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HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

HEMP GAINS GROUND EMERGING TRENDS IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY

TOP TRENDS IN HEALTH PREDICTIONS FOR 2022 ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR PETS WITH CANCER THE SLOW, BUT SURE RISE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

January 2022 | Hudson County Edition | NAHudson.com January

2022

Key Foods offers a wide variety of healthy and organic products for you, your family and your pets. Items ranging from organic bath and body products to gluten- and dairy-free items to traditional grocery items and brands, to so much more!

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Nature’s Virus Killer

not a sniffle!” she exclaimed. Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people around her show signs of cold or flu, she uses copper morning and night. “It saved me last holidays,” she said. “The kids had crud going round and round, but not me.” Attorney Donna Blight tried copper for her sinus. “I am shocked!” she said. By Doug Cornell “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” cientists have discovered a cold never got going. That was A man with trouble breathing natural way to kill germs fast. September 2012. I use copper in the through his nose at night tried copper Now thousands of people nose every time and I have not had a just before bed. “Best sleep I’ve had in are using it against viruses and bacteria single cold since then.” years!” he said. in the nose and on “We can’t In a lab test, technicians placed 25 the skin. make product million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. Colds start health claims,” he No viruses were found surviving soon when cold viruses said, “so I can’t after. get in your nose. say cause and Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply effect. But we confirming the research. He placed fast. If you don’t know copper is millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, antimicrobial.” “They started to die literally as soon as they spread and He asked they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. relatives and Some people press copper on a lip New device puts copper right In hundreds friends to try it. right away if a warning tingle suggests where you need it. of studies, EPA and They reported unwanted germs gathering there. university researchers have confirmed the same thing, so he patented The handle is curved that viruses and bacteria die almost CopperZap® and put it on the and textured to increase instantly when touched by copper. market. contact. Copper can That’s why ancient Greeks and Soon hundreds of people had kill germs picked up on Egyptians used copper to purify water tried it. The feedback was 99% fingers and hands after and heal wounds. They didn’t know positive if they used the copper you touch things other about microbes, but now we do. within 3 hours after the first sign people have touched. Scientists say the high conductance of unwanted germs, like a tickle The EPA says copper of copper disrupts the electrical balance in the nose or a scratchy throat. still works even when Dr. Bill Keevil: in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in Early user Mary Pickrell tarnished. Copper quickly kills seconds. said, “I can’t believe how good CopperZap is made cold viruses. Tests by the EPA (Environmental my nose feels.” in the U.S. of pure Protection Agency) show germs die “What a wonderful thing!” copper. It has a 90-day full money back fast on copper. So some hospitals tried exclaimed Physician’s Assistant Julie. guarantee. It is available for $79.95. Get copper for touch surfaces like faucets Another customer asked, “Is it supposed $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA25. and doorknobs. This cut the spread of to work that fast?” Go to www.CopperZap.com or call MRSA and other illnesses by over half, Pat McAllister, 70, received one for toll-free 1-888-411-6114. and saved lives. Christmas and called it “one of the best Buy once, use forever. The strong scientific evidence gave presents ever. This little jewel really Statements are not intended as inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When works.” product health claims and have not been he felt a cold about to start he fashioned Frequent flier Karen Gauci had been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to a smooth copper probe and rubbed it suffering after crowded flights. Though diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any gently in his nose for 60 seconds. skeptical, she tried copper on travel disease. “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and ADVERTORIAL

Copper can stop a cold before it starts

January 2022

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

HUDSON EDITION PUBLISHER Claire Byers EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tina Woods

EDITOR Allison Gorman

MARKETING Carolyn Coogan

SALES Roger Dubin

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Julee Bode

Natural Awakenings Hudson County NJ namaghudson @NAmagHudson

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 NaturalAwakenings.com © 2022 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 Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

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letter from publisher

The Good News

s another New Year comes into focus, we find that some things have changed—and others, not so much (think Covid, mask mandates, testing and social distancing). We spent a lot of 2021 reflecting and adapting, and now we can take what we’ve learned and embrace positive change in 2022. Two things we’ve learned collectively are that we’re stronger than we thought we were and that we can take control of our mental and physical health. It was once thought that genes largely dictate our health, but we now know that 70 percent of genetic expression is within our control and can be positively impacted by our lifestyle choices: nutritious food, regular exercise, stress reduction, time spent in nature. In other words, every day we can take small steps to get healthier and change our genes for the better. That’s great news! On top of that, there are many new technologies we can use to improve and monitor our health, like the Oura Ring for sleep and the Headspace app for calming meditation. And with broader access to telemedicine, including virtual counseling and therapy, we can conveniently and less expensively focus on all that ails us. Fortunately, we’ve become more accepting of mental-health issues thanks to athletes such as Simone Biles and Michael Phelps promoting Talkspace. Something else brought to the forefront during the pandemic was virtual experiences, and it looks like they’re here to stay. We’re witnessing the advent of another technology that can actually be good for us. The virtual phenomena give us new opportunities for connection and learning, allowing us to grow, heal and get healthier mentally, physically and emotionally. If you’d like to try virtual, but don’t know where to start, you don’t have to go it alone. There are many options, from coaches to training groups to healing circles where you can share with other likeminded individuals. I say this is the year to embrace who you are and decide where you want your life to go. Do it on your own terms, at your own pace and in your own way. Luckily, there are more resources than ever to help you on that journey. And if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed, remember that #itsokaynottobeokay. In health and happiness,

Publisher@NAHudson.com

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

Contents 20

13 OFF TO A GOOD START

Tips For Setting and Achieving Meaningful Goals for the New Year

14 HEALTH IN

THE NEW YEAR

10 Top Wellness Trends for 2022

18 A BETTER

MORNING JOLT

Healthy Coffee Alternatives and Hacks

17 PETER RUSSELL

on the Healing Power of Letting Go

20 HIGH TIMES FOR THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY

Emerging Trends with a COVID-19 Caveat

22 THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE REVOLUTION

Moving Toward an All-EV Future this Year

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact Roger at 917-699-6492 or email MrNaturalNYC@gmail.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

24 CANCER IN PETS

Fighting a Frightening Disease with Alternative Treatments

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Tina@NAHudson.com. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Tina@NAHudson.com. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets contact us at 201-798-3236. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 10 health briefs 12 global briefs 17 wise words 18 conscious eating

20 healing ways 22 green living 24 natural pet 26 calendar 28 resource guide January 2022

SHOP LOCAL HOBOKEN JENGO Shop: HobokenJengo.com Connect: @HobokenJengo Hoboken Jengo is a sustainable online shop designed to empower pets and their humans with ways to reduce their environmental impact through minimally processed high-quality treats, safe lasting toys, and ethically-sourced products that spark joy, foster health, and make a positive difference. Hoboken Jengo provides access to eco-friendly, unique mission-driven brands for dogs, cats and humans in one central place.

LIVE LIFE UNCORKED Shop: Etsy.com/shop/LiveLifeUncorkedShop Instagram.com/livelifeuncorkedshop/ Connect: @LiveLIfeUncorked Love wine or know someone who loves wine? Shop Live Life Uncorked’s readymade upcycled wine cork and sparkling wine capsule products, or reach out to have something specially made. Live Life Uncorked can preserve corks from special moments or trips for you to remember forever. Offer: 10% discount on Etsy or Instagram use or mention code NATURALAWAKENINGS10

MEOW MINI MART Shop: MeowMiniMart.com Connect: @MeowMiniMart Online cat boutique featuring unique and sustainably made fashion and pet collars, home and kitchen gifts, cat toys and wellness products. Charming and sophisticated collections created by artisans and designers who love all animals, especially cats. A percentage of every sale is donated to local cat rescue groups to help pay vet bills. Offer: This month we will be at the following events: Central Jersey Cat Fanciers - Jan. 7-9. Parsippany Hilton, Parsippany, NJ and Super Pet Expo - Jan. 21 – 23, New Jersey Convention Center, Edison, NJ. Visit Eventbrite for more information and tickets. 6

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news briefs

Don’t Ignore Diabetic Foot Problems

oot problems are common in people with diabetes. They can happen over time, when high blood sugar damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet. The nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, can cause numbness, tingling, pain or a loss of feeling in the feet. It can also lead to serious foot problems, says Dr. Margaret Portela, of Union City Podiatry. “If you can’t feel pain, you may not know when you have a cut, blister or open sore on your foot. A wound like that could get infected,” Portela says. “The infection may not heal well because the damaged blood vessels can cause poor blood flow in your feet.” She recommends seeing a healthcare provider right away for any of the following problems: a cut, blister or bruise on the foot that doesn’t start to heal in a few days; red, warm or painful skin on the feet; a callus with dried blood inside; or a foot infection that turns black and smells bad. The best strategy is prevention— controlling blood sugar and caring for the feet every day. Location: Union City Podiatry, 4808 Bergenline Ave., Ste. 202, Union City, NJ. For more information, call 201-863-0036, email UCDPM4808@gmail.com or visit UnionCityPodiatry.com.

Herpes Cream Provides Natural Relief

elia Cahill, founder of Royal John, is pleased to offer natural relief for those that suffer from genital herpes. Royal John’s Genital Herpes Cream is comprised of all-natural ingredients including echinacea, lady slipper, purslane, golden seal, lemon balm, witch hazel, licorice, tea tree and black cumin. “Thirty-five percent of American adults have genital herpes,” says Cahill. “While there is not currently a cure, it is important to find comfort and relief from symptoms naturally with a product you can trust.” The plant-based, antioxidant-rich formula is designed to soothe sores and temporarily relieve pain and swelling due to genital herpes. This cream-based formula is chemical-free and easy to use for management of bothersome symptoms. Cahill brings more than 28 years of expertise in development and research. She has worked with the National Development and Research Institute as well as many brilliant doctors. “Statistically speaking everyone knows someone who has herpes, but not many people talk about it, a big reason is the stigma it carries. It’s a normal, non-life-threatening part of a lot of people’s lives. My hope is to remove the stigma of genital herpes and give relief to the symptoms until we find a cure,” says Cahill. For more information or to order, visit RoyalJohn.com or email info@RoyalJohn.com. Also available on Amazon.

New Year’s Nourishment with Dusty

any New Year’s resolutions boil down to restoring life balance. That’s Dusty Weideman’s goal for her clients too. As a licensed massage therapist and the owner of Massage by Dusty, in Hoboken, Weideman thinks of herself as “a conduit between my client and the union of mind, body Dusty Weideman and spirit.” What “life balance” looks like depends on each client’s unique circumstances—and Weideman sees people from every walk of life, from kids to moms-to-be to cancer patients, and even clients who walk on four legs. A graduate of Cortiva Institute of Massage Therapy, she’s certified in Swedish, deep-tissue, sports, myofascial, trigger-point, table, chair and hand massage. She also offers prenatal, oncology, children and dog massage therapy, and can provide mobile massage / house calls. “Whether my clients are looking to relax, relieve stress, sleep better, ease depression, reduce muscle soreness, increase circulation, recover from injury or just improve overall wellness, massage is beneficial for a myriad of ailments,” she says. “I believe body maintenance and self-care are crucial to health and wellness. I love the fact my clients are happy when they see me and leave feeling rejuvenated. I love what I do, and I think it shows.”

