Your Healthy Polk - Fall 2018 by Your Healthy Polk

Your Healthy Polk

Publisher

Contributors

Sergio Cruz | sergio@polkmedia.com

Cassie Jacoby Jai Maa Elizabeth Morrisey Steve Steiner

Editor Andrea Cruz | andrea@polkmedia.com

Art Director Alejandro F. Cruz | alejandrocruz.com

Cover Designer Deborah Coker

On the cover Eco-gardening techniques are good for people, critters, and the environment. Article page 12. Photo: DepositPhotos.com/Yaruta

Fall 2018

Letter From Editor / Publisher

friend once told me that any rogue plastic grocery bags that are being blown around by the wind will eventually make their way to the lowest point, which is usually water — and around Polk County, that means our precious lakes and the canals. Then they are labeled pollutants, and become a danger to the critters that live in those waters. But pollutants can come in other forms as well, such as commercial fertilizers, weed killers, that can do more harm than good. Any liquid that is put on or in the ground will eventually make its way to the Florida aquifer as a contaminant. Eco-gardening is like mindful gardening — meaning gardening in an eco-friendly way for the sake of the environment as well as your health. Our cover story this issue just scratches the surface of the ways in which one can eco-garden, however, it might get the creative juices flowing on just how one can be kinder to their own little piece of the planet. That story begins on page 12. We are honoring two national awareness months this issue, and the first being September’s Service Dog Awareness Month. Lately, we’ve seen an uptick in emotional support dogs, or service dogs, out in public. Our story beginning on page 8 explains how one man’s passion to train service dogs for veterans who have been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), helps others to live as normalized lives as possible. Unfortunately, that man passed away this summer, but his efforts are carried on by his friend who has the same desire to change lives one dog at a time. Living a life as close to normal as possible is what the subject of our next story is doing on a daily basis. Reah Hansen of Lakeland was diagnosed with epilepsy in her early 20s and we are shining a light on this condition as November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Turn to page 6 to learn exactly what epilepsy is, how Reah copes with her condition, and a few tips to help someone who is having a seizure. Coming back full circle to rogue plastic in the environment: Do you ever walk around the grocery store and ponder just how much of what you buy -- mainly the packaging -- is going to end up in the landfill? (My favorite head-scratcher product are organic eggs that come in see-through plastic containers… yes, the container is recyclable, but still.) It’s a little disheartening. No, it’s a lot disheartening. Turn to page 20 to read how grocery stores are trying to do their part to minimize what is wasted, and perhaps how you can make smarter, eco-friendly food purchases, too.

Be healthy. Be happy.

Your Healthy Polk Be healthy. Be happy.

/ andrea@polkmedia.com Sergio Cruz / sergio@polkmedia.com

Andrea Cruz

Your Healthy Polk is a product of Polk Media, Inc. A mind, body, soul magazine focused on the local health industry, Your Healthy Polk endeavors to bring the best of Polk’s locally-sourced good news about good health. For more info visit PolkMedia.com or YourHealthyPolk.com. Polk Media is a woman- and minority-owned business.

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Your Healthy Polk

08 06

Letter from Editor / Publisher

Epilepsy: What exactly is it and how do those who have it cope?

Military veterans suffering from PTSD benefit from service dogs

Cover: Eco-gardening for the sake of the environment and your health

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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* 12 Brain Strain crossword puzzle theme: Farm to Table

DepositPhotos.com/oporkka

Fall 2018

Regrouping to recharge is important to avoid burnout.

Is your dinner contributing to the plastic pollution of the ocean?

Chat and Chew October Meeting: Fit and Healthy at Any Age

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Your Healthy Polk

EPILEPSY

What is it exactly, how is it diagnosed, and how does it affect those who have it? By Elizabeth Morrisey

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I can lead a very successful, normal life. I just have to make adjustments. - Reah Hansen, Lakeland resident with epilepsy

Lakeland resident and schoolteacher Reah Hansen, 42, talks with her grade school students. Hansen was diagnosed with epilepsy in her early 20s after a grand mal seizure. Photo by Elizabeth Morrisey.

