April 2023 Natural Awakenings Magazine Jacksonville St. Augustine Edition

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Hello and welcome to our April edition. I’m delighted to present the many events hosted by our advertisers. This month we welcome Herbalist Kaki Bryan, founder of Clinical Traditions Herb Co. Kaki’s herb farm and apothecary is hosting a farm tour, tea meditation and the opportunity to pick your own herbs. See the article on page 14 for more info.

Lullaby of the Rivers Festival is happening in St. Augustine on April 21-23 in celebration of Earth Day. This family-friendly festival has something for everyone. Women’s Wellness Fest on April 22 is also celebrating Earth Day while empowering women through community, connection and education. See the articles on page 6 for complete information.

Achieving sustainable sources of healthy food is the focus of our main feature, A New Dawn On The Farm Front. Learn about the challenges to stepping away from industrialized agriculture. The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROC) standard helps consumers make informed choices about their food purchases. Its three pillars: soil health, animal welfare and social fairness, are designed to ameliorate the problems associated with conventional agriculture. ROC members include Rodale Institute, Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia. Farming techniques proposed by the ROC are designed to rebuild soil with a variety of standards including crop rotation, cover crops, no tillage, no GMO seeds and no synthetic inputs of any kind. Jeff Moyer, the CEO of Rodale Institute, which champions regenerative organic agriculture, is interviewed in Wise Words on page 20. Moyer is hopeful about the future of agriculture and its ability to produce the amount of food needed worldwide.

Eliminating toxins in our water, food and air is discussed in our Healing Ways section. Our bodies are not designed to handle the accumulation of industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceutical and radiation that seep into our personal space. Learn about filtering drinking water, deciphering food labels and improving indoor air quality on pages 24-25.

Spring is the season when many begin exercise routines or increase their workout routines. Repairing muscles after exercise with a solid-muscle recovery plan uses techniques including earthing, hydration, diet, massage and contrast therapy. See our Fit Body article on page 28 for details.

tastic May edition—focused on women’s health—with a live, online event featuring the

Rebecca Young, Publisher

Rebecca Young, Publisher

Touch Massage and Reiki’s Upcoming Events

Touch Massage and Reiki is hosting a Reiki Cleansing Circle from 2 to 3 p.m. on April 2 at Seaside Power Yoga Studio, in Jacksonville Beach. Attendees will experience one hour of energy healing by multiple certified reiki masters, including Touch Massage and Reiki owner Julia Everson, Marcus Brooks and Susan Gurov. Then on April 15 and 16, from 1 to 3 p.m., Everson, Brooks and British-style medium Marilyn Jenquin will host a Reiki Activation and Mediumship Workshop at the yoga studio. In addition, Sound Bath Healing sessions are available at Touch Massage, in Vedra Beach, on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m.

The two-day workshop is designed to introduce participants to the spiritual healing arts of reiki and British-style mediumship. Day one is Reiki Activation, where attendees will be guided through exercises to increase their life force energy. They will tangibly feel their energy cultivating between the palms of their hands. A group meditation will then take place to activate participants’ ability to experience the beneficial effects of reiki and channel it. The day will end with a sound bath with crystal singing bowls and other high-vibration sound healing instruments.

Day two is Messages from Loved Ones in the Spirit World. Jenquin—who has been involved in spiritualism since 1980 and has studied with several teachers, including eight years at the Arthur Findlay College, in Stansted, England—will connect with people in the spirit world that will be trying to deliver messages to those in attendance. Not everyone may receive a message, but all will receive joy from this experience. After the message portion of the mediumship demonstration, Jenquin will be available to answer questions.

Attendees are asked to bring a yoga mat and eye cover for day one if they choose and to dress comfortably. They are also asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to check in and get situated. Attendees of the Reiki Cleansing Circle are also asked to bring a yoga mat.

Cost for Reiki Cleansing Circle: $50. Cost for workshop: $100 for two-day admission; $55 for one day (seats are limited, and one must RSVP in advance); cost for Sound Bath: $33. Locations: Seaside Power Yoga, 1524 3rd St. N. Touch Massage & Reiki, 6000A Sawgrass Village Cir. For more information or to register, visit TouchMassageHealing.com See ad on page 13.

D&D’s Wellness-Centered April Zoom Events

Join Dalia Philbeck—integrative nutrition health coach, nurse practitioner and co-owner of D&D Health, Wellness & Travel— and Meghan Varner—integrative nutrition health coach and physical therapist—online on April 5, from 7 to 8 p.m., for their free Spring Cleaning detox event, which will examine how detoxing can help boost energy and aid in weight loss, among other things. Then on April 12, from 7 to 8 p.m., D&D is offering a free virtual tour of luxury wellness retreats around the world.

“During this time of year, we love spring cleaning our closets, garages and entire homes. We know that getting rid of clutter and things that we don’t need, not only frees up space in our homes but also space in our minds. Studies have shown that getting rid of excessive things can help reduce anxiety and illness. If cleaning your house can do all that, then just imagine what cleaning out your body will do. Detoxing has been proven to boost energy, weight loss, mental health and much, much more,” explains Philbeck.

With regard to the virtual tour of wellness retreats, Philbeck says that these retreats offer a variety of services that boost health and longevity. Some of the services offered include fitness instruction, spa treatments, nutrition classes, meditation and other alternative therapies. “Our goal is to show you how to incorporate a variety of wellness services as a holistic approach to boosting your health and longevity,” she exclaims.

To reserve a spot for the April 5 event, visit Eventbrite.com/e/ spring-cleaning-detox-your-life-for-more-energy-andweight-loss-tickets-576631810267; for the April 12 event, visit Eventbrite.com/e/travel-preview-luxury-wellness-retreats-tickets-577085587527. For more information about D&D, visit DDWellnessJax.com See ad on page 19.

JULIA EVERSON & MARCUS BROOKS, REIKI MASTERS & MARILYN JENQUIN, BRITISH STYLE MEDIUM

HOSTED BY:

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HEALING ART OF REIKI AND MEDIUMSHIP DEMONSTRATION

Astrology at Seventh Wonder

Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, in Jacksonville, is holding a special event on April 10, from 6 to 7 p.m., during which attendees can meet their in-house astrologer, Kelly Osterhout, and learn about the spa’s newest offering, the Natal Chart Astrology Consultation.

Osterhout will talk about astrology and preview the topics that are covered in the one-on-one natal consultation. In the consultation, Osterhout looks at the moment of one’s birth to see the formative influences shaping one’s life today. “Astrology is the knowledge of your karmic potential,” says Osterhout. “Knowing your karmic patterns guides you through the fluctuations of life from a place of awareness and meaning. With this knowledge, you’ll gain a greater understanding of your character, life patterns and prospects.”

To have a natal chart created, Osterhout says she needs one’s birth time, date and location. “Please refer to your birth certificate,” says Osterhout. “If you don’t have it, ask a knowledgeable family member, refer to a family Bible, or check your baby scrapbook. Upon booking your reservation, you’ll receive an email with your birth chart.”

Location: 4236 St. Johns Ave. For more information, call 904-381-8686 or visit Seventh-Wonder.com. See ad on page 15.

Lullaby of the Rivers Festival

The third annual Lullaby of the Rivers Festival—an event that seeks to awaken connections to nature by using music and stories to inspire environmental awareness—takes place on Earth Day weekend, April 21 through 23, at North Shores Community Park, in Vilano Beach, and will feature kid-friendly activities and an extraordinary lineup of performers.

In addition to music, storytelling and open mics happening throughout the three-day event, there will be an Earth Day Fair featuring booths with educational activities and a Tasting Tent on Sunday, which will offer samples and products from local food vendors with the emphasis on organic, sustainably raised and recycled. Food trucks, beverages, vendors, raffles and games will add to the festive atmosphere.

Women’s Wellness Fest

The Women’s Wellness Fest—a recurring event that is all about empowering women through community, connection and education—takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 22, Earth Day, at the Seawalk Pavilion, in Jacksonville Beach. Natural Awakenings is proud to sponsor this fun-filled event, which will include yoga, Pilates, breathwork, meditation, public speakers, dancing, a sound bath and more, plus a vendor village with more than 35 local vendors and nonprofits that will be open to the public. Products and services available at the vendor village will include chiropractors, massage therapists, gemstones, apparel, candles, jewelry and more.

April 21-23, 2023 Earth Day Weekend

Bob Patterson, celebrated Florida singer-songwriter and well-known activist, has lined up some of the region’s most talented performers, including the Currys—one of Florida’s all-time favorites—and the legendary Bill Wharton, who will playing swamp-funk slide guitar while cooking gumbo onstage.

Location: 120 Meadow Ave. For more information, visit LullabyOfTheRivers.com. To purchase tickets, visit LullabyOfTheRiversFestival.Eventbrite.com See ad on page 11.

“Women’s Wellness Fest helps to eliminate the fear of the unknown,” shares festival founders Mary Beth Perrone and Karen Wood. “It provides women with the opportunity to experience different wellness activities and techniques in a safe, judgment-free environment so they can find whatever works best for them on their wellness journey. Come join us on April 22, and let’s celebrate being a woman, being in community, and this beautiful planet on which we live.”

Perrone and Wood came up with the idea for Women’s Wellness Fest over lunch in October 2021, and just four months later, in February 2022, the first Women’s Wellness Fest was held. To their delight, and to the delight of those in attendance, their vision of creating a safe space for women to come together in community without comparison or competition was realized.

