New Times Health & Wellness 2022 by New Times Media Group, San Luis Obispo

JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 • VOL. 36, NO. 28 • W W W.NEW TIMESSLO.COM • SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNT Y’S NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

VISIT US ONLINE @ newtimesslo.com.

Supplements [15], climate-change anxiety [16], and drumming through grief [20] BY NEW TIMES STAFF

Contents

NAACP San Luis Obispo County Branch

January 27 – February 3, 2022 VOLUME 36, NUMBER 28

Editor’s note

Every week news

News ........................... 4 Strokes .......................10

opinion

Get The Facts About COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall

Tuesday, February 1 st

Letters ........................12 This Modern World .....12 Shredder .....................14

Spanish interpretation available

7:00-8:00 p.m.

Commentary...............12

The pandemic continues to take its toll in SLO County, a new variant (Omicron) has taken hold, and news about boosters and vaccinating children is here. Please join our interactive virtual Town Hall meeting. Get your questions answered by local, trusted medical professionals. Learn how to protect yourself and your family during this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

events calendar

Hot Dates .................. 23

music

Strictly Starkey ............31

art

Artifacts ..................... 32 Split Screen................ 34

the rest

Classifieds.................. 38 Brezsny’s Astrology... 43

René Bravo, MD, FAAP Pediatrician

Miriam Lomelino, MD Family Medicine Specialist

Kevin Ferguson, MD Pathologist

P A N E L I S T S

very January, we bring you stories about health and wellness, and this year’s no different—plus, we’re leaving COVID-19 out of it! In this year’s issue, Staff Writer Malea Martin writes about supplements, diet, and exercise [15] , Assistant FIND YOUR JOY Whether it’s Editor Peter Johnson speaks fitness goals or with mental health experts and reducing stress levels, health and environmentalists about how to wellness is all deal with climate-change anxiety about doing the things that can [16] , and Staff Writer Bulbul make you feel Rajagopal talks to Hospice SLO better. about drumming into a healthier mental state [20]. Also this week, SLO County opts to leave a cooperative library system its been with for almost four decades [4] ; a local soloist and music professor [32]; and Bear City Social brings fresh food from farm to street [35].

Camillia Lanham editor

cover image from Deposit Photos cover design by Alex Zuniga

1986 SINCE

H EL P SU PPORT OU R M IS SION For San Luis Obispo County

Informative, accurate, and independent journalism takes time and costs money. Help us keep our community aware and connected by donating today. www.newtimesslo.com

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Get your vitamins H EALTH

Vitamins and supplements are just one part of a healthy, balanced life

BY MALEA MARTIN

OVID-19 ushered in a new wave of interest in immune system strength and health supplements—and that market is only growing. “The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with dietary supplements witnessing a positive demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic,” research organization Fortune Business Insights found. The market grew by nearly 27 percent in 2020 alone, according to Fortune, and is expected to grow from nearly $72 billion in 2021 to more than $128 billion in 2028. Whether you’re an athlete looking to recover faster and reach your fitness goals, or a person with dietary restrictions who’s concerned about nutrient deficiencies, supplements can benefit lots of different people. But with all the wellness marketing campaigns out there trying to convince consumers, it can be hard to parse the ads and figure out what your body will actually benefit from.

WELLNESS 2022

That’s part of why SLO County local Hector Escalante Jr. opened up his store, Coast Nutra: to help people make research-backed and informed decisions about supplements—what Coast Nutra calls “nutraceuticals”—to reach their fitness goals. The products Coast Nutra offers include protein powders, green superfood supplements, and amino acids, among others. “Supplementation is meant to be an addition,” Escalante Jr. said. “We want customers to know that supplements alone are not going to give you the end result. We always like to educate our customers that you want to keep a good balance of your activity levels [and] nutrition.” Escalante Jr. first opened Coast Nutra in Santa Maria at the end of 2019. The pandemic hit soon after, but that didn’t stop him from opening a PHOTO COURTESY OF COAST NUTRA second storefront in San Luis Obispo in 2021. “Especially during the pandemic, immunity, health, and wellness has become a huge focal point,” he said. “Our counties, SLO and Santa Barbara counties, are very health oriented.” For a holistic approach to supplementation, Coast Nutra partners with local gyms and trainers, encouraging customers to seek out an active lifestyle. The store is all about transparency. “We give full product descriptions for every FITNESS FOCUS Coast Nutra, which started in product that we have, with Santa Maria and expanded to Downtown SLO, sells full detail. We focus on supplements aimed at helping people reach their lifestyle California brands, all 100 and fitness goals. percent transparent, third-

