FREE September 2022 | Jacksonville / St. Augustine | NAJax.com HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET INSPIREDLIVING special edition VIBRANT AWARENESSTHELONGEVITYSCIENCEOFSTAYINGYOUNGNATIONALYOGAMONTHREUSEANDRESALEMARKETRISINGBACK-TO-SCHOOLECO-CHOICES
2 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com HOWNAJAX.COMTOADVERTISE To advertise in Natural Awakenings, please call 386-736-3838 or email Ads@NAJax.com. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email calendar events to: Editor@NAJax.com. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets. Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets, call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com. ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet. Contents 7 LIVING LIFE IN FULL COLOR 10 GROWING YOUNGER Longevity Strategies that Help Reverse the Aging Process 14 HEADING OFF HEADACHES Natural Strategies Help Halt the Pain 16 AGING GRACEFULLY How a Yoga Practice Keeps Us Young 18 FOOD DEHYDRATION MADE EASY Best Ways to Preserve the Harvest 20 LEARNING TO GRIEVE How to Help Children Navigate Through Loss 22 LISSA RANKIN on the Mysteries of Healing 24 CONSUMERISMCONSCIOUS The Rise of Sharing and Reselling 26 HEALTHIER PETS Top Supplements for Dogs and Cats 26187 Contents DEPARTMENTS 5 event briefs 8 health briefs 7 inspired reading 7 inspiration 9 eco tip 13 wellnessfinancial 14 healing ways 16 fit body 18 conscious eating 20 healthy kids 22 wise words 24 green living 26 natural pet 28 calendar 30 resource guide 10
letter from publisher Rebecca Young, Publisher
September is harvest season for many fruits and vegetables, and preserving them with dehydration is the oldest known method of food preservation. It’s very easy and doesn’t require a lot of special equipment or skill. In addition to preserving food, dehydration can also concentrate some flavors. Fruit leathers are an excellent way to preserve seasonal fruits. Check the recipe for mango leather on page 19.
Do you wonder which supplements are most beneficial to your dog or cat? Vitamins, minerals and probiotics may help to keep your pet in top shape throughout their life. Under the guidance of a holistic or integrative veterinarian, supplements can add quality and longevity to a dog’s or cat’s life. We’re now delivering the digital edition at the beginning of each month. Join our email list today by emailing Publisher@NAJax.com. Enjoy your September edition, and we’ll see you in October.
September is Yoga Awareness Month, and the topic of our fit body section. Whether getting down on a mat or practicing modified poses with the use of a chair, walker or even wheelchair, yoga helps us to stay nimble and manage stress in addition to many other benefits. Just 12 minutes of daily gentle yoga over 10 years improved bone mineral density in the spine and upper legs of participants in a 2016 study reported in Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. Read about it on page 16. Natural strategies to combat headaches are the topic of our healing ways section. There are more than 150 types of headaches, and tension is the most common trigger. Most headaches can be treated holistically, and lifestyle modifications can be key to lasting relief. Learn more on pages 14-15. The holiday season is fast approaching, and Alive Credit Union, our financial wellness sponsor, offers tips to prepare your budget for the gifting season. The rise of sharing, reselling and repurposing is the focus of green living this month. A tool library for short-term use of items like pressure washers and circular saws is gaining popularity in communities. To combat inflation, Americans are exploring shared resources and eco-friendly alternatives like thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales. Aided by online technology, local goods for sale are easy to find and acquire.
3September 2022 Publisher Rebecca Publisher@NAJax.comYoung Writer Erin Floresca Editor Sara Gurgen Layout Design Melanie Rankin Graphic Design Josh Halay Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink. HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET JACKSONVILLE / ST. EDITIONAUGUSTINE Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines © 2022 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any NaturalJacksonvilleNaturalCONTACTtreatment.USAwakenings/St.AugustineOffice:386-736-3838Publisher@NAJax.comP.O.Box731466OrmondBeach,FL32173Facebook.com/naturaljaxAwakeningsPublishingCorporation4851TamiamiTrailN.,Ste.200Naples,FL34103 NaturalAwakenings.com NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Production Designer Gabrielle W-Perillo Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Kristy Mayer H ello, and welcome to our September edition. This new season welcomes a variety of healthy living events right here in northeast Florida. Pages 5 and 6 have details about events held by some of our advertisers. Also see the event calendar in the back of the magazine for more events. Our focus this month is longevity and graceful aging. Lifestyle, more than genes, determines our destiny. Biological age is the new number to pay attention to. Because bio age is the main risk factor for all diseases, the spotlight is on turning back the biological clock. Scientists have identified the springboard for most diseases as the trifecta of uric acid, inflammation and stress. Controlling stress and eating to reduce inflammation are key to slowing the aging process. Explore further strategies in our main feature starting on page 10. Explore the mysteries of healing versus curing in wise words, page 22-23. Author and mind-body physician Lissa Rankin, discusses her book, Sacred Medicine, written after practicing conventional medicine for 14 years. Rankin wrote the book to educate others so they can practice discernment and make wise choices about the many tools offered by the world’s medicine bag.
“The antimicrobial activity of copper is well established.” National Institutes of Health.Scientists say copper’s high conductance disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe cell and destroys it in seconds.TheEPA recommended hospitals use copper for touch surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives.
Iyear.coldsgetIhappened.never“Theexclaimed.hecoldusedto2-3badeveryNowusemy device whenever I feel a sign I am about to get sick.” He hasn’t had a cold in 10 years. After his first success with it, he asked relatives and friends to try it. They all said it worked, so he patented CopperZap® and put it on the market.
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Scientists have discovered a natural way to kill germs fast. Now thousands of people are using it against viruses and bacteria that cause illness. Colds and many misery.andtheythemyoumultiply.nosegetwhenillnessesotherstartvirusesinyourandIfdon’tstopearly,spreadcause
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The EPA says copper works just as well when tarnished. Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the science teams. He placed millions of viruses on a copper surface. “They started to die literally as soon as they touched it.”
By Doug Cornell
The strong scientific evidence gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. He made a smooth copper probe with a tip to fit in the bottom of the nostril, where viruses collect. When he felt a tickle in his nose like a cold about to start, he rubbed the copper gently in his nose for worked!”seconds.60“It
Hundreds of studies confirm copper kills viruses and bacteria almost instantly just by touch. That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria, but now we do.
CopperZap® is made in the USA of pure copper. It has a 90-day full money back guarantee. Price $79.95. Get $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA30. Go to www.CopperZap.com or call toll-freeBuy1-888-411-6114.once,useforever.
4 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com
New research: Copper kills viruses in seconds.
Soon hundreds of people had tried it. 99% said copper worked if they used it right away at the first sign of germs, like a tickle in the nose or a scratchy throat.
Longtime users say they haven’t been sick in years. They have less stress, less medical costs, and more time to enjoyCustomerslife. report using copper against:Thehandle is curved and textured to increase contact. Copper can kill germs picked up on fingers and hands after you touch things other people have touched.
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JHWC to Host Functional Medicine Open House
Jacksonville Health and Wellness Center (JHWC) is hosting a Functional Medicine Open House from noon to 2 p.m. on September 17. Dr. Jon Repole, a certified functional medicine practitio ner and doctor of chiropractic, will give a lecture, starting at noon. He will discuss the latest advances in treatment, genet ics and biohacking, combining the best of modern medicine alongside ancient wisdom practices. Attendees will learn how to take back their lives from chronic illness, including autoimmunity, weight gain, chronic fatigue, hormonal dysfunctions and more. Following the lecture, there will be a tour of the JHWC facility.
Repole holds a doctor of chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College; a Bachelor of Science from Siena College; a functional medicine practitioner certification from Functional Medicine University; a holistic health practitioner and nutri tional consultant degree from the Global Institute for Alternative Medicine; as well as advanced certificates and post-doctorate education in plant-based nutrition, endocrinology, anti-aging, neurology and functional medicine. Repole is also a certified personal trainer.
Spiritual Uplifts, in Orange Park, is offering a Psychic Mediumship Class from 2 to 5 p.m. on September 24 with owner Lynn Pritchard. This event—perfect for begin ners or those just trying to improve their skills—is part of a series of five classes, each designed to push one further each time. Participants will learn to grow into their gifts and find their niche.
5September 2022 event briefs
Location: 9957 Moorings Dr., Ste. 403. For more information, call 904-268-6568 or visit DrRepole.com. See ad, page 21.
Mediumship Class and Meditation Workshop at Spiritual Uplifts
Then on September 25, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., Spiritual Uplifts is holding a Meditation Workshop for beginners as well as experts, during which all seven chakras will be activated. This event is ideal for those that are stressed out and in need of some peace or for those that just want to enjoy the many benefits of meditation. There will be a 15-minute break with snacks provided. Attendees may bring pillows and/or blankets if needed.
Holistic Living & Healing Expo Saturday • September 10TH • 10AM–2PM World Golf Village Renaissance 500 S Legacy Trail • St. Augustine, FL Experience the latest in natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, creative expression, personal growth, sustainable living, and so much more! Center for Spiritual Living Fair Presentations • Demonstrations Drawings • Food & Drink St. Augustine Presents MetaphysicalOur Fair Saturday • September 17th 10AM 4:30PMto AstrologyMediumsPsychicsTarotShamansReikiArtsJewelryCrystals & More! Center for Spritual Living 1795 Old Moultrie Road St. Augustine • FL Dr. Jon Repole
Cost: Psychic Mediumship Class: $45 per class or $200 for the series; Meditation Workshop: $35. Location: 2186 Park Ave. For more information or to sign up for the class and/or workshop, call 904-292-4555. Also visit SpiritualUplifts.com. See ad, page 27.