“Bring your yoga mat, reusable water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, blanket, props of any kind (even pillows),” adds Perrone. “Nourish with amazing food from a host of vendors with options for all dietary needs. Food trucks, our raffle table and the vendor village will be accepting credit cards and cash. Come with friends or come alone and leave with new friends. You are sure to make more than one. We promise. Leave with new connections, new information, a sense of peace and calm, and a super cool swag bag filled with goodies.”

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Sara Gurgen

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The Women’s Wellness Fest is a proud supporter of V for Victory, a local nonprofit helping local families battling cancer with support from local small businesses.

Cost: $67 (a more than $120 value). Location: 75 1st St. N. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit WomensWellnessFest.com See ad on page 7.

Swiss Mountain Clinic Retreat in June

Empowering Wellness is hosting a Swiss Mountain Clinic Retreat from June 4 to 11, in Castaneda, Switzerland. Attendees of this rejuvenating, empowering and cleansing health retreat will detoxify, restore and renew utilizing European holistic medicine, herbs, advanced technology, therapies and treatments. They can choose either the Liver Detox Plan or the Wellness Plan.

The eight-day clinic will include doctor consultations, diagnostics, dark-field microscopy, colon hydrotherapy (with Liver Detox Plan), acupuncture (with Wellness Plan), biophoton therapy, infusion therapies, Vichy showers, massages, meditation, yoga, hiking, aromatherapy classes, Indiba treatments, neural therapy, oxygen infusion therapy (with Liver Detox Plan), infrared sauna therapy and more.

“The staff at the Swiss Mountain Clinic specializes in understanding what is going on in your body using a holistic approach,” explains Empowering Wellness owner Leona Douglass, an experienced licensed massage therapist, reiki master, ACE certified personal trainer, theta practitioner, frequency practitioner, shaman and Young Living independent distributor.

“Through corrective and preventative measures, the aim is to restore balance in the body by eliminating toxins and supporting ultimate cellular function,” adds Douglass. “Diagnostics, including blood analysis, help us to understand what is going on deep within. With a 360 degree view of you, they develop a unique treatment plan to meet your medical needs.”

Attendees will begin and complete their days with various group classes, such as yoga, mindful movement and aromatherapy, notes Douglass. They will also get to enjoy an outing in the beautiful countryside and visit the historic city of Bellinzona and the lakeside city of Ascona or Locarno, where they will have an opportunity to do some shopping, dine and soak up the arts and culture.

“There is no other wellness facility I have seen in the over 105 countries I have visited like this,” shares Douglass, who says she plans to make this an annual retreat. “I want to help support and empower people fully in their health and wellness journeys.”

Cost: From $6,399 per person (airfare not included). 50% deposit due by April 10; balance due by May 8. Pay in full prior to April 10 and receive a $500 discount and get a free energy and intention setting session with Douglass. For more information or to register, visit EmpoweringWellness.me See ad on this page.

APRIL 22

10AM-3PM

SEAWALK PAVILION

your tickets at: @WOMENSWELLNESSFEST

Brought

De-Stress With Sauerkraut

A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry has shown that eating more fermented foods and fiber daily for just four weeks significantly lowered perceived stress levels. Forty-five participants with relatively low-fiber diets were split into two groups.

One group met with a dietitian that recommended a psychobiotic diet, which included six to eight daily servings of fruits and vegetables high in prebiotic fibers, such as onions, leeks, cabbage, apples, bananas and oats; five to eight daily servings of grains; three to four servings of legumes per week; and two to three daily servings of fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha. The control group received only general dietary advice based on the healthy eating food pyramid. The group following the psychobiotic diet reported feeling less stressed compared with those in the control group. Moreover, significant changes in the level of certain key chemicals produced by gut microbes were found in these participants. Some of these chemicals have been linked to improved mental health, which could explain why the participants reported feeling less stressed. The quality of sleep improved in both groups, but those on the psychobiotic diet reported greater sleep improvements.

Screening Children for Anxiety

After a systematic review of 39 studies to evaluate the benefits and harms of screening for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a group of disease prevention and medical experts assembled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, now recommends that primary care physicians perform such screenings, even if there are no signs or symptoms of anxiety.

A common mental health condition in the U.S., anxiety disorder involves excessive fear or worry that manifests as emotional and physical symptoms. In children and adolescents, it is associated with impaired functioning, educational underachievement and an increased likelihood of a future anxiety disorder or depression. The 2018-2019 National Survey of Children’s Health found that 7.8 percent of children and adolescents aged 3 to 17 had a current anxiety disorder.

USPSTF recommended using screening questionnaires to identify children at risk, noting that studies show that children with anxiety benefit from treatments that may include cognitive behavioral therapy or psychotherapy. They also concluded that there is insufficient evidence to assess children 7 years old or younger.

Exercise for the Brain

Researchers in the UK compared the effect that different types of daily movement had on overall cognition, memory and executive function. Their study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, reported that replacing sitting, sleeping or gentle movement with less than 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity (brisk walking, bicycling, running up and down stairs, aerobic dancing, jogging, running or swimming) can protect the brain and improve working memory and executive processes like planning and organization. The intensity of the exercise matters, and study participants that engaged in light physical activity, rather than more vigorous activity, saw declines in cognitive performance. However, light activity is still more beneficial than sitting, the scientists found.

The data for these findings was taken from the 1970 British Cohort Study, an ongoing survey that tracks the health of a group of UK-born adults. The group of nearly 4,500 participants consented, at age 46, to wear an activity tracker and complete verbal memory and executive functioning tests, and they were followed from 2016 to 2018.

Possible Links Between Veggie Diets and Depression

Plant-based diets have been associated with several health benefits, but not much is known about their effects on mental health. A new Brazilian study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders surveyed more than 14,000 people between the ages of 35 and 74 for a period of six months and found that those following a vegetarian diet were twice as likely to have a depressive episode than meat eaters, even when other lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and micronutrient intake were taken into account. The nature of this correlation between vegetarianism and depression is still unclear, and more research is needed.

Providing emotional and spiritual support for those at the end of life, and their families. Advance directives, vigils and much more.

(904) 351-8216 Call: BeachesEndOfLifeDoula.com

Insect-Inspired Drones Build Structures

Two London-based roboticists, Mirko Kovac and Robert Stuart-Smith, have developed new technology that mimics the way bees work together to build a structure. They used two free-flying drones to build a human-sized tower. The “build drone” carried expanding foam and sprayed it in slow, steady circles to form layers, while the “scan drone” surveyed the structure and identified spots where the last layer was either too thin or too thick, and it then created a plan for the build drone to even things out on the next pass to keep the structure straight and sturdy.

In a second demonstration of the technology, the drones made a cylinder the size of a large round cake using a cement-like material. The duo exhibited a great deal of precision in stacking the material to within millimeters.

The team plans to take the drones outdoors to deal with the elements and add to the complexity of the objectives and number of drones involved. If the technology can be perfected, these collaborative construction drones could be used in places where it is difficult for humans and heavy machinery to reach, like the tops of buildings, remote pipelines and disaster areas.

Lowering the Carbon Footprint of Batteries

A Swedish battery manufacturer, Northvolt, in partnership with Stora Enso, one of the largest private forest owners in the world, has developed a battery for electric vehicles (EV) with an anode made of sustainably raised and harvested wood instead of graphite, paving the way for battery production from a renewable source.

The partners figured out a way to extract lignin, a carbon-rich natural binder that comprises up to 30 percent of many trees, and turn it into a material they call Lignode. According to Stora Enso, by replacing graphite or copper anodes with Lignode, lithium-ion batteries will offer faster charging and discharging, higher cycling stability and more efficient performance in low temperature.

More than 50 percent of the EV’s carbon footprint comes from the manufacture of its battery—both in sourcing raw materials and producing the component.

Mining graphite is an expensive and labor-intensive process that requires considerable resources that come from parts of the world where workers’ rights are inadequately protected. While Northvolt’s battery is not on the market yet, this development, along with others like solid-state batteries, may help to reduce the carbon footprint of EVs.

Tammy Hostetler

Invasive Wild Hogs Pose Numerous Threats

There are approximately 6 million non-native, feral pigs in the United States. They destroy an estimated $2.5 billion in crops, pastures, forests and livestock each year across 35 states and jeopardize endangered species, including the Florida panther, green sea turtles and red-cheeked salamanders. But their greatest threat may be the potential to carry disease to humans, domesticated hogs and other animals.

The pigs were brought to the Americas from Europe as early as the 1500s. They reproduce quickly, with up to two litters of four to 12 piglets every 12 to 15 months, and can grow to be five feet long and weigh more than 500 pounds.

Feral swine can carry a long list of pathogens, including leptospirosis, brucellosis, swine influenza, salmonella, hepatitis and pathogenic E. coli. The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes swine as a “mixing vessel species”, meaning that they are susceptible to human viruses and have the ability to create novel forms of those diseases. Human risk to known and new pathogens is greater from feral swine than other wildlife due to our proximity to them and their large numbers. Hunters and farmers are at greatest risk. Anyone that handles feral swine should wear rubber gloves and avoid fluid exchanges.

