Natural Awakenings of Grand Traverse Region Michigan - August 2021

E R F

E

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

WATER SPORTS FOR A TOTAL BODY

WORKOUT

7 WAYS TO THINK YOURSELF HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL WELLNESS TIPS WHY SMILING MAKES YOU HAPPIER

August 2021 | Grand Traverse Region | HealthyLivingMichigan.com August 2021

1

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

2

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Healthy living at your fingertips.

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Find the news, events, cutting-edge articles and products and services that support your healthy lifestyle. The print and digital magazine you’ve come to love and depend on for you and your family’s health since 2006 has a state-of-the-art website to serve you, as well. You will discover exclusive, online-only, healthy living info you won't find in our print version that will help guide you to a healthier, more balanced life. Readers and healthy living, healthy planet practitioners, visit YOUR website today!

August 2021

3

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from the publishers You Make Me Smile

GRAND TRAVERSE REGION

W

hen we are happy, we naturally smile, and smiling

Publishers John & Trina Voell III

itself, even if it masks a grumpy mood, can induce

Design & Production John & Trina Voell III

Martin Miron Theresa Archer Randy Kambic

happiness. The muscles used in smiling are connected to nerves that send signals to the brain, which then releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, endorphins and sero-

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

tonin throughout the body. The resulting wave of well-being can make a forced smile real. What’s more, because of

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

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

mirror neurons, being around smiling people makes their smiles contagious.

Shifting into a happier way of being can be as simple as changing our habits. Thanks

to two decades of research in Positive Psychology, we now know more precisely how to

CONTACT US P.O. Box 2717, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 734-757-7929 Publisher@HealthyLivingMichigan.com HealthyLivingMichigan.com facebook.com/NaturalAwakeningsAnnArbor https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCRIOgIjWHjdMaHeTDeKgARg

attain and sustain happiness—and it’s clear that when we change our thinking and act repeatedly in positive ways, our brains rewire themselves and happiness settles into our daily life. Learn more in our feature story this month, “Think Yourself Happy: Seven Ways to Change Your Mind and Be Happier.”

Exercise stimulates those same neurotransmitters, but getting a workout in a natural

setting fortifies the whole nervous system. Whether it’s rafting down a river or skiing on a lake, a vigorous water sport can be the highlight of any vacation; plus, it offers good

NATIONAL TEAM

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 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.

exercise disguised as play. These activities engage the core more than many other sports, build muscle tone and raise the spirits. Discover more in “Water Sports for a Total Body Workout: Cool Ways to Stay Fit this Summer.”

It’s been a tough year of up-and-down schooling situations for many children, but

as kids strap on their backpacks and head back to classes, parents can help prepare them for success by holding a family sit-down to talk through priorities and scheduling, along with making sure tasty, healthy treats are there for the grabbing when they are home. Find out more in our Healthy Kids department, “Back-to-School Wellness: Tips to Keep Kids Healthy.”

As the veggies roll in from our garden, we will make sure to enjoy their tasty good-

ness all year round by canning tomatoes, jams, and pickles. Fermenting makes foods more digestible and nutritious, and is fairly easy to do. Learn more in “Preserving the Harvest.” I love meals made with John’s homemade tomato sauce, it is a family fav!

Life is short and uncertain; we can choose to see things in a more positive fashion—

magnifying the good enables us to make the most of every day, whatever changes come our way. We hope you use and enjoy our happiness issue; it is filled with ideas to help you make better choices that align with what you truly want in life.

In health and happiness,

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

4

Grand Traverse Region

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.

14

Contents

14 THINK YOURSELF HAPPY Seven Ways to Change Your Mind and Be Happier

18

18 BACK-TO-SCHOOL WELLNESS

Tips to Keep Kids Healthy

20 WATER SPORTS FOR A TOTAL BODY WORKOUT

Cool Ways to Stay Fit this Summer

20

21 SMILING CAN MAKE US HAPPIER

22 PRESERVING THE HARVEST

Classic Ways to Store Garden Bounty All Year

24 HEMP GETS HOT:

21

Meet the Hardest Working Plant on the Planet

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS 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.

26 POWER UP FIDO

Five Ways to Strengthen Your Dog’s Immune System

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 10 eco alert 11 eco tip 12 health briefs 13 global briefs 18 healthy kids 20 fit body 21 inspiration

22 conscious

eating

24 plant medicine 26 natural pet 28 calendar 29 classifieds 30 resource guide August 2021

5

news briefs

GROW YOUR BUSINESS Secure this ad spot!

734-757-7929

Start Feeling Better

T

his month, True Balance Fitness is offering a 45-minute discovery session with Dianna Teasdale for $49.99 as an initial assessment for oneon-one health coaching. Also, True Balance offers a cell well-being hair analysis scan for $299. It provides a personalized epigenetic nutritional and well-being plan laid out in a 30-page detailed report.

Teasdale, a nutrition coach, holds a holistic nutrition degree from South West Institute of the Healing Arts, and says, “Don’t just guess what your body needs, choose to know with a hair scan and a team that wants Dianna Teasdale to support you. True Balance Fitness is currently the only place in Michigan with this technology.”

She asks, “Are you ready to feel better, get your energy back and fit into your favorite pants? I'm here to help build a customized plan and lifestyle with you to help you reach your goals.”

Location: 1128 S. Garfield Ave., Traverse City. For more information, email Nutrition@TrueBalanceFit.com or visit LimitlessFoundations.com. See ad page 31.

Affordable Chiropractic Care at True Health

T

rue Health Chiropractic has a practice designed to make regular chiropractic care accessible for everyone and families can get all the care they need for an affordable, flat monthly rate. A membership program is designed for those committed to their health, want to get well and stay well. Single, couple and family membership options are available.

True Health also offers massage therapy and infrared sauna sessions onsite. New patients and walk-ins are Ryan Biddinger welcome.

Owner Ryan Biddinger, DC, says, “Most people have either personally experienced the benefits chiropractic care can have on back or neck pain, or know of someone who has.

Chiropractic care improves the function of the nervous system through mobilization of the spinal bones that encase and protect the spinal cord.”

Location: 1323 Cass St., Traverse City. For appointments and more information, call 231-9461822, email TrueHealthChiropracticTC@gmail.com or visit TrueHealthChiroTC.com for chiropractic care and the infrared sauna and TrueHealthTC.com to book a massage. See ad page 20.

Fuel Your Tomorrow School Program

F

uel Your Tomorrow (FYT) provides healthy, organic, GMO-free, nutritionally designed meals prepared by chefs and delivered to homes. They use locally sourced farmers and crops for the betterment of our bodies and the environment and offer a selection of mealprep programs with a variety of diet selections to fit anyone’s healthy living lifestyle. FYT is the highest-rated Certified Green restaurant in Michigan and accredited with the Better Business Bureau.

6

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Parents can now sign their child up for a school lunch program that packs a punch. Nutritious, immunity-boosting and fun, these meals will be a great addition to the school day. All meals are prepared in a private kitchen, and then delivered to the school of choice for a $1 fee. Simply fill in the form on the website, receive an invoice for services, and then rest easy knowing that child is eating the very best.

Research shows that improved nutrition leads to increased focus and attention, improved test scores and better classroom behavior. Nutritious food helps students develop lifelong healthy eating habits.

Location: 1375 Yellow Dr., Ste. 100, Traverse City. For more information, call 231-252-2147 or visit FuelYourTomorrow.com/schoolprogram.

See ad page 31.

The company is part of a Texas-based franchise founded in 2018 with 50 retail stores nationwide. Local owners Jennifer and Ramiro Jimenez say, “For our beloved furry friends, we have 250-milligram strength CBD pet tinctures, a blend of MCT, CBD and terpene-rich oils. The love we have for our pets is almost unparalleled. It only makes sense that you want to give them high-quality CBD products that are safe and consistent. Both dogs and cats process CBD a lot like we do and enjoy a lot of the same results.” CBD can help reduce anxiety, relieve pain and help with appetite and nausea in pets.

Purely CBD’s broad-spectrum products are recommended for those that want to explore CBD’s therapeutic benefits without THC’s psychoactive effects. The company manufactures its own CBD oil through state-of-the-art facilities.

Location: 1112 E. Front St., Traverse City. For more information, call 231-421-1070 or visit PurelyCBD.net. See ad page 25.

Puff Can Help Sidestep Big Pharma

Pets Need Some Hemp, Too

T

urely CBD Traverse City sells high-quality, organically grown cannabidiol (CBD) hemp products, focusing on all natural, hemp-derived CBD products that are GMOand gluten-free, and third party-tested. Products include oil tinctures, water-solubles, capsules, pain patches, pain creams, bath and body products, gummies, honey sticks, and CBD pet products and more.

For more information, call 231-252-4603 Traverse City- 989-778-1144 Bay City- 313-552-4200 Hamtramck- or visit PuffCannaCo.com.

P

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!

he Puff Cannabis Company, in business for three years, has three locations in Michigan.

The Traverse City location at 1226 South Garfield Avenue is currently medicinal only pending future city laws. The Bay City location at 1680 Marquette Avenue is both medicinal and adult use. The Hamtramck location at 11941 Joseph Campau Street is adult use only, but customers get a 10 percent discount with a valid state medical card.

The knowledgeable staff at Puff provides high-quality products at fair prices in a clean and welcoming atmosphere to everyone, including well-behaved pets. Marijuana cannabinoids have been shown to have many medical benefits, including pain relief, with no side effects.

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 August 2021

7

news briefs

Reclaim Your Health Liver Course Online

T

able Health is a direct primary care and functional medicine practice and functional medicine collective helping clients transform their health through transparency, authenticity and value for the individual, family and company, using customized health programs and retreats. Jill Butryn, M.D., is president and co-founder and Christa Kiessel, BSN, MSN, is a co-founder.

