Natural Awakenings Philadelphia January 2017

H E A L T H Y

FREE

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

WEIGHT-

Glow

LOSS

ON

Saboteurs

Tackling Obesity’s Hidden Causes

Coping with the Teen Brain

Inner Health, Outer Beauty

Making Alternatives Affordable

What They Need from Us

The Right Coverage for Our Needs

The Best Pet Vets

Why Functional Medicine Is Their Top Choice

Instant

CALM Via a Simple Technique

January 2017 | Philadelphia, PA Edition | NAPhilly.com natural awakenings

January 2017

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newsbriefs healthbriefs ecotip globalbriefs business spotlight healthykids consciouseating greenliving wisewords healingways naturalpet inspiration calendar classifieds resourceguide

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 215-902-9137 or email Publisher@NAPhilly.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

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

12 THE WILD AND WOOLY

12

TEEN BRAIN

What Kids Need from Us to Grow Wise

by April Thompson

14 THE DARK SIDE OF

GLUTEN-FREE LIVING

Most People Benefit from Gluten

by Judith Fertig

16 WEIGHT-LOSS SABOTEURS

Tackling Obesity’s Hidden Causes

by Lisa Marshall

19 HOLISTIC DERMATOLOGY

16

Inner Health, Radiant Skin

by Linda Sechrist

19

20 JULIA SCHOPICK

ON EFFECTIVE, AFFORDABLE MEDICINE

by Randy Kambic

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@NAPhilly.com. Deadline for editorial: feature articles are due by the 5th of the month, news briefs and health briefs are due by the 10th.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Publisher@NAPhilly.com or visit NAPhilly.com for more information.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 704-657-3886. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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22 AFFORDABLE

COMPLEMENTARY CARE

Alternatives to Insurance Cost Less

by Meredith Montgomery

25

25 FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE FOR PETS

Why the Best Vets Use It

by Shawn Messonnier

26 SKY HIGH

A Simple Gaze Invokes the Infinite

by Sandy C. Newbigging

natural awakenings

January 2017

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letterfrompublisher Happy New Year, Philly! contact us Publisher Kimberly Murray Editor Martin Miron National Editors S. Alison Chabonais Linda Sechrist Calendar Sara Peterson Mary Grace Zeller Design & Production Stephen Blancett C. Michele Rose Sales & Marketing Kimberly Murray Multi-Market Advertising Pat McGroder: 704-657-3886 Franchise Sales 239-530-1377

Natural Awakenings – Philly 1515 Market St., Ste. 1200-533 Philadelphia, PA 19102 Phone: 215-902-9137 Fax: 215-402-3423 Publisher@NAPhilly.com NAPhilly.com ©2017 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.

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We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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Now that the holiday season is over, I feel a sense of urgency to rid myself of the mental chaos I created preparing for the festivities. Now, if I can somehow manage to stay tucked away from the cold weather and winter blues, just maybe I can begin to come to grips with Mother Nature’s wicked sense of humor. Nevertheless, it’s 2017 and I need to search for inspiration.

“Out with the old – In with the new,” I say to myself while retreating into my warm, snuggly blanket and stare out at the bare, lifeless, trees in my backyard. I take another sip of my delicious lemony-flavored hot tea as the steam exfoliates my face as I lift the cup to my mouth. I love to use lots of honey. Don’t judge! I keep reminding myself that winter is simply a time to retreat and reflect upon what the universe has planned for me next.

So I look for inspiration as I think about our January article, “The Wild and Wooly Teen Brain.” Writer April Thompson discusses ways to create a safe haven for our teens. She says, “Teens learn more from experience than lectures, so parents should facilitate positive experiences and influences at home.” I wondered what would the results show if I had to do my own self-assessment. Hmm! Even though we all have different experiences, we are all in this together.

Of course, we talk about common weight-loss challenges that many of us face, but my mind begins to wander over the state of our future generation. I think about my 12-year-old son, Canon, as I watch him grow taller and older every day. It’s “bittersweet”… I enjoy hearing about things that fascinate him the most (college football and video games), while watching his youth slowly fade away.

While he’s discovering the world around him more and more, I realize my last days of being considered a “cool mom” are coming to an end. As true adolescence begins, I must admit my husband and I have been told endlessly that we’ve raised good kids, so that makes my heart smile as I watch more from the sideline.

He’s the last kid before we become “empty-nesters”, and just the thought of that makes me wish for a way to freeze time. Because I’ve traveled this road before (having an older son finishing up college), you would think I would be okay with this inevitable transition. No! I have instead learned how to accept a different role as a parent which helps control my instinctual habit of not letting go. It seems that men have an easier time at this. Anyway, in learning to nurture differently, I do look forward to times when we’re all together and our home is filled with laughter.

My kids definitely have the silly gene, and it’s wonderful! I guess laughter can be the best medicine.

Kimberly Murray, Publisher NAPhilly.com

newsbriefs Make Resolutions Stick with Hypnosis

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oanne Perilstein, Ph.D., is offering special low-cost hypnosis visualization experiences to enhance New Year’s resolutions for wellness, optimism, pain management, smoking cessation and healthy eating durJoanne Perilstein ing January by appointment. Hypnosis can assist with pain management, smoking cessation, healthy eating and pursuit of wellness.

“Upgrade the power of your New Year’s Resolutions of hypnotic imagery!” states Perilstein. “Start off 2017 with a firm resolution strengthened by hypnotic imagery. Strengthen your intentions for health, wellness and vigor with the power of hypnosis and release your own internal resources to embrace healing and wellness in 2017.”

Location: 1518 Walnut St., Ste. 1202, Philadelphia. For appointments, call 215-772-0900. See ad, page 21.

Help for Thyroid Dysfunction Sufferers

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r. Rick Dunlap, a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and owner of InSight Health & Wellness, will present a thyroid dysfunction seminar from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., January 26, to discuss an innovative program specifically designed to naturally reRick Dunlap verse thyroid dysfunction without the harmful and negative side effects of pharmaceuticals.

Participants will learn about the holistic alternatives readily available. Dunlap will share valuable, life-changing information for those suffering from thyroid dysfunction that are tired of only treating the symptoms and ready to correct the cause of the problem.

Symptoms may include fatigue, depression, anxiety, weight gain loss resistance, hair loss and/or brain fog. Dunlap says, “Most treatments for thyroid conditions address only the symptoms and do not address the true underlying cause(s).

Often this leaves the patient feeling frustrated and upset that the issues are not being resolved.” The functional medicine program at InSight uses a custom designed approach, closely monitored and constantly adjusted based on progress of the patient.

2017 Center City District Restaurant Week

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ne of Philadelphia’s most coveted traditions, Center City District Restaurant Week, will take place from January 22 to 27 and January 29 to February 3, offering discounted prices on a significant culinary variety from more than 120 participating restaurants. They will offer signature three-course dinners for $35, with some featuring a three-course lunch for $20.

Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia has teamed up with the Center City District to help diners make heart-healthy choices while dining out in restaurants. Diners will be able to participate for a chance to win various prizes, including free dinners via city-wide social media contests and activations. Reduced parking rates for guests of Center City District Restaurant Week are available through a partnership with the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Michelle Shannon, vice president of marketing and communications, says, “ “We’re so happy that Center City District Restaurant Week continues to be a staple on the Philadelphia social calendar, and we’re happy to elevate the event for our guests each year.”

A full list and map are available online at CenterCityPhila.org.

Admission is free. Location: Sofitel Hotel, 120 S. 17th St., Philadelphia. Make reservations (required) at 215-564-6689. For more information, see the Community Calendar. See ad, page 9.

News to share?

Email details to: Publisher@NAPhilly.com Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month. natural awakenings

January 2017

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newsbriefs Sugar Tax Goes Into Effect

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hiladelphia has begun imposing a 1.5-cents-perounce tax on the distribution of sweetened beverages and the syrups and concentrates used to make sweetened beverages. Retailers need to buy sweetened beverages from a registered distributor or pay the tax themselves. Street teams will be visiting neighborhoods to inform vendors about the new tax. The new rules are applicable to soft drinks, sports drinks, sweetened water, energy drinks, presweetened coffee and tea and nonalcoholic cocktail mixers.

Revenue from the tax will be used to fund community initiatives to drive down crime, improve our school system and create jobs. The city has decided to tackle its largest and most crippling problems head-on: poverty, an inadequate education system, and struggling neighborhoods that have held back Philadelphia for too long. To address these challenges, the Philadelphia Beverage Tax will help fund muchneeded investments in quality Pre-K, community schools and parks, recreation centers and libraries.

For more information, visit PhillyBevTax.com.

Take a Voyage to Well-Being

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assengers can learn tips for healthy living from leading experts in holistic health during a one-week Caribbean cruise. The next Holistic Holiday at Sea, cited

by National Geographic Traveler as “one of the 100 best worldwide vacations to enrich your life,” will depart on March 11 from Miami and include stops in Jamaica, Mexico and the Bahamas and Cayman Islands.

Drs. T. Colin Campbell, Michael Greger, Neal Barnard, Michael Klaper and Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr. will be among 45 authorities leading 145 classes and workshops covering yoga, fitness, meditation, integrative medicine, plant-based nutrition, cooking and more. The cruise will also offer a delicious vegan menu (with regular ship menu options also available) and many social events.

The event is the brainchild of Miami health educator Sandy Pukel, who had been conducting health educational programs locally for four decades when he decided to take it to sea. His first cruise attracted 400 people, and more than a decade later it has become one of the largest holistic events in the country, hosting 1,800 like-minded cruisers. He says it’s a “relaxing educational vacation experience that has profoundly changed thousands of lives.”

Holistic Holiday at Sea headquarters location: 434 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, FL. For more information or to register, call 800-496-0989 or visit HolisticHolidayAtSea.com. See ad on back cover.

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Functional Medicine Dinner Seminar at Moday Center

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r. Heather Moday will hold a dinner seminar at 6 p.m., January 11 and 25 and February 8 and 22, at the Moday Center. She states, “Attending a dinner talk is the first step to become a new patient here.”

Designed for people interested in taking back their health and interested in joining a functional medicine center, participants will learn how stress plays a major role in their declining health and hormone imbalances affect weight gain, sleep cycles, mood, cognition, sex drive and the overall aging process.

Location: 110 S. 20th St., Ste. 400, Philadelphia. RSVP (required) to 215-558-2731or Info@ModayCenter.com. For more information, visit ModayCenter.com. See ad, page 14.

kudos Madison Todd, of the Chestnut Hill Cat Clinic/Rau Animal Hospital, gave birth to her new baby Ryan Alexander Weldon on October 30.

Location: 8220 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. For appointments and more information, call 215-247-9560or visit ChestnutHillCatClinic.com. See ad, page 27.

Workers have broken ground on the Trolley Portal Gardens, the future home of a public space and restaurant at the 40th Street Trolley Portal. This publicprivate partnership between UCD, SEPTA, the city of Philadelphia and neighborhood stakeholders will transform a blighted and unwelcoming place into a vibrant and social space with a new restaurant, Trolley Car Station.

Trolley Portal Gardens, slated to be completed by the end of the year, is intended to serve as a gateway for West Philadelphia trolley passengers and a welcoming new public space for neighbors. When complete, the site will offer lush landscaping, moveable seating and a layout that prioritizes the safety of commuters and pedestrians passing through the space. Stormwater that previously ran untreated into the Schuylkill River will be properly managed using cutting-edge techniques.

For more information, visit PlanPhilly.com.

healthbriefs

Exercise in Midlife Helps Preserve Mental Sharpness

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Early-to-Bed Kids at Less Risk of Obesity

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esearch from the Ohio State University College of Public Health, in Columbus, suggests that the risk of childhood obesity, a growing concern in the U.S., can be reduced by putting children to bed before 8 p.m.

The researchers examined reports from mothers of 977 4-and-a-half-year-old children born in 1991 regarding their typical weekday bedtimes. The answers were divided into three categories: 8 p.m. or earlier, between 8 and 9 p.m. and later. Responses were compared to the obesity levels of the same children at an average age of 15. Of the group with the earliest bedtime, comprising about 25 percent of the subjects, only one in 10 were obese, compared to 16 percent of those with childhood bedtimes between 8 and 9 p.m., representing 50 percent of the subjects. The youngsters that went to bed the latest reported a 23 percent obesity rate, the highest overall.

