, $8/nonresidents. Environmental Education Center, 4116 W Plano Pkwy, Plano. LiveGreenInPlano.obsres.com.

Amphibians of Grayson County – 10-11:30am.

Presented by Michael Keck, Professor of Biology at Grayson College. Learn the natural history of various frogs and salamanders of the area, with photos and recordings of vocalizations. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. Register: 903-786-2826. FriendsOfHagerman.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18

Second Saturday for Youth – 10-11:30am. Topic to be announced. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. Register: 903-786-2826.

FriendsOfHagerman.com.

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo – Jan 18-Feb 9. Includes livestock shows, 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors, PRCA extreme bull riding, live music, bronc riding, kid-friendly interactive activities, carnival games, midway rides, food, shopping and much more. Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3400 Burnett Tandy Dr, Fort Worth. 817-877-2400. FWSSR.com.

Tree Planting at White Rock Lake – 10am-2pm.

Join For the Love of the Lake to plant up to 200 trees at White Rock Lake. Lunch will be provided. Bring work gloves if have them. Register: 214-660-1100 or WhiteRockDallas.org.

Welcome The Directions Ceremony – 11am-4pm.

Oho 2013. We will welcome All of the directions; all 6 of them, North, South, East, West, Up, Down. Is your direction from the east? South? It might be a good time to find out. RSVP by Jan 9. Four Feathers Trading Post, 3522 CR 2621, Caddo Mills. For more info, Silverhawk: 214-288-9935. FourFeathersTradingPost.net.

DORBA Beginner Clinic – 1:30pm. Includes “classroom” time, a mini-skills workshop, and then a ride of an hour or more. Rowlett Creek Preserve, meet at the Gazebo. More info: DORBA.org.

Astronomy Walk – 9-11pm. Join Clyde Camp for a Nightwalk and Astronomy nearest the New Moon. Appropriate footwear is a must. This is an inappropriate walk for young children. Connemara Meadow Preserve, 300 Tatum Rd, Allen.

ConnemaraConservancy.org.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15 The Souper Bowl of Caring – Jan 15-Feb 3. A

2013 Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s (TAAF) Winter Games – Jan 18-21. The best amateur athletes in Texas compete in 13 different winter sports, with 11 events played in sports facilities throughout Frisco, one in Plano and one in Dallas.

For registration & more info: TAAF.com.

Souper Bowl of Caring Group: Jan. 15-Feb. 3 national movement of young people working to fight hunger and poverty in their communities around the time of the Super Bowl football game. Donate $1 or one item of food, with 100% of the donation going to the local hunger-relief charity. For more info or to make a donation: 800-358-SOUP (7687) or SouperBowl.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 It’s a Girl Thing – 4pm. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. A book club for moms and daughters. Join us for refreshments and book discussion. Best for girls ages 9-12. Denton Public Library, South Branch, 3228 Teasley Ln, Denton. 940-349-8752.

Weston A. Price – 6-7:30pm. 3rd Wed. Tired of confusing nutrition “trends?” Learn how to prepare and eat traditional foods like our ancestors. Learn practical steps for changing your diet, meet others and share tips. Free. HealthWorks: A Creating Wellness Center, 2317 Coit Rd, Ste B, Plano. Register, Shari Miles: 972-612-1800. HealthWorksTX.com.

Cheap Date Night Wines – 6:30-8pm. We think being able to bring your own bottle of wine into a restaurant makes a lot of sense. The BYOB trend is catching on. Our Wine Specialist will sample her favorite best kept secret bargain wines and help you plan the perfect cheap date night. Space limited.

Free. Whole Foods Market, 2201 Preston Rd, Ste C, Plano. 972-612-6729. RSVP & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: Andrea.Beckham@ WholeFoods.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17 Boys Only Yucky Stories – 6:30pm. Stink and the World’s Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers by Megan McDonald. Boys grades 2-5 read and talk about funny, yucky and gross stories. You won’t have to sit still while we talk because you will be too busy with funny, gross or downright bizarre projects. Emily Fowler Library, 502 Oakland St, Denton.

940-349-8752.

Parent Information Seminar – 6:30-8pm. A new year means new beginnings. Why not make this year a new beginning for your struggling child? Join Brain Balance Center Director, Debby Romick, for an informational seminar about the comprehensive, holistic approach to helping children with behavior, social, and/or academic issues. All attendees will receive a comprehensive assessment for a child ages 4-18 for $125 (regularly $295). Brain Balance of Plano, 1501 Preston

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 Indoor Foliage: Repotting Festival – 9am-6pm.

Bring your plants and pots and use our potting benches and tools to revitalize existing plants or create new container. We provide complimentary Calloway’s Premium potting soil, an application of fertilizer and top dressing to complete your project.

All Calloway’s Nursery locations. 817-222-1122.

Calloways.com.

Saving Energy: Ask the Experts – 9:30-11am.

Learn about professional home energy audits, energy retrofits and renewable energy. Tour the Environmental Ed Center, Plano’s only LEED platinumcertified building. Free. Environmental Education Center, 4116 W Plano Pkwy, Plano. Registration required: LiveGreenInPlano.obsres.com.

Houseplants for Fresh Indoor Spaces – 10:15am.

Fill empty spaces in your home with living, breathing houseplants to help keep your family healthy and your home vibrant. Learn which plants thrive indoors and the varieties that do the best job improving air quality. Free. All Calloway’s Nursery locations. 817-222-1122. Calloways.com.

Soil Love Class – 10:30-11:30am. Topics covered include: developing and maintaining ideal soil features, best times to upgrade soil. Cozby Library, 177 N Heartz Rd. More info: CoppellCommunityGarden.org.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 PTAS Chapter Meeting – 7pm, refreshments; 7:30pm, meeting & program. All meetings and other activities open to everyone. PTAS offers interesting programs and wonderful guest speakers at our meetings that bring a great variety of expertise and excitement to the membership. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney. Program details: PrairieAndTimbers.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23 Healthy and Tasty School Lunches – 6:307:30pm. Trying to find a school lunch that is quick, healthy, tasty, and “cool?” Parents and children are invited to join Brain Balance Nutritionist, Stephanie Oliveras, BS, MS, to hear some great ideas that fit into a parent’s busy schedule and meet the needs of

picky eaters. Free. Brain Balance of Plano, 1501 Preston Rd, Plano. RSVP: 972-248-9482.

and earth-friendly way to care for your yard.

Fannin Hall (Bldg F) at Richland College,12800 Abrams Rd, Dallas. Space limited; register: 214670-3155 or SaveDallasWater.com/WWLS.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24

Family Nutrition – 10am. Improve your family nutrition IQ with fun nutrition games and activities. Guest Vivian Nichols, registered dietician, will lead this engaging hands-on seminar for parents and kids. All ages. Emily Fowler Library, 502 Oakland St, Denton. Supplies limited, register: 940-349-8752.

