June 2011 - Natural Awakenings by Martee Davis

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel feel good good live live simply simply laugh laugh more more

FREE

Dr. Oz on

25 HEALTH TIPS: You Need to Know

BAREFOOT

RUNNING Let Your Feet Go Naked & Natural!

ZIPPY E-BIKES Today’s Easy, Green Riders

SUMMER

FUN Brain-Boosting Ideas for Kids

JUNE 2011

| North Texas Edition | NA-NTX.com

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contents 10 5 newsbriefs 9 community spotlight

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.

10 healthbriefs

12 actionalert

13 ecobriefs

16 wisewords 20 consciouseating 23 greencommunity spotlight

36 naturalpet

39 calendar 45 resourceguide

46 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 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

14 SCHOOL’S OUT

Five Fun Ways to Keep Kids’ Minds Sharp This Summer by Janet Forgrieve

16 WHAT WORKS:

Dr. Oz’ 25 Greatest Men’s Health Tips

by Dr. Mehmet Oz

24 JUST TAKE FIVE

A Guy’s Guide to Staying Vitally Healthy by Judith Fertig

28 BYE-BYE, BELLY FAT Strategies to Win the Battle of the Bulge by Anjula Razdan

30 BAREFOOTIN’

Let Feet Go Naked and Natural by Jason Robillard

32 ZIPPY E-BIKES

Ditch the Car for a Fun and Easy Body-Friendly Ride by Brita Belli

37 MANAGING

INSECT PESTS

With Companion Planting

by Ed Arnold

38 THE POWER OF

A FATHER’S STORY

Letting Your Children Know You by John Badalament

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June 2011

letterfrompublisher

contact us Publisher Jim Davis Co-Publisher & Sales Martee Davis Editorial Theresa Archer Beth Davis Julianne Hale Linda Sechrist Design & Production C. Michele Rose Stephen Blancett Distribution Preston Davis Printer Digital Graphics, OK City Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 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 © 2011 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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This month’s letter has been a struggle from the start, and it all hinges from my relationship with my dad. To be honest with you, I miss him terribly. Not because we had the closest of relationships, having grown up in a separated family, but because as I wrestle, laugh, and throw the football with my eight-year-old son today, I realize just how much 1982 we missed. As I reminisce about the far-too-few days my dad and I had together, many unfortunately sad feelings emerge. I am irritated that I missed learning about baseball from someone who played in semi-pro leagues, as my dad did. I am saddened that he doesn’t know my wife or son. And I regret missing the last opportunity to tell him that I loved him and I was sorry for not visiting more, before he faded into the 1965 world of Alzheimer’s. In this issue, while much of the information pertains to both men and women, you’ll find a slant towards the celebration of the men we love. I think this issue in particular resonates with the fact that in this life, both yin and yang are necessary for complete balance. Men play a very important role in the lives of children, and it’s important for us grown up guys to remember that and to take the time to support the next generation by engaging and mentoring them, whether they are biologically ours or just a kid on the block that needs some guidance. Often, it’s the non-parent that sees what the parent cannot. The articles this month are as diverse as ever, but you will find some, in honor of fathers everywhere, that point up men’s health and wellness. That’s not to say, however, that Dr. Oz’ article doesn’t pertain to women just about as much as men. Read it—you’ll be able to see the few exceptions. Another important article is “The Power of a Father’s Story,” which sites research on the importance of a father’s relationship to the development of children and their attitude toward the world as a child and as an adult. Because it was that Alzheimer’s eventually took my father away long before he passed, local vet Shawn Messonnier’s article on recognizing the challenges our pets may experience with their own Alzheimer’s is particularly poignant to me. As always, a very special “Thank you,” goes to our growing community of business partners, our advertisers, and distribution sites that make it possible for us to bring you this free monthly magazine. None of this would be possible without them, and we ask that you please consider supporting them whenever you shop for needed products and services. Should you happen upon a business that isn’t carrying Natural Awakenings North Texas, but should, please let us know, so we may connect with them. Your participation and feedback is a big part of what this magazine stands for, and we appreciate your involvement. In closing, I encourage you to reconnect with the special people in your life. To my Dad, for the times we did have, “Thank you and Happy Father’s Day.”

Go With the Flow

IFE Cirque, a new health, fitness and entertainment company, is offering instruction and training in Parkour, a young sport that originated in France and is rapidly becoming popular in the U.S. Parkour instruction teaches people how to move across an environment in a flowing or fluidlike manner, with speed, agility and grace. People of any age and ability can learn and perform Parkour, which builds lean bodies and focuses on overall well-being of mind, body and spirit. While featured on reality TV series like Jump City, instructional classes can be difficult to find, and that is one of the reasons LIFE Cirque decided to offer a biweekly clinic in the North Texas area. Classes are held at the Elite Champion Gymnastics Club, in Plano, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the second and fourth Saturday of every month by professional Parkour performer Jenin Gonzalez. “People, especially children, need a healthy physical outlet that they can participate in for a lifetime” says Scott Sperry, founder and CEO of LIFE Cirque. “These clinics are fun, social and healthy, and are especially helpful for developing a fundamental athleticism and confidence in youth that is transferrable to virtually any sport or recreational activity.” Location: 2621 Summit Ave., Ste. 300, Plano. For more information call 214-450-3286 or visit ParkourinthePark.com.

Sprouts and Henry’s Merge

prouts Farmers Market and Henry’s Farmers Market/Sun Harvest Farmers Markets, two companies founded years apart by the Boney family of San Diego, have been

reunited through a recent merger. The combined company will operate under the single name, Sprouts Farmers Market, out of Phoenix, with 99 stores and more than 7,000 employees. The company plans to open up to 10 new stores later in the year, including one in Carrollton. According to Sprout’s President and CEO Doug Sanders, the nine Texas-based Sun Harvest stores will be converted to Sprouts by mid-July. Sanders said new products will begin showing up on store shelves in the next few weeks, with new programs due by late spring or early summer. “As similar as our companies always have been, it will take time, patience and great diligence to merge them into one,” says Sanders. After the merger modifications have taken place, all the store names will be transitioned to Sprouts Farmers Market. For more information and current locations, visit Sprouts.com.

Get Your Rear in Gear

he DFW Get Your Rear in Gear 5K/10K event will be trekking through Fort Worth June 25. The 10K run and 5K run/ walk event is part of the Colon Cancer Coalition’s effort to raise funds and awareness about colorectal cancer. Events across the country are designed to unify effort and support for those who have been affected by colon cancer and to encourage individuals to get screened. Registration for the DFW Get Your Rear in Gear event begins at 7 a.m., followed by the 5K run/walk at 8:15 a.m. and the 10K at 8:45. A Fun Run for children 12 and under will be held at 8 a.m. Donations and fees are reinvested in local programs to raise awareness of colon and rectal cancer, especially for the underor non-insured, ensuring everyone has adequate information and access to screening for colon cancer.

Photo credit: Wayne Kryduba

newsbriefs

Location: 2401 University Dr., Trinity Park, Pavilion 3, Fort Worth. For more information on The Colon Cancer Coalition or the DFW event, visit GetYourRearinGear.com.

natural awakenings

June 2011

U.S. Government Announces Support for Mercury-Free Dentistry

he International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) recently reported that the U.S. government has announced that it supports a, “phase down, with the goal of eventual phase out,” of mercury amalgam (or “silver”) fillings commonly used to fill cavities in dental patients. This statement, that, “any change toward the use of dental amalgam is likely to result in positive public health outcomes,” is part of the U.S. government’s submission for the upcoming third round of negotiations for the world mercury treaty. The IAOMT calls this radical reversal of the government’s former position, “an extraordinary development that will change the global debate about amalgam.” The IAOMT, a network of more than 700 dental, medical and research professionals around the world, has been a longtime opponent of mercury amalgam, because of possible health risks from mercury, a known toxin. Considered especially risky for children and for pregnant women, possible side effects include memory loss, tremors, personality changes and impaired immune systems. Mercury amalgam fillings release toxic vapor into the mouth due to friction and heat from chewing and drinking hot beverages, whereupon it is absorbed into the blood, and then stored in the organs. Mercury-free dentistry supports the use of a tooth-colored, bonded composite material made primarily of resin, instead of mercury amalgam. The World Dental Federation and the

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American Dental Association, longtime supporters of mercury use, still maintain that mercury amalgam fillings are safe. For more information, visit IAOMT.org. See “U.S. State Department Endorses Amalgam Phase-Down at UNEP Conference.”

Beat of the Drum

he Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, a group of 150 brass, percussion and color guard performers, will be performing a Father’s Day drum and bugle event on June 19, in Southlake. The group is a Drum Corps International (DCI) World Champion finalist, reaching the DCI Finals 22 times in their 36-year history. Showcase in the Square, a production of music, theatrics and pageantry, is a preview to the DCI 2011 tour program The Crossmen will be performing across the country. Musical excellence, marching precision, dance and humor are woven into intricate march patterns, formations and transitions, coordinated with a musical production. In addition to The Crossmen, the Open Class Texas Drum Corps, including The Vigilantes, Forte, and Frontier will be a part of the program. The event is free to the public and donations will be accepted to support the arts league and participating corps. Performances will start at 6 p.m. followed by a “Meet & Greet”, providing interested musicians the opportunity to learn more about the corps experience, promoting music education and entertainment for musicians ages 15-21.

Photo credit: Chris Maher

newsbriefs

Location: 1256 Main St., Rustin Park Pavilion, Southlake. For more info call 817-329-5566 or visit SouthlakeTownSquare.com.

Swim, Bike & Run

North Texas Race for the Cure

he Susan G. Komen 21st annual North Texas Plano Race for the Cure® will be held on June 11, in Plano. The race celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease by raising funds and awareness of breast cancer through a series of run/walks. Since its inception in 1983, the Komen Race for the Cure series has grown from one local race with 800 participants to more than 120 races with over 1 million people globally. The Komen North Texas Race for the Cure is hoping to raise $1.2 million at this year’s event. The race options are a 5K competitive run, 5K casual walk/ run or a 1 mile Family Fun Run/Walk. The concrete surfaced course is flat, with some slight inclines, and winds through the Plano campus of HP and The Campus at Legacy. The 5K competitive run is USAT&F certified and will have awardeligible chip timing available. Race day registration begins at 6 a.m., with the competitive start at 7:55 a.m., followed by the casual 5K at 8:05 a.m. and the family fun run/walk at 8:30 a.m. Pets, bicycles and inline skates are not allowed. The Survivor Celebration and awards ceremony begins at 9:45 a.m. Founded in 1991, the Komen North Texas Affiliate has invested more than $8 million locally in breast health education, screening and treatment. As of April 2011, the North Texas Affiliate service area grew from three to eight counties, now including Collin, Denton, Grayson, Cooke, Fannin, Hunt, Montague and Wise.

ooper Fitness Center at Craig Ranch, in McKinney, will be the site on July 23 of the Cooper Summer Sprint Triathlon, a USA Triathlon (USAT) sanctioned event. Included in the event will be a 350-meter swim consisting of seven laps of a 50-meter outdoor pool, a 12-mile bike course that is made up of two six-mile urban road loops, and a 5K run on a relatively flat course through Craig Ranch. The transition area will be open from 5:30 to 7 a.m., with the course officially closed at 11 a.m. for all participants. All participants must be a current annual member of USAT or purchase a one-day permit for $10 at packet pickup. A maximum of 600 participants will be allowed. The overall male and female winners and masters will receive trophies and additional prizes. A free breakfast will be served at Tenley’s Café, inside Cooper Fitness, to all race finishers. Spectators can purchase breakfast for $5 per person. Location: 7910 Collin McKinney Pkwy., Cooper Fitness Center at Craig Ranch, McKinney. For more info call 214-383-1000 or visit CooperCraigRanch.com.

Location: Legacy at Parkwood Dr. (east of North Dallas Tollway), at the campuses of HP and The Campus at Legacy, Plano. For more info, visit KomenNorthTexas.org. natural awakenings

June 2011

newsbriefs DadFest 2011

n June 18, Father’s Day weekend, the 18th annual Dadfest 5K run and festival will be held in Richardson. Dadfest is a summertime event to honor Dad and to celebrate his life, his health and his contribution and importance to the American family. This year’s event includes a 5K run, a 50-yard dash, a dad and child look-alike contest and a Diaper Dash. Individuals or dad and child teams can participate in the 5K run. Children 5 and under are free with an adult entry. Onsite registration begins at 6:30 a.m., followed by the 50-yard dash at 8 a.m. and the Dadfest 5K at 8:15 a.m. An awards ceremony at 10 a.m. will follow the dad and child look-alike contest and Diaper Dash, both bound to generate photos and memories. All proceeds from the events will go to the nonprofit organization Urology Research & Education Foundation (UREF), founded for the purpose of promoting awareness about prostate cancer and urologic diseases. A free prostate cancer risk assessment and screening will be available for men who register online at Diduidid.com. The screening is from 8 to 11 a.m. Location: 2351 Performance Dr., Galatyn Park, Richardson. For more info, call 972-235-2513 or visit DadFest.com.

Pedaling with a View of Collin County

bicycle rally that attracts families, weekend riders and avid cyclists, the Collin Classic, on June 11, in McKinney, is a multi-option course ride. The 20th Anniversary Collin Classic begins from McKinney North High School and offers routes of between four and 76 miles. Registration is at 6:30 a.m. and the bicycle rally begins at 8 a.m.

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The family-friendly, four-mile route is a loop route designed for the family with kids that aren’t ready for an open road ride, but with the desire to experience a bike rally. As a one-, two-, or three-loop route, distance options are four, eight or 12 miles with small hills that kids can conquer. The longer single loop routes run through the Downtown and Historic District of McKinney, heading out of town to capture some rolling county roads. These options offer rides between 20 to 76 miles long, with the longest routes of 48 to 76 miles having a segment of hill climbs that will be timed and grouped by age, gender and total climbing time. Fully stocked break points are stationed along the way, along with roving bike mechanics and medical support, if needed. A post-ride party at the finish line will feature a big tent area with cool treats, misters and fans, a non-alcoholic “Biker Bar,” and massages for a fee. Location: 2550 Wilmeth Rd., McKinney N. High School, McKinney. For more information visit CollinClassic.org.