Fall 2018

Novem ber is Nation al Epilep sy Aware ness Month

eah Hansen had her first seizure in her early 20s. It was a grand mal – where the body loses consciousness and violently shakes. The Lakeland resident was diagnosed with epilepsy after having multiple seizures and eventually had a vagus nerve stimulator implanted, which has helped control them.

“Meds usually control seizures in 60 to 70 percent of patients,” Vega says. Hansen had to try several medications before finding one that helped control her epilepsy. Her last seizure was in 2012.

“There are a lot of neurological disorders and people have misconceptions of them,” says the 42-year-old teacher. “I can lead a very successful, normal life. I just have to make adjustments.”

If medication isn’t enough, sometimes doctors recommend surgery if they find a spot on the brain that may be causing the seizures. To be a candidate for surgery, the patient has to have tried at least three medications, says Vega. “Most epileptics have a genetic predisposition and have some kind of brain abnormality. Many develop seizures when they are young or in their teens or 20s. We don’t know what triggers the gene to change.”

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological problem and 65 million people in the world have it, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. November is Epilepsy Awareness Month and there is currently no cure for the disease. Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, but not everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy. Epilepsy is diagnosed when the patient has had two or more seizures. There are some misconceptions about epilepsy, says Dr. Daynet Vega, an epilepsy specialist at Watson Clinic. Those misconceptions are: Epilepsy is not contagious, it doesn’t affect your intelligence, people affected can still work in high-functioning positions, and people can’t swallow their tongues. Vega offers advice for onlookers who are witness to someone having a seizure, the first being to be sure they are safe, secure their head and position them safely on the floor. “Don’t try to hold or constrict them,” she says, “but make sure they are not going to injure themselves.” If a seizure continues for more than five minutes or the person has multiples, then it may be time to call 911. There are several types of seizures ranging from staring episodes, shaking on one side, to grand mal. Also, there are many different types of medications to help treat epilepsy.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, one in 26 people in the U.S. will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime and there are 150,000 new cases in the Continued pg. 21

Salute to By Cassie Jacoby

an’s best friend is doing more than playing fetch. Service dogs may be the best prescription for living a healthy life as they lend a paw to save lives of disabled veterans in Polk County. “We rescue and train service dogs to provide all kinds of life-saving services,” says Allessandro “Sandro” Onorini, a Lake Wales trainer for PTSD4VETS, founded by Marvin Desselle along with the non-profit, Heroes and Angels Inc. “Marvin gave me a priceless gift by training me and my dog, Max,” says Onorini, about his friend and mentor who passed away at age 66 on July 11. His voice quivers with emotion as he tearfully credits Marvin with saving his life. “Marvin showed me how being able to help veterans live a normal life is the best reward,” Onorini says. “Having a service dog gives them back some of the freedoms they deserve to have. His motto was: ‘we’re changing lives one dog at a time.’ Veterans and dogs were Marvin’s passion in life. Now my mission is to carry on his legacy as a celebration of his life.” In addition to a love for dogs, the two veterans shared another bond — coping with combatduty-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “Max has an uncanny ability to sense my PTSD before it spirals out of control. He knows when I have nightmares and wakes me up,” explains Onorini, as he nuzzles one of Max’s 10 puppies destined to become service dogs.

Top: The late Marvin Desselle, with his Miniature Pinscher service dog, Petee, founded PTSD4VETS to provide service dogs and training for disabled veterans. Bottom: Celebrating National Service Dog Month in September, Golden Retriever Maggie Mae trains with Sandro Onorini. Photos provided to Your Healthy Polk.