Bokashi Composting – 7-8pm. Learn how to recycle your food waste, even meat and dairy, into food for the soil using a traditional Japanese fermentation practice. Free. Environmental Education Center, 4116 W Plano Pkwy, Plano. LiveGreenInPlano. obsres.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 5th Annual Big D Climb – 8am. Climb 52 flights of stairs (1,040 steps); compete individually or as a team. Benefits The North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). $45 before Jan 18; $60 thereafter. Fountain Place, 1445 Ross Ave, Dallas. 972-996-5915. BigDClimb.org.

Refuge Tour with Jim Varnum – 9am-2pm. Join in the 5th annual Hagerman Tour led by Texas Master Naturalist Jim Varnum. Expected birds 50+ species. Bring binoculars, scopes, cameras, bird books, water, snack, lunch, etc. Dress for the weather. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. 903-786-2826. More info: FriendsOfHagerman.com.

To Prune or Not to Prune: Get the Facts – 10:15am.

Learn when to prune throughout the year to encourage the best flower and fruit production from your trees and shrubs. Get expert garden advice and learn the basics. Free. All Calloway’s Nursery locations.

817-222-1122. Calloways.com.

4th Annual NTX Soup-N-Bowl – 11am-2pm.

Sample and enjoy fresh, savory soups while providing support and raising awareness for the Metro Relief food pantry. All soups prepared by local chefs and restaurants. The Tribute, 1000 Lebanon Rd, The Colony. For more info or to purchase tickets: 214705-3090 or NTXSoupNBowl.org.

Prayer Circle – 1:30-6:30pm. We will come together to be Napikween (as one) pray for All; those here, those not here, the critters and all of Creators’ goodness. RSVP by Jan 23. Four Feathers Trading Post, 3522 CR 2621, Caddo Mills. For more info, Silverhawk: 214-288-9935. FourFeathersTradingPost.net.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27 Connemara Meadow Preserve Open House – 1-5pm. Experience what makes this natural oasis in the middle of suburbia so special, and always surprising. Free. Connemara Meadow Preserve, 300 Tatum Rd, Allen. ConnemaraConservancy.org.

Annual Texas Half Marathon & 5K, in Irving: Feb. 3

MONDAY, JANUARY 28 Volunteer Training Series – Mondays, Jan 28-Mar 4. 7-9pm. Learn practical best green living practices.

Hear from experts in the field, view award-winning films, and meet local environmentalists. Volunteer to share Plano’s message of sustainable lifestyles. All shades of green are welcome. Free. Environmental Education Center, 4116 W Plano Pkwy, Plano. Registration required: LiveGreenInPlano.obsres.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 Book Club – 6-7:30pm. Read and discuss health topics in a laid-back group times which will meet five times this spring. Our Stolen Future is the spring selection. See website for dates. Free. HealthWorks: A Creating Wellness Center, 2317 Coit Rd, Ste B, Plano.

Shari Miles: 972-612-1800. HealthWorksTX.com.

plan ahead

Grow Your Own Fruits and Berries – 10:15am.

Natural gardening and cooking inspiration. Discover how to grow and harvest fruit and berries from your own urban garden. This year, plant delicious, easyto-grow, beautiful berries, grapes and fruit trees.

Free. All Calloway’s Nursery locations. 817-2221122. Calloways.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 11th Annual Texas Half & 5k – 8am, Texas Half; 8:15am, Texas 5k. Flat course run entirely on city streets around Lake Carolyn and the surrounding neighborhoods. Walkers welcome. 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd, Irving. Info: 817-706-0368 or TexasHalf.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Nia Green Belt and Daily Master Classes – Feb 8-12.

With Loretta Milo. Join us for daily Nia Master Classes with Nia Green Belt Trainer Loretta Milo. This event is hosted by Shannon Mairs, Nia White Belt Trainer.

Loretta is a fun, passionate Nia teacher who will be a welcomed guest here in Dallas. Come and dance with us. For class times & schedule: MoveStudio.com.

Move Studio, 17062 Preston Rd, Ste 108, Dallas.

972-732-0206.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Mardi Gras! Galveston – Feb 1-12. Includes parade viewers shouting for beads, lively tunes played by colorful marching bands, 24 parades, 26 concerts, 19 balcony parties and five elegant masked balls.

Jolly Jester Jaunt 5K Run, 11am on Feb 2; Family Gras! on Feb 3. For more info & complete schedule: MardiGrasGalveston.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Lawn Care Seminar – 9-11am. Learn ways you can maintain a healthy lawn with less frequent watering. Discover the most effective

Indoor Blooming Plants: Repotting Festival – 9am6pm. Bring your plants and pots and use our potting benches and tools to revitalize existing plants or create new container. We provide complimentary Calloway’s Premium potting soil, an application of fertilizer and top dressing to complete your project.

All Calloway’s Nursery locations. 817-222-1122.

Calloways.com.

Sweatlodge – 1:30pm. We will have a sweatlodge (weather permitting, no burn ban). We honor All at this ceremony. We strive to make it right for All, as we honor Ny’e (Bufallo). Not open to the general public. Please call for particulars by Feb 6.

Four Feathers Trading Post, 3522 CR 2621, Caddo Mills. For more info, Silverhawk: 214-288-9935.

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FourFeathersTradingPost.net.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Go Geocaching – 10am. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt with GPS devices. Learn more about this outdoor, high tech sport and how to find a hidden cache. Perfect for adults and families. For ages 10 & up. Emily Fowler Library, 502 Oakland St, Denton.

Space limited, register: 940-349-8752.

ongoingcalendar NOTE: All calendar events must be received by noon on the 9th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at NA-NTX.com (within advertising section). ing first hand. IM is used for those with learning differences, serious athletes looking to improve their game, and adults looking to improve their day-to-day performance. Free. Available 8:30am-5pm, M-F at Willow Bend Academy, 2220 Coit Rd, Ste 500, Plano, 972-599-7882; 8:30am-5pm, M-F at Willow Bend Academy, 101 E Southwest Pkwy, Ste 101, Lewisville, 972-436-3839. WillowBendAcademy.com.

Medicine Wheel – 1:30-6:30pm. We honor All of the directions. Are you a buffalo? An eagle? Do you feel the direction from where you might enter the wheel?

RSVP by Feb 20. Four Feathers Trading Post, 3522 CR 2621, Caddo Mills. For more info, Silverhawk: 214-288-9935. FourFeathersTradingPost.net.

Indoor Park – 10-11am. Mon & Fri. The perfect place to bring little ones when it’s cold outside.

Ages: up to 5yrs. $9/visit or $44/8 visit punch card.

Achievers Gymnastics, 3014 S I-35 E, Denton.

940-484-4900.

savethedate March 22-24

Soul Without Shame $230 7pm, Fri-6pm, Sun

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo – Jan 18-Feb 9

Address the inner judge using principles of the Diamond Approach. Confront beliefs about selfjudgment and disengage from the critic. With Gulf Coast Diamond Approach.

sunday

Hilton Houston Plaza, 6633 Travis St, Houston More info: 214-660-4278.

DiamondGulfCoast.com

Sunday Morning Rides – Various start times and lengths. Richardson Bikemart, Southeast corner of Campbell Rd & Coit Rd, in the front parking lot.

Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972231-3993.