Free Dairy Farm Tour

n celebration of National Dairy Month, Circle N Diary, in Gainesville, is offering free tours of their dairy farm on June 10, 11 and 12. The tour of a working dairy farm includes a presentation on the benefits of grass-fed cows; the difference between raw and pasteurized milk; benefits of raw dairy products as a whole-food source; and the daily operations of a small family dairy farm. The tour includes viewing an automatic milking parlor, milk tank room, freestall barn and calving pen. At the conclusion of the tour, everyone has the opportunity to sample fresh raw milk products, including raw milk (white and chocolate) and cream. All products are Grade A quality and guaranteed antibiotic- and hormone-free. Location: 2074 CR 446, Gainesville. For more information, call 940-372-0343 or visit CircleNDairy.com.

communityspotligh communityspotlight

Following a Dream

by Beth Davis lways passionate about healthy including her grandparents, in Texas. Although he was already a licensed living, Anatoly Kolmakov had his first introduction to massage massage therapist in Russia, in order to continue working in the industry he as a teenager growing up in Russia. As loved, Kolmakov a professional also had to be fencer, having licensed in the sore muscles state of Texas. He was an everyday enrolled in a U.S. part of life. For massage school relief, he would and in 1998, often massage earned his state his own tired license. Soon muscles at the after, he began end of day, and working as a was surprised at (Left to right:) Lena Demina, Anatoly physical therapy how much better Kolmakov and their daughter Yana assistant and masit made him feel. sage therapist for a It was the beginning of a passion that surgeon, where once again, he perwould eventually lead him to a 20-year formed massage on patients before and career as a massage therapist. after surgery. It all began while Kolmakov was After a couple of years, he says still in Russia. He was attending college he started to reevaluate his life, and to study physical education (intending thought perhaps he needed a change. to later become a fencing coach) when he decided to also pursue his passion for He returned to school and began working for AT&T, where he stayed for eight massage therapy. While still at the uniyears. After some time, however, he versity working toward his P.E. degree, he became a licensed massage therapist. realized he still wasn’t happy. “I asked myself if this was the job I wanted to be After graduation, he was left quesin and to retire from,” he explains. “I tioning where he wanted to end up— knew the answer was ‘no’—it was not should he be a coach, or feel calmer what I wanted to be doing.” and do something he loved? He chose What he wanted was to return to to follow his passion and began workpracticing massage therapy full-time. ing with a baseball team (where he was Never having truly given up his passion, also a player), providing massages to his Kolmakov had continued taking classes teammates to help improve their game. and renewing his massage license each Because it was hard to both play year while he was at AT&T—even dobaseball and do massage, he gave up ing massage on the side for family and baseball to work at a hospital, performfriends. He began to dream of opening ing massage on patients before and a clinic, and knew that with the help of after surgery. Able to see the benefits his wife and daughter, he could do it. massage had on these patients—better In September 2007, the couple range of motion, increased mobility, opened Massage Space, and although less pain and reduced swelling—Kolthe early years were tough, Kolmakov makov was convinced that this was says it would not have been possible what he wanted to do. “It confirmed without the help and support of his wife my love of the modality and assured and his daughter, Yana Kolmakov. me that I was on the right track,” he “My wife began managing the says. His dream was to start a personal clinic, taking care of all the details; practice focused on natural health. and my daughter, who was still in high In 1997, he and his wife, Lena Demina, joined members of her family, school at the time, would come in after

school, answer the phones and do what she could to help,” he comments. “They are both still an integral part of Massage Space.” Eventually, Massage Space built a reputation for affordable, quality service and has now grown to employ 15 therapists, offering modalities such as Swedish massage, deep tissue, hot stone therapy, sports massage, myofascial therapy, reflexology, pre- and postnatal massage, trigger-point therapy and more. Since its inception, Massage Space has offered a Personal Wellness Program, entitling clients to discounts on their choice of a 60-, 90- or 120-minute massages, as many times per month as they want. Enrollment in the program has gone from just a few members to around 300. Because the massage therapy works as a treatment plan, the idea is to give clients affordable prices that enable them to come more often. Although one massage feels good, and there may be some relief, it’s over the course of several massage treatments that the real benefits are to be realized. “It is all about helping people who may be struggling financially, but are also struggling with pain,” notes Kolmakov. “We can help them afford what they need to do to help alleviate the pain.” He says their mission at Massage Space is to provide everything needed for a peaceful getaway, offering a safe and warm environment that will help individuals escape from everyday hassles. Massages are always at least one hour, with 15 minutes scheduled between appointments to allow clients the time to unwind after a massage and not feel rushed. For Kolmakov, watching his dreams come true feels as if he, “won the lottery,” even if it hasn’t always been easy. “If I had a message for others, it would be, ‘Don’t be lazy.’” he states. “Take a shovel and dig in to create your own life, your own passion, dream and destiny.” Massage Space is located at 7000 Independence Pkwy., Ste. 180, in Plano. For more info, call 972-612-5363 or visit Massage-Space.com. See ad, page 19.

natural awakenings

June 2011

healthbriefs No Soda is Kind to Your Heart

nyone who prefers diet sodas over regular soda pop for fear of high sugar levels might want to consider this: According to new research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2011, people who drink diet sodas every day still have a much higher risk of vascular disease—61 percent higher— compared with those who drink no sodas at all. These are the findings of the large, multi-ethnic Northern Manhattan Study of 2,564 individuals that were monitored and analyzed in terms of the types and amount of sodas they drank for an average of 9.3 years, during which 559 vascular events occurred. “If our results are confirmed with future studies, then it would suggest that diet soda may not be the optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages for protection against vascular outcomes,” says lead author Hannah Gardener, a doctor of science and epidemiologist at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. Source: American Heart Association, 2011

Berries May Protect Against Parkinson’s

study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 63rd annual meeting, confirms that eating berries can lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease. The study involved 49,281 men and 80,336 women that were monitored for 20 to 22 years. The researchers concluded that the women who consumed the most anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids found mostly in berries, had a lower risk of developing the disease than those whose diet contained less or different classes of flavonoids. For men, berry anthocyanins, as well as flavonoids found in apples and oranges and other rich dietary sources, made a significant difference in their freedom from the disease.

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Play Together, Stay Together

new study has confirmed an old adage: A family that plays together, stays together. According to researchers from Canada’s Concordia and Wilfrid Laurier universities, shared leisure is vital in the formation of bonds that can bridge generations. “Shared leisure time allows grandchildren and their grandparents to establish common interests that in turn enable them to develop strong intergenerational relationships,” explains Concordia Professor Shannon Hebblethwaite. Grandparents often use get-togethers as opportunities to share family histories, personal experiences and life lessons and to teach, mentor and pass on values, traditions and family legacies. The study builds on previous research that found how healthy intergenerational connections help grandparents age better and exhibit more positive feelings about life. Family cohesiveness also tends to sharpen youngsters’ sense of empathy as adults.

natural awakenings

June 2011

actionalert

Dangerous Developments

BE IN THE KNOW ABOUT

GMOs Untold Risks, Unanswered Questions and Needed Action by Melinda Hemmelgarn

nyone walking into a typical American supermarket finds a dizzying display of more than 40,000 products, the majority of which are processed foods. According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, at least 75 percent of the processed foods contain one or more genetically modified (GMO) ingredients, most likely from corn, soy and canola. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent approval of GMO alfalfa and sugar beets, non-GMO choices will grow even narrower. What is a healthconscious consumer to do?

Heads Up What many people don’t realize is that the majority of GMO crops have been genetically engineered to withstand spraying with herbicides, such as Monsanto’s Roundup. Its active toxic ingredient, glyphosate, is systemically transported throughout the plant and into our environment and food chain. According to the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, “There is more than a casual association between GMO foods and adverse health effects.” Scientists familiar with the technology warn about the risk for new allergens, toxins and unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects. Even the President’s Cancer Panel Report advises against choosing foods grown 12

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with pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Most Americans are shocked to learn that for decades now, they’ve been blindly purchasing and feeding their families GE foods, not to mention toxic herbicide residues. Unlike other developed countries, the U.S. government does not require labels on GMO foods, leaving citizens to shop—and eat—in the dark.

Thanks to lobbying by the biotechnology industry, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has taken the stand that GMOs are “substantially equivalent” to their non-genetically modified counterparts. Therefore, labeling a GMO food product would be admitting that the GE products are somehow different. However, genetically modified crops are different. Don Huber, Ph.D., a plant pathologist and professor emeritus at Purdue University, says that when scientists insert genetic material from one organism into another that would not normally crossbreed or be possible with standard breeding programs, they disrupt an entire system. For example, both Huber and Warren Porter, Ph.D., a biologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, explain that glyphosate disrupts the soil’s complex microbiological system, critical for delivering micronutrients to plants. This both increases the plants’ susceptibility to diseases and reduces the nutritional quality of food crops. Farmers were told that GMO technology could simplify weed control and increase yields. Yet, according to The Organic Center, since the introduction of GE crops, nationwide pesticide use has increased substantially, by a total of more than 300 million pounds. The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that claims for higher yields have fallen short, as well. Now, new superweeds have developed resistance to glyphosate, and the biotech giants have responded by promoting new GE plants, resistant to stronger herbicides such as 2,4-D. The Pesticide Action Network of North America continues to collect research that links this suspected endocrine disruptor to thyroid problems, prostate cancer, reproductive abnormalities, Parkinson’s disease and delays in brain development. Both Porter and Chuck Benbrook, chief scientist at The Organic Center, warn that, as confirmed in multiple studies, pregnant women and children are most susceptible to harm. Making matters worse, the Organic Seed Alliance reports that there is, “unwanted spread of GE pollen and seed into organic agricultural systems,” and the genetic contamination of non-GMO crops.

Roundup Ready alfalfa grieves Chris Blanchard the most. Blanchard, an organic farmer in Decorah, Iowa, explains: “Alfalfa is pollinated by bees, which can travel for miles, so we can be certain that seed stocks will be contaminated, threatening the livelihoods of organic farmers.”

What We Can Do It’s up to informed consumers to increase demand for non-GMO and organic foods. Here’s an effective action plan to protect our health and save Planet Earth. n Read ingredient labels and vote with your food dollars. Reject products likely to contain GMOs, such as dextrose, corn starch, corn syrup or corn sugar, soy lecithin, canola and cottonseed oils, and sugar from sugar beets. n Choose certified organic foods. They are our single best bet for avoiding GMO ingredients, synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones.

n Call or write President Obama, your state representatives and food manu facturers. Voice opposition to GMO crops and demand GMO-food labeling. n Grow some food using organic seeds. n Stay informed and don’t be duped. Here are some helpful resources: Center for Food Safety, CenterFor FoodSafety.org Radio interviews with Warren Porter (2/18/10) and Don Huber (4/21/11) on kopn.org, tinyurl.com/yjhurre The Organic Center, Organic-Center.org American Academy of Environmental Medicine’s Genetically Modified Food Position Paper, aaemonline.org/ gmopost.html Melinda Hemmelgarn is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and radio host based in Columbia, MO. Reach her at FoodSleuth@gmail.com and tune in to Food Sleuth Radio at kopn.org.

ecobriefs Wear Blue, Tell Two

Celebrate World Oceans Day June 8 Global advocates for protecting the health of our oceans and making it a way of life have focused on youth education as the most promising activity to effect and sustain lasting positive change, based on research by The Ocean Project (The OceanProject.org). The website suggests a multitude of ways that people of all ages can get on board. It starts by wearing a blue shirt on June 8, World Oceans Day, and telling two others about the oceans’ vital role in Earth’s ecology. It continues by making it a habit to reduce our daily personal carbon footprint (ocean absorption of carbon dioxide is acidifying waters), and choosing seafood that is sustainably harvested or farmed without harm to coastal waters and seafood stocks. Visit WorldOceansDay.org.

Act Now

Help Stop Crop Contamination On March 29, 2011, Sow True Seed joined 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations in a lawsuit led by the nonprofit Public Patent Foundation, challenging chemical giant Monsanto’s right to sue farmers for patent infringement, because they say it is Monsanto that is perpetrating the injury by infecting organic farms with genetically modified seed. Mounting research shows that once released into the environment, the engineered seed (a genetically modified organism, or GMO), contaminates and corrupts naturally reproducing seed for the same crop. For example, soon after Monsanto introduced genetically modified seed for canola, these famers report that organic canola became virtually extinct, as a result of cross-contamination. Organic corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets and alfalfa now face the same fate, as Monsanto continues to develop genetically modified seed for many other crops. “In the last decade [for example], it’s become nearly impossible to ensure that corn seed is free from contamination,” says Peter Waskiewicz, co-founder of Sow True Seed (SowTrueSeed.com). “Morally, it has become necessary to stand up and fight for keeping openpollinated seed safe and available,” says fellow co-founder, Carol Koury. Waskiewicz adds, “We recognize the basic right of all the Earth’s people to enjoy a safe, ethical and sovereign food production and distribution system.” For more info, visit PubPat.org/osgatavmonsantofiled.htm. Join local groups that advocate for healthy, organic, locally grown and produced products. natural awakenings

June 2011

healthykids

School’s Out Five Fun Ways to Keep Kids’ Minds Sharp This Summer by Janet Forgrieve

Every year, kids across the country close their schoolbooks and adjust their inner clocks to the more unstructured hours of summer. They’re ready to let the good times roll.

et, studies going back decades have documented a resulting “summer slide” among kids who don’t engage their minds as much as school demands during their joyful break, according to Patricia Froehlich, youth services consultant for the Colorado State Library. To combat this, parents can find ways to strike a balance between learning and fun, grabbing opportunities to teach when and where they can. These parents find that the more this learning feels like schoolwork, the faster you lose them. But keeping it fun can not only keep kids from falling behind, it also may give them a leg up when they head back to class in the fall. The key is in “just hiding the learning in the fun,” counsels Christy Wright, activities director of Big Horn K-12 summer school, in Wyoming. Here are some ways to keep kids’ minds active when they’re out of school. 14

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Reading

Summer community reading programs provide age-appropriate options for kids of every grade and help those who aren’t naturally adept readers to find topics that will make them want to pick up a book, advises Froehlich. Lisa Parry’s inspiration for her own family reading program came on Mother’s Day, when her children asked if they could get out the beads and make their mom some jewelry. They decided that each time her first-grader, Grace, finished reading a book aloud, she got to put another bead on a string that hung on the wall. Grace watched her accomplishments grow, while her parents saw her reading improve.

Science

Families that spend time camping and hiking can capitalize on the abundant natural learning opportunities that such activities foster, aided by books on the local flora and fauna. When traveling to another part of the country or the world for outdoor adventures, do some homework together first about what you’re likely to see when you get there. Indoor science lessons, cleverly disguised as games or toys, may be just as valuable, not only for teaching scientific concepts, but also in fostering skills kids will need when they head back to the classroom. Kelly Pascal Gould relates how Jackson, her elementary school-age son, naturally gravitates toward experiments and creative projects. One spring, she stocked up on chemistry sets and science kits. Several of them worked to engage the bud-

ding inventor, who needed to increase his attention span. Wright notes that many students that participate in her summer school program are referred to her because they have trouble concentrating in regular classes. She’s learned that projects that teach them about science, nature and how things work tend to keep them focused on the task at hand, and also begin to ingrain in them ways to better concentrate in the future.

Games

During Wright’s summer school program, kids come in early to play Dance Dance Revolution or Guitar Hero; she encourages kids to play these and other games on consoles like Xbox, PlayStation and Wii. Games that engage the body, while demanding mental concentration, not only help kids learn new skills, they may also improve their ability to be able to focus when they need to sit still for lessons later, she says. “[Games that entail] cross-lateral movement, which means doing something crossover, like jumping rope or playing ball, are good, too, because they’re using one side of the body that engages the other side of the brain, so both body and mind are moving,” explains Wright. “It helps kids comprehend, and then settle down and learn.” More traditional games provide another type of learning experience, especially when kids make up rules they invent and agree upon as they go along.

Cooking

Preparing meals is another forum for engaging kids’ minds during the summer. To enjoy the fruits of their culinary labors, youngsters must first master reading, measuring and following directions—lessons that are much easier to swallow when they are followed by a tasty dish they’ve made themselves, notes Wright. It may take patience on the part of parents, who see cooking as another household chore to complete as quickly as possible, but taking the time to teach kids cooking skills makes us slow down and realize there’s joy to be found in the kitchen when we have someone to share the work. Parry’s daughter Grace loves to help in the kitchen, and children generally enjoy the tangible sense of accomplishment when they put a meal they’ve helped create on the table. “She’s old enough now where she can measure and scoop,” Parry says. “It’s fun for both of us.”

Summer Break is a Great Time to Learn Ed Pilkington of Willow Bend Academy in Plano offers tips on how to fill the summer with unique learning opportunities that are fun, interesting and will keep kid’s brains engaged. Volunteer: Call an assisted living center and go visit with some seniors, they’ll love the company. Children can build confidence and new skills helping seniors with simple chores. Read to Others: Children can brush up on reading skills and help others at the same time by reading to senior citizens or younger kids. Choose something easy to read, but interesting to the listener. Family Playtime: There’s a lot to learn during board games like Scrabble or Monopoly. Group games build relationship, verbal and math skills. Family Projects: Summer-time family projects like canning fruit or painting a fence can help build responsibility and confidence. Do some projects you don’t get to do during the school year; they’re great family bonding opportunities. It takes a little creative planning, but summer break can be productive and rewarding. Ed Pilkington is President and Founder of Willow Bend Academy, Plano. For more information call 972-599-7882 or visit WillowBendAcademy.com. See ad, page 45.