Dr. Meena Khan, a sleep medicine specialist at the university’s Wexner Medical Study Center, comments about the challenge of maintaining proper bedtimes: “Kids do well with a schedule and a routine.”

Parents Use Complementary Health Care for Kids

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Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

he 2012 National Health Interview Survey, published in 2015, included a survey on the use of complementary medicine practices. Nearly 45,000 Americans were questioned, including more than 10,000 children between the ages of 4 and 17.

The survey found that nearly 12 percent of children had used complementary medicine, either in a practice or product, during the year studied. The most common form of alternative medicine among children was natural supplements, such as fish oil, probiotics and melatonin. Chiropractic care and yoga were also popular choices.

Researchers found that parents sought complementary approaches most often for children due to back or neck pain, musculoskeletal conditions, colds, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or insomnia.

Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com Yuriy Chertok/Shutterstock.com

pixelheadphoto digitalskillet/Shutterstock.com

study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in July confirms that physical activity in midlife can help reduce the chances of developing cognitive impairment in old age. Scientists studied data on the physical activity levels from 3,050 twins in Finland given questionnaires in 1975 and 1981.

A phone interview more than 25 years later served as a follow-up cognitive evaluation, and the subjects were divided into three categories: cognitively impaired, suffering mild cognitive impairment or cognitively healthy. Individuals that participated in vigorous physical activity when they were middle-aged displayed lower levels of cognitive impairment compared to those that did less vigorous exercise.

Early Job Satisfaction Supports LongTerm Health

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esearchers from Ohio State University, in Columbus, started with data from 6,432 participants in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, conducted in 1979, to study the impact that early job satisfaction has upon health as we age. The new study examined reports of job satisfaction on a scale of one (dislike very much) to four (like very much) for participants between the ages of 25 and 39. Then they compared the responses to mental and physical health reports measured after the participants turned 40.

Those that reported low job satisfaction throughout their 20s and 30s exhibited higher levels of emotional problems, depression, sleep problems and excessive worry. Individuals that started out satisfied with their jobs but became less satisfied over time also faced sleep and anxiety difficulties, but exhibited less depression. The participants that reported increasing job satisfaction in their 20s and 30s reported fewer mental health problems.

The correlation between physical health after 40 and early job satisfaction was not as strong, but university associate professor of sociology Hui Zheng notes, “Increased anxiety and depression could lead to cardiovascular or other health problems that won’t show up until they are older.”

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healthbriefs Nutrients Hiding in Plain Sight

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one broth is rich in minerals that support the immune system and contains healing compounds like collagen, glutamine, glycine and proline. The collagen in bone broth heals the gut lining and reduces intestinal inflammation. The longer we cook this nourishing broth, the more savory and concentrated it becomes. Roasting the bones and vegetables beforehand will add even more flavor and richness.

Season and sip this restorative broth on its own, use it as a cooking liquid for grains and legumes or deploy it as a base for sauces and soups.

Bone Broth

4 pounds beef or chicken bones 2 medium unpeeled carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces 1 medium leek, end trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces 1 medium onion, quartered 1 garlic head, halved crosswise 2 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces 2 bay leaves 2 Tbsp black peppercorns 1 Tbsp cider vinegar Note: The bones preferably a mix of marrow bones and those with a little meat on them, such as oxtail, short ribs or knuckles cut in half by a butcher; preferably from grass-fed animals. Whole Foods Market is a local source. Blanch your

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bones by covering them bones with cold water, bring it to a boil and let them cook at an aggressive simmer for 20 minutes in a 6-quart or larger stockpot or large slow cooker before draining and roasting.

Roasting browns and caramelizes them for better flavor. Crank the oven up to 450˚ Take those bones right up to the edge of being too done. Once we’re ready to boil the bones, don’t waste the crisped brown bits on the bottom of the pan; loosen them with a little water and a metal spatula and add those to the stockpot. This adds flavor to the finished broth.

Add veggies and bones into the pot, and then add water (purified is best) to just barely cover the bones. They will cook down and we don’t want to dilute the flavor with too much water.

Bring to a boil and let simmer for 10 to 24 hours.

After straining out the bones. Let it cool and then store. Keep broth in the fridge for no longer than three or four days. It should keep in the freezer for up to a year.

Dr. Susan Stukes is the CEO of Seva Life Mind body Smile Wellness . For more recipes and healthy resources, visit SevaLife.net. See ad, page 10.

Ayurvedic Program Improves Blood Chemistry

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clinical trial from the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine found that participants in a six-day, ayurvedic-based, well-being program showed metabolic improvements in blood tests for inflammation, cardiovascular disease risk (CDR) and cholesterol levels.

Study participants consisted of 119 healthy men and women between the ages of 30 and 80. Sixtyfive experienced a panchakarma program, a detox and rejuvenation protocol involving a vegetarian diet, meditation, yoga, massage, herbal therapy and other healing therapies.

The other 54 served as a control group. Blood was analyzed before and after the test period.

The researchers, led by Dr. Deepak Chopra, found measurable decreases in 12 phosphatidycholines (cell-membrane chemicals) associated with cholesterol, inflammation, CDR and Type 2 diabetes risk. They acknowledge that due to the short duration of the trial, the immediate changes were likely attributable to the vegetarian diet; more research is needed to determine the complementary role of the other therapies.

“It appears that a one-week panchakarma program can significantly alter the metabolic profile of the person undergoing it,” remarks Chopra.

pittawut/Shutterstock.com

by Susan Stukes

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Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com

study from Drexel University, in Philadelphia, has linked autism spectrum disorder with prenatal exposure to organochlorine chemicals.

The researchers examined 1,144 children born in southern California between 2000 and 2003 with mothers that had enrolled in a state-sponsored prenatal screening program. Blood tests were taken during their second trimester of pregnancy, a critical time for neurodevelopment, to measure exposure to organochlorine chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and pesticides such as DDT. These compounds were banned from production in the U.S. in 1977, but remain in the environment. It’s well known that they can cross the placental barrier, impacting neurodevelopment in fetuses.

The researchers selected participants based on previous health diagnoses: 545 children with autism spectrum disorder and 181 with intellectual disabilities, plus 418 free of both issues as a control group. They found a 50 to 82 percent increased autism risk in children with the highest levels of four identified PCB compounds in utero, based on which ones were present.

“The results suggest that prenatal exposure to these chemicals above a certain level may influence neurodevelopment in adverse ways,” says Kristen Lyall, Sc.D., assistant professor in the university’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, promising further related studies.

ecotip Bird Buffet

Making Feeders Safe for Wild Birds Feeding wild birds helps fuel them and provides viewing pleasure, yet a communal feeder may hold hidden risks, reports a recent study in Ecology Letters.

In reviewing 20 published research papers on host/pathogen interactions in human-fed wild populations, researchers at the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology, in Athens, found that intentional feeding changed their behavior and diet enough to foster potentially harmful growth of parasites and viruses.

“Feeders can bring unexpected species and more birds together more frequently than normal, facilitating conditions for parasites and other contaminates,” says lead researcher Daniel Becker. Birds crowding into tight spaces to reach tasty morsels also makes it easier for pathogens like house finch eye disease and respiratory ailments to be passed among them.

Maintain cleanliness. Stephen Kress, director of the National Audubon Society’s Project Puffin, advises that safe bird feeding includes completely scrubbing out feeders with a 10 percent non-chlorinated bleach solution at least a few times a year, and certainly between seasons.

Be food-specific. While using bird seed mixtures to attract a wide range of species is cheaper, such food usually includes fillers like milo that most birds quickly pass through, making a mess under the feeder that can make birds sick.

Kress suggests, “Buy specific seeds for specific feeders—like cracked corn and millet in one and only sunflowers in another. This decreases interactions between species that eat the different seeds and dramatically cuts waste.”

Creative option. Try some peanut butter and other healthful ingredients, suggests Julie Craves, supervisor of avian research at the Rogue River Bird Observatory at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, in a recent edition of BirdWatching magazine. “It’s high in fat, protein and calories.” Avoid nut butter made with the artificial sweetener xylitol, as it can kill birds.

She recommends mixing one part organic peanut butter with four or five parts plain, non-GMO (genetically modified) cornmeal and add oats and raisins. Plain or chunky works. “The dough can then be shaped into portions that will fit in suet feeders or logs, or just placed in feeding trays.”

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natural awakenings

January 2017

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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Smog Begone

szefei/Shutterstock.com

California Aims Even Higher on Emission Controls Allen.G/Shutterstock.com

California lawmakers have enacted a bill that aims to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. It extends previous efforts such as the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 instituted to reduce emissions by 2020, along with another piece of legislation that vows to boost legislative oversight of climate change programs organized by the California Air Resources Board.

Supporters say that emissions rules have created new jobs and led to billions of dollars of investment in California’s clean energy sector. Opponents argue that the strict targets have caused some job losses, particularly in oil manufacturing.

The state, having the world’s eighth-largest economy, has further announced a goal of fighting climate change and improving air quality by putting 1.5 million zero-emission state cars on the road by 2025.

Eat Safer

Website Screens Packaging for Toxin Although food manufacturers have pledged to voluntarily eliminate bisphenol A (BPA)—an endocrine disruptor linked to developmental problems in fetuses, infants and children—in their packaging materials, it’s still found in the lining of many canned goods.

Recent testing by an advocacy group found BPA in 70 percent of nearly 200 samples, including products from Campbell and Kroger, which have joined the pledge.

“It’s in beer, coffee, tea, energy drinks and aerosol cans for whipped cream... it’s everywhere,” says Samara Geller, a database and research analyst with the Environmental Working Group (EWG). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, BPA is safe at the levels people are exposed to via canned foods, but many consumers would rather not take the risk.

Consequently, EWG created a new tool to help consumers avoid the 16,000 products that may have BPA in their packaging. The numbers listed on package UPC codes can be compared against the database at Tinyurl.com/EWG-BPA-Lookup.

“Our main goal was to get this out quickly to as many people as possible,” says Geller. “The UPC code is really your best defense to finding out what they’re talking about,” because product names can change.

Massive Tree-Planting Against Climate Change

JONGSUK/Shutterstock.com

Source: MSN.com

Reforesting India

Indian officials report that volunteers planted more than 49 million trees on a single day in 2016, surpassing the 2013 world record of 850,000 in Pakistan. An estimated 800,000 volunteers worked for 24 hours planting 80 species of saplings raised in local nurseries along roads, railways and other public land.

The effort is part of the commitment India made at the Paris Climate Conference in December 2015. The country agreed to spend $6 billion to reforest 12 percent of its land and bring the total forest cover to 235 million acres by 2030, or about 29 percent of its territory.

Trees sequester carbon dioxide from the air and reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. India has experienced substantial loss of its forest cover in recent centuries as people cut down trees for firewood, pasture and development. Still, saplings need water and care and are susceptible to disease. Mortality rates can reach 40 percent after such massive tree plantings.

Other countries are also replanting trees. Last December, African nations pledged to reforest 100 million hectares (386 square miles). A wide range of stakeholders from countries to companies also signed on to the non-binding New York Declaration of Forests that month, with the goal of halving deforestation by 2020 and ending it by 2030.

Source: National Geographic

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businessspotlight

Practical Sanctuary Spaces that Heal

by Jay Workman

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happy to discuss custom painting for tephanie Lee Jackson is the owner of furniture and fixtures, such as fireplace Practical Sanctuary, an interior desurrounds. I enjoy working with other sign business specializing in custom interior designers, event planners, small mural painting and sustainable decoratbusiness owners, contractors and develing. She does the designing and states, opers,” she says.

