March 2013 - Natural Awakenings

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Get Your Garden On Growing Advice for Urbanites

The Healing Power of Silence

FREE

Better Brain Diet Eat Right to Stay Sharp

Fitness Myths Debunked 11 Vital Truths

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

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contents 11 5 newsbriefs 10 businessprofile 1 1 healthbriefs 13 globalbriefs 16 ecotip 17 inspiration 18 community

spotlight 15 20 fitbody 30 30 consciouseating 34 wisewords 37 calendar 44 resourceguide 47 classifieds advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 469-633-9549 or email publisher@NA-NTX.com. Deadline for ads: noon on the 9th of the month.

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

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

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

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.

1 7 THE HEALING

POWER OF SILENCE

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by Robert Rabbin

20 FITNESS MYTHS DEBUNKED

11 Vital Truths

by Lynda Bassett

22 WE ALL NEED THE

SALT OF THE EARTH TO LIVE

by Dr. Christy Porterfield and Dr. Jennifer Taylor

24 URBAN GARDENING

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TAKES ROOT

Feeding Ourselves Well

by John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist

28 HOW TRIGLYCERIDES TAKE A TOLL

Beyond Cholesterol

by James Occhiogrosso

30 THE BETTER

BRAIN DIET

Eat Right To Stay Sharp

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by Lisa Marshall

32 SIX POWERHOUSE FOODS FOR KIDS

With Palate-Pleasing Tips

by Susan Enfield Esrey

33 EVERY DROP COUNTS

Reusing Rainwater Saves Money and is Better for Plants

by Brita Belli

34 WALKING THE TALK

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Marlane Barnes Fosters Rescue Dogs

by Sandra Murphy

NA-NTX.com natural awakenings March 2013

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letterfrompublisher

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orking through several of our articles on raw, natural foods and the benefits and pleasures of growing your own nutritional vegetables, I slipped out early one day and headed to our garden. Whether it was spring fever or just wanting to enjoy the peace and quiet of prepping the dirt, this humorous gardening poem by Geoffrey B. Charlesworth came to mind.

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

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

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

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

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

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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Why Did My Plant Die? You walked too close. You trod on it.

You dropped a piece of sod on it.

You hoed it down. You weeded it.

You planted it the wrong way up.

You grew it in a yogurt cup But you forgot to make a hole; The soggy compost took its toll.

September storm. November drought.

It heaved in March, the roots popped out.

You watered it with herbicide.

You scattered bonemeal far and wide.

Attracting local omnivores, Who ate your plant and stayed for more.

You left it baking in the sun While you departed at a run To find a spade, perhaps a trowel, Meanwhile the plant threw in the towel.

You planted it with crown too high; The soil washed off, that explains why.

Too high pH. It hated lime.

Alas it needs a gentler clime.

You left the root ball wrapped in plastic.

You broke the roots. They’re not elastic.

You walked too close. You trod on it.

You dropped a piece of sod on it.

Hope you have a chance to get outdoors and enjoy the beginning of the planting season; whether it’s to plant herbs, flowers, a vegetable garden or simply your toes in the grass.

Stay happy, healthy and young at heart. It’s way more fun that way and it can be contagious!

Jim Davis, Publisher NA-NTX.com

You splashed the plant with mower oil.

You should do something to your soil.

Too rich. Too poor. Such wretched tilth.

Your soil is clay. Your soil is filth.

Your plant was eaten by a slug.

The growing point contained a bug.

These aphids are controlled by ants, Who milk the juice, it kills the plants.

In early spring your garden’s mud.

You walked around! That’s not much good.

With heat and light you hurried it.

You worried it. You buried it.

The poor plant missed the mountain air: No heat, no summer muggs up there.

You overfed it 10-10-10.

Forgot to water it again.

You hit it sharply with the hose.

You used a can without a rose.

Perhaps you sprinkled from above.

You should have talked to it with love.

The nursery mailed it without roots.

You killed it with those gardening boots.

You walked too close. You trod on it.

You dropped a piece of sod on it.

newsbriefs Camp Invention Brings a Week of Creativity to Frisco

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n partnership with Invent Now, Frisco ISD is offering the nationally acclaimed Camp Invention program to children entering grades one through six. The weeklong summer adventure in creativity immerses children in imaginative play that reinforces and supplements school-year learning in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Children work together to seek innovative solutions to realworld problems and sharpen critical learning skills such as teamwork and creative problem solving as they rotate through four modules each day that disguise learning as fun.

The week of four fun-filled modules begins on June 17 with children forming expedition teams that embark on a quest to explore the Earth in the sky, underwater, on land and underground in the Ecoverse module. Throughout the journey, teams design and invent tools to reveal and retrieve the Earth's hidden messages; deciphering nature's patterns. As children master the elements, they earn glyphs and create an illustrated narrative for a petrosphere journal, their own ancient symbol of power and knowledge.

Children combine physical activity and creativity during fun, energetic games based on the children’s ages and ability. Local educators facilitate program modules and high school and college students serve as leadership interns, ensuring that one staff member is in place for every eight children.

Discounted registration is available online. Every registration includes a free Camp Invention T-shirt. Space is limited to assure staff-to-child ratios.

For more information and to register, call 800-968-4332 or visit CampInvention.org.

Clark Gardens Spring Festival

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he annual Spring Festival, at Clark Gardens, in Weatherford, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 13, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 14. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children 5 to 12 and free for children 4 and under. Clark Gardens members attend for free. Additional fees apply for certain activities like wine and cheese tasting.

Events and activities include live entertainment, sustainability and gardening educational stations, art exhibitors, a children’s activity area, a classic car show, a model train show and a motorcycle show. Local wineries and Texas-made artisanal cheeses will be spotlighted and vendors will display a variety of goods from plants and garden accessories to festival food and beverages.

The classic car show is on Saturday, with trophies awarded to class winners in four categories. The motorcycle show is on Sunday and a People’s Choice award will be presented to the first choice cycle in each of 11 categories, based on attendee ballots.

Location: 567 Maddux Rd., Clark Gardens, Weatherford (45 minutes west of Fort Worth). For more information and event registration forms, call 940-682-4856 or visit ClarkGardens.org. natural awakenings March 2013

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newsbriefs Willkommen Y’all!!

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he 13th annual Tomball German Heritage Festival will be held from 6 to 10 p.m., March 22, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., March 23, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., March 24, in Tomball. Admission and parking are free.

This unique ethnic street festival promises to be packed with family-friendly ambience, entertainment, shopping and the celebration of Texas German ethnic heritage. Live entertainment will take place on five stages, including headliner and Grammy nominee The Alex Meixner Band, folk dancers, street performers and a fireworks show. A traditional German church service will also be held.

Food vendors will provide ethnic German food and drink, as well as traditional festival fare. More than 150 street vendors will be offering Teutonic souvenirs and clothing, art and crafts and antiques. A kid’s area includes carnival rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, strolling music makers, games and activities and a rock wall. Music and dancing continues throughout the event. The Fahrradreisen Tour der Tomball bike rally runs at 8 a.m., March 23, and the fireworks display is set for 9 p.m. that evening.

Location: 201 S. Elm, Old Town Tomball. For information and the schedule of events, call 281-379-6844 or visit TomballGermanFest.org.

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Rock On for the Cure

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he Rock ’n’ Roll Half-Marathon, benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is set to take place March 24, in Dallas. Individuals, two-person relay teams, racing wheelchair contestants and walkers can all participate. The marathon is a certified course and a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon.

The 13.1-mile event begins with the racing wheelchair start at 7:55 a.m., followed by other participants at 8 a.m. Themed aid stations, live bands and cheer squads will be placed along the course. Each runner receives a finishing medal and awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers in each category.

Runners can reunite with family and friends in the Family Reunion area where music, food and beverages will be available. A free post race concert featuring Andy Grammer will begin at 11 a.m. At the free Health and Fitness Expo at the Dallas Convention Center on March 22 or 23, more than 80 exhibitors will showcase products and offer samples.

Location: Young and S. Griffin St., Dallas. For more race and registration info, visit RunRocknRoll.competitor.com/Dallas.

Salt Escape Celebrates Anniversary with Special Offer

O Natural HealthFest Showcases Wellness Innovations

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elebrating its fourth year, Natural HealthFest will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 23, at Plano Centre, in Plano. Combining the best of nutrition and natural medicine with the best of mainstream medicine and science, renowned experts will teach attendees new ways to optimize wellness, increase energy and lose weight.

Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for ticket sales and a live radio broadcast at 8 a.m. Admission at the door is $8/$7 for seniors.

A $1 discount on each ticket is available when tickets are purchased online.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m., this year’s event presents 17 lectures by speakers that are patient-centered, result-driven health professionals focusing on natural solutions for a wide range of health concerns, including managing diabetes without drugs, hormonal issues, aches and pains, avoiding and eliminating toxins, gluten-free diets and slowing the effects of aging.

The exhibit hall will host more than 100 booths demonstrating cutting-edge health equipment and services, as well as natural foods, high quality nutritional supplements, gluten-free products, skin care and other natural products for the family and their pets. Additional activities include free health screenings, a live Healthy by Nature radio broadcast with host Martie Whittekin CCN, an adoption area with homeless pets, door prizes, samples and coupons, as well as a general store offering book and product bargains. Natural foods will be available for purchase for snacking and lunch.

ffering salt therapy for respiratory and skin conditions, Salt Escape Wellness Center, in Plano, is celebrating their second anniversary. Natural Awakenings North Texas readers will receive one salt therapy session free with the purchase of one at the regular price of $45 during the month of March. *

Shown to be a highly effective treatment for cystic fibrosis, salt inhalation dries up and disinfects mucous membranes in the sinuses and lungs, easing expectoration and allowing the patient to breathe more easily. Salt therapy also provides relief of symptoms associated with ear infections and conditions of the skin such as eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.

Posing no side effects, salt therapy is a drug-free therapy that is safe for adults and children. Adults can relax in zero-gravity chairs in a stress-free salt room, and kids have their own salt playroom where they can play or watch movies throughout the 45 minute session.

Salt Escape Wellness Center now offers massage therapy and Yoga Nidra. Practicing Yoga Nidra in a salt room provides the added benefit of salt therapy while breathing deeply. * Only one BOGO offer per person, please. Location: 2100 Dallas Pkwy., Ste. 140, Plano. For more information, call 972-378-4945 or visit SaltEscape.com.

See ad, page 8.

Parking is free. Location: 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy. For more info, call 877-6732536 or visit NaturalHealthFest.com.

See ad, page 9. natural awakenings March 2013

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newsbriefs A Victory Walk to Remember

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elay For Life Plano 2013 is preparing to take to the track at John Paul II High School, in Plano, April 19, to signify their fight against cancer during the 12-hour American Cancer Society fundraiser. The theme this year is Give Cancer the Boot.

The relay begins at 7 p.m. with cancer survivors completing the first lap, cheered on by those celebrating their victory. A caregivers lap follows at 7:30 p.m. For the next 12-hours, each team will have at least one walker on the track at all times.

Highlighting the evening is the nighttime luminaria ceremony that takes place at 9 p.m., to honor cancer survivors and to remember those lost. The event concludes with the closing ceremony on April 20, at 6:30 a.m.

The evening is filled with fun activities, entertainment, bands, contests, food vendors and a silent auction. Relay For Life events are held across the country, with more than 3.5 million people participating.

The American Cancer Society is the nation’s largest private founder of cancer research and is currently funding seven cancer researchers totaling nearly $4 million in grants at local North Texas institutions.

Location: 900 Coit Rd. For more information about registering a team or to participate as a survivor, visit RelayForLife.org.

Natural Awakenings Offers New Dating Website

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atural Awakenings is premiering NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com, a new online dating site, in partnership with the Conscious Dating Network, the Internet’s largest and oldest conscious/ spiritual/green dating site.

Niche online dating offers singles an efficient way to screen and date potential partners that share similar values and interests and are ready to be in a loving relationship.

NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com is designed to facilitate this enlightened way of meeting, dating and connecting.

The site will allow singles to join, create a full profile, upload photos and videos, send hellos, indicate interest and even read and reply to private messages and IM’s, all for free.

Upgrading, which allows members to initiate personally written messages and IM’s, is inexpensive compared to other online dating sites, with packages ranging from $7.97 to $16.97 a month.

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. CEO Sharon Bruckman says, “I’m really excited about this new alliance, which enables us to offer our 80-plus Natural Awakenings publishers around the country yet another way to help their readers connect with like-minded people, this time for the purpose of creating conscious relationships.”

For more information, visit NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com.

Third Annual DCCCD Sustainability Summit

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reen is a state of mind, not simply recycling a bottle or a can, and sustainability is a way of life, not just a one-time project.

That’s the foundation and focus for the free Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) 2013 Sustainability Summit, March 28, at Mountain View College, in Dallas.

The theme of this year’s event is: Doing the Right Things for People, Our Planet and the Economy. The keynote speaker (8:30 a.m.) is Joel Salatin, an author and third-generation full-time farmer whose alternative methods have garnered national attention.

The day will be filled with 20 green and sustainable breakout sessions with a lineup of local experts offering information in five key areas: healthy living; urban agriculture; resource and energy efficiency; smart cities; and green careers and jobs.

Breakout sessions run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., exhibitors will be in attendance, offering advice and sharing their green products and services.

A pre-summit event is available for a fee March 27, in which Salatin will discuss sustainable living and the plantanimal symbiosis.

Location: 4849 W. Illinois Ave. For more information on the summit and lecture schedule, call 214-378-1819 or visit dcccd.edu and choose events.

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Farm Fresh and Growing

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Life is Better Outside

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elax while actively learning how to enjoy the outdoors in a Texas state park. The Texas Outdoor Family program, offered by Texas Parks and Wildlife, gives participants hands-on experience in outdoor skills like camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, geocaching and outdoor cooking, all under the care of a Texas State Park ranger.

Being active outdoors is a great source of exercise, stress release and family fun.

All necessary camping equipment, including tents and cooking gear, is provided as part of the weekend workshop fee of $65 per family for up to six people. Campers need only bring a sleeping bag, food and personal items.

A major component of the program teaches participants about conservation ethics and introduces them to park rangers and what they do. The entire approach adopts a “leave no trace” philosophy, so it’s environmentally friendly.

There are multiple weekend workshops statewide from March through June.

ith more families looking for natural food that can be traced back to the source, the Country Store located at Circle N Dairy, in Lindsay, has expanded their selection of farm-grown, natural nutrition products. In partnership with other local farmers, Circle N Dairy is now selling directly to the public several locally grown and raised food items and handmade products.

Starting this spring, fresh garden produce will be available, including tomatoes, squash, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, okra, potatoes, beets, onions and cabbage. All produce is grown without the use of pesticides.

Known for their natural unprocessed grade A raw milk that is produced fresh daily at the dairy, the Country Store offers white and chocolate milk, cream, a local line of fresh quality beef and pork, locally produced raw, unfiltered and unpasteurized honey, local free-range eggs, several unique flavors of homemade jams and jellies, salsas, soup mixes, canned produce, fresh shelled Texas pecans and 15 varieties of pasteurized cheese and butter. In addition to food items, a variety of skin soothing, natural scented homemade milk soaps are available, as are handmade baby quilts.