Fall 2018

Service Dogs: Changing Lives One Dog at a Time Onorini, now 48, was 32 when he enlisted in the Army after 9/11 and was deployed to Iraq in the 18th Airborne Infantry Division until 2007 when he was sidelined with uranium poisoning and other wounds. Desselle served in the Vietnam, Desert Storm and Gulf Wars earning the rank of Master Sergeant before retiring from the U.S. Air Force after 24 years. Sensing PTSD is just one of the endless health benefits provided by service dogs. “A dog’s sense of smell is so superior. Max is being trained to alert me to check my Type II diabetes when my blood sugar gets too low or too high,” Onorini adds. Service dogs detect seizures, cancer, tumors and trace amounts of nuts in food for those with allergies; guide the vision impaired; retrieve cell phones and dial phones; pull wheelchairs, open doors, call elevators, turn on and off lights; and provide therapy so veterans can live independently and overcome the challenges of day-today life. Most any family pet can be trained as a service dog. Desselle took pleasure in rescuing dogs from shelters and training them to rescue veterans. “It’s a total win-win. The dog picks you. If you pick the dog you don’t know what you’re getting. When you train the dog yourself there is a bond that can’t be broken,” Onorini says.

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“Max has an uncanny ability to sense my PTSD before it spirals out of control. He knows when I have nightmares and wakes me up.” - Sandro Onorini, army veteran and PTSD sufferer, speaking of his service dog, Max.

Approximately 500,000 service dogs must be given full access to private or public facilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Fully trained dogs are allowed to fly free on commercial airlines and, as long as the dog is house trained and the trainer is making every effort to control the dog, it’s against the law for a business to deny full access. The Veteran’s Administration pays for veterinary care and equipment including harness and/or backpack, vaccinations, prescribed medications, office visits for medical procedures, and once-aContinued pg. 10

Your Healthy Polk PTSD Service Dogs, from pg. 9

year dental procedures where the dog is sedated. Grooming, boarding, overthe-counter medications, food, treats, non-sedated dental care, and other routine expenses are not covered. Although the standard fee for training is estimated from $8,000 to $20,000, with a wait time of three to five

ber is Septem al Nation Dog Service ess Awaren Month

years, donations reduce the PTSD4VETS fee for both disabled veterans and disabled civilians to $160 to cover both training and graduation. Onorini provides a certificate of training and videos each dog as documentation that it meets standards set by Assistance Dogs International or the American Kennel Club. “More than 100 friends paid tribute to Marvin at his celebration of life,” says his wife of 44 years, Moddie Desselle. “With 131,000 veterans homeless every night and 22 suicides a day, our goal is to ensure heroes receive the support

they deserve for the sacrifices they have and continue to make to maintain our freedom, safety and security.” Veterans must have a verifiable disability and a copy of their DD Form 214. Dogs must be current on shots and vaccinations. Training also is available for non-veterans. For more info, to schedule training, and/or volunteer, contact grimreapor69@yahoo.com.

Fall 2018

How to Get Better Care

From Your Doctor

ave you ever wanted to ask your doctor a question but didn’t because you felt uncomfortable? Experts say that an impersonal relationship with your doctor could be preventing you from receiving the best care possible. “Your doctors should feel like valued members of your family -- and you a part of theirs. That’s how I operate in my practice and what I aim to foster in my patients,” says Dr. Ken Redcross, who brings nearly 20 years of experience to his new book dealing with this subject, “Bond: The 4 Cornerstones of a Lasting and Caring Relationship with Your Doctor.” Whether you have a new doctor or you’ve been at the same practice for years, your patient-doctor bond may be on faulty ground. But it doesn’t have to be, suggests Dr. Redcross. He believes that by establishing these four essential qualities in your patient-doctor relationships, you’ll pave the way to receiving better care: • Trust. Trust is essential in any relationship, including the one with your doctor. There is no sharing without trust, and sharing is crucial when it comes to receiving the best possible care. • Communication. No relationship can be sustained without open and honest communication on both sides, but developing healthy communication habits takes practice, effort and willingness. • Respect. Respect is treating others with common courtesy, good social manners and appreciating each other’s humanity. This means respecting each other’s experience, knowledge and time. • Empathy. Empathy is the ability to sense another person’s emotions and to be able to place yourself in his or her