Lullaby of the Rivers Festival

April 21- 23, 2023

North Shores Community Park

Vilano Beach, St. Augustine FL

LIVE MUSIC * EARTH DAY FAIR * STORYTELLING VENDORS * TASTING TENT * FOOD TRUCKS * BEVERAGES * JAM SESSION * OPEN MIC *

Performer lineup and schedule, information for volunteers, vendors, exhibitors, and sponsors.

www.lullabyoftherivers.com

Rebuilding Coral Reefs With Sound

Rapid ocean warming and other effects caused by climate change have stressed and degraded corals around the globe, and scientists have been studying ways to rebuild, manage and conserve these vital ecosystems. A new Australian study published in Journal of Applied Ecology tested whether playing certain sounds underwater at reef restoration sites could boost the recruitment of oysters and enhance their habitat-building activities. Australia’s flat oyster is a key reef-building organism targeted for restoration efforts. Previous studies had shown that the sound of healthy reefs differs from that of damaged reefs. Using inexpensive marine speakers, the researchers reproduced the sound of a healthy reef at four sites across two of the largest oyster reef restorations in Australia and compared the results to areas that did not receive this soundscape enrichment. The sonically enhanced areas resulted in the presence of more and larger oysters that formed more three-dimensional habitats atop the reef restorations. The scientists propose that the use of marine soundscapes during early stages of new reef restoration projects could reduce the cost of habitat recovery.

EARTH DAY 2023 INVESTING IN OUR PLANET

by Sandra Yeyati

This year’s Earth Day theme—Invest in Our Planet—reminds us that it is not enough to merely celebrate our ancestral home for one day. We are called upon to dedicate our time, money and talents year-round to ensure a sustaining and just world for generations to come. The motto also calls attention to the economic realities and opportunities of the climate crisis. It is no wonder that EarthDay.org , the global organizer of this annual event, decided to keep the same theme as last year, thus underscoring a continuing need to bring global economies together in harmony with the environment.

“In 2023, we must come together again in partnership for the planet. Businesses, governments and civil society are equally responsible for taking action against the climate crisis and lighting the spark to accelerate change towards a green, prosperous and equitable future.

We must join together in our fight for the green revolution, and for the health of future generations. The time is now to invest in our planet,” advises EarthDay.org President Kathleen Rogers.

Surmounting the climate crisis is within reach if we all take action. The time is right for innovators to bring planet-saving ideas to market, and for consumers to stop supporting brands that are socially and environmentally irresponsible—instead, spending money with businesses that take the Earth’s future seriously.

In the voting booth, citizens have the power to elect leaders that will help build a green economy through regulations, incentives and partnerships with the private sector. We can press our congressional representatives to support clean energy jobs and move away from the doomed fossil

fuel economy.

There are many ways to make a difference in our daily lives, too. We can eat sustainable foods, pick up trash while on a run, participate in beach cleanups, reduce our use of plastic, write our representative, switch to solar power, take reusable bags to the grocery store, drive an electric vehicle, compost, go pesticide-free, plant a pollinator garden, support local farmers, eat less meat, purchase secondhand clothing, use environmentally friendly cleaning products, turn off lights when not in use, take shorter showers and so much more. Learn about all of the ways to make a difference at EarthDay.org

This year, join one of the empowering events here in Jacksonville and meet planet-loving people that are ready to push up their sleeves, vote with their pocketbooks and dedicate their time to a healthy, equitable and prosperous future on Earth.

LULLABY OF THE RIVERS

FESTIVAL APRIL 21-23

North Shores Community Center 120 Meadow Avenue St. Augustine, FL 32084

Music, performers, foraging walks, river clean-up, stargazing and more.

Documentaries – Lost Springs and Vanishing of the Bees

Raffles, food trucks and vendors

Lullaby of the Rivers

Clinical Traditions Herb Co.

FARM-FRESH MEDICINAL HERBS FOR VITALITY

by Sara Gurgen

Clinical Traditions Herb Co.—a small herb farm and apothecary located in and serving Jacksonville—started as a plot of grass in 2021 and is now a flourishing medicinal wildflower field. The organic herbs grown there are crafted into herbal teas and tinctures that help to build physical and mental wellness while targeting the root cause of illness. These products are available online as well as at their mobile apothecary at the Jacksonville-based Riverside Arts Market on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Owner Kaki Bryan, a certified clinical herbalist, also offers holistic health consultations, workshops and other events. Two upcoming events are a Farm Tour and Tea Meditation from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on April 14, where attendees will tour the medicinal herb garden in spring and be guided through a tea meditation to use their senses and intuition to learn the herb being sipped, and a Farm Tour and PYO (pick your own) herbs at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. on April 23. The tour will highlight medicine making, botanical identifications and taxonomy, and historical uses of the plants. Chamomile, calendula, red clover and more will be available.

“There is no shortcut to getting to the root cause of illness to create and maintain

vitality,” says Bryan. “When I first meet a potential customer, I get to know why they are interested in herbs and what symptoms are going on that need attention. I always recommend a whole slew of holistic interventions, alongside potential herbal interventions. Nature heals, plain and simple. And it truly is simple to incorporate lifestyle choices—turned habits—that will turn your life around. My point is, it doesn’t have to be painful, exhausting or expensive to improve your vitality.”

The tonics that Clinical Traditions makes and sells are raw, organic apple cider vinegar (ACV)-based herbal remedies that are high in minerals and antioxidants. “ACV is already a probiotic superfood, shown to regulate blood sugar when taken with a meal, but Clinical Traditions has enriched ACV with herbal medicine and made it even better for you,” notes Bryan. “These liquid drops are great on the go or as a tasty addition to your food, and even blended into cocktails or mocktails.”

Clinical Traditions’ loose-leaf, freshly dried herbal tea provides aromatherapy benefits as well as deep internal healing, explains Bryan. Herbal tea has many benefits, from relieving stress to supporting a healthy gut.

Bryan lights up when asked what herbalism is. “Herbalism is the time-tested, potent and essential connection to nature that humans need to survive. It is the knowledge that many modern-day conventional medicines (aka pharmaceuticals) originated from plants (phytochemicals) and that herbs are rich in nutrients, which are vital to sustain ourselves. It is the observance of plants as sentient beings who grow and offer their disease-fighting power to influence health and disease and can elevate a human’s mental, spiritual or physical state.”

“As a functional herbalist, who trained at the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine, herbalism is holistic health care,” Bryan continues. “I was trained in identifying root causes of illness and the best and safest methods to encourage the body’s natural healing ability. Healing modalities include herbs, nutrients,

movement, mindset and rest.”

According to Bryan, current America-based herbalists that use a holistic healthcare model in their clinical practice use the term “vitalism” or call themselves a “vitalist herbalist”. Vitalism is the belief that there are forces beyond just the physical (electrical and chemical occurrences) in our body that contribute to health or disease. Vitalists also believe that one’s “life force” can benefit most from naturally occurring (usually free) “medicines,” like breathing, sunshine, movement and wild plants. In Chinese medicine or Japanese Kampo medicine, this idea is called “qi”. In the Indian holistic healthcare model— Ayurvedic medicine—it’s called “prana”. “Herbalism is medicine for the life force of a human,” observes Bryan.

“If you have a nagging symptom or a feeling that something just isn’t right; if your life force isn’t satisfactory for the life you want to live and you would like to heal naturally using a holistic (multifaceted) approach, I offer clinical consultations to get to the root issues and provide strategies for you to pull up those strangling roots,” shares Bryan.

Cost of both events is based on a pay-whatyou-can sliding scale: $25-$40 for the April 14 event and $50-$100 for the April 23 event. Location: 9200 Plummer Rd., in Jacksonville. To reserve a spot, visit ClinicalTraditions.com/pages/learn-herbalism. For more information about Clinical Traditions, email ClinicalTraditions@gmail.com or visit ClinicalTraditions.com See ad on page 19.

Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do.

~Michel de Montaigne

A NEW DAWN ON THE FARM FRONT STEPPING AWAY FROM INDUSTRIALIZED AGRICULTURE

by Sandra Yeyati

We all have to eat, and the food industry is big business, with wide-ranging implications across many arenas. Because agriculture is controlled by a handful of multinational corporations, the priority to maximize profits often conflicts with what is best for human and planetary health. In many ways, our food production and consumption practices are broken or on the brink of failure. They are inhumane, socially unjust, environmentally unsound and unsustainable.

Viable, achievable solutions to these immense challenges exist, and the emerging consensus is that regenerative organic agriculture is the key to preserving human health and helping solve the climate crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered weaknesses in the system, such as supply chain vulnerabilities, and altered human behavior as more people started cooking at home and exploring healthier lifestyle choices. The time is right to make positive changes to the way we grow, distribute and consume food.

THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR CURRENT INDUSTRIAL FARMING MODEL

For decades, doctors, scientists, farmers and nonprofits at the forefront of the environmental movement have been sounding the alarm about the inherent weaknesses in the national food chain and the harmful effects of industrial agriculture. In his book Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities and Our Planet—One Bite at a Time, Dr. Mark Hyman notes, “Food is the nexus of most of our world’s health, economic, environmental, climate, social and even political crises. While this may seem like an exaggeration, it is not.”

In the late 1800s, American farming began to transition from small, diverse operations that produced a variety of crops and livestock to feed a family or community to an industrialized system dominated by multinational corporations that focused on maximizing yields of just a few crops, primarily corn, soy and wheat. Today, these crops overwhelmingly end up as animal feed, biofuels and cheap, processed food ingredients—a staple of the standard American diet since the 1950s.

Industrial agriculture is now the dominant food production system in this country, characterized by large-scale monoculture, heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and meat produced in confined animal feeding operations (CAFO). Most modest family farms have been forced to either get into business with a big company (contract farming) or go out of business. The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that 90 percent of the 9 billion chickens raised each year in the U.S. are grown under contract, and 57 percent of hogs are owned and slaughtered by just four companies. According to Rodale Institute , only 8 percent of farms produce more than four crops, while specialty crops like fruits, vegetables and nuts are grown on just 3 percent of cropland.

With industrial dominance comes numerous devastating consequences.

