Natural Awakenings Charlotte - October 2020 Issue

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

WISHFUL RECYCLING

CALM DOWN

NATURAL WAYS TO RELIEVE STRESS

REDUCE YOUR

PET’S CANCER RISK

ROBUST RECYCLING

HOW MECKLENBURG SUPPORTS BY EDUCATING RESIDENTS

STRESSED-OUT

TEENS

October/Early November 2020 | Charlotte Edition | AwakeningCharlotte.com

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Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

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October/Early November 2020

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5

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

CHARLOTTE EDITION

letter from publisher

Pay Attention

T

he great thing about virtual school (for me, not for my

PUBLISHER Shannon McKenzie kids) is being able to listen in on the learning pro DESIGN & PRODUCTION Patrick Floresca cess. This morning’s homeroom consisted of a TED

AD DESIGN Helene Leininger Talks viewing of “Apollo Robbins: The Art of Misdirection.”

EDITORIAL Allison Gorman Robbins, known as the Gentleman Thief, is a “performer,

Randy Kambic Martin Miron speaker, consultant and one of the world’s leading experts on Jeanette Watkins

CONTACT US P.O. Box 456 Cornelius, NC 28031 Ph: 704-499-3327 • Fax: 866-632-9118 AwakeningCharlotte.com Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Free subscriptions are available for our digital issue by emailing Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com

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pickpockets, confidence crimes and deception,” according to ApolloRobbins.com. The homeroom lesson was on the challenges of paying attention.

The video kickoff caught my attention when Robbins asked, “Is it possible to control someone’s attention?”—and then went on to demonstrate on an audience volunteer how he picks pockets in plain view by stealing people’s attention through a distraction, basically misdirection. It struck me that we are living at a time of endless competition for our attention—political and business mailings, emails, TV and digital advertisements, contradictory COVID-19 information, conspiracy theories—as well as misinformation spread on social media for the purpose of influencing our election. Kids aren’t the only ones who are distracted these days. Adults are having a hard time controlling their own attention too.

Robbins concluded his TED Talk with a different question: “If you could control somebody’s attention, what would you do with it?”

I was reminded of a quote from a recent Charlotte Observer article by Theoden Janes, about the closing of Bill Spoon’s BBQ. It ends with a warning from current owner Steve Spoon Jr., and then one from Janes:

“There is no other source of income for mom-and-pop places. There’s no financial backing, there’s no partners, there’s no corporate money to be funded in when you are short. The customers are their only source of revenue, so if they don’t come, (they) have no safety net.”

“You have to support ’em.”

Because if you don’t, they’ll be gone.

In other words, pay attention to what’s happening around you.

To me, it is clear that our attention is being controlled to varying degrees, and while some of those doing the controlling have good and noble intentions, others are promoting their own agenda and manipulating the truth to do so. And while this has likely always been the human experience, rarely have the stakes been so high, because after six-plus months of COVID-19 shutdown, many small businesses are teetering.

It is so important now to not allow our attention to be misdirected, and to support what’s important to us through our votes, our money and our time. If we do that, at least we’ll know that we did what we could, rather than looking back with regret.

Wishing you a particularly intentional October.

Shannon McKenzie P.S. To find the TED Talk, type “Apollo Robbins” in the search bar at Ted.com.

Natural Awakenings is printed with soy-based ink.

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Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 60 healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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10 WHY I READ NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE

10

10 ROBUST RECYCLING How Mecklenburg Supports

by Educating Residents

12 STRESSED-OUT TEENS Ways to Help Them Chill

12

14 CALM DOWN

Taming the Flames of Stress-Related Illness

18 WISHFUL RECYCLING What Not to Put in the Bin

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20 CANCER-FREE PETS

18

Five Ways to Help Keep Them Healthy

DEPARTMENTS 8 news briefs 10 reader spotlight 10 community spotlight 12 healthy kids 18 green living 20 natural pet 22 gaston county

20

natural guide

23 resource guide October/Early November 2020

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news briefs

Hear Candidates Live and Recorded for Election Q&A

A

lpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Lambda Omega, Omega Iota Omega and Rho Psi Omega chapters, the Charlotte Women’s Movement, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church social justice ministry, the League of Women Voters and St. Paul Baptist Church social justice ministry will present two virtual nonpartisan political forums from 2 to 5 p.m., October 3 (governor, NC council of state, judges and Mecklenburg County commissioners) and 10 (U.S. House and Senate, 9th and 12th Congressional Districts and NC house and senate).

Voters will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear candidate’s positions in preparation for the November 3 general election and early voting from October 15 to 31.

Admission is free. Register at bit.ly/election-forum. The forums will be recorded for later viewing at Tinyurl.com/ YouTubeFriendshipBaptist. For more information, call 704-7240796 or email 2020politicalforums@gmail.com.

Discounted Red Light Therapy Now Available at Ahlara

A

s a leader in the field of health and well-being, Ahlara International, located in Mooresville, is offering cutting-edge red-light therapy at a 50 percent discount through the end of 2020. This holistic treatment supplements the light received from the environment with concentrated wavelengths of red and near-infrared frequencies. A wide range of natural health benefits can result, such as increased energy production, reduction of inflammation, improved strength and endurance, increased brain function, restoration of damaged tissues and more.

Other holistic healing modalities at Ahlara include the amethyst BioMat, which enhances spiritual development; the shungite mat, which is believed to reduce inflammation, oxidative stress and EMF exposure, purify water and relieve emotional stress; and the Giza pyramid, which deepens the meditative state as it reduces stress, improves energy, increases clarity and amplifies prayers.