Visit the Cats – 11am-6pm, Sun & Sat. A selfguided tour to learn about the animals that call InSync home. Helpful volunteers available to answer any questions. $10/adult, $7/senior (65+), $7/child (4-12), free/under 4. In-Sync Exotics, 3430 Skyview Dr, Wylie. 972-442-6888. InSyncExotics.com.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group – 2-3pm.

3rd Sun. Get info on local resources, education and support. Open to anyone whose loved one may be affected by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Autumn Leaves of McKinney, 175 Plateau Dr, McKinney.

972-542-0606. ZSmith@AutumnLeavesLiving.com.

Yoga Tree: Yoga 101 – 5:15-6:15pm. Discover the joyful practice of yoga. Yoga 101 is the perfect entry point for those who have heard about the benefits of yoga and want to learn more. First class free. Yoga Tree, 1410 Ave K, Ste 1105A, Plano. 972-398YOGA (9642). YogaTreePlano.com.

Free Yoga – 3-4pm. 2nd Sun. All welcome. Inspire Yoga Studio, 1401 Shoal Creek, Ste 268, Highland Village. 972-505-9764.

Pilates Infused Yoga – 6:15-7:15pm. Pilates offers a complete work-out for the body that exercises not just the main muscle groups, but weaker, less used muscles too. First class free. Shambhala Wellness Center, 215 E University Dr, Denton. Johanna Oosterwijk: 940-380-8728.

Transition Dallas Meeting – 6pm. 4th Sun. A group of people interested in learning to live resiliently and sustainably within our neighborhoods. At many of our meetings we have re-skilling sessions, so we can revive the skills that enabled our grandparents to be self-sufficient within their communities. For meeting location & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: TransitionDallas@gmail.com.

monday Performance Enhancement Training – Demo by appt. Experience Interactive Metronome (IM) train-

North Texas

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Overeaters Anonymous – 12pm. Weekly Mon-Fri. A 12-step recovery program for compulsive eating.

Prairie Creek Baptist Church, 3201 W 15th St, Plano. 972-238-0333.

Yoga Tree: Sprouts and Kids Yoga –3:45-4:15pm, Sprouts; 4:30-5:15pm, Kids. Introduce your child to the healthful practice of yoga. In a fun, safe environment, they learn basic yoga postures building strength, flexibility, coordination, and body awareness. First class free. Yoga Tree, 1410 Ave K, Ste 1105A, Plano. 972-398-YOGA (9642).

YogaTreePlano.com.

Primitive Survival Club – 3-6pm. Last Sun. Includes: learning of survival skills, fellowship of people of like interests, service back to the camp, nature connecting afternoon. Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center, 1036 County Rd, Collinsville.

Cost/info & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 940-440-8382.

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Massage for Mom –10am-4pm. $10 off any massage for North Texas Natural Awakenings readers. One-hour Hot Stone, Swedish or Pregnancy massage, reg. price $55/hr. Massage Space, 7000 Independence Pkwy at Legacy, Plano. Reservations required: 972-612-5363.

Beekeeping Meeting – 6:30pm. 2nd Mon. Beginner to experienced keepers welcome, ages 8-80. Free.

Collin County Hobby Beekeepers Association meets at Heard-Craig Center, 205 W Hunt St, McKinney.

Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-8438084. CCHBA.org.

Monday Night Ride at Arbor Hills – 6:30pm. Bring bike, helmet and light. Meet at the trail head at Arbor Hills. More info: DORBA.org.

Native Plant Society Meeting – 7pm. 3rd Mon. Guest speakers on topics related to native plants and habitats. Free. Dallas Chapter Native Plant Society.

REI Outdoor Equipment Store, 4515 LBJ Frwy, Dallas. 866-527-4918.

Open Stage – 7pm-12am. An opportunity to practice performance on a stage with an engaged and supportive audience. Performers sign up to show off their skills in a 5-min time slot, which we film and

share with the performer to help hone their craft.

After variety show, practice any and all types of performing art. $5 cover, 21+. House of Poets, 580 W Arapaho Rd, Ste 199, Richardson. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-494-0952.

wednesday Nature Awareness Club – 9:30am-2:30pm. 2nd Wed &/or Thurs; Club members choose one day each month. Learn about our local North Texas plants and animals, through activities, games, and nature walks. Bring your Nature Journals and pencils. Children 4 & up. $15. Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center, Inc, 1036 CR 203, Collinsville.

Pre-registration required, mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 940-440-8382.

tuesday Healthy Eating Tours – 10am & 4pm. Learn how to make healthier choices, using our ANDI scoring system. Learn how to read labels; build menus around plant-based foods low in fat to ensure highly nutrient dense meals. Whole Foods Market, 2201 Preston Rd, Plano. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-612-6729.

Sisters Safe Talk – 10-11am. 2nd & 4th Tues. We are a group of women of all ages. We come together as sisters so we can openly and safely share a part of ourselves on this wonderful journey. Free. Shambhala Wellness, 215 E University Dr, Denton. RSVP suggested: 940-380-8728.

Dallas Museum of Art – 11am-3pm. 1st Tues. Programming designed specifically for children age 5 and under and their families, but all ages welcome.

Art-making activities, story times, performances, and gallery activities. Free. Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N Harwood St, Dallas. 214-922-1200.

Meet and Greet – 12pm. 1st Tues. Come meet our providers. An informal gathering of parents interested in meeting Dr. Deborah Bain and Nurse Practitioners, Christie Potter, CPNP and Jessica Drain, FNP-BC. Also, a time to bring your questions regarding Healthy Kids Pediatrics. Free. Healthy Kids Pediatrics, 4851 Legacy Dr, Ste 301, Frisco.

To confirm attendance: 972-294-0808.

Yoga for Runners – 6:45-7:45pm. 20-wk program, less than $8/session. Luke’s Locker, 959 Garden Park Dr, Allen. For details & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 469-854-6244.

Amazing YA Book Club – 7pm. 1st Tues. All grownup but still love reading young adult books?

Join us to discuss YA books with other adult fans.

Emily Fowler Library, 502 Oakland St, Denton. For titles: 940-349-8718.

Collin County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas Meeting – 7pm. 2nd Tues. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney. More info: 972-380-4030. HeardMuseum.org.

DFW Greenweavers – 7pm. 2nd Tues. Networking for professionals and companies who are greenminded, eco-friendly or wishing to become more so. $1. For location details, mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-378-8686.

Christian Women Business Networking – 11am1pm. 1st Wed. Fellowship and networking with other professional Christian women, to draw us closer together. We meet monthly over lunch, for prayer, inspiration and a “Spiritual Vitamin.” Prestonwood Country Club, 15909 Preston Rd, Dallas. For reservation & details, mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-704-3898.

Team in Training PTAS Chapter Meetings – 7pm, refreshments; 7:30pm, meeting & program. 4th Tues, Sept-Nov & Jan-May. All meetings and other activities open to everyone. PTAS offers interesting programs and wonderful guest speakers at our meetings that bring a great variety of expertise and excitement to the membership. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney. Program details: PrairieAndTimbers.org.

Public Knowledge – 7pm. 1st Tues. Adults celebrating brains and brews through conversation and presenters from diverse fields in science and history.