HUMAN HEALTH COSTS

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, industrially produced food is bad for us on several fronts. Heavy pesticide use is poisoning our food, fertilizer is polluting our drinking water, junk food made of corn and soybeans is degrading our health and the overuse of antibiotics in CAFOs is accelerating the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bioethicist Peter Singer advises, “Factory farms are breeding grounds for new viruses. We’ve had swine flu and avian flu coming out of factory farms. It’s quite possible that the next pandemic will originate there.”

Zach Bush, a triple board-certified physician and producer of the documentary Farmer’s Footprint, says, “Over the last 25 years, we have seen the most profound explosion of chronic disease in human history. Research from around the globe now suggests that environmental factors are contributing to a combination of genetic, neurologic, autoimmune and metabolic injuries that underpin the collapse of health in our children and adults.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that chronic and mental health conditions account for 90 percent of the nation’s $4.1 trillion in annual health care expenditures. Obesity affects 20 percent of children and 42 percent of adults. More than 850,000 Americans die of heart disease or stroke annually, and 37 million have diabetes. Each year, more than 1.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer, while 600,000 succumb to the disease.

“Most of those diseases are caused by our industrial diet, which means they are avoidable if we transform the food we grow, the food we produce and the food we eat. Eleven million people die every year from a bad diet,” Hyman asserts.

SOLUTIONS USING REGENERATIVE ORGANIC FARMING

Led by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, which includes organizations and brands like Rodale Institute, Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia, the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) standard helps consumers make informed choices about their food purchases. Its three pillars—soil health, animal welfare and social fairness—are designed to ameliorate the problems associated with conventional agriculture.

SOIL HEALTH EQUALS PLANETARY AND HUMAN HEALTH

Chemical-heavy farming practices employed by conventional agriculture deplete topsoil, draining it of all its organic matter—the very microbiome needed to nourish the plants we grow and ultimately nourish us. In 2014, Maria-Helena Semedo, of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, said that if

current farming practices continue, we have only 60 years of harvest left. The clock is ticking.

Farming techniques proposed by the ROC are designed to continually rebuild soil. They are proven by years of science done at Rodale Institute and practical results achieved by regenerative organic farmers already growing food this way. “On the farm that we operate here at the Institute, we know that Native Americans were farming this land 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. We’d like to be farming this land 8,000 to 10,000 years from now. We probably won’t be using tractors or diesel fuel, but we will be using the soil,” says Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Moyer.

Under ROC standards that include a variety of rotating crops, cover crops, no tillage, no synthetic inputs of any kind, no genetically modified seeds and staggered grazing by animals, farms become biodiverse ecosystems with organically rich soil that absorbs water, doesn’t erode over time and produces safe, nutritious food. As J.I. Rodale said, “Healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people.”

Healthy soil draws carbon from the atmosphere deep into the ground, and that is a boost for our fight against climate change. “Regenerative organic farming has a very positive impact on climate, because we’re sequestering more carbon than we are emitting,” Moyer explains. “Under its current production model, agriculture is part of the problem. If it’s part of the problem, then it can and should be part of the solution. That’s the whole premise behind the [ROC] standard itself—treating agriculture as one of the primary tools that we’re going to use as a society to improve our relationship with the planet.”

ANIMAL WELFARE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO

Under the ROC model, animals must be raised in a humane way that frees them from discomfort, fear, distress, hunger, pain, injury and disease, while also being able to express normal behavior. To achieve these aims, they need to be taken out of CAFOs and reintegrated into farmland, so that they are pasture-raised and grass-fed, creating meat that is more nutritious and less diseased without chemical interventions.

“We’re integrating animals onto the cropland, with livestock, chickens, sheep and hogs. Imagine what the Great Plains of the United States was 500 years ago. You had bison, elk, deer, rabbits, wolves and myriad different birds, because the birds always followed the migrating animals. We’re trying to mimic that to a small degree on our ranch,” says North Dakota farmer Gabe Brown, who started transitioning into regenerative organic practices in the mid1990s and wrote an influential book on the subject, Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture.

SOCIAL FAIRNESS AND FARMING RESILIENCE

Taking care of the farmers and workers that plant, raise, harvest and transport our food is not just the right thing to do, it also creates a system that is more stable and resilient, says Graham Christensen, a Nebraska farmer and president of GC Resolve. “There are serious issues with how the big agricultural companies are treating workers. We saw horrible situations with COVID in the meatpacking plants and how the workers were being treated. This is just one of the many reasons that this over-centralized, monopolized system is affecting people in bad ways,” he says. “Regenerative organic farming requires more hands-on work, which creates jobs. Structural changes in the food production system to decentralize agriculture in favor of regional markets comprised of smaller farms would allow for more equity and better management of the ecosystem.”

Sandra Yeyati is national editor of Natural Awakenings magazine.

JEFF MOYER

ON FARMING FOR HUMAN AND PLANETARY HEALTH

by Sandra Yeyati

Jeff Moyer is CEO of Rodale Institute, which champions regenerative organic agriculture through scientific research, farmer-support programs and consumer education. On Earth Day, he plans to retire after dedicating 47 years to the influential nonprofit. Moyer revolutionized organic agriculture when he developed and popularized the roller crimper, a device that simplifies no-till crop management and reduces or eliminates the need for herbicides to control weeds. Under his leadership and as a member of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, Rodale Institute helped develop a Regenerative Organic Certified standard that expands USDA Certified Organic requirements to include soil health, animal welfare and social fairness pillars.

Image courtesy of RodaInstitute.org

Why is conventional agriculture problematic?

Because it boils down the measurement of farming success to one word: yield. By focusing just on yield and sacrificing long-term resource stability to get it, we’re chewing up topsoil at a national rate of fiveand-a-half tons per acre of farmland per year for short-term economic benefit. You can only do that so long before you run out of topsoil. It doesn’t make sense long-term.

What farming practices does Rodale Institute promote?

We’re suggesting a different production model, based on science, that incorporates other metrics of success: soil health and long-term planetary and human health. As a side bar, let’s say you’re a smoker and you stop smoking—your lungs will regenerate. The same is true with soil. If we change production practices, the soil will regenerate.

Under our Regenerative Organic Certified standard, we want well-thought-out crop rotations to get more biodiversity into the system, cover crops and reduced tillage to get more earthworms, and a reintegration of livestock into farms. I’m not going to argue whether people should be eating animals, but if you are going to have animals in the system, they should be raised on farms with grass, not feed lots with grain.

Why is soil health such a priority?

Healthy soil is more biologically active and has a positive impact on climate because it doesn’t just sequester more carbon, it sequesters it at greater depths. We want carbon to last in the soil for a very long period of time. We don’t want it to be short-cycled in and out of the system, and we want to sequester it at greater depths where we can control it and maintain it for hundreds of years. Ideally, we’ll get it

deeper and deeper in the soil over time.

Can regenerative organic agriculture affordably feed the world?

Affordability is a strange term. Can we produce all the food we need at a reasonable cost? Absolutely. The problem with the conventional model is that we don’t pay the true cost of food production at the point of purchase. As an example, when we have to dredge the Mississippi River because of all the soil that’s washing into it from agricultural lands, you don’t pay that bill at the supermarket or restaurant. You pay it as a hidden cost, buried in our tax structure. In an organic system, you’re paying the true cost of the production of that food at the point of purchase, which makes more sense. And if you add the cost of human health—diabetes, heart disease—all the things that our current food production and food consumption model embodies, then the system we have now is outrageously expensive, and regenerative organic food is cheaper than conventional food.

Can regenerative organic agriculture produce the amount of food needed worldwide?

Yes. In most parts of the world, we use agricultural lands to produce all kinds of commodity products that aren’t food. Forty percent of the corn we produce in the U.S. goes to ethanol production and another 40 percent goes to livestock feed. The ink

in your pen was made with soybean oil. If we decided to produce the most amount of food on an acre or hectare of land, we can produce way more food than we need. What we’re saying is that conventional agriculture cannot feed the world longterm. In the short-term, we’re producing a lot of cheap food, but our current production model is doomed to failure over time because we’re going to run out of healthy soil to farm.

Are you hopeful about the future of agriculture?

Very hopeful. The USDA says that most organic farms are more profitable and expanding at a more rapid rate than their conventional counterparts, and that ’ s because we have a growing population of support in the marketplace. People are beginning to pay attention to how their food is produced, asking the right questions and recognizing that they have a vote with their food purchasing dollars. We’re seeing the concept of regenerative organic enter into the daily conversation, just like we did a few years ago with organic. People didn’t know what organic meant at first. Recent USDA statistics suggest that roughly 80 percent of the nation’s population has eaten something organic in the last 30 days, so people are seeking out organic, and we’re going to follow the same course with regenerative organic.

Sandra Yeyati is national editor of Natural Awakenings magazine.

SUSTAINABLE EATING TIPS

TO SHRINK YOUR FOODPRINT

by Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD

Knowing which foods have the least environmental impact is not always easy. Organic blueberries are considered Earth-protective because no pesticides were used to grow them, but if they were shipped from California to a Florida grocery store, the transportation represents a steep carbon footprint. And if we waited too long to eat those blueberries and had to throw them away, all of the resources spent on producing those fruits were wasted.

To get a fuller picture of our food-related environmental impacts, we need to take into consideration the many variables associated with the production, transportation and consumption of food, and that’s where the “foodprint” comes in—a barometer of eco-friendliness. There are many ways to calculate a foodprint; EarthDay.org/foodprints-calculators lists a few automated calculators and food quizzes that can help. Here are noteworthy examples:

n EatLowCarbon.org compares the carbon emissions associated with different meals—ranging from bean soup (lowest CO2 emissions) to a Philly cheesesteak (highest).

n FoodPrint.org offers a questionnaire about a person’s food choices and follows up with tips to reduce their foodprint.

n FoodEmissions.com calculates the foodprint of specific foods like dairy or seafood by asking about the origination and destination of the food to determine transportation emissions, and by asking the consumer to self-report their percentage of waste to calculate the loss of natural resources.

