Natural Awakenings of Detroit-Wayne County Michigan - July 2021

E R F

E

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

EATING WELL

WHY FOOD IS MEDICINE

How to SLEEP Better Naturally Urban Gardening FOR FOOD SECURITY

Running as a Spiritual Practice

Grill On!

Sizzling Summer Fare

July 2021 | Detroit / Wayne County | HealthyLivingMichigan.com

July 2021

1

Armor

Calm Energy

Lost and forgotten for generations, the rare, ancient secrets of the OJAYA “Armor” technique are now shared with you on our 100% online video Course.

Martial Art Of Deep Meditation

The

Q

UIETLY hidden and closely-guarded for centuries, the OJAYA “Armor” technique is a supremely rare and powerful meditation that protects your mind and emotions with a calm “armor” of core inner strength. As you meditate, its soothing resonance attacks stress, clears out brain fog, and recharges your vital energies in

just 10-20 minutes — the perfect antidote to the fatigue and frenzy of high-tech living.

Sukaishi David shares the teachings with you step by step with exquisite videos produced in the Earthborn Rainforest. But to qualify to learn the OJAYA technique, you must first watch the free OJAYA Foundation Lessons. Enjoy!

Begin the adventure FREE at:

— OJAYA.COM — 2

DetroitThe / Wayne County School HealthyLivingMichigan.com not-for-profit of OJAYA Deep Meditation in the Earthborn Rainforest / US Tel. 641-472-3300

New Office Now Open!

1890 SOUTHFIELD RD. BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009

248.582.8888 Call for your appointment today!

New Client Special

$10.00 off

Acupuncture, DDS Therapy OR 1 Hour Massage

$5.00 off Colon Hydrotherapy First time clients only.

By appointment.

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT!

July 2021 August 2020

3

3

Feel the JOY of LOVE again!

Join the Largest Online Community of Holistic-Conscious Singles who value Authentic & Loving Relationships Natural Health & Sustainable Living Living a Conscious Life Honoring Diversity

Try for

FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

CELEBRATING 27 years in THE business of

4

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

BETTER STOP IN THE BETTER HEALTH CAFE ACAI BOWLS

16 OZ BOWLS

SMOOTHIES

MADE FROM

2 OFF/LB SALAD BAR

$

6

$ 99 /LB

100%

ORGANIC FRUIT Made of Sambazon organic fair trade frozen purple acai palm fruit that is pureed and served as a smoothie in a bowl. Acai is a nutritional powerhouse topped with blueberries, strawberries, banana, granola, & coconut Coconut Mango Bowl $5.99 Acai Protein Bowl $8.99 Berry Berry Bowl or Chocolate Peanut Butter & Banana Bowl $6.49

No Mixes … Made fresh with all natural & organic ingredients. Our smoothies are beyond compare!

TRY ONE OF OUR DELICIOUS SMOOTHIES

Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Supergreens Protein Mango Smoothie, Amazon Immunity Smoothie, or Detox Smoothie

7

$ 49 16 oz

SAVE $100

NEW ORGANIC SUNNY D3

ALL ORGANIC, ALWAYS FRESH

Made

Right MA RKE

Here

VITA TS &

MIN

STO RES

2 OFF PREMADE SALADS

$

Made with organic greens CHOOSE FROM:

8

$ 49 EA

COLD PRESSED ORGANIC ORANGES with 2000 IU Vitamin D3

(16 OZ)

MARKET & CAFÉ

betterhealthstore.com

Sale prices good through July 31, 2021

FREE curbside pickup at any of our 14 locations

Asian Zing Salad, Tuno Salad (v) Plant-based Seafood, Greek Salad with Salmon, Rainbow Salad (v), Southwest Chicken Salad, Strawberry Walnut Salad (v)

5

$ 99 /EA

FREE same day delivery on orders over $99 July 2021

5

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from the co-publishers Ringing the Bell of Freedom

DETROIT / WAYNE COUNTY

F

rom sea to shining sea, Americans come together on the Fourth of July to celebrate our nation’s most precious

Publishers John & Trina Voell III

treasure… freedom. The American way of life was built on

Design & Production John & Trina Voell III

Martin Miron Theresa Archer Randy Kambic

strong families and sense of community—it is our personal responsibility, courage and actions that are the keys to securing the quality of life we wish to enjoy today and keep us free.

A2 Sales & Marketing John & Trina Voell III 734-757-7929

Lobbyists and political campaign contributions have helped corporations come to dominate both the legislative

Detroit Sales & Marketing John & Trina Voell III 734-757-7929

TC Sales & Marketing John & Trina Voell III 734-757-7929

CONTACT US

and media landscape. Mergers and acquisitions countenanced by regulators have allowed massive players like Big Pharma, Big Food and Factory Farms to control most of what citizens see, hear and read, and even control how we heal, eat and learn.

P.O. Box 2717, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 734-757-7929

As just one example, government food policies and subsidies encourage agribusiness-

Publisher@HealthyLivingMichigan.com

es to overproduce pesticide-loaded corn and soy, creating cheap, high-calorie, nutrient-

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

poor ingredients for processed foodstuffs. Advertising and promoting these “Franken-

facebook.com/NaturalAwakeningsAnnArbor https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCRIOgIjWHjdMaHeTDeKgARg

foods” contributes to a large portion of mainstream media income, much of it targeting our children.

We must create a more equitable system that treats people and nature with respect

NATIONAL TEAM

and reverence; holds corporations accountable to behave as responsible custodians of the

CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne

Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert

Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy

National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell

environment and their employees; and requires government to be a servant of the people,

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

© 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

instead of the other way around. The indicators are clear that we need to reevaluate our quality of life and consider how we can personally affect it moving forward.

It’s our task as citizen consumers to separate fact from fiction and truth from propa-

ganda. There’s a lot of information out there both good and bad, and it’s prudent to align ourselves with vetted sources we trust. We urge you to do some research and vote with your dollars, because that does follow trends and tells the market what is acceptable and what is not.

Each new day offers us all fresh opportunities to change our trajectory. May we

encourage the potential in all of us to soar above our fears and face our struggles with the courage and wisdom to make our dreams come true. An Elmer Davis quote rings more true than ever before: “This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

We hope you find some healthful tips and meaningful insights in our July edition,

because you never know what piece of knowledge or insight will propel you to the next level in your personal or family’s development.

For the love of freedom, happy birthday, America!

God bless humanity!

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

6

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue you’ll find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

16

Contents 16 FOOD AS MEDICINE

The Healing Power of Nutrition

19

19 SOULFUL STRIDES Running as a Spiritual Practice

20 GROWING FOOD SECURITY

The Benefits of Urban Gardening

24

22 SWEET SLUMBER Natural Tips for Deep Sleep

24 SIZZLING ON THE GRILL Healthy, Sustainable Summer Fare

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS

26 DOGGY DELIGHTS

26

Healthy, Homemade Cookie Treats

HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings, please contact us at 734-757-7929 or email Publisher@HealthyLiving Michigan.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ HealthyLivingMichigan.com. Deadline for editorial: the 12th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events at: HealthyLiving Michigan.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

DEPARTMENTS 8 news briefs 12 eco tip 13 therapy

spotlight 14 health briefs 15 global briefs 19 fit body 20 green living

22 healing ways 24 conscious

eating 26 natural pet 28 calendar 29 classifieds 30 resource guide

July 2021

7

news briefs

Pure Pastures Is the Ultimate in All-Natural Foods

P

ure Pastures now carries free range, soy-free and chlorine-free pastured chicken raised by the Garno family and processed right on the farm. Not even Whole Foods carries any meats of this quality.

They also sell grass-fed beef, pork, buffalo, lamb, venison, rabbit, duck and elk from family farms in Michigan, wild boar from Texas, ground ostrich, Cornish hen, free-range chicken and turkey, soy-free chicken and eggs, pastured, local non-GMO eggs and duck eggs, Great Lakes walleye, whitefish, perch, trout and salmon, organic produce and local honey and maple syrup, with a paleo-friendly/ gluten-free selection.

Soy is not something a chicken would eat in the wild. First, the soybeans are processed for oil (an unhealthy but cheap cooking oil), and then the fiber that is left over is toasted and fed to the chickens. No chicken would harvest soybeans, pick off the fiber and toast it.

Farmers that let their chickens roam freely in the soy fields find that the chickens will eat bugs, but they don’t touch the soy plants.

Locations: 23309 Ford Rd., Dearborn (313-406-6282); and 1192 Ann Arbor Rd., Plymouth (734-927-6951). For more information, visit PurePasturesMI.com. See ad page 24.

Subscribe to Free Videos at Better Health

B Liberate yourself from suffering.

Gnosis is the practical, fact-based knowledge of consciousness that guides us to our full potential and innate happiness.

Experience is better than belief.

Learn more at GnosticTeachings.org

8

Detroit / Wayne County

etter Health Market & Café, known for its wide range of health food, vitamins, supplements, natural health and beauty products and an in-store café, also provides an educational YouTube channel (YouTube.com/channel/UCzs9BnPC1yzvMD1qTjF7apA/featured).

Recent videos include webinars with “Dr. Corey, ND” on topics such as building an antiviral immune system, understanding metabolic pathways and natural remedies. There are also new product introductions and discussions. The videos are free and available to watch live as they are recorded or anytime after they’re posted.

Nearby locations: 3500 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor (734-975-6613) TheBetterHealthStore.com/ better-health-ann-arbor.html; 44427 Ann Arbor Rd., Ste. E, Plymouth (734-455-1440) The BetterHealthStore.com/better-health-Plymouth.html; and 19221 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe (313-885-5000) TheBetterHealthStore.com/better-health-grosse-pointe.html. To view the 14 Michigan Better Health Market & Café locations or shop online, visit TheBetterHealthStore. com. See ad page 5.

Have News or Kudos to Share?

Submit online at HealthyLivingMichigan.com

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Intuitive Massage with Christine Bridges

Achieve Your Goal of Good Health

L

icensed Massage Therapist Christine Bridges, owner and practitioner at Universal Energy Healing, offers intuitive massage therapy. This whole-body 90-minute massage that includes an intuitive structure to get to the core of the pain or concern with relaxation feels almost dreamlike. She says, “During most massages, I also run energy and work with chakras as your body is replenished with human hands contact, oxygen and blood flow.”

Bridges studied at Irene’s Myomassology Institute from 2007 to 2008 and was exposed to many different modalities, noting, “I have always had my psychic gift—during school they were fine tuned.”

Other services include psychic energy healing and frequency consultation.

Location: 5 8 0 Fo re s t Ave., Ste. 3C, Plymouth.

For appointm e nt s an d more information, call 734-9347271, email ChristineBridges2@comcast.net or visit ChristineBridges2. wixsite.com/website. See ad page 8.

Mycelium Mysteries Conference

T

he fifth annual Mycelium Mysteries Conference, hosted by Midwest Women’s Herbal, focusing on all things in the mushroom world, will be presented in person on September 25, 26 and 27, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The conference is intended to provide inspiration and education about mushrooms for the health and healing of people and the planet. Workshops will be offered at the beginner through advanced levels on topics such as wild mushroom skills, fungal ecology, fungi and human health, and ethnomycology.