“We design environments which make “Because I got into design via fine art you feel the way you want to feel, whethand therapy rather than interior deer that be inspired, tranquil, energized or sign school, my work tends toward the grounded. We work with business owners unconventional and bohemian, with an to create spaces that attract their ideal emphasis on sustainability,” says Jackson. clients and with homeowners to manifest “I approach your design project the way I their unique creative vision.” would hang a group art exhibit—focusing

Jackson earned art degrees at the on making your favorite things look great University of Texas and the San Francisco and work for you—rather than imposing a Art Institute; shes’s also licensed massage Stephanie Lee Jackson stylistic agenda.” therapist, having trained at the National With Philadelphia seemingly the mural capital of Holistic Institute. “I was a full-time artist for 20 years; the kind who drags furniture out of dumpsters, starts alterna- the world, she says, “I’m certainly not the only muralist in town. As far as I know, though, I’m one of the few tive galleries in sketchy neighborhoods, gets arrested for who create murals as energy, rather than illustration. graffiti and moves to Mexico for the low cost of living,” For example, one of my clients had me design a pershe explains. “Along the way, I fell in love with alternasonal training gym that would make her clients feel both tive healing and paid my bills doing massage therapy.” nurtured and inspired. One of her clients later reported

She moved to New York City, founding Healing that she would focus on the walls for energy during her Arts Gallery in Brooklyn and blogging. Moving again to session without consciously noting the mural design. It Philadelphia in 2010 due to a weak economy, Jackson says, “I threw myself into building my bodywork practice had exactly the effect we intended.”

As Jackson sums up her process, “Working with full-time. Late in 2012, one of my massage clients comdesign clients is an extension of my bodywork practice, missioned me to paint her staircase risers. I said no. She in a way; I spend a lot of time getting to know you, insisted. We had the best time ever talking, listening to your temperament, vision and goals before making any music, drinking wine and slowly transforming her stairs into the heart of her house. I realized that this was what I design suggestions,” says Jackson. “My clients tend to be creative people with ambitious visions. I put my decades was born to do.”

Jackson has designed private physical therapy gyms, of experience with color, light, movement, texture and form in service to your brilliant ideas. I don’t expect you nurseries, home offices, kitchens and an elementary to buy all new furniture.” school lobby. “My superpower is knowing how to tailor

Jackson will be teaching an anti-anxiety massage your space so that you feel exactly how you want to class at MotherHeart Studio, in Fishtown, from 2:30 to 4 feel; depending on the bones of the space, what you do there, whether you share with clients or family and what p.m., January 15. design elements evoke your personality,” she notes.

Practical Sanctuary is located at 2312 N. Hancock St.,

Jackson’s services include color design, room curaPhiladelphia. For appointments, call 267-702-5594 or tion, or decorating with an emphasis on sustainability, email Stephanie@PracticalSanctuary.com. Fr more inforinterior design for home remodeling, interior design for mation, visit PracticalSanctuary.com. See ad, page 5. business branding and custom mural design. “I am also

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healthykids

The Wild and Wooly

cristovao/Shutterstock.com

TEEN BRAIN

What Kids Need from Us to Grow Wise

by April Thompson

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eer pressure and body consciousness are universal challenges facing teens and their parents. Experts find that by modeling healthy habits and maintaining open lines of communication, adults can help foster healthy independent thinking and responses to inevitable situations.

Respect Developing Capacities

Some teen struggles are literally all in

their heads, according to Dr. Frances Jensen, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, in Philadelphia. “The brain is the last organ to mature, and isn’t fully complete until young people reach their late 20s. This allows the brain to adapt to its environment, which can be both good and bad,” says Jensen, author of The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults.

Compounding the challenge, the frontal lobes, responsible for higher functions like insight, judgment, impulse control and empathy, fully mature last; it’s no coincidence that teens struggle in these areas, according to Jensen. The plasticity of the teenage brain is optimal for learning and adaption, but without the frontal lobe feedback, it’s a challenge for them to moderate the heightened emotions, novelty seeking and sexual impulses adolescents are also experiencing.

“We expect teenagers to act rationally, but there are many reasons why their brains aren’t taking them there,” says Jensen. “Acknowledging this can lower frustration levels for everyone.”

Create a Safe Haven

Teens learn more from experience than lectures, so parents should facilitate positive experiences and influences at home, advises Carla Atherton, director of The Healthy Family Formula, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, which fosters family well-being by holistically addressing root causes of poor health. Such activities can include regularly preparing meals together and going for family walks, rather than eating dinner in front of the TV. “Doing everything you can to connect with kids while they are in an environment you can control gives them a good foundation they can take into the world,” says Atherton, the mother of three teens.

Parents have to give trust to gain kids’ trust stresses educator Naomi Katz, of Galilee, Israel, author of Beautiful: Being an Empowered Young Woman.

“Create an environment where kids feel like they don’t have to hide or lie about anything,” Katz says. She also encourages parents to empower adolescents in decision making: Rather than telling them not to try drugs or alcohol “because I said so,” provide them real facts to help them draw their own conclusions.

Support Quiet Respites

In today’s hyper-connected world, Katz observes, “Social dynamics can get really confusing and painful and impact kids in far-reaching ways. We used to come home from school and be away from those issues until the next day; now that break doesn’t come because 12

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of social media and smartphones.”

Katz recommends encouraging journaling or other forms of selfexpression to help teens unplug and reflect. Breathing exercises can help calm nerves and allow them to think more clearly in tough social situations before they react. Katz also suggests teens set aside time each week for a feel-good activity like playing sports or music, to give them a reliable source of pleasure and accomplishment, no matter what else is going on in their lives.

Stay Alert to Signs

Despite a parent’s best efforts, kids can and will make unhealthy choices, and parents need to be prepared to manage the consequences. If a child is suspected or found to be engaging in dangerous or addictive behaviors like self-harming or an eating disorder, it’s important to address these immediately, seeking professional help if needed, counsels Katz.

Jensen remarks that it’s easier to learn unhealthy patterns when the brain is malleable, and addictive behaviors are harder to eliminate than if they are acquired as an adult.

The signs of unhealthy behaviors can be subtle, so it’s important to recognize cues without making flash judgments or placing blame, says Atherton, For example, a parent that notices her teen eating differently or obsessed with working out should consider initiating a conversation with him or her about body image.

Talking to teens about images in the media can help them gain a more balanced and positive self-perspective.

“You can tell your kids, ‘These advertising images are trying to sell you someone’s idea of a perfect look, but it’s not reality,’” says Atherton.

For whatever issues teens are trying to cope with, parents need to cultivate their own sense of inner calm; to be the rock that they can cling to. “Caring adults need to give teens a periodic frontal lobe assist,” says Jensen. “It helps when we share more details and insights about how we organize our lives and make decisions. Modeling the rationality and empathy that teenagers may lack can be an effective counterbalance.”

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

Overbrook Environmental Education Center

by Martin Miron

T

he Overbrook Center has educated thousands of students about the Clean Water Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Urban Stormwater Management and other regulations that reduce exposures to toxic substances at home and school.

Jerome Shabazz holds a master’s degree in environmental protection and safety management from St. Joseph’s University and has more than 20 years of training and development experience.

“All across the nation, small environmental justice organizations are challenged with scaling up: taking ingenuity and initiative to address larger concerns in order to address widespread environmental issues in our communities. And that’s what our organization in Philadelphia, Juveniles Active in Science & Technology (JASTECH) Development Services, Inc., has been all about: developing innovative and collaborative solutions for improving the built and natural environments of our city,” says Shabazz.

In 2002, JASTECH applied for and received an U.S. Environmental Agency Clean Water Act grant to transform a former brownfield site into the Overbrook Environmental Education Center (OEEC). “We built the OEEC to empower students to learn both in the academic context and as participants in community reform,” according to Shabazz. “Since its inception, the OEEC used sustainable strategies that do more with less by developing dynamic solutions to overcome obstacles typically associated with organizations who have limited resources and small staffs.”

The OEEC puts this philosophy in action with the 3A approach: Awareness + Assessment + Application.

Awareness is the education of and relationship to the issues. Assessment is taking inventory of community part-

ners, inputs and resources.

Applications are sustainable solution-based remedies.

An example where the OEEC put these scalable ideas into action is through educating the public on Philadelphia’s combined sewer overflow problems.

The OEEC worked collaboratively to build a 15-week green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) training program for local youth. The GSI program is a robust partnership based on Philadelphia Water’s Green City and Clean Waters plan and includes the U.S. Forest Service, Penn State Center Engaging Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Education, AKRF Engineering and others.

Chevelle Harrison, Philadelphia Water director of student engagement says, “GSI teaches students that their actions have a direct impact on the environment.” Through the program, students from Philadelphia high schools conceptualize solutions that reduce strain on the city’s combined sewer system. The students are charged with learning “the power of small”, deconstructing the complicated concepts of pollution from sewer overflows into a series of achievable best management practices that can be realized on a neighborhood level.

“All too often, we hear about how bigger is better,” says Shabazz. “However, we are inspired by the people in our community who demonstrate that when you think creatively, small ideas can conquer big problems. Whether it’s our students, a citizen scientist, activists, concerned parents, or any of the other armies-of-one who inspire big changes with scalable ideas, one remedy at a time, we all benefit from their contributions.”

For more information, visit Tinyurl. com/OverbrookEnvironmentalCenter.

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The gluten components that cause problems for the wheat-sensitive may act as prebiotics and feed good bacteria for the rest of us.

consciouseating

THE DARK SIDE OF GLUTEN-FREE LIVING Most People Benefit from Gluten

by Judith Fertig

S

ales of gluten-free products reached $973 million in 2014 and are projected to grow to $2.34 billion in 2019, according to Packaged Facts, a market research publisher. Many such products cost more than their glutenbased counterparts.

Gluten Sufferers

The latest study, published in the American Medical Association publication JAMA Internal Medicine, found that the number of Americans with celiac disease remained relatively stable from 2009 through 2014 at about 2.7 million.

Meanwhile, marketers for gluten-free products report about 40 million consumers.

Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder in which ingesting gluten causes issues such as intestinal damage, anemia and fatigue. Those afflicted improve when gluten is removed from their diets and their intestinal tracts heal, according to the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston.

Those with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity or wheat allergy also experience a range of symptoms, including bloating, brain fog and joint pain, when they ingest gluten. Accord-

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Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

~Dr. Michael Greger ing to the Center, as many as 7 percent of Americans, or 18 million people, fall into this vague category, due to a far less understood immune response distinct from what’s linked to celiac disease.

Gluten Beneficiaries

The many Americans unaffected by gluten may want to avoid gluten-free products, says Dr. Michael Greger, a Washington, D.C., physician specializing in clinical nutrition. The bestselling author of How Not to Die, Greger founded the educational nonprofit NutritionFacts.org and is a founding fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

“Just because some people have a peanut allergy doesn’t mean everyone should avoid peanuts,” says Greger. “Some evidence suggests that a gluten-free diet may adversely affect gut health in people without celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or wheat allergy.” He cites a small study published in Gut Microbes which found that a one-month, gluten-free diet may hurt gut flora and immune function, potentially precipitating an overgrowth of harmful intestinal bacteria for those on gluten-free diets.

The gluten components that cause problems for the wheat-sensitive may act as prebiotics and feed good bacteria for the rest of us, says Greger.

“Wheat bran contains the important wheat-based prebiotic arabino-xylan-oligosaccharide,” explains Case Adams, a Morro Bay, California, naturopath and author of The Gluten Cure: Scientifically Proven Natural Solutions to Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivities. “It feeds the probiotics that produce enzymes which help break down gluten and gliadin proteins.”

Researchers from Pennsylvania’s University of Reading conducted multiple studies showing that arabino-xylanoligosaccharide derived from wheat bran increases beneficial bifidobacteria populations in the guts of humans.

It is disappointing that a number of highly publicized studies done on celiac patients have been inappropriately applied to the general population, notes Adams.

Gluten may also boost immune function. In a study published in the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, researchers found that after less than a week on a diet with added gluten protein, subjects experienced significantly increased natural killer cell activity, which could improve their ability to fight cancer and viral infections. An earlier study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that high-gluten bread improved triglyceride levels better than regular gluten bread.

Plus, Greger says, avoiding gluten means missing out on all the fiber, B vitamins, trace minerals and other nutrients from whole grains like wheat, barley and rye. A whole-grain-rich diet has been repeatedly shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and some forms of cancer in studies from such institutions as the University of Minnesota and Lund University, in Sweden.

