June 2020 Natural Awakenings Volusia Flagler Edition

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

Homebody Workouts Getting Fit Without a Gym

HEALTHY

PLANET

HAPPY FOODS Feel-Good Eating Tips

FAMILY TRAVELING CALMING STORIES IN PLACE CANINES

Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

Finding Adventure How to Ease Close to Home Separation Anxiety

June 2020 | Volusia / Flagler Edition | VoFLNatural.com

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Natural Awakenings is a family of nearly 70 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 TRANSFORMATIVE STAYCATIONS

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Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

16 EVERYDAY ADVENTURES

Taking to Vans & RVs for Life on the Road

18 SOOTHING SEPARATION Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope

22 DAVID HAMILTON

on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

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24 FAMILY STORIES

Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

26 HOMEBODY WORKOUTS Getting Fit Without a Gym

28 FEEDING HAPPINESS

Lift Your Mood with Feel-Good Foods

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DEPARTMENTS 5 news briefs 8 health briefs 10 global briefs 11 eco tip 16 green living 18 natural pet 22 wise words 24 healthy kids 26 fit body 28 conscious

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eating 31 resource guide June 2020

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

VOLUSIA FLAGLER EDITION Publisher Rebecca Young Publisher@VoFLNatural.com

Writer Erin Floresca

Calendar Editor Sara Peterson

Design & Production FullCircle Publications Graphic Design Wendy Wilson

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letter from publisher

June marks the beginning of summer, the season for rest and

relaxation. Unless you work at an essential job, you’re likely well rested and ready to resume your pre-pandemic life with gusto. Many years from now when someone asks you about the 2020 pandemic, what personal experiences will you share?

My story will include feelings of deep gratitude that northeast Florida was spared a major outbreak during this first round of the virus. For the first time in my adult life I had no daily agenda. Nothing was urgent. Suddenly, and without warning I had time to dust off unread books, pick up a musical instrument, write poetry or simply be still. Like many in my circle I spent a good amount of time in nature rather than sheltering indoors. Seeing the beaches and state parks close was disappointing. The result of many hours spent outdoors is a family garden bursting with all sorts of leafy greens, vegetables and fruit that will ripen over the summer. We also enjoyed horseback riding on cool weekday mornings. Unhurried conversations with neighbors and face time calls with far away friends helped to pass time in the evening. I’ve become accustomed to this slower, more thoughtful pace, and intend to maintain a less hurried lifestyle as life returns to normal.

Outdoor adventure is explored in this month’s edition, with a focus on RV life.

Minimalism and RV life are on the rise as many are trading possessions for epic adventures. As many communities are still not fully open, traveling to neighboring states may not be the best option for a summer vacation. Fortunately, transformative staycations are as close as a day trip for Floridians. The Florida State Park network offers something for everyone, from freshwater springs to miles of beaches. Connect with our Facebook page and show us where you spent your summer vacation.

If you have a canine in the house and are returning to work after many weeks at home, you may find your furry friend has separation anxiety. Sudden changes in household routines can be difficult for dogs, especially if it means a decrease in physical activity.

Check out our Natural Pet section for advice on easing the transition back to work.

Be sure to check out our website for even more articles and resources for a healthy and balanced life. You can turn the virtual pages of our online edition, and even connect to our advertiser’s websites with a click.

Wishing you a joyous June, from your Natural Awakenings team.

© 2020 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Rebecca Young, Publisher

Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair... ~Susan Polis Schutz

news briefs

Welcoming New Chef at Superfoods Café

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he Healing Zone in New Smyrna Beach is excited to announce the addition of Executive Chef Chris Holt to the SuperFoods Café.

Holt, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the culinary world, recently returned to Florida after spending six years in California.

During his time in California, Holt discovered new cooking techniques and refined his skills in multiple Michelin Star and farmto-table restaurants that focused on healthy cooking and seasonal cuisine. “I understand how important it is to use fresh, seasonal and whole-food ingredients,” he explains. “To me, nutrition is just as important as flavor.

Food should nurture us and enhance our well-being.”

The SuperFoods Café is organic and gluten-free, with an intentional healthy menu of cold-pressed juices, physician-formulated smoothies, wheatgrass shots, and salad and soup specials. The menu rotates daily and is aligned with the nutrition principles taught

by Drs. Christian and Wendy Edwards, who practice in the Healing Zone.

Location: 515 Canal St., New Smyrna Beach. For more information, call 386-402-7825 or visit nsbHealingZone.com to see daily menu specials. See ads, pages 7 and 14.