This is the only women-run, women-taught, women-focused mushroom conference in the world. Keynote speakers include ethnomycologist Elinoar Shavit, mycologists Guiliana Furci and Sarah Foltz Jordan. Dr. Corenlia Cho will offer a preconference workshop on Mushrooms for Clinical Practice and Jordan will offer an all-day preconference foray, teaching women how to identify and collect mushrooms in the field. Meals, lodging/campSarah Foltz Jordan ing and activities are included.

Plants need minerals to grow and thrive, and so do we. Daily intake of adequate minerals is the basis of human health.

Liquid Plant Derived Minerals • 72 plant derived trace minerals • Easy to use, no mixing • Certified Organic, Non-GMO • Liquid nutrients ensure maximum absorption • Full spectrum • Gluten-free • Great for plants and soil, too • For adults and children

Contains 19,000 mg of essentials minerals per quart

Ask to see the Clemson University Research Study that showed Classic destroyed cancer cells without harming healthy cells Wyandotte

Total Health Foods 2948 Biddle (W. Jefferson)

Ann Arbor/ Ypsi area David 734-216-6677

4 blocks north of Eureka Rd

Saline area Martha 734-478-5359

Roseville

Flat Rock/ Monroe Carolyn 734-306-3302

734-246-1208 LUPO Chiropractic 27850 Gratiot Ave.

North of I-696

586-772-5876

Northern suburbs Sherry 248-217-8009

For More Info Email MineralGirl@ Live.Com July 2021

9

EBOO (Extracorporeal Blood Ozonation,

Oxygenation, and Filtration): Offers the

most efficient treatment in the world to date!

At American Regenerative Clinic, we are proud to announce that we now offer Extracorporeal Blood Ozonation, Oxygenation, and Filtration (EBOO)—We are the only Midwest location to offer it!

The results of using ozone therapy, Dr. Andrey Lutskovsky especially systemic ozone, in treating illness and infection are well documented. While several other methods of ozone therapy are available, EBOO offers the most efficient treatment in the world to date.

EBOO procedure includes using a dialysis filter to clean blood from the debris of destroyed germs, heavy metals, fungus, etc., and to ozonate the blood in stages. Blood is drawn from one patient’s vein, going through the filter, gets ozonated, and then reintroduced into the patient via another vein. The entire process happens within a closed system to eliminate the possibility of contamination in just under 1 hour!

There are practically no contraindications for the procedure.

No Herxheimer’s reaction was reported. Patients are able to drive home. Most of them feel better just after the first procedure. Average number of recommended procedures per course is 3-4, once a week. It could be repeated every 3-6 months, depending on course of disease. It could be used not only for treatment, but also for improving daily wellbeing and even athletic performance.

Make your appointment today, we are the only location in the Midwest that offers EBOO!

Call 248-876-4242 Today!

American Regenerative Clinic

31000 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 140 Bingham Farms

AmericanRegen.com Contact@AmericanRegen.com We provide free consultation, and package deals.

— Advertorial — See our Healing Ways Dept. Sponsor Ad Page 23.

10

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

news briefs

Fungi are the “grandmothers” of our ecosystems, silently shaping the soil. The conference aims to help modern women connect with the roles and wisdom of their female ancestors that maintained and shared their understanding of the role of the fungal world. Midwest Women’s Herbal is committed to providing herbal education and opportunities for transformation, immersed in the Wise Woman Tradition.

For tickets and info, visit MidwestWomensHerbal.com. See ad on page 12.

Walk Through the Urban Wetlands

T

he Herbal Healing Hut and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy will present the Detroit Riverwalk for an Herbal Walk & Talk, Chat & Chew, taught

by Mama Ravin Lawson and her assistant Danielle Nanih Waiya, on July 12 and 26. Participants will trek through the Detroit Riverfront wetlands to identify edible weeds and herbs, and discuss their medicinal properties, as well as survival uses, followed by a vegan meal prepared by the elder. Social distancing will be in effect, so bring a mask.

The Herbal Healing Hut mission is to study, advocate and preserve the herbal medicinal and dietary traditions of our Aboriginal ancestors. It was founded by Lawson in 1997 and has garnered the support of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the Department of Natural Resources, the Sierra Club, Detroit Outdoors and others.

The nonprofit Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has the mission of developing access on the five-and-a-half-mile Detroit International Riverfront from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park, just east of the Belle Isle Bridge. It will also include the construction of a continuous Riverwalk along with plazas, pavilions and green spaces.

Meet at Cullen Plaza: 1340 Atwater St., Detroit. To RSVP (required), call 313-549-3717, email RavinsRelief9797@yahoo.com or isit TheHerbal HealingHut.weebly.com.

Healthiest Shakes in Town

V

illage Nutrition has opened at 16837 Kercheval Avenue, in Grosse Pointe, with healthy shakes, energizing teas, protein-packed coffee, and vegan and

gluten-free options. These shakes are meant to be used as meal replacements, with 24 grams of protein and less than nine grams of sugar.

For more information, call 248-955-9777 or visit Facebook.com/ villagenutritiongp.

Learn Tai Chi Easy via Zoom

C

ertified tai chi and qigong teacher Erin Reas is offering a Tai Chi Easy/Qigong class and individual instruction Thursdays at 10 a.m. through July 29 via Zoom to enhance health, balance and inner peace. Tai Chi Easy is a Erin Reas combination of ancient Chinese health enhancement practices (gentle movement, breathing exercises and self-applied massage) plus five movements from traditional tai chi. All fitness levels are welcome and practice can be done standing or sitting in a chair.

Tai chi is a graceful, flowing exercise that consists of a series of standing postures connected through stepping movements. The number of postures varies from 108 in traditional long forms to shorter forms with 20 to 40 movements. Tai chi is sometimes called “meditation in motion,” due to the relaxation and calm people can experience while practicing it. Harvard Women’s Health Watch wrote, “It might as well be called ‘medication in motion’, due to the numerous health benefits tai chi can provide when done on a regular basis.”

Suggested donation is $5 per session via PayPal or check. Free for Silver Sneakers members. To receive the Zoom link, call 313-429-3214 or email Erin@ErinReas.com. For more info, visit ReduceYourStressNow.com.

Nature, Nurture, Narratives at Detroit Abloom

Detroit Abloom will be adding more classes to support their Holistic Wellness Center without Walls initiative. This includes are building an outdoor bathroom and a patio pergola area behind the pavilion to add additional seating.

Cost is $95. Location: 248 Manistique, Detroit. Register and pay at DetroitAbloom.com/workshops. For more info, call 313-587-2446.

Detroit Rock Delivery... Delivers

D

etroit Rock Delivery offers people a more natural option for relaxation or to remedy pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, stomach ailments and more with home-delivered cannabis products such as marijuana, tinctures, edibles, THC and more.

Their friendly staff can address about the benefits of CBD any of the other products.

Customers will always find high-quality CBD products that improve anxiety, quality of sleep and many other ailments. Detroit Rock Delivery is proud of their excellent customer service, are always happy to help find the best products and strive to be the best dispensary and delivery service in Trenton.

For more information, call 734521-4572 or visit TrentonCannabis Delivery.com.

With over 40 dealers, the Chelsea Antique Mall is sure to have something for everyone!

Chelsea Antique Mall Collectibles Dolls • Furniture Jewelry • LP’s • Retro 50/60’s Tools • Toys

D

etroit Abloom, an organic cut flower farm, Native Plant Nursery and Outdoor Wellness Center in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood, will host Nature, Nurture, Narratives, an eight-week, mindfulness-based, art therapy workshop on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m., August 5 through September 23, facilitated by Licensed Counselor and Art Therapist Nina Goebel.

After feeling stressed and worn-out from a year of pandemic, participants will experience the healing power of expressing themselves through art; discover new connections; and explore how creative expressions can help gain a new perspective on life. No art skills are required. The workshop takes place outside under a gazebo surrounded by nature, and is for everyone that wants to lower their stress level and try something new. Social distancing rules will be followed.

Antique furniture, home goods & decor, vintage jewelry, vintage clothing and so much more!

Reasonable prices! We have it all!

Make sure to stop in and see us!

Located right off I-94....next to Chelsea Lanes 1178 S Main St, Chelsea • (734) 562-2190 Call 734-562-2190 if you are looking to rent a booth!

July 2021

11

eco tip

through composting into an organic, high-nutrient fertilizer.

Compost is called “black gold” for its high value in gardening, but it’s simply decayed organic material.

Consider all the organic materials that fall to the forest floor, break down and return to the earth. This process can be easily recreated at home.

To start composting, get a couple of containers.

n A covered kitchen bucket.

Beautiful containers abound, but an old pan will work. Countertop positioning makes it easy to toss in kitchen scraps, but it could also be placed under the sink or in the freezer. A review of several options can be found at The SpruceEats.com.

n A yard bin or pile. Due to critters

Composting Made Easy Turn Food Waste into ‘Black Gold’

Just 3 percent of uneaten food in the U.S. is composted, reported the Natural Resources Defense Council in 2012. The remaining food scraps rotting in landfills account for 23 percent of U.S. methane emissions, a greenhouse gas at least 25 times more powerful than carbon monoxide in global warming. With minimal planning and effort, however, food scraps can be recycled

and pets, a lid is recommended.

Gardening stores sell compost bins, but they can be made using instructions at Homesteading.com.

Bins in place, start collecting and piling. Organic materials will break down—it’s just a matter of time. The pile should consist of yard waste (grass clippings, plant scraps, small sticks) and kitchen waste (peels, cores, eggshells, tea leaves, coffee grounds, bread). Do not include invasive weeds, meat, bones, dairy

products, oils or pet excrement.

The basic recipe is a mix of nitrogen-rich/green materials (food waste, grass clippings, plant trimmings) and carbon-rich/brown materials (dried leaves, sticks, shredded newspaper or cardboard). Shoot for 25 percent green materials.

An unbalanced pile can be amended.

n If it’s wet, moldy or stinky, add more brown materials and stir with a pitchfork to increase oxygen flow and loosen the pile.

n A pile that is too dry will take longer to break down. Add kitchen scraps, green grass clippings or sprinkle with water to encourage microbial activity.

A balanced pile that is stirred or turned weekly will decay the fastest.

Seeing worms and other soil organisms in the pile is a good sign that the process is working.

Finished compost looks like dark, rich soil. Spread it onto the garden in the spring. Scoop some into the holes for new plants. Side dress plants all season.

Compost releases nutrients gradually, improves soil condition and helps retain water. Plants thrive with better root systems. Compost gardeners reap bountiful harvests.

A BOLD VISION FOR MICHIGAN Bringing back passenger rail to Traverse City and Petoskey from Ann Arbor and Detroit is good for Michigan. A2TC.org

12

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Advertorial

therapy spotlight

Tone Vagus Nerve to Aid Digestion

D

r. Kyle Waller, who specializes in functional neurology and chiropractic adjustments at the Michigan Family Wellness Clinic, promotes three ways to stimulate the vagus nerve and use functional neurology for improved digestion. The vagus nerve is responsible for controlling digestion and plays a significant role in our parasympathetic nervous system. He says, “In the same way you can exercise your skeletal muscles, you can also ‘exercise’ your vagus nerve to improve digestion and gut function.”

1

Fill an eight-ounce glass of water, take a sip, tilt the head back and gargle aggressively for 10 seconds. Spit the water out and repeat this process until the entire glass of water is empty.

Repeat every day for several weeks.

