Natural Awakenings Fort Myers/Naples Florida- February 2021

E R F

E

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

SPECIAL EDITION

HEART-CENTERED LIVING

SAY ‘I DO’

TO THE PLANET

GREEN WEDDINGS EMBRACE SUSTAINABILITY

VEGGIE TRICKS HOW TO GET KIDS TO EAT BETTER

SHEFALI TSABARY

CONSCIOUS RELATIONSHIPS ON

February 2021 | Collier/Lee Edition

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February 2021

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prOFIcIeNt IN traDItIONal cHINese MeDIcINe & WesterN MeDIcINe

liu’s aCupuNCtuRe CeNteR

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pain Management paralysis restoration Infertility Mental Health Immunity adjustment

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

COLLIER / LEE EDITION Publisher Sharon Bruckman Editors Linda Sechrist Martin Miron Randy Kambic Sara Peterson Design & Production C. Michele Rose Lisa Avery Contributing Writers Linda Sechrist Sandra Yeyati Sales & Marketing Christine Miller Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Accounting Amie Delozier Website Kristy Mayer

CONTACT US 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 swfl.NaturalAwakenings.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $28 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

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February 2021

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seLF care = seLF L♥ve

letter from publisher

Heart-Minded Living

Welcome to our Heart-Centered Living issue. Some scientists call the heart our “little brain” because it contains thousands of sensory neurites which allow it to send and receive messages. Growing evidence suggests that our heart contains memories of our experiences and carries its own intelligence. By harmonizing our heart with our brain, a practice called heart-brain coherence, we can tap into deep intuition, heart-based intelligence and wisdom.

The Universe is 98% energy! everything found in, above and under has its own dynamic energy!

Our entire body continually vibrates at a subtle level, moving energy and information through our connective tissues.

The L.i.F.e. sysTem

scans nearly 7,000 energy patterns. By identifying which energy vibrations are out of balance, the system can put them back into harmonic balance, allowing your body to return to a state of rest and healing.

Heart-centered living is all about pulling our awareness away from our head (the ego) and into our heart (the higher self). If you need help developing this practice, you’ll find inspiration in “Becoming Heart-Minded” on page 40, where Sarah Blondin invites us to place a hand on our heart, breathing in and noticing how doing this sends us a message to soften and disarm. She also suggests that we take time throughout the day to bow our head and take three conscious breaths into our heart, allowing its current to feed us.

When we focus on our heart center, Blondin says, fear falls away, space opens up within us and solutions to challenges start to reveal themselves. I have discovered this to be true for myself. By simply placing my hand over my heart center for a few moments, breathing in feelings of care, gratitude or love for someone or something, I automatically notice a natural shift in my thoughts, feelings and energy.

You would think listening to our heart would be the most natural and logical thing in the world, but sadly, this is not the case for many of us, due to childhood wounds, conditioning and adult experiences that reinforce those early injuries. Truth be told, many of us are not ready to live a heart-centered life. Our conversation with Shefali Tsabary on conscious relationships explains how we typically attract partners that mirror our unmet needs as a child, so that we’re forced to relive childhood patterns and thus can heal them.

By undertaking our own inner work, a relationship can help us evolve into our most authentic, whole, free self, allowing conscious intimacy to spontaneously arise.

Connecting with our heart-center is pivotal to this work (see page 45). You’ll find plenty of other resources for maintaining a healthy heart in this issue. May your love light shine big and wide everywhere it goes.

Happy Loving,

Lisa DOyLe - miTcheLL • Certified Biofeedback Specialist by the natural Therapies Certification Board #5771

239.851.4729

www.BluestarBioFeedback.com Follow us!

@bluestarbiofeedback.com 8

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Sharon Bruckman, Publisher P.S. If you are looking for a valentine, check out our dating site NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com, which is offering a 50 percent discount on new memberships this month. Learn more on pages 10 and 45.

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Natural Awakenings is a family of 55-plus healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 22 NATURAL AWAKENINGS' HEALTHY DINING GUIDE

34

24 HEARTFELT EATING

Best Foods for a Heart-Healthy Diet

28 LIVE A HEART-HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Integrative Cardiologists on Preventing Heart Disease

34 VEGGIE TRICKS

How to Get Kids to Eat Better

36 HALTING HYPERTENSION

46

Exercises to Lower High Blood Pressure

38 TOOLS FOR INNER PEACE Exploring Mindfulness and Meditation

40 BECOMING

HEART-MINDED

44 SHEFALI TSABARY on Conscious Relationships

46 SAYING 'I DO' TO THE PLANET

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE

To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, contact Christine Miller at 239-272-8155 or email ChristineM@ NaturalAwakenings.com for Collier County or Lisa Doyle at 239-851-4729 or email LisaD@NaturalAwakenings.com for Lee County. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS

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48

Green Weddings Embrace Sustainability

48 BIG LOVE FROM SMALL ANIMALS

The Joy of Furry Little Companions

DEPARTMENTS 10 news briefs 34 healthy kids 14 health briefs 36 fit body 17 environmentally 38 healing ways speaking 40 inspiration 18 global briefs 44 wise words 20 eco tip 46 green living 24 concious 48 natural pet eating 50 calendar 27 reader spotlight 53 resource guide 33 business 55 classifieds spotlight

February 2021

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news briefs

Special Valentine’s Offer from NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

A

s we approach a full year of being in and out of lockdowns, many have taken the opportunity to do some serious soul-searching, and many singles have come to the realization that they desire a deeply connected, conscious and loving relationship. To help in their quests, especially during special days this month that usually provide many faceto-face opportunities for potential romance that the pandemic has inhibited, NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com is having a Valentine’s Sale from February 12 through 18, with all subscriptions available at 25 percent off of regular price.

The platform, a leading holistic, conscious dating site and venue for eco-conscious and spiritual singles to meet each other, is not a superficial, swiping app, but truly a “help singles meet their match” dating site. Each member exerts control over which profiles they view and with those they choose to initiate contact. The detailed profiles allow members to read and learn about potential matches, which makes meeting someone compatible more probable. Further, a new, well-received video dating feature allows members to get to know each other before meeting in person.

For more information, visit NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com. See ad, page 45.

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Collier/Lee Counties

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First Vegan Restaurant Week in Fort Myers, Cape Coral

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roviding a healthy, delicious way for us to help the local economy and worthy causes, six local eateries will feature plant-based dishes during the inaugural Vegan Restaurant Week from February 12 to 26. Diners at Chef Brooke’s Natural Cafe, Living Vine Organic Cafe and Green Cup, in Fort Myers; and Café YOU, Life – The Vegan Drive Thru and the Loving Hut, in Cape Coral, can register for prizes that include $50 gift certificates and $100 cash prizes for those that visit all of them during this period.

“The mission of Vegan Restaurant Week is to support plant-based restaurants in these difficult times and to spread awareness of the benefits of a plant-based diet through a fun, innovative and community-based experience,” says Dr. Sal Lacagnina, president of nonprofit Lifestyle Solutions Healthy Planet, which is organizing the event. “A diet based on whole, plant-based foods can benefit your health, reduce animal cruelty and help save the environment.”

Each participating restaurant practices all COVID-19 protocols, as well as offering takeout. Most also provide omnivore selections. All event proceeds will go toward supporting area charities.

For more information, call 239-340-9879 or 239-322-4627 or visit LifestyleSolutionsHealthyPlanet.org, which includes menus and specials at all participating restaurants.

Special Offer for Biofeedback Sessions

B

oard-certified biofeedback technician Nikki Renee, of Wholeistic Sol, is offering a more affordable way, to experience the modality of her Nikki Renee “whole body transformations” to better manage and reduce anxiety, stress and pain, and understand how to take charge of health and wellness. Along with free consultations, she is providing new clients with a free second session if they book their first one this month. Sessions, which can also be done remotely, will help balance the meridians, chakra system, foster anti-aging and homeopathy factors and more.

“By the use of biofeedback, I have a unique skillset that I cater to each individual client session,” says Renee.

“It’s all about creating balance. I teach you to understand how to embrace life’s challenges and create your own picture of a happy, healthy lifestyle.”

Location: 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Ste. 114. For more information and appointments, call 305-699-4834, email NikkiReneepez@gmail.com or visit WholeisticSolWithNikkiRenee.com. See ad, page 53.

Baron Joins Thornburg Pediatrics

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r. Brian Thornburg, MSM, DO, FAAP, PA, owner of Naplesbased Thornburg Pediatrics, plans to hire Mary M. Baron to the staff of his holistic concierge pediatric care practice in June after she completes her doctor of nursing practice degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and board certification as a family nurse practitioner in May. Currently a holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing from John Hopkins University, she has more than 17 years of experience in Mary M. Baron health care, including 10 years at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Baron embraces a holistic view of health and wellness. Thee practice combines Western allopathic medicine with functional health care, and is currently arranging appointments for Baron.

Location: 5500 Bryson Dr., Ste. 301. For more information and appointments, call 239-3487337 or visit ThornburgPediatrics.com. See ad, page 19.

Science of Happiness Event and Lessons Online

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ulu Carter, president and chief happiness officer of the House of Gaia, in Naples, will present an online Science of Happiness session that includes breathwork, yoga and meditation from 1 to 4 p.m., February 13, and is offering, private lessons in the program in English, Spanish and Portuguese for the first time online. New clients can receive free, hour-long sessions. The number of sessions depends on the individual’s needs and can be arranged in affordable packages. Carter also offers consultations at her facility by appointLulu Carter ment. An online hang drum concert ($25) will take place at 6 p.m. on February 12.

“What I provide is unique in our area,” says Carter, who has more than 30 years of experience as a positive psychologist coach She is a leading expert in the science of happiness under the guidance of Tal Ben Shahar. “It’s an added value to the community. Its principles are a main part of our programs. Happiness is your birthright.”

Location: 1660 Trade Center Way, Ste. 1-3. For more information or to arrange for a session, call 239-290-7008, email Lulu@HouseOfGaia.org or Info@HappinessBeyondBorders. com or visit HouseOfGaia.org or HappinessBeyondBorders.com. See ad, page 15.

February 2021

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news briefs

Sacred Guide Program at Goddess I AM

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Acupuncture Center of Naples CUSTOM PRESCRIPTION HERBAL MEDICINE for all your health concerns Dr. Cen has more than 25 years experience in Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Arthritis • Chronic Pain • Injuries • Insomnia • Stress Menopause • Stroke Recovery • Shingles • Anxiety Migraines • Fibromyalgia • Well-being • Bell’s Palsy & More 5683 Naples Boulevard • Naples, FL 34109 Dr.Xiu Qiong Cen A.P., D.O.M Licensed Acupuncture Physician

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Collier/Lee Counties

239-513-9232

www.AcupunctureCenterOfNaples.com swfl.NaturalAwakenings.com

olores Gozzi, of Wisdom of the Sacred, will lead a nine-month certification program for those wishing to become sacred guides at Goddess I AM, in Naples. The shamanic and spiritual journey to learn powerful ceremonies, sacred rituals and special practices to become a “space-holder” for other women and help them heal, transform and awaken will begin with an introductory weekend from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., February 27 and 28, with the course work continuing on March 27 and 28.

Drawing from her own personal practices and many ancient lineages and wisdom teachings, the programs guide participants in a holistic approach to accessing their gifts, transforming their challenges and connecting to their unique sacred essence to live their highest soullife purpose.

Gozzi is a sacred wisdom guide and licensed massage therapist, helping women to heal, transform, awaken and work magically and energetically to deeply align with the path and purpose of their “soul map”, having extensively studied the Divine Feminine Mysteries and apprenticed for many years with shamans, priestesses and oracles, as well as researching her own ancestral lineage.

Cost: $225 per weekend. Location: 600 Goodlette Rd. N., Ste. 103. For more information or to register, call 239-228-6949, email BethTheGoddess@yahoo.com or visit GoddessIAM.com. See ad, page 49.

Beautiful Health Offers Immunocologie Products

I

mmunocologie, a line of immuneboosting, nourishing and balancing skin care products, will be available this month for the first time at Beautiful Health, in Naples. The plant- and mineral-based products, carefully crafted from ethically sourced, natural and sustainable ingredients from around the world, are free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, mineral oil, formaldehyde and artificial fragrances and color.

All skin types are suited for the product’s safe and effective use, empowering the skin’s barrier to function at its healthiest and resulting in healthy, bright and radiant skin. The boutique says it is the exclusive retailer for the product line in Naples.

Location: 4947 Tamiami Tr. N., Ste. 105. For more information, call 239-241-5111, email BeautifulHealth111@gmail.com or visit BeautifulHealth.biz. See ad, page 47.

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health briefs

Use Glass Baby Bottles to Avoid Microplastic Particles Polypropylene baby bottles­—which comprise 82 percent of the global baby bottle market—release an “extraordinary” number of microplastic particles, reports a new study

by Trinity College Dublin. In a study published in Nature Food, which covered 48 regions worldwide, researchers found that flexible plastic baby bottles release as many as 16.2 million particles per liter. “A study last year by the World Health Organization estimated adults would consume between 300 and 600 microplastics a day—our average values were on the order of a million or millions,” study co-author John Boland told The Guardian. He called for more studies to understand the implications, saying the researchers were “absolutely gobsmacked” by the numbers. The microplastics are released when heated liquid is used to sterilize the bottles and to dissolve powdered formula and when the bottle is shaken to dissolve the powder. The higher the water temperature, the greater the release of particles.

Polypropylene bottles have a “5” on the recycling symbol on the bottom.

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Collier/Lee Counties

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Government Updates Risks of Amalgam Fillings In updated guidelines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that dental amalgam fillings may cause health problems for some high-risk groups because of mercury vapor leaks. Among those advised to avoid amalgams, which contain mercury, silver, copper and tin, are pregnant women; women that plan to become pregnant or are nursing; children, especially those under the age of 6; and those with kidney problems or preexisting neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. Over time, amalgams can release small amounts of mercury vapor, depending on how extensively people grind their teeth or chew gum and how old the filling is, studies show. It’s a more cautious tone for the FDA, which along with the American Dental Association, has long maintained that amalgams are safe, a finding disputed by health advocates.

Mindful of health and aesthetics, patients are increasingly opting for tooth-colored resin composites.

Nearly half of all U.S. dentists no longer use mercury, and its use is being legally phased out in more than a dozen countries.

gresei/Adobestock.com

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Melatonin, a hormonal sleep aid that can be purchased for a few dollars at local pharmacies, appears to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 by 30 percent, report researchers from the Cleveland Clinic. Among African Americans, a group disproportionately impacted by the virus, the risk was reduced by 52 percent. For the study, published in PLOS Biology, researchers used artificial intelligence to compare the host genes and proteins of the novel coronavirus to those of 64 other diseases across a range of categories.