Their five-part online webinar on the liver, Reclaim Your Health, addresses the root cause of fatigue, weight gain, thyroid conditions and blood sugar imbalance. Participants will learn how to support the body’s natural ability to heal and experience freedom from pain, increased energy, improved hormone regulation, weight loss and decreased risk of chronic disease.

Dr. Jennifer Lyon, a board-certified family practice physician, has a passion for nutrition and its ability to heal and prevent disease. At Table Health, Lyon’s experience has led her to be able to diagnose and treat complex symptoms and medical issues. She works closely with a collective of functional medicine specialists to restore and maintain health through nutrition, movement and mental wellness. Lyon provides individualized care based on past and present exposures, experiences and genetic tendencies to help achieve optimal health.

Cost is $297. View the course at TableHealthTC.com/reclaim-your-health.

Practice Yoga Therapy in Tranquil Surroundings

8

Grand Traverse Region

Location: 1200 West 11th St., Ste. 106, Traverse City. For more information, call 231-922-9642 or visit YogaForHealthTC.com.

Registration Open for Fall Mindfulness Classes

M

indfulness Center of Northern Michigan (MCNM) is associated with Northern Michigan Psychiatric Services, PC. Together they are dedicated to the education and enrichment of mindful living for residents of northern Michigan and beyond, serving individuals all around the country via Zoom. It is the mission of MCNM to offer affordable and accessible mindfulness Classes for Adults and Teens, regardless of socioeconomic status. They make financial scholarships available for all classes so that no one is turned away due to financial hardship.

Eight weeks of classes from September 11 to November 13 include Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Adults; Mindful Movement and Meditation for Adults; Stressed Teens or Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Teens (MBSR-T); Yoga and Meditation for Teens; Mindful Parenting Class; Mindfulness Retreats; Community Education; and Customized Classes.

Location: 3287-A Racquet Club Dr., Traverse City. For dates, pricing and registration, call 231-935-0355 or visit nmpspc.com/classes/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-mbsr-for-adults.

Y

oga for Health Education, Center for Conscious Living, offers practical yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, tai chi, Pilates and Feldenkrais with a wide array of classes for all ages and abilities. Yoga therapy is an integrated system of supporting the body in positions based on classic yoga postures while using non-directive, verbal techniques. Unresolved emo-

tional experiences, stored in the body/mind, are often hidden from conscious awareness. Yoga therapy is a safe, painless process that allows for the release of both physical and emotional tensions. A familiarity with yoga is not necessary.

Co-owner Libby Robold, MA, E-RYT, PRYT, AHC, has been teaching yoga since 1984 and yoga therapy for many years. She and her husband co-direct the center. Robold began her yoga studies with Iyengar teacher Dr. Ron Chalfant in 1978.

Co-owner Michael Robold, MA, CYT, has been teaching yoga since 2002 after assisting in classes for 15 years. He teaches and co-directs yoga for the center, which is located on the former state hospital grounds, and says, “We feature classrooms which overlook a tree-filled park, free of vehicle noise and exhaust.”

Plein Air Painting Competition at Crooked Tree Arts Center

P Libby Robold HealthyLivingMichigan.com

aint Grand Traverse, presented by nonprofit Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC), is a plein air painting festival from August 9 to 15 with an extended exhibition through September 11 that celebrates artistry and the beauty of the Grand Traverse area with opportunities for artists, spectators, collectors and families. A Pint-Sized Paint Out for Kids will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, August 13. The Collectors

Find Exotic Therapies at Earth Labs

K

Gala and Benefit will be held August 14. Plein air artists from across the country will work outside in natural lighting conditions, capturing ephemeral atmospheric and lighting conditions.

Founded in 1971, CTAC serves northwestern lower Michigan from its campuses in Traverse City and Petoskey with a mission to inspire and enrich lives through the arts, offering exhibits, concerts, classes, lectures, special events and more. CTAC membership totals more then 2,000 individuals, and programming and services are provided to more than 50,000 each year.

Admission is free. For more information, call 231-941-9488, email pgt@ CrookedTree.org or visit PaintGrandTraverse.com.

West Front Primary Care is Moving

W

est Front Primary Care, a family medicine/general practice group in Traverse City with a growing team of physicians, physician assistants, RNs and nurse practitioners, is opening a new location in September at 4290 Copper Ridge Drive, Suite 100, in Traverse City. They combine general medicine, pediatrics, minor surgery, gynecology, and social and behavioral sciences, specializing in the treatment of families and individuals at every stage of life.

They treat acute illnesses such as infections; sprains and fractures; lacerations; sports-related and occupational injuries; chronic illnesses such as asthma, arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and depression; and skin diseases.

Provided services include preventative medicine for children and adults; routine physical examinations; women’s health care; health screenings; office surgical procedures such as skin biopsies, excisions, wart removal; and osteopathic manipulation treatment.

For appointments and more info, call 231-935-8991 or visit West FrontPrimaryCare.com.

aycie Noble is a doctor of metaphysics and minister of spiritual health. She is a member of the International Light Association and founder of Earth Labs, an innovative social space focused toward advanced well-being. She says, “Our technotherapy lounge brings you access to hard-to-find wellness technology that will help you feel better in your body, mind, and environment. Our passion is revealing ways for you to incorporate a happy and pain-free lifestyle with minimal dependency on drugs, chemicals, or invasive treatments.”

Noble has expertise in alchemical compounding and varied Earth-based modalities. Treatments focus on individual needs and not diagnoses, applying subtle elements such as sound, light, magnetics, flora and thermogenic therapies. The unique immersion practice at Earth Labs can allow individuals to bring about change by engaging endogenous activities within their own systems. The Earth Labs philosophy is simple: “Support the intelligence of the body, and you will foster balance while activating greater levels of potential and healing.”

Location: 317A E. Front St., Traverse City. For appointments or more information, call 231-421-1490, email EarthLabsHeals@gmail.com or visit EarthLabsHeal.com.

See ads back cover and page 19.

Kaycie Noble

Spanglish is Lean and Green

S

panglish, Northern Michigan’s only Certified Green restaurant, is owned and operated by Vicente and Anna Serrano, who say, “Spanglish cuisine is a one of a kind. It is a marriage of traditional Mexican recipes and northern Michigan ingredients. We serve generous portions of made from scratch food at affordable prices.

This is incredible Mexican food you can feel great about eating!”

Their commitment to sustainability includes how they source ingredients, the refurbished equipment used to prepare the food, composting and compostable takeout containers.

Green Restaurant Association (GRA) standards reflect 29 years of research in the field of restaurants and the environment.

The purpose of the GRA is to provide a transparent way to measure each restaurant’s environmental accomplishments while providing a pathway for the next steps each restaurant can take toward increased environmental sustainability.

Location:1333 Yellow Dr., Traverse City. Order online at Spanglish TC.com or call 231943-1453.

August 2021

9

eco alert

Toxic Chemicals Found in Beverage Packaging

A

new report by the Toxic Free Food Campaign in partnership with Ecology Center Healthy Stuff Lab entitled “Capped With Toxics,” found toxic ortho-phthalates in bottle caps of more than one-third of the 141 beverage brands tested. Market leaders are switching to safer bottle caps, but many brands lag behind.

Prior research has linked ongoing exposure to phthalates during pregnancy and early childhood to reduced fertility and harm to brain development. Plus, women, children and people of color face higher exposure and greater susceptibility to phthalates.

Jeff Gearhart, research director at the Ecology Center, says, “There are safer alternatives, and we hope that manufacturers will make the healthy choice and remove harmful chemicals from their products.” Studies have shown that phthalates can migrate from the plastic cap liners into food and beverages that are packed in glass. The chemicals may also leave a residue on the rim of the bottle which can be consumed. When discarded, the bottle caps can also pollute the environment.

Major brands have since switched to phthalate-free bottle caps include Brew Dr Kombucha, Whole Foods Market (sparkling mineral water), Keurig, Dr Pepper (IBC and Stewart’s root beer, Snapple tea, Nantucket Nectar juice), and Maine Root (craft soda). Phthalate-free and vinyl-free caps are widely available. “No bottled beverage should be capped with toxic plastic chemicals,” says Brandon Moore, national campaign director at Defend Our Health.

“Now it’s time for market laggards like Martinelli’s to end its use of toxic bottle caps on its sparkling beverages.”

The nonprofit Ecology Center is an environmental advocacy organization established in 1970 in Ann Arbor to develop innovative solutions for healthy people and a healthy planet.

Market leaders are switching to safer bottle caps, but many brands lag behind.

To participate email: Publisher@HealthyLivingMichigan.com 10

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

To sign a petition calling for Martinelli’s to stop the risk of exposing their consumers to toxic chemicals, visit ToxicFreeDrink. org. Read the report at EcoCenter.org/ healthy-stuff/reports/capped-toxics.

eco tip

Bug Battle

How to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay

It’s no fun fending off uninvited airborne guests at the family cookout, but bloodthirsty bugs are an inevitable part of summer. Mosquitoes aren’t just an annoyance; they can carry infectious diseases like West Nile and Zika viruses, so it’s important to know the best ways to keep them at bay.

For outdoor lovers seeking a more natural bug repellant, one formula performs as well as DEET at stopping mosquitoes and even better at repelling ticks: products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus extract, which contains the naturally occurring compound para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), a byproduct of the leaves of Corymbia citriodora tree. In a study published in the Journal of Insect Science in 2015, researchers from New Mexico State University found that it deterred mosquitoes for up to six hours, unlike largely ineffective candles, bracelets and ultrasonic devices.

The PMD compound differs from lemon-eucalyptus essential oil, so look specifically for repellents containing PMD, found at most outdoors sports stores and major retailers. Lemon-eucalyptus essential oil itself is also sometimes touted as a natural mosquito deterrent, but like other essential oils like clove or citronella, the limited protection it offers is short-lived, as their volatile compounds evaporate quickly. While DIY insect repellents made from essential oils smell wonderful and are easy to make, they can also irritate the skin at higher concentrations and in some cases, such as clove oil, be toxic to pets. Products containing essential oils are also not registered by the EPA, and therefore not tested for efficacy.