2

The gag reflex is like doing push-ups for the vagus nerve. Don’t do this after a meal, but in-between. Take a spoon and lightly depress the back of the tongue to initiate the gag reflex. Repeat this four to six times. Like exercising skeletal muscles, repetition and consistency is key. Repeat every day for several weeks.

3

Chiropractic adjustments are beneficial for increasing vagal tone and parasympathetic function. The vagus nerve emerges from the mid-brain, so cervical (neck) spine adjustments are helpful and relaxing, which also helps the function of the vagus nerve.

Location: 2200 N. Canton Center Rd., Ste. 150. Canton. For appointments and more information, call 734-335-0533 or visit Michigan FamilyWellness.com. See ad page 30.

ALERT: Critical Problem with ‘Smart’ Meters: Just When

You Thought it was Safe to Opt-Out

I

ronically, now that PG&E, Seattle City Light, Consumers Energy, DTE and other utilities is offering to disable the wireless RF function (for a hefty price) in their smart meters, we find that there’s yet another extremely critical problem with the meters.

Just when you thought you had mastered all the esoteric acronyms such RF Mesh, 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz ZigBee, and all the problems with ‘smart’ meters, here’s one A Smart Meter shielded more: Switching-Mode Power Supply or with the Iron Maiden.

SMPS. This new element in the ‘smart’ meter controversy deserves immediate full official and public attention.

In our on-going investigation into why so-called ‘smart’ meters being installed by PG&E, DTE, Consumers Energy, Duke Energy and many utilities against rising public opposition are causing so many people to be sick, and so many problems with other electric and electronic equipment, we have been fortunate to obtain the advice of electrical engineers.

On examination of typical meters, including ABB, GE, ITRON and Landis+Gyr, and many others they report that, in addition to its RF transmitter, each wireless digital meter also has a component called the ‘switching-mode power supply’ (SMPS) – switching power supply for short. Its function is to ‘step down’ the 240v alternating current (AC) coming in from the utility pole power lines to the 3.3 to 12 volts of direct current (DC) required to run the meter’s digital electronics which record the electricity usage data and send out the various RF transmissions.

The SMPS function emits sharp spikes of millisecond bursts constantly, 24/7. The SMPS on the commonly used ITRON Openway model, for instance, which is within the smart meter models widely installed by PG&E and other utilities throughout their territory, has been measured to emit spikes of up to 50,000 Hz and higher. This constant pulsing of high frequencies, in addition to the RF function, is causing not only interference with other electric and electronic equipment in many homes with smart meters installed, but also is causing havoc with biological systems in its field of exposure.

We created the Iron Maiden©® to aid our friends and neighbors to protect themselves from the pulsing RF signal coming from a Smart Meter. It is much more effective than the typical wire mesh meter guards.

In our testing the RF signal is still significant when using these mesh meter guards. The metal mesh meter guard does reduce the RF a bit, but many of our customers still report feeling these RF effects.

My wife and I got up this morning telling each other how well we slept!

It has been typical for me to get up every hour to an hour and half and I have been blaming my old prostate. Last night I slept soundly for 6 hours straight! You aren’t just selling a beneficial product—you are helping people protect their health from smart meters, thank you DE Filters! –Wayne For more info and schedule your healthy home evaluation call 734-627-7610.

Visit DEFiltersLLC.com. See Green Living Department Sponsor ad page 21.

July 2021

13

Try Saffron Extract to Raise Mood

health briefs

Use Sunlight and Sleep to Lower COVID-19 Risk

Saffron, harvested by hand from the stigma of crocus (Crocus sativus L.), has long been used in cooking, dying and fragrances, and a new study also verifies its traditional use for lowering depression. European researchers gave 56 people with poor moods, anxiety or stress either 30 milligrams a day of saffron extract or a placebo for eight weeks. Those getting the saffron reported feeling less depressed and having improved social relationships, and their urinary crocetin levels correlated with a change in their depression scores.

Two readily available natural strategies—sunlight exposure and sufficient sleep—appear to lower the risks of suffering and dying from COVID-19, report two new studies. Researchers from the UK University of Edinburgh examined records of 2,474 U.S. counties from January to April 2020 to compare numbers of COVID-related deaths to levels of UVA rays from the sun. They found that people living in counties with the highest UVA levels had on average, a 29 percent lower chance of dying from the coronavirus. They ruled out the vitamin D factor by not including counties with UVB levels that would produce the vitamin. Repeating the analysis in England and Italy produced the same results. The Either sideresearchers stepping an theorized argument or that niresolving it on tric oxide the same day released pays off quickby the skin ly by halving when in the reactivity sunlight may reduce the ability of that virus to level—negative replicate. “aftertaste”— A second study of 2,884 high-risk healththat day and care workers in five European countries and often erasing the U.S. found that every additional hour of any darkened sleep reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection emotional reby 12 percent. However, insomnia, disruptsponse the foled sleep and daily burnout are linked to a lowing day, say heightened risk of becoming infected with University of Oregon researchers. Based on surveys of more than 2,000 the coronavirus, having more severe symppeople reporting their emotional ups and downs during an eight-day toms and a longer recovery period, reports period, the researchers found that when people feel they have resolved the researchers in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. People that had problems like difficul- an argument, the emotional response associated with that disagreement is significantly reduced or even eliminated. Stress reactivity has ty falling or staying asleep or regularly using been found to significantly reduce lifespan, studies show, and is linked sleeping pills were 88 percent more likely to to heart disease, a weakened immune system, reproductive issues and be infected with COVID-19 than those without gastrointestinal conditions. such issues.

Resolve Arguments the Same Day for a Happier, Healthier Life

14

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

global briefs

Gaining Momentum

Dealers Align Behind Electric Cars Traditionally, auto dealerships have presented a skeptical and confusing experience for those seeking to purchase electric transportation. When Tesla launched the Model S electric sedan in 2012, it had to build its own stores to educate consumers about electric vehicles (EV) because dealers wouldn’t sell them in Texas or Michigan, for instance. The subsequent success of Tesla, Ford and GM EV models, along with a plan to stop selling new internal combustion cars by 2035 in California, have propelled the transition from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles.

The American division of German automaker Volkswagen is delivering large quantities of their electric SUV ID.4 as part of a nationwide launch, with more than 650 dealers on board. U.S. CEO Scott Keogh reports that the goal is to have at least one vehicle initially at every VW dealer in America.

He says, “We see the potential for EV sales to double this year. We’re optimistic that this is a turning point year for electric vehicles.”

Local Veggies

Huge Indoor Vertical Farm to Serve Food Desert

Doctors’ Orders

All-Vegan Menu Debuts at Lebanon Hospital Hayek Hospital, in suburban Beirut, Lebanon, launched a 100 percent plant-based menu in March as a “moral responsibility”.

Patients will no longer be greeted after waking up from surgery with ham, cheese, milk and eggs, the same foods that may have contributed to their health problems.

The family-owned private hospital emphasizes the health benefits of vegan diets, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

The hospital says deciding factors included the World Health Organization classification of processed meat consumption as carcinogenic, as well as the role that animal agriculture plays in spawning diseases and pandemics.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that three out of four new or emerging infectious diseases in humans come from animals.

The American Medical Association passed a resolution in 2017 requesting U.S. hospitals promote better health by offering plant-based meals to patients, staff and visitors, and similar recommendations have been issued by the American College of Cardiology. New York and California now have laws requiring hospitals to provide a plantbased option with meals.

The agriculture startup Plenty Unlimited Inc. is building an indoor vertical farm in the South Los Angeles suburb of Compton to provide jobs and fresh produce to the historical “food desert” and surrounding areas. Traditional farms are usually only able to harvest crops a few times a year, but because Plenty’s hydroponic farms are free of the limitations of seasonal changes, weather conditions, pests and natural disasters, they can produce food year-round. The crops are cultivated in a clinically sanitary environment with full personal protective equipment for staff, as well as robots to do much of the picking. The first time produce is touched by human hands is when the consumer opens the package.

Plenty’s project condenses 700 acres of farmland into a 95,000-square-foot warehouse. Its first vertical farm opened in South San Francisco in 2018, and it maintains a research and development farm in Laramie, Wyoming. By building farms vertically, healthy, quality produce can be grown without harming the environment, especially in urban areas, where land is limited and food insecurity may be widespread.

In addition to the vertical plant towers, Plenty uses LED lighting and automation to plant, feed and harvest crops. The warehouses grow plants faster and with more nutritional density with no need for pesticides, using a fraction of the water required by traditional farming.

July 2021

15

FOOD AS MEDICINE The Healing Power of Nutrition

by Julie Peterson

E

ating is a basic need, but many Americans are not filling this need with healthful choices. Among the more than 700,000 Americans that die each year from heart disease, stroke or Type 2 diabetes, about 45 percent eat meals heavy in salt, processed meat and sugary drinks, and low in fruits, vegetables, fish and nuts, according to a March 2017 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“I fully understand and empathize with people in the public,” says T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., author of the groundbreaking The China Study and founder of the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, in Ithaca, New York. Campbell has often stressed that public and professional understanding of nutrition is lacking.

The problems with the Standard American Diet (SAD) start with the very ground it is grown in. Large-scale farming in the U.S. has depleted the soil, producing lower nutrient foods. In addition, many foods are processed by manufacturers to improve shelf life, which further destroys nutrients and requires toxic additives.

“The default choice, the easy choice, is the inexpensive, highly processed food. Our built environment throughout the country has made it easier to find fast food than a produce store,” says Lisa McDowell, director of lifestyle medicine and clinical nutrition at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

SAD is a primary risk factor for high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids, increased blood glucose and weight gain, accord16

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

ing to the World Health Organization (WHO).

These intermediate conditions can lead to full-blown chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes, all of which are on the rise. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 60 percent of American adults have at least one chronic disease and 40 percent have two or more, making chronic disease the leading cause of death and disability in the country.

The good news from WHO is that up to 80 percent of heart disease cases, 90 percent of Type 2 diabetes cases and one-third of cancer incidences could be avoided by a healthier diet, as well as lifestyle changes like stopping smoking and increasing physical activity.

A healthy diet is not as simple as cutting out convenience foods, because many people literally can’t stop eating them. Studies have compared the addictive properties of added sugar and salt to those of nicotine and cocaine. “Additives like sugar release opioids and dopamine in the brain. The same neurochemical changes in the brain occur in addictions,” says Claire Stagg, DDS, founder of Health Connections Dentistry, in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, and author of Smile! It’s All Connected, a layperson’s guide that explains the essential connections between the mouth and overall wellness. “People need to be educated, or re-educated, to take ownership of their health by remembering the basic premise that their bodies can be healthy if they get the right nutrients to facilitate and support that basic process.”

Campbell agrees that more people need to be educated. A major theme in his latest book, The Future of Nutrition, is how to sift through the conflicting information that exists.

Healthier Helpings As the food industry continues to woo Americans with fast and easy processed foods, there are consumer shifts taking place.

“About a quarter of U.S. adults are trying to manage a health or medical condition by making healthy food and beverage choices,” stated the NPD Group consumer research firm in 2019. “Younger adults, ages 18 to 24, are particularly interested in using foods to improve their health.”

It turns out that it’s most beneficial to focus on adding what is needed for optimal health, instead of worrying about what to eliminate. As William Li, M.D., counsels in Eat to Beat Disease, “Human nature abhors deprivation.” As president of the Angiogenesis Foundation, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Li advises us to “practice health care at home every day in our own kitchens.” He suggests frequently eating such simple, but disease-defying foods as dark chocolate, walnuts, kiwis, sourdough bread and sauerkraut.