They found 34 drugs for possible repurposing, then combed through 27,000 patient records to find which drugs had in fact lowered the risk of contracting the virus. “We’re excited about these results and to study that connection more, but large-scale observational studies and randomized controlled trials are essential to confirm what we’ve found here,” says lead researcher Feixiong Cheng.

kevin bation/Unsplash.com

Consider Melatonin to Lower COVID-19 Risk

krishnan/Unsplash.com

Eat Chili Peppers to Live Longer

Regular consumption of chili peppers can reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 26 percent and from cancer by 23 percent, suggests a review of 4,729 studies involving 570,000 people. Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic reported to the annual scientific session of the American Heart Association that frequent chili eaters also had a lower risk of dying from any cause by 25 percent compared to those that rarely or never ate the fruit. Because it was difficult to measure the type and amount of chili pepper eaten by the Americans, Italians, Chinese and Iranians in the study, no quantities were specified. Previous studies have found that chili pepper has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer and blood glucose-regulating effects due to capsaicin, its active ingredient.

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Enhancing Cellular Oscillation with PolarAid

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he science behind PolarAid was first demonstrated by Dr. Georges Lakhovsky and Nikola Tesla, an electrical and mechanical engineer, inventor and futurist who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system. Lakhovsky, a Russian inventor of the multiple electrode radio lamp and the multiwave oscillator, authored The Secret of Life: Electricity, Radiation and Your Body, where he explained that cells are small oscillatory circuits emitting ultra-short electromagnetic waves similar to waves radiated by stars. He demonstrated that health was determined by the relative strength of these cellular oscillations, and bacteria, cancers and other pathogens corrupted them, causing interference with the oscillations.

Tesla identified the existence of the energy that has continued to spring from the cosmos since the creation of the universe. This powerful scalar energy supporting all vegetable, animal and human life has been referenced in cultures across the globe for thousands of years. Tesla found that scalar frequencies nourish our body just as food and water do, but as we experience life’s challenges and traumas, or as we age, the cells of the body lose the capability to absorb these vital energies.

A medical doctor practicing today in Serbia, Dr. Dino Tomic and his team was able to procure the original schematics of the two scientists and their inventions. Tomic adapted Lakhovsky and Tesla’s groundbreaking science to perfect the PolarAid antenna, a specially designed, copper-based alloy ring with a proprietary design. By reconstructing the devices and using them in a clinical setting, Tomic observed their effects and determined that the most efficient device was a polarization coil, which he used as the foundation for developing the polarization disc called PolarAid. It works like a satellite antenna, receiving and amplifying natural energy from the atmosphere. When applied to the body, the PolarAid disc redirects the energy to replenish the body’s energy flow, enhancing its capacities to heal naturally.

Scientific evidence that the human body runs on electrical energy has been recognized for decades. In modern medicine diagnostic methods such as the ECG, EEG, EMG and magnetic resonance imaging are based on the measuring of electromagnetic parameters and used to assess the overall level of physical health or functioning of certain organs.

PolarAid is best used in conjunction with a healthy diet, supplements, exercise and commonsense habits. For more information, call 450-486-7888 or visit PolarAidHealth.com. See ad, page 15.

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environmentally speaking Environmentally Speaking is intended to alert, inform and educate residents of Collier and Lee counties regarding educational events and threats that challenge our unique and delicate Southwest Florida ecosystem.

Persistent redness? • PimPles?

Visible blood Vessels?

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acne-rosacea SPA De larissa Offers:

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• Topical formula • Intense “Blue light” high frequency • Oral supplement • Lymphatic drainage • Spectacular results!

rowing Climate Solutions is beginning its first SWFL Climate Compass Speaker Series. Get three distinct perspectives on charting a path to climate resilience by registering for A Conservative Approach to Solving Climate Change on February 24, The Nexus of Our Climate, Oceans, and Security: Challenges and Opportunities on March 24 and The Coastal Real Estate Reckoning is Already Happening on April 21. All programs are free. To learn more and register, visit GrowingClimateSolutions.org.

• First evaluation is Free!

WGCU, Southwest Florida’s source for PBS and NPR, welcomes Valerie Vande Panne as the news staff environmental reporter to focus on climate and water quality issues in Southwest Florida. The position is funded by a grant on a contract period of one year. Contact Vande Panne at EnviroValerie@gmail.com.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and its partners filed suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its decision to let the Florida Department of Environmental Protection assume jurisdiction over the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting program, which regulates the dredging and filling of U.S. waters, including wetlands essential to water quality, storm and climate resiliency, threatened and endangered species, and the economy.

The decision would fast-track development permits throughout the state, which is the first attempt in more than 25 years to seek resumption of the 404 wetland “dredge and fill” permitting program from the federal government. The authorization makes protecting SWFs wetlands more difficult because several federal protections will no longer be applicable. The decision removes the checks and balances necessary for overseeing requests for new communities, roadways and mines. The public is encouraged to write and call their state and federal legislators, as well as the EPA, to request that the decision be rescinded. For more information, visit Conservancy.org.

Larissa Smolen

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17

global briefs

IntroducIng

Facial Symmetry analySiS

A half hour long beauty consultation that analyzes a series of facial measurements to help determine the moSt Flattering hair Style that you can wear now.

Climate Change Makes Hurricane Destruction Worse

A study from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University published in Nature predicts that hurricanes will remain stronger and persist longer after making landfall, causing greater and more widespread destruction, because of ocean waters heated by climate change. In the 1960s, hurricanes lost 75 percent of their energy in the first day after making landfall, but more recent hurricanes lost only about 50 percent of their energy in that same time.

Hurricanes feed off heat energy from the sea and rapidly lose strength once they reach land. Pinaki Chakraborty, a senior author of the study, and its lead author, Ph.D. student Lin Li, analyzed data on storms that made landfall after forming in the North Atlantic between 1967 and 2018. They found that how slowly the storms weakened closely matched changes in sea surface temperatures during the same period. From computer simulations of hurricanes, they discovered that hotter temperatures allowed the hurricanes to hold on to more moisture, which they could continue to use as a source of heat energy once they reached land. nasa/Unsplash.com

How Should I Wear My Hair?

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Tiny Invaders

Plastic Particles Ingested in Food and Water

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Betty Ann Murphy

Researchers at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, estimate people that drink bottled water ingest an additional 90,000 microplastic particles annually compared to 4,000 microplastics for those that drink only tap water. Food is contaminated with plastic as well, which we also ingest. The researchers took data from 26 studies that measured plastic in salt, beer, sugar, fish, shellfish, water and urban air, and combined it with U.S. dietary guidelines to calculate how many particles people likely consumed annually. The results are 50,000 particles per year for adults and 40,000 for children. When inhalation is included, the estimate rises to between 74,000 and 121,000 particles per year for adults. Even these figures are likely underestimated, because the foods in the studies make up only 15 percent of the typical American caloric intake.

The particles’ effect on the human body is not yet understood. Another study revealed that some plastic is expelled from the body in feces. But there is also evidence that it gets absorbed, and that the tiniest particles can enter the bloodstream and lymphatic system, which could affect immune response and aid transmission of toxic chemicals.

Holistic concierge Pediatric care

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Thornburg Pediatrics is happy to announce the addition of ~ Mary M. Baron ~ Outdoor Fun

Childhood Immunity Enhanced

by Natural Environment At the University of Helsinki, in Finland, a new project recorded in the journal Science Advances found that switching a child’s playground from gravel to natural forest floor could foster a better immune system within a month by exposing them to a greater variety of skin and gut bacteria.

The researchers studied 75 children between 3 and 5 years of age at 10 daycare centers in two Finnish cities to see how a change in their playing environment altered their skin and gut microbiota, as well as immune markers in their blood.

Four centers turned their gravel playgrounds into fields of forest floor, soil and grasses, while three already had that setting. Three others kept their existing gravel playground. One month after the changes were made, scientists collected samples of skin, blood and feces from the children. In just a few weeks, microbiota of the children at the renovated daycare centers quickly shifted to become more like the microbiomes of children that attended centers that already had more natural play surfaces. The children at the renovated daycare centers developed a higher ratio of the anti-inflammatory proteins to pro-inflammatory proteins in their blood, indicating that their immune systems were in better shape.

Joining Thornburg Pediatrics in June, Mary will complete her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner in May. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Johns Hopkins University.

Mary has 17+ years experience in healthcare, including 10 years at Boston Children’s Hospital.

As the mother of a 10-year-old girl, she embraces a holistic view of health and wellness. Mary Baron will be a nice addition to the Thornburg Pediatrics team.

We are very excited to have her on staff.

Hi, I’m Dr. Brian Thornburg.

My concierge practice combines western allopathic medicine with functional healthcare.

I’m available 24/7 to my patients and deliver what you need, when you need it.

Contact me today to discuss how my practice can serve your family.

Here to heal, on your terms.

239.348.7337

www.thornburgPediatrics.com

5500 Bryson Drive, Suite 301, Naples, Florida 34109

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It may take some getting used to, and some friends may think it odd, but banning shoes in the house is a good idea. Research has shown that when we’re out and about, our shoes come into direct contact with a variety of microbes, including viruses and bac-

teria. If we walk around our homes in these same shoes without disinfecting them first, we can track in some of those germs and spread them throughout our living spaces.

Pollen and mold can also come into the house on shoes. Upping the gross

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factor, think about picking up fecal matter left by pets on lawns, driveways and sidewalks, as well as the human kind from public restroom floors.

Keeping the indoor sanctuary as clean as possible should be job number one, especially if one or more people in the house are allergy sufferers, immunocompromised individuals or small children that play on the floor and regularly stick things into their mouths.

Organisms survive longer in carpets, which are harder to clean and disinfect than hard floors, but the easiest solution is to leave shoes by the front door. Setting up a seat and shoe storage area at the entrance makes the transition much easier.

Designate one or two pairs as indoor shoes—they could be slippers or comfy loafers that never go outdoors. Socks or good-oldfashioned bare feet are also options.

Some people swear by antimicrobial doormats, wiping their feet two or more times on the treated mat before crossing the threshold.

Periodically cleaning shoes is a good idea, too. The first step is to check the shoe manufacturer’s instructions. Some shoes, like canvas sneakers, can be placed in the washing machine and air dried. Most rubber or leather soles can be scrubbed with soapy water using an old toothbrush or a washcloth. Avoid detergents or cleaners with bleach unless the shoes are white. Thoroughly rinse off the soap to avoid making the shoes slippery.

Asking guests to remove their shoes before entering the abode may feel awkward. Be kind and gentle when making the request, explaining that it will help preserve the family’s health. And if they seem uncomfortable, be flexible. When hosting a gathering, it may be wise to give invitees advance warning of the no-shoe preference so that they can bring slippers or socks. A proactive host might even have fresh socks or house shoes available for guests.

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February 2021

21

photo courtesy of Cafe You, Cape Coral

photo courtesy of Food & Thought, Naples

photo courtesy of Ada's, Ft. Myers

Natural Awakenings Healthy Dining Guide From takeout to family-style or fine dining, enjoy the explosion of healthy dining options throughout Lee and Collier counties. Bon appétit.

Ada’s Natural Market & Green Leaf Café

7070 College Pkwy., Fort Myers 239-939-9600 AdasMarket.com Enjoy an array of wraps and sandwiches; glutenfree, vegan and vegetarian fare and freshly made soups and bakery items with gluten-free options in pies, cookies, muffins, cakes and breads. Full-service organic juice and smoothie bar. See ad, page 31.

Bahai Bowls Cafe

20321 Grande Oak Shoppes Dr., Ste. 306, Estero 239-249-6968 BahiaBowls.com Small, regular and large acai, pitaya and green bowls, in addition to oatmeal bowls, smoothies, bottled beverages, gourmet hot coffee and tea.

Bean to Cup Coffee Lounge

3248 Bayshore Dr., Naples 239-316-7819 BeanToCupNaples.com Organic, fair trade tea and coffee drinks; freshsqueezed juices and organic smoothies; bagels, avocado toast and paninis; baked goods made fresh every day, including vegan, gluten-free and sugarfree options. Breakfast and lunch in the Bayshore Arts District.

Body and Soul Cafe

239-682-3663 BodyAndSoulCafe.com Shop the web store online to order for free delivery to home/office locations in Fort Myers and Naples on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Also Saturdays at Third Street South Farmers’ Market, in Naples. Blue Zone-certified with high-quality, organic, plant-based, gluten-free, peanut-free and soy-free breakfast, lunch and nutritious bowls, as well as smoothies, weekly meal plans and cleanses prepared by a certified nutritional fitness coach and culinary graduate.

Café You

1423 SE 10th St., Ste 1a, Cape Coral 239-600-0966 CafeYou.com A unique Australian-inspired coffee shop serving bold brews and health-conscious nibbles in a laid-back space. Pastries, cakes and bread made from scratch daily. Private functions, catering and cooking classes.

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Collier/Lee Counties

Chef Brooke’s Natural Café

1850 Boy Scout Dr., Ste. A-106, Fort Myers 239-332-2433 ChefBrookeOnline.com Organic, homemade foods that tempt with simple combinations and complex flavors. Gluten-free options, superfoods, smoothies and a juice bar.

Community Table Restaurant

1575 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples 239-963-9556 CommunityTablellc.com Organic and non-GMO fruits and vegetables. Soups, salads, flatbreads, sandwiches and wraps. Chicken and beef are free range or pasture raised. Dairy is from 100 percent grass-fed cows.

Cosmos Ristorante & Pizzeria

536 Tamiami Tr. N, Naples 239-262-8181 CosmosPizzaNaples.com Blue Zones-certified Italian dishes. Homemade pizza and pasta, vegetarian friendly and vegan options, as well as gluten-free options made from Gianluca Corso’s generations-old family recipes.

Epiphany Gluten Free Bakery

1514 Immokalee Rd., Ste. 117, Naples 239-273-2350 EpiphanyGlutenFree.com Custom cakes: Ruth@EpiphanyGlutenFree.com Scrumptious, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, keto, low-carb, and sugar-free menu items, in addition to customized orders. Hot and cold sandwiches, pastries, pies, breads, rolls, and coffee. Breakfast and lunch.

Fibrre

10058 Gulf Center Dr., Fort Myers 239-932-9015 Fibrre.com Plant-based restaurant with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, natural and organic handmade burgers, wraps, salads, limeades, teas and smoothies.

First Watch

Locations in Estero, Fort Myers and Naples FirstWatch.com A wide variety of selections includes avocado toast on multigrain bread with morning meditation juice, chia pudding and superfood bowls.

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Food & Thought Organic General Store and Café

2132 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples 239-213-2222 FoodAndThought.com Fresh produce delivered daily to this 100 percent organic market and café. Homemade breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu items, smoothies, juices and soups prepared from scratch.