“Most gluten-free processed foods are not made with nutrient-rich, healthprotecting whole grains,” adds Katherine Tallmadge, a Washington, D.C., registered dietitian, nutrition coach and author of Diet Simple. Ingredients such as potato starch and cornstarch with little nutritional value typically help take the place of wheat flour. “The glutenfree label has little to do with nutritional value.” French fries and many candies, for example, are naturally gluten-free.

Impact of Self-Diagnosis

Looking for Gluten-Free?

by Pat Everhue

T

he past few years have seen a surge of consumers across the country looking for gluten-free products.

Whether as a part of diet program or due to an increased awareness of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, gluten-free options have never been more readily available and affordable. Although there are numerous alternatives to gluten, consumers must be aware of the potential for more sugar and sodium to be added to prepackaged gluten-free items.

Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley and rye, giving baked goods their elastic properties. For individuals with celiac disease, gluten triggers an autoimmune response which wreaks havoc on the intestines.

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness has concluded that roughly 2 to 3 million individuals have celiac disease and another 18 million have a sensitivity.

While many companies have created gluten-free options to meet the surging demand, some brands have taken advantage of the phenomenon and labeled their Greek yogurt, for instance, gluten-free, despite it not hav-

ing gluten in it to begin with.

While gluten-free should not be considered a magic bullet to cure non-celiac-related ailments or shed pounds, it has brought forth much new information to a percentage of the population that must adhere to the diet.

Cosmic Catering offers gluten-free products made with amaranth flour or rice flour. Popular catering items such as turkey mushroom sliders and turkey Swedish meatballs have not contained gluten since the inception of the recipe.

The organization sees using gluten in items as merely fillers with little nutritional benefit.

Whether a passing fad or a new fixture of the American diet, glutenfree has become a movement of which all producers and consumers of food products must be aware. The exposure has helped service providers to alter offerings to serve the 1 percent of glutenaverse individuals.

For more information, call Adam Howell, general manager of Cosmic Catering, LLC (1 Boathouse Row, in Philadelphia) at 215-978-0900 or visit CosmicFoods.com.

Self-diagnosing a gluten issue can delay a doctor’s accurate assessment, cautions Greger. “We diagnose celiac by looking for the inflammation caused by gluten in celiac sufferers. If they haven’t been eating a lot of gluten, we might miss diagnosing the disease.

Thus, instead of being on a gluten-free diet, we want celiac suspects to be on a gluten-loaded diet, such as four to six slices of gluten-packed bread daily for at least a month before they come in for a diagnostic exam.”

Studies are ongoing and information continues to evolve regarding the pluses and minuses of a gluten-free diet.

Judith Fertig writes food health articles and cookbooks from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com). natural awakenings

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still more we can do. Here are some common weight-loss saboteurs and what to do about them.

SABOTEURS Tackling Obesity’s Hidden Causes

by Lisa Marshall

E

at less, move more. These words have been the cornerstone of diet advice for decades, leading millions of Americans to greet the new year with vows to cut calories and hit the gym. In all, one in five U.S. adults are dieting at any given time, according to the international market research firm The NPD Group, and 57 percent would like to lose 20 pounds or more. Yet few will reach that goal.

One survey of 14,000 dieters published in the International Journal of Obesity found that only one in six had ever been able to lose 10 percent of their body weight and keep it off for a year. Another study, published in the last year in Obesity, followed up with 14 contestants from the 2009 TV reality show The Biggest Loser and found that despite efforts to keep their eating and exercise habits on track, 13 had regained significant weight since the com16

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petition. Four are heavier now than before participating on the show.

Diet experts say the battle of the bulge has been exceedingly hard to win for one clear reason: We’re oversimplifying the solution and underestimating the saboteurs. “We’re learning that it’s not as simple as calories-in and calories-out,” says Dr. Pamela Wartian Smith, an Ann Arbor, Michigan, physician specializing in functional and nutritional medicine and author of Why You Can’t Lose Weight.

Research reveals that everything from food allergies to hormone imbalances and disruptions in gut bacteria can subtly undermine the best-laid weight management plans. Working out too much or eating too little can also backfire. Even a mean boss or a cold workplace cubicle can factor in.

Certainly, diet and exercise are key, experts emphasize. Yet, if we’re doing all the right things and still seeing disappointing numbers on the scale, there’s

Yuriy Rachenkov/Shutterstock.com

WEIGHT-LOSS

Bite into a food we’re sensitive to and our body switches into “fight-or-flight” mode. It stores fat and water, releases histamines that widen blood vessels and inflame tissue, and cranks out stress hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine that make us want to eat more of that food.

“You literally get a high so that you crave more,” says Smith.

She notes that unlike true allergies, which can prompt an immediate reaction, food intolerances often manifest subtly over several days.

When we are repeatedly exposed to a food we’re sensitive to, we feel bloated and sluggish, regardless of the calorie count.

Allergy medications can also prompt weight gain, in part by boosting appetite. One study by Yale researchers found people that regularly ingested antihistamines like Zyrtec and Allegra were far more likely to be overweight than those not using them.

What to do: First, cut out the mostcraved foods.

“If someone tells me they just cannot live without cheese, I assume they are allergic to it,” says Smith. Or, try an elimination diet.

Ban common allergens like milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and gluten (if possible, try sticking to only rice and lamb—two hypoallergenic foods— for four days). Then reintroduce other foods slowly and monitor the results.

Alan Poulson Photography/Shutterstock.com

Food Sensitivity/Allergy

To combat seasonal allergies naturally, try vitamin C, quercetin and butterbur supplements.

Underperforming Thyroid

The thyroid serves as a key metabolism regulator, dictating how efficiently the heart beats and muscles contract, how quickly the body turns nutrients into energy, and how well we burn off stored fat. When thyroid hormone production falls, metabolism can also decrease by as much as 40 percent.

Yet as many as four in 13 women suffer from a thyroid hormone deficiency, says Toronto naturopathic doctor Natasha Turner, author of the new book The Hormone Boost. “You can diet and exercise until you are blue in the face, but if your thyroid is out of balance, you won’t achieve the body you’re looking for,” she says. “It’s a common cause of weight gain.”

What to do: Get tested for levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and, if possible, T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) also. TSH signals the thyroid to make more T4, the inactive form of thyroid hormone that is converted into T3, the form the body is able to use. Abnormal blood levels of any of these can impact metabolism adversely, and a TSH test alone may be unable to identify a problem, caution Smith and Turner.

In some cases, medication may be required. Otherwise, move to embrace lifestyle habits that reduce stress levels, because the stress hormone cortisol can inhibit thyroid function. Get eight hours of sleep; sleep deprivation also impairs thyroid function. Eat lots of fiber, which helps the body eliminate excess estrogen and other thyroid-damaging metabolic byproducts. Also, stock up on foods containing tyrosine (almonds and avocadoes), and selenium (Brazil nuts).

In some cases, if an iodine deficiency is at play, a doctor may suggest iodine supplements or iodine-rich foods like kelp and sea bass.

Imbalanced Gut

The trillions of microorganisms in our gut have a profound

impact on our ability to maintain a healthy weight, says Dr. Raphael Kellman, a New York City physician practicing functional medicine and author of The Microbiome Diet.

“The gut bacteria are the gatekeepers of the calories that enter our body,” he explains.

Research shows that certain species of bacteria aid in the metabolizing of carbohydrates, while others help break down fats and protein.

Some turn on genes that fight inflammation; others influence how well the body responds to insulin. Diversity and balance of helpful bacteria species are keys to health.

“If changes in the percentages of certain bacteria occur, the microbiome loses its ability to help us maintain a healthy weight,” says Kellman.

In one landmark 21st-century study

by University of Colorado researchers, swapping the gut bacteria of a skinny mouse with that of an obese one made the skinny mouse gain weight.

What to do: Go easy on antibiotics, which can wipe out gut bacteria diversity.

Load up on fermented foods like kim chi, sauerkraut, kefir and yogurt. Eat lots of inulin-containing plant fiber to give desirable bacteria something to chew on, and consider taking a probiotic supplement until weight loss and health goals are achieved.

Overdoing Diets

As The Biggest Loser contestants learned, losing too much weight too fast can bring metabolism to a screeching halt; the body, coaxed into starvation mode, moves to conserve fuel and store fat.

“If you try to lose weight by drastically slashing calorie intake and going crazy on the cardio machines, you’ll do more harm than good,” says Turner. Performing intense cardiovascular exercise

such as running, cycling or swimming for more than 45 minutes can make cortisol levels surge, accelerating muscle loss and impairing the immune system. That’s counterproductive because muscles burn calories at rest, too. Consistent over-exercise can also prompt the stressed body to respond in a fight-or-flight fashion, storing more belly fat and leading to the “skinny but fat” body composition common among models and marathon runners, she says.

Skipping meals can prompt the key thyroid hormone T3 to fall off too, further slowing metabolism. Plus, six weeks into a restrictive weight-loss program, levels of the feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin also start to decline, killing motivation and fueling cravings. The result is a weight plateau or even weight gain.

What to do: Unless walking,

limit workouts to 40 minutes, advises Turner. Instead of slogging away at a steady pace on the treadmill, try intervals (short, high-intensity efforts separated by brief rest periods), which have been shown to boost both fat burning and cardiovascular fitness. For example: five-minute warm-up, oneminute run at fast pace, one-minute run at moderate pace, repeat 10 times, five-minute cool-down. Also, incorporate strength training into three workouts each week.

Include some fat, protein and carbohydrates with every meal. If insisting on counting calories, shoot for 450 to 500 per meal and 150 per snack for women; 500 to 600 per meal and 200 to 300 per snack for men. Every week to 10 days, enjoy a carb-loaded “cheat meal” such as pancakes or pasta; it supports any languishing thyroid and feel-good hormones, gives associated neurotransmitters a jump-start and keeps us from feeling deprived.

Dark, Cold, Stressful Workplaces

Alan Hedge, Ph.D., a workplace design researcher with Cornell University, in New York, says women, who tend to have less muscle and body hair to provide natural warmth, are at particular risk of packing on pounds due

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Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.

funnyangel/Shutterstock.com

to an overly cold environment. “When the body is cold, it adapts by laying down insulation, which is fat,” he says.

Even without eating extra calories, if we’re constantly cold at work, as 31 percent of women are according to a recent CareerBuilder survey, we tend to gain about a pound or two per year, says Hedge.

Other research, conducted at Northwestern University, in Illinois, shows that workers exposed to more light in the morning weigh about 1.4 pounds less on average than those toiling in windowless cubicles. The suspected reason is that morning light triggers a cascade of hormones that positively impact appetite and metabolism. Another study, by Ohio State University researchers, found women that experienced a stressful event at work or elsewhere and then ate a fat- and calorie-laden meal the next day burned 100 fewer calories from that meal than non-stressed workers.

What to do: At work, move the desk toward a window or at least take a walk every morning. Bring a space heater, extra sweater or hot tea fixings. After an ultra-stressful workday, eat especially healthfully that night.

Natural Slimming Supplements Ashwaghanda root: While research is scarce, this Indian herb is traditionally believed to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol (which can boost belly fat storage). It’s also believed to boost conversion of the thyroid hormone T4 to the more metabolically active thyroid hormone T3. Doctor of Naturopathy Natasha Turner recommends 500 to 1,000 milligrams (mg) twice daily.

Chromium: This mineral plays a key role in enhancing insulin’s action in the body. Numerous studies by U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers and others suggest that taking chromium supplements can stabilize blood sugar, potentially reducing the cravings and energy slumps that come with glucose spikes and dips. Research on chromium’s impact on body composition and weight has been mixed. Turner recommends 200 to 400 micrograms (mcg) daily.

Curcumin: This golden spice, found in turmeric, curbs painful joint inflammation from over-exercising, and has been shown by Tufts University and Columbia University researchers to improve fat metabolism in mice.

L-carnitine: Helps the body use fat for fuel more efficiently and also can be used as an energy booster before cardio or strength training. Dr. Pamela Wartian Smith recommends 500 to 1,000 mg daily.

Omega-3 fatty acids: In addition to being potent anti-inflammatory agents, the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA have been associated with greater weight and fat loss when added to a diet and exercise program, according to studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the International Journal of Obesity.