IV Nutritional Therapy

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ife is Ketaful Wellness Centers, with locations in Port Orange and Ormond Beach, offers IV nutrient and vitamin therapy in addition to ketamine infusion therapies and education.

“If you’re like most people, you probably don’t consume your daily dose of vitamins and minerals, let alone experience their valuable benefits,” says Life is Ketaful owner William L. Self, DNP, who provides a variety of healthy IV nutrient formulas for his clients.

IV Nutritional Infusion Therapy is a safe and effective way to receive natural vitamins like B12 and vitamin C, important minerals, and amino acids direct to the bloodstream via a simple and comfortable IV drip. The 30 to 45-minute sessions are beneficial for enhancing energy, improving overall mood, and aiding in the prevention of future health conditions caused by stress, malnutrition and dehydration.

The eight formulas available at Life is Ketaful Wellness Centers can help detoxify the body; promote healthier skin, hair and nails; reduce recovery time in athletes; increase mental alertness; slow down the aging process; tame a hangover; and rehydrate the brain for an instant mood boost. Self ’s current favorite formula, Natural Defense, helps attack sickness head-on. “Natural Defense is ideal for anyone feeling under the weather or sick with the common cold or flu. The high doses of vitamin C and other nutrients help boost the immune system so you can bounce back quickly,” he explains.

Locations: 495 S. Nova Rd., Ste. 101-A, Ormond Beach and 851 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange. For more information, call 386-487-HOPE (4673) or visit Ketaful.com. See ads, pages 9 and 21.

It is better to travel well than to arrive. ~Buddha June 2020

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We are looking forward to seeing and caring for our patients in the future!

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Nutrition

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news briefs

Truth Beyond Book Release

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everend Judi Stetson Weaver, shamanic healer and channel, is excited to announce the release of her book Truth Beyond. The book was inspired

by Weaver’s spirit guide Jamar, an Elder from the Rev. Judi Weaver lost continent of Lemuria, who invited her to receive the wisdom of the spirit world.

Weaver’s book is centered on messages from spiritual beings known as Lemurians that reside in Telos, an ancient city located beneath Mt. Shasta. “The Lemurians, an evolved race, no longer inhabit physical bodies, and resemble their former selves in spiritual essence. They wait patiently for humanity to open their hearts to receive their energetic signals, to impart eternal truths which will save planet Earth and raise humanity’s consciousness,” she says.

Six women sat in meditation for months to receive the messages, and the information received was transcribed verbatim and documented. The book, according to Weaver, is an invitation to explore one’s spiritual evolution.

Weaver is a certified healer who has practiced in the shamanic tradition for decades. She is known by her Lenape name of Grandmother Sun Spirit and holds a monthly Talking Stick open circle in the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp community on the first Saturday of each month.

Truth Beyond is available online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Video recorded sessions are available for purchase at Spiritual Services.online. For more information, call 386-503-4930 or visit Heart4Souls.com. See listing, page 34.

Services Resumed at Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp

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outhern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp is pleased to announce that Sunday and Wednesday services have been resumed. All services are held in the Andrew Jackson Davis Educational Building which also houses the Bookstore, Welcome Center and Meeting Hall.

Camp faculty, staff and students are adhering to social distancing guidelines set forth by the governor. Face masks are required in the Bookstore and Welcome Center and are highly recommended at all services.

On Sunday, Adult Lyceum (Sunday School) begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by a one-hour Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m. which features a guided meditation, lecture and short messages on spiritualism. The Sunday Afternoon Message Service begins at noon and includes mediums and student mediums delivering messages from the spirit world to attendees.

The Wednesday Night Message Service begins at 7:25 p.m. and highlights a different medium offering short messages from the spirit world each week. A $5 donation is suggested for this service.

Location: 1112 Stevens St., Lake Helen. For more information, visit Cassadaga.org. See ad, page 9.

Reduce Stress and Boost Immunity with Acupuncture

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r. Debra Pardee, founder of the Volusia Center for Complementary Medicine, invites the community to experience acupuncture at her DeLand clinic. “Stress due to the coronavirus has taken a toll on many of us. Acupuncture is thousands of years old and has been used as a valuable health tool in previous pandemics. We all deserve to feel good and acupuncture can help,” she affirms.

In addition, acupuncture treatments can help boost the immune system and alDebra Pardee leviate emotional issues including anxiety, depression and anger. “We now know that isolation and being in quarantine can create serious emotional consequences. Acupuncture is beneficial for emotional issues and is remarkably effective for those suffering with PTSD from being on the frontlines. It can also combat weight gain incurred during this ongoing pandemic.”

