March 2021 Natural Awakenings Volusia Flagler Edition

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

REGENERATIVE FARMING

How It Can Save the Planet

PLANETFRIENDLY E-BIKES

COUNTERTOP GARDENING

ALL ABOUT CBD

Research Points to Its Benefits

FOUR WAYS TO FIND PEACE

HEALING GRIEF

March 2021 | Volusia / Flagler Edition | VoFLNatural.com

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 12 DOWN TO EARTH

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The Promise of Regenerative Organic Farming

15 JEFF TKACH

on Regenerative Healthcare

16 HEMP-DERIVED CANNABIDIOL

A Primer on the Latest Research

20 INDOOR EDIBLE

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GARDENING

Grow Veggies, Sprouts and Microgreens Year-Round

24 ON A ROLL

Foam Rollers Ease Pain and Workout Recovery

26 GETTING PREGNANT

Lifestyle Strategies to Boost Fertility

28 HEALING FROM GRIEF

24

Four Ways to Find Peace

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS

30 CANINE OBESITY

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DEPARTMENTS 5 event briefs 6 health briefs 8 global briefs 10 eco tip 11 business

spotlight 15 wise words 16 green living

20 conscious

eating 24 fit body 26 healthy kids 28 inspiration 30 natural pet 33 calendar 37 resource guide March 2021

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

VOLUSIA FLAGLER EDITION Publisher Rebecca Young Publisher@VoFLNatural.com

Writer Erin Floresca

Editor Sara Gurgen Calendar Editor Sara Peterson

Design & Production Melanie Rankin Graphic Design Wendy Wilson

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Volusia Flagler

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letter from publisher

March is here, and spring has officially sprung! It’s almost

time for flip flops and sundresses, festivals and strawberry picking.

The days grow longer. The sun shines brighter. Nature has hit the reset button.

Our March edition is packed full of ways to embrace nature.

Learn to grow microgreens and sprouts indoors, and try the recipes following the article. Regenerative organic farming holds great promise to rebuild soil and insure sustainability. If you have a yard, you could have a source of food, free from chemicals and pesticides. Food grown in a backyard garden tends to have better flavor because it is left to ripen on the plant longer. Twenty-two million new gardens were planted in the United States when the fragility of our supply chain was exposed during the pandemic.

Regenerative healthcare is the focus of this month’s Wise Words. Jeff Tkach of the Rodale Institute discusses regenerative healthcare and its connection to regenerative farming. Tkach describes regenerative healthcare as a system where farming and healthcare work together, focused on a prevention-based approach to human and environmental health.

The power of cannabidiol (CBD) and medical cannabis is explored in Green Living. Learn how to select the highest quality CBD product and explore the many forms available, from oils and tinctures to gummies and flower. The discovery of the endocannabinoid system of receptors and its connection to the body’s ability to regulate itself is central to the growing interest in CBD products.

Rolling right along to the Fit Body section, learn the benefits of foam rollers for sore muscles and joints. These lightweight cylinders target trigger points or painful knots and come in many types including high-density, heated and textured. Foam rollers offer simple, affordable self-care that can be done by all ages in a small indoor space or outside.

There’s plenty more packed into this March edition, including our calendar’s many classes and workshops. We encourage you to support our family of advertisers and shop local to support the community.

Rebecca Young, Publisher

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

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

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

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

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To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. ~Audrey Hepburn

event briefs

StarSeed Adventures Vacation Conference in Cocoa Beach

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Eckankar to Offer Virtual Event on Finding Your Life’s Purpose

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he StarSeed Adventures Vacation Conference is being held at the Cocoa Beach Hilton Oceanfront Resort March 11 to 14. Participants will enjoy four days of sun, fun and friends while attending transformational workshops and presentations.

The conference features two half days of speakers, evening sky watches, energy activations, a full-day symposium, and a semiformal dinner. The event concludes with a Sunday night dance party with music provided by DJ Dhimas.

StarSeeds, experiencers and healers are welcome to join together to relax, play on the beach and socialize while attending lectures from Barry Littleton, ET experiencer; Tony Rodrigues, secret space program insider; Princess Jeanee, remote viewer; Xi EarthStar, grid worker; Matthew Mournian, multidimensional energy healer; and many more.

StarSeed Adventures focuses on personal growth, manifesting positive outcomes, and raising the vibration of the planet.

he theme of Eckankar in Florida’s ECK Light and Sound Service on March 28 is Finding Your Life’s Purpose. The virtual event will feature speakers, sharing, creative arts and a spiritual exercise. This topic is also the title for a new e-booklet that can be downloaded for free.

Eckankar, the Path of Spiritual Freedom, is an active, individual, creative spiritual practice that offers keys to finding answers within.

Each month, Eckankar in Florida offers spiritually focused virtual events, which last about one hour, for seekers of all backgrounds. Topics include Is Life a Random Walk?; ECK Wisdom on Soul Travel; Turning Points, a Gift of Growth; The Power of Gratitude; Spiritual Stress Relief; Animals Are Soul Too!, which explores our divine connections with all life; and Experience HU, the Sound of Soul, which features a powerful 20-minute spiritual exercise and contemplation using HU, an ancient, sacred name for God. When sung or chanted with an open heart, HU opens the lines of communication to the most sacred part of oneself.

Space is limited due to social distancing restrictions. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit StarSeedAdventures.com/ Florida-2021. See ad, below.

For more information, including dates, times and login information, visit Eck-Florida.org. To download the free e-booklet, visit Eckankar.org/purpose. See ad, page 18.

March 2021

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Use Colored LED Lights to Relax Getting an MRI or CT scan is typically not a relaxing experience, and patient discomfort, anxiety or agitation can affect the quality of the image. Taking note of businesses that use lighting to create a mood, researchers from Pepperdine University demonstrated that patient unease in imaging centers can be modified with the use of colored LED lights. In a pilot study involving 35 subjects, 43 percent found blue lighting most relaxing, while 31 percent preferred yellow. The least relaxing lighting color was red, according to 69 percent of participants, followed by yellow (17 percent) and green (11 percent).

Each subject was given a handheld device to set the hue, intensity and brightness of lighting, and most chose blue. No patient preferred the standard bright, white lighting of healthcare environments.

“When given the opportunity to change a single aspect of the environmental or imaging facility experience, patients feel much more in control of the otherwise unfamiliar and uncomfortable setting,” write the authors in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Try Mindfulness to Improve Cardiovascular Health Mindfulness training can lower blood pressure and positively influence behavior that promotes cardiovascular health, report Brown University researchers. The study published in Plos One involved 43 people with hypertension. In eight weekly 150-minute sessions, participants learned mindfulness meditation movements and techniques, including eating food mindfully, while also receiving instruction on hypertension risk factors. By the end of the year, they reported improvements in stress levels, diet, physical activity and alcohol consumption. On average, systolic blood pressure fell by six points and diastolic pressure by one point, a small, but significant improvement.

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Try Ginger to Lower Diabetes Markers Ginger root (Zingiber officinale), used historically in traditional medicine to treat indigestion and nausea, may also help people with Type 2 diabetes, suggests a new study from Brazil. Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind study of 103 people with Type 2 diabetes that were taking medications.

Those taking 1.2 grams of ginger powder for 90 days experienced a significant drop in the level of fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol compared to those taking a placebo.

Use Green Tea Extract and Curcumin to Ward Off Oral Cancer Early signs of oral cancer can include white patches, sores and lumps inside the mouth, biomarkers known collectively as oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). To see if two natural chemo-preventive agents—green tea extract and curcumin—could reverse these conditions, researchers in India tested 60 people with OPMD, splitting them into three groups.

One group was given 400 milligrams (mg) of green tea extract in a capsule, as well as a gel; a second group was given 475 mg of curcumin; and the third received a combination of the first two treatments. After 12 weeks, researchers found that the supplementation had significantly reduced OPMD biomarkers in all three groups, with particularly strong results in the combination group, suggesting a synergistic effect.

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health briefs

March 2021

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global briefs

Hot Stuff

Saving Coral Reefs Worldwide

pyvovarova yevheniia/Unsplash.com

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) has urged governments to take action to save the planet’s remaining coral reefs and their attendant fish populations, because collective human impacts are leaving fewer places untouched, with only 15 percent of the Earth’s land mass formally protected and global biodiversity declining at an unprecedented rate. To that end, a new online data platform, MERMAID (DataMermaid.org) helps scientists and management officials collect, organize and disseminate data on reef fish biomass and diversity, as well as the cover of hard corals, fleshy algae and other benthic groups—all identified by ICRI as key indicators of coral reef health, integrity and function.

The newly published 5th Global Biodiversity Outlook and other sources endorsed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services clearly indicate that governments are failing to meet existing global targets for biodiversity and that critical ecosystems like coral reefs will be altered to the point that the biodiversity they harbor, and the services they provide, will be irreparably damaged.

Currently, only 2.5 percent of the world’s reefs are being actively protected.

The Benefits of Renewable Geothermal Energy

Due to the ongoing decay of radioactive elements in the Earth’s core, temperatures 4,000 miles below the surface can reach 10,800° F. The molten magma we call lava carries enormous heat to the surface. But despite its enormous potential, geothermal energy supplied just 0.4 percent of U.S. electricity in 2019. In California, the perimeter of the inland Salton Sea lies several thousand feet above a mineral-rich cauldron of hot water that powers 10 geothermal plants. The state has emphasized wind and solar power while neglecting the development of geothermal plants, despite possessing our most productive geothermal fields.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimated in 2007 that releasing just 2 percent of this untapped resource in sites around the country could supply 2,000 times our overall primary energy needs without needing any improvements in drilling technology. While the first geothermal plants in the 1960s drained reservoirs of their steam or water, binary plants—a new design from the 1980s—allow operators to extract the heat while maintaining the generating potential. Between 2006 and 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy spent only $1 billion on geothermal technology due to falling coal prices, a fraction of what was spent on fossil fuels and solar investment. cardaf/AdobeStock.com

Fishy Business

Buzz Kill

Although honey bees symbolize prosperity, sustainability and environmentalism, and are vital to farmers, they also have a distressing effect on the environment—destabilizing natural ecosystems by competing with native bees. Thousands of beekeeping hobbyists and campaigns to save the bees provide honey bees much more media coverage than native pollinators. High densities of honey bee colonies increase competition with the native pollinators for forage, putting even more pressure on the wild species that are already in decline. Honey bees are extremely general foragers and monopolize floral resources, leading to exploitative competition where one species uses up a resource, not leaving enough to go around.

Sheila Colla, an assistant professor and conservation biologist at Toronto’s York University, tells Scientific American, “Beekeeping is for people; it’s not a conservation practice. People mistakenly think keeping honey bees, or helping honey bees, is somehow helping the native bees, which are at risk of extinction. The focus on neonics [pesticide] and honey bees has taken a ton of resources away from conserving wild pollinators from their most important threats.”

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Honey Bees Have a Dirty Secret

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Cold Comfort

Hazardous Pollutants Found in Mount Everest Snow

Manmade perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in water-repellant outdoor gear and linked to birth defects, high cholesterol and increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer have been detected in snow at the top of Mount Everest, posing a risk for trekkers, climbers and residents that drink the water. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry suggests that exposure to high levels of PFAS may suppress the immune system and increase the risk of getting COVID-19.

The PFAS discovery was reported by Kimberley Miner, a research assistant professor at the University of Maine Climate Change Institute, who along with 20 co-authors published a paper, “Deposition of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ on Mt. Everest,” in the online journal Science of the Total Environment. The PFAS pollution shows that people unknowingly shed these chemicals. Some companies that make outdoor gear are phasing them out, while others cite “technical challenges” in delaying such implementation.

Flying High

Economical Carbon-Neutral Jet Fuel

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Scientists looking for ways to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere have increasingly focused on the aviation industry, which accounts for approximately 12 percent of transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions. Installing heavy batteries aboard aircraft is problematic, but a team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the UK and Saudi Arabia have developed a way to produce jet fuel using carbon dioxide as a main ingredient, as published in the journal Nature Communications.

The process, which uses an iron catalyst with added potassium and manganese, along with hydrogen, citric acid and carbon dioxide heated to 662° F, forces the carbon atoms apart from the oxygen atoms in CO2 molecules, which then bond with hydrogen atoms to produce the kind of hydrocarbon molecules that comprise liquid jet fuel, with water as a byproduct. This is less expensive than converting hydrogen and water into fuel because it uses less electricity. Use of this fuel in aircraft would be carbon-neutral because burning it would release the same amount of carbon dioxide that was used to make it.