Practitioners at Ahlara also offer sessions in meditation, reiki, Theta Healing and other private sessions, as well as classes, workshops and special events. Ahlara has been serving the Charlotte/Lake Norman area for 15 years, with spa services, exclusive boutique items and an outstanding collection of crystals.

Location: 155 Joe Knox Ave., Mooresville. For more information or appointments, call 704-662-0946 or visit AhlaraInternational.com.

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Direct Primary Care Affordable convenient care that goes beyond an office visit to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

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8

Charlotte Edition

South Charlotte Location 421 B South Sharon Amity Charlotte, NC 28211

AwakeningCharlotte.com

Earth Fare Opens Five Stores in the Charlotte Area

E

arth Fare, an NC-based natural food grocer, filed for bankruptcy in February of this year and closed all stores nationwide. In March, Hulsing Enterprises purchased the Earth Fare brand and is negotiating new leases at some of the former locations including Ballantyne, Concord, SouthPark and Fort Mill in the Charlotte area. The plan is to have stores open by the end of this year. The fifth area store in Rock Hill is already open.

According to the website, the Earth Fare vision is “to reestablish stores in communities across the Southeast” with “the renewed mission to improve lives by making healthy food available to everyone and bringing our unique Food Philosophy back to the communities we serve.”

Location (now open): 725 Cherry Rd., Ste. 110, Rock Hill, SC. Remaining area stores to open by the end of 2020. For more information, visit EarthFare.com.

EE H E A L T H Y L I V I N G FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

VISIT US ONLINE @

AwakeningCharlotte.com HERBS that

Spice Up Health

Emotional Well-Being

Self-Care for Tough Times

ADAPTIVE YOGA for Every Body

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church's Dr. Clifford A. Jones

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES Find additional articles online at AwakeningCharlotte.com. Go to the homepage and explore local businesses, recipes, and articles exclusively from Natural Awakenings. This Month's Guest Blog: Jeff Smithberger with Mecklenburg County Recycling FAQs

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CORONAVIRUS AS A CALLING ................

CALENDAR

Check out the latest events at AwakeningCharlotte.com/ Calendar

MARK NEPO

on Living a Wholehearted Life

PAPERLESS SHOPPING October/Early November 2020

9

community spotlight

reader spotlight

Why I read Natural Awakenings Magazine

M

any moons ago, before our lives digitally fused and social distancing was just rude, I depended monthly on Natural Awakenings for success at my job. I was Director of Programming for the Healthy Home Markets where scores of people came weekly to learn about personal and planetary health. Each Natural Awakenings issue Holliday Adams consistently confirmed my choice for promoting programs and branding the company – for 10 years.

Presently, I have the luxury of reading this publication for the joy of it, though not all the articles reveal an easy path to joy. Some articles are about grit and cultural problems, but always coupled with a variety of solutions, hence hope.

My personal journey calls out for what Natural Awakenings offers, and I feel there is a sort of kindness on every page. I tap into it for help with emotional needs, physical pain, and spiritual longings, and even the ads are cool! The word “Joy” comes to mind when I think of the unmistakable sense of community, and the implied sustaining of all communities the magazine advocates.

Promoting kindness is a cornerstone of health and sustainability of all types. Every month Natural Awakenings shows me more ways of connecting the dots of kindness, healing, and stewardship, and the emphasis on sustainability of the larger culture means everything to me. I am deeply invested in mitigating the climate crisis and supporting habitats locally and globally. Can we heal ourselves together and mitigate what we have done to our beloved Earth? Natural Awakenings still gives me hope as I work and pray to hold in honor and healing the future of all the grandchildren of every species.

-Holliday Adams

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Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

Robust Recycling How Mecklenburg Supports

by Educating Residents

J

eff Smithberger is the Director of Solid Waste Management for Mecklenburg County. He and his team are responsible for the guidance and management of the County’s solid waste programs and services, including recycling.

Many cities throughout the U.S. have struggled with recycling over the past two years due to dramatic market changes. In some Jeff Smithberger cases, municipalities have been forced to stop curbside recycling programs completely.

Mecklenburg County has made a concerted effort to maintain the same level of recycling in our community as well as educate the community on local recycling rules to preserve a robust residential recycling program. Natural Awakenings recently caught up with Jeff to learn how this effort is going.

NA: We know that countries that previously accepted recyclables no longer do so. How did Mecklenburg County deal with this new reality?

JS: When China and Vietnam ceased accepting recyclable materials, it affected cities on the West Coast much more than in NC. Our advantage is being geographically close to the industrial hub of paper and metal processing in the Southeast, giving us access to material buyers. Unfortunately, the global commodities market for recyclable materials nosedived, and the prices we receive have drastically decreased. Buyers now require our materials to be clean, dry and empty (non-contaminated) and that is why we work so hard to educate our residents on what we can accept and how to prepare materials to send to us.

NA: How has Mecklenburg County been able to continue to accept recyclables when other government programs have been forced to stop nationally?

Are there any unique advantages that make recycling more viable here?

JS: Several factors differentiate Mecklen-

burg County from other communities.

Because the county owns the recycling processing center, we control the process.

We work hard to find markets and create viable outlets for our collected materials.

Other communities have fewer options.

JS: The cities and towns within the county

collect residential waste curbside and deliver it to a processing or disposal location. The county manages and processes the collected materials at the landfill, compost facility or recycling center also known as a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).