HOW TO REDUCE OUR FOODPRINT BUY RESPONSIBLY PRODUCED FOOD

When shopping for groceries, consider buying from food producers that support environmental stewardship, sustainability and regenerative farming practices in their production systems. A list of third-party certifications that can help identify responsibly manufactured foodstuffs can be found at Foodprint.org/ eating-sustainably/food-label-guide.

BUY LOCAL AND IN SEASON

Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, owner of Sound Bites Nutrition, encourages her clients to eat local, seasonal produce. “[It] spares the environment, as it doesn’t need to be flown across the country, reducing fuel costs,” she explains, adding that local produce is generally more nutritious and cost effective.

STORE FOOD CORRECTLY

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 30 to 40 percent of the available food supply is wasted. While there are many reasons for food loss at all stages of production and

delivery, consumers can have a major impact in reducing how much food is wasted.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides advice for properly storing foods in the refrigerator: leafy veggies go in the high-humidity drawer, while most fruits should be placed in the low-humidity bin. Some fruits like apples and avocados release ethylene gas and can cause nearby produce to spoil, so they should be stored separately. Wash berries just before eating them to prevent mold. Store potatoes, onion and garlic in a cool, dry, dark and well-ventilated place. Freeze bread, meat or leftovers that won’t be eaten before they spoil.

CONSUME SUSTAINABLE FOODS

According to Registered Dietitian Lauren Panoff, one way that consumers can benefit the environment is by transitioning to a more plant-predominant lifestyle. “Plant foods utilize far fewer natural resources than industrial animal agriculture, which is also one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases and drivers of Amazon deforestation,” Panoff explains.

Patricia Kolesa, MS, RDN, founder of the Dietitian Dish, notes, “Plant-based proteins tend to be more affordable and can be stored longer than your animal proteins, helping reduce food waste.”

Nutritics, a food information company, offers a list of the highest-ranking foods when it comes to sustainability, considering inputs like water usage, carbon emissions or capture, land usage and nitrogen storage capabilities. Their list includes mussels, beans, lentils, peas and other legumes, mushrooms, seaweed, cereals and grains, and organic fruits and vegetables.

RESPONSIBLY DISPOSE OF OR SHARE UNEATEN FOOD

Perfectly fresh food that the family has decided not to eat can be donated to people in need. Visit FoodPantries.org to find a nearby soup kitchen or food bank. Compost scraps and spoiled items to divert them from landfills. For composting instructions by the USDA, visit Tinyurl.com/USDAcompost

Ana Reisdorf is a registered dietitian and freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience in the fields of nutrition and dietetics.

Igisheva Maria/ ShutterStock.com

TOXIC OVERLOAD

HOW TO CLEAN OUR WATER, FOOD AND INDOOR AIR

by Madiha M. Saeed, M.D.

Toxins are in the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chemical Substances Control Inventory shows the magnitude of our potential exposure, listing more than 86,000 industrial chemicals that are manufactured or processed in this country. Despite regulations and safety protocols, a number of these dangerous compounds run off into waterways or are released into the atmosphere. Food manufacturers use some of them to preserve or beautify their products.

“We live in an increasingly toxic world, and the best defense against becoming overwhelmed by toxins is limiting what we take in as much as possible,” emphasizes Paul Anderson, an integrative and naturopathic clinician and co-author of Outside the Box Cancer Therapies. While our bodies are not designed to handle the accumulation of industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and radiation that seep into our personal space,

we can take measures to reduce the assault and protect our health.

FILTER DRINKING WATER

“F or the health-conscious individual, toxins in the water is the top threat often overlooked or inadequately addressed,” says Rajka Milanovic Galbraith, an Illinois-based functional medicine practitioner, noting that drinking water is packed with chemicals like per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (also known as forever chemicals), solvents, pesticides, metals, bleach and radiological contaminants such as uranium and cesium. These substances can cause cancer, reproductive health concerns, and kidney and liver problems.

“I have treated hundreds of patients who have restored their health and are already eating and living clean by properly filtering their water, but sometimes, even when using a very expensive water filtration system, people will still find high levels of contaminants like MTBE [methyl tertiary-butyl ether], an additive in unleaded gasoline that is banned in several states,” Galbraith says. “Reverse osmosis typically filters most hazardous chemicals from your water, but they can be pricier. An inexpensive alternative are the filters from Clearly Filtered, which reportedly remove 99 percent of MTBE, among many other chemicals.”

“Everyone should try to filter their water with any means available, from a carbon block pitcher to the most aggressive method using a reverse osmosis water filter under their sink. Given the state of municipal—and well—water and the amount we need to clean our bodies and brains every day over a lifetime, we need to

get this right,” advises Aly Cohen, M.D., an integrative rheumatologist, founder of The Smart Human and co-author of Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World

READ FOOD LABELS

“For the individual newer on their health journey, I would say food additives are the ‘hidden’ environmental exposure that is a serious cause for concern, contributing to autoimmune diseases and from a metabolic standpoint, think weight gain, obesity, pre-diabetes and diabetes,” Galbraith says. “These additives are used to increase palatability, shelf life and texture and can include some you may have heard of, like sucralose, citrate and carrageenan, and others you may not have, like carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80. Carrageenan is common in many nondairy milk alternatives that have made their way into coffee shops.”

According to Galbraith, the most effective way to steer clear of food additives is to avoid or greatly minimize the consumption of highly processed foods. She recommends eating whole foods, especially for those dealing with chronic health issues or experiencing signs or symptoms of an ailment. She also encourages people to read food labels and avoid products with artificial colors, carrageenan, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates and nitrites, polysorbate 80, propyl gallate, propylparaben, methylparaben, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and titanium dioxide.

“You are what you eat!” Cohen exclaims. “Eating clean food,

without synthetic chemicals that break down the protective microbiome of the gut, is critical to the health of our immune system and our mental health, so we should try to eat whole, unprocessed foods that are USDA [U.S. Department of Agriculture] Certified Organic whenever possible.”

IMPROVE INDOOR AIR

According to the EPA, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.” The Environmental Working Group offers a comprehensive blueprint at ewg.org/healthyhomeguide that identifies dangerous chemicals found indoors (from lead, asbestos and flame retardants to volatile organic compounds, antimicrobial agents and radon) and recommends actions to clean up our sanctuaries.

“We can lower our toxic burden by decreasing the chemicals in the air that we breathe, and that begins by reducing the junk we bring into our homes,” Cohen remarks. “Start by removing air fresheners, perfumes, bug sprays, scented cleaning and laundry products, and by opening the windows daily, adding lots of plants and possibly adding an air filter for those who live in cities and areas with poor air quality.”

Madiha Saeed is a holistic, functional and integrative doctor in Naperville, Illinois, and director of education for Documenting Hope and KnoWEwell.

KID-APPROVED AUTISM DIETS

STRATEGIES TO OPTIMIZE NUTRITION AND ACCEPTANCE

by Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by challenges with social interaction and communication. For parents of children with autism, learning to manage this condition requires a multidimensional approach, including consideration of food and nutrition. A personalized, nutritious diet can help manage behavioral problems, health risks and quality of life for kids with autism.

Beth Lambert, executive director of Epidemic Answers, says, “Once you come to understand autism as a whole-body condition, rather than just a brain-based or genetic condition, you start to understand the importance of nutrition in treatment and symptom management.” Not only does a nutritious diet help maintain brain balance, it also helps address many of the nutrition-related concerns that children with autism face, such as food sensitivities and allergies, digestive disruptions, sensory issues with textures and nutrient deficiencies. Each of these issues can impact a child’s behavior.

An essential piece of the autism and diet connection is gut health. Gaby McPherson, MS, RDN, LDN, at Fruitful Nutrition says, “Because a child’s gut health is linked to their brain health, it’s crucial to boost their gut function to reduce these symptoms that can impact their behaviors. Who wants to go around with a tummy ache and constipation every day?”

Yaffi Lvova, RDN, author of Beyond a Bite: Playful Sensory Food Exploration for ASD and Neurodivergent Kids, advises that individual abilities also should be considered when

developing a nutrition plan. “Autistic children often have sensory sensitivities that make it difficult to eat certain (sometimes many) foods,” she says.

THERAPEUTIC DIETS

Many therapeutic diets have been evaluated for children with autism. Most involve the elimination of one or more foods, which can be challenging for a child that already has difficulty getting a wide variety of nutrients.

A popular option is the gluten- and casein-free diet. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Casein is a protein found in milk and other dairy products. While some children with autism may be sensitive to gluten or dairy, this is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and there is mixed data in support of this regimen.

Another choice is the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), which involves limiting certain carbohydrates, processed foods, most dairy, sugar and more, with the goal of reducing food sensitivities and improving the gut microbiome. Mixed

outcomes have been reported with this diet due in part to its elimination of high-fiber foods that may be beneficial for brain health. McPherson explains, “Gut bacteria digest (or ferment) fiber in the large intestines to produce short-chain fatty acids, which are known to improve brain health significantly.”

The Feingold diet is another approach that eliminates artificial flavors, sweeteners, preservatives and salicylates. Salicylates are compounds found in certain fruits and vegetables. While there is some evidence that food dyes may play a role in children’s behavior, most studies on this diet have not demonstrated a significant impact on ASD symptoms.