March 2021

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Plug and Pedal

The Benefits of Using Electric Bikes Gas-guzzlers are the worst of vehicles, emitting harmful pollutants and using up non-renewable natural resources. An Earth-friendlier alternative for work commutes or pleasurable neighborhood spins is the e-bike, powered by pedaling and an electric motor. Reaching maximum speeds of 20 to 28 miles per hour and costing $400 and up, an electric bicycle offers a more scenic and easier ride that gets us to our destinations without trashing the planet.

improvements regardless of whether they used an electric bicycle or a conventional, non-motorized model.

With the power assist, e-bikers were able to cycle at higher speeds and climb hills more easily, which also proved to be highly motivating.

Environmental Benefits

Be visible. Outfit the bike with lights and a bell and wear eye-catching clothing.

Zero emissions. Electric bikes run on clean energy, eliminating the devastating carbon emissions associated with cars, vans, trucks and motorcycles.

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Safety Tips Pay attention to traffic. Many car drivers may not expect a biker to reach 20 or more miles per hour.

Ride defensively.

Start slow. Get a feel for the bike’s capabilities at lower speeds before cranking it up.

Long-lasting power. The batteries last for years—much longer than traditional types. They don’t contain lead and can be recycled.

Give it a brake. With the added speed and power, slowing down well ahead of stop signs, lights and road crossings is a must.

Easier on roads. Bikes are considerably lighter than larger vehicles and cause much less damage to infrastructure.

Health-Friendly Commuting

Be careful on the mount and dismount.

An e-bike is about 20 pounds heavier than a regular bike, so a stepthrough frame might make good sense, even for men.

E-bikes are a great way to bring some physical activity to an otherwise sedentary lifestyle. In a 2018 study, Swiss researchers found that commuters enjoyed similar cardiorespiratory

Wear a helmet. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, head injury is the most common cause of death and serious disability in bicycle-related crashes.

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eco tip

business spotlight

Your CBD Store

Two Area Locations Fulfilling All Your CBD Needs

by Michael Cieslak

R

ecently celebrating 16 years of marriage, Allen and Jessica Warner are working together as when they first met in 2003. Except now their dedication is to their own business, with limitless possibilities for exercising their entrepreneurial spirit. Leaving a successful marketing career in 2018 to open the 26th Your CBD Store franchise in Palm Coast, followed by a DeLand location a year later, was both a leap of faith and desire to share the benefits of hemp. Allen discovered the power of cannabidiol (CBD) as he was undergoing radiation therapy for sinus cancer in 2016. Fatigue from lack of sleep, and pain from radiation burns were lessened by hemp. Allen knew CBD would take the natural health industry by storm, and believed Your CBD Store would quickly dominate the CBD industry.

Allen explained the Palm Coast Your CBD Store was the 26th to open, and just a year later their DeLand store was the 329th.

Today, there are more than 500 Your CBD Stores throughout the U.S., with growth into the United Kingdom underway. Your CBD Store is the nation’s fastest-growing retail chain for CBD users.

SunMed CBD is the exclusive provider of CBD to Your CBD Stores, and has won many prestigious awards for both people and pet products at the largest hemp expos in the country. SunMed uses a supercritical carbon dioxide extraction process that eliminates the need for chemical solvents and produces a high-quality full-spectrum CBD. The CBD is processed again to remove all traces of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for the company’s nondetectable THC products. Produced here in the U.S., SunMed provides a safe alternative to CBD products manufactured in Asia, which may not have comparable testing standards. SunMed’s hemp line is U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic, grown domestically, and constantly monitored for quality. The proprietary extraction process and unique terpene blend deliver a whole-plant hemp experience.

The Warners know that each person’s wellness journey is one of a kind—that’s why people will find options and education in their

Allen and Jessica Warner Your CBD Store locations. With every visit, customers find a warm, welcoming environment and a listening ear to guide them toward the right hemp products.

Jessica is a trusted adviser to many parents of autism spectrum disorder-affected children. Her ability to listen and guide in the selection of CBD products has helped hundreds of families choose from the large selection of CBD and cannabigerol (CBG)-rich oils, water solubles and edibles. Jessica is versed in each product’s benefits, and is able to recommend before-school oils, water solubles for after school, and bedtime gummies. Customer testimonials line their stores, and include amazing stories from senior citizens, veterans, parents and pet owners. There is a CBD product suitable for everyone at Your CBD Store.

To meet the growing demand for Delta 8 products, SunMed has introduced their exclusive line of Delta 8 THC drops, sprays and gummies. Allen and Jessica look forward to more new product introductions this year. They invite readers to stop in for a free sample at either of their locations.

Locations: 117 W. Howry Ave., DeLand, and 160 Cypress Point Pkwy., Ste. A105, Palm Coast. For more information, call 386-6276715 (DeLand) or 386-627-5217 (Palm Coast) or visit cbdrx4u.com/ find-us/florida/deland or cbdrx4u.com/find-us/florida/palm-coast.

See ad, page 17.

The Warners knew CBD would take the natural health industry by storm, and they believed Your CBD Store would quickly dominate the CBD industry. Their Palm Coast Your CBD Store was the 26th to open, and just a year later their DeLand store was the 329th.

March 2021

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DOWN TO EARTH The Promise of Regenerative Organic Farming

by Sandra Yeyati

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ith its dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, heavy tilling techniques, concentrated animal feeding practices and mono-crops—all designed to maximize yields—conventional farming has come at a great cost.

“Conventional intensive farming practices have significant negative consequences for the land and surrounding ecosystems,” says Richard Teague, Texas A&M professor of Ecosystem Science and Management. “By disrupting the natural function of these habitats, the valuable ecosystem services they provide are compromised.”

The way we’re growing food now is not sustainable. “According to the United Nations, we only have 60 harvests left before our soil is completely depleted. Years of conventional industrial agriculture have drained the soil dry of all of the organic matter, all the microbes, that microbiome that brings nutrients to our plants and to our planet as a whole,” says Margaret Wilson, content creation and media relations specialist at the Rodale Institute.

The UN also reported last year that agriculture and forestry were responsible for nearly a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. “Agriculture is a climate-intensive process and conventional practices make that even worse because they’re fossil fuel-intensive,” Wilson says. “They require a lot of machinery to plow fields and distribute pesticides. Fertilizers 12

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are fossil fuel-based. Tillage is a huge part of conventional agriculture, where you’re turning the soil over, and that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.”

One third of the world’s land surface is considered desert, and according to Judith D. Schwartz, the Vermont author of The Reindeer Chronicles and Cows Save the Planet, most deserts are manmade. “If we look historically, we learn that most deserts

were once thriving grasslands or some other kind of ecosystem and became deserts after hundreds of years of poor grazing management or farming that was no longer putting nutrients back into the soil.”

The good news is that deserts can be brought back to life. In the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, where much of the land is degraded, ingenious ranchers have figured out a way to support healthy animals and plant biodiversity. “The ranchers were earning money by managing the livestock holistically in a way that was reviving the ecological function of these lands, so there were thick grasses, birds and butterflies flourishing right next to land that looked horrible—absolute deserts with a lot of erosion, the soil so depleted that it couldn’t hold water,” recalls Schwartz, who visited the area.

Regenerative organic farming holds great promise to rebuild soil, draw carbon from the atmosphere and ultimately grow healthier food. “When you take out the pesticides, fertilizers and intensive tilling, our farming systems trial concluded that regenerative organic agriculture uses 45 percent fewer fossil fuels and releases 40 percent fewer carbon emissions than conventional practices,” Wilson says, adding that a recent Rodale Institute white paper postulated that by transitioning all global crop and pastureland to regenerative management, we could sequester 100 percent of annual carbon dioxide emissions.

As the founder of the Rodale Institute, J.I. Rodale, said, “Healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people.” Soil restoration is job one, and we know how to do this. “The goal of regenerative farming is to farm and ranch in nature’s image,” says Gabe Brown, a North Dakota farmer and author of Dirt to Soil. He offers the following six principles to create a thriving, regenerating agricultural ecosystem:

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Context: “There’s a reason bananas do not grow in North Dakota. They don’t fit the context, whereas more spring wheat is grown in North Dakota than anywhere else.

You have to farm and ranch in your context.”

The least amount of mechanical and chemical disturbance possible: “Nature tills with earthworms and burrowing rodents, but it certainly doesn’t till the soil like we do in farming or even in gardening. Tilling is the worst thing you can do if you want to raise nutrient-dense food. Nature aerates the soil with the use of living plants and soil aggregates. Those soil aggregates will only last about four weeks, then new ones need to be formed, and the only way to form them is by not tilling and allowing biology and fungi to secrete substances that help bind sand, silt and clay to form soil aggregates.”

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Armor on the soil: “Nature always tries to cover the soil, whether it be leaves in a forest or decaying plants in a pasture or field. Nature does not like bare soil.”

Diversity: “Where in nature do you see a monoculture? Usually only where man put it or man’s actions have driven it to be a monoculture. Nature is very diverse, so hundreds of different grasses, legumes all growing in harmony. We’ve gotten away from that.

Now we plant monocultures. That’s not the way nature functions.”

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A living root being in the soil as long as possible throughout the year: “I go out in the spring here in North Dakota, and you’ve got crocuses coming up through the snow. That’s nature’s way of trying to take the solar energy and all of these compounds out of the atmosphere, and through photosynthesis convert it into carbon to feed soil biology.”

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Livestock and insect integration: “Nature does not function properly without animals. Too many people think we have to remove the animals from the landscape.

That’s the worst thing you can do. What’s going to pollinate the plants? The way our rich soils were formed was with large herds of ruminants, grazing the plants. That plant, once grazed, starts sloughing off root exudates to attract biology, to regrow, and then that plant is able to cycle more carbon out of the atmosphere.”

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Brown waxes poetic when he talks about the amazing results of regenerative farming. “Healthy soil looks like dark chocolate cake.

It’s full of pore spaces. Healthy soil is dark because of the amount of carbon in it. It smells good, whereas unhealthy soil is very compacted. There’s no pore spaces. Water cannot infiltrate into it. It’s a dull, pale color. You can see it, you can smell it, you can feel it.”

According to Wilson, the Rodale Institute is poised to help farmers adopt these principles and make them profitable. “People say regenerative organic isn’t scalable, but through our farming systems trial, we’re proving that you can do this on a large scale.

It might require customization, but that’s why we’re investing so much in providing support and research to farmers to help them navigate that, and we’re seeing that scalability is not a barrier to implementation because so many big companies like Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia are starting to implement these practices because people are demanding it. The market finds a way to make it doable and as long as we keep up our consumer education and show people that this is a benefit to everybody, I think large-scale farmers and corporations that buy their products will respond.”

Last year, Graham Christensen’s father gave him and his brother full control of a 750-acre farm in Oakland, Nebraska, that has been in the family since 1867. Over the decades, the farm has seen many changes, but the biggest transformation is still to come, as the brothers eagerly transition their once conventional operation into a regenerative organic one.

The family began to incorporate a few innovations 12 years ago when they stopped tilling the land and adopted solar energy, but this year they’ll take bolder steps to eliminate their dependence on GMO seeds and chemical fertilizers and pesticides which over the years have reduced organic matter levels in the soil and led to increased and unhealthy nutrient levels in their waterways.

“For the first time, we’ll be cover-cropping 612 acres and expanding habitats for wildlife, especially in some riparian areas, so we can get more roots in the soil and have better filtration and cleaner water,” Christensen explains. “We’re going to produce nutrients by building a biodiverse ecosystem and we’re incorporating animal grazing systems to help us fertilize naturally rather than having to add synthetics like nitrogen and phosphorus.”

They have planted a 100-tree hazelnut orchard that they hope to expand as a tree crop. “That’s going to help us stop soil erosion, store more carbon in the ground, produce another form of income and also be able to fit right into our cropping system, virtually taking out no extra land; just creating a higher layer, so now we’re farming higher in the air.”

The transition is not without its risks, Christensen adds. “Farms like ours have been heavily subsidized by the federal government to ship our grain to other countries. What we’re trying to do now is produce more small grains and hazelnuts for a regional market and reintroduce livestock to the land—not in confinement—so we can focus more on feeding people in our local community and in Omaha or Lincoln or Kansas City or Des Moines.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

wise words

Jeff Tkach on Regenerative Healthcare

by Patricia Trenchak

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or over 70 years, Rodale Institute— a pioneer of the organic food movement—has championed the concept of farming without herbicides and pesticides by funding and supporting scientific studies and education. Now entering his fifth year with Rodale Institute, Chief Impact Officer Jeff Tkach is committed to upholding the legacy of the Institute’s founder, J.I. Rodale, who believed that healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people. According to Tkach, farmers and healthcare professionals need to embrace a prevention-based approach to human and environmental health, and Rodale Institute is here to bridge the gap between these two industries by unlocking the transformational power of regenerative healthcare.