SHOP LOCAL SEAZEN SOAP Shop: SeazenSoap.com Connect: @SeazenSoap Local Handmade natural soap for your skin. SEAZEN specializes in all natural products - soap, skin butter, and CBD products to bring humble luxury to your skin and to create time to indulge yourself and cultivate self-love. Offer: Start the New Year with Self-Care. Get $5 off with $25+ purchase. Code: ‘SELFCARE.’ Special runs from Jan 13 thru Jan 16.

For more information, call 201-739-5256 or visit MassageByDusty. amtamembers.com.

INSPIRED UNIVERSE BOOK SERIES Shop: InspiredUniverse.com Connect: @InspiredUniverseBooks @InspiredUniverse_Books

Khrystle Rea Offers Holistic Health Coaching

New Jersey author Aleksandra Starling, has written three new books for children ages 3 to 8, Elephant in the Kitchen!, Party in the Fridge? and Tornado in the Kitchen. With a bachelor’s in psychology from SUNY Purchase and a plant-based nutrition certificate from Cornell, Aleksandra is the owner of Inspired Universe, a company devoted to children’s health. Her richly illustrated books are designed to make kids laugh while inspiring them to try new things—like eating veggies—that will become foundational habits for a balanced life.

or Khrystle Rea, food is personal. “There’s no one way of eating that works for everyone, and no one-size-fits all solution when it comes to health,” she says. A certified holistic health and fitness coach and a Reiki master, Rea blends knowledge and personal experience to Khrystle Rea offer a unique holistic approach to helping women improve their dietary choices, exercise routines and spiritual well-being. “Over the course of 6 or 12 weeks, we learn your body together as I teach you how to tune in,” she says. “By the end of our time together, we know what foods work best for your body. But health is more than the foods you’re eating or how much you’re exercising. I help you flow with your body and energy in a way where you create new habits and a new way of living easily.” Rea is now accepting new one-on-one clients for six- and 12-week coaching programs. She incorporates Reiki into her oneon-one programs. She also offers Reiki-only sessions, as well as attunements for those feeling called to Reiki. To schedule a free consultation with Khrystle Rea, call 201-430-5166 or email info@khrystlerea.com. For more information or to buy a copy of her latest ebook, visit KhrystleRea.com.

Offer: $45 for the 3 book series and get the “Party in the Fridge” activity book FREE.

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January 2022

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news briefs

Matcha on the Menu at The Grind Shop

ince it opened in Bergen-Lafayette, The Grind Shop has invigorated coffee culture in Jersey City. Now it’s boosting the city’s natural-health culture too, with matcha drinks on the menu. Matcha is a powder made from green tea leaves, and like green tea, it’s a superfood. Studies of matcha and its components have unearthed a variety of benefits, showing that it can help protect the liver, promote heart health and even aid in weight loss. One serving of matcha tea is thought to be the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea. Originally from China, matcha ia grown in the shade alongside green tea bushes to ensure an increased chlorophyll content, which makes the leaves bright green and packed with nutrients. The leaves are hand-picked, the stems and veins are removed, and then the leaves are ground on a stone to get a powder used in drinks, desserts and cocktails. Location: 360 Communipaw Ave., Jersey City, NJ. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 201-547-8377 or visit GrindCoffeeJC.com. For events, new product drops and exclusive content, visit Facebook. com/GrindCoffeeJC or follow the shop on Instagram @grindcoffeejc.

Arthur Vito, D.C., Takes Multidisciplinary Approach to Pain

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ife can be stressful enough as it is, and being in pain makes it that much harder, says Arthur Vito, D.C., Arthur Vito, D.C. founder and president of Power Health and Wellness, in Hoboken. Vito and his team use a multidisciplinary approach to treating pain naturally. Depending on the patient’s symptoms or medical conditions, they will recommend massage, chiropractic, acupuncture or physical therapy. Vito has practiced as a chiropractor for 15 years. He specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with the neuromusculoskeletal system, such as sciatica, neck pain and arthritis pain, while improving patients’ functionality and quality of life. “Over the past couple of years I’ve expanded my team, finding only the best-suited professionals that matched my vision for Power Health and Wellness,” he says. “We offer a wide variety of services, and each of our team members is qualified to answer questions and assist you in any way to ensure that you leave us in a better state than when you arrived.” Power Health and Wellness is family owned and operated. It operates in two locations in Hoboken: Hudson River Athletics and XCEL Athletic Lifestyle. For more information, including office hours for each location, visit PowerHNW.com.

Hudson County

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Wellness Studios for Rent at ZenSpace

enSpace provides a solution to one of the biggest logistical and financial obstacles to teaching dance or wellness classes in Hoboken’s tight commercial real estate market. Its two studios are available for rental for classes, workshops, one-on-one practices and special events. “In my early 20s, when I was a struggling, overworked dance artist in New York, I discovered healing and energy work. My life would never be the same again,” says ZenSpace founder Kristen Mangione. “That discovery took me on a journey into Chinese Medicine, where I became a healing artist studying Zen philosophy and practicing meditation, and an experience of self-development that I could have never planned for. My teaching, artistic work as a dance artist and as a program leader have all been profoundly influenced by this path.” Mangione also teaches an online Intro to Dance series. “If you love to dance and move, or wish that you had learned to dance as a child, but never had the chance, this is for you,” she says. “You’ll discover the freedom, joy and pleasure of dancing from the comfort of your home.” Location: 450 7th St., LL2, Hoboken, NJ (between Adams and Jefferson Streets). For more information, email info@zentouch.org or visit ZenSpaceStudios.com.

North Bergen Twins to Compete in Amazing Race

dentical twins Lulu and Lala Gonzalez, from North Bergen, New Jersey, are among the new teams competing in The Amazing Race’s 20th anniversary season, which begins this month. Lulu and Lala are known in the tri-state are as hosts on KTU’s 103.5– Lulu and Lala Gonzalez The BEAT of New York, an iHeart Radio station, as well as 939MIA in South Florida. Prior to joining iHeartMedia, they spent two years in South Florida hosting their own afternoon show on Miami’s New HITS 97.3 and co-hosted Ty Loves NY on 92.3Now CBS Radio. The Gonzalez twins have been a presence at industry events— like Wynwood Life Arts Festival, Mad Decent Block Party and Miami Music Week, the Billboard Awards, the Latin Grammys and PR Parade—and have interviewed some of Hollywood’s top celebrities, including Justin Timberlake, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Leonardo DiCaprio and Sofia Vergara. The new season of The Amazing Race premieres with a special two-hour episode at 8 p.m. on January 5, and then the weekly show will move to its regular 9 p.m. timeslot on January 12. To follow the show and check in on updates, visit CBS.com/shows/ amazing_race. For more on the twins, visit LuluyLala.com or find LulyuLala on Facebook and Instagram.

Nothing is more powerful than believing in what you do!

is looking for

Sales People in Hudson County

Commission-based position, with great earning potential for the right person. Must be outgoing and enjoy working one-on-one with area businesses. Must have a genuine desire to help others succeed. Email your resumé to: Publisher@NAHudson.com January 2022

health briefs

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOOT & ANKLE PROBLEMS

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Allergic rhinitis—the sneezing, runny nose and red eyes commonly called hay fever—affects one in 12 American adults and 10 to 30 percent of people worldwide. The usual treatment of antihistamines, decongestants or steroids can come with unwelcome side effects, but a simple alternative approach of ear acupressure may be as effective, suggests a new Chinese study. Researchers analyzed 11 random controlled studies that included 1,094 people with allergies. Small cow soapwort seeds or stainless steel pellets corresponding to Traditional Chinese Medicine meridians were placed with adhesive on their ears for several days. The study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine concluded that ear acupressure reduced allergy symptoms more effectively than an antihistamine, conventional medicine, herbs or regular acupuncture.

NAHudson.com

HeartCentered Living

Daria Rudyk /Unsplash.com

A natural compound called fenchol, found in basil and other plants, may help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by preventing toxic proteins from accumulating in the brain, report researchers from the University of South Florida. In a new study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, researchers reported that a sensing mechanism called the FFAR2 receptor on short-chain fatty acids in the gut microbiome reduces neurotoxicity in a brain with Alzheimer’s. After screening more than 144,000 natural compounds to find those that activate that receptor, they discovered that the fenchol in basil bound to it the best. Fenchol was also found to clear harmful amyloid protein from the brain much faster than other compounds and to prevent the formation of halfdead, inflammatory “zombie cells” found in deteriorating brains. Future research will focus on on whether fenchol is best delivered through basil itself, a nasal application spray or a pill.

Try Ear Acupressure for Seasonal Allergies

Karolina Grabowska/Pexels.com

Consider Basil to Fend Off Alzheimer’s

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Ultraviolet (UV) light in various forms has been used widely in the last century to disinfect water, air and surfaces, but its use in public spaces is increasingly common since the COVID-19 pandemic. In a new study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, University of Colorado researchers report finding the sweet spot in the UV spectrum that is both extremely effective at killing the virus and also safer for human exposure, allowing airports and entertainment venues to disinfect even when people are present. The researchers found that while the virus was quite susceptible to UV light in general, a specific wavelength of far-ultraviolet C at 222 nanometers was particularly effective, while remaining safe for human skin and eyes. The highest disinfection rate was from krypton chloride (KrCl) excimers, a low-pressure, mercury-vapor lamp. “Of almost every pathogen we have ever studied, this virus is one of the easiest, by far, to kill with UV light,” says senior author Karl Linden, professor of environmental engineering. Also, researchers at the United Kingdom’s Addenbrooke Hospital, in Cambridge, studied the use of portable high-energy particulate air (HEPA) filters in crowded COVID-19 wards. They found that the relatively inexpensive machines effectively removed COVID-19 particles from the air—the first such evidence in a real-world setting. Researchers noted the HEPA filters also removed detectable amounts of other pathogens that cause infections in hospitals, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pyogenes—a surprising finding because these pathogens are not typically considered to be airborne.

Eat More Fiber to Avoid Liver Fat In a recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital tested 1,682 adults from multiple ethnic groups and compared their diets to their levels of liver fat, which is linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. They found those that ate more red meat and saturated fat, and drank more coffee had higher levels of liver fat, while those that ate more fiber and produce containing vitamins C and E had lower levels of liver fat.

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barks/AdobeStock.com

Use UV Rays and HEPA Filters to Kill COVID-19 Virus

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~John Muir

DrLMSteinberg.com • BiologicalDentistsOfNJ.com

January 2022

global briefs

A new report from the advocacy group Beyond Plastics has found that emissions from the plastic industry may be greater than those from coal-fired power plants by 2029. Founder Judith Enck, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, says, “Plastic is intimately connected to the climate crisis. Plastic is the new coal.” The report details ways plastic contributes to global warming, beginning with its manufacture as petroleum products. Some of the issues are related to fracking, pipelines, toxic chemical byproducts, carcinogenic smoke, atmospheric hydrofluorocarbons and waste disposal on land and sea. The Beyond Plastics report estimates that U.S. production of plastic in 2020 caused about 210 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, or the equivalent of 116 medium-sized, coal-fired power plants. Aarthi Ananthanarayanan, senior fellow at the Ocean Conservancy Plastics Initiative, says the report highlights the need for policymakers to better regulate petrochemical producers, saying, “We have to start considering plastics as part of the fossil fuel industry.”