“We each have a cup of life to handle, and sometimes our cups start to over flow. Monday Mantras with Megan is a release valve to your filled-up cup,” shares Weigel, who specializes in neurological care in Jacksonville, where she brings a unique integrative medicine and holistic nursing perspective to her practice, First Coast Integrative Medicine.
event spotlight First Coast Integrative
Sept 13th • Monday Mantras Meganwith
October15th November5th Book Launch
Meet Dr. Megan Weigel, an award-winning nurse practitioner and author of Monday Mantras with Megan, a book that will help to heal your body and Mondaysoul.Mantras with Megan is a lighthearted and approachable guide to a year of mindfulness intentions and actions in the form of simple practices to help improve your physical, emotional, and mental health.
“This will be the third year I have worked with these mantras. It’s amazing to me how, from their creation, through their develop ment, and now into their release, the right mantra shows up at the right time in my life each week. I am so grateful to be able to share this with others.”
“Each week, I offer an action with the intention of the mantra,” explains Weigel, who has been a multiple sclerosis (MS) certified nurse since 2005 and a nurse practitioner for more than 20 years. “Actions include yoga, breathwork, use of essential oils, and activities with color that support the experience of the mantra. These actions give people access to the depth of the mantra they may not find by just reading theAddswords.”Weigel,
Proceeds benefit the National MS Society and the National African Americans with MS Registry. Rosie JacksonvilleTrueBeach Open House 4-6pm Palmetto Shop Neptune Beach Open House 5:30-7:30PM Signing Event& Dr. Megan Weigel and family
6 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com
Monday Mantras with Megan Inspires Yoga Class, Open House and Book Launch and Signing M
Opportunities for book purchase and signing occur this fall, with perfect timing for early holiday shopping. Monday Mantras with Megan is also available for purchase on Amazon, Apple Books and at the following Jacksonville Beach loca tions: Seaside Power Yoga, Rosie True and Palmetto Shop. Location: 1524 3rd St. N. To register for the class, visit seasidepoweryoga.com. All proceeds go to the National MS Society and the National African Americans with MS Registry. For more information about upcoming book-purchasing and signing events, email Weigel at SeeFirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine.com.moreFirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine.com.Megan.Weigel@Forinformationabouther,visitad,thispage. - Megan Weigel
September 13th • Seaside Power Yoga 7:30-9PM
Please register for the donation-based yoga class 7:30-8pm at www.seasidepoweryoga.com • Open House 8-9pm
onday Mantras with Megan, a book by nurse practitioner and yoga instructor Dr. Megan Weigel, appropri ately launches on September 13, Positive Thinking Day. To celebrate, Weigel will teach a slow-flow donation-based yoga class incorporating poses mentioned in her book at Seaside Power Yoga, in Jack sonville Beach, on September 13 at 7:30 p.m. An open house gathering and book signing will follow from 8 to 9 p.m. Regis tration is required for the class, but people are welcome to drop in to the gathering from 8 to 9 p.m. Monday Mantras with Megan is a light hearted and approachable guide to a year of mindfulness intentions and actions in the form of simple practices to help improve one’s physical, emotional and mental health. Weigel draws from the spiritual, artistic and experiential disciplines that have most influenced her own life to provide a comfortable mindfulness program.
Dr. Megan Weigel, an award-winning nurse practitioner, has written Monday Mantras with Megan, a book that will help to heal your body and soul. Through her work with patients who have multiple sclerosis, Weigel realized the connection between healing of the inner being and the healing of the physical being. In an effort to bring healing and wholeness to more people, Weigel shares from her heart in this book, which begs to be read and then reread. Weigel speaks to you in this calm, reassuring voice, reminding you of the important messages you must tell yourself: “I will not be as worried. I will not be as negative. I will not be as frightened. I will not be as stressed. I will not overfill.” Weigel reminds you that these internal messages that you speak to yourself are keys to healing, and she is an authority on heal ing, especially since she deals with patients who are chronically ill from multiple sclerosis. Monday Mantras with Megan will provide a soothing balm for a harried soul, whether the stress is from normal day-to-day liv ing or from a chronic illness. She incorporates many modalities to push open that relief valve and let the pressures of life escape, including mindful meditations, essential oils, yoga and a reliance onUnlikeprayer.most books that can be read just once and set aside, Monday Mantras with Megan keeps giving fresh insights on reducing stress and enjoying life. I find that with each reading of her book, I incorporate more of the stress-reducing and healing methods that she mentions. It is truly a worthwhile investment, and each short chapter can be read and implemented, even with the most hectic schedule.
inspired reading inspiration Living Life in Full Color by Marlaina Donato
What parts of ourselves do we hold inside for fear of stand ing out a little too much? What would we wear if we defied fickle trends? How would we love if we realized that there is nothing more important than embodying love? Here’s to living in full color, come what may.
Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
Melissa Main loves to keep her fingers typing on the keyboard and bringing images to life. She has ghostwritten books for business lead ers, and she recently completed a memoir for Dr. Richard Karlson, Impossible Quest. She’s also a freelance writer and editor for HarperCollins. See ad, page 6.
Book Review of Monday Mantras with Megan
As adults, too often we are barely aware of our lives stuck in grayscale, but if we look deep inside, we long to be the brave red rose in a black-and-white world. Sometimes it takes something drastic, like being faced with a terminal illness, to throw off the shackles of, “What would they think?” and follow our own brand of bliss. Hopefully, most of us can make that decision without such a drastic wake-up call.
by Melissa Main
7September 2022
In many parts of the world, nature saves her best for last and pulls out all the stops. She dresses the trees in unapologetic glory, inviting us to live more boldly before it’s too late, and to express the passions we’ve held in for dear life. If we are wise, we will fol low our bliss, whether it’s painting that wall in a color that might compromise resale value or dusting off the violin we set aside after high school. Autumn gives us much-needed permission to let our hair down, let our locks go silver or feisty red, let our souls blow in the wind and come in for dinner a little late and disheveled.
N ature concludes each day with a fiery mural, never again to be exactly duplicated and missed if we look away for a moment too long. “What color is in a picture, enthu siasm is in life,” said Vincent van Gogh, and to live with passion is to live life in full color.
As children, it was in our nature to live out loud. We sang offkey, belly-laughed and showed off our blueberry-stained tongues. Somewhere between grade school and adolescence, we learned to swim with the social current, content to blend in for comfort.
Mohite/Pexels.comMadhuri
studies showed a link between beta-carotene and lung cancer, it was removed from the formula. Two carotenoids found in the retina—lutein and zeaxanthin—were added, and the formula was rebranded as AREDS2. In a new, 10year, follow-up study by the National Eye Institute (NEI), AREDS2 was found to reduce late AMD symptoms an ad ditional 20 percent compared to the original formula. “This 10-year data confirms that not only is the new formula saf er, it’s actually better at slowing AMD progression,” says Emily Chew, M.D., lead author of the study and director of the NEI Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Application.
Revised Supplement Formula Slows Macular Degeneration
Researchers examined 24 years of nutritional and health data from 2,603 Finnish men between 42 and 60 years old. They found that men that ranked in the top third of consump tion of non-fermented dairy products such as milk and cream had double the risk of depression, while those in the top third of consumption of fermented dairy products like kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream and butter milk enjoyed a 45 percent reduced risk of depression.
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Sales of fermented dairy products like yogurt and kefir have been steadily rising in the U.S., and a new study from Australia’s Deakin University might accelerate that trend.
Fermented Dairy Helps Sidestep Depression
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An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), afflicts half of men by age 60 and 90 percent of men by age 85. Although it isn’t cancer ous, treatment can involve medications and surgery. European doctors often prescribe the herb nettle root, and Iranian research ers tested its effectiveness in a study that divided 80 BPH patients into two groups. One was given 300 mil ligrams of nettle root extract twice a day for eight weeks; the other group received a placebo. The researchers found the nettle root significantly improved urinary frequency, urinary urgency and night urination compared with the placebo group. It was not effective in modifying prostate volume, the feeling of incomplete emptying, intermittency, urine stream and straining.
8 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com health briefs
In a study published in Cancer Discovery, re searchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported that vitamin E can enhance immunotherapy responses in cancer patients by stimulating the activity of dendritic cells in tumors. Combing the records of patients with melanoma, breast, colon and kidney cancers that were being treated with immunotherapy, they found that taking vitamin E improved survival times and boosted treatment responses. In laboratory work, the researchers demonstrated that vitamin E directly binds and blocks the activity of the SHP1 checkpoint protein in dendritic cells, which primes T cells for an anti-tumor immune response. “This study broadens our understanding of factors that can influence responses to immunotherapies,” says author Dihua Yu, M.D., Ph.D. Unlike chemotherapy, which acts directly on cancerous tumors, immunotherapy treats patients by revitalizing their immune system and “teaching” it how to identify and destroy cancer cells.
Nettle Root Improves Prostate Symptoms
Age-related degenerationmacular(AMD), the most common cause of blindness in older Ameri cans, became less of a threat in 1996 when the national Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) verified that certain gression.andvitamintrients—beta-carotene,nuC,vitaminE,copperzinc—sloweditsproButafterother
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Vitamin E Enhances Cancer Immunotherapy
Buy Secondhand Clothes Kids that have outgrown last year’s threads and are clamoring for a whole new wardrobe can be cheerfully introduced to the burgeoning used clothing market, which is both ecoresponsible and budget-friendly. Resist the temptation to purchase cheap “fast fashion” that too quickly ends up in landfills and pollutes the environment by using toxic dyes, fossil-fuel-derived textiles and other bad chemicals. Donate old clothes instead of throwing them away.
Back to School with the Planet in Mind eco tip
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Before going to the store to buy new school supplies, search the house for items that can be reused or repur posed, such as half-spent notebooks or last year’s pens and pencils. A little elbow grease and TLC can refurbish old lunchboxes and backpacks—also af fording an opportunity to teach kids how to repair and extend the life of items.