How did your personal journey lead you to explore regenerative healthcare?

In 2016, I experienced a tremendous health collapse in my own life. I went through six conventional medical doctors and $50,000 in medical bills. I had been a highperforming businessperson up until that point, and found myself on medical leave, bedridden and unable to work. I sought out a doctor who practiced something called functional medicine, which focuses on finding the root of whatever caused the breakdown in health. After numerous

tests, it was discovered that I had chronic Lyme disease. The doctor explained that there was nothing he could prescribe that was going to instantly make me better.

Through my work with him, I had to look at my body as a whole system and came to realize that food is medicine. Ultimately, alternative modalities like acupuncture and IV [intravenous] therapy, as well as food healed me.

What is regenerative healthcare?

It is a system in which farming and healthcare work together focused on a prevention-based approach to human and environmental health. Instead of using toxic chemicals to farm, regenerative healthcare aims to prevent disease through an organic, plant-based, whole-foods diet.

Regenerative healthcare begins on farms that work in harmony with nature. At Rodale Institute, we see ourselves as a human health organization, not an agricultural organization. We use agriculture as a tool to promote human health. Our goal is to build the first brick and mortar facility in the world, called the Regenerative Health Institute, that will connect medical doctors and farmers. The facility will be a 333acre certified organic farm in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, that will provide innovative research on the links between farming and human health. We’re going to be doing scientific research that demonstrates the

link between soil health and the health of people, and we’re going to educate and train tomorrow’s doctors to become more literate in agriculture and to understand how they can use food as medicine.

How can we harness the power of regenerative organic farming to foster good health?

The current mode of farming is systemically broken, and farmers need to move in a healthier direction. The science is showing that elements in pesticides and herbicides are known carcinogens that are wreaking havoc on our immune systems. They are ubiquitous in our air and drinking water.

Farmers are no longer able to control where those chemicals land. They’re leaching into our groundwater, killing the life in the soil and causing major soil erosion.

Ultimately, they’re causing imbalances in nature of mass proportion.

How can you convince people to adopt organic and consider food as medicine?

We need to encourage people to get to know a farmer. There are incredible regenerative organic farmers in our own communities that oftentimes don’t have access to mainstream markets. During the pandemic, we saw a major increase in sales directly from farms to consumers. When the supply chains in the grocery stores broke down, we turned to farmers. That’s profound. As a result of the pandemic, 22 million new gardens were planted in the United States, according to the National Gardening Association. We need to keep that going. It’s very exciting to be a part of this movement as people around the world come to understand the importance of food as medicine. I truly believe that regenerative healthcare is the key to healing our planet.

For more information, visit RodaleInstitute.org.

Patricia Trenchak writes for KnoWEwell, a Regenerative Whole Health Community platform and a collaborative partner of Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. See ad, page 32.

March 2021

15

green living

Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol A Primer on the Latest Research

by Sandra Yeyati

E

ver since the Farm Bill of 2018 legalized the commercial production of hemp, U.S. sales of cannabidiol (CBD) have exploded onto the scene with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of vendors popping up around the country. CBD, a cannabinoid, is abundant in the hemp flower. “By law, hemp is defined as a variety of cannabis plant that has less than 0.3 percent THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid that induces a high,” says Shannon Livingston, a cannabis consultant for Florida Gulf Coast University, in Fort Myers.

Proven Benefits of CBD: “The enthusiasm for CBD is soaring above the actual scientific evidence,” says Peter Grinspoon, M.D., a leading medical cannabis expert and primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. “What’s known is that it helps with childhood epilepsy, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a CBD drug for that. It is believed, and there’s good animal data and some human data to suggest, that CBD helps with chronic pain, insomnia and anxiety.”

kostrez/AdobeStock.com

Anxiety Under Study: A clinical trial examining a high-CBD, low-THC (the psychoactive component) sublingual custom formulation for patients with moderate to severe anxiety is being conducted by Staci Gruber, Ph.D., director of Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery at McLean Hospital, in Belmont, Massachusetts, and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “In the open label phase of this study, we’ve seen a rather dramatic and precipitous drop in symptoms of anxiety and depression after four weeks of treatment. We’ll see if this holds in the doubleblind phase, which is underway now,” she explains.

16

Volusia / Flagler

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Entourage Effect: Gruber notes that this customized formulation is a full-spectrum, whole-plant formula, saying, “You often seem to get a bigger bang for the buck using a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum (whole plant minus THC) product, rather than just a single extracted compound.” The process she’s describing is called the entourage

effect—an assumption that all elements of the cannabis plant, working together, are most effective. “I believe there’s a significant role for terpenoids, flavonoids and other cannabinoid constituents of the plant, in addition to the big two (THC and CBD), and I have a grant to look at that very question,” she says.

How to Start CBD: Experts agree that the best approach is to start low and go slow. “With experimentation, the patient will know what works for them,” Grinspoon says. “When CBD doesn’t work with my patients, the next step is to add a little bit of medical cannabis; it often takes a very little dose to help them with their sleep or their chronic pain.”

Medical marijuana has been legalized in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

Route of Administration: “When you smoke or vape, it’s an almost immediate onset, which is helpful for breakthrough pain, nausea and anything you want to treat immediately, but the effect is very short-lived,” Livingston explains. “For chronic pain, you might take a capsule or the patch that will last six to eight hours. If you want to fall asleep, a sublingual will work. For a skin condition, you might rub an oil on your skin. It’s really about the time of onset, how long you need it to last and what you’re treating.”

Ensuring Quality Control: “Choose CBD providers that are certified for good manufacturing practices; conduct batch-specific, third-party testing on all of their products; and provide certificates of analysis directly from those labs. These tests can detect the presence of heavy metals, bacterial or microbial life, mycotoxins and pesticides, and also provide cannabinoid potency and terpene profiles,” says Grace Kaucic, senior communications and content manager at Bluebird Botanicals, a CBD company in Louisville, Colorado.

our own bodies produce. “This system is believed to control homeostasis, the body’s ability to regulate itself and maintain normal functioning,” Grinspoon says, adding that he believes this system will become central to medicine over the next few years as more research is conducted.

nabis science,” Gruber says. “There’s every reason to be optimistic about the potential of harnessing and exploiting the benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids in ways that may still surprise us, but to be cautiously optimistic. It is not a panacea. It will never be one-size-fits-all.”

Research is Ongoing: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for can-

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer.

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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Researchers followed more than 36,000 Japanese men older than 40 for an average of 13.2 years.

They found that those that consumed culinary mushrooms three times a week had a 17 percent lower chance of developing prostate cancer compared to those that ate mushrooms less than once a week. Participants that ate mushrooms once or twice a week had an 8 percent lower risk. The trend was even greater for those men over the age of 50 and was unrelated to other dietary habits.

Maintain a Healthy Diet and Weight to Lower Cataract Risk A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition used adherence to dietary guidelines and total diet scores to assess the effects of diet on cataract risk.

The researchers followed 2,173 older Australians for five and 10 years in two phases. They found that maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, combined with a healthy diet, reduced the risk of developing cataracts.

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD

Researchers followed more than 36,000 Japanese men older than 40 for an average of 13.2 years.

They found that those that consumed culinary mushrooms three times a week had a 17 percent lower chance of developing prostate cancer compared to those that ate mushrooms less than once a week. Participants that ate mushrooms once or twice a week had an 8 percent lower risk. The trend was even greater for those men over the age of 50 and was unrelated to other dietary habits.

SK Design/Shutterstock.com

Hong Vo/Shutterstock.com

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD

be in balance for ultimate well-being leads to personalized treatments that examine and help each individual to achieve their level of optimum health. This insightful approach often offers relief to patients who have exhausted their traditional western medical options and are seeking help in alternate methods.

Patients may also undergo extensive counseling to facilitate profound lifestyle changes and new ways of looking at things.

They receive individualized nutritional guidelines in the hopes of facilitating improved health and releasing what needs to be transitioned.

The philosophy “you are what you eat” has never been as true as in today’s quick meal society, and few know the effects of dietary choices better than Dr. Pautz. Providing your body with the fuel and tools necessary for its well-being is the first building block toward total health and healing. Combining her knowledge of medicine and nutrition, she targets habits that contribute to particular disorders and advises her patients in their diets to strengthen their immune systems and help their bodies stay strong.

In treating her patients, Dr. Pautz has noticed that their nutritional habits have stemmed from a lack of knowledge about how to prepare healthful dishes. After encountering this need for education, she developed classes in the past that were focused on nutritional cooking, emphasizing the use of whole grains, tons of herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables. With a healthy diet as a base to grow from, therapies then perform better as the body becomes more receptive, receiving the aid the therapies provide. Dr. Pautz can easily suggest recipes in-session with wholesome foods that might be a first step in implementation.

Combining Traditional, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine for Well-Being and Balance

community spotlight

O

n the east coast of Florida, just a few blocks from the ocean, sits one of the South’s few anthroposophically oriented medical practices.

The Persephone Healing Arts Center, in Jacksonville Beach, has a wonderful, natural atmosphere enhanced by the spirit and focus of A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD. Brought up in a Waldorf school environment, Dr. Pautz is double board certified in both integrative and internal medicine and combines the best of both worlds in her treatment of patients.

Her goal is to help her patients achieve their highest level of well-being and balance, using natural approaches whenever possible.

This philosophy is evident from the first view of the center: a cozy waiting room looks out onto a lovely garden area where patients can relax in the sun or rest in a spot of shade beneath the trees. Care here is particularly unique—first visits can be two or more hours of one-on-one time with the physician. Dr. Pautz takes time to learn all she can about a patient’s physical, mental and emotional well-being and then fuses her knowledge of traditional, integrative and anthroposophic medicine (a philosophy that embraces physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the human being) to provide individual recommendations designed to work on the root of the problem. Her treatments are focused on lifestyle changes, counseling and nutrition, and this focus helps her patients not only deal with their health issues, but also maintain their higher level of wellness once the immediate problem is dealt with.

Dr. Pautz’s technique has particularly helped those with chronic disorders and diseases such as depression, autism, cancer and any other internal medical disease. Her conviction that all facets of the person must A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD

December 2019 9

Another unique remedy at Dr. Pautz’s disposal is therapeutic eurythmy, an expressive form of movement therapy. Based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, eurythmy uses movements to express sounds and music. One of the few medical doctors to be certified in eurythmy, Dr. Pautz uses this approach to supplement the treatment of a variety of physical, medical and emotional ailments. Somewhat like its Asian counterparts, tai chi and yoga, eurythmy helps a person connect to and experience the nontangible realities of spirit and energy that are essential for all souls.

Dr. Pautz’s varied background and extensive training provide her with myriad treatment choices to draw from in her practice. Whether addressing cancer, diabetes, asthma, common cold, multiples sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ALS or any other illness, her treatments are personalized, insightful and far-reaching. By balancing Western and integrative medicine and avoiding chemical drugs whenever possible, Dr. Pautz provides each patient with the opportunity for a road map to longlasting, deep-seated health changes through nutritional and lifestyle advice, naturopathy, homeopathy, counseling, anthroposophic medicine, and art and movement therapy.

Persephone Healing Arts Center is located at 485 6th Ave. N., in Jacksonville Beach.

To learn more, call 904-246-3583, visit DrPautz.com or join them for one of their monthly open houses. Join them on Facebook.

See ad on the back cover.

FSU Researchers Develop Battery Component That Uses Compound From Plants

Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Attacks With Better Gut Bacteria

New research offers potential paths for treatment for the nearly 20 percent of patients with high blood pressure that don’t respond well to medications. University of Florida College of Medicine researchers, testing 105 volunteers, found that the populations of gut bacteria differed between hypertensive individuals with depression and those without depression. A second study by Italian researchers found that patients with heart attacks had different bacteria in their guts than patients with stable angina.

Daxiao Productions/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

9

Train Students in Mindfulness to Reduce Stress and Improve Grades

Sixth-graders that received mindfulness training each day for eight weeks experienced lower stress levels, less depression and improved academic performance compared to their peers in a control group that studied computer coding, report Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers. In addition to that 100-student study, researchers surveyed 2,000 students in grades five through eight and found those that showed more mindfulness tended to have better grades and test scores. They also had fewer absences and suspensions.

December 2019

NAJax.com

Persephone Healing Arts Center is located at 485 6th Ave. N., in Jacksonville Beach.