Hello Honey

Honeybees Dodge Parasites with Social Distancing A study by University College London and the University of Sassari (Italy) published in Science Advances shows that honeybee colonies respond to infestation from harmful mites by varying space and interaction in the hive to increase social distance between the younger and older insects. Co-author Dr. Alessandro Cini says, “Honeybees are a social animal, as they benefit from dividing up responsibilities and interactions such as mutual grooming, but when those social activities can increase the risk of infection, the bees appear to have evolved to balance the risks and benefits by adopting social distancing.” The study assessed the presence of the ectoparasite mite Varroa destructor, which causes harmful effects at the colony level, including virus transmission. Lead author Dr. Michelina Pusceddu says, “Their 12

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Climate Change Affects Coffee Quality A review published in Frontiers in Plant Science outlines the vulnerability of coffee quality to environmental shifts. Researchers from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and Montana State University looked at the effects of 10 prevalent environmental factors and management conditions associated with climate change and adaptation as detailed in 73 published articles to form this analysis. Their findings have implications for farmers’ livelihoods and consumer experiences. Coffee is grown on 12.5 million mostly small farms comprising more than 27 million acres in more than 50 countries. Some of these regions are feeling the impact of climate change, which leads to consequences for coffee’s taste, aroma, nutritional quality, yield and sustainability. Farms at higher altitudes were associated with better coffee flavor and aroma, while too much light exposure correlated with a decrease in overall quality. Coffee quality is also susceptible to changes due to water stress and increased temperatures and carbon dioxide, although more research on these specific factors is needed. Current efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change include shade management to control light exposure, selection and maintenance of climate-resilient wild coffee plants, and pest management, but innovative solutions to support bean growth at all elevations still need to be devised.

ability to adapt their social structure and reduce contact between individuals in response to a disease threat allows them to maximize the benefits of social interactions where possible and to minimize the risk of infectious disease when needed. Honeybee colonies provide an ideal model for studying social distancing and for fully understanding the value and effectiveness of this behavior.”

mockup graphics/Unsplash.com

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Plastic is the New Coal

Bottoms Up

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Regulation Needed

OFF TO A GOOD START

Tips For Setting and Achieving Meaningful Goals for the New Year by Aleksandra Starling

ith the holidays just behind us, we look forward to a new year with hopes that it will bring much-needed changes into our lives, the lives of our loved ones, or the world around us. New Year’s gives us an opportunity to set new goals, spark big changes or make tiny adjustments that will make our lives better. Identify the most impactful changes. What matters most to you? What’s the first change, big or small, that would have the greatest impact on your life? What’s the second change that would make your life better and put a grin on your face? I encourage you to write down the answers. Defining your goals based on your values, without external influences, is an important step. Be honest with yourself. Improving your life will also positively impact people around you. As you think about what really matters to you, let your intuition lead the way. It always knows what’s best for you. Understand your “why.” While you define the changes that will make your life better, think about why they matter too. Understanding your individual “why” will be critical for days when you need to remind yourself why you’re changing in the first place.

What helps me is connecting my small goals or changes to other people or bigger goals. One of my goals for this year is to get up 30 minutes earlier, so I’ll have longer days to create more of what I love to benefit children. Perhaps you want to spend an extra 30 minutes with your children or partner, following your personal project, or cooking healthy meals. Write down how that change will make your life better and affect other people in a positive way. Break down your goals into small steps. Identify the steps you need to take to achieve your goals. To spend more time with your children or partner or taking care of yourself, for example, you might need to shift your work schedule or get help with some chores. If you want to cook more healthy meals, perhaps you’ll need to go grocery shopping more often to buy fresh produce, or utilize an ingredientand-recipe plan. Write down the steps needed to achieve your goal, and keep them handy. Execute your goals. How do you execute your goals successfully? Write down clear goals and plans to achieve them. It can take just a few minutes to write them down, but doing so greatly increases

your chances of achieving them, writes Mark Murphy, CEO of Leadership IQ and the author of Hiring For Attitude. Take a couple of minutes a day to read your goals. This will not only keep your eyes consistently on target but will also remind you to act on your goals. Plus, you will develop a positive habit over time. Add your plans to your calendar. Once they’re on your daily calendar, the actions toward your goals will be hard to miss. Visualize yourself having already achieved your goal. Close your eyes and imagine every detail: see it, feel it, taste it, hear it and smell it. Do that when you wake up or as you fall asleep. It’s not just the new year that gives us the opportunity to change our lives for the better. Every day we wake up is a gift allowing us to start again. Aleksandra Starling is a children’s author based in New Jersey. She is also the founder of Inspired Universe, a company devoted to children’s health. For more information, visit InspiredUniverse.com. January 2022

Health in the New Year 10 Top Wellness Trends for 2022

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by Sandra Yeyati

very new year marks the convergence of endings and beginnings—an opportunity to assess where we’ve been and anticipate where we’re going. As this dynamic relates to our health, this year promises an intensification in the development and adoption of several trends that have been years in the making.

Plant-Based Foods Take Center Stage The consensus among researchers is that filling our plates with colorful vegetables and fruits improves health and reduces our risk of developing a number of chronic degenerative diseases. “This approach, along with eating less meat and avoiding sugar, is wonderful to control blood sugar, lower uric acid and nurture your microbiome, which is fundamentally important to reduce in14

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flammation, increase your body’s production of antioxidants and vitamins and help maintain the integrity of the gut lining so that you don’t get leaky gut and, therefore, inflammation,” says boardcertified neurologist David Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain and four other New York Times bestsellers. Awareness of the devastating effects of industrialized meat production is also accelerating. “Avoiding animal products is probably the first and most important ethical choice one can make,” says Princeton University bioethics professor Peter Singer, author of the seminal Animal Liberation. “That’s going to dramatically lower your carbon footprint. You will no longer be complicit in the suffering of tens of billions of factory-farmed animals, and you won’t be contributing to the increasing risks of viruses being bred in factory farms.”

According to market continuous glucose “Core concepts like being present in the moment or monitoring systems to analysis firm CB Insights, taking in the other person in an empathetic way are pinpoint how lifestyle “As COVID-19 spread choices like food, exercise across the globe, shifting rippling out into so many aspects of life.” and sleep affect blood sugar consumer behavior and –Leslie Davenport levels. “That is not only virus outbreaks in factories trending now, but will increase quite dramatically as consumers has dealt major blows to the meat supply chain, with the beef push to learn more about themselves,” Perlmutter predicts. “No industry alone facing an estimated $13.6 billion in losses.” Several longer is this information going to be siloed in the doctor’s office. U.S. meat processing plants were forced to close their doors. People are becoming more and more empowered to learn this In response, a growing inventory of plant-based alternative data about themselves and act on it.” proteins is emerging, offering new products that seek to mimic the experience of eating a juicy hamburger (Beyond Meat and Learning to Improve Genetic Expression Impossible Foods) or crispy chicken nugget (Simulate). Banza makes high-protein pasta from chickpeas. Retail sales of plant“Our evolving understanding of epigenetics—how we can change based meals in the U.S. have grown by 25.5 percent over the past our gene expression—is bringing more people on board to the two years, and other manufacturers joining the field are Plantible idea that our lifestyle choices matter,” Perlmutter says. “When Foods, Rebellyous Foods, Livekindly and InnovoPro. A recent I went to medical school, we thought our DNA was locked in a survey found that 36 percent of consumers intend to increase their glass case and that it would determine everything about us. Nowaconsumption of alternative protein sources in the near future. days, we know that the expression of more than 70 percent of our Perlmutter cautions, “Just because they’re plant-based doesn’t give DNA that codes for health and longevity is under our control and them full sanction. They may contain unfermented soy, which may influenced by our lifestyle choices. The food we eat, whether or not be non-GMO or organic, and per an article in the New York not we slept well last night, the stress in our lives, whether or not Times, their carbon footprint may be a lot higher in production of we spent time in nature—all of these things, moment-to-moment, these products than we have been led to believe. Do a little research change our gene expression. Holy Toledo! We now know that on these manufactured foods and go for plant-based options that certain lifestyle choices are good for you because they favorably aren’t processed. Shop the periphery of the grocery store.” change gene expression. They teach it in med school now. It’s a breathtaking reality.”

Telemedicine Will Continue After the Pandemic

According to management consultants McKinsey and Company, when COVID-19 began, the level of telemedicine increased in America 78-fold, peaking in April 2020. Although it has been declining since then, the use of telemedicine is still at a 38-fold increase compared to pre-pandemic times. “While it has leveled off, we are going to see persisting use of telemedicine in situations that involve basic communication with a patient,” says Perlmutter, citing compelling attributes such as cost savings, convenience and a lower carbon footprint because people don’t have to commute to a doctor’s office.

Wearable Devices and Home Testing Empower Patients Perlmutter also anticipates an amplification of the use of wearable devices and home testing to provide biometric data that informs people about their health status and inspires them to modify lifestyle choices. The Oura Ring records the time it takes to get to sleep, how many times the wearer awakens during the night and how much time they spend in REM and deep sleep. This information enables people to modify day-to-day activities to improve the quality and quantity of sleep. Apple Watch aficionados are increasingly relying on the device’s biofeedback features, including its newest metric, blood oxygenation, while diabetics and non-diabetics alike employ

Harnessing the Power of Low-Level Stress Life hackers and high-performance junkies are looking to leverage something called hormesis, which involves introducing low-level stress to the body for a positive outcome, so that when the body repairs itself from that condition, it doesn’t just repair back to the previous level, but to a new one with an advantage. This includes exposing the body to a hot sauna or cold exposure through cryotherapy, as well as intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating. “People are starting to see how good things happen when we engage in things that push us in places that are perhaps a little bit uncomfortable, activating mechanisms that help with metabolic health, immunity, cognitive function and even the growth of new brain cells,” Perlmutter explains.

Mental Health Destigmatized When U.S. gymnast Simone Biles dropped out of the 2021 Summer Olympic Games citing mental health challenges, she created an opening for other people to speak up. If a world champion could reveal her vulnerability on the global stage when the stakes were so high, certainly so could they. Her compelling story is emblematic of an emerging trend: Mental health is gradually becoming destigmatized. “It’s becoming acceptable to talk about our feelings and ask for help, and this trend is shattering unhealthy cultural myths, like the erroneous assumption that if we talk about our emotions we’re January 2022

going to fall into a pit of despair and sadness,” says Licensed Integrative Psychotherapist Leslie Davenport, the author of Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change. “There’s a boldness among younger generations that are challenging the status quo and demanding to be accepted as they are. Tucking away anything that might not be socially acceptable is a part of the past. Kids want their families and adults to accept and love them exactly as they are.” On Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, #itsoknottobeok is a popular hashtag. Mental health surveys show that eco-anxiety in particular is prevalent among the young. Late last year, scientists at the University of Bath, in England, interviewed 10,000 youth between the ages of 16 and 25 across 10 continents. In the U.S., 68 percent said that the future was frightening. Almost half admitted that they had distressing feelings related to climate change on a daily basis, 42 percent believed that the things they valued most would be destroyed and 35 percent feared that their family security would be threatened.