Circle N Dairy offers dairy tours Monday through Saturday by appointment only. Families or groups of all sizes are welcome to come out and experience a family owned and operated farm. As part of the tour, everyone can enjoy the taste of fresh raw milk (white or chocolate) and children receive a treat bag.

Location: Four miles west of I-35 on US 82, Lindsay. For more information or to schedule a tour, call Michelle at 940-372-0343 or visit CircleNDairy.com. See ads, pages 23 and 43.

Location: Texas State Parks. For reservations, call 512-389-8903. For more info, visit tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/bof and click on the Texas Outdoor Family link under the activities tab. natural awakenings March 2013

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businessprofile

Natural Pest Solutions Make Sense

by Charles Lewis

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any of the insects we find around our home are actually beneficial and help maintain balance in our environment, however, everyone has their own level of insect tolerance, and even beneficial insects can become a nuisance when they invade our homes.

Through use of natural products and processes, Natural Pest Solutions eliminates bugs and pest without the use of harsh chemicals that may be as harmful to families and the environment as to the bugs themselves.

Every home and pest infestation is different and presents unique opportunities, so Natural Pest Solutions begins with a thorough pest inspection of the home; inside and out. A licensed technician evaluates the pest problem to identify and develop a multi-pronged strategy to remove the problem using the most effective and safest method, without putting harmful chemicals into the home environment. “Our intent is to minimize any negative impact to our environment and to prevent future infestations,” says owner Ed Arnold. “This often includes altering the environment to make your home less inviting to the pests.”

The first step after inspection is to change the attributes of the home and property to make household pests unwelcome, while protecting and encouraging beneficial insects.

During the inspection, the technician will look to reduce or remove harborage for pests—places where they find shelter and hide. This could be as simple as moving a firewood pile off the soil and away from the home, clearing away landscaping around the foundation of the house or the removal of clutter within or outside of the residency.

Secondly, the technician looks for ways to physically exclude pests from entering the home through openings, cracks and crevices that can be repaired with expanding foam, caulk or weatherizing techniques. If a home is already

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infested, pesticide treatments are usually required. “We have two rules about what we’ll use,” says Arnold. “It must be derived from natural sources, and it must be absolutely safe.”

“If a customer has an outrageous ant problem, we can spray, but that’s a Band-Aid,” says Arnold. “We educate customers on biological control, encouraging them to install companion plants that repel pests and attract and keep beneficial predators and pollinators. Planting chives, peppermint and spearmint will repel aphids and in turn, ants,” he says. Many common ornamental plants attract unwanted pests that can be corrected by companion plants such as lemongrass, spearmint chives, marigolds, society garlic, radishes and rosemary.

“After working with us, many insect problems are eliminated at the source” says Arnold.

Even though Natural Pest Solutions’ natural products may cost more initially, they remain competitively priced because the company monitors and treats only what needs to be treated. The concept of integrative pest management arose from commercial agriculture practices that proved to actually save money in the long run.

Natural Pest Solutions offers plans ranging from a single pest visit without a maintence plan to general pest plans with quarterly treatments. Natural treatment options are also available for mosquito control, with the MistAway Outdoor Insect Control System that uses natural or botanical products, and the control of bedbugs, which are one of the hardest pests to eliminate. “We feel it’s important to educate others on natural, practical solutions to protect their investment and family.”

For more information or to schedule a free home pest inspection, call 214-763-2758 or visit GuysinGreen.com. See ad, page 34.

healthbriefs

Battle of the Bulge

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ccording to the American Heart Association, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese today, nearly triple the rate in 1963. A new report by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation advises that if adult obesity rates continue on their current trajectories, by 2030, 13 states could have rates above 60 percent; 39 states above 50 percent; and all 50 states above 44 percent.

A study published in the International Journal of Obesity, based on research at 10 universities, points to the use of hormones in factory meat production as a major reason for this trend. Pesticides are another culprit; the average American is exposed to 10 to 13 different types each day via food, beverages and drinking water, and nine of the 10 most commonly used are endocrine disrupters linked to weight gain. Genetically modified U.S. food crops are also sprayed heavily with biocides. Findings presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science linked bisphenol A (BPA)—an industrial chemical contained in plastic soda, drinking and baby bottles—with abnormal estrogen function.

To win the battle of the bulge, Americans need to eat balanced diets and exercise regularly, but additional steps can further help: choose organic, grass-fed meat instead of corn-fed; use glass instead of plastic containers for beverages and food storage; avoid canned food unless the label states BPA-free; and consume yogurt daily or take a high-quality probiotic to help restore healthy intestinal flora.

Drinks Tied to Tooth Trouble

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hen replacing lost fluids during or after a workout, consider how beverage choices can affect the health of teeth. A recent study published in General Dentistry, the journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, found that increased consumption of sports and energy drinks is causing irreversible damage to teeth, especially among adolescents.

A reported 30 to 50 percent of U.S. teens regularly imbibe energy drinks, and as many as 62 percent down at least one sports drink a day. “Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better’ than soda,” says Associate Professor Poonam Jain, lead author of the study, who serves as director of community and preventive dentistry at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.

“Most of these patients are shocked to learn that the drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid.”

In testing the effect of acidity levels on samples of human tooth enamel immersed in 13 sports and nine energy beverages, researchers found that damage to enamel was evident after only five days of exposure. Moreover, energy drinks were twice as harmful as sports drinks. “These drinks erode or thin out the enamel of the teeth, leaving them more susceptible to decay and sensitivity,” says Jain.

Why We Might Need More Vitamin C

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esearchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, a leading global authority on the role of vitamin C in optimum health, forward compelling evidence that the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C should be raised to 200 milligrams per day for U.S. adults, up from its current levels of 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. The RDA of vitamin C is less than half of what it should be, scientists argue, because medical experts insist on evaluating this natural, but critical, nutrient in the same way they do for pharmaceutical drugs, and consequently reach faulty conclusions.

The researchers base their recommendations on studies showing that higher levels of vitamin C could help reduce chronic health problems including heart disease, stroke and cancer, as well as underlying causal issues such as high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, poor immune response and atherosclerosis. Even at the current low RDA, U.S. and Canadian studies have found that a quarter to a third of the total population is marginally deficient in vitamin C and up to a fifth of those in such groups as students, smokers and older adults are severely deficient in it.

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healthbriefs

Dining App for Special-Needs Diets

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oodCare’s new EveryoneEat! Android and iPhone app allows anyone to make informed meal decisions at 180,000 restaurant locations nationwide, based on their nutrition needs and meal preferences. Users enter their basic information such as age, gender, height, weight and activity level, plus any chronic health conditions and special dietary restrictions, at FoodCare.me. Instant analysis enables them to search for dishes at restaurants by type of cuisine or restaurant name.

“People need to easily answer the basic question: ‘Does this dish meet my dietary guidelines?’ and if not, “What’s off and by how much?’” says CEO Ken Marshall.

According to the U.S. government’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, which monitors the use and cost of health care and insurance coverage, nearly half of Americans today are living with a nutrition-related chronic disease. The National Restaurant Association estimates that Americans order 47 percent of all of their meals from restaurants.

Yogurt Hinders Hypertension

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ating yogurt could reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, or hypertension, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association 2012 Scientific Sessions. During their 15-year study, researchers followed more than 2,000 volunteers that did not initially have high blood pressure and reported on their yogurt consumption at three intervals.

Participants that routinely consumed at least one sixounce cup of low-fat yogurt every three days were 31 percent less likely to develop hypertension.

Bad Fats Are Brain-Busters

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ew research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, has found that consumption of “bad” saturated fats may be associated with a decline in cognitive function and memory in older women.

The research team analyzed the BWH Women’s Health Study, focusing on four years of data from a subset of 6,000 women older than 65. Those that consumed the highest amounts of saturated fat, like that found in red meat and butter, exhibited worse overall cognition and memory than peers that ate the lowest amounts. Women that consumed mainly monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, demonstrated better patterns of cognitive scores over time.

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Not So Nice Rice

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ew research by the nonprofit Consumers Union (CU), which publishes Consumer Reports, may cause us to reconsider what we place in our steamer or cookpot. Rice—a staple of many diets, vegetarian or not—is frequently contaminated with arsenic, a known carcinogen that is also believed to interfere with fetal development.

Rice contains more arsenic than grains like oats or wheat because it is grown in water-flooded conditions, and so more readily absorbs the heavy metal from soil or water than most plants. Even most U.S.-grown rice comes from the south-central region, where crops such as cotton were heavily treated with arsenical pesticides for decades. Thus, some organically grown rice in the region is impacted, as well.

CU analysis of more than 200 samples of both organic and conventionally grown rice and rice products on U.S. grocery shelves found that nearly all contained some level of arsenic; many with alarmingly high amounts. There is no federal standard for arsenic in food, but there is a limit of 10 parts per billion in drinking water, and CU researchers found that one serving of contaminated rice may have as much arsenic as an entire day’s worth of water.

To reduce the risk of exposure, rinse rice grains thoroughly before cooking and follow the Asian practice of preparing it with extra water to absorb arsenic and/or pesticide residues; and then drain the excess water before serving.

See CU’s chart of arsenic levels in tested rice products at Tinyurl.com/ ArsenicReport.

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

Windy Woes

Solving Wind Power’s Hidden Pollution Problem The U.S. Department of Energy reports that although wind power accounts for just over 4 percent of domestic electrical generation, it comprises a third of all new electric capacity. Even with the freedom from coal or oil that wind power creates, a major component of the generating devices, the turbine blades, has its own carbon footprint that needs examining.

Some of the blades are as long as a football field, and the metal, fiberglass or carbon composites must be mined, refined, manufactured and transported, all consuming energy and creating materials that are difficult to recycle when they reach the end of their usefulness and are replaced. Christopher Niezrecki, a member of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell Wind Energy Research Group, estimates the United States will have as many as 170,000 wind turbines by 2030, creating more than 34,000 discarded blades each year.

The next generation of blade material may come from natural cellulose fibers and bio-based plastics derived from soybean, linseed and other vegetable oils, instead of oil-based polymers. A $1.9 million National Science Foundation grant is funding the research.

Source: FastCoexist.com

Food Feelings

Restaurant Ambiance Affects Diners’ Appetites The mood in a restaurant can help diners enjoy their meals more and eat less, according to study results published in the journal Psychological Reports. After transforming part of a fast food Hardee’s restaurant in Illinois with milder music and lighting, researchers found that customers ate 18 percent fewer calories than diners in an unmodified seating area. Brian Wansink, Ph.D., a professor of marketing and consumer behavior at Cornell University, in New York, explains, “It didn’t change what people ordered, but what it did do was lead them to eat less and made them more satisfied and happier.”

Wansink, author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think, asks, “If softer music and softer lighting seem to get people to eat less in a fast food situation, why not try the same thing at home?”

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globalbriefs School Safeguard How to Build a Bike Train

In 1969, according to the National Center for Safe Routes to School, 48 percent of kids ages 5 to 14 regularly walked or biked to school. In 2009, it was just 13 percent. One major reason for the change is that parents don’t feel safe letting kids bicycle around town on their own. Bike trains—in which an adult chaperone rides a predetermined route, adding children along the way—can make it easier and safer for kids to get to school.

To start a DIY bike train, find a group of interested parents through school and neighborhood message boards and newsletters; assess the area to create routes; distribute flyers and get feedback; determine bike train dates and times; host a community meeting; and post selected routes online.

Source: Yes magazine

Better Cafeterias

School Lunches Improving Nationwide The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) 2012 School Lunch Report Card found that public school districts in Florida, Maryland, Tennessee and Nebraska rose above federal guidelines for serving healthy school lunches, with some in Georgia and Missouri also receiving good marks. But most schools nationwide can improve.

PCRM dietitians analyzed elementary school meals at 22 districts participating in the National School Lunch Program. The average grade is now a B (84.4) compared with the national C+ average (78.7) in 2008. Schools delivering poor grades still offer chicken-fried steak fingers, breaded catfish, pork nuggets and other high-cholesterol menu items.

To read the complete report, visit HealthySchoolLunches.org.

Coyote Ugly

Critters Becoming New Urban Pioneers Stray dogs and feral cats in our cities may be supplanted by raccoons, foxes and coyotes if current trends continue. Even mountain lions and bears are unexpectedly showing up in urban landscapes. Evidence suggests that clashes between humans and other predators will increase and potentially intensify.

Ohio State University Biologist Stan Gehrt stated, “The coyote is the test case for other animals,” at an EcoSummit 2012 conference in Columbus, Ohio. “We’re finding that these animals are much more flexible than we gave them credit for, and they’re adjusting to our cities.” Coyotes, commonplace around many metropolitan areas, don’t seem to mind the density, with some packs each confining themselves to a one-third-square-mile territory.

Eradication efforts have sometimes faltered, partially because of public backlashes sympathetic to wild animals, plus a pattern in which new coyotes tend to quickly move into areas where other animals have been evicted. Gehrt poses the question, “Are we going to be able to adjust to them living with us or are we not going to be able to coexist?”

Source: The Christian Science Monitor 14

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Superior Soil

Organic Farming Sustains Earth’s Richness Famed as the happiest country on Earth, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is now aiming to become 100 percent organic, phasing out artificial chemicals in farming in the next 10 years. Agence France-Presse reports that Bhutan currently sends rare mushrooms to Japan, vegetables to up-market hotels in Thailand, its highly prized apples to India and red rice to the United States.

Jurmi Dorji, of southern Bhutan’s 103-member Daga Shingdrey Pshogpa farmers’ association, says their members are in favor of the policy. “More than a decade ago, people realized that the chemicals were not good for farming,” he says.

“I cannot say everyone has stopped using chemicals, but almost 90 percent have.”

An international metastudy published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science that analyzed 74 studies on soils in fields under organic or conventional farming practices has found that over time, the carbon content in the organic fields significantly increased. For farmers everywhere, that means organic agriculture results in a richer, more productive soil, with plenty of humus, which is conducive to higher yields.

Peter Melchett, policy director at Britain’s Organic Soil Association, says a primary benefit of a country becoming 100 percent organic is an assurance of quality to consumers that creates both an international reputation and associated market advantage.

Dishpan Plants Waste Water Cuts Fertilizer Use

The effluent created by household sinks, washing machines and showers, known as gray water, could provide a new, low-cost source of irrigation for landscape plants that cuts down on the amount of fertilizer required to maintain them. The nonprofit Water Environmental Research Foundation’s (WERF) new report shows that many plants used for landscaping benefit from the use of gray water (Tinyurl.com/gray waterreport).

The study looked at seven homes in Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas with new and longstanding gray water systems that recycle wastewater to irrigate outdoor plants. Although the soil irrigated with gray water showed higher levels of cleaners, antimicrobials and sodium compared with areas irrigated with fresh water, there was enough nitrogen present in gray water to reduce or eliminate the need for additional fertilizers.