Different bar or restaurant location each month. For location details: FWMuseum.org/PublicKnowledge.

Dance, Dance, Dance – 7-9:15pm. Dance hosts available to dance with unescorted ladies. Refreshments served. $5. Plano Senior Recreation Center, 401 W 16th St, Plano. Details: 972-941-7155 or PlanoSeniorCenter.org.

North Texas Environment Meetup – 7:30-8:30pm.

1st Tues. Meet other like-minded environmentallyconscious people to discuss environmental issues both on a global and local level. Meetup.com/ Environmentalists.

Cirque Out – 8-10pm. A weekly circus-skill enthusiast work out. Work on your hooping, spinning, juggling and general tomfoolery. Nice weather location: The Richardson Civic Center, 411 W Arapaho Rd, Richardson. Bad weather location: The Peace Pipe Hookah Lounge, 580 W Arapaho, Ste 181, Richardson. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-494-0952.

Networking Meeting – 11:30am-1pm. North Dallas Networkers lunchtime networking meeting.

Come see one of the best run and most fun networking groups in DFW. $15 includes lunch and a beverage. No charge for the meeting. Membership requirements explained at the meeting. Picasso’s Restaurant, 18160 N Dallas Pkwy, Dallas. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings. Restaurant: 972248-0011. Vicki Knutson: 214-587-3786.

Frisco Noon Lions Club – 12-1pm. 2nd & 4th Wed. Friendships, fun and fulfilling. Come share the joy of community involvement and fellowship while helping make the world a better place. Designed for busy small business owners and professional and works well for the time conscious individual (stay at home mom, student, retiree). Meetings featuring informative speakers and hands-on training are held at local Frisco restaurants. All welcome, ages 18 & up. Free. Buy own lunch if wish to eat.

For details, Brandy Miles & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-335-2487 or Brandy@ MarilynKuhlman.com.

Art History Brown Bag Series – 12:30-1:30pm.

1st Wed. Presented by Annie Royer. A look at the “isms” including cubism, romanticism, modernism and impressionism. How did one “ism” influence the next? How did artists influence and challenge each other? Series will heighten one’s appreciation of art and provide insight into the mind of the artist.

Free. Heard-Craig Carriage House located, 205 1/2 W Hunt St, McKinney. 972-569-6909.

Tween & Teen Game Day – 3:45-5pm. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Guitar Hero and many other Wii & Play Station games. Free. Denton Public Library, North Branch, 600 N Locust St, Denton. 940-349-8752.

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Adults with Special Needs Cooking Classes – 6-8pm. 1st & 3rd Wed. Call for details. Space limited. $10. Market Street Culinary School, 6100 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney. Reserve spot now & mention Natural Awakenings North Texas: 972-548-5167.

Evening Social Runs/Walks – 6:30pm. Post party new restaurant each 6 weeks. All levels welcome. Luke’s Locker, 959 Garden Park Dr, Allen. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 469-854-6244.

Organic Society Meeting – 6:30pm, seed & info exchange; 7pm, meeting. 3rd Wed. Denton Organic Society. Denton Senior Center, 509 N Bell Ave, Denton. 940-382-8551.

Sport Watch Tech Clinics – 6:30pm. 2nd Wed. Garmin, Polar, Nike, Times, Moto, Soleus. Luke’s Locker, 959 Garden Park Dr, Allen. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 469-854-6244.

Teen Anime Club – 6:30pm. 3rd Wed. The Colony Public Library, Conference Rm, 6800 Main St, The Colony. 972-625-1900.

Animanga – 6:30-8pm. 3rd Wed. For teens grades 6-12. Watch anime? Read Manga? Draw fan art?

Share your love of all things anime/manga. Snacks provided. Free. Denton Public Library, North Branch, 600 N Locust St, Denton. 940-349-8752.

Bedtime Stories – 7pm. All ages. Come to story time prepared for lifelong learning and a barrel of fun. Free ticket at 2nd floor desk. A parent or caregiver must accompany each child. Frisco Public Library, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd, Frisco. 972-292-5669.

thursday Free Admission & Wildlife Program – 9am-9pm.

3rd Thurs. Admission and parking free. 7:15pm, Special Program: Saving Our Birds, The work of the Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Trinity River Audubon Center, 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas. 214-309-5801.

Lunch Hour Yoga – 11:30am-12:20pm. Class utilizes the Franklin Method and Smart Spine along with various types of yoga for relaxation and rejuvenation. $15. Pilates for Life, 103 W Belmont Dr, Allen. 214-704-3070.

CPR Training – 6-8pm. American Heart Training Center with 125 trained instructors. Texas CPR Training, 4013 Carrizo, Plano. 214-770-6872. TexasCPR.com.

Dallas Organic Gardening Club – 6:30pm, re-

freshments; 7pm, meeting. 4th Thurs. Free. REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, Dallas. DOGC.org.

Teen Writers Group – 6:30pm. 3rd Thurs. Join other teen writers to discuss projects, get ideas and suggestions for publication, and for fellowship and fun. Free. The Colony Public Library, Conference Rm, 6800 Main St, The Colony. 972-625-1900 x 3.

Fitness in the Square (FITS): Part of Be Fit Frisco – 6:30-7:30pm. A free one-hour exercise class in the courtyard in front of Frisco City Hall. For kids 10+ to adults. Bring water, towel, and appropriate clothing and shoes. The type of workout changes each month. Bring your family and move together.

Be Fit Frisco, Frisco City Hall Square, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd. 972-292-6501.

Essential Oils Class – 6:45-7:30pm. 3rd Thurs. From Seed to Seal. If you don’t know your seed you don’t know your oil. Learn what the ancients used to remove moles, warts, skin tags, age spots and more. Free. LED Skin Care Center, 3645 Dallas Pkwy, Ste 111, Inside Ovation Boutiques, Plano. RSVP; class size limited: 214-587-3786. LEDSkinCareCenter.com.

Power Yoga – 6:45-7:45pm. In conjunction with Luke’s Locker Allen, class meets at Allen Yoga Center, 915 Market St, Allen. Details & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 469-854-6244.

Dallas Down-River Club Meeting – 7pm. 3rd Thurs.

Canoeing, kayaking and rafting club. Roma’s, 7402 Greenville Ave, Dallas. 214-373-0500. More info, Dale Harris: 972-680-2727 or Dale_Harris@sbcglobal.net.

The Colony History Project Committee – 7pm.

3rd Thurs. Help cultivate and preserve The Colony’s rich history. The Colony Public Library, 6800 Main St, The Colony. 972-625-1900.

Men’s Only Pilates – 8pm. Class utilizes all the Pilates equipment. $15. Pilates for Life, 103 W Belmont Dr, Allen. 214-704-3070.

friday Friday Focus – 8am. Networking opportunities.

Enjoy a cup of java and learn more about business community. IHOP in The Colony, Meeting Rm, 4801 State Hwy 121, The Colony. 972-625-8027.

LEGO Builders Club – 4pm. 3rd Fri. Drop in and get creative by building with the library’s LEGOs. A different theme for each month. Ages 6 & up. Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland, Denton.