Prebiotics: These undigested fibers provide food for good gut bacteria to keep the digestive system and metabolism on track.

Probiotics: These are generally believed to promote healthy gut bacteria so that the body metabolizes food more efficiently. One recent study in the British Journal of Nutrition followed 125 obese men and women throughout a 12-week diet, followed by a 12-week maintenance period, and found that the women taking probiotics containing the bacterial strain Lactobacillus rhamnosis lost significantly more weight during the diet than women that didn’t; plus, they continued to lose weight during the maintenance period. The men studied did not show similar results.

Selenium: Selenium is critical for the conversion of inactive T4 to active T3 that the body can make use of. Smith recommends 100 to 200 mcg daily.

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Holistic Dermatology Inner Health, Radiant Skin

by Linda Sechrist

Holistic skin care practices are simple, healthy and sustainably good for people and the planet because they follow nature’s example.

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edical Doctor Alan M. Dattner, a 35-year pioneer in the field of holistic dermatology, faithfully follows nature’s principles in supporting skin health. His book Radiant Skin from the Inside Out: The Holistic Dermatologist’s Guide to Healing Your Skin Naturally maps out how skin reflects the body’s healthy or unhealthy organs and systems.

Finding the internal root cause of problems on the skin, the body’s largest organ, takes time to investigate. Dattner, who practices in New York City and New Rochelle, New York, and considers himself a “skin detective”, says that although his forensic work continues to expand, he still begins his sleuthing by compiling a detailed and comprehensive history that yields clues for solving health puzzles and points him in the direction of what’s causing problems.

Some patients with acne also have symptoms of bloating, gastrointestinal issues or chronic bowel disease. Others may have traveled to another country where they contracted diarrhea from a parasite or foreign bacteria that upset their intestinal microbiome.

Skin outbreaks can also be the result of food sensitivities or food allergies. “I make patients aware of the issues underlying their skin problems so that they understand the connection between internal health and skin. Then they can make conscious food choices,” says Dattner.

Diet is a critical aspect of healthy skin. Food sensitivities can cause inflammation that can show up on the skin, he explains.

Dattner incorporates several diagnostic techniques and remedies from other medical traditions, including herbal, homeopathic and ayurvedic. A tongue diagnosis he uses is taken from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). He uses Applied Kinesiology to refine his therapeutic choices as the results align with his knowledge of dermatology, immunology and integrative medicine.

Janice MacKenzie, acupuncture practitioner, teacher and author of Discovering the Five Elements: One Day at a Time, views the skin as a third lung, because it breathes. “If the organs of elimination aren’t working well—large intestine, liver and kidney—then toxins leave through the

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greenliving

skin, another organ of elimination,” says MacKenzie, who practices in Perkasie, Pennsylvania.

“When constipation leaves toxins to be reabsorbed into the blood and recirculated through the liver, the body, out of desperation, seeks ways to get rid of toxins through the skin. This can result in eczema, psoriasis, rashes, boils and acne,” notes MacKenzie.

In TCM, the facial redness of rosacea originates in a heating of the blood caused by toxicity. An inflammatory condition of excess energy and toxicity in the stomach travels upward through the stomach energy meridian that runs from the eye to the second toe. It’s supposed to flow downward through the mouth, throat and intestines and out.

Elina Fedatova, cosmetic chemist, aesthetician, owner of spas in Chicago and Kalamazoo, Michigan, and formulator of Elina Organics, addresses skin as an aspect of a whole healthy body.

Her product line is created wholly from organic plant extracts and essential oils, made in batches every two weeks. These purely natural products can be ingested without harmful effects. “Formulas are made using holistic principles and adjusted for each season,” says Fedatova.

She agrees with Dattner, “Protecting skin from the inside with a nutritious diet that benefits the entire body is vital, as important as keeping the skin’s surface clean.” In caring for skin from the outside, a gentle exfoliation that can be done at home three times a week using a honey mask is the first step. Skin cells produced in the deepest layer gradually push their way to the epidermis every 30 days and die. Dead cells pile up unevenly and give the skin’s surface a dry, dull appearance. Treatment serums, moisturizing lotions and eye and neck creams are necessary elements of a complete facial skin care regimen, as is a natural sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

“Using skincare practices and products that follow nature’s example are the perfect external complement to good internal health,” says Fedatova.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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wisewords

Julia Schopick on Effective, Affordable Medicine

by Randy Kambic

What are some of the most significant natural alternatives you report on in Honest Medicine?

The ketogenic diet is one standout because it was the standard of care for children with epilepsy in the 1920s—until pharmaceutical companies began to produce lucrative anti-seizure medications; then its use 20

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diminished through a lack of proponents in the medical field. Its use was revived in the 1990s due to the efforts of Jim Abrahams, a Hollywood writer/director, father of a child with epilepsy and one of my heroes.

I found small studies that proved that the ketogenic diet successfully stops children’s seizures nearly 70 percent of the time.

This highly effective alternative has none of the negative side effects of antiseizure drugs. Most doctors aren’t in favor of the diet approach and instead often prescribe affected children up to three or four meds as an easier option.

The diet follows Hippocrates’ dictum, “Let food be thy medicine.”

Another standout is intravenous alpha lipoic acid, pioneered since the 1970s by Dr. Burt Berkson, who used it mainly for end-stage liver disease and diabetic neuropathy. He saved many people from needing liver transplants with infusions of this powerful, versatile antioxidant. photo by Keith Peterson

F

ollowing up on the success of her bestselling book Honest Medicine: Effective, Time-Tested, Inexpensive Treatments for Life-Threatening Diseases, Julia Schopick plans to spread awareness of the efficacy of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) in treating autoimmune and other ailments later this year with a new book co-authored with professional writer Don Schwartz.

Her first book, endorsed by many leading integrative health practitioners, earned the top National Indie Excellence Award for Alternative Medicine.

It taps into nearly 200 scientific studies, with her research into innovative treatments driven by a quest that she and her late husband both believed added 15 years to his life after a terminal prognosis at age 40.

The former English teacher at Long Island University and Virginia State University, now an Oak Park, Illinois resident, has contributed to the American Medical Association publication AM News, writes online and print guest columns and shares her journey in media interviews.

Did anything surprise you?

I chose to include effective treatments that are non-toxic and inexpensive. I didn’t realize that several of them were effective for many different conditions.

For example, LDN has been used since the mid-1980s to treat autoimmune diseases, of which there are more than 100; it also treats some cancers and AIDS. Research shows good results for conditions as varied as multiple

sclerosis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s, because all of them have an autoimmune component if they are not directly autoimmune diseases.

Similarly, the ketogenic diet is now being studied as a treatment for cancers, especially brain tumors, brain injuries, autism, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Intravenous alpha lipoic acid is also used to address autoimmune diseases, some cancers and other conditions.

Are you finding that people are increasingly moving away from drugs and, if so, why?

Yes. The norm used to be that patients followed their doctors’ orders without question, which routinely entailed prescription drugs. Today, people are realizing that drugs often come with horrendous side effects. Consider, for instance, that ads for some injectible treatments for autoimmune diseases caution against side effects of cancers, including lymphomas. A side effect of some multiple sclerosis drugs is a serious brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML. People are listening closely, reading and researching their health issues, and don’t want risky side effects, especially when safer options are available.

In dealing with chronic illnesses, how crucial is it for caregiver and patient to maintain a positive, optimistic attitude?

Multiple studies, like those referenced in Mind Over Medicine, by Dr. Lissa Rankin, and Radical Remission, by Kelly Turner, Ph.D., show that a positive state of mind is crucial to healing. One of the benefits I report in my book is that patients and caregivers will do even more research looking for alternatives when doctors tell them nothing else can be done. And many find healing treatments; there are many such cases reported in my book. I like the African proverb, “When you pray, move your feet.”

Randy Kambic is a freelance writer and editor in Estero, FL, and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.

A Traditional Source for Essential Herbs

by Jay Workman

T

he Penn Herb Company has a large selection of medicinal and culinary herbs and spices. The herbs are available in tea form, as well as powders and capsules. CEO William Betz says, “We also have thousands of natural remedies from around the world, and our goal is to help people feel better using natural methods. We feature items helpful to support the body’s immune system, as well as herbs and remedies that complement our customers’ diet and weight-loss programs.”

The company has been in business since 1924, and the Betz family has owned the business since 1962. “We recently rebuilt our retail store in Northern Liberties at 2nd and Spring Garden streets from the ground up,” notes Betz. The new, 8,000-square-foot flagship store features not only herbs and natural remedies, but also healthy foods, essential oils, fresh organic produce, fresh flowers and live herb plants.

Penn Herb Company also sells online, where They maintain an online Wellness Guide that provides health advice on herbs, remedies and specific health conditions.

“Many people are disappointed with traditional health care, where they are usually offered only expensive prescription drugs that simply mask pain, become addictive or complicate their condition with undesirable side effects,” explains Betz. “We educate our customers on natural alternatives to help strengthen the body’s natural defenses and work toward the long-term goal of better health.”

Penn Herb Company is also the U.S. importer for Olbas Herbal Remedies from Switzerland, a blend of pure essential oils that helps people breathe better and soothes aches and pains. Olbas offers eight remedies, each soothing to the body in a unique way.

For orders, call 800-523-9971 or visit PennHerb.com/wg.

We provide our clients with the vital steps necessary to reach a level of maximal recovery and independence.

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January 2017

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value coverage that includes annual wellness exams, phone or virtual appointments and educational classes, plus followups and urgent care at minimal costs.

The U.S. mainstream fee-for-service approach, whether paid by insurance or cash, has been criticized for encouraging unnecessary tests and procedures because doctors are paid for services performed. To maintain income, they typically shorten appointments to increase the number of patients they see.

Lewis emphasizes, “Time is the valuable factor in DPC—healthy lifestyle changes, which can prevent or reverse 70 percent of health concerns, cannot be communicated in 10 minutes.”

Medical Cost-Sharing

AFFORDABLE

For generations, Christian communities have operated health care sharing ministries (HCSM) to collectively share the cost of each other’s medical bills as an alternative to outside insurance. Members are exempt from current Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) mandates.

Liberty HealthShare, a nonprofit HCSM chartered by the Mennonite church, believes that everyone has the right to practice religion as they see fit.

Their members share a commitment to personal health and sharing in the burden of health expenses with others that have these values.

“Many in the functional and integrative medical arenas also believe in these principles,” says Tom Blue, of Richmond, Virginia, a director with The Institute for Functional Medicine.

“Cost sharing feels very familiar; you present your card to your provider, but there’s no set network of providers, which is favorable for those seeking more progressive forms of care.”

Expanding upon this model, Blue worked with the company to create its Liberty Direct program (LibertyDirect.org).

Individuals pay an annual membership fee plus a monthly share amount. After fulfilling their annual unshared amount of out-of-pocket expenses (similar to a deductible), participants’ healthcare costs—including approved naturopathic and alternative treatments—can be submitted as expenses to be shared by the group.

Liberty Direct provides financial advantages to DPC practitioners and patients by subsidizing membership fees; it favors nutrition over chronic prescription dependence by reimbursing physician-prescribed nutritional supplement and pharmaceutical expenses under the same terms.

Members must be in good health with a lifestyle that helps sustain wellness, including good nutrition, exercise and abstinence from tobacco use and drug and alcohol abuse.

The program also accepts approximately 7 percent of applicants on provisional terms when pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes can be improved through lifestyle changes. They pay an extra fee per month to cover the cost of a health coach; when they achieve their goals, they become full members paying regular rates.

Complementary Care Alternatives to Insurance Cost Less

by Meredith Montgomery

T

he latest National Health Interview Survey available, from 2012, shows an annual expenditure of $30.2 billion in out-of-pocket costs for complementary health approaches, benefiting 33 percent of adults and 12 percent of children, and representing about 10 percent of out-of-pocket U.S. healthcare costs. Insurance rarely covers complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in full. As provider networks shrink, premiums rise and the future of healthcare reform remains uncertain, health-conscious consumers yearn for innovative ways to afford this kind of care.