Not all plants responded positively, but WERF Communications Director Carrie Capuco says, “Gray water can be successfully used with the right plant choices.” Guidelines include heavily mulching the area where gray water is supplied to minimize contact with pets.

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ecotip Toilet to Table Fertilizing Our Food with Human Waste Using sewage sludge as fertilizer on the land that grows our food and feeds our livestock is legal, but critics question the safety of the practice. United Sludge-Free Alliance founder Darree Sicher says, “Most people flush the toilet and assume the waste is being taken care of properly, but many times, the industry is simply performing a toxic transfer.”

Everything that is flushed down the drains of residential and commercial properties combines at local water treatment plants, including chemicals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pathogens and poisons. Water is then treated and the extracted pollutants are concentrated in the residual sludge that remains.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that more than 7 million tons of sludge (biosolids) are generated each year in the United States—half is applied to farms, parks, playgrounds, golf courses and forests in all 50 states. Biosolids are also sold as bagged fertilizer to homeowners.

Until the use of biosolids as fertilizer is more strictly regulated and foods are labeled as sludge-free, consumers should consider buying organic foods. When buying from local growers, ask about the use of biosolids on their fields.

Also, raise awareness among state and federal officials to outlaw such questionable practices and lobby local officials to continue the trend toward sludgefree public areas. A far safer use of waste is “poop to power” projects that harvest energy from sludge to produce heat, fuel and electricity, which Sicher reports have been widely used in Germany and Sweden for 30 years.

For more information, including sludge-free fertilizer brands and downloadable brochures, call 610-823-8258 or visit USludgeFree.org.

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inspiration

The Healing Power of Silence

by Robert Rabbin

O

of our heart, where it breaks open to reveal another heart that knows how to meet life with open arms. Silence It was more than grace, an epiphany or a knows that thoughts about life are not life itself. If we touch life through mystical union; it was my soul’s homeSilence, life touches us back intimately coming, my heart’s overflowing love, my mind’s eternal peace. In Silence, I experi- and we become one with life itself. enced freedom, clarity and joy as my true Then the mystery, wonder, beauty and sanctity becomes our life. Everything self, felt my core identity and essential but wonderment falls nature as a unity-inanger, fear and love with all creation, When I return from away; violence disappear as and realized it is within silence I am less if they never existed. this essence that we Knowing Silence learn to embody healthan when I entered: is knowing our self ing in our world. less harried, fearful, and our world for the

This Silence time. We only belongs to us all—it anxious and egotistical. first have to be still until is who and what we Whatever the gift of that Silence comes are. Selfless silence from within to ilknows only the present silence is, it is one of forth luminate and embrace moment, this incredlessening, purifying, us, serving as the ible instant of pure life teaching and when time stops and softening. The “I” that teacher, path, redeeming and we breathe the high-alreturns is more loving restoring us in love. titude air we call love.

In this truth-filled Let us explore Silence than the “I” who left. moment, we enter our as a way of knowing Self fully and deeply. and being, which we ~ Rabbi Rami Shapiro We know our own know, which we are. beauty, power and

Silence is within. magnificence. As the embodiment of It is within our breath, like music Silence, we are perfection itself, a treabetween thoughts, the light in our sure that the world needs now. Right eyes. It is felt in the high arc of birds, the rhythm of waves, the innocence of now the Universe needs each of us to children, the heart’s deepest emotions be our true Self, expressing the healing power of our heart, in Silence. that have no cause. It is seen in small kindnesses, the stillness of nights and As a lifelong mystic, Robert Rabbin peaceful early mornings. It is present is an innovative self-awareness teacher when beholding a loved one, joined and author of The 5 Principles of in spirit.

Authentic Living. Connect at

In Silence, we open to life and RobertRabbin.com. life opens to us. It touches the center ne day I disappeared into Silence…

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communityspotlight

Dental Studio of Carrollton

by Beth Davis

A

t the Dental Studio of Carrollton, Dr. described “chatterbox,” and Limosnero was Sandhya Krishan and Dr. Robert Limosmore serious and intense. “The relationship nero take pride in providing personjust worked; we played off of each other alized dentistry solutions that help patients well,” notes Limosnero. achieve optimal oral health. From preventive

After initially going their separate ways and restorative care to cosmetic dentistry and after graduation, the two came back together periodontal care, the practice is not dedicated in 2007 to launch the Dental Studio of Carjust to creating beautiful smiles, but also rollton, a state-of-the-art facility that serves influencing how the health of patients’ teeth adults and children, including infants. “We and gums can impact whole body health. For offer a more conservative, preventative apKrishan and Limosnero, it’s about making a proach to dental care,” says Krishan. “Our difference and changing lives. goal is to educate our patients and explain

Krishan’s passion for dentistry began at why oral health is so important to overall Dr. Sandhya Krishan and an early age. Her mother was a dentist and health and wellness. We want people to unDr. Robert Limosnero although she passed away just before Krishan derstand why we do what we do.” enrolled in dental school, she was—and still remains—her

For example, if a patient comes in for a cleaning, but role model. “When my mother came to the United States already has periodontal (gum) disease—a potentially dangerfrom India, she had to go back to dental school in order ous condition, because the progression of the disease is often to be licensed in this country,” she explains. “As a child, painless and can go undetected until it creates serious probI wondered what was so great about it. Once she opened lems—a deep cleaning can’t and won’t be performed. “It’s like her practice, she loved it, and her passion was contagious. I taking a shower with clothes on,” explains Limosnero. “We began working for her in the seventh or eighth grade and I’ve will explain the risks of gum disease, but we won’t perform a never looked back. I wanted to be just like her.” treatment simply because they are used to it. We will never

Although Limosnero didn’t always know he wanted to sacrifice the health of an individual just to make a dollar.” be a dentist, what he did know was he wanted a career in

Limosnero adds that this educational element is one healthcare—the chance to make a positive impact on the life of the most crucial components of the practice. “We want of another person. His parents, both psychiatrists, had always to help people understand that options and alternatives do allowed him the luxury of finding his own way, so when he exist,” he notes. “Our explanations probably go beyond the went off to college, he was faced with a decision between norm, but it’s important to us to build a relationship of trust medical and dental school. Ultimately, he chose dentistry. “I and understanding with our patients.” realized that you could change a person’s life by changing

The facility is equipped with advanced technology that their smile, and that’s what was important to me,” he explains. includes digital X-rays, intra-oral cameras, diagnostic lasers

The two met in a laboratory class at the University of and the Sapphire Plasma Arc Curing and Whitening Light Texas Dental Branch, in Houston. Students sat alphabetisystem, which has been called the most beneficial, costcally, so a gentleman with the last name Lee only separated effective piece of equipment in dental practices today. the two. As fate would have it, Lee left the class, leaving

In addition to regular checkups, they proudly offer Krishan and Limosnero as lab partners. A fast friendship metal-free fillings and crowns, root canals, bridges, teeth developed, despite their differences. Krishan was a selfwhitening, dentures, ClearCorrect invisible braces and an

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innovative DNA appliance system that provides a natural way for the body to move teeth into their correct positions.

“This is a non-invasive approach to growing the mouth,” explains Krishan.

“Unlike braces, which are straightening the teeth, this device restructures the bone. It also effectively addresses issues such as sleep apnea and snoring in both adults and children without using surgery, drugs or injections.”

Their own passion for dentistry— and the lack of passion from those applying for positions at their practice—led to the opening of an in-house dental assisting school, the Chairside Dental Assisting School of Carrollton, in 2009. “We just felt that it had to start from the beginning,” states Limosnero.

“We wanted to build a community of assistants that were as committed to dentistry and felt the same passion as we did. It wasn’t just about clocking in and out every day.”

For both, at the end of the day, their goal is simply to build the “dental I.Q.” of their patients. That means providing every patient with as much information as he or she is willing to take in. “We want them to be in an information gathering mode, and then they can use that information to make the best decision for their health,” she says. Knowing that they have done their best to lead patients down the path toward better health—toward making an impact in the lives of others—serves as inspiration to each of them.

“Life is simple to me and giving is simple,” Limosnero states. “As long as I can educate and teach, and if I can give somebody hope that it can be better, what I’m getting in return is 1,000 times better.”

Krishan says that she is grateful for the ability to make a positive difference. “It is amazing to look around and see how easily your energy can change those around you,” she says. “I get a kick out of seeing those smiles, and it makes me want to give more and do more every day.”

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

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

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Dental Studio of Carrollton is located at 2005 W. Hebron Pkwy., in Carrollton.

For more information, call 972-3950150 or visit DSofCarrollton.com. See ad, page 28. natural awakenings March 2013

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fitbody DVD from the library or follow one of the many television fitness shows. “People can save thousands of dollars by combining five to 10 exercises into a burst-training workout routine,” which will burn calories and increase muscle mass, says Joe Vennare, co-founder of the Hybrid Athlete, a fitness website.

Myth 4: Too Late to Start

FITNESS MYTHS

DEBUNKED 11 VITAL TRUTHS

by Lynda Bassett

T

he U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that more than a third of Americans today are overweight. Yet it also reports that at least 30 percent of us don’t exercise at all, perhaps partly due to persistent fitness myths.

Myth 1: Lack of Opportunity Even the busiest person can fit in some exercise by making simple changes in their daily routine. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, do squats while watching television, deliver a message in person instead of via email, take a desk break to stretch or stand while talking on the phone. Even fidgeting is beneficial. The point is to be as active as possible during otherwise sedentary hours.

Myth 2: No Time The CDC recommends that each week, adults should exercise 150 minutes—the average duration of a movie—but not all at once. To make it easy, break it up into various exercise activities in daily, vigorous, 10-minute chunks.

Myth 3: Unaffordable Activities like walking, bicycling and even jumping rope can be done virtually anywhere, anytime. Individuals can create a basic home fitness center with a jump rope, set of dumbbells and not much more. Borrow an exercise video or 20

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Many people feel they are too old or out-of-shape to even begin to exercise, or are intimidated by the idea of stepping into a yoga studio or gym. “Stop wasting time reading diet books and use that time to go for a walk,” advises Exercise Physiologist Jason Karp, Ph.D., author of Running for Women and Running a Marathon for Dummies. “In other words, get moving any way you can.”

Myth 5: No Pain, No Gain Suffering isn’t required. In fact, feeling pain can indicate possible injury or burnout. Still, consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program. “Do not hurt yourself,” says Charla McMillian, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, attorney and president of FitBoot – Basic Training for Professionals, in San Francisco. “Rather, aim for a point of gentle discomfort,” she advises.

Myth 6: Must Break a Sweat Perspiring is related to the duration and intensity of the exercise, but some people just sweat more than others.

“How much (or little) you sweat does not correlate with how many calories you are expending,” assures Jessica Matthews, an experienced registered yoga teacher and an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise.

Myth 7: Dieting is Enough Women especially fall prey to the myth that they don’t need to exercise if they are a certain dress size. Even those at a healthy weight can be in greater danger of contracting disease and shortened lifespan than obese individuals that regularly participate in physical activity, according to a recent study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, in Bethesda, Maryland.

Health experts recommend combining regular activity with consuming lean proteins, healthy fats, limited starches and no added sugars.

Myth 8: Stretch Before Exercising New research from the American Council on Exercise recommends stretching at the end of a workout. “It is safer and more effective to stretch muscles that are properly warmed and more pliable,” says Matthews, who also recommends beginning a workout with simple movements such as arm circles and leg swings. She notes, “Stretching can help to improve posture and flexibility, plus reduce overall stress.”

Myth 9: Crunches Cut Belly Fat There’s no such thing as spot reducing.

While crunches strengthen abdominal muscles, they will not shrink your waistline, says Karp. Instead, try exercises such as squats, lunges and yoga plank holds or kettlebell repetitions to lose stubborn belly fat.

Myth 10: Women Using Weights Get Bulky The truth is that most weightlifting women won’t end up with a big, bulky physique because they have less testosterone, are smaller in size and have less muscle tissue than men, advises Matthews. “Any kind of strength training will help improve bone density, increase muscle mass and decrease body fat in both men and women.”

Myth 11: Exercise is Hard Physical activity should be fun. It’s best to start simply, add a variety of physical activities and challenges and keep at it.

Schedule time for exercise and treat it like any other daily appointment; don’t cancel it. Alexander Cortes, a nationally certified strength and conditioning coach with Ultimate Fighting Championship Gym, in Corona, California, concludes, “When health is a priority, exercise is the most important appointment you can keep.”

Lynda Bassett is a freelance writer near Boston, MA. Connect at LyndaBassett.com.

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21

We All Need the Salt of the Earth to Live

by Dr. Christy Porterfield and Dr. Jennifer Taylor

Salt has received its fair share of bad press of late. The word on the street these days is, “Salt is bad, sodium will raise your blood pressure,” but is it true? Recent studies suggest otherwise.

I

n ancient times, salt was literally worth its weight in gold. African and European explorers plying the spice routes would trade the white stuff for the yellow stuff with similar regard. Our ancestors were right to value it. The sodium and chlorine compounds in unrefined, natural salt are essential for life. Our body cannot make these elements; it requires them from a dietary source. They are critical in regulating blood plasma, lymphatic fluid, extracellular fluid and even amniotic fluid for our babies. They also help carry nutrients to the cells, support healthy glial cell populations in the brain, and help the brain communicate with the rest of the body. Perhaps ironically, salt is essential for maintaining and regulating blood pressure.

A 2010 Harvard University study showed that a low-salt diet actually led to an increase in insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, in only seven days. Other research found that salt restriction may play a role in increased death rates among people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes; increased falls and broken hips and decreased cognitive ability among the elderly; low birth weight babies; and poor neurodevelopment in infants.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study in May 2011 that assessed the health of 3,681 healthy European men and women 60 years or younger over the course of eight years. It found those that consumed higher than average amounts of sodium did not experience increased risk for hypertension, stroke or heart attack, with the senior author of the study stating, “The findings do not support the current recommendations of a generalized and indiscriminate reduction of sodium intake…”

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This research revealed that less sodium excreted in the urine (an indication of salt consumption), correlated with a greater risk of dying from heart disease.

When the participants were divided up into low, moderate and high salt consumption groups and then studied for mortality, researchers found that 50 people died in the low salt group, 24 people died in the moderate salt group and 10 people died in the high salt group.

Additionally, the risk for heart disease was 56 percent higher for the low salt group when compared to the high salt group. It is important to note that some studies have shown a modest benefit to salt restriction among some individuals with high blood pressure, but the evidence does not extend to the population at large.

So why has salt gotten such a bad name? The answer is simple: not all salt is created equal. Processed salt is typically around 97 to 98 percent pure sodium chloride, with the additional portion comprised of anti-caking and flow agents like ferrocyanide and aluminosilicate, sodium fluoride or potassium fluoride, some of which are industrial byproducts.

Processed salt is also structurally altered in the refining process, reaching high temperatures of 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which alters the chemical makeup further, resulting in a “scrubbed” molecular structure.

