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Page 23 Second Opinion |‌ 1
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FREE — Wednesdays June-September 5:30 p.m. (weather permitting)
June 4, 11, 18, 25 - Phoenix Park “Labyrinth” July 9, 16, 23, 31 - Owen Park by the Bandshell Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 - Riverview Park “the Island” Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 - Rod n Gun Park “Circle of Pines”
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Second Opinion | 2
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Why we do what we do. Our goal is to connect Chippewa Valley consumers with alternative health and wellness resources and products that will help them lead healthier, happier lives. The idea of keeping it local and helping people discover how many incredible services and offerings our little backyard may offer has been a major driving force in everything we do in the magazine.
Contents
Why read us? Second Opinion’s mission is to help educate and empower folks in the region to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. We are THE region’s health and wellness resource and have helped to shape and grow the wellness movement in the area—that includes helping to educate people about the value of massage therapy, chiropractics, organic foods, buying local and much more! We’d love to help support your mission to thrive and grow in the area and we’d love YOUR support to help us continue being the awesome resource that we are. Together we can help create a healthier, more aware community.
Office: 3315 Nimitz Street Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 All articles are the sole property of the writers. Opinions expressed in Second Opinion are those of the writers or advertisers themselves, not the publication or its editors. Second Opinion is not liable for use of any artwork provided by advertisers. Please direct concerns to the advertisers. ©2006-2014
Balanced Living
6
Green Pages
• Downtown Farmer's Market
• Mike's e-Bikes 7
Happenings in the Valley
8
Hula Hooping FUN!
9
Everybody Deadlifts
14
Winter of Our Discontent
18
Lyme Disease and Your Health
20
Antibiotics: What You Should Know
23
More Than Just Water
24
Gardeners Beware: Dangers of Pesticides
26 Lawncare in a Changing Environment
CONTACT US: Arwen Rasmussen 715.831.0325 editor@asecondopinionmag.com www.asecondopinionmag.com Graphic Design: Kathy Nelson
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Stay in the Garden
30
Go Green with Your Grub
Laughter Yoga
12 Healing Birds
16 Cellular Antioxidants Second Opinion | 3
balanced living Tomatoes Do Love Compost Everybody knows that compost is good for your garden, but now we have proof from the U.S. Composting Council (USCC), which implemented the Million Tomato Compost Campaign last April to help community gardens across the country improve their soil and grow fresh produce for food pantries. The campaign harvested more than 1.2 million tomatoes at one hundred gardens. The USCC coordinated the donation of 540 dump trucks’ worth of compost from 85 compost manufacturers to jumpstart the project. Tomatoes can be tricky for new gardeners to grow successfully, but high-quality compostamended soil really helps. Compost helps soil retain water and can help to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, according to the USCC. Celebrity chef Nathan Lyon, who wrote Great Food Starts Fresh, was the spokesperson for the campaign, as he encouraged gardeners and provided tomato-
based recipes. “The Million Tomato Compost Campaign has proven that people across the country are hungry — not only for fresh, healthy sustainable food, but also for the tools they need to grow healthy food on their own. That starts with good soil and compost,” Chef Lyon said. “Starting with the soil is so important because healthy soil leads to healthy food, which builds healthy people and communities.” Community gardens across the country participated in the USCC’s campaign. The campaign’s success was largely due to bringing together various groups and individuals in the community in order to produce local food. Compost manufacturers, community gardens, and food pantries all contributed to the positive outcome. For information about where to buy compost for your garden and how to use it, visit the USCC’s website: compostingcouncil. org
Yoga in the Garden When you are in the garden, there are simple things you can do to help your body cope with the hard work of gardening. For example: • When you spade, rake, hoe, or weed, do the action on both sides of your body. • When you bend over, bend from the hip joints not the waist. Bend your knees to make it easier. Then you will be more likely to support your movement from the legs and abdominals. • When working down a row for planting or weeding, use a variety of positions: on hands and knees, squatting, bending over at the hips with bent knees, sitting. • Stand up and stretch once in a while as you survey your handiwork and listen to the birds around you. — Sandra Helpsmeet, The Yoga Center, EC Second Opinion | 4
Tips and ideas for a healthy and balanced life Protection from the Ground Up You should expect more from your bug repellent. Most people think to get effective protection you have to settle for chemical sprays, or worse, clip expensive units to your pocket and try not to inhale the fumes. And to find a good smelling repellent; well, there isn’t any. Nature Barrier® is for the outdoor lover who wants to sit and enjoy the sunset. We’re the original granular repellent for ground application using pure essential oils for 95 percent repellency and a gentle fragrance. So when you’re ready to relax and soak up the great outdoors, sprinkle Nature Barrier® first and expect more from your outdoor experience. ▪ Amazingly sweet soothing scent ▪ Long lasting – Up to 24 hours ▪ EPA exempt – Surpasses EPA standards ▪ No clean up required – 100 percent biodegradable ▪ Safe around free range chickens ▪ Safe around free range children ▪ Use on any dry ground surface, including sand ▪ Made and sold locally in Cornell, Wisconsin. www.naturebarrier.com
A Safer Alternative Chickity Doo Doo™ Organic Fertilizer is derived from 100 percent chicken manure. It contains all the desirable benefits that have made chicken manure extremely beneficial to vegetable farmers and organic gardeners for decades. As individuals become more conscious of traditional synthetic chemical fertilizers and the long-term damage they cause to the environment, the demand for family-friendly and environmentally safe products continues to grow.
LOVE IT! This stuff smells so good and you'll be happy knowing that it's non-toxic, plant based and good for eveyone and the earth!
Think Out of the Box Conditioner
No shaving cream? No problem. Hair conditioner does everything shaving cream is engineered to do — softens hair, creates a barrier between blade and skin, and leaves skin hydrated. “It’s formulated to soften and protect,” says Susie Galvez, a Richmondbased esthetician and author of The Thrifty Girl’s Guide to Glamour. A pea-size amount should be enough for both armpits, while a quarter-size dollop will take care of each leg.
Great Gifts for... The Connoisseur
You know that moment on a pleasant evening with friends, when the room starts to feel a little more relaxed, the conversation a little more entertaining, and your worries a bit farther away? Well, these tipsy wine glasses are already there.
92 Percent Steel is the most recycled material in North America. The recycling rate for steel packaging is 70.8 percent while the rate for automobile recycling is an impressive 94.5 percent. When we're looking at percentages that high, those tons of material do add up.
Find these and more at uncommongoods.com
College Bound
Go 20,000 leagues under the shower with this friendly squid, equipped with nine adjustable tentacles for gripping your shampoo, soap and washing extras, without disappearing into the bathroom void!
Anyone Really!!
Let this mother duck and her ducklings waddle into your home; and your heart. Completely hand-carved from recycled bamboo root and teakwood, these adorable ducks sport bright yellow rain gear, inquisitive eyes, and delightful webbed feet.
Curbside Recycling Many Americans now have access to curbside recycling, and in 2012 we saw some great advances in what those programs will accept. For example, the first curbside textile recycling program began in Queen Creek, Arizona, that year, and many cities including Denver have started accepting cartons.
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Second Opinion | 5
Green Pages...dedicated
to being natural , green , organic , and local
The New Eau Claire Farmers Market Back in 1980, a few small producers, hoping to find a way to sell fresh produce, founded the first farmers market in the Eau Claire area–the Eau Claire Farmers Market. Their dream was to have a sustainable summer and fall market and provide fresh produce directly to consumers. Since the market started, there have been many changes and additions to locations. We have seen the Downtown Farmers Market branch off, providing accessibility to fresh goods throughout the downtown area. Still, the market stayed open, and producers fought to keep the waning stream of customers even up until last year. During the 2013 season, the Eau Claire Farmers Market could be found at The Oakwood Mall on Tuesdays and Saturdays. However, a move was in the air–the market was noticing a decline in customers visiting the mall area. Discussion amongst market vendors grew to concern as we spoke up and suggested that perhaps it was time to revamp the market and form a new board of directors who were committed to making the market the best it has been in thirty years. This January 2014, a new board took the reins, consisting of Chairperson Galen Klisiewicz, Vice Chairperson Mark Loer, Treasurer Pat Matthews, and Secretary Amy Powis. By the end of January, we had improved the by-laws and secured a brand-new location. Because of the new and dedicated board and our new location, 2014 promises to be a banner year for the oldest farmers market in Eau Claire. We have expanded our market to three days and not one but with two new locations. The details: Tuesdays & Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Gordy’s on East Hamilton Avenue in Eau Claire and Wednesdays, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Gordy’s on Birch Street in Eau Claire. We can now serve Eau Claire better by offering fresh produce, fruits, vegetables, pickled salsas and relishes, organic-fed meats, handcrafted farmstead items, cheeses, and freshly baked items in not one, but two, locations in Eau Claire. We also worked to make our by-laws more inclusive Second Opinion | 6
to not only locally grown produce but local businesses hoping to make an impact on the community. We welcome any local small business owner looking for a direct-toconsumer outlet to join us this season. With the tremendous help of Gordy’s, we will settle into our new market spaces beginning June 14. The Eau Claire Farmers Market will continue through the summer and into fall until October 18. If you have never enjoyed our market before, we suggest you make your way over to Gordy’s starting in June. It is a wonderful place to find all your favorite locally produced items. Vendors and customers can find more information and applications at www.eauclairefarmersmarket.com. Look for us on Twitter and Facebook as well. Eau Claire Farmers Market: It’s good for your health, good for the community, and good for the environment. Join us in 2014 for a fantastic place to enjoy everything you love about growers and small businesses in the Eau Claire area!