Because everything that is collected goes to central processing centers, our messaging is the same for all municipalities throughout Mecklenburg County.

NA: Your department has put a lot of effort into educating the community about what is recyclable and what is not. How are people of the county doing to “recycle right”? NA: What changes are on the horizon for trash and recycling in our JS: Our local residents are doing “fair” community? when it comes to recycling correctly.

Unfortunately, contamination rates have gone up over the past several years and we are trying hard to correct that trend. We want recycling to be easy, but often manufacturers make, package and sell items that complicate our efforts. We have a robust outreach program and team with the City of Charlotte and surrounding towns to deliver a single unified message to our communities. Recently, we have introduced live interactive webinars to explain and discuss what can be recycled locally and how to reduce overall waste. Our “Recycle Right” message is also highlighted in traditional media outlets including billboards, print advertisements and some TV commercials.

NA: Has COVID-19 and the stayat-home order significantly affected recycling in Mecklenburg?

JS: Yes. The pandemic has changed the

solid waste industry significantly with more staffing challenges and increased both residential trash and recycling volumes. Our staff and contractors face the widespread stressors of avoiding the virus and coping with homeschooling kids, all while trying to manage increased workloads seamlessly. As more people stay home, they are cleaning out garages and doing home improvement, generating more trash than normal. From March to June of 2020 we saw an average increase of 22,000 additional customers per month visiting our drop-off centers.

NA: Can you describe Mecklenburg County’s role with regard to solid waste disposal versus the cities and towns?

JS: The solid waste business is very dy-

namic, but we try to make it as seamless as possible to the residents. We recently purchased property in the Steele Creek area to hopefully add another full-service drop off center. Currently, there are only a few options in that area to recycle. Developing this new location is part of our strategic plan.

NA: When residents have questions about recycling, how can they get answers?

The Next Step in Spiritual Communities!

We invite you to join a Spirit-Guided, Heart-Centered, Christ-Conscious, Loving Community, and be a part of transforming the world by allowing the Heart-light Presence of God to Shine Through US as US!

David Hulse, Spiritual Leader Wed @ 10AM: Mid-week Inspiration Sun @ 11:15AM: Celebration Service Live Stream: HeartLightCharlotte.org

Wedding & Event Space Available in Newly Remodeled Center!

7300 Mallard Creek Rd Charlotte NC 28262 704-599-1180 info@heartlightcharlotte.org www.heartlightcharlotte.org

JS: Accepted items for recycling has differ-

ent meanings depending on the situation (residential curbside, residential drop-off centers, commercial, industrial, construction etc.) For this interview, we are focusing on items to be collected in residential curbside carts. We encourage residents to visit WipeOutWaste.com for comprehensive information on several waste-related topics and follow our Facebook page for local updates and offerings.

In closing, I would like to thank Natural Awakenings readers for their enthusiasm and commitment to protect our environment. We will soon be recruiting “Residential Ambassadors” to help us educate the community on how to “Recycle Right” and “Wipe Out Waste.” If readers are interested in helping us get the word out to neighborhoods, churches or community groups, please contact us.

For local information on waste disposal options, visit WipeOutWaste.com. To attend Recycle Right and Waste Reduction presentations or for more information on Residential Ambassadors, email SolidWaste@ MeckNC.gov. See ad, page 15.

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Face Coverings and Social Distancing required Spiritual, Religious, Metaphysical, New Age Supplies, Gifts & Books, Candles, Incense, Smudge Sticks & Accessories, Gemstones & Crystals, Tarot & Oracle Cards, Pendulums, Herbs, Gemstone Jewelry, Talismans, Egyptian, Hindu, Catholic Statuary 3010 Monroe Road • Suite 104 Charlotte 704-632-9911

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October/Early November 2020

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The best way to communicate with a stressed teen, say many child psychologists, is to listen deeply while letting them do most of the talking, and offering sympathetic support while withholding judgment. Instead of giving advice, “Validate your teen’s experience and attempt to step into their shoes. Let your teen know that you hear them, that you support them in their decisions and ask your teen what you can do to help them,” advises clinical psychologist Alyssa Austern, PsyD, of Chatham, New Jersey. Other steps can help a teen weather this time of high stress:

healthy kids

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cottonbro/Pexels.com

Back up the basics. Make sure there’s healthy food and snacks in the fridge. Encourage teens to exercise daily, especially outdoors, and support them in getting eight to 10 hours of sleep.

Stressed-Out Teens Ways to Help Them Chill

by Ronica O’Hara

B

eing a teenager is never easy, but it’s even harder these days, with the upheaval of the pandemic intensifying the normal academic, social and hormonal turmoil of these pivotal years. It’s no wonder teens are reporting record levels of stress, anxiety and depression: In a Pew Research survey, 70 percent of teens said mental health was a major problem among their peers—and that was in February, before the pandemic hit. A recent online poll found that most teens are worried that the pandemic will affect their family’s physical or financial health and that many feel lonelier than usual and worry about losing ground in academics and activities.

Extending a helping hand to teens is not always well received. They can be notoriously resistant to advice, even when they’re stressed, partly because of their brain chemistry, explains Gail Saltz, M.D., clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell School of Medicine and host of the Personology podcast. A teen’s highly active amygdala makes risk-taking a thrill even as the frontal lobe that weighs consequences is not fully developed, while at the same time, a teen seeks independence—an identity and freedom to be more like an adult. “This combination means their capacity and interest in taking parental direction is not there,” she says. “As a result, parents in reaction often get louder and more insistent in telling them what to do, which fails and drives them further away.”