Additionally, the inorganic sodium chloride upsets the body’s fluid balance and constantly overburdens its elimination systems, which can impair health. When the body tries to process refined salt, water molecules must surround the sodium chloride molecules to break them up in order to help neutralize them. To accomplish this, water is taken from

Mankind can live without gold … but not without salt. ~Cassiodorus, Roman statesman, circa 500 AD. cells, resulting in dehydration and premature cell aging.

Much of the refined salt we consume is hidden in processed foods; some statistics state that it’s as high as 80 percent. There’s little argument that there is far too much sodium in processed foods, but these are foods that we should avoid to begin with. Refined salt is just one of many ingredients in packaged foods that will damage our health. Even “organic” processed foods are high in refined “sea salt” and other preservatives that we are better off avoiding.

When we look at natural salt (Himalayan, Redmond, Celtic) the composition is about 84 to 90 percent sodium chloride (NaCl). The other portion is comprised of common minerals such as calcium and magnesium, as well as other trace minerals that our body uses in daily processes. These minerals are essential to our health and actually help the body to process the sodium chloride.

The trace minerals found in unprocessed salt are also essential for body function. Even small departures from normal mineral composition of the interior of our cells may have profound physiological consequences. Trace minerals help with activating enzymes, regulating heartbeat, acting as antioxidants and stabilizing the structure of cells, among myriad other functions.

Unrefined sea salt is readily available and doesn’t have to be expensive, often available in a local grocer’s bulk section. All unrefined salt is sea salt: some of it is freshly dried or may come from ancient seabeds. Sometimes the salt will have some color to it: pink, yellow or grey. Be careful, because much of the salt labeled as sea salt is actually refined salt; if the salt doesn’t have some color to it, it’s been refined.

Some foods naturally high in salt/sodium are fish, eggs, nuts, prawns, crabs, lobsters and seaweed. Other naturally occurring, although less significant sources of salt are celery, carrots, cauliflower, pineapples, jackfruits and even fresh cow’s milk.

The more we can move toward a diet of whole, organic foods in their natural state, the healthier we will be—whether they are veggies, meat, dairy products or salt. Salt is an essential of good health, but we need to limit sources of processed salt and switch to a pure, unrefined salt; one with a little color from mineral content. Those that are exercising heavily or in the middle of a heat wave may require more salt than on a cool day when relaxing. Following our taste buds, it is perfectly fine to salt our food, provided the salt we’re using is natural and unrefined.

Christy Porterfield and Jennifer Taylor, of HealthWorks: A Creating Wellness Center, are practicing doctors of chiropractic in Plano and chapter leaders for Weston A. Price. For more information, call 972-612-1800 or visit HealthWorksTX.com. See ad, page 21. natural awakenings March 2013

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Feeding Ourselves Well

Urban Gardening Takes Root

70 percent of these gardens are in urban or suburban areas.

“We’re seeing a new crop of farmers that defy stereotypes,” observes David Tracey, owner of EcoUrbanist environmental design in Vancouver, Canada, and author of Urban Agriculture. “Some are office workers leaving unsatisfying jobs, techie types learning the trade in universities and back-to-theland folks that happen to live in cities.

Others are activists taking on the industrial farm system, folks adopting trends or entrepreneurs that see opportunities in the rising prices of quality food and the proximity of millions of customers.”

Opportunities and Pitfalls

by John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist

“I

n just one-twelfth of an acre, including lots of paths and a compost heap, our family grows the vast majority of the fresh vegetables we need, plus a decent chunk of our fruits and berries,” says Erica Strauss.

“It’s not a huge garden, but we still feel nearly overwhelmed with the harvest in late August.” Her family of four tends a diversity of edibles on their urban lot in a suburb of Seattle, Washington.

Word has spread because Strauss writes about her experiences via Northwest Edible Life, a blog about food growing, cooking and urban homesteading. “Every kid on the block has picked an Asian pear off my espalier and munched on raw green beans,” she notes. “Even picky eaters seem pretty interested when they can pick tasty treats right from the tree or vine.”

We don’t need to live in a rural area or on a farm to grow our own food.

By the close of World War II, nearly 40 percent of all fruits and vegetables supplying Americans stateside were grown in victory gardens in the communities in which they were consumed.

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Today, these small plots are often termed kitchen gardens, comprising parts of household lawns, schoolyards, balconies, patios and rooftops. Fresh taste and the security of local food supplies in case of manmade or natural upheavals are drawing more people to gardening.

Garden Cities

“Urbanization, a major demographic trend, has implications for how we grow and consume food,” observes Roger Doiron, founder of Kitchen Gardeners International. “If we agree that feeding more people fresh, local foods is a priority, we’re going to need to landscape and, in many cases, retrofit urban and suburban areas for increased food production.”

Millions of Americans now participate in growing mainstay foods.

According to a 2009 study by the National Gardening Association, 31 percent of all U.S. households grew food for their families in 2008, and more have since the economic downturn. Bruce Butterfield, the association’s research director, estimates that nearly

Urban gardening has unexpected advantages in its use of organic waste like coffee grounds from a local coffee house and rainwater from area rooftops. Converting lawns at schools, churches and empty city lots into community gardens fosters community connections, improves access to affordable nutritious foods and creates employment opportunities.

A widespread challenge to the trend is dealing with the quality of urban soil and testing for possible toxins.

Often, urban soil must be improved using compost and other nutrients before plants can prosper. A nearby irrigation source is also required.

“One potential problem for urban gardeners may be the community reaction to an edible landscape,” admits Strauss. “In some cities, edible gardens in the front yard or even the common parking strip are celebrated and even officially encouraged. But in communities where lawn is still king and city codes regarding vegetation are vague and open to interpretation, one complaint from an anonymous neighbor can become an exhausting political and legal fight.”

Feeding Community

Community gardens often transform vacant lots and other marginal land into green growing places. In Chicago, The Peterson Garden Project, an awardwinning nonprofit program, has been turning unsightly empty lots into raisedbeds in which residents learn to grow their own food since 2010.

“Nationally, it’s been found that having a community garden on unused

land increases property values, decreases crime and promotes a sense of unity with neighbors and others,” explains LaManda Joy, president and founder of the project. “We work with property owners on the short-term use of their land to enhance the community in which they eventually plan to develop.”

“Participating in a community garden serves up a lot of individual victories,” says Joy. “Improved health and nutrition, learning a new skill, teaching kids where food comes from, productive exercise, mental well-being, connecting with others and saving money—community gardens help make all of this possible.”

Being Prepared

“How many recalls have we seen because some food item has been contaminated and people have suffered or died as a result? I am concerned about the safety and security of our food supply,” says Wendy Brown, whose family tends a quarter-acre garden with raised and landscaped beds and containers wrapped around their home plus an onsite greenhouse in a beach resort suburb of Portland, Maine. “As a mother, it concerns me that I might feed my children something that will hurt them.

High-fructose corn syrup, genetically engineered crops and BPA-lined cans are all making headlines. It just seems smarter to grow it myself; that way, we have more control over what our family is eating.”

Brown is one of more than 3 million Americans that are following FEMA recommendations in preparing for any event that might disrupt food supplies. Her book, Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs, shares everything her family has done to safeguard themselves, including growing produce, caring for animals and canning, freezing, drying, cold storage or fermenting foods for later use.

“For me, it’s more about being prepared for the everyday things that are happening, like increases in food and fuel prices or a loss of family income,” Brown says. “If we’re growing at least some of our own food, I have a lot less to worry about when such things happen.”

The family also keeps rabbits and ducks, plus egg-laying and meat-providing chickens that can total 40 animals

in the summer at their “nanofarm”.

These also supply natural fertilizer for the crops. Nearby beehives provide 20 pounds of honey each year. Because the foods they produce are solely for their personal use, the Browns are exempt from regulatory restrictions.

“Our neighbors love what we’re doing,” says Brown, whose house is close enough they can chat across their front porches. “One says our initiative reminds him of growing up in Maine pretty much self-sufficient. The other tells friends and coworkers they aren’t worried if things really go bad because they have us as neighbors.”

Growing Green Thumbs

“With some effort, urban gardeners can grow great vegetables anyplace that affords enough light and warmth,” advises Strauss, who gardens primarily in raised beds in her front and back yards.

“I garden on the scale I do because I love it. It’s both relaxing and challenging, and we eat well.”

Urban gardening methods are as diverse as the growing conditions, space limitations and financial resources of the gardener.

“Lasagna” gardening—layering newspaper or cardboard and other organic materials on top—can be effective in urban areas because it involves no digging or tilling. Just as with making compost, alternate between brown and green layers. Once the materials break down, add plants to the newly created growing bed.

Urban dwellers with limited space may employ square-foot gardening, intensively growing plants in raised beds using a growing medium of vermiculite, peat moss and compost. This method can yield fewer weeds and is easier on the back. “It’s an easy concept to grasp for new gardeners,” remarks Joy. “We use it to both maximize output in a small area and ensure healthy, organic, contaminant-free soil.”

Rooftop gardens are becoming more common as larger agricultural operations use them to grow income crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers anyone that sells more than $1,000 of produce to neighbors or area restaurants a farmer, rather than a gardener, so regulations may apply.

For renters, just a few tomato plants in a well-maintained container on a patio or deck can yield as much as 50 pounds of tomatoes by taking advantage of its microclimate, influenced by wind blocks, heated surfaces and reflected light from windows.

Urban gardening is also thriving indoors in terrariums, window boxes and small greenhouses. Even partially lit rooms can support certain vegetables or herbs with grow lights. Aquaponic gardening, a closed-loop system that involves both fish and vegetables, expands the self-sufficient possibilities of a hydroponic system of growing plants fed by liquid nutrients.

Feeding Ourselves

With more than 80 percent of Americans currently living in urban and suburban areas, the questionable nutrition of many mass-produced foods, increasing pesticide and herbicide use by nonorganic farmers, greenhouse gas emissions from food transport and weather patterns altered by climate change, it’s past time to take back some control.

Operating our own gardens and preparing our own meals turns us back into producers, not merely consumers.

“For the most part, we’re just average suburbanites,” concludes Brown.

“We just choose to have less lawn and more garden. A huge benefit is that we need less income because we’re buying less at the grocery store. Our goal is to semi-retire in our mid-50s—not because we’ve made a bunch of money, but because we’ve needed less money to live along the way.”

John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, co-authors of Farmstead Chef (FarmsteadChef.com), ECOpreneuring and Rural Renaissance, operate the award-winning Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, in Browntown, WI. They grow 70 percent of their organic food; the cost savings helped them become mortgage-free in their mid-40s. natural awakenings March 2013

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Nuts and Bolts of Raised Bed Gardening

by Greg Holdsworth

T Local Foods Grow on Menus

“M

any restaurants are seeking to lower ‘food miles’ and offer fresher, more local food,” reports Michael Oshman, founder and CEO of the Green Restaurant Association, which certifies sustainably operated restaurants. The 500-plus restaurants certified since 1990 include university, government and corporate cafeterias.

The award-winning Uncommon Ground restaurant, in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, maximizes the nation’s first certified organic rooftop farm using just 654 square feet of soil.

Combined with its Wrigleyville restaurant’s “sidewalk farm”, client chefs receive 1,200 pounds of fresh produce each year, valued at more than $5,600. Ingredients not grown onsite are sourced directly from regional farms, with their names often appearing on the menu. Community education is also part of the program.

According to the “What’s Hot” National Restaurant Association nationwide survey of chefs, hyperlocal food sourcing, including rooftop farms, was the fifth-most-popular trend in 2011. Also in the top 10 were locally grown produce sourced from area farmers, farm-branded ingredients and sustainability.

“Customers now have an opportunity to demand local and organic ingredients as much as possible,” concludes Oshman. More Americans than ever want to know the origin of what’s on their plate.

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he unique nature of raised garden beds can provide a wealth of benefits for years. In addition to choosing the nutritional source of the plants, raised beds allow them to avoid poor quality or waterlogged native soil. Because the sun warms the beds quicker, crops can be planted earlier. Their close proximity stunts weed growth and maximizes the available space for planting because no extra soil must be allotted for the gardener to walk.

The arrangement is also less strenuous on the back without all the bending traditionally required. Some people prefer to have raised beds installed, while others are willing to do the work themselves. Either way, here are a few tips to remember about planning a new garden. n Don’t use pressure-treated lumber when planting veggies. Naturally weather-and-rot-resistant woods like cedar or redwood are a better choice. n Leave a space of at least three feet between the raised beds to allow plenty of room to maneuver wheelbarrows and lawn mowers around them. n Position the raised garden bed with the long side facing west, so the plants get the maximum amount of light. Highgrowing plants like tomatoes should be planted at the back, so they don’t cast their shade upon the shorter plants. n If there is a problem with burrowing rodents, dig down six to eight inches

into the soil and line the bottom of the excavation with galvanized mesh screen before installing the raised bed. n To hold the frame in place and keep the long sides of the bed from bowing, drive wooden two-by-four stakes into the soil along the inside. Drive the stakes deep enough so they don’t move, and attach them to the inside of the bed wall with galvanized screws. n Be sure to use a quality garden soil or mix a custom blend. A general rule of thumb is to mix one-third peat with one-third compost and one-third quality loamy soil. Some may prefer a richer mix of half compost and half quality soil. Other recommended amendments might include greensand, molasses, alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal and worm castings. If in doubt, consult a local county extension service for advice. n To efficiently water the new plants, purchase a soaker hose or install a small irrigation system. An old hose can be repurposed by plugging up the end of it with a dowel or round stick, and then perforating the hose with a nail.

This provides an inexpensive watering tool and recycling project all in one.

Greg Holdsworth is owner of Your Own Victory Garden, which installs organic vegetable gardens and builds custom garden structures. For more information, call 214-517-9890 or visit YourOwnVictoryGarden.com. See ad, page 40.

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27

healingways Why Triglycerides Count

Beyond Cholesterol

How Triglycerides Take a Toll

F

by James Occhiogrosso

or many adults, an annual physical involves routine blood tests, followed by a discussion of cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, along with prescribed treatment ranging from improved nutrition and exercise to drugs.

Triglycerides tend to be relegated to a minor mention—if they are discussed at all—yet regulating triglyceride levels can improve health.

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“High triglyceride levels usually accompany low HDL (good) cholesterol levels and often accompany tendencies toward high blood pressure and central (abdominal) obesity. These are the markers of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, very common disorders underlying obesity and increased risks of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes,” explains Dr. Andrew Weil on his website, DrWeil.com.

While high triglyceride levels are not conclusively linked to the development of any specific disease, they are associated with the narrowing of arteries and impaired blood flow associated with cardiovascular disease. (Impaired blood flow also effects male erectile function.) Several recent studies, including one in the Annals of Internal Medicine, also suggest these could instigate the metabolic syndrome associated with the onset of diabetes and atherosclerosis, which can lead to stroke and cardiovascular disease.

What Creates Triglycerides?

Triglycerides, a normal component of blood, are introduced into the body by the fat in foods. Some are produced in the liver as the body’s response to a diet high in simple sugars or carbohydrates—especially hydrogenated oils and trans-fats.