To learn more, call 904-246-3583, visit DrPautz.com or join them for one of their monthly open houses. Join them on Facebook.

See ad on the back cover.

NAJax.com

Eat Mushrooms to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

Another unique remedy at Dr. Pautz’s disposal is therapeutic eurythmy, an expressive form of movement therapy. Based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, eurythmy uses movements to express sounds and music. One of the few medical doctors to be certified in eurythmy, Dr. Pautz uses this approach to supplement the treatment of a variety of physical, medical and emotional ailments. Somewhat like its Asian counterparts, tai chi and yoga, eurythmy helps a person connect to and experience the nontangible realities of spirit and energy that are essential for all souls.

Dr. Pautz’s varied background and extensive training provide her with myriad treatment choices to draw from in her practice. Whether addressing cancer, diabetes, asthma, common cold, multiples sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ALS or any other illness, her treatments are personalized, insightful and far-reaching. By balancing Western and integrative medicine and avoiding chemical drugs whenever possible, Dr. Pautz provides each patient with the opportunity for a road map to longlasting, deep-seated health changes through nutritional and lifestyle advice, naturopathy, homeopathy, counseling, anthroposophic medicine, and art and movement therapy.

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

be in balance for ultimate well-being leads to personalized treatments that examine and help each individual to achieve their level of optimum health. This insightful approach often offers relief to patients who have exhausted their traditional western medical options and are seeking help in alternate methods.

Patients may also undergo extensive counseling to facilitate profound lifestyle changes and new ways of looking at things.

They receive individualized nutritional guidelines in the hopes of facilitating improved health and releasing what needs to be transitioned.

The philosophy “you are what you eat” has never been as true as in today’s quick meal society, and few know the effects of dietary choices better than Dr. Pautz. Providing your body with the fuel and tools necessary for its well-being is the first building block toward total health and healing. Combining her knowledge of medicine and nutrition, she targets habits that contribute to particular disorders and advises her patients in their diets to strengthen their immune systems and help their bodies stay strong.

In treating her patients, Dr. Pautz has noticed that their nutritional habits have stemmed from a lack of knowledge about how to prepare healthful dishes. After encountering this need for education, she developed classes in the past that were focused on nutritional cooking, emphasizing the use of whole grains, tons of herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables. With a healthy diet as a base to grow from, therapies then perform better as the body becomes more receptive, receiving the aid the therapies provide. Dr. Pautz can easily suggest recipes in-session with wholesome foods that might be a first step in implementation.

Maintain a Healthy Diet and Weight to Lower Cataract Risk

n the east coast of Florida, just a few blocks from the ocean, sits one of the South’s few anthroposophically oriented medical practices.

The Persephone Healing Arts Center, in Jacksonville Beach, has a wonderful, natural atmosphere enhanced by the spirit and focus of A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD. Brought up in a Waldorf school environment, Dr. Pautz is double board certified in both integrative and internal medicine and combines the best of both worlds in her treatment of patients.

Her goal is to help her patients achieve their highest level of well-being and balance, using natural approaches whenever possible.

This philosophy is evident from the first view of the center: a cozy waiting room looks out onto a lovely garden area where patients can relax in the sun or rest in a spot of shade beneath the trees. Care here is particularly unique—first visits can be two or more hours of one-on-one time with the physician. Dr. Pautz takes time to learn all she can about a patient’s physical, mental and emotional well-being and then fuses her knowledge of traditional, integrative and anthroposophic medicine (a philosophy that embraces physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the human being) to provide individual recommendations designed to work on the root of the problem. Her treatments are focused on lifestyle changes, counseling and nutrition, and this focus helps her patients not only deal with their health issues, but also maintain their higher level of wellness once the immediate problem is dealt with.

Dr. Pautz’s technique has particularly helped those with chronic disorders and diseases such as depression, autism, cancer and any other internal medical disease. Her conviction that all facets of the person must

A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition used adherence to dietary guidelines and total diet scores to assess the effects of diet on cataract risk.

The researchers followed 2,173 older Australians for five and 10 years in two phases. They found that maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, combined with a healthy diet, reduced the risk of developing cataracts.

Sixth-graders that received mindfulness training each day for eight weeks experienced lower stress levels, less depression and improved academic performance compared to their peers in a control group that studied computer coding, report Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers. In addition to that 100-student study, researchers surveyed 2,000 students in grades five through eight and found those that showed more mindfulness tended to have better grades and test scores. They also had fewer absences and suspensions.

A. Schaeffer-Pautz, MD Combining Traditional, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine for Well-Being and Balance

O

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

Train Students in Mindfulness to Reduce Stress and Improve Grades

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering associate professor Daniel Hallinan Jr. (L) and FAMU-FSU College of Engineering assistant professor Hoyong Chung.

Their research developed a way to use lignin, a compound in the cell walls of plants that makes them rigid, in the electrolytes of batteries.

community spotlight

Researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center tested stool samples of 858 men and 877 women in Los Angeles and Hawaii with a mean age of 69—regarded as an ethnically diverse study population with varied food intakes. The study found that those with higher quality diets also had significantly better gut bacteria diversity, a factor linked to reduced risk for a variety of diseases. Diet quality and a reduced risk of developing chronic disease is strongly associated with fecal microbial diversity.

8

New research offers potential paths for treatment for the nearly 20 percent of patients with high blood pressure that don’t respond well to medications. University of Florida College of Medicine researchers, testing 105 volunteers, found that the populations of gut bacteria differed between hypertensive individuals with depression and those without depression. A second study by Italian researchers found that patients with heart attacks had different bacteria in their guts than patients with stable angina.

8

Researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center tested stool samples of 858 men and 877 women in Los Angeles and Hawaii with a mean age of 69—regarded as an ethnically diverse study population with varied food intakes. The study found that those with higher quality diets also had significantly better gut bacteria diversity, a factor linked to reduced risk for a variety of diseases. Diet quality and a reduced risk of developing chronic disease is strongly associated with fecal microbial diversity.

Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Attacks With Better Gut Bacteria

SK Design/Shutterstock.com

Eat Mushrooms to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

Daxiao Productions/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

Hong Vo/Shutterstock.com

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Publisher@VoFLNatural.com

by Bill Wellock

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Volusia / Flagler

A

Florida State University research team has developed a way to use a material found in plants to help create safer batteries.

Using the organic polymer lignin—a compound in the cell walls of plants that makes them rigid—the team was able to create battery electrolytes. Their research was published as the cover article in the journal Macromolecular Rapid Communications.

“The main battle in battery science is in new materials,” said Hoyong Chung, an assistant professor of chemical and biomedical engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the study’s corresponding author. “Depending on what kind of material we use, we can improve the capacity of the battery and the safety of the battery substantially.”

VoFLNatural.com

To create their new type of solid electrolyte, the team combined lignin with the synthetic polymer polyethylene glycol.

Electrolytes are a battery part that separate the negative and positive terminals of a battery. They conduct ions, which match the flow of electrons moving from a negative to positive terminal and through whatever the battery is meant to power.

Electrolytes can be either liquid or solid, and each type has its strengths and weaknesses. Liquid electrolytes are good conductors of ions, but solid electrolytes are typically safer, stronger and can be used at higher temperatures than liquid versions.

Polyethylene glycol is a popular candidate for solid electrolytes because of its electrochemical stability, but it doesn’t conduct well at room temperature, which limits the

abilities of batteries using that material to power something or to rapidly charge.

That’s where lignin comes in.

Lignin’s chemical structure contains high concentrations of derivatives from a compound called benzene, which makes it a strong material. By using lignin as an electrolyte component, the battery keeps the strength and safety that comes with a typical solid electrolyte but gains the ability to function well at room temperature.

Along with increasing the range of temperatures at which a solid electrolyte battery is feasible, using lignin is a way to make batteries more sustainable.

Lignin is cheap and abundant. About 50 million tons are produced each year globally, and most of that is a waste product from the paper industry. Unlike other biomass materials, it’s not a human food, so it couldn’t be otherwise used to feed people.

“This is a way to improve battery performance and to do so in a sustainable way,” Chung said. “Batteries will be even more important in the future, so improving their technology is crucial.”

Daniel Hallinan Jr., FAMU-FSU College of Engineering associate professor and co-corresponding author; former graduate student Hailing Liu; and former graduate assistant Logan Mulderrig contributed to this work. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation and FSU’s Energy and Materials Hiring initiative.

Teaching kids how to feed themselves and how to live in a community responsibly is the center of an education. ~Alice Waters

There is a crack, a crack in everything.

That’s how the light gets in. ~ Leonard Cohen

March 2021

19

conscious eating

Indoor Edible Gardening Grow Veggies, Sprouts and Microgreens Year-Round

by April Thompson

T

Mini-Greens, Major Nutrients

Many health-conscious gardeners are drawn to sprouts and microgreens for their nutritional benefits, as they contain as much as 40 times the nutrients as their full-grown counterparts. Sprouts can easily be grown with or without soil, and are eaten before the first tiny cotyledon leaves emerge, whereas microgreens are harvested later, often just before or after the first true leaves, the second pair, pop up.

“Sprouted greens grown at home are the freshest food you’ll ever eat. Being able to grow your own salads is also a lot of fun in the winter, to see the wonderful colors growing on your shelf,” says Peter Burke, the Calais, Vermont, author of Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, Soil-Sprouted Greens in Less Than 10 Days.

shintartanya/AdobeStock.com

here’s no need to wait until the last frost date to sow a kitchen garden. Impatient gardeners or those without outdoor space can grow almost anything indoors with a little light and creativity.

“You can start many edible plants from seed on a sunny windowsill, even in late winter.

You’ll be surprised how quickly everything germinates this time of year,” says Zia Allaway, the British author of Indoor Edible Garden: Creative Ways to Grow Herbs, Fruits, and Vegetables in Your Home.

Herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are among the many foods that can be easily grown from seed indoors, according to Allaway. Many fruiting plants that are not self-pollinating, such as cucumbers, need a boost from hand pollination if growing them indoors. Allaway adds, “When growing any plants on a windowsill, rotate them periodically so they grow evenly, as they will turn toward the light.”

While crops like garlic, beets and carrots won’t reach maturity indoors, they can still be grown inside for their tasty, nutritious leaves. To grow garlic shoots, for example, remove the papery outer case and submerge the flat end of a garlic bulb in a container of water, leaving the top exposed to air. Within a few weeks, garlicky-flavored shoots will sprout up that can be harvested and used like chives, advises Allaway.

To maximize space, she suggests growing plants vertically, perhaps by hanging bushy herbs or trailing plants in a window basket. She has also used interior walls to erect a trellis for vining plants like cucumbers, wiring it up with screw eyes.

20 20

Volusia / Flagler

VoFLNatural.com

Burke’s tried and true method is to plant a small amount of seed every day from a mix of sunflower, peas, radish, buckwheat and brassicas like broccoli or kohlrabi, providing a steady supply of his family’s daily dose of greens. While some gardeners grow sprouts or microgreens directly on paper towels or coconut coir, Burke prefers using a store-bought, germination soil mix, spread up to two inches deep in reusable trays, watered once a day and grown without artificial light.

Many seeds commonly found in the home pantry can be turned into sprouts and shoots, says Lina Wallentinson, the Swedish author of Sprouts, Shoots and Microgreens: Tiny Plants to Grow and Eat in Your Kitchen. “Mustard seeds from the spice shelf, whole lentils in all colors, chickpeas and yellow peas can all be easily grown for sprouts and shoots without any special equipment,” she says.

Seeds can be put into wide-mouthed jars, soaked overnight, and then drained and rinsed two to three times a day. Germination of seeds into sprouts, from mung beans to quinoa, can typically take less than 24 hours with this method.

Sprouts and microgreens make great toppers for salads, soups, sandwiches or smoothies, and they can also be cooked.

“Newly sprouted mung and lentil seeds with a short ‘tail’ are perfect to flash-fry and season with soy, chili and a little sesame oil as an alternative to rice or pasta,” says Wallentinson. “Sprouts are also nice to bake with. Like seeds and nuts, they give a good little chew in all kind of breads.”

Whether growing sprouts, microgreens or full-sized plants, Allaway advises home gardeners to make drainage holes at the bottom of the containers to avoid overwatering. “It’s better to underwater than overwater a plant, because once it starts to rot, it’s game over. There is also research showing that a little stress from occasional underwatering can trigger the plant to produce more phytochemicals, which are nutritionally beneficial,” she says.