The staff at Volusia Center for Complementary Medicine is practicing strict medical clinic safety protocols. In addition to inclinic acupuncture, Pardee offers customized herbal and homeopathic remedies available for home delivery.

Location: 2235 S. Woodland Blvd., Ste. 104, DeLand. For more information, call 386-734-4126 or visit AcuDebra.com. See ad, page 6.

June 2020

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health briefs

Try Chinese Herbs for Ulcerative Colitis A Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal mix known as Gegen Quinlian decoction, when combined with standard Western pharmaceuticals, is more effective in treating the painful condition of ulcerative colitis than pharmaceuticals alone, concluded a Chinese review of 22 studies that included 2,028 patients with the disease. Typically used to heal diarrhea and gastrointestinal inflammation, the herbal mix produced few adverse reactions and resulted in low recurrence rates, researchers said.

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People that eat a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables and soy may have a lower risk of stroke than others with diets that include meat and fish, concluded a new study in the journal Neurology. Taiwanese researchers studied two groups of healthy people over age 50 that lived in Buddhist communities in which drinking and smoking were discouraged and vegetarian diets were followed by about a third of residents. Compared to the meat- and fish-eaters, vegetarians consumed less dairy, animal protein and fat, about the same amount of eggs and fruit, and more fiber and plant protein. In the group of 5,050 people studied for six years, vegetarians had a 74 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked, than non-vegetarians. In the group of 8,302 people followed for nine years, vegetarians had a 48 percent lower risk of overall stroke than non-vegetarians, a 60 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke and a 65 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke. “Stroke can also contribute to dementia. If we could reduce the number of strokes by people making changes to their diets, that would have a major impact on overall public health,� says study author Chin-Lon Lin, M.D.

Green Up Cities to Reduce Violent Crime Well-designed and maintained green spaces in cities such as parks, community gardens and tree-lined streets lower the rate of violent crimes, make communities safer and keep people healthier, concluded Cornell University and University of Virginia researchers that conducted a meta-study of 45 papers studying the links between greenery and crime. In particular, more green spaces, such as community gardens converted from vacant lots, decrease gun violence, six studies found. But poorly designed green space with inadequate maintenance, bad lighting and excessive nearby traffic can help crime take root and spread.

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Eat a Plant-Based Diet to Lessen Stroke Risk

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Natto, a fermented soybean dish of Japan, offers postmenopausal women protection from bone fractures, concludes a new study in The Journal of Nutrition. Studying 24 years of records of 1,417 Japanese women older than 45, researchers found that compared to those women that rarely ate natto, those that consumed one to six 40-gram packs a week had 21 percent fewer fractures and those consuming more than seven packs had 44 percent fewer fractures. Tofu and other soybean products had no effect on fracture risk. With its strong smell and sticky consistency, natto is an acquired taste, but is also one of the few plant sources of vitamin K2, which activates bone-building proteins. Other studies have linked it to healthier gut flora, lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and a stronger immune system.

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Decrease Bone Fractures with Natto

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Maintain a Healthy Gut to Sidestep Colorectal Cancer In a study that for the first time establishes a direct link between the microbes inhabiting our bodies and the genetic alterations that drive cancer development, researchers from the Hubrecht Institute, in the Netherlands, have found that mutations linked to colorectal cancer can be caused by common gut bacteria carried by about one out of five people.

By exposing cultured human mini-guts to a particular strain of E. coli bacteria, they observed that the bacteria induced a unique pattern of mutations in the DNA of human cells that was also found in the DNA of patients with colorectal cancer, implying that these mutations were induced by the “bad� bacteria.

June 2020

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Generating Electricity from Rain

A surprisingly high voltage can be generated from raindrops using a field-effect, transistor-style structure, reports a new study from the City University of Hong Kong in the journal Nature. A single drop can muster 140 volts, enough to briefly light up 100 small LED bulbs. The new design couples an aluminum electrode with an indium-tin oxide electrode layered with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a material with a quasi-permanent electric charge.

When a raindrop hits the PTFE/tin surface, it bridges the two electrodes and creates a closed-loop circuit that helps fully release any stored charges. The technology could handle sustained rainfall, as well. If there are continuous drops, the charge accumulates and eventually hits a saturation point. Building rooftops could supplement some of the electricity used inside, and electric boats could extend their range.