Evidence reported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute suggests that very high intakes of carbohydrates are accompanied by a rise in triglycerides, noting that, “Carbohydrate intakes should be limited to 60 percent of total calories.”

Many research scientists agree that the main cause for high triglyceride levels is the Standard American Diet, notoriously high in sugars and simple carbohydrates, trans-fats and saturated animal fats, and far too low in complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals; specifi-

cally, vitamins A, B, C, D and especially E, plus the minerals selenium, magnesium, silicon and chromium. Sugars added to soft drinks and food products, especially those containing high-fructose corn syrup, also raise triglyceride levels significantly.

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! and national medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, observes, “The average American gets about 150 pounds of sugar added to his/her diet each year from processed food, causing fatigue, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and a host of other problems.”

Animal fats, like those in farm-raised red meats, typically contain a skewed ratio of the fats known as omega-3 and omega-6, with the latter dominating by nearly 20:1; a ratio also found in commercial packaged foods and baked goods.

Many studies show such a high omega-6/omega-3 ratio tends to promote disease. Eating oily fish and healthy plant oils such as cold-pressed virgin olive and coconut oil, nuts, seeds and minimally prepared foods provides a more balanced ratio of omega fatty acids.

Lowering Triglyceride Levels

Part of today’s medical paradigm focuses on lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol. As a result, many patients and doctors worry about cholesterol levels, but ignore triglycerides. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a triglyceride level of 100 milligrams per deciliter or less; about one-third of the population currently exceeds this. While drugs can help, the AHA does not recommend drug therapy except for people that have severe levels (more than 500mg/dL), which can increase the risk of acute pancreatitis. For those with high, but not severe levels, dietary and other lifestyle changes can be effective in lowering triglyceride levels.

Logically, reducing consumption of red meat and processed foods, especially those containing trans-fats, and increasing consumption of complex carbohydrates from whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes is recommended.

AHA studies further show that daily supplementation of fish oil and full-spectrum vitamin E can reduce serum triglyceride levels significantly. In one study, fish oil containing at least 1,000 to 3,000 mg of omega-3 decreased such concentrations by 25 to 30 percent.

In a 2009 study of a nationally representative group of 5,610 people published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr. Earl S. Ford, of the U. S. Centers for Disease Control, found that about one-third had triglyceride levels above 150 mg/dL— considered somewhat high—while almost another 20 percent had high levels of 200-plus mg/dL.

Always consult a knowledgeable health practitioner prior to beginning a new regimen. Just as with managing any aspect of health, care is required and knowledge is power.

James Occhiogrosso, a natural health practitioner and master herbalist, specializes in salivary hormone testing and natural hormone balancing. His latest book is Your Prostate, Your Libido, Your Life. Find relevant articles at HealthNaturallyToday.com. Connect at 239-498-1547 or DrJim@HealthNaturallyToday.com.

Taking Charge of Triglycerides & Personal Health

by Karen Asbury, M.D.

I

f a trip to the doctor should reveal that our triglycerides are too high, what does that mean? What exactly are triglycerides and why are they important? Triglycerides are molecules composed of a glycerol (the backbone of the triglyceride) with three fatty acids attached. They provide a convenient way for the body to shuttle fat around in the blood and they are used for fat storage. Triglycerides are a good thing—the body does not make things that are bad.

That would not be consistent with life.

Only in excess are triglycerides a problem. The reason for elevated triglyceride levels must be determined.

It is not a deficiency of any drug. It may be caused by diet, nutritional deficiencies or some bad habits such as too much alcohol, sugar, fats or excessive red meat.

There are also some drugs like beta-blockers used for hypertension that can lower HDL (good cholesterol) and increase triglycerides. It is important to check insulin levels, because high levels will increase triglycerides.

Niacin, as a nutrient, not only lowers triglycerides, but also raises HDL and safely decreases total cholesterol. In one study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, niacin raised HDL by 29 percent and lowered triglycerides by 28 percent.

Another important nutrient is vitamin E. It must come from a natural source and not a synthetic one (the synthetic form is derived from petroleum products). Natural vitamin E contains both tocopherols and tocotrienols.

In a study done on 90 humans, 100 mg a day of tocotrienols lowered cholesterol by 20 percent and triglycerides by 12 percent. Carlson’s E-gems Elite is a natural source that combines both tocopherols and tocotrienols.

Magnesium is an important mineral, not only for cholesterol and triglycerides, but for the heart, muscles and nervous system. Phosphotidyl choline is equally important in lowering triglycerides.

These are just a few examples of ways to lower triglycerides without resorting to drugs. We should all research all our options and be aware that our physician may not have been taught about nutrition and supplements in medical school. It is up to us to learn more about our options so we can then make truly informed choices to reclaim our health.

Karen Asbury, M.D., specializes in functional (integrative) medicine, in Plano. For more info, call 972-8677790 or visit KarenAsburyMD.com. See ad, page 17.

natural awakenings March 2013

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consciouseating

The Better

Brain Diet

Eat Right To Stay Sharp

by Lisa Marshall

W

ith 5.4 million Americans already living with Alzheimer’s disease, one in five suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the 2012 failure of several targeted pharmaceutical drug trials, many brain health experts are now focusing on food as a critical defense against dementia.

“Over the past several years, there have been many well-designed scientific studies that show you are what you eat when it comes to preserving and improving memory,” says Dr. Richard Isaacson, associate professor of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and author of The Alzheimer’s Diet.

In recent years, studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and Archives of Neurology have shown that people on a Mediterranean-type diet—high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fatty fish and low in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats—tend to fend off cognitive decline longer and be less prone to developing full-blown Alzheimer’s. Several small, but promising clinical trials further suggest that even people that have already begun to suffer memory loss may be able to slow or mildly reverse it via nutritional changes. Here’s how.

Switch to slow-burning carbs: Mounting evidence indicates that the constant insulin spikes from eating refined carbohydrates like white bread or sugar-sweetened sodas can eventually impair the metabolization of sugar (similar to Type 2 diabetes), effecting blood vessel damage and hastened aging. A high-carb diet has also been linked to increased levels of beta-amyloid, a fibrous plaque that harms brain cells.

A 2012 Mayo Clinic study of 1,230 people ages 70 to 89 found that those that ate the most carbs had four times the risk of developing MCI than those that ate the least. Inversely, a small study by University of Cincinnati researchers found that when adults with MCI were placed on a low-carb diet for six weeks, their memory improved.

Isaacson recommends switching to slow-burning, low-

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glycemic index carbohydrates, which keep blood sugars at bay.

Substitute whole grains and vegetables for white rice, pastas and sugary fruits. Water down juices or forego them altogether.

Choose fats wisely: Arizona neurologist Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, co-author of The Alzheimer’s Prevention Cookbook, points to numerous studies suggesting a link between saturated fat in butter, cooking oil, cheese and processed meats and increased risk of Alzheimer’s. “In animals, it seems to promote amyloid production in the brain,” he says.

In contrast, those that eat more fatty fish such as herring, halibut and wild-caught salmon that are rich in the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acid DHA, are at lower risk. Sabbagh notes that DHA, when it’s a steady part of the diet, plays a critical role in forming the protective “skin of the brain” known as the bilipid membrane, and may possibly offset production of plaque in the brain, thus slowing its progression during the earliest stages of dementia. Aim for three weekly servings of fatty fish. Vegetarians can alternatively consider supplementing meals with 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams daily of DHA, says Isaacson.

Eat more berries and kale: In general, antioxidant-rich fruits (especially berries) and vegetables are major preventers of oxidative stress—the cell-damaging process that occurs naturally in the brain as we age.

One recent study published in the Annals of Neurology found that women eating high amounts of blueberries and strawberries were able to stave off cognitive decline 2.5 years longer than those that did not. Rich in antioxidant flavonoids, blueberries may even have what Sabbagh terms, “specific anti-Alzheimer’s and cell-saving properties.”

Isaacson highlights the helpfulness of kale and green leafy vegetables, which are loaded with antioxidants and brain-boosting B vitamins. One recent University of Oxford study in the UK of 266 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment found that those taking a blend of vitamins B12, B6 and folate daily showed significantly less brain shrinkage over a two-year period than those that did not.

Spice up: Sabbagh notes that India has some of the lowest worldwide rates of Alzheimer’s. One possible reason is the population’s love of curry. Curcumin, a compound found in the curry-flavoring spice turmeric, is another potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

He recommends sprinkling one teaspoon of curcumin on our food every day and cooking with antioxidant-rich cloves, oregano, thyme, rosemary and cinnamon. A 2011 Israeli study at Tel Aviv University found that plaque deposits dissolved and memory and learning behaviors improved in animals given a potent cinnamon extract.

Begin a brain-healthy diet as early as possible. “Brain changes can start 25 years before the onset of dementia symptoms,” says Sabbagh. “It’s the end result of a long process, so don’t wait. Start your prevention plan today.”

Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer outside of Boulder, CO. Connect at Lisa@LisaAnnMarshall.com.

Brain Development Linked to Nutrition

by Stephanie A. Olivares

I

t’s no secret that the typical American diet is taking a toll on the health of our families. While there has been a lot of emphasis on the rising rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, there has been relatively little discussion of how poor eating habits jeopardize the development of healthy brains.

Forty-five key nutrients are essential for the development of our bodies and brains, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, water and complex carbohydrates. Niacin, iron, folate, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6 and essential fatty acids are just a few known for their role in stimulating brain development. Researchers estimate that 50 percent of individuals with autism spectrum disorders are deficient in one or more of these nutrients.

Studies at the University of Sunderland, in the UK, and the Autism Research Institute, in San Diego, have been released regarding children with ADHD. While it is important to ensure adequate dietary intake of these nutrients, that alone is not enough. According to Dr. Robert Melillo, an authority on neurological disorder and behavior problems, “Stimulation without fuel or fuel without stimulation does not work.”

In addition to eating a brain-healthy diet, there are several basic exercises that everyone can do to help optimize brain function. Try this simple wide-eye exercise today: without moving your head, move your eyes as far to the

right as they can comfortably go. Hold this position for two to four seconds. Repeat this process, looking to the left, up and down. This eye stretch exercise helps stimulate both sides of the brain and strengthens the eyes ability to track and focus without fatiguing.

Developing core muscle strength through basic exercises like sit-ups and pushups can help improve posture, coordination, motor skills and socialization. Walking on a balance beam (or a curb) stimulates equilibrium and proprioception, which is our awareness of where the body is in relation to the environment around us. Breathing deeply from the diaphragm improves oxygen intake and helps improve circulation, which results in more nutrients being delivered to the brain.

Exercise can help stimulate (and maintain) brain development if three factors are maintained: frequency, intensity and duration. If the exercises become too easy, switch them up to maintain intensity.

Combining a healthy diet and simple exercises each day can help increase the brain’s potential. It’s good to find new ways to exercise or challenge the body and mind to stay physically and mentally sharper, longer.

Stephanie Olivares is a nutritionist at Brain Balance Achievement Center, in Plano.

For more info, call 972-248-9482 or visit BrainBalancePlano.com. See ad, page 6.

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healthykids

Six Powerhouse Foods for Kids With Palate-Pleasing Tips

by Susan Enfield Esrey

A

s parents, feeding children nourishing foods is one of our most important jobs. Although most new moms and dads start with impeccable intentions (homemade baby food, anyone?), maintaining high family standards can be a challenge when many easygoing babies become toddlers and school-age kids are picky about what’s on their plate.

It’s unfortunate, because the stakes are high. According to the American Heart Association, about one in three American kids and teens today is overweight or obese, and thus at greater risk for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A recent Australian study by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, in Perth, also has linked the “Western diet”—high in processed sugars, fats and starches, meats and salt, and low in fresh fruits and vegetables—to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents.

“When we looked at specific foods, having an ADHD diagnosis was associated with a diet high in takeaway foods, processed meats, red meat, high-fat dairy products and confectionary,” adds Professor Wendy Oddy, Ph.D., the

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nutritional epidemiologist who led the study. She notes that more research is needed to determine the specific nature of the relationship.

The good news is that it’s never too late to introduce healthy foods to a child. Here are six nutritional powerhouses children might actually eat.

Avocado: Loaded with healthy monounsaturated fats, potassium and folate, creamy avocados are a natural early-childhood favorite, says Pediatrician Dr. Robert Sears, author of HappyBaby: The Organic Guide to Baby’s First 24 Months.

How to eat: Spoon it out straight from the rind. Mash into guacamole with garlic and cilantro if desired. Use the spread (instead of butter or mayo) on wholegrain toast or a sandwich.

Or, blend avocado’s goodness with cocoa powder, agave nectar, vanilla and water for an irresistible dip for fruit.

Berries: Antioxidants in blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are well-known aids in helping to prevent illness and improve brain function, says Sears.

Choose organically grown berries to avoid pesticide residues. Nutritionally, frozen berries are just as good as fresh, although fresh tastes best. Also try

antioxidant-rich acaí berries (in powder form or frozen smoothie packs) and dried goji berries.

How to eat: Eat berries plain or add them to cereal or oatmeal; leave them whole or purée to pour over whole-grain waffles. Blend any type of berry with yogurt and bananas for a deliciously healthy smoothie.

Chia seeds: Relatively new to the U.S. market, this South American grain (the most researched variety is Salba seeds) may be the world’s healthiest, says Sears. He notes that it’s gluten-free; provides more omega-3 fatty acids than any other plant food; contains six times more calcium than milk; and is a rich source of vitamin C, protein, fiber, magnesium and iron. Other options include hemp and flax seeds.

How to eat: Sprinkle chia, hemp seed or ground flaxseed onto cereal, salad greens or brown rice. Add chia to juice to make a chia fresca. Spread nutty-tasting hemp seed onto natural nut butter sandwiches on whole-grain bread or crackers.

Quinoa and amaranth: Nutritionally, these grains—traditional foods in South America and Africa, respectively—trump typical North American grains by far. Both are gluten-free and contain more protein and calcium than wheat, oats, rice or rye.

How to eat: Triple-wash quinoa, vigorously rubbing grains to remove the bitter outside coating—then cook either quinoa or amaranth like rice for 20 minutes. Cook in heated water, then stir in applesauce and cinnamon and serve as a cereal; or cook in broth and then stir in chopped, fresh herbs.

Wild salmon: “Wild salmon is perhaps the healthiest fish source of omega-3 fats and protein, the two most important nutrients that kids need to grow,” advises Sears. Choose wild-caught salmon (fresh or frozen) over farmed fish to avoid possible contaminants.

How to eat: Glaze roasted fillets with orange juice and teriyaki sauce, or a mix of maple syrup, grated ginger and rice vinegar. Make a salmon and goat cheese (or Neufchâtel) tortilla wrap; then cut into spirals and serve.

Susan Enfield Esrey is the senior editor of Delicious Living magazine.

greenliving

EVERY DROP COUNTS

Reusing Rainwater Saves Money and is Better for Plants

by Brita Belli

D

oug Pushard, an expert in rainwater catchment systems who shares his know-how at HarvestH2O.com, believes that homeowners capture rainfall for two reasons—either to make the most of a precious water resource in states with low seasonal precipitation or to control stormwater runoff in states with high precipitation.