A Surge in Coaching According to Davenport, “In addition to therapy becoming more acceptable, I’ve seen coaching become more common as another option in which people don’t have to examine their past and can instead look forward. A coach can help them make sense of their life, set goals and hold them accountable.”

Mindfulness Becomes Ubiquitous

Therapy and Meditation Apps Abound Redefining the conventional, in-person therapy session that is 50 minutes in a quiet room, therapy apps allow people to have short phone calls, video chats or text exchanges with a therapist for a low monthly fee. Notable therapy apps include BetterHelp. com, OnlineTherapy.com, BrightSide.com and Calmerry.com. For meditation, Calm.com, InsightTimer.com and HeadSpace.com are dominating the field.

Virtual Experiences Are Here to Stay Many people that were devastated by isolation and loneliness during the pandemic sought social engagement via streaming and app-enabled webinars, exercise routines or art classes. Suddenly, virtual conferences attracted participants from all over the world. Davenport relishes the fact that she was able to take tap dancing classes from a renowned New York City teacher, even though she lives in Washington State. “In a surprising silver lining, we’ve come to appreciate the convenience of these virtual experiences, which we likely wouldn’t have attended in person before the pandemic.” Sandra Yeyati is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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In a few decades, mindfulness practices have catapulted from Buddhist monasteries to corporate boardrooms and have become

a billion-dollar industry in the U.S. with an 11 percent annual growth rate. “Mindfulness has been emerging for a while, but at this point, it’s a household word,” Davenport says. “People are talking about mindful eating or mindful conversations. Core concepts like being present in the moment or taking in the other person in an empathetic way are rippling out into so many aspects of life.”

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wise words

Peter Russell on the Healing Power of Letting Go by Linda Sechrist

well as immersing in A Course in Miracles and the writings of contemporary teachers including Eckhart Tolle and Ram Dass.

n Letting Go of Nothing: Relax Your Mind and Discover the Wonder of Your True Nature, Peter Russell reminds readers what lies at the heart of all spiritual traditions. Based on his half-century of practicing Transcendental Meditation and applying the lessons of ancient and contemporary spiritual teachers, he offers a new perspective on the age-old practice of letting go, which involves not being attached to outcomes, surrendering desires, accepting the present, opening to a higher power, relinquishing the ego and practicing forgiveness. He traces the seeds of many ideas in the book to his time in India studying with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, as

photo by Peter Russell

What exactly do you advise us to let go of? While the thought-provoking title suggests that individuals might be asked to let go of a situation, possessions or a relationship, the fundamental theme running through the book is not the letting go of things themselves, but rather letting go the things that only exist in the mind—thoughts, interpretations, fixed beliefs, points of view, expectations of the future, attachments to possessions and relationships, judgements, grievances, assumptions about how things should or should not be. These things in the mind are the lens through which the things of the world are experienced. For example, looking at things through blue-tinted spectacles gives everything a blueish tinge. But the lens itself is not part of the world you see. In a similar way, the lens through which we see our world is not another thing we see. In this sense, we are letting go of the “non-things” that color our view of the world.

What led to your understanding of this? The questions “Is there another way of seeing this?” and “Could there, just possibly, be another way of seeing this?” occurred spontaneously, without an effort

on my part. With an open, curious attitude and without trying to find an answer or even assuming there was one, my inner knowing was able to shine through and reveal another more helpful way of seeing things.

What benefits have you experienced from letting go? I’m more in touch with my intuition and my feelings and less consumed by my thoughts. I feel better, experience more peace and am content. Discontent is largely self-created by thinking how things should or should not be. When discontent drops away, contentment becomes more prevalent. No one walks around wonderfully enlightened all the time. Letting go is a lifetime process. Noticing where I get caught up, pausing, coming back to the present, to what is, has a feeling of “Ahhh.” It’s a sense of coming home to my inner home. The world pulls us outward, taking us out of ourselves. When we step back from it and let go for a while, it’s like coming home to our self.

How can we better savor each moment? In just pausing and noticing what is in the present moment of experience, you’ll simply be stopping and withdrawing your interest from the thoughts that showed up when you paused. If you notice that your attention relaxes and if there is a sense of ease, a gentle sense of happiness or joy or a quality of spaciousness and clarity, savor it. Later, when it occurs to you, pause again and again. But don’t let the practice of pausing become routine or a ritual. Instead, make each pause a fresh inquiry into the moment and be curious about what it feels like, as if it were the first time, because it is the first and only time you will savor “this” moment. Linda Sechrist is the Natural Awakenings senior staff writer. Connect at Linda Sechrist.com. January 2022

conscious eating

A Better Morning Jolt

Healthy Coffee Alternatives and Hacks

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by April Thompson

ost Americans enjoy a daily dose of coffee, and an increasing body of research indicates it’s not a bad habit to have. Meanwhile, a growing number of people are adapting their morning drink rituals to incorporate ingredients ranging from matcha to mushrooms in search of additional health benefits. “After many years of research, we have concluded that coffee can be a fantastic additive to the diet. Coffee consumption is associated with a decrease in all-cause mortality, risk of cardiovascular death and stroke,” says Claudia Hleap, a registered dietician nutritionist in Philadelphia. Regular coffee consumption is also correlated with a decreased risk of Type 2 diabetes, potentially due to its naturally containing polyphenols, which are plant compounds with protective antioxidant properties. The caffeine in coffee, as well as in tea and cocoa, can also boost short-term metabolism and brain function. As with most things in life, moderation is key; overconsumption of coffee can result in insomnia, irritability, gastrointestinal

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issues and other short-lived side effects. “Caffeine intake may negatively impact sleep duration and quality, which is essential for optimal health,” says Hleap. “Coffee can also serve as a vessel for added sugars and unhealthy fats in the diet if you are adding sweeteners and artificial creamers.” Many java drinkers today are experimenting with healthy alternatives and add-ons to shake up their routine morning pickme-up. Chicory-based drinks, made from roasted ground chicory root, are a favorite for Lauren O’Connor, a Los Angeles registered dietitian nutritionist and author of Healthy Cooking for One. “Chicory is caffeine-free, acid-free and a gut-friendly alternative to coffee,” she says. “It also has a robust, roasted taste that can satisfy those who desire more than an herbal tea. Date ‘coffee’, made from date seed, also has a deep, rich flavor.” Some chicory tea blends also incorporate roasted dandelion root, which has been used by herbalists for centuries to enhance the body’s detoxifying functions, particularly of the liver. Golden milk, a traditional Indian beverage associated with Ayurvedic

Rather than swap out coffee altogether, some java lovers are bettering their beloved beans with healthy add-ons such as powdered mushrooms, ghee and spices.

A Better Bean Rather than swap out coffee altogether, some java lovers are bettering their beloved beans with healthy add-ons such as powdered mushrooms, ghee and spices. “A healthy addition to coffee can include coconut oil, collagen or butter. These can add some fat and protein content, which will provide more energy while also jumpstarting your metabolism at the beginning of the day,” says holistic health coach Virginia Gruhler. Ghee, a clarified butter that originated in ancient India, has been touted as a “keto-friendly” way to help neutralize the acidity of coffee while adding healthy fats and nutrients. Spices like cinnamon and cardamom have been added to coffee and black tea for centuries in the Middle East and Asia to enhance both flavor and health. Cinnamon, for example, may help lower blood sugar, in addition to having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Mushroom coffee is another popular “coffee-plus” beverage which combines the flavor and energy boost of java with the benefits of medicinal fungi like turkey tail, lion’s mane and chaga, boosting the immune system and potentially warding off serious health conditions like dementia and cancer. Because caffeine can stay in the bloodstream for up to 10 hours, staying clear of all caffeinated drinks in the later hours of the day will help ensure a better night’s sleep. When a mid-afternoon slump hits, a brisk walk followed by a cup of a flavorful herbal tea like Rooibos or lemongrass can wake up the body and the brain naturally. Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

photo provided by deanna, homesteadandchill.com

medicine, is another flavorful alternative with numerous health benefits. Recipes vary, but golden milk is typically prepared by heating milk or a plant-based milk alternative along with turmeric, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, honey, vanilla and/or cardamom. “These warming spices go above a simple caffeine replacement to provide powerful anti-inflammatory benefits,” says Trista Best, a registered dietitian in Dalton, Georgia. Best also recommends matcha, a traditional Japanese drink made from powdered, young, green tea leaves whisked in water as a coffee alternative with less caffeine and other added benefits. Because the tea leaves are essentially consumed in powder form rather than just steeped in water, matcha contains more catechins, an important antioxidant, than a typical preparation of green tea. “The L-theanine, an amino acid, in matcha is known to improve brain health, which shows itself through improved memory, attention and reaction time,” notes Best.

Turmeric Golden Milk yield:

2 mugs

3 cups organic, natural milk such as oat, almond, coconut, hemp or another 2 tsp ground turmeric powder ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 Tbsp coconut oil (skip if using a full-fat coconut cream or milk) ¼ tsp ground ginger powder Dash of black pepper Maple syrup, agave syrup or honey to taste Optional, but luxurious and delicious: Pinch of ground cardamom (about ⅛ tsp or just under) Dash of vanilla extract or vanilla powder Pinch of ground nutmeg (about ⅛ tsp or just under) Gently heat milk of choice in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat. Once it’s warm, add the suggested spices, oil and sweetener. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine all of the ingredients. Depending on the type of milk used, vigorous whisking may create a nice, latte-like “foam”. Continue to heat for about five minutes, whisking occasionally. Serve immediately and enjoy it warm. Golden milk is also delicious cold over ice, although oil is not recommended to use in this case. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat leftovers on the stovetop (rather than in a microwave) to preserve maximum nutritional value. Source: Deanna, creator of HomesteadAndChill.com. January 2022

High Times for the Cannabis Industry Emerging Trends with a COVID-19 Caveat by Jim Motavalli

t’s fair to say that the cannabis industry has arrived. Recreational marijuana has now been approved in 17 states, and 37 have allowed marijuana for medical purposes. “We have CBD!” proclaim store signs selling the buzz-free cannabidiol. In 2020, more than 240,000 people worked in cannabis-related jobs. The Brightfield Group says the medical cannabis industry will reach $16 billion in annual U.S. sales by 2025. Cannabis market research firm Headset predicts this will be “a year of positive growth” for the industry. Legalization and expansion are strongly in line with public sentiment: Two-thirds of Americans believe marijuana should be legal, says the Pew Research Center. Opposition has fallen from 52 percent in 20

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2010 to just 32 percent by the end of 2019. “Dispensaries and cannabis cafés are as commonplace as Starbucks, and ordering edibles is as easy as getting pizza,” reports marketing firm Grassfed Media. The National Retail Federation noted a 700 percent increase in the demand for CBD-based products in 2019. One caveat, however, is COVID-19. Ron Newman, a sustainable development analyst with Lee Enterprises Consulting, says the hemp/ CBD business was flat during 2020 because of the pandemic. “With the economic situation, people were buying only essentials,” he says. “But we’re seeing the business start to come back now.” With COVID-19 recovery, more growth is certain, and here are some upcoming trends.