Sentinel Trees Give Advance Warning

The United States, Europe and China are growing “sentinel trees” in strategic locations around the world to receive advance warnings of destructive pests that could destroy native plantings.

According to a study published in Plos One, “Sentinel nurseries represent one potential mechanism to address the current lack of knowledge about pests in the countries from where live plants are shipped and the threats they represent to native flora and crops in importing countries.” As global trade intensifies, the risk for accidental importing of and exposure to new invasive pests is a constant worry for entomologists and arborists, stimulating a search for new tactics to prevent future losses.

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Splashy Solution

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Pest Alarm

global briefs

Beware the Air Mindfulness Training May Reduce Paranoia In news that may be useful for people dealing with the stress of the global pandemic, researchers from the University of London have found that just one week of practicing mindfulness—moment-to-moment awareness—reduces feelings of paranoia. The research, published in the journal Mindfulness, was based on questionnaires of 494 people, enabling researchers to find a correlation between paranoia and judgemental thinking.

They found that higher levels of nonjudgement predicted lower levels of paranoia, even in individuals that had a predisposition for it.

Then, 68 people were selected and divided into two groups: one that was asked to go through a prerecorded, guided mindfulness session once per day, and one that acted as a control. The session consisted of a quick body scan, mindful breathing and awareness exercises.

The results showed a drop in judgmental thinking and paranoia in the mindfulness group.

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People continuously exposed to air pollution are at increased risk of dementia, especially if they also suffer from cardiovascular diseases, reports a new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, published in the JAMA Neurology. Researchers examined nearly 3,000 adults with an average age of 74 living in the Kungsholmen district in central Stockholm for up to 11 years. Of those, 364 people developed dementia. The district’s annual average level of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in width is high by Swedish standards, but low compared to international standards.

Heart failure and ischemic heart disease both enhanced the dementia risk, and stroke explained almost 50 percent of air pollutionrelated dementia cases, according to the researchers.

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Dementia Linked to Air Pollution

Mental Relief

eco tip

(left arm extended downward) to alert bikers that may be traveling behind.

Biking During the COVID-19 Crisis Regular Tips Apply to Pedaling

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During the coronavirus crisis, biking is especially recommended, as it provides exceptional aerobic and cardio exercise, relaxation and because it maintains social distancing. Keeping in mind proper equipment, fitness, safety and other factors can make it even more fulfilling during this difficult period.

Choose the right bike. Those designed for roads and pavement are generally lighter and have more gears than mountain bikes, which have more shock-absorbing features, plus more lower gears to help traverse inclined terrain. Urban and commuting bikes feature a slightly more upright riding position that allows better sightlines and improved visibility by motorists.

Use a bike shop with mechanics that test and adjust the bikes they sell, including determining the proper seat height—which facilitates proper alignment of hips and a full rotation—and the ideal distance from the handlebars to the seat tube. Back, knee or hip pain may develop if a cyclist has to stretch his or her legs to get to the pedals, according to the League of American Bicyclists. A biker doesn’t get proper leg extension if the seat is too low. The legs should

be almost, but not totally extended at the lowest point in pedaling.

Safety takes many forms. Even well-marked bike lanes don’t guarantee safety, so use caution. Some motorists are careless about entering bike lanes and don’t correctly stop at crosswalks or look behind before opening doors. Keep at least five feet from the sides of cars to avoid being hit. Don’t weave in and out of traffic, always don a helmet, signal turns and watch out for runners and walkers. Use the stop signal

Proper pedaling can help prevent strains. In addition to

ensuring they’re employing proper leg extension, it’s advised that bikers pedal a little faster in a lower gear; ideally, 75 to 90 revolutions per minute, which is easier on the knees with less muscle fatigue than traveling slower in a higher gear.

Routine maintenance includes

“cleaning and lubing the chain, replacing brake pads, and changing and fixing a flat tire,” according to major bike and outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment, Inc. (rei.com). The website has helpful tips on tools to obtain, along with basic information on bike maintenance, cleaning and fixing a flat tire.

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Transformative Staycations

Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home

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taycations—sticking close to home for new travel experiences—was a growing trend even before the COVID-19 pandemic turned it into a practical necessity for many of us. Staycations reduce costs, minimize travel time and also lower our carbon footprint by eliminating international travel. Happily, they don’t reduce the pure pleasure of finding new adventures, exploring untrammeled nature, seeing the familiar with fresh eyes and meeting people from all walks of life. All of that is close at hand, and especially when compared to foreign jaunts, the price is right.