PERSONALIZED NUTRITION

Instead of following a specific therapeutic diet, most experts now understand that a

diet for ASD needs to be personalized to each child. It is ideal to work with a registered dietitian that can address nutrient and feeding concerns and is trained to make individualized recommendations. A primary area to focus on, according to Lambert, is correcting vitamin deficiencies, which may play a role in improving behavioral and digestive challenges. Nutrients of concern include zinc, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium and essential fatty acids.

McPherson also relates that fiber should be at the forefront of any diet to address digestive concerns. “While many children on the spectrum may strongly prefer foods like chips, crackers, bread or white pastas, these foods tend to be lacking in

fiber,” she says. “Good sources of fiber are split peas, multigrain breads and pears.”

A registered dietitian can also help families evaluate whether a diet is working. Lvova says, “It can be challenging to see whether a specific diet is working or not. When a change is made, the parents and caregivers often pay more attention in order to see if there is a difference, and the child responds positively to the change in attention. By keeping expectations realistic and ensuring a relaxed mealtime atmosphere, your child will have the best chance to meet their nutritional needs.” Ultimately, the goal is to make meals a positive experience for the child, with less emotional investment on which foods they can or cannot eat.

Ana Reisdorf is a registered dietitian and freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience in the fields of nutrition and dietetics.

Alena Haurylik/ Stock.Adobe.com

MUSCULAR MAINTENANCE 101 HOW TO REPAIR MUSCLES AFTER EXERCISE

by David J. Sautter, NASM CPT, FNS, PES, ACE SCS

I n any fitness regimen, rest and muscle recovery are just as important as strength training or cardio workouts. Allowing our body to heal micro-tears and inflammation after strenuous exercise readies muscles for subsequent training sessions. By strategically planning a muscle recovery regimen, we optimize performance and reduce injury risk. Key factors that affect recovery time include workout intensity and duration, stress, sleep and nutrition. Workouts that are longer in duration or higher in intensity require a greater amount of recovery time. High stress levels can increase cortisol and adrenaline, and consistently excessive levels of these fight-or-flight hormones have been shown to impact the body’s ability to repair. If we are chronically deprived of proper sleep (at least seven hours every night) our muscles will suffer. And a poor diet is akin to using broken tools to fix something. Following a healthy, well-balanced and protein-focused eating plan can significantly improve muscle recovery time.

Here are a few scientifically proven approaches that promote tissue repair. A solid, muscle-recovery plan should include one or more of these techniques.

EARTHING

Earthing is the practice of connecting with the Earth’s surface energy by going barefoot outside. Also known as grounding or barefoot healing, recent studies suggest that this practice can promote muscle recovery. One study that divided 32 healthy young men into either a grounded or sham-grounded group found that the grounded participants had significantly greater concentrations of neutrophils and platelets, which are essential for pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses.

In another study, researchers wanted to observe the impacts of grounding on immunity, focusing specifically on delayed onset muscle soreness. Results suggested that being grounded considerably lessened pain levels and altered circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes, as well as various chemicals related to inflammation.

“The feeling of being grounded will calm your mind and center your body,” says Anthony Roumell, a personal trainer, gym owner, gymnast and long-time proponent of earthing. But there’s more to grounding than a clear head. He explains, “Our entire cellular system charges with free electrons when we connect to the earth. Studies suggest that these free electrons act as antioxidants in the organism, neutralizing the inflammation response.”

Jonathan Jordan, a certified personal trainer, nutrition coach and grounding practitioner, advises, “Simply getting off computers or devices and going outside

has immediate benefits. Just taking a break, being outside in nature with sun and fresh air lowers the fight-or-flight response. My clients who take the time and practice this for just a few minutes during the day all see great benefit to their health and in their workout programs.”

HYDRATION

Another way to improve muscle recovery is by hydrating properly. Staying adequately hydrated before, during and after a workout helps the body flush out toxins, reduce inflammation and promote muscle repair. Hydration is more than just drinking water. We also need electrolytes such as sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium, which can be found in natural sources like coconut water, fruits and vegetables. Electrolytes can also be found in sports drinks, but make sure to choose brands that do not contain sugar, preservatives or food coloring.

DIET

Having a balanced meal before and after

a workout is important for muscle recovery. Eating the right foods can provide the essential nutrients needed to repair muscles. Healthy examples include protein like poultry, wild-caught fish, eggs and grass-fed protein powder; carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, quinoa, oats and dark leafy greens; and fats like avocados, nuts, seeds and medium-chain triglycerides, known in the market as MCT oil.

MASSAGE

Massage increases the oxygen-rich blood flow in muscles and may decrease lactic acid buildup—a condition that causes soreness and puts a damper on proper exercise. Consider getting periodic massages from a well-trained professional. A good massage can encourage muscles to heal faster. Self-massage using a foam roller, trigger point balls or our own hands can also be helpful. To promote better blood flow, compression clothing designed to apply pressure to certain parts of the body may also be helpful.

CONTRAST THERAPY

Contrast therapies involve alternating between hot and cold, such as taking a hot shower followed by a cold one. A related muscle-recovery technique is whole-body cryotherapy, which involves exposure to extremely cold temperatures for a very short amount of time, usually one or two minutes.

“Learning how to embrace the discomfort within the cold and heat has had a profound change on my life,” Roumell says. “Contrast therapies will reconnect you to the power of your mind, your breath and your belief in your body’s magnificence After all, when you are finished sitting in a 34-degree tub for two to 10 minutes, what could possibly be much harder in your day?”

David J. Sautter is a professional fitness writer for KnoWEwell and Natural Awakenings

Thyroid medication: why less really is more

by Dr. Raquel Espinol

Introduction

The thyroid gland regulates metabolism by releasing hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). When the thyroid underperforms, it causes everything in your body to work less efficiently. This is known as hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism affects more than 30 million American adults and is five to eight times more common in females.1 By conservative estimates, one in eight women will develop hypothyroidism.1

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This makes up 75-85% of hypothyroid cases. Oftentimes, people with Hashimoto’s struggle to find a medication or treatment plan that works for them and continue to suffer through symptoms like:

• Fatigue

• Feeling cold

• Losing hair

• Gaining weight

• Depression

While there are many treatment options for hypothyroidism, not all are created equal. Selecting the most appropriate one is vital to managing this disease.

What can interfere with hypothyroid therapy?

Some commonly used prescription drugs that can interfere with thyroid medication absorption and efficacy:

• Antacids

• Lithium

• Amiodarone

• Antibiotics

• Antidepressants

• Dopamine agonists

• Colestipol

• Cholestyramine

• Estrogen, testosterone

Thyroid hormones: T3 and T4

The two hormones to remember are T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). T4 circulates throughout your bloodstream and is stored in your tissues until needed. Once your body finds a need, it converts T4 into T3. Establishing the exact levels of T4 and T3, and determining if the conversion process is working normally, are critical to designing the best treatment approach.

While most healthcare providers understand the critical nature of T4 to T3 conversion, many fail to recognize the factors that affect this process. These include:

• Nutritional deficiencies/excesses

• Autoimmune diseases

• Gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease, acid reflux, or irritable bowel syndrome

• Use of interfering medications like proton pump inhibitors (Nexium® and Prevacid®, for example) or H2 blockers (Tagamet®, for example), which inhibit the dissolution and absorption of thyroid hormone tablets

• The body’s own obstacles to converting T4 to T3

Some people continue to suffer from hypothyroid symptoms despite being on medication for years. But with some effort, patients can work with their doctor to find an approach that works for them.

Some commonly used nutraceuticals that can interfere with the absorption of thyroid medicines:

• Iron

• Calcium

• Magnesium

• Chromium picolinate

Some foods that can interfere with absorption of medication:

• Soy products

• High-fiber/high-bran foods

• Calcium-enriched foods/beverages

Digestive complications or diseases such as celiac disease, autoimmune gastritis, and irritable bowel syndrome can also complicate thyroid hormone therapy.

Make sure to discuss with your doctor all of your medical conditions, medications (both prescription and nonprescription), and nutritional supplements before starting or switching thyroid hormone therapy.

Dr. Raquel Espinol graduated with honors and received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Sonoran University of Health Sciences (formerly Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine). She struggled with her own thyroid condition, which was not successfully managed until she discovered naturopathic medicine and worked with a naturopathic doctor to control her condition. This firsthand success inspired her to pursue a career in naturopathic medicine specializing in thyroid diseases.

Dr. Espinol works with men and women addressing thyroid conditions, hormone imbalances, and weight loss. She is licensed to practice in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Montana.

Common choices for treating hypothyroidism

The most common treatments for hypothyroidism include T4 monotherapy with levothyroxine, natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) aka “glandular thyroid,” and a regimen of T4 and T3 medications taken together. Figuring out the best option for you may take some time. See the accompanying chart for pros/cons of commonly used hypothyroidism therapies.