Art

Gould set up a place at home where Jackson can go and create to his heart’s content. The art room has just about anything a child needs to create his own works of art, she says. Jackson also recently learned to embroider; quite an accomplishment, given the complete focus such an art demands. Susan Aust’s tween, Tucker, is into art of a different kind, having developed a love of all things theatrical and voraciously reading books about famous actors and actresses, she says. The Austs started a weekly home family film festival, where they all watch a movie together and afterwards, “We talk about the actors’ lives and work.” Janet Forgrieve is a regular contributor to GaiamLife.com, from which this article was adapted. natural awakenings

June 2011

wisewords

WHAT WORKS: Dr. Oz’ 25 Greatest Men’s Health Tips

by Dr. Mehmet Oz

atients are among my best teachers. They’ve taught me how to communicate clearly—and how to live a better life. On The Dr. Oz Show, I’ve learned that once people are emotionally involved, change happens quickly, especially if they feel that their behavior is letting loved ones down. Large-scale change seems daunting. We want simple routines that we can automatically follow. Adopt some of the steps described here, which work for me and that anyone can do, and you will like your life more in just a couple of weeks. Plus, you’ll live longer.

1: Roll on the Floor Laughing Laughing not only eases stress, promotes social bonding and lowers blood pressure; it may also boost your immune system. So bring some humor into your life, whether it’s through friends, a television show or something else that tickles your funny bone. 16

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2: Don’t Skip Breakfast Eating fiber in the morning means less hunger late in the afternoon, when you’re most likely to feel tired and gorge yourself on sugar. My morning dose comes from steel-cut oatmeal, usually mixed with raisins, walnuts and flaxseed oil. An early start on eating also keeps your metabolism more active throughout the day; breakfast eaters are thinner than people who just rush out the door.

3: Hit the Sack Jay and Dave are funny, but they’re not worth the strain on your system. Seven hours of sleep a night not only helps you live longer, it also lowers your stress, sharpens your memory and reduces cravings for pants-splitting foods. Set a bedtime and stick to it. My target is 10:30 p.m. I record the late shows and then watch them the next day as I pedal a stationary bike.

4: Admire Your Work

Don’t be so trigger-happy with the flusher. Turn around and take a look at your poop, which speaks volumes about your gut and overall health. Poop should be smooth and S-shaped, like your colon. If it comes out too lumpy, or drops into the bowl like marbles, you’re constipated; increase your fiber and water intake.

5: Don’t Pamper Your Bad Back

Even if you’re hunched over in agony, spending more time in bed will only make a bad back worse. The latest research shows that bed rest weakens back muscles and prolongs the suffering. Married men with this problem may suffer more than single men because they’re tempted to lie back and enjoy all the pampering they receive. The best solution is to get up, take a pain reliever and be a soldier.

6: Taste the Colors

Foods with bright, rich colors are packed with flavonoids and carotenoids, powerful compounds that bind with the damaging free radicals in your body, lowering inflammation. Eat nine fistfuls of colorful fruits and vegetables each day and you’ll reap the benefits without having to give up other foods. Whenever I shop the produce aisle, I’m reminded that these foods are often more powerful than the drugs sold in pharmacies. My favorites are arugula and blueberries.

7: Brushing is Not Enough If you plan to spend your later years eating more than yogurt and apple sauce, invest in some floss. No matter how thoroughly or long you brush your teeth, you’re missing a good portion of their total surface. That’s like washing one armpit after a workout. But the dangers of skipping floss go beyond hygiene: The bacteria that linger can increase your risk of heart disease.

8: Take a Deep Belly Breath

Do this anywhere, anytime. Push out your bellows and suck air through your nose until your lungs are full. They’ll fill with nitric oxide, a chemical found in the back of your nose that opens up blood vessels. The dose of oxygen will make you feel happier and more alert. This is my secret technique for calming down in the face of challenges.

9: Join a Yoga Class

Yoga is the most important exercise of my daily routine. Being surrounded by beautiful women in spandex should be reason enough to join a class, but if you need more motivation, consider this: Yoga eases stress, lowers blood pressure, slows heart rate and increases flexibility. There’s nothing mystical about it. Loosening your muscles will make them more adaptable, so you may be less likely to injure yourself playing sports. Sure, some of the poses may look ridiculous, but that’s for a reason. Yoga can reach and work muscles that are ignored during routine sports and daily life. My favorite maneuver is the sun salutation.

10: Don’t Be an Island

Ever wonder why women live longer than men? One major reason is that they form tight networks and actually talk about their problems. If you face life’s stresses alone, you will make yourself older. With another person’s love and support, the inner aging associated with stress can be reduced.

11: Avoid Fad Diets

The secret to weight loss is not to avoid carbs, fats, yellow foods, solid foods or foods that start with the letter G. The real trick is to lower your daily intake by about 100 calories. You’ll hardly notice, but it’ll add up to a loss of about 10 pounds in a year. Calorie restriction has been shown to lengthen life (in rats and monkeys). I cut back once a year to reset my appetite and taste buds. Healthy foods taste great afterwards.

12: Be a Smart Patient

Professionals can help keep you in good health, but the responsibility ultimately falls on you. Seek a second opinion before undergoing any medical procedure, because 30 percent of the time, that opinion will change the diagnosis or plan. Keep a written medical history and educate yourself about any family problems. You might even consider signing onto Microsoft HealthVault or Google Health, so your files would be accessible in case you find yourself in trouble away from home. natural awakenings

June 2011

13: Lose the Beer Belly

Most men fasten their belts below their waists. It’s just another way of avoiding the truth about their gut. Grab a tape measure and put it around your body at the level of your belly button. That number should be less than half your height. For my six-foot, one-inch frame, for example, I need to keep my waist under 36.5 inches. If avoiding heart attacks and diabetes isn’t enough motivation to eliminate that gut, consider this: For every point your body mass index is over 25, your testosterone drops 3 percent, which isn’t very manly.

14: Go Green

I drink green tea three times a day. It’s packed with heart-boosting and cancer-stopping polyphenols that black tea doesn’t offer. These beneficial chemicals are lost when it’s fermented. Green tea also delivers a boost of alertness, but from a smaller dose of caffeine than black tea. Green tea can even fight dandruff, although only if you pour the cooled tea directly onto your scalp.

15: Sweat Until You’re Wet

If you can work up a sweat for just one hour a week, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits, including a reduced risk of heart attack, better mood and lower blood pressure. I like interval training on the elliptical, with 15 pull-ups and 15 dips after every 10 minutes. Your muscles will become more efficient, so you’ll have more stamina for more enjoyable activities that also work up a sweat.

16: Save Some Money

Most people rank personal finance as their number one stressor, usually because they feel powerless about it. Stress not only shortens lives, it also drives people to habits like smoking, drinking or binge eating. Keep some money in a special bank account, safe from your lust for a new television, and you’ll establish an emotional comfort zone with major health benefits.

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17: Have as Much Sex as Possible

If a 50-something man could have sex 700 times a year, the exercise and stress reduction would make him look and feel years younger. I wouldn’t recommend quitting your day job in order to hit that number—but what’s the harm in trying? The next time your loved one says she has a headache, tell her she’s literally killing you. It works for me.

18: Know Your Numbers, then Aim Lower

Take the part of your brain dedicated to your local steak house’s phone number and reassign it to your heart’s vital signs. These include blood pressure (which ideally should be below 115 over 75), LDL cholesterol (under 100), resting heart rate (under 70), and fasting blood sugar (under 100). If your numbers aren’t ideal, change your diet until they improve.

19: Add Some Weights

Just 30 minutes twice a week spent lifting weights can build significant muscle mass. What’s more, working all that muscle burns tons of calories, making it a great way to lose your gut, too. Don’t have weights? Try lifting yourself: Pull-ups are the most valuable muscle-building exercises I do. Trainer Bob Greene pointed out to me that pull-ups work the back, pecs, arms and belly all at once. Because you’re lifting yourself, you’ll think twice before eating that doughnut, because you’ll just have to lift it later. A simple setup in a door frame is convenient and inexpensive.

20: Grab Your Nuts

Nuts are among the best sources of healthful fats and protein around. I keep a bag of walnuts in my fridge and use their massive dose of omega-3 fatty acids to boost my brainpower while I see patients. Half of a handful eaten about 30 minutes before a meal will temper your appetite and help you avoid the drive-thru.

21: No, Seriously, Grab Your Nuts Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men ages 15 to 35, but it’s usually curable if caught early enough. I strongly urge you to grab your testicles and check them for bumps at least once a month. Each testicle should feel smooth and slightly soft, and one should hang slightly lower

than the other, like two avocados (which, in Aztec, actually means “testicles”) growing on a tree.

22: Hit the Dance Floor

Crosswords and card games aren’t the only way to keep a brain razor sharp. It turns out that any kind of dancing with complex moves is stimulating enough to give neurons a workout. Even the simplest moves provide some physical exercise. So don’t be such a wallflower on your next night out. As a bonus, dancing may help you with tip number 17.

23: Do Your Penis a Favor Step on a treadmill. Men who exercise enough to burn 200 calories a day significantly lower their chances of impotence. That’s because impotence often has the same cause as heart attacks: blocked arteries. Your penis is like a dipstick for your arteries, so check it. If you’re interested in keeping it up later in life, lace up the sneakers now.

24: Learn to Cook

Do you think you know how much butter goes into preparing those mashed potatoes at a restaurant? You’re probably off by half. If you can cook, you not only save money, but also gain control over what goes into your meals. Plus, for most women, a man who knows how to cook is as sexy as one who stars in movies. I have trouble boiling water. Thankfully, I’m already married.

25: Some Pills Should Be Popped The indoor life gives modern man protection from the elements. Unfortunately, roughly half of us are deficient in vitamin D, for which the sun is a major source. This crucial vitamin may aid in fighting cancer, diabetes and heart disease. I take a 1,000 IU supplement each morning.

Dr. Mehmet Oz is a professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University and a founder of the Complementary Medicine Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is co-author of the award-winning Healing from the Heart: A Leading Surgeon Combines Eastern and Western Traditions to Create the Medicine of the Future and YOU: The Owner’s Manual: An Insider’s Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger. He has frequently appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and currently hosts The Dr. Oz Show. natural awakenings

June 2011

consciouseating

GLUTEN: A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR HORMONES

by Dr. Marianne Beck, DC

WHAT IS GLUTEN ANYWAY?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and malt which can have a profound negative impact on your health. Gluten is the “glue” that makes bread and dough sticky. It is found in breads, cakes, cookies, pies, bagels, cereals, sauces and gravies, frozen dinners, pasta, boxed rice mixes, soy sauce, beer—the list goes on and on. Eating gluten and gluten containing products, in those of us who are sensitive or intolerant to it, causes inflammation in the intestines and atrophy of the villi lining the intestines that are responsible for absorbing nutrients. This causes your body to be unable to absorb essential nutrients such as vita-

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mins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates and fats from the food you eat and the supplements you take. If your body can not absorb these critical nutrients, it will not function properly—regardless of how well you eat or how many supplements you ingest. People who are gluten sensitive may experience a wide variety of symptoms when they consume gluten containing products including bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea, acid reflux and intestinal cramping. It is estimated that 60% of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients have been misdiagnosed and are actually gluten sensitive. However, approximately only 2 in 10 people who are gluten sensitive suffer from gastrointestinal disturbances. Most people suffer from gluten sensitivity without even knowing it. Herein lies the problem. If you suffer with symptoms like fatigue, depression, constant muscle and joint pain, migraine headaches, etc., gluten sensitivity may be at the root. Current medical research now links ADD, ADHD, OCD and dementia to gluten sensitivity. There is a lot of confusion regarding gluten sensitivity and how it relates to celiac disease. First of all both are genetic disorders and autoimmune in nature. You can think of celiac disease as the “ultimate” in gluten sensitivity. Or to put it this way, everyone with celiac disease is gluten sensitive, but not

everyone who is gluten sensitive has celiac disease. For example, if a person with celiac disease ordered a salad and there were croutons on the salad touching the lettuce, this person would become violently ill even by eating the lettuce that was touching the croutons. Not to mention eating the croutons. A person with gluten sensitivity may eat a crouton or two by mistake but would not get violently ill. However, it is interesting to note that if a gluten sensitive person continues to eat gluten containing foods, that person is prone to developing the more serious consequences of gluten sensitivity which include the host of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases previously mentioned as well as full blown celiac disease.

GLUTEN SENSITIVITY AND THE HORMONE CONNECTION:

Not only can gluten sensitivity impact your skin, muscles, bones, brain and neurological system and gastrointestinal tract, but it can also impact your endocrine (hormonal) system. Gluten sensitivity can place stress on your adrenal glands. The adrenal glands sit above your kidneys and are the stress buffering glands of your body. The adrenal glands produce hormones that repair the body and cope with daily stressors. They also produce our sex hormones as women age and start to enter peri-menopause. When our adrenals become exhausted and can not keep up with the demands placed upon them, a breakdown of bodily systems occurs. Your body systems do not function optimally and become unable to repair themselves. Body function slows down and this leads to fatigue and depression, loss of libido, hot flashes, PMS etc. When you are under chronic stress, your adrenal glands will produce stress hormones at the expense of your sex hormones, especially progesterone. This will lead to estrogen dominance with symptoms such as heavy bleeding, irregular menses, fibroids, endometriosis, breast tenderness, depression and infertility. When you are gluten sensitive and continue to eat gluten containing foods, you place your adrenal glands under chronic stress from ongoing intestinal inflammation. This leads to chronic

adrenal exhaustion which is a factor in depression, fatigue, hypothyroidism, increased arthritis, fibromyalgia, premature menopause and hormone imbalances. Gluten sensitivity and the resultant stress upon the adrenal glands seems to be quite common but it is rarely diagnosed. Many people are suffering needlessly because they have not been tested for gluten sensitivity.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM GLUTEN SENSITIVE?

If you are suffering from any type of gastrointestinal problems, testing for gluten sensitivity is a must. And, because gluten sensitivity is a genetic disorder, if you have family members with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), thyroid disease, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis etc, testing for gluten sensitivity may help you to uncover the cause of any problems you are having. Gluten sensitivity can be diagnosed from infancy to the last decade of life. It is unfortunate that many people suffer for many years before being diagnosed. In the United States, it is estimated that people suffer for up to ten years prior to a diagnosis whereas in Europe, where doctors have more awareness of gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, the average time to arrive at a diagnosis is typically within one year. Most medical doctors in our country are “behind the times” when it comes to being aware about gluten sensitivity and the “cutting edge” testing methods for diagnosing gluten sensitivity. Most think only in terms of celiac disease despite recent public awareness campaigns. If you have any of the diseases mentioned here, you owe it to yourself to rule out gluten as the culprit. If you are fatigued, suffer from chronic anemia or specific vitamin deficiencies, even though you are taking supplements, you should be tested for gluten intolerance. Recently, a patient I consulted with was taking vitamin D3 for over three years, yet his blood tests for vitamin D3 never changed. He was tested and found to be gluten sensitive and not absorbing his D3 supplement. Testing for gluten sensitivity can be done with a stool sample test using specialized certified laboratories. If your immune system is in “great shape”

gluten sensitivity can also be tested for in a saliva test. These tests will pick up gluten antibodies in the saliva or stool. You can also test your DNA to see if you have the genetic predisposition for gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease via a cheek swab DNA test. Keep in mind that blood tests are not accurate in the diagnosis of gluten sensitivity/ intolerance. Blood tests are only useful for diagnosing full blown celiac disease and sometimes it can take numerous blood samples to confirm that you are indeed celiac. As you can see, gluten sensitivity is often mistaken for other disorders. The “other disorders” are then treated with various drugs, as these drugs do nothing for the disease because the underlying cause of the disease is gluten sensitivity. If your condition is caused by gluten sensitivity, no medication will help it. If you have osteoporosis due to gluten sensitivity and the resultant malabsorption of calcium, no amount of calcium supplementation will help you. You owe it to yourself to get tested for the now epidemic health threat of gluten sensitivity. Should you discover that your condition is caused by gluten sensitivity, a gluten free diet is a necessity as is correcting the basic problem in your intestine by restoring proper bowel function with an individualized “gut restoration program” and a targeted vitamin and nutrient strategy to restore your health and well being. Dr. Marianne Beck, DC is the director of BestHealth in Pompano Beach FL. Dr. Beck has been in active practice for over 30 years and is a clinical nutrition and functional medicine/functional endocrinology practitioner. For more information call 954-782-4855 or visit womensbesthealth.com.