Mike’s e-Bikes Brings Green Biking Transportation to Eau Claire! When Mike Kelly left the military service, he brought with him the conviction to continue serving his country, protecting its resources, and helping develop eco-friendly technologies. While working on an invention, he came across the new high-tech electric bicycle (e-bikes). With the hilly topography, a young professional population who would enjoy riding bikes effortlessly to work (and maintaining a professional work hygiene), and an aging population who enjoys riding bikes yet need assistance, Kelly sees this as a needed form of transportation in the Chippewa Valley. Kelly is proud to introduce this innovative way of travel by opening Mike’s e-Bikes, LLC at 431 Water Street on April 1, just before the riding season’s official opening. Mike’s e-Bikes will be the only exclusive brick-and-mortar e-bike dealer in the Chippewa Valley, Western Wisconsin, and Central Wisconsin. Kelly has a strong passion for green energy and has spent the last few years investing in green technology, including solar panels for his household, a hybrid car for longer distance transportation, and the development of his own e-bike for shorter commutes. He has a strong desire to educate others about the importance of efficiently using existing resources and has been involved
Green Pages... with many historic building renovations and green projects in the Chippewa Valley. As a retired combat veteran, Kelly has developed a high aptitude for and working knowledge of electronics, engineering, and mechanical design. He is committed to assisting and hiring other veterans who share similar backgrounds, values, and service and who are looking for a way to transition back into civilian life. E-bikes are one of the most efficient modes of transportation. In comparison to walking or traditional biking, they allow a rider to travel faster and farther while expending less energy. They produce zero emissions and are an inexpensive green alternative for getting about town. The e-bike is a great solution for individuals who want inexpensive, healthy, and fun transportation, without the sweat. For commuters, the elderly, or those physically unable to ride traditional bikes, e-bikes can be the difference between dread and delight. E-bikes provide a pain-free and low-cost alternative to cars for running errands. To learn more about Mike’s e-Bikes, you can access Kelly’s website at www.mikes-e-bikes.com or call Kelly at 715-577-5429.
Happenings in the Valley May/June 2014
May 8, 2014 Western Wisconsin Childbirth Coalition: Doulas 6:30 p.m., Camille’s Sidewalk Café, 1120 122nd Street, Chippewa Falls.
June 12, 2014 Western Wisconsin Childbirth Coalition: Midwives 6:30 p.m., Camille’s Sidewalk Café, 1120 122nd Street, Chippewa Falls.
What is a doula? What do they do? Why have one? Hear from local doulas on what they do, how they support moms and their families in all stages of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and how their work benefits families. Public Board Meeting 5:306:30 p.m., followed by parent education session.
You may have heard of them, but what do they do? How do they work? How is the care you receive from midwives unique, similar, or different to the care you receive from other providers. Public Board Meeting 5:306:30 p.m., followed by parent education session.
Eau Claire Farmer’s Market
Fair prices. Knowledgeable staff. Everybody is welcome. At Eau Claire’s source for organic foods and eco-friendly health and home products.
June 14th-October 18th
Gordys, Tuesdays and Saturdays 8am-2pm 3310 E. Hamilton Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701 Gordy’s, Wednesdays 8am-2pm 2717 Birch St., Eau Claire, WI 54703 Open daily 8:00 am - 9:00 pm 1117 South Farwell Street • Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 715.552.3366 • www.justlocalfood.com
Second Opinion | 7
By Ilona Udvari
W
ith the onset of warmer weather, we are all dying to get outside, shed our layers of cold-weather clothing, and kick up our heels a bit. The parts of us that were once well hidden are begging for sunlight, and the secrets of our winter and holiday indiscretions are soon to be front-page news. I used to be disheartened considering the number of crunches it was likely to take to get me looking and feeling good for summer, but now I just smile. Though not for lack of trying, I could never sustain a love affair with ab work, but I started hula hooping several years ago, and not only was it easy to tone up, I could hardly wait to do it! The history of hooping pre-dates the immergence of the beloved Wham-o hula-hoop of the 1950s, by several thousands of years. But its evolution has taken us from the small, lightweight child’s toy into a whole new era. Such children’s hoops are often the perpetrators misleading us all to believe we cannot, and never could, hula-hoop. But times have changed, and adult-size weighted hoops are available for a full range of activities from weight loss to hoop dancing. A long list of health benefits has also made hooping grow quickly in popularity. But the greatest lure by far is the fun! Imagine the idea of looking forward to your workouts. What a difference it makes in your success! Hooping can burn up to 100 calories per ten-minute session and up to 400–600 in an hour. It’s a great low impact, aerobic, cardiovascular workout that melts away unwanted fat at the core and tightens the stomach. Plus building up your core muscles also helps you to burn more calories. It’s a win-win situation! The new larger and heavier hoop is easier to control and a greater benefit in toning the body. In fact, it sculpts and builds muscle in the glutes, back, thighs, hips, legs, knees, as well as in the abdomen. This in turn increases your range of motion, flexibility, and balance. In doing so, one can actually prevent back problems. Second Opinion | 8
If you’ve had commitment issues in the past, fear not. You can see the benefits from working as little as ten minutes a day using a weighted hoop. But believe me, stopping after ten minutes will be the farthest thing from your mind. Hooping helps to reduce and manage stress, and it generates a magnificent feeling of wellbeing. Devotees will tell you that it works as a powerful means of meditation to calm one’s self, clear one’s thoughts, and process the day’s stresses. As we hula, learn tricks and routines, and have fun playing, the hoop gently massages our vital organs and improves their integral function, particularly those in the digestive system. There is an increase of blood flow to the brain, oxygenizing the blood and increasing vital energy. It can be as equally reviving as a short nap! Dopamine is also released by the body, improving our ability to focus and raising our attention level. And if that isn’t enough, studies show that the gray matter of our brain also expands and improves. Hula hooping can be done by people of all ages, genders, and shapes. It’s a fantastic activity to do with kids and encourages healthy lifestyle choices. Whether you are reliving the simple joys of childhood or cashing in on the amazing health and exercise benefits, you will find yourself smiling and laughing. So buddyup, get a hoop you like, remove breakables from the hoop area, and get fit and stay fit! It just takes a little practice and the right equipment.
Fitness through Fun Ilona Udvari
Experienced Hoop-Master N4002 Hwy. 25 Menomonie, WI 54751 715-235-7732 ilona@fireflyreiki.com
Premium Hoops • Artistic Styles • Weighted for Exercise • Custom Orders
Healthy Living
EVERYBODY DEADLIFTS: Might As Well Do It Right! By Benji Williford, Chain Reaction Fitness
A
fter what seemed like a never-ending polar vortex, it’s finally time to “spring” into action! You probably have plans to landscape, travel, and spring clean. All of these activities will entail lifting objects such as flowerpots, landscaping blocks, suitcases, and various other heavy items. Anytime you pick up an object from the ground, you are performing a deadlift. Proper form when performing a deadlift will strengthen the glutes, hamstrings, and core, and can eliminate back pain. Conversely, rep after rep of poor form will incur injuries such as back pain, potentially causing you to be out of commission. Here are some deadlifting guidelines to keep you injury-free: Place your feet (hip-width apart) on either side of the object so that it is centered between the arches of your feet. (Place yourself to the side of objects with handles such as a suitcase so that the handle is lined up with the arch of your foot.) Really root both feet into the ground. Tilt your pelvis by pulling the top part of the butt toward your heels. This shouldn’t be confused with an excessive “scoop” of the butt as that would strain the back. Pull the lower ribs inward while you pull your navel in toward your spine as if you were trying to lift it up under your ribcage. Your midsection will feel very strong and “engaged” while the lower back lengthens out. (Photo 1)
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Sit back in your hips, keeping your midsection tight and your back straight. Keep your knees over your ankles and bend your knees until you can grab the object. Your shoulders should be
in front of the object/your hands. Your glutes, hamstrings, and midsection are tight. Now tighten your armpits as if you were holding a newspaper under each arm.
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(Photo 2)
Keep your arms straight and stay tight in the armpits. Push into your heels and straighten your legs. Really use your glutes and keep the abs tight! Fully open your hips/ straighten your hip flexors at the top of the rep. The path of the object as you lift it should be straight up (not in an arc). Think about working with the pull of gravity. (Photo 3)
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Be sure to add deadlifts using equipment such as barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and sandbags to your workouts. This functional exercise will ensure that you enjoy being strong when it matters! Benji is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer (PFT), a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and Owner of Chain Reaction Fitness LLC. www.benjiwilliford.com
Mike’s E-Bikes Electric Pedal Assist Bikes
NOW OPEN 431 Water Street 715-577-5429
Second Opinion | 9
Pasture Poultry Available: Roasters-Fryers-Stew Hens 50+ dozen eggs/day Contact: Amanda Bohl 715-556-3469 daytime 715-288-6608 evening
Email: amandarbohl@icloud.com 9359 100th Ave., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 www.farmfreshbrowneggs.weebly.com
Check out our healthy foods display!!