It’s also an easy way to make a dent in household water and sewer bills. Capturing and managing rainwater provides an environmentally sound alternative to wasting precious tap water pulled from diminishing underground reservoirs, and can replace some or all of a home’s water needs, depending on the system. Rainwater is also better for nourishing lawns, plants and gardens. “People want to use rainwater instead of city water in their yards because they understand that city water carries chlorine, which is not great for plants,” Pushard explains.

The amount of water used by residential irrigation is significant. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Water Sense Program, an American family of four uses 400 gallons of water a day, including 30 percent of it outside. More than half of that outdoor water is used for lawns and gardens, with the rest sprayed on cars, in swimming pools and on sidewalks and driveways. Collectively, nationwide landscape irrigation totals more than 7 billion gallons per day.

Water Calculations

In its simplest form, rainwater harvesting involves little more than placing rain barrels—with capacities from 55 gallons to several hundred gallons—under a home’s downspouts.

Popular models can be purchased from home improvement stores, or county extension classes teach how to make one from inexpensive parts. Online research shows the various styles available; most have a spigot at the base for attaching a hose or filling a watering can.

The larger capacity, more sophisticated systems use storage cisterns than can hold thousands of gallons of water below ground. These employ pumps that move the water to sprinkler systems or other points of use.

For these more complicated setups, Pushard recommends engaging professional help, adding that below-ground systems will capture excess water year-round, even in climates where temperatures drop. “In northern New Mexico, where I live, we get almost one-third of our precipitation in the winter,” he says. “If you have a below-ground system, you can capture that; with an above-ground one, you can’t, because the tank or fittings would freeze and burst.”

The formula for determining the maximum amount of water available to capture is related to roof size. Multiply the square footage of the roof times the local annual rainfall (found at Tinyurl.com/73enzjx), and then multiply the result by .623 gallons. That .623 factor is “how many gallons are in an area of one square foot by one inch deep of rainwater,” according to one of Pushard’s online tutorials.

Not all roof materials are created equal. On the high end, tile, metal, concrete or asphalt roofs have a 95 percent runoff efficiency; gravel roofs, 70 percent; and grass roofs, 17 percent, so factor that in, too. Pushard recommends always going with a bigger tank, if possible, to avoid having to add more water storage later.

Think Big

Rainwater harvesting works as an effective irrigation device, but it needn’t be limited to outdoor use. One of the easiest—and most useful—places to direct captured rainwater is toilets. Citing bathrooms as a home’s biggest water user, the EPA notes that a single toilet can use 27 percent of household water. “It’s ludicrous that we use drinking water to flush toilets,” says Pushard. To use stored rainwater instead, run a new plumbing line to the rainwater storage tank and install a pump that activates when the toilet flushes.

Rainwater can supply sink faucets, as well, but counting on rainwater to be the sole source of all household water requires a substantial investment and a filtration, purification and UV light system to make the water drinkable. When capturing rain for potable uses, roofing material becomes more important: Unpainted metal and tile are preferred, because these will not leach chemicals into the water that are difficult to remove.

In terms of overall cost, the simplest rainwater collection systems will cost a few hundred dollars (less than $100 per barrel), while a whole-house system will cost tens of thousands. However, Pushard points out, rainwater harvesting can be a lifesaver with water shortages becoming a new norm in many states.

Brita Belli is the editor of E-The Environmental Magazine and the author of The Autism Puzzle: Connecting the Dots Between Environmental Toxins and Rising Autism Rates. natural awakenings March 2013

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wisewords

WALKING THE TALK Marlane Barnes Fosters Rescue Dogs

by Sandra Murphy

A

ctress Marlane Barnes recently made her feature film debut as Maggie of the Irish Coven, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II, building on a growing résumé of films, TV and theater credits. A current resident of Los Angeles, she actively supports the nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society, a local no-kill facility, and serves as national spokesperson for Spay First. To date, her foster dogs include India, Birdie, Archie and Wally, with more to come.

Why is fostering rescue dogs important?

Fostering is a good way to find the right dog for your personality and circumstances. Dogs aren’t accessories, chosen on looks alone. Fostering allows you to see what breed, size, temperament and activity level works best. When India,

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the first dog I fostered, was adopted, she went to a home that suited her nature and needs.

Birdie, a 6-year-old golden retriever-beagle mix, came to me when her shelter time was up.

After two months, Birdie was placed with a family that was willing to deal with an older dog’s health issues, and it’s worked out well for all parties.

What do you try to teach the dogs to make them more adoptable?

We take a lot of walks during our six to eight weeks together. Teaching them to sit, be petted, take treats gently and behave well on a leash all helps.

I also expose them to new experiences. We visit the coffee shop, meet kids and take hikes; in these ways, I learn what the individual dog enjoys.

It takes some of the guesswork out of

the equation. Fostering is like a halfway house for dogs; after living with them, I can vouch for them, as well as voice any concerns about the family situation.

I feel strongly that the dog must be treated as part of the family, whose schedule has to work with having a dog, and that dog in particular. It’s a matter of finding the right person for the animal. We want every adoption to be the best match possible.

Who takes care of your foster dog when you are at work?

I have a group of creative friends who jump in to help. It’s easy to ask them to help with a foster dog because it lets them be part of the rescue. That way, they are doing a favor more for the dog than for me.

How do spay/neuter programs benefit shelter animals?

When I was 10, I volunteered at the Humane Society in Fort Smith, Arkansas, so being the spokesperson for Spay First is a natural fit. High volume/low cost spay/neuter programs are the fastest way to reduce pet overpopulation and the number of animals ending up in shelters.

Every year, taxpayers spend billions of dollars to house, euthanize and dispose of millions of animals. Spay/neuter is a commonsense way to permanently solve the problem. Spay First works to keep the cost less than $50, especially in rural and lower income areas, and actively campaigns to make this a community priority around the country.

How can caring people help?

Donate money or items found on a shelter or rescue unit’s wish list. Walk a shelter dog to keep it social and active. Foster a dog to see if having a dog fits and enhances your life. The rescue group pays the bills, support is available and it’s a good way to explore the possibility of adoption. Once you know for sure, adopt.

Also talk about the benefits of fostering and adopting dogs and the importance of affordable spay/neuter programs for dogs and cats in your community.

Spread the word that it is not okay to buy a puppy or kitten in a store when we are discarding millions of shelter animals each year that desperately need homes.

Puppies are cute, but older dogs already are what they’re going to be—what you see is what you happily get.

For more information or to make a donation, visit SpayFirst.org.

Sandra Murphy is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines.

Area Rescue & Fostering Programs: Animal Guardians of America; Plano AnimalGuardians.com; 972-398-2123 Animal Rescue Klub; Carrollton AnimalRescueKlub.org; 972-562-4357 Labrador Retriever Rescue; Frisco LabRescueNorthTexas.org; 972-480-5227 League of Animal Protectors; Plano LAPRescue.org; 972-835-6006 Lost Paws Rescue; Lewisville LostPaws.Rescuegroup.org; 972-394-9373 Protective Animal League; Plano OnePetAtATime.org; 972-881-1981 Texas Sporting Breed Rescue; Denton RetrieveAFriend.org; 940-453-6894

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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).

free for parents. Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center, Inc, 1036 CR 203, Collinsville. For details & cost info: 940-440-8382 or CampTonkawaTexas. com/Classes/Nature_Awareness_Day_Camp.shtml.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

Snowshoeing Basics – 7-8:30pm. Will focus on the appropriate selection of gear as well as the basics on what you need and where to go to get started.

Free. REI Plano, 2424 Preston Rd. 972-985-2241.

The Kurt Thomas Gymnastics Invitational – Mar 1-3. 8am-8pm. Over 500 gymnasts ages 4-18 from top gymnastics clubs all over the nation, go head to head highlighting their gymnastic skills and talent. $15/adults, $10/children 10 & under, free/children 3 & under. Frisco Conference Center, 7600 John Q. Hammons Dr, Frisco. 214-872-4646.

KTInvitational.com.

North Texas Irish Festival – Mar 1-3. 6-11pm, Fri; 10:30am-11:30pm, Sat; 11:30am-7:30pm, Sun. Includes ten stages of live entertainment including, local and regional musicians, storytellers, fiddlers, a Culinary Stage, educational workshops, booths of Celtic accessories, food/beverage vendors and much more. A pet-friendly event. Fair Park, 1200 S 2nd Ave, Dallas. More info & discount ticket: NTIF.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 San Marcos River Cleanup – Mar 2-3. Dallas DownRiver Club will be lending a hand to the help clean up the San Marcos River. Shady Grove Campground. More info, Bryan Jackson: 972-9792519 or PaddlinPals@yahoo.com.

All About Composting – 8-11am. Learn the basics of turning that garden debris into garden gold through composting. We cover what to put in, what to leave out, and how to mix, moisten and manage your way to successful soil enrichment. Also learn about specialized red worms. $9/nonresidents, $5/residents.

Environmental Education Center, 4116 W Plano Pkwy, Plano. Register: LiveGreenInPlano.obsres.com.

Bird Walk – 8-11am. Bring binoculars and field guides if have them, and learn what to watch for in habits, characteristics and calls from Gailon and Rodney, both with Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society. Can expect about 30+ species. All ages welcome. Connemara Meadow Preserve, 300 Tatum Rd, Allen. ConnemaraConservancy.org.

DORBA Beginner Clinic – 9am. Includes “classroom” time, a mini-skills workshop, and then a ride of an hour or more. For location & more info: DORBA.org.

Lawn Care for Texans – 10:15am. Make weed-free

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6 Nature Awareness Day Camp for Homeschoolers – 9:30am-2:30pm. See Mar 4 listing. Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center, Inc, 1036 CR 203, Collinsville. For details: 940-440-8382 or CampTonkawaTexas.com/Classes/Nature_Awareness_Day_Camp.shtml.

Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon, Dallas: March 24 and gorgeous green lawns a natural part of your landscape. Free. All Calloway’s Nursery locations.

817-222-1122. Calloways.com.

Rainwater Harvesting Class – 10:30am-12pm.

Topics covered include: benefits and uses of rainwater, methods of harvesting, rain storage options, optimizing use of rainwater. Free. Cozby Library, 177 N Heartz Rd, Coppell. More info: Coppell CommunityGarden.org.

Raptors on the Mound – 2-3pm. Eric Neupert, executive director at the Black Land Prairie Raptor Center, will present several hawks, owls and falcons that make Flower Mound their home. Event hosted by the Flower Mound Foundation will include exhibits by The Aldo Leopold Foundation, Keep Flower Mound Beautiful, LBJ Wildflower Center, Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area, Native Plant Society of Texas and Texas Master Naturalists. Free. Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Ln. Register: 972-874-6165.

MONDAY, MARCH 4 Nature Awareness Day Camp for Homeschoolers – Mar 4 & 6. 9:30am-2:30pm. The Spring Semester starts in March and runs through May. One day a month have your child connect with nature learning what is around them in the North Texas environment.

Children will create a Nature Journal and learn about the birds, animals, bugs, flowers, plants and trees.

Fun interactive Games and Woods Activities reinforce what we are teaching. Bring picnic lunch. $18;

Why Supplement? – 6:30-7:30pm. Join Brain Balance Nutritionist, Stephanie Oliveras, to learn about the different options when choosing supplements for your child. Find out ways to determine what supplement is right for your child. Don’t let supplement shopping be an overwhelming experience. Free.

Brain Balance of Plano, 1501 Preston Rd, Plano.

RSVP: 972-248-9482.

Bike Maintenance Basics – 7-8:30pm. Routine maintenance on your bike can keep you riding smooth and prolong the life of your bike. Join an introductory class designed to help you take care of your bike. Free. REI Plano, 2424 Preston Rd. 972-985-2241.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7 Crops in Pots – 7-8:30pm. Learn how to grow more vegetables than you ever thought possible in less than 20 square feet. Crops in Pots is a way for you to raise fresh produce. $9/nonresidents, $5/ residents. Environmental Education Center, 4116 W Plano Pkwy, Plano. Register: LiveGreenInPlano. obsres.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8 55th Annual Rattlesnake Roundup – Mar 8-10.

8am-6pm, Fri & Sat; 8am-5pm, Sun. Sponsored by the Sweetwater Jaycees as a major fundraiser benefiting multiple organizations. Learn about rattlesnakes and their habitat through a variety of activities. Includes flea market, carnival, vendor booths, a rattlesnake cook-off, food and beverage vendors, and more. $7/adults, $4/10 & under. Nolan

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37

County Coliseum, 1699 Cypress St, Sweetwater. For schedule: RattlesnakeRoundup.net.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 Bird Walk at LLELA – 7:30am-12pm. Accompany a master birder on a guided hike. Birders of all ages and skill levels welcome. $2/person. Reservations are requested, but not required. Bring your own binoculars. Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. To confirm: 972-219-7980.

The Rat Race Urban Adventure – 8am-12pm.

A multi-sport event involving either solo or teams of 2-3 people. Events will consist of: running, biking, kayaking, climbing, and ropes; all routed in Navigation, in and around the metropolitan area with multiple check points along the way that will challenge you mentally and physically. Dallas. For cost & registration: RunRat.com.

Hawaii’s Birds – 10am-12pm. A good antidote to winter in North Texas. Let’s go to the Hawaiian Islands with Dr. Steve Goldsmith, Austin College Professor of Biology. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. Register: 903786-2826 or FriendsOfHagerman.com.

What a Boar – 10am-12pm. Huge numbers of feral hogs have made their home at Hagerman NWR. Where did they come from? Why is this a problem? A free nature program for youngsters aged 5-10. Parents must accompany youngsters age 6 and younger. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. Register: 903-786-2826 or FriendsOfHagerman.com.

Nature Walk at LLELA – 10am-1pm. Explore LLELA’s trails with a Texas Master Naturalist in this guided search for animal tracks and signs, and learn more about the natural history of LLELA. All ages welcome. $2 program fee, in addition to the regular gate fee ($5/person). Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. Reservations requested, but not required: 972-219-3930.

Organic Vegetable Container Gardening – 10:15am. Vegetables, herbs, and even fruits and berries can be grown in containers on windowsills, patios and porches. Learn about new compact edible plant varieties. Apply organic techniques for natural and tastier results. Free. All Calloway’s Nursery locations. 817-222-1122. Calloways.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10 Astronomy Walk – 9-11pm. Join Clyde Camp for a Nightwalk and Astronomy nearest the New Moon. Appropriate footwear is a must. This is an inappropriate walk for young children. Connemara Meadow Preserve, 300 Tatum Rd, Allen. Connemara Conservancy.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 12 Camp Cooking Basics – 7-8:30pm. Learn how to set up your kitchen and create easy and fun meals for the family. Free. REI Plano, 2424 Preston Rd. 972-985-2241.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 Paso Robles and The Rhone Ranger Wine Class – 6:30-8pm. Esteemed critic Robert M. Parker, Jr., believes the Paso Robles area of the Central Coast shows some of the greatest potential in all of California. Join us as we explore these elegant American

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North Texas

NA-NTX.com

Rhone Style Wines. Space limited. Free. Whole Foods Market, 2201 Preston Rd, Ste C, Plano. 972612-6729. RSVP & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: Andrea.Beckham@WholeFoods.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15 In-Sync Exotics Garage Sale – Mar 15-17. 7:30am8pm, Fri; 6:30am-8pm, Sat; 6:30am-4pm, Sun. All proceeds benefit In-Sync Exotics. Walmart Supercenter, 2050 N Hwy 78, Wylie. More info & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-442-6888.