Tasty, Sprout-Inspired Recipes Noodle Soup with Coconut, Sprouts and Shoots This soup is a favorite in our home. Simple to make, it’s warming thanks to just the right amount of bite from the chili.

Yield: 4 servings 1 8¾ oz pack of noodles 1 Tbsp canola oil 1 carrot 2 tsp red curry paste Canola oil, for frying 1 13½ oz can coconut milk 1 tsp tomato purée 2 Tbsp fish sauce (or Japanese soy sauce) 1 vegetable stock cube 1 tsp sugar 1¼ cups water 2 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice 1 red bell pepper About 7 oz mung bean sprouts Pea and radish shoots, for garnish Prepare the noodles according to the instructions on the package. Drain off the water, and mix the noodles with the oil.

Peel and thinly slice the carrot. In a saucepan, cook the curry paste and carrot in some oil for about 1 minute.

Add in the coconut milk, tomato purée, fish sauce, stock cube, sugar and water, and cook for about 5 minutes. Add in the lime juice.

Halve, seed and julienne the bell pepper; add it to the soup. Divide the noodles between the bowls, add the soup and sprinkle with sprouts and shoots.

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

March 2021

21

Green Smoothie Bowl Here’s a recipe that contains both sprouts and shoots. The buckwheat provides a little extra satiety. Top the bowl with some poppy seeds, grated coconut, nuts and berries.

Yield: 2 bowls Approx. 1¼ cup mild, tender shoots such as broccoli, chia, pea or sunflower 2 frozen bananas 3½ oz frozen mango, diced 2 Tbsp buckwheat sprouts 6¾ oz mild plain yogurt (3 percent) or coconut or almond milk Hemp hearts, poppy seeds, grated coconut, nuts and frozen red and/or black currants, for topping Blend shoots, bananas, mango, sprouted buckwheat and yogurt until smooth using a countertop or immersion blender.

Pour into bowls and top with hemp hearts, poppy seeds, nuts, coconut and berries.

Sprouted Hummus Every Middle Eastern family has their own recipe for hummus. Naturally, there has to be a sprouted version of it, too. With a jar of hummus in the refrigerator, I can always cobble together some kind of dish for lunch or dinner.

Yield: about 6.75 fluid oz (nearly 1 cup) 7 oz sprouted chickpeas (or yellow peas) 1 garlic clove 2 Tbsp tahini 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice ½ tsp sambal oelek ½ tsp cumin ½ tsp salt 4 Tbsp olive oil Put the sprouted peas in a small saucepan and cover them with water.

Bring the water to a boil and cook the peas for 10 minutes. Pour off the water.

Peel and finely chop the garlic. Mix the peas in a food processor or with an immersion blender, along with the garlic, tahini, lemon juice, sambal oelek, cumin, salt and oil. Dilute with some water if the hummus seems too thick.

Option: Turmeric adds a nice yellow color to hummus. But sample the hummus as you add it in—some enjoy the taste of turmeric, others less so. Start with ½ teaspoon per recipe.

Recipes excerpted from Sprouts, Shoots & Microgreens: Tiny Plants to Grow and Eat in Your Home Kitchen, by Lina Wallentinson. Photography by Lennart Weibull.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

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Volusia / Flagler

VoFLNatural.com

Keeping the Immune System Strong with Proper Supplementation

I

n the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are trying to protect ourselves by following precautions like frequently washing our hands for 20 seconds, wearing a mask and practicing social distancing. However, it’s also important to have a strong immune system that can fight back against this virus as well as other intruders we may encounter. The good news is there are things we can do to boost our immune system, such as eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, minimizing stress and getting enough vitamin D. Commonly known as the “sunshine vitamin” due to its connection with sunlight, vitamin D3 is a vitamin that our skin has the ability to synthesize naturally from sun exposure. We can also gain the benefits of this vitamin from certain foods; however, the majority of us do not consume enough of the foods that would provide a sufficient amount. This can cause a deficiency of this essential vitamin in the body. This is why taking a supplement containing vitamin D3 is so important.

In addition to maintaining immune health, vitamin D3 is essential for healthy bones and teeth.

When a person has a deficiency in vitamin D3, bones can become weak and fragile, which could be preventable with proper supplementation, such as taking Enzymedica’s whole food sourced Vegan Vitamin D3+K2 supplement. The vitamin D3 in this product increases the absorption of calcium, which is beneficial for bone and teeth health and can stave off certain degenerative bone issues. Calcium and vitamin D are essential components for brain health as well. A lack of these necessary nutrients can lead

to what has been termed as “brain fog”—a feeling we get when we feel as though we just cannot think.

Enzymedica’s vitamin D3 is naturally derived from U.S.-grown shiitake mushrooms. When exposed to sunlight, this unique mushroom responds by producing a plentiful amount of vitamin D3.

There are numerous foods that contain vitamin D3, but not at the generous levels that the shiitake mushrooms provide. This mushroom food source has a powerful dose of 5,000 international units (125 micrograms) per capsule that is easy to digest and assimilate into our body.

The company’s vitamin D3 is combined with their soy-free vitamin K2 from whole-food sourced chickpeas. This combination, plus inulin, can aid in proper absorption of calcium into the bones.

Their chickpea-sourced vitamin K2 is the MK-7 form (MenaQ7), which has been clinically studied to deliver the highest bioavailability. Inulin is a type of dietary fiber that can improve digestive health. It is also a naturally occurring prebiotic derived from agave and has the capacity to replenish the microbiome. This supports a healthy immune system and has a low glycemic index.

Enzymedica’s Vegan D3+K2 non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) dietary supplement is available at a 25 percent discount during March at Debbie’s Health Foods, in Port Orange and Orange City.

Store locations: 3850 S. Nova Rd., Port Orange, and 862 Saxon Blvd., Orange City. For more information, visit DebbiesHealthFoods.com. See ads, page 2 and back cover.

March 2021

23

ON A ROLL

Foam Rollers Ease Pain and Workout Recovery

justlife/AdobeStock.com

by Marlaina Donato

v.j.matthew/AdobeStock.com

fit body

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oam rolling— rolling parts of the body on top of a lightweight foam cylinder—targets trigger points or painful knots in muscles and is a valuable tool for reducing chronic pain and enhancing workout recovery. From sciatica to pelvic floor dysfunction, there is a foam roller for almost every condition, including low- to high-density, heated and textured types for massage-like benefits.

Research during the past several years shows that using foam rollers before or after exercise quells fatigue, improves joint mobility, lowers risk of injury and eases muscle soreness. Its effectiveness is attributed to the activation of the central nervous system resulting in better circulation and reduced inflammation.

“Foam rollers are used to relieve tension in the fascia (connective tissue), ‘roll’ out sore muscles and provide a soothing, self-controlled, soft-tissue massage,” says Amber Kivett, owner of Kivett Kinetic Solutions, in Monrovia, Indiana. “They can 24

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also be used for proprioception, balance, flexibility, core stability training and most importantly, natural pain relief.”

Freeing the Body Fascia, the body’s all-pervasive connective tissue, tightens like an invisible net from injury and other stresses and can adhere to the underlying muscles, creating pain and restriction. “Foam rolling has the power to change and realign the 12 fascial lines responsible for human movement and support,” says Kivett. “Those same fascial lines also sense and transmit pain and emotion far greater than any nerve or muscle and respond well to foam rolling. There’s an emotional and spiritual release in the body when fascia is compressed and released. That response facilitates a structural change to human alignment and an immediate change in pain levels for all types and causes of pain.”

Foam rollers offer an opportunity for self-care, according to Los Angeles fitness trainer Ashley Borden. “Foam rolling is one of the best ways to troubleshoot your own body, keep it healthy and mobile. Us-

ing an inexpensive tool like a foam roller not only feels good, but it also connects you to your body. Foam rolling the entire body encourages circulation and an immediate feeling of relief afterwards. My clients who don’t like to work out are usually surprised how good they feel post-rollout and feel encouraged to do more.” She cites research that shows that a dynamic warm-up, paired with the use of foam rollers before and after workouts, amplifies recovery and aids in the repair of muscular micro-tears.

For Rafal Augustynowicz, founder of TeamRAF Fitness, in Kent, England, it’s about counteracting lifestyle stresses. “The foam roller is a beautiful and great tool, especially in the 21st century, when we sit too many hours. It is a great tool to get our mobility and our posture back to normal.”

Recovery, Joint Pain and Sciatica Gently rolling targeted muscles below and above specific joints can help to resolve certain types of pain, including in the knee.

“Many times, when a person has pain in the knee, it’s more than likely they have

tight muscles elsewhere—calves, inner thighs, hip flexors or glutes—and the pain shows up in the knee,” says Augustynowicz. “Foam rolling and using a massage ball have saved me many times when I had a lot of problems with my back, neck, hip and a dislocated shoulder.”

The practice can help ease sciatica, a sometimes-excruciating condition. “Most cases of sciatic pain are caused by tight muscles deep in the buttocks, including the piriformis muscle,” says Kivett. “The sciatic nerve travels through the piriformis, so if it’s tight, it will cause a sensation similar to that of sciatica nerve pain. A foam roller can be used along the back, throughout the buttocks and the legs to relieve tension, soften tissues and calm the nervous system for instant pain relief.”

Kivett, who was introduced to foam rollers during intensive physical therapy after a life-altering accident, found them to be a way to recover from severe fibromyalgia pain. “My nerves were hypersensitive from the injuries, and I used foam rolling to reboot the ‘software’ in my brain, which allowed me to engage in recovering.”

Foam rolling is an all-around boon, Borden highlights. “The immediate relief, the muscle definition, the decrease in cellulite, all of these are added benefits.”

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

MORE ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS what to know before a roll

Amber Kivett: Ideally, it’s best to perform foam rolling right after a light warm-up for five to 10 minutes to increase circulation to the muscles and decrease tension and stiffness.

If there is extra time, do a quick three to five minutes of foam rolling after a workout, but preferably after you’ve done your cool-down or some walking. You don’t have to foam-roll the entire body post-workout; just do a quick “scan” of areas that are more sensitive or painful.

For those with high levels of pain, fibromyalgia, MS, autoimmune conditions or an acute injury, I would recommend buying a low-density, soft, foam roller or [one] that vibrates, because soft and/or vibrating foam rollers are gentle to fragile areas.

Ashley Borden: Foam rolling is a valuable tool for the senior population to improve overall body tightness and circulation. Assistance is needed if you have a hard time getting up and down. I would also suggest a non-slip yoga mat and using the softest foam roller first to gauge the pressure. If you feel like you have to hold your breath when you are foam rolling, the surface is too hard.

Rafal Augustynowicz: Never use foam rollers on bones, joints, the spine or armpits; only on the muscle/flesh. Be informed to avoid arteries, etc. If it hurts too much, it’s probably not right. Watch tutorials or go to a professional.

March 2021

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healthy kids

Getting Pregnant Lifestyle Strategies to Boost Fertility

by Ronica O’Hara

More than 7 million American women face one of life’s deepest heartbreaks: They want a newborn in their arms, but their bodies are not cooperating.

Happily, the growing use of natural approaches like healthier diets, supplements and acupuncture is changing that outcome for many.

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Egg Matters

A healthy pregnancy depends on a healthy egg. Chromosomal abnormalities severely hamper fertilization and account for more than half of first-trimester miscarriages. Yet, contrary to common belief, egg quality is not determined solely by a woman’s age: it can be highly influenced by her lifestyle choices and nutrients in the three-month window before an egg is fertilized, Fett advises. Based on the latest research, she offers the following recommendations for women trying to conceive naturally or through such means as in vitro fertilization (IVF): Detox the diet. To manage critically important blood sugar and insulin levels, eat low-glycemic, nutrient-rich foods and avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol. An organic, largely plant- and fish-based Mediterranean diet boosts fertility. Dutch researchers found that women following this diet before an IVF cycle had a 40 percent higher chance of becoming pregnant.

Supplement correctly. Take a prenatal vitamin, vitamins C and E, ubiquinol and melatonin. For women with diagnosed low ovarian reserve, consider carefully dosed DHEA.

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hen Rebecca Fett was told at age 26 that she had “incredibly low odds” of being able to conceive with her own eggs, she used her biochemistry and genetics training to plunge into research on egg quality and fertility. By taking targeted supplements, upgrading her diet and detoxing her house of harmful chemicals, the result was not only two healthy baby boys, but a book entitled It Starts with the Egg: How the Science of Egg Quality Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally, Prevent Miscarriage, and Improve Your Odds in IV. It sells at the fast clip of about 600 copies a week, showing that even amidst the traumas of the pandemic, couples fervently want to bear children. Some doula groups on the East Coast report a 30 percent rise in early 2021 births, and sperm banks are running so low that sperm from a handsome new donor posted online can be bought out within hours, reports The New York Times. “There is nothing more hopeful than the creation of a new life,” says Randine Lewis, who used acupuncture and Chinese herbs to enable a hard-won pregnancy and then wrote The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies.