A good place to start is by checking out state and regional parks, often overlooked gems offering scenic miles of trails for hiking, biking, birding, fishing, picnicking and other activities. “Whether mountains, prairies, rivers, forests in the country or heart of the city, there is always a state park waiting to welcome you, no matter what kind of recreation you enjoy,” says Jason Clay, spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

In Colorado parks, people can, for example, river raft in the Arkansas Headwaters Recre-

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ation Area; boat, fish and hammock camp in Jackson Lake State Park; and rock climb in Eldorado Canyon.

Parks can be discovered and trail maps downloaded by visiting TrailLink.com, run by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. It provides searches for nearby trails using parameters such as distance, types of activity and wheelchair accessibility. Its smartphone TrailLink app is free to download and $30 per year for unlimited customized use.

State, local and regional parks across the country offer rich educational opportunities for kids and adults alike, including naturalist-guided activities, bird and botany walks, lessons in local history, ecology and geography, and more. Several states offer free admission to all state-run parks, including Hawaii, Tennessee and Illinois. State-by-state listings of fees and policies can be found at Tinyurl.com/StateParkPasses.

Making a Quick Getaway

Weekend forays into natural and rustic settings can be ideal escape valves for people needing a simple, quick change of venue.

Camping, of course, is always an option, but for those that want to be in nature in a more comfy fashion, using “cabin” as a search word works well in websites like Airbnb.com and TripAdvisor.com. The option of glamping—or glamorous camping—offers surprisingly luxurious stays outdoors in tents, pods and domes; check out Glamping.com.

Getaway.House offers woodsy outposts in 10 locations equipped with “tiny house” cabins around the country designed for quick escapes from cities. “If you were at your desk in need of an escape, you could cut out early and be there by 6 p.m.,” says Vice President of Marketing Rachel Mansfield. The private experience, with no check-in desk or communal areas, enables it to continue operating safely during the pandemic. The cabins, designed to blend in with their natural surroundings, are equipped with food for purchase, stove, books, radio, firewood, fire pit and Adirondack chairs, as well as a map for local hikes and adventures.

“I did a getaway at a point in my life where I wanted some time alone, away

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by April Thompson

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from commitments, to figure out what my next chapter in life was going to be,” says Paige Conner Totaro, of Alexandria, Virginia, the founder of Unquote Travel, a web-based tour agency focusing on small group, off-the-beaten-track adventures.

“You can change your environment without going very far, and that in turn can change the way you think about things. Little things like sleeping on the other side of the bed can help you shake up your brain.”

Local Attraction

Local-led excursions are another way to see our home turf through a new lens. Airbnb Experiences, offered virtually everywhere that Airbnb lists lodging, are one-of-a-kind tours and classes designed and hosted by locals with unique expertise. Experiences run the gamut from neighborhood tours on foot or bikes with athletes to museum tours led by local artists or art historians. Many include a hands-on learning component, like how to make mosaics in a community art space or cook a local delicacy from a family recipe. Similar tours and experiences can be found on TripAdvisor’s Things To Do listings. WithLocals.com, whose mission is “to break down the barriers between travelers and locals worldwide,” also offers foodie fun and off-beat adventures.

Kelly Kniewel stumbled onto tour guiding after experiencing burnout in her previous career in the beverage industry.

An Airbnb Experiences host, Kniewel now leads small group tours of Chicago, introducing locals and visitors alike to many of its little-known facets. “I’ve fallen in love with my city all over again

doing these tours,” says Kniewel, a selfproclaimed history geek.

She loves to take guests inside Art Deco and Beaux Arts buildings they may have passed before without realizing the gorgeous art and architecture that exists inside, such as the library-turned-cultural center, Chicago Cultural Center, boasting two impressive glass domes, one designed by Tiffany Glass.

Another favorite excursion is taking guests on a water taxi tour. “It’s a cheap and unique way to see Chicago. The water, both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, is so much a part of who we are as a city.”

During the limitations imposed during the COVID-19 period, Airbnb and other websites began offering experiences online, allowing people from all over the world to connect and make pastries with a Swedish baker, draw with a Mexican cartoonist, learn about apartheid from a South African or experience a day in the life of an American Olympic bobsledder.

Traveling the World Without Leaving Home

Hosting travelers can bring new meaning to a staycation, offering a rich opportunity for cross-cultural exchange without any exchange of currency. The popular CouchSurfing.com connects travelers with locals offering