Founders Market & Bistro

7941 Airport Rd., Naples 239-653-9353 TheFoundersBistro.Market A solarian gastropub featuring farm-to-table cuisine made with organic, sustainable ingredients. Offering a highly curated and eclectic combination of foods and beverages. Reservations suggested.

Green Cup Cafe

1412 Dean St, Fort Myers 239-200-8670 GreenCupCafe.com Cozy downtown organic cafe serving up raw juices, smoothies, coffee, tea, boba, açaí bowls, sandwiches, salads, wraps and desserts with a specialized focus on vegan cuisine.

Juicelation

4947 Tamiami Tr., Ste. 104., Naples 239-529-2290 Juicelation.com Freshly picked and locally sourced organic juice concoctions made daily from hundreds of juice recipes or customized. Enjoy at their juice bar or order home delivery or find them at local farmers’ markets throughout Collier County.

Lake Park Diner

944 7th Ave. N., Naples 239-228-6351 TheLakeParkDiner.com Casual eatery serving lunch and dinner focuses on quality, sustainable products and putting health and environment first. No steroids, antibiotics, hormones or GMOs in soups, salads, bowls, grass-fed burgers and classic entrees.

photo courtesy of Living Vine, Ft. Myers

photo courtesy of Oakes Farms Seed to Table, Naples

photo courtesy of Founders Market & Bistro, Naples

Life – The Vegan Drive Thru

Seed & Bean

Living Vine Organic Café

The Bowl

3310 Del Prado Blvd. S., Cape Coral 239-599-2291 TheVeganDriveThru.com Dine-in, take-out or drive-thru for vegan fast-food, affordable and healthy. Soups and sides, smoothie bowls, desserts and muffins.

1400 Colonial Blvd., Ste. 59, Fort Myers 239-936-2510 LivingVineOrganicCafe.com Family owned and operated organic café offering plant-based foods. Sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, vegan and vegetarian specials, smoothies, wheat grass, juices and organic coffee.

Loving Hut

1918 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral 239-424-8433 LovingHut.us/CapeCoral Serving delicious 100 percent plant-based meals using only natural and healthy ingredients.

Oakes Farms Seed to Table Market

4835 Immokalee Rd., Naples 239-310-7333 OakesFarms.com Specialty grocery store with sushi bar, all-organic Food & Thought area. Salad station. Beer and wine section. Ice cream parlor offering house-made desserts, coffee, pastries and breakfast foods. Other stations offer hot and cold sandwiches, tacos, pizza, pasta and fresh-roasted coffee, as well as smoothies, cocktails and craft beer. Mezzanine sports bar and casual dining.

Organically Twisted

13040 Livingston Rd., Ste. 10, Naples 239-302-8669 OrganicallyTwisted.com Casual dining with health-conscious wraps and bowls prepared with mindfully sourced ingredients.

Pizza Fusion

12901 McGregor Blvd., Ste. 5, Fort Myers 239-337-7979 PizzaFusionFortMyers.com Eco-friendly dining offering gourmet pizza, organic, gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free entrees, desserts, beers and wines. Dine-in, take-out or delivery within five-mile radius.

1520 Broadway, Ste. 107, Fort Myers.

239-243-8137 SeedAndBeanMarket.com Cannabis café serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Soups, salads, and appetizers. Unique foods, wine and beers, as well as CBD-infused beverages.

1427 Pine Ridge Rd, Ste. 3, Naples 239-734-3867 1200 Central Ave., Naples 239-231-3324 The-Bowl.com Healthy, delicious acai and pitaya bowls and smoothies made with organic and local ingredients that people can feel good about eating. Kombucha and cold-brew coffee on tap.

The Café on 5th and Delicious Raw Juice Bar

821 5th Avenue S., Naples 239-430-6555 TheCafeOn5th.com DelRaw.com Homemade breakfast, lunch and baked goods.

Healthy menu options include organic omelets, raw juices and smoothies, soups, salads, sandwiches, cakes and cookies.

The Local

5323 Airport Rd. N., Naples 239-596-3276 TheLocalNaples.com Farm to table and sea to table cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. Organic salads, grass-fed beef, grains and noodles, flatbreads, sandwiches, pastas.

Gluten-free options. Beer and wine.

Tropical Smoothie Café

Visit their website for their 15 locations throughout Collier and Lee counties TropicalSmoothie.com Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a variety of fresh wraps, sandwiches, salads and flatbreads, in addition to real fruit smoothies.

True Food Kitchen

Waterside Shops 5375 Tamiami Tr., Ste. 15, Naples 239-431-4580 TrueFoodKitchen.com A health-driven, seasonal restaurant merging nutrient-rich ingredients with a flavor-forward menu for lunch and dinner that rotates regularly. Guests experience a variety of glutenfree, naturally organic, vegetarian and vegan offerings with fresh ingredients. Renowned physician Dr. Andrew Weil helped establish True Food Kitchen on a set of simple and exhaustively researched principles known as the Anti-Inflammatory Diet.

Turko Taco

410 9th St. N., Naples 239-331-4527 TurkoTaco.com Healthy gourmet tacos, quesadillas, organic salads and side dishes. Fresh juices, soft drinks, wine, draft and bottled beers. Mochas and desserts. Gluten-free available.

Vegan Kitchen

794 Neapolitan Way, Naples 239-307-4813 Vegan-Kitchen.us Freshly prepared appetizers, salads, soups, rice and noodles, wraps and deserts.

Whole Foods Market

9101 Strada Pl., The Mercado, Naples 239-552-5100 6891 Daniels Pkwy., Ste. 100, Fort Myers 239-935-6550 WholeFoodsMarket.com A wide variety of hot and cold foods prepared with natural and organic ingredients purchased locally when possible. No artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives or trans fats. Glutenfree offerings.

Wynn’s Market

141 9 St. N., Naples 239-261-7157 WynnsOnline.com Fresh, quality, heart-healthy meals and favorite comfort foods. Organic, natural and imported selections. Gluten-free offerings.

Find more Blue Zones certified restaurants at SouthwestFlorida.BlueZonesProject.com.

February 2021

23

Heartfelt Eating Best Foods for a Heart-Healthy Diet

H

by April Thompson

ypertension affects nearly half of all Americans, increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke, the leading cause of death. We can help mitigate that risk and have a healthy “change of heart” by revamping our diets.

While food fads are constantly changing, the basics of a hearthealthy diet have not, says Cheryl Strachan, a registered dietitian in Calgary, Canada, and founder of SweetSpotNutrition.ca. Strachan notes the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has been used to help lower blood pressure and with other heart disease risk factors since its development in the 1990s. The DASH diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans and low-fat dairy foods. While it includes lean meat, fish and poultry, it limits sugary foods and fatty meats.

The Mediterranean diet, says Strachan, is another proven regimen for heart health, citing a five-year Spanish study in The New England Journal of Medicine that found the incidence of cardiovascular events was 30 percent lower among participants on this diet, supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, compared to those assigned a reduced-fat diet.

A Mediterranean diet doesn’t necessarily mean eating dishes specific to that region. “It’s the type of foods that matters: a largely 24

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conscious eating

plant-based diet focused on whole grains such as the bulgur in tabouli, legumes, nuts, seeds, olive oil and some animal products like fish, poultry and dairy,” says Strachan.

Michael Greger, a Seattle physician and author of the bestseller How Not to Die, disagrees that meat-based proteins have a place in a heart-healthy diet. “Only one way of eating has ever been proven to reverse heart disease in the majority of patients: a diet centered around whole-plant foods,” says Greger, adding that the most critical risk factor is elevated LDL cholesterol. “To drastically reduce LDL cholesterol levels, we need to drastically reduce our intake of trans fat, which comes from processed foods and naturally from meat and dairy; saturated fat, found mainly in animal products and junk foods; and playing a lesser role, dietary cholesterol, found exclusively in animal-derived foods, especially eggs.”

Michelle Routhenstein, a preventive cardiology dietitian and owner of Entirely Nourished, a nutrition counseling practice in New York City, likes to meet clients where they are rather than trying to force a drastic switch they can’t maintain. “Often, people get very broad advice, like ‘Adopt a plant-based diet,’ but when it comes to the heart, you have to find a way of eating you can commit to long term. I start by asking what foods bring them joy, as well as their food dislikes, history and culture.”

For Routhenstein, an optimal diet for the heart includes a healthy balance of good fats, lean protein and the complex carbs that are important sources of fiber. “Research has shown that every additional 10 grams of fiber per day can decrease the risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 25 percent,” by helping the body remove excess cholesterol, says the dietitian and author of The Truly Easy HeartHealthy Cookbook: Fuss-Free, Flavorful, Low-Sodium Meals. While fatty foods are sometimes scapegoated for poor health, unsaturated fats are “really good for blood vessel health,” she adds.

Nutrients for Heart Health

Potassium is a key mineral for heart health, as it can help the body remove excess sodium, lower blood pressure and improve blood flow and blood vessel health. Yet research shows less than 2 percent of Americans get enough. Beans, sweet potatoes, lentils, beets and avocados are among many potassium-rich foods with multiple heart benefits.

There is a growing awareness of the importance of inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids, particularly in fish like wild salmon, arctic char and sardines. Routhenstein also advocates omega-9 fatty acids such as in tahini and avocado. Omega-9s have been shown to help increase HDL “good” cholesterol and decrease LDL “bad” cholesterol while protecting blood vessel health.

Heart attacks often seem to occur suddenly simply because the damage happens gradually and quietly, warns Routhenstein. “Heart disease is progressive, so over time a poor lifestyle and diet can damage blood vessels and accelerate hardening of the arteries that lead to heart attacks,” she warns. “Some damage may not be entirely reversible, but it’s never too late to optimize heart functioning.”

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

Servings for the Heart Quinoa, Edamame and Carrot Salad with Ginger-Sesame Dressing Edamame are whole, young, green soybeans that are mildly grassy in flavor. They have about five times the folate—a highly important cardiovascular nutrient—of mature soybeans. Edamame’s flavors pair well with fluffy quinoa, crunchy cabbage and carrot slaw, and combine seamlessly with the spicy, toasty notes of the ginger-sesame dressing.

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½ cup quinoa 1 cup water 1 cup edamame, fully cooked and chilled 2 Tbsp ginger-sesame dressing 1 cup shredded carrots 2 cups shredded cabbage

In a small pot, bring the quinoa and water to a boil. Lower the heat to low, cover and simmer for 8 minutes.

Add the edamame to the pot and cook for an additional four minutes, until the water in the quinoa pot has been absorbed and the edamame is tender.

In a medium-size bowl, combine the quinoa and edamame with the dressing, shredded carrots and shredded cabbage and serve.

Tip: There are three ways to make this easier: batch-cook the quinoa; thaw, cook and shell the edamame and keep overnight in the refrigerator; and buy prepackaged slaw. Just assemble.

always welcome!

Ginger-Sesame Dressing Typical sesame dressing is high in sodium from the soy sauce; even the low-sodium varieties are high in salt. This dressing is well-balanced, low in sodium and adds flair to just about any dish. Toasted sesame oil is aromatically pleasing and adds immediate flavor that is balanced by tangy rice vinegar, zesty ginger and crunchy sesame seeds.

2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil 2 tsp rice vinegar

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2 tsp fresh grated ginger 2 tsp unsalted sesame seeds

In a small bowl, mix the sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger and sesame seeds until well combined. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.

Flavor tip: For added heat, add ½ teaspoon of hot sauce and 1 teaspoon of lime juice to balance it out.

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This meal fills up a home with the smell of warm, sweet cinnamon and is accompanied by a toasted mixture of flavorful lentils, sweet and fruity raisins and buttery pecan pieces. It tastes like dessert, but is wellbalanced with lean proteins from the lentils, complex carbohydrates from the squash and heart-healthy fats from the pecans to keep one satisfied and properly nourished.

YIELD: 2 SERVINGS 1 large acorn squash 2¼ tsp ground cinnamon, divided 1 cup low-sodium canned, cooked lentils, drained and rinsed ¼ cup pecan pieces ¼ cup raisins Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut the acorn squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Sprinkle ⅛ teaspoon of cinnamon on the inside of each squash section and place them flesh-side-down on the baking sheet.

Cook for 30 minutes until fork-tender and lightly golden brown.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix the lentils, pecans, raisins and the remaining 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. Scoop evenly into the inside of each squash and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until the pecans and the top of the lentil mixture are lightly golden.

Once ready, place half an acorn squash on each plate and serve. This can also be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Make-it-easier tip: Reduce cooking time by cutting the acorn squash in half, placing it in a microwave-safe dish and microwaving it covered on high for about 10 to 12 minutes until tender. Add the squash to the oven and continue with earlier step for a crispy finish.

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

Coming Next Month MARCH

Regenerative Organic Farming Plus: Indoor Kitchen Garden

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courtesy of laura flippen

courtesy of laura flippen

Lentil, Raisin and Pecan-Stuffed Acorn Squash

Blueberry and Pumpkin Seed Yogurt Bark This dessert is for lovers of froyo, ice cream or frozen treats. Plain yogurt is blended with refreshing mint, sweet blueberries and a hint of honey—all topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds. This bark can also be an easy breakfast alternative that balances high-quality protein, dietary fiber and heart-healthy fats. Eat this delicious snack in a bowl to catch the yogurt bark liquid goodness as it melts. Add a drizzle of dark chocolate for extra decadence.

YIELD: 6 SERVINGS 2 cups nonfat plain yogurt 1¼ cups blueberries, divided 1 Tbsp coarsely chopped fresh mint 1 tsp honey ¼ cup raw, unsalted, pumpkin seeds Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, making sure the edges are covered. In a medium-size bowl for a food processor, combine the yogurt, 1 cup of blueberries, the mint and honey. Blend until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Using a rubber spatula, evenly spread the yogurt mixture over the parchment paper.

Evenly add the remaining blueberries along with the pumpkin seeds on top of the yogurt mixture.

Freeze for 2 to 4 hours until the bark is fully frozen. The best way to check is to poke the middle of the pan with a fork to see if it has hardened. Once fully frozen, the edges should easily lift, as well.

Break the bark up into 12 pieces and freeze in an overnight container or a freezer-safe, zip-top bag for up to one month.

Source: The Truly Easy Heart-Healthy Cookbook by Michelle Routhenstein.

reader spotlight

Chante Pemberton, Naples Resident

Work: Engagement lead for Blue Zones Project SWFL. In my role, I connect local faith-based organizations, homeowners associations and individuals with the Blue Zones Project to help them increase their well-being while also helping to improve the health and vitality of the community at large.