shoes, which is a valuable quality in a doctor. However, many physicians strive for a state of “concerned detachment,” which is the opposite of empathy. At the same time, patients can be more empathic, too, taking the time to consider everything their doctors may be dealing with on the day of their visit. Building a great relationship with your doctor leads to practical benefits, says Dr. Redcross. In dealings with his own patients, he finds that great communication paves the way for better treatment. “Recently, a patient of mine was dealing with muscle pain and we had a long conversation about different options. Initially, I recommended that she take traditional pain reliever with naproxen sodium every morning. However, by talking through all the options and what best fit her situation, including her overall medical history, preferences and more, we settled on using Arnica montana, a lowerrisk plant-based pain reliever instead,” says Dr. Redcross. “Feeling comfortable enough with your doctor to challenge a suggestion and have a long and complete conversation is key. Unfortunately, such discussions between patients and doctors are rare.” To learn more about the book, as well as about building better relationships with your doctors, visit, BondByDrRedcross.com.

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At a time when doctor’s visits seem more routine and formulaic than ever before, experts say that receiving individualized care is possible, and it all starts with building strong relationships with your health care providers. Article credit: StatePoint.net.

Your Healthy Polk

Eco-Gardening Benefitting you, your family, and the environment.

You take fresh garlic, fresh mint and cayenne pepper and you boil it in water, just like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re steeping tea. Then you pour the liquid into a spray container. - Lakeland resident Marla Ripples, on her environmentally-friendly way of keeping critters out of her vegetable garden.

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By Steve Steiner

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Fall 2018

co-gardening. Sounds like a simple concept, right? But exactly what does it mean to garden in an eco-friendly manner?

Of course, the first thought that probably springs to mind is summed up in a single word: organic. And yes, that is the key element. While crucial, it is not the only aspect of what composes eco-gardening. According to the British publication of House Beautiful, in an article by Olivia Heath published in April of this year, there has been a rise in the number of eco-conscious gardeners seeking sustainable, environmentally-friendly ways to garden. She cites experts at Wyevale Garden Centres and its Garden Trends Report that eco-gardening is more than just “...greening up outdoor spaces, but the impact it has on the environment and our lifestyle too.” Heath writes that “[A]s a nation we’re becoming more environmentally aware, so much so that 67 percent of people consider themselves to be eco-conscious when it comes to gardening.” She goes on to write that eco-gardeners show a greater consideration for wildlife and the dangers wildlife face. One of those people in Polk County happens to be Marla Rippey, of Lakeland, who grows not only vegetables and flowers, she also has a butterfly garden. Of the latter, it began as a matter of happenstance. She had planted some flowers, among them tropical milkweed, which she said has a beautiful flower. A short while after planting, she saw that the plants had, in her words, “been reduced to sticks.” On close inspection, she saw a number of “things” on the plants.

“My first inclination was to squash them, but then I said to myself to hold off, do some research,” said Rippey. With that she went online and learned what she could. What she discovered was those “things” were butterfly chrysalides, the transformation stage between the larva and the adult. Butterflies use chrysalides and moths use cocoons. She then took a few snippings, brought them inside, and a short few weeks later, voila, emerged the caterpillars. Thus began Rippey’s butterfly garden, an endeavor of love and learning. “Butterflies can eat nectar from any flower,” she said. However, she added, they can only lay their eggs on what is the host plant indigenous to each particular species. Rippey plants six different host plants, and she does so through ecogardening. She will not use manmade chemical fertilizer. “For one thing, it leaches into the soil,” she said. “The last thing I want to do is contaminate their food.” Her concern, she said, is that whatever the caterpillar ingests will possibly kill it, make it sterile, or lead to deformities. Rippey also employs eco-gardening tactics to her flower and vegetable gardens. It’s not as simple as simply not using manmade chemical fertilizers, especially when it comes to her vegetable garden. “When you grow vegetables, you’re going to have pests,” she said. That’s not just insects, but creatures such as squirrels, rabbits and other wildlife. Growing other plants, such as marigolds, alongside vegetables is one deterrent. But there are other methods. “I also use bonemeal around the edges of my garden. Animals don’t like the smell.” Continued pg. 14