InSyncExotics.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16 Fashionable Blooms for Texas – 10:15am From Paris runways to your own garden pathways, the Hort Couture collection offers trendy colors, patterns, shapes and specially cultivated sizes perfect for designer containers. Learn ways to add natural flair to your spaces with designer plants. Free. All Calloway’s Nursery locations. 817-222-1122. Calloways.com.

savethedate SATURDAY, March 16 Healing Circle

1:30pm Free We gather together to bring healing for one another and everything in each other’s world. We do not own the Earth, we are the caretakers of it.

Four Feathers Trading Post, 3522 CR 2621, Caddo Mills RSVP by Mar 13 to Silverhawk: 214-288-9935 FourFeathersTradingPost.net

SUNDAY, MARCH 17 Fermented Cod Liver Oil – 3pm. Dave Wetzel, owner of Green Pasture, will discuss traditional diets.

He researched how native cultures used fermented cod liver oil as an integral part of their nutrient-dense diet and now uses the traditional process to provide us with a superior product. Find out why CLO is important and how to use it for your benefit. Info & registration, HealthWorks: A Creating Wellness Center: 972-612-1800. HealthWorksTX.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 Weston A. Price Foundation Workshop – 6-7:30pm. With Drs. Christy Porterfield and Jennifer Taylor. Workshop on the nutrition value of whole foods, what to select, seasonally and where, and how to prepare them for optimal nutrition. Connect with other like-minded individuals who want to learn how to keep their families healthy in today’s world.

Free. HealthWorks: A Creating Wellness Center, 2317 Coit Rd, Ste B, Plano. Registration required: 972-612-1800. HealthWorksTX.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21 Dallas DownRiver Club Meeting – 7pm. Canoeing, kayaking and rafting club. Roma’s, 7402 Greenville Ave, Dallas. 214-373-0500. More info, Dale Harris: 972-680-2727 or Dale_Harris@sbcglobal.net.

Trail Running Basics – 7-8:30pm. Trail running can be a great change of pace from the jog around the

neighborhood. Learn about technique, training, clothing and footwear specific to the sport of trail running.

Free. REI Plano, 2424 Preston Rd. 972-985-2241.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22 Tomball German Heritage Festival – Mar 22-24.

6-10pm, Fri; 10am-10pm, Sat; 10am-6pm, Sun. A unique ethnic street festival packed with familyfriendly ambience, live entertainment, shopping and the celebration of Texas German and ethnic heritage.

Free admission & parking. 201 S Elm, Old Town Tomball. For info & schedule of events: 281-3796844 or TomballGermanFest.org.

savethedate March 22-24

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

Is your inner critic crushing your confidence, creativity and joy?

Are you ready to take action to end the self-attack?

Bring your courage, compassion and curiosity!

This life-changing 2-1/2 day workshop can help you confront beliefs about self-judgment and disengage from the inner critic using the Diamond Approach.

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

DiamondGulfCoast.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 23 Healthy Kids Pediatrics Booth at 4th Annual Natural HealthFest – 8:30am-5pm. Be sure to visit the Healthy Kids Pediatrics Booth. We will be in Booth 400 right in front as you come in the door. Natural HealthFest is a unique health event: 17 lectures, 100+ exhibit booths, gluten-free exhibits and more.

Admission: $8 (2 for $15); $7/seniors. Plano Centre, 2000 Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano. Darlene Brents, Executive Director: 972-372-0603.

savethedate SATURDAY, March 23 Natural HealthFest

8:30am-5pm $8, $7/seniors; $1 discount online Renowned experts teach attendees new ways to optimize wellness, increase energy and lose weight. Includes 17 lectures, 100+ exhibit booths and demos, free screenings, door prizes, samples and much more.

Plano Centre, 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano For more info: 877-673-2536 or NaturalHealthFest.com Water-Wise Landscape Seminars – 9am-5pm.

Water-Wise Landscape Design 101, 9am-12:30pm; Fantastic Plants for North Texas, 1:30-5pm. Landscape designer and author Bonnie Reese of Beautiful Landscapes will be the speaker at both sessions.

The first 100 attendees at each session will receive

a copy of Ms. Reese’s book, Common Sense Landscaping (hard copy or electronic version). Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Auditorium, 17360 Coit Rd, Dallas. Register/Info: 214-670-3155 or SaveDallasWater.com/WWLT.

plan ahead SATURDAY, APRIL 6

Kids’ Fishing Day at LLELA – 10am-12pm. Activities include: casting, fish identification, knot-tying, aquatic habitats, fishing rules and ethics and more.

No poles required for the activities, but will be needed if intend to stay and fish afterwards. $2 program fee, in addition to the regular gate fee ($5/person).

Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville. Register: 972-219-3930.

EarthFest 2013 – 10am-2pm. Connemara Meadow Preserve, 300 Tatum Rd, Allen. Connemara Conservancy.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

America’s Favorite Flower: The Rose – 10:15am.

Our experts will show you how to be successful with your Texas rose garden and enjoy beautiful blooms from Spring through Fall. Free. All Calloway’s Nursery locations. 817-222-1122. Calloways.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24 Rock ’n’ Roll Half-Marathon – 8am. 13.1 miles.

Benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Individuals, two-person relay teams, racing wheelchair contestants and walkers can participate. Includes themed aid stations, live bands and cheer squads. Young and S. Griffin St, Dallas. Info & registration: RunRocknRoll.Competitor.com/Dallas.

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 Allergy – 12pm. Free Lunch & Learn to educate individuals to take control of their health regardless of their conditions. Feeling better and optimizing your health is at your fingertips. Space limited, RSVP. Kotsanis Institute, 2260 Pool Rd, Grapevine.

Register & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 817-380-4992.

Kids in the Garden – Wednesdays, Mar 27- May 15.

3-5pm. Eight sessions of gardening for second, third and fourth graders. $30/residents, $40/nonresidents.

Environmental Education Center, 4116 W Plano Pkwy, Plano. Register: LiveGreenInPlano.obsres.com.

How Much Is Enough?: Proper Portion Sizes – 6:30-7:30pm. Brain Balance Nutritionist, Stephanie Oliveras, will help children and parents understand what a proper portion size is within the different food groups. Is she getting enough? Is he getting too much? This seminar will answer those questions and more. Free. Brain Balance of Plano, 1501 Preston Rd, Plano. RSVP: 972-248-9482.

Cross Training for Outdoor Fitness – 7-8:30pm.

Climbing, hiking, biking, paddling and all outdoor activities take a certain level of effort. Join our instructors for a session that will give you some ideas to incorporate cross training exercises into your activities. Free. REI Plano, 2424 Preston Rd. 972-985-2241.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28 DCCCD Sustainability Summit – 8am-3pm.

Choose from among five tracks of sessions: 1) Healthy Living; 2) Urban Agriculture; 3) Resource and Energy Efficiency; 4) Smart Cities; 5) Green Careers and Jobs. Keynote speaker: Joel Salatin.

Exhibitors on hand to share their green products

Clark Gardens Spring Festival: April 13-14 and services. Free. Mountain View College, 4849 W Illinois Ave, Dallas. Info, Maria Boccalandro: 214-860-8564 or MBoccalandro@dcccd.edu.

Parent Information Seminar – 6:30-8pm. Does your child struggle with behavior, social and academic issues? Are traditional approaches feeling like band aids, not solutions? Come join Brain Balance of Plano’s Center Director, Debby Romick, for an informational seminar regarding the comprehensive, whole child, drug-free approach which addresses the cause of a child’s struggles. Learn about the left and right hemisphere and how a disconnect could be impacting their child’s success. Free. Brain Balance of Plano, 1501 Preston Rd, Plano. RSVP: 972-248-9482.

Rainwater Harvesting: Every Drop Counts – 7-8pm. Want to learn how to capture some rainy day water for use in the hot summer months ahead?

Discover how to start collecting water and where to find materials for rainwater harvesting. Free. Davis Library, 7501 Independence Pkwy, Bldg B, Plano.

Register: LiveGreenInPlano.obsres.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 30 Proven Flowers for your Texas Garden – 10:15am. For 20 years, Proven Winners plants have been trialed and tested in Texas. These varieties are easy to grow, disease free and provide all season blooms. Free. All Calloway’s Nursery locations.

817-222-1122. Calloways.com.

savethedate SATURDAY, March 30 Hello Spring!

11am Free Extended family gathering. We welcome all newcomers, even a bunny or two! A good get together to enjoy each other’s company and possibly some storytelling, too!

Four Feathers Trading Post, 3522 CR 2621, Caddo Mills RSVP by Mar 27 to Silverhawk: 214-288-9935 FourFeathersTradingPost.net

Clark Gardens Spring Festival – Apr 13 & 14.

10am-6pm, Sat; 11am-5pm, Sun. Live entertainment, sustainability and gardening educational stations, art exhibitors, a children’s activity area, a classic car show, a model train show and a motorcycle show. Local wineries and Texas-made artisanal cheeses, and vendors. $10/adults, $7/ ages 5-12, free/age 4 & under and memebrs. Additional fees for certain activities. Clark Gardens, 567 Maddux Rd, Weatherford. 940-682-4856.

ClarkGardens.org.

Sweatlodge/Campout – 1:30pm. We honor all at this Ceremony. We strive to “make things right” for everyone, as we honor N’ye (buffalo). This type of Ceremony is typically not open to the general public, but call for particulars. Free. Four Feathers Trading Post, 3522 CR 2621, Caddo Mills. Silverhawk: 214288-9935. FourFeathersTradingPost.net.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Relay For Life Plano 2013 – 7pm. Teams camp overnight and take turns walking or running around a track for 12 hrs, signifying the fact that cancer never sleeps. John Paul II H.S., 900 Coit Rd, Plano. For more info: Relay.acsEvents.org.

Cancer.org/Research.

savethedate SATURDAY, april 27

Healing Oils of the Bible Seminar

10am-6pm Free Learn vital info on healing power of essential oils.

Free lunch. Bring this ad for a free door prize.

North Texas YL Fellowship, 1241 Carl Dr, Tioga RSVP requested: Laura Martin, 214-680-7196

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Storytelling – 1:30pm. Tales of many different ways. Share the tales with Omistaipoka, our storyteller. Perhaps you may have a tale or two of your own to tell.Free. Four Feathers Trading Post, 3522 CR 2621, Caddo Mills. RSVP by Mar 24 to Silverhawk: 214-288-9935. FourFeathers TradingPost.net.

TUESDAY, JUNE 11 Camp Invention Program – For grades 1-6.

A weeklong summer adventure in creativity.

Children work together to seek innovative solutions to real-world problems and sharpen critical learning skills. Includes 4 fun-filled modules.

For more info & to register: 800-968-4332 or CampInvention.org.

natural awakenings March 2013

39

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).

sunday

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

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

Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972231-3993.

Teen/Adult Horse Club – 11am-5pm. Do you have horse experience, but wish to ride and learn more? Join the Camp Tonkawa Horse club. This Sunday club is for Adults, children come on Saturdays, Homeschoolers on Mondays. $15. Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center, Inc, 1036 CR 203, Collinsville. For restrictions & details: 940440-8382 or CampTonkawaTexas.com/Classes/ Horse_club.shtml.

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

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

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

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

All Aboard the C&E Tram Tour – Thru Mar. 2-3:30pm, Sun & Sat. Tour along Wildlife Drive at the Refuge aboard an all-electric open tram. Accepting 8 adult reservations with additional room for up to 3 children. Advance reservations required, call 903-786-2826 Mon- Sat, 10am-3pm, & Sun, 1-5pm.

Any unreserved seats will be available to standbys at the time of the tour. Free; donations to tram fund accepted. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. FriendsOfHagerman.com.

Nature Explore Family Club – Thru Apr. 3-4pm.

1st Sun. Event aims to connect children and families with nature through fun, age-appropriate activities.

Free. Environmental Education Center, 4116 W Plano Pkwy, Plano. Register: LiveGreenInPlano. obsres.com.

Transition Dallas Meeting – 6pm. 4th Sun. A group

Angela’s Open Mic Night – 6pm. Grab your guitar, keyboard, banjo, etc and come show us what you got. Also offer live music every Thurs, Fri & Sat in a warm, family-friendly atmosphere where we feature comfort food and great spirits. Free. Angela’s at the Crosswalk, 1010 E 15th, Plano. 972-633-9500.

AngelasCrosswalk.com.

Natural Health Fest: March 23 of people interested in learning to live resiliently and sustainably within our neighborhoods. At many of our meetings we have re-skilling sessions, so we can revive the skills that enabled our grandparents to be self-sufficient within their communities. For meeting location & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: TransitionDallas@gmail.com.

monday Performance Enhancement Training – Demo by appt. Experience Interactive Metronome (IM) training first hand. IM is used for those with learning differences, serious athletes looking to improve their game, and adults looking to improve their day-to-day performance. Free. Available 8:30am-5pm, M-F at Willow Bend Academy, 2220 Coit Rd, Ste 500, Plano, 972-599-7882; 8:30am-5pm, M-F at Willow Bend Academy, 101 E Southwest Pkwy, Ste 101, Lewisville, 972-436-3839. WillowBendAcademy.com.

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

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

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

940-484-4900.

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

Overeaters Anonymous – 12pm. Weekly Mon-Fri. A 12-step recovery program for compulsive eating. Prairie Creek Baptist Church, 3201 W 15th St, Plano. 972238-0333.

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

YogaTreePlano.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dallas Museum of Art – 11am-3pm. 1st Tues. Programming designed specifically for children age 5

and under and their families, but all ages welcome.

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

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

To confirm attendance: 972-294-0808.

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

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

Join us to discuss YA books with other adult fans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learn More About Essential Oils – 7-9pm. 3rd Tues. Learn how to use essential oils to control Flu, Staph, West Nile, toxic mold and more. Keep your home healthier without dangerous chemicals. Free.

Location alternates: Tioga or Crossroads. North Texas YL Fellowship, 4501 W Oak Shores Dr, Crossroads; 1241 Carl Dr, Tioga. RSVP requested, Laura Martin: 214-680-7196.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Come see one of the best run and most fun networking groups in DFW. $13 includes lunch and a beverage. No charge for the meeting. Membership requirements explained at the meeting. Picasso’s Restaurant, 18160 N Dallas Pkwy, Dallas. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings. Restaurant: 972248-0011. Vicki Knutson: 214-587-3786.

