March 2021 Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

REGENERATIVE FARMING

How It Can Save the Planet

PLANETFRIENDLY E-BIKES

COUNTERTOP GARDENING

ALL ABOUT CBD

Research Points to Its Benefits

FOUR WAYS TO FIND PEACE

HEALING GRIEF

March 2021 | Jacksonville / St. Augustine | NAJax.com

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letter from publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

March is here, and spring has officially sprung! It’s almost

time for flip flops and sundresses, festivals and strawberry picking.

The days grow longer. The sun shines brighter. Nature has hit the reset button.

Our March edition is packed full of ways to embrace nature.

Indoor edible growing is explained on page 18 and is the focus of Health by Design’s Grow Green workshop on the 16th. Easy to grow sprouts are featured in the recipes following indoor gardening. Regenerative organic farming holds great promise to rebuild soil and insure sustainability. If you have a yard, you could have a source of food, free from chemicals and pesticides. Food grown in a backyard garden tends to have better flavor because it is left to ripen on the plant longer.

Twenty-two million new gardens were planted in the United States when the fragility of our supply chain was exposed during the pandemic.

Regenerative healthcare is the focus of this month’s Wise Words. Jeff Tkach of the Rodale Institute discusses regenerative healthcare and its connection to regenerative farming. Tkach describes regenerative healthcare as a system where farming and healthcare work together, focused on a prevention-based approach to human and environmental health.

The power of cannabidiol (CBD) and medical cannabis is explored in Green Living. Learn how to select the highest quality CBD product and explore the many forms available, from oils and tinctures to gummies and flower. The discovery of the endocannabinoid system of receptors and its connection to the body’s ability to regulate itself is central to the growing interest in CBD products.

Rolling right along to the Fit Body section, learn the benefits of foam rollers for sore muscles and joints. These lightweight cylinders target trigger points or painful knots and come in many types including high-density, heated and textured. Foam rollers offer simple, affordable self-care that can be done by all ages in a small indoor space or outside.

There’s plenty more packed into this March edition, including our calendar’s many classes and workshops. We encourage you to support our family of advertisers and shop local to support the community.

JACKSONVILLE / ST. AUGUSTINE EDITION

Publisher Rebecca Young Publisher@NAJax.com

Writer Erin Floresca

Editor Sara Gurgen

Calendar Editor Sara Peterson

Design & Production Melanie Rankin

Graphic Design Wendy Wilson

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Jacksonville / St. Augustine Office: 386-736-3838 Publisher@NAJax.com P.O. Box 731466 Ormond Beach, FL 32173

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March 2021

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

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Contents 12 DOWN TO EARTH

9

The Promise of Regenerative Organic Farming

15 JEFF TKACH

on Regenerative Healthcare

16 HEMP-DERIVED CANNABIDIOL

A Primer on the Latest Research

18 INDOOR EDIBLE

16

GARDENING

Grow Veggies, Sprouts and Microgreens Year-Round

22 ON A ROLL

Foam Rollers Ease Pain and Workout Recovery

24 GETTING PREGNANT

Lifestyle Strategies to Boost Fertility

32 HEALING FROM GRIEF

22

Four Ways to Find Peace

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS

34 CANINE OBESITY

When Doggies Need Diets HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise in Natural Awakenings, please call 386-736-3838 or email Ads@NAJax.com.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email calendar events to: Editor@NAJax.com.

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DEPARTMENTS 5 news briefs 6 health briefs 8 global briefs 10 eco tip 11 event spotlight 15 wise words 16 green living

18 conscious

eating 22 fit body 24 healthy kids 26 natural pet 27 inspiration 28 calendar 30 resource guide

event briefs

Eckankar to Offer Virtual Event on Finding Your Life’s Purpose

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he theme of Eckankar in Florida’s ECK Light and Sound Service on March 28 is Finding Your Life’s Purpose. The virtual event will feature speakers, sharing, creative arts and a spiritual exercise. This topic is also the title for a new e-booklet that can be downloaded for free.

Eckankar, the Path of Spiritual Freedom, is an active, individual, creative spiritual practice that offers keys to finding answers within.

Each month, Eckankar in Florida offers spiritually focused virtual events, which last about one hour, for seekers of all backgrounds. Topics include Is Life a Random Walk?; ECK Wisdom on Soul Travel; Turning Points, a Gift of Growth; The Power of Gratitude; Spiritual Stress Relief; Animals Are Soul Too!, which explores our divine connections with all life; and Experience HU, the Sound of Soul, which features a powerful 20-minute spiritual exercise and contemplation using HU, an ancient, sacred name for God. When sung or chanted with an open heart, HU opens the lines of communication to the most sacred part of oneself.

For more information, including dates, times and login information, visit Eck-Florida.org.

To download the free e-booklet, visit Eckankar.org/purpose. See ad, page 18.

Annual Spring Health Fair

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ealth by Design’s Annual Spring Health Fair is being held March 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Jacksonville.

Attendees will learn about the plethora of resources available to them to improve their physical and mental health. The day includes a Wellness Workshop geared toward active-duty military personnel, veterans and their families. “We will be providing information about local area Veterans’ support and alternative health therapies,” affirms Health by Design founder, Dr. Kristy Harvell.

Dr. Kristy Harvell In addition, Dr. Kristy will host a lunch and learn, where she’ll discuss the importance of healthy lifestyles and explain the how and why behind her favorite saying—”weird works!”

This physical and mental wellness event is held in partnership with Operation New Uniform, The Fire Watch, Cohen Veteran’s Network and K-9s for Warriors.

Location: 2002 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville. RSVP at ONUWellnessWorkshop.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit Facebook.com/HealthByDesignFL, call 904-363-3374, or visit HealthByDesignFL.com. See ad, back cover.

Support Your Healthy Lifestyle with a Tower Garden

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r. Kristy Harvell, founder of Health by Design FL in Jacksonville, is excited to announce her upcoming workshop, Grow Green, being held March 16 from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. both in-person and via Zoom.

During this event, Dr. Kristy will share a multitude of healthy, easy to implement lifestyle tips with attendees. “For those that have picky eaters in the household, I’ll be sharing techniques I use with my own family to ensure improved daily eating habits,” she affirms.

Dr. Kristy will also discuss the benefits of installing a vertical aeroponic Tower Garden. “Aeroponics, an advanced form of hydroponics, is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment rather than soil,” she explains. “Aeroponic systems use water, liquid nutrients and a soilless growing medium to grow nutritious produce quickly and efficiently.”

According to Dr. Kristy, the Tower Garden system is a foolproof method of growing one’s own produce. “There’s no learning curve like with traditional gardening which can be complicated and time-consuming with all the pests, disease and weeds,” she explains. “Tower Garden automatically delivers water and nutrients when they’re most needed so you’re able to grow strong, healthy plants with minimal effort.”

Location: 2002 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville.

Visit Facebook.com/HealthByDesignFL/ to register for this event. For more information, call 904-363-3374 or visit HealthBy DesignFL.com. See ad, back cover.

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Use Colored LED Lights to Relax Getting an MRI or CT scan is typically not a relaxing experience, and patient discomfort, anxiety or agitation can affect the quality of the image. Taking note of businesses that use lighting to create a mood, researchers from Pepperdine University demonstrated that patient unease in imaging centers can be modified with the use of colored LED lights. In a pilot study involving 35 subjects, 43 percent found blue lighting most relaxing, while 31 percent preferred yellow. The least relaxing lighting color was red, according to 69 percent of participants, followed by yellow (17 percent) and green (11 percent).

Each subject was given a handheld device to set the hue, intensity and brightness of lighting, and most chose blue. No patient preferred the standard bright, white lighting of healthcare environments.

“When given the opportunity to change a single aspect of the environmental or imaging facility experience, patients feel much more in control of the otherwise unfamiliar and uncomfortable setting,” write the authors in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Try Mindfulness to Improve Cardiovascular Health Mindfulness training can lower blood pressure and positively influence behavior that promotes cardiovascular health, report Brown University researchers. The study published in Plos One involved 43 people with hypertension. In eight weekly 150-minute sessions, participants learned mindfulness meditation movements and techniques, including eating food mindfully, while also receiving instruction on hypertension risk factors. By the end of the year, they reported improvements in stress levels, diet, physical activity and alcohol consumption. On average, systolic blood pressure fell by six points and diastolic pressure by one point, a small, but significant improvement.

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Try Ginger to Lower Diabetes Markers Ginger root (Zingiber officinale), used historically in traditional medicine to treat indigestion and nausea, may also help people with Type 2 diabetes, suggests a new study from Brazil. Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind study of 103 people with Type 2 diabetes that were taking medications.

Those taking 1.2 grams of ginger powder for 90 days experienced a significant drop in the level of fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol compared to those taking a placebo.

Use Green Tea Extract and Curcumin to Ward Off Oral Cancer Early signs of oral cancer can include white patches, sores and lumps inside the mouth, biomarkers known collectively as oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). To see if two natural chemo-preventive agents—green tea extract and curcumin—could reverse these conditions, researchers in India tested 60 people with OPMD, splitting them into three groups.