12

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

Make self-compassion a family habit. The self-compassion approach to self-care, which is rapidly gaining ground among psychologists, has three elements: treating ourselves as kindly as we would a dear friend, realizing that many other people have the same problems so we’re not alone, and mindfully and nonjudgmentally observing our emotional state.

This method has proven to be helpful not just for adults, but for teens, as well.

A University of Edinburgh meta-analysis that synthesized 17 studies of more than 7,000 teens in six countries concluded that those with high levels of self-compassion had lower levels of stress caused by anxiety and depression. University of North Carolina researchers found that teens exhibited lower stress, anxiety and depression, as well as more resilience and gratitude, after six self-compassion sessions.

A good place for parents to start is with themselves: If they are anxious, overprotective or fearful, a teen is likely to follow suit, reports a study in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. Helpful books, websites and programs for both teens and adults can be found at SelfCompassion.org, operated by Dr. Kristin Neff, an associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin who was a pioneer in the concept.

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Engage them with creative activities. As teens can seek independence, making sure they spend quality time with the family is also important for their well-being, research shows. “Find ways to connect, converse and unwind together as a family,” advises Crissy Fishbane, of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, co-founder of HER Health Collective, an online community for mothers. “Teens need to see their parents engaging in self-care behaviors themselves, and it’s even better if you can engage in self-care as a family.” She suggests taking a virtual or outdoor yoga class together, playing a board game, having sudoku competitions, learning deep-breathing techniques or starting a family book club.

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Encourage reaching out to help others. A study in the Journal of Adolescence suggests that altruistic behaviors, including large and small acts of kindness, may increase teens’ feelings of self-worth, especially if it involves helping strangers. In Poland, the more teens helped out others in a flood, the more supportive and proactive they became, another study found. Depending on their interests, teens may be drawn to local environmental, social justice, religious or political activities.

DoSomething.org offers useful ideas and links, and environmental projects for teens can be found at EarthForce.com, SierraClub.com and GlobalClimateStrike.com.

Ronica O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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October/Early November 2020

13

Calm Down Taming the Flames of Stress-Related Illness

W

by Marlaina Donato

guilhermealmeida/Pexels.com

e are beings of neurochemical and hormonal intricacy, and within this mixed bag of biology lies our magic. Our human experience is visceral; we cry from sadness and joy, flush from embarrassment, laugh with amusement and exhibit quirky mannerisms when we lie. Whether we see it as a blessing or a curse, we’re hardwired to embody the sacred fire of our emotions.

It also means that stress and our bodies are in perpetual partnership. “Systematically, the mind and body work together.

Grabbing your belly when you hear bad news and saying, ‘I feel sick,’ or having ‘butterflies in your stomach’ are a testament to how everyday stress affects us physically,” says Stephanie Mansour, Chicago fitness expert and host of the national PBS show Step It Up With Steph.

“Stress serves a useful purpose by increasing alertness—the sometimes lifesaving ‘fight-or-flight’ response—but chronic stress leads to elevated stress hormones like cortisol and catecholamines,” says emergency room physician Thomas Krisanda, at Northwest Hospital, in Randallstown, Maryland. “Cortisol can elevate blood glucose and suppress the immune system. Elevated catecholamines raise blood pressure and stress the heart. Over time, this can lead to hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes or strokes.”

According to The American Institute of Stress, 77 percent of people experience the physical backlash of emotional stress in the form of headaches, chronic migraines, fatigue, digestive woes, muscle tension, dizziness and changes in libido. Research published this year in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that children that experience severe adversity or live with alcoholics or drug addicts are at a 50 percent higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease later in life. Experts agree that this statistic goes beyond poor lifestyle choices, and might point to a biological inability to cope with everyday pressures.

Working with—rather than against—the body’s nervous system by employing lifestyle changes, releasing trauma and considering options like a nourishing diet, safe herbal options and gentle energy modalities can help to break a vicious cycle.

14

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

Gut Instincts Studies involving both mice and humans show that beneficial gut microorganisms are altered by emotional stress. The same bacteria responsible for bolstering the body’s fortress of immunity also generate neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurochemicals in the gut’s enteric nervous

system control major biological functions that include heart rate, sleep cycles, muscle movement and mood.

While commonly prescribed antibiotics eradicate infectious invaders, they also kill off beneficial bacteria and neurotransmitters, opening the door to depressive disorders. Because approximately 95 percent of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut, it’s not surprising that overuse of antibiotics has been associated with mental health conditions. British research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2015 documents case-control studies over an 18-year period involving 202,974 patients with depression. The findings show a high risk for anxiety and depression following repeated antibiotic use.

Connecting the dots further, 2018

research published in the Journal of Neuroendocrinology correlates compromised intestinal permeability with a weakened blood-brain barrier and alcohol addiction.

Research published in 2014 in the journal PLOS One involving patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) reveals abnormalities in catecholamines, elevated plasma cortisol and hyperactivity of the amygdala—the part of the brain that can become stuck on overdrive from trauma and other life stresses.

In a nutshell, negative emotional states can suppress immunity and foster more frequent antibiotic prescriptions and in turn, promote neurological loops of chronic depression and anxiety, and even more compromised immune response.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders

like IBS and inflammation-driven Crohn’s disease are often exacerbated by emotional upset and improved with stress management techniques like biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, meditation and breath work.