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healing ways

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient in marijuana that gets the user high. The natural compound CBD—said to have healing and pain/anxiety relief properties—is being heavily marketed in the form of oils, edibles (including gummy bears and lollipops), oral sprays, creams and pills. The third-most popular food-related Google search term in 2018 was “CBD gummies”. CBD dietary supplements are the biggest category, followed by topical applications and third, food and beverage additives. THC is still illegal in many parts of the U.S., but CBD cultivation and sales were legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill. California offers a model for the states in regulating cannabis. Both medicinal cannabis and adult recreational use are legal, but the industry is strictly regulated by the Department of Cannabis Control to ensure that businesses operate safely and that products are free from contamination, properly labeled and kept away from children. Research into cannabis is an emerging field, with 23,000 papers published since 2010, and Grassfed believes that some future products will be based on “other cannabinoids and terpenes such as CBN, CBG, THCA and THCV.” In addition, strains labeled indica, sativa or hybrid, or with names like Gorilla Glue and Wedding Crasher, may increasingly be replaced by a scientifically supported classification system. Bar & Restaurant magazine wants its bartenders to know there might be THC-free CBD cocktails on their future bar menus. It reports that these drinks are “a legal grey area; federally they’re illegal, but some states have their own CBD-related laws.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says flatly, “It is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement,” but the agency has said it is considering relaxing this prohibition. There’s a Wild West quality to the CBD/hemp industry today. An FDA study found many CBD products to be mislabeled, with either more or less CBD than indicated. A significant number contained THC. And then there are the laws, with federal prohibitions and state regulations, that can be quite different. For instance, New York bans CBD products with more than 0.3 percent THC, and bans CBD from any alcohol or tobacco product. So determining whether any specific product is “legal” or not in different locations is complex. But marketing benefits are plain. Wynk alcohol-free seltzer says it has “2.5 milligrams of THC and 2.5 milligrams of CBD in every can.” However, Wynk is not widely available. Casey Coughlin, Wynk brand manager, says, “We only sell Wynk through the dispensary channel, which is highly regulated on a state-by-state basis. So, although CBD and THC beverages are not federally legal, they are at the state level under regulation.” Jody McGinness, executive director of the Hemp Industries Association, says the FDA doesn’t actually have strong enforcement powers, and that the worst thing CBD/THC legal violators can expect from the agency is a warning letter posted on the FDA website. Gregg Sturz, co-founder of Florida-based CBD Hemp Experts, a leading wholesale provider of cannabis-derived products, says he expects the FDA to eventually approve CBD for use in dietary supplements. “I don’t think they’re trying to shut the industry down, just come up with some clear guidelines,” he says. The legal status of THC is such a question mark that, according to Investopedia’s Marijuana Investing Guide, large banks “are currently afraid

of money-laundering charges they may face if they work with these businesses … The American Bankers’ Association has been pushing for more legal clarity.” Newman, who studies the medicinal uses of CBD, notes that in some cases it’s being marketed as a topical analgesic for pain relief, when actually the other proven ingredients in analgesics—including methanol and camphor—are doing the heavy lifting. This situation has also produced FDA warning letters, because if CBD is claimed to relieve pain, then it is required to go through a new drug application process for efficacy. In 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex, an oral solution with CBD as an active ingredient, used for the treatment of rare and severe forms of epilepsy. While it’s the only approved product so far, studies suggest CBD might be useful for anxiety, insomnia, skin protection and addiction. McGinness sees the major growth area for cannabis-related products not in CBD, but in industrial hemp fiber. As hemp growers gear up in the Midwest after decades of federal bans, they’re likely to expand beyond cottage clothing companies into such areas as auto and industrial parts and building materials, he says. “Hemp products made in a green way create fewer emissions,” McGinness says. “And the bioplastics made from hemp are lighter-weight, which increases fuel efficiency. I expect we’ll see heartland industrial hemp grow so much it will make CBD look like a niche.” Jim Motavalli is a Connecticut-based journalist who writes about the environment, cars and music. He can be contacted via JimMotavalli.com.

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January 2022

green living

The Electric Vehicle Revolution Moving Toward an All-EV Future this Year

photo by Chevrolet

by Jim Motavalli

lmost certainly, electric cars are in everyone’s future. Not only are automakers— from General Motors and Volvo to Rolls-Royce and Bentley—pledging to stop producing gas and diesel cars, but a long list of countries in Europe and Asia plus three U.S. states are planning to ban them by 2040 or earlier, often citing climate change imperatives. This wouldn’t be happening if electrification technology was standing still. Instead, it’s made rapid progress to the point that electric vehicles (EV) are more often than not better cars than their internal combustion counterparts. A range of 300 miles or more (the top model of the luxurious Lucid Air claims 520) has become commonplace, and the inherent properties of electric motors—such as lots of low-end torque—means they’re very fast off the line. The Rimac Nevera, an EV supercar, reaches 60 mph in an incredible 1.85 seconds. But there’s more. Fuel and service costs have been dramatically reduced with EVs. A 2018 University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute study pegged the average cost to operate an EV at $485 a year, compared to $1,117 for a gas-operated car, and 22

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battery packs and electric motors take up less space than engines, transmissions and radiators. This means larger passenger compartments with more legroom and no center “hump”, and storage up front (the so-called “frunk”), as well as behind. Designers are even able to ditch the grille—a feature shared by all but a few aircooled cars on the market.

EVs Get More Affordable The high cost of EVs has been off-putting. The Tesla Model S Plaid Edition, made in California, starts at $129,990, the Arizona-

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Buying an EV will require some lifestyle changes, most but not all of them positive. Passing up gas stations is a plus. Studies show that 80 percent or more of EV charging will be done at home, mostly at night. Regular servicing for tuneups and oil changes will become a distant memory, and so will the financial bite. AAA says EVs will cost on average $949 less per year

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Crossword Puzzle on Page 35

What to Expect

Jim Motavalli, a Connecticut-based journalist, writes about the environment, cars and music. He can be contacted at JimMotavalli.com.

A H

Another EV cost is the installation of 240-volt electricity for home charging. But in 2020 the International Code Council (ICC) set new voluntary guidelines for new homes that would make all of them “EV-Ready”. Installing the necessary wiring when the house is built would cost $920, compared to $3,550 for a retrofit, says the ICC. Some municipalities, such as Seattle, already require EV wiring for new homes with off-street parking. Increasingly, EVs are being equipped for two-way power, meaning they can power homes or construction sites. That’s one part of the appeal of Ford’s Lightning, which has 9.6 kilowatts of power available to keep the lights on during a power outage. It can provide full-home electricity for three days.

Integrating with the Home

to maintain. Many of today’s electric cars have range limitations, and this needs to be factored into trip planning. The 2021 Volkswagen I.D. 4 Pro can travel 260 miles on a charge, perhaps not enough to get to grandma’s house. The 2021 Nissan Leaf only has a 150-mile range, although the Leaf Plus increases that to 226. Buying used is tempting, because some EVs—such as early Nissan Leafs—are highly affordable, with good ones costing about $7,000. But its range is poor, just 73 miles. While some older Teslas have credible range, they’ve also retained their value pretty well. In general, buying new—which includes claiming the federal income tax credit—is a better idea. First-time EV buyers worry about high prices, range, finding public chargers (although the $7.5 billion allocated to build them in the recent infrastructure bill may help), the considerable time needed to recharge at home, compromised interior space and replacing the expensive battery packs. These are all legitimate concerns, but the lower-priced, roomy, fast-charging EVs coming on the market now—and a network of more than 41,000 public chargers—go a long way toward addressing them.

world—the exception would be in areas with very dirty coal-based grids. For a complete lifecycle analysis, it’s necessary to factor in the effects of manufacturing, the mining of rare earth minerals, the makeup of the local grid, end-of-life recycling and other factors. EVs do have slightly higher greenhouse gas production from recycling (1.8 tons versus 2.4 tons) because of battery processing, a Chinese study says. But that same study reports that complete lifecycle emissions for EVs are 18 percent lower. The good news is that many of the factors that go into lifecycle analysis are getting better for EVs. Renewable energy is the fastest-growing energy source, and the amount in the U.S. grid increased 100 percent between 2000 and 2018. Lithium is essential for modern EV batteries, and both General Motors and BMW have invested in more sustainable methods of extraction.

produced Lucid sells for up to $170,000, and the Croatian-made Rimac costs $2.4 million. That’s one reason EV penetration is low—accounting for only 2 percent of U.S. sales in 2020. By last year, there were almost 1.8 million EVs on American roads—three times the number of 2016— but affordable cars would make the numbers grow much faster. The federal $7,500 federal income tax credit for EVs helps, but it has a 200,000-unit sales cap, and General Motors and Tesla have already met it. Some states, and especially EV-friendly California, have generous additional incentives, and a proposed increase in the tax credit from $7,500 to $12,500 is under consideration by Congress. Battery pack costs—the key reason EVs are expensive—went down an average of 16 percent per year between 2007 and 2020, the University of Pennsylvania reports. And that has created cheaper electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Bolt ($31,995), Hyundai Kona ($34,000), Mini Cooper SE ($30,750), Nissan Leaf ($32,620) and Tesla Model 3 ($41,190). The big news for truck fans is that the country’s bestselling vehicle for many years, the Ford F-150 pickup, will have a battery electric variant called the Lightning on the market this spring with a price under $40,000. For some people, hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicles are a better choice. They’re certainly cheaper. Toyota’s long-lived Prius (with 58 mpg city/53 highway) starts at $24,525. And there’s an appealing Ford hybrid truck, too—the Maverick—at $19,995. It went on sale late last year. These “green” trucks are undoubtedly better for the environment than their gas and diesel counterparts. Greenhouse gas production is directly tied to fuel economy, and some versions of the current F-150 pickup get only 15 mpg combined. The only emissions from its EV counterpart and battery trucks like it will be from the generation of the electricity to run them. The Maverick hybrid gets 40 mpg in city driving. In 2020, researchers in England and Holland said that driving an EV is better for the environment in 95 percent of the

natural pet

Cancer in Pets Fighting a Frightening Disease with Alternative Treatments by Jorelle Baker

ancer is possibly the scariest diagnosis a pet owner can get. Once given, it’s common for the owner to see a time limit put on their pet’s life. And even though conventional veterinary medicine has made exceptional advances in cancer treatments like chemotherapy, they can wreak havoc on a pet’s body. It’s important to understand that there are alternative treatments for pets with cancer, giving them the best chances to fight back. What cancer is Truly understanding what that fight involves requires knowing what cancer is and how it spreads. Cancer is the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells or tissue in the body. Malignant cells can localize in one specific part of the body or spread out to infect other body systems. A tumor can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Many—but not all—cancers take the shape of tumors. Although it’s common for some pets to sprout lumps over time, it is imperative to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian to analyze what it could be. Here are some of the most common cancers found in pets: • Carcinoma: affects skin tissue or the tissue lining the internal organs, like the liver or kidneys • Melanoma: primarily affects the epidermis (top skin layer) • Osteosarcoma: bone cancer • Leukemia: cancer resulting in increased white blood cells in the bloodstream or bone marrow; commonly associated with lymphoma, which is specific to the lymph nodes • Hemangiosarcoma: tumors in the blood vessels How cancer develops Now that we have a basic understanding of what we’re dealing with, we need to understand how cancer develops. Unfortunately, there is no single specific factor that can cause cancer cells to form, and every cancer patient will develop the disease differently. 24