Detox the house. The Bisphenol A (BPA) in many household items and the phthalates in most scented products are endocrine disrupters that increase the risk of infertility and miscarriages, numerous studies show. Exchange plastic storage containers and water bottles for glass or stainless steel ones. Steer clear of fast food and processed food. Buy milk, oil, drinks and condiments in glass bottles rather than plastic ones. In the bathroom, toss hairspray, perfume and nail polish, and be wary of scented skin care products, air fresheners and detergents. Use non-toxic cleaning products.

An Eastern Perspective

Taking a different tack, “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not focus on forcing maximum egg production,” says Lewis. “We improve the quality and receptivity of the entire body, mind and spirit, and the reproductive physiology responds.”

TCM involves identifying imbalances in the body that are creating obstacles to pregnancy and then using acupuncture, herbs and diet to restore full health. Diagnosis is typically done by an acupuncturist or Chinese medicine doctor. (To find one locally, Lewis suggests asking pointedly, “How many cases of infertility have you been successful in resolving?”)

According to Lewis, self-diagnosis can also work. For example, sore breasts and

irritability during ovulation can signify liver qi stagnation, and can be relieved by massaging certain acupressure points, taking black cohosh and meditating or doing yoga. General TCM strategies include: Acupuncture: Regular treatments “can stimulate the body’s hormonal system to do what it is supposed to: secrete the right hormones at the right time in a woman’s cycle,” says Lewis. Self-administered acupressure also works.

Diet: Choose organic foods and hormonefree meats, and eat veggies cooked rather than raw. Nix caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.

Supplements: Besides a high-potency, multivitamin-mineral complex, such nutrients as bee pollen, blue-green algae, wheatgrass, vitamin B6, CoQ10 and folic acid are often useful.

Herbs: Specific herbal concoctions and powders can target imbalances and deficiencies at key points in the menstrual cycle.

Stress-busters: Qigong breathing lowers stress, and nightly warm foot soaks increase blood flow to the pelvic organs.

“As we live more harmoniously, our fertility improves,” says Lewis. “It is vastly wise and responds to how we live, think, act and relate.”

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

Guys and Infertility Although researchers have long focused on female infertility, studies now show that for 40 percent of infertile couples, the problem lies in male sperm that is too sparse, slow, damaged or misshapen. Many of the strategies that improve egg quality also improve sperm quality, researchers are learning.

This includes a healthier diet with more antioxidants, supplements that include a multivitamin and ubiquinol, detoxing the home and workplace of chemicals, cutting out smoking and lowering or stopping alcohol use. Other strategies include: n Acupuncture to improve the concentration, volume and motility of sperm. n Tossing lubricants with ingredients like petroleum, propylene glycol, glycerin, parabens, silicone and Nonoxynol-9 that hamper sperm movement and viability. n Keeping cell phones out of side pockets. A Cleveland Clinic study found that pocketing cellphones more than four hours daily reduces sperm count, motility and viability. n Wearing boxer shorts instead of briefs and forgoing hot tubs to keep testes temperatures low for sperm production. n Exercising just enough. Studies show that men who exercise regularly, but not too extremely, have higher testosterone levels and better semen quality.

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inspiration

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hen I was 13, my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. At 15, I was at her graveside, navigating my first experience with the other side of love: loss. Ten years later, my beloved and only brother died tragically as a result of PTSD and untreated addiction. In a word: suicide. Where my mom’s death silenced me, my brother’s death pushed me into a deep pursuit of healing.

In the nine years since then, I have committed to discovering the light side of grief, to identifying and embracing the invitations that lay within its deep layers. What I’ve come to learn is that grieving is actually a renewal state—a cycle of releasing and reconnecting. The tears and sadness are, quite literally, just a more fluid connection to love. These are the four invitations I’ve found within the grief:

HEALING FROM GRIEF Four Ways to Find Peace

by Jasmin Jenkins

1

The invitation to pause

When someone we love dies, our whole world changes in an instant and forever. And with this disruption, there is an opportunity for sacred inquiry that arrives as we pause and honor the absence of our loved one: the impressions they made on our lives, what we will miss about them, how we will continue to celebrate their lives and what their story taught us.

2

The invitation to connect with our breath

With the intensity of emotions surrounding loss, breath can serve as our anchor. Simply remembering to close our eyes and breathe allows us to stay grounded in our body, mind and spirit.

In the TED talk “Breathe to Heal,” Max Strom explains how certain patterns of breathing can actually change how we feel.

3

The invitation to feel

Elizabeth Kübler–Ross taught us about the five stages of grief, but since everyone’s story and process is so unique, there is ultimately no linear order of the stages. If an emotion arises, allow for it. Feelings, after all, are just information about the state of our heart. The more we can give ourselves permission to be with where we are in our grief, the more at peace we will be in our process.

kissedbythegods/Pexels.com

4

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The invitation to heal

Healing is a verb requiring action and commitment. We have to allow for the pain to heal, also remembering that in doing so, we must keep our hearts open. We have to ask for help when healing, because most of us can’t heal in isolation. Therapists who specialize in grief, online grief courses, bodywork and support groups can help us move forward.

Zen Buddhism reminds us that the obstacle is the path. By exploring these invitations, we arrive at the truth that grief is actually a sacred pathway into a deeper connection within our hearts.

Jasmin Jenkins is a Los Angeles-based integrative grief guide and the founder of Fall Up, which supports people navigating the spectrum of grief. Learn more at WeFallUp.com.

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March 2021

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CANINE OBESITY

natural pet

When Doggies Need Diets

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by Julie Peterson

year ago, Leroy became exhausted lifting his furry head. Today, he has energy to run, chase and play, thanks to his owner helping the 11-year-old Shiba Inu lose 14 pounds. Leroy was adopted last May by Peter Nguyen, a facilities coordinator in Bellevue, Washington. Back then, Leroy weighed 56.4 pounds—twice the recommended weight. Nguyen found a holistic veterinarian to provide an integrative support plan to remove him from danger.

Overweight dogs are at risk for joint problems, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and more. According to a 2018 survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 55.8 percent of dogs (about 50 million) in the U.S. are either overweight or obese. The APOP also reports that most of the owners of these dogs don’t realize or are in denial about this important fact.

Determining Appropriate Weight

“A dog that is a perfect weight, you can feel the ribs, but not see them. And you have an abdominal tuck when you look from the side. From above, right in front of the hips, you can see the waistline,” says Leroy’s veterinarian, Jackie Sehn, at Mercy Vet, in Mercer Island, Washington. She points out that the dog must be touched to feel the amount of fat, especially in long-coat breeds.

This evaluation can be done at home using the online Body Condition Score chart at PetObesityPrevention.org. The American Kennel Club also has a weight chart for dozens of breeds that can help determine an initial goal weight, although ideal weight can vary among individual dogs.

willie cole/AdobeStock.com

Doggy Diets

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Debbie Hensel, who fosters dogs, took in a morbidly obese 13-year-old Chocolate Labrador for the Mr. Mo Project, in Cary, North Carolina. Under her care, the pet went from 108 to 81 pounds within nine months. “Since Bruce was an older dog and overweight, the first thing we did was start him on a joint supplement with turmeric and a prescription diet food. In the beginning, I withheld some of his food and used it as treats throughout the day,” says Hensel. Every four to six weeks, Hensel decreased Bruce’s food intake.

She also divided up portions to feed him four times per day to help him feel full. “Portion control is important,” agrees Nguyen. “Leroy has a habit of wanting to eat more. I think he has a hard time knowing how much food he really needs.”

But the problem isn’t just eating too much. Pet owners are often feeding the wrong foods. “It is the quality sometimes more than quantity. Health doesn’t come from processed food,” says Sehn, adding that most dry kibble is essentially overprocessed junk food that lacks nutrients and contains fillers.

Fortunately, refrigerated and frozen dog food has made it easier to feed organic, fresh, nutritionally balanced, raw food which is based on a dog’s ancestral diet.

Raw food is also available dehydrated.

Treats, if included, should satisfy the chewing instinct without adding many calories.

Sehn recommends dehydrated chicken or duck feet, tendons and healthy jerkies.

“Switching to a raw diet helped with Leroy’s weight, but I had no idea it would have so many other benefits,” Nguyen says.

“I noticed that his coat was getting a lot softer and he smelled a lot better.”

Ease into Exercise

“Bruce sounded like an elephant falling when he laid down and he couldn’t stand for long,” says Hensel. Indeed, exercise can overburden the heart and joints of an obese dog. At first, Leroy and Bruce both had a

hard time just getting up off the floor, so losing weight first was crucial.

As the weight began to come off, they both became more engaged and stamina slowly increased. Hensel started by walking around in the backyard and letting Bruce follow. Their initial walks were to the end of the block.

They would stop and rest before going back home. “As he lost weight and his strength improved, our walks got longer,” says Hensel.

Weight loss must be a healthy process.

“Breaking down excess fat takes time,” says Sehn, adding that losing too fast results in muscle loss. Patience and time are key.

“I think Bruce just needed less food and someone that wanted to do things with him,” says Hensel, who has adopted Bruce as her “forever foster dog”.

Julie Peterson writes about health and environmental issues. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

March 2021

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calendar of events TUESDAY, MARCH 2

THURSDAY, MARCH 18

Rainbow Tuesday – Stock up and save 20% on all regular priced items. Debbie’s Health Foods Port Orange, 3850 S Nova Rd. 386-763-7046; and Debbie’s Health Foods Orange City, 862 Saxon Blvd.

386-775-7002.

Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by videoconference – 12noon. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org for connection information by email or text.

Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by videoconference – 6:30pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org for connection information by email or text.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19

FRIDAY, MARCH 5 – SUNDAY MARCH 14

SUNDAY, MARCH 21

Discovery Yoga Teacher Training in the Kripalu Tradition – 9am-6pm. New 6-month program. First Friday will be in Padma Yoga, 5 Utility Dr., Ste 15 in Palm Coast, and remaining sessions will be via zoom. $2,575. Must pre-register. 386-225-4733.

Daytona Flea & Farmers Market –9am-5pm.

Open daily for Bike Week. The market is following CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting common areas. Classic car cruise-in resumes on first Saturday of each month. 1425 Tomoka Farms Rd. Daytona Beach 386-253-5903. Daytonaflea market.com.

Spring Equinox Golden Portal Messages – 1pm.

Energies uniquely align, allowing transformative forces to emerge. Rev. Judi Weaver shares intuitive messages about the fold portal we are entering.

Healing energies provided to each through this transformation. Join this powerful gathering to learn and work with these emerging light energies. $25.

Register https://spiritualservices.online.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6

SATURDAY, MARCH 27

Talking Stick Circle – 5pm. Join for a Native American gathering to share ancient teachings as channeled from our elders. Follow the tradition of cleansing and synchronize our souls through the sacred practice of drumming. Bring your instruments, family, friends, children welcome. Andrew Jackson Davis Bld, 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga.

Info: 386-503-4930. Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com.

Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by videoconference – 1pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org for connection information by email or text.

Downtown Music Festival – 12-2pm. Enjoy the amazingly talented Gina Cuchetti. Join us for music, lunch and drinks. Register in-store or a $50 gift card for Superfoods Café. The Healing Zone, 515 Canal St. Downtown New Smyrna Beach.

plan ahead

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 SUNDAY, MARCH 14 StarSeed Adventures Vacation Conference – Four days of transformational workshops focused on personal growth, manifestation and raising the vibration of the planet. Speakers include Barry Littleton, Tony Rodrigues, Princess Jeanee, Matthew Mournian and many more. Cocoa Beach Hilton Oceanfront Resort. To purchase single or multi-day tickets and for more information visit StarSeedAdventures. com/Florida-2021.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13 Mediumship and Messages – 9am. Rev. Judi Weaver, spiritual intuitive channel, will provide information and guidance about physical and spiritual development of Mediumship. Judi will demonstrate by altering her state of consciousness into a higher vibration so that each participant can receive an inspirational guidance message from a Universal Light Being: God source, Arch Angel, master, spirit guide or a loved one. $25. Holistic House of Holly Hill, 1126 Riverside Dr. Info: 386-503-4930. Rev. Judi.Weaver@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 1 Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by videoconference – 6:30pm. All the info you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org for connection information by email or text.

ventanamedia/DepositPhotos.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 4

SATURDAY, APRIL 3 Understanding the Elementals – 1:30pm. Elementals are beings of consciousness associated with nature, and include earth, air, water and fire.