One group was given 400 milligrams (mg) of green tea extract in a capsule, as well as a gel; a second group was given 475 mg of curcumin; and the third received a combination of the first two treatments. After 12 weeks, researchers found that the supplementation had significantly reduced OPMD biomarkers in all three groups, with particularly strong results in the combination group, suggesting a synergistic effect.

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health briefs

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global briefs

Hot Stuff

The Benefits of Renewable Geothermal Energy

Saving Coral Reefs Worldwide

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The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) has urged governments to take action to save the planet’s remaining coral reefs and their attendant fish populations, because collective human impacts are leaving fewer places untouched, with only 15 percent of the Earth’s land mass formally protected and global biodiversity declining at an unprecedented rate. To that end, a new online data platform, MERMAID (DataMermaid.org) helps scientists and management officials collect, organize and disseminate data on reef fish biomass and diversity, as well as the cover of hard corals, fleshy algae and other benthic groups—all identified by ICRI as key indicators of coral reef health, integrity and function.

The newly published 5th Global Biodiversity Outlook and other sources endorsed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services clearly indicate that governments are failing to meet existing global targets for biodiversity and that critical ecosystems like coral reefs will be altered to the point that the biodiversity they harbor, and the services they provide, will be irreparably damaged.

Currently, only 2.5 percent of the world’s reefs are being actively protected.

Due to the ongoing decay of radioactive elements in the Earth’s core, temperatures 4,000 miles below the surface can reach 10,800° F. The molten magma we call lava carries enormous heat to the surface. But despite its enormous potential, geothermal energy supplied just 0.4 percent of U.S. electricity in 2019. In California, the perimeter of the inland Salton Sea lies several thousand feet above a mineral-rich cauldron of hot water that powers 10 geothermal plants. The state has emphasized wind and solar power while neglecting the development of geothermal plants, despite possessing our most productive geothermal fields.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimated in 2007 that releasing just 2 percent of this untapped resource in sites around the country could supply 2,000 times our overall primary energy needs without needing any improvements in drilling technology. While the first geothermal plants in the 1960s drained reservoirs of their steam or water, binary plants—a new design from the 1980s—allow operators to extract the heat while maintaining the generating potential. Between 2006 and 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy spent only $1 billion on geothermal technology due to falling coal prices, a fraction of what was spent on fossil fuels and solar investment. cardaf/AdobeStock.com

Fishy Business

Improve Children’s Brain Health with Better Nutrition In a study with important implications for underfed children in low-income countries and elsewhere, a new study in The BMJ medical journal found that six months of nutritional supplements can improve working memory and blood flow in children’s brains. Researchers from Tufts University travelled to villages in GuineaBissau, West Africa, where they gave 1,059 children, ages 1 through 7 years, a breakfast supplement high in plant polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and protein. They compared results with children eating the standard local breakfast of rice or a common lower-quality supplement. They found that the enhanced nutritional supplement boosted cognition and increased cerebral blood flow in children younger than 4 and raised their hemoglobin concentration if they were anemic. Children older than 4 had improved body compositions—more lean tissue and less fat. With at least 250 million children worldwide younger than 5 that are failing to reach their cognitive developmental potential, these results pose significant impacts for children’s education and national development in low-income countries, say the researchers.

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Cold Comfort

Buzz Kill

Hazardous Pollutants Found in Mount Everest Snow

daniel prudek/AdobeStock.com

Manmade perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in water-repellant outdoor gear and linked to birth defects, high cholesterol and increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer have been detected in snow at the top of Mount Everest, posing a risk for trekkers, climbers and residents that drink the water. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry suggests that exposure to high levels of PFAS may suppress the immune system and increase the risk of getting COVID-19.

The PFAS discovery was reported by Kimberley Miner, a research assistant professor at the University of Maine Climate Change Institute, who along with 20 co-authors published a paper, “Deposition of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ on Mt. Everest,” in the online journal Science of the Total Environment.

The PFAS pollution shows that people unknowingly shed these chemicals. Some companies that make outdoor gear are phasing them out, while others cite “technical challenges” in delaying such implementation.

Flying High

Economical Carbon-Neutral Jet Fuel

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Scientists looking for ways to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere have increasingly focused on the aviation industry, which accounts for approximately 12 percent of transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions. Installing heavy batteries aboard aircraft is problematic, but a team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the UK and Saudi Arabia have developed a way to produce jet fuel using carbon dioxide as a main ingredient, as published in the journal Nature Communications.

The process, which uses an iron catalyst with added potassium and manganese, along with hydrogen, citric acid and carbon dioxide heated to 662° F, forces the carbon atoms apart from the oxygen atoms in CO2 molecules, which then bond with hydrogen atoms to produce the kind of hydrocarbon molecules that comprise liquid jet fuel, with water as a byproduct. This is less expensive than converting hydrogen and water into fuel because it uses less electricity. Use of this fuel in aircraft would be carbon-neutral because burning it would release the same amount of carbon dioxide that was used to make it.

Honey Bees Have a Dirty Secret

Although honey bees symbolize prosperity, sustainability and environmentalism, and are vital to farmers, they also have a distressing effect on the environment—destabilizing natural ecosystems by competing with native bees.

Thousands of beekeeping hobbyists and campaigns to save the bees provide honey bees much more media coverage than native pollinators.

High densities of honey bee colonies increase competition with the native pollinators for forage, putting even more pressure on the wild species that are already in decline. Honey bees are extremely general foragers and monopolize floral resources, leading to exploitative competition where one species uses up a resource, not leaving enough to go around.

Sheila Colla, an assistant professor and conservation biologist at Toronto’s York University, tells Scientific American, “Beekeeping is for people; it’s not a conservation practice. People mistakenly think keeping honey bees, or helping honey bees, is somehow helping the native bees, which are at risk of extinction. The focus on neonics [pesticide] and honey bees has taken a ton of resources away from conserving wild pollinators from their most important threats.”

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Plug and Pedal

The Benefits of Using Electric Bikes Gas-guzzlers are the worst of vehicles, emitting harmful pollutants and using up non-renewable natural resources. An Earth-friendlier alternative for work commutes or pleasurable neighborhood spins is the e-bike, powered by pedaling and an electric motor. Reaching maximum speeds of 20 to 28 miles per hour and costing $400 and up, an electric bicycle offers a more scenic and easier ride that gets us to our destinations without trashing the planet.

improvements regardless of whether they used an electric bicycle or a conventional, non-motorized model.

With the power assist, e-bikers were able to cycle at higher speeds and climb hills more easily, which also proved to be highly motivating.

Environmental Benefits

Be visible. Outfit the bike with lights and a bell and wear eye-catching clothing.

Zero emissions. Electric bikes run on clean energy, eliminating the devastating carbon emissions associated with cars, vans, trucks and motorcycles.

Pay attention to traffic. Many car drivers may not expect a biker to reach 20 or more miles per hour.

Ride defensively.

Start slow. Get a feel for the bike’s capabilities at lower speeds before cranking it up.

Long-lasting power. The batteries last for years—much longer than traditional types. They don’t contain lead and can be recycled.

Give it a brake. With the added speed and power, slowing down well ahead of stop signs, lights and road crossings is a must.

CANNABIS made easy, safe & affordable

Easier on roads. Bikes are considerably lighter than larger vehicles and cause much less damage to infrastructure.

BePainFreeGlobal.com

Health-Friendly Commuting

Be careful on the mount and dismount.

An e-bike is about 20 pounds heavier than a regular bike, so a stepthrough frame might make good sense, even for men.

Ask how to receive 15% OFF your first order.

E-bikes are a great way to bring some physical activity to an otherwise sedentary lifestyle. In a 2018 study, Swiss researchers found that commuters enjoyed similar cardiorespiratory

Wear a helmet. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, head injury is the most common cause of death and serious disability in bicycle-related crashes.

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Call (888) 420-3848

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Safety Tips

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eco tip

event spotlight

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Anniversary Party at Spiritual Uplifts Metaphysical Store

piritual Uplifts Metaphysical Store, in Orange Park, is throwing a party from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 20 in celebration of their 10th anniversary. The first 30 people will receive tansy dust as they walk in the door. There will be discounts on items and future services, as well as free mini classes, such as a palm reading class, from 1 to 1:30 p.m.; a crystal class, from 2:30 to 3 p.m.; and a candle magic class, from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Attendees will also have the opportunity to make their own mojo bags, aura paintings, and magic mandalas. The cost for all three activities will be $10.

“Everyone is welcome, and we hope to see everyone at our anniversary party in March,” says Spiritual Uplifts owner Lynn Pritchard, who has studied metaphysics since 1990; has read tarot cards professionally for more than 30 years; and is a reiki master, coach and minister.