Membership-Based Care

When Dr. Chad Krisel worked at an urgent care center, he saw up to 55 patients a day. Since opening Integrative Family Medicine of Asheville (IntegrativeAsheville.org), in North Carolina, with Dr. Brian Lewis, he averages 12 patients a day. His team provides a membership-based practice in a payment model known as direct primary care (DPC).

Endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, DPC is broadly accessible. By applying simplicity, sustainability, quality and collaboration, their integrative practice provides comprehensive care for less than what many pay for phone service. “DPC removes traditional financial incentives and conflicts of interest because membership fees fund us. Our only incentive is to help and heal patients,” Krisel explains.

Paying for memberships out-of-pocket (often electing high-deductible plans) or via a health-sharing plan, clients 22

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Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

healingways

“The economics are staggering,” says Blue, who used to pay $760 a month for insurance with a $12,400 deductible and now pays a monthly share of $449 with a family unshared amount of $1,500. HCSMs are affordable because of restricted overhead budgets. Plus, they appeal to naturalhealth conscious clients and can decline unsuitable applicants. “This concept of communal cost sharing works—Liberty’s share amounts decreased in 2013 and have not changed since,” comments Blue.

GreenSurance

Told she was past medical hope, Kari Gray, of Kahului, Hawaii, sought to heal from cancer using natural medicine.

“When thousands of dollars spent for natural protocols were denied reimbursement by my insurance company, I saw that the system needs to change,” Gray recalls.

CAM therapies still deemed “unproven” by traditional insurance companies gave Gray a second chance at life.

Following remission, she began a 20-year search for alternative medicine insurance. Finding none, in 2014, she created GreenSurance (MyGreenSurance.com).

Serving people that proactively care for their health and prefer natural medicine as primary care, GreenSurance developed an evidence-based and science-backed list

of 40-plus covered CAM modalities, including thermography, energy therapy, biofeedback, essential oils and homeopathy. It also covers conventional medical and emergency care.

Enrollees of the member-owned organization are supplied third-party payer information for provider direct billing once the member’s out-of-pocket amount is met. They use any state-licensed provider and the program is often more affordable than traditional insurance.

GreenSurance is currently investing resources to broaden consumer access to the tax advantages of a health spending account (HSA). H.R. 1752 would allow enrollees in any healthcare-sharing program to open an HSA. “Simply, we’re a co-op whose members empower us to create an exempt program that protects members from ACA penalties and traditional health insurance,” says Gray. “More, we’re a grassroots movement for change.”

Krisel notes, “Doctors too, are livid about the current status of America’s healthcare system. Be vocal about what’s important to you. The more voices heard in Washington, the more change we’ll see.”

Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

Getting to ‘Yes’ with an Insurer C

Know What a Policy Covers

Before using a complementary or integrative service, inquire about specifics: Sometimes preapproval or a referral is required to qualify; coverage may be limited to a certain network of practitioners; verify visit limits or the number required; and get details of out-of-pocket costs.

Keep insurance-related communications records, including notes on calls and copies of bills, claims and letters, to help with any claim disputes.

Explore Available Options

Ask the insurance provider about coverage of CAM approaches, including whether a rider or supplement to the standard plan is required to cover them. Inquire about discount programs, such as when members pay for fees and out-of-pocket costs, but at a lower rate. State insurance departments and professional associations for

complementary health specialties may know which insurance companies cover specific CAM approaches.

Ask Practitioners About Payments

When seeing a complementary or integrative practitioner, clarify payment and insurance details before the first visit. Learn the cost of initial and follow-up appointments; how many appointments are needed; additional costs such as for tests, supplements or equipment; and if they offer an income-based sliding scale. Also confirm which insurance plans are accepted and if the patient or provider files claims. When insurance doesn’t cover a service, inquire about installment plans and discounts for cash payments.

Jeanette Dietl/Shutterstock.com

onventional insurance rules adversely affect Americans’ consideration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). According to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, acupuncture, chiropractic and massage therapy use increased over the prior decade, but only among those without insurance. For those with progressive policies, coverage for CAM approaches is usually only partial.

Save with Tax-Exempt Accounts

Flexible spending accounts offered by some employers allow participants to set aside pretax dollars for health-related expenses. Health savings accounts can be established by individuals with high-deductible health plans to save for medical expenses. Contributions are tax-deductible and interest is tax-free.

Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health natural awakenings

January 2017

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naturalpet

Referral to a qualified practitioner is needed to help a pet benefit from functional medicine.

Functional Medicine for Pets Why the Best Vets Use It

by Shawn Messonnier

Why Functional Medicine The system of medicine practiced by most vets is geared toward acute care of a severe trauma or a climax in illness that necessitates urgent diagnosis and treatment. They typically apply specific, prescribed treatments such as drugs or perform surgery to treat the immediate problem or symptom. This approach works well for pets experiencing a crisis, but isn’t appropriate for restoring health when animals have chronic disorders. It also doesn’t help them to at least live comfortably with incurable problems without the side effects often caused by extensive administration of medications.

Conventional veterinary science lacks

the proper tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease. In most cases, it doesn’t take into account an individual’s unique genetic makeup or exposure to toxins such as too many vaccines, drugs or environmental chemicals.

Functional medicine always focuses on the unique nature of the patient; there is no “one treatment fits all” mentality.

Functional medicine vets are specifically trained to assess the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and to apply strategies such as nutrition, diet and naturopathic remedies to both treat and prevent these illnesses. They can ably help the increasing number of pets suffering from complex, chronic health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, allergies, arthritis, seizures, bowel and bladder problems and immune system disorders.

Functional medicine best addresses these concerns because it involves understanding the origins, prevention and treatment of ailments and emphasizes customized care. The goal is to promote health as a positive force well beyond the absence of disease.

It’s possible for many pets to appear to be healthy while specialized, noninvasive testing shows underlying issues that must be addressed if illness is to be prevented. Conventional medicine either doesn’t offer such testing or ignores minor abnormalities, placing the pet at risk for developing serious and potentially irreversible problems.

Integrative Approach

An integrative, sciencebased healthcare approach considers interactions

Ermolaev Alexander/Shutterstock.com

M

any pet owners have chosen functional medicine for their own care, so they logically turn to it for their four-legged family members, as well. Most veterinarians are still unfamiliar with this approach to pet health care and may even discourage its use because they see it as being out of synch with conventional ideology.

Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging patients and doctors in a partnership designed to improve health. This evolved practice better addresses individual needs than a traditional approach that focuses on illness and treating disease rather than restoring overall health.

By shifting from an allopathic platform to a more holistic, patient-centered one, functional medicine addresses the whole pet, not just a set of symptoms.

in the pet’s history, physiology and lifestyle that might lead to problems.

All of the diagnostic and treatment modalities are based upon proven scientific principles and follow evidence-based medicine to yield the best results in terms of total function.

Functional medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what are sometimes considered “holistic” or “complementary” healing methods. The focus is on prevention through nutrition, diet and exercise; use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets and detoxification programs, using drugs only when necessary as a last, rather than a first, resort. This whole-pet approach allows doctors to choose whichever therapies are best for each patient.

Holistic vets see many patients for which conventional medicine has proven ineffective. Sometimes conventional doctors back away from offering treatment, either because the pet is “too old,” the treatment is “too expensive” or the results are unlikely to be “satisfactory.” Functional medicine can help many of these so-called hopeless cases, return pets to health and often heal disease after principles of functional medicine have been consistently applied to the pet’s everyday lifestyle.

Finding a functional medicine vet is challenging, but worth the effort. Focusing on the individual needs of a pet ensures the optimum chance for achieving and sustaining proper health.

Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. For more information, visit PetCareNaturally.com.

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SKY HIGH A Simple Gaze Invokes the Infinite

by Sandy C. Newbigging

I

magine being outside on a sunny day, looking at a clear, blue sky. It’s natural to feel calm and wonderful while contemplating this expansive view.

Then a solitary bird flies across our field of vision. Noticing it takes our attention away from the stillness of the sky to instead track its movement as it flies by. Then we start thinking about the bird: “I wonder where it’s coming from and going? Why is it alone? Has it lost its mate?” At that point, we are no longer feeling calm, but concerned.

Inside of each of us, right now, there is a “big blue sky” of awareness with all kinds of “birds” flying around, including thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and anything in the external world that catches our attention.

Attaining a consistent inner calm is possible by learning to be more interested in and attentive to the conscious awareness that is calmly observing what’s going on in our thinking, emotions, bodily sensations and life. We can live

Iakov Kalinin/Shutterstock.com

inspiration

permanently engaged with this awareness and the inner dominion it contains instead of being helplessly caught up in the content of our own or others’ thinking or emotion, which are often conditioned by the world to be more negative than positive.

As we mature in this skill, we discover that such awareness is always still, silent, peaceful, powerful, unlimited and infinite. It reflects who we really are as opposed to who we think we are. Through practice, it becomes our natural way of being and we awake to an excellent way of living To experience this, try the Gently Alert Attention Wide Open (GAAWO) technique. Look at something that’s straight ahead while simultaneously letting the gaze gently open up wider, looking neither left nor right, using passive peripheral vision. Now do the same with up and down, so gentle alertness encompasses an even greater scope. As we do this, we will likely notice that our thoughts are stilled and we feel more present, calm and quiet than a moment earlier.

This simple technique works for everyone. By playing with it regularly, we can discover that a sense of peace never leaves us; rather, we leave our innate, peaceful center when we focus on and feel the to and fro movements of our mind.

Exchanging typical thinking for staying in a conscious state of awareness helps us to unchain our being from limiting views and perspectives, so that we live more freely.

Sandy C. Newbigging is the creator of Calmology principles and techniques, including the transformative GAAWO. He offers a 12-week Calmology foundation course at CalmClan.com. Connect at SandyNewbigging.com.

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W

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For more information about advertising and how you can participate in Natural Awakenings of Philadelphia, call Connect ~ Promote ~ Advance

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215-902-9137

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines for submissions at NAPhilly.com or email Publisher@NAPhilly.com for more information.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

Dog Friendly Yoga Class – 6-7:45pm. We are hosting our first dog friendly yoga class in support of fellow Priya yogini, Heather Hon, to raise money for her upcoming animal mission trip to Aruba. The 75-minute non-heated playful vinyasa class, led by Ashley Rufo, is open to all yogis and their well-behaved doggie pals that care to support this great cause. Donation. 1828 Callowhill St, Philadelphia. Info/register: 267-519-0767.

PriyaHotYoga.com.

Let it Glow – 10am-3pm. Explore the magical effects of shadow, light and contrast in art and create a light-filled masterpiece of your own. Free after Pay What You Wish donation. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. 215-236-4465.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3 Yoga for All Levels – 7-8pm. Join for an hour of stretching, bending and relaxation with Dusica. Bring your yoga mat and wear comfy clothing. Space may be limited. Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia. 205-6850522. FreeLibrary.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4 Sit and Stitch – 6pm. Join a circle of knitters and crocheters for an informal evening of needlecrafts.

Any skill level welcome, though formal instruction will not be guaranteed. South Philadelphia Library, 1700 South Broad St. 215-685-1866.

FreeLibrary.org.

Pantry Basics with Cooking Alchemy – 6pm.

Develop a shopping list, learn about ingredient combinations and how to build your next best meal. This class is vegan-friendly and will include a small take-home sample to help make your pantry shine. $5/person via Eventbrite. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. Registration/ info: 215-686-5322.

The Habits of Happy and Healthy People – 6:30pm. Karla Chine of Exude Inc. will discuss science-based tools for taking control of negative emotions, building resiliency and keeping your life balanced. Philadelphia City Institute, 1905 Locust St. 215-685-6621.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5 Tai Chi for Adults – 1:30pm. With Darrell Bryant.

A healthy and stress relieving break in the middle of your day. Oak Lane Library, 6614 North 12th St, Philadelphia. 215-685-2848.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 Yoga for Everyone – 1pm. Increase strength, flexibility and balance with a smile. Learn poses you can do almost anywhere with just your own body. All experience and skill levels encouraged.

Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Ave, Philadelphia.

215-685-1754.

Cookbook Club – 2pm. Join Aliza Green to explore her cook book The Magic of Spice Blends. Registration is limited. Philadelphia City Institute, 1905 Locust St. Info/register: 215-685-6621. Hoopese@ FreeLibrary.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 American Sign Language Social Group – 1pm.