Walk or Bike to School If the family lives reasonably close to school, encourage kids to walk or bike. For young children that require supervision, enlist one or more adults to lead a convoy of walking or biking kids. School buses and carpooling are the next best eco-friendly choices. When transporting kids by car, make sure to turn the engine off while wait ing in the pick-up or drop-off line. En gine idling is a significant air polluter.
Pack a
Avoid anything plastic, including single-use water bottles and Ziploc bags. Reusable, stainless steel, food and drink containers, as well as light weight, reusable bamboo utensils, are ideal. Homemade, whole and bulk foods are healthier and much more Earth-friendly compared to prepack aged snacks that are usually wrapped in plastic and jam-packed with sugar and other unhealthy ingredients.
Buy SchoolEco-FriendlySupplies
Model StewardshipEnvironmental
Non-ToxicWaste-Free,Lunch
Show kids that the family embraces an eco-friendly lifestyle. Kids will watch and learn as their parents regularly bring reusable shopping bags to the store, frequent local small businesses, participate in commu nity cleanup efforts and continually search for innovative ways to safe guard the planet.
This school season, families have an opportunity to make Earth-friendly decisions as they prepare their children for a successful educational experi ence. These tips balance sustainability against kids’ desires for the coolest, newest gadgets and garments.
Opt for durable items that are made with recycled or sustainable materi als and use minimal packaging. Avoid items made of plastic. Buy used text books whenever possible.
9September 2022 www.eck-florida.org • (904) 725-7760 ECKANKAR The Path of Spiritual Freedom 13295 Beach Blvd • Jacksonville Pablo Creek Library Presented by ECKANKAR Jacksonville meetup.com/eckankarinjacksonville/Thursday•September8th7:00-8:00PM Open discussion on ECK Wisdom on Inner Guidance Free Gift Book and CD! All are welcome! SPIRITUAL GIFT GUIDANCE EXPLOREINNERTHEOf Business/AdobeStock.comMonkey
10 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com
L ongevity, a human quest through the ages, is now a hot topic among scientific researchers that assert there has never been a better time to maximize our potential for metabolic renewal.
“Bio age is how fast our bodies are aging, and aging is the main risk factor for all diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, de
GROWING YOUNGER L ONGEVITY STRATEGIES THAT HELP REVERSE THE AGING PROCESS by Marlaina Donato
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Biological age—the state of our health at the cellular level—is in the spotlight, as are the anti-aging benefits of science-supported phyto nutrients, cell-rejuvenating foods and safe, non-surgical, stem cell procedures. Functional medicine, with its focus on the biologybased root causes of disease, is also a rising star in the arena of ageNoreversal.matter which path we follow to aging vibrantly, the most inspiring takeaway is that lifestyle, not genes, deter mines destiny. “On average in the United States, the last 16 years of life are spent with multiple diagnoses and on multiple medications. We are giving our hard-earned money to phar macies, hospitals and nursing facilities,” says Kara Fitzgerald, a naturopathic doctor in Newtown, Connecticut, and the author of Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better. She and other researchers contrast “lifespan”, the years from birth to death, to “healthspan”, the years spent in good health free of age-related disease and disability. “Lifespan is not necessarily healthspan, and we can change that,” she says. Age Is Not Just a Number Until recently, age was determined by the year on our birth certificate, but “bio age” is the new number to pay attention to. It might not only predict health outcomes down the road, but also add years to our lives. In groundbreak ing work in 2017, anti-aging researcher Steven Horvath at the University of California, Los Angeles, used algorithms to calculate biological age on the basis of how extensively our genome is modified by a process called DNA methylation. Researchers are now understanding what factors can turn on positive gene expressions and turn off those that may activate life-threatening diseases.
Molecular Magic Harvard genetics professor David Sinclair, author of the seminal Lifespan: Why We Age—And Why We Don’t Have To, discovered antioxidant-rich resveratrol in grapes in 2003. Since then, he and other researchers have found additional compounds with the ability to activate longevity pathways. Nicotinamide adenine di nucleotide (NAD, or B3), a coenzyme involved in many metabolic processes essential to life, has been shown to rejuvenate aging mice, increasing energy-producing mitochondria in the cells and fortifying muscle mass. The body makes less NAD as we age, but research suggests that intermittent fasting, exercise and heat sau nas can stimulate this youth-preserving molecule. NAD-boosting supplements are also on the market, but consuming foods like naturally fermented sauerkraut, raw milk, nutritional yeast and pumpkin seeds is also a good strategy.
Fitzgerald and her team drove this point home with the first randomized, controlled study on the power of lifestyle and diet to turn back the biological age clock. Based upon functional medicine, the program enrolled 18 healthy men between ages 50 and 72 in a target group and 20 in a control group. Those in the target group ate a nutrient-rich diet, slept seven hours a night, practiced relaxation techniques and took supplemental probiot ics and phytonutrients. They ate only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., exercised for at least 30 minutes five days a week, avoided sweets and consumed two cups of dark, leafy, greens and three cups each of cruciferous vegetables and colorful vegetables daily, as well as six ounces of animal protein.
SIRT6, an enzyme in close relationship with NAD and respon sible for many molecular anti-aging processes, including DNA repair, is abundant in seaweeds, especially the strain Fucus vesi culosus, commonly known as bladder wrack. Research published in the journal Marine Drugs in 2017 indicates bladder wrack’s anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral properties, as well as its potential to protect the liver and normalize high blood sugar and bloodFisetin,pressure.apowerful
The Trifecta of Acid, Inflammation and Stress
Chronic systemic inflammation is now understood to be the physi ological springboard for most diseases ranging from cancer to de pression, but its connection to uric acid is critical in producing free radicals that accelerate aging. “Unfortunately, most doctors look upon uric acid solely as a risk marker for gout. We now recognize that uric acid serves as a powerful signal in the body to prepare for food and water scarcity,” says neurologist David Perlmutter, author of The New York Times bestseller Grain Brain and the recent Drop Acid, a guide to lowering uric acid in the body. “Uric acid levels above 5.5 milligrams per decilitre trigger the body to raise the blood pressure, increase the blood sugar, become insulin-resistant and increase the formation and storage of body fat,” he says. “Cen tral to regaining metabolic health and reducing risk for metabolic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, coronary artery disease and Type 2 diabetes is reining in uric acid.”
The results, published last year in the journal Aging, showed that three years of bio age were reduced in the target group in just eight weeks compared to the control group. “What we eat, our stress load and our response to it, the quality of the air we breathe and if we exercise are all drivers or reducers of our bio age. Know ing this, we absolutely need to take responsibility for our lives,” saysThisFitzgerald.bioagereversal
11September 2022 michaeljung/AdobeStock.com
mentia and neurodegenerative disorders,” says Fitzgerald, noting that only 10 to 20 percent of longevity outcomes are genetic.
last year in the European Journal of Pharmacology cites fisetin’s nu merous potential benefits for neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and vascular dementia.
Chronic, unmanaged stress is a major factor in physical and mental decline due to elevated levels of cortisol. “Stress threatens
is good news when we look at the grim statistics. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society, approximately 610,000 people die of heart disease in this country each year and more than 600,000 Americans are predicted to succumb to cancer this year alone.
flavonoid found in certain foods like strawberries, peaches, apples, persimmons, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers, rivals ever-beneficial quercetin. Research published
Eating to reduce inflammation is key, and there is power on our plates when we add some of Fitzgerald’s longevity boosters like turmeric, green tea, shitake mushrooms, wild-caught salmon, eggs, liver and sunflower seeds. A study last year in Experimental Gerontology reported that the amino acid L-theanine, found par ticularly in green tea, reduced oxidative stress, liver degeneration and inflammatory responses in aging rats.
Even with exciting advances in the promotion of long life, ex perts are unanimous in stressing that going into our golden years disease-free begins and ends with individual lifestyle choices, starting with what we put in our mouths. “Diet is the most critical variable in terms of our metabolic destiny. It’s been said that a person can’t exercise away a poor diet, and there’s great wisdom in this statement,” says Perlmutter.
12 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com the health and diversity of our gut bacteria, leading to increased gut permeability, a central mechanism underlying widespread inflammation, which is the cornerstone of all chronic degenera tive conditions,” says Perlmutter. “Those conditions as a category are ranked by the World Health Organization as the number one cause of death on our planet today.”
Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
Fitzgerald concurs, “Excessive inflammation—an imbalanced immune response—accelerates the aging process, and it increases with stress. Stress is the gasoline on the fire of aging.”
In the daily survival game, the body’s stem cells generate special ized cells to replace those throughout the body that are damaged and dying. This ongoing repair process slows down as we advance No matter which path we follow to aging vibrantly, the most inspiring takeaway is that lifestyle, not genes, determines destiny.
in years, but cutting-edge procedures offer new hope for condi tions ranging from arthritis to age-related brain fog. “Stem cells improve DNA methylation and telomere length, and result in a reduced physiologic age compared to your chronologic age,” says Chadwick Prodromos, a Chicago-based, board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the founder of the Prodromos Stem Cell Institute, in Antigua. “Joint replacements are offered quite liber ally nowadays, but most of our patients with severe arthritis who were offered joint replacements do well in our care without them for virtually any joint in the body.” Prodromos and his team com bine umbilical cord-derived stem cell treatment (non-embryonic/ fetal) with specially selected nutritional supplements and in some patients, platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid injections.
“While stem cell treatment has been quite effective, it is important to remember that avoiding chemicals in the environment, exercising vigorously and maintaining a low BMI [body mass index] are clearly the most important factors in good health,” advises Prodromos.