“I recommend participating in bigger box stores. They do a great job at making high-quality food available at an inexpensive price,” says McDowell. She also suggests batch cooking and planning meals ahead for the week.

The Power of Plants Plant-based eating is finally becoming mainstream, thanks in part to such eye-opening documentaries as Forks Over Knives, Earthlings, PlantPure Nation and Food, Inc. Research backs up the benefits. In a 2019 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association, Johns Hopkins researchers report that in a 30-year period, people eating a mostly plant-based diet were 32 percent less likely to die from a cardiovascular condition and 25 percent less likely to die from any cause. A 2017 report published in International Journal of Epidemiology suggests that fruits and vegetables are

For centuries, people have used chaga mushrooms for medicinal purposes.

Packed with antioxidants, its extract may fight cancer, chronic inflammation, improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Order your Immune-Boosting Superfood today!

Call 906-282-0787 Now!

associated with a reduced risk of many chronic diseases and may protect against certain types of cancers.

For treatment, reversal and prevention of chronic disease, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, in Chesterfield, Missouri, recommends eating a primarily plant-based diet containing minimally processed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Campbell says that moving to a 100 percent plant-based diet “and staying there for one to three months, provides an opportunity for virtually everyone to finally crave a salad on a regular basis.

This is a place wherein people have little or no interest to backslide because their taste preferences have profoundly changed.”

As plant-based eating gains momentum, there are more imitation meat products. These foods can be helpful to transition away from meat, but Campbell cautions, “They do not replace the whole plant-based foods, even though they are plant-based, because salt, sugar and added oil are usually added.”

Eating by the Colors Eating fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of vibrant colors ensures we get a variety of phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The federal Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends consuming two and one-half cups of vegetables and two cups of fruit each day. McDowell suggests including “deeply pigmented fruits and veggies in at least five different colors, so that you’re getting all of the micronutrients and they’re all working together.”

Aim to include a couple different foods from each of the following color groups over a week’s time. Infographics and charts are available for download from the American Heart Association (Heart.org), Vegan.Easy.org, Dr. Ranjan Chatterjee (DrChatterjee.com) and others.

Apps such as Eat the Rainbow Food Journal, Eat Five and VegHunter also make vegetable and fruit intake easy to track.

Green: Dark greens have cancer-blocking chemicals like allyl sulfides, lutein and indoles, which inhibit carcinogens. They also

We make 100% all natural products for helping and promoting better health and skin. We have several doctors who not only carry our products but use them as well.

We are state certified, state inspected, and THE ONLY Chaga facility licensed in the U.P. MidnightSpcl_59@yahoo.com • UPChagaConnection.com July 2021

17

contain folate for healthy cells and calcium for stronger bones, muscles and heart regulation. Get plenty of asparagus, avocados, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green tea, kale, kiwi, spinach and green herbs.

Blue and purple: Anthocyanins wipe out free radicals, boost brain health and reduce inflammation. Resveratrol can delay cellular aging, protect the heart and reduce risk of some cancers. Add blueberries, blackberries, eggplant, elderberries, figs, grapes, plums, raisins, eggplant and purple cabbage.

Red: Rich in lycopene, a potent scavenger of gene-damaging free radicals, red plants lower risk of certain cancers and boost heart, brain, eye and bone health. Try apples, beets, cherries, cranberries, raspberries, red peppers, tomatoes and watermelon.

Yellow and orange: Contain vitamin C, hesperidin and carotenoids such as beta-carotene to inhibit tumors, protect eyes, detoxify the body, reduce inflammation and boost the immune system and heart health. Add apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, carrots, mango, oranges, pineapple, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tangerines and yellow peppers.

White and brown: The onion family contains allicin and beta glucans, which have anti-tumor properties and can help lower cholesterol. Nuts contain healthy fats. Other foods in this group contain blood pressure-regulating potassium and antioxidant flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol, along with digestion-boosting fiber. Choose beans, cauliflower, garlic, leeks, mushrooms, nuts, onions, parsnips and whole grains.

Gaining Gut Health The gut contains the organs that make up the digestive tract and the gut microbiome, a balance of microorganisms that survive on food. A healthy gut can prevent and heal illnesses in the digestive tract, immune system, cardiovascular system, kidneys and brain.

If the gut is burdened with unhealthy foods and digestion is impeded, illness may arise. However, shifting to healthier, plant-based foods can cause a measurable shift in the gut microbiome in three to four days, Duke University researchers report in Nature. Gut health can be enhanced and restored with specific foods: Enzymes to break down food are found in raw fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nuts and fresh herbs, and can be destroyed by cooking or processing. These work before the body’s digestive enzymes kick in to improve digestion, eliminate toxins and boost energy.

Studies have shown that raw plants also help with weight loss, decreasing cholesterol and reducing inflammation.

Probiotics, live bacteria that promote healthy gut flora, are found in fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, sourdough bread, yogurt, kefir, pickles, miso and cheddar cheese.

Prebiotics, undigestible natural fibers that feed probiotics, abound in apples, asparagus, bananas, barley, burdock root, dandelion greens, flaxseeds, garlic, oats and onions.

18

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Going Local Whole foods grown locally provide the most nutrition. Michael Pollan, professor of science and environmental journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of In Defense of Food, famously said, “Don’t eat anything your great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.”

Buying, preparing and eating whole foods may seem laborious at first, but the shift away from “easy foods” can quickly become a way of life as the body begins to feel better. “We hear stories every week about people who have fixed health issues from eating healthy,” says Brock Hall, owner of the Florida Fields to Forks organic community supported agriculture (CSA) farm in Malabar, Florida. He adds that everyone “ought to get closer to your food” by growing it or getting to know organic farmers at local markets, self-pick operations or through CSAs. Healthy eating is about balance. Enjoy comfort foods occasionally, focusing on the bigger picture of more healthful foods overall.

Julie Peterson has contributed to Natural Awakenings for more than a decade. Connect at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

The Shift in the Medical Field “We, as a society, have gotten locked into focusing on disease cure over health care,” writes T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., author of the bestselling The China Study and the recently released The Future of Nutrition. Fortunately, as studies prove that diabetes, kidney disease, cancer and Crohn’s disease improve with changes in diet, the medical community is slowly shifting toward using nutrition in tandem with traditional care to help manage and prevent disease.

Unfortunately, says John Osborne, M.D., director of cardiology at State of the Heart Cardiology, in Dallas, “The amount of nutritional education in medical school is minimal.” Now, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) is aiming to fill that void by training healthcare teams to prevent and reverse chronic disease through lifestyle behaviors.

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is one example. After a group of physicians and registered dietitians received ACLM certification, it launched a Lifestyle Medicine and Clinical Nutrition program. “The goal is to provide support to individuals and teach them to hardwire best practices that optimize their own personal health and potential,” says Lisa McDowell, program director.

The Food as Medicine Institute, in Portland, Oregon, also offers a training program for healthcare professionals and nutritionists to implement community-based nutrition programs.

The Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, in Ohio, offers programs that help patients identify genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors to shift health from illness to well-being.

The Gaples Institute, in Naperville, Illinois, offers nutritional training and accreditation for medical clinicians, as well as free nutritional instruction online for the public.

Inner Milestones

fit body

Soulful Strides Running as a Spiritual Practice

by Marlaina Donato

For many, running is competitive and involves the pursuit of excellence, but directing attention to inner emotional terrain and bodily sensations can foster a practice that transcends personal goals. “Once we see that we can be with the discomfort, the joy, the pain, the thrill of running, we realize that we can be present in every moment of our lives, no matter what it brings,” says Vanessa Zuisei Goddard, author of Still Running: The Art of Meditation in Motion. Goddard, a teacher of Zen in New York City, underscores intention. “We can practice running not just as exercise, but as a form of moving meditation—what I call ‘still running’. It’s a way of saying to ourselves, ‘Every moment of my life matters. I want to be present for all of it. I want to be awake.’”

Julia Chi Taylor, a London-based life coach and avid runner, highlights the breath as a guide, the option of using a mantra and “being mindful of any dynamic of pushing too hard or internal criticism, and instead practicing quietening the mind as you run.”

The 20-year veteran of international races sees no division between the mundane and the divine. “Running has been a spiritual practice for me since I was a teenager, as I have always been on a spiritual path. Running seemed to me to be my soul expression.”

Taylor’s challenge during her competitive years was to slow down inside. “I was often getting caught up with my ego’s desire for approval and recognition. It was always evident when I was caught up in pushing and losing the presence of the step; I always became ill or injured,” she relates.

Breath as Guide

L

acing up sneakers and going out for a run helps to manage weight, high blood pressure, depression and addictions, but pressing our feet upon the Earth can be much more than a form of health-promoting exercise. Runners often refer to the “runner’s high”—attaining a profound sense of well-being after a good jog. According to David Linden, a professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, this boost in mood is due to endocannabinoids, the body’s natural chemicals that are similar to the molecules in marijuana that promote relaxation.

Running can be introspective, and over time, a spiritual practice.

“Something seems to unite the physical and spiritual when pounding the pavement,” says Michael Fitzgerald, a seasoned runner and multi-genre author in Santaquin, Utah. “The discipline of running is a gift I give to myself. It gives me time away from the expectations of daily life and allows me to enter a world all its own.”

Inhaling and exhaling with mindfulness during running, much like yoga, helps to foster the unity of body, mind and spirit. “The breath is the most common object of meditation. I pair my breath with my stride, and this both keeps me connected to my body and it quiets my mind,” explains Goddard.

Taylor concurs, noting, “Running asks that we breathe more deeply, and the more we are in touch with the breath, the mind stills, or at least starts to work in a freer way, and we realize we are not the mind. When we run with no purpose but to run, after a while we become the run, and each step takes care of itself.”

For Fitzgerald, running has helped him to overcome negativity and find a sense of freedom. On the practical level, nixing earbuds for silence helps him to pave the way for a deeper experience. “I find my thoughts are clearer when I am running. Self-discipline for me is a spiritual endeavor. Overcoming internal, trite objections to exercise such as running always feels like a spiritual triumph. Such triumphs give me hope and motivate me to reach higher, again and again.”

Moving the body invites transformation and a broader, deeper perspective. Taylor shares, “As our body gets fitter and develops endurance, it becomes easier to recognize the body as a temple of the soul. The skills we learn to master the art of running can then become skills to help us master the art of living.”

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

July 2021

19

green greenliving living

think we were weird.” Now, instead of getting polite waves from afar, the garden has become a communications hub among neighbors.

Sharing the Abundance. When Truong witnessed friends

losing jobs and struggling, she was inspired to lend a hand by assisting some of them to plant their own low-maintenance, high-yield gardens to save money on healthy meals. Once she had assisted people close to her, she decided to expand her reach. “My garden spits out a lot of food. I discovered there are local food banks and charities that collect food. I was surprised that they will take any abundance,” says Truong.

Garrett Livingood, a North Atlanta, Georgia, blogger, developed GrowMyCommunity.org where local farmers, growers and community gardens can upload their location and what they offer, so that the locals know where to go for fruits, vegetables, herbs and other healthy eats. According to Livingood, “Forty percent of produce gets thrown out every year, so it’s not that we don’t have enough food, the problem is access.”