One Body, Many Selves Resolving emotional trauma can offer unexpected hope for conditions that elude improvement or scientific understanding.

A deeper look into how unrecognized or unreleased emotional pain can contribute to disease might help to solve the riddle of digestive problems, eczema, inflammatory bowel conditions and pain syndromes, including the multi-system agonies of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue

Hey Mecklenburg County, We Need Your Help To Clean Up Your Recyclables!

Please just recycle the basic materials listed here in your curbside bin. Nothing else!

Just because you wish it to be recycled, does not make it recyclable.

PLASTIC BOTTLES with NECKS

CARDBOARD

CANS

CARTONS

PAPER

GLASS BOTTLES

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS RECYCLABLE

Tips to Recycle Right at Home: • Never recycle plastic bags in your Curbside Bin/Cart • Never bag your recyclables in plastic bags • Never recycle complex items such as infant seats or luggage etc…

• Please rinse out food and contaminants — that stuff contaminates loads

NO PLASTIC BAGS

WHEN IN DOUBT — LEAVE IT OUT.

October/Early November 2020

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From Stephanie Mansour: n Deep breathing and rolling the shoulders forward and back a few times can relieve muscle tension. n Eating something crunchy like an apple or carrots can lessen feelings of stress. n Meditating for even one minute can help reduce excessive cortisol in the body. Doing small increments daily rather than over long intervals net better and bigger benefits. n If your mind is racing 24/7 and breathing techniques don’t work, change your environment. Get up and go to another room in the house. Go outside. If tight on space and can't go outside, turn your body to look in a different direction. Stay in the same spot on the couch and just look at something else. n Don’t put your body under more stress with demanding, cortisol-fueling workouts; opt for yoga, meditation and Pilates. n When you get your heart rate up (in as quickly as five minutes of doing cardio), you feel happier. n Maintain a healthy sleep schedule and go to bed earlier.

From Sarah Kate Benjamin: n Reconnect to the earth in whatever way you can; go for a walk, cook a meal, smell flowers or just sit outside.

From LaStacia Ross: n As an energy exercise, try what I call The Fountain of Light: See and feel white light coming up from the earth and into your feet. Feel it move all the way up through your body, out of your head and back down to your feet to start again, like a fountain. Repeat this many times, feeling the vibrant, white light energy flowing through you.

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Plant Power for Combatting Stress Sarah Kate Benjamin’s Personal Favorites: Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) soothes restless minds from anxiety and insomnia, and eases menstrual cramps or muscle spasms.

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) helps to strengthen the brain and revitalize the central nervous system, and helps to calm the mind and relieve nervous stress and headaches.

It is even more beneficial when combined with lavender or chamomile.

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) helps to soothe emotional and muscle tension; relieve stress-related gut symptoms like gas, cramping, , irritable bowel syndrome and ulcers; calm heat-related emotional and physical issues such as eczema, anger and frustration; and generally promote a sense of calm. Wonderful in baths, teas and as an herbal garnish.

In addition to Benjamin’s recommendations, other stress-fighting herbs to consider are Ginkgo, panax and Siberian ginseng, fo-ti, rhodiola, reishi mushroom, goji berries, licorice root, lavender, rose, lemon balm, tulsi (holy basil), ashwagandha and mimosa bark.

syndrome. It’s a widespread misunderstanding that psychosomatic (mind-body) health conditions are imaginary or the product of mental instability. In actuality, the term psychosomatic simply refers to physical diseases with no organic origin that are presumed to have unconscious emotional taproots.

“We are made up of different types of energy,” explains LaStacia Ross, a reiki master and sound healer at Eclectic Soul Studio, in Pittsburg, Kansas. “Physical or sensory energy is the energy of the physical body.

Our outer energy field is subtle energy which consists of layers and includes thoughts and emotions. I like to think of the subtle energy field as a library containing the records of everything we’ve ever experienced.”

Reiki, a form of non-touch therapy, is now deemed valuable by many respected hospitals, like the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in Manhattan. Springboarding from the philosophy that we are trinities of body, mind and spirit, reiki and other forms of energy medicine aim to encourage the flow of vital life force. Ross, who also uses sound resonance via tuning forks in her work, has witnessed significant improvement in her clients. “Energy work

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can help release stored energetic patterns of trauma and stress that no longer serve us,” she says. “Relaxation is an immediate benefit of energy work. People often feel a huge mental weight lifted and report pain relief, sometimes after just one session.” Despite the many gains of energy work, Ross emphasizes individual timing. “On a subconscious level, pain or illness can serve us in some way without us realizing it. Sometimes we’re not ready to work through our issues or let them go, even if we think we are.”

Investing in Equilibrium

Stress-induced psychosomatic illness does not discriminate, and even affects members of the medical field. A 2009 study published in the Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that professional burnout in nurses can manifest as back and neck pain, acidity, anger and impaired memory.

Krisanda underscores the importance of self-care in all walks of life. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you are useless to care for others. Adopt a healthy diet and exercise and make it a routine. We live in a very materialistic society, and I believe this also leads to stress, unhappiness and

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Everyday Practical Tips

a sense of being entitled and never being satisfied. Just let go.”

He also stresses the importance of support. “An emergency room is an incredibly hectic, frightening and sometimes violent place. I rely on my colleagues, and we support each other. For me, the most important thing is to realize that I’m not in it alone.”