Favorite thing about Natural Awakenings: The vision Natural Awakenings had when first published—to provide the tools and resources for leading healthier lives—is now more important than ever. Natural approaches to health, well-being and sustainable living are in complete alignment with the work I do every day and Natural Awakenings has been sharing this in the community for nearly 28 years.

Most frequented healthy food restaurant: There are so many now that we have Blue Zones Project-approved restaurants.

From Mel’s Diner to the obvious Organically Twisted, there are too many to mention. Check out SouthwestFlorida.BlueZonesProject.com.

Proudest Achievement: My loving, successful 23-year marriage and our healthy happy 19-year-old son. Family first, my job second. Being part of an organization that serves the community in such an important way has been the answer to the intention I set more than 20 years ago when I described my dream job and I manifested it.

Expectations for the future: To continue to be part of raising well-being in my SWFL community.

Favorite APP: Any app with guided meditations Favorite websites: SouthwestFlorida.BlueZonesProject.com.

Local or global causes supported: Drug Free Collier, STARability, Big Brother Big Sister, Collier Coalition for Healthy Minds, David Lawrence Center, Meals of Hope, St. Matthews House.

How you invest in your community: I am so blessed to have a job that allows me to invest in my community every day. I also believe my ability to connect and build relationships always produces opportunities to be of service to others, which I consider my best investment.

Favorite quote: Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next. ~Reinhold Niebuhr What you are doing to be the change you want to see in the world: Living one day at a time and always knowing that the most important work I do is to maintain spiritual fitness so I can be a power of example to my son first and to those around me.

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Live a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Integrative Cardiologists on Preventing Heart Disease

C

b elight/Adobestock.com

by Ronica O’Hara

ardiology has made mindboggling advances in efficiently repairing everything from clogged arteries to floppy mitral valves and even replacing the entire failing heart itself. Yet the stubborn fact remains that almost half of all Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease, killing one in four of us, and those numbers are rising. Research shows that simple lifestyle changes can prevent 80 percent of these deaths, but many cardiologists typically reach for a prescription pad rather than explore diet, exercise and other prevention options with their patients.

“Medicine can be life-saving, but optimal 28

Collier/Lee Counties

heart health can’t come from medicine alone,” says cardiologist Stephen Devries, co-author of Integrative Cardiology. “There is a common belief among many physicians that patients generally don’t want to make lifestyle changes—an assumption that is often dead wrong and refuted by surveys of patients that show that the majority are looking to do exactly that.”

Los Angeles restauranteur and musician Gianni Neiviller, 54, is such a case. When he found holistic cardiologist Cynthia Thaik three years ago, he had already endured four major surgeries for gut illnesses; was suffering from obesity, high blood

swfl.NaturalAwakenings.com

pressure, anxiety and depression; and was heavily abusing alcohol and marijuana.

Thaik ordered tests that uncovered sleep apnea, and she encouraged him to turn to an all-organic diet, take vitamin and mineral supplements, exercise and practice mindfulness and meditation.

“At first it was all fairly hard, but as I started losing the pounds, my mind became more clear, and little by little, it all started getting a bit easier,” Neiviller says. He lost 86 pounds within a year, got sober and ceased taking blood pressure medication and using a sleep apnea machine. He now walks six miles a day; practices a hybrid

regimen of qigong, yoga and meditation; and is switching to a holistic health career.

“When people try to push my buttons, they rarely succeed these days,” he smiles.

Rebounding into vibrant health is what integrative cardiologists like Devries and Thaik strive for. Also known as preventive or holistic cardiologists, they focus on guiding patients to change long-held, harmful, physical and emotional practices.

Although they are comparatively few in number—probably no more than 100 nationally—these doctors are vocal and influential, imparting valuable advice about preventing and reversing heart disease through daily lifestyle choices.

Heart-Happy Eating

Substantial research affirms that one major line of defense against heart disease is what we put into our mouths every day, yet only 8 percent of cardiologists consider themselves capable to give nutritional advice, a survey showed. To counter that, Devries co-founded the Gaples Institute, a Naperville, Illinois, nonprofit that offers free nutritional training online to the public and nutritional accreditation for medical clinicians. Devries, who trained at Dr. Andrew Weil’s Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, lectures internationally and recently authored What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Cholesterol. “People have a lot more power over their heart health than they realize,” he says.

According to Devries, the name of a diet is not as important as the anti-inflammatory foods it should contain, such as “a wide variety of vegetables and fruit, plenty of beans, whole grains in place of refined, minimizing or eliminating meat (especially processed meat like bacon and sausage), minimizing added sugar (especially from sugar-sweetened beverages) and using small amounts of the most healthful oils, like extra-virgin olive oil.” And the evidence is increasing, he says, of “minimizing or eliminating animal products and getting most or all of your protein from highquality plant sources like beans, tofu, whole grains and nuts. Fish is one exception for which there is good evidence.”

He’s backed up by a November 2020

study of 220,000 adults published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. It concludes that those with diets high in red and processed meat, refined grains and sugary beverages had a 46 percent higher risk of heart disease and a 28 percent higher risk of stroke compared to those consuming anti-inflammatory diets rich in green and yellow vegetables, whole grains, coffee and tea.

Devries suggests that gradual, incremental changes to the diet may be easier than abrupt and dramatic choices. For example, he might recommend switching from sugary soda to flavored seltzer first, then trying lemon water and black tea with milk before opting for plain, green tea. Sipping a cup of green tea at least every other day reduces the risk of heart attacks and dying of heart disease by one-fifth, Chinese researchers report in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Powerful Supplements

As a young cardiologist frustrated by the revolving-door nature of his patients, Stephen Sinatra came upon an obscure 1982 study of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) that he realized could have saved the life of a favorite patient. This catalyzed his intensive studies into nutrition and bioenergetics that produced 17 books, including the bestselling Reverse Heart Disease Now and The Sinatra Solution. He helped formulate the new field of metabolic cardiology that proposes preventing and treating cardiovascular disease with nutraceuticals to improve energy production in heart cells.

In addition to suggesting a high-potency, multi-nutrient, fish oil, magnesium and vitamin C for prevention, he recommends four key nutrients that produce and use adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s basic cellular fuel:

YCoQ10 is synthesized in the body, but

declines with age and statin use. It protects from the free radical damage linked to inflammation. Dosage: 90 to 250 milligrams (mg) daily for prevention, 180 to 360 mg for hypertension and 300 to 600 mg for heart failure.

YL-carnitine ferries fatty acids to be

oxidized to make ATP and moves toxic

metabolites out of heart cells. Dosage: 1,000 to 1,500 mg in divided doses to prevent deficiency and up to 3,000 mg for heart disease.

YMagnesium, required in all reac-

tions involving ATP, is depleted by some gastrointestinal medications and diuretics.

Dosage: at least 400 mg.

YD-ribose is a naturally occurring sugar derivative of ATP that hastens energy regeneration. Dosage: five to seven grams (gm) daily as a preventive, seven to 10 gm daily for heart failure.

In other nutrient news, adults that took glucosamine/chondroitin every day for a year or longer had a 65 percent reduction in cardiovascular-related deaths, reports West Virginia University researchers that analyzed 16 years of data from 16,686 adults.

Smart Testing

Preventive cardiologist Joel Kahn, the author of Your Whole Heart Solution and The Plant-Based Solution, says that lab tests typically prescribed by cardiologists and other doctors are inadequate. “Standard lab tests have not changed in 30 to 40 years, but science has,” he says. “For example, inflammation is now understood to be a fundamental process for most chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.

A simple lab test, hs-CRP, is available to measure inflammation. Very few doctors add this to their panel. When it is high, it leads to a search for why there is inflammation and diet, lifestyle and other measures to resolve it.”

After 25 years as a cardiologist treating heart-attack emergencies, Kahn, who is vegan, went back to college to study preventive cardiology and set up the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity, in Bingham Farms, Michigan, which focuses on dietary counseling and preventive screenings. His list of “must have” tests includes:

YAdvanced cholesterol panel for a breakdown of LDL-cholesterol particle number and size, which is highly predictive of cardiovascular problems.

YLipoprotein(a) cholesterol to detect a

risk-elevating genetic form of cholesterol that’s present in about 20 percent of those tested.

February 2021

29

YHigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) to identify inflammation of blood vessels.

YHemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) to obtain the three-month

measure of sugar in hemoglobin, a marker of both diabetes and heart disease.

YVitamin D to identify deficiencies linked to a higher risk of hypertension, heart failure, angina and heart attacks.

Move It or Lose It

The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (brisk walking, water aerobics, gardening, tennis, dancing) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running, jumping, swimming laps), as well as musclestrengthening activity (weights) at least two days a week.

Only 20 percent of adults exercise for the full 150 minutes per week, which may be why physical inactivity is a major factor in an estimated one-third of heart disease deaths. “I like to frame it as ‘being active’, because exercise sounds onerous,” Devries says.

“Even a small amount of activity goes a long way—walking at a gentle pace 30 minutes a day confers very significant benefits. Up to a point, more can be better, but only for some people, and only to a point.”

Even moving a few minutes daily can add up. Doing 12-minute bursts of vigorous exercise favorably impacts 80 percent of the metabolites that govern such functions as oxidative stress, inflammation and vascular reactivity, reports a new study in Circulation.

Just one hour a week of strength training significantly lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease death, another study found. And simply holding thigh and calf stretches for 45 seconds for a total of five minutes daily improved arterial blood flow, reports a study in the Journal of Physiology.

The Emotional Heart

As a child in Myanmar, Thaik witnessed hands-on healing at a clinic she visited with her physician mother, but holistic care only entered her life after 20 years of practice as a frustrated cardiologist, when she was laid low by severe anemia that required transfusions and surgery. Today, the Harvard-trained cardiologist is the author of Your Vibrant Heart and founder of the Holistic Heart Healing Center, in Los Angeles, which integrates the medical model with lifestyle strategies and approaches like homeopathy and acupuncture.

“I very much believe that we are both physical beings and energetic or spiritual beings. Our physical makeup is closely intertwined with our mental and emotional makeup,” Thaik says. She counsels patients to practice the following:

YMindfulness. “A mentor of mine, (life coach) Mary Morrisey,

taught me to avoid the three Cs—complaining, comparing or criticizing. If you attempt to do this for even an hour, you will find that it is actually a hard task. Practicing this allows us to be acutely mindful of our thoughts.”

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YGratitude. “I wake up every morning and before my feet hit

the floor, I make this statement five times and fill in five different answers: ‘I am so happy and grateful now that ...’”

YReleasing. “I believe the most important ingredient to health and healing is the ability to release—to forgive self and others, to let go and abandon all of our negative thoughts, our self-limiting beliefs, our notions of right and wrong, our feelings of injustice and being wronged.”

She advises, “When we can abandon all these beliefs and allow ourselves to float or drift unimpeded—imagine yourself on a tube in a lazy river—that is when healing within our bodies begins, when our parameters of stress and the hormones and neurotransmitters associated with stress start to down-regulate, and we can literally feel a wave of relaxation passing through our bodies. This will lower our heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline and cortisol levels, thereby mitigating our risk of a heart attack or stroke.”

Ronica O’Hara, a natural health writer, can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

More Heart-Healthy Strategies take long soaks. Middle-aged Japanese adults that took a daily bath in warm or hot water had a 28 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 26 percent lower risk of stroke than people that didn’t bathe in the tub more than twice a week, concludes a study in the journal Heart. outdo each other. People that competed with each other to walk more steps ended up walking about 100 miles more in nine months than people that simply walked on their own, reports the JAMA Internal Medicine. consider cannabidiol. This non-psychoactive form of cannabis has been shown in small lab studies to lower inflammation and ease arrhythmia. “CBD can help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve anxiety and depression, reduce inflammation, improve glucose regulation, diminish pain and thereby lower our adrenergic (fight-orflight) tone,” says holistic cardiologist Cynthia Thaik. brush a lot. In a 10-year Korean study, people that brushed their teeth three or more times a day had a 10 percent lower risk of atrial fibrillation and a 12 percent lower risk of heart failure. sidestep pollution. Stay away from traffic and industrial areas when exercising. Even a few hours of exposure to the ultrafine particles generated by emissions may potentially trigger a nonfatal heart attack, reports research in Environmental Health Perspectives.

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Ozone and Hydrogen Antiaging Gases

by Sue Mahany

O

zone and hydrogen are two powerful and safe gases that address the two primary root causes of aging—oxidation and inflammation. As part of our natural world and biochemical systems, these gases are not only critical to life but are also emerging as new tools in wellness and prevention. Used primarily for detoxification and improved cellular health, this is an important time to learn how to get more oxygen and hydrogen into the body.

Ozone

Oxygen is a first line of defense against bacteria, viruses, yeast and parasites. It is also used to convert food to useable energy for work and growth. Ozone is an active form of oxygen, consisting of three atoms instead of the usual two. It can be created by passing an electrical spark through a tube with filled medical-grade oxygen. The resulting gas is like super oxygen because the weakly bonded third atom is available to do oxidative work in the body.

Since the 1980s, Dr. Robert Rowen, co-owner of The Robert Rowen, M.D., and Terri Su, M.D., Clinic, in Santa Rosa, California, has been extensively using integrative approaches such as ozone to resolve health challenges. A short video at DrRowenDrSu.com explains the five major benefits of ozone, which deactivates virus, bacteria, fungus, mold and parasites; improves blood flow by making red blood cells more flexible; increases immunity and antibody production; breaks down petrochemicals; and removes toxins, in addition to accelerating the production of energy in the mitochondria, considered the powerhouse of cells.

Getting ozone into the body is done in several ways. Using intravenous therapy in a clinical setting, blood can be taken out mixed with ozone and then returned to the body.

Consumers can also buy home machines that have an attached tube for rectal insufflation.

Ozone saunas, relatively new in the U.S., can be used to deliver ozone through the skin.

Because ozone can be irritating to the lungs, it is not inhaled in high concentrations, but some home air purification systems integrate both ultraviolet light and ozone at lower concentrations.

Hydrogen

As a perfect balance to oxidation, hydrogen acts as an antioxidant by selectively neutralizing harmful free radicals. This selectivity is key, because most antioxidants get rid of all the byproducts of oxidation, not just the harmful ones, and some byproducts like nitric oxide are very important. About 100 times smaller than vitamin C, molecular hydrogen is also the smallest molecule in the universe and can therefore cross the blood-brain barrier, as well as get inside cells to do work. Along with oxygen, it is critical in the production of energy.

Without a sufficient amount of hydrogen, no matter how much oxygen or nutrients make it into cells, mitochondria cannot produce enough energy. Ideally, hydrogen is produced in the body in the digestive system as a natural byproduct of fermentation by the microbiota. Individuals with a healthy digestive system should produce about a liter of hydrogen gas per day.