Food Security Equals Health. Ashlie Thomas, a research

scientist known as The Mocha Gardener on Instagram, started gardening for healthy produce and medicinal plants at home in Graham, North Carolina, when family members on limited incomes living in a food desert had been diagnosed with health issues like hypertension and Type 2 diabetes.

Growing Food Security The Benefits of Urban Gardening

F

by Laura Paisley Beck

or a lot of Americans, healthy food is scarce. According to FeedingAmerica.org, more than 35 million Americans faced food insecurity in 2019. That number is expected to increase substantially due to the pandemic, which disrupted the food supply chain in ways that most Americans have never seen.

The good news is that urban and localized gardening can bring fresh, healthy, organic, sustainable and affordable food to nearly every household. A 2013 abstract from Michigan State University published in Agriculture & Food Security states that urban gardens could not only provide healthy food, but also create a more resilient food system.

During the pandemic, many people jumped at the chance to put in a garden, and in cities, where available land is limited, creative solutions have emerged. Just about any space could serve as a viable garden, including a spare room, rooftop, shipping containers or an empty warehouse. With hydroponics, no soil is required and with vertical systems, planters are stacked, requiring a small footprint.

Veggies Instead of Lawns. Phan Truong, known as A Sub-

urban Gardener on Instagram, turned her entire yard into an organic vegetable garden and invited her Scaggsville, Maryland, neighbors to share in the bounty. “I had this table of abundance in front of my house, but people weren’t taking anything! So, I hid in my garden, waiting for neighbors to walk by, and then I’d rush the fence and encourage them to take food,” Truong says. “My husband thought everyone would

20

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

“Imagine having diet requirements that included mostly plantbased food, but your resources are simply not there,” Thomas says.

“I didn’t know there was a term for that: food security. There is an increasing population with disease, and food could be the answer.”

The problem is particularly prevalent in communities with no grocery stores, forcing residents to buy food at gas stations or drive considerable distances to big-box stores. Thomas observed that choices at these kinds of facilities are often between expensive produce or inexpensive junk food. Healthful food is not available or affordable for all.

Thomas believes gardening empowers people to take control of their diet and their health, not only physiologically, but psychologically and spiritually. “It doesn’t just stop at the garden,” she says. “How you treat your body and other people has a positive healthy impact, as well.”

Tips to Get Started. Follow local gardeners on social media

to get ideas.

THINK LOW-MAINTENANCE, HIGH-YIELD. Cherry tomatoes, salad greens, cucumbers and beans are high-producing, low-cost staples.

FLOWERS CAN BE FOOD. Try violets, pansies, nasturtiums and chives to beautify the garden and the plate.

GROW ORGANIC. It’s cheaper and doesn’t harm anyone or anything. “I grow organic because I want to respect my space. I don’t want to control Mother Nature, I want to work with her,” says Thomas.

HERB IT UP. Mint, rosemary and basil taste great and can deter pests.

Overall, keep it simple. Set up for success with just enough to learn and enjoy a new lifestyle. It can be expanded upon year after year, providing a bounty of nutritious food security.

Laura Paisley Beck is a freelance writer and self-proclaimed foodie in Madison, Wisconsin. Reach her at LauraPaisleyBeck@gmail.com.

Why Would You Let Your Family Live in an Unsafe Home?

You Should Start Caring About Dirty Electricity Right Now!

Dirty Electricity (EMC; Electro Magnetic Conducted) emissions creates poor power quality, and has led to early home appliance failures, industrial equipment control failures, GFI outlet failures, pulsating and flickering lights. Besides the likely cost of thousands in appliance damage there are also serious detrimental health effects such as: n Deep sunburn type feeling n Skin Sores n Muscle Soreness n Hypersensitivity, burning pain or nerve numbness for an extended period n High Frequency electrical currents exposure can lead to long lasting post stimulus reduction of a nerve’s conductibility, which might relate to potential nerve injuries. i.e dropping foot, difficulty walking, finger cramping, neuropathy, eyelid twitching, tinnitus, and heart palpitations.

DE FILTERS LLC

Schedule Your Healthy Home Evaluation Today!

734-627-7610

Sales@DEFiltersLLC.com DEFiltersLLC.com

July 2021

21

healing ways

Sweet Slumber Natural Tips for Deep Sleep

by Ronica O’Hara

natural substances that may help promote a good night’s sleep.” They include warm milk or turkey (tryptophan), tart cherries (melatonin), kiwi fruit (vitamin C and serotonin), bananas (potassium and magnesium) and nuts and seeds (magnesium).

DON AMBER GLASSES OR AN EYE MASK TO BLOCK LIGHT. The blue light emitted by ordinary light bulbs and device screens prevents the pineal gland from releasing melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone, which is why it’s wise to shut down electronic devices an hour before sleeping. If doing so isn’t easy, at least block the blue light by using amber or orange (not clear or yellow) glasses to restore melatonin production, advises former General Electric lighting researcher Richard Hansler, Ph.D., of Cleveland; he also advises replacing regular bedroom bulbs with only those that produce low levels of blue light. To encourage deep sleep, fully darken the bedroom or wear an eye mask: a Chinese study found wearing such an accessory along with earplugs significantly increases the restorative rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep.

WRITE A TO-DO LIST TO CALM A RACING MIND. Baylor University researchers found that compared to people that journaled about what they had accomplished that day, those that spent five minutes writing a to-do list for the next day fell asleep nine minutes sooner—the same effect as taking a prescription medication. The more specific their list, the quicker the shut-eye.

GET COZY WITH A WEIGHTED BLANKET AND SOCKS. Weighted blankets, ideally weighing about 10 percent of a person’s body weight, lead to better sleep and reduced fatigue, depression and anxiety, reports a Swedish study. Some are filled with natural ingredients like rice and cloves, and can be warmed in a microwave beforehand, providing a fragrant, swaddled feeling. Plus, Korean researchers found that wearing warm socks to bed helped subjects fall asleep about seven minutes sooner, sleep 32 minutes longer and experience fewer light awakenings.

A

good night’s sleep is a challenge for a growing number of Americans. Even before the pandemic, 35 percent of adults reported sleeping less than the recommended seven hours a night, and in a new survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 56 percent said they were sleeping worse due to what’s termed “COVID-somnia”.

Being sleep-deprived not only makes us crabby and accident-prone, but also raises our risk of obesity, depression, heart disease, dementia and a weakened immune system, studies show. Fortunately, we can stave off fretting about lack of sleep by adopting some simple, natural practices.

GET A PATTERN GOING. “Keeping to the same routine will signal to the body and brain that it is time to wind down and prepare for sleep,” says Dallas nurse educator Jenna Liphart Rhoads. This means sticking to the same bedtime and awakening schedule, and doing quieting activities an hour or so before bed, such as stretching, meditating, drinking tea or journaling.

MUNCH SMARTLY ON SLEEP-INDUCING FOODS. Many experts advocate foregoing food two hours before sleeping. As another option, “sleep snacks”, is suggested by New York University adjunct nutrition professor Lisa Young. She says, “These are foods that contain 22

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

TAKE A NATURAL SLEEP AID. Prescription sleeping pills for insomnia can produce dependency and additional unwelcome side effects such as grogginess, diarrhea, headaches and stomach pain. Natural choices without these drawbacks include melatonin, a pineal gland hormone that primes the body for sleep; small doses of 0.3 milligram (mg) to 1 mg work effectively by mirroring natural circadian levels, research shows. Half of U.S. adults are estimated to be deficient in magnesium, which relaxes muscles and increases levels of a neurotransmitter with calming effects; 500 mg is a common dose. Valerian (300 to 900 mg) has been found to improve sleep quality in women during menopause.

CHECK OUT HEALTH ISSUES TO GET TO THE ROOT. Apnea, thyroid conditions, anemia, menopausal hot flashes, heartburn, incontinence and depression can affect the quality and quantity of sleep, as can medications such as beta blockers, blood pressure medications, some antidepressants and decongestants. If anxiety or depression is causing tossing and turning, cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to improve sleep in up to 70 to 80 percent of people with insomnia. Whether in-person, via Zoom or by email, even one or two sessions can lower insomnia symptoms, with six to eight sessions typically being more helpful.

Natural health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Your Whole-Body Wellness Clinic

Where we treat the whole you, not just a diagnosis.

Discover Our All-Natural Solutions to Your Wellness, Pain and Beauty.

Rejuvenate your body and skin. Reduce and eliminate pain with all-natural and effective treatments such as: 4 Extracorporeal Blood Ozonation, Oxygenation, and Filtration (EBOO) 4 Regenerative and Functional Medicine 4 Cell Therapy (stem cells, PRP, prolotherapy) 4 Ozone therapy (systemic multi-pass, prolozone, etc.)

4 Full-scale Spa Services 4 Minimally invasive aesthetic procedures (threads, fat transfer, reshaping, PRP, stem cells)

“After months of pains and losing hope to get better I came across Dr. Lutskovsky who is compassionate and goes the extra mile for his patients.

With time and patience I got my life back —No pains!”

Mati L.

Dr. Andrey Lutskovsky, DO

“Call me today for your 15-20 minute free initial consultation.”

31000 Telegraph Rd, Suite 140 • Bingham Farms 23 July 2021 248-876-4242 • Contact@AmericanRegen.com • AmericanRegen.com

What Gets Grilled Matters

conscious eating

Sizzling on the Grill

Healthy, Sustainable Summer Fare

by Laura Paisley Beck

F

or most Americans, summer smells like fresh-cut grass and barbecue sizzling in the backyard. Approximately 64 percent of U.S. adults own a grill or smoker, but common practices are bad for the environment. Fortunately, many great chefs have the problem covered with delicious alternatives to traditional, carbon-emitting methods.

The Downside of Grilling Most charcoal and all lighter fluids contain chemicals that create air pollution when burned, harming our health and the environment. Better alternatives are sustainably sourced, organic and natural materials, such as charcoal made from bamboo or coconut shells.

Entrepreneur Fred Grosse sought to solve another problem associated with conventional grilling materials: the taste of lighter fluid on barbecue foods. He invented Mojobricks, a carbon-neutral alternative to charcoal designed to impart a smoky flavor to grilled foods.

“You’re breathing in 50 percent less particulate matter standing at the grill than if you grill with charcoal or wood,” he says about his bricks made with compressed sawdust from wood mills.

“They heat food more efficiently, take up less storage space than bags of charcoal and keep trees growing in the forest.”

PURE PASTURES

Local Farm Fresh Fare / Michigan Made Products

— Your One-Stop Shop for Healthy Meats & More! Visit PurePasturesMI.com for More Info — Weekly Specials • Free Home Delivery • Two Convenient Locations Plymouth – 1192 Ann Arbor Rd, 734-927-6951 Dearborn – 23309 Ford Rd, 313-406-6282 24

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Americans eat three times more meat than the global average. To meet the immense demand, mass-produced beef is trucked across the nation with dire environmental impacts including cow methane emissions, the burning of fossil fuels for transport and excessive land use. To curtail these impacts, Americans can choose to reduce or eliminate their beef consumption and when they do decide to grill a ribeye or New York strip, choose local, organic, grass-fed beef.

Eliminating meat is simple as vegetarian and vegan options are innumerable.