Krisanda also finds balance by taking a few minutes in a quiet place to collect his thoughts and enjoy a peaceful moment.

Basic, whole foods can help to maintain homeostasis. “Make sure that food is fueling you,” says Mansour. “Cooked vegetables and broths are very soothing.

Instead of a juice cleanse or an extreme diet, focus on nourishing, calming foods like soups, lean proteins to stabilize blood sugar levels and healthy fats to support brain function. Reducing alcohol can help improve liver function.”

Sarah Kate Benjamin, a holistic chef and herbalist in Sebastopol, California, finds her own healing rhythms by eating with the seasons and using medicinal plants in inspired, everyday dishes. Co-author of The Kosmic Kitchen Cookbook: Everyday Herbalism and Recipes for Radical Wellness, she sees herbs as life-giving examples of resilience. “Herbs have been here long before us and have experienced their own form of stressors. Working with nervous systemsupportive herbs in my food, beverages or even as tinctures really help me find balance when I’m overwhelmed.”

Some of her allies are oat tops, lemon balm, skullcap, chamomile and passionflower. For Benjamin, everyday choices play a huge role in healing. “Making small lifestyle shifts in your work or home life can really help you move into a more relaxed state. I like to think of it as a sort of mantra: ‘Help the herbs help you,’” she says. In a world that is fixated on external validation, little things matter. “If I give myself permission to do the things that really nourish me, I’ll be the best version of myself. Perhaps most importantly, I will like me, and that matters tremendously.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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green living

Wishful Recycling What Not to Put in the Bin

by Yvette C. Hammett

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or those that have been putting recyclables in a plastic bag and placing it in a curbside bin, it’s likely going straight into a landfill. That bowling ball, those yard clippings and dirty pizza boxes are contaminating the recycling stream and increasing the cost of recycling programs nationwide at a particularly challenging time amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The continuing rise in contaminated items is known in the biz as “wishful recycling”. The current crisis is only making it worse. In some places, recycling itself is becoming wishful.

As stores and restaurants struggle to survive, local tax revenues have dropped sharply, forcing municipalities to slash budgets. Many small towns and a few big cities have stopped recycling programs altogether. Others have cut back on what they will accept or substituted drop-off bins for curbside pickup. States are pulling back from encouraging bottle-deposit returns. The plastic masks, gloves and wipes mistakenly tossed into recycle bins are endangering waste workers that must remove them. With the coronavirus shown to cling to plastic for three days, many workers around the country have become ill from such exposure.

Meanwhile, waste is mounting. Consumers are now having groceries delivered, picking them up or ordering them online, adding hundreds of millions more plastic bags and cardboard boxes to the waste stream. The Solid Waste Association of North America estimates that U.S. cities saw a 20 percent average increase in municipal solid waste and recycling collection in March and part of April. And because China stopped accepting 99 percent of the world’s recyclables two years ago, recycling operations are struggling for disposal locations.

“There is the potential for households to generate more waste than they did before, but there is also an opportunity to focus on waste prevention, increase your reuse and recycling efforts, and use food more efficiently,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises on epa.gov. “Now is a great time to focus on waste prevention where possible, and when recycling, keep the materials as clean and dry as possible.”

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To be more conscious about recycling habits, “Instead of, ‘When in doubt, throw it in,’ it should be, ‘When in doubt, throw it out,’” says David Keeling, president of the National Recycling Coalition.

The Washington State nonprofit Sustainable Connections estimates that 25 percent of what goes into recycling containers is not recyclable. “Contamination significantly increases the cost to process recyclables and makes it harder for processors to market their products, creating a huge economic challenge,” according to SustainableConnections.org. “We rely on the private sector to take away our waste, and they need to be able to turn a profit in order to run a viable business.”

Unfortunately, “Across the country and within Florida, we are seeing a growing trend on contamination in recycling,” says Travis Barnes, recycling coordinator of Florida’s Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa. The worst offenders, he says, are people that don’t sufficiently clean out mayonnaise or ketchup containers, as well as put plastic bags in the recycling bin that can become entangled in multimillion-dollar equipment, bringing the entire sorting process to a halt.

Beth Porter, climate campaigns director for the nonprofit Green America and author of Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine: Sorting Out the Recycling System, says there’s a lot of confusion on what to put in the bin. She

points to Michigan, which aims for 30 percent recycling by 2025 and created videos featuring “Recycling Raccoons” that offer instructions on proper sorting. In Washington, D.C., says Porter, “Workers peek in recycling bins and can tag the bin with some specific info telling you not to throw in plastic bags and contaminated stuff,” lowering contamination rates by 30 percent.

“The public demands curbside recycling,” Barnes says. “It is highly ranked as something the public wants,” but people also need to be more aware to make the system more efficient.

Even with the current challenges, environmentalists see recycling as a key strategy for a planet sinking under plastic waste.

“As we navigate this new reality together, consumers whose circumstances allow for it should begin to reshape how they think about plastic pollution,” advises the World Economic Forum website weForum.org. “It’s a real and present crisis we can stop in its tracks right now­—if we make choices that lead to a cleaner and more sustainable future.”

Yvette C. Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, Florida. Connect at YvetteHammettHull49@gmail.com.

Do Not Be a Wishful Recycler in Mecklenburg County

L

iving by the motto “When in doubt throw it out,” creates anxiety for the eco-conscious but wishful recycling produces tremendous challenges and is very costly. It is much better to reduce or change consumption habits to decrease household waste.