Join to learn or practice American Sign Language, in a supportive environment. The group is open to anyone interested. Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia. Register/info: 215-6850512. FreeLibrary.org.

cussing turn of the century Theosophist and mystic Madam Blavatsky, Father Divine of the Universal Peace Mission Movement, Harry’s Occult Shop and much more. Free admission. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. Registration required: 215-686-5322. FreeLibrary.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14

MONDAY, JANUARY 9 Cook a Healthy Breakfast – 4pm. In this hands-on workshop, teens will learn how to cook a nutritious breakfast of banana pancakes and fruit smoothies and enjoy the results. Information on how to find other healthy, teen-friendly recipes will be provided.

Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Ave, Philadelphia.

Register/info: 215-685-1754. FreeLibrary.org.

Monday Poets – 6:30pm. Listen and discuss Jeffery Ethan Lee and Al Tacconelli’s poetry. Copies of their books may be available for case purchase after the reading. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. 215-567-4341.

A Modern Guide to your Financial Future – 6:30pm. Eric Settle, Managing Director of CMS Wealth Management will provide practical guidance for younger families and individuals about college savings, managing debt, retirement savings at work and asset allocation advice. Philadelphia City Institute, 1905 Locust St. 215-685-6621.

A Clear New Year – 1-3pm. We will use our yoga practice coupled with journaling and the power of our minds to set intentions, turn them into commitments and goals and balance our efforts with ease. The physical yoga practice will help to integrate your journaling work and your mind on a deeper level. Bring pen and paper. 1828 Callowhill St, Philadelphia. Info/register: 267-519-0767.

PriyaHotYoga.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15 Anti-Anxiety Massage Workshop – 2:30-3:30pm. $10. MotherHeart Studio, 2359 E Susquehanna Ave, Philadelphia. 267-702-5594.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 Shake Shack Run – 7pm. Meet at Philadelphia Runner’s University City stop (3621 Walnut St) for a free 3-5 mile community run. The Shake Shack will transport your stuff from the shop to the Shack.

The run ends at the University City Shack (3200 Chestnut St) where the first drink is on them. Shack Track & Field shirts are available after the run for $10-$25. Info: PhiladelphiaRunner.com.

Bernard-Henri Levy – 7:30pm. Join Mr Levy as he discusses his book, The Genius of Judaism. He is known for his international bestselling books, Who Killed Daniel Pearl? and Left in Dark Times: A Stand Against the New Barbarism. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. Register: FreeLibrary.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11 The Unbook Club – 2pm. If you’ve read a good book lately that you would like to discuss, share the title you’ve read and let others in on why you liked it or didn’t like it. Light refreshments served. Fumo Family Library, 2437 South Broad St, Philadelphia.

215-685-1758.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12 Philadelphia: City of the Uncanny and the Arcane – 7pm. Ryan Sussurus of the Philadelphia Obscura Society will speak on the many colored religious inheritance of Philadelphia. He will be dis-

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18

ners for $35/person. In addition, many participating restaurants will also offer a three-course lunch for $20. Info: m.CenterCityPhila.org.

Author Talk: Judith Stein – 6:30 pm. Author Judith Stein will discuss her book Eye of the Sixties: Richard Bellamy and the Transformation of Modern Art, a biography of the little-known Chinese American art dealer who launched the careers of many of the best-known artists of his time. Books will be available for purchase after the talk. Philadelphia City Institute, 1905 Locust St. 215-685-6621.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19 Christmas Posado – 5pm. The South Philadelphia Library and the Consulate of Mexico invite you and your family to participate in the Christmas Posado: ¡Habrá música, comida, sorpresas y mucha diversión – Los Esperamos! South Philadelphia Library, 1700 South Broad St. 215-685-1866.

Great Garbanzos! – 6pm. Join Bruce Schimmel and Kate Maskar and create four dishes highlighting chickpeas. During this two-hour class develop a menu, create recipes, and prepare and share a meal.

In our quest for the delicious, every cooking style and technique is on the table and everyone is invited – from beginners in the kitchen to experienced cooks.

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia.

215-686-5322. Register: FreeLibary.org.

Inauguration Day Civic Engagement Fair – 11am. Learn how to get involved in your community to effect change; receive help finding social services; start meaningful conversations with your neighbors to make Philadelphia even better. Join to celebrate inclusivity and civic engagement on Inauguration Day. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. 215-686-5322.

Yin Yoga and Movie Night – 6-9pm. Justine will lead a 45-minute Yin Yoga class. After class, join for movie night with complimentary wine. 1828 Callowhill St, Philadelphia. Info/register: 267-5190767. PriyaHotYoga.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21 Posture Clinic: Mastering the Headstand – 1-3:30pm. If you’ve ever wanted to learn headstand, this is your opportunity. The headstand is known as the “king of all asanas”, as it offers the most benefits of all the postures. 1828 Callowhill St, Philadelphia. Info/register: 267-519-0767.

PriyaHotYoga.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22 Philadelphia Restaurant Week – Jan 22-27. Participating restaurants will offer three-course dinners for $35/person. In addition, many participating restaurants will also offer a three-course lunch for $20. Info: m.CenterCityPhila.org.

Immersion into the Basics – 3-5pm. Beginners can learn about the fundamentals of yoga before stepping into the classroom environment. Join Rachel Dobkin to find your breath and alignment, while becoming comfortable with some of the more frequently called poses. 1828 Callowhill St, Philadelphia. Info/register: 267-519-0767. PriyaHotYoga.com.

Herbalist Workshop – Noon-2pm. We’ll take a look at plants that can alleviate acute and chronic anxiety and depression and discuss the most effective method of using them. Herbs that address underlying imbalances that lead to mental health challenges will also be covered.

Philadelphia, PA

No prior knowledge of plants or herbal medicine required. Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia. Info/register: 215-729-5281.

BartramsGarden.org.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24 Better Investing – 6:30pm. Learn how to start or grow your own stock portfolio with a small amount of cash. Through time-tested, common sense investing principles, Better Investing teaches investors how to make sense of company information and choose smart stocks. You›ll learn to focus on what really matters for investing success. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. Register: 215-686-5394 or BetterInvesting2017.eventbrite.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 31

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Bilingual Storytime/Lectura de Cuentas Bilingue – 6pm. Join for a Spanish/English storytime. For children and their guardians. Stories read by Librarian Mr Pagan. Para niños y sus padres. Leido por el bibliotecario Sr. Pagán. Frankford Library, 4634 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia. 215-685-1473.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 End Homelessness in Philadelphia – 2pm. Heather Bargeron, Community Education and Engagement Specialist for Project HOME and a resident of Project HOME will talk about some of the major issues of homelessness and the challenges to addressing it. Philadelphia City Institute, 1905 Locust St. 215-685-6621.

One Pot Meals – 6pm. Join Food Educator Lauren Nixon for a collaborative workshop that will help you to be a more confident and creative home cook by exploring flavor, efficient cooking techniques and stretching the limits of your personal palate.

This is a vegan-friendly program. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia. Info/register: 215-686-5322. FreeLibrary.org.

Thyroid Dysfunction Seminar – 6:30-7:30pm.

Join Dr Rick Dunlap, certified functional medicine practitioner and owner of Insight Health and Wellness, to discuss a program specifically designed to naturally reverse thyroid dysfunction. Free. Sofitel Hotel, 120 South 17th St, Philadelphia. Reservation required: 215-564-6689.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27 Glow in the Dark Yoga – 6-8pm. Glow with Priya’s Julia Paddison and special guest co-teacher, Kelsie Strunc, for a one-of-a-kind, high sensory yoga experience. Get sweaty by the heat of your own practice and let loose for this yoga dance party. 1828 Callowhill St, Philadelphia. Info/register: 267-5190767. PriyaHotYoga.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 Philadelphia Restaurant Week – Jan 29-Feb 3.

Participating restaurants will offer three-course din-

Honeygrow Run – 6:30pm. Join for a three-tofive-mile out-and-back fun run. There will be bag check at the store for any belongings you want don’t want to carry on the run. Head over to Honeygrow, conveniently located next door to the store, after the run for a 25 percent off discount on your hard earned dinner. Philadelphia Runner, 1601 Sanson St. Info: 215-972-8333.

plan ahead SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

savethedate Immersion & Teacher Training February 4-June 4 Saturdays & Sundays 12-7:30pm (with published exceptions) The RYT 200-hour Vinyasa “Fusion” Flow Program: 50-Hr. Immersion (personal growth/prerequisite) & 200 Hr. Teacher Training in the Art of Meditative Postures & Mindful Movement.

Instructor/Owner-Gabrielle de Burke (Yoga Alliance ERYT/RYT), offers a unique approach to “Yang” (Vinyasa) & “Yin” (Asana) inspired by Vedic & Taoist Yogic Arts ($600-$2,600).

Cost: $600 Dragon Spirit Arts 201 W Baltimore Pike, Iansdowne.

Gabrielle de Burke, 215-914-5614 Info@DragonSpiritArts.com DragonSpiritArts.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 25 Namas Day – 8am-6pm. Philadelphia comes together once more in celebration of yoga and wellness. The eighth annual Namas Day Yoga Festival returns to the WHYY building on Independence Mall. This all-day event offers a full schedule of yoga programming, a wellness marketplace, food trucks, and new this year – The Wellness Walk.

150 N Sixth St. Register/info: PhillyAreaYoga.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 Philadelphia Flower Show – Mar 11-19. Holland: Flowering the World, will showcase the extraordinary plants, creativity and talent of this region’s top horticulturists and designers along with award winning landscape and floral designers from the Netherlands.

Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th & Arch St. Register/info: 215-988-8800. TheFlowerShow.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28 Fitness and Wellness Retreat – Apr 28-30. Enjoy strength training, guided walk/run, hiking, yoga, and a guided moonlight meditation – all in a fun and supportive environment. Whether you are an experienced athlete or a novice, this is an opportunity to power your own potential, and feel the joy and pride of working on your health and wellness. Himalayan Institute Retreat Center, Honesdale. Register/Info: 570-253-5551. HimalayanInstitute.org.

ongoingevents

classifieds

NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines for submissions at NAPhilly.com or email Publisher@NAPhilly.com for more information.

Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Publisher@NAPhilly.com.

OPPORTUNITIES ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings classified ad section. To place an ad, email Publisher@NAPhilly.com.

sunday Manayunk Group Run – 9am. Whether you are training for a race, working on getting back into shape, or just looking for a few people to help knock a few miles out, our group runs are a fun and laid back way to spend an hour of your weekend running. Philadelphia Runner, 4358 Main St. Info: 267-336-7409.

monday Hatha Yoga – 5:30-6:30pm. Certified hatha yoga instructor focuses on breathing techniques, proper body alignment, and postures to improve flexibility, balance, and coordination. Blocks, straps, blankets, chairs, and bolsters are used to assist students of all fitness levels. Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing and bring a yoga mat. Abington Jefferson Health, 1200 Old York Rd. Register/info: 215-4816888. AbingtonHealth.org.

Fitness at the Library – 5:30pm. Exercise to our wonderful collection of fitness instruction DVDs. For adults and teens. Space may be limited.

Frankford Library, 4634 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia.

Register/info: 215-685-1473. FreeLibrary.org.

wednesday November Project – 6:25am. Free workout at Art Museum Rocky Steps. Spring Garden St, Philadelphia. Info: November-Project.com/Philadelphia-PA. Taste of Philadelphia: Market Tours – 1011:15am. Learn the story behind cheese steaks, hoagies, pretzels and other Philly food favorites and the 124-year history of the vibrant Reading Terminal Market where they’re sold during this 75-minute, food-writer-led walking tour. 12th & Arch St. Info: 215-545-8007.

University City Group Run – 6pm. Whether you are training for a race, working on getting back into shape, or just looking for a few people to help knock a few miles out, our group runs are a fun and laid back way to spend an hour of your weekday evening. Philadelphia Runner, 3621 Walnut St. Info: 215-662-5100.

Pay What You Wish – 5-8:45pm. Explore the

Philadelphia Art Museum. Donation recommended.