Radical Renewal Without Surgery
Holiday Savings Account Feeling overwhelmed for this year and want to be more prepared for the next holiday season? Consider setting up payroll deduc tion and opening a holiday savings account at your financial insti tution. You may contribute however much you’d like through out the year, and when the holiday season approaches, you won’t find yourself having to rearrange your monthly budget. This is a great way to save a little at a time to help you reach your savings goals!
Shop Online
We all have that loved one in our lives that is difficult to shop for because they have just about everything. So why not consider a homemade gift? Whether it is a sweet treat or something crafty, homemade gifts can not only save you money, but they show you care! A little personal touch can make gift giving and receiving that much more special, as it becomes a one-of-a-kind gift and allows for extra personalization.
Many families have been affected by the economy, whether directly or indirectly. Trust me when I say, everyone understands. Please do not feel the need to overcompensate with extravagant gifts this season. Always have a shopping list prepared and create a spending plan. This will keep you in check with yourself and whether the purchases are viable for your budget.
Layaway This option works best the sooner you decide to do your shopping. With layaway, you can break up your purchase(s) into smaller weekly, biweekly or monthly payments, often with zero interest. Compared to other financing methods, such as buy now, pay later, layaway
Get Crafty
by Carol Ann Aldridge
The beauty of shopping online is that it allows you to do so from the comfort of your own home. No crowds, no rush, no pressure! With online shopping, you are more likely to find variety and you can price match across different retailers. With many retail ers, you can sign up for additional coupons or offers, which can result in the price being less than if you had shopped in a physical store. Online shopping also gives you the added benefit of product reviews from unbiased sources.
Take Your Time
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As the holiday season approaches, many of us are worried about inflation and have a pessimistic view of the economy. These concerns have changed how we shop and our priorities. But what does this mean for the holidays? Shopping for your loved ones doesn’t mean you have to break the bank this season. Below are six tips to help you make the most out of your holiday shopping while also staying within your budget.
Preparing Your Budget for the Holidays
13September 2022 financial wellness
doesn’t require credit checks—most often just valid identification and a deposit.
Know Your Limits
You should always take your time when preparing for holiday shopping, whether for gifts or your celebration. By taking your time, you can gather what you need little by little and without the pressure of a deadline. Always keep in mind, the closer you are to a particular holiday, the chances the price will be increased—so preparation is key.
Carol Ann Aldridge is a certified lending coun selor for Alive Credit Union. For more informa tion about Alive Credit Union, call 904-2961292 or visit Alivecu.coop. See ad, page 23.
tion Headaches can also be provoked by certain allergens, such as cigarette smoke, exposure to harsh chemicals in cleaning or beauty products, mold, dust, caffeine, alcohol and fermented foods.
According to Alexander Feoktistov, M.D., Ph.D., founder of the Synergy Inte grative Headache Center, in Chicago, many headaches are caused by some form of stress. “Both physical and emotional stress can manifest with headaches. These are often triggered by changes in a routine or schedule, which throws the body’s regula tory rhythm off. Skipping meals, varying
NATURAL STRATEGIES HELP HALT THE PAIN
by Carrie Jackson
Heading Off Headaches
H
14 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com healing ways
Triggers Migraine can be triggered by changes in the weather, fatigue, stress, anxiety, insufficient sleep, dehydration and hormonal changes, according to the American Migraine Founda
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eadaches are one of the most common pain conditions in the world. According to the Cleveland Clinic, up to 75 percent of adults have had a headache in the past year. While symptoms vary in scope and intensity, understanding the un derlying cause of a headache can lead to better treatment outcomes. Most headaches can be treated holistically, and lifestyle modifications can be key to lasting relief.
There are more than 150 types of headaches, with the most common being tension, mi graine and cluster. Migraine attacks, which according to the Migraine Research Founda tion affect 12 percent of people in the U.S., are about three times more common in women than in men. Classic symptoms, which can be mild to severe, include throbbing or pound ing pain located in the sinuses, forehead, back of the head or one of the temples.
“The mind-body connection is fierce,” says Christina P. Kantzavelos, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in chronic illness and pain at Begin Within Today, in San Diego. “It’s important to keep in mind that pain literally originates in the brain. I use a Constructed Aware ness approach with clients and bring curiosity to the pain they are experienc ing, including headaches. What thoughts and emotions are coming up when they focus on the pain?” she says. “Physical symptoms are often the manifestation or tangible evidence of what is going on in your unconscious mind. Our bodies self-criticismstate.emotionalingdependorstrongerbecomeweaker,onourFear, and invalidating the self can be the root of a headache.”
Don’t Forget Exercise Renee also suggests maintaining a regular exercise routine to ward off headaches. “The less active someone is, the tighter their muscles are and the more likely they will experience headaches. Make sure to get out for a walk every day, or try running to keep the body and mind moving. Yoga is another great activity as a mindfulness practice that decreases stress and also keeps the body moving to eliminate tension.”
“The best acupressure point for head aches is the soft skin in-between the thumb and pointer finger. Massage it for 20 to 30 seconds at a time to relieve pain or hold it for 10 seconds,” she says. “Mi graines are caused by vascular dilation in the head, so I recommend putting your hands and feet in hot water or taking a bath to stimulate blood flow away from the head to the rest of the body.”
Supplements Help Nutritional supplements can also be helpful, Renee says. “Increasing nutrients such as magnesium, coenzyme Q-10 and riboflavin can help minimize pain. Before stocking up on supplements, be sure to consult with a holistic practitioner to make sure you are making the wisest and safest selections for you. Many nutrients can be found andgreens,late,darkfoodscommoninlikechocoleafyseedsnuts, meat, fatty fish and legumes.”
15September 2022 your sleep patterns and exercising incon sistently can all confuse the body and lead to a headache, varying in intensity from dull and distracting to severe and debili tating,” he explains.
Good Practices Feoktistov recommends that patients experiencing headaches start with lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter meds such as ibuprofen. “Practice good sleep hygiene, stay hydrated by drinking water and minimizing caffeine, and introduce meditation as a way of focusing on what’s physically and emotionally going on in your body,” he says. “If headaches disrupt your daily routine, are severe or frequent and/or poorly controlled with over-thecounter medications, it’s time to seek help from a headache specialist or other medi cal professional who can work with you on a path to healing.”
Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com. Most headaches can be treated holistically, and lifestyle modifications can be key to lasting relief.
HEALINGTEDENERGYBy Reiki • Reconnective Healing The Emotion and Body Code Divine Healing • Amethyst BioMat • Healy (904) www.healingenergybyted.comJacksonville,613-7608FL
Try Acupuncture or Acupressure Evidence suggests that acupuncture is ef fective in relieving the pain of headaches by changing the flow of energy, increasing blood circulation, releasing endorphins and relaxing muscles. Acupressure and other techniques can be done anywhere, says chiropractor and acupuncturist Michele Renee, director of integrative care at Northwestern Health Sciences University, in Bloomington, Minnesota.
The Mind-Body Connection While not completely understood, mental stress and anxiety can also be a trigger.
“What I learned is that we need four es sential physical skills to navigate through life as we age—strength, flexibility, balance and agility—and we get that from yoga. We can find independence in our everyday life, and we don’t need a vigorous yoga class to do that,” says Ruth Pipitone, a gentle yoga instructor at various studios and senior centers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. For those that only associate the practice with youthful bodies and hip yoga gear, yoga is a full-spectrum practice. “Anyone can do yoga—gentle yoga, chair yoga and even wheelchair yoga.”
HOW A YOGA PRACTICE KEEPS US YOUNG
by Maya Whitman
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n 1967, Tao Porchon-Lynch left a successful Hollywood career as a model and actress to become a fulltime yogi in her 50s. At age 87, she added ballroom dancing to her list of passions and at 93, she landed in the Guinness World Records as the oldest yoga teacher on the planet. She continued to teach a weekly yoga class just days before her death at age 101. “I love seeing students realize what is possible,” Porchon-Lynch said in an interview, and her words are an added incentive to reap the many benefits of a regular yoga practice at any age. Whether it involves getting down on a mat or practicing modified poses with the use of a chair, yoga helps us to stay nimble, manage stress, reduce symptoms of depres sion and tame high blood pressure. Yoga has been around for thousands of years for good reason, and health organizations like the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center are now recommending the healing modality for a better quality of life.
16 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com fit body Aging Gracefully
Ancient Moves for Modern Life
I
TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED by Beth Spindler
n Warm-ups are probably the most important part of a practice, especially for a more mature body; stiffer joints may take more time to relax, and a fast-paced class is less likely to offer that. Make sure to do warm-ups as part of a home practice, too.
In essence, we deepen as we age, and yoga can meet us on a multidimensional level. “Yoga does not have to mean poses. Pos sibilities are infinite, and adaptations are unlimited, based upon our needs,” says Blair. Connect with Maya Whitman at ekstasis28@gmail.com.
n Classes are not always billed as “Yoga Over 50” or “Senior” classes. They may be called “Gentle Yoga” or “Yoga Basics,” and participants certainly do not have to be of a certain age to benefit from a deliberate and slower-paced approach. Call local yoga studios to inquire about classes that involve longer warm-ups and a less-intense physical practice.
For Terecita “Ti” Blair, yoga offered a new way of life after a catastrophic automobile accident in 2009. The Denver-based trauma and resilience educator and 2017 SilverSneakers Instruc tor of the Year says, “Virtually any style or type of yoga can appeal and work well for you today, but not tomorrow. Therefore real ‘yoga’ is about adaptability, and yes, those of us with compromised joints, immune systems, pain, disability and illness can absolutely benefit from yoga.”
n Keep it gentle and slow when diagnosed with low bone density or a back, knee or hip condition. Look for a slowerpaced class with a well-trained teacher or yoga therapist that can provide a variety of options. Not every yoga teacher is trained to address osteoporosis, joint replacement or overall muscle stiffness. In a live class, a well-trained teacher can watch for unhealthy knee placement or will notice if someone is holding their breath in a pose.