Your Healthy Polk Eco-gardening, from pg. 13

She and her husband Dave also found other approaches that are friendly to the environment. “You take fresh garlic, fresh mint and cayenne pepper and you boil it in water, just like you’re steeping tea. Then you pour the liquid into a spray container.” The overall challenge, she added, is that the mixture has to constantly be re-applied, especially following a rain. It’s why organic fruits and vegetables have higher costs than the standard method of growing said produce. Another approach Rippey is looking into is the use of a rain barrel. She’s seen a number of them at recent craft shows she has attended. “It’s amazing how much water gets collected,” she said. For anyone not familiar, rain barrels capture water from a roof and hold it for later use such as on lawns, gardens or indoor plants. Yet there are precautions, according to the EPA (epa.gov). Rain water can pick up pollutants such as bacteria from birds and other animals, as well as chemicals from roof materials. The website says to take into consideration these factors if/when thinking about using rainwater on edible plants. One also needs to take into consideration whether use of a rain barrel is legal. Issues may arise from the rules of a homeowners association, or laws of a county or other local entity. Regulations regarding water use can be complex should be researched before going to the expense of acquiring and installing one.

So where does one start? “You are starting from the ground up,” Betty Harrison, master gardener with the Bartow-based office of the University of Florida/IFAS Extension said somewhat tongue-in-cheek. “The first thing you need to do is start with good soil.” It’s not as simple as it sounds. The process as she explained it is known at IPM (Integrated Soil Management). Soil has to be sterilized. One way to do that is to cover the existing ground with plastic and then place fresh dirt atop it. Another is to attract beneficial nematodes, which are “good insects” that naturally occur in soil. They are used to control larvae or grubs. Also, these good insects do not expose humans or animals to health or environmental risks.

From top: Monarch caterpillars munch on a milkweed plant; a monarch chrysalis hangs from a branch; a sulphur butterfly readies for release. Photos provided by Marla Rippey to Your Healthy Polk.

Fall 2018

The site Nematodes.com states that beneficial nematodes enter into the larva and start to feed. This causes a certain bacteria to emerge from the intestine of the nematode. In turn, this bacteria converts the host tissue into products it can be taken up by the nematode. In the process the bad soil dwelling insect dies from within in a matter of days. All told, more than 200 species of pest insects from 100 insect families are susceptible to beneficial nematodes. Beneficial nematodes are so safe that the EPA has waived registration requirements for application. Just as there may be pitfalls using water collected from a rain barrel, so too are there potential pitfalls regarding ecogardening, even among those being “organic.” Just because something is labeled organic does not necessarily imply the product is approved for use in organic farming, but rather that the product contains organic material, or material high in carbon. (source: UF/IFAS Extension article, “Organic Vegetable Gardening in Florida.” The article --- Document HS1215 --- is authored by Danielle D. Treadwell, Sydney Park Brown, James Stephens and Susan Webb. The article was authored June 2013 and revised November 2016.) Although the extension service supports eco-gardening, it does not rule out non eco-gardening methods. However, Har-

rison was neither for or against either method. Each has their applications. Even so, eco-gardening is the method Marla Rippey and her husband Dave prefer. Rippey said that up until recently she and her husband did use RoundUp, for use controlling weeds that were growing between the cracks and alongside the walkway to her home and the driveway. However, even there they have made a switch. Nowadays, they use a cleaningstrength vinegar that could be considered what some might call industrial strength. Vinegar has long been known for that ability, but Rippey said the stronger version works best.