P. 33 Eau Claire Senior Review March 2013
Most Insurance Accepted Including Medicare & Medicaid
Paul Schlosser, M.D.
Paul Schlosser, M.D. Integrative Medicine ◆ Medical Acupuncture Integrative Medicine 200 Main Street, Eau Claire, WI 715-855-8280 Medical Acupuncture www.tworiversclinic.com ◆ 2riversclinic@att.com
UW-Eau Claire Summer Wellness Classes
Session One: May 19 - July 10 Classes Include: Tues/Wed/Thurs: PowerPlus 11:15 am-Noon in McPhee 111a Instructors: Deb Begotka & Sarah Hoover
Tuesday/Thursday: Pilates 6:30-7:15 am in McPhee 105 Instructor: Penny Crochiere Thursday: Bootcamp 6:15-7:15 pm in McPhee 105 Instructor: Deb Begotka
View Website for FREE Wellness Seminars
Visit www.uwec.edu/recreation for more information or call 715-836-3377. Second Opinion | 10
The Christine Center 200 Mainprograms Street, Eau Claire WI Retreat for meditation, Yoga, art and writing 715-855-8280 & many others. Bring family, friends and www.tworiversclinic.com co-workers for get-togethers and meetings. 2riversclinic@att.com
Cottages, guest house, homemade mostly MOST INSURNACES ACCEPTED vegetarian meals. Bookstore, library, trails. INCLUDING MEDICARE & MEDICAID Call 715.267.7507.
Visit www.christinecenter.org
Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine By Jodi Ritsch
A
laughter, especially deep belly laughing for over twenty minutes, has been shown to provide many benefits. We can learn quite a bit from our toddlers and pre-schoolers who laugh much more regularly than adults. Fortunately, fake laughter has similar benefits to real laughter. So even if you have to fake it at first, you will benefit and often transition to real giggles. Dr. Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga, was researching the benefits of laughter in 1995 and decided to gather a small group in Mumbai Park to practice laughing. Laughter Yoga certified leaders now run over 7,000 Laughter Yoga Clubs in more than sixty-five countries. I personally have always enjoyed laughing, so when given the opportunity to train as a leader of Laughter Yoga at the National Wellness Conference in 2012, I jumped for joy. Since that time, I have laughed with kids at after school programs, healthcare workers, government employees, Rotarians, and retirees. If you can laugh and you can breathe, you can do Laughter Yoga. And believe it or not, the more you act silly and laugh, the more resilient you become. It is easier to laugh when something throws you a curve ball in life. Life in general becomes less of a chore and more joy filled. Laughter yoga sessions begin with a brief introduction and then the group moves on to childlike playfulness, no comedy or jokes required. After mingling in the group with different laughter activities, the serious laughter begins during the “laughter free for all.” This is when all the joyful chemistry from laughter really amps up. The final stage is a guided relaxation time to really feel the bliss created. All that fun in roughly thirty minutes. It is very hard to stay angry or upset when you look someone in the eye and laugh together. Help spread this humorous world peace movement. With the laughing baby and animal snippets on YouTube or fun photos on Pinterest/Instagram/Facebook, you can literally start laughing this minute. Makes me chuckle just thinking about it.
s a physician board certified in family medicine as well as integrative holistic medicine, I often meet people that are STRESSED. Whether life is handing them a series of challenges or they have a natural disposition of viewing the glass as half empty, stress often times affects their health as well as relationships. What if there were a simple, inexpensive drug that could counteract the bad effects of stress? Would it sell like hot cakes? Would people visit me at The Joyful Doc Clinic in Menomonie just to try the prescription? I bet they would. And what if this miracle drug could lower blood pressure, increase immunity, decrease stress hormones like cortisol, and decrease pain with the body’s own endorphins? I bet they would pay almost any price for it. The great news is the miracle is here! It is readily available to everyone and it is FREE. The miracle is laughter. There are a few catches to obtaining all the health benefits. Consistent
You are invited to join Jodi Ritsch, MD, for Laughter Yoga on any Wednesday from noon to 12:30 at The Center (3701 Highway 12 in Eau Claire.) She also is available for mindful change life coaching at www.lifebydesignec.com or medical appointments at www. joyfuldoc.com.
Angel Care Healing Touch
KATYDID RANCH
Judy Meinen, RN Services Include: • Healing Touch • Reiki Master/Teacher • Hypnotherapy/Past Life Regression • Psychic Readings • QXCI Energetic Biofeedback Reiki I Class • Aids in Medical, Nutritional and Lifestyle choices Saturday, May 17 • Distant Healing and Phone sessions available 2130 Brackett Ave, Suite B, Eau Claire 715.832.7250 ♥ AngelCareHealingTouch.com
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Fall Creek, WI
YOUNG FARMERS DAY CAMP AGES 8-11 Years Old - June and July 2014 For Sign Up, visit www.KatydidRanch.com Or call 715-877-9978 Second Opinion | 11
Healing Paths
Healing Birds By Michael & Kathi Rock
T
he Irish author Robert Lynd says, “In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence,” and we have discovered that this is definitely true. Birds are clearly smaller in size than we are, but they are also much bigger in spirit, and seeing them provides a priceless connection to the beauty and majesty of nature and mindfulness in our lives—the special relationship we have discovered between birds and the wonderful people involved in watching them has been endlessly fascinating and far-reaching. We became interested in creating a wildlife sanctuary in our suburban backyard almost by accident, and then it became our destiny as the years went on and our involvement and commitment to birds, especially hummingbirds, grew. The life of birds is determined by the cycles of nature, and we have found ourselves tapping into those cycles to learn about and appreciate the richness that birds can bring to our lives and our mental and physical health. Seeing birds can certainly be a unique challenge in the frozen north. What can we do to invite birds into our yards? Many birds, such as hummingbirds Second Opinion | 12
We can think of endless days of stress and illness when the sight of certain favorite birds was immensely therapeutic— this is one reason why you will see bird feeders at places such as nursing homes and hospice centers. Birds can brighten up a bleak, frigid winter day or bring hope and peace when times are rocky and dark. and tanagers, are only with us during the warmer months and require special routines to draw them into and keep them coming back to our gardens. Generally, once a bird finds your property and something desirable about it, you can usually be guaranteed of return visits. As we’ve learned with hummingbirds, this activity is definitely a building process, with each successive year becoming better and stronger. The most important thing we have learned about birds is that you must take steps to meet their basic needs when you “put out the welcome sign” for them to keep them coming back
again and again. For most birds, those needs will include dependable: ▪ Shelter ▪ Food ▪ Water A property containing large, mature trees and bird-friendly shrubbery will generally be an ideal habitat for most birds. If you have no trees or dense shrubbery (an ideal roosting and protective spot for smaller birds) in your yard, planting the largest plant specimens you can find will be an important first step. Birds require a place to sleep at night and something to escape into when being pursued by a predator. A brush pile or discarded Christmas tree also helps to create a valuable home for your bird friends. Some birds require special accommodations such as a nest box or house. For example, we would not be enjoying our Eastern screech owl during the winter without a specially located nest box (identify a place where squirrels cannot get into it and take it over) or those busy house wrens in the spring without birdhouses. Food can be quite different for each bird species—think of it like “setting the table” for your bird friends! Some
birds, such as cardinals and chickadees, eat mostly seeds, and some birds, such as robins, cedar waxwings, warblers, and tanagers, eat insects and worms. Our winter woodpeckers depend on suet, and, of course, hummingbirds (hummingbirds also devour huge numbers of small gnatsized insects, so don’t use pesticides in your yard and plant lots of flowers) and orioles love sugar water feeders (Orioles also eat fruit and insects.). Hummingbirds eat from special tubularshaped flowers, and you must plant a succession of nectar-filled blooms for them from early May through midOctober—a combination of feeders and the best flowers will ensure the presence of these magical birds in your garden. To enjoy a wide diversity of birds, it is essential to provide and encourage the presence of many different types of food, and you must make sure that wildlife such as squirrels and raccoons cannot eat the food before the intended bird can find it (think squirrel-proof feeders, outof-reach locations, and alternate foods for squirrels for best results). Sugar water feeders must be kept clean and fresh for the safety of the birds, and seed feeders must be filled and periodically cleaned. Providing food for birds is a little like having a pet—while birds can find food on their own because they are wild, if you want to enjoy watching and developing a special relationship with birds, you must spend time and care providing clean and safe food and designing your habitat. Water can be a very challenging
element to provide unless your property backs up onto a moving stream or river. Moving water on your property will always bring a greater diversity of birds (especially during spring and fall migrations), and we have absolutely found this to be the case since we first began creating a wildlife habitat. Additionally, the relaxing and rhythmic sound of the water is soothing and meditative, especially at the end of a long workday or during a stressful or difficult time in one’s life. We decided to purchase a small pond kit (the pond is very shallow with a small waterfall and a mister and dripper device) from the Internet, and while it is a lot of work to install the pond in the spring and disassemble it in the fall, the payback in terms of enjoying birds of all kinds is huge. For several springs we had families of ducks enjoying the pond, we’ve seen hummingbirds bathe in the pond, and virtually every other bird in our yard uses the pond at one time or another (red-wing blackbirds, that beautiful harbinger of spring, especially like our pond when they first arrive from their wintering grounds), such as bluebirds and rose-breasted grosbeaks. There are many creative solutions to establishing a source of moving water that are less time intensive and expensive than a pond, and they are all worthwhile in your quest to enjoy birds. A properly maintained birdbath is wonderful for many small songbirds, but many birds such as hummingbirds will unfortunately find the water to be too deep and stagnant.