No matter how many trips we take around the sun, tapping into the life force can give us a new perspective. “I use asana (yoga poses) to examine my thoughts and feelings and to find introspec tion to examine what is happening with myself physically, as well as mentally and emotionally,” says Pipitone. “You become more mindful of what you need to carry with you and what you don’t need to carry with you.”
Beth Spindler, author of Yoga Therapy for Fear, is a fea tured presenter for Yoga International, leads retreats world wide and has more than four decades of experience using yoga as a healing modality.
The Breath of Now
The keystone of all yoga practice is working with the breath, an action that is naturally compromised by just getting out of bed and into the day’s challenges. “Most adults breathe from their chest. That’s where we activate the stress response of fight, flight or freeze. We need to use the lower lungs, too, so we can activate the parasympathetic nervous system to find calm,” says Pipitone Blair, who specializes in helping others to find emotional equilibrium after trauma, concurs: “The nervous system is sym biotic with the breath, and vice versa. A long, deep inhale and a long, slow exhale can act as an immediate elixir for the nervous system to recognize that, in that moment, we are okay.” She has taught groups of people, some in wheelchairs and hospital beds, and she “still experienced the entire room shift when breathing together. As long as we are able to consciously notice breath, we can do yoga.”
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Those with conditions ranging from cancer to Parkinson’s dis ease can reap benefits from an appropriate yoga environment. In 2021, a meta-analysis of 12 studies published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that yoga can increase muscle strength, mobility, balance and lower body flexibility in mature adults. An older study from Temple University showed that Iyengar yoga can improve balance and prevent falls in women over 65 years old.
A regular yoga practice can sup port better sleep habits, improve flexibility, increase energy and reduce chronic pain. Do some homework and choose an appropriate class rather than showing up at the local ingcenterfitnessandhoptolandinthe right one.
According to a 2016 study of 227 participants reported in the journal Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, just 12 minutes of daily gentle yoga over 10 years improved bone mineral density in the spine and upper legs. About four in five participants had osteo porosis or osteopenia (low bone density), indicating that yoga is a good strategy for the 10 million Americans over the age of 50 with osteoporosis and the 44 million with osteopenia.
17September 2022
When done correctly, dehydrating food is a safe method for maintaining its original state, says Tracey Brigman, NCHFP associate director and University of Georgia clinical assistant professor. “Dehydrators remove the water content in foods, resulting in a low risk of bacteria and spoilage.”
“People tend to throw those foods away a lot. They buy them and don’t use it all up before they spoil. Dehydrate leftover strawberries for snacks and dehydrate vegetables to use in soups or stews,” Cancler suggests.
Julia Skinner, founder and director of Root-Kitchens.com, an online fermentation and food history company, adds that when foods theydehydrated,areshrink and therefore take up less storage space. “They’re great to pack for traveling or for small tomatoes.”asflavors,tratealsoDehydratingkitchens.canconcensomesuchwithdried
by Sheila Julson
Unlike other food preservation methods such as canning or fermenting, dehydrating food does not require lots of special equipment, tools or skill. “Dehydrating food is super easy to do,” says Carole Cancler, the Hawaii-based author of the Complete Dehydrator Cookbook. “Drying food is more forgiving. You can’t make a lot of mistakes. Canning, if you do it wrong, can make everyone in your family sick.” The only caveat, Cancler says, is that food not thoroughly dried will get moldy. In humid environments, dehydrated foods must be kept tightly sealed to keep out moisture and prevent mold from forming.
Many types of food can be dehydrated, in cluding fruit, veggies, meat, fish, herbs and nuts. “It’s easier to say what can’t be dehy drated,” Cancler says. “The general rule is you don’t want to dehydrate food that has a high fat content, such as fatty meats or avocados.” They go rancid quickly during storage. While there are dehydrated, highfat foods sold commercially such as cheese, peanut butter and eggs, these are processed using special equipment and techniques that can’t be copied in a home kitchen.
D
conscious eating Food
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rying food is the oldest known method of food preservation. Middle and Far Eastern cultures have used the sun and wind to dry foods since 12,000 B.C., ac cording to the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP). Today, the easy availability of food dehydrators offers a convenient way to preserve the fall harvest.
BEST WAYS TO PRESERVE THE HARVEST
Almost Anything Can be Dehydrated
Sliced strawberries, chopped onions or celery are good foods for beginners.
MadeDehydrationEasy
1 cup clover honey ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp ground cloves
Remove trays from dehydrator when purée is dry, with no sticky areas (about 10 hours— this will be highly dependent on the relative humidity of the drying room). Test for dryness by touching gently in several places near the center of leather; no indentation should be evident.
Fresh herbs of choice (basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme and dill are all good candidates)
Peel leather from trays while still warm. Leave the second tray on the dehydrator while peeling the first leather, or re-warm leathers slightly in the dehydrator if they cool too much prior to peeling. Cut into quarters, lay on a piece of clean parchment paper about 1 to 2 inches longer at each end of the leather and roll into fruit leather rolls. When cool, twist the ends of the parchment paper tightly to close. Store fruit rolls in an airtight container for short-term storage, up to about 1 month. Leathers should be stored in a cool, dark dry place. For longer storage up to one year, place tightly wrapped rolls in the freezer.
Starter model home food dehy drators, often found at resale stores or rummage sales, can be purchased for about $50. Some have adjustable temperature settings for different kinds of foods. When purchased new, most food dehydrators include recipeWhenbooklets.usinga dehydrator, Skinner advises, turn it on to the appropriate set ting and lay the food in a single layer on the trays provided, then let the dehydrator run for a few hours. She usually turns food halfway through to prevent sticking.
AIR-DRYING FRESH HERBS
Source: National Center for Home Food Preservation
MANGO LEATHER YIELD: 8 FRUIT ROLLS FROM ABOUT 2, 14-INCHDIAMETER DRYER TRAYS
4 cups mango purée (from about 4 large, unripe mangoes)
String (such as cotton baker’s twine) Rinse off the fresh herbs and pat them dry. Tie the herbs by the stems in small bunches. Hang them upside-down indoors and out of direct sunlight. Depending on the type of herb, they will take several days to a week or longer to dry. When dry, crush herbs with a mortar and pestle or in a clean coffee grinder. Store in glass jars with tight-fitting lids.
Preheat electric dehydrator to 140° F. Wash and peel mangoes, chop roughly into chunks. Purée in blender until smooth. Pass purée through a food mill or sieve; discard any coarse fiber extracted in food mill. Add honey and spices to the purée and mix thoroughly.
Getting Started
19September 2022 LiliGraphie/AdobeStock.comyuriygolub/AdobeStock.com
Cancler says that in some cases an oven can be used to dehydrate food, but it isn’t the most cost-effective method. “I don’t recommend continued use of the oven, because depending on where you live and the type or size of food being dried, drying can take anywhere from eight to 36 hours. Running an electric or gas range for that long uses a lot of energy.”
Lightly spray two fruit roll tray liners from an electric dehydrator with vegetable oil cook ing spray. Spread mango mixture evenly to ¼-inch thickness on the trays. Position fruit roll liners on dryer trays and place in dehydrator. Dry continuously for about 10 hours. Main tain dehydrator air temperature steadily at 140° F. (Monitor the dehydrator air temperature periodically with a thermometer.)
Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.
She says that ideal temperatures are 125 to 135 degrees, but most standard ov ens only go as low as 170 degrees, which is too warm to dehydrate fruits or veg etables. “Then you must do wacky things like prop the door open to cool down the oven.” The exception, she says, is jerky: “It must be dried at a higher temperature, and lower-end food dehydrator models don’t get hot Sun-dryingenough.”foodsoutdoors is risky, Brigman cautions, due to varied weather conditions. In addition, insects and air pollution have to be considered. “For safety reasons, consumers should really purchase a food dehydrator. While it may be a high cost when you begin dehydrat ing, if you are a serious food preserver, it will save you money in the long term,” she says.
20 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com healthy kids
The beginning pages of My Yellow Balloon are rendered in full color to illustrate Joey’ s innocence. He has never known pain. After he loses the balloon, the ensuing pages turn black-and-white. “Loss is disorienting. I wanted to give kids that visceral under standing that it feels like the whole world turns upside-down and you just have to sit there helpless and watch your balloon float away—watch your life as you knew it get ting away from you,” Papageorge says.
Learning to Grieve
HOW TO HELP CHILDREN NAVIGATE THROUGH LOSS by Sandra Yeyati
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In My Yellow Balloon, an award-winning children’s picture book, a little boy named Joey comes to love the lemon-colored balloon he receives at a carnival. Tied to his wrist, it isn’t just Joey’s favorite toy, it also becomes a loyal companion through many fun adventures.
“The yellow balloon is a metaphor for all kinds of losses—divorce, death, grade school graduation,” explains the book’s author and certified grief worker Tiffany Papageorge. “We think of loss as the death of a person, but loss can also be any change, transition or disappoint ment—big or small. The older we get, the more we shake them off, but some disap pointments can feel big in the moment, especially for little kids.”
“At first, Joey misses his yellow balloon all of the time, then he misses it most of the time, then a lot of the time and then just some of the time, and the color slowly comes back into his world. At the end, when he says, ‘I still miss you, but when ever I see the sun, I’ll feel you with me,’ that’s when the color has shadow, light and range, because when you go through a profound loss and feel your feelings, you can see the world with greater depth and empathy for those around you.”
A dults often want to shield children from suffering, but that isn’t always possible or advisable. Loss and grief are natural parts of life. Acknowledging and express ing uncomfortable feelings are necessary lessons in being human, and while there is no right way to grieve, adults can provide gentle guideposts. Most importantly, kids need to know that they aren’t alone as they process complicated emotions and inte grate lessons of empathy and acceptance.