T4 monotherapy

Pros:

• Current standard of care for hypothyroidism

• Proven safe and effective

• Available at all pharmacies

• Usually low cost

Cons:

• GI conditions, medications, sensitivities to excipients/ inactive ingredients in tablet formulations can interfere with absorption and tolerability

Natural desiccated thyroid (NDT)

Pros:

• Contains both key thyroid hormones: T4 and T3

• An option for people who need supplemental T3

Cons:

• Derived from thyroid glands of pigs – an issue for vegans

• NDT therapies are tablets that contain excipients or “fillers”

• The T4:T3 ratio contained in NDT tablets is 5:1 – different than the normal human ratio of these hormones

• Can lead to cardiac problems like rapid heartbeat, insomnia, and feelings of anxiety

• It comes from pigs and may contain porcine antigens, which may be problematic for some people

• Not all pharmacies carry NDT products. Not all insurance carriers pay for them

Combined T4 and T3 medication therapy

Pros:

• Consistent potency

• Can be an option for those in need of supplemental T3

• Available at most pharmacies

Cons:

• Two separate medicines that need to be taken daily. T4 is taken once a day; T3 may be recommended in multiple daily doses

• Some insurance plans may require two medication copays

• T3 can be risky for some patients with cardiovascular conditions. Some patients can experience heart palpitations and other side effects

Malabsorption and drug underperformance

Most thyroid hormone therapies come in tablet form. These contain inactive ingredients such as wheat starch (gluten), talc, lactose, sugars, and dyes that help hold the tablet together, but also can impede the absorption of their active ingredient, which results in suboptimal or inconsistent levels of thyroid hormones. When this happens, many patients often believe they need to change medication rather than address the factors that contribute to their therapy’s poor performance. They turn to their physician for new therapies in the hope that these can provide long hopedfor relief from their symptoms.2

Nutritional support

Nutrition can play a role in managing hypothyroidism. However, few patients can treat hypothyroidism with nutritional supplements alone. Some examples of helpful nutritional supplements include inositol, nigella, B vitamins, and selenium. However, excess amounts of certain nutritional supplements can also lead to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Always tell your physician about all drugs and supplements that you are currently taking as well as your soy, fiber, and non-animal product intake.

Thyroid treatment: sometimes less is more Less is often more when it comes to hypothyroid treatment. Tirosint®-SOL (levothyroxine sodium) oral solution is a unique liquid hypothyroid medication made with only three ingredients. It contains no fillers or other ingredients that can irritate your stomach or lead to poor drug absorption. Because it’s a liquid, it doesn’t need to dissolve in your stomach like a tablet or capsule before your body starts to absorb it. It’s not made with any ingredients sourced from animals, and it’s easy to swallow and comes in precise monodose ampules that can be conveniently stored for travel. You can pour it into a glass of water and drink it, or you can squeeze the contents of the ampule directly into your mouth.

Since Tirosint-SOL consists of just water, glycerol, and levothyroxine, it’s a very simple yet effective solution for treating hypothyroidism. This is important to me. Additionally, I want to ensure my patients have consistent access to the thyroid medication that works best for them. That being said, Tirosint-SOL has a generous coupon program and low-cost mail-order option to help patients without insurance or with high insurance copays/ deductibles. These can be found on the product’s website.

So, which treatment is right for you?

Share your answers to the following with your physicians so they can work with you to pick the right option for you:

• Have you been treated for hypothyroidism and are dissatisfied with the results?

• Do you want a simpler approach?

• Do you need a drug that is free of excipients like gluten, dyes, lactose, and preservatives?

• Do you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or another GI condition?

• Problems swallowing?

Please see Important Safety Information on the following page or toward the back of this issue, and Full Prescribing Information at TirosintSOL.com.

References: 1. American Thyroid Association Website. https://www.thyroid.org/mediamain/press-room/. Accessed December 8, 2022. 2. McMillan M, et al. Results of the CONTROL Surveillance Project. Drugs in R&D. 2015;16(1):53-68.

PM-01-22-0089

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Email Publisher@NAJax.com for guidelines and to submit entries. We advise confirming in advance directly with the business or organization.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Healing Event – 1-3pm. Meet our practitioners and experience different healing techniques. All are trained on energy work, 7 archangels, reconnective healing, singing bowls and more. $15 love offering to St. Jude’s hospital. Spiritual Uplifts New Address 2039 Mound St. Orange Park. 904-292-4555.

Online Class “The relationship between brain waves, meditation and healing”3-5:30pm. $41. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. www.IFSK.org 407-247-7823.

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

Reiki Cleansing Circle – 2-3pm. Also, on May 21. Rebalance your chakra system for energy and clarity. Experience 1 hour of energy healing by certified Reiki masters. $50. Hosted by Touch Massage & Reiki at Seaside Power Yoga Studio in Jax Beach. 904-349-7045 for info and to register.

TUESDAY, APRIL 4 AND 18

Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7p. Falli Shah facilitates this meditation that activates heart and crown chakra, achieving illumination and expression of gratitude. Free, Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 423 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Spring Cleaning – Detox for Energy and Weight Loss – 7pm. Getting rid of clutter frees up space in our homes and also our minds. Reduce anxiety and illness. Boost energy, weight loss, mental health and more. Health coaches Dalia and Meghan host this journey. For info visit https://www. facebook.com/events/154075630506863

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

Transcendental Meditation Free Introductory Talk – 6:30pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Southeast Regional Library, Room D, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd. in Jacksonville. Register at Jacksonville@TM.org or 904-375-9517.

Tibetan Singing Bowl Chakra Specialty Class Series – Continues on April 13, 20 and 27. 6:30 – 8pm. Unblock and awaken your chakras with sound. Feel the charge of your energetic chakra system. Experience movement and sound in all 4 classes. $35 per session. Register at seventh-wonder.com/ events. 4236 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686.

MONDAY, APRIL 10

Astrology Class – 6-7pm. By Kelly Osterhout. Readings, tarot session, natal chart reading. $25 Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 423 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686. Register at seventh-wonder.com/events/

Explore the Spiritual Perspective of Health and Healing – 6:30-7:30pm. Presented by ECKANKAR Jacksonville. Free. South Mandarin Library, 12125 San Jose Blvd.

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

Taoist Tai Chi Introductory Session –10:30-11:30am and 7-8pm. Incorporate stretching and turning into a sequence of movements to reduce tension, improve circulation and balance and increase strength and flexibility. Riverside Park United Methodist Church, 819 Park St. Jacksonville. Jacksonville.fl@taoisttaichi.org 877-398-1108.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

Taoist Tai Chi Introductory Session – 10:3011:30am & 7-8pm. Incorporate stretching and turning into a sequence of movements to reduce tension, improve circulation and balance and increase strength and flexibility. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 5616 Atlantic Blvd. Jacksonville.fl@taoisttaichi.org 877-398-1108.

Transcendental Meditation Free Introductory Talk by videoconference – 12noon. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register at Jacksonville@TM.org or 904-375-9517 and we’ll send the connection link by email or text.

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

Farm Tour and Tea Mediation- 5:30-7:30. Take a tour of the medicinal herb garden and be guided through a tea meditation to use your senses and intuition to learn the herb being sipped. Cost is sliding scale: $25-$40, pay what you can. Located at 9200 Plummer Rd, 32219. Reserve a spot at www.clinicaltraditions.com/learn-herbalism

SATURDAY APRIL 15

St. Augustine PoetFest – 8am-9pm. Second annual celebration of creative writing and reciting on the campus of Flagler College. Workshops, lectures, author showcases, 5 hour open mic marathon, DCAZ Zine Zone and book bazaar display open to the public. Keynote performance by Michigan Beat Poet Laureate Joe Kidd with Shelia Burke. Free Ringhaver Student Center, 50 Sevilla St. in St. Augustine. Historiccoastculture.com

Kundalini Yoga – 8-9pm. Also, on the 29th. The Yoga of awareness controls the rise and fall of energy, balancing your chakras for inner strength, peace and balance. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686.

Online Class “The relationship between brain waves, meditation and healing” –10:30-1pm. $41. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge, www.IFSK.org 407-247-7823.

Transcendental Meditation Free Introductory Talk – 1pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Room 112, Postell Market, Casino Bldg, 530 Beachview Drive (by Neptune Park), St. Simons Island, GA 31522. Register at Jacksonville@TM.org or 904-375-9517.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, APRIL

15 & 16

Introduction to the healing art of Reiki and mediumship demonstration hosted by Julia Everson, Marcus Brooks, Reiki masters and Marilyn Jenquin, British style medium. $55 per day and $100 for both days. Seaside Power Yoga, 1524 3rd St. N. in Jax Beach. Hosted by Touch Massage & Reiki.

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

Reiki III teacher’s group class - 11:307:30 pm. Experience a higher level of energy, helping you to connect with your masters while performing reiki. There will be an enhanced level of clearing the chakras, new symbols, and new hand positions. Must have Reiki one and two with Lynn. Cost $250.00 with lunch. Spiritual Uplifts New Address 2039 Mound St. Orange Park Florida 32073. 904-292-4555. SpiritualUplifts.com

Mediumship Demonstration by Marilyn Jenquin – 1-3pm. Afternoon with spirit loved ones presented by International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. For info and to register contact Julia@touchmassagehealing.com

Vegan Cooking Class – 5-7pm. Join Falli and Sunil Shah, for a vegan, Indian cooking class. A delicious meal is freshly prepared in front of you. Class is on outdoor garden deck, weather permitting. $45 Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686. Seventh-wonder.com/events

TUESDAY, APRIL 18

Transcendental Meditation Free Introductory Talk – 6pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Regency Square Library, Conference Room, 9900 Regency Square Blvd, Jacksonville. Register at Jacksonville@TM.org or 904-375-9517.