“Question what a burger is, and off you go with legumes, root vegetables, mushrooms, cheese or whatever you happen to feel like,” says Martin Nordin, author of Green Burgers. Genevieve Taylor’s new cookbook, Charred, features enticing meals to cook over a flame that include vegetables, spices, nuts, herbs and other inventive ingredients.

Amy Lawrence and Justin Fox Burks, co-authors of Low-Carb Vegetarian, have had a dramatic increase in requests for grilled versions of vegetarian dishes, a sign of increasing outdoor cooking trends.

Presentation for the Planet When hosting backyard dinner parties, consider that paper and plastic dinnerware will end up in the landfill. Ask guests to bring a plate and fork or mix and match whatever dish sets are on hand. Anoth-

Local, Free Range, Pasture Raised, and Grass Fed Offerings, Including:

• Beef • Pork • Chicken • Turkey • Buffalo • Lamb • Venison • Rabbit • Duck • Elk • Pastured, Non-GMO Eggs • Great Lakes Fish • Local Honey & Maple Syrup • Paleo-Friendly/Gluten-Free Selections • Organic, Grass-Fed Dairy Products • Large Cheese Selection • Beef, Chicken & Buffalo Bones for all your Bone Broth Needs

• Wild-Caught Scallops & Shrimp,

Flounder & Cod, Salmon (Sockeye, Coho & Chinook).

• No Gill Nets • No Farmed Fish

er suggestion is to go vintage. “There has already been so much manufactured of everything, we wouldn’t need to manufacture another plate, for example, for another generation or two,” says Morgan Miller, owner of Rewind Decor vintage store in Madison, Wisconsin.

With a few adjustments, eco-grilling is easy, delicious and much better for the planet. Marinate locally sourced ingredients, burn as carbon-neutral a fire as possible and serve up delicious food on real plates that friends and family will help wash. Guests will be inspired and follow suit in their own homes. As Grosse says, “Each small difference adds up to big change.”

Laura Paisley Beck is a freelance writer and self-proclaimed foodie in Madison, Wisconsin. Reach out at LauraPaisleyBeck@gmail.com.

GREAT GRILLIN' RECIPE

BBQ Brussels Sprouts Sandwiches with Brussels Sprout Slaw

Discover the Healer in You! Better Your life and the Lives of Your Family and Friends through the Power of Herbs.

Yield: 6 sandwiches 2 lb Brussels sprouts 1 cup shredded carrot (about one large) 2 Tbsp mayonnaise 1 Tbsp grainy mustard Kosher salt and cracked black pepper (to taste) 1 white onion (quartered and sliced) 2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 2 Tbsp of The Chubby Vegetarian’s Memphis BBQ Dry Rub 1 cup BBQ sauce 6 hamburger buns First, make the Brussels sprout slaw. Thinly slice enough of the Brussels sprouts to have 2 cups. Reserve the remainder of the Brussels sprouts. In a large bowl, combine the 2 cups shredded sprouts with the shredded carrot, mayonnaise, mustard and salt and pepper to taste. Toss until well-incorporated. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to serve. (Makes about 2 cups of slaw.)

Preheat the grill on high for 10 minutes. Cover the grill with a single layer of aluminum foil. Slice the remaining Brussels sprouts in half. In a large bowl, toss the halved Brussels sprouts and the onion with the sesame oil, vinegar and BBQ dry rub until everything is coated. Place the Brussels sprouts on the grill for 5 minutes on one side and 4 minutes on the other side, or until the edges are brown and they’re cooked through. Remove sprouts from the grill and place them into a medium bowl. Pour in BBQ sauce. Using a spatula, toss the Brussels sprouts in the sauce until they’re well-coated.

Put the BBQ Brussels aside until ready to assemble the sandwiches. On the bottom part of each hamburger bun, pile on the BBQ and top it with the slaw.

Take Your Passion to the Next Level.

Sign up for our essential class on medicinal herbs and their healing properties. Learn how to select them and make remedies based on body systems.

~ Herbs that Heal ~

There is nothing like nature’s medicine and the healing power of herbs.

Become a Certified Herbalist. Learn the role of herbs as foods and medicines throughout history. In this class, you will gain a deeper understanding of the body systems and conditions that herbs affect, the most effective way to use them whether that be by teas, extracts, poultices, ointments or powdered capsules.

This class is an excellent place to start for people new to herbal studies and usage or for those who want to expand their working knowledge of herbs. Wholistic Training Institute is a State of Michigan Licensed Proprietary School.

Wholistic Training Institute Call Today! (313) 255-6155 WholisticTrainingInstitute.com July 2021

25

natural pet

Doggy Delights

Healthy, Homemade Cookie Treats

by Amy Coyle

O

ne morning, Randy Roach awoke to a delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen of his Philadelphia home. Mouth watering, he peeked in the oven to find a dozen bone-shaped cookies—meant not for him, but for Woods, the family dog. “Such is life when you live with a dog lover,” laughs Randy’s wife Kate, who had peanut butter, oat and flax seed cookies baking for their rescued Labrador mix, a picky eater.

Cooking treats for canine family members is a smart move, as they are eco-friendly, cost less and are healthier than company-made ones, say veterinarians.

A Smaller Pawprint With the focus on decreasing personal carbon footprints, an Earth-conscious dog owner may want to make dog biscuits at home purely for the lower environmental impact. Research from UCLA shows that industrial production of dog and cat food creates the equivalent in greenhouse gases of 13 million cars annually. Store-bought dog treats require oil, energy and water to produce and transport. The packaging

Thomas F Kabisch, DO, MDh – drkabisch.com –

Awoon PLLC • Metro Ann Arbor • 734-971-5483 2350 E Stadium Blvd Suite 12

Healthy living at your fingertips.

INTEGRATED GENERAL MEDICINE for the whole family.

46 years experience with guarantees –don’t waste money. n Stem Cell Therapy n Homeopathy n Complementary Cancer n Herbology & Intravenous Therapy n Nutriceuticals n Addiction Therapy n Pharmaceuticals n Age Management n Neuropsychology n ‘Simple Life’ Cancer n Manual & Energetic

Prevention Program

Medicines

Certified Health Education Courses

See curriculum online, visit drkabisch.com now.

26

Detroit / Wayne County

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

often contains plastic or other non-biodegradable materials, which cause pollution, block drains and harm wildlife.

Making treats at home is simple and less tricky nutritionally than making a dog’s regular meals. “When it comes to regular dog food, I’m not a proponent of homecooked food. It is far too difficult to balance nutrients. For treats, I am not so concerned,” says Lawrence Gallagher, VMD, at Villanova Vet, in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

“But you need to watch calories. Treats should be ‘high-reward’ and low-calorie, not necessarily big in size. They are used as a reward, not to fill the stomach.”

Homemade dog treats cost less over time. Many popular traditional dog treats are $5 to $10 per bag, with organic costing more. Kate figures she saves as much as $20 a month making Woods’ treats.

A Healthy Choice The labels on many commercial dog treats list dubious ingredients such as meat by-products, sugar, sodium metabisulfite (a bleaching agent), propylene glycol and artificial colors. “My general rule of thumb is if you cannot pronounce or don’t recognize an ingredient, it is probably not healthy for

Cooking treats for canine family members is a smart move, as they are eco-friendly, cost less and are healthier than company-made ones. your pet,” says Alison Streit Birken, DVM, owner of Victoria Park Animal Hospital, in Fort Lauderdale.

In addition, some packaged treats are produced in countries where ingredient and manufacturing regulations are less rigorous, which has led to illness and even death in dogs.

Getting Started No special equipment is required. Mixing bowls, measuring spoons, a wooden spoon, baking sheets and a cooling rack will suffice.

More ambitious treat-makers might want a muffin pan for custom shapes. Common ingredients include pumpkin, bananas, yogurt and peanut butter. When choosing a recipe, aim for no or little sugar. (Honey and molasses are simple sugars.) Also, because homemade treats have no preservatives, be sure to follow storage requirements such as refrigeration or freezing.

Jen Jovinelly, a DVM candidate at the

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, promotes simple treats. “Treats are not food. Keep the caloric intake from treats under 10 percent of your dog’s daily caloric requirement.” She also cautions to avoid foods that could be dangerous, such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, avocados, certain nuts, onions, garlic or artificial sweeteners. If unsure about the safety of an ingredient, check the online list at The Humane Society of the United States (Humane Society.org) or consult with a veterinarian or animal nutritionist.

For those that aren’t inclined to bake, toys filled with organic peanut butter, then frozen, keep dogs happy, while others love the crunch of raw carrots or broccoli. As Birken says, “You can always go to your own refrigerator and pick out some great, healthy dog treats!”

Amy Coyle is a freelance writer in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

Is Is Your Your Pet Pet Suffering Suffering from from Chronic...

Chronic...

• Allergy & Skin Disease • Behavior Problems • Vomiting and/or Diarrhea • Advancing Age Problems • Arthritis • Urinary Tract Infections Functional medicine may be the key to restoring your pet’s health. It combines science with alternative medicine to uncover the root causes of chronic disease.

John B. Smith, D.V.M. Office Hours by appointment

www.dogdoctor.us

(734) 213-7447 Petcare Holistic Veterinary Center 1954 S. Industrial, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 July 2021

27

calendar of events

ongoing events

MONDAY, JULY 5 Silent Disco Yoga – 7:30-9pm. Also July 19. With City Glow Yoga, a feel-good, city-inspired yoga program that hosts immersive outdoor yoga sessions in Beacon Park using silent disco technology. $5.

Beacon Park, 1901 Grand River Ave, Detroit. Register: Tinyurl.com/24vxhs37.

FRIDAY, JULY 9 Art in the Park – July 9-11. 11am-8pm, Fri; 10am-7pm, Sat; 10am-5pm, Sun. Includes over 400 artists from around the U.S. offering paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber, glass, woodwork, photography, folk art and much more. Shuttle from Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Rd, Livonia.

ArtInThePark.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 13 Webinar: Tick Season – 6:30-7:30pm. With Dr. Corey, ND. A class on the prevention of tick bites and all tick related illnesses like Lyme’s disease and various co-infections. Free. Register: TheBetterHealthStore.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

daily Free 15-Day Meditation Challenge – 6am11:55pm. Join this challenge to get a free 15-day program introducing mindfulness and meditation.

Get daily prompts explaining how to do sitting meditation plus mindfulness checks at the end of each day. Free. wix.to/kkAZB0A. Virtual & In-Person Yoga Sessions – 9am-7pm, Mon-Fri; varied times on weekends. For adults and kids. Private, family and group offerings available for private sessions or at a scheduled time on our site. Our wellness professional will assist you on your journey. Details: GoodVibzYoga.com.

sundays Livestreamed Sunday Service – 9:55am. Unity of Livonia, 28660 Five Mile Rd, Livonia. UnityOfLivonia.org.

ECK Light and Sound Service –10-11am. 2nd Sun. Dominican Center at Marywood, Lower Level, 2025 E Fulton St, Rm 4, Grand Rapids. 248-546-9224. Eck-Mi.org.

Dance Meditation Technique – 10am-12pm. This 90-min, un-choreographed, whole-being workout is a drug-free, scientific technique and art for transforming tension into creativity. $10. Detroit Kung Fu Academy, 1353 Division, Ste 3E, Detroit. 248910-3351. DanceMT.com.