Unacceptable items damage machines, injure workers and start fires. Mecklenburg County spends over $1.6 million per year to sort out and haul away non-recyclables that residents place in curbside recycling carts. Remember to drop off plastic bags at retail collection locations for proper recycling and never bag your recyclables. Recycling carts should only contain clean, empty and loose accepted items.

Please trash, compost or repurpose these items (Don’t try to recycle them): • Yogurt cups and dairy tubs • Clamshells: lettuce, berries etc.

• Aluminum foil, pans and tins • Paper towels, tissue, napkins • Plastic zip pouches • Furnace filters • Anything made of these materials: • Foam, rubber, vinyl, wood, ceramic, crystal, stone, rope, cloth For local information on waste disposal options, visit WipeOutWaste.com. To attend Recycle Right and Waste Reduction presentations, email SolidWaste@MeckNC.gov.

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Cancer-Free Pets

Five Ways to Help Keep Them Healthy

V

by Karen Shaw Becker

eterinarians are seeing cancer in more and younger pets these days than ever before. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately one in four dogs will develop cancer at some point in life, including almost half of dogs over the age of 10. But taking practical steps can help lower a pet’s risk.

Don’t allow a dog or cat to become overweight. Studies show that restricting the number of calories an animal eats prevents and/or delays the progression of tumor development across species. Fewer calories cause the cells of the body to block tumor growth, whereas too many calories can lead to obesity, which is closely linked to increased cancer risk in humans.

There’s a connection between too much glucose, increased insulin sensitivity, inflammation and oxidative stress, all factors in obesity and cancer. It’s important to remember that fat doesn’t just sit in a pet’s body harmlessly—it produces inflammation that can promote tumor development.

Feed an anti-inflammatory diet. Anything that creates or promotes inflammation in the body increases the risk for cancer. Current research suggests cancer is actually a chronic inflammatory disease fueled by carbohydrates. The inflammatory process creates an environment in which abnormal cells proliferate.

Cancer cells require the glucose in carbohydrates to grow and multiply, so work to eliminate this cancer energy source. Carbs to remove from a pet’s diet include processed grains, fruits with fructose and starchy vegetables like potatoes.

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natural pet

Keep in mind that all dry pet food (“fast food”) contains some form of potentially carcinogenic, highly processed starch.

It may be grain-free, but it can’t be starchfree because it’s not possible to manufacture kibble without using some type of starch.

The correlation between consuming fast foods and cancer has been established in humans, so it’s wise to incorporate as much fresh, unprocessed food into an entire family’s diet as can be afforded.

Cancer cells generally can’t use dietary fats for energy, so high amounts of goodquality fats are nutritionally beneficial for dogs fighting cancer, along with a reduced amount of protein and no carbs­—basically a ketogenic diet.

A healthy diet for a pet is one that’s anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer, and consists of real, preferably raw, whole foods. It should include high-quality protein, including muscle meat, organs and bones. It should also include high amounts of animal fat, high levels of EPA and DHA (omega-3 fatty acids) and a few fresh-cut, low-glycemic veggies. This species-appropriate diet is high in moisture content and contains no grains or starches.

Also make sure the diet is balanced following ancestral diet recommendations, which have much more rigorous standards (higher amounts of minerals and vitamins) than the current dietary recommendations for pets. A few beneficial supplements like probiotics, medicinal mushrooms, digestive enzymes and super green foods can also be very beneficial to enhance immune function.

Reduce or eliminate a pet’s exposure to toxins and minimize chronic stress. These include chemical pesticides like flea and tick preventives, lawn chemicals linked to cancer (weed killers, herbicides, etc.), tobacco smoke, flame retardants, household cleaners and air-scenting products like candles and plug-ins. Because we live in a toxic world and avoiding all chemical exposure is nearly impossible, a periodic detoxification protocol can also benefit a pet.

Research points to the benefits of identifying and removing sources of chronic stress in an animal’s life. Focusing on providing environmental enrichment

and opportunities for dogs to just be dogs (play, sniff and run) on a daily basis is important in keeping them happy and healthy.

For dogs, especially a large or giant breed, hold off neutering or spaying until the age of 18 months to 2 years. Studies have linked spaying and neutering to increasing cancer rates in dogs. Even better, investigate alternative ways to sterilize a pet without upsetting their important hormone balance.

Refuse unnecessary vaccinations. Vaccine protocols should be tailored to minimize risk and maximize protection, taking into account the breed, background, nutritional status, lifestyle and overall vitality of the pet. Vaccines may cause cancer, and titer testing is a responsible way to ensure a pet has adequate immunity in place of over-vaccinating on an annual basis.

Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, a proactive and integrative veterinarian in the Chicago area, consults internationally and writes Mercola Healthy Pets.

10 Classic Symptoms Not to Ignore Dogs and cats can develop cancer almost anywhere in the body, which is why the symptoms vary depending on the tissues and organs involved and the severity of the disease. Make an appointment with a veterinarian if a pet displays any of these warning signs of cancer.

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1. Unusual swellings that don’t go away or that grow. The best way to discover lumps, bumps or swelling on a dog or cat is to pet them.

2. Sores that won’t heal. Non-healing sores can be a sign of infection or cancer and should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

3. Weight loss. Illness could be the reason a pet is losing weight when it isn’t on a diet.

4. Loss of appetite. Reluctance or refusal to eat is a sign of possible illness.

5. Bleeding or discharge. Bleeding can occur for a number of reasons, most of which signal a problem. Unexplained vomiting and diarrhea are considered abnormal discharges, as well.