2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Info: PhilaMuseum. org/visit.

thursday Center City Group Run – 6pm. Whether you are training for a race, working on getting back into shape, or just looking for a few people to help knock a few miles out, our group runs are a fun and laid back way to spend an hour of your weekday evening. Philadelphia Runner, 1601 Sanson St. Info: 215-972-8333.

friday November Project – 6:25am. Free workout at various locations (see Facebook/Twitter). Info: November-Project.com/Philadelphia-PA. Gorgas Park Farmers’ Market – 2-7pm. Ridge Ave & Acorn St, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. Info: FarmToCity.org.

NATURAL AWAKENINGS PHILADELPHIA NOW HIRING – Seeking part-time commissionbased salespeople for Natural Awakenings Philadelphia. Send your resumé or contact information to: Publisher@NAPhilly.com.

NATURAL AWAKENINGS PHILADELPHIA NOW HIRING – Seeking part-time assistant/appointment setter. This position is home-based. Must have great communication skills, be a self-starter, meet deadlines and multi-task. Send your resumé or contact information to: Publisher@NAPhilly.com.

START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home-based business, complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsmag.com/ MyMagazine.

saturday Farmers’ Market at Liberty Lands – 9am-1pm.

J & J Farm brings organic fruits and vegetables, eggs and homemade jam to Liberty Lands Park. 900 block of N 3rd St, Philadelphia. TheFoodTrust.org.

Chestnut Hill Farmers’ Market – 9am-3pm. Yearround market. Featuring local food and products: seasonal produce, herbs, mushrooms and honey plus plants and flowers. Winston Rd between Germantown Ave & Mermaid Ln, Philadelphia. 215-7339599. Info: FarmToCity.org.

How people treat

you is their karma; how you react is yours. ~Wayne Dyer

Rittenhouse Farmers’ Market – 9am-3pm. Yearround market. Local food and products: seasonal produce, herbs, mushrooms and honey plus local wine. 18th St & Walnut St, Philadelphia. 215-7339599. Info: FarmToCity.org.

Taste of Philadelphia: Market Tours – 1011:15am. Learn the story behind cheese steaks, hoagies, pretzels and other Philly food favorites, and the 124-year history of the vibrant Reading Terminal Market where they’re sold during this 75-minute, food-writer-led walking tour. 12th & Arch St. Info: 215-545-80077.

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FEB Children’s Dental Health Plus: Conscious Dying

Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Holistic Dental Care, Pediatric Dentists plus Estate Planning, Hospice & Eco-Burial Advice

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

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE SAGE INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CENTER Wendy Romig, MS, CNS, LDN 538 Carpenter Ln, Philadelphia 215-839-3950 • SageIntegrativeHealth.com

Sage Integrative Health Center offers a customized, natural approach to helping people overcome illness using a blend of nutritional counseling, herbal remedies and wellness coaching.

Visit our on-site herb shop. See ad, page 14.

ANIMAL HOSPITAL CHESTNUT HILL CAT CLINIC 8220 Germantown Ave Philadelphia • 215-247-9560 ChestnutHillCatClinic.com

We are a full-service veterinary hospital, dedicated to the gentle compassionate care of felines. We specialize in preventative health care and provide exceptional surgical and dental services. See ad, page 27.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE INSIGHT HEALTH & WELLNESS Dr. Rick Dunlap, DC, PT, CFMP 1601 Walnut St, Ste 514 Philadelphia • 215-564-6680 InsightHealthWellness.com

Dr. Dunlap, a former Navy SEAL, chiropractor, physical therapist and certified functional medicine practitioner, has more than 20 years of experience in health and wellness.

State-of-the-art FM program focusing on reversal and elimination of Type 2 diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, as well as True Cellular Detox program addressing hormonal dysfunction, weight-loss resistance, fatigue and brain fog. Our focus is on an efficient and effective approach to your health needs. Your wellness goals are with InSight. See ad, page 9.

LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE FARM TO CITY

Weekly Outdoor Farmers’ Markets Philadelphia • 215-733-9599 Info@FarmToCity.org • FarmToCity.org

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

215-902-9137 30

Philadelphia, PA

NAPhilly.com

Farm to City connects urban residents with food from local farmers through 15 producer-only farmers’ markets, many CSA farms and its Winter Harvest Buying Club. Visit our website for seasonal schedule and opening days.

NATURAL HEALTH DR. SUSAN STUKES, DDS, CHHC

116 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights, NJ Serving Philadelphia, PA 844-646-7382 • Sevalife.net The Sevalife whole health approach enables you to take small steps that lead to massive change in hormone imbalances, unexplained weight gain and even stress reduction. It does not include restrictive diets and extreme exercise plans. One on one attention is at the cornerstone of our care. Our goal is to empower you to take control of your health and wellness and importantly, your happiness. See ad, page 10.

NATURAL ORGANIC MARKET ESSENE MARKET

In the heart of historic Fabric Row 719 S 4th St, Philadelphia 215-922-1146 • EsseneMarket.com Philadelphia’s premier natural foods market, Essene specializes in organic, local, veganfriendly selections. Our café’s hot bar features ready-made Korean, vegetarian and gluten-free entrees. Our fresh juice bar is renowned for invigorating smoothies and enlivening elixirs. Be sure to try freshly baked treats prepared in our own vegan bakery. From hard-to-find items to everyday staples, we’re your neighborhood market for healthconscious living. See ad, page 12.

NATUROPATH EARTHLY ESSENCE

Dr. Jacquilen Fostor Tomas Ali 3901 Main St, Bldg B, Ste 201, Philadelphia 215-360-4110 • DrAliND.com Become the Master of Your Own Healing©. Dr. Jacquilen Fostor Tomas Ali, ND, is a Naturopathic Physician, Certified Nutritional Counselor (CNC) and Master Herbalist (MH). Also, as a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, Dr. Ali focuses on and addresses the causes of health challenges, not just symptoms. This focus provides a well-balanced approach to health and healing.

ORGANIC PRODUCTS ORGANIC MATTRESS COMPANY 1075 Main St, Hellertown 484-851-3636.

TheOrganicMattressStore.com

The Organic Mattress Company has been around since 2004. Don’t be fooled by misleading advertising. We are here to answer any of your questions.

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK 2401 Walnut St, Ste 206, Philadelphia 215-922-7400, ext 104 sbnPhiladelphia.org

WELLNESS CENTER AMAZING WELLNESS CENTER

The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) of Greater Philadelphia is a nonprofit membership organization striving to build a just, green and thriving local economy. See ad, page 26.

PERSONAL TRAINING

Dr. Donna Skerry 7017 Calvert St, Philadelphia 215-624-8824 • TheHealthyYou.com

An all-in-one holistic specialist, Dr. Skerry will address the source of your physical pain with deep muscle therapy, weight or fatigue with whole food nutrition and barricades that stop you from succeeding with unique emotional work. Gluten-free pizza baked on-premise is also available (order before Fri). See ad, page 21.

POTENTIA PERSONAL TRAINING, LLC Tema Esberg 9507 Wheelpump Ln, Philadelphia 215-435-2215 • PotentiaPersonalTraining.com

Potentia can help you “Power your Potential” for fitness, health and wellness with a variety of services.

We offer in-home personal training, lifestyle and behavioral coaching to identify and achieve your wellness goals and mindfulness workshops to quiet the mind, decrease stress/anxiety and improve energy and productivity.

PSYCHOLOGIST JOANNE PERILSTEIN, PHD 1518 Walnut St, Ste 1202 Philadelphia • 215-772-0900 MyPhiladelphiaTherapist.com

Licensed psychologist with more than 25 years of experience. Your needs and comfort determine the structure of your treatment. If you can’t solve problems with stress, anxiety or depression, I will need to listen to your story and together we will create a plan. I use a straight-forward, common sense approach seasoned with empathy and humor. See ad, page 21.

SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONS PRACTICAL SANCTUARY, SPACES THAT HEAL 2312 N Hancock St Philadelphia, PA 19133 267-702-5594 PracticalSanctuary.com

Interior design business specializing in sustainable decorating and custom interior mural design. We work with business owners to create spaces that attract their ideal clients, and with home owners to manifest their unique creative vision. See ad, page 5.

Sacred Pilgrimage to Egypt with Rae

Chandran

This magical retreat offers a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity to experience Egypt with a custom guided program led by internationally renowned channeler and author Rae Chandran that combines nature, history, adventure and spiritual experiences in some of the most magnificent spots in the world.

Experience daily channelings, meditations, intention ceremonies, activations and initiations in power spots guided

by Chandran. Some of the places that will be visited include the Great Pyramids (private two-hour visit), Initiation in King’s chamber, Sphinx, Temple of Sekhmet and 7 Gates (private visit), Channeling in Abydos, Sakkara and Memphis, Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, Hathor Temple, Alabaster Mosque, Coptic Church and the Cairo Museum, Isis Temple, Temple of Horus and Komombo Temple and many more.

March 31 – April 9, 2017

10 days / 9 nights • Cost: $3,800 - $4,200 (airfare not included)

Spiritual Retreat in Israel – July 2017 Meditations, Initiations and Channelings

To register for the Egypt or Israel tour or for more information, call Susan Deflavis Winters at 239-340-1036 or email Panguswf@gmail.com.

For more information about Rae Chandran, visit RaeChandran.com.

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A V OYA G E TO W E L L - B E I NG

MARCH 11 - 18, 2017

Join our 14th annual Holistic Holiday at Sea cruise for 7 nights on the luxurious MSC Divina, one of the most ecologically-friendly and elegant cruise liners on the seas. Bask in gracious Italian hospitality and service all while enjoying inspiring lectures and vegan natural foods prepared by our own chefs. Departing from Miami, FL and sailing to lush Ocho Rios, Jamaica; historic Georgetown, Cayman Islands; sunny Cozumel, Mexico; & the paradise of Nassau, Bahamas. Learn more about the classes, cuisine and itinerary at holisticholidayatsea.com.

Chosen by National Geographic Traveler as

ONE OF THE 1 00 BEST WORLDWIDE VACATIONS TO ENRICH YOUR LIFE

FEATURING WORLD-RENOWNED CHEFS, TEACHERS & HEALERS Co-author of The China Study and author of Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition; featured in the film Forks Over Knives

T. COLIN CAMPBELL, PH.D.

Physician, author, & internationally-recognized speaker on nutrition; founded NutritionFacts.org; spoke at Congress, on Dr. Oz, & the Colbert Report

MICHAEL GREGER, M.D. Creator of the popular vegan food blogs HealthyHappyLife.com and FindingVegan.com; author of two best-selling cookbooks

Best-selling author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease; starred in the film Forks Over Knives; featured on CNN’s special The Last Heart Attack

CALDWELL ESSELSTYN, JR. M.D.

KATHY PATALSKY

FOOD OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE - VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE, OIL-FREE AND SHIP’S MENU SWIM, SNORKEL AND KAYAK IN THE CRYSTAL WATERS OF THE CARIBBEAN AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY SHIP DAILY YOGA, MEDITATION, PILATES, QI GONG, DO-IN, RUNNING, FITNESS & BODY BUILDING CLASSES 45 TEACHERS • 145 LECTURES & WORKSHOPS 11 COOKING & BOOTCAMP CLASSES CEU & CME CREDITS AVAILABLE DANCING, SOCIALS & SINGLES EVENT VEGAN PIZZA & ICE CREAM PARTIES CANCER SUPPORT GROUP & RECOVERY PANEL PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS & TREATMENTS AVAILABLE

Founder of the Physicians Commitee for Responsible Medicine; author of Food for Life & Power Foods for the Brain; active health advocate

NEAL BARNARD, M.D. Emmy Award-winning author of seven bestselling cookbooks; host of the television show Christina Cooks; health educator for 25+ years

CHRISTINA PIRELLO

LEARN MORE holisticholidayatsea.com info@holisticholidayatsea.com 1-800-496-0989 (Toll Free US) 1-828-749-9537 Holistic Holiday at Sea holisticholidayatsea.com/blog

BOOK TODAY Lorraine Travel bookings@holisticholidayatsea.com

1-877-844-7977 (Toll Free US) 1-305-443-0542 Option 1 for program information Option 2 for travel agent All reservations for our holistic group must be made through Lorraine Travel