940-349-8752. $5 Happy Hour Yoga Class – 4:30-5:30pm. All levels Vinyasa flow class.

All welcome. Inspire Yoga Studio, 1401 Shoal Creek, Ste 268, Highland Village.

972-505-9764.

Free Community Yoga – 6-7pm. 1st Fri. Suitable for all levels. Learn to breathe, relax and renew. Space limited. Free. Transform U Fitness, 1565 W Main St, Lewisville. Pre-registration required: 972-849-9666.

Yoga Tree: Drown Your Dog – 6-7pm. Looking for a light-hearted yoga experi-

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North Texas

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ence? This class incorporates exciting postures and popular music. Following class we gather at one of our neighborhood restaurants to jump-start the weekend.

First class free. Yoga Tree, 1410 Ave K, Ste 1105A, Plano. 972-398-YOGA (9642). YogaTreePlano.com.

Crow After Dark – 6pm-12am. 3rd Fri, except Jan & Dec. Enlighten your night and experience Asia after dark. Enjoy music, dance, films, tours, and more. Free. Crow Asian Art Museum, 2010 Flora St, Dallas. 214-979-6430.

Acoustic Friday – 7pm. Weekly open jam and song circle. All acoustic instruments and levels welcome.

All music genres welcome. Free. Visual Art League Art Gallery, Lewisville. 972-420-9393.

Free Community Yoga – 7-8pm. 1st Fri. In the spirit of Friday night, come prepared to let loose and experience amazing yoga styles. Each month will feature different teachers. Open to all levels of experience. Pranaa Ayurveda Spa & Yoga, 4017 Preston Rd, Ste 532, Plano. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-608-0402.

Open Gym – 7-8:30pm. Enjoy playing in the gym or practicing one’s skills. Ages 7-17. $11/nonmember, $9/member. Achievers Gymnastics, 3014 S I-35 E, Denton. 940-484-4900.

Live Music – 7-9pm. Live music and delicious treats: blended or hot coffee, delicious hot cocoa, Collin County’s award-winning specialty bakery treats, hand-dipped Blue Bell ice cream, fresh baked cookies, cakes and bakery sweets. Free. For details & to confirm happening, mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: Coffee N Cream, 11660 Legacy Dr, Frisco. 214-705-9600.

Community Dance – 7-9:30pm. 2nd & 4th Fri. Live Music, varied styles. Fun for all ages 21 and up. $5/ person Denton Senior Center, 509 North Bell Ave, Denton. For details & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 940-349-8720.

Square and Round Dance for Fitness and Fun – 7:30pm. 1st & 3rd Fri. Individuals and couples of all ages welcome. Texas Reelers, 820 W Arapaho, Richardson. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-416-2311 or 972-699-0934.

saturday Denton Rugby – We are always looking for new recruits in Dallas Fort Worth Area. Email for more info about how to join. Currently we have players that live in Lewisville, Flower Mound, Keller, Southlake, Frisco and many others. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings to Jason Millerd: JMillerd@TWU.edu.

Pathfinders Fun Cycling – A free, non-competitive riding group for all cycling skill levels. Short, weekly bicycle rides for the purpose of fun and exercise. All rides held on the weekend, less than 20 miles and include a food destination and a “no rider left behind” policy. Routes and destinations change each week. For more info: Facebook.com/ CycleHighlandVillage.

Operation Kindness – 3rd Sat. No Kill animal shelter brings animals for adoption. Weather permitting. Whole Foods Market, outside store, 2201 Preston Rd, Plano. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-612-6729.

Saturday Morning Rides – Various start times and

adult. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, A/V Classroom, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. Reservations necessary: 903-786-2826.

Family Story Time – 10:30am. All ages. Come to story time prepared for lifelong learning and a barrel of fun. Free ticket at 2nd floor desk. A parent or caregiver must accompany each child.

Frisco Public Library, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd, Frisco. 972-292-5669.

Kid’s Fish – 11am-1pm. Ages 4-11. The opportunity to go outside to our pond and do some live fishing (weather permitting). If bad weather will have a scavenger hunt. Free. Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, 2501 Bass Pro Dr, Grapevine. 972-724-2018.

TAAF Winter Games, in Frisco: Jan. 18-21 lengths. Richardson Bikemart, Southeast corner of Campbell Rd & Coit Rd, in the front parking lot. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-231-3993.

Small Fry Sports Classes – A skills and developmental sports class for boys and girls ages 3 & 4.

Each month offers a different sport which allows children to develop new skills and gain exposure to all sports offered at the Y. Parents participate alongside their child during this fun and active class. $20/YMCA Family Member, $40/everyone else.

Frisco Family YMCA, 3415 Main St, Frisco. Trey Gilmore: 214-297-9622.

Bird Walk – Thru May. 8-9:30am. 2nd Sat. With the Heard Museum and Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society. Walks begin promptly. Free with regular admission. Heard Museum, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. HeardMuseum.org.

Coppell Farmers’ Winter Market – Jan-Mar. 8am-12pm. 2nd & 4th Sat. Seasonal produce for the North Texas area, natural meats and eggs, seafood, organic dairy products, honey, teas, breads, mixes, flowers, plants, and more. Coppell Farmers’ Market, Corner of Bethel & S Coppell rds, Coppell. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: CFM@CoppellCommunityGarden.org.

CoppellCommunityGarden.org.

Yoga Tree: Yoga 101 – 8:30-9:30am. Discover the joyful practice of yoga. Yoga 101 is the perfect entry point for those who have heard about the benefits of yoga and want to learn more. First class free. Yoga Tree, 1410 Ave K, Ste 1105A, Plano. 972-398YOGA (9642). YogaTreePlano.com.

Recycling: Electronics – 9-11am. The city of Plano encourages residents to bring all old electronic devices (not being used) to this site for proper disposal.

For details, location & mention North Texas edition of Natural Awakenings: 972-769-4150.

Free One-Hour Seminars – 10am. Topics: gardening, beekeeping, rainwater collection, goat milking, poultry. Ploughshare Institute for Sustainable Living, 7781 Gholson Rd, Waco. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 254-754-9663.

Second Saturday for Youth – 10-11:30am. For youngsters aged 4-10; children 6 & under must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible

Parkour Clinic – 11am-1pm. 2nd & 4th Sat. Indoor parkour and free running instructional classes open to all ages and abilities. Learn more challenging techniques in a padded environment. Release of liability waiver is required prior to participating. $15.

LIFE Cirque. Elite Champion Gymnastics, 2621 Summit Ave, Ste 300, Plano. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-450-3286.

Parkour in the Park – 11am-1pm. 1st & 3rd Sat until it’s too hot. Parkour and free running exhibition and instructional happening open to all ages and abilities. Free. LIFE Cirque. Robert E. Lee Park, 3400 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-450-3286.

Visit the Cats – 11am-6pm. See Sun listing. In-Sync Exotics, 3430 Skyview Dr, Wylie. 972-442-6888.

InSyncExotics.com.

Yoga Tree: Restorative Yoga – 11:30am-12:30pm.