FRIDAY–SUNDAY APRIL 21–23

Lullaby of the Rivers Festival - North Shores Community Park, Vilano Beach. Earth Day event that seeks to awaken connections to nature by using music and stories as a means to inspire environmental awareness. Fun for all ages. Lullabyoftherivers.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

Women’s Wellness Fest – 10am-3pm. Empowering women through yoga, meditation, community and more. You’ll leave this event feeling more strong, powerful and authentic. Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. For schedule and tickets visit the event page at womenswellnessfest.com

Psychic Mediumship Series of 5 Classes -2pm to 5pm Grow into your gifts and find your niche. All levels welcome. $45.00 per class or $200.00 for the series.To learn more, call 904-292-4555. 2039 Mound St. Orange Park Florida 32073. 904-292-4555. SpiritualUplifts.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

Farm Tour and PYO (pick your own) herbs – 10am or 2pm. The tour teaches medicine making instructions, botanical identifications & taxonomy, and historical uses of the plants! Chamomile, Calendula and Red Clover will be available! Cost is sliding scale: $50-$100, pay what you can. Located at 9200 Plummer Rd, 32219. Reserve a spot at www.clinicaltraditions.com/learn-herbalism

2½ Meditation – 4- 6:30pm. Perfect course for beginners as well as experts, whether you are stressed out and in need of some peace, or you just want to enjoy all the benefits of meditation. Snacks provided. $35.00 Spiritual Uplifts. 904-292-4555 to sign up. Spiritual Uplifts New Address 2039 Mound St. Orange Park Florida 32073. 904-292-4555. SpiritualUplifts.com

Pranayama & Meditation – 3-4pm. Guided breath meditation to increase oxygen which facilitates physical healing. Bring mat. $15 Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 423 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686.

Yoga Nidra – 4:15-5:15pm. Guided meditation to achieve a state of samadhi, enlightenment or bliss. Bring mat. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave. 904-381-8686.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

Transcendental Meditation Free Introductory Talk by videoconference – 6:30pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register at Jacksonville@TM.org or 904-375-9517 and we’ll send the connection link by email or text.

MONDAY, MAY 1

Transcendental Meditation Free Introductory Talk – 6:30pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health, Free, Pablo Creek Library, Conference Room, 13295 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville. Register at 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org

ONGOING

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

TUESDAY

Taoist Tai Chi Introductory Class –10:30-11:30am and 7-8pm. Through March 28. Riverside Park Methodist Church, 819 Park St. 32204.

WEDNESDAY

Sound Bath Healing – 6pm. Move stressful, heavy and sluggish energy off our bodies with the use of vibrations and tones. $33 per session. Touch Massage & Reiki, 6000A Sawgrass Village Circle, Ponte Vedra Beach. 904-349-7045.

THURSDAY

Taoist Tai Chi Introductory Class –10:30-11:30am and 6-7pm. Through March30. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 5616 Atlantic Blvd. 32207.

SATURDAY

Sound Bath Healing – 10am. Move stressful, heavy and sluggish energy off our bodies with the use of vibrations and tones. $33 per session. Touch Massage & Reiki, 6000A Sawgrass Village Circle, Ponte Vedra Beach. 904-349-7045.

JACKSONVILLE’S

COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NAJax.com to request our media kit.

Acupuncture

A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE

4337 Pablo Oaks Ct, Bldg 200, Jacksonville • 904-373-8415

AWayOfLifeAcupuncture.com

Dr Christine Yastrzemski, NCCAOM, AP AP2255

Dr Sarah Thomas, DACM, AP AP4183

NCCAOM

Board Certified Acu-puncture Physician specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. We offer the highest quality of care while customizing treatments that best suit your needs.

CBD

HYDROPONIC UNIQUE GOODS

862 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville 904-829-4847 • JaxHugs.com

Now carrying Delta products! Hemp is all relaxation without intoxication; research shows numerous health benefits. Garden and hydroponic supplies: Leading brands of soil, nutrients, grow-tents and LED lights. See ad on page 15.

Energy Healing

HEALING ENERGY BY TED

Ted Kostek

7500 Plantation Club Dr, Jacksonville 904-613-7608 • HealingEnergyByted.com

Certified in Reconnective Healing, The Emotion Code, The Body Code, Reiki Master. Powerful healings, with great compassion and care. Clean chakras, aura, entity removal, in-person and remote sessions for humans and animals. See ad on page 9.

Esthetician Services

MAR HEAVENS CO.

Mar Barquinero

Licensed Holistic Esthetician 1449 Live Oak Lane, Jacksonville 407-587-5270

License# FB9776658

For positively ageless skin, weight loss, body sculpting & contouring, antiaging skin-firming & contouring facials. Mar will customize your treatment to address specific needs.

Functional Medicine

JACKSONVILLE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER

Dr Jon Repole, DC, CFMP 9957 Moorings Dr, Ste 403 Jacksonville (Mandarin) 904-268-6568 • DrRepole.com

Certified Functional Medicine

Practitioner. Find the cause of your health challenge. Our office will create a doctor-supervised, custom-tailored, health program that will include the following: meal planning, supplemental prescriptions, detoxification guidance, food/lifestyle coaching, exercise prescriptions, accountability, online patient portal and more. We utilize the most advanced diagnostics testing available to aid both our diagnoses and treatment. See ad on page 9.

Grocery

NATIVE SUN

1585 3rd St North, Jacksonville Beach 904-853-5497 • NativeSunJax.com

Jax Beach’s community organic grocer, local food and essential items. Order online for curbside p/u.

Herbs

LAURENCE LAYNE, LMT, HERBALIST

Healing Waters Clinic & Herb Shop

26 Clark St, St. Augustine

904-826-1965 8 HealingWatersClinic.com MA0010746 MM005595

A holistic center specializing in pain relief and chronic health issues. Certified in neuromuscular and deep tissue bodywork, myofascial therapy, craniosacral balancing, east-west herbalism. Offering attunement energy healing since 1978. See ad on page 5.

Massage

CARING PALMS HEALING ARTS

Brian Dean, LMT MA36835 MM41272 315 10th Ave South, Jacksonville Beach 904-246-2206 • CaringPalms.com

Professional massage and energy work. Many styles of massage, Reiki, meditation, mediumshipm massage & Reiki classes. Continuing education for Florida LMTs. See ad on page 10.

Meditation

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION© CENTERS

Karen & Herb Bandy, Allan Byxbe, Certified Teachers Jacksonville@TM.org • 904-375-9517

Regine de Toledo, Certified Teacher StAugustine@TM.org • 904-826-3838

The TM technique is an effortless, non-religious, evidence-based practice for eliminating stress, increasing well-being and expanding consciousness. Certified Teachers give individual instruction and ongoing support. See ad on page 9.

Spring is the best life coach: It gives you all the energy you want, all the positive thoughts you wish and all the boldness you need!

~Mehmet Murat ildan

Medical Marijuana Card

CERTIFIED MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTORS

10695 Beach Blvd • 904-299-5300

920 Blanding Blvd, Ste 4 • 904-420-0044 2085 A1A S, St Augustine • 904-299-7373 CMMDR.com

Get your medical marijuana card and pre-certify by phone. Medical marijuana treats more than 250 medical conditions such as: chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, seizures, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, MS, HIV/AIDS, Chron’s, IBS, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, lupus and more. See ad on page 9.

Solar Power

EMPOWER HOME SOLAR

356 Destination Daytona Ln, Ormond Bch Volusia • 386-327-6937

gosolar@empowersolar.com

Our mission is to make solar energy efforless and affordable. We design energy systems specific to your needs to maximize savings and provide clean electricity for your family. FL Lic. Solar Contractor #CVC57067. See ad on page 5.

Structural Integration

LAUREE MORETTO

Soft Tissue Specialist • MA20965 321-271-1678

Flagler & Daytona Bch LaureeMoretto.com

90% of pain is linked to structural misalignment. Your pain is really just a symptom. My work addresses the cause to give you lasting relief. Get your life back now.

Thermography

FLORIDA MEDICAL THERMOGRAPHY

June Drennon, CCT 2008 • JuneDrennon@ FloridaMedicalThermography.com 727-729-2711

FloridaMedicalThermography.com

Certified Clinical Thermographer 2008. Mindful Wellness with Thermography! Knowledge is power: Know your risk factors to make corrections and avoid developing pathology. Call for location convenient for you.

ADVERTORIAL

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: NOT FOR THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY OR FOR WEIGHT LOSS

• Thyroid hormones, including TIROSINT-SOL, either alone or with other therapeutic agents, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss.

• In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction.

• Larger doses may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to glycerol

• Uncorrected adrenal insufficiency

Warnings and Precautions

• Cardiac adverse reactions in the elderly and in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease: Initiate TIROSINT-SOL at less than the full replacement dose because of the increased risk of cardiac adverse reactions, including atrial fibrillation

• Myxedema coma: Do not use oral thyroid hormone drug products to treat myxedema coma

• Acute adrenal crisis in patients with concomitant adrenal insufficiency: Treat with replacement glucocorticoids prior to initiation of TIROSINT-SOL treatment

• Prevention of hyperthyroidism or incomplete treatment of hypothyroidism: Proper dose titration and careful monitoring is critical to prevent the persistence of hypothyroidism or the development of hyperthyroidism

• Worsening of diabetic control: Therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus may worsen glycemic control and result in increased antidiabetic agent or insulin requirements. Carefully monitor glycemic control after starting, changing, or discontinuing thyroid hormone therapy

• Decreased bone mineral density associated with thyroid hormone over-replacement: Over-replacement can increase bone reabsorption and decrease bone mineral density. Give the lowest effective dose

Limitations of Use

• Not indicated for suppression of benign thyroid nodules and nontoxic diffuse goiter in iodine-sufficient patients

• Not indicated for treatment of transient hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis

Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions associated with TIROSINT-SOL are primarily those of hyperthyroidism due to therapeutic overdosage including: arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, dyspnea, muscle spasm, headache, nervousness, irritability, insomnia, tremors, muscle weakness, increased appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, heat intolerance, menstrual irregularities, and skin rash

For Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, visit www.TirosintSOL.com

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