“Ten years ago, the dream was to have a place like my friend’s store in Cranston, Rhode Island. When I needed some peace, I would drive over to the White Light bookstore. As soon as I walked through the door, I could smell the fresh scent of sandalwood and feel the crystals’ high vibrational frequency. I would look up and see my friend smiling at me. She was always ready to listen with no judgment. The store was my break away from the real world,” recounts Pritchard.

“Ten years ago, when I could not find anything like that here in Florida, I decided to open my store,” continues Pritchard. “I wanted to create the same place so others could have the same experience I did. Spiritual Uplifts is an old-fashioned-style metaphysical store; it’s neither commercial nor over-the-top novelty. It is a place of peace where like-minded people can find family and guidance. We have workshops to help connect with inner peace, fun metaphysical classes, an aura camera, and a crystal bed. Our

retail is loaded with rare crystals, books, candles, essential oils and herbs. Our services are spiritual readings, healings, and numerology readings. We do astrology reports as well. After April, you will notice we will be offering more services with different healers, and soon students.”

Pritchard continues: “Over the years, I have helped many people get closer while grieving over deceased loved ones. I have guided people on their spiritual journey just by being here. There is no such thing as one thing fixes it all. We all must go through our lessons and learn to cope well with life’s inevitable ups and downs.

So, we are here to support our customers and clients with no judgment. Our job is when you walk through that door to make it an awakening experience.”

Those planning on attending the anniversary party can rest assured that COVID-19 regulations will be followed. Everyone must wear a mask (masks will be provided for those that don’t have one); most of the free classes will be outside; only so many people will be allowed in the building at the same time; attendees are asked to book appointments for services; and there are two registers, so there will be no long lines to check out. “We hope everyone understands we are just trying to keep everyone safe,” shares Pritchard.

Spiritual Uplifts is located at 2186 Park Ave., Ste. 102, in Orange Park. For more information, call 904-292-4555 or visit Spiritual Uplifts.com. There will also be anniversary party details available in their March newsletter. See ad, below..

10th Anniversary Celebration March 20th from 11:30 am to 6 pm The first 30 will receive tansy dust as they walk in the door!

1:00 to 1:30 pm Free palm reading class with Lynn 2:30 to 3:00 pm Free crystal class with Lynn 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm Free candle magic class with Kim

March 2021

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DOWN TO EARTH The Promise of Regenerative Organic Farming

by Sandra Yeyati

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ith its dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, heavy tilling techniques, concentrated animal feeding practices and mono-crops—all designed to maximize yields—conventional farming has come at a great cost.

“Conventional intensive farming practices have significant negative consequences for the land and surrounding ecosystems,” says Richard Teague, Texas A&M professor of Ecosystem Science and Management. “By disrupting the natural function of these habitats, the valuable ecosystem services they provide are compromised.”

The way we’re growing food now is not sustainable. “According to the United Nations, we only have 60 harvests left before our soil is completely depleted. Years of conventional industrial agriculture have drained the soil dry of all of the organic matter, all the microbes, that microbiome that brings nutrients to our plants and to our planet as a whole,” says Margaret Wilson, content creation and media relations specialist at the Rodale Institute.

The UN also reported last year that agriculture and forestry were responsible for nearly a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. “Agriculture is a climate-intensive process and conventional practices make that even worse because they’re fossil fuel-intensive,” Wilson says. “They require a lot of machinery to plow fields and distribute pesticides. Fertilizers 12

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are fossil fuel-based. Tillage is a huge part of conventional agriculture, where you’re turning the soil over, and that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.”

One third of the world’s land surface is considered desert, and according to Judith D. Schwartz, the Vermont author of The Reindeer Chronicles and Cows Save the Planet, most deserts are manmade. “If we look historically, we learn that most deserts

were once thriving grasslands or some other kind of ecosystem and became deserts after hundreds of years of poor grazing management or farming that was no longer putting nutrients back into the soil.”

The good news is that deserts can be brought back to life. In the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, where much of the land is degraded, ingenious ranchers have figured out a way to support healthy animals and plant biodiversity. “The ranchers were earning money by managing the livestock holistically in a way that was reviving the ecological function of these lands, so there were thick grasses, birds and butterflies flourishing right next to land that looked horrible—absolute deserts with a lot of erosion, the soil so depleted that it couldn’t hold water,” recalls Schwartz, who visited the area.

Regenerative organic farming holds great promise to rebuild soil, draw carbon from the atmosphere and ultimately grow healthier food. “When you take out the pesticides, fertilizers and intensive tilling, our farming systems trial concluded that regenerative organic agriculture uses 45 percent fewer fossil fuels and releases 40 percent fewer carbon emissions than conventional practices,” Wilson says, adding that a recent Rodale Institute white paper postulated that by transitioning all global crop and pastureland to regenerative management, we could sequester 100 percent of annual carbon dioxide emissions.

As the founder of the Rodale Institute, J.I. Rodale, said, “Healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people.” Soil restoration is job one, and we know how to do this. “The goal of regenerative farming is to farm and ranch in nature’s image,” says Gabe Brown, a North Dakota farmer and author of Dirt to Soil. He offers the following six principles to create a thriving, regenerating agricultural ecosystem:

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Context: “There’s a reason bananas do not grow in North Dakota. They don’t fit the context, whereas more spring wheat is grown in North Dakota than anywhere else.

You have to farm and ranch in your context.”

The least amount of mechanical and chemical disturbance possible: “Nature tills with earthworms and burrowing rodents, but it certainly doesn’t till the soil like we do in farming or even in gardening. Tilling is the worst thing you can do if you want to raise nutrient-dense food. Nature aerates the soil with the use of living plants and soil aggregates. Those soil aggregates will only last about four weeks, then new ones need to be formed, and the only way to form them is by not tilling and allowing biology and fungi to secrete substances that help bind sand, silt and clay to form soil aggregates.”

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Armor on the soil: “Nature always tries to cover the soil, whether it be leaves in a forest or decaying plants in a pasture or field. Nature does not like bare soil.”

Diversity: “Where in nature do you see a monoculture? Usually only where man put it or man’s actions have driven it to be a monoculture. Nature is very diverse, so hundreds of different grasses, legumes all growing in harmony. We’ve gotten away from that.

Now we plant monocultures. That’s not the way nature functions.”

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Livestock and insect integration: “Nature does not function properly without animals. Too many people think we have to remove the animals from the landscape.

That’s the worst thing you can do. What’s going to pollinate the plants? The way our rich soils were formed was with large herds of ruminants, grazing the plants. That plant, once grazed, starts sloughing off root exudates to attract biology, to regrow, and then that plant is able to cycle more carbon out of the atmosphere.”

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A living root being in the soil as long as possible throughout the year: “I go out in the spring here in North Dakota, and you’ve got crocuses coming up through the snow. That’s nature’s way of trying to take the solar energy and all of these compounds out of the atmosphere, and through photosynthesis convert it into carbon to feed soil biology.”

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Brown waxes poetic when he talks about the amazing results of regenerative farming. “Healthy soil looks like dark chocolate cake.

It’s full of pore spaces. Healthy soil is dark because of the amount of carbon in it. It smells good, whereas unhealthy soil is very compacted. There’s no pore spaces. Water cannot infiltrate into it. It’s a dull, pale color. You can see it, you can smell it, you can feel it.”

According to Wilson, the Rodale Institute is poised to help farmers adopt these principles and make them profitable. “People say regenerative organic isn’t scalable, but through our farming systems trial, we’re proving that you can do this on a large scale.

It might require customization, but that’s why we’re investing so much in providing support and research to farmers to help them navigate that, and we’re seeing that scalability is not a barrier to implementation because so many big companies like Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia are starting to implement these practices because people are demanding it. The market finds a way to make it doable and as long as we keep up our consumer education and show people that this is a benefit to everybody, I think large-scale farmers and corporations that buy their products will respond.”

Last year, Graham Christensen’s father gave him and his brother full control of a 750-acre farm in Oakland, Nebraska, that has been in the family since 1867. Over the decades, the farm has seen many changes, but the biggest transformation is still to come, as the brothers eagerly transition their once conventional operation into a regenerative organic one.

The family began to incorporate a few innovations 12 years ago when they stopped tilling the land and adopted solar energy, but this year they’ll take bolder steps to eliminate their dependence on GMO seeds and chemical fertilizers and pesticides which over the years have reduced organic matter levels in the soil and led to increased and unhealthy nutrient levels in their waterways.

“For the first time, we’ll be cover-cropping 612 acres and expanding habitats for wildlife, especially in some riparian areas, so we can get more roots in the soil and have better filtration and cleaner water,” Christensen explains. “We’re going to produce nutrients by building a biodiverse ecosystem and we’re incorporating animal grazing systems to help us fertilize naturally rather than having to add synthetics like nitrogen and phosphorus.”

They have planted a 100-tree hazelnut orchard that they hope to expand as a tree crop. “That’s going to help us stop soil erosion, store more carbon in the ground, produce another form of income and also be able to fit right into our cropping system, virtually taking out no extra land; just creating a higher layer, so now we’re farming higher in the air.”