Birds are always doing something interesting, and their fascinating routines and arrivals and departures provide endless entertainment and stress relief during the average day (seeing that first hummingbird in late spring or an adult cardinal feeding a juvenile bird is simply priceless!). Nothing in life could duplicate our excitement of seeing the face of our Eastern screech owl appear in the hole of our nest box for the first time this winter or an indigo bunting at our bird feeder last summer. We regularly have a red-tailed hawk fly through our yard, and every time it is an awe-inspiring sight because of the sheer wingspan of the bird. It is therefore very important to place feeders and boxes and plant flowers where you can easily see and enjoy the birds from your home. We can think of endless days of stress and illness when the sight of certain favorite birds was immensely therapeutic—this is one reason why you will see bird feeders at places such as nursing homes and hospice centers. Birds can brighten up a bleak, frigid winter day or bring hope and peace when times are rocky and dark. We begin and end our lives, our days, and our seasons, with birds—unlike us, they can fly, hover, and disappear into the sky where our dreams float free. As J. M. Barrie writes, “The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.” We encourage you to have a little faith and to invite a few birds into your garden this spring so that you can discover the magic of birds for yourself!
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Good Earth
The Winter of Our Discontent By James E. Boulter, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director, Watershed Institute for Collaborative Environmental Studies University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
W
e have just emerged from one of the coldest winter some of us have ever experienced.1 There was talk about whether those arctic blasts, felt as far south as Florida, finally signified the end of the raging battle of public opinion over the validity of climate change. Some felt that the cold weather they experienced couldn’t possibly be consistent with global warming as they understood it, while others exploited it to reinforce their conclusion that human-induced climate change was a fraudulent hoax.2 Meanwhile, many accepted explanations of the shifting polar vortex as another example in a growing list of extreme weather events, escalating their sense of a changing climate.
So which is it?
It is important to recognize that weather is necessarily personal—something we experience, and thus inherently local. For example, while we froze in the Upper Midwest, high temperatures set records along the west coast of North America all the way up to the northern slope of Alaska.3 Even as severe droughts threaten California,4 record-breaking rains flooded England5 and record-breaking high temperatures scorched Australia. In contrast, climate is continental or global in scale—we measure it by means of satellites or extensive networks of monitoring stations; those data indicate that global average temperature for January was the fourth highest on record, more than 2°F higher than the twentieth century average over land.6 In order to quantify the increase in thermal energy of the planet resulting from increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, it is necessary include not only measurements made on land, but also those at sea, Second Opinion | 14
and below the ocean surface.7 And finally, it is crucial to focus on long-term changes because climate varies over decades, never seasons. So the unsatisfying answer is, “neither—not from a single winter in any one part of the world.” But we can ask other questions that result in a resounding, “Yes; human activities (primarily extraction and burning of fossil fuels) have substantially warmed the lower atmosphere and the upper ocean.”8 This has been felt most acutely and most notably in the northern polar region, where we have observed the dramatic loss of sea ice and land-based glaciers, as visualized in James Balog’s compelling 2012 documentary, Chasing Ice.9
But is there any link between climate change and this extraordinarily cold winter?
It turns out that there’s a plausible and worrying connection. The polar vortex, a well-established annual phenomenon in both hemispheres, forms around the arctic after the sun goes down at the winter solstice. As the air cools and sinks, it begins to rotate like a spinning top. The strength of the vortex is determined by the difference in temperature between the pole and the “mid-latitudes.” Decrease that difference by disproportionately warming the poles, and the top begins to slow its rotation. For the toy as well as the vortex, that leads to reduced stability as it wobbles and eventually falls over. This time, it fell right on North America, a rare although not unheard-of weather pattern.10 But warming poles mean much more to us than a particularly harsh winter. Much clearer connections can be drawn to a range of effects that amplify the warming directly caused by human emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. For instance, as the bright ice and snow of the far north become less extensive, the planet’s darkened surface absorbs still more light energy, leading to still-faster warming and melting.11 And as vast regions of permafrost thaw and “methane clathrates” beneath the Arctic Ocean begin to break down, both release additional greenhouse gases.12
Some of you may worry about this or other trends in the global climate record; however, I’m sorry to say that chances are, you’re probably less worried than the scientists who study climate change!13 Most of us who share concerns for the climate future of the planet suffer from a sense of futility leading to apathy or may feel overwhelmed to the point of paralysis. I’ve given many talks on the science and anticipated impacts of climate change over the past fifteen years or so, giving what I felt to be impassioned presentations about dispassionate numbers and graphs. As a result, I believe that I’ve raised awareness, and maybe also concerns and fears, but probably not many hopes.
What are concerned citizens to believe and how are we to act in the face of an issue of such magnitude?
Recently I’ve discovered a vital, potent source of hope – a potential remedy to that apathy and paralysis. Like Dr. James Hansen,14 the preeminent climate scientist who first testified before Congress about the dangers of human-caused global warming twenty-five years ago; like former Republican representative from South Carolina, Bob Inglis;15 like George Schultz, former Secretary of State to President Reagan;16 and—yes—like former Vice President and climate activist Al Gore,17 I have become an advocate for a market-based, “fee-and-dividend” solution to cut fossil fuel-related carbon emissions, and forestall the most serious climate outcomes.
What is fee-and-dividend and why should it work?
More than 97 percent of scientists who publish in related fields agree that climate change is happening and primarily caused by human activity;18 similarly, the consensus view of greater than 90 percent of economists across the ideological spectrum is that the most effective way to reduce fossil fuel use and the associated carbon dioxide emissions is by imposing a tax on carbon.19 This may also be described as a “fee and dividend” policy. The advantages to this approach are too numerous to list in this article, but include three key characteristics:20 ■ Implementation is rapid, simple and efficient, working by means of market forces rather than complex regulatory structures and needing to be imposed at fewer than 1000 points throughout the economy—wherever fossil fuels are extracted or imported. ■ The fee would be “revenue neutral,” preventing any substantial increase in the size of government while protecting he most vulnerable people from resulting increases to goods and services by refunding the entire amount collected as an annual dividend. ■ It is highly effective, imposing an initial cost of $15 per
ton of carbon dioxide emissions and increasing by $10 per ton per year. This provides a steadily increasing price that discourages fossil fuel use while giving people and industries the time and resources to change. By extension, it incentivizes development and implementation of renewable and efficient energy technologies. These characteristics are specifically intended to appeal to a wide range of legislators, both Democrat and Republican, so that such legislation has a better chance of passage, while retaining its effectiveness.
Is there any good news?