According to Papageorge, her book is intended to serve as a roadmap through grief that parents and kids can read to gether. “It’s important to acknowledge and
One day, the string slips off his wrist and Joey’s best friend flies away, catapulting him on a journey through grief.
Adults should resist the temptation to jump in and assume they know what’s best for a grieving child, Collins counsels. “Ask openended questions like, ‘What would be most helpful to you in this moment?’ or, ‘What makes you feel calm or connected?’ Find ways to inspire introspection and reflection without telling young people that we know the answer.”
Making space to remember a lost loved one or to honor something we’ve lost can be healing for both kids and adults. Collins suggests that we ask kids how they’d like to memorialize a loss, preferably in community. Maybe they want to plant a tree in honor of someone’s memory or create a fundraiser for a cause that the loved one cared about.
Ultimately, the greatest gift we can give grieving children is our presence. According to Collins, one of the best predictors of adjustment is a psychological concept called “per ceived support availability.” Letting young people know that we’re thinking about them and that we’re there if and when they need us can go a long way.
According to Brittany Collins, an educa tor, curriculum designer and author of Learning from Loss: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Supporting Grieving Stu dents, “Grief elicits a fight-or-flight stress response, and chronic exposure to high levels of stress hormones can have deleteri ous effects on development, especially in adolescents when the prefrontal cortex is still in development. At the same time, neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to grow, change and adapt at any point in life, is also at play. So, adolescence is a wonder ful moment to introduce teens to coping strategies they can use throughout their life, whether that’s mindfulness, different types of emotional regulations, storytelling activities, meditation, journaling or yoga.”
Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.
21September 2022 AKASHIC RECORD CONSULTATIONS stephanylevine@ymail.com 904.545.2447 www.stevielevine.com
By Stephany Levine validate the pain a child is experiencing,” she says. “When a toddler throws a tan trum at the store, instead of ignoring them or telling them to stop it, say ‘I know you’re disappointed and sad. I understand that; it doesn’t feel good. I’m here with you.’ Some thing magical happens when anyone at any age is acknowledged and understood.”
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Collins suggests that caring adults shift their mindset away from being a savior, because grief is not something to be fixed or solved, and instead serve as a facilitator of connection. “Think about what form of outlet might resonate with young people and shift the onus away from one adult being the person that says and does the right thing, and instead wrapping a community around them for support,” she says. Helpful resources include mental health professionals; youth engagement programs where kids experiencing loss can share and learn from each other; and activities that offer release and friendship, such as theater, dance, sports or music.
Expressive writing (journaling using emotion words) promotes regulation of the nervous system, which in turn lowers that stress response and creates physiological relief, Collins notes, adding, “Scientific data suggests that the metacognition involved in identifying feelings and writing feel ing-based words in narratives improves immune and liver function, elicits higher quality-of-life scores and improves psycho logicalWhenwell-being.”welosealoved
one, we lose what psychologists call hidden regulators—sen sory facets that subconsciously make us feel that things are okay in the world. It could be the sound of a parent’s car pulling into the driveway after work or the smell of a loved one’s cologne. Collins says that teachers and parents can counterbalance a destabilizing loss by introducing routine and predictability in children’s schedules, perhaps starting class the same way every day with a five-minute free-write, or sched uling regular visits with a special mentor or relative every Saturday. Kids come to rely on such anchors in times of stress, upheaval and loss.
Lissa Rankin on the Mysteries of Healing by Linda Sechrist months to realize that I could quit my job as an Ob-Gyn, but I couldn’t quit my calling. That which drew me to medicine from age 7 was still alive in me. I began spiritually seeking to find out what else heals. During my years of studying and practicing everything along the health, wellness, psychology, yoga and spirituality gamut, I tried many things, cherry-picking from various spiritual traditions, Eastern religions and New Age spirituality. None of these quite fit either. I found as much shadow in this camp as I did in the conven tional medicine camp. Why use a carefully balanced brew of several healing interventions? Limiting how you approach your health care to one camp or the other could prevent you from having the best possible health outcome. There’s light and shadow in both camps. My book helps educate readers so they can practice discernment and make wise choices about which tools from the world’s medicine bag serves them best. It’s meant to help them become more
22 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com
After 14 years of studying and practicing conventional medicine, I left it at age 37 because I became disillusioned and “mor ally injured” by the limitations of conven tional medicine and the U.S. health care system, which give lip service to a patient’s well-being and ultimately are about the financial bottom line. I never lost respect for the life-saving aspects of conventional medicine. I simply believed it shouldn’t be the only medicine in my medicine bag. It only took me nine wise words
Yvonne
REVEREND Unity Church for Creative Living 2777 Race Track Road St. Johns • Florida 32259 (904) orNowww.UnityInJax.com287-1505matterwhoyouarewhereyouareonyourspiritualjourney,YOUarewelcomehere!
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M ind-body physician Lissa Rankin, a New York Times bestselling author and founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute in the San Francisco Bay Area, takes readers on her decade-long journey in her latest book, Sacred Medicine: A Doctor’s Quest to Unravel the Mysteries of Healing. She pro vides a discerning guide to the sometimes perilous paths available to patients when wellness fads, lifestyle changes and doctors have failed them. What motivated you to write Sacred Medicine?
Because healing is a return to wholeness, connecting with your whole health intelligences—mental, intuitive, emotional and somatic—must be the foundational part of your healing journey to create conditions which make the body miracle-prone. I think of the work of integrating them as I do a symphony that requires a conductor to arrange and harmonize the intelligences. I call the conductor the “inner pilot light”. For example, if we’re making medical decisions or any signifi cant decision, it’s important to consult all the intelligences.
What’s the difference between curing and healing? Generally, curing is about the elimination of all evidence of dis ease. Healing is a restoration of wholeness, which is what the word “heal” is based upon. When I’ve been present with people during end-of-life care, I’ve witnessed the restoration of wholeness in the tying up of the loose ends of a well-lived life or a life not so welllived, even in the presence of physical decline. Repair, healing and forgiveness in both internal and external relationships in our lives can come from doing deep shadow work.
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Although trauma as a cause of physical disease might be disputed by skeptics who resist information that contradicts their world view, the body of scientific data linking psychological trauma and both pediatric and adult-onset disease is airtight. According to so many sources in the mainstream medical literature, anywhere from 60 to 80 percent of illnesses have stress-related emotional underpinnings. What causes stress? Trauma does.
INSPIRING FINANCIAL WELLNESS
Linda Sechrist is Natural Awakenings senior staff writer. Connect at lysechrist@gmail.com.
® miracle-prone and hopefully to embrace the paradoxes of healing, one of which is: You can heal yourself and you can’t do it alone. A lot of the practices I write about are intended to facilitate the restoration of wholeness. That doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t also seek out potentially curative treatments with their conven tional medical doctor. But those treatments often don’t cure either, so I really see it that individuals don’t have to choose one or the other. Rather, they can choose conventional medicine and sacred medicine.
Con sider not only what the mind is telling you about what’s wise and smart and what the science shows, but what intuition is telling you about what might be in your best interests. Or consider what your gut or other aspects of your body are feeling. It’s not only the gut that can give us somatic intelligence. We can tune into various intelligences all over our body. Some healers I’ve met are finely tuned into this kind of intelligence to the point that they can ask a “yes” or “no” question and feel the answer somatically. They use this as one of the ways to guide themselves and their clients. What part does trauma play in sacred medicine?
What are our whole health intelligences?
To combat inflation, which is squeezing family budgets, Americans are increasingly exploring shared resources and eco-friend ly alternatives like thrift stores, flea markets
by Sheila Julson
“When you need a pressure washer once a year or decide to put in a garden, you don’t really need to own those tools,” says treasurer Stephanie Kane. People are allowed to take on projects they couldn’t otherwise afford, she says, “or they utilize existing skills to build the life they want, or even get a business off the ground.”
24 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com
THE RISE OF SHARING AND RESELLING
T ucked into the Blue Ridge Moun tains of North Carolina, Asheville is a DIY kind of community, attracting artists, musicians, yoginis, homesteaders and other folks looking to live a simpler life. When they garden and undertake home repairs, Ashevillans find it easy to cut expenses: They’ve formed a collective tool shed, the Asheville Tool Library, which offers them the use of 2,000 donated tools ranging from safety goggles to leaf mulchers and circular saws.
Neighborly Sharing More than 50 tool-lending libraries ex ist in cities like Denver, Seattle, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., allowing people to “cut down on waste and overbuying, while helping out neighbors,” reports The Washington Post. Typically, they are staffed by volunteers and supported by nominal, income-based annual fees.
green living Conscious Consumerism
AshevilleToolLibrary.orgofcourtesyImage and rummage sales. Often aided by online technology, local shared enterprises and secondhand shops are saving people money and reducing the impact of excess consumerism on the environment.
Starting a tool-lending library begins by connecting with other people in the com munity, using local online groups and coop bulletin boards to attract volunteers and donations, or hosting a drive for people to clean out their basements, Kane says. As memberships grow, additional tools can be purchased and employees can be hired. Web site design and inventory tracking in Asheville and elsewhere is simplified by the “library of things” software from MyTurn.com
Another way that people share resources is through Little Free Libraries—the charming “library on a stick” boxes on neighborhood posts and fences that give away books to passersby. It began in Hud son, Wisconsin, in 2009, when Todd Bol built a tiny model of a one-room school house as a tribute to his deceased mother, an educator and voracious reader. He stocked it with books and put it on a post in his front yard for neighbors and friends. The concept became so popular that he built more and gave them away. Today, more than 150,000 Little Free Libraries are found in communities worldwide.