The transition is not without its risks, Christensen adds. “Farms like ours have been heavily subsidized by the federal government to ship our grain to other countries. What we’re trying to do now is produce more small grains and hazelnuts for a regional market and reintroduce livestock to the land—not in confinement—so we can focus more on feeding people in our local community and in Omaha or Lincoln or Kansas City or Des Moines.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

wise words

Jeff Tkach on Regenerative Healthcare

by Patricia Trenchak

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or over 70 years, Rodale Institute— a pioneer of the organic food movement—has championed the concept of farming without herbicides and pesticides by funding and supporting scientific studies and education. Now entering his fifth year with Rodale Institute, Chief Impact Officer Jeff Tkach is committed to upholding the legacy of the Institute’s founder, J.I. Rodale, who believed that healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people. According to Tkach, farmers and healthcare professionals need to embrace a prevention-based approach to human and environmental health, and Rodale Institute is here to bridge the gap between these two industries by unlocking the transformational power of regenerative healthcare.

How did your personal journey lead you to explore regenerative healthcare?

In 2016, I experienced a tremendous health collapse in my own life. I went through six conventional medical doctors and $50,000 in medical bills. I had been a highperforming businessperson up until that point, and found myself on medical leave, bedridden and unable to work. I sought out a doctor who practiced something called functional medicine, which focuses on finding the root of whatever caused the breakdown in health. After numerous

tests, it was discovered that I had chronic Lyme disease. The doctor explained that there was nothing he could prescribe that was going to instantly make me better.

Through my work with him, I had to look at my body as a whole system and came to realize that food is medicine. Ultimately, alternative modalities like acupuncture and IV [intravenous] therapy, as well as food healed me.

What is regenerative healthcare?

It is a system in which farming and healthcare work together focused on a prevention-based approach to human and environmental health. Instead of using toxic chemicals to farm, regenerative healthcare aims to prevent disease through an organic, plant-based, whole-foods diet.

Regenerative healthcare begins on farms that work in harmony with nature. At Rodale Institute, we see ourselves as a human health organization, not an agricultural organization. We use agriculture as a tool to promote human health. Our goal is to build the first brick and mortar facility in the world, called the Regenerative Health Institute, that will connect medical doctors and farmers. The facility will be a 333acre certified organic farm in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, that will provide innovative research on the links between farming and human health. We’re going to be doing scientific research that demonstrates the

link between soil health and the health of people, and we’re going to educate and train tomorrow’s doctors to become more literate in agriculture and to understand how they can use food as medicine.

How can we harness the power of regenerative organic farming to foster good health?

The current mode of farming is systemically broken, and farmers need to move in a healthier direction. The science is showing that elements in pesticides and herbicides are known carcinogens that are wreaking havoc on our immune systems. They are ubiquitous in our air and drinking water.

Farmers are no longer able to control where those chemicals land. They’re leaching into our groundwater, killing the life in the soil and causing major soil erosion.

Ultimately, they’re causing imbalances in nature of mass proportion.

How can you convince people to adopt organic and consider food as medicine?

We need to encourage people to get to know a farmer. There are incredible regenerative organic farmers in our own communities that oftentimes don’t have access to mainstream markets. During the pandemic, we saw a major increase in sales directly from farms to consumers. When the supply chains in the grocery stores broke down, we turned to farmers. That’s profound. As a result of the pandemic, 22 million new gardens were planted in the United States, according to the National Gardening Association. We need to keep that going. It’s very exciting to be a part of this movement as people around the world come to understand the importance of food as medicine. I truly believe that regenerative healthcare is the key to healing our planet.

For more information, visit RodaleInstitute.org.

Patricia Trenchak writes for KnoWEwell, a Regenerative Whole Health Community platform and a collaborative partner of Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. See ad, page 2.

March 2021

15

green living

Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol A Primer on the Latest Research

by Sandra Yeyati

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ver since the Farm Bill of 2018 legalized the commercial production of hemp, U.S. sales of cannabidiol (CBD) have exploded onto the scene with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of vendors popping up around the country. CBD, a cannabinoid, is abundant in the hemp flower. “By law, hemp is defined as a variety of cannabis plant that has less than 0.3 percent THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid that induces a high,” says Shannon Livingston, a cannabis consultant for Florida Gulf Coast University, in Fort Myers.

Proven Benefits of CBD: “The enthusiasm for CBD is soaring above the actual scientific evidence,” says Peter Grinspoon, M.D., a leading medical cannabis expert and primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. “What’s known is that it helps with childhood epilepsy, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a CBD drug for that. It is believed, and there’s good animal data and some human data to suggest, that CBD helps with chronic pain, insomnia and anxiety.”

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Anxiety Under Study: A clinical trial examining a high-CBD, low-THC (the psychoactive component) sublingual custom formulation for patients with moderate to severe anxiety is being conducted by Staci Gruber, Ph.D., director of Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery at McLean Hospital, in Belmont, Massachusetts, and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “In the open label phase of this study, we’ve seen a rather dramatic and precipitous drop in symptoms of anxiety and depression after four weeks of treatment. We’ll see if this holds in the doubleblind phase, which is underway now,” she explains.

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Entourage Effect: Gruber notes that this customized formulation is a full-spectrum, whole-plant formula, saying, “You often seem to get a bigger bang for the buck using a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum (whole plant minus THC) product, rather than just a single extracted compound.” The process she’s describing is called the entourage

In the mid-1990s, researchers discovered the endocannabinoid system of receptors and neurotransmitters throughout the body, which uses cannabinoids that our own bodies produce. This system is believed to control homeostasis, the body’s ability to regulate itself and maintain normal functioning. effect—an assumption that all elements of the cannabis plant, working together, are most effective. “I believe there’s a significant role for terpenoids, flavonoids and other cannabinoid constituents of the plant, in addition to the big two (THC and CBD), and I have a grant to look at that very question,” she says.

How to Start CBD: Experts agree that the best approach is to start low and go slow. “With experimentation, the patient will know what works for them,” Grinspoon says. “When CBD doesn’t work with my patients, the next step is to add a little bit of medical cannabis; it often takes a very little dose to help them with their sleep or their chronic pain.”

Medical marijuana has been legalized in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

Route of Administration: “When you smoke or vape, it’s an almost immediate onset, which is helpful for breakthrough pain, nausea and anything you want to treat immediately, but the effect is very short-lived,” Livingston explains. “For chronic pain, you might take a capsule or the patch that will last six to eight hours. If you want to fall asleep, a sublingual will work. For a skin condition, you might rub an oil on your skin. It’s really about the time of onset, how long you need it to last and what you’re treating.”

Ensuring Quality Control: “Choose CBD providers that are certified for good manufacturing practices; conduct batch-specific, third-party testing on all of their products; and provide certificates of analysis directly from those labs. These tests can detect the presence of heavy metals, bacterial or microbial life, mycotoxins and pesticides, and also provide cannabi-

noid potency and terpene profiles,” says Grace Kaucic, senior communications and content manager at Bluebird Botanicals, a CBD company in Louisville, Colorado.

Our Built-In Cannabinoids: In the mid-1990s, researchers discovered the endocannabinoid system of receptors and neurotransmitters throughout the body, which uses cannabinoids that our own bodies produce. “This system is

believed to control homeostasis, the body’s ability to regulate itself and maintain normal functioning,” Grinspoon says, adding that he believes this system will become central to medicine over the next few years as more research is conducted.

Research is Ongoing: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for cannabis science,” Gruber says. “There’s every reason to be optimistic about the potential of harnessing and exploiting the benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids in ways that may still surprise us, but to be cautiously optimistic. It is not a panacea. It will never be one-size-fits-all.”

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

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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17

conscious eating

Indoor Edible Gardening Grow Veggies, Sprouts and Microgreens Year-Round

by April Thompson

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here’s no need to wait until the last frost date to sow a kitchen garden. Impatient gardeners or those without outdoor space can grow almost anything indoors with a little light and creativity.

“You can start many edible plants from seed on a sunny windowsill, even in late winter.

You’ll be surprised how quickly everything germinates this time of year,” says Zia Allaway, the British author of Indoor Edible Garden: Creative Ways to Grow Herbs, Fruits, and Vegetables in Your Home.

Herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are among the many foods that can be easily grown from seed indoors, according to Allaway. Many fruiting plants that are not self-pollinating, such as cucumbers, need a boost from hand pollination if growing them indoors. Allaway adds, “When growing any plants on a windowsill, rotate them periodically so they grow evenly, as they will turn toward the light.”

While crops like garlic, beets and carrots won’t reach maturity indoors, they can still be grown inside for their tasty, nutritious leaves. To grow garlic shoots, for example, remove the papery outer case and submerge the flat end of a garlic bulb in a container of water, leaving the top exposed to air. Within a few weeks, garlicky-flavored shoots will sprout up that can be harvested and used like chives, advises Allaway.