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However, we do know several leading factors that increase a pet’s cancer risk: • Improper diet: Food containing artificial ingredients and preservatives are difficult to digest and full of carbohydrates, which a pet’s body does not need. When consumed in large quantities, chemicals like food dyes and monosodium glutamate (MSG) can lead to disease over time. • Environment: In-home cleaning products, herbicides, pesticides and secondhand smoke are all dangerous to breathe in, as they contain carcinogenic chemicals. Pets are more susceptible to these chemicals due to their heightened senses. • Genetics: Pure breeds are at a higher risk of developing cancer and other diseases. Mixed breeds have a wider range of family genetics, making them less likely to develop cancer. • Compromised immune system: The body is constantly fighting off stress, germs and chemicals to stay healthy. When it’s overtaxed, a bigger disease can take advantage of a weakened immune system to form tumors or cancer cells. • Spaying too early: Changing the body’s natural hormones too early increases the risk for cancer to form, as the body was not given time to develop completely. Alternative therapies All this information can be overwhelming, but a holistic veterinarian can help pet owners navigate it and understand every option at their disposal. Here are some of the most effective alternative therapies for cancer in pets: • Ozone therapy supports the immune system, combats infection, slows cancerous cell growth and increases tolerance to radiation from chemotherapy. • Vitamin C treatment supports the immune system to slow the growth and spread of cancer cells while repairing and hydrating healthy tissue.

• Dietary change: Eliminating artificial chemicals reduces the amount of energy it takes to process nutrients. A highquality diet with natural vitamins and minerals supports the whole body, allowing the pet to maintain optimal health during treatment and recovery. • Bloodroot treatment: This flower salve can be ingested or applied directly onto the infected site. It eats away the cancerous cells while leaving the healthy tissue intact. • Acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments support whole-body systems to combat disease and strengthen weakened areas. Acupuncture channels energy throughout the body, stimulating parts of the body that need it for maximum efficiency. • Herbal supplements: Natural medicinal herbs and medicinal mushrooms have direct anti-cancer properties, giving the body extra fuel to combat cancer cells and tumors. Surgery: Removing the tumor early, before it spreads, can give the veterinarian better control of the situation. Rather than fighting to contain it, the vet can be more proactive in keeping it from growing back. Cancer is a frightening disease, and it’s normal for pet parents to be scared and overwhelmed by the idea of a pet’s mortality. Anyone whose pet is struggling with cancer or was just diagnosed with cancer should know that there are alternatives. Jorelle Baker is the social media manager, content creator and webmaster for Holistic Pet Care (HolisticPetCareNJ.com). He has always loved writing, sharing stories and personal growth with the goal of continually refining his craft and spreading awareness about mental health. He aims to help open minds and further the spread of knowledge. To connect with Jorelle, email sharpwriter126@aol.com.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

†

Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven’t done a thing. You are just talking. ~Wangari Maathai

Natural Awakenings Editor & Realtor Helping Hudson County Residents Relocate to Central Jersey

Tina is a Zillow Premier Agent and shows homes featured on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor and Redfin.

Tina Woods, Real Estate Agent M: 973.255.0981 • O: 973.310.6816 tina.woods@compass.com tina.woods.nj Tina Woods is a real estate salesperson affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

January 2022

calendar of events The Magic Hour; Mile Square Theatre – Streaming on demand through Jan. Mile Square Theatre presents the cinematic filming of its world premiere production of Sarah Weber Gallo/dance theatre’s The Magic Hour. Dancers fling themselves through a scary/happy/sad dreamscape in search of how to be, how to make an impact, and how to fade away in this ecstatic new dance theatre work. The Magic Hour attacks the existential problem of unstoppable time with ferocious energy as the performers grasp at immortality. Winner Best Feature Film – NYC Indie Theatre Film Festival 2021. Free; reserve tickets on line. Mile Square Theatre, 1400 Clinton St, Hoboken. MileSquareTheatre.org. Healing Meditation, Restorative Yoga and Reiki – THC is a favorite space to experience healing through connection, meditation, and movement. They offer guided meditations, Yin Yoga, mat based experiences, rhythm based cycling and expansive workshops to support your healing journey. The Healing Center, 80 River St, Ste 5A, Hoboken. 973-216-2492. TheHealingCenterHoboken.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 4 Art Classes for Kids – Through Jan. 10am-1pm. Classes take place three days a week – Tues, Thurs, Fri – for fun art making in the Museum walkway. Recommended for ages 2-5. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Art materials are provided; adults must wear masks and maintain social distance. Seating available first-come, first-served. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St, Hoboken. 201-656-2240. HobokenMuseum.org. Shamanic Sound Journey – 7:30-9pm. In studio & livestream. Leigh Higgins leads a sound immersion for the soul, using vocals and a variety of ancient instruments to shift our inner and outer perspective, helping discover our spirit guides and soul’s path. At the core of this path are experiential practices that lead to a deeper understanding of who we are. By exploring these practices personally and as a community, we learn to access the wisdom of spirit and make changes that enable us to feel fully connected. $25/livestream, $35/in studio. Urban Souls Yoga, 100 Hudson St, Fourth Fl, Hoboken. To register: 201-683-4002. UrbanSoulsYoga.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5 Joy of Breathing – Wed through Jan. 12-12:30pm. The transformational breathing technique works to quickly and effectively allow you to access a deeper, more conscious connection with the body, mind, heart and spirit. Learn to access deep meditative states of consciousness and how to breath naturally and fully with this simple and effective method, and breathe your way to greater health, vitality, peace and joy. Virtual event, free. EventBrite.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6 In Good Company: Special Exhibition – Jan 6&7 by appointment. The Monira Foundation is pleased to partner with Mana Contemporary to present a group exhibition of works by current Mana Contemporary Chicago residents. In Good Company presents recent works of artists in residence, hoping to open up conversation with the viewers regarding their practice and what it means to create works of art. Currently on view by appointment only. Reserve your spot online. Mana Contemporary, 888 Newark Ave, Jersey City. ManaContemporary.com.

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Inspiration Trap: A Unique Workshop of Creative Arts – Thur. through Jan. 6pm, 7pm and 8pm. This unique workshop seeks to reclaim our inspiration and imagination, rethink the unthinkable. It is ideal for people working in the creative arts as well as students, entrepreneurs, team managers, corporate leaders and anyone looking to implement their creative vision. Feel free to bring along a personal object, a piece of clothing or even a small piece of furniture to play with during this hands-on experiment in innovative thinking. Please sign up for the sessions on Eventbrite. $30. Issyra Gallery, 300 Observer Highway, Hoboken. Hoboken Talks – Jan 6, 13, 20, 27. 7-8pm. The Hoboken Museum offers a live-streamed program - Hoboken Talks! - streamed live on YouTube, as well as Facebook and Twitter. Viewers can submit questions using the chat feature. YouTube.com/ User/HobokenMuseum. See the website for other social media links to bookmark your preferred channel. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St, Hoboken. 201-656-2240. HobokenMuseum.org. HOHA Run – Thursdays, 7:40pm. The Hoboken Harriers Running Club, a diverse group of runners/ joggers, welcomes runners of all abilities for a 5.2-mile run. 6th Street & Washington, Hoboken. Libations: Moran’s Pub. Info: HOHA.net.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7 The Mindful Munch Method – Fri through Jan. If you were to make a change and achieve harmony between food, mood, and body, you’d be doing cartwheels. You’d feel peaceful and at ease without the fear and anxiety creeping up for months, years, and decades to come. It’s time to make a change. Join Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Rachel Naar in the Mindful Munch Method along with the vast community of people who have consistently and reliably felt food freedom. She will help you debunk and demystify food, draw connections to overall well-being and make life palatable. RachelNaar.Kartra.com. Friday Storytime at the Museum – Fridays 10:3011:45am. Museum staff and other guest readers share stories, rhymes and sing-alongs with children ages 2 to 5 years and their caregivers. The program is open to all on a first-come, first-served basis; children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. $5 donation appreciated. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St, Hoboken. 201-656-2240. HobokenMuseum.org. RWJBarnabas Hope and Healing Program – Tues, 6-7pm. RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery’s Hope and Healing Program offers emotional support services, education and communitybased resources for individuals and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a variety of virtual services, this program aims to assist those impacted by the pandemic to better adjust to their new reality, mitigate stress, review options, develop coping strategies, and, if needed, find linkages to agencies, programs, and other resources in their community. RWJBH.org. Zoom Meeting ID: 844 0635 4514 Passcode: 364638.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8 Knee Pain Corrective Exercise Workshop for Women Only – Jan 8&9. 11am-12:30pm both days. This is a virtual interactive workshop; you will perform the exercises while sitting at your computer. Learn non-invasive methods to reduce arthritis discomforted, climb stairs take walks and go dancing without pain and avoid surgery, cortisone and drugs. The program “Knee Pain Recipe” was created by a personal trainer. It’s a 6-step system design to reduce knee pain and return you to an active life. Host: Renee Moten. Please bring a yoga strap and tennis ball. Zoom I.D. will be emailed. EventBrite.com/D/Online/All-Events/.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9 Media News For/About Kids – Sun through Jan. 6pm. A radio show hosted by a nationwide team of more than 60 youth entertainment reporters, ages 8 to 21, who attend press screenings, press junkets, premieres and red carpets and other media events. They give you the latest news about media for kids, by kids. Before you spend your hard-earned money at the movies, listen to what they have to say. VoiceAmerica. com/Show/1950/Kids-First-Coming-Attractions.

MONDAY, JANUARY 10 Healing for Humanity – 3-4pm. Experience the power of Love Peace Harmony to benefit your health, relationships, and your work life. Acquire powerful new tools for nurturing your health and creating more success in every aspect of your life. Hear from participants who have had life changing results from these simple and practical meditations and self-healing practices. In these powerful, experiential sessions, you will learn the simple, practical tools of Love Peace Harmony song, meditation, and Tao Calligraphy tracing. These simple, easy to learn techniques balance and harmonize soul, heart, mind and body. Virtual event. EventBrite.com. Book Club Discussion: Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell – 5:30-7pm. In 1580s England, during the Black Plague, a young Latin tutor falls in love with an extraordinary, eccentric young woman in this “exceptional historical novel” (The New Yorker) and best-selling winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction. A luminous portrait of a marriage, a shattering evocation of a family ravaged by grief and loss, and an unforgettable reimagining of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, and whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays of all time. Free; register online. Amelia’s Bistro, 187 Warren St, Jersey City. Meetup.com/JC-BookClub/.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12 Joy Of Breathing – Wed through Jan. 6-6:30pm. The transformational breathing technique works to quickly and effectively allow you to access a deeper, more conscious connection with the body, mind, heart and spirit. Learn to access deep meditative states of consciousness and how to breath naturally and fully with this simple and effective method, and breathe your way to greater health, vitality, peace and joy. Virtual event, free. EventBrite.com.

and let go of unhealthy patterns. As we shift our vibrations away from harmful lower frequencies, we allow ourselves to transform into the best version of ourself. $35 in studio. Urban Souls Yoga, 100 Hudson St, Fourth Fl, Hoboken. To register: 201-683-4002. UrbanSoulsYoga.com.