Yes—science can refine our understanding of causes and attributions and improve predictions of future climate scenarios. Better still, it may also provide exciting new technologies for improved energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, which may provide many people hope.21 However, these potential solutions are often slow or entirely unable to enter the market where they can be effective. Why is this? Consider that the full cost fossil fuels is never paid by the industry, at the pump, or on our energy bill; rather, it is assessed in increased healthcare costs and poor health outcomes, experienced in environmental damage, global insecurity and conflict, and transferred to our children and grandchildren.22 If that weren’t enough, greener, cleaner energy alternatives simply cannot compete with established, mature technologies and energy sources whose dominance is reinforced by existing cultural expectations, subsidies, business models, power structures, and infrastructural investments.23 In other words, the playing field is uneven now but this strategy is a way to right it. And by doing this, individuals, families, governments, businesses and industries will be empowered to make changes in how they use and invest in energy that will help to avoid the worst impacts of a changing climate. If this proposed solution also gives you hope, or if you’re interested to learn how a non-partisan organization, comprised almost exclusively of volunteers from across the continent and beyond, seeks to create the political will for a stable climate, visit our website at http://citizensclimatelobby.org/. For a complete list of references and footnotes, please see the article on our website www.asecondopinionmag.com
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Healthy Family
Your Own Set of Antioxidants — Better Than a Vitamin By Heidi Toy
H
ealth resides in the cell. If you have healthy cells, you will have healthy tissue and healthy organs. Simply, the cell is where the action is at! The cells of our body have to deal with a host of nasty threats. Things such as viruses, bacteria, and infection are just some of the perils that our cells have to deal with. One threat that gets very little attention is that of free radical damage. However, it is this very damage that is the upstream cause to the downstream effect of all aging and diseases. Free radical damage is everywhere in our body and is caused by cellular metabolism. Things we do every day such as breathing, eating, and even strenuous exercise naturally cause free radicals to occur. Additionally, we have an increased exposure to free radical damage from things like pollution, cigarette smoke, drugs, illness, and stress. Our body makes approximately 13 sextillion free radicals per day. A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron. The molecule is reactive and therefore seeking an electron from another source in order to pair. Essentially it steals the electron from a healthy cell. This initiates an uncontrolled chain reaction that can damage the natural function of the living cell, causing various diseases. Antioxidants mitigate this reaction by giving an electron to the free radical in order to stop the cell damage. When the amount of free radicals in the body is greater than the amount of antioxidants available, we have what is called oxidative stress. Although we do not feel Second Opinion | 16
oxidative stress happening in our bodies, it is happening, hence we advance in age. High amounts of free radicals + Low amounts of antioxidants = Oxidative Stress. Oxidative Stress = aging, inflammation, and disease. You know what oxidation is: it is the rusting of a car or the browning of an apple when the peeling is removed and it is exposed to air (oxygen). This same thing is what is happening in our body at the cellular level. Oxidative stress is why we get wrinkles and gray hair. It is also why we get disease states. It has been determined by scientists that oxidative stress from free radical damage is the underlying cause to diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, anxiety, and depression; cardiovascular disorders such as COPD, heart attacks, hypertension, stroke, and atherosclerosis; autoimmune disorders, for example, lupus, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, Crohn’s, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Other diseases include, but are not limited to, macular degeneration and optic ischemic neuropathy. Oxidative stress is the crux of all cancers, inflammatory disease states, and diabetes. A blood test measuring what is called TBARS is how oxidative stress is measured in the body, and high levels of this test are associated with cancer, heart disease, stroke, and aging. This is just a short list of many diseases; name any one disease and it will point to oxidative stress. For a long time we have thought that the key to anti-aging and anti-disease was to offset oxidative stress by taking antioxidants such as Vitamins E, C, A, and beta-carotene. And while these external sources might be helpful, scientists have since discovered that our cells make their own antioxidants and that if triggered by the messenger, our cells have the ability to go after oxidative stress at the ratio of one million antioxidants
to 1 free radical per second versus a 1:1 ratio of vitamins. In fact one would have to consume 360 oranges to get the same effect from food as we can get if our cells do the work. Scientists have also discovered that when we were children we had a set of gene messengers that caused our cells to pour out their own antioxidants, hence up until about age twenty to twenty-five, humans do not age and are fairly resistant to disease. This cell messenger has a name and it is called nuclear erythroid related factor 2 or Nrf2 (pronounced Nerf two). Nrf2 is a the cell’s messenger that goes to our own cell’s DNA and tells it to release all of the cell’s antioxidants so that it can survive the assault of free radical damage. Since the discovery of Nrf2, scientists have been trying to discover how to wake up this process inside of our cells, and a group of biochemists discovered just that. It is a synergistic formula of herbs that activates Nrf2 and in turn Nrf2 activates the cells’ own antioxidants. This has been scientifically proven to be very effective at reducing oxidative stress to the level of an infant, even in an eighty-year-old. Personally I use this formula along with proper nutrition to manage my own health as do many of my clients who use nutrition to heal from autoimmune disease states. I have also witnessed clients with neurodegenerative diseases decrease if not eliminate symptoms. Even in the family dog who suffers from Lyme’s disease we have seen amazing results. It is not because this herbal formula heals all diseases but rather because it has been proven to be effective in decreasing oxidative stress by activation of Nrf2, thus harnessing the cells’ own antioxidants. Heidi Toy is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and the owner of “Educated Nutrition”, located in Altoona, WI. Her focus is helping people heal holistically, with an emphasis on autoimmune disorders. Hamilton , K., Reuland, D., & Reuland, D. (2013). The role of nrf2 in the attenuation of cardiovascular disease. Exercise Sports Science Review, (41(3)), 162-8. doi: 10.1097/ JES.0b013e3182948a1e Online resources for disorders caused by oxidative stress. (n.d.). Retrieved from http:// www.oxidativestressresource.org/ Song, H., Zhang, X., Chen , X., Chen , H., & Rovin , B. (2005). Activation of the nrf2/antioxidant response pathway increases il-8 expression. European Journal of Immunology, 35(Nov), 3258-67. Natarajan, R., Bogaard, H., Henderson, S., Long, C., Kraskauskas, D., Smithson, L., Ockaili, R., & McCord, J. (2009). Chronic pulmonary artery pressure elevation is insufficient to explain right heart failure. Circulation , (Nov), 1951-60. doi: 10.1161/ CIRCULAT IONAHA.109.883843.
Nutrition is the medicine that allows people to heal without medicine.
Heidi Toy
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Immune Disorder Specialist 2519 N Hillcrest Pkwy #102 Altoona, WI 54720
715.869.3793
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Second Opinion | 17
Healthy Family
Is Your Chronic Health Condition an Undiagnosed Case of Lyme Disease? By Dr. Alan Lindsley
M
any people suffer from a chronic health condition at some point in their life. Often these chronic conditions go undiagnosed for years, and when a diagnosis is finally reached, there seems to be no true identifying factor that triggered the disease process or a true cure. Some of these disease processes carry a genetic factor that, once triggered, can mean a fairly swift decline of health with death following close behind. ALS would be a good example of an inherited genetic problem that once triggered is often fatal within a couple of years. Alzheimer’s would be an example of a disease process that can take up to thirty years before a diagnosis is rendered. The real question that needs to be asked is simply this: Was the disease process started by an exposure to a pathogen (bacteria, parasite, virus) in our tissue that went undetected for years or decades or was it simply due to poor genetics? Working with patients over the past several years, I have begun to see a direct correlation between chronic cases of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed Lyme disease and the triggering of a chronic disease process that our standard health care model has no answer for at this time. The single most important job of our body is to make energy—enough energy that we can wake up feeling rested and revived, exercise, work, play, digest, repair, and feel well all day long. I often tell my patients that if they are making energy properly, they are not in my office. It is not until we are unable to detoxify, digest, repair, and revive ourselves
Second Opinion | 18
properly after a full day and a good night of rest that we begin to be concerned. When they seek help, thousands of dollars of testing commonly shows they fall within the standard functioning limits of the tests that were performed or the tests come back negative, and they are often told it is simply in their head and after all “you are not twenty any more”. The molecule used for energy in our body is called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and when we are making energy properly, we make our body weight in ATP every day. When we begin to have problems converting our food to energy, we begin to see inflammation and eventually degeneration in these cells. Eventually the inflammation and degeneration spread from a few cells to the whole tissue or organ involved. The degeneration process may take years to reach a point of deterioration in our body to develop a diagnosable disease, A tick bite is really an but when a diagnosis injection of several bacteria is reached it is often and parasites into our difficult to regain full bodies that we have never health and normal tissue function. Often at this seen or dealt with, leaving point a pharmaceutical a lag in our immune system intervention is used to cope with the onslaught to suppress cell of toxins that they secrete function or the immune into our tissues. system because of an autoimmune condition that has developed. If this fails to control the symptoms, the individual may have the organ or tissue removed permanently. If necessary, a transplant of human or animal tissue may be used to replace the diseased tissue in order to stay alive. The onset of Lyme disease in the human body is often the starting point for a deeper chronic condition to develop unless it is quickly identified and removed from all tissues of the body. A tick bite is really an injection of several bacteria and parasites into our bodies that we have never seen or dealt with, leaving a lag in our immune system to cope with the onslaught of toxins that they secrete into our tissues. The result is that within a few days we begin to feel symptoms (fatigue, sweats, painful and swollen joints, mental confusion, headaches, to name just a few). What just happened to all of our energy? When these symptoms overtake us, we are really dealing with something blocking our ability to make energy and toxins building up in our tissues faster than we can remove them. The main toxin secreted from bacteria and parasites associated with Lyme is ammonia. Ammonia has a pH of
11.46, making it 46,000 times more alkaline than our normal human tissue. This deadly neurotoxin not only causes blocks in the energy system, it also causes damage to tissue where it accumulates. The first symptoms of ammonia increasing in the brain tissue are headaches and pressure, along with behavioral changes such as anxiety, depression, and shortterm memory interference and word search. Sleep patterns also shift to awakening four to five hours into a night sleep with little restful sleep past 3:00 a.m. The twitching of tissue that is not muscle cramping is also common with high levels of ammonia affecting neurological tissue. These pockets of ammonia toxin will not be seen in a blood test for ammonia because they are held at high levels only in the brain tissue due to the blood-brain barrier and synovial fluids of the joints. The ammonia toxin interferes with energy production due to an increase in pH of the tissue slowing normal enzyme functions, making it incredibly hard for normal tissue repair. Inflammation begins to increase in these tissues, and the functional levels of the all tissues exposed begin to decrease to the point of permanent degeneration over time. When these early symptoms are treated with prescriptions instead of being identified as an energy deficiency in the tissue, we begin to see permanent neurological changes take place in the central nervous system (CNS) that can now be seen on MRI or other types of imaging devices. The sclerosis of these tissues in the CNS often creates a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s. Muscle tissue that is painful and fibrous due to the inability to make energy can also be thrown into this disease category. Fibromyalgia (FM) is simply fibrous muscle pain. Any time muscle tissue does not make enough energy, it simply begins to create a fibrous feel. Calcium causes contraction of muscle tissue and magnesium causes relaxation of muscle tissue. Muscle tissue that is fibrous and painful is not making enough energy to completely remove the toxins and for all fibers in the tissue to reach a relaxed length could be diagnosed as FM. There are no drugs that will fix this problem, but they are often prescribed to decrease the symptoms. Restless leg syndrome or a chronic fatigue diagnosis may be rendered if the muscle pain or fatigue last longer than six months or if the muscle itself begins to move uncontrollably. The same is often done
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for joint tissue. Inflammation followed by the inability to repair the joint tissue is called arthritis. Arthritis simply means “joint inflammation”. Pick your type of arthritis: juvenile, rheumatoid, infective, or osteo. All four end up destroying the joint tissue and eventually are followed by a joint replacement. We now commonly see ALS diagnosis in patients in their thirties, joint replacement candidates in their thirties, and people suffering from forms of dementia in their forties. These diseases used to be diseases of people nearing the end of their life not in the prime of their life! A hidden case of Lyme disease will create many of the diagnosable diseases listed above. In fact someone with Lyme disease can have several of these diagnoses at one time. The common factor that is overlooked time after time is simply understanding why the tissue is not making energy, finding the blockage of energy, and removing it, allowing the tissue to begin to repair and resume normal function. Simply diagnosing the end stage disease is a degenerative-sickness care model not a health care model. Muscle testing and kinesiology are two methods of functional testing to detect the problems earlier. Dr Lindsley is a former Lyme disease sufferer that has been studying natural approaches to help patients remove the source of the toxins from invading bacteria and parasites while naturally boosting their immume systems. He is currently working on a book to help others educate themselves on effective natural approaches to heal themselves from Lyme disease.