To maximize space, she suggests growing plants vertically, perhaps by hanging bushy herbs or trailing plants in a window basket. She has also used interior walls to erect a trellis for vining plants like cucumbers, wiring it up with screw eyes.

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Mini-Greens, Major Nutrients

Many health-conscious gardeners are drawn to sprouts and microgreens for their nutritional benefits, as they contain as much as 40 times the nutrients as their full-grown counterparts. Sprouts can easily be grown with or without soil, and are eaten before the first tiny cotyledon leaves emerge, whereas microgreens are harvested later, often just before or after the first true leaves, the second pair, pop up.

“Sprouted greens grown at home are the freshest food you’ll ever eat. Being able to grow your own salads is also a lot of fun in the winter, to see the wonderful colors growing on your shelf,” says Peter Burke, the Calais, Vermont, author of Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, Soil-Sprouted Greens in Less Than 10 Days.

Burke’s tried and true method is to plant a small amount of seed every day from a mix of sunflower, peas, radish, buckwheat and brassicas like broccoli or kohlrabi, providing a steady supply of his family’s daily dose of greens. While some gardeners grow sprouts or microgreens directly on paper towels or coconut coir, Burke prefers using a storebought, germination soil mix, spread up to two inches deep in reusable trays, watered once a day and grown without artificial light.

Many seeds commonly found in the home pantry can be turned into sprouts and shoots, says Lina Wallentinson, the Swedish author of Sprouts, Shoots and Microgreens: Tiny Plants to Grow and Eat in Your Kitchen.

“Mustard seeds from the spice shelf, whole lentils in all colors, chickpeas and yellow peas

can all be easily grown for sprouts and shoots without any special equipment,” she says.

Seeds can be put into wide-mouthed jars, soaked overnight, and then drained and rinsed two to three times a day. Germination of seeds into sprouts, from mung beans to quinoa, can typically take less than 24 hours with this method.

Sprouts and microgreens make great toppers for salads, soups, sandwiches or smoothies, and they can also be cooked.

“Newly sprouted mung and lentil seeds with a short ‘tail’ are perfect to flash-fry and season with soy, chili and a little sesame oil as an alternative to rice or pasta,” says Wallentinson. “Sprouts are also nice to bake with. Like seeds and nuts, they give a good little chew in all kind of breads.”

Whether growing sprouts, microgreens or full-sized plants, Allaway advises home gardeners to make drainage holes at the bottom of the containers to avoid overwatering. “It’s better to underwater than overwater a plant, because once it starts to rot, it’s game over. There is also research showing that a little stress from occasional underwatering can trigger the plant to produce more phytochemicals, which are nutritionally beneficial,” she says.

Tasty, Sprout-Inspired Recipes Noodle Soup with Coconut, Sprouts and Shoots This soup is a favorite in our home. Simple to make, it’s warming thanks to just the right amount of bite from the chili.

Yield: 4 servings 1 8¾ oz pack of noodles 1 Tbsp canola oil 1 carrot 2 tsp red curry paste Canola oil, for frying 1 13½ oz can coconut milk 1 tsp tomato purée 2 Tbsp fish sauce (or Japanese soy sauce) 1 vegetable stock cube 1 tsp sugar 1¼ cups water 2 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice 1 red bell pepper About 7 oz mung bean sprouts Pea and radish shoots, for garnish Prepare the noodles according to the instructions on the package. Drain off the water, and mix the noodles with the oil.

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

Peel and thinly slice the carrot. In a saucepan, cook the curry paste and carrot in some oil for about 1 minute.

Add in the coconut milk, tomato purée, fish sauce, stock cube, sugar and water, and cook for about 5 minutes. Add in the lime juice.

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Halve, seed and julienne the bell pepper; add it to the soup. Divide the noodles between the bowls, add the soup and sprinkle with sprouts and shoots.

March 2021

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Green Smoothie Bowl Here’s a recipe that contains both sprouts and shoots. The buckwheat provides a little extra satiety. Top the bowl with some poppy seeds, grated coconut, nuts and berries.

Yield: 2 bowls Approx. 1¼ cup mild, tender shoots such as broccoli, chia, pea or sunflower 2 frozen bananas 3½ oz frozen mango, diced 2 Tbsp buckwheat sprouts 6¾ oz mild plain yogurt (3 percent) or coconut or almond milk Hemp hearts, poppy seeds, grated coconut, nuts and frozen red and/or black currants, for topping Blend shoots, bananas, mango, sprouted buckwheat and yogurt until smooth using a countertop or immersion blender.

Pour into bowls and top with hemp hearts, poppy seeds, nuts, coconut and berries.

Sprouted Hummus Every Middle Eastern family has their own recipe for hummus. Naturally, there has to be a sprouted version of it, too. With a jar of hummus in the refrigerator, I can always cobble together some kind of dish for lunch or dinner.

Yield: about 6.75 fluid oz (nearly 1 cup) 7 oz sprouted chickpeas (or yellow peas) 1 garlic clove 2 Tbsp tahini 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice ½ tsp sambal oelek ½ tsp cumin ½ tsp salt 4 Tbsp olive oil Put the sprouted peas in a small saucepan and cover them with water.

Bring the water to a boil and cook the peas for 10 minutes. Pour off the water.

Peel and finely chop the garlic. Mix the peas in a food processor or with an immersion blender, along with the garlic, tahini, lemon juice, sambal oelek, cumin, salt and oil. Dilute with some water if the hummus seems too thick.

Option: Turmeric adds a nice yellow color to hummus. But sample the hummus as you add it in—some enjoy the taste of turmeric, others less so. Start with ½ teaspoon per recipe.

Recipes excerpted from Sprouts, Shoots & Microgreens: Tiny Plants to Grow and Eat in Your Home Kitchen, by Lina Wallentinson. Photography by Lennart Weibull.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

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March 2021

21

ON A ROLL

Foam Rollers Ease Pain and Workout Recovery

justlife/AdobeStock.com

by Marlaina Donato

v.j.matthew/AdobeStock.com

fit body

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oam rolling— rolling parts of the body on top of a lightweight foam cylinder—targets trigger points or painful knots in muscles and is a valuable tool for reducing chronic pain and enhancing workout recovery. From sciatica to pelvic floor dysfunction, there is a foam roller for almost every condition, including low- to high-density, heated and textured types for massage-like benefits.

Research during the past several years shows that using foam rollers before or after exercise quells fatigue, improves joint mobility, lowers risk of injury and eases muscle soreness. Its effectiveness is attributed to the activation of the central nervous system resulting in better circulation and reduced inflammation.

“Foam rollers are used to relieve tension in the fascia (connective tissue), ‘roll’ out sore muscles and provide a soothing, self-controlled, soft-tissue massage,” says Amber Kivett, owner of Kivett Kinetic Solutions, in Monrovia, Indiana. “They can 22

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also be used for proprioception, balance, flexibility, core stability training and most importantly, natural pain relief.”

Freeing the Body Fascia, the body’s all-pervasive connective tissue, tightens like an invisible net from injury and other stresses and can adhere to the underlying muscles, creating pain and restriction. “Foam rolling has the power to change and realign the 12 fascial lines responsible for human movement and support,” says Kivett. “Those same fascial lines also sense and transmit pain and emotion far greater than any nerve or muscle and respond well to foam rolling. There’s an emotional and spiritual release in the body when fascia is compressed and released. That response facilitates a structural change to human alignment and an immediate change in pain levels for all types and causes of pain.”

Foam rollers offer an opportunity for self-care, according to Los Angeles fitness trainer Ashley Borden. “Foam rolling is one of the best ways to troubleshoot your own body, keep it healthy and mobile. Us-

NAJax.com

ing an inexpensive tool like a foam roller not only feels good, but it also connects you to your body. Foam rolling the entire body encourages circulation and an immediate feeling of relief afterwards. My clients who don’t like to work out are usually surprised how good they feel post-rollout and feel encouraged to do more.” She cites research that shows that a dynamic warm-up, paired with the use of foam rollers before and after workouts, amplifies recovery and aids in the repair of muscular micro-tears.

For Rafal Augustynowicz, founder of TeamRAF Fitness, in Kent, England, it’s about counteracting lifestyle stresses. “The foam roller is a beautiful and great tool, especially in the 21st century, when we sit too many hours. It is a great tool to get our mobility and our posture back to normal.”

Recovery, Joint Pain and Sciatica Gently rolling targeted muscles below and above specific joints can help to resolve certain types of pain, including in the knee.

“Many times, when a person has pain in the knee, it’s more than likely they have

tight muscles elsewhere—calves, inner thighs, hip flexors or glutes—and the pain shows up in the knee,” says Augustynowicz. “Foam rolling and using a massage ball have saved me many times when I had a lot of problems with my back, neck, hip and a dislocated shoulder.”

The practice can help ease sciatica, a sometimes-excruciating condition. “Most cases of sciatic pain are caused by tight muscles deep in the buttocks, including the piriformis muscle,” says Kivett. “The sciatic nerve travels through the piriformis, so if it’s tight, it will cause a sensation similar to that of sciatica nerve pain. A foam roller can be used along the back, throughout the buttocks and the legs to relieve tension, soften tissues and calm the nervous system for instant pain relief.”