Products containing Picaridin, a chemical modeled on black pepper, also have proven to be as effective as DEET. Picaridin-based products are better at deterring mosquitoes from landing than DEET, and are less oily and strong-smelling.

The percentage of DEET or Picaridin in a product determines how long it protects, with higher concentrations providing longer protection with fewer reapplications. Those benefits taper off at 30 percent DEET and 20 percent Picaridin. Covering up with long sleeves and spraying clothes, not just skin, with insect repellent will help keep skeeters at arm’s length and also help keep off ticks.

At Green Island, we work hard to afford you the chance to meet your needs with consciousness and care.

Organic mattresses. Organic linens.

Natural home decor. Organic baby clothing, and much more!

good for the planet and the people.

Traverse City • 231-933-8465 • GoGreenIsland.com August 2021

11

health briefs

Eat Produce to Lower Stress and Heart Disease People needing a push to eat more fruits and vegetables might be motivated by two new studies from Australia’s Edith Cowan University. Studying data from 8,600 Australians between the ages of 25 and 91, researchers found people that ate at least 470 grams (about two cups) of fruits and vegetables per day had 10 percent lower stress levels compared to those that ate less than half that amount. “Vegetables and fruits contain important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, flavonoids and carotenoids that can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, and therefore improve mental well-being,” says lead author Simone Radavelli-Bagatini.

In a second study based on 23 years of data on 50,000 Danes, researchers found that those that consumed one cup each day of the most nitrate-rich vegetables like leafy greens and beets had about a 2.5 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure and a 12 to 26 percent lower risk of peripheral artery disease, heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. Eating more than one cup daily didn’t increase the benefits, they found, and blending greens into smoothies (but not pulp-destroying juicing) is a good option for increasing intake.

Fulvic Acid Health Breakthrough More and more people are turning to natural holistic remedies, and both fulvic acid and shilajit, a substance high in fulvic acid, may offer numerous benefits, including reduced inflammation, stronger immunity and improved brain function.

As reported at Healthline.com, early research shows that taking fulvic acid by mouth for seven days may help reduce reactions in people with allergies to pollen. Applying 5 percent fulvic acid to the skin twice daily for four weeks might improve some symptoms of eczema, fatigue and heavy metal toxicity by preventing a condition in which the body tissues do not receive enough oxygen (hypoxia).

Fulvic acid might interrupt steps involved in the worsening of brain disorders such as dementia, as well as reduce inflammation and prevent or slow the growth of cancer because it seems to have immune-stimulating and antioxidant effects.

For more information, call 906-282-0787, email MidnightSpcl_59@yahoo.com or visit UPChagaConnection.com. See ad page 7.

12

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Eat Oily Fish to Live Longer Omega-3 fatty acids have previously been linked to better heart, brain, eye and joint health, and a new large-scale analysis published in Nature Communications suggests that omega-3s from oily fish may also extend lifespan.

Researchers reviewed pooled data from 17 studies of 42,466 people that were followed an average of 16 years. Those that had the highest amount of fish-based omega-3s in their blood—at the 90th percentile—had a 13 percent lower risk for death than people with omega-3 levels in the 10th percentile. The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was 15 percent lower and from cancer 11 percent lower. The blood levels of alpha-linolenic acid omega-3s obtained from plant-based sources like nuts and flaxseed did not show a conclusive link to lower mortality.

global briefs

Bugs Matter

Soil Regulators Soft on Pesticide Use Pesticides cause significant harm to earthworms and thousands of other vital subterranean species. These invertebrates, nematodes, bacteria and fungi filter water, recycle nutrients and help regulate the planet’s temperature. The most comprehensive review ever conducted on how pesticides affect soil health, published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science, reveals that beneath fields of monoculture crops, a toxic soup of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides is wreaking havoc on the ecosystem.

The study recommends changes in how regulatory agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assess the risks posed by the nearly 850 approved pesticide ingredients. Presently, regulators ignore pesticide harm to earthworms, springtails, beetles and many other subsoil critters. The EPA relies on one insect, the European honeybee, to represent the thousands of species that live or develop underground. The ongoing escalation of pesticide-intensive agriculture and pollution are major driving factors in the precipitous decline of many soil organisms that are critical to maintaining healthy soils. This contamination has been identified as the most significant driver of soil biodiversity loss in the last decade.

Thorny Problem

Cactus Poachers Are Denuding Deserts

More than 30 percent of the world’s 1,500 or so cactus species are threatened with extinction, and criminal scavengers are primarily to blame. A 2020 seizure by authorities in Italy yielded more than 1,000 of some of the rarest cactuses in the world, valued at more than $1.2 million on the black market. Some were over 100 years old. President of the Association for Biodiversity and Conservation Andrea Cattabriga helps police identify specimens taken from tourists or intercepted in the mail. He says, “Here is an organism that has evolved over millions of years to be able to survive in the harshest conditions you can find on the planet, but that finishes its life in this way, just as an object to be sold.”

Trafficking can take a serious toll because many species are highly localized and often extremely slow-growing, thus quite sensitive to over-harvesting.

Cactuses and other succulents have become popular on social media, promoted by indoor plant influencers for their unusual Superfund Mine-Polluted Stream Restorations See Success appearance and minimal Large investments have been made to clean up acid drainage into streams and rivers care requirements. The polluted by toxic metals from abandoned mining sites. A new study published in Freshwater Science based on long-term monitoring data from four U.S. Environmen- pandemic has increased their popularity, with shops tal Protection Agency Superfund sites in California, Colorado, Idaho and Montana unable to keep some speshows that cleanup efforts can allow affected streams to recover to near natural cies in stock. Sales of legally conditions within 10 to 15 years after abatement work begins. sourced plants could help David Herbst, a research scientist at UC Santa Cruz and co-author of the paper, offset illegal trade, with the says, “The good news from them all is that Superfund investments can restore the proceeds going directly to water quality and ecological health of the streams.” Researchers combined data communities living alongfrom long-term monitoring during periods of 20 years or more using aquatic insects side the plants, creating an and other diverse invertebrate life such as flatworms and snails as indicators of the incentive to protect them. restoration of ecological health, with nearby unpolluted streams as standards for

Reversing Ruin

comparison. Much of the recovery occurred within the first few years of treatment.

Herbst says that the promising results suggest that even daunting environmental problems can be remedied.

August 2021

13

THINK YOURSELF HAPPY Seven Ways to Change Your Mind and Be Happier

by Ronica O’Hara

W

hat is happiness? Aristotle pondered it, our country’s founders encouraged its pursuit, but only now— thanks to the thriving field of Positive Psychology—have we learned more precisely how to attain and sustain it. In thousands of studies in the last two decades, researchers have watched babies share crackers, put Tibetan monks in brain scanners, asked college students to do kind deeds and explored databases, among other strategies. A major finding has emerged: Happiness is, to a great degree, in our own hands—or more exactly, our own minds.

“You get to choose,” says trailblazing researcher Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0 and a professor at the University of North Carolina. “No matter where your river of emotions flows today, over time and with continued effort and attention, you can change its course and location to live a happier, more positive life.” Using advanced brain imaging technology, neuroscientists and psychologists have discovered that the brain is “plastic” and malleable. When we change our thinking and actions in positive ways, brain neurons start rewiring themselves to make newfound happiness settle in, especially if our practices are repetitive.

14

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

“Interestingly, changes can start quite quickly,” says neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, who has authored 10 books on the brain, emotions and spirituality, including Words Can Change Your Brain. “For those changes to become more fully ingrained, it can take a few months, but it does not necessarily require hours a day for many years.”

A change in thinking shifted the behavior and life of John Peterson, a sales manager at a major West Coast auto retailer and editor of SafeDriveGear.com. “I was unhappy and miserable, so I decided to give gratitude a shot,” he recalls. “It was mechanical to start, but the reactions I got turned into a domino effect.” Instead of giving cursory thanks, he praised a co-worker’s kindness in handing him a daily cup of coffee; now they chat about their families. Instead of “keeping myself to myself,” he offered to help a neighbor he barely knew to clean gutters; now they’re “barbecue besties,” he says, adding, “I was kind of blown away at the incredible effect gratitude had on my life, both in improving my mental health and boosting my relationships. It was a real revelation to me!”

Positive psychologists offer two major approaches: adopting habits that encourage happiness and clearing away the mental de-

bris that blocks it. Many books and websites offer a wide range of theories, techniques and tips. “The most effective practices for you are the ones that you enjoy and are willing to do more often,” says Tchiki Davis, Ph.D., a Psychology Today blogger and founder of The Berkeley Well-Being Institute. The following are research-based methods to enhance happiness:

for a three-to-one ratio of 1Aim positive to negative xperiences

The difference between languishing and flourishing, says Fredrickson in her book Positivity, is constructing a life in which heartfelt positive experiences outnumber the negatives by three to one. Positive experiences that flow from feelings such as gratitude, serenity, hope, awe and love can be as simple as exchanging smiles with a passerby, patting a friend on the back, joking with a cashier, picking up something that someone has dropped or planting a kiss on a son’s head. She emphasizes that the experiences must be authentic and heartfelt: acting “Pollyanna-ish” out of habit or pasting on a smile can actually make us feel worse, and positivity can turn toxic if it’s relentlessly turned on 100 percent of the time. “True happiness is not rigid and unchanging,” she says.

When it comes to marriage, five positive interactions for every negative one is the “magic ratio” that makes it happy and stable, according to studies by renowned relationship psychologist John Gottman, author of What Makes Love Last. “Successful long-term relationships are created through small words, small gestures and small acts,” he writes.