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Healthy Family
Antibiotics: What You Should Know Before Taking By Judy Soborowicz
B
acteria are the omnipotent creators of ill health in our bodies according to societal paradigms, but are they truly that awful? Bacteria help us create energy, grab nutrients from our food, and assist our bodies with a host of many other functions, including being an important key to the proper functioning of our immune system. We are, as human beings, dependent upon the bacteria in our gut, on our skin, and throughout our body for survival on this planet. The human body is made up of one human cell per ten bacteria! These bacteria are much smaller but do indeed out-number us, ten bacteria to one human cell. Bacteria are an essential part of our expression of life. Respect for and action toward preserving and nurturing our internal and external ecosystem has been proven to enhance our adaptability and survivability. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises medical practitioners and patients alike emphatically to avoid inappropriate use of antibiotics: “There are risks involved including creating a very vulnerable condition throughout your body by destruction of your own host bacteria,” Second Opinion | 20
the CDC states. Antibiotics are very necessary, in more limited cases, than one may imagine. If you doctor is encouraging you not to take a course of antibiotics for a health issue, DO NOT! Studies have shown an increase in prescriptions written when the parent of a patient or the patient themselves put pressure on the doctor to prescribe an unnecessary antibiotic. As a patient, you can choose to treat or not; there are several options your doctor may encourage you to opt into, the primary being a “watch and wait” approach. Explore alternatives to antibiotics, alternative therapies that are effective in helping your body heal without harming the bacterial ecosystem of your immune system. Chiropractic adjustments focus on the nerve system to enhance all systems of the body, including the immune system. This is one reason why studies show chiropractic Your own patients experience fewer bacteria, in health problems overall and concert with your need fewer medications to immune system, stay well. Chiropractic doctors can adapt and are an excellent resource for change as rapidly enhancing and maintaining as the resistant wellness naturally. Along with bacteria. This giving spinal adjustments, many adaptability chiropractors have experience happens with effective immune-boosting constantly and dietary choices or traditional rapidly, allowing remedies. There are options defense against allowing you to avoid the perils a variety of that come along with widespread bacterial strains. overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics. Position your body with your “by design” adaptable immune system against the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Your own bacteria, in concert with your immune system, can adapt and change as rapidly as the resistant bacteria. This adaptability happens constantly and rapidly, allowing defense against a variety of bacterial strains. Antibiotics do not adapt like your immune system does, thus the term antibiotic resistant. Not every immune system challenge (sickness) is a call for rescue. Each challenge you allow your immune system to process, allows it to adapt by fighting it off naturally and enhancing your adaptability. Building the adaptability of your own immune function and safeguarding your “good” bacteria by making effective alternative choices leaves you in better condition to hold fast against the inevitable future sicknesses that your body will encounter. Many people have utilized antibiotics but may not understand the importance of reversing the long-term
negative effects. Antibiotics kill bacteria in your body, and once they are no longer there, these bacteria can no longer protect you from an invasion of your body. Your immune system is designed to keep you from being a vulnerable victim of any random circulating bacteria or germ. If it is not working as designed and you have to resort to antibiotic help for every infection you get, this is a sign that you may have lost the robust benefit of your own natural immunity. Every person who is exposed to “bad” bacteria does not get sick. Some have become better hosts than others. The objective is to make yourself a poor host by building your immune system. Supplementation with a highquality probiotic is essential in any person whose immune system has been compromised with inappropriate antibiotic use. Preserving the bacteria in our developing ecosystem by avoiding unnecessary use of antibiotics is best wherever possible. Adding probiotic foods such as kefir, yogurt, and fermented foods to our regular healthy diet encourages bacterial balance. Our bacteria are priceless and designed to encourage a proper and effective immune defense, and this translates to greater adaptability and overall health.
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Judy Soborowicz practices chiropractic and nutrition at Active Health along with her husband John. She enjoys writing, researching and lecturing on topics concerning chiropractic, healthcare and experience gained along the way.
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More Than Just Water Even though we know that washing our hands before we eat protects us against unhealthy toxins and bacteria, we don’t always think about also washing fruit and vegetables thoroughly before we eat them. Did you know that a quick rinse under running water doesn’t really remove much of what is on most produce? Even organic or sustainably grown produce can have hidden dangers lurking on their surfaces. And even if you grow your own fruits and vegetables, fertilizers, animals, and unhealthy soil can contaminate even homegrown produce. Washing with a good fruit and vegetable cleanser can help eliminate surface toxic chemical residues, but it’s still better if you can buy organic versions of these This chart shows the number of pesticides that might be on the non-organic produce you buy.
Food
# of Different Pesticides
Celery 64 Peaches 62 Strawberries 59 Blueberries 52 Leafy Greens 51 Bell Peppers 49 Spinach 48 Apples 42 Cherries 42 Potatoes 37 Grapes 34 Nectarines 33 From year to year, this list of the top twelve items with the most pesticides on them changes.
twelve fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Peeling a piece of fruit or vegetable is sometimes an option, but that often removes beneficial nutrients.
The Threat of Fertilizers
Pesticides aren’t the only unhealthy element that may be in your fruits and vegetables. Fertilizers are also potentially dangerous. Although they increase the yield of produce, there are often adverse effects from them. At one time, the EPA decided that unwanted, treated sewage sludge from municipal wastewater treatment facilities was legal to give to farmers and anyone else to use as inexpensive “fertilizer” or “compost”. Farms and homes across the country unknowingly spread this sludge-derived fertilizer on their fields, lawns, and gardens. But, it’s been found to be loaded with chemicals and heavy metals. The Environmental Working Group, who analyzed samples of this sewage sludge, found: ▪ Over 100 synthetic organic compounds including phthalates, toluene, and chlorobenzene ▪ Dioxins in sludge from 80 percent or 179 out of 208 systems ▪ Forty-two different pesticides ▪ Nine heavy metals, often at high concentrations
Why Rinsing Isn’t Enough Protection
It is impossible to remove all the contaminants mentioned above with just water. Plus, produce is often waxed after harvest to withstand the long time it takes to get to market and to protect it as many hands touch it. The wax seals in pesticide residue and debris, and this makes them very difficult to remove with just water. Thus, to get to and remove the contaminants buried beneath the surface of your vegetables and fruits, you need a cleanser that also removes the wax.