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party tested, safe for sport,” Escalante Jr. said. “We don’t bring in the big, corporatebased brands, so there’s no commonality [in products] between us and GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World.” Having worked as a trainer for 15 years, Escalante Jr. said this experience informs his approach. “We focus on the goal: What are we looking to accomplish, and how can we be supportive of that?” he said. “What have you taken, products-wise? Then we focus on what brands that we carry that would be either similar or better for your health, because we don’t carry brands that have fillers or proprietary blends, all this unnecessary junk.” Fitness is just one niche that the supplement industry occupies. Supplements can also be used to target nutritional deficiencies for folks who have certain medical conditions or dietary restrictions. But Dr. Peggy Papathakis, a Cal Poly professor of nutrition, told New Times that people should focus first and foremost on what they’re eating. “It totally depends on the person: stage of life, disease,” she said. “If you eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and whole grains, a plant-based diet with some animal products, dairy, other proteins, there’s usually not a need for a supplement.” But not everyone, of course, is able to eat foods from all these categories. “If you’re lactose intolerant and you don’t consume any dairy, and you don’t drink any of the alternative milks, then calcium and vitamin D are very

appropriate supplements,” Papathakis said. “If you’re like me, I have osteopenia, then a calcium, vitamin D supplement is very important.” One of the most common deficiencies in the United States is iron, Papathakis said. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who menstruate, don’t eat meat, or frequently donate blood are at the highest risk for iron deficiency anemia. Blood work can help gauge iron levels. “If you measure ferritin, your storage iron, if that was low, that would show you you’re low in iron,” she said. “Iron deficiency anemia is the United States’ most common nutrient deficiency—about 10 or 12 percent of the population.” Papathakis added that many people don’t eat enough fatty fish, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, an important nutrient for the brain. “It’s good for your eyes too, all your membranes,” she said. “We are made up of cells, and our cells all have membranes, and those membranes are all made up of lipids, or fats.” The easiest way to determine if you’re getting enough nutrients, Papathakis said, is to look at the quality of your diet. “Are you eating three to four servings of fruit a day? Are you eating three or four servings of vegetables a day? Are you eating whole grains, maybe five or six servings of those a day?” she said. “I think people who eat well feel better.” Δ Reach Staff Writer Malea Martin at mmartin@newtimesslo.com.

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Coping with crisis

FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KING TIDES PROJECT

Stressed out about climate H EALTH & change? Experts discuss ‘eco WELLNESS 2022 anxiety’ and tools to fight it BY PETER JOHNSON

eeling crippling anxiety or depression about climate change and what it means for the future? You’re not alone. Recent studies show that climate change is having a major—and growing— impact on not just the environment in fires, drought, and rising sea levels, but on people’s mental health. According to a 2020 poll by the American Psychological Association (APA), 68 percent of respondents said climate change is affecting their mental health—a 21-percentage-point increase in that response from the same poll the prior year. “Eco anxiety” has grown so much that the APA is now deeming it a “significant” mental health issue, according to Jill Bolster-White, the executive director of Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA), a San Luis Obispo nonprofit. “In fact, they’re on record saying that climate change is one of the most crucial issues facing our nation and world today, and it’s already taken a toll on the mental health of people around the world,” said Bolster-White, who spoke at a Jan. 19 webinar co-hosted by TMHA and the Sierra Club titled “Mental Health and the Climate Crisis.” During the two-hour-long panel discussion, more than 10 speakers—from environmental activists to mental health professionals—shared

their perspectives on the troubling trend and what people can do about it. In general, eco anxiety is like “a chronic fear of environmental doom,” which can show up in people through generalized anxiety and obsessive negative thoughts, according to Megan Werner, a transitional age health navigator at TMHA and senior at Cal Poly. “An example of this would be, ‘What’s the point of having kids?’” Werner said during her presentation. Eco anxiety is linked to higher rates of aggression and violence, increased feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and fatalism, and intense feelings of loss, Werner added. “These symptoms frequently reach high levels of concern and therefore require clinical intervention, which further overwhelms our already inundated mental health system,” she said. Polls and statistics have found that people of all races, ethnicities, and genders are impacted by eco anxiety. But there’s at least one notable demographic disparity—age. Right now, those 34 or younger are having the hardest time coping with eco anxiety, Werner said. That phenomenon is evident here in SLO County. Julia Richardson, a supervisor with SLO CLIMATE continued page 18 RISING WATERS Climate change is causing increasing levels of anxiety in people. A 2020 poll found that two-thirds of Americans were anxious about the crisis. Pictured here: king tides in Pismo Beach, an annual phenomenon that shows what a climate change-impacted ocean would look like.