Supporting Students with ADHD – 6pm. The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute invites you to attend their 2021-2022 Special Education Webinar Series. This series will provide students, parents, and professionals with valuable information about trending topics in special education. Each webinar will be 45 minutes in length, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A with our guest presenters. BergenResourceNet.org/ News-Events.

ing Qi Gong, vigorous breathing, body tapping, and energy flow mediation. The Awesome! allows you to maximize your innate healing abilities as well as release deeply held stress and stagnant energy through a super-fun practice of easy, flowing movements. Join us at the studio this month for a transformative experience that will leave your energy flowing and your heart invigorated! $35 in studio. Urban Souls Yoga, 100 Hudson St, Fourth Fl, Hoboken. To register: 201-683-4002. UrbanSoulsYoga.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19

Special Bollywood Event: The White Night Affair – Fri, 9pm-Sat, 2am. Kicking off 2022 with all positivity and good hopes. So dress in white, in style and with flair for a special Bollywood night. The theme of the evening will be set with latest and peppy Bollywood music to set the mood to perfect setting atmosphere for a dance party. Try your moves and get that super star out. Ice breakers and give aways. games & winners. $30. Dorrian’s Red Hand, 555 Washington Blvd, Jersey City. EventBrite.com.

Hudson ELC Virtual Meeting – 9-10am. Employer Legislative Committee meetings are opportunities for the business community to speak directly with policy makers from throughout the state. Please join us for the next in our ongoing series of updates on current legislative events in New Jersey and Hudson County. The speaker will be the Hon. Steven M. Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City. Also joining will be the New Jersey Business & Industry Association. HudsonChamber.org/Events.

MONDAY, JANUARY 17

Knit Night – Weds, 7-9pm. Fun conversation and working together by Zoom on fiber crafts! Bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery, spinning, weaving or whatever craft you’re enjoying at the moment. Register online for the event and you’ll be sent the meeting invite which includes the Zoom code as well as the weekly Theme of the Week. ShopYarnia.com.

New Jersey Winter Home Show – 29, 30. Sat, 10am-8pm; Sun, 10am-5pm. The home experts will showcase their products and services for your home projects. There will be home improvement and remodeling exhibits; sample interior and exterior vignettes; product demonstrations; and more. You will find the best resources in landscaping, design services, home improvement, and more. $10. Meadowlands Expo Center, 355 Plaza Dr, Secaucus. NJHomeShow-Me.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25

MONDAY, JANUARY 31

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13

Kids Taco Party – 1-3pm. They’ll be making two different types of tacos from scratch (including the taco shells) along with a cilantro lime slaw and chocolate chili brownies for dessert. Kids will learn how to work in the kitchen and come out of the class with stronger knife skills (with kid friendly knives), culinary knowledge and some baking basics along with expanding their food knowledge. Recommended ages: 8-14. This class is drop off. $75. Hudson Table Hoboken, 1403 Clinton St, Hoboken, HudsonTable.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18 The Awesome – 7:30-9pm. This experience pairs ancient practices with modern science to improve and maintain your vital energy flow. The Awesome revitalizes and relaxes by combin-

Sound Bath Experience – 7:30-9pm. The Sound Bath was created to be a self-care experience to aid in the healing and strengthening of the mind-body connection. The Sound Bath experience targets the physical, emotional, mental, energetic, and spiritual components of the mind-body connection by utilizing the amazing healing powers of sound vibrations. These vibrations allow us to release energy blockages

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26 Social Chess Night: Open Play and Beginners – 6:30-10pm. An adult social chess night for all levels, ages 18 and up. Basic instructions for beginners from 6:30pm-7pm. Play Hoboken also offers an abundance of fun activities including golf, billiards, ping pong, board games, darts and more. Food and beverages are available for purchase and it is a BYOB facility if anyone wishes to bring beer or wine. Pay what you can. Play Hoboken, 1012 Grand St, 3rd, Hoboken. HobokenChess.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

Health and Happiness Workshop – 11am12:30pm. The Art of Living brings you this free holistic and integrated workshop called the Health and Happiness which provide unique tools and techniques which help combat stress accumulated in our daily, modern life. Through breathing techniques and meditation taught in this workshop one feels light, energetic and enthusiastic to take on life. Art Of Living Retreat Center.Org/Calendar/.

January 2022

WE LOVE OUR communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in ADVERTISING our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community

PARTNERS WE THINK YOU WILL TOO!

Resource Guide, email Publisher@NAHudson.com to request our media kit.

DENTIST LOUIS STEINBERG, DDS, MS

6050 Boulevard E, Ste LE, West New York, NJ 201-662-2020 • DrLMSteinberg.com B i o l o g i c a l d e n t i s t o ff e r i n g m e r c u r y - s a f e d e n t i s t r y, Biocompatible Restorative Dentistry and TMJ analysis and treatment. See ad on page 7.

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PUMP HOBOKEN

401 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken, NJ Boutique Pilates & fitness studio located in midtown Hoboken, offering smallgroup Pilates, reformer, mat classes and one-on-one sessions (virtual until studio re-opens). With a belief that every body is unique, Pump maximizes every workout with dynamic movements that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Strengthen your body and soul and view their virtual schedule.

HEALTHY FOODS

ALPHAKEY CLUB

BUSY BEE ORGANICS

Virtual Based Jersey City, NJ info@alphakey.club • AlphaKey.club

451 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 201-656-5065 BusyBeeOrganics.com

A foundation in reading is the classic predictor of academic success. But there are also certain character traits— like confidence, gratitude, integrity and patience—that are critical to success in the classroom and in life. AlphaKey Club is a holistic educational program and interactive workshops founded by ShalomIsrael Diggs, a Jersey City teacher, dancer and artist, who teaches those foundational qualities right along with the ABCs.

Chef Michelle Berckes and her team make up Busy Bee Organics, which serves nutritious, immuneboosting eats to the local c o m m u n i t y. T h i s h e a l t h supportive, local eatery offers instore specials, a brand-new cafe menu & limited outdoor seating. With choices to accommodate every dietary restriction and allergy, you can expect to find delicious options for everyone organic, plant based, customizable & 100% gluten-free.

FASHION ONE/SOL

1422 Grand Street, Suite 3A Hoboken, NJ 201-809-9401 • BeOneSol.com ONE/SOL is a lifestyle boutique devoted to the wellness scene. It offers beautiful clothing and accessories to add confidence and color to someone’s wardrobe, and is also a unique haven for events, bringing all types of people and their fabulous energy together to experience parts of themselves... variations of wellness that can propel them to truly find “what makes their SOL happy”.

FITNESS PRIME CYCLE HOBOKEN

70 Hudson St, Hoboken, NJ 201-683-6956 • PrimeCycle.com Prime Cycle Hoboken is now offering more than 25 outdoor classes a week—from early morning to midday to evenings, including Saturday and Sunday mornings—on the Hoboken Little League field, on 5th Street.

BWÈ KAFE

1002 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 1401 Adams St., Hoboken, NJ 140 River Dr. S, Jersey City, NJ 201-683-0045 • bwekafe.com All three locations serve drink and food menus with several fun and fresh seasonal items. Offering fresh lemonade, housemade lavender coldbrew lattes, green water detox drinks, salads and toasts, bwé kafe is always thinking of creative and tasty drinks to satisfy your health and pallet. They also source and roast their own coffee beans. Order at the door, ahead of time online, or have them deliver right to your home.

CAFE PEANUT

586 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 201-721-6270 • CafePeanut.com Funky cafe dedicated to quality foods using locally grown, natural and organic produce. Menu selections include delicious salads, sandwiches, soups, pastries, and artisan coffees & teas.

GREEN PEAR CAFÉ

93 Grand Street, Hoboken, NJ 201-659-0940 93 Franklin Street, Jersey City, NJ 201-968-7151 GreenPearGroup.com Green Pear Cafe is Hoboken’s healthy and innovative eating destination offering gluten free dishes, house made soups, nut milks and smoothies.Recently opened Jersey City Heights location completed their menu with European classic cuisine featuring AustroHungarian goulash dishes, wide variety of pickles, linzer desserts and much more. For more information, please visit greenpeargroup.com.

KEY FRESH AND NATURAL

574 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 201-204-4200 Local grocer offering huge selection of healthy products and quality brand names for the entire family. Fresh produce with many organic options, quality meats and poultry, organic baby food, grain-free and natural pet foods, non-toxic cleaning products and much more. Save time shopping in one location and get all your grocery needs met at Key Fresh and Natural. Hablamos Espanol. See ad, page 2.

PLANT BASE JC

370 Pacific Ave, Jersey City, NJ 551-256-3868 • PlantBaseMarket.com An ethical, vegan, zerowaste market and restaurant offering a full-vegan, allday food menu, bulk groceries, organic produce, homeopathic wellness products, body care products and household products. Plant Base is also a strong community hub, known as “the living room for the hood”, where neighbors come together to share knowledge and ideas.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS ANCHOR THERAPY

223 Bloomfield St, Ste. 121, Hoboken, NJ 201-565-2275 • AnchorTherapy.org Therapy is the anchor that holds life together through choppy waters. Anchor Therapy specializes in helping teens and adults through these times. Their experience and professional skills help clients feel better sooner. Call for a free consultation.

ACUPUNCTURE ATELIER

1321 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 201-708-8577 • AcupunctureAtelier.com Acupuncture Atelier offers undivided personalized attention during each and every session. Sara and Samia pride themselves on being unique and adaptable. Treatments may include acupuncture, reiki, aromatherapy, moxibustion, cupping, auricular therapy, as well as ancient Shamanic healing methods.

BABY STEPS PEDIATRICS

Dr. Carmen H. Lebron 75 Montgomery Street, Ste. 401 Jersey City, NJ 201-600-4306 • LebronPeds@gmail.com BabyStepsPediatrics.com Carmen Lebron is a fun-loving and creative pediatrician in downtown Jersey City. Our clinical approach is holistic, giving attention not just to medical issues, but integrating all aspects of the social and family environment. Dr. Lebron is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, and is a clinical homeopath.