To Learn More There are many sites on the internet regarding a variety of eco-gardening concepts and approaches, such as EPA.gov and Nematodes.com. However, locally, perhaps the best source is the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, where the master gardener program is operated from. Located at 1702 U.S. 17/98 South, Bartow, the Extension’s offices can be reached at 863-519-1068. The website is: PolkGardening.com. It is also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Fall 2018

Brain

Strain Theme: Farm to Table

54. *Lettuce units 57. ____ well ____ someone 58. Small one in a large machine 59. Per person 61. Peace of mind 65. Os in XOXO 67. Takes to court 69. Away from harbor 70. Biblical twin 71. Final notice 72. *Food ____, as in distance 73. Shade-loving plant 74. “____ a soul” 75. Game outcome

ACROSS 1. *Key farm-to-table attribute 6. Goldfish or koi 10. Excessively abundant 14. Obelus, pl. 15. Black and white treat 16. Revise for publication 17. Swamp plant 18. “Saved by the ____” 19. Guilty, e.g. 20. Looking at 22. Silage storage 24. Building add-on 25. James ____ Jones 27. Baloney 29. *____ varieties 33. Greek letter N, pl. 34. Caterer’s coffee pots 35. *Key component of manure 37. Lady’s wrap 41. Fleur-de-____ 42. Accustom 44. River in Spain 45. Sailing vessel with two masts 48. Evoke emotion 49. 2016 animated musical 50. Female sib 52. *____ breeds

1. Leave in the dust 2. Do as directed 3. Relinquish 4. Capital of Algeria 5. Relating to spleen 6. *Corn holder 7. Bellicose deity 8. Archeologist’s find 9. *”The Omnivore’s Dilemma” author 10. One in a set 11. Lazybones 12. *____-to-table, farm-to-table alternative 13. And others, for short 21. Search blindly 23. Cross to bear 26. Duck-like divers 28. Holy Wednesday 29. a.k.a. Dr. Robert Bruce Banner 30. It’s between Ohio and Ontario 31. Research facil. 32. Oral cavity 36. Snooped 38. “Summertime” of Porgy and Bess, e.g. 39. POTUS’ West one 40. Private theater box 43. Computer message 46. *Harvest subscription, acr. 47. *Honey-producing facility 49. Astringent drug 51. *What’s in ____? 53. I-resembling supports 54. Canine foe 55. Daytime moth 56. Aqua-lung 58. *One who runs the show 60. George or Louis to Kate and William 62. Capital on a fjord 63. Nostradamus, e.g. 64. Alleviate 66. *”Full ____,” on a seed package 68. Wilbur’s home

Solution on page 21.

DOWN

Your Healthy Polk

Regrouping

To Recharge

Break Through Your Threshold by Jai Maa

Regrouping is taking the time to unplug, reflect, and create. Slowing down to rest from the go-go-go and figure out the next steps isn’t self-sabotage, it’s smart.

esting on a massage table in Indiana, the shaman healer said to me, “Jai Maa, you have a lot of tension in your body. When is the last time you stopped and unplugged from your fast-paced life?”

“Um,” I had to think a moment. “I really don’t know.”

“How long have you been on this recent book tour?” She continued stretching my arm to loosen my stiff shoulders. “I didn’t take a break this year. I usually travel for half of the year and head back to Florida to regroup for the other half, but this time I have been out on the road for an entire year.” “If you don’t stop and unwind soon, the world is going to eat you up. You have worked too hard to fizzle out now, and you have great things ahead of you. You need to go off grid and do nothing for a while.” Her invitation to “do nothing for a while” was the experience I yearned for, yet seemed impossible to create. I have bills to pay, clients to serve, events coming up, and my partner and I are planning a trip to Europe. When would I have time to stop and simply “do nothing”? So much life can happen so quickly, the lessons and impacts can be brushed over and not integrated if we keep running at the speed of light. To “regroup” means to stop and integrate our life experiences before rushing into the next chapter of our lives. But in our go-go-go western culture, there is an unspoken agreement that to slow yourself and rest means that you are lazy, sabotaging yourself, and missing out on opportunities. When a wave crashes the shoreline, it recedes to gather power and momentum to crash again. Regrouping our life experience is the same. We blast out into the world and give our best “wave” of experience, and then it is necessary to recede and gather forth our strength before we expand again. The self-care advice of this shaman healer gave me relief, and I knew I needed to recalibrate my upcoming plans in