Within each are living beings, fairies, little people, elves, gnomes, water nymphs, fae, unicorns, crystal creatures and more. Join this magical exploration of another world that is all around us. Rev. Judi Weaver is a spiritual trance channel. Cost $30. Andrew Jackson Davis Bldg. 1112 Stevens St., Cassadaga.

Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com or 386-503-4930.

Talking Stick Circle – 5pm. Native American gathering shares ancient teachings as chaneled from our elders. Traditional cleansing and synchronization of soul through sacred drumming. Bring instruments, family, friends and children. Andrew Jackson Davis Bldg. 1112 Stevens St., Cassadaga. Rev.Judi.

Weaver@gmail.com or 386-503-4930.

TUESDAY, APRIL 6 Rainbow Tuesday – Stock up and save 20% on all regular priced items. Debbie’s Health Foods Port Orange, 3850 S Nova Rd. 386-763-7046; and Debbie’s Health Foods Orange City, 862 Saxon Blvd.

386-775-7002.

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March 2021

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ongoing events

sunday

wallaceweeks/DepositPhotos.com

Yin Yoga – 9-10:30am. Begin your Sunday with this gentle yin class. Energetic, yet calming. All levels.

BOGO: new students pay for first class; attend your second class free. Limited six per live class; preregistration required. Also Livestream Padma Yoga, 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast. 386-225-4733.

Farmers’ Market and More – 9am-5pm. Shop rain or shine for farm fresh produce, plants, trees flowers, herbs and spices, gourmet coffee and teas, honey, jams, salsas and more. Daytona Flea Market, 1425 Tomoka Farms Rd, Daytona Bch. Cassadaga Spiritualist Lyceum – 9:30-10:15am.

Learn more about the science, philosophy and religion of spiritualism at Lyceum (Adult Sunday School). A different teacher each week instructs on the truths of spiritualism and other related subjects.

Free. Andrew Jackson Davis (Bookstore) Building, 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga. Info: 386-228-2880.

Cassadaga Sunday Church Service – 10:3011:45am. Following the church service, a free All-Message Service from noon-1pm. Andrew Jackson Davis (Bookstore) Building, 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga. Info: 386-228-2880.

Unity Community Church – 11am. Join for a weekly spiritual celebration. 1001 S Ridgewood Ave (US 1), Edgewater. 386-481-0890.

Discovery (Kripalu Tradition) – 11am-12:30pm.

Connect breath with movement allowing you to be centered in the present moment. Move gracefully through postures and connected movements. Feel energized and relaxed. All levels. BOGO: new students pay for first-class; second class free. Limited six per live class; preregistration required. Also Livestream Padma Yoga, 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast. 386-225-4733.

Soul Sundays – 1-5pm. Tarot/Astrology $25/30 mins. Holistic House of Holly Hill. 1126 Riverside Dr. Holly Hill. 386-238-9996.

Senior Discount Day – Noon-6pm. Seniors save 10% off all regularly priced items. Two locations: Debbie’s Health Foods, 862 Saxon Blvd, Orange City. 386-775-7002; and 3850 S Nova Rd, Port Orange. 386-763-7046.

Professional Office Available 3 exam rooms w/sink & cabinet, Lab, 2 bathrooms, waiting/reception

Orange City (407) 340-5488

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monday

wednesday

Psychic/Aura Readings and Guided Mediations – 10am-4pm. With Mistia. Schedule by appointment or walk-ins welcome. Mystical Expressions, 1014 Reed Canal Rd, S Daytona. 386-274-0038.

Facebook: MysticalExpressionsLLC.

Yin Yoga – 9-10:30am. Begin your Sunday with this gentle yin class. Energetic, yet calming. All levels. BOGO: new students pay for first class; attend your second class free. Limited six per live class; preregistration required. Also Livestream Padma Yoga, 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast.

386-225-4733.

Monday Madness – 8am-6pm. 1st Mon. Save 25% on supplements and food items. Family Nutrition at Healing Zone, 515 Canal St, New Smyrna Bch. 386-402-7825.

Hatha Movement – 9:30-11am. Challenge yourself with this upbeat, fun and energizing class. BOGO: new students pay for first class; attend your second class free. Limited six per live class; preregistration required. Also Livestream Padma Yoga, 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast. 386-225-4733.

Monday Messages – 11am-7pm. Tarot, Astrology, Reiki $25/30 mins. Holistic House of Holly Hill.

1126 Riverside Dr. Holly Hill. 386-238-9996.

LVCY Chair Yoga – 11:30-12:30am. Learn how to make your chair your best friend. BOGO: new students pay for first class; attend your second class free. Limited six per live class; preregistration required. Also Livestream Padma Yoga, 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast. 386-225-4733.

Book Study Group – 10-11:30am. Led by Rev. Nancy Saputro. Unity Community Church, 1001 S Ridgewood Ave, Edgewater. Info: 386-481-0890.

Meet Up Group – 6-8pm. 3rd Wed. Wanted likeminded people for open discussion and questions.

Love donation. Mystical Expressions, 1014 Reed Canal Rd, S Daytona. RSVPs appreciated: 386274-0038. Facebook: @MysticalExpressionsLLC. Cassadaga Message Service – 7-9pm. Mediums give Spirit Greetings. $5 donation. Andrew Jackson Davis (Bookstore) Building, 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga. Info: 386-228-2880.

thursday

tuesday

Senior Discount Day – 9am-7pm. Seniors save 10% off all regularly priced items. Two locations: Debbie’s Health Foods, 862 Saxon Blvd, Orange City.

386-775-7002; and 3850 S Nova Rd, Port Orange.

386-763-7046.

Slow Vin – 9:30-11am. Linking posture to posture with pausing to feel the energy allowing the body to speak to its needs. Limited six per live class; preregistration required. Also Livestream Padma Yoga, 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast. 386-225-4733.

Hatha Flow – 9:30-11am. BOGO: new students pay for first-class; attend your second class free.

Limited six per live class; preregistration required.

Also Livestream Padma Yoga, 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast. 386-225-4733.

Psychic/Aura Readings and Guided Meditations – 10am-4pm. With Mistia. Schedule by appointment or walk-ins welcome. Mystical Expressions, 1014 Reed Canal Rd, S Daytona. 386-274-0038.

Facebook: MysticalExpressionsLLC.

Transcendental Thursdays – 11am-7pm. Tarot, Astrology, Reiki $25/30 mins. Holistic House of Holly Hill. 1126 Riverside Dr. Holly Hill. 386-238-9996.

Tarot Tuesday – 11am-7pm. Tarot, Astrology, Reiki $25/30 mins. Holistic House of Holly Hill. 1126 Riverside Dr. Holly Hill. 386-238-9996.

VoFLNatural.com

Cassadaga Healing Meditation Circle – 11amnoon. Join in circle to send healing energy to those on our healing lists and the planet. Andrew Jackson Davis (Bookstore) Building, 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga. Info: 386-228-2880.

friday

saturday

flowers, herbs and spices gourmet coffee and teas, honey, jams, salsas and more. Daytona Flea Market, 1425 Tomoka Farms Rd, Daytona Bch.

Compost and Honey Special – All day. Compost $5/bag and 10% off local honey. 142 W Int’l Speedway Blvd, Daytona Bch. 386-341-5068.

NaturalConceptsRevisited.com.

Hatha/Nidra Combo – 9-10:30am. All levels.

BOGO: new students pay for first-class; second class free. Limited six per live class; preregistration required. Also Livestream Padma Yoga, 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast. 386-225-4733.

Bob Ross Oil Painting – 10am. All supplies provided $55 per class. RSVP Julie 651-448-0484.

Mystical Expressions, 1014 Reed Canal Rd, S Daytona. 386-274-0038. Facebook: Mystical ExpressionsLLC.

Classic Car Cruise-In – 9am-1pm. 1st Sat. The market welcomes more than 300 classic and collector cars. Enjoy the music of DJ Frank in the west parking lot during the Cruise-In. It’s free to show your car and free to browse rows of classic automobiles. Daytona Flea & Farmers Market, 1425 Tomoka Farms Rd. 386-253-3330. DaytonaFlea Market.com.

Spirit Saturday Tarot – 11am-7pm. $25/30 mins.

Holistic House of Holly Hill. 1126 Riverside Dr. Holly Hill. 386-238-9996.

Crystal Reiki – 11am-7pm. $25/30 mins. Holistic House of Holly Hill. 1126 Riverside Dr. Holly Hill.

386-238-9996.

Healing Hands – 6pm. Third Friday. $15 per person. Mystical Expressions, 1014 Reed Canal Rd, S Daytona. 386-274-0038. RSVP req.

Farmers’ Market and More – 9am-5pm. Shop rain or shine for farm fresh produce, plants, trees flowers, herbs and spices, gourmet coffee and teas, honey, jams, salsas and more. Daytona Flea Market, 1425 Tomoka Farms Rd, Daytona Bch.

Farmers’ Market and More – 9am-5pm. Shop rain or shine for farm fresh produce, plants, trees

Cassadaga Encounter the Spirits Night Tour – 7:30-9:30pm. Bring digital camera for pictures of spirit orbs during tour. $25/adult, $15/children 7-12.

Bring exact change cash after store hours, or pay ahead with credit card at Cassadaga.org. Andrew Jackson Davis (Bookstore) Building, 1112 Stevens St., Cassadaga. Info: 386-228-2880.

Come Feel the Spirit –7-9pm. 1st Fri. Old fashioned Spiritualist Message Service presented by Rev. Dr. Louis Gates. $5 donation. Andrew Jackson Davis (Bookstore) Building, 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga. Info: 386-228-2880.

jovannig/DepositPhotos.com

Chat Night – 7:30-9pm $10 Holistic House of Holly Hill. 1126 Riverside Dr. Holly Hill. 386-238-9996.

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community resource guide ACUPUNCTURE PHYSICIANS ACUPUNCTURE & PAIN MANAGEMENT CENTER

You Chang Hu, DOM, AP Kunning Li, DOM, AP • 2135 S Ridgewood Ave, Daytona Beach 386-760-2112 • 50 Leanni Way, Palm Coast 386-445-0098 AcupuncturePainMgmt.com Dr. Hu and Dr. Li are graduates of Traditional Chinese Medical Universities in China.

They have practiced acupuncture and Chinese medicine for a combined 45+ years.

See ad, page 17.

ACUPUNCTURE & SKIN CARE CLINIC

Lorenzo Phan, DOM, AP 725 W Granada Blvd Ste. 15, Ormond Beach 386-615-1203 • AcuBeautyTherapy.com Dr. Phan has great success in promoting fertility with acupuncture and herbal supplements. Nonsurgical modalities for natural pain relief include acupuncture, trigger point therapy, Chinese herbal remedies, cupping, neuromuscular therapy, and cold laser for neck injuries, chronic lower back pain, sciatica, hip/knee arthritis and migraines and more.

MM20928. See ad, page 27.

RP ACUPUNCTURE

Rosa Panos, AP, DOM, PT AP3945 397 Palm Coast Parkway SW #5 386-283-4655 • RPAcupunctureFL.com 28 years of medical experience combining Eastern & Western medicine. Acupuncture Physician, Physical Therapist and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. Studies include China Medical University, Ta i w a n . I n t e g r a t i v e p a i n management, Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupoint Injections and Zyto Elite Scanning. See ad, page 25.

ANGEL LIFE COACH PATRICIA ALTON

Angel Therapy Practitioner® Spiritual Life Coach 386-873-2517 Angel-Pathways.com Channeled angel messages to heal and transform relationships, life purpose and health. Angelic mediumship, past life regressions, wise women gatherings, ordained minister. House blessings. Gift certificates available.

BOOKS • CREATIVE ARTS • GIFTS & MORE CASSADAGA BOOKSTORE 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga 386-228-2880 Cassadaga.org

Open Monday-Saturday, 10am6pm and Sunday, 11:30am-5pm.

We’re so much more than a bookstore with: books, CDs, DVDs, rocks, crystals, gems, jewelry, figurines, lamps, oils/ aromatherapy, incense, sage and Native American items. Personal readings, historical tours, Saturday night orb tours and gift certificates.

See ad, page 9.