Whether housed in a local storefront or existing digitally online, resale shops have become big business due to pandemic-inspired decluttering and belt-tightening pursuits. Industry analysts expect thrift store clothing sales to grow globally 11 times faster than fast fashion and to be worth twice as much, at $84 billion, by 2030. Buying secondhand benefits not only shoppers, but also local governments struggling with the expense of operating landfills.
Online Pluses and Minuses
Hennepin County, Minnesota, which includes Minneapolis, has resolved to send zero waste to its landfills by 2030. Part of this effort includes the Choose to Reuse campaign, which encour ages people to shop secondhand as a way to save money, help the environment, reduce packaging, support local businesses and find uniqueNonprofititems.thrift stores like Goodwill Industries and The Salva tion Army or those run by longtime charities like the American Cancer Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani mals have well-established reputations and proven track records.
25September 2022 MarekPhotoDesign.com/AdobeStock.com
Secondhand Thrifting
n Avoid car seats and booster seats which may have been in volved in an accident. The same is true for bicycle and motorcy cle helmets. Federal safety standards for cribs frequently change, so avoid used pieces if they are more than a few years old.
FURNITURE n Consumer Reports recommends buying local for large items like furniture to avoid shipping costs and allow for close per sonal inspection.
With a little enterprise, savvy and flexibility, mass consumerism can be circumvented by sharing community resources and fre quenting quality secondhand stores. As Kane puts it, “The sharing economy is essentially about leading a less consumerist lifestyle.”
n When purchasing toys or children’s furniture, parents should check for safety recalls and be sure the product contains no lead paint, recommends WebMD. com. Check for broken or missing parts and make sure the item is stable. Products manufactured many years ago may not have the same safety features as newer items.
ELECTRONICS n For those un able to afford or justify the cost of a new $1,000 smartphone, Apple, Best Buy and Walmart sell refurbished phones, computers and TVs on their websites at a reduced cost. If using an E-commerce seller of refurbished electronics, make sure it uses programs such as CheckMEND to be sure the item wasn’t stolen.
WARNINGS FOR SECONDHAND SHOPPERS SAFETY AND QUALITY CONTROL TIPS
Cueto/Pexels.comRenthelKang/Pexels.comSkylarAnthony/Pexels.com
n Whether shopping for secondhand clothing in person or online, Glamour UK recommends ignoring the size on the label of vintage items, because they can vary greatly. When unable to try a garment on, check the measurements. Many vintage sellers on Etsy.com post them along with the label size.
Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.
CLOTHING n The condition of items donated to thrift stores or posted by resellers can vary greatly, from brand-new items to well-worn pieces, notes Lifesavvy.com. Carefully check the item, especially under the sleeves and the inseams, for stains, tears, third-hand smoke odors or other defects.
An influx of online resellers adds even more choices for secondhand items. Although they make shopping more convenient, online sites carry risks: In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission reported more than 173,000 instances of online shopping fraud. When shopping online for secondhand items, experts advise, it’s wise to shop and pay on a trusted website or app, and to avoid using a personal debit card. Be sure there are photos of the product. On sites like Craigslist, eBay and Facebook, check each seller’s rating and thoroughly review all buyers’ comments before making a purchase.
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore has more than 900 locations nationwide, offering an ever-changing stock of secondhand furni ture, household items and building materials like doors, windows and lighting fixtures. On the other hand, for-profit thrift stores, even if they claim a link to a worthy cause, often donate a much smaller percentage of profits to charity and are reluctant to release financial figures, reports Salon.com.
CHILDREN’S ITEMS
Digestive enzymes are used in supplemen tal form to improve or increase digestion and nutrient absorption. They can be de rived from pancreatic, plant or microbial sources such as bacteria or fungi. Enzymes are important especially when the animal’s digestive processes become exhausted or inefficient, such as during periods of stress or such gastrointestinal diseases as acute gastroenteritis, pancreatitis or either liver or inflammatory bowel disease. Enzymes may also be helpful for cancer, allergies andProbioticsarthritis. are living, healthy bacteria and yeasts, many of which are a part of a dog’s or cat’s microbiome. They can assist with healing in a variety of ways, including producing healthy fatty acids; decreasing the attachment of harmful bacteria and yeasts to the intestinal walls; increasing antibody production; support ing immunity; restoring healthy GI flora; and reducing inflammation.
As a result, probiotics are useful for treating dogs and cats with a variety of medical problems, including leaky gut syndrome, acute non-specific gastroenteri tis, antibiotic or other medication-induced diarrhea, allergies, stress, obesity, neuro degenerative disorders, high cholesterol
FS-Stock/AdobeStock.com
T
he market for pet products is awash with supplements, so it’s not surprising that it can be challenging to figure out what a dog or cat really needs. The foundation of any healthcare program for dogs and cats, regardless of age and breed, is a healthy diet, well-chosen and appropriate supplements, minimal vaccines and medications, and veterinary check-ups. Basic helpful additions to a pet diet include a vitamin-mineral product, an enzyme and probiotic combination, and a fatty acid. For older animals, a choline supplement may delay the onset of cognitive disorder. Any tweaking of diet and supplements should follow regular testing that may diagnose a disease in its early stages. Here’s an overview of the top basic supplements every dog or cat should have.
TOP SUPPLEMENTS FOR DOGS AND CATS
Vitamins, Minerals and Joint Support
26 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com Healthier Pets
by Shawn Messonnier natural pet
To provide immune and antioxidant sup port, and to bolster digestion, skin and coat health and overall wellness, a basic supple ment should contain vitamins and miner als as well as small amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.
Enzymes and Probiotics
Choline
For dogs and cats 5 years old and up, a choline (phosphatidylcho line) supplement addresses aging changes that affect the brain and can lead to cognitive disorder. Choline is a component of several major phospholipids that are critical for normal cell membrane structure and function. The body uses it to maintain water bal ance; to control cell growth and gene expression; as a component of lung surfactant; and most importantly, to produce the major nerve transmitter acetylcholine. It may reduce the risk of cardio vascular disease by lowering homocysteine levels.
This is beneficial for the treatment of heart disease and may reduce atherosclerosis, thrombosis (blood clots), coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, sudden cardiac death and stroke. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, fish oil is often used for dogs and cats for the treatment of skin problems, arthritis and cancer, along with heart, inflammatory bowel, autoimmune and kidney diseases. It may reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in cancer patients, decrease cancer growth and metastasis, and reduce wasting in undernourished animals.
Shawn Messonnier, DVM, owner of Paws & Claws Animal Hospital and Holistic Pet Center, in Plano, Texas, is the author of several books on veterinary medicine. Under the guidance of a holistic or integrative veterinarian, supplements can add to a dog’s or cat’s health and longevity.
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Fatty Acids
Supplements other than these can be used as needed, based on the results of diagnostic testing and regular veterinary health ex ams. Under the guidance of a holistic or integrative veterinarian, supplements can add to a dog’s or cat’s health and longevity.
A good fatty acid fish oil supplement is also important. There are many brands on the market; some offer the flexibility of being administered either as a liquid (pump) or gel capsule. Phytoplank ton, which serves as a food source for fish, is the source of the active ingredients docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapen taenoic acid (EPA). Fish oil tends to be derived from cold-water fish rich in EPA and DHA such as wild (not farmed) salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring.
Choline is used to treat high cholesterol, improve memory and protect the liver. It may prevent fatty liver syndrome (especially in diabetics), help prevent or treat cognitive disorder and support liver function. It may reduce insulin requirements in diabetics and can reduce seizure frequency.
27September 2022 levels, inflammatory and irritable bowel disorders, and GI and parasite infestations. Probiotics may also be helpful for middleaged and older dogs and cats, because GI microbial diversity diminishes with aging.
28 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com calendar of events
Yoga Nidra – 11:15am-12:15pm. Guided medita tion to achieve intense concentration, enlightenment or bliss. Bring mat and accessories. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jackson ville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder.com/events.
Holistic Living & Healing Expo rience the latest in natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, creative expression, personal growth, sus tainable living and more. Renaissance Resort World Golf Village, 500 S. Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32092 How to Tune In to Spirit – 3-5:30pm. What does it mean and how to in this online class. $36. Inter national Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge, www. ifsk.org. 407-247-7823.
Yoga Class, Open House and Book Launch Sign ing – 7:30 pm. Dr. Megan Weigel will teach a slowflow donation-based yoga class incorporating poses in her book at Seaside Power Yoga in Jacksonville Beach. Following is a open house and book signing from 8-9pm. Registration is required for the class, but the public is welcome to gather for the book sign ing from 8-9pm. Register at seasidepoweryoga.com.
Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk – 6pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effec tive technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. University Park Library, Rm 900. 3435 University Blvd. N, Jacksonville 32277. Register at 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Explore the Spiritual Gift of Inner guidance 7-8pm. Open discussion of ECK Wisdom on Inner Guidance. Gift book and CD. All are welcome. Pablo Creek Library, 13295 Beach Blvd. Jack sonville. 904-725-7760. Meetup.com/eckankarin jacksonville.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Tune In to Spirit – 10:30am-1pm. What does it mean and how to online class. $36. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge, www.ifsk. org. 407-247-7823. St. Augustine Metaphysical Fair – 10-4:30pm. Physics, mediums, tarot, astrology, shamans, reiki, art, jewelry, crystals, demonstrations, food and more. Center for Spiritual Living, 1795 Old Moultrie Rd. St. Augustine. Functional Medicine Open House – 12noon-2pm.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. The phases of meditation are physical exercise, invoking divine blessings, relaxation/cleansing and energizing, selfintrospection and inner reflection, activating heart chakra and crown chakra, achieving illumination, releasing excess energy and expression of gratitude. Free. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder. com/events. To submit calendar listings, or for more information about submission requirements, please email Publisher@NAJax.com.
Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – 12noon. All the informa tion you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org to receive information by email or text.