order to tend to my top responsibility: myself. At first, I felt sadness of postponing our Europe adventures when I talked with my partner. Very soon into our conversation, however, we both began to breath deeper and relax into the blissful opportunity that “doing nothing” was on our horizon! We talked about going to Costa Rica for a month where the food is delicious, the cost of living is cheap, and the weather is warm, verses traveling Europe in the wintertime where there are new languages to consider and different countries to navigate. We felt lighter. Then he and I talked about renting a cabin somewhere in the Carolinas and unplugging completely from social media and our phones. We would sleep the days away and go hiking when we felt inspired, basking in the mountainous beauty. We would bring a cookbook and spend our afternoons making succulent meals after strolling through local farmers markets for organic foods. We felt even lighter. After each inspired possibility, we would say, “This or something better,” trusting that we deserved even greater than what our minds could conceive. Most importantly, we were in the consciousness of regrouping and unplugging ourselves from the high, fast-paced energy that was about to fry our circuits. Even a computer needs to turn off every once in a while to not overheat and burn out. Aren’t we more delicate than computers? So, how do you “regroup” your life? There are three key steps:

Unplug First, unplug from as many things you can that require your attention. Turn off your phone and all forms of social media. Take a vacation. Get a babysitter and go somewhere low key with very little stimulation. Have no travel plans or agenda. Disconnect from your mind and connect with nature.

Reflect Next, reflect on the past year and the immense amount of life

Fall 2018

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When a wave crashes the shoreline, it recedes to gather power and momentum to crash again. Regrouping our life experience is the same. - Jai Maa, article author

you have lived. What lessons have you learned? What experiences were new? What moments changed your life? How did you strengthen your trust in yourself and your connection with God? How have you grown physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?

Enlightenment Challenge: Plan an entire day from the moment you get up until the moment you sleep with no phone, computer, television, or distractions of any kind. Go by yourself on a day trip to somewhere you have never been before and simply be.

Create Finally, relax into a space of curiosity, detachment, and infinite possibility. What do you want now? Which areas of your life are leaking your energy and are you willing to either let them go or create stronger boundaries? What areas of your life deserve more of your attention to create joy?

Jai Maa is an author and enlightenment facilitator who inspires others to create their visions with no compromise. An interfaith minister and native of Polk County, she travels around the country in a glamped-out RV with her cat companions teaching others how to co-create with God and live their own version of Heaven on Earth. More info: BreakThroughYourThreshold.com.

Your Healthy Polk

IS YOUR DINNER CONTRIBUTING TO PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE OCEAN?

id you know that the choices your local grocery store makes can have a global impact on the environment? From the types and brands of seafood sold to the way foods are packaged and carried out of the store, oceans worldwide are affected by the operations of grocers near you. Fortunately, supermarkets across the country have made significant progress over the last 10 years when it comes to providing sustainable seafood options to customers, according to a new Greenpeace report, “Carting Away the Oceans.” From advocacy and transparency initiatives to addressing illegal fishing, many major retailers nationwide are improv-