Dr. Mark Sircus, author of Hydrogen Medicine, is considered a U.S. expert on hydrogen. The founder of HydrogenMedicine.info offers five free chapters of Hydrogen Medicine in which he details many benefits of hydrogen, including reducing fatigue and anxiety, improving hormonal balance, increasing athletic endurance, improving heart health and acting as a neuroprotective agent.

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HOCATT ozone sauna

Getting hydrogen into the body is easier than ozone because it can be inhaled directly, as well as dissolved in water. These two delivery systems have overlapping and unique beneficial properties that are being studied extensively, especially in China and Japan, where most of the original research has been done. On Sircus’ website, there are links to hydrogen machines for home use. Most are able to produce both hydrogen water, and with a different attachment can be used for inhalation. A less expensive way to get hydrogen into a personal wellness plan is by using tablets that dissolve in water, creating hydrogen gas. Mercola.com and WaterAndWellness.com also offer these tablets.

PubMed.gov offers thousands of studies in which ozone therapy and molecular hydrogen have used for numerous conditions such as arthritis, skin disease, diabetes, chronic inflammation, hypertension, neurological issues and others that have been improved due to the system-wide effects of these safe gases.

Sue Mahany is the owner of Spark Health Technologies. Located at 11983 N. Tamiami Tr., Ste. 150, in Naples. The wellness center has a HOCATT ozone sauna, BEMER microcirculation mat, and hydrogen technologies for a powerful whole body cleanse. See ad, page 43.

business spotlight

Hempra Products Come in Many Forms

by Lisa Marlene

I

t was the pandemic that awakened the entrepreneurial spirit in Stacey Roberts, coowner of Hempra, a new business in Naples. Deciding to create something new, she resolved to combine a passion for skincare as an esthetician at her former Naples business, Replenish, and at The Ritz Carlton, as well as experience in medical marijuana dispensaries in Breckenridge and Boulder, Colorado. The knowlStacey Roberts edge she gained from studying medicinal plants at Herbalism Roots, in Denver, fit perfectly into the plan she proposed to her business partner.

Specializing in matching the customer with the right CBD products for their specific needs, Roberts says, “In my six years of working in a few different dispensaries, I learned a lot by helping people who came in search of CBD products for different reasons, such as relief from pain, insomnia, anxiety, arthritis and many other health issues. It’s not only very important that an individual purchases the right product, but also that they use it on a consistent basis. When people buy products that they don’t use correctly, they don’t get the results they are expecting. That’s why educating customers and providing clear instructions for use is so important,” says the Naples resident.

Roberts explains, “We make it so simple by putting premium, hemp-derived CBD products in an attractive box and mailing it right to the customer’s door. We have sample, monthly and seasonal boxes. The customer doesn’t need to come to the store. They can answer the survey questions on our website and we can choose the products based on their answers or they can make their own selections. They can also call us. We have CBD in many forms, such as drops and tinctures, as well as edibles such as chocolates, gummies and lozenges. We also have others, such as a breath mist in addition to skincare products, which are one of my best sellers.

Hempra is located at 4584 Enterprise Ave., Ste. 3, in Naples. For more information call 239-778-8738 or email info@Hempra.com.

See ad, page 19.

February 2021

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healthy kids

VEGGIE TRICKS How to Get Kids to Eat Better

by Ronica O’Hara

I

t’s the rare parent that doesn’t have to plead and plot to get a child to eat vegetables. That’s not surprising; almost no one is born with a natural hankering for broccoli, and being wary of strange new foods may be hardwired in us so we can survive as a species. Happily, clever workarounds can help move a child past exclaiming, “Yuck!” as these parenting bloggers, nutritionists and other grown-ups have learned in the veggies-are-good-for-you trenches.

SERVE SMOOTHIES. “The combinations are endless. Pack it full of spinach, kale, frozen zucchini or cauliflower. Then add a frozen banana or other fruit, plus your milk of choice (like cashew milk) then blend. Bam! You have a naturally sweetened, veggiefilled, delicious drink for your child, and they don’t even know they’re drinking their vegetables,” writes Emily Lesh, at ExperiencedMommy.com.

fabiomax/Adobestock.com

USE SPRINKLES. “Everyone loves sprinkles! You can use chia seeds, microplaned broccoli head, flaxseed, grated carrots or even frozen yogurt dots. It transforms the food into something much more exciting,” writes Danielle Zold, at PickyEatingDietitian.com.

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GET THEM COOKING. “My kids love to help in the kitchen, and I have found that they are much more likely to try foods that they have helped to cook. We made our cranberries from scratch for Thanksgiving. My kids loved watching the cranberries boil and pop in the pot and seeing them change colors as they cooked. When dinnertime came, they were excited to try the cranberries, and my daughter ended up loving them!” writes Sarah Miller, at HomeSchooling4Him.com.

ROTATE FAMILY CHOICES. “Everyone in the family gets to choose one meal on one night of the swfl.NaturalAwakenings.com

week. We all commit to eating whatever the family member has chosen. This has helped our kids to try meals that aren’t on their favorite list, as they know that they’ll get their turn to choose soon,” writes Sophia Nomicos, at MasAndPas.com.

TEMPT THEM. “When I’m making dinner, I like to have carrots or cucumbers available on the counter. They always come in to try to get snacks and if they see those, they will ‘sneak them away’ to eat them, since I tell them no more snacks or food til dinner,” writes Heather Hoke, at EmbracingChaosWithLove.com.

REWARD MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. “Just because a kid hates a veggie the first 10 times you offer it doesn’t mean they’ll hate it forever. I try to make it fun by having kids track veggies they’ve tried and the number of times they’ve tried them with stickers on a veggie discovery table, which means even foods they dislike feel rewarding to try,” writes Jess Dang, at CookSmarts.com.

BE SNEAKY. “Take something kids already like and make it with healthier ingredients. For example, if your kid loves meatballs, start by making them homemade, then adding in healthy things like frozen chopped spinach. I’ll grate zucchini and carrots and put them in about any pasta, meatloaf, burgers. I used to think sneaking in veggies was a bad thing, but honestly, it’s been great for our family,” writes Stephanie Rapone, at PantryToPlate.net.

TALK UP THE BENEFITS. “I have found that when my son doesn’t want to eat something, he is much more likely to eat it if I tell him its benefits. For example, I told him, ‘When you eat carrots, they make your eyes stronger, and they help you see in the dark.’ He loves to eat carrots now. He says, ‘Now I will be able to see in the dark!’ I am learning a lot this way, too. We Google the benefits of food at least once a day,” writes Elizabeth Manly, at DiscoveryPlayShop.com.

REINFORCE. “Explain that when a child feels good, she can attribute it to eating healthy. For example, if we managed to get our daughter to eat an apple—her favorite fruit that she now eats every day—I would say, ‘Wow, you sure ran around a lot at the playground. That apple you ate gave you a lot of energy,’” writes Kirsten Schuder, author of Schooling Your Kids Through a Pandemic.

Ronica O’Hara, a natural health writer, can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

What the Research Shows BE PERSISTENT. Don’t give up too soon. Researchers have found that it can take toddlers five to 10 times in tasting a new food before enjoying it; and for 3-to-4-year-olds, up to 15 trials.

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PUTTING ON AN APRON HELPS. A study of Canadian fifth-graders in 151 schools found that those that helped with meal prep and cooking were more likely to eat vegetables and fruit.

GIVING KIDS A CHOICE WORKS. Australian kids that were offered a choice of broccoli, cauliflower or green beans for five weeks ate twice as many veggies as children offered only one vegetable.

THINKING A FOOD IS RARE MAKES IT SPECIAL. In a recent study, 5-year-olds that were told there weren’t many more carrots than were on a plate ate 50 percent more carrots; 96 percent of those kids rated the carrots as yummy, compared to 67 percent in a no-limit carrot control group.

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You can achieve your fitness goals in the safety of your own home.

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n estimated 75 million American adults have blood pressure high enough to require management, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For people with hypertension, tempering stress responses and limiting consumption of sodium, caffeine, alcohol and sugar can make a difference. Fortifying these lifestyle changes with aerobic exercise, yoga and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can also help prevent and manage worrisome blood pressure readings.

Integrative cardiologist Jack Wolfson, in Paradise Valley, Arizona, points out that the development of hypertension is multicausal. “We are not genetically programmed to develop high blood pressure. Studies over the last 50 years confirm that physically active people have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure. For those with high blood pressure or people with a condition known as pre-hypertension, there is a blood pressurelowering effect of physical activity.”

Aside from the value of strength training, walking, cycling and jogging, the Mayo Clinic recommends everyday movement in the form of household chores such as raking leaves, tending a garden or pushing a lawnmower. Cross-country skiing, skating and swimming also pack an aerobic punch. Experts agree that an active lifestyle strengthens the heart, demanding less systemic effort to pump blood, and healthier blood pressure is a result.

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Lifestyle Emphasis, Targeted Fitness “It’s been fascinating to watch clients come in extremely anxious about their high blood pressure number. A few months after consistent training and maintaining a healthier diet, there is a significant change within the body,” says Los Angeles fitness trainer Dominic Kennedy, creator of the new wellness app Dominic Effect. Kennedy recommends beginning with a brisk walk outside or on the treadmill and according to comfort level, bumping up the time each day. He underscores weights for those ready for strength training. “For many of my clients with high blood pressure, I superset their exercises so their heart rate is pumping. You will be surprised how aerobic weight training can be.”

Wolfson testifies to the benefits of HIIT, which alternates short periods of intense aerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods. “I recommend my patients get 30 minutes of HIIT four to five times per week. The design of a HIIT program must meet the person where they are at in their level of fitness. Whatever physical activity you choose, try to do it outside,” he says. “This way, we get the synergistic benefits of exercise and sunshine to lower your blood pressure. I’ve always told people that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”

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Yoga for Stress Management Wolfson is also an advocate of yoga for its parasympathetic nervous system support. Research published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology in 2018 shows that yoga, breathwork and stretching all positively impact blood pressure, with the greatest improvements evident from yoga and deep breathing.

“Yoga, no matter the type, is known to promote a sense of calm in the body and mind. A regular practice will help to reduce the effects that stress causes. It may or may not be the only step necessary,” says New York City yoga instructor Gail Grossman, author of Restorative Yoga for Life. She emphasizes personal preferences and staying within your comfort zone, noting, “If you feel stressed because it’s difficult, it won’t benefit you.

I personally think restorative yoga, breathwork and meditation are the best practices for high blood pressure.”

For Grossman, there is no such thing as too much yoga, but she recommends not getting overwhelmed with the commitment and having professional guidance for pranayama, or breathwork. “Do what you can. A practice does not have to be a full class, especially in restorative yoga. If you can commit to 20 minutes a day, you will see results, if you are consistent.”

Kennedy underscores that investment pays off. “Many clients have come to me months later when they are in a more normal range and say, ‘We wish we would have started this sooner in life,’ but it’s never too late to start a fitness program. A good personal trainer or coach will help you do it in a safe way and get your body back in shape and healthy.”

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

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Tools for Inner Peace

Exploring Mindfulness and Meditation

by Marlaina Donato

T

he practices of mindfulness and meditation, although closely related, offer individual, science-backed benefits for both body and psyche. Mindfulness has been shown to amp up immunity and increase gray matter in the brain, and 2018 research published in Experimental Biology shows that just an introductory hour of meditation using breathwork and awareness of thoughts significantly reduced anxiety. The study indicates that when applied regularly, mindfulness minimizes arterial pressure and cardiovascular health risks associated with long-term nervous system stress.

Immersion in the Moment

Mindfulness—cultivating present-moment awareness by noticing body sensations, thoughts and details in our environment—not only makes life more enjoyable, but enables us to acknowledge life experiences and emotions without aversion and judgement. Mindfulness techniques are now being used in psychotherapy for insomnia, eating disorders and addictions. Physiological benefits are also significant. Harvard Health Publishing, referencing the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, highlights mindfulness for cardiovascular and gastrointestinal conditions, as well as clinical depression.

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For healing arts practitioner Evelyn Hall, in Santa Cruz, California, mindfulness is a lifestyle choice. “When my mind runs off into the future, it can create not only anxiety because I fear the unknown, but also worry about all the ‘what ifs’.

When I find myself lost in the past, it can bring me sadness and regret. I have learned from mindfulness that these are just mental habits.”

Cara Bradley, a mental fitness coach in Philadelphia and author of On the Verge: Wake Up, Show Up and Shine, says, “To be mindful is to show up to experience the moment as it is, with all your senses— when we eat, when we walk, whatever we are doing.”

Diving Deeper

While mindfulness can be the simple act of noticing the geometric design of a flower or the variety of tastes on a dinner plate, meditation brings awareness to the deepest levels of consciousness through a variety of focused techniques, including breathwork, chanting, visualization or gazing at a candle flame.

Contrary to common assumption, meditation need not be associated with religious structure. Neuroscientist Tony Nader, who heads the global Transcendental Meditation (TM) organization in 100 countries, underscores, “When you say meditation, there are numerous kinds of meditation with different origins. It can’t be assumed that just because meditation involves the mind that it involves dogma, or that meditation is religious because it

darius bashar/Unsplash.com

Today, meditation has moved into the mainstream, with more than 2,500 digital apps offering quick, convenient access to every type and tradition. With names like Calm and Headspace, they were downloaded by more than 52 million first-time users in 2019—and that was before the anxiety-inducing pandemic.

healing ways

has its roots from the Eastern traditions.

Over time, some traditions integrated aspects of these ancient techniques into their own religions, yet not all meditations are religious.”

Meditation can bring us into the eye of the storm. “The ocean is a great analogy for understanding different approaches to meditation. Just as the ocean can be turbulent on the surface with innumerable waves and quiet at its depth, so, too, the mind is active on the surface with innumerable thoughts, but it is also naturally, profoundly quiet, deep within.”

TM, taught in personal, one-to-one instruction by a certified instructor, is one of the most thoroughly studied approaches and does not involve breathwork or repetition of chants. “There are 600 scientific research studies about the effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation technique to develop the full brain—actually, the full potential of the human nervous system,” says Nader.

Today, meditation has moved into the mainstream, with more than 2,500 digital apps offering quick, convenient access to every type and tradition. With names like Calm and Headspace, they were downloaded by more than 52 million first-time users in 2019—and that was before the anxiety-inducing pandemic. Most can be easily customized: InsightTimer, for example, offers 45,000 free meditations that can be sorted by need, duration or style.

By practicing meditation, mindfulness is also cultivated. “You can think of it as a workout for your mind, a way of becoming familiar with our mind and training our mind,” says Bradley.