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H EALTH

& County Behavioral Health, said that she’s WELLNESS noticed more acute eco 2022 anxiety-type symptoms in the young people she serves at her Arroyo Grande clinic. “I’m seeing more and more of I guess what we call Gen Z—born in the late ’90s and [through] 2010,” Richardson said. “The beliefs and thoughts of our Gen Z, our young folks, are: ‘Why bother? Why even have kids? Not sure if anything’s going to be around for me.’ And that sets up a lot of negativity and hopelessness and not a lot of desire to be motivated to move forward.” Richardson explained how these feelings and attitudes can “change our brain” if they go unaddressed. “How we think, how we feel, it literally changes the brain pattern … to a heightened state of arousal to fear, to worry, to anxiety,” she said. Overcoming the effects of eco anxiety can be difficult. But the panelists offered a variety of tips and tricks to feeling more hopeful and empowered about the future, while still being grounded in reality. The first tip: Don’t try to deny that climate change is happening. “Allow yourself to grieve,” Werner said. “Loss is unavoidable and at this point, it’s already happening. Acknowledge this is happening and allow yourself to grieve but strive to prevent this grief from overwhelming you.” Another tip was to fight isolation. Connect with other people and organizations that share similar feelings about the climate crisis. Then, strive to transform that anxiety and depression into useful action. “This could be through … advocacy groups, perhaps by doing beach cleanups, or mitigate usage of your car and therefore your environmental footprint,” Werner said. “Or you can also take action independently in your own life” through recycling, composting, being a mindful consumer, or voting for climate-conscious leaders at the ballot box, she said. Charles Varni, an activist with the Surfrider Foundation, recommended these steps, and also emphasized selfforgiveness. Living in a perfectly sustainable way is not often possible in today’s world, Varni said. Having too-high expectations or an all-or-nothing attitude can sometimes be an impediment to action and lead to more discouragement. “There’s a lot of guilt tripping and a lot of perfectionism around, are you doing enough in your daily life to save the Earth?” Varni said. “But in terms of forgiving ourselves, we were all born into an existing system, and it’s the system that created climate change, and we’re a part of it. I encourage people to recognize and celebrate your actions that put you on the right side of history. I encourage folks to reject these perfectionistic expectations.” A final tip for eco-anxiety mentioned by nearly every panelist: Get out in nature. “Go read a book on the beach. Take a hike. Hammock. Surf, or go on a run,” Werner said. “The options are endless, especially in SLO.” Δ Assistant Editor Peter Johnson can be reached at pjohnson@newtimesslo.com.

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Hospice SLO’s drum circle provides mental and physical relief for those suffering from loss