2

Flip negativity by reframing experiences

Positive reframing involves shifting misery-making thinking to see the positive side of any situation. Canadian researchers

reported in a 340-person survey at APA PsycNet that during the pandemic, reframing was the most effective mental health strategy; people practicing it gradually felt better, while people that vented, distracted themselves or disengaged from others fared worse. Reframing strategies include viewing a problem as a challenge, a learning opportunity or a way to help others; finding the higher purpose or divine order in a bad situation; exploring what the unexpected benefits might be; and finding humor in a situation.

3

Defuse the inner critic with caring self-talk

Berating ourselves for our shortcomings is a sure route to suffering, but applying self-compassion powerfully lowers the volume. It involves three elements: treating ourselves as kindly as we would a dear friend; realizing that making mistakes is intrinsically human so we’re not alone; and non-judgmentally facing our emotions without denying or indulging them, according to its major theorist, psychologist Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind. Numerous studies show that people that practice self-compassion have less self-doubt and fewer negative thoughts, are less likely to feel anxious or depressed, enjoy better health and relationships and are more resilient and motivated to change.

Another way to handle the inner critic is to transform it by befriending and chatting with it, a method used in voice dialogue therapy and in the Internal Family Systems approach.

Jackie Graybill, a Seattle songwriter and piano teacher, calls her “mean girl” inner critic Brutista Dynasticus. “I’ll find myself responding to an inner thought like, ‘You look fat. Just how much weight have you gained over COVID?!’ with a recognition like, ‘Oh, Brutista, that wasn’t very nice. I may have some extra

August 2021

15

pounds, but this healthy body has gotten me through a freaking pandemic! Show a little respect, okay?’ This quiets her down because I’ve recognized her and addressed her, and I feel an inner sense of victory because I’ve brought a positive truth to bear. It’s a very empowering practice.”

4

Clear away pain by questioning assumptions

Of our estimated 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day, about 80 percent are negative and 95 percent are repetitive, says the National Science Foundation. Those noisy mental loops dampen our spirits by repetitively telling us that something regretful should not have happened in the past or is going to happen to blight the future.

Few worries have real credence: A Cornell University study found that 85 percent of what people worry about never happens. Of the 15 percent of worries that did happen, 79 percent of people found they handled the problem better than they had expected or that they learned a valuable lesson from it. Cognitive behavioral therapists help clients to examine those beliefs and assumptions, challenge the dysfunctional ones and try out different interpretations to uncover the truth.

Victor Blue, a Tampa transportation engineer, examined his difficult relationship with a tyrannical father by asking himself two questions that spiritual teacher and author Byron Katie suggests applying to any painful thought: “Is it true? Can you absolutely know it’s true?” Self-inquiring deeply, Blue realized he had a distorted view: His father had in fact loved him, but had lacked the capacity to show it with warmth or tenderness. “My father started with very little and saw a tough world and treated everyone tough,” he says.

“And I came to realize that yes, I am able to father myself.”

the heart by 5Open deepening gratitude

Perhaps the most popular and direct approach to happiness is gratitude. Research shows that feeling and expressing thankfulness significantly boosts emotional well-being, makes us feel more connected and generous to others, and improves health and sleep quality. In one study, writing a few sentences of gratitude once per week for 10 weeks increased optimism and hope in participants;

they even exercised more and had fewer doctor visits than those writing about aggravations. Writing a thank-you letter to someone we haven’t appreciated enough in the past can induce a sense of wellbeing that lasts for at least six months, a University of Pennsylvania study found.

Gratitude can be cultivated simply by daily journaling; writing a list every few days often works even better, research indicates. The more concrete the items are 16

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

and the more freshly observed, the better: Rather than, “I’m grateful for my daughter,” it might be, “I’m grateful for my daughter because she made me laugh at breakfast by making a funny face.”

Some people kick off their day by writing two thank-you emails; others find creative ways to fold gratitude into relationships.

During the pandemic, Nadia Charif, a San Jose-based wellness and health advisor at Coffeeble.com, shared with her boyfriend a note-taking phone app in which they wrote the ways they appreciated each other during the day. “Somehow, no matter how frayed our nerves were, we remembered the last lovely entry and melted like ice to water,” she says. “It diffused many arguments before they escalated.”

Perhaps the most popular and direct approach to happiness is gratitude.

6

Quiet the noisy mind with meditation, prayer and mindfulness

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, Newberg and other neuroscientists studied meditating Buddhist monks, prayerful Catholic nuns and mindfulness meditators. They found that each practice has its own distinctive pattern of brain activity, yet all three deactivate the brain regions that underlie mind chatter. That “default mode network” is constantly ruminating, nagging and making sure we avoid trouble. Sustained spiritual practices gradually turn down its everyday volume, which may explain in part the well-documented link between spiritual practices and well-being. Even brief meditations can have a quieting effect, counsels New York City psychologist and mindfulness teacher Loch Kelly, author of Shift into Freedom. In a quiet moment, he suggests, “Ask yourself, ‘What is here right now if there is no problem to solve?’”

up others with 7 Lift a positive outlook

The more we give with a full heart, the more happiness we experience, studies show—and the benefits radiate far beyond ourselves.

Following nearly 5,000 people over 20 years, Harvard researchers found that one person’s happiness triggers a chain reaction up to three degrees away, lifting the spirits not only of friends, but friends’ friends, and their friends’ friends’ friends. Effects can last up to one year. It’s a vital way to help the world, says Fredrickson.

“The happiness that you experience together with others has ripple effects, both biological and behavioral, that make whole communities healthier.”

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

Exploring Our Superpowers with Aria Mae

A

ria Mae’s School of Ambrosial Animals is a 12-month spiritual development program for conscious leaders ready to step into their missions more powerfully. The coach, facilitator and healer states, “We explore 23 core ‘superpowers’ through four in-person group retreats. This group program began through my one-on-one client practice as I was looking for ways to create even more impact. I love serving groups because it’s amazing to see the learning and growth that occurs when conscious leaders come together. I also have watched clients forge relationships that bring new collaborative efforts into the world, which is so exciting!

Ultimately, the entire purpose of my work

is so that we can live in a world where all life is honored.”

Participants will join a tribe committed to similar visions and growth, receive deep support as they rise into their fullest potential, access new tools and essential technologies, break through fears of creating a massive impact and deepen spiritual connection while doing the soul’s work.

“During the retreats, we connect deeply with ourselves, each other and all of nature. We explore old patterns and invite new ones in. We eat well, make music, laugh, ask questions, walk barefoot, create rituals and play—all in service to our heart’s visions and soul’s purpose,” says Mae. The Ambrosial Animals Manifesto states:

“We stand for the right of diverse life to thrive on Planet Earth.

The abuse and manipulation of humanity and the destruction of the ecosystems has devastated our communities long enough.

The timeline has come to an end.

We are ready to create the world we know is possible. As we dream it up, we commit to doing all we can to bring it into physical form.

We believe peace can triumph over conflict, there is light at the end of this tunnel, and we are here for a reason.

Even when we are downtrodden, anxious, and feeling alone, we choose to remember our mission.

We trust our heart, our strength and our confidence.

We remember how to make choices rooted in integrity.

We honor play, and connection, and laughter!

We are present to the impact of every vibration we create.

We stand serenely in gratitude so that we can receive clarity and truth.

We explore collaboration and creativity with joy.

We imagine and create new technologies of impact that shift the imbalance of power.

Compassionately, we gravitate toward places of stagnation, flowing into those spaces so that new possibilities are discovered.

With curiosity and precision, we embrace our fullest power, receiving the Sacred.

Welcoming prosperity and beauty into our lives, we move toward Love.

Humbly, we receive the gifts of our Superpowers: Remembering Who We Are. This is our path forward. This is why we live. We remember.”

Early bird enrollment for December closes on September 15. View the video Manifesto at AmbrosialAnimals.com.

August 2021 For more information, email Aria@AriaMae.com. See ad page 17.

17

healthy kids spans due to constant multitasking and arguments over screen time, yet many families also feel that they grew closer together as they coped with the adversity,” says Jenifer Joy Madden, author of How To Be a Durable Human.

As we wave our children off to classes, we can draw on those hard-won, deeper ties by taking steps to ensure our children’s health and well-being. Here are some suggested strategies:

Hold a family sit-down Meet as a group to talk about schedules and logistics to make sure everyone’s commitments will work together, recommends Erika Beckles Camez, Ph.D., a licensed family therapist in Temecula, California.

“Talk as a family about how everyone feels about going back to school and intentionally tell your student that throughout the year if they are needing support or are feeling overwhelmed or concerned, they can always talk to you to work through the issue together,” she says.

Back-to-School Wellness Tips to Keep Kids Healthy

A

by Ronica O’Hara

fter a year dealing with the ups and downs of pandemic-era schooling, many parents are anticipating their children’s return to school with mixed emotions. “Families indeed have had a rough time in the pandemic, resulting in increased food insecurity, weakened social skills, splintered attention

18

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Reset bedtime creep “During the summer, bedtime tends to creep later and later. Two weeks before school starts, begin to reset bedtime by reversing the creep by 15 minutes every few nights,” suggests Amber Trueblood, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Culver City, California, and author of Stretch Marks. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 6 to 12 years of age sleep nine to 12 hours a night and teenagers 13 to 18 sleep eight to 10 hours.

Getting enough sleep, it advises, leads to “improved attention, behavior,

learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health.” Sleep experts recommend not allowing kids to be on device screens beginning an hour before bedtime, and perhaps storing devices in another room.

Buoy them with breakfast According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, children that eat a complete breakfast have been shown to work faster, make fewer math mistakes and show improved concentration, alertness, comprehension and memory. “Get in the habit of a healthy breakfast that contains a mix of lean proteins, healthy fats and unrefined carbohydrates and fiber,” advises Amy Spindel, a functional holistic nutritionist in Plano, Texas. “That might be something like eggs scrambled with spinach in olive oil; a smoothie with greens, coconut milk, nut butter, cherries and steamed cauliflower; or a small bowl of steel-cut oatmeal with berries and almond butter alongside some turkey sausage. These types of combinations help promote stable blood sugar until lunchtime, which means your child will be able to focus on learning and social interactions instead of their tummies.”