Kivett, who was introduced to foam rollers during intensive physical therapy after a life-altering accident, found them to be a way to recover from severe fibromyalgia pain. “My nerves were hypersensitive from the injuries, and I used foam rolling to reboot the ‘software’ in my brain, which allowed me to engage in recovering.”

Foam rolling is an all-around boon, Borden highlights. “The immediate relief, the muscle definition, the decrease in cellulite, all of these are added benefits.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

MORE ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS what to know before a roll

Amber Kivett: Ideally, it’s best to perform foam rolling right after a light warm-up for five to 10 minutes to increase circulation to the muscles and decrease tension and stiffness.

If there is extra time, do a quick three to five minutes of foam rolling after a workout, but preferably after you’ve done your cool-down or some walking. You don’t have to foam-roll the entire body post-workout; just do a quick “scan” of areas that are more sensitive or painful.

For those with high levels of pain, fibromyalgia, MS, autoimmune conditions or an acute injury, I would recommend buying a low-density, soft, foam roller or [one] that vibrates, because soft and/or vibrating foam rollers are gentle to fragile areas.

Ashley Borden: Foam rolling is a valuable tool for the senior population to improve overall body tightness and circulation. Assistance is needed if you have a hard time getting up and down. I would also suggest a non-slip yoga mat and using the softest foam roller first to gauge the pressure. If you feel like you have to hold your breath when you are foam rolling, the surface is too hard.

Rafal Augustynowicz: Never use foam rollers on bones, joints, the spine or armpits; only on the muscle/flesh. Be informed to avoid arteries, etc. If it hurts too much, it’s probably not right. Watch tutorials or go to a professional.

March 2021

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healthy kids

Getting Pregnant Lifestyle Strategies to Boost Fertility

by Ronica O’Hara

hen Rebecca Fett was told at age 26 that she had “incredibly low odds” of being able to conceive with her own eggs, she used her biochemistry and genetics training to plunge into research on egg quality and fertility. By taking targeted supplements, upgrading her diet and detoxing her house of harmful chemicals, the result was not only two healthy baby boys, but a book entitled It Starts with the Egg: How the Science of Egg Quality Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally, Prevent Miscarriage, and Improve Your Odds in IV. It sells at the fast clip of about 600 copies a week, showing that even amidst the traumas of the pandemic, couples fervently want to bear children. Some doula groups on the East Coast report a 30 percent rise in early 2021 births, and sperm banks are running so low that sperm from a handsome new donor posted online can be bought out within hours, reports The New York Times. “There is nothing more hopeful than the creation of a new life,” says Randine Lewis, who used acupuncture and Chinese herbs to enable a hard-won pregnancy and then wrote The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies.

Egg Matters

A healthy pregnancy depends on a healthy egg. Chromosomal abnormalities 24

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severely hamper fertilization and account for more than half of first-trimester miscarriages. Yet, contrary to common belief, egg quality is not determined solely by a woman’s age: it can be highly influenced by her lifestyle choices and nutrients in the three-month window before an egg is fertilized, Fett advises. Based on the latest research, she offers the following recommendations for women trying to conceive naturally or through such means as in vitro fertilization (IVF): Detox the diet. To manage critically important blood sugar and insulin levels, eat low-glycemic, nutrient-rich foods and avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol. An organic, largely plant- and fish-based Mediterranean diet boosts fertility. Dutch researchers found that women following this diet before an IVF cycle had a 40 percent higher chance of becoming pregnant.

Supplement correctly. Take a prenatal vitamin, vitamins C and E, ubiquinol and melatonin. For women with diagnosed low ovarian reserve, consider carefully dosed DHEA. Detox the house. The Bisphenol A (BPA) in many household items and the phthalates in most scented products are endocrine disrupters that increase the risk of infertility and miscarriages, numerous studies show.

Exchange plastic storage containers and water bottles for glass or stainless steel ones.

sergmakssmol/Adobestock.com

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More than 7 million American women face one of life’s deepest heartbreaks: They want a newborn in their arms, but their bodies are not cooperating.

Happily, the growing use of natural approaches like healthier diets, supplements and acupuncture is changing that outcome for many.

Steer clear of fast food and processed food. Buy milk, oil, drinks and condiments in glass bottles rather than plastic ones. In the bathroom, toss hairspray, perfume and nail polish, and be wary of scented skin care products, air fresheners and detergents. Use nontoxic cleaning products.

An Eastern Perspective

Taking a different tack, “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not focus on forcing maximum egg production,” says Lewis.

“We improve the quality and receptivity of the entire body, mind and spirit, and the reproductive physiology responds.”

TCM involves identifying imbalances in the body that are creating obstacles to pregnancy and then using acupuncture, herbs and diet to restore full health. Diagnosis is typically done by an acupuncturist or Chinese medicine doctor. (To find one locally, Lewis suggests asking pointedly, “How many cases of infertility have you been successful in resolving?”)

According to Lewis, self-diagnosis can also work. For example, sore breasts and irritability during ovulation can signify liver qi stagnation, and can be relieved by massaging certain acupressure points, taking black cohosh and meditating or doing yoga. General TCM strategies include: Acupuncture: Regular treatments “can stimulate the body’s hormonal system to do what it is supposed to: secrete the right hormones at the right time in a woman’s cycle,” says Lewis. Selfadministered acupressure also works.

Diet: Choose organic foods and hormone-free meats, and eat veggies cooked rather than raw. Nix caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.

Guys and Infertility Although researchers have long focused on female infertility, studies now show that for 40 percent of infertile couples, the problem lies in male sperm that is too sparse, slow, damaged or misshapen. Many of the strategies that improve egg quality also improve sperm quality, researchers are learning. This includes a healthier diet with more antioxidants, supplements that include a multivitamin and ubiquinol, detoxing the home and workplace of chemicals, cutting out smoking and lowering or stopping alcohol use. Other strategies include: n Acupuncture to improve the concentration, volume and motility of sperm. n Tossing lubricants with ingredients like petroleum, propylene glycol, glycerin, parabens, silicone and Nonoxynol-9 that hamper sperm movement and viability. n Keeping cell phones out of side pockets. A Cleveland Clinic study found that pocketing cellphones more than four hours daily reduces sperm count, motility and viability. n Wearing boxer shorts instead of briefs and forgoing hot tubs to keep testes temperatures low for sperm production. n Exercising just enough. Studies show that men who exercise regularly, but not too extremely, have higher testosterone levels and better semen quality.

Supplements: Besides a high-potency, multivitamin-mineral complex, such nutrients as bee pollen, blue-green algae, wheatgrass, vitamin B6, CoQ10 and folic acid are often useful.

Herbs: Specific herbal concoctions and powders can target imbalances and deficiencies at key points in the menstrual cycle.

Stress-busters: Qigong breathing lowers stress, and nightly warm foot soaks increase blood flow to the pelvic organs.

“As we live more harmoniously, our fertility improves,” says Lewis. “It is vastly wise and responds to how we live, think, act and relate.”

Natural health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHara Ronica@gmail.com.

March 2021

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natural pet

CANINE OBESITY When Doggies Need Diets

by Julie Peterson

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year ago, Leroy became exhausted lifting his furry head. Today, he has energy to run, chase and play, thanks to his owner helping the 11-year-old Shiba Inu lose 14 pounds. Leroy was adopted last May by Peter Nguyen, a facilities coordinator in Bellevue, Washington. Back then, Leroy weighed 56.4 pounds—twice the recommended weight. Nguyen found a holistic veterinarian to provide an integrative support plan to remove him from danger.

Overweight dogs are at risk for joint problems, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and more. According to a 2018 survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 55.8 percent of dogs (about 50 million) in the U.S. are either overweight or obese. The APOP also reports that most of the owners of these dogs don’t realize or are in denial about this important fact.

Determining Appropriate Weight

“A dog that is a perfect weight, you can feel the ribs, but not see them. And you have an abdominal tuck when you look from the side. From above, right in front of the hips, you can see the waistline,” says Leroy’s veterinarian, Jackie Sehn, at Mercy Vet, in Mercer Island, Washington. She points out that the dog must be touched to feel the amount of fat, especially in long-coat breeds.

This evaluation can be done at home using the online Body Condition Score chart at PetObesityPrevention.org. The American Kennel Club also has a weight chart for dozens of breeds that can help determine an initial goal weight, although ideal weight can vary among individual dogs.

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Doggy Diets

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NAJax.com

Debbie Hensel, who fosters dogs, took in a morbidly obese 13-year-old Chocolate Labrador for the Mr. Mo Project, in Cary, North Carolina. Under her care, the pet went from 108 to 81 pounds within nine months. “Since Bruce was an older dog and overweight, the first thing we did was start him on a joint supplement with turmeric and a prescription diet food. In the beginning, I withheld some of his food and used it as treats throughout the day,” says Hensel. Every four to six weeks, Hensel decreased Bruce’s food intake.