Gluten-Free Quinoa & Black Bean Salad Makes 10 servings

Ingredients 1 tsp canola oil 1 small, white onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped ¾ cup uncooked quinoa 1½ cups reduced sodium vegetable broth 1 tsp ground cumin ¼ tsp cayenne pepper Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup frozen corn kernels 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained* ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro Directions Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic and sauté until lightly browned. Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Stir frozen corn into the saucepan and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro. Nutrition Analysis for 1/10 recipe Calories: 120 Total Fat: 1.5g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 260mg Carbohydrates: 25g Fiber: 6g Sugar: 2g Protein: 6g Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 6% Calcium 4% Iron 10% *Draining and rinsing canned beans can reduce the sodium by 40-60 percent. Source: Market Street Registered Dietitian, Alicia Brown. For more information visit MarketStreetUnited.com/ HealthWellness.

natural awakenings

June 2011

localresources FRESH PRODUCE & PRODUCTS Dedicated “locavores” can easily find delicious, nutritious choices, at these food stores and local marketplaces in the North Texas area.

CENTRAL MARKET – PLANO 320 Coit Rd, Plano 75075 469-241-8300 CENTRAL MARKET – SOUTHLAKE 1425 E Southlake Blvd, Southlake 76092 817-310-5600

CUPBOARD NATURAL FOODS 200 W Congress St, Denton 76201 940-387-5386 KEN’S PRODUCE 410 N Bell Ave, Denton 76201 940-382-6368

MARKET STREET - ALLEN 985 W Bethany Dr, Allen 75013 972-908-3830 MARKET STREET - COLLEYVILLE 5605 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville 76034 817-577-5020 MARKET STREET - COPPELL 700 N Denton Tap Rd, Coppell 75019 469-322-6800

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MARKET STREET - FRISCO 11999 Dallas Pkwy, Frisco 75034 214-872-1500 MARKET STREET - MCKINNEY 6100 W Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney 75070 972-548-5140 MARKET STREET - PLANO 1929 Preston Rd, Plano 75093 972-713-5500

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET 2301 Cross Timbers Rd, Flower Mound 75028 972-874-7380 SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET 5190 Preston Rd, Frisco 75034 972-464-5776 SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET 207 East FM 544, Murphy 75094 972-265-4770 SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET 4100 E Legacy Dr, Plano 75024 972-618-8902

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

greencommunityspotlight

Solar Community: Eco-Friendly and Affordable Alternatives by Robert Dean enewable energy is certainly not new to the market, but until the recent increases in fossil fuel prices, most people weren’t choosing renewable energy over oil, natural gas or electricity. That is changing, however, as more and more residents consider alternative sources of energy as a way to save money and the environment. Nobody knows that better than the folks at Solar Community, a full service solar energy consulting firm with offices across Texas, specializing in residential, commercial, and governmental solar design, engineering and installation. Founded in 2007 by Brandon Mathis and Jeff Wolfe, both of whom were already working in the renewable energy industry, the company is dedicated to educating consumers and businesses about just how affordable and efficient solar can be. According to Shelby Ruff, vice president of residential sales, it’s a common misconception that solar is not an affordable option, particularly for homeowners. In fact, it is not only affordable, but the return on investment (ROI) can be quite significant. Ruff says in addition to a 30 percent federal tax credit, many utility companies offer rebates or incentives for homeowners and business owners. Businesses get the added advantage of writing solar panels off as a depreciating asset, not to mention the added savings of reducing or eliminating the electric bill. “Going solar has so many advantages,” notes Ruff. “It’s a tax-free investment that is under warranty for 25 years, the cost of sunshine is free, it’s better for the environment, and it reduces the need to import energy from foreign countries.” Solar Community goes one step further by offering a Solar Leasing Program, designed to help make it easier for consumers to make the leap to solar energy. The new lease option eliminates the high up-front costs often associated with solar energy installation. Instead, clients pay a low monthly lease payment, allowing them to start saving money immediately. In addition, the company offers secured financing options (home equity loans, home equity line of credit, mortgage refinancing) and unsecured financing options (personal loan, personal line of credit) for residential and commercial users.

Ruff says they sit with each customer to determine goals, budget and how best to maximize the products and savings. “We are not here to sell you the most, but to provide you with what you need and what you can afford.” The company even offers what Ruff refers to as, “the Lego block approach,” which enables people to purchase panels as they can afford them. “Instead of buying 20 panels, they can buy five, and still get the tax credit,” he explains. “They can add on and still get the tax credit each year until 2016.” For those concerned about durability, Ruff says the panels are made of tempered glass (the same material as a windshield of a car) and are under a 25-year warranty. The panels must be covered under homeowner’s insurance to protect from any damage, although of the 200-300 residential solar energy systems Solar Community has installed over the years, fewer than a dozen panels have needed to be replaced due to weather damage. Consumers not willing to make a “full-blown” commitment to solar energy often choose solar thermal energy as an inexpensive, easy and efficient way to provide hot water to the home or commercial property, while still reducing energy bills and home efficiency. Ruff explains that solar thermal energy is the oldest way of tapping into the sun’s immense power, by which solar thermal collectors are connected to the plumbing system, tubes throughout the panels are heated by the sun’s irradiance, water passes through the solar thermal panels, is heated to a high temperature and then is cycled back through the home to provide hot water. Other options offered by Solar Community include solar attic fans, solar pool heating and solar lighting. No matter what the option, Ruff says Solar Community is dedicated to informing the public about why solar energy is the way to go—while providing the best possible products and services to clients. Solar Community has offices throughout Texas, including the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. For more info, contact 1-87-SOLARNRG or 1-877-652-7674 or visit SolarCommunity.com. See ad, page 11. natural awakenings

June 2011

JUST TAKE FIVE

A Guy’s Guide to Staying Vitally Healthy by Judith Fertig

ncient prophets understood the wisdom of living by the adage, “Eat, drink and be merry,” and it still rings true today. Today’s health experts further add, “get moving” and “see your doctor at least once a year.” Adopting this short, easy-to-do list of habits as a guiding principle can be key to a healthier and happier life, and add more years to accomplish your bucket list. The good news about male longevity is that much of it is under our control. Dr. Robert Butler, gerontologist, psychiatrist and author of The Longevity Prescription: The 8 Proven Keys to a Long, Healthy Life, received a Pulitzer Prize for his work on aging. A founding director of the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, he also started the nation’s first department of geriatrics, at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. In his early 80s, Butler was still regularly walking around Central Park before putting in 60-hour weeks doing work he loved as head of International Longevity Center–USA (ilcusa.org). Butler maintained that genes account for only 25 percent of our individual health and said, “Our environment and personal behaviors account for the rest.” For him, it was simple things like welcome hugs and laughter that added pleasure and length to life. Of course, learning something new helps the brain stay active. Butler lived

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the essence of active right up until his passing a year ago at age 83.

A Simple Prescription

So, what are men up against today? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov), the leading causes of death for men are heart disease; cancer (especially prostate); injuries; chronic lower respiratory diseases; stroke; diabetes; suicide; influenza and pneumonia; kidney disease; and Alzheimer’s disease. But men can take a preventive approach to these conditions. Here are five proactive, enjoyable ways that work:

EAT.

The simple everyday act of healthy eating can have longterm, holistic benefits for not only overall health and weight management, but for preventing prostate cancer. In

2010, nearly 218,000 men in the United States were diagnosed with prostate cancer, a largely curable challenge when caught in its early stages, according to the American Cancer Society. But why not eat well to prevent potential cancer cells from becoming a bigger problem? “All of us have microscopic cancers growing in our bodies all the time,” says Dr. William Li, founder and head of The Angiogenesis Foundation, in Cambridge, Massachusetts (angio.org and the userfriendly EatToDefeat.org). Angiogenesis is the process our bodies use to grow blood vessels, he says, a natural process that sometimes gets hijacked by cancer cells. “A microscopic tumor can grow up to 16,000 times its original size in as little as two weeks,” explains Li, “but new, groundbreaking research from The Angiogenesis Foundation proposes that you can stop cancer before it begins to grow.” Li calls this new preventive approach “anti-angiogenesis.” “Many common foods contain cancer-starving molecules,” Li continues. “Anti-angiogenesis encourages that. By changing the way you eat, you can change your internal environment, thereby depriving cancer cells the opportunity to grow and multiply.” Li and his colleagues continue to monitor the results of other studies while continuing their own research showing the positive effects of certain foods in slowing or preventing the growth and spread of cancer cells. One seminal study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2002, established the link between eating cooked tomato products and a lowered risk of prostate cancer. “Cooked tomatoes… have more cancerfighting properties than raw tomatoes,” advises Li. “Both contain the

molecule lycopene, but heating the tomato changes its chemical structure and makes the benefits more readily available to the body. You should eat two to three [½ cup] servings of cooked tomatoes a week.” The Angiogenesis Foundation provides a base list of 40 natural foods that contain cancer-preventing properties. New foods are added as their benefits are proved in research. The newest additions for fighting prostate cancer— Emmental, Jarlsburg and gouda cheeses—are rich in vitamin K2.

DRINK. Consuming fresh ginger drinks, green tea and herbal tea blends that include antiangiogenic ginseng, lavender and licorice root work to hydrate the body and prevent disease, according to researchers at The Angiogenesis Foundation. A glass or two of red wine, which contains the cancer fighting, anti-inflammatory compound resveratrol, can be good for men. “My own advice to folks is about one drink a day,” counseled Butler. “The older you get, the heavier the impact of the alcohol. But in moderation, alcohol not only has a relaxing effect, it can elevate levels of good cholesterol. Maintaining good hydration by drinking water also helps kidneys filter impurities out of the body and keeps skin looking fresher.

and romantic relationships and staying in touch with lots of friends not only increases the quality of men’s lives, but also helps battle depression and heart disease, suggests Dr. Mehmet Oz, a professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University and a founder of the Complementary Medicine Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He frequently appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show before becoming host of The Dr. Oz Show.

According to Oz, “The more sex you have—provided that it’s safe sex and with a mutually monogamous partner—the healthier you will be. Men who have sex once a month are at more than two times the risk of heart disease and heart attack than men who have sex twice a week.” Complementing such healthy excitement, establishing a daily meditation practice also helps men stay calm, energetic, positive and more attuned to their own inner wisdom, says Donna Cardillo, a registered nurse who advises healthcare professionals in the Gannett Healthcare Group. “Studies have also shown that regular meditation can lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, improve the body’s response to stress, and even improve sleep patterns.”

BE MERRY. The very things that

come with being social are good for everyone’s health. According to Butler, simple touching, such as holding hands with and hugging a loved one, works to lower blood pressure. Laughing with buddies helps keep blood vessels from restricting, and thus keeps the heart working more efficiently. Having an eye for beauty in our surrounding adds pleasure to life and helps keep us in a good mood. Engaging in close, loving natural awakenings

June 2011

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people take 3,500 to 5,000 steps a day. Raising that to 10,000 steps a day will burn more calories, promote better heart function and keep weight under control.

GET A TUNE-UP.

Another way to be and stay merry, suggests Cardillo, is to take part in some kind of volunteer work. “Volunteering has long been touted as a great way to give back and make a positive contribution to the world,” she remarks. “While all that is true, numerous studies, including the recent Do Good Live Well Study, by UnitedHealthcare, have shown that people who do volunteer work for two or more hours a week exhibit lower rates of depression and heart disease, live happier more fulfilled lives and have greater self-esteem and greater functionality, especially older adults.”

MOVE. Butler promoted moderate exercise to help improve cardiovascular function, elevate mood and keep men fit longer, and his conclusions are supported by studies by the University of Maryland Medical Center, Arizona State University, and the Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He found that, “One of the most frightening disabilities of old age, aside from dementia, is frailty.” His prescription? Maintain strong thigh muscles, which is what we use to get up out of a chair or bed, and do squats daily. Yoshiro Hatano, Ph.D., popularized the use of pedometers and the 10,000 Steps a Day program in Japan that also spread to this country. Wearing a small counter is a simple way to keep track of how many steps we take in a day. Such monitoring devices indicate how active or inactive we really are, which can be a bit of a surprise. Hatano and his researchers found that most

Healthy Inspiration from North Texas Via 5 Alive

Annual physicals are more important than regularly changing the oil in a car, yet men are more likely than women to skip a checkup visit to their doctor, according to a recent poll by Louis Harris and Associates. A growing trend among health centers addresses this concern, offering men a one-stop-shopping-style checkup and testing. Here’s how: Men who aren’t interested in spending a day window-shopping certainly aren’t into a day of appointments to check off a list of simple health screenings. So, special health programs—modeled after executive health screenings formerly accessible only at getaway destinations like the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota, or the Greenbrier Clinic, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia— are popping up at local hospitals from coast to coast. As part of the men’s health program at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, serving the Kansas City area, for example, doctors emphasize “maintaining optimal performance” versus “let’s see what’s wrong with you.” Prior to an appointment, patients visit a lab location for tests, so that all of their results are ready when they visit the doctor. Then, on the day of their appointment, some additional screenings are performed, if necessary, so the time men spend with the doctor is used more effectively. This personalized, focused attention and all-at-once approach can provide straightforward strategic health planning—a map of diet, exercise and lifestyle targets to aim for in the coming year that can keep men here and healthy. Judith Fertig is a freelance writer in Overland Park, KS; see AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com. She interviewed Dr. Robert Butler before his passing.

illage Vilcabamba, high in the Andes Mountains of South America, is one of the “Blue Zones” of the world where people live unusually long and healthy lives. The Vilcabambans have been studied by scientists from all over the world including Alexander Leaf, MD who wrote extensively about them in National Geographic in January 1973. Three decades of scientific research revealed that the secret to the Vilcabamban’s long and healthy lives was a combination of their super-rich antioxidant diet and consumption of natural chelated minerals in their spring drinking water. This was the inspiration behind the health product Via 5 Alive that was conceived and born here in North Texas. It took 12 years to develop this combination of 12 antioxidant rich whole fruits combined with chelated minerals that replicate the whole fruits and daily minerals that provide the Vilcabambans with natural energy, vitality and long, healthy lives. The product was first made available over the internet in the U.S. in 2003. With high pollution levels existing in many developing countries, consumers value all-natural products that fight free-radical damage and support wellness. Today, the product is available over the internet in more than 26 countries and territories around the world. Via 5 Alive made its retail debut right here in North Texas at Central Market and Market Street locations in 2011. The product continues to expand its retail presence nationally, offering natural energy to those that want to feel younger and live younger longer. For more information, visit Via5Alive. com. See ad, page 6.

natural awakenings

June 2011

healingways

BYE-BYE, BELLY FAT Strategies to Win the Battle of the Bulge by Anjula Razdan

ooking good at the beach isn’t the only reason to flatten our tummies. It turns out that abdominal fat has a major impact on whether we stay healthy and vital or put ourselves at increased risk for several chronic diseases. All of us need a bit of internal belly fat, according to nutritional expert Dr. Pamela Peeke, who says, “We need stomach fat to help cushion organs and maintain internal body temperature; it’s also a good source of backup fuel.” Peeke is the author of Body for Life for Women and Fight Fat After Forty.

Two Types of Fat

Ringing all our midsections are two different kinds of fat: subcutaneous, beneath the skin; and visceral, stored deep in the body around major organs. Each functions differently on a biological level. Subcutaneous, or “passive” fat, requires metabolic 28

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intervention from other body systems and glands in order to be processed for energy. Visceral, or “active,” fat functions much like a gland itself: It is programmed to break down and release fatty acids and other hormonal substances that are metabolized by the liver (it’s also what tends to make a tummy protrude in classic “beer belly” fashion). Health experts Dr. Marie Savard, and Carol Svec, co-authors of The Body Shape Solution to Weight Loss and Wellness, state in their book, “Excess visceral fat can lead to increased blood sugar and higher insulin levels, and it also generates increased inflammation, all of which are the perfect setup for diabetes, certain types of cancers and stroke.”