Satisfy them with healthy snacks There’s a metabolic reason students head straight for the fridge when they get home—but it’s best if they can’t grab sweets. “Children need healthy, whole-food, nutritious snacks after school to fuel both their bodies and their brain,” says Uma Naidoo, M.D., a Harvard-based nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef and author of This Is Your Brain on Food. To support optimal brain development and help lower kids’ anxiety and hyperactivity levels, she suggests snacks rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, B12 and D, and iron and folate, such as: n “Fries” cooked in an air fryer to crisp up zucchini, carrots or

green beans

n Veggie dips or hummus made with chickpeas, carrots, beets

or spinach n Almond butter on celery sticks, or seed butter for dipping sweet peppers or apple slices n Granola that includes walnuts, chia seeds and flax seeds

Take allergy precautions About one in 14 U.S. children has a food allergy. Anisha Angella, an early childhood specialist and author of Easing Allergy Anxiety in Children, recommends taking special precautions with an allergy-prone child, including frequent handwashing; carrying an EpiPen for sudden, severe reactions that require an epinephrine injection; and not sharing foods. “Connect with their teachers,” she advises. “They want to help in any way, too. When a child sees an adult that supports their allergy safety in all environments, they feel comfortable, and that lessens anxiety.”

“Readjusting from the pandemic will take patience and perseverance on the part of parents,” says Madden. “Having the family start simple wellness habits can help.”

Writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

August 2021

19

Water Sports for a Total Body Workout

fit body

Cool Ways to Stay Fit this Summer

W

by Marlaina Donato

hether it’s adrenaline-fueled kiteboarding or peaceful paddle boarding, getting active in the water helps to improve bone density, elevates mood and engages major muscle groups without stressing the joints. The highlight of a vacation might be rafting down a river, surfing at sunset or waterskiing on a mountain lake. Whether done regularly or occasionally, water sports offer a good workout disguised as play. While some water sports require a higher level of fitness, most are beginner-friendly and only require the willingness to try something new.

Core Adventures “Many lifelong skiers call waterskiing the fountain of youth. My friends who are in their 70s, 80s and even 90s that still ski are living proof,” says pro water skier Corey Vaughn, owner of Bum Pass Water Ski Club, in Bumpass, Virginia. “Waterskiing is one of the best total body workouts on the planet, yet you are having so much fun it never feels like a workout.”

For Natali Zollinger, a raft guide, river surfer and whitewater stand up paddle boarder, it’s about trusting and working with the

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

Lightworks Shama Arial

HHHHH “We’re a membership care office – get all the care you need for a low, flat, monthly fee.

Include the whole family and save!” – Dr. Ryan

Celebrant

231-946-1822 • TrueHealthChiroTC.com

231/383-0803

Optimize your wellness.

(Rev. Barbara Disborough)

lightworks@aye.net  Readings

 Private

 Classes

 Regressions

 Clearings

 Blessings

 Healing

20

Grand Traverse Region

Now offering Infrared Sauna sessions, with Chromotherapy!

Clients

Energy Work

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Discover a holistic approach to massage therapy, combining science and intuition.

231-946-1822 TrueHealthTC.com Ask about our $59 special for new clients!

current: “Either rafting or paddling, our core has to engage way more than it would with other sports, and you’ll definitely notice the internal strength.” Based in Moab, Utah, Zollinger says that in only one week, paddling and kayaking produce noticeably more tone in the triceps and biceps, adding, “If you row boats, you’ll see the traps, shoulders and back muscles develop.”

Stand up paddle board (SUP) yoga on the water, although seemingly placid, challenges the abdominals and cultivates balance.

Christy Naida Linson, yoga instructor and owner of Prana Yoga Center and Aligned Flow Floating Studio, in Denville, New Jersey, says, “Paddling is excellent exercise for the core, back, shoulders, arms and legs. Postures are done in relationship to the current of the water and recruit many of the smaller stabilizing muscles.”

Getting the Feet Wet SUP yoga is accessible to both new and experienced students that can swim and are comfortable in the water. All postures can be modified to be done in positions lower to the board, such as kneeling, to make balancing easier. “A typical class is 90 minutes long and begins with instruction on land. We go through paddle strokes and safety, how to get onto the board kneeling, transition to standing when feeling stable, paddle and stop,” says Linson.

“The worst thing that happens if you lose your balance is that you go for a little swim!”

Fitness requirements for river rafting can vary, depending on the type of trip and location. “Usually a couple months of ‘stair-stepper’ and some squats and lunges will do the trick,” says Zollinger. When it comes to gear, commercial trips offer the most freedom, especially for beginners, she says. “Normally, commercial trips pack all the gear that you need for basic camping, and all you have to bring is your personal gear like clothes, toiletries, etc.”

Waterskiing can be a challenge, but learning is easier with proper instruction, optimal equipment, an experienced, skilled boat driver and positive encouragement. “People tell me about Uncle Fred just throwing them behind the boat with a couple of old skis, telling them to hang on tight and then gunning the boat. This is not what I would consider best practices,” says Vaughn. A typical lesson lasts about 30 minutes, involves six to eight passes up and down the lake and includes technical guidance on body positions and timing.

For optimal waterskiing, Vaughn prefers private lakes to avoid interruption in the rhythmic flow of skiing that can occur on busier lakes or bodies of saltwater due to boat traffic, winds, tides and currents. Vaughn marvels when everything comes together; “There is nothing quite like the smile of a first-time skier when they get up [on their skis] and realize they are gliding across the water.”

In the end, water sports are all about embracing possibilities.“It is a genuine joy to see people who may be new or doubt their ability come away feeling empowered,” says Linson.

Zollinger passes on wisdom about time on the water. “The river continuously teaches me to be in the flow and appreciating the little things.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

inspiration

Smiling

Can Make Us Happier

by Julie Peterson

A

smile makes the brain happy. As it turns out, it doesn’t matter if we smile at first because we’re genuinely happy or if we simply fake a smile.

The brain doesn’t know the difference.

When we are happy, we naturally smile. But research has shown that the act of smiling can also induce happiness.

It happens because the muscles required to lift the mouth into the shape of a smile are connected to nerves that send signals to the brain. Once the brain gets the message that a smile is happening, it releases dopamine, endorphins and serotonin throughout the body. These feel-good chemicals make us feel less stressed, less pain and happier, which can effortlessly transform a fake smile into a genuine one.

Platitudes through the ages have urged us to “Turn that frown upside down” and “Put on a happy face.” In 1872, Charles Darwin hypothesized that facial feedback could alter emotions and, ever since, the topic of smiling and mood has been a subject of discussion and research. Whether or not forced smiles can have a strong enough impact on our state of mind to effectively boost overall mental health is still being debated, with some research indicating that “false” smiles can lower mood if used continuously to avoid expressing certain feelings; however, there are several more positive aspects of smiling to take into consideration.

Smiling is contagious. Seeing other people smile stimulates our mirror neurons, which discharge; they discharge similarly whether we’re doing an action or observing someone else do it. So, being around smiling people, seeing them smile, affects our brains as if we were doing the smiling.

Smiling also provides the health benefits of reduced anxiety and lowers both blood pressure and heart rate. Over the long haul, these attributes add up to improved cardiovascular health and a measurable reduction in risk for stroke.

Get more smile time by working these muscles at every opportunity. Fake it if you must until it comes naturally, watch funny shows, spend time with cheery people and when things are looking down, grin and bear it. You might just feel better right away, and better long-term health is certainly something to smile about.

Julie Peterson is a Random Acts of Kindness activist (RAKtivist.com) and an advisor for Kindness Bank, a nonprofit invested in improving community health and well-being.

August 2021

21

conscious eating

Preserving the Harvest Classic Ways to Store Garden Bounty All Year

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

22

Grand Traverse Region

W

by Julie Peterson

hether gardening, purchasing at farmers’ markets or ordering from a community supported agriculture farm, preservation techniques capture the bounty of the harvest and ensure availability of fresh flavors year-round.

Dehydrating. “Dehydrating machines

can be purchased for about $50, but an oven that goes down to a temperature of 150 or less will work,” says Brekke Bounds, educator at City Grange, a garden center in Chicago.

Before dehydrating, consider the end use.

Peaches or cherries can be cut into bite-size pieces. Roma or cherry tomatoes, sliced or cut in half and dried, can go in winter soups and stews. “Apple chips are super-easy,” Bounds says. “Core and slice with a mandoline, dunk in a lemon solution, sprinkle with cinnamon, dehydrate and store in an airtight jar.”

Foods can be seasoned or marinated before drying. “We make zucchini bacon for vegan BLTs,” says Anthony Damiano, chef proprietor at Counter Culture restaurant, in Vero Beach, Florida. Dried herbs chopped in a food processor can be stored in airtight

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

containers and used up to a year later as a flavorful salad toppings or soup mixes.

Canning.

“One of my go-to methods is water bath canning,” says Emily Paster, author of The Joys of Jewish Preserving. “It’s a really safe and effective method of home preservation for high-acid foods. Certain kinds of microorganisms, most specifically botulism, can’t live in a high-acid environment.” Fruits that go into jams and jellies are typically acidic enough, but levels can be increased with lemon juice. Vegetable pickles become acidic through the addition of vinegar. Heat-sealed jars are shelf-stable if the seals remain intact.

Paul Fehribach, chef and co-owner of Big Jones, a restaurant in Chicago, gives canning tips in The Big Jones Cookbook. For pickles and preserves, he recommends using a sim-

ple canning kit with a tool to lift jars in and out of boiling water, a jar rack that sits in the bottom of a stock pot and Mason jars with new canning lids to hold the food.

Both Paster and Fehribach suggest using professionally tested recipes. “Go to a reliable source, whether it’s a cookbook or a website, because there are some food safety issues.