FOOT AND ANKLE PREMIER SPECIALISTS

Dr. Juliana Paternina 70 Hudson St, Hoboken, NJ 201-659-5222 • FootandAnklePS.com Dr. Juliana Paternina, is a boardcertified Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgeon. She provides compassionate and comprehensive care for both adult and pediatric patients with any type of foot and ankle needs. She is well known for being thorough and for having a holistic approach. Specialties include dermatologic foot conditions, any foot and ankle deformities including bunions and hammertoes, chronic nerve pain, sports-related injuries including heel pain, fractures, sprains, and treatment of diabetic foot complications. See ad, page 27.

HABIT DISRUPTION THERAPY

Kevin Munhall m.AmSAT Hoboken, NJ 316-461-7660 • HabitDisruption.com Identify the seemingly harmless habits of tension that we all carry with us throughout the day that can lead to aches, pains, and injury. Specialist, Kevin Munhall, will help relieve this tension and teach you how to move in line with how you are designed, with freedom and ease. By changing these habits, you are able to get to the root of the issue and can address what actually causes the pain instead of waiting for it to arrive.

HOBOKEN CHIROPRACTIC + WELLNESS

Dr. Laura Brayton/Dr. Olga Alvarez 113 Monroe Street, Hoboken, NJ 201-792-3544 • HobokenChiro.com Family wellness practice, specializing in pediatrics and maternity, that strongly believe in the body’s innate intelligence and ability to heal itself when blockages to the healing process are removed. Utilizing chiropractic, soft tissue techniques, allergy elimination, nutrition/supplements, and massage, health is restored and maintained for optimal wellness.

INSPIRED TO HEALTH

85 Maple Street #3L, Weehawken, NJ 201-344-6448 • InspiredToHealth.net Dedicated to helping women de-stress and lead more healthful lives, Lorraine Giordano offers the following treatments: Quantum Touch, Quantum Energy Transformation, Reiki, Quantum Allergy Release, Age Clearing and Energy Medicine. Also specializing in helping women with female reproductive issues and helping them connect to their sacral chakra; an energetic center linked to emotions, self-care, creativity and passion. She also offers Akashic Record readings.

JACQUIE BIRD, SPIRITUAL WELLNESS JacquieBirdWellness.com

Jacquie Bird, Spiritual Wellness offers products and services that, support, guide and empower the individual. She is the author of the 7 Daily Thoughts & Mantras 4 Mindfulness eBook series; the Creator/Practitioner of Stress Busters Guided Meditations; she creates guided meditation as well as meditation music called SoundSoulVibin’ and is the Owner/Creator of the handmade wellness brand MODAL VISIONS, which is rooted in the energetically dynamic properties of gemstones, crystals and copper. Jacquie is also the Creator and host of the podcast Roll With Peace, In Mind. Her entire platform and intent is in mindfulness, personal growth, stress relief and stress management – in essence, how we can live more calm, centered, grounded and meaningful lives.

JC BUMP AND BABY Jersey City, NJ JCBumpAndBaby.com

JC Bump and Baby connects moms through support groups, yoga classes and workshops.

LEAH CRESCENZO

917-525-3477 • HeyLeahC.com Transformative healer who utilizes the powerful tools of Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) and Hypnotherapy to improve everything from emotional to physical conditions.

January 2022

LOTUS GENESIS WELLNESS CENTER 7000 JFK Boulevard East Galaxy Mall, Ste. M-15, Guttenberg, NJ 201-210-4764 • LotusGenesis.com

A holistic sanctuary offering a team of healers, therapists, mind-body experts and a naturopathic doctor, who combine various modalities from energy healing, diet and nutrition, to hypnotherapy and body work. Lotus Genesis offers a full line of wellness services, from detox and weight-loss programs, to caring for more complex medical issues. Their unique focus and approach to addressing root causes allows for rapid and long-term wellness. See ad, page 35.

MIND BODY HOBOKEN

51 Newark Street, Ste. 402, Hoboken, NJ 201-994-3500 • MindBodyHoboken.com Mind Body Hoboken works with individuals, corporate teams and small business owners to find balance in their personal and professional life. Finding the calm and peace in life is essential to balancing out the “fight or flight” response caused by stress. Founder/practitioner Jennifer Araneo utilizes neurolinguistic programming, hypnosis, meditation and reiki to help clients find the Zen in their lives.

MINDFUL PLAY YOGA

646-552-2982 MindfulPlayYoga@gmail.com Mindful Play Yoga brings out the kid in all of us by working with children, adults & caregivers through mindfulness, play & yoga to see the best in everyone. MPY is committed to inspiring children ages 3 -15 & families to be curious life-long learners.

NALU CHIROPRACTIC

Dr Sura Devi 75 Montgomery Street, Ste. 201, Jersey City, NJ NaluChiro.com Nalu Chiropractic is a holistic family practice with a special focus on Women’s Health and Healing. Providing unique, honoring and gentle care - body alignment for a happier and healthier life. Specializations include: fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, motherhood and pediatrics.

OLEVIA METRY, MD

Family Medicine 108 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 201-656-5688 • Linktr.ee/Dr_Olevia Dr. Olevia Metry is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician who grew up in Florida and has made Hoboken home for 3 years. She’s passionate about preventative medicine, lifestyle medicine, women’s health and diabetes.

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RISE COACHING

Kelly Bonell West New York Kelly@YouWillRise.co • YouWillRise.co Serving ambitious professionals who strivie to live their best life, but sometimes get weighed down with stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and that ‘stuck’ feeling. RISE helps clients to close the gap between stagnation and success by expanding what their mind sees as possible, helping them release limiting beliefs, and accelerating their growth. Kelly Bonell is a trained life coach who provides her clients a non-judgmental, inclusive, and trauma informed space to empower them to rise to new heights. Virtual sessions available.

SALVATION WELLNESS

30 Provost St, Jersey City, NJ 551-689-0763 • SalvationWellness.com Salvation Wellness is a multiservice wellness center that offers services such as massage, meditation, yoga classes and sauna sessions. It also sells a variety of personal care products, including CBD bath and body items. Co-founders Celia and Andres Pender have lived in Jersey City for more than a decade. They both have been dedicated to holistic health studies and deductive, science-based, natural healing for more than two decades.

THE GREEN ROOM

109 14th St, Hoboken, NJ 64 Newark Street, Hoboken, NJ 512 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, NJ TheGreenRoomNJ.com Newly added Jersey City location. Hoboken and Montclair’s first CBD shops that provide both in-person and online shopping. Owner Darek Michael offers education and high-quality products. The Green Room is open Sunday through Thursday 11am-8pm and Fri and Sat 11am-10pm in Jersey City and Monclair.

VICTORIA REED MASSAGE THERAPY

Victoria Radzinski, LMT, CPT 201-551-7154 • VictoriaReed.Info@gmail.com VictoriaReedMassageTherapy.com As a licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer and Yoga instructor, Victoria’s healing and relaxing services reverse the effects of daily stress by repairing damaged muscle tissue to eliminate aches and pains throughout the body. Improve circulation, detoxify your body, and increase mental alertness as you decompress with her carefully designed massages. Victoria’s drive behind her work stems from her observations on today’s lifestyle/living. See ad, page 17.

OUTDOORS A SMALL GREEN SPACE Jersey City, NJ ASmallGreenSpace.com

A Small Green Space is an urban garden design firm, specializing in designing, installing and maintaining small city spaces.

PETS GALLA WELLNESS

Florentina Galla, Rdh.MS GallaWellness.com Florentina has been using holistic care and reiki healing for decades and now is providing that for pets. She provides pet healing and holistic pet nutrition. She’s using gentle touching if an area is in pain after trauma and to reduce the healing time; she offers customized nutrition and supplement needs to manage stress and weight gain based on the pets need. She is a regular volunteer at North Star Animal Rescue and is the author of Confessions of a Holistic Hygienist in a New Era of Wellness.

HOLISTIC PET CARE

125 Paterson Avenue, Little Falls, NJ 973-256-3899 • HolisticPetCareNJ.com Holistic Pet Care of Little Falls provides guidance on optimum diet and environment, and how to minimizing negative elements/toxins to keep your pet healthier and living longer. Holistic and complementary modalities include acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, homeopathy, bach flow remedies, herbal therapies (western, chinese & ayurvedic), nutritional therapy, ozone therapy, cold laser therapy, and reiki for addressing problems and for preventive care.

PAWTANICALS

7622 Broadway, North Bergen, NJ 201-520-3036 • Pawtanicals.com Pawtanicals was established to give pet owners the accessibility of washing their pets without space constraints–as they normally would do at home in their bath tubs. It allows for pet owners to create a stronger bonding experience while simultaneously making their pets feel safe and secure having their owners personally wash them.

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Crossword key on page 25 Across 1 Age-old practice for spiritual healing and enlightenment, 2 words 6 Experts now finding that more than 70 per cent of our ___ that codes for health and longevity is under our control 8 Asian legumes being used to mimic the experience of eating a hamburger 9 Neither's alternative 10 Unwell 11 Source of natural energy 12 Mustard family plant 14 Dashboard feature 16 Indian beverage associated with Ayurvedic medicine, 2 words 18 Spoil 20 Berry with health-giving properties 21 Device that records the time it takes to get to sleep and how many times the wearer awakens during the night, ____ Ring 22 Discouraging words 23 Degree, abbr. 24 Coffee drink alternative 26 Atmosphere layer 27 "Wonderful!" 28 Dip in a cup 29 Consumed

ACROSS

1 Age-old practice for spiritual healing and enlightenment, 2 words 6 Experts now finding that more than 7 70 per cent of our ___ that codes for health and longevity is under our control 8 Asian legumes being used to mimic the experience of eating a hamburger 9 Neither’s alternative 10 Unwell 11 Source of natural energy 12 Mustard family plant 17 14 Dashboard feature 16 Indian beverage associated with Ayurvedic medicine, 2 words 18 Spoil 20 Berry with health-giving properties 21 Device that records the time it takes to get to sleep and how many times the wearer awakens during the night, ____ Ring 22 Discouraging words 23 Degree, abbr. 24 Coffee drink alternative 26 Atmosphere layer Down 27 “Wonderful!” 28 Dip in a cup 1 Milk-related 29 Consumed 2 Medical studies 3 Writing fluid 4 Environmentally friendly color 5 Approves 6 Herbal remedy used for centuries to enhance detoxifying functions particularly of the liver, 2 words 7 Land areas 11 Blackthorn berry 12 Spice that has been added to coffee for centuries that may lower blood sugar, as well as having antiinflammatory properties 13 Mr, sheep 14 Venus __ milo 15 Biological pocket 17 Fate 18 Traditional Japanese drink made from powdered young, green tea leaves 19 Crunchy red veggie 21 Rowboat mover 23 Daring 25 Yang's counterpart

DOWN

1 Milk-related 2 Medical studies 3 Writing fluid 4 Environmentally friendly color 5 Approves 6 Herbal remedy used for centuries to enhance detoxifying functions particularly of the liver, 2 words 7 Land areas 11 Blackthorn berry 12 Spice that has been added to coffee for centuries that may lower blood sugar, as well as having antiinflammatory properties 13 Mr, sheep 14 Venus __ milo 15 Biological pocket 17 Fate 18 Traditional Japanese drink made from powdered young, green tea leaves 19 Crunchy red veggie 21 Rowboat mover 23 Daring 25 Yang’s counterpart

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