Four Factors

There is no single answer to the riddle of weight gain; it involves four factors—genetics, eating habits, stress and hormones. Some of us, says Savard, are destined to be “apples,” gaining weight in the stomach and upper-body region, while others are fated to be “pears,” putting it on in the hips, buttocks, thighs and lower legs. Abdominal fat is produced when we ingest more caloric energy than our bodies can use. “It’s certainly no secret that

the way we eat is out of sync with our body’s needs,” writes Floyd H. Chilton, Ph.D., in Inflammation Nation: The First Clinically Proven Eating Plan to End Our Nation’s Secret Epidemic. “Most of the evolutionary forces that shaped our genetic development were exerted 10,000 years ago, when we were hunter-gatherers. Nothing in that programming could have prepared us for the Big Mac.” As Peeke puts it, “Genetics may load the gun, but environment pulls the trigger.” She spent years researching the link between stress and fat at the National Institutes of Health, and says that chronic stress can beget an expansive waistline because it triggers ongoing production of cortisol that, among other things, spurs intense appetite that causes us to overeat; the resulting weight gain tends to settle mainly in the abdomen. Declining levels of sex hormones cause both men and women to develop a paunch as they age. Even pear-shaped women start to lose their estrogen advantage after menopause. Remarks Savard, “When they gain weight after meno-

pause, the tendency is to put on visceral fat... and transform from pear into apple.”

Strategies

Potbellies are epidemic, and there is no quick-fix approach. Common spot remedies like crunches might tone back and abdominal muscles, but they don’t address fat stored inside the belly. For that, we need to reduce our body’s overall fat storage. Savard advises against being tempted by crash diets; they sometimes lead to weight gain. She advises that, “Reducing your caloric intake by more than 25 percent simply triggers your metabolism to go into starvation mode, which lowers your [resting metabolic] rate.” Sticking with a sensible, wholefoods diet and moderate, daily exercise will deliver much better results. The good news is that visceral fat, while it may be stored deep down in your belly, is often the first type of fat to burn off. This fat is metabolically active, so it actually works in our favor when we decide to get rid of it.

We’ll do better to forget how much we weigh and focus on our waistline measurement, counsels Savard. Losing just two inches there can significantly decrease the risk for a host of illnesses and diseases. “Throw away your weight scale, because health is in inches, not pounds,” she emphasizes. Exercise and nutrition, especially eating small, well-balanced meals every three to four hours, is important, says Peeke, but just as significant is learning how to manage stress levels. “I’ve always looked at the mind in addition to the mouth and the muscle,” she says. While there is no quick-fix approach to losing abdominal fat, thinking holistically and making real lifestyle changes can go a long way toward shedding a stubborn belly. By doing so, we’ll not only look great at the beach this summer, but feel great, too. Anjula Razdan is a Washington, D.C.-based writer and editor whose article here is an adapted excerpt from Care2.com.

natural awakenings

June 2011

fitbody

Barefootin’ Let Feet Go Naked and Natural

by Jason Robillard any folks, like me, started barefoot running on a whim. In 2005, I was just an aspiring runner searching for some method to escape chronic injuries involving plantar fasciitis, shin splints and back pain. I never expected to fall in love with this revolutionary approach to recreational running. Today, according to the AdWords keyword tool, the term “barefoot running” is searched on Google some 90,000 times a month by those seeking more information, including from websites like guru Ken Bob Saxton’s TheRunningBarefoot.com and my own BarefootRunningUniversity.com. Even the sports footwear industry has taken notice, with most manufacturers adding “minimalist shoes” to their lines that allow individuals to run in a more natural manner.

Fresh Approach This paradigm shift in the running world has created a new wave of research, focused on the principles of barefoot running. Dr. Daniel Lieberman, professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University, has published one of the most influential studies on the topic. In 2010, he and his colleagues discovered that there is no need for the overly cushioned running shoes that have dominated the market for a quarter century. Rather, he concluded, the naked human foot is more than capable of dissipating the forces generated by running. A study published last year in the British Journal of Sports Medicine by researchers at the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, at The University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, questioned the entire shoe-fitting process. While monitoring women that were 30

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training for a half marathon, the authors found that common motion-control shoes caused more pain than neutral shoes that do not control natural foot movement. They concluded that, “Our current approach of prescribing in-shoe pronation [the inward rolling of the foot] control systems on the basis of foot type is overly simplistic and potentially injurious.” Thus, the latest thinking is that wearing a modern, cushioned, motion-

Feet that are mostly confined inside restrictive, padded shoes tend to grow weak and deformed, according to Dr. William Rossi. We can save our children from this fate by purchasing proper shoes that allow freedom of movement. The American Podiatric Medical Association recommends “... lightweight, flexible footwear made of natural materials.” The goal is to wear shoes that do not interfere with natural foot function. control running shoe is not necessarily the best solution for everyone. Trusting our own body may be a better answer. That’s the mantra of the grandfather of the movement, Ken Bob Saxton, a veteran of 77 barefoot marathons. His stance is clear: “Our own feet are our best running coaches.” Ted MacDonald, another mentor to many advocates via BarefootTed.com, agrees, saying, “Barefoot running is about tuning in to your own body’s highly sophisticated set of integrated awareness systems, which communicate through feelings and senses that are being collected in real-time as you move.” Critics of barefoot running point out that no conclusive clinical study has yet been done that contrasts injury rates between barefoot and shod runners. While researchers investigate this dynamic, anecdotal evidence from barefoot runners continues to support the beneficial nature of the practice. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joseph Froncioni offers a helpful analogy. He likens the use of the modern running shoe to our

reliance on baby formula in the mid-20th century. Through clever marketing and the endorsement of the medical community, baby formula manufacturers convinced the American public that their formula was superior to a mother’s natural breast milk. A few decades later, research totally disproved the claim. Of course, there are some conditions under which minimalist shoes can be highly advantageous, such as on rough trails or in extreme temperatures. In these cases, a minimalist shoe that allows the body to run in the most natural manner can work well. That generally means flat-soled shoes without a raised heel, but with a wide toe box that allows toes to spread out; these are typically made of lightweight, flexible materials.

Barefoot Tips For anyone interested in barefoot running, learning about it may be as simple as kicking off your shoes. Most people can successfully make the transition by reacting to the tactile feedback they receive from the ground or other amenable surface. Everyone will benefit from these few basic tips from the experts: n Keep an upright posture n Take very short, light, quick n Land on the ball of the foot,

Interested in Learning More about Minimal Footwear?

ith the growing trend of barefoot running, several options of minimal footwear have become available that are great tools to incorporate into your training. When transitioning from a traditional shoe (i.e., stability, motion control) to a minimalist shoe, the key is to understand which one is the best for you and to ease into it to avoid injury. The following shoes are excellent examples of the new minimalist footwear available. A specialty running store like Luke’s Locker, specializes in shoe fittings and can educate on the differences of each style, fitting you with a shoe that meets your needs and goals.

Saucony Hattori

Mitten-like toe box gives your toes room to naturally arch, grip and push off. Saucony’s most minimal and lightweight shoe ever.

Altra The Instinct

steps and then gently allow the heel to touch the surface n Keep knees bent and arms and legs relaxed n Be patient; start with a quarter-mile and then slowly increase distance

Zero Drop™ running shoes have a zero offset from the heel to the toe in the running shoe providing a natural running experience without eliminating the shoe.

Barefoot running allows individuals to push their limits and reach new running goals. So, try taking your shoes off and have some fun!

Newton Distance

Jason Robillard is a barefoot running instructor, founder of Barefoot Running University, co-founder of the Barefoot Runners Society and author of The Barefoot Running Book. He also consults for the shoe industry. Watch for news of his family’s cross-county tour this summer at BarefootRunning University.com and their blog, RobillardAdventures.com.

A non-traditional barefoot running shoe that provides support while training one to run correctly by forcing the foot to land and “strike” the ground correctly.

New Balance Minimus A comfortable and extremely lightweight running shoe

engineered for use on pavement and varied running surfaces.

Nike Free Run+ 2

An inner sleeve provides a snug fit and breathability with an outsole design that maximizes the foot’s natural range of motion, providing protection and cushioning.

Inov-8 F-Lite™ 230

Lightweight racing flat for hard pack mountainous terrain and short distance races, with a low profile midsole and sticky rubber outsole for good support.

Vibram Five Fingers Bikila

Promotes a more natural and efficient forefoot strike without compromising ground feedback. A 3mm polyurethane insole and 4mm anatomical pod outsole design provides underfoot protection.

Terra Planna Vivobarefoot Evo M A barefoot cross-trainer suitable for multi-terrain dry land runs. Anatomically neutral high abrasion outsole, wide toe box and moisture control foam foot bed.

For more information on Luke’s Locker store locations and to check shoe availability, visit LukesLocker.com. See ad, inside front cover. natural awakenings

June 2011

greenliving

limits. A good electric bike can travel 40 to 50 miles on a single charge. In another twist, the power of the motors in Kalkhoff brand bikes, known as pedelec bikes in Europe, increases the more you pedal.

Zippy E-Bikes Ditch the Car for a Fun and Easy Body-Friendly Ride by Brita Belli

riving a vehicle to work, the store and the gym on congested roads does more than try our patience—those daily petroleumpowered trips are polluting the planet. The Clean Air Council reports that each gallon of gas we use on the road results in 20 more pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) mucking up the atmosphere we breathe. In fact, all motor vehicles combined are responsible for 31 percent of the total CO2 emissions currently contributing to global warming. Because most car trips are short— the National Household Travel Survey finds that half of all the trips we make are three miles or less, 72 percent of these in motor vehicles—they could be replaced with a more eco-friendly ride. With such a wide variety of snazzy new options available, from cargo bicycles to electric motorcycles, it’s never been easier to move on our best intentions. RECUMBENT BICYCLES AND VELOMOBILES: Recumbent-style bicycles look unfamiliar because they are ergonomically designed with higher pedals and large, back-supporting seats that distribute a rider’s weight—allow32

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ing people of all shapes and sizes to lean back and pedal comfortably while maintaining safety and speed. These people-friendly cycles can be of typical bike length or longer, and some are trikes, with two back wheels. They also can be equipped with a pod-like cover for year-round riding. The covered, aerodynamic, threewheeled versions are known as velomobiles, or bicycle cars. Rod Miner, president of Lightfoot Cycles, which specializes in recumbent bikes, side-byside four-wheel tandems, adult trikes with cargo and pet carriers, and velomobiles, says that almost every model can be given added oomph with an electric- or a small-engine assist. “For the cost of a gallon of gas,” Miner says, “one of our super-efficient, electrically assisted cycles can travel 1,200 miles.” ELECTRIC BIKES: These offer a zippy, eco-friendly way to run errands, combining pedal power with the assistance of a small electric motor that facilitates speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. They require no gas, license or registration, and often are allowed on roads where mopeds and scooters are off-

ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES: Electric motorcycles provide the same thrill and speed as gas-powered versions, minus the noise and dirty emissions. These motorcycles are ready to race: The Mission R electric racing superbike is not only a sleek-looking machine, but can go from zero to fast in one gear. They also look nearly identical to a traditional ride, hosting a battery pack and motor in place of the powertrain. Because motorcycles are small and efficient, they don’t require heavy battery packs, and can be plugged into any home outlet to charge. Most will run for about two hours, or 40 to 50 miles on a charge. A federal incentive of a 10 percent tax credit helps with the purchase price, along with state incentives active in California, Colorado, Georgia and South Carolina and pending in many other states (update at ZeroMotorcycles.com/it/incentives). ELECTRIC DIRT BIKES: Nature lovers may recoil at the idea of gas-powered dirt bikes or motocross bikes tearing around trails, but in designated spots, they can provide the thrill riders seek, minus the noxious exhaust and noisy, revving engines. In fact, Dirt Rider Magazine says of the all-electric Zero X dirt bike: “Utter silence... is the inevitable sound of the future of off-road motorcycle riding.” Its battery charger plugs in to any standard outlet, and all of the company’s lithium-ion power packs are recycled. While the battery-powered Zero can reach off-road speeds of up to 47 mph, the company Razor also designs scaled-down electric motocross bikes (and quads and scooters) for younger enthusiasts that are built for fun, with speeds of up to 14 mph for up to 10 miles on a single charge.

LONGTAIL AND CARGO BIKES: Longtail, or cargo, bikes are designed for carting everything from groceries to kids. An extended mount for the back tire gives riders extra space to use as a long, flat seat for kids to straddle, with space on either side for saddlebags (called panniers) or other bucket- or baskettype attachments. It has a bit larger turning radius and two kickstands for keeping the bike upright when stationary. With a base price often upwards of $1,000, cargo-oriented riders may wish to opt to convert an existing bicycle into a longtail with a backend attachment like the Free Radical from Xtracycle, which can be bolted on to provide two deep compartments for hauling up to 200 pounds of carry-ons. Madsen bikes come equipped with a large, sturdy bucket that supplies a fun ride for young ones—or for packing beach gear or shopping bags. BALANCE BIKES: Pedal-less or “walking” balance bikes (also known as run bikes) are all the rage in kids’ bicycles today, and a quick perusal of YouTube videos of kids riding them shows why.

Because little ones are able to use their feet to push off the ground, then lift their feet as the bike rolls forward, even tots as young as 2 or 3 can do some serious cruising. Not only can they go somewhat faster than they would with a hard-to-accelerate tricycle, they also learn how to balance themselves, facilitating a quicker transition to a larger bike without training wheels when the time comes. BIKE ACCESSORIES: Rock the Bike, a collaboration of inventors and advocates in Berkeley, California, wants to make bike riding a fun, communitycentered, mainstream activity with citizen advocates everywhere. Products offered by Rock the Bike are designed to make daily commuting and night riding easier, including cargo bikes designed for hauling heavy stuff; the Biker Bar, which allows several riders to produce clean energy

from pedaling together (providing a steady 200 watts of power); Bike Blenders, which let riders pedal their way to tasty smoothies; and The Down Low Glow multi-colored neon lighting for bike frames that provides better nighttime visibility. Brita Belli, the editor of E – The Environmental Magazine, is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.

Find Your Ride The Bicycle Path

2416 Lillian Miller Pkwy, Denton 940-387-4283 Specialized and Fuji bicycles in road, mountain, hybrid, comfort, cargo and kids. Clothing, accessories, parts, service and group rides.

Richardson Bike Mart – Frisco

8820 John Hickman Pkwy, Frisco 972-335-7600 Variety of bikes including BMX, electric, elliptical, exercise, folding, hybrid, mountain, recumbent, road, tandem, unicycle and cruiser bikes. Clothing, accessories, parts and service. Educational clinics and events.

Plano Cycling & Fitness 605 18th St, Plano 972-423-4130

BMX, children, comfort, cruiser, fitness, mountain, road, recumbent, tandem and women specific bikes. Clothing, accessories, parts, service and educational clinics and events.

natural awakenings

June 2011

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natural awakenings

June 2011

naturalpet

ALZHEIMER’S ALTERNATIVES Natural Therapies Can Help

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier anine and feline Alzheimer’s disease, also known as cognitive disorder, is the most common chronic degenerative problem for older dogs and cats, especially past the age of 10. It affects millions of pets in the United States. The cause of Alzheimer’s in animals is unknown. It appears, however, that inflammation may play a role. On the microscopic level, scientists have noted the presence of abnormal protein accumulations occurring within the brain’s blood vessels, similar to those in people with Alzheimer’s. Ultimately, the brain lesions interfere with proper functioning of nerve transmissions.

Clinical Signs Several signs may indicate cognitive disorder in affected dogs, including: n Staring at a wall n Lack of awareness of surroundings n Occasional lack of recognition of the owner n Lethargy/lack of energy n Excess sleep (especially during the day) n House-training problems (usually urinating inside the house) n Deafness Cats share the same clinical signs of cognitive disorder as dogs, plus the following: n Poor coat (excessive shedding or thin, dry coat) n Poor appetite n Chronic constipation n House-training problems (usually urinating outside the litter box when other problems related to anxiety behavior are not in evidence) 36

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Many different natural therapies can help alleviate cognitive disorder. Note that other conditions, such as diabetes plus thyroid, kidney, heart or adrenal gland disease, can produce signs similar to those associated with cognitive disorder. A full diagnostic evaluation that includes blood and urine testing should be performed by a veterinarian before reaching such a possible diagnosis.

Conventional Treatment The drug Anipryl has been approved for treating cognitive disorder in dogs; no medication is available for cats. While effective in some patients, this drug is expensive and can have rare side effects. If the drug proves to be effective, Anipryl must be used for the rest of the life of the dog. Natural, drug-free therapies are less costly.