Recipes have been calibrated to have the right ratio of water and vinegar to vegetables to ensure it’s acidic enough,” says Paster. “Pickles are a great place to begin because they’re really hard to mess up.”

Refrigerator Pickling. The pickling

process can be done without water bath canning, but the jars must remain refrigerated. The fun is in the quickness and variability of the recipes. Beyond traditional cucumber pickles, excellent pickles can be made with green beans, carrots, onions, cauliflower and green tomatoes. Brine can be dill, spicy or sweet. Damiano makes refrigerator pickles with a variety of local organic produce, including radishes, okra and other vegetables. The pickles are great for eating and can be used in salads and recipes like plant-based tostadas.

Fermenting. “Fermentation is an essential part of how people everywhere make effective use of food resources,” says Sandor Ellix Katz, fermentation revivalist in Liberty, Tennessee, and author of The Art of Fermentation. “Fermentation produces alcohol, helps preserve food by producing acids and makes foods more digestible, more nutritious, more

delicious and sometimes less toxic.”

Cultures around the world developed fermentation techniques as a practical method to prevent food decomposition. Studies show that fermented foods and beverages provide beneficial probiotics to the gut microbiome.

Anyone can give fermentation a try with ordinary kitchen tools—a knife, cutting board, mixing bowl and a jar. “Certain ferments, such as yogurt or tempeh, require specific temperature ranges,” advises Katz.

Cold Storage. Many fruits and vegeta-

bles freeze well, but a basement or backyard root cellar is a no-electricity, cold storage method. Items that store well in a root cellar include most root crops and firm fruits like apples and pears. “Root cellars use the natural, cool, moist conditions underground for fruit and vegetable storage. Earth-sheltered options work best for cooler climates where the ground temp is naturally cooler,” says Laurie Neverman in Denmark, Wisconsin, creator of CommonSenseHome.com. Those with no outdoor spot or cold basement room can still use cold storage. “Some crops like onions, garlic, potatoes, winter squash, apples and carrots keep well in dark, dry, cool room temperatures of about 55 degrees,” says Neverman.

Food preservation methods extend the blessings of the harvest. A little preparation now will provide edible delights for months to come.

Julie Peterson writes from rural Wisconsin.

Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

Zucchini Bacon 2 medium zucchini 2 Tbsp grape seed oil 2 Tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp maple syrup 1 tsp liquid smoke Pinch chipotle chili pepper powder Freshly ground black pepper In a large bowl, combine oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, liquid smoke, chipotle chili pepper powder and season generously with black pepper. Whisk to combine. Using a vegetable peeler or mandoline, slice zucchini lengthwise into thin strips. Place strips in bowl and toss until coated in marinade. Let sit for several hours or overnight.

Place in a single layer on dehydrator trays, making sure not to overlap. Set the dehydrator to 145° F and let the strips dehydrate for 4 to 6 hours. Remove them when they are crispy. Thicker strips may take longer. Eat immediately or store in an airtight container.

Recipe by Chef Anthony Damiano at Counter Culture, in Vero Beach, Florida.

Providing the World’s Best Herbs, Spices, and Teas for Your Kitchen.

Watermelon Sun Tea

Simple doesn’t get any better: Papaya, Plum, Safflower Petals, Less Caffeine. Partially oxidized to bring out nuanced flavors and aromas, this complex, aromatic, fine quality, watermelon oolong tea is ripe, juicy, and thirst quenching. Prep time: 3 hrs. • Total time: 3 hrs.

INGREDIENTS Makes 6 8-oz. Servings 48 ounces water DIRECTIONS Fill a container with 48 oz. of water.

Let water sit at room temperature for 30 - 60 minutes.

Add loose-leaf tea to a 48-oz. glass jar, pour in the room temperature water, and cover with lid.

Place glass container in direct sunlight or on sunny windowsill. Let tea steep.

After the first hour, pour out half the water and reserve it to drink later. Replace the amount poured out with fresh water.

Let it steep for up to one hour longer, until desired flavor is reached.

Using your straining method of choice, decant into a pitcher.

Store sun tea in fridge until ready to drink. Consume within 2-3 days of steeping.

231-947-7423 • SpiceMerchants.biz • 145 E Front St, Traverse City August 2021

23

plant medicine

Hemp Gets Hot:

Meet the Hardest Working Plant on the Planet

by Julie Peterson

A

crop that was illegal in U.S. soil for more than half a century is now reaching for the sun. Industrial hemp, the low- or no-THC cousin to marijuana, has created high hopes among farmers, agricultural researchers, manufacturers and consumers. By 2019, America had become the world’s third-largest producer, behind Canada and China, where it’s been cultivated for 8,500 years.

“It’s the fastest-growing ag industry that we’ve ever seen,” says Tara Valentine, hemp specialist at the Rodale Institute, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Since hemp’s inclusion in the 2018 Farm Bill, Rodale’s hemp web page hits have grown 10-fold.

Better Products

All parts of the hemp plant are useful in multiple ways, and hemp has applications

in textiles, construction, bioremediation, technology, nutrition and health, including cannabidiol (CBD). The seeds are rich in protein, essential fatty acids and vitamins.

They can be eaten, ground into flour or pressed for oil that is used for cooking or in body care products.

The stems undergo decortication to separate the long outer fibers (bast) from the short inner fibers (hurd). Hemp hurd makes extremely durable hempcrete for construction, absorbent and dust-free animal bedding or pellets for heating stoves.

An exponential rise in the use of hemp is expected because it can replace products made from paper, wood, plastic, cotton and fossil fuels.

“Hemp fiber is going to dominate the market once we get to the full manufacturing potential,” says Erica Stark, executive director of the National Hemp Association, in Washington, D.C.

The first introductions consumers can expect include hemp paper products, such as plates and toilet paper, and biodegradable hemp bioplastics like cutlery and cups.

Construction materials and other products are expected to quickly follow.

Environmentally Friendly

The Institute of Papermaking and Printing, at the Technical University of Lodz, Poland, did a 2015 study comparing making paper from wood to making it from hemp.

All Natural CBD products

Life is too short to feel anything less than your personal best.

We source from only organic, environmentally socially responsible companies that believe in cruelty free testing.

Find us at these Farmers’ Markets: + Boyne City - Weds + Downtown Charlevoix - Thursday morning + Downtown Petoskey - Friday morning + Elk Rapids - Friday morning + Boyne City - Saturday + Interlochen - Sunday

Ask about our distributor options where you can

be your own boss!!

24

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Among the findings: hemp takes four months to grow, while trees need 20 to 80 years. An acre of hemp can produce four or more times as much paper as an acre of trees. Hemp paper doesn’t need toxic bleaching and can be recycled twice as many times. Other studies concur.

Paper without deforestation would be a major benefit, but it’s a minor job on hemp’s profound résumé. “Hemp needs to be a part of every climate change conversation, not only because it sequesters huge amounts of carbon during cultivation, but also because construction products made out of hemp will continue to sequester carbon for up to 100 years,” says Stark.

Hemp could also help save the depleted soil on U.S. farmland that has been destroyed by tilling and synthetic fertilizers. “We have to rebuild the soil by putting carbon back in and increasing organic matter,” says Valentine. Hemp does this with a massive root biomass that breaks up compacted soils, improves water infiltration and reduces runoff and erosion.

Your Best Grow Ever!

Hydroponic and Organic Products for All Your Indoor Growing Needs!

We have experts on hand to answer your questions and get you started, so drop by soon and talk with our team, the best in the business!

If you are an organic gardener they have everything you need here. – Christina A.

“The Store with More!”

P Locally Owned and Operated Since 2009 P Over 40 Years of Combined Experience P Over 2500 Products in Stock

Fast-growing hemp naturally suppresses weeds, needs no pesticides and isn’t picky about soil, water or latitude.

Fast-growing hemp naturally suppresses weeds, needs no pesticides and isn’t picky about soil, water or latitude. By comparison, cotton is water-intensive and uses 25 percent of the world’s pesticides.

Income for Farmers

Used in crop rotation, hemp’s soil-enhancing qualities can increase profits on subsequent crops. While cover crops don’t usually have return value, hemp provides additional revenue streams. But the revenue isn’t quite there yet, because the supply chain isn’t complete. Seed supply, farm equipment, education, processing facilities and manufacturers are all links that are developing simultaneously.

“Fiber processing facilities will be available soon. Manufacturers are anxious to start incorporating hemp,” says Stark.

The lack of buyers isn’t deterring farmers. Neither are warnings that current harvesting equipment can spark disaster when hemp fiber wraps around rotating parts, heats up and combusts.

Dustin Enge, a third-generation farmer in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, started Honey Creek Hemp in 2017. He planted six acres of hemp. “I think it’s a long-term viable commodity for farmers. Right now, it’s the Wild West of agriculture. Everyone is trying different things,” says Enge, who modified a harvester for hemp.

“I spent about two hours harvesting and 20 hours torching the fiber off my equipment.” Even so, he will plant more acres when he knows it will sell.

Behold the sprouting of the hemp industry as an ancient plant takes root in the modern world.

Julie Peterson writes from rural Wisconsin and can be reached at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

Traverse City • 231-421-5191 • TheGrowStore.com

Experience the Healing Power of Nature oil tinctures • gummies • topicals pet products • coffee • tea • kangen water

231-421-1070 1112 E Front St, Traverse City PurelyCBD-TraverseCity.com Call us for free shipping!

August 2021

25

natural pet

Power Up Fido Five Ways to Strengthen Your Dog’s Immune System

by Shawn Messonnier

A

long, healthy life for our animal companions depends on them having resilient immune systems that can resist disease. While supporting a dog’s immunity during illness is vital, it’s also important to help it maintain natural defenses when well to help stave off disease.

Adopting all five of these suggestions will help promote optimal wellness.