ing. Overall, 90 percent of the retailers profiled in the report received passing scores, 10 years after every single retailer failed Greenpeace’s first assessment. However, experts say that the momentum of this positive trend should be applied to other areas of sustainability, too. “It’s time to put the same energy into tackling the unaddressed issues facing seafood workers and our oceans,” says Greenpeace oceans campaigner David Pinsky. “It’s not truly sustainable seafood if it’s produced by forced labor and then wrapped in throwaway plastic packaging. Supermarkets can use their brands, buying power and influence to do what is right for our oceans and for future generations.” As Greenpeace points out, the equivalent of a garbage truck of plastic enters oceans every minute, and with plastic production set to double in the next 20 years -- largely for packaging -- threats to ocean biodiversity and seafood supply chains are increasing. According to the report, none of the retailers profiled currently have a comprehensive policy to reduce and ultimately phase out their reliance on single-use plastics.

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As a customer, you can make a difference by carrying your own tote bag on shopping trips and by asking your local supermarket what steps are being taken to reduce plastic use. Consumers can also show their support for brands doing the right thing by shopping only for seafood that’s produced sustainably and ethically. To learn more, visit Greenpeace.org/usa/carting-away-theoceans. The next time you shop for groceries, take note of both the foods you are buying and the way items are packaged. Experts say that when you eat seafood from ethical, sustainable producers and limit single-use plastic packaging, oceans worldwide will benefit. Article credit: StatePoint.net.

Fall 2018

Epilepsy, from pg. 7

U.S. each year. Florida Epilepsy Services has offices in Lakeland and Tampa providing help for families in Polk, Hardee, Highlands and Hillsborough counties. Dan Grant, executive director, says they see about 200 people per year in the Lakeland office and offer counseling, financial assistance and training. To be eligible for help, the person must have a diagnosis or suspicion of epilepsy and live in one of the four counties. “It’s a very serious disorder, there is no cure and you essentially have it for a lifetime,” Grant says. “Our goal is to help a person get better control of their seizures and improve the quality of their life. We also want to increase awareness and decrease unnecessary visits to the emergency room.” Florida Epilepsy Services is hoping to plan some fundraisers in the near future. They currently receive funding from the Florida Department of Health, United Way, and private contributions. Along with helping people diagnosed with epilepsy, the group goes into the community and trains people how to properly help someone who is having a seizure. Grant says there is a huge lack of information out there. “People really don’t know what to do when they see a seizure,” he explains. “Everyone’s seizures are different and how it affects them.” To lower the chances of having more seizures: • Take the medication exactly as directed and avoid missing or taking doses late

CHAT & CHEW: Fit and Healthy at Any Age

re you headed in the right direction for great health as you get older? Would you like to know why some people reach their golden years fit and healthy? While others, not so much? Join us October 5 as we Skype with Dr. Ruth Heidrich, 83. A vegan, breast cancer survivor, and seasoned Ironman Triathlete, she has been named one of the Ten Fittest Women in North America. She has written several books, including Senior Fitness; A Race for Life, and more Don’t miss the opportunity to hear more about her story, her diet and her fitness tips. Bring your questions and your lunch as we “Chat and Chew.” Limited seating. No charge to attend. October 5, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Winter Haven Library, 325 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881 For more info contact: Chat and Chew via Facebook at ‘Chat and Chew More Plants’ or 54321health@gmail.com.

• Get plenty of sleep • Stay well hydrated • Avoid alcohol and drugs

But epilepsy isn’t just about seizures, says Grant. It can effect the entire family if the patient can’t drive or work. “It’s a ripple effect,” he says. “Epilepsy doesn’t discriminate across age, gender, or race.” For more info on epilepsy visit the following websites: Epilepsy.com, EpilepsyServices.com, and PurpleDay.org.

Editor’s note: The writer of this article, Elizabeth Morrisey, was diagnosed with epilepsy in her 20s. She has had two seizures in her life, the last one in 2004. Liz says: “Fortunately, I have found a medication that controls them and I live a happy, normal life with my husband and 8-year-old daughter.”

Crossword on page 17.

• Avoid triggers: stress, intense exercise, loud music, flashing lights