Slow Flow Yoga – 11:30am. All-level practice offering an enjoyable balance between movement and stillness that encourages deeper feelings of calm, stress release and relaxation. A blend of guided flowing sequence of postures. Yoga 4 Peace, 13550 Dix Toledo Rd, Southgate. Y4Peace.org.

mondays FRIDAY, JULY 16 Walter Meyers Nursery Maintenance – 9am12pm. Also July 30. Help maintain the trees. Walter Meyers Nursery, 14201-14279 Outer Dr W, Detroit.

GreeningOfDetroit.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 30 Walter Meyers Nursery Maintenance – 9am12pm. Help maintain the trees. Walter Meyers Nursery, 14201-14279 Outer Dr W, Detroit.

GreeningOfDetroit.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 31 Becoming an Outdoors Woman – 10am-12pm.

Staff will be available to answer questions and take suggestions. Program gives women an opportunity to improve their outdoors skills in a relaxed, noncompetitive atmosphere. Free. Belle Isle State Park, 99 Pleasure Dr, Detroit. For more info, Michelle Zellar: 906-293-5131 x 4004 or dnrbow@ Michigan.gov.

28

Detroit / Wayne County

Sunrise Flow – 7-7:45am. Gentle vinyasa that intentionally opens and challenges the sometimes sleepy and stiff morning body. Citizen Yoga Studio, 1224 Library St, Detroit. 313-502-5450. CitizenYogaStudio.com.

Virtual Pilates with Gwyn – 9:30-10am. Build a better understanding of your mind & body connections through alignment, posture and natural movement awareness. $5/class. GwynJonesPilates.com.

Garden Yoga at Lafayette Greens – Thru Sept.

5:30-6:30pm. Bring your yoga mat and yogi attitude and enjoy a practice in the beautiful garden. Free; donations accepted. Lafayette Greens Garden, 132 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit. GreeningOfDetroit.com.

Let’s Meditate Detroit: Free Guided Meditation – 6:30-7:30pm. With Sahaja Yoga Meditation, we generally sit on chairs to achieve yoga, effortlessly and spontaneously. Campbell Library, 8733 Vernor Hwy, Detroit. 315-390-0278. DetroitPublicLibrary.org.

Meaningful Mondays – 8pm. SevaLight Retreat Centre warmly welcomes everyone, of all faiths, meditation practices and traditions, to join us virtually. Will gather on video conference sharing in song/ chants and inspiring readings from Mata Yogananda

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Mahasaya Dharmaji’s writings, followed by Pure Meditation and silent prayer. Free. Email by 10am any Monday to receive the info about how to join by video: Info@SelfRealizationCentreMichigan.org.

tuesdays Virtual Tuesday Connection Group – 8-9am. 1st & 3rd Tues. With Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber. Opportunity to receive business referrals; form lasting business relationships with other working professionals; give a 10-min presentation about your product/service to an attentive audience. RSVP, Melanie Hojnowski: MHSecondstep@yahoo.com. swcrc.com.

The Natural Playroom – 9am-3pm. The all-natural materials of wood, silk, wool and cotton impart a warmth and beauty that encourages babies and kids to explore the world around them. Gives kids an inviting space to play. $5-$8/family. Camden Rose Inc, 502 Farmer St, Plymouth. 734-927-5005. NaturalPlayroom.com.

Chair Yoga – 10am. With Holy Yoga Detroit. Free.

Durfee Innovation Society, 2470 Collingwood, Ste 213, Detroit. 313-437-1549. DurfeeIS.org.

Therapeutic Yoga – 10am. All levels. Perfect for those with back problems, healing injuries, inflexibility, weak abs or back muscles, stress, fatigue, overweight, depression and arthritic conditions.

Yoga 4 Peace, 13550 Dix Toledo Rd, Southgate.

Y4Peace.org.

Family Yoga – 11am-12pm. With Holy Yoga Detroit.

All ages welcome. Free. Durfee Innovation Society, 2470 Collingwood, Ste 213, Detroit. 313-437-1549.

DurfeeIS.org.

Parent-to-Parent Support Group – 12-1:30pm.

3rd Tues. Also 6-7:30, 4th Thurs. For parents and caregivers of children, adolescents and young adults.

An open, welcoming group providing dialogue and peer support. Free. The Children’s Center, 90 Selden, Detroit. TheChildrensCenter.com.

Sowing Seeds Growing Futures Farmers' Market – Thru Oct 5. 3-6pm. 18900 Joy Rd, Detroit.

JoySouthfield.org.

Iyengar Yoga Detroit – 5pm. Vibrant, dynamic, heart-opening Iyengar yoga class for all levels and abilities. Bilingual Spanish. Free. 313-528-9493. For Zoom link: InfoAtIYDC@gmail.com. Facebook. com/IyengarYogaDetroit.

Yoga and Breathwork for Adults – 6-7pm. $15.

The Raw Space, 8420 W McNichols Rd, Detroit.

GoodVibzYoga.com.

wednesdays Virtual Wednesday Connection Group – 8-9am. 2nd & 4th Wed. With Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber. Opportunity to receive business referrals; form lasting business relationships with other working professionals; give a 10-min presentation about your product/service to an attentive audience. RSVP, Silvia Rainer: SRainer@PayChex.com. swcrc.com.

Cooking Matters – 10:30am-12pm. Help end childhood hunger by inspiring families to make healthy and affordable food choices. Program to teach parents and caregivers with limited food budgets to shop for and cook healthy meals. Free. Brilliant Detroit Cody Rouge, 7425 Fielding St, Detroit. RSVP: 313-406-3275.

Online: Conscious Leaders Group Coaching – Thru Dec. 3-4pm. A place to receive continuous guidance for leading with compassion and flow. Includes 2 monthly calls, where you can bring questions or issues to be coached around. $222/mo. AmbrosiAlanimals.MyKajabi.com/offers/Fcot2cjT/checkout.

FitKids Workouts – July 14, Aug 4, Sept 1. 5:30pm.

Opportunity for the kids to build healthy foundations that last a lifetime. Join us for yoga with Downpup of Plymouth, then stay for the Wednesday Night Workout after. Free. Kellogg Park, W Ann Arbor Trl, Plymouth. Register: DowntownPlymouthEvents.com.

ArtBlock Yoga – 6-7pm. Last Wed. Free yoga in the new art-infused space, ArtBlock. 1411 Holden St, Detroit. 313-871-4000 x 3. Tinyurl.com/y4xksa7g.

Wednesday Night Workouts – Thru Sept 1. 6:30pm; sometimes 5:30pm. Kellogg Park transforms to an outdoor fitness studio. Various classes offered. Free.

Kellogg Park, W Ann Arbor Trl, Plymouth. Register: DowntownPlymouthEvents.com.

The Sound of Soul: Experience Singing HU – 7-8pm. 3rd Wed. Dominican Center at Marywood, Lower Level, 2025 E Fulton St, Rm 4, Grand Rapids.

248-546-9224. Eck-Mi.org.

thursdays Virtual Thursday Connection Group – 8-9am. 1st & 3rd Thurs. With Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber. Opportunity to receive business referrals; form lasting business relationships with other working professionals; give a 10-min presentation about your product/service to an attentive audience. RSVP, Jen Brown: JBrown@KeyConcerns.com. swcrc.com.

fridays Blend – 7-7:45am. Combines the flow of vinyasa with the guided challenge of slow burn. The pace of this class moves from some self-guided warm-ups into long-held postures that slow the body, focus the mind, and work toward a well-earned savasana.

Citizen Yoga Studio, 1224 Library St, Detroit. 313502-5450. CitizenYogaStudio.com.

Integrated Healing at The Shack – 10am-7pm.

Receive reiki, energy work, chiropractic care, assisted stretch and breath, talk therapy and more. Direct holistic healing and intuitive counsel consultations available. Cost varies. Psychedelic Healing Shack & Vegetarian Cafe, 18700 Woodward Ave, Detroit.

313-366-2247. AKHealingArts.com.

Candlelight Yin Yoga – 6pm. With Rae Golematis. A slow-paced, meditative yoga practice, where postures are held longer than in most other yoga traditions. Yoga 4 Peace, 13550 Dix Toledo Rd, Southgate. Y4Peace.org.

saturdays Eastern Market – 6am-4pm. Year-round. 2934 Russell St, Detroit. EasternMarket.org.

Plymouth Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 23. 8am12:30pm. Find fresh, farm-to-table produce, flowers, baked goods and more. 760 Penniman Ave, Plymouth. PlymouthMich.org.

Saturday in the Park – 9am-3:30pm. Six miles of Hines Dr will be closed from Ann Arbor Trail to

Outer Drive for the public of all ages to enjoy running, walking, skating or cycling safely on a traffic free road. Free. Parking available at Nankin Mills & Helms Haven Park. Hines Park, 33275 Edward Hines Dr, Westland. 734-261-1990. WayneCounty.com.

Community Yoga for Kids – 10-11am. Yoga, meditation, journaling, breath workshops, Girlz Empowered club and more. $6/person. The Raw Space, 8420 W McNichols Rd, Detroit. GoodVibzYoga.com.

Fireside Youth Meditation Workshop – 12-1pm.

A great workshop for kids who will do activities and learn breathing exercises to help them be more mindful. S’mores kits provided after the event for attendees and hot cocoa from local sponsors during the event. Free. Valade Park, 2670 Atwater St, Detroit. DetroitRiverfront.org/youthmeditation2021.

classifieds HELP WANTED LOOKING FOR DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE DISTRIBUTOR / SALES OF ALLNATURAL PRODUCTS. This is not a MLM, this is based on product sales of retail and sales to the public. This will include contacting the public as well as outdoor and indoor events. Calling on stores and businesses. Must be passionate about healthy living and helping others be healthy. Michiganmade products. We are a licensed, insured, certified company. Please contact U.P. Chaga Connection 906-282-0787 (Serious inquiries only).

Virtual Tai Chi Easy – 10-11am. Tai Chi Easy consists of 5 movements from traditional Yang-style Tai Chi that can be done sitting or standing plus other gentle movements, breathing exercises and self-applied massage. With Erin Reas. Suggested donation: $5/class. Via Zoom. To register: Erin@ ErinReas.com. ReduceYourStressNow.com.

Lafayette Greens Garden Volunteering – Thru Aug 26. 10am-12pm. Help us at our Lafayette Greens Garden this Summer. Lafayette Greens Garden, 132 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit. GreeningOfDetroit.com.

Better Backs Yoga – 12pm. All levels. We explore different variations and styles of classic hatha yoga postures. Yoga 4 Peace, 13550 Dix Toledo Rd, Southgate. Y4Peace.org.

Parent-to-Parent Support Group – 6-7:30pm, 4th Thurs. For parents and caregivers of children, adolescents and young adults. An open, welcoming group providing dialogue and peer support. Free. The Children’s Center, 90 Selden, Detroit. TheChildrensCenter.com.

Wellness Workouts – 6:30pm. Customized fitness programs adaptable for all fitness abilities including body weight, core strengthening, cardio conditioning, HITT and exercise ball lead. $10; first class free.

Wellness Center of Plymouth, 1075 Ann Arbor Rd, Plymouth. RSVP: 734-454-5600. WellnessPlym.com.

Gong Meditation – 6:30-7:30pm. Gong meditation/ sound therapy is a unique type of sound practice that involves using therapeutic gong sounds and vibrations to bring about healing, insight, relaxation, stress and tension relief and so much more. $20. Bloom Transformation Center, 227 Iron St, Ste 122, Detroit.