Breaking Through Blockages with Sound –1:303:30pm. Rev. Judi Weaver uses sound vibration, drums and other techniques to assist in opening chakra Centers to activate and increase energy flow. Cost $30. Andrew Jackson Davis Bldg. 1112 Stevens St. Cassadaga. Email for info Rev.Judi. Weaver@gmail.com. Healing Event – 1-3:00pm. Experience different healing techniques, 7 archangels, reconnective heal ing, singing bowls and more. $15 Love offering for St. Jude’s Hospital. First com first served. Spiritual Uplifts, 2186 Park Ave. Orange Park. 904-292-4555
Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – 6:30pm. All the informa tion you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org to receive information by email or text. Sound Healing – 7-8:30pm. Gentle yet powerful vibrations of the Tibetan Singing Bowls.Quiet your mind and release stress. Dress comfortably, bring a mat, blanket and pillow. $25. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave. Jacksonville. 904-381-8686.
Dr. Jon Repole, a certified functional medicine practitioner, will discuss the latest advances in treatment, genetics, and biohacking, combining the best of modern medicine alongside ancient wisdom practices. Lecture is followed by facility tour and free longevity, hormonal, and stress testing. Learn how to take back your life from chronic illness including autoimmunity, weight gain, chronic fatigue, hormonal dysfunctions and more. Free to the public. Jacksonville Health and Wellness Center, 9957 Moorings Dr. Suite 403, Jacksonville. 904-268-6568. Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk –1:00 PM. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improv ing health, Free, Room 112, Postell Market, Casino Bldg, 530 Beachview Drive (by Neptune Park), St. Simons Island, GA 31522, register at (904) 3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org to receive informa tion by email or text.
Pranayama and Meditation – 10-11am. Through guided breathing, increase the oxygen to your brain and all your internal organs, which facilitates physi cal healing. Held outside if weather permits. Bring mat and accessories. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-3818686. Seventh-Wonder.com/events.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Fall Equinox Channel Circle – 1-3:00pmm. Rev. Judi Weaver channels messages at this fall equinox zoom meeting. Cost $40. To register visit spiritual services.online
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
namastebreatherelax
EMPOWER.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Psychic Mediumship Class with Lynn – 2-5pm. Whether new or just trying to advance your skills, grow into your gifts and find your niche. Series of 5 classes $45 each or $200 for the series. Spiritual Uplifts 2186 Park Ave. Orange Park. 904-292-4555.
monday Monday Mantras – Megan Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c, is lighthearted and approachable guide to a year of mindfulness intentions and actions in the form of simple practices to help improve your physical, emotional and mental health. Use it to learn the value of your experiences, voice, heart, and story. 904-543-3510. FirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine.com.MondayMantrasWithMegan.com.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Meditation Sunday – 4-6:30pm. Activate all seven chakras, relax and practice mindfulness. Perfect for beginners as well as experts. May bring pillows or blankets. Snacks provided during breaks. $35. Limited, register at 904-292-4555. Spiritual Uplifts, 2186 Park Ave. in Orange Park.
Rotisserie Chickens at Native Sun – 9am-6pm. The first round of rotisserie chickens will be ready around 9am. The last run of birds come out around 6pm. Limit two per household. $5/each. 1585 3rd St. N, Jacksonville Bch. Ashtanga Yoga – 9-10:00am. Eastern and Western techniques are both embraced in this traditional class. Develop clarity and increase energy through breathing, strengthening and stretching. Open to all levels and beginners. Bring your mat and blanket. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave. Jacksonville. 904-381-8686.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. The phases of meditation are physical exercise, invoking divine blessings, relaxation/cleansing and energizing, selfintrospection and inner reflection, activating heart chakra and crown chakra, achieving illumination, releasing excess energy and expression of gratitude. Free. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder. com/events.
Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service – 10:30am. Join in-person, on Facebook Live or YouTube Channel to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Unity Church for Creative Liv ing, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505.
thursday Farmers Market – 5-8pm. Vendors offer locally grown produce as well as homemade and handmade products. Yamo Italian and Captain Scallywag's food truck are onsite offering local cuisine as well as two other food trucks, which rotate each week. Local musicians provide entertainment throughout the evening. Free. The Artisan Market Coconut Barrel, 3175 US 1 South, St. Augustine. Concerts in the Plaza – 7-9pm. Bring a chair or blanket to relax on the plaza lawn and enjoy summer evenings filled with music in the heart of historic St. Augustine. Picnic dinners are allowed, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Plaza. Gazebo of St. Augustine's historic Plaza de la Constitución (between Cathedral and King Streets) Downtown St. Augustine. 904- 825-1004. friday First Friday Garden Walk – 10am. Join a Ranger the first Friday of every month for a garden walk. No registration required. Walk included with park entry fee of $5 per vehicle. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Info: WashingtonOaks.org. saturday The St. Augustine Ampitheatre Farmers Mar ket – 8:30am-12:30pm. Shop more than 100 tents loaded with local produce, flowers, baked goods, handmade arts and crafts and more. Admission into the market is free. 1340 A1A South, St. Augustine. 904-315-9252.
Natural
29September 2022
Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by videoconference – 6:30 pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health, Free, register at (904) 3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org and we will send connection information to you by email or text. Awakenings EDUCATE. CONNECT.
wednesday
sunday
UnityInJax.com.
Wednesday Pier Farmers Market – 8am-12:30pm. Oceanfront shopping at the St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park. Approximately 60-80 vendors can be found at the market selling locally grown produce, baked goods, prepared foods, arts, crafts and more. Free. 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine Bch. 904-315-0952. Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.
Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk – 6:00 PM. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improv ing health, Free, Pablo Creek Library, Conference Room, 13295 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32246 or Jacksonville@TM.org.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Music by the Sea – Thru Sept 1. 7-8:50pm. This annual summer music and food celebration features local bands and performers paired with local food trucks to entertain visitors. A different band will be featured each week, along with a food truck to of fer fresh, tasty, food. Guests are welcome to bring coolers and picnic baskets. Chairs and bug spray are encouraged. Free. St. Augustine Beach Pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine Bch. 904-347-8007.
ongoing events
Thriving Tribe – 6pm. New monthly gathering. Discuss experiences, actions, events, blockages, ask and receive guidance for your spiritual journey. Trance channeled guidance as well as individual messages. Online as well as limited in-person seat ing. $30. To register visit spiritualservices.online or contact Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk – 6:00 PM. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly ef fective technique for reducing stress and improving health, Free, Regency Square Library, Conference Room, 9900 Regency Square Blvd, Jacksonville FL 32225 or Jacksonville@TM.org
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
SEVENTH
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CARING PALMS HEALING ARTS Brian Dean, LMT MA36835 MM41272 315 10th Ave South, Jacksonville Beach 904-246-2206 CaringPalms.com massage and energy work. Many styles of massage, Reiki, meditation, mediumship, massage & Reiki classes. Continuing education for Florida LMTs. See ad, page 10. cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. Hawthorne
~ Nathaniel
HOLISTIC WELLNESS SPA WONDER HOLISTIC SPA 4236 St Ave, Jacksonville 904-381-8686 Seventh-Wonder.com
GROCERY NATIVE SUN 1585 3rd St North, Jacksonville Beach NativeSunJax.com904-853-5497 Jax Beach’s localorganiccommunitygrocer,foodand essential items. Order online for curbside p/u.
30 Jacksonville / St. Augustine NAJax.com MEDITATION TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION© CENTERS Karen & Herb Bandy, Allan Byxbe, Certified Jacksonville@TM.orgTeachers • 904-375-9517 Regine de Toledo, Certified Teacher StAugustine@TM.org • 904-826-3838 The TM technique is an effortless, non-religious, evidence-based practice for eliminating stress, increasing well-being and expanding consciousness. Certified Teachers give individual instruction and ongoing support. See ad, page 31. MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD CERTIFIED MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTORS 10695 Beach Blvd • 904-299-5300 920 Blanding Blvd, Ste 4 • 904-420-0044 2085 A1A S, St Augustine • 904-299-7373 CMMDR.com Get your medical marijuana card and pre-certify by phone. Medical marijuana treats more than 250 medical conditions such as: chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, seizures, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, MS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s, IBS, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, lupus and more. See ad, page 31. PSYCHIC CHANNEL REV JUDI WEAVER Heart 4 Souls Inc, Ormond 386-503-4930Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.comBeach•Heart4Souls.com 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 energy distance. ACUPUNCTURE A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE 4337 Pablo Oaks Ct, Bldg 200, Jacksonville • DrAWayOfLifeAcupuncture.com904-373-8415ChristineYastrzemski,NCCAOM, AP DrAP2255Sarah 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. CBD 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 31 ENERGY HEALING HEALING ENERGY BY TED Ted 7500KostekPlantation Club Dr, Jacksonville 904-613-7608 • Healingenergybyted.com Certified Healing,ReconnectiveinThe Emotion Code, The Body Code, Reiki Master. Powerful healings, with great compassion and care. Clean chakras, aura, entity removal, in-person and remote sessions for humans and animals. FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE JACKSONVILLE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER Dr Jon Repole, DC, CFMP 9957 Moorings Dr, Ste 403 Jacksonville 904-268-6568(Mandarin)•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 21.
community resource guide I
John’s
MASSAGE
Professional
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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 15.
A true sanctuary away from the stresses of the world since 2002. Offering: services,consultationAyurvedaandnatural alternatives to facelift, massages, facials, eyebrow threading/tinting, reiki, pranic healing, ear coning, sauna, and a Himalayan salt room.
HERBS LAURENCE LAYNE, LMT, HERBALIST Healing Waters Clinic & Herb Shop 26 Clark St, St. Augustine 904-826-1965 • HealingWatersClinic.com MA0010746 MM005595
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