6. Offensive smell. An unpleasant odor is a common sign of tumors of the anus, mouth or nose.

7. Difficulty eating or swallowing. This is a common sign of cancers of the mouth or neck.

8. Reluctance to exercise or low energy level. This is often one of the first signs that a pet is not feeling well.

9. Persistent lameness. There can be many causes of lameness, including nerve, muscle or bone cancer.

10. Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating. These symptoms should be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Many of these symptoms also occur with other disorders and diseases, but any pet showing one or more of these signs needs prompt veterinary attention.

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Heidi E Kent, M.A. CM, C.Ht. 423-300-8618 • HeidisReadings.com Heidi E. Kent, co-director of The Kent-Cook Institute, is a certified psychic medium, master palmist, spiritual communicator, numerologist, relationship counselor, metaphysical teacher and certified hypnotherapist. Heidi guides you to the place of “what to do, what to do, what to do!” See ad, page 13.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS CAROLINA CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

Rev. Christy Snow, Founder & Spiritual Director AwakeningCarolina.org 980-292-1062 Looking for a spiritual home?

Join us for live positive music, meditation, and a message to awaken your Divine Potential.

We welcome all people and all paths. Youth church, weekly classes and events. See ad, page 20.

HEARTLIGHT SPIRITUAL CENTER Rev. David Hulse, Spiritual Leader 7300 Mallard Creek Rd 704-599-1180 HeartLightCharlotte.org

We are a Spirit-Guided, HeartCentered, Christ-Conscious, Loving Family providing an empowering, universal, Christ-centered message grounded in the teachings of metaphysics. Sunday Service 11:15 am. Email Shine@HeartLightCharlotte.org.

See ad, page 11.

UNITY OF CHARLOTTE

Marty Bacher, Spiritual Leader UnityofCharlotte.org 704-523-0062 Unity features a vibrant, joyous Sunday Celebration Service at 10:30am with terrific music, inspiring messages and a warm, welcoming spiritual community. Offering classes and workshops throughout the week with activities that support your health, wellness and spiritual journey.

SPIRITUAL COACH REV. CHRISTY SNOW

Charlotte & Lake Norman ChristySnow.com 704-516-7113 Christy@ChristySnow.com Sessions are customized for each individual or couple. Christy’s approach is rooted in her metaphysical education and experience. “There’s a spiritual solution to every problem.” Wayne Dyer.

See ad, page 20.

SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAIN CHARLOTTE SustainCharlotte.org

A nonprofit organization working to inspire choices that lead to healthy, equitable and vibrant communities across the Charlotte metro region for generations to come.

Become a member today.

THERMOGRAPHY JENNIFER DILLON, DC, CCN 421-B S Sharon Amity Rd 704-333-9991 DillonNaturalHealth.com

Non-invasive way to visualize the health of a tissue. Identify inflammation anywhere in the body. Detect issues early to allow time to make a change before diagnosis occurs. See ad, page 17.

VETERINARIAN

WEIGHT LOSS CAROLINAS WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE Gastonia • 704-271-9757 Matthews/Ballantyne • 704-243-8560 CWLI.net

Developer of the "40 Day Transformation" system, a physician designed and administered functional approach with programming tailored to the unique metabolism needs of each individual, to provide safe and sustained weight loss. Call for a free consultation.

YOGA THERAPY ROPER PHYSICAL THERAPY 301 E Tremont Ave, Ste B RoperPT.com 980-298-6706

Physical therapists trained and certified in Professional Yoga Therapy qualifying them to teach clients with acute or chronic pain and beginner or seasoned yogis with injuries who desire a safe and effective yoga practice.

ATRIUM ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Kim Hombs, DVM, CVA, CVCH, CTui-Na 6520 McMahon Dr 704-542-2000 AtriumAnimalHospital.com Comprehensive holistic/ integrative animal medicine practice in the Charlotte region.

Alternative vaccine approaches, double certified acupuncturist and herbalist, cold and class 4 laser, TCM food therapy, Tuina, animal rehabilitation with underwater treadmill.

See ad, page 5.

Natural Awakenings appreciates the generosity Awakenings ofNatural its distributors appreciates throughoutthe thegenerosity area. of its distributors the area.

Pleasethroughout consider supporting

NOVEMBER THE DIABETES CHALLENGE ISSUE

Coming Next Month

Skin Care Plus: Personalized Diabetes Strategies

Natural Awakenings Natural Awakenings these major distributors by Please consider supporting preciates the generosity appreciates the generosity shopping theredistributors and picking these major by of its distributors of its distributors up the magazine each month shopping there and picking Awakenings appreciates the generosity of its distributors throughoutNatural the area. throughout the area. from of theeach racks. up the one magazine month throughout the area.

from one ofyou! the racks.

Thank ease consider supporting Please consider supporting Thank you!

Please consider these major distributors ese major distributors by supporting these major distributors by by shopping picking up the magazine each month from one of the racks. opping therethere andand picking shopping there and picking Thank you! he magazine each month up the magazine each month from one of the racks. from one of the racks.

Thank you!

Thank you!

October/Early November 2020

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Natural Awakenings is a franchise family of 55+ healthy living magazines, celebrating 26 years of publishing! This rewarding, homebased franchise opportunity includes training and ongoing support, following a wellestablished and proven business model.

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Charlotte Edition

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