The two-sided Veggie and Fruit Cloth is perfect for scrubbing and polishing fruit and veggies. Rough side for scrubbing, smooth side for polishing. Norwex.com
SunSmile® Fruit & Vegetable Rinse
cleans dirt, waxy coatings, oily substances, and other undesirable residues from your fruits and vegetables. It even cleans delicate produce like broccoli heads, field greens, and herbs. Sunrider.com
Vermont Soap's Fruit & Veggie Wash
For the past hundred years or so we have bombarded ourselves with new chemical combinations on our food, now it's time to get them clean again. Apply directly to foods and rinse. Apply to a brush — scrub and rinse. Add to a container of water for root crops and larger volumes. Add just enough Produce Magic to the water to work up a hint of foam. vermontsoap.com Second Opinion | 23
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Gardeners Beware: The Dangers of Pesticides By Dr. Michael Court
T
here is nothing that pleases green thumbs more than the arrival of spring. Life is sprouting on the budding trees, flowers, and garden plants. It is time to start thinking about planting your garden. You can almost begin to taste those first vegetables of the season. GARDENERS BEWARE: those pesticides that seem so harmless and useful may be negatively affecting the soil, your health, and the health of your loved ones. The massive use of chemical fertilizers, which totals well over millions of tons per year, has come to be an accepted method of forcing plants to grow. Herbicides are used on weeds; fungicides are used in fields, storage, and transportation to control rot. Pesticides are used on plants. Pesticides are mainly used by gardeners to kill insects that threaten trees and garden plants. The pesticides are usually applied through spraying or shaking. Insects have grown increasingly resistant to pesticides, which cause farmers to use larger amounts of toxic chemicals, which in turn kill the insect’s natural predators. Many of these poisons work systematically and become both part of the soil and of plant tissues. Farmers consider this advantageous because they need not reapply them after a heavy rain. Some of the more familiar ones legally found in food are methyl bromide and lead arsenate. These pesticides are allowable in the food supply with concentrations of up to only 0.3 parts per million. So what is the problem? Although the trees, plants, and produce are saved, the pesticide residue is still on and in the food we eat. This residue eventually reaches the colon and builds up toxicity in the body. Pesticides kill insects by neurologically affecting them. DANGER: Pesticides poison humans as well and affect our brains and nervous systems. How can we reduce the amount of toxic pesticides we ingest? The National Pesticide Information Center states repeatedly to reduce your exposure. Make your lawn organic. Create your own pesticide-free space in your backyard. Educate yourself. Teach your neighbors. Take a stand against the use of toxic pesticides on the lawns of your communities and the places where children play every day. Washing produce does help, but it does not clear the pesticide residue away completely. Peeling is also helpful, but the pesticide can also be found throughout heavily sprayed produce. Growing or purchasing organic food is Second Opinion | 24
Dirty Dozen
(There are more than 12)
• Apples • Blueberries • Celery • Cherries • Tomatoes • Cucumbers • Grapes • Hot Peppers/Sweet Bell Peppers • Nectarines (imported) • Peaches • Potatoes • Spinach • Strawberries • Summer Squash/ Zucchini
Clean Fifteen • Asparagus • Avocado • Cabbage • Cantaloupe • Corn • Eggplant • Grapefruit • Kiwi • Mangos • Mushrooms • Onions • Papayas • Pineapples • Sweet peas (frozen) • Sweet potatoes
always best; however, sometimes this is not a financially feasible option for everyone. ALWAYS buy organic foods on the Dirty Dozen list. The USDA tested the residues of the foods on the Dirty Dozen list and found them to be positive for 46–67 different chemicals. The Clean Fifteen bore little or no traces of pesticides and are safe to consume in non-organic form. Organic agriculture truly lives and breathes. Nurtured with natural fertilizers, a living soil provides plants
with strength to resist disease and insects, as well as to have superior taste and nutritional value. Organic foods may initially cost more to produce because converting chemically overworked soils is not easy. Organic prices have come down in recent years. A USDA report concluded that organic farming is competitive economically with chemical farming. Organic works better, it is more efficient, and it ultimately saves the company money. If we think that organically grown is more expensive than chemically grown food, we need to look at the overall picture. The price of the chemicals is reflected not only in the price of our food, but in the cost of our health care, the future of our soil, and the sustainability of our agricultural system. Find the cause and restore your health with Nutrition Response Testing. Nutrition Response Testing is a safe, non-invasive way to analyze what is out of balance in the body and design a nutritional program to feed the body exactly what it needs to fix itself. Each person has a personalized program tailored for his or her body’s needs. The best choice for restoring your health is to work with a health care practitioner to help you transition to a locally grown whole food diet and help your body remove any nasty pesticides using a personalized, clinically designed nutritional program. We see patients in our office that have been affected by pesticides, whether from flea spray use inside the home or insecticides being used in their own
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gardens. This toxic internal buildup can be from products such as Round-Up, Chlordane, DDT, and others. Some studies suggest they may not only cause long-term damage to cognitive abilities and neurological function, but may also kill the organisms and nutrients in our soil. Don’t let your health be negatively impacted by pesticide toxicity!
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Achieving optimal health & balance
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Eau Claire - West on Cameron St. to TT (Kane Rd.) - Left 1 mile Second Opinion | 25
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Lawn Care and Landscaping in a Changing Environment
in causing health problems in turf, shrubs, pets, and family members. They require further examination and testing before making a decision on why the species is exhibiting a sickly, weak appearance. It is also necessary not just to know but to be willing to accept and implement a positive change By Gordy Petschow that will be more than trying to treat the symptom and add urf development and landscapes are more than to an increasing cost or loss of investment. It is important to cosmetic additions to a home. In today’s world, health, know how the environment and species interact with each environment, and economic concerns have risen and are other. Living species have varying degrees of tolerance factors for homeowners to consider when managing and within the intrinsic parameters in which they live. To force planning for their future. Lawn care is more than purchasing it to live in stress is costly and the species cannot over time a bag of fertilizer at the local retail store, taking it home, survive. applying it in record time, and justifying the action that Promoting and maintaining life in the soil, and not merely money has been saved. Lawn care now involves knowing applying a stimulus and toxins that degrade the base and what is in the contents of the bag and understanding what the cause stress, should be the goal. Apply those products that results can do when it is applied, what is bring healthy, positive, lasting results. The results are now being the actual cost, and what are the health Second, remember that all living beings increasingly confirmed by and environmental concerns to family, are formed from cells. Cells require health professionals, for pets, and livestock. minerals, air, and water in adequate both animal and human, that A healthy lawn and thriving plant natural amounts that are toxin free. For organics can be an effective species begin with interest in and healthy living, most plants and crops need choice with fewer side effects. education of the subject. With these about 1 inch of water per week with a primary prerequisites, it soon becomes minimum of sixteen varieties of minerals. apparent that success begins with the recognition that We can understand the crop status by soil testing environmental, ecological knowledge and principles are the thoroughly and seeing the status of the soil and how much starting point for success and sustainability of any land-use nutrition it is receiving. All living beings need more than two endeavors. Without it, a beautiful landscape can become an or three minerals if they are expected to produce adequately. expensive short-lived investment. When plants or turf are Crops can grow tall and green on two minerals, but they will lost, it’s usually because for some reason the plant cannot have shallow, weak roots with weak cell health and mineral function in its present conditions. Those conditions are not deficiency and will be more readily subject to disease and meeting its intrinsic characteristics and needs. It can be the insects. Color or quantity alone does not necessarily mean physical environment in which it is grown, such as soil, health or adequate nutrition coming from the quality of the water, and air, it may be the geographic and site location, or its own environmental base. Quality of the product also has it may be that it has been overwhelmed with toxins sprayed its place. Consequently, we treat the emerging problems or spread on the lawn. It can be sometimes traced back to with toxins and more costly stimulus, trying to control the poor nutrition, which in turn creates weak cells and immune numerous diseases and attacking insects that keep occurring, system or imbalanced soil and body chemistry. These while at the same time increasing our management costs and factors cannot always be visibly seen but can be influential neglecting other parts of the environment and ecology.
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Is there a better solution that maintains, protects, and balances the environment and sustains the resources? Yes, using organic and conservation methods. Whether managing turf, growing crops, or managing a lake’s future, the organic method begins to reverse the negative effects from toxins we see in our lakes, streams, drinking water, and soil. It begins to build life, nutrition, and harmony with nature. This change can be achieved in a shorter or longer period of time. It depends on how the land has been treated with toxicity, out of balance soils, and the degree of concern of the landowner.
What are some of the positive aspects we seek to achieve?
1. Restoration and building of the growing topsoil base 2. Biological life increases and less stress on the resources with milder land management methods 3. Healthier populations of plant and animal species at lower production costs 4. Healthier cells with greater balanced nutrition leading to healthier immune systems and living organisms 5. Healthier, cleaner drinking water 6. Lower environmental costs 7. Sustainability and growth of the base resources 8. Greater economic opportunity Idealistic thinking? Some feel it is not feasible, too costly, and not conventional. You choose. What about cost? Recent research shows that organics out-
“Non-organic objects and inanimate power do not illustrate or explain intellectual organic vital forces.” – DD Palmer Founder of Chiropractic
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perform conventional methods in cost per acre and equal to bushel per acres. In turf care and landscaping, green, healthy, and dense lawns that have fewer weeds can be more easily managed. In the grocery store, prices of organic produce average about the same to 75 cents per item higher than conventionally grown food. The results are now being increasingly confirmed by health professionals, for both animal and human, that organics can be an effective choice with fewer side effects. Balancing with nature and its interrelated operating procedures—ecology—is a viable option worth exploring. In summary, balancing with nature and working within ecological processes brings sustainability, production, and less cost. Outside these parameters, the cost is transferred to higher medical, environmental, and fertilizer and toxic weed control costs, and possibly loss of life in living organisms, as well as the loss of the base resources, revenue, and agriculture. We at Midwest Environmental Consultants focus on balancing and promoting environmental and land use planning–economically sustaining the resource without toxic chemicals. Call us today for a free consultation at 715-878-4472. Explore the possibilities, ask questions, and see the results that can be possible. We have over fifty years of education and experience in environmental and natural resources, landscaping, agriculture, and gardening.
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Second Opinion | 27
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Stay in the Garden
(and Out of the Clinic!) Dr. Emily Smith, DC, DICCP
S
pring can be a busy time for gardeners (and for those who take care of gardeners!). Spring marks the time of year when plants emerge from their winter slumber. It’s important to remember that our bodies too have been hibernating and need some tender loving care in order to enjoy spring without injury. Read on to discover a few simple exercises that can prepare your body for what is to come. (Please consult your doctor or health care professional before beginning this or any exercise routine.)