Frisco Noon Lions Club – 12-1pm. 2nd & 4th Wed. Friendships, fun and fulfilling. Come share the joy of community involvement and fellowship while helping make the world a better place. Designed for busy small business owners and professional and works well for the time conscious individual (stay

at home mom, student, retiree). Meetings featuring informative speakers and hands-on training are held at local Frisco restaurants. All welcome, ages 18 & up. Free. Buy own lunch if wish to eat.

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

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

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

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

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

940-349-8752.

Adults with Special Needs Cooking Classes – 6-8pm. 1st & 3rd Wed. Call for details. Space limited. $10. Market Street Culinary School, 6100 Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney. Reserve spot now & mention Natural Awakenings North Texas: 972548-5167.

Evening Social Runs/Walks – 6:30pm. Post party new restaurant each 6 weeks. All levels welcome.

Luke’s Locker, 959 Garden Park Dr, Allen. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 469-854-6244.

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

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

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

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

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

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

972-292-5669.

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

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

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

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

TexasCPR.com.

Dallas Organic Gardening Club – 6:30pm, 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.

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

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

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

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

Dallas Down-River Club Meeting – 7pm. 3rd Thurs. Canoeing, kayaking and rafting club. Roma’s, 7402 Greenville Ave, Dallas. 214-373-0500. More info, Dale Harris: 972-680-2727 or Dale_Harris@ sbcglobal.net.

The Colony History Project Committee – 7pm.

3rd Thurs. Help cultivate and preserve The Colony’s

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rich history. The Colony Public Library, 6800 Main St, The Colony. 972-625-1900.

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

friday Friday Focus – 8am. Networking opportunities.

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

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

940-349-8752.

Free Mom & Kids Yoga – 5:30-6pm. 1st Fri. Find out how our Multisensory Kids Yoga can help improve your child’s focus and grades while keeping you both fit at the same time. SMARTS Club, 8780 Preston Trace Blvd, Frisco. Registration required & mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 214-872-8592.

Free Community Yoga – 6-7pm. 1st Fri. Suitable for all levels. Learn to breathe, relax and renew.

Space limited. Free. Transform U Fitness, 1565 W Main St, Lewisville. Pre-registration required: 972-849-9666.

Yoga Tree: Drown Your Dog – 6-7pm. Looking for a light-hearted yoga experience? This class incorporates exciting postures and popular music.

Following class we gather at one of our neighborhood restaurants to jump-start the weekend. First class free. Yoga Tree, 1410 Ave K, Ste 1105A, Plano.

972-398-YOGA (9642). YogaTreePlano.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Morning Rides – Various start times and lengths. Richardson Bikemart, Southeast corner of Campbell Rd & Coit Rd, in the front parking lot. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: 972-231-3993.

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

Each month offers a different sport which allows

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

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

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

Coppell Farmers’ Winter Market – Thru Mar. 8am12pm. 2nd & 4th Sat. Seasonal produce for the North Texas area, natural meats and eggs, seafood, organic dairy products, honey, teas, breads, mixes, flowers, plants, and more. Coppell Farmers’ Market, Corner of Bethel & S Coppell rds, Coppell. Mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: CFM@CoppellCommunityGarden.org. CoppellCommunityGarden.org.

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

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

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

Mindful Mommy to Be – 9:30am-12pm. 1st or 2nd Sat. Nutrition, overcoming fears, birth planning, and how chiropractic care benefits mother and baby; for couples to learn holistic support tools for a successful pregnancy. $20/couple. HealthWorks: A Creating Wellness Center, 2317 Coit Rd, Ste B, Plano. Registration required, Deja Erwin: 972-6121800. HealthWorksTX.com.

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

Second Saturday for Youth – 10-11:30am. For youngsters aged 4-10; children 6 & under must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, A/V Classroom, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman. Reservations necessary: 903-786-2826.

Family Story Time – 10:30am. All ages. Come to story time prepared for lifelong learning and a barrel of fun. Free ticket at 2nd floor desk. A parent or caregiver must accompany each child. Frisco Public Library, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd, Frisco. 972-292-5669.

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

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

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

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

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

InSyncExotics.com.

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

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

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

info: 972-462-7314.

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

Denton Public Library, North Branch, 600 N Locust St, Denton. 940-349-8752.

All Aboard the C&E Tram Tour – Thru Mar. 2-3:30pm. See Sun listing. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rd, Sherman.

FriendsOfHagerman.com.

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

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

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

Corinth Gymnastics, 1402 N Corinth St, Corinth.

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

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

Live Music – 7-9pm. Live music and delicious treats: blended or hot coffee, delicious hot cocoa, Collin County’s award-winning specialty bakery treats, hand-dipped Blue Bell ice cream, fresh baked cookies, cakes and bakery sweets. Free. For details & to confirm happening, mention North Texas Natural Awakenings: Coffee N Cream, 11660 Legacy Dr, Frisco, 214-7059600; and 190 E Stacy Rd, Allen. 972-678-2626.

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.

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

Frisco Commons Park. TASObserving.org.

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

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

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

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

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

Dollar symbol represents businesses offering coupons through NACoupons.com)

ACUPUNCTURE PATTI CAREY, L.AC.

Acupuncture, Herbs & Nutrition 2121 W Spring Creek Pkwy, Ste 107 Plano 75023 972-704-3730 • PattiCareyLAC.com After years in Western medicine, I finally found a way to really help people heal, relieve pain and reduce stress. In my practice I utilize acupuncture (with or without needles), herbal medicine, nutrition and energetics to help you create and maintain the healthy body you deserve. See ad, page 43.

ANTIQUE MAPS AND ART PAPERHOUND.COM paperhound.com

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

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

See ad, page 31.

DAIRY CIRCLE N FAMILY DAIRY

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

See ads, pages 23 and 43.

DANCE - NIA SHANNON MAIRS

Licensed Nia Black Belt & Teacher/Trainer 469-879-5283 • NiaNow.com/SMairsTX An exciting mix of Dance, Martial and Healing arts, suitable for all levels of ability. See ad, page 13.

CHIROPRACTIC DR. AMY ST. JOHN, D.C., LMT

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

I offer personalized care, private appointments and therapeutic massage.

SYNERGY BALANCE

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

COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE HEALTHWORKS

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

Comprehensive healthcare— naturally. Visit our website to view our schedule of free workshops. See ad, page 21.

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DECLUTTERING / ORGANIZING SERVICES THE DECLUTTERBUG

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

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

Serving the North Texas area. See ad, page 31.

DENTISTRY DENTAL STUDIO OF CARROLLTON Drs. Robert and Sandhya 2005 W Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton 75010 972-395-0150 • DSofCarrollton.com And 331 W Harwood Rd, Hurst 76054 817-282-4539

Approaching dentistry from a natural, whole body health perspective, we make teeth beautiful, keep them healthy and offer honest education on how balanced structures in the face/mouth can affect your overall health. Serving adults, children and apprehensive clients, at our state-of-the-art facility we offer the cutting-edge "DNA Appliance"; a small device which addresses snoring and sleep apnea, mercury free fillings and crowns, teeth whitening, Clear Braces, TMJ pain and much more. See ad, page 28.

EDUCATION WILLOW BEND ACADEMY

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

ENERGY AUDITING DWELLGREEN OF DALLAS

Roger Taylor, Owner / Operator 214-509-8582, DwellGreen.com/Dallas DwellGreen of Dallas is a certified total building performance evaluation and energy auditing company, serving the North Texas area. We can lower your cost of energy and improve the safety and comfort of your home or office. Free phone consultation on an existing or new home. Call to schedule an on-site consultation. See ad, page 22.

ESSENTIAL OILS doTERRA ESSENTIAL OILS

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

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

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

GREEN PEST CONTROL NATURAL PEST SOLUTIONS 214-763-2758 • GuysInGreen.com

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

We control all types of insect pests including termites, mosquitoes, ants, roaches and fleas without the use of harsh, dangerous chemicals. We offer programs from a single pest one time treatment to a comprehensive total protection plan. Call to schedule your Free inspection. See ad, page 34.

HAIR SALON HAIR COLOR STUDIOS

9200 E. Lebanon Rd, Ste 32, Frisco 75035 214-436-4955 • HairColorStudios.com Our coloring stylists love to work with the wonderful alternative products we have that are made from natural extracts and yogurt. These exquisite products, such as NAYO, Neuma and Moroccan Oil, actually do improve your hair quality so we in turn can help you look your most radiant while you're out-andabout. Whether you're simply sensitive to some of those harsher chemical lines or just want vibrant, beautiful, healthy hair you'll love our natural approach to how we treat your hair and overall beauty. Ask about free color consultation.

HOLISTIC DENTISTRY DENTAL ARTS OF PLANO

Dr. Nevein Amer, DDS 4701 West Park Blvd, Ste 201, Plano 75093 972-985-4450 • DentalArtsOfPlano.com Dr. Amer specializes in cosmetic and Holistic dentistry including mercury-free fillings and the safe removal of old mercury-based fillings, metal-free crowns, digital x-rays, help for sleep apnea and TMJ, veneers and Invisalign, the clear alternative to braces. Her Holistic approach involves looking at the entire person during evaluation, and always talking with you about the material to be used in your mouth. See ad, page 35.

HOLISTIC HEALTH WATER HEALTH HOLISTIC SERVICES 621 W. Plano Pkwy, Ste 235, Plano 75075 972-422-5533 • WaterHealthHolistic.com

We specialize in detoxification of the body: Weight Loss Extreme system, reflexology foot massage therapy, alkaline water for wellness, herbal nutritional supplements and water ionizer filtration systems. See ad, page 31.

HEALTHY DINING THE SALAD STOP

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

HEALTHY KIDS Brain Balance Achievement Centers

Debby Romick 1501 Preston Rd, Ste 501, Plano 75093 972-248-9482 • BrainBalancePlano.com The Brain Balance Program brings hope to families of children who suffer with behavioral, academic and social challenges. We special-ize in a drug-free, research-based, multifaceted approach to address the underlying issues of the many disorders that impact our children today. Each child has a unique combination of functional weaknesses that impact motor, sensory, immune, visual-spatial, auditory, and cognitive development. Call us today to learn about our comprehensive assessment. See ad, page 6.

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INTERNAL MEDICINE PRIMARY CARE AND INTERNAL MEDICINE OF FRISCO 5858 Main St., Ste. 210, Frisco 75033 972-377-8695

WINKIDS SPORTS & LEARNING CENTER 3000 Waketon Rd, Flower Mound 75028 972-355-9988

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

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

KID FIT – KID FUN SPORTS TRAINING JUMPSTREET INDOOR TRAMPOLINE PARK

6505 W Park Blvd, Ste 200, Plano 75093 972-378-5867 • GotJump.com Burn up to 1000 calories an hour, strengthen your whole body and have a blast doing it. This fun is not just for kids. Huge trampoline jumping areas where you can literally bounce off the walls. Try trampoline dodge ball, a life-size maze, or rope-swing, slide or bounce into a huge foam pit. Special bounce and play area for kids under 7. You've got to see it to believe it. Open jumps, birthday parties, corporate team building and aerobics classes. See ad, page 21.

KURT THOMAS GYMNASTICS 10825 John W Elliott Frisco 75034 • 214-872-4646

Gymnastics training for preschool to competitive levels.

MARKETS SPICE BAZAAR

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

MASSAGE 3T’s (TJ’s Terrific Touch)

469-237-4289 TJ4ttts.com • TJ4ttts@yahoo.com Specializing in Swedish massage for overall body relaxation and deep tissue massage for tense knotted muscles, an affordable 3T’s massage can help relieve stress commonly associated with a hectic lifestyle. See ad, page 42.

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 23.

NEUROFEEDBACK THE SAMS CENTER

Dr. Marvin Sams 972-612-0160 • GreatBrain.com The Sams Center specializes in evidence based, non-drug therapy for ADD/ADHD, learning issues, chronic Depression and Anxiety, Asperger’s and Autism, epilepsy, Bipolar, and OCD. Quantitative EEG (computerized brain wave analysis) detects and defines the neurological issues; NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Trainingtm safely remediates and optimizes brain function. Find out more today. See ads, pages 15 and 27.

OUTDOOR GEAR & EDUCATION REI

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

PEDIATRICS HEALTHY KIDS PEDIATRICS

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

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North Texas

NA-NTX.com

PLAYCARE ADVENTURE KIDS PLAYCARE

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

RESTAURANTS SHANDIZ MEDITERRANEAN GRILL & MARKET 4013 West Parker Rd, Plano 75093 972-943-8885

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

SMOOTHIES SMOOTHIE KING OF DENTON 1601 Brinker Rd, Denton 76208 940-484-5464

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

SOLAR & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CLEAN ENERGY SYSTEMS

1701 N. Greenville Ave, Ste 1112 Richardson 75081 972-231-4800 • CleanEnergy-Systems.com Affordable American made solar. Residential and commercial installations. Do-it-yourself kits and turnkey systems. Financing available. See ad, page 17.

SOLAR COMMUNITY

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

TOTAL WIND & SOLAR

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

SPA SALT ESCAPE

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

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

WATER

SHIR TIKVAH REFORM SYNAGOGUE

WATERSEDGE STRUCTURED WATER

Services are held on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. Every service welcomes children of all ages. Religious school classes take place on Sunday mornings during school year. Call or visit our website for service schedule. See ad, page 37.

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

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

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

ST. PHILIP’S EPISCOPAL

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

TAILORING & ALTERATION SERVICES AUTUMN STITCH

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

THERMOGRAPHY THERMOGRAPHY CENTER OF DALLAS

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

See ad, page 5.

TRIBAL AMERICAN INDIAN CRAFTS FOUR FEATHERS TRADING POST

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

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

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

Salt therapy is a natural, non-invasive treatment for asthma, COPD, sinusitis, acne, tonsillitis, ear infections, CF, psoriasis and more. Safe for all ages, ask to see our relaxing adult therapy room and our “play” salt-room for kids. See ad, page 41.

SHAMBHALA WELLNESS CENTER

215 E University Dr, Denton 76209 940-380-8728 • ShambhalaWellness.com A true wellness center and oasis for body, mind and spirit. Our caring practitioners really listen and can help you raise the level of wellness you are experiencing. Massage, Reiki, yoga, nutrition and counseling are just some of the modalities we offer. Book a session, drop in for yoga or join us at one of our educational seminars. See ad, page 21.

YOGA SCHOOL YOGA TREE

1410 Avenue K, Ste 1105A, Plano 75074 972-398-YOGA (9642) • YogaTreePlano.com Yoga Tree is located in historic downtown Plano. Our studio is dedicated to sharing the healing and rejuvenating benefits of yoga with others. We offer a variety of classes and workshops as well as RYT 200 and 500 hour certifications. See ad, page 35.

YOGURT NANA FROZEN YOGURT

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

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

MASSAGE SPACE AVAILABLE MASSAGE SPACE AVAILABLE – Located inside a busy chiropractic wellness office. Includes use of common area; kitchen, private back entrance and waiting area. $125 per week. Coit Road location in Plano. Available now. Call 972-612-1800.

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

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

Help Us Serve You Better

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

ORANGE PEEL

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

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