Tinyurl.com/y68tbup8.

@SEMIENEWS.COM July 2021

29

community resource guide CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGY

ACUPUNCTURE

MICHIGAN FAMILY WELLNESS

LIVONIA ACUPUNCTURE LUCKY AARON LI, R.AC. OMD

2200 N. Canton Center Rd, Ste. 150, Canton 734-335-0533 (Call or Text) MichiganFamilyWellness.com

33919 Plymouth Rd, Livonia 734-469-9149 Contact@LivoniaAcupuncture.com LivoniaAcu.com

With a B.A. from University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a certification in acupuncture from The China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing, Lucky Aaron Li received the teaching from China's leading acupuncturist Dr. Hu Guang, the primary researcher of Tungs' Extraordinary Points: stress, allergies, sinus congestion, depression, infertility, asthma, trouble sleeping, irritable bowel, smoking cessation, fatigue, headaches, migraines, and chronic pains including, but not limited to; feelings of numbing, tingling, burning, cold, hallow, stingy in any skeletal-muscular area of body, and many more ailments. Imagine feeling lighter, energetic and motivated. Wake up refreshed, with a smile on your face and joy in your Heart! We help you become the best you possible with acupuncture!

ALICE HUANG’S NATURAL CHINESE THERAPIES

2939 1st St, Wyandotte, 734-324-1168 1311 N. Main St, Clawson, 248-278-6081 1890 Southfield, Birmingham, 248-582-8888 AliceHuangs.com Alternative and holistic healing specializing in natural chinese therapies: acupuncture, massage, cupping, DDS therapy, colon hydrotherapy, foot detox and more.

Multiple locations to better serve you. Make an appointment today.

See ad, page 3.

U.P. CHAGA CONNECTION

906-282-0787 MidnightSpcl_59@yahoo.com UPChagaConnection.com

Freshest, cleanest wildest organic Chaga available in the Upper Peninsula. State certified. Immune-Boosting Superfood. For centuries, people have used chaga mushrooms for medicinal purposes. Packed with antioxidants, its extract may fight cancer, chronic inflammation, improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels. See ad page 17.

Detroit / Wayne County

At the family wellness clinic, we believe if you fuel your body it will thrive, stress is the enemy, and the chiropractic adjustment is the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

Focusing on functional neurology, Dr. Kyle Wallner takes a neurological, structural and nutritional approach to helping you achieve your health goals. Listen to our podcast and schedule online at our website.

CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS WELLNESS CENTER OF PLYMOUTH

Dr. Elizabeth Sisk, DC 1075 Ann Arbor Road W, Plymouth 734-454-5600

The Wellness Center of Plymouth provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to health and wellness.

The cornerstone of health is balanced body systems, and our 5 pillars – Chiropractic Care, Laser Therapy, Massage, Weight Loss and Nutrition – work together to bring your body into an optimal state of balance. Reclaim life and vitality by eliminating pain, disease and stress.

COACHING & COUNSELING ARIA MAE EVERTS

Coach, Facilitator, Healer Aria@AriaMae.com AriaMae.com

Spiritually integrative coaching, healing and retreats for Conscious Leaders. In-person and virtual personal development for those who envision a world where all life is honored.

CHAGA PRODUCTS

30

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

EDUCATION WHOLISTIC TRAINING INSTITUTE

313-255-6155 WholisticTrainingInstitute.com

WTI

Discover a Healer in You. Make a Healthy Living and Better the Life of Others. State of Michigan-licensed school offering professional certifications for the following alternative health practices: naturopathy, homeopathy, herbology, reflexology, colon hydrotherapy, iridology and many more. Find us on Facebook! Twitter: @WholisticGuru. See ad, page 25.

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

AMERICAN REGENERATIVE CLINIC

31000 Telegraph Rd., Suite 140 Bingham Farms, MI 48025 248-876-4242 AmericanRegen.com

Functional Medicine is a personalized, systems-oriented model that empowers patients and practitioners to achieve the highest expression of health by working in collaboration to address the underlying causes of disease. See ads, pages 10 and 23.

HEALTH & WELLNESS KOFANO AFRICAN NATURAL WELLNESS

Dr. Kofi Annorh 17372 Livernois, Detroit 248-636-8448 KofiAnnorh@gmail.com

Master herbalist, health and wellness coach, Dr. Kofi Annorh's passion is to consult and help you on your unique healing journey. He is a fifth generation practitioner of Ghanaian ancient knowledge. Dr. Kofi specializes in natural wellness and can help you with lifestyle changes, herbal teas, nutrition, herbal support, energy restoration, detoxification, weight loss, headaches, depression, sleep disorders and much more.

Call, visit or email him today.

HEALTH FOOD STORES THE BETTER HEALTH STORES

Locations: Dearborn • Plymouth • Novi • Livonia • Ann Arbor • Sterling Heights • Belleville • Southgate • Shelby Charter Twp • Lansing • Grosse Pointe Woods • Beverly Hills • Bloomfield Twp • Windsor, ON, Canada TheBetterHealthStore.com Vitamins, supplements, organic and natural foods. For more information: See ad page 5.

HOLISTIC HEALING DETROIT WHOLISTIC CENTER

Dr. Jesse Brown, ND 313-538-5433 DetroitWholisticCenter.com

Wholistic health services, colon hydrotherapy, reflexology, massage, body wraps, iridology, aqua-chi footbaths and consultations in nutrition and wellness.

Colon-cleansing herbal products such as Turkey Rhubarb herbal combination formula and Reneu’ by First Fitness.

Lose weight wholistically, relieve constipation and bloating, improve your energy and skin and more.

See ad, page 25.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS MICHIGAN FOR VACCINE CHOICE

P.O. Box 1121 Troy, MI 48099-1121 Info@MichiganVaccineChoice.org MichganVaccineChoice.org Facebook.com/MichiganForVaccineChoice Twitter.com/MI4VaxChoice Voice: 586-447-2418 • Fax: 586-323-4287 Michigan for Vaccine Choice is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to protecting, informing, educating, advocating and supporting parents' and families' vaccine choice rights.

PAIN RELIEF AUNT ALBERTA’S REMEDY

Homeopathic Pain Relief Cream 973-715-9097 Info@AlbertasPainRelief.com AlbertasPainRelief.com Need Relief from Arthritis?

Try Aunt Alberta’s Remedy with all-natural ingredients to ease muscular aches and joint pain. Her Remedy is a homeopathic pain relief cream that penetrates deep into the skin and muscle tissues. Get beneficial relief from sciatica, fibromyalgia, arthritis, neuralgia, gout, and more. Use Aunt Alberta’s Pain Relief Cream and get relief today. 4oz jar for $15. See the website for other options. See what people say about Aunt Alberta’s Remedy and purchase now on our website.

PSYCHIC MEDICAL INTUITIVE HEALING UNIVERSAL ENERGY HEALING & MASSAGE THERAPY FOR WOMEN

Christine Bridges 580 Forest Ave., Suite 3C, Plymouth ChristineBridges2@Comcast.net ChristineBridges2.wixsite.com/website 734-934-7271 By appointment only

Psychic medical intuitive healer with “X-ray vision hands”. Clients that may benefit from her work, includes anyone suffering from an “itis” (arthritis, colitis, etc.), old injuries, anxiety, depression, panic, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADD, ADHD, autism, OCD, sleep concerns, overly stressed, inability to conceive, or miscarriages, babies, unexplained weight-gain or loss, inability to quit (smoking, drinking, abusing yourself), chronic fatigue, energy maintenance for balance, chronic diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders. See ad page 8.

REFLEXOLOGY R3 REFLEXOLOGY (RELIEVE, RELEASE, RESTORE)

Kristi Holmes, Nationally Board Certified Reflexologist 689 N Mill St, Ste #103, Plymouth 248-872-3042 (Call or Text) From head to toe, anxiety to vertigo, reflexology can help. Reflexology is a science, acknowledged by the National Institute of Health, based on the principle that there are reflexes in the hands and the feet that correspond with every gland, organ and part of the body. I received my initial Certification in hands and feet from Branch Reflexology Institute before going on to receive my National Board Certification. I am privileged to work with a variety of clients—men, women and children of all ages and the results I see from reflexology both personally and professionally continue to amaze me.

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE AMERICAN REGENERATIVE CLINIC

31000 Telegraph Rd., Suite 140 Bingham Farms, MI 48025 248-876-4242 AmericanRegen.com

Dr. Andrey uses Stem Cell Therapy, PRP, Prolotherapy and Ten Pass Ozone Therapy to restore the body’s function, heal damaged tissues. He successfully performs innovative aesthetic procedures to return patients youth without surgery. See ads, pages 10 and 23.

RETREAT CENTERS SONG OF THE MORNING YOGA RETREAT CENTER

9607 Sturgeon Valley Rd, Vanderbilt 989-983-4107 Office@SongOfTheMorning.org SongOfTheMorning.org

Find spiritual refreshment amongst 800 acres of natural beauty for your own personal retreat or participate in workshops, yoga classes, meditations or Sunday Service. Accommodations and gourmet vegetarian meals available.

SPIRITUALITY SACRED SEXUALITY WITH LESLIE BLACKBURN

313-269-6719 LeslieBlackburn.com

Offering speaking engagements (including keynote addresses), private sessions, classes, online live webinars, radio shows, video casts and more. Leslie speaks from a place of joy, wisdom and giggles!

Leslie, MS, is a Sacred Sexual Healer and Transformational Guide—a leading educator and coach of sacred sexuality and tantra in the U.S. See website and send email to learn more.

TAI CHI/QIGONG ERIN REAS

313-429-3214 Erin@ErinReas.com ReduceYourStressNow.com Tai Chi Easy can help you manage stress and pain, reduce anxiety, improve sleep, mood and balance. Classes and private lessons are available.

WEIGHT LOSS ELLEN M LAZAR, DC

248-924-2413 ReWellElle@comcast.net NorthBridgeChiropractic.com Modern and traditional chiropractic and science-based nutrition. Confidential, extensive blood panels and lab testing. Determine scientific nutritional support for your health issues, privately. No insurance notification.

ChiroThin weight-loss provider.

YOGA GOOD VIBZ YOGA

GoodVibzYoga@gmail.com 313-982-2465 GoodVibzYoga.com

SACRED SPACE YOGA CENTRE OWNER, TRINA CAMPBELL

4801 Chrysler Drive, Detroit 313-352-6788 SacredSpaceYogaDetroit.com

July 2021

31

Dr. Tom O'Bryan Chief Health Off icer, KnoWEwell

"WE ARE TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE" Personalized. Diverse. Inclusive. Regenerative Whole-Health and Well-Being Benefits.

It’s how KnoWEwell is transforming the future of healthcare. Award-winning. One global online destination for today’s trusted Regenerative Whole Health knowledge, resources, and ecosystem collaborating to inspire and empower individuals to prevent harm, address chronic diseases and achieve WELLthier Living – Happy. Healthy. Abundant. PurposeFilled. Join the movement as we share knowledge and healing success stories, access to evidence-based resources, immersive learning opportunities from the experts, and help create meaningful connections..

Take control and optimize your health and well-being by visiting: KnoWEwell.com As a Natural Awakenings reader, receive 50% off your first year of membership.

Individuals apply: NAMI10221

32

Detroit / Wayne County

Practitioners apply: NAMI10221P

HealthyLivingMichigan.com