The #4 Stretch
This is a simple exercise that can be done while sitting or lying down. Place the left ankle on top of the right knee and if sitting, lean forward with a straight back. If you prefer to do this stretch while lying down, position yourself on your back on a flat surface. As above, place your left ankle on top of your right knee and grasp under your right knee and pull toward your chest. Repeat this on the other side. You will feel the stretch in the outer hip of whichever leg is on top, which is a common tight spot in those who sit a lot. Second Opinion |‌ 28
Chin Tuck Exercise
This is an exercise that can be done almost anywhere. First jut your chin forward as far as you can and then immediately pull the chin backward as far as you can and simply hold it in that position for as long as you can. The time may vary but will steadily increase as you practice. This helps to stretch the muscles that attach the head to cervical spine (sub-occipital muscles). Aggravation of this area usually occurs from keeping your head held in front of the rest of the body or from looking down (e.g., reading, putting together puzzles, working on the computer or phone, weeding, etc.). This posture can most commonly lead to headaches and neck/upper back pain. By simply tucking your chin whenever you are looking down or forward you can stabilize the cervical spine and prevent injury.
Arm Pulse Exercise
This is a great exercise to counteract the effect that gravity has on our upper body. Stand up and place outstretched arms by your sides. Open the shoulders by rotating palms outward and extend arms behind you. Now pulse arms backward, as if you are trying
to touch the wall behind you. This will help to strengthen the muscles of the upper back, better align the shoulders to prevent injury and reduce/eliminate pain/numbness that may travel into one or both arms.
When beginning your spring gardening work, it’s also important to keep these points in mind:
▪ Stay hydrated. When your body is low on fluids your muscles will become tense and are more prone to injury (picture twisting a piece of jerky!) Though heat/environment may increase your need, typical fluid intake should include half of your body weight in ounces of water on a daily basis (e.g., if you weigh 100 pounds you should attempt to consume 50 ounces of water daily). ▪ The most dangerous activity for the low back is a bend/ twist/lift. This activity (e.g., raking, unloading items from the trunk, weeding, etc.) can place the joints of the lumbar spine in a vulnerable position and cause excess pressure on the lumbar discs. It is always best to move your feet to rotate, rather than twisting your spine. With raking for instance, it is best to use short strokes while holding the rake close to your body and switch from side to side (as opposed to planting your feet and bending/twisting to one side to reach the rake as far as you can). The same goes for weeding (focus on the area in front of you rather than reaching off to the side). ▪ The body loves symmetry. It is difficult to always be symmetrical with gardening activities but do your best to switch sides and take turns from right to left. This will help to minimize injuries by building strength bilaterally and avoiding overuse of one side of the body.
▪ Utilize the proper tools and equipment. This can make the yard work not only more efficient but also more enjoyable. Stools, kneelers, or knee pads can help minimize stress and strain on the knee joints and allow you to spend more time in the garden. ▪ Take breaks frequently. Being in one position for more than thirty minutes can lead to muscle cramps and degrading posture. Move around the yard or garden and change up your activity whenever possible. For those who love to garden but are unable due to available space, body limitations, etc., there are options! Check out https://es87578.towergarden.com/ to learn more about the Tower Garden, an aeroponic, vertical garden. The unit can be used outside or inside and requires no dirt and no weeding! Dr. Emily Smith, of Smith and Prissel Chiropractic, has a specialty in Chiropractic Pediatrics but loves working with patients of any age.
Life By Design...
Come home to your fabulous self! Aveen Banich, Jodi Ritsch, Lisa Thelen Yoga/Laughter Yoga/Life Coaching/Reiki/ Meditation/Celebrations www.LifeByDesignEC.com The Center, 3701 Highway 12, Eau Claire, WI 54701
Midwest Environmental Consultants
Spring into Belly Dance!
Over 50 Years of Landscaping and Environmentally Conscious Lawn Care
Beginning class: Tuesday night, 6pm • 6 wk session begins April 29 For more information or to register - call Laura @ 926-4233 or email: laura@ecshimmy.com
World Belly Dance Day
May 10th, 2-5pm ▪ Grand Little Theater – Eau Claire
Lessons, performances, live music. Drawings for prizes donated by local businesses will benefit Bolton House. Free and open to the public. www.ecshimmy.com Family friendly event.
Specialists in: Call Gordon Petschow TODAY! ▪ Landscape Design 715-878-4472 ▪ Environmental Planning Eleva, WI ▪ Natural Lawn Care
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Meats and Poultry for the ORANGE!
At the Downtown Farmer’s Market Second Opinion | 29
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the box delivered for you instead of having to run down the aisle trying to decide what to buy.” Diehlmann also adds, “Some members have compared it to getting a Christmas present every By Lucie Patrick week.” ith the summer Although there months quickly are many benefits to approaching, the Chippewa participating in a CSA, Valley will soon be filled there can be disadvantages with an abundance of too. Diehlmann said that fresh, local produce. one of the disadvantages Because food is the fuel for might be “if you are not our bodies, it is important too flexible in preparing that we choose wholesome products that are beneficial food or trying new things.” The food in the CSA box may take for both the earth and ourselves. Community supported extra preparation and creative recipes, but Sylvan Hills Farm agriculture (CSA) allows local citizens to fuel their bodies with aims to help the members by sending weekly emails with wholesome, natural foods while supporting sustainability and recipes. Diehlmann said, “We send out recipes each week that the local economy by choosing products from local farmers. use many if not all of the box contents.” Community supported agriculture pairs community members Not only do the Sylvan Hills emails inform participants with local farmers and provides them with weekly shares of about new cuisines and the produce in their boxes, but they food. To participate in a CSA program, each member must sign also inform them about how to choose the wholesome, quality up and prepay for his/her share of food. foods that benefit the human body. According to Food Routes Sylvan Hills Farm in Menomonie, Wisconsin, organizes a Network, a company that works to reestablish local community CSA program for residents of the Twin Cities metro area. A food systems, “Knowing where your food comes from and shareholder has the option to pay a one-time fee for a large how it is grown or raised enables you to choose safe food from share ($675) or a regular share ($425). The Sylvan Hills Farm farmers who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, CSA boxes are sent to drop points hormones, antibiotics, or genetically where the shareholders pick up their modified seed in their operations.” As consumers, it’s important that we boxes on a designated week day. As consumers, it’s important that know the source of our food so that we The food delivery begins during we know the source of our food so can purchase it from places that benefit the first three weeks of June that we can purchase it from places our economy, the earth, and our bodies. and supplies the members until that benefit our economy, the earth, September–October, depending on and our bodies. For those looking the crops and weather. The share of produce can be picked up to join a CSA for the upcoming summer season, Diehlmann at a pre-designated location and week day throughout the CSA advises, “Check to be sure that the farm is certified organic and season. local and small.” Larger farms may pick and refrigerate the The food that is delivered in a CSA box varies by farm. Some produce multiple days in advance, leading to a loss of nutrients farms box strictly produce, while others will box dairy products in the foods. Diehlmann suggests that CSA participants search and produce. The CSA boxes from Sylvan Hills Farm include for farms with 100 shares or fewer. various fruits and vegetables. Choosing a farm that has a certified organic label and The box drop-off and pick-up of the CSA creates a different small shares is the best way to assure that you are choosing grocery shopping experience than the traditional in-store wholesome foods that will benefit your body. Diehlmann said, grocery shopping tradition. The hassle of the additional pick-up “We have maintained the USDA organic certified label since step may concern CSA newcomers, but many believe that the our beginning in 2003 and believe that is the most optimal way benefits outweigh the extra pick-up step. to treat the planet and the people that live on it.” Sylvan Hills Larry Diehlmann and Jackie Kujack, owners of Sylvan Hills Farms sells 50 shares of CSA boxes every summer to ensure Farm, note that one of the benefits of a CSA program is “having that their food is always freshly picked and delivered within
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twenty-four hours. Choosing a smaller, local farm also supports the local community because it returns the profit back to small businesses in the community. Diehlmann said, “The economy benefits when items are purchased locally as the dollar turns over in your community at least six times.” CSA participants can also improve their local community by reducing their carbon footprint. Food Routes Network states, “Local food doesn’t have to travel far. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and packing materials.” Purchasing your produce from local farms like Sylvan Hills is a great way to start going green with your food. “We also believe in building community being important to any area, and CSA’s a great way to do that,” said Diehlmann. Choosing local organic foods will benefit your body, community, and planet. Make the right decision and go green with your grub today. For those interested in improving their carbon footprint, local economy, and supporting local businesses, joining a CSA is way to be proactive in their efforts. For more information on participating in a community supported agriculture program, please visit www. localharvest.org/csa/
Lucie is a journalism student interning at Second Opinion Magazine this semester. She studies Professional Communication and Emerging Media at UW-Stout and will be graduating in May.
Ho Choose w to a Multiv itamin FREE S eminar . May 6, 6-7 p Sign up in store m in advan ce.
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Garden GO 15 minutes every day, any way that works for you.
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Second Opinion |‌ 32