Natural Therapies Many different natural therapies can help alleviate cognitive disorder,

as recommended by a holistic vet. Changes in diet may include antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, herbs such as ginkgo biloba, targeted homeopathics and phosphatidylserine and acetylL-carnitine supplements. While I may incorporate a combination of these in the treatment of a pet with cognitive disorder, one mainstay is supplementation with choline/phosphatidylcholine. Many pets in my practice have had beneficial results with the patented product Cholodin, made by MVP Laboratories. It contains choline, phosphatidylcholine, methionine and inositol. Several years ago, I conducted a study funded by the manufacturer and found that Cholodin was effective as a sole therapy. Half of the dogs and cats treated with this supplement showed a moderate or significant response within 30 days; another 25 percent of dogs and 20 percent of cats in the study showed at least minimal improvement within a 30-day period. I now prescribe Cholodin for all of my dog and cat patients that are at least 5 years of age, as a preventive measure. In addition to choline and other natural therapies, I believe that it’s important to minimize inflammation in older pets, as well, because minimizing inflammation may also help prevent or decrease the incidence of other serious disorders. Because common commercial pet foods can have ingredients that can induce oxidative cell damage and inflammation, I recommend feeding pets natural foods devoid of byproducts and chemicals (feeding only wet food to cats). Other ideas to reduce inflammation include minimizing vaccinations through the use of antibody titer testing, and minimizing or eliminating the use of chemical flea and tick products. In my experience, using natural therapies, beginning when a pet turns 5 years of age, can actually prevent, and at least minimize, the incidence of cognitive disorder. Shawn Messonier, is a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX. For more info, call 972-867-8800.

Managing Insect Pests

Chives – Improves growth and flavor of carrots. Repels aphids and spider mites.

With Companion Planting

Garlic – Discourages aphids, spider mites, flea beetles and Japanese beetles.

by Ed Arnold any people simply don’t like “bugs”. At the first sign of any bug or insect they run out to the garden center to purchase an insecticide that may contain harsh chemicals that can endanger the health of our family, including our pets. Ironically, 95 percent of insects are actually beneficial and mankind could not live without them. Long before the use of pesticides, farmers and gardeners knew that some plants grew better when planted next to each other. Certain plants may improve the soil by returning minerals and nutrients to the soil which has been depleted by another plant. Plants can attract birds and insects that prey on the insects we call “pests” and specific plants can actually repel harmful insects. This relationship between plants and insects is known as “companion planting” or Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Herbs and flowering plants repel insect pests through their strong scent or root secretions. Since insects rely on their antenna to smell the plant they prefer to eat or lay eggs on, companion plants can either mask the scent the pest is looking for, or repel the bug due to irritating oils. The exact mechanism by which many “companion” plants protect our garden is not known, although according to AgriLife / Texas A&M literature, this is the same basis for integrated pest management in which manages pest in an environmentally sound manner using a combination of control tactics that make the landscape more staple and subject to fewer problems. There are skeptics, but from my personal experience, I know companion planting works. It is important to understand the affect we have on our environment through our own actions. An example can be how beneficial insects such as ants become “pests” when they invade our homes. Drive around any neighborhood and look at the landscaping. You’ll see how some people can actually be attracting pests by planting woody ornamentals like althea and

Lavender – Deters moths, aphids and fleas.

Marigolds – Deters Mexican bean beetle, squash bugs, thrips, tomato hornworms and whitefly. The roots repel harmful root knot nematodes that destroy tomatoes, potatoes, roses and strawberries. crepe myrtle next to their home. These ornamentals attract mealy bugs, scale and aphids, which hurt these trees and in turn attract ants. By planting these trees next to the home, the homeowner has drawn the ants to their house and eventually to their kitchen counter. Nothing is perfect and organic means of control are not always 100 percent effective, which can also be said of the harshest, most toxic chemicals. We should not attempt or expect to completely eliminate pests from our gardens. The goal through companion planting is to promote a healthy, vigorous garden yielding beauty and a bountiful harvest. The following herbs and flowering plants repel unwanted insects, attract beneficial insects, are wonderful to cook with, and are beautiful too. Most are perennial and will return year after year, but a few are annuals and must be replanted each year. Use this as a guide to help you experiment and determine which companion plants work in your garden. Artemisia – Also known as Worm Wood, deters slugs.

Nasturtium – Helps control squash bugs, cucumber beetles and whiteflies. Onions – Repels carrot flies. Parsley – May be used as a “tea” to repel asparagus beetles. Parsley gone to seed will attract parasitic wasps which are very beneficial. Pennyroyal – Deters fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, flies and chiggers; rub the leaves on your skin. Peppermint – Deters white cabbage moths, aphids, flea beetles and squash bugs. Rosemary – Repels cabbage moth, bean beetles and carrot flies. Prostrate Rosemary deters snails and slugs. Rue – Repels flies, Japanese beetles, mosquitoes and slugs. Sage – Deters cabbage moth, beetles and carrot flies. Tansy – Deters Japanese beetles, stripped cucumber beetle, squash bugs and ants.

Bachelor’s Buttons – Attractive to beneficial insects including: ladybugs, lacewings and beneficial wasps

Thyme – Repels cabbage worms, carrot flies and attracts beneficial insects.

Basil - Repels flies and mosquitoes and improves the flavor of tomatoes. Bee Balm – Plant with tomatoes to improve growth and flavor.

Restoring the natural order in our own personal environment takes time, so take your focus off the destination and enjoy the journey.

Catnip – Repels flea beetle, aphids, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, ants and weevils. Repels mosquitoes 10 times more effectively than DEET

Ed Arnold is the owner of Natural Pest Solutions in Plano. For more info, call 214-763-2758 or visit GuysinGreen.com. See ad, page 10.

Yarrow – Attracts beneficial insects.

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inspiration

The Power of a Father’s Story Letting Your Children Know You by John Badalament

When I ask dads to describe the kind of relationship they want to have with their children, every dad will say without hesitation that above all, he wants to feel emotionally close and connected with them.

enowned researcher and author John Gottman, Ph.D., founder of the Relationship Research Institute, has concluded that children with emotionally available dads do better in school, have better peer relationships and relate better with teachers than children whose dads are more emotionally distant. Children with dads who are overly critical or dismissing of emotions are more likely to do poorly in school, fight more with friends and suffer poor health. The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health found that the single most protective factor for reducing behavioral risks such as drug and alcohol abuse, early sexual activity, smoking

and depression,is children’s connectedness to their parents; fathers were noted as being of particular importance. Being known means letting down the walls and sharing your life story —having the courage to show your flaws, fears and joys. This is not to say that one should overburden a child with inappropriate revelations; rather, it’s about giving your child the gift of knowing who you are and what you feel on a regular basis. What was your relationship like with your dad? What were you like as a kid? Children need and want genu-

ine insights into who you were (and are) as a person, not just as their dad, so that they can better understand who they are and where they come from. It means letting kids into your experiences with winning and losing, being embarrassed and feeling anxious, overcoming challenges, and giving up. What stories are appropriate to share with a child? The short answer is, trust your gut. While there are no hardand-fast rules, here are a few guidelines: n Let your stories emerge naturally and in context. When your daughter loses a game: “Did I ever tell you about what my dad used to do when I would lose?” n Take the lead: “When I was in fifth grade, I was concerned about what other people thought of me. Do you ever feel that way?” n Share stories about your present, too. “Sometimes I have trouble keeping my mouth shut. I was in this meeting the other day...” n Include feelings, not just facts. By revealing your feelings, you help children understand their own. n Be mindful of how a story may boomerang. If you decide to tell your teenage son about your own past substance use, prepare a response in case he uses that information to justify his own actions. n When telling stories about your father, keep in mind that your children have a relationship with their grandfather and do not divide a child’s loyalties. If your father was abusive, seek professional advice before sharing such stories; maybe talk about how you try to do things differently than your father did. Stories are the lifeblood connecting the generations. Excerpt adapted from The Modern Dad’s Dilemma: How to Stay Connected with Your Kids in a Rapidly Changing World ©2010 by John Badalament. Reprinted with permission from New World Library.

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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).

JUNE Summer Camp Registration – Camp runs Jun 6-Aug 19. Activities are educational, fun, entertaining with opportunities for fitness. Achievers Gymnastics, 3014 S I-35 East, Denton. 940-484-4900.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 Summer Reading Club Kickoff – Various times & locations. Sign up for the Summer Reading Club and watch magician Brett Roberts perform Hidden Treasures Magic Show. Space limited. Ticket required. Free. Denton Public Libraries: North Branch Library, 11am; South Branch Library, 2pm; Emily Fowler Library, 4pm. 940-349-8753.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Playtri Kids Triathlon – 7:30am. For kids ages 6-14 interested in fun competition in the sport of triathlon. Course: age 6-10: 100 m swim, 2.5 mi bike, 0.5 mi run; Age 11-14: 200 m swim, 5 mi bike, 1 mi run. Playtri’s “Race Ready” Program: One month before race, a USAT certified coaches will provide your child with an individual training plan, group practices and clinics, and individual advice on training and racing. Race registration included price. Lively Point, 909 N O’Connor Blvd, Irving. Details, Lead Developmental Coach Morgan Johnson: Morgan@ Playtri.com. Playtri.com/node/84. Bird Walk – 8-11am. Bring binoculars and field guides if have them, and learn what to watch for in habits, characteristics and calls. Can expect about 30+ species. The walk is planned to take about three hours. All ages welcome. Recommend wearing long pants, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Free. Connemara Conservancy, Main Entrance at Alma, S of Bethany Dr, Allen. 214-351-0990. Bonsai Summer Care – 9am. With the Dallas Bonsai Society. Free. North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd, Dallas. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-363-5316. Denton Duck Derby – 9am. Denton Parks Foundation hosts to raise money in support of park enhancements, recreational programs, and participation in

Firefly Run Benefiting Children’s Medical Center – 8:30pm race starts. Race day registration starts at 7:30pm. Walk or run in the most dazzling, illuminated nighttime 5K/10K race. Race through the dusk aglow in glimmering LED lights. CAILAW Parking Lot, 5201 Democracy Dr, Plano. Info@ FireflyRun.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5 Learn to Camp Family Weekend – 9:30am. See Jun 4 listing. Texas Parks and Wildlife, Eisenhower State Park (near DFW). More info & specifics about location, activities: 512-389-8903.

Prairie Adventure Camps – 9-12pm. Open to ages 7-12, these camps allow children to experience how life used to be. They learn about quilting, cooking, blacksmithing, candle making, old time games like dominoes, string games, square dancing and much more. Chestnut Square Historic Village, McKinney. For details & other camps offered: 972-562-8790. Camp Invention Frisco Registration – 9-3:30pm. Camp runs Jun 13-17. 21st-century life skills such as problem-solving and teamwork are learned through hands-on fun. This full-week program employs inquiry-based activities in science, technology, engineering, math, history and the arts that elicit creative thinking to solve real-world challenges. Taught by teachers. For children entering grades one through six. One week only. Otis Spears Elementary, 8500 Wade Blvd, Frisco. 800-968-4332. CampInvention.org.

North Texas Natural Awakenings: Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd, Dallas. 214-363-5316.

Keeping the Garden Green: Proper Summer Watering – 1pm. Free. North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd, Dallas. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-363-5316. recreational programs through scholarshipsLive entertainment, opening ceremonies, and both adult and children’s races. Free. Water Works Park, 2400 Long Rd, Denton. More information & to adopt ducks: DentonDuckDerby.com. Hiking Coyote Run – 9:30-11:30am. Meet the Park Interpreter at Coyote Run Trailhead and learn a little bit about preparing for a hike and then hike with us down the trail. Cooper Lake SP, South Sulphur Unit, Sulphur Springs (NE TX). 903-945-5256. Learn to Camp Family Weekend – Jun 4-5. 9:30am. No experience necessary. Basic camping equipment needed for the weekend provided. Adults learn how to pitch a tent, use stoves safely, and fire building. Junior Rangers learn environmental awareness and Leave No Trace. State Park Junior Ranger Certification Programs for ages 5-12. Families gather equipment and build base camp for the weekend. Trail adventure and exploration through GPS and Geo-caching. Experience the natural wonders at night. Introduction to kayaking and fishing and fossil hikes at some locations. $65/family (up to 6 people). Texas Parks and Wildlife, Eisenhower State Park (near DFW). More info & specifics about location, activities: 512-389-8903. Butterfly House Discovery Tour – 11am-12pm. A guided tour the Butterfly House. Get a behind the scenes look at these winged wonders. Included with admission. Texas Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Dallas. 214-428-7476 x 341. Salad Days – 12-3pm. Come in and try a number of salads that will become your family’s favorite. Free. Whole Foods Market, 2201 Preston Rd, Plano. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-612-6729.

MONDAY, JUNE 6 Summer Camp – Jun 6-Aug 19. Activities are educational, fun, entertaining with opportunities for fitness. Achievers Gymnastics, 3014 S I-35 East, Denton. 940-484-4900.

TUESDAY, JUNE 7 Farmin’ Friends – Various times, locations & dates. Learn about natural, local farming practices from special guests from Cardo Farm. Take part in handson activities including planting seeds and a tasting of fresh, naturally-grown fruits and vegetables. Ages 5 & up. See Jun 8 listing for more location & time info. Free. Denton Public Libraries: South Branch Library, 2pm. 940-349-8752.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 Farmin’ Friends – See Jun 7 listing for details. Free. Denton Public Libraries: Emily Fowler Library, 2pm; North Branch Library, 4pm. 940-349-8752. Women’s Division Luncheon – 11:30-11:50am, Registration/Networking; 11:50am-1pm, Introductions/Program. Reservations required and must be received online by 2pm on Fri prior to the luncheon. $25/member, $35/prospective member. Gleneagles Country Club, 5401 W Park Blvd, Plano. Register: 972-424-7547 x 200.

FRIDAY, JUNE 10 Dairy Tour and Raw Milk Information – Jun 1012. 9-11am. Guided tour of our dairy and samples

Dodgeball – 4-7pm. Co-ed and all ages welcome. Open play games held in Mesquite. Open play, team play and tournaments also offered in North Dallas. Spectators welcome. Dallas Dodgeball, Dunford Community Center. 1015 Green Canyon Dr, Mesquite. For details & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 469-360-9134. Plant the Town Pink – 6:30-9pm. Help raise money for breast cancer research and the Dallas County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® by joining us for a special after hours garden gathering. Shop, enjoy music, local wine, food, local arts and crafts, free 15-min Garden Coach sessions, gardening demos and more. $10 donation. Mention

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of our doubly-tested, hormone and antibiotic free milk. We are a state-permitted, small family dairy farm and take pride in producing quality Grade A raw milk. Bring the kids. Come see what we do and learn why our fresh raw milk has more health benefits than pasteurized milk. Free, but reservations required. Circle N Dairy, 2074 County Rd 446, Gainesville. Michelle: 940-372-0343.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 Family Nature Hike – 9:30-10:30am. Learn about native plants and wildlife. An easy, half-mile trail for families with small children able to walk on their own. No pets. Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Near Sherman/OK Border). 806-488-2227.