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H EALTH &

WELLNESS 2022

said. “There is absolutely stamina involved. I suppose if you were a little too gotcha matcha overzealous in how you were striking the with sweet cloud whip nce a month, a handful of San Luis drums, it could become strenuous. But I Obispo County’s grieving residents don’t encourage that, I encourage people gathers in the parlor of the historic to tap lightly because that’s all it takes Hospice SLO building to drum away with these drums.” their pain. Surrounded by a piano, a According to a California Health fireplace, and dark wood shelves lined Advocates article, group drumming has with books about coping with death, they even shown an increase in natural T-cells rhythmically bang blue drums of varying in the body, which can help fight off shapes. cancer and viruses like AIDS. At least they used to, until COVID-19 Jackson herself felt changes to caused sessions to be off and on. her emotional state once she began “If nothing else, follow the rhythm drumming. of your heartbeat, is what I tell them, “I would teach drum circle after having because your heart is a drum,” said Sonya worked all day. Even on those days that Jackson, the volunteer coordinator at we all have where it’s tougher than Hospice SLO. “You’re biologically wired normal, I would go in thinking I was Acai Superto drum. You just have to listen to that Antioxidant gonna dread drum circle because it was smooth t al kin’ got cha mat ch mango rhythm and then replicate it on the drum. two more hours wit h having sweet cloud of me to be here Acai SuperOnce they do that, other people start when I wanted to go home. Antioxidant joining “What I found was by engaging in smoot h in.” t alkin’ gotcha matcha mango Jackson began facilitating Heart drum circle, my spirits lifted, my stress Rhythms Drum Circle at the converted lifted, my mind lifted and softened,” she Acai SuperVictorian home in 2018 after Hospice said. “I felt energized not exhausted after Antioxidant SLO’s former executive director, Kris it was over. I think it was what my clients experienced as well. Everyone always Kington-Barker, bought a set of drums Revitalize your day and workout with tasty, leaves with smiles on their faces and a but never found the time to begin little bit breathy.” sessions. Up until then, Jackson hadn’t energizing iced beverages and smoothies! Revitalize your day and workout with tasty, One of those clients is Teresa Fernande, attended a drum circle, though she had energizing iced beverages and smoothies! a 49-year-old grief counselor who was an appreciation for the skill by way of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Follow us on Facebook: growing up with a drummer brother. mourning her brother’s passing. She XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Revitalize your day and workout with tasty, attended the drum circle in October XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX But after studying The Art and Heart XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Follow us on Facebook: 2021—it’s first session since March San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Paso Robles, of Drum Circles—an instructional book XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX energizing iced beverages and smoothies! 2020—and belonged to a throng of and accompanying video set by music Download the Jamba app Arroyo Grande, and Santa Maria 10 attendees. It was double the drum therapist Christine Stevens—she felt to order ahead or get it delivered. Revit alize your day and and worko Download the Jamba app XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Revit your d Follow us on Facebook: alize circle’s usualay number, and it underscored energizing iced beverages an ready to lead. en ergizin g ice d b evera toXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX order ahead or get it delivered. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX people’s need to cope with anxiety during XX X X X out XX X… Xabout XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX “There are studies there XX XX XX XX XX XX XX X XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XXXXX X X X X X X X X X X XX COVID-19. XXXX X X X can X X XXXXXXXXXXX what drum circles doX to lower blood Download the Jamba app “I was a little reluctant to attend. I was ©2022 Jamba Juice FranchisorDownload SPV LLC. All Rights Reserved. pressure, lower anxiety, reduce stress, the Jamba app to order ahead or get it delivered. to order ahead or get it delivered ©2022 Jamba Juice Franchisor SPV LLC. All Rights Reserved. DRUMMING continued page 22 and even help processing grief,” Jackson

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DRUMMING from page 20

thinking, ‘What am I going to do for an hour and a half just hitting a drum?’ But I wanted to find some relief, so I went with an open mind. I actually loved it,” Fernande said. “It was very therapeutic, and very healing. Even though we didn’t talk to one another, by sharing music and going with the rhythm … it was community healing.” New to drum circles, Fernande found it helpful to fall back on her heartbeat. “I will not use the word ‘happier,’ because [that’s] different for everyone. But I felt contentment and relief. I feel like I was able to work through my grief,” she said. “The beating of the drum went along with the beating of the heart, for me. My heart was aching, and as I was drumming, I felt the connection with the sound, with my heart. I felt connected to the rest of the people who attended.” A one-time attendee, Fernande found the big mother drum to be her favorite. She hopes to attend more sessions, but the January circle was canceled due to the omicron variant’s spread. In the meantime, she recommended tapping into music to self-soothe. Fernande said she practices healing at home by listening to violin pieces by the European music duo Secret Garden. “Some of us don’t have a drum at home. There is magic when you drum among others,” she said. “Sometimes, I connect myself with certain [instrumental music] … I feel it in my bloodstream.” Jackson, on the other hand, practiced grief yoga while the drum circle was paused. She added that drum therapy couldn’t work on Zoom because of the

video lags and delay, H EALTH but drumming at home & was possible through WELLNESS improvisation. 2022 “You can play on anything; you can play on pots and pans. I say start where you are and use what you can if you’re limited in resources. If you’ve got money, go out and buy a nice Remo drum and get something that speaks to your soul when you hear it struck,” Jackson said. “You can put on your favorite song and play drums to that. Let go and have fun and release, because that’s what’s keeping all the tension tied up in knots in your neck and back.” Joining the hospice’s drum circle is free of cost, and they’re gearing up to host the next session on Feb. 10. Jackson mentioned that they try to pandemicproof the gatherings by maintaining air flow through open doors and windows and air purifiers; encouraging mask use; and wiping down the drums in between playing. “People just open up and let go. It’s hard to find a safe place to let go in a healthy way these days,” Jackson said. Take it from another client, George Jercich, who attended drum therapy after his wife of 40 years passed away. “I have enjoyed the sessions and do feel they restore something in my normal daily rhythms that have been amiss,” he said. “I wish I was a better drummer, or maybe I should make more of a point of practicing more, but so far no one has hit me behind the ear with a drum stick and kicked me out.” Δ Reach Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal at brajagopal@newtimesslo.com.

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