Meditation can simply help to lower blood pressure or boost memory, yet it can bring mindfulness to a more spiritual level. “In a meditative state, I can feel how everything around me is alive and communicating with their own tongue and song,” says Hall. “I feel peace, no longer lost in wishing, praying or pleading that things be different. I am free from the burden of having to do something.”

Marlaina Donato is a body-mind-spirit author and composer of visionary music.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

February 2021

39

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W

e already know what it feels like to be in our hearts.

Although we may feel disconnected from it and at times doubt ourselves, most often all we need to do to awaken it is to become still and quiet, and it will do the rest. When we draw our attention inward and focus on our heart center, it will calm and reassure us, often instantly.

This may sound too good to be true, but this is exactly what happens when we invite and allow it. When we inhabit the heart, we awaken to our aliveness. We spontaneously arrive like a bolt of lightning in the present moment and all of our arguments against ourselves and life go quiet. Goodness pushes up through the chaos of our internal world and we feel lit from within by a light we had no idea was there.

At any time, no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, we can touch this place in ourselves and activate the benefits of the heart space. Try practicing now by placing a hand on your heart, breathe in and notice how this small act sends a message to soften and disarm. It is that simple. It’s about shifting and moving ourselves into this place of love and acceptance, allowing ourselves to be infused with the consciousness of our heart.

If we look within, most of us can identify a vision we have, an image of who we want to become, an enhanced version of ourselves—something like You 2.0. This image is often kinder, more loving, openhearted, accepting, inspired and creative; it’s often less self-conscious and more gallant. This self doesn’t succumb to fear, anger or hardship and rises above everything with ease. This vision we have in our mind’s eye is the best representation of our heartminded selves. It is the call of our heart.

When we see this version as our potential rather than a reminder of our shortcomings, we can use it as a way—a tool—to help us move in the direction of our light. Take time throughout the day to bow our head and take three conscious breaths into our heart.

Let its current feed us. Remember we are wise. We are soft. We are brave. Let all other noise stop. Re-enter the kingdom of our heart.

Sarah Blondin is among the top three popular meditation teachers on InsightTimer, and the author of Heart Minded: How to Hold Yourself and Others in Love. Visit SarahBlondin.com.

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Fran Fidler

A Local Perspective on the Uniqueness of Women’s Heart Health

by Linda Sechrist

I

n 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Proclamation 3566 designated February as American Heart Month. Today, this global movement has an additional focus: “Go Red for Women,” which encourages everyone to wear red in order to end heart disease and stroke, specifically in women. Go Red for Women launched in 2004 to raise awareness of the fact that heart disease kills more women Lorna F. Stewart, M.D. than all forms of cancer combined. “Even after 17 years, we must continue to educate women about their number one silent killer, because the public misperception that heart disease and heart attacks happen more often to men than women continues,” says Lorna F. Stewart, M.D., a boardcertified family medicine physician in Naples who founded Lorna Stewart, M.D. and Associates, a Ms.Medicine concierge practice.

A Ms.Medicine primary care medicine model for women offers health care to manage chronic health issues. With a focus on overall wellness from the perspective of a holistic approach to lifestyle management and prevention, Stewart’s special interests lie in cardiovascular disease prevention, geriatric women’s health, osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment, in addition to cancer risk assessment, as well as stroke and diabetes education and management.

Stewart agrees with the results of a report in The Lancet, a prestigious medical journal. “Although deaths from cardiovascular causes overall have decreased in the past three decades, women in many parts of the world still have worse outcomes than men after acute coronary syndromes such as major cerebrovascular events and post-intervention complications.”

“For years, researchers and physicians thought all heart attack symptoms looked the same in men and women. Now we know this isn’t true. While men tend to experience the classic crushing chest pain, difficulty breathing and irregular heartbeat, women’s symptoms differ and can often be more subtle.

They tend to experience symptoms such as nausea, extreme fatigue, lightheadedness and dizziness, sweating and pain in one or both arms, jaw, upper back and neck. These symptoms are frequently mistaken for other conditions,” says Stewart, who explains that one of the main reasons for not knowing to what extent physiological differences drive these disparities is that the majority of existing clinical evidence is from research conducted on men.

“The founder of Ms.Medicine, Dr. Lisa Larkin, is a champion for women’s health. She recognizes that health care isn’t a onesize-fits-all, and that women have unique needs. Just as children should not be treated medically as small adults, Dr. Larkin realizes that taking care of women is not like taking care of men,” advises the native Neapolitan, who explains that Ms.Medicine is a network of physicians in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, as well as Holland, Michigan, and Fairfax, Virginia. “I’m the first in Naples, and having access to the medical histories of MS.Medicine patients in Naples who are also Ms.Medicine patients in those cities is an invaluable tool. Another invaluable opportunity is watching lectures together every Monday. We learn from each other, from roundtable discussions and from guest speakers that address topics which we primary care physicians frequently encounter in taking care of women.”

Presently, Ms.Medicine is offering a reduced annual concierge membership fee for the first 50 founding members.

Ms.Medicine is located at 9150 Galleria Ct., Ste. 200, in Naples. For more information call 239-580-6390 or visit LornaStewartMd.com.

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by Yvette Lynn

I

n the years since Fran Fidler began writing Tiny’s Wall: A True Story of One Man’s Battle to Overcome the Shame of Childhood Sexual Abuse, he found numerous tools for healing, learned about himself in workshops and retreats, and benefited from videos he watched, as well as from the fellowship of others in recovery groups. “I’ve never stopped learning, and when I found something that I resonated with, I felt as though it initiated a deeper level of healing that my thinking mind can’t comprehend,” says Fidler, who recently discovered the work of Gabor Mate, author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Fran Fidler Close Encounters with Addiction.

“I appreciate Mate’s description of childhood trauma as a wound, and how he uses metaphor to describe how denial and avoidance cause tough and inflexible emotional scar tissue to build up over the wound. I resonate with his clarification that not everyone who ends up addicted was traumatized or abused in childhood, as well as his insight that all addictions originate in childhood trauma and emotional loss, and that the pattern carries over into adulthood. I can certainly agree with him when he talks about how society has failed to support addicts in their recovery process,” advises Fidler.

Mate’s words and those of Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, spoken during a popular TEDMED talk that has been viewed more than three million times, are those that Fidler believes are important to anyone with an addiction. Harris, California’s surgeon general, is known for linking adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress with harmful effects to health such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer and lung disease later in life. “She affirms for me how my asthma and addiction are possibly linked to my childhood trauma that stemmed from the tough streets of South Boston, my foster home, my debilitating stutter, the verbal and physical abuse of my alcoholic mother and the memories of repeatedly enduring an unspeakable crime at the hands of a family member,” says Fidler, who names other helpful healing aides from the past—Brian Weiss, author of Many Lives Many Masters, and Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way. Fidler hopes that all readers will resonate with his book’s message as well as with Mate and Harris. “There is life after healing from the memories and abuse. You can be healthy, athletic, have friendships and relationships, be married and raise healthy children. Sucking it up, working harder and being a nicer guy or a better athlete are short-term fixes that don’t work long-term,” he says.

Tiny’s Wall is available in paperback and Nook at the Barnes & Noble at the Waterside Shops, in Naples, and on Amazon.com, Kindle and iTunes. CDs read by author, as well as with family and friends important to Tiny’s Wall recovery and life today are available online at TinysWall.com.

For more information and discounted copies for groups or individuals, email Fidler.Fran@gmail. com or visit TinysWall.com. See ad, page 40.

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wise words

Shefali Tsabary on Conscious Relationships

by Sandra Yeyati

at our new place of growth. If the other doesn’t want to grow and cannot do this inner work because of their own inner demons and resistance, then maybe you won’t be able to continue on, but you will be conscious enough to be able to release the other of the expectation to continue on. A healthy relationship is a relationship where each person takes responsibility for their own inner growth and their own inner wounds, doesn’t project their needs on the other, parents themselves into a state of wholeness and then releases the other to be free.

How do you define love?

O

ffering innovative approaches to mindful living, Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, international keynote speaker and bestselling author of The Conscious Parent, Out of Control and her latest, The Awakened Family.

She has presented talks at TEDx, the Kellogg Business School, The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education, and SuperSoul Sessions with Oprah Winfrey, who has endorsed her work as revolutionary and life-changing.

Why do we have so much trouble with our romantic relationships?

Because we enter relationships without having entered a relationship with ourselves. We look to the other person and the relationship to fill us up, to give us what we are missing from within, and what we don’t realize is that the other person is there for the same reason. After the initial chemical, hormonal lust phase, we realize that the other person cannot be our parent figure and that they cannot fulfill our unfulfilled inner child needs. The disappointment is so great and the anger so livid that we spiral into hurt, disappointment and unmet expectations without realizing that the other hasn’t done anything. We typically 44

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attract people who are going to be mirrors that show us how we need to reparent ourselves and force us to repeat childhood patterns. If we have an issue of unworthiness, that’s going to show up. If we have fear of rejection, that’s going to show up, and all fingers point to the imperative that we do our own inner work.

What does that inner work look like?

The first step is realizing that what’s happening in the relationship is really a reflection of the inner state of being, and therefore isn’t the other person’s fault that I’m feeling rejected, hurt or unworthy. We stop trying to change, fix or blame the other. We then hire a therapist or join a self-development course and begin to understand our inner wounds from childhood that are being repeated in this current dynamic. We have to do the work. It’s not easy. It’s not going to happen just because we made an intellectual decision. It’s a quest, a constant unfolding, unlayering, evolving and becoming more. The goal is your arrival into your most authentic self—into your whole, free self.

How do we remain in a relationship while doing this work?

We become more honest, more up front, more candid and ready to meet the other

swfl.NaturalAwakenings.com

Most of us love egoically, which is loving the other because they make us feel good about ourselves, and the moment they stop making us feel good about ourselves, we actually leave them. That’s why there’s so much divorce. That’s not love. Egoic love is possession, ownership and control. Most of us are mired in those kinds of relationships; the institution of marriage actually supports ownership, possession and control. True, or high love, is the understanding that the other is with you and you are with them to encourage each other’s growth and to see each other be their most authentic, free selves. If that includes being with us, we’re happy. If that includes not being with us, we’re as happy. That’s true love, because you’re in love with the other person’s essence and you’re more invested in the other person’s whole self rather than the self that you want to own and possess.

What is conscious intimacy?

Conscious intimacy starts with how intimate and honest you are with yourself— how sexually connected you are with your needs and your desires. The more unabashed, bare, spontaneous and transparent you can be with yourself, the more you will seek and be around partners who can hold that space with you.

For more information, including online courses, visit DrShefali.com. Her Free to Be course specifically addresses conscious relationship issues.

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

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green living

Saying ‘I Do’ to the Planet Green Weddings Embrace Sustainability

by Sandra Yeyati

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rom advising couples about Earth-friendly menus to reducing and reusing plastic in her business operations, wedding planner Erica Jill Razze, of Capiche Custom Events, in Wilmington, Delaware, is dedicated to environmentalism. When designing her own wedding last year, she wanted it to serve as a portfolio example of sustainability. “Our parents are a little more traditional, so there were certain aspects that we tried to respect and uphold for them, while still finding our happy place from an environmental standpoint,” she says.

Although no wedding can be totally zero waste, there are always greener options, starting with the invitations. The most ecofriendly choice is email, which Razze’s parents declined to use, so she opted for the next best thing: biodegradable, non-toxic paper directly benefitting women in India. In lieu of a response card, which would have required more paper and another mailing, she created a website for RSVPs. Bridal shower invitations were printed on botanical paper embedded with seeds. Invitees that followed the planting instructions were delighted to welcome blooming flowers in their yards.

“Find a venue that already fits your theme, so that you’re not trying to transform a space or shipping in plastic decorations that add to the carbon footprint and end up in landfills,” says Razze, who prefers horticultural centers or outdoors spaces. “The beauty and simplicity of what’s around you is what makes it so wonderful,” she says. “Don’t try to turn a ballroom into a forest and vice versa.”

Flown-in, farmed flowers are a big no-no. “The transportation is a huge carbon footprint. If they’re growing one particular flower, they’re treated with pesticides,” Razze says. Sustainable alternatives are locally harvested, organic wildflowers; dried flowers that haven’t been sprayed or painted with toxic chemicals; silk blooms; and rented potted plants. Some local florists collect flowers after the event for composting. Heart-shaped confetti made of dried leaves is a clever swap that begins composting once it hits the ground.

Razze’s vegan meal offered another planet-saving opportunity.

While real stoneware and silverware gets expensive because it requires hiring staff, single-use plastics that are gold-decorated to simulate real china betray the Earth and believability. “You’re not fooling anybody with that stuff,” she says, recommending less costly alternatives like biodegradable bamboo and palm-leaf disposables. “Instead of fake-impress, show people something new.

Thankfully, taking care of the environment has become trendy, so it’s an easier sell.”

Instead of wedding favors, most of which come from China and

are wrapped in plastic, donate meals to people that don’t have access to food, advises Emily Raezer, director of weddings at Global Gourmet Catering (GGC), in San Francisco. “A lot of times, guests don’t even take those favors home. Why not make a donation that’s going to have a social impact?” GGC also donates all event leftovers to food banks in local communities.

As the first green-certified caterer in Northern California, GGC educates wedding clients about sustainability, helping them choose menu items that are in season, organic, locally sourced,

sustainably farmed and drought-friendly. Raezer explains the reasoning behind these principles: “We don’t want things traveling very far and having CO2 emissions. Growing things out of season costs the environment water and other resources, and some products are more drought-friendly—which explains choosing avocados over cucumbers. Sustainable fishing really impacts our oceans, so we won’t source any fish that’s on the Monterey Bay watchlist, and a lot of couples are cutting out red meat from their weddings because of the methane emissions.”

GGC goes to extraordinary lengths to minimize impacts caused by their events, including reclaiming and repurposing used vegetable oil for San Francisco’s alternatively fueled vehicles; serving filtered tap water to avoid using plastic water bottles; opting for biodegradable and reusable utensils and decorations; recycling whenever possible; partnering with local farms to compost efficiently; and using non-toxic dishwasher detergents. For every event, they donate a portion of the proceeds to Terrapass for carbon offsets.

Despite all preparations, couples must be ready for the unexpected. When the COVID-19 shutdown hit last March, just two months before Razze’s May wedding, she decided to legally marry in a small gathering of fewer than 10 people and postponed her larger green reception for a year. “We want to celebrate with everybody,” she says. “In a year, it could be a vow renewal. How cool is that?”

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

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Earth-Friendly Engagement Rings

mong environmentally and socially conscious couples, traditional engagement rings purchased at Tiffany’s that feature the largest diamond three month’s pay will buy are not so cool when more ethical, sustainable and meaningful options are available. One goal is to use conflict-free or ethical diamonds that are not associated with civil wars, unfair pay, unsafe working conditions, human rights abuses and unsavory environmental practices. Earth-friendlier choices include rings inherited from family members or purchased at estate sales, as well as lab-generated gems and custom-designed, one-of-a-kind rings.

According to jewelry designer Amanda Jaron, of Naples, Florida, there’s a trend in the younger, first-time wedding market toward alternative gems. “It might be a lab-created diamond like a moissanite, or what they call a salt-and-pepper diamond, which has many black and white inclusions [imperfections], giving the stone a speckled or smoky look.”

Gemstones and jewelry handed down by family members or acquired at an estate sale are also popular and represent the bulk of Jaron’s creative work. “There’s nothing more special than a gemstone that has two or three decades worth of life to tell,” she says. “I love being able to create fabulous, modern pieces that my clients can wear proudly. What’s better than a sparkly treasure that also has sentimental value?”

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Big Love From Small Animals

The Joy of Furry Little Companions

by Julie Peterson

P

eople think rabbits are quiet carrot-munchers, but they’re much more. Like many other small furry mammals, pet rabbits are expressive, intelligent and enjoy spending time with their humans.

Shana Cobin, a veterinary technician from Foster, Rhode Island, points out that just like dogs and cats, each rabbit is unique. Having had four house bunnies at different times, Cobin enjoyed getting to know each one. “They can be quite entertaining with their playful antics. My first rabbit, Koko, would come to me and lick my face,” says Cobin. “She also made a purring sound for me, which they actually make by grinding their teeth.”

and very smart, which can be both terrific fun and problematic,” says Cobin, noting that “house-bun” curiosity, coupled with an intense need to chew, can wreak havoc on cords and other items within reach.

“They always have to chew to keep their teeth filed down, but that’s why you give them appropriate things to chew.” Ferrets, members of the weasel family, are also intelligent, and like rabbits, can be trained to use a litter box.

Buyer Beware

Just because small animals seem simpler to care for, it should be noted that their

For first-time pet owners, veterinarians often recommend pets smaller than dogs or cats. These can include a variety of rodents such as hamsters, gerbils, rats and mice, although guinea pigs usually top the list for their general durability, especially with children. Smaller pets can be the furry friend that a family may long for without posing the long-term commitment and higher care costs of a dog or cat.

For those that prefer a small furball that isn’t a rodent, a rabbit may be appropriate. “House bunnies are curious 48

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Small and Sweet

health depends on specific diets, bedding, housing, exercise and grooming. Rabbits, for example, have delicate digestive systems. “Feeding the right diet is extremely important,” advises Cobin. “A bunny’s primary diet should be hay, which helps grind down their teeth and is good for their digestion. Dark, leafy greens are also good.” As for carrots, Cobin says half of one is the most one rabbit should have in a day.

There is more to consider. “People need to think beyond the cute fluff ball,” says Jennifer Miller, a former volunteer with the Animal Humane Society in Minnesota. “Small animal cages need regular cleaning, and ferrets have a natural musky odor to begin with. People start out wanting the cuteness, then they get tired of the work and get tired of the smell. Surrendered animals can be difficult to rehome.” Before adopting a small animal, it’s wise to research the species’ specific care requirements and other information at HumaneSociety.org.

Annual veterinary checkups are something else to plan for, because many animals hide illness symptoms as a survival instinct. Having a small-animal veterinarian in place is important in case emergency care is required. “Zoological companion patients are unique and delicate. Their anatomy, physiology and

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natural pet

behavior is vastly different from dogs and cats, yet they require the same or more expertise and care,” says veterinarian Scharlet Kelly, medical director at the VCA Acacia Animal Hospital and Pet Resort, in Escondido, California.

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Health Helpers

In 2019, the journal Aging & Mental Health published a survey that concluded pets benefit older adults by “providing companionship, giving a sense of purpose and meaning, reducing loneliness and increasing socialisation.”

According to Jeremy Barron, M.D., medical director of the Beacham Center for Geriatric Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, in Baltimore, “Owning a pet provides an amazing array of health benefits.” Indeed, numerous studies have shown that petting an animal can lower blood pressure and heart rate, soothe PTSD, decrease stress hormones and boost serotonin.

Simply put, petting animals is not only good for people, it feels good, too.

“Love can come in small packages,” says Liz Warner, a retired teacher in Richmond, Virginia, who adopted Laverne and Shirley, two Peruvian guinea pigs, to keep her company during the isolation of the pandemic. “I enjoy brushing their long coats and giving them their necessary haircuts. When I hold them, they kind of purr. It’s comforting.”

Cobin agrees that pets provide comfort and add joy to the home. “Bunnies do this thing called a binky. My most recent rabbit, Vivian Bucket, would just be hopping around and then she would dart, jump up and twist in the air. It’s what rabbits do when they are happy and playful, and it’s adorable.”

Julie Peterson writes about health and wellness from rural Wisconsin. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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calendar of events The events described in this section were scheduled to take place at the time we went to press. Please check ahead to confirm their status.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Wisdom Wednesdays – 6-7pm. With Beth BrownRinella and Marvin Dragonclaw. Weekly healing meditation followed by a talk on a variety of spiritual and metaphysical topics. An evening of learning and participation for clientele. $15. Goddess I AM, 600 Goodlette Rd N, Naples. 228-6949.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Vegan Restaurant Week – Feb 12-26. Diners at Chef Brooke’s Natural Cafe, Living Vine Organic Cafe and Green Cup, in Fort Myers; and Café YOU, Life – The Vegan Drive Thru and the Loving Hut, in Cape Coral, can register for prizes that include $50 gift certificates and $100 cash prizes during this period. All event proceeds will go toward supporting area charities. Info: 340-9879, 322-4627 or LifestyleSolutionsHealthyPlanet.org. See news brief, page 10.

Psychic Fair – 5-8pm. Mini-readings with some of Naples’ most experienced psychics and healers.

Services include mediumship, tarot, reiki, angel, past-life, chakra balancing, intuitive, body scanning, oracle and more. $30/20 minutes. Goddess I AM, 600 Goodlette Rd N, Naples. 228-6949.

GoddessIAM.com.

Online Hang Drum Concert – 6pm. Hosted by House of Gaia. $25. Info: 290-7008, Lulu@HouseOfGaia.org. HouseOfGaia.org. See ad on page 15 and news brief on page 11.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Online Science of Happiness Session – 1-4pm.

With Lulu Carter, president and chief happiness officer of the House of Gaia, in Naples that includes breathwork, yoga and meditation. Plus private lessons in the program in English, Spanish and Portuguese available online. New clients can receive free, hour-long sessions. Info: 290-7008, Lulu@HouseOfGaia.org or Info@Happiness BeyondBorders.com. HouseOfGaia.org or HappinessBeyondBorders.com. See ad on page 15 and news brief on page 11.

SWFL Community Drum Circle – 6-8pm. Meets once a month (check Facebook for updates). Drummers of all nations and spectators are welcome to attend for community drumming, dancing, hulahooping and self-expression. Family friendly. BYO chair. Handicap access. Free. Cambier Park, 755 8th Ave S, Naples. Facebook group: SWFL Community Drum Circle.

Light Code Activations – 9-10:30am. Join for channeled energy, activations and messages. These activations can be shortcuts to ease and grace, healing and prosperity. $22. Goddess I AM, 600 Goodlette Rd N, Naples. 228-6949. GoddessIAM.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Psychic Fair – 11am-4pm. Mini-readings with some of Naples’ most experienced psychics and

Collier/Lee Counties

Food as Medicine Class – 1:30-4:30pm. Join Dr. David Martín, Deb Martín and Vickie Gelardi for this popular medicinal foods sampling class based on Conquering Any Disease High Phytochemical Food Healing System, by Jeff Primack. Learn which foods are scientifically proven to help reverse illness and disease and help create radiant health. Social distancing, masks, HEPA filters, large space. $35.

Reservations and prepayment required: 277-1399.

Lotus Blossom Clinic, 6710 Winkler Rd, Ste 2, Ft Myers. LotusBlossomClinic.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14

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healers. Services include mediumship, tarot, reiki, angel, past-life, chakra balancing, intuitive, body scanning, oracle and more. $30/20 minutes. Goddess I AM, 600 Goodlette Rd N, Naples. 228-6949.

GoddessIAM.com.

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Low Back Dysfunction and Pain – Feb 27-28.

8am-5pm. CEU course for all LMTs. Dale Alexander, PhD, LMT, is bringing his unique treatment approach to Fort Myers. His work encompasses MET for the lumbar vertebrae, recalibrating large body reflexes and mobilizing visceral organs to address the structural distortions that perpetuate low back pain. $325 for 16 CEUs. Lotus Blossom Clinic, 6710 Winkler Rd, Ste 2, Ft Myers. RSVP required: 297-8770.

Become a Sacred Guide Facilitator – Feb 2728. 9:30am-6pm. A nine-month shamanic and spiritual journey to learn powerful ceremonies, sacred rituals and special practices to become a space-holder for other women, helping them to heal, transform and awaken. $225/month. Goddess I AM, 600 Goodlette-Frank Rd, Naples.

Info/schedule: GoddessIAM.com. See news brief, page 12.

ongoing events

daily Recorded Phone Readings – 10am. Phone sessions to connect with a seasoned, professional, spiritual advisor to help navigate through personal challenges. $40-$95. The Mystical Moon, 8890 Salrose Ln, Ste 107, Ft Myers. TheMysticalMoon.com.

sunday Drum and Dance Circle – 6:30-9pm. Drummers, dancers, jugglers, everyone welcome. BYO chair and instrument or come just to enjoy. Social distancing and face masks encouraged. Check for updates on Facebook page: Fort Myers Drum Circle. Free.

Downtown Library, Ft Myers. Facebook.com/ groups/fortmyersdrumcircle.

monday Community Flow – 6am. With Debby. Virtual only. Hosted by Love Yoga Center. Preregistration required: LoveYogaCenter.com.

Self-Care Gentle Yoga – 10:45am. With Ottilia, Virtual only. Hosted by Love Yoga Center. Preregistration required: LoveYogaCenter.com.

Virtual Reiki Share with Chat Rooms – 6:30-8pm.

1st Tues. Join for monthly reiki share online using distance reiki. Begins with a Holy Fire meditation and then chat rooms for the private sessions. Free.

Register by email to receive the Zoom link: Pattie@ pcarney.net.

Multi-Dimensional Healing Group – 6:30-8pm on Zoom. Connecting and healing with spirit guides and loved ones in spirit. Mediumship master Patti Wilson facilitates therapeutic conversations with loved ones that have crossed over and helps you develop your own abilities in multi-dimensional communication. $30/class or $100/4-classes.

Register: 270-1876, SpiritualCoach@hotmail.com.

Sunset Slowdown – 7pm. With Jen. Virtual only.

Hosted by Love Yoga Center. Preregistration required: LoveYogaCenter.com.

wednesday Vinyasa Flow – 7am. With Ottilia. Virtual only.

Hosted by Love Yoga Center. Preregistration required: LoveYogaCenter.com.

Virtual Chi Yoga – 4-5pm. With Sue. Love Yoga Center, 4949 Tamiami Tr N, Naples. Preregistration required: 692-9747. LoveYogaCenter.com.

thursday

tuesday

The Path of Being Gifts & Books – Thru Apr. 8am1pm. Find lovely items such as crystals, candles, bath bombs, bath salts and gift ideas. Santini Plaza, 7205 Estero Blvd. 437-5141 or ThePathOfBeing.com.

Tai Chi – 11am-noon. With Hector. In studio only.

Love Yoga Center, 4949 Tamiami Tr N, Naples. Preregistration required: 692-9747. LoveYogaCenter.com.

Crystal Bowl Meditation – 6:45-7:45pm. In person with Jenny Hong. Participants will comfortably lie down or sit while the frequencies reverberate

throughout the body, promoting deep relaxation and healing on all levels. Physical distancing and face masks required. $15. Lotus Blossom Clinic, LLC, 6710 Winkler Rd, Ste 2-3, Ft Myers. 277-1399.

Preregister: JennyLotusBlossom@gmail.com.

LotusBlossomClinic.com/events.

Gentle Flow – 7pm. With Megan. In studio and virtual. Love Yoga Center, 4949 Tamiami Tr N, Naples. Preregistration required: 692-9747.

LoveYogaCenter.com.

friday The Path of Being Gifts & Books – Thru Apr. 8am1pm. Find lovely items such as crystals, candles, bath bombs, bath salts and gift ideas. Beach Baptist Church, 130 Connecticut St, Ft Myers Bch. 437-5141 or ThePathOfBeing.com.

Virtual Yoga with Love and Mat – 9-10:15am.

With Kandy Love via Zoom. Props: mat, two blocks, two or three blankets, yoga belt (or strap), chair, wall nearby. Free/donation. Info/register: YoginiKandy62@gmail.com.

Yoga Basics – 11am. With Diana. Virtual only. Love Yoga Center. Preregistration required: LoveYogaCenter.com.

Gentle Flow – 4pm. With Heather. In studio and virtual. Hosted by Love Yoga Center. Preregistration required: LoveYogaCenter.com.

February 2021

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ADVERTORIAL

The Awakening of Humanity

By Lynne Girdlestone

T

oday we are all experiencing one or more of the negative effects of an incredibly destructive ‘agent of change.’ Although horrific things happen every day on this planet, they usually affect other people elsewhere. COVID-19, however, can potentially reach anyone, anywhere, upending our lives in a multitude of ways. The obvious questions—how do we stop this virus, will a vaccine help, will the global economy recover—are all unknowns. They occupy our thoughts and emotions with every newscast.

For some, the crisis is merely an inconvenient interruption in their ‘business as usual.’ For others it has created new ways to profit at the expense of others.

But for most, it’s an amplified survival issue.

We know that nothing happens by chance: “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” and “As you sow, so shall you reap.” What is happening today has its roots in everything that has gone before. When dysfunction reaches a tipping point, something extraordinary happens to get our attention. This pandemic may be saying “STOP... NOW ... look at the world you’ve built ... untold suffering amidst obscene excess ... all life forms and the planet itself in mortal danger!”

The slowing and isolation are giving us the opportunity to consider these issues deeply and emerge with a better Plan B. That so many people are getting the message is an incredibly hopeful sign. Neighbors are helping each other; service organizations are expanding their roles and methods; scientific organizations around the world are sharing their research findings on possible treatments and vaccines; governments are trying to lift the financial burden of their citizens.

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What would happen if this behavior were to continue post-Covid-19? Could it lead to treating a recovering planet as a ‘global village’ and its citizens as the one human family it is? It would take time, but we can start by demanding of our ‘leaders’ that we all push the ‘reset’ button and begin to move in that direction!

Fortunately, at this very time, a little-known cosmic event is also taking place. As we move into the Aquarian age, characterized by energies of synthesis, unity and cooperation, the spiritual custodians of human evolution—the Masters of Wisdom—have once again sent one of their great ones into the world to act as a teacher for the coming time. Some of the past teachers we have known historically as Confucius, Krishna, Buddha, the Christ and Mohammed.

Major world religions all expect another great teacher at some future time, and his imminent appearance has been foreseen by some writers since the late 1800s.

For more than 40 years, British esotericist and lecturer Benjamin Creme informed the world of a coming change— of the collapse of our old structures to make way for the new. He served as a herald for the World Teacher for this age, Maitreya—the one expected by many and longed for by millions (consciously or not), who has come now to guide us through this perilous time and into a cleansed and transformed new world.

Maitreya has advised humanity to make the needed changes to put our world on a saner, fairer path: “He [Maitreya] will show that essentially men are one, no matter the colour or the creed, that the bounty of Earth belongs to all, and that sharing of that

swfl.NaturalAwakenings.com

bounty is the key to man’s future.

Only sharing, and the justice which it will bring, offers hope to man. Only justice wrought out of sharing will end the plagues of war and terror.

Only sharing and justice can bring men to that Brotherhood which is their true inheritance. When men see this they will rise to the challenge and tackle one by one the many problems which daunt us now.” (Benjamin Creme’s Master from ‘Transformation,’ Share International magazine) Maitreya and his group have worked behind the scenes for millennia to guide our human family. Now, with these powerful, incorruptible allies openly in the world for the next 2,000 years and beyond, we have the opportunity to build a new world that works for everyone. Will we take it? In response to today’s injustices, we are marching. We are protesting. We are sharing resources and helping others.

We are agitating for change. We are on the right track! Let’s not even consider returning to ‘business as usual.’

For free information: Share-International.us 888-242-8272 info@share-international.us

In The Awakening of Humanity, Benjamin Creme leads us on a journey of hope for the joyful world-changing events that are on the way.

Free download at: https://share-ecart.com/ the-awakening-of-humanity-pdf/

community resource guide

STUART WRIGHT, ND

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

ACUPUNCTURE

BIOFEEDBACK

ACUPUNCTURE CENTER OF NAPLES

WHOLELISTIC SOL WITH NIKKI RENEE

Dr. Xiu Qiong Cen, AP, OMD (China) 5683 Naples Blvd, Naples 34109 P: 239-513-9232 • F: 239-513-9293 DrCenAcupuncture@gmail.com

Licensed acupuncture physician with 28 years experience in acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Experienced in pain management, women’s health, insomnia, migraines, digestion issues and much more. See ad, page 12.

LOTUS BLOSSOM CLINIC

Acupuncture – Oriental Medicine David Martin, AP, DOM Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita 239-277-1399 • LotusBlossomClinic.com Offering acupuncture treatment to U.S. Veterans at no out-ofpocket cost. Requires referral thru a V.A. doctor. Dr. David Martin, AP, treats pain, other chronic conditions and PTSD using acupuncture, e-stim, cold laser, acupressure and Chinese medical massage.

See ad, page 37.

PHYLLIS C. WEBER, AP

Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine 6249 Presidential Ct, Ste E, Ft Myers 33919 239-841-6611 • GulfCoastAcupuncture.com Specializing in pain, chronic disorders, overall wellness, allergy treatments (NAET) and kinesiology.

Acupuncture stimulates the body’s ability to heal all on its own! AP771.

975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd, Ste 114, Naples 34110 • 305-699-4834

Board-certified biofeedback technician specializing in raising your total body’s vibration, Neuro Emotional Transformations, stress, PTSD and chronic disorders. Begin your personalized wellness journey today.

BODYWORK ART OF HOLISTIC MASSAGE Est. 1991 Alvina Quatrano, LMT FL MA 50896 For Info or Appt: 732-266-5276 AOHMassage.com

Remote sessions by donation during COVID-19 call or Zoom.

Zero Balancing, Process Acupressure, Reiki. Webinar classes all discounted; call for registration. Reflexology, SEVA Stress Release, Insomnia, MT’s get CEs. Free self-massage video at AOHMassage.com.

PAULA TERRY, LMT

239-821-3088, by appt. (Collier & Lee) Trained at the Upledger Institute, Paula utilizes CranioSacral Therapy combined with Heart-Centered Therapy, Somato Emotional Release™, Lymphatic Drainage, love and nurturement to foster the healing your body needs. Doula services.

MA35358.

THERAPY ON THE GULF

AYURVEDA CHRISTINA CARLIN, AYURVEDIC PRACTITIONER

Ayurveda Clinic, Massage & Yoga Therapy 501 Goodlette-Frank Rd N, Ste A107, Naples 34102 • 239-450-6903 Practicing holistic medicine since 1987. Professional Member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, specializing in highly personalized Ayurvedic treatments and lifestyle consultations, Massage and individual Yoga sessions for chronic and acute problems. Pancha Karma, Shirodhara and skin care. Ayurveda and Yoga Study program available. MA0023929, MM0008584, FB0716888. See ad, page 6.

Anthony F. Hansen, LMT, MFR, CST, ML,D/CDP 824 Anchor Rode Dr, Naples 34103 239-262-8722 Tony is celebrating his 20th year as a therapist. He practices myofascial release, cranial sacral therapy and is a certified lymphedema therapist.

Free infra-red sauna. MA32797 MM21480.

Certified Advanced Rolfer Advanced Cranial Therapist Advanced Visceral Therapist Certified Movement Educator Naturopathic Wellness Consulting

By Appointment: 239-272-6443 Over 30 years excelling in quick pain relief. Specializing in back pain, structural integration & alignment, all joint-pain-related issues, mobility improvement, sports injuries, non-chiropractic spinal release. MA36890.

CHIROPRACTOR NETWORK CHIROPRACTOR Dr. Michele Pelletiere 3411 Bonita Beach Rd, Ste 302, Bonita Springs • 239-949-1222

N.S.A. Practitioner level III. “Healing waves” release tension throughout the body, increasing wellness and quality of life, promoting new strategies for a healthy spine and nervous system.

COLON THERAPY RB INSTITUTE, INC.

C. Robyn Berry, LMT, CRR, CCT, CLDT 13550 Reflections Pkwy, 5-502 & 5-503, Ft Myers • 239-939-4646 • RobynBerry.com Since 1994, gravity-enclosed UV/ Oxygen/Ozone sterilized medicalgrade water colonics, therapeutic, relaxing, chair, sports, prenatal massage, Craniosacral/SER, Heart Centered therapy, manual lymph drainage & XP2 System, visceral manipulation, HALO Photonic Blue-Violet Laser Botanical System, Asyra/Quest4 MSA Bio Meridian Stress Analysis, ear candling, Lakota YLEO Raindrop Therapy, Tuning Fork/Crystal/Bowls Therapy, reflexology, MPS, cupping, ozone steam cabinet and applied ozone therapies, infrared sauna, ionic foot detox by AMD, BEMER sessions, Power Plate, Hyperbaric Chamber, PER 2000 PEMF and notary. MM7376. See ads, pages 33 and 43.

DENTAL HEALTH ROGER J. PINT, MPH, DMD

9200 Bonita Beach Rd, Ste 111 Bonita Springs, 34135 • 239-676-8730 BonitaDentalStudio.com Dr. Pint can join your health journey and play a role in minimizing toxicity; this includes protection while removing dental materials plus consultation. All X-rays are digital and minimal. See ad, page 21.

February 2021

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DENTISTRY

HEALTHY DINING

LASER DENTISTRY

Mark Corke, DDS 1550 Matthew Dr, Ft Myers 33907 239-936-5442 • FortMyersLaserDentist.com Dr. Corke enjoys working with holistic patients and practitioners on the journey to wellness. His practice “gets it” and is worth the trip to Fort Myers to experience his many services. From dental lasers to ozone he has many tools and a sympathetic ear. See ad, page 35.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE NAPLES CENTER FOR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

Eduardo Maristany, MD 800 Goodlette Rd N, Ste 270, Naples 34102 239-649-7400 • NaplesCFM.com Eduardo Maristany, M.D. is a board-certified internal medicine physician trained in functional/integrative medicine, genomic interpretation, and anti-aging. Dr. Maristany incorporates genomic intelligence and cutting-edge tools to provide his patients with comprehensive genetic health risks and benefits, and a personalized health plan for optimal wellness. See ad, page 55.

NAPLES CENTER FOR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

Carol L. Roberts, MD 800 Goodlette Rd N, Ste 270, Naples 34102 239-649-7400 • NaplesCFM.com Carol L. Roberts, M.D. has practiced functional/integrative/holistic medicine for 25 years. She provides patients with testing to uncover causes of chronic illness, guidance in resolving health issues and education to assist the patient in her own healing. She is Medical Director at the Naples Center for Functional Medicine, formerly the Hughes Center. See ad, page 55.

ZORAYDA “JIJI” TORRES, MD, ABIHM, IFMCP

Internal Medicine, Functional Medicine Office: 239-444-5636 • UpstreamMD.com Dr. Torres is a board-certified internist with over 17 years of experience and knows the limitations of conventional internal medicine. She is among the few Certified Practitioner M.D.s, trained by the Institute For Functional Medicine. See ad, page 12.

FOOD & THOUGHT ORGANIC FARM MARKET & CAFÉ

2132 Tamiami Trl N, Naples 239-213-2222 • FoodAndThought.com Open Mon-Sat 7am-8pm.

Florida’s only 100% organic market and café. Fresh produce delivered daily. Homemade breakfast, lunch and dinner. See ad, page 10.

HOLISTIC CENTER EYES WIDE OPEN

239-948-9444 • SilviaCasabianca.com Neuroscience-based, holistic counseling (via televideo) to help you regulate emotions, cope with change, stress, depression or anxiety.

Empathic parenting guidance. Sliding scale. Online CEUs for health professionals. Call for further information.

LIFE COACH LULU CARTER

Top Expert in Science of Happiness Positive Pyschologist Coach – 30 Years of Experience Chief Happiness Officer/President of House of Gaia 239-290-7008 • Lulu@HouseOfGaia.org HappinessBeyondBorders.com HouseOfGaia.org Ready for positive changes in your life in 2021? First session is free – call to schedule. Private sessions on-line, affordable packages. Get inspired, learn, transform and be happy! English, Spanish and Portuguese. See ad, page 15.

NATURAL & ORGANIC MARKET ADA’S NATURAL MARKET

7070 College Pkwy, Ft Myers 33907 Mon-Sat: 9am-8pm, Sun: 9am-7pm Ph: 239-939-9600 • Fax: 239-288-6210 AdasMarket.com Natural and organic produce and grocery items. Vitamins and supplements. Organic juice and smoothie bar. New Green Leaf Café. Market-prepared foods.

1000s of gluten-free items. See ad, page 31.

Spread love everywhere you go.

Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. ~Mother Teresa

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swfl.NaturalAwakenings.com

NATURAL AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS ANATTA

447 Broadway, Ste 204 New York City, NY 10013 347-762-1268 • AnattaMarket.com Anatta is a global online marketplace for natural, organic and raw products from farmers worldwide.

The newly-formed company’s products include a variety of essential oils and waters, and its unique business model eliminates overhead costs by connecting customers directly with farmers.

NUTRITION D-SIGNED NUTRITION, LLC

Dee Harris, RDN, LDN, CDE Bonita Bay Executive Center 3531 Bonita Bay Blvd, Ste 300, Bonita Sprgs 239-676-5249 • D-SignedNutrition.com Nutrition is our lifeblood. Healing with food starts with a personalized plan to address inflammation, nutrient insufficiencies, toxic burden and imbalances in the body.

See ad, page 39.

MARCY HESS, BS

501 Goodlette Rd N, Ste C208, Naples 239-231-6028 ThePerfect10Strength@gmail.com Looking and feeling strong and healthy is the first reason for working with a nutrition coach.

Let me help you get back on track for life without dieting! See ad, page 43.

YOGA MEREDITH MUSICK, LMT, E-RYT 2000 239-269-8846

Master Yoga Teacher and massage therapist with 28 years experience, serving Naples since 1999. Sun-damaged skin repair clinician, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage, sports and neuromuscular therapy, cranio facial and TMJ relief, heal injuries. Improve posture: alignmentbased yoga and posture classes.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $25 for up to the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. Must be pre-paid. Email listing, include billing contact info, by 10th of month prior to publication to: NAClassifieds@ NaturalAwakenings.com.

Natural Solutions for a

Healthier You!

FOR RENT HEALTHCARE ROOMS FOR RENT – Multidisciplinary clinic with 24-hour access to the waiting room, break room, storage, washer, dryer; no additional fees. $850/room, $750/two or more.

239-398-9863.

LUXURY TREEATMENT ROOM/OFFICE – In professional and wellness center. $420/month all inclusive. Perfect for massage, acupuncture, aesthetics or similar. Vicinity of 41 and Pine Ridge.

6-Day Detox Kit

239-398-5578.

FOR SALE ST. LUCIA ISLAND LUXURY VILLA – 5 bed, 5 bath. Near beach. View: YouTube Tamarind House, St. Lucia. For more info, Diane: 758-520-3597 (cell) or OrganicAcresII@gmail.com.

Reset and refresh your body and mind with a natural solution for a healthier you!

This 6-Day Detox Kit is designed to renew and enhance the body’s cleansing and detoxification capabilities. When taken together, the combination of ColonX™, Drainage™, ProbioMax™ Daily DF, and OptiCleanse™ GHI encourages the various detox-linked systems and organs of the body to process and eliminate waste.

SOUNDS OF CELEBRATIONS & HEALING – by JamesSteven Farnsworth. The Fiddle Flowers Fiddle Gram. Gift of 12 beautiful roses in a vase and gift card, plus a lovely mini-concert of violin/ fiddle music. Special intro price: $55 local delivery.

Additional services: Artistic violin performance: weddings and all special events. The Healing Violin: Transformative sound therapy for the elderly

Carol L. Roberts MD, ABIHM

Eduardo Maristany, MD

To order your kit or request an appointment call 239-649-7400!

800 Goodlette Rd. Suite 270, Naples, FL 34102

and those affected by physical and mental disabilities. Graceful-Passages: funerals and end-of-life celebrations. Call/text: 510-292-7786, JsfViolin@

NaplesCFM.com | 239-649-7400

gmail.com. TheHealingViolin.com.

Promote your special service, class or event in our print and online calendar. Easy to use!

Affordable options. Visit swfl.naturalawakenings. com/pages/calendarlistings.

Lindsey Berkson, MA, DC, CNS, DACBN

change can do you good Join the Natural Awakenings Franchise Family

For more info, visit: NaturalAwakenings.com February 2021

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