1

Minimize vaccines

Vaccinations can help prevent disease when the immune system responds appropriately to such treatments. However, when dogs are over-vaccinated, improper immune responses can cause immediate allergic reactions or chronic problems such as autoimmune disorders and even cancer.

A simple and inexpensive blood antibody test called a titer can determine if and when a dog may require a vaccine after completing the first adult booster vaccination visit.

Dogs with serious and chronic immune disorders should never be vaccinated.

2

Minimize chemicals and medications

Overuse and misuse of chemicals and conventional medications can harm a dog’s body in numerous ways, including causing adverse effects on the immune system.

Healthy living at your fingertips.

HealthyLivingMichigan.com 26

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

Whenever a chemical product such as a flea preventive or conventional medication like a steroid or antibiotic is needed, we should ask two important questions. First, whether there is a safer, natural alternative to use— there usually is. Secondly, what the lowest dose is to heal the patient. Usually, lower doses of many chemicals and medications can be used safely and effectively. Some doctors over-prescribe chemicals and medications because of incorrect diagnoses, a lack of knowledge of safer natural therapies and to increase their income.

3

Feed a great diet

No matter what else is done to keep a dog healthy, it is critical to feed a good, natural diet, either homemade or purchased from a reputable company that specializes in healthy, natural foods.

Many pet foods are full of unhealthy ingredients that may not be helpful for a dog’s immune system. Animal and plant byproducts, which typically are scrap from the food processing industry, provide little if any positive health benefits and may actually be harmful to a dog.

Added chemicals, flavorings and colorings have no specific wellness attributes and may harm the dog’s DNA through oxidative damage, resulting in various immune problems such as cancers.

4

Enable exercise

As with people, a sensible exercise program for a dog is important. It keeps the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems in great shape by mimicking the natural activities that a dog’s wild relatives experience every day. It also strengthens the immune system and builds and enhances the human-dog bond.

with seizures. Chamomile and tryptophan reduce any type of anxiety or phobia. They can also reduce itching in allergic patients with an obsessive component to their scratching.

Olive leaf extract is not only good for immune support, but can also help animals with infections of the ears and skin, making it a good alternative to antibiotics

Dogs that receive supplements every day tend to live longer, feel better and act happier.

5

Use supplements

Dogs that receive supplements every day tend to live longer, feel better and act happier. Even when they may have serious problems like cancer from which they may not recover, they are healthier, stronger and happier while battling the disease. Good formulas contain enzymes, probiotics, glucosamine, vitamins, fatty acids and minerals to help support a normal dog’s overall constitution.

Choline reduces symptoms in senior animals with cognitive disorder and reduces the chances in normal older animals of developing it. Its use is advisable for animals with liver disease or diabetes and for those

and anti-yeast medications. A cancer and immune support supplement containing scute, cordyceps, poria, American ginseng and coix is good for any animal with an immune disease, chronic infections and especially cancer.

These five easy and inexpensive steps to keeping a dog’s immune system healthy will reduce trips to the doctor and extend his life with minimal effort.

Shawn Messonnier, DVM, owner of Paws & Claws Animal Hospital and Holistic Pet Center, in Plano, Texas, is the author of several books on veterinary medicine. Visit PawsAndClawsAnimalHospital.com.

Here at Square Deal we feel pets are part of the family.

Our Knowledgeable staff is here to help you find food, treats, and products that

keep your pets happy and healthy!

We carry the top holistic brands of Dog and Cat food.

We Carry a large seletion of Raw and Freeze dried diets.

$5 off $50 Coupon expires 8/31/21. Not valid with other offers.

$15 off $100 Coupon expires 8/31/21. Not valid with other offers.

(231) 946-5030 • SquareDealCountryStore.com • Square Deal Country Store • 900 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City • Local Family Owned since 1982 August 2021

27

calendar of events FRIDAY, AUGUST 13

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1 Pedal, Pig & Pint Bike Tour – 7:30am. A selfpaced bike tour. Enjoy miles of wooded mountain bike trails or a scenic paved route around Lake Charlevoix, while supporting 2 nonprofit organizations striving to enhance outdoor experiences in the area: Top of Michigan Mountain Bike Association & Raven Hill Discovery Center. Start at Veterans Memorial Park, Boyne City. Register: BikeReg.com.

Cacao Ceremony and Ecstatic Dance – 7-9pm.

An evening of exploration in body and spirit. Begin in circle with ceremonial cacao. Then journey into movement through our Ecstatic Dance practice. No prior experience needed. $30. Yoga Roots Petoskey, 444 E Mitchell St, Petoskey. 231-838-8992. Yoga RootsPetoskey.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 16

MONDAY, AUGUST 2 Mindflow Yoga – 10am. A slower-paced flow style of yoga that moves from pose to pose, breath by breath.

Great for beginners or returning students. Free. Northern Lakes Community Church, 5444 Herkner Rd, Traverse City. Register: 231-935-4556 to reserve a spot.

Lammas Circle – 7pm. Also known as Loaf Mass or Lughnasadh, this is the celebration of the first of 3 harvests. At time to be grateful and count your blessings. Also a time to look ahead to what else you will “harvest” in the months to come. $13. Via Zoom and in person at Higher Self Bookstore, 313 E Front St, Traverse City. Register: 231-941-5805.

HigherSelfBookstore.com.

34th Annual Rubber Ducky Festival – Aug 16-22.

Race day, Aug 21. Featuring a week full of events including kids’ activities, Art and Craft Show, Rubber Ducky Parade, Rubber Ducky Race, cash prizes and live music. BellaireChamber.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17 Online: Canning High Acid Foods – 6-7:30pm.

Learn research-tested techniques for canning high acid foods such as tomatoes, pickles, fruits and sauerkraut using a water bath canner and a steam canner.

Instructor: Kara Lynch. Free. Register: Oryana.coop.

Elk Rapids Harbor Days – Aug 4-7. Celebration highlights the best of the picturesque harbor and community. Events for every age and every interest.

Elk Rapids. Details: ElkRapidsHarborDays.org.

PLAN AHEAD FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Cacao Ceremony and Ecstatic Dance – 7-9pm.

An evening of exploration in body and spirit. Begin in circle with ceremonial cacao. Then journey into movement through our Ecstatic Dance practice. No prior experience needed. $30. Yoga Roots Petoskey, 444 E Mitchell St, Petoskey. 231-838-8992.

YogaRootsPetoskey.com.

2021 Frankfort Art Fair – Aug 20-21. 1-7pm, Fri; 10am-4pm, Sat. Art fair draws many fine artists.

Find a special treasure to take home with you.

Market Square Park, 420 Corning Ave, Frankfort.

231-352-7251. Tinyurl.com/ydbpcfpy.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21

2021 Michigan Lighthouse Festival – Aug 6-7. While it no longer guides mariners Mission Point Lighthouse now offers visitors a peek into what life was like around the turn of the century for lighthouse keepers and for others who lived and worked in the area at the time.

Details: MichiganLighthouseFestival.com.

Downtown Traverse City Art Fair – 10am5pm. Juried art fair features over 90 Midwest and National artists. Open Space Park, W Grandview Pkwy at Union St, Traverse City. 231-922-2050.

DowntownTC.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7 41st Annual Suttons Bay Art Festival – Aug 7-8.

10am-6pm, Sat; 10am-5pm, Sun. Featuring 100 artists, community groups, community library book sale, food vendors and a children’s area. Details: SuttonsBayArtFestival.org.

48 Hours of Bite-Sized Mindfulness – With Sabina Vitacca, Mindfulness Consultant. Designed to demonstrate how effective the practice of mindfulness can be when applied to work and home situations. Self-paced/pre-recorded and sent to your email over 2 days to watch in your own time. Free.

Register: Tinyurl.com/auvtndn7.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12 Dot Mandala Workshop – 5-8pm. Learn the basic steps on how to create a Dot Mandala on smooth stones. Will be sketching the outline, painting with acrylic paints, using dotting techniques, and adding extra dots for decoration and finishing touches.

No experience necessary. $28/person. Lavender Hill Farm, 7354 Horton Bay Rd N, Boyne City.

Pre-registration required: LavenderHillFarm.com.

Grand Traverse Region

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 13th Annual Lake Ann Music in the Park Festival – 3-10pm. Free live music event. Almira Township Lakefront Park, 7276 Ole White Dr, Lake Ann. Tinyurl.com/k9wwxuyw.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4

28

on the body. All materials provided including a starter kit with henna cones to take home. $43/person. Lavender Hill Farm, 7354 Horton Bay Rd N, Boyne City.

Pre-registration required: LavenderHillFarm.com.

Foot Reflexology Sessions – 11am-6pm. Pat combines reiki energy balancing with reflexology and application of therapeutic-grade essential oils. $35/30 mins, $70/hr. Higher Self Bookstore, 313 E Front St, Traverse City. 231-941-5805. HigherSelfBookstore.com.

Online: Vegan for Beginners – 5-6pm. Workshop and live cooking (2 separate events on 2 separate dates). Learn the basics, then watch it in action. $3.

Via Zoom. Register: Tinyurl.com/4yhw7ss7.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26 Online: Organic Facial Class – 7-8pm. Our team of holistic estheticians are ready to share their insider tips and tricks with you. Includes the KPS At-Home Facial Kit shipped straight to your door. Register by Aug 23: MIHolisticMed.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 Henna Workshop at Lavender Hill Farm – 11am2pm. Get an overview of what henna is, where it comes from historically and how it is used today.

Also learn how to prepare natural henna paste, make a henna cone, and demonstrate where and how to put it

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

ongoing events

daily 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.

mondays 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.

Cancer Care Support Discovery Call – 6-6:30pm.

For those looking to incorporate a holistic, functional element of care into their cancer treatment plan by working in conjunction with your oncologists, surgeons, primary care physician and physical medicine practitioners. More info: MIHolisticMed.com.

Magickal Community Q&A – 7:15-8:15pm. With Kafi, Merrie and Rodasi. Do you feel drawn to nature spirituality and don’t know where to start?