THURSDAY, JUNE 16

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

Night Hike – 8:30-9:30pm. Meet with the Park Interpreter in the large dirt parking lot on Alternate Rd 5 for a hike on the Juniper Riverside Trail. Bring flashlight. Weather permitting. No pets. Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Near Sherman/OK Border). Reservation required, by Jun 14: 806-488-2227 x 106.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – All funds from the Komen North Texas Plano Race for the cure go to research, education, screening and treatment programs. Register yourself, start a team or join a team and start your own personal fundraising program using online registration system. Susan G. Komen Foundation. KomenNorthTexas.org. Swim Across America – 7:30am, race day registration; 8:15am, safety meeting. Half mile, one and two mile open water swim distances to challenge local triathletes and swimmers wanting to help in the battle against cancer. Ages 12 & up. $50 plus required $100 in fundraising. Playtri, Lake Ray Hubbard Harbor, Rockwall. For more info & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: Jeanne@ SwimAcrossAmerica.org. Ice Cream Festival – 9am. Ice cream cranking, entertainment, kids’ activities, ice cream tasting and judging. Free. Chestnut Square Historic Village, Corner of Hwy 5 & Anthony St, McKinney. 972-562-8790. Habitat Walk – 9-11am. Join Texas Master Naturalist and Environmental Scientist, Rich Jaynes to explore and understand the management plans for the four habitat areas of the Connemara Meadow Preserve. All ages welcome. Connemara Conservancy, Connemara Meadow, Allen. 214-351-0990. Texas Hunter Education – Jun 11 & 12. 9am-5pm. Janna Fincher will teach a Texas hunter education class. Bring $15 to class to cover the state-required fee. Cabela’s, Conference Rm, 1 Cabela Dr, Allen. Janna: 214-802-1199. Hurrah for Hummingbirds – 10-11:30am. Ages 4-10. Kids 6 and under need to be accompanied by parent or responsible adult. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. Reservation, Katie Palmer: 903-786-2826. Second Sat at Hagerman’s – 10am-12pm. Dr. Wayne Meyer, Austin College, will present Svalbard and the High Arctic: The disappearing Ice Bear. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. Susan Knowles: 903-786-2826. Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardens – 10:15am. Learn which plants will attract these unique creatures and create a special habitat for them. Free. Calloway’s Nursery – All locations. Calloways.com. Morphed Violets/What Happened to My Violet? – 10:30am. Group discussion, Sponsored by the Alpha African Violet Society. North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd, Dallas. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-363-5316. The More the Berrier – 12-3pm. Let us show you a number of ways you can use this summer treat in your families meals. Free. Whole Foods Market, 2201 Preston Rd, Plano. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-612-6729. Trees in the Park – 2:30-3:30pm. Learn a little about some of the vegetation and trees found at the park and the surrounding area. Honey Creek

North Texas

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SATURDAY, JUNE 18 Amphitheater, Cooper Lake SP, South Sulphur Unit, Sulphur Springs (NE TX). 903-945-5256.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12 Yoga Nidra – 3-4:30pm. Experience the deepest relaxation to melt physical stress in the body. Yoga Nidra is a semi conscious state similar to sleep, yet you remain fully awake. $15. Transform U Fitness Private Training & Yoga Studio, 1565 W Main St, Ste 240, Lewisville. Pre-registration required: 972-849-9666.

MONDAY, JUNE 13 Camp Invention Frisco – Jun 13-17. 9-3:30pm. See Registration listing under June for details. Otis Spears Elementary, 8500 Wade Blvd, Frisco. 800968-4332. CampInvention.org.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14 Women’s Fellowship and Networking – 11:30am1pm. Ask about evening events too. Fun and fellowship for women from all walks of life. Guest speaker to be announced. Buy own meal, fellowship free. Women Inspiring Women. Original Pancake House, 5760 Hwy 121, Frisco. Ellie: 972-712-1771. Personal Protection – 7-8:30pm. Plano Police Department representative will inform you how to be more vigilant and a less attractive target. Learn how to become more aware of your surroundings and what to do if something does happen. Free. Plano Parks: 972-941-7250. Sierra Club Meeting – 7-8:30pm. Two programs: 1) Cohousing speaks to people who want to own a home but not feel lost in an impersonal city. We’re growing a community of like-minded folks who would like to live cooperatively and sustainably in urban Dallas, close to a DART station. 2): Discussion of sustainable landscapes and how the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES™) credit rating system was applied to The University of Texas at Arlington Green at College Park. Free. REI Dallas, Guadalupe Peak Rm, 4515 Lyndon B Johnson Frwy, Dallas. 972-699-1687. Burglary Protection – 7-9pm. See a video of convicted burglars as they tell you what they look for in a house and what they avoid as they apply their trade. A crime prevention specialist will attend to offer crimp prevention tip0s on how to “harden” your residence from a would-be burglar. Free. Plano Parks: 972-941-7250.

Family Day on the Farm – Entertainment and a petting zoo with rabbits, chickens, goat and hopefully our donkeys for all to see. Bring a picnic or have lunch in the Café. A great day to do the u-pick trail. Lavender Ridge Farm, 2391 County Rd 178, Gainesville. For time & details: 940-665-6938. Dadfest – 8am. A fun time for families to celebrate dads. 5K run. Dad and kid teams welcome. Bounce houses, face painting, dad and child lookalike contest, sprinkler park for the kids and more. Proceeds go to the Urology Research & Education Foundation. Pre-register for a free prostate cancer risk assessment and screening. Dad and child team: $30. Galatyn Park, Richardson. For details & More info: Lewis.George@Dadfest.com. Tomato, Pepper & Salsa Party – 10am. Enter your best salsa and recipe to win prizes. Try a variety of tomatoes from our Organic Market Garden. Winners announced at 1pm. North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd, Dallas. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-363-5316. Lush Summer Lawns – 10:15am. Learn about keeping your lawn lush and healthy all summer long. Free. Calloway’s Nursery – All locations. Calloways.com. Birding for Children – 11am-12pm. Discover local native birds like the colorful cardinal or the sonorous mockingbird. Bring binoculars and a bird guide if have them. For ages 5+. Included with admission. Texas Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Dallas. 214-428-7476 x 341. Backyard Chicken Sale & Q&A – 11am-2pm or sellout. Purchase healthy juvenile hens from Bageneice Farms and ask Dan questions about getting your backyard flock started right. North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd, Dallas. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-363-5316. Dude Food – 12-3pm. In honor of Father’s Day we will be serving up a number of Dad’s favorites around the store. Will be grilling burgers and hot dogs outside along with live music. Free. Whole Foods Market, 2201 Preston Rd, Plano. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-612-6729. Dodgeball – 4-7pm. See Jun 4 listing. Dallas Dodgeball, Dunford Community Center. 1015 Green Canyon Dr, Mesquite. For details & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 469-360-9134. Urban Paddle/Moonlight Float – 6-10pm. Canoes and kayak paddle at Trinity Park after sunset. At 6pm we’ll have a picnic dinner then about 7:30pm we’ll start paddling in the Trinity River around downtown Fort Worth while the moon and the lights of the city

come up. See Trips and Events page at the DDRC website for directions and gear requirements. Dallas Down River Club, Trinity Park, Fort Worth. 972814-2633. Down-River.com.

MONDAY, JUNE 20 Exploring Sustainability Annual Conference – Jun 20-23. AT&T Conference Center, Austin. More info: KTB.org. Junior Ranger Summer Camp – Jun 20-24. Will focus on the elements of being a Junior Ranger: archeology, service, fish, wildlife and nature. Activities include archery, fishing, swimming kayaking and more. For ages 9-12. Also have Counselorin-Training opportunities for ages 14-17. $125, reservations required. More info, Kelly.Serio@ tpwd.state.tx.us. Scavenger Hunt – 10-11am. Ages 3 & up. Search for different locations and features. A great opportunity to learn about diverse characteristics that make these preserves a special place. 12 & under must be accompanied by an adult. $2. Arbor Hills. Pre-register & details, Plano Parks: 972-941-7250. Babysitters Workshop – 2-5pm. Attend this workshop, presented by the Denton Fire Department, and become a certified babysitter. Learn babysitting strategies, emergency procedures and more. For teens, ages 11-18. Free. South Branch Library, 3228 Teasley Ln, Denton. Pre-registration required: 940-349-8752. Gluten- and Sugar-Free Baking – 6:30-7:30pm. Instructor will share recipes on how to make sugarand gluten-free baked goods that taste just as good as their sugary, gluten-filled counterparts. $15. Plano Parks: 972-941-7250.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21 70th Anniversary Discovery in the Garden Lecture Series – 7-8pm. Free admission. Texas Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Dallas. 214-428-7476 x 341.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 Bone Health: Preventing and Healing Osteoporosis – 6-7:30pm. Learn myths vs. realities in the world of bone health. Is calcium really the answer? Will look at what the literature really says and recommend some common-sense approaches to keeping our bones, and body, healthy. Call ahead, seating limited. Free. HealthWorks, 2317 Coit Rd, Plano. 972-612-1800. HealthWorksTX.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29

mark your calendar SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JUNE 25 & 26 Mud Run – 8am. Muddy 3.12-mile run with 18 obstacles and a 1-mile kid’s run with 6 obstacles. Course is set on 365 acres just north of Denton and winds through trees, ponds and creeks utilizing natural and manmade obstacles. Come for the day or camp for the weekend. Scholarships, prizes for best costumes, live music. Spectators welcome. $65/adult, $40/child. Patriot Games Mud Challenge, 17000 Clear Creek Rd E, Sanger. 940-5354999. ThePatriotGames@gmail.com. Pre-register: ThePatriotGames.com. Plants that Thrive in the Heat – 10:15am. Learn about non-cacti plants with colorful blooms and lush foliage that thrive in hot, dry conditions. Free. Calloway’s Nursery – All locations. Calloways.com. Red, White and Burgers – 12-3pm. Come in for great ideas to make your 4th of July party the talk of the neighborhood. Free. Whole Foods Market, 2201 Preston Rd, Plano. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-612-6729.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Kayaking Class – 10am-1pm. Ages 12 & up. Learn beginning kayaking skills. Boats, paddles, and lifejackets provided. Liability waiver required, ages 17 and younger must be accompanied by a registered adult. $65. Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve. Preregistration required, Plano Parks: 972-941-7250.

MONDAY, JUNE 27 Wildflower Detectives – 9-10am. Ages 7-12. Take a hike and learn about the different species of wildflowers that make the landscape of Oak point Park and Nature Preserve such a beautiful place. $2. For details & to pre-register, Plano Parks: 972-941-7250.

TUESDAY, JUNE 28 Identity Theft Protection – 7-8:30pm. Plano Police Department representative will teach you how to minimize your risk and what to do if you become a victim. Free. Plano Parks: 972-941-7250. How to Take Better Pictures – 7-9pm. Designed for beginner through intermediate skill levels. Class includes topics such as basic camera features, lens choices, image sharpness, composition, landscapes, travel photography and more. No post-production instruction. $5. Plano Parks: 972-941-7250.

Family Nature Hike – 9:30-10:30am. Learn about native plants and wildlife. An easy, half-mile trail for families with small children able to walk on their own. No pets. Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Near Sherman/OK Border). 806-488-2227. Babysitters Workshop – 2-5pm. See Jun 20 description. North Branch Library, 3020 N Locust St, Denton. Pre-registration required: 940-349-8752.

PLAN AHEAD TUESDAY, JULY 5 Wilderness and Remote First Aid – Jul 5 & 6. 9am4:30pm. Must be at least 14 on/before completion of the last class. Learn foundational first aid principles and skills to be able to respond to emergencies and give care in areas that do not have immediate emergency medical services response. Class includes Adult CPR/AED certification. Upon successful completion student will receive Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid Certificate and Adult CPR/AED good for two years. Course meets criteria of the Boy Scouts of America for Wilderness First Aid. $130. For important details & to pre-register, Plano Parks: 972-941-7250.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 Bicycle Maintenance Class – 7pm. Learn simple bicycle maintenance to do at home, or on the road. Members of Denton’s non-profit bicycle collective will be on hand to help you tune up your bikes. Bring your bikes and your questions. Free. South Branch Library, 3228 Teasley Ln, Denton. 940-349-8752.

THURSDAY, JULY 7 Summer Archery Program – 5:30-6:45pm. Every Thursday for five weeks. For kids age 10-18. Introduction to archery safety, shooting form, archery styles, equipment and scoring rules. $150. Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve. For details & to pre-register. Plano Parks: 972-941-7250.

SATURDAY, JULY 23 Bike Race to Stop Diabetes: Tour de Cure – Start times vary depending on length of your ride: 5-mile fun ride or ride 15, 32 or 62 miles. Participation fee $25, but each rider also raises the required $150 to fund diabetes research, education and advocacy. American Diabetes Association. Texas Motor Speedway. Register & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-392-1181 x 6102.

Sunset Sail – 6:30-9:30pm. Ages 18 & up. Set sail on Lake Lewisville on a 34’ or 41’ sailboat and see the rest of the boats in the fleet, learning about the different types of sailboats and their capabilities. $95. For important details & to pre-register, Plano Parks: 972-941-7250.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Cow Creek Country Classic Bike Ride – 7:30am. This ride has several routes to fit your needs: a 10 mile in town tour, a 19, 36, 45, 75 or 100 mile ride. All proceeds from this ride go towards charity. $30 before June 10, $35 after. Waxahachie Rotary Club. Waxahachie High School, 1000 Hwy 77 N, Waxahachie. For details, Melissa Ballard & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-351-5122.

natural awakenings

June 2011

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).

ONGOING Adventure Guides & Princesses – A father-child program for grades K-3 designed to help foster a lifetime of understanding, relationship strengthening and companionship between father and child. $27/YMCA Family Members, $67/Community Members. Frisco Family YMCA, 3415 Main St, Frisco. Mark Hull: 972-335-3222 or MHull@ YMCADallas.org. Discovery Classes – Mon-Sat. Times vary by age, 4mo-3yrs. Teaches motor skills, develops coordination and body control, and builds self-confidence and body strength. A Parent/Tot program that allows parents to help their child discover movements with music, games, and gymnastics. Achievers Gymnastics, 3014 S I-35 E, Denton. 940-484-4900. AchieversGymnastics.com. First Aid Classes, CPR & Babysitter Training – Various days. Monthly at various branches. For specific info on cost, space availability, times: YMCADallas.org. Live Animals of the World: A Conservation Exhibit – Ongoing. Encourages visitors to take a role in conserving nature. Native and non-native animals. $9/ adults, $6/children 3-12 and seniors, free/children under 2. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney. 972-562-5566. HeardMuseum.org.

SUNDAY Group Bike Ride – 7:30am. 14-16 mph, no drop ride (20 mile). CK Sports, 8880 State Hwy 121, Ste 164, McKinney. For details & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-383-0088. 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. 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 Out-

TUESDAY

door Learning Center, 1036 County Rd, Collinsville. Cost & more info: 940-440-8382.

MONDAY Non-Medical, Performance Enhancement Training Demo – By appt. Weekly, Mon-Fri. Learn how Interactive Metronome training is used for those with Learning Differences (ADD/ADHD, Sensory Integration, Autism Spectrum), serious athletes looking to improve their game, and adults and professionals wanting to better their day-to-day. Free demo appt. Willow Bend Academy, 2220 Coit Rd, Ste 500, Plano. 972-599-7882. WillowBend Academy.com. Try Gymnastics – M-F. Times Vary. Programs for boys & girls. Ages 3-4 introduce fundamentals. Recreational classes for age 5+ build on basics and vary by age and ability. Call to schedule. Free. Kurt Thomas Gymnastics, 10825 John W Elliott, Frisco. 214-872-4646. Coffee with the Mayor – 8-9am. 2nd Mon. Residents are invited to join Mayor Maher Maso for coffee and casual conversation. Stadium Club inside Pizza Hut Park, 9200 World Cup Way, Frisco. Interactive Metronome Training Demo – M-F. 8:30am-5pm by appt. Find out how IM can help improve one’s performance at school, on the job, or in chosen sport. Free. Willow Bend Academy, 2220 Coit Rd, Ste 500, Plano. 972-599-7882. WillowBendAcademy.com. 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. 940484-4900. AchieversGymnastics.com.

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. Muayi-Thai Kickboxing & Aikido Class – 6pm, Muayi-Thai; 7:15pm, Aikido. Move your body, empty your mind, center your emotions. Agatsu Integral Dojo, Sunstone Yoga Academy, 4540 Beltway Dr, Addison. 214-531-0129.

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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.

Denton County Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept. 7am-sellout. Tues, Thurs & Sat. Corner of Mulberry St & Carroll Blvd. 817-946-0008.

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. 972-843-8084. CCHBA.org.