Restorative Yoga is an expression of the science of relaxation. Come let our instructors teach you to relax, release, and let go. First class free. Yoga Tree, 1410 Ave K, Ste 1105A, Plano. 972-398-YOGA (9642). YogaTreePlano.com.

Homestead Open House – 12-3pm. 3rd Sat. Time subject to change during heat of summer. The Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area is home to several historic structures, most notably the Minor-Porter Log House, which dates to about 1869. Volunteers on hand to guide visitors through the structures and answer questions in this informal tour. Visitors welcome to arrive at any time during the open hours and tour at their own pace. Regular admission to LLELA: $5/person; free/age 5 & under. No additional charge for tour. Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. 972-219-7980.

Kayak down the Elm Fork – 12-3pm. 3rd Sat. Whether have lots of river time under your belt or have never set foot in a kayak, you’re welcome here.

Kayak Power provides equipment and instruction followed by a 6-mile trip down the Elm Fork to a shuttle vehicle. Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. Reservation required: 214-669-1663.

Heard Nature Photographers Club – 1:30pm.

2nd Sat. Speakers and discussions. Topics include how-to and technique discussions and travelogue presentations. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney. More info: 972-462-7314.

Treblemakers – 2pm. 3rd Sat. An afternoon filled with singing, listening and moving. Music instructor Kim Forguson brings books to life through musiccentered games and activities. Best for ages 6-8.

Denton Public Library, North Branch, 600 N Locust

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St, Denton. 940-349-8752.

SpinFest – 3-7pm. 3rd Sat. A free, open event hosted by Creative Motion to explore circus skills with the public. Learn to juggle, hula hoop, or spin poi, staves, or flags. Heights Park Arapaho Rd at Floyd Rd, Richardson. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-494-0952.

Sunday Mountain Bike Group Ride – 6pm. Open to all levels. Informal and leaderless. Food, fun and riding. Food served after the riding. Location changes weekly. For details & location: BBishop@ Bikemart.com.

Parents Night Out – 6-11pm. 1st & 3rd Sat. Drop the kids off for tons of games. Pizza and drinks served. $15 with pre-registration, $20 at door.

Corinth Gymnastics, 1402 N Corinth St, Corinth.

Details, mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 940-498-4386.

Stargeezer Star Party – 6:30-9:30pm. 1st Sat. Bring the whole family. Star parties begin at sunset, weather permitting. Free. Spring Park, Jonandrea Ln, Garland. TASObserving.org.

Live Music – 7-9pm. Live music and delicious treats: blended or hot coffee, delicious hot cocoa, Collin County’s award-winning specialty bakery treats, hand-dipped Blue Bell ice cream, fresh baked cookies, cakes and bakery sweets. Free. For details & to confirm happening, mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: Coffee N Cream, 11660 Legacy Dr, Frisco, 214-705-9600; and 190 E Stacy Rd, Allen.

972-678-2626.

Frisco StarFest – Sunset-10:30pm. 2nd Sat. Approximately a dozen telescopes will be set up for your viewing pleasure. Weather permitting. Free.

Frisco Commons Park. TASObserving.org.

daily Faces of Classical Music Photography Exhibition – Thru Jan 27. Photographs of classical musicians from across the United States, photographed by Carrollton resident William McEwen. Free. Irving Arts Center, 3333 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving. 972-252-7558.

First Aid Classes, CPR & Babysitter Training – Various days. Monthly at various branches.

For specific info on cost, space availability, times: YMCADallas.org.

communityresourceguide Connecting you with local businesses and experts in our community.

To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email publisher@NA-NTX.com to request our media kit. ( Leaf symbol indicates green business.

Dollar symbol represents businesses offering coupons through NACoupons.com)

acuPuncture Patti careY, l.ac.

Acupuncture, Herbs & Nutrition 2121 W Spring Creek Pkwy, Ste 107 Plano 75023 972-704-3730 • PattiCareyLAC.com After years in Western medicine, I finally found a way to really help people heal, relieve pain and reduce stress. In my practice I utilize acupuncture (with or without needles), herbal medicine, nutrition and energetics to help you create and maintain the healthy body you deserve. See ad, page 39.

acne theraPY

comPrehensive healthcare

led skin care center

3645 Dallas Pkwy, Ste 111, Plano 75093 214-587-3786 • LEDSkinCareCenter.com Inside the Ovation Boutiques on NW corner of Parker and Dallas Tollway. From acne to anti-aging the LED Skin Care Center delivers like no other. Detox, hydration and education bring you clear, healthy, wrinkle and spot free skin. No downtime, pain or recovery. Daily, progressive results from the inside out. See ad, page 25.

antiQue maPs and art PaPerhound.com paperhound.com

Orginial antique maps and biblical prints dated from 1595 to 1850.

World, regional, country, city and fort maps; Biblical and portrait prints; cartographers / engravers including Tallis, Picart, Blaeu, Speed, Bowen and Homann. Each piece represents an investment of work, art and irreplaceable historical significance.

See ad, page 38.

dr. amY st. John, d.c., lmt

Serendipity Health & Wellness 3900 W 15th St, Ste 506, Plano 75075 214-801-0741 • SerendipityWellness.net Relieving pain head to toe, whether caused by injury, stress or fatigue.

I offer personalized care, private appointments and therapeutic massage. See ad, page 16.

North Texas

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Dr. Cecilia Yu, D.C.; NUCCA practitioner 12740 Hillcrest Road, Ste 138, Dallas 75230 972-387-4700 • MySynergyBalance.com By aligning the first vertebrae through a precise NUCCA adjustment, Dr. Yu eliminates nerve interference from the brain stem. Such interference can manifest itself in any manner including Scoliosis, skin conditions, behavioral disorders, herniated discs or joint problems. Unlike traditional chiropractic, even traditional upper-cervical chiropractic, there is no popping, cracking or twisting and a NUCCA adjustment holds longer which means you return far less often. See ad, page 15.

chiroPractic

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sYnergY balance

healthworks

2317 Coit Road, Ste B, Plano 75075 972-612-1800 Whole body & lifestyle healthcare rejuvenating your body from the inside out.

Comprehensive healthcare— naturally. Visit our website to view our schedule of free workshops. See ad, page 13.

dairY circle n FamilY dairY

Michelle and Tommy Neu 4 Miles West of I-35; on US 82, Lindsay 76240 940-372-0343 • CircleNDairy.com State-permitted dairy licensed to sell fresh, all natural unprocessed grade A raw milk. Visit us at the farm to learn why our greattasting, fresh, raw milk is a safe and naturally healthier choice for your family. Call us to schedule a tour to see a working family farm and be sure to visit our on-site store for fresh raw white and chocolate milk, cream, free-range eggs and more.

See ad, page 39.

dance - nia shannon mairs

Licensed Nia Black Belt & Teacher/Trainer 469-879-5283 • NiaNow.com/SMairsTX An exciting mix of Dance, Martial and Healing arts, suitable for all levels of ability. See ad, page 11.

decluttering / organiZing services the declutterbug

Anita Sisler 339-832-1220 • TheDeclutterbug.biz Begin the New Year clutter free!

Let the Declutterbug help you organize while putting away those Christmas decorations. Affordable, wonderful help for decluttering and organizing your home.