MYSTICAL EXPRESSIONS OF PARADISE, LLC

1014 Reed Canal Rd, S Daytona 386-274-0038 MysticalExpressionsOfParadise.com Facebook: @MysticalExpressionsLLC YouTube: @MysticalExpressionsLLC Open Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat 10am4pm; Closed Thu & Sun. Appts. available. A unique experience of natural stones and crystals, organites, pendulums, runes, jewelry, sages, incense, candles, books, tapestries, tarot cards, singing bowls & unique items.

Services Include: Readings, Healings, Meditations, Painting & other events. Appointments appreciated.

Walk-ins welcomed. For schedules/times, see: Instore, Instagram or Facebook.

CAFÉ – JUICE BAR SUPERFOODS CAFÉ & JUICE BAR 515 Canal St, New Smyrna Beach 386-402-7825 TheFamilyNutritionStore.com

Daily lunch specials include vegan and gluten-free soups made daily from all organic ingredients. Coldpress juices, 3-, 5- and 10-day cleanse. Doctor-formulated protein smoothies, and create-your-own smoothies with a variety of fruit bases and supplements. Call for daily specials. Café Hours M-F 8am-4pm Sat 8-5; Soup 11am-3pm M-Sat. Two daily soups–one vegan, always gluten-free. See ad, page 29.

CBD PRODUCTS YOUR CBD STORE

• 117 W Howry Ave, DeLand • 386-627-6715 DeLandFL.CBDrx4u.com • 160 Cypress Point Pkwy, Ste A105 Palm Coast • 386-627-5271 PalmCoast.CBDrx4u.com Offering Certified Organic CBD products exclusive to Your CBD stores. Products are formulated using other cannabinoids and t e r p e n e s , c r e a tin g u n iq u e synergies that increase efficacy, target specific ailments and increase the binding of CBD. Stop in and try a free sample. See ad, page 17.

CHIROPRACTIC BE WELL CHIROPRACTIC

@Healing Zone 515 Canal St, New Smyrna Beach 386-402-8997 • BeWellNSB.Com Drs. Wendy and Christian Edwards are dedicated to providing holistic patient-centered care. In addition to chiropractic, they offer Class IV laser, Frequency Specific Microcurrent, functional medicine, pregnancy care and pediatrics.

Through specific testing they locate imbalances and recommend natural approaches. See ad, page 29.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY BEACHSIDE COLONICS

Lidia Nash 18 Bovard Ave Ste A, Ormond Beach 1655 Restarrick Ave, South Daytona 386-760-0035 Lidia@BeachsideColonics.com Gentle rinsing of the colon removes toxic waste that can contribute to pain, inflammation and disease. Relaxing and effective. Lidia also offers ionic foot cleanse, infrared detox wraps and healthy food preparation classes. MA46199.

DENTIST HOLISTIC DENTAL HEALTH CARE

George W Edwards, DMD David W Edwards, DMD 541 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford 407-322-6143 • HolisticDentalHealth.com Holistic dentistry focuses on whole-body wellness that starts with the mouth. We are dentists who perform dentistry that is good for the body, as well as the teeth and gums.

See ad, page 19.

March 2021

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HEALTH FOODS DEBBIE’S HEALTH FOODS

• 862 Saxon Blvd, Orange City 386-775-7002 • 3850 S Nova Rd, Port Orange 386-763-7046 DebbiesHealthFoods.com High quality supplements, CBD, grocery items, organic produce, special needs diets. Area’s most knowledgeable and friendly advice for over 30 years. See ads, page 2 and back cover.

FAMILY NUTRITION/HEALING ZONE

515 Canal St, New Smyrna Beach 386-402-7825 TheFamilyNutritionStore.com

Organic produce, natural foods, healthy snacks, personal care, pet products and more. Practitioneronly brands including Standard Process. Save 20% every day. See ad, page 29.

HEALTH FOODS FOR LIFE Bob Lewandowski, LNC 122 E Rich Ave, DeLand 386-734-2343

NATURE’S GARDEN NATURAL HEALTH FOODS 2405 Enterprise Rd, Orange City 386-774-1222

Open MondayFriday, 10am–6pm; Saturday, 10am5pm. Quality vitamins, minerals, herbs, body building and dietary supplements, personal care, children and pet products, essential oils, books and mail-order available. 20% discounts every day.

HERBS – HOLISTIC SPICE OF LIFE HERBS

214 Beresford Ave, DeLand 386-734-0035 SpiceOfLifeHerbs.net Open WednesdaysSaturdays, Noon-4pm.

Herbs by the ounce.

Gaia Bag Monthly Subscription. Teas and accessories. Essential oils and diffusers, gemstones, Incense, oracle and Tarot cards, jewelry, statuary, Reiki sessions and circle. Visit and like SunSpirits Tea Room on Face Book. Shop online www.spiceoflifeherbs.net

INSURANCE

GREAT FLORIDA INSURANCE

Open Monday-Saturday, 10am5pm. Bob has been in business more than 39 years with specialties including: nonallergenic foods, energizing weight reduction, organic skin care, herbs and vitamins. Licensed Nutritional Counselor. #0000177.

HEATH’S NATURAL FOODS

600 E 3rd Ave, New Smyrna Beach 386-423-5126 HeathsNaturalFoods.com Wide selection of natural supplements and herbs. Bulk herbs and spices, gluten-free products, organic beer/wine, pet products, grass-fed organic meats. Deli/juice bar. Store open 8am-6pm daily. Deli open 8am-5pm daily.

LOVE WHOLE FOODS CAFÉ & MARKET

• 275 Williamson Blvd, Ormond Beach 386-677-5236 • 1633 Taylor Rd, Port Orange 386-767-6543 LoveWholeFoods.com

Cal Seibert, Agent 415 Dunlawton Ave, Ste 108 Port Orange • 386-256-4812

*Each location is independently owned and operated.

Say goodbye to high insurance rates.

Contact us for quotes on auto, home, condo, renters, boat, motorcycle, dwelling and flood insurance. Experience personalized service. SR22 and FR44 policies available.

IV THERAPY LIFE IS KETAFUL

William L Self, DNP 495 S Nova Rd, Ste 101-A, Ormond Beach 851 Dunlawton Ave, Port Orange 386-487-4673 • Ketaful.com Improve mental and physical health with ketamine therapy and IV nutrition. Ketamine helps difficultto-treat depression, PTSD, CRPS and migraines. IV nutrition formulas target specific nutritional needs.

Open Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm; Saturday, 9am-6pm and Sunday, 11 a m - 5 p m w i t h f r i e n d l y, k n o w l e d g e a b l e s t a ff . G e t involved in your community, shop local and support organics.

Save more with our “Get Healthy, Get Rewarded” program.

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Volusia / Flagler

VoFLNatural.com

MASSAGE THERAPIST CLAIRE JEFFRIES, LMT

929 N Spring Garden Ave, Ste 163 386-690-4302 • MA 52384 VAGARO.com/ClaireJeffriesLMT Licensed Massage Therapist for 13 years. Certified in Ashiatsu, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Cupping, Stone Massage and Myofascial Release.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA WALK-IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINICS 100 S Spring Garden Ave, DeLand 386-232-5599 2575 W US 92, Daytona Beach 386-222-1667 CMMDR.com

Get your medical marijuana card and re-certify by phone. Medical marijuana treats more than 250 medical conditions such as: chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, seizures, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, MS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s, IBS, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, lupus and more. Call for PTSD evaluation. See ad, page 35.

METAPHYSICAL STORE HOLISTIC HOUSE OF HOLLY HILL 1126 Riverside Dr, Holly Hill 386-238-9996 HolisticHouseHollyHill.com FB: Holistic House Holly Hill

A return to earth-grown materials with a self-healing and metaphysical twist.

Crystals, smudges, Incense, gemstone jewelry, local artists, divination, workshops, Reiki, vibrational healing. See ad, page 29.

PEST CONTROL NATURAL NATURALLY GREEN PEST SOLUTIONS PO Box 354591, Palm Coast, FL, 32135 386-237-9663 NaturallyGreenPest.com Info@NaturallyGreenPest.com

Offering pest solutions for your home and lawn with a natural focus. Unwanted pests in your home can negatively affect your family’s health and your peace of mind. Eliminate them with a program you can feel good about.

PET SUPPLIES BULL RUN FARM SUPPLY

1020 N US Hwy 1, Ormond Beach 386-672-2735 BullRunFarmSupply.com Full-service pet store. Large selection of holistic treats and certified organic pet products, toys, beds, flea control products and natural flea control for home and yard. Great selection of livestock feed for horses, cattle, poultry and more, also carrying several varieties of hay. See ad, page 31.

PSYCHIC CHANNEL REV JUDI WEAVER

Heart 4 Souls Inc, Ormond Beach Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com 386-503-4930 • Heart4Souls.com Channeled spirit messages, crystal light healer, divine personal guidance, shamanic practitioner, spiritual counseling, guided meditations, home/property blessings, vision quest journeys.

For individuals or groups—in person, virtual/on-line, phone or energy distance.

SOLAR ENERGY

SPIRITUAL CENTERS UNITY COMMUNITY CHURCH

1001 S Ridgewood Ave, Edgewater 386-481-0890 • UnityCommunityChurch.com Sunday service is at 11am.

Offering prayer services, book study groups, classes, spiritual counseling, weddings, christenings, memorial services, home blessings, home/hospital visitations. See ad, page 10.

SPIRITUAL RESPONSE THERAPY LOURDES ALVARADO

786-261-5936 SpiritualResponseHealing@gmail.com SpiritualResponseHealing.com Clear soul blocks and heal your life with Spiritual Response Therapy (SRT). Have the life you always wanted! I incorporate astrology, reiki, crystals, herbs and other modalities while doing SRT, if applicable and necessary.

Remote phone or online sessions.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION LAUREE MORETTO

SOLAR-FIT

1523 Ridgewood Ave, Holly Hill Volusia • 386-441-2299 Flagler • 386-445-7606 Solar-Fit.com Relax and let the sun do the work for you. Solar-fitting your home or business is a smart, economical and environmentally sound investment. We offer a wide range of options to make your home more energy efficient. We are making America energy-independent one home at a time.

SPAS BEACHFRONT INN & HOLISTIC SPA RETREAT

1104 S Oceanshore Blvd, Flagler Beach 386-439-4944 Connecting you holistically to nature’s bounty of minerals and exquisitely scented plant extracts. Spa services include reflexology, body treatments, wraps, facials, hands & feet.

Massage services include Swedish, deep tissue, Japanese hot stone, couples, Lomi Lomi, Ayurvedic treatments and more. Packages may include spa cuisine lunch and use of our heated mineral pool.

Follow our Facebook page for current events. See ad, page 10.

Soft Tissue Specialist 321-271-1678 Flagler & Ormond Bch LaureeMoretto.com

90% of pain is linked to structural misalignment. Your pain is really just a symptom. My work addresses the cause to give you lasting relief. Get your life back now. MA20965.

FLORIDA VETERINARY REHABILITATION

Dr Lisa Mason DVM, CCRT, CVA 441 S Woodland Blvd, DeLand 386-337-7106 • FLVetRehab.com If your pet has difficulty moving, is recovering from surgery or has suffered an injury, we can help by providing a customized treatment plan, including home exercise program, to restore your pet to full function.

Treatments offered include laser, shockwave, acupuncture, chiropractic, aqua therapy and more.

GENTLE PET PASSINGS

Dr Gayle Burrell Volusia / Flagler 386-279-8525 • GentlePetPassings.com Saying goodbye to your beloved friend is a loving, but difficult decision. Spend those final precious moments with your pet in the comfort of their home surrounded by all that they love.

See ad, page 31.

WELLNESS AMETHYST WELLNESS

Amy Coopersmith, ARNP 50 Cypress Point Pkwy, B-1 Palm Coast 386-283-4180 • AmethystWellness.com Preventative healthcare, medically supervised weight loss, IV nutrition, hormone optimization and sexual health treatments for men and women, body contouring, aesthetic treatments, laser hair removal, weight loss and more. See ad, page 29.

YOGA PADMA YOGA

VETERINARIAN FLORIDAWILD VETERINARY HOSPITAL

115 E Euclid Ave, DeLand 386-734-9899 • FloridaWildVetHospital.com FloridaWild provides compassionate and outstanding care for dogs, cats, birds and exotics. We are an integrative veterinary practice that offers acupuncture, ozone therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

See ad, page 31.

Micki Higgins, E-RYT 500 YACEP 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast 386-225-4733 • PadmaYogaOnline.com Evening Classes. Experience improvement in flexibility and strength in your body and a calming of the mind and spirit reducing stress and anxiety in your daily life. Yoga for all body types and all ages. We are the only yoga studio in Palm Coast that is not hot.

See website for schedule. See ad, page 23.

March 2021

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