Prosper Chamber of Commerce Meetings – 7am, networking; 7:30am, meeting. 2nd Tues. Open to nonmembers as visitors. Bring plenty of business cards and a few dollars to contribute to the breakfast fund. Gentle Creek Golf Club, 3131 E Prosper Trail, Prosper. 972-508-4200. ProsperChamberOnline.com. Tuesday Morning Live – 7:30am. Breakfast sponsors receive 10 mins on the program for a presentation about one’s business. Sponsor is responsible for bringing breakfast for about 50 people. Other attendees receive a 30-second commercial. $1/member. $7/guest. First visit free. Dodie’s Place, The Village at Allen, 190 E Stacy Rd, Ste 1320, Allen. AllenChamber.com. Leads Networking Meeting – 8-9:30am. 2nd & 4th Tues. See what the excitement is all about and learn how to make networking work. $5. Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, Ministry Center, 6101 Morriss Rd, Flower Mound. FlowerMoundChamber.com. 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. 972-612-6729. Toddler Time – 10-10:20am. A good introduction to the library for children aged 2 years using stories, puppets, poems, and songs. Free. Registration required. The Colony Public Library, 6800 Main St, The Colony. 972-625-1900 x 3. Toddler Story Time – 10:15am & 11am. Tues, Thurs & Fri. Reinforces literacy skills through rhymes, music and reading. Ages 18 mos-3 yrs. 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. 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. Chamber After Hours – 5-6:30pm. 4th Tues. Event sponsored by a different business each month at their location and offers an excellent opportunity for members to connect and get acquainted with each other in a relaxed, informal setting. Notices are sent in advance of the meeting. 972-508-4200. Dates & sponsors: ProsperChamberOnline.com. Yoga Series – 6:30-7:30pm. Different content each month. Luke’s Locker, 959 Garden Park Dr, Allen. Details: 469-854-6244. 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.

Fitness Workshops – 6-7pm. 2nd Wed. New topic each month to help one achieve one’s fitness goals. Free. Luke’s Locker at Watter’s Creek Village, Allen. 469-854-6244.

Craft Works – 9:30-11:30am. Everyone invited to work on crafts, exchange tips, and learn techniques. Free. Emily Fowler Library Program Room, 502 Oakland St, Denton. 940-349-8752.

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

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.

Toddler Time – 10am & 11am. See Wed listing. Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound. 972-874-6200.

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.

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

Sierra Club Meeting – 7-8:30pm. 2nd Tues. Monthly lectures. Free. REI Dallas, Guadalupe Peak Rm, 4515 Lyndon B Johnson Frwy, Dallas. 972-699-1687.

Teen Anime/Manga Night – 6:30-8pm. 3rd Wed. For teens in 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.

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.

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.

WEDNESDAY

Home Buyers Seminar – 7pm. 1st Wed. Great advice from experts on buying a home. Everything need to know about the real estate market, getting a loan, HUD and more. Adult program. No registration required. Free. The Colony Public Library, Conference Rm, 6800 Main St, The Colony. 972-625-1900 x 3. NBoykin@TheColony.Lib.TX.us.

Dallas Greendrinks – 2nd Wed. Meet for happy hour with other eco-conscious people. No cover, buy own drinks. Location TBD. DallasGreendrinks@ yahoo.com. Greendrinks.org/TX/Dallas. Eyebrow Threading – All day during business hours. 50% off for North Texas Natural Awakenings readers. Gold Salon & Spa, 9720 Coit Rd, Plano. 469-212-8000. Toddler Time – 10am & 11am. Wed & Thurs. Ages 18-36 mos. 20-25 mins. No registration required. Free. Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound. 972-874-6200. 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: 972-704-3898. 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. HeardCraig.org. 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. Twisted Stitchers Knitting Book Club – 4:30pm. 2nd & 4th Wed. Needlecrafters ages 12-16. Bring knitting needles and listen to teen audio books while knitting projects for charity and personal use. Emily Fowler Library, 502 Oakland St, Denton. For titles and dates: 940-349-8718. Clinic Series – 6-7pm. 2nd Wed. Different content each month. Example clinics: proper shoe fittings, nutritional information, injury prevention, Garmin, Polar, Nike watch technical sessions. Call for details. Luke’s Locker, 959 Garden Park Dr, Allen. 469-854-6244.

Home Sellers Seminar – 7pm. 2nd Wed. The experts show how to make it move. Adult program. No registration required. Free. The Colony Public Library, Conference Rm, 6800 Main St, The Colony. 972-625-1900 x 3. NBoykin@TheColony. Lib.TX.us.

THURSDAY Social Run – 6am. Run/walk a total of 45 mins and then come in and enjoy coffee and bagels before heading to work. Luke’s Locker, 959 Garden Park Dr, Allen. 469-854-6244. Group Social Run – 6:45am. Varied paces. CK Sports, 8880 State Hwy 121, Ste 164, McKinney. For details & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-383-0088. Denton County Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept. 7am-sellout. Tues, Thurs & Sat. Corner of Mulberry St & Carroll Blvd. 817-946-0008. Get On Track (GOT) Networking – 7:16-7:46am. All attendees have 30 seconds to give their “business commercial.” Also have a 5-min presentation from sponsor each week. No registration required. Request a donation of $1. Frisco Chamber office, 6843 Main St, Frisco. 972-3359522. FriscoChamber.com. 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. 214309-5801.

Storytime – 10-10:30am. Thurs & Fri. Pre-school children with a parent in attendance. The Colony Public Library, Story Corner, 6800 Main St, The Colony. 972-625-1900. Newcomer’s Coffee Mornings – 10am-12pm. 4th Thurs. Texas Star Bank, 320 S Preston Rd, Celina. CelinaChamber.org. 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. Adriatica Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 27. 2-6pm or sellout. Local and organic meat, dairy and produce vendors. McKinney Farmers’ Market, 6851 Virginia Pkwy, W McKinney. 972-562-8790. Business After Hours – 5:30-7pm. 2nd Thurs. Local business leaders meet and connect with delicious food and after hour drinks. A fun atmosphere and a great way to unwind after work while building one’s network of community leaders. Reservations required and must be made online at least 24 hrs in advance. Free/Chamber member; $5/visitor. Location: 972-424-7547. PlanoChamber.org. 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, refreshments; 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. JSveinsson@TheColony.Lib.TX.us. Yoga Series – 6:30pm-7:30pm. Different content each month. Luke’s Locker, 959 Garden Park Dr, Allen. Details: 469-854-6244. 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.

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June 2011

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. TheColonyChamber.com. European-Style Farmers’ Market – 9am-2pm. Local farmers, ranchers, crafts, local vendors, artisanal craftsmen in a family atmosphere. Free. Parking lot behind Apricot Lane Boutique at Water Creek, 907 Market St, Allen. FourSeasonsMarket.com. Storytime – 10-10:30am. See Thurs listing. The Colony Public Library, Story Corner, 6800 Main St, The Colony. 972-625-1900. Indoor Park – 10-11am. See Mon listing. Achievers Gymnastics, 3014 S I-35 E, Denton. 940-484-4900. AchieversGymnastics.com. Ageless Wonders Luncheon & Trips – 12:30pm. 2nd Fri. Activities for seniors, potluck dinners and trips/field trips. Grand Prarie YMCA, 4556 S Carrier Pkwy, Grand Prairie. 972-642-9632. Grand PrairieYMCA.org. First Friday Movie – 3:30pm. 1st Fri. Featuring a new movie each month. South Branch Library, 3228 Teasley Ln, Denton. 940-349-8761. Free Community Yoga – 6-7pm. 1st Fri. Suitable for all levels. Space limited. Free. Transform U Fitness, 1565 W Main St, Lewisville. Pre-registration required: 972-849-9666. 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. AchieversGymnastics.com. 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. Coffee N Cream, 11660 Legacy Dr, Frisco, 214-705-9600; and 190 E Stacy Rd, Allen, 972-678-2626. 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. Details: 469-384-3499 or 972-239-4078.

SATURDAY 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

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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 or TGilmore@YMCADallas.org. FriscoYMCA.org. Denton County Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept. 7am-sellout. Tues, Thurs & Sat. Corner of Mulberry St & Carroll Blvd. 817-946-0008. Group Bike Ride – 7am. 15-22 mph, no drop ride (25-mile loops). CK Sports, 8880 State Hwy 121, Ste 164, McKinney. For details & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-383-0088. Coppell Farmers’ Market – 8am-12pm. Farm direct market for farmers, growers, and producers. The vendor approval committee has a criterion for the selection of vendors favoring sustainable farming/ranching, direct from farm sales, farm visitation access, and face-to-face selling by producers. Old Town Coppell, 455 Bethel Rd by S Coppell Rd. 972-304-7043. CoppellFarmersMarket.org. Lewisville Living Green Outdoor Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept. 8am-12pm. 2nd Sat. A variety of North Texas-grown products, as well as tea, natural soaps, handmade jewelry, bird feeders, soy candles, eco-friendly bags, and other green vendors. Wayne Ferguson Plaza, between Main & Church sts, Lewisville. 972-219-3401. McKinney Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 29. 8am12pm or sellout. Local and organic meat, dairy and produce vendors. Locally grown and produced food and craft items. Chestnut Square Historic Village, 315 S Chestnut St, McKinney. 972-562-8790. Coffee N Cycling – 8:30am. Bicycle riders of all fitness levels will depart on a spirited, but inclusive, 15-mi ride winding through parts of Allen and McKinney before returning to the shop. Outside Coffee N Cream, 190 E Stacy Rd, Ste 1408, Allen. TheVillageShopping.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. More info & location: LiveGreenInPlano.com. Second Saturday Storytime – 10-10:30am. 2nd Sat. Stories, songs, puppets and more. Age 1-5 and caregivers. Free. North Branch Library, 3020 N Locust, Denton. 940-349-8752. 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. 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. 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. 214-450-3286. 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: 972462-7314 or HeardNaturePhotographers.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: 940-498-4386. 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. Coffee N Cream, 11660 Legacy Dr, Frisco, 214-705-9600; and 190 E Stacy Rd, Allen. 972-678-2626.

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living 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.) CHIROPRACTIC DR. AMY ST. JOHN, D.C., LMT

Doctor of Chiropractic & Massage Therapist 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 41.

GREEN CLEANING

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. See ad, page 28.

COUNSELING STARWOOD COUNSELING CENTER Margaret Ann Kellogg, LCSW 972-768-4795 StarwoodCounselingCenter.com

18352 Dallas Pkwy Dallas 75287 • 214-382-2644 High quality green cleaning service for homes and businesses. See ad, page 19.

OXXO CARE CLEANERS

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. See ad, page 5.

NATURAL PEST SOLUTIONS

2220 Coit Rd, Ste 500 Plano 75075 972-599-7882 • WillowBendAcademy.com An accredited, educational alternative that offers individualized, masterybased instruc-tion for students grades 4-12. Master Learning. Master Life. Experienced Interactive Metronome provider.

10825 John W Elliott Frisco 75034 214-872-4646

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Gymnastics, marital arts, swimming, dance, cheerleading and more.

MARKETS INDIA GATE GOURMET FOODS

Indian grocery store.

214-763-2758 GuysInGreen.com

Eco-friendly residential and commercial pest control using botanical products. See ad, page 10.

WILLOW BEND ACADEMY

KURT THOMAS GYMNASTICS

4020 Hedgecoxe Rd Plano 75024 972-943-1177

GREEN PEST CONTROL

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WINKIDS SPORTS & LEARNING CENTER

Frisco 75034 214-705-7739 • OxxoUsa.com

Fresh and nutritious, locally grown food. Hwy. 121 and Dallas North Tollway

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Gymnastics training for preschool to competitive levels.

GREEN GARMENT CARE

Worried, anxious, or can’t relax?LCSW Margaret Ann Kellogg, You are not alone. I specialize in HEALTHY DINING Proven of Treatments For Anxiety the treatment stress and anxiety. Call today to start getting relief. THE SALAD STOP See ad, pageCall 43. 972-768-4795 For Recommendations Developed 3685 Preston Rd Specifically For You. Frisco 75034 • 972-377-7867

CENTENNIAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATES

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COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE

INTERNAL MEDICINE

SIERRA MARKET 7777 Warren Pkwy Frisco 75034 972-377-4977

Convenience market. Organic beer and wine available.

SPICE BAZAAR 4681 Ohio Dr Frisco 75035 214-618-3175

Indian grocery store.

MASSAGE

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CLASSIC NAILS & SPA

1312 Village Creek Dr Plano 75093 972-732-7804

6910 Windhaven Pkwy The Colony 75056 214-483-6006

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.

Nails, waxing, facials and massage.

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 19.

natural awakenings

June 2011

ONLINE BUSINESSES/SERVICES PAPERHOUND

PEDIATRICS HEALTHY KIDS PEDIATRICS

paperhound.com

Orginial antique maps and biblical prints from 1595 to 1850. Highresolution digital reproductions are available to those that prefer the art over the investment.

OUTDOOR GEAR & EDUCATION REI

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

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 8.

PLAYCARE ADVENTURE KIDS PLAYCARE

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

RESTAURANTS SHANDIZ MEDITERRANEAN GRILL & MARKET

classifieds

For fees and info on placing classifieds, email publisher@NA-NTX.com. Deadline is noon on the 9th of the month. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY CURRENTLY PUBLISHING NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINES – For sale in  Birmingham, AL; Cincinnati, OH; Lexington, KY; Manhattan, NY; Pensacola, FL; Southwest VA and Ventura/Santa Barbara, CA. Call for details: 239-530-1377.

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LIFECYCLE RECUMBENT 5500R BIKE – Commercial grade metal frame. Tan w/digital readout. $75 OBO. Contact Preston: yarddogs3@ aol.com.

GARDENING SERVICES GROW YOUR OWN VEGGIES – We’ll do the dirty work. Raised bed installation and planting schedule. Call Urban Gardens 101 at 469-688-4330.

HELP WANTED AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE – Natural Awakenings of North Texas is looking for an experienced advertising sales representative for the Denton and Plano areas. Open territories with unlimited potential for income and flexible schedules. Must have an interest in issues regarding green and healthy lifestyles. Please send resume to Publisher@NA-NTX.com.

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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.

YOGA SCHOOL SUNSTONE YOGA ACADEMY 4540 Beltway, Addison 75001 214-764-2119 x 3 SunstoneYoga.com/grow.aspx

Sunstone Yoga Academy is a registered yoga school with Yoga Alliance. We are dedicated to certifying the most highly trained yoga teachers in the area. See ad, page 7.

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.

FOR SALE 8’ F-250 BEDCOVER – Black w/side-windows. Cover came off a 2006 Ford F-250 with an 8’ bed. $475. Contact Steve: 972-299-5433.

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

SOLAR & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLAR COMMUNITY

SolarCommunity.com 1-87-SOLAR-NRG (877-652-7674)

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

Ask us how our Solar Community programs can save you money! See ad, page 11.

310 E Round Grove Rd Lewisville 75067 469-831-7608

TOTAL WIND & SOLAR

Fourteen flavors of yogurt and more than 60 toppings.

Offices and service throughout D/FW 866-631-5934 Total Wind & Solar offers consultation, design, installation and service of alternative energy and weatherization systems based on your actual needs. Serving the North Texas-D/FW area. See ad, page 47.

WATER TWENTY FIRST CENTURY HEALTH Nancy Martin 888-800-3012 x 102 TwentyFirstCenturyHealth.com

We are here to make a difference in the lives we touch. Structured water systems and unique healing herbs from around the world. See ad, page 33.

natural awakenings

June 2011

Fresh

Wholesome

Abundance...served daily. Visit Sweet Tomatoes for the freshest salads & produce, made-from-scratch soups, baked potatoes and toppings, freshly baked muffins & breads, and more! All unlimited & included. NORTH DALLAS Across from Prestonwood Town Center Mall 15225 Montfort Dr. (972) 385-7160

Join Club Veg® today to receive our best, most frequent offers, and special deals all delivered to your email inbox! www.sweettomatoes.com

15% Off Dinner

10% Off Lunch

After 4 p.m. Expires 6/30/11

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Expires 6/30/11

L00522

L00523

Valid for up to 4 adults at 15% off dinner. Not valid on beverages, chicken portions, cookies, kid’s pricing, or To Go à la carte. Not valid with any other discount/offer or at Express. Valid with coupon only.

Valid for up to 4 adults at 10% off lunch. Not valid on beverages, chicken portions, cookies, kid’s pricing, or To Go à la carte. Not valid with any other discount/offer or at Express. Valid with coupon only.