Serving the North Texas area. See ad, page 35.

dentistrY dental studio oF carrollton Drs. Robert and Sundhya 2005 W Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton 75010 972-395-0150 • DSofCarrollton.com And 331 W Harwood Rd, Hurst 76054 817-282-4539

Approaching dentistry from a natural, whole body health perspective, we make teeth beautiful, keep them healthy and offer honest education on how balanced structures in the face/mouth can affect your overall health. Serving adults, children and apprehensive clients, at our state-of-the-art facility we offer the cutting-edge "DNA Appliance"; a small device which addresses snoring and sleep apnea, mercury free fillings and crowns, teeth whitening, Clear Braces, TMJ pain and much more. See ad, page 26.

education willow bend academY

2220 Coit Rd, Ste 500, Plano 75075 972-599-7882 • WillowBendAcademy.com And 101 E. Southwest Pkwy, Ste 101 Lewisville 75067 972-436-3839 • WillowBendAcademy.com SACS accredited educational alternative that offers individualized, mastery-based instruction for grades 4-12. Oncampus and Home Study options. Experienced, Interactive Metronome provider —specialized training that improves neuron-network function and overall day-to-day performance.

hair salon

energY eFFiciencY energY attic

hair color studios

538 Haggard St, Ste 410, Plano 75074 972-548-0088 • EnergyAttic.com

9200 E. Lebanon Rd, Ste 32, Frisco 75035 214-436-4955 • HairColorStudios.com

Offering energy efficient green solutions based specifically on the individual needs of each home or office. Upon inspection, an energy reduction system is created incorporating a multi-prong approach to maximize energy efficiency and savings. Radiant barrier, solar vent fans, formaldehyde-free insulation, attic tents and more energy star products available.

essential oils doterra essential oils

Jackie Kenney • JackiesdoTerra@gmail.com 214-837-4872 • JackiesdoTerra.com doTERRA Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils are the highest standard of quality essential oils available. Take control of your family’s health with all-natural gifts from the Earth.

They kill bacteria and viruses and are 50-70 times more powerful than herbs. Replace your medicine cabinet with non-toxic, safe-for-theentire-family choices.

green garment care

Our coloring stylists love to work with the wonderful alternative products we have that are made from natural extracts and yogurt. These exquisite products, such as NAYO, Neuma and Moroccan Oil, actually do improve your hair quality so we in turn can help you look your most radiant while you're out-andabout. Whether you're simply sensitive to some of those harsher chemical lines or just want vibrant, beautiful, healthy hair you'll love our natural approach to how we treat your hair and overall beauty. Ask about free color consultation.

healthY dining the salad stoP

3685 Preston Rd, Frisco 75034 972-377-7867 Fresh and nutritious, locally grown food.

healthY kids brain balance achievement centers

oXXo care cleaners 5110 Eldorado Pkwy, Frisco 75034 214-705-7739 • OXXOUSA.com Eco-friendly garment care cleaners. Convenient 24hour drop-off and pick-up system. Odorless process leaves clothes brighter and retaining their correct size and shape without “dry cleaning” smell.

green Pest control natural Pest solutions 214-763-2758 • GuysInGreen.com

Eco-friendly residential and commercial pest control using botanical products.

We control all types of insect pests including termites, mosquitoes, ants, roaches and fleas without the use of harsh, dangerous chemicals. We offer programs from a single pest one time treatment to a comprehensive total protection plan. Call to schedule your Free inspection. See ad, page 5.

Debby Romick 1501 Preston Rd, Ste 501, Plano 75093 972-248-9482 • BrainBalancePlano.com The Brain Balance Program brings hope to families of children who suffer with behavioral, academic and social challenges. We specialize in a drug-free, research-based, multi-faceted approach to address the underlying issues of the many disorders that impact our children today. Each child has a unique combination of functional weaknesses that impact motor, sensory, immune, visual-spatial, auditory, and cognitive development. Call us today to learn about our comprehensive assessment. See ad, page 23.

energY auditing dwellgreen oF dallas

Roger Taylor, Owner / Operator 214-509-8582, DwellGreen.com/Dallas DwellGreen of Dallas is a certified total building performance evaluation and energy auditing company, serving the North Texas area. We can lower your cost of energy and improve the safety and comfort of your home or office. Free phone consultation on an existing or new home. Call to schedule an on-site consultation. See ad, page 17.

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markets

holistic dentistrY dental arts oF Plano

Dr. Nevein Amer, DDS 4701 West Park Blvd, Ste 201, Plano 75093 972-985-4450 • DentalArtsOfPlano.com Dr. Amer specializes in cosmetic and Holistic dentistry including mercury-free fillings and the safe removal of old mercury-based fillings, metal-free crowns, digital x-rays, help for sleep apnea and TMJ, veneers and Invisalign, the clear alternative to braces. Her Holistic approach involves looking at the entire person during evaluation, and always talking with you about the material to be used in your mouth. See ad, page 15.

sPice baZaar

4681 Ohio Dr, Frisco 75035 • 214-618-3175 Indian grocery store.

massage 3t’s (tJ’s terriFic touch)

469-237-4289 TJ4ttts.com • TJ4ttts@yahoo.com Specializing in Swedish massage for overall body relaxation and deep tissue massage for tense knotted muscles, an affordable 3T’s massage can help relieve stress commonly associated with a hectic lifestyle. See ad, page 41.

holistic health water health holistic services 621 W. Plano Pkwy, Ste 235, Plano 75075 972-422-5533 • WaterHealthHolistic.com

We specialize in detoxification of the body: Weight Loss Extreme system, reflexology foot massage therapy, alkaline water for wellness, herbal nutritional supplements and water ionizer filtration systems. See ad, page 35.

internal medicine PrimarY care and internal medicine oF Frisco 5858 Main St., Ste. 210, Frisco 75033 972-377-8695

Highest ethical and clinical standards of care while providing exceptional attention to every patient.

kid Fit – kid Fun sPorts training JumPstreet indoor tramPoline Park

massage sPace

7000 Independence Pkwy, Ste 180 Plano 75025 972-612-5363 • Massage-Space.com Seven different types of massage therapy for rejuvenation and energy. See ad, page 11.

neuroFeedback the sams center

Dr. Marvin Sams 972-612-0160 • GreatBrain.com The Sams Center specializes in evidence based, non-drug therapy for ADD/ADHD, learning issues, chronic Depression and Anxiety, Asperger’s and Autism, epilepsy, Bipolar, and OCD. Quantitative EEG (computerized brain wave analysis) detects and defines the neurological issues; NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency TrainingTM safely remediates and optimizes brain function. Find out more today. See ads, pages 14 and 31.