She also divided up portions to feed him four times per day to help him feel full. “Portion control is important,” agrees Nguyen. “Leroy has a habit of wanting to eat more. I think he

Ease into Exercise

“Bruce sounded like an elephant falling when he laid down and he couldn’t stand for long,” says Hensel. Indeed, exercise can overburden the heart and joints of an obese dog. At first, Leroy and Bruce both had a hard time just getting up off the floor, so losing weight first was crucial.

As the weight began to come off, they both became more engaged and stamina slowly increased. Hensel started by walking around in the backyard and letting Bruce follow. Their initial walks were to the end of the block. They would stop and rest before going back home. “As he lost weight and his strength improved, our walks got longer,” says Hensel.

Weight loss must be a healthy process.

“Breaking down excess fat takes time,” says Sehn, adding that losing too fast results in muscle loss. Patience and time are key.

“I think Bruce just needed less food and someone that wanted to do things with him,” says Hensel, who has adopted Bruce as her “forever foster dog”.

Julie Peterson writes about health and environmental issues. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

inspiration

HEALING FROM GRIEF Four Ways to Find Peace

W

by Jasmin Jenkins

hen I was 13, my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. At 15, I was at her graveside, navigating my first experience with the other side of love: loss. Ten years later, my beloved and only brother died tragically as a result of PTSD and untreated addiction. In a word: suicide. Where my mom’s death silenced me, my brother’s death pushed me into a deep pursuit of healing.

In the nine years since then, I have committed to discovering the light side of grief, to identifying and embracing the invitations that lay within its deep layers. What I’ve come to learn is that grieving is actually a renewal state—a cycle of releasing and reconnecting. The tears and sadness are, quite literally, just a more fluid connection to love. These are the four invitations I’ve found within the grief:

1

The invitation to pause

When someone we love dies, our whole world changes in an instant and forever. And with this disruption, there is an opportunity for sacred inquiry that arrives as we pause and honor the absence of our loved one: the impressions they made on our lives, what we will miss about them, how we will continue to celebrate their lives and what their story taught us.

2

The invitation to connect with our breath

With the intensity of emotions surrounding loss, breath can serve as our anchor.

Simply remembering to close our eyes and

breathe allows us to stay grounded in our body, mind and spirit.

In the TED talk “Breathe to Heal,” Max Strom explains how certain patterns of breathing can actually change how we feel. kissedbythegods/Pexels.com

has a hard time knowing how much food he really needs.”

But the problem isn’t just eating too much. Pet owners are often feeding the wrong foods. “It is the quality sometimes more than quantity. Health doesn’t come from processed food,” says Sehn, adding that most dry kibble is essentially overprocessed junk food that lacks nutrients and contains fillers.

Fortunately, refrigerated and frozen dog food has made it easier to feed organic, fresh, nutritionally balanced, raw food which is based on a dog’s ancestral diet.

Raw food is also available dehydrated.

Treats, if included, should satisfy the chewing instinct without adding many calories.

Sehn recommends dehydrated chicken or duck feet, tendons and healthy jerkies.

“Switching to a raw diet helped with Leroy’s weight, but I had no idea it would have so many other benefits,” Nguyen says.

“I noticed that his coat was getting a lot softer and he smelled a lot better.”

3

The invitation to feel

Elizabeth Kübler–Ross taught us about the five stages of grief, but since everyone’s story and process is so unique, there is ultimately no linear order of the stages. If an emotion arises, allow for it. Feelings, after all, are just information about the state of our heart.

The more we can give ourselves permission to be with where we are in our grief, the more at peace we will be in our process.

4

The invitation to heal

Healing is a verb requiring action and commitment. We have to allow for the pain to heal, also remembering that in doing so, we must keep our hearts open. We have to ask for help when healing, because most of us can’t heal in isolation. Therapists who specialize in grief, online grief courses, bodywork and support groups can help us move forward.

Zen Buddhism reminds us that the obstacle is the path. By exploring these invitations, we arrive at the truth that grief is actually a sacred pathway into a deeper connection within our hearts.

Jasmin Jenkins is a Los Angeles-based integrative grief guide and the founder of Fall Up, which supports people navigating the spectrum of grief. Learn more at WeFallUp.com.

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calendar of events

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17

To submit calendar listings, or for more information about submission requirements, please email Publisher@NAJax.com.

Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. All classes are conducted via Zoom. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505.

UnityInJax.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 2

THURSDAY, MARCH 18

VIAVAL/DepositPhotos.com

Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. Developed by Master Choa Kok Sui, this advanced meditation technique is aimed at achieving illumination of universal consciousness. This is a free service by instructor Falli Shah, to bring more positive awareness and harmony to the community. Bring a mask.

Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: SeventhWonder.com/events.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3 Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. All classes are conducted via Zoom. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505.

UnityInJax.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 4 Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by videoconference – 6:30pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org for connection information by email or text.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6 Beaches WellFest – 8:30am-2pm. 5K beach run, health resources and healthy lifestyle vendors.

Johansen Park, Atlantic Bch.

SUNDAY, MARCH 7 Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service – 10:30am. Join on Facebook Live to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Or subscribe to the YouTube Channel. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns.

904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

Yoga Nidra Guided Meditation – 11:15am12:15pm. Nidra is a Sanskrit term meaning “sleep.”

In yoga, yoga Nidra is a meditation practice that induces a state of deep, but conscious relaxation. The goal of yoga Nidra is to achieve a state of samadhi (intense concentration), enlightenment, or bliss. The class will be held outside if weather permits. Please bring your own mat and accessories. Masks are required. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa 4236 St. Johns Ave. in Jacksonville. (904)381-8686 Register at: http://www.seventh-wonder.com/events/ Pranayama and Meditation – 10-11am. Pranayama is the conscious awareness of breath. Through guided breathing, you will increase the oxygen to your brain and all your internal organs which facilitates physical healing. Class limited to eight people. The class will be held outside if weather permits. Bring your own mat and accessories. $20.

Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. Register: 904-381-8686 or SeventhWonder.com/events.

PLANS CHANGE • CALL AHEAD 28

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10 Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. All classes are conducted via Zoom. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505.

UnityInJax.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13 Kundalini Yoga – 8:30-9:30am. With Ashley Ireland. Yoga of awareness awakens your full potential through stimulating Kundalini energy, dormant at the base of your spine, causing the energy to rise up through the energy centers, or chakras, of the body. Build physical vitality and increase consciousness. Suitable for all ages and stages. $15.

Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: SeventhWonder.com/events.

Reiki 1 Class – 10am-5pm Healing self and others.

6 CEUs for FL massage therapists. $75 deposit/$150 total. Caring Palms 476 Osceola Ave Jacksonville.

Reserve your spot: 904-246-2206, Brian@caringpalms.com, or www.CaringPalms.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 14 Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service – 10:30am. Join on Facebook Live to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Or subscribe to the YouTube Channel. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns.

904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 16 Grow Green Workshop – 6:45-7:45pm Learn about healthier living by making simple changes.

Fresh ideas to “Grow Green” and add a few more fruits and veggies in every day. The Tower Garden vertical growing system will be featured. Health by Design, 2002 Southside Service Rd, Jacksonville.

904-363-3374. HealthByDesignFL.com.

Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. Developed by Master Choa Kok Sui, this advanced meditation technique is aimed at achieving illumination of universal consciousness. This is a free service by instructor Falli Shah, to bring more positive awareness and harmony to the community. Bring a mask.

Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: SeventhWonder.com/events.

NAJax.com

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

Advanced Body Mechanics and Techniques for Massage Therapists – 10am-5pm 18th & 19th. 12 CEUs for FL massage therapists. Science of martial arts applied to massage therapy. Use the entire body to work without injury. Body mechanics taken to a new level. $300/$150 deposit to reserve space. Caring Palms 476 Osceola Ave Jacksonville. Register: 904-246-2206, Brian@caringpalms.com, or CaringPalms.com.

Divine Guidance & Healing Messages – 10am4pm. Rev. Judi Weaver, spiritual trance channel and international certified crystal light healer, Shamanic practitioner attunes her vibration for the God source to synchronize individual messages and healings. Therapeutic Solutions of Amelia, 905 S. 8th St. Fernandina Beach. Call to schedule private session. 904-310-6951.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19 Divine Guidance & Healing Messages – 10am4pm. Rev. Judi Weaver, spiritual trance channel and international certified crystal light healer, Shamanic practitioner attunes her vibration for the God source to synchronize individual messages and healings. Therapeutic Solutions of Amelia, 905 S. 8th St. Fernandina Beach. Call to schedule private session. 904-310-6951.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20 10th Anniversary Celebration – Free mini classes in palm reading, crystals and house cleansing. Aura paintings $10. Sale items and more. Spiritual Uplifts 2186-102 Park Ave. Orange Park. Spiritualuplifts. com 904-292-4555.