This is a safe place to ask questions from those that have been practicing and have knowledge to share.

Different topic each week which will announced via Facebook. Free. Online and in person at Higher Self Bookstore, 313 E Front St, Traverse City. Register: 231-941-5805. Facebook.com/higherself.

tuesdays Blooms and Birds: A Wildflower Walk – Thru Sept 21. 10am-12pm. A relaxing stroll on the trails with Grass River Natural Area docents, Julie Hurd and Phil Jarvi, each week to find and identify the beautiful and unique wildflowers. Free. Grass River Natural Area, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. Grass River.org.

wednesdays Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers’ Market – 8am12pm. Lot B, SW corner of Cass & Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City. dda.downtowntc.com/farmers-market.

Harbor Springs Farmers’ Market – Thru Aug 25.

9am-1pm. W Main St, Harbor Springs. 231-8811863. HarborSpringsFarmersMarket.org.

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. Learn about your blind spots, tackle your growth edges, and build resilience for your leadership. $222/mo.

AmbrosiAlanimals.MyKajabi.com/offers/Fcot2cjT/ checkout.

House of Bear, 4242 County Rd 633, Grawn. Shama Arial’s Lightworks: 231-383-0803. Lightworks@ aye.net. Facebook.com/Shama-Arials-Lightworks-579284359208041.

fridays Bellaire Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct. 8am-12pm.

ASI Community Center & Park, 102 Maple St, Bellaire. BellaireChamber.org.

If You Are Reading This, So Are Your Potential Customers.

Elk Rapids Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 8. 8am12pm. Rotary Park, U.S. 31, Elk Rapids. 231-2648202. ElkRapidsChamber.org/farmers-market.

Sacred Drumming Circle – 7-9pm. 2nd Fri. No experience necessary. No drum necessary but feel to bring an acoustic item of your making. Earth Blessing will start each event. Free, but donations accepted. The House of Bear, 4242 Co Rd 633, Grawn. Tinyurl.com/dzpvap92.

saturdays Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers’ Market – 7:30am-12pm. Lot B, SW corner of Cass & Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City. dda.downtowntc.com/ farmers-market.

Harbor Springs Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 16.

9am-1pm. W Main St, Harbor Springs. 231-8811863. HarborSpringsFarmersMarket.org.

InterPlay: Dive Deep into Creative Self-expression – 3-5:30pm. 3rd Sat. An active, creative way to unlock the wisdom of the body. Through simple improvisational forms, it uses movement, sound, storytelling, stillness, and contact to provide a powerful forum for creative expression, self-exploration, connection and play. New Moon Yoga, 10781 E Cherry Bend Rd, Traverse City. 231-421-3120. SoulWaysHealing.com.

Wine Down Wednesdays – Thru Oct. 6-8pm.

Join 1918 Cellars for live music, food, wine and more. Check website to see who’s performing.

Castle Farms, 5052 M-66, Charlevoix. CastleFarms. com/events/wine-down-wednesdays.

thursdays Yoga in East Park – 8:30-9:30am. With Charlevoix Yoga. Weather permitting. $20. East Park 400 Bridge St, Charlevoix. CharlevoixYoga.com.

Weekly Facebook Live with Dr. McSwain – 5:306pm. More info: MIHolisticMed.com.

Mindfulness and Meditation Circle – Thru Dec. 5:30-6:30pm. Every week is different as we learn about the art and science of mindfulness.

Co-led by Aria Everts and Eric McDonald. Donation. Yoga Bellaire, 106 W Cayuga St, Bellaire.

YogaBellaire.com.

Sacred Drum Circle – 7-9pm. 2nd Thur. No drum necessary but feel to bring an acoustic item of your making. Earth Blessing will start each evening.

Dress for outside. Children must be in control of adults; advantageous if kids are old enough to join in on the rhythm that evolves. RSVP nice but not required. Love offering. Take H 633 south of US 31 2.9 miles; turn in at the Bear sign on the right.

classifieds HELP WANTED LOOKING FOR DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE DISTRIBUTOR / SALES OF ALL NATURAL 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).

Contact us today and start doing more business.

734-757-7929 Publisher@HealthyLivingMichigan.com August 2021

29

community resource guide ADVANCED WELLNESS EARTH LABS

317a E Front St, Traverse City 231-421-1490 EarthLabsHeals.com Subtle modalities including sound, light, frequency and thermogenic therapies to enhance and transform your quality of life. Our techno-therapy will reduce pain and restore energy. See ads pages 19 and back cover.

CBD PRODUCTS MY CBD

Kelly Young MyTCBD.com All-Natural CBD products. We source from only organic, environmentally socially responsible companies that believe in cruelty-free testing. Life is too short to feel anything less than your personal best. Ask about our distributor options where you can be your own boss. See ad page24.

PURELY CBD

1112 E Front St, Traverse City 231-421-1070 PurelyCBD-TraverseCity.com At Purely CBD Traverse City, we strive to provide our customers with top-quality products that help serve their personal needs. As a locally owned business, we are dedicated to caring for our community and prioritize your overall well-being. See ad page 25.

CHAGA PRODUCTS 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 7.

To participate email: Publisher@HealthyLivingMichigan.com 30

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com

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. See ad page15.

COOKING & TEA BREWING SPICE & TEA MERCHANTS

145 E Front St, Traverse City 231-947-7423 SpiceMerchants.biz/traverse-cityspice-store Providingthe world’s best herbs, spices and teas for your kitchen. We carry over 200 spices from everyday use to the most exotic as well as over 120 different teas. See ad page 23.

FRESH MILK HERD SHARES SHARED BLESSINGS FARM

7291 18 Mile Rd, Marion 231-743-2286

We are a family farm focused on healthy soils to produce healthy animals so they can produce healthy raw milk for your good. Taste to know the difference.

GRASS-FINISHED BEEF SHARED BLESSINGS FARM

7291 18 Mile Rd, Marion 231-743-2286

We are a family farm focused on healthy soils to produce healthy grass-finished animals rich in minerals and omega-3s and omega-6s with real fat that is good for you.

HALOTHERAPY

HYDROPONICS & ORGANIC GARDENING PRODUCTS

URBAN OASIS SALT SPA

13709 S. West Bayshore Dr, Traverse City 231-938-6020 UrbanOasisSaltSpa.com

Dry salt therapy, massage, detox, organic facial services, Exclusive salt room made from 15,000 pounds of Himalayan pink salt supports overall health and wellness. See ad page 18.

HEALTHY EATING FUEL YOUR TOMORROW

Kaylee Davenport, Chef Kelsi Davenport, Executive Manager 231-252-2147 FuelYourTomorrow.com Fuel Your Tomorrow (FYT) provides fresh, health-conscious, chef-prepared meals, guided by nutrition and delivered on a weekly basis to your door. FYT aims to optimize your health and life through fully prepared local and organic whole food for you and your family. Simply order online each week for your set of meals or sign up for recurring meal prep and never worry about making a healthy dinner again.

Serving Traverse City and the Northern Michigan region since 2009. Specilizing in organics, hydroponics and lighting systems for the indoor grower. A locally owned, service-oriented company. See ad page 25.

LESS ANXIETY NATURALLY EARTH LABS

317a E Front St, Traverse City 231-421-1490 EarthLabsHeals.com Advanced technologies in the sound and light lab ease anxiety and relieve chronic pain. Enhance your mood and bring balance to the limbic system. See ads pages 19 and back cover.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION

HEALTHY PET SQUARE DEAL COUNTRY STORE

900 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City 231-946-5030 SquareDealCountryStore.com

products for your pets. See ad page 27.

THE GROW STORE

90 N U.S. Hwy 31 S, Traverse City 231-421-5191 Facebook: The Grow Store Traverse City

Our knowledgeable staff is here to help you find the best food, treats and

HOLISTIC NUTRITIONIST LIMITLESS FOUNDATIONS

Dianna Teasdale Nutrition@TrueBalanceFit.com LimitlessFoundations.com

Dianna, a holistic nutritionist and coach, in partnership with True Balance Fitness in Traverse City, offers 1-on-1 health coaching, holistic nutrition plans, powerful hair analysis scanning, In-Body, metabolic testing, and support to help move you toward your health goals. (In-Studio or Virtual where applicable).

503 East Broadway St, Mt. Pleasant 989-773-1714 Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info NaturopathicInstitute.info

Educational programs offered: Natural Health Program: four years (one weekend a month); Massage Therapy Program: one year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program: six months (one weekend a month). Individual classes available. See ad page 3.

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.

PERMACULTURE & EDIBLE LANDSCAPES MOON BLOSSOM GARDENS

MoonBlossomGardens@gmail.com 231-709-5597 • Taverse City MoonBlossomGardens.com

Providing custom garden consulting services, specializing in biodynamics, permaculture, edible landscapes. Donating 10% off profits to the procurement and distribution of free, organic, cotton pads and tampons. See ad page 11.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT THE SCHOOL OF AMBROSIAL ANIMALS

Aria@AriaMae.com 774-578-2762 AmbrosialAnimals.com

Ambrosial Animals is a Spiritual Development Program for Conscious Leaders - an initiation for those ready to step into their missions more powerfully. See ad page 15.

SCHOOL / EDUCATION NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION

503 East Broadway St, Mt. Pleasant 989-773-1714 Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info NaturopathicInstitute.info

Educational programs offered: Natural Health Program: four years (one weekend a month); Massage Therapy Program: one year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program: six months (one weekend a month). Individual classes available. See ad page 3.

WOMEN'S HEALTH MOON BLOSSOM

MoonBlossomGardens@gmail.com 231-709-5597 • Taverse City MoonBlossomGardens.com Committed to providing free organic cotton pads and tampons everywhere possible! Custom garden consulting services, call or email to find out more. See ad page 11.

August 2021

31

32

Grand Traverse Region

HealthyLivingMichigan.com