6505 W Park Blvd, Ste 200, Plano 75093 972-378-5867 • GotJump.com

outdoor gear & education

Burn up to 1000 calories an hour, strengthen your whole body and have a blast doing it. This fun is not just for kids. Huge trampoline jumping areas where you can literally bounce off the walls. Try trampoline dodge ball, a life-size maze, or rope-swing, slide or bounce into a huge foam pit. Special bounce and play area for kids under 7. You've got to see it to believe it. Open jumps, birthday parties, corporate team building and aerobics classes. See ad, page 9.

rei

kurt thomas gYmnastics 10825 John W Elliott Frisco 75034 • 214-872-4646

Gymnastics training for preschool to competitive levels.

winkids sPorts & learning center 3000 Waketon Rd, Flower Mound 75028 972-355-9988

WinKids Sports & Learning Center offers gymnastics, martial arts, swimming, dance, cheerleading, music, unique birthday parties and so much more!

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North Texas

NA-NTX.com

2424 Preston Rd, Plano 75093 • 972-985-2241 Quality outdoor gear and clothing with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.

Pediatrics

PlaYcare adventure kids PlaYcare

690 Parker Square, Flower Mound 75028 972-899-2060 And 1401 Shoal Creek, Ste 140, Highland Village 75077 972-899-2060 Drop-in child care and entertainment center.

restaurants shandiZ mediterranean grill & market 4013 West Parker Rd, Plano 75093 972-943-8885

Halal meats, fresh produce, groceries and flat bread baked on-site.

smoothies smoothie king oF denton 1601 Brinker Rd, Denton 76208 940-484-5464

Great-tasting smoothies using the highest quality nutritional ingredients for a healthy snack alternative.

smoothie king oF Plano 4701 W Park Blvd, Plano 75093 972-398-1107

Nutrition in a cup made from the highest quality nutritional ingredients. Stop by and let us create your favorite smoothie.

solar & alternative energY solar communitY

SolarCommunity.com 1-87-SOLAR-NRG (877-652-7674) Ask us how our Solar Community programs can save you money!

total wind & solar

Offices and service throughout D/FW 866-631-5934 Total Wind & Solar offers consultation, design, installation and service of alternative energy and rainwater harvesting systems based on your actual needs. Serving the North Texas-D/FW area.

healthY kids Pediatrics

4851 Legacy Dr, Ste 301, Frisco, 75034 972-294-0808 • HealthyKidsPediatrics.com Where your child’s health is our passion! Offering a full range of pediatric services integrating conventional and natural medicine for your child’s optimal health. See ad, page 7.

sPa salt escaPe

2100 Dallas Pkwy, Ste 140, Plano 75075 972-378-4945 • SaltEscape.com Adults and children can relax in our salt rooms while breathing in natural salt with its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, accelerating nasal clearance and improving lung function. Separate salt playroom with viewing window for children. Salt room yoga and onsite massage therapy available. See ad, page 8.

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

WATER

SHIR TIKVAH REFORM SYNAGOGUE

WATERSEDGE STRUCTURED WATER

Services are held on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. Every service welcomes children of all ages. Religious school classes take place on Sunday mornings during school year. Call or visit our website for service schedule.

Better health through state-of-the-art water.

Cutting edge technology. Call us or visit our website to learn more about how improving your home’s water can improve your health.

7700 Main St, Frisco 75034 214-500-8304, • ShirTikvahFrisco.org

ST. PHILIP’S EPISCOPAL

6400 Stonebrook Pkwy, Frisco 75034 214-387-4700 • StPhilipsFrisco.org Sunday services, community programs, job ministry, preschool, and St. Philip’s Academy “K” class.

TAILORING & ALTERATION SERVICES AUTUMN STITCH

279 W Main St, Frisco 75034 • 972-712-1727 Tailoring, custom clothing, monogramming, draperies and shoe repair.

THERMOGRAPHY THERMOGRAPHY CENTER OF DALLAS

Dr. Genie Fields 5220 Spring Valley Rd, Ste. 405, Dallas 75254 214-352-8758 • ThermographyCenter.com Screening with thermography can detect abnormalities, many times 8-10 years before other screening methods. Non-invasive. No radiation.

See ad, page 5.

TRIBAL AMERICAN INDIAN CRAFTS FOUR FEATHERS TRADING POST

3522 CR 2621, Caddo Mills 75135 214-288-9935 • FourFeathersTradingPost.net Experience the world of Tribal American Indians hosted by Silverhawk & Prayerwalker. The store offers tribal art created by local artisans and worldrenowned Native American artists. Educational seminars. We practice traditional ways, including prayer and drumming circles, sweat lodges, work parties, medicine wheels, etc. If you're seeking a spiritual path following ancient American tribal ways, ask about our community. See ad, page 41

Twenty First Century Health 972-855-8711 • TwentyFirstCenturyHealth.com

WELLNESS CENTERs SALT MIRACLE WELLNESS CENTER 1012 W Hebron Pkwy, Ste 138 Carrollton 75010 972-394-7258 • SaltMiracle.com

Salt therapy is a natural, non-invasive treatment for asthma, COPD, sinusitis, acne, tonsillitis, ear infections, CF, psoriasis and more. Safe for all ages, ask to see our relaxing adult therapy room and our “play” salt-room for kids. See ad, page 35.

SHAMBHALA WELLNESS CENTER

215 E University Dr, Denton 76209 940-380-8728 • ShambhalaWellness.com A true wellness center and oasis for body, mind and spirit. Our caring practitioners really listen and can help you raise the level of wellness you are experiencing. Massage, Reiki, yoga, nutrition and counseling are just some of the modalities we offer. Book a session, drop in for yoga or join us at one of our educational seminars. See ad, page 9.

classifieds For fees and info on placing classifieds, email publisher@NA-NTX.com. Deadline is noon on the 9th of the month.

HELP WANTED SALESPEOPLE WANTED – If you’re not afraid of straight commissioned sales and feel confident of your abilities, Natural Awakenings North Texas magazine may be right for you. Earn a generous commission and unlimited income selling advertising packages. Relationship-oriented sales; must like talking to people. Open territories in Denton and Collin counties. Will train and coach. Full and part-time sales positions available. Send resume to Publisher@NA-NTX.com.

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE CHIROPRACTIC SPACE FOR LEASE – Chiropractic space available in Carrollton Wellness Center. Located at intersection of Hebron Parkway and Old Denton Road. Reception, appointment booking and other services may be included in lease if desired. Call Shamim Surani for more information. 972-394-7258.

WEIGHT LOSS WITHOUT HUNGER LOSE 1-2 POUNDS PER DAY – NO artificial sweeteners, NO whey, NO soy, NO HCG and NO hunger. Money-back guarantee. Call now and mention Shake It Up! 940-600-7221.

YOGA SCHOOL YOGA TREE

1410 Avenue K, Ste 1105A, Plano 75074 972-398-YOGA (9642) • YogaTreePlano.com Yoga Tree is located in historic downtown Plano. Our studio is dedicated to sharing the healing and rejuvenating benefits of yoga with others. We offer a variety of classes and workshops as well as RYT 200 and 500 hour certifications. See ad, page 16.

YOGURT NANA FROZEN YOGURT

8811 Teel Pkwy, Frisco 75034 • 469-362-6662 Self-serve frozen yogurt, fresh squeezed orange juice and snow cones.

ORANGE PEEL

310 E Round Grove Rd, Lewisville 75067 469-831-7608 Fourteen flavors of yogurt and more than 60 toppings.

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