Divine Guidance & Healing Messages – 10am4pm. Rev. Judi Weaver, spiritual trance channel and international certified crystal light healer, Shamanic practitioner attunes her vibration for the God source to synchronize individual messages and healings. Therapeutic Solutions of Amelia, 905 S. 8th St. Fernandina Beach. Call to schedule private session. 904-310-6951.

Operation New Uniform Health Workshop – 11am-1pm. This event is for Military active duty, veterans and their families. Join for lunch and learn from Dr. Kristy the importance of advocating for your health. More than nine health vendors will talk about solutions and alternatives, plus prizes and drawings. Health by Design, 2002 Southside Service Rd, Jacksonville. 904-363-3374. Health ByDesignFL.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 21 Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service – 10:30am. Join on Facebook Live to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Or subscribe to the YouTube Channel. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns.

904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

Spring Equinox Golden Portal Messages – 1pm.

Energies uniquely align, allowing transformative forces to emerge. Rev. Judi Weaver shares intuitive messages about the fold portal we are entering.

Healing energies provided to each through this transformation. Join this powerful gathering to learn and work with these emerging light energies. $25.

Register https://spiritualservices.online.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24 Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. All classes are conducted via Zoom. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505.

UnityInJax.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 Kundalini Yoga – 8:30-9:30am. With Ashley Ireland. Yoga of awareness awakens your full potential through stimulating Kundalini energy, dormant at the base of your spine, causing the energy to rise up through the energy centers, or chakras, of the body.

Build physical vitality and increase consciousness.

Suitable for all ages and stages. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904381-8686. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com/events.

Reiki 3 Class – 10am-5pm Master/Instructor class.

Prerequisite: Caring Palms Reiki 1 or 2. 6 CEUs for FL massage therapists. $75 deposit/$150 total. Caring Palms 476 Osceola Ave Jacksonville. Reserve your spot: 904-246-2206, Brian@caringpalms.com, or www.CaringPalms.com Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by videoconference – 1pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org for connection information by email or text.

Drum Circle – 6-8pm. With Julianne Battaglia. Get your groove on and drum to the energy of the moon!

Share in the joy of expressing yourself through music and dance. Receive instructions on different drumming styles to practice. There will be time for group jam at the end. Bring your own percussion instrument recommended; extra instruments available share. $15.

This event is in partnership with the Cosmic Church of Truth. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com/events/

SUNDAY, MARCH 28 Advance Grow Class – 10am-4pm. Prepare for changing law for medical cannabis cardholders.

This grow class covers week to week, seed to harvest. Reserve your spot in advance. Hydroponic Unique Goods 8622 Baymeadows Rd. Jacksonville.

904-829-4847.

Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service – 10:30am. Join on Facebook Live to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Or subscribe to the YouTube Channel. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns.

904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

ventanamedia/DepositPhotos.com

Indian Cooking Class – 4-6pm. Join spa owner Falli Shah and her husband Sunny Shah for a vegan, Indian cooking class. This delicious event includes the meal that is freshly prepared in front of you on an outdoor deck overlooking the garden. Mask required. $45. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com/events/

Spiritual Guidance with Heart 4 Souls – 2pm Virtual monthly wisdom and support. Universal light beings provide guidance and answer questions.

Messages from God source, great spirit, arch angels, masters, guides, lemurians. Free on Facebook Live @Heart4Souls. 386-503-4930 or visit Spiritual Services.Online

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. All classes are conducted via Zoom. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. Unity InJax.com.

plan ahead THURSDAY, APRIL 1 Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by videoconference – 6:30pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org for connection information by email or text.

SATURDAY, APRIL 3 Understanding the Elementals –1:30pm. Elementals are beings of consciousness associated with nature, and include earth, air, water and fire.

Within each are living beings, fairies, little people, elves, gnomes, water nymphs, fae, unicorns, crystal creatures and more. Join this magical exploration of another world that is all around us. Rev. Judi Weaver is a spiritual trance channel. Cost $30. Andrew Jackson Davis Bldg. 1112 Stevens St., Cassadaga.

Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com or 386-503-4930.

Talking Stick Circle –5pm. Native American gathering shares ancient teachings as chaneled from our elders. Traditional cleansing and synchronization of soul through sacred drumming. Bring instruments, family, friends and children. Andrew Jackson Davis Bldg. 1112 Stevens St., Cassadaga. Rev.Judi.

Weaver@gmail.com or 386-503-4930.

SUNDAY, APRIL 4 Celebrate Resurrection Day! – 10:30am. Join on Facebook as we celebrate the risen Christ within.

Or subscribe to the YouTube Channel. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns.

904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.

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community resource guide

MASSAGE

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

GROCERY

ACUPUNCTURE NATIVE SUN

A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE

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

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 Acupuncture Physician specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. We offer the highest quality of care while customizing treatments that best suit your needs. See ad, page 25.

CBD

J a x B e a c h ’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 • 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, page 10.

HYDROPONIC UNIQUE GOODS

8622 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville 904-829-4847 • JaxHugs.com 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, page 17.

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, on-line patient portal, and more. We utilize the most advanced diagnostics testing available to aid both our diagnoses and treatment.

See ad, page 19.

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Jacksonville / St. Augustine

HOLISTIC WELLNESS SPA SEVENTH WONDER HOLISTIC SPA 4236 St John’s Ave, Jacksonville 904-381-8686 • Seventh-Wonder.com

A true sanctuary away from the stresses of the world since 2002.

Offering: Ayurveda consultation and services, natural alternatives to facelift, massages, facials, eyebrow threading/tinting, reiki, pranic healing, ear coning, sauna, and a Himalayan salt room.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE FIRST COAST INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Megan Weigel, DNP 14215 Spartina Ct, Jacksonville 904-543-3510 FirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine.com

NAJax.com

A holistic, heart-centered and evidence-based approach to care for people living with neurological conditions and symptoms. Dr Weigel has nearly 20 years experience in neurology and neurological care. See ad, page 23.

A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE 4337 Pablo Oaks Ct, Bldg 200, Jacksonville • 904-373-8415 AWayOfLifeAcupuncture.com

Licensed professional massage therapists provide Swedish, deep tissue, therapeutic, hot stone and other therapies. Massage can play a huge part in your overall health. MM37388. See ad, page 25.

CARING PALMS MASSAGE AND REIKI Brian Dean, LMT MM40693, MA36835 476 Osceola Ave, Jacksonville Beach 904-246-2206 • CaringPalms.com

Professional massage and energy work. Many styles of massage, Reiki, meditation, mediumship, massage & Reiki classes.

Continuing education for Florida LMTs. See ad, page 10.

MEDITATION TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION CENTERS

• Karen & Herb Bandy, Certified Teachers 904-375-9517 • Jacksonville@TM.org • Regine de Toledo & Richard Pinto, Certified Teachers 904-826-3838 • StAugustine@TM.org 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, page 23.

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 re-certify by phone. Medical marijuana treats more than 250 medical conditions such as: chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, seizures, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, MS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s, IBS, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, lupus and more. Call for PTSD evaluation. See ad, page 31.

METAPHYSICAL STORE SPIRITUAL UPLIFTS

2186 Park Ave, Ste 102, Orange Park 904-292-4555 SpiritualUplifts.com Metaphysical services, including life coaching, spiritual readings, energy work, crystal healings, biomat, aura photography, chakra and astrology reports and more. World-renowned speakers and demonstrations to further your spiritual journey. See ad, page 11.

NUTRITION/KINESIOLOGY HEALTH BY DESIGN

Dr Kristy A Harvell 2002 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville 904-363-3374 • HealthByDesignFL.com Nutrition Response Testing™ gets to the underlying cause of your condition by testing for food sensitivities, heavy metals, and chemical toxins. A Clinical Nutrition Program will be designed for your individual needs. See ad, page 32.

PSYCHIC CHANNEL REV JUDI WEAVER

Heart 4 Souls Inc, Ormond Beach Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com 386-503-4930 • Heart4Souls.com

energy distance.

Channeled spirit messages, crystal light healer, divine personal guidance, shamanic practitioner, spiritual counseling, guided meditations, home/property blessings, vision quest journeys.

For individuals or groups—in person, virtual/on-line, phone or

SPIRITUAL CENTERS

YOGA YOGA DEN

Mandarin | Fleming Island | Southside | Avondale | World Golf Village | San Pablo | Bayard | Crossroads | Oakleaf Yoga-Den.com Founded in 2002, all Yoga Den teachers are graduates of YogaDen’s nationally accredited 200hour TT Program. Members may use their key tags at all locations with Passport Membership.

Hundreds of weekly classes. Our philosophy is No Judgement, and all levels will feel welcome. See ad, page 7.

UNITY CHURCH FOR CREATIVE LIVING IN ST JOHNS 2777 Race Track Rd, St Johns 904-287-1505 • UnityInJax.com

Unity offers positive, practical teachings that support spiritual evolution and abundant living. They take an extremely positive approach to life, emphasizing our Oneness in God and the goodness in people and all life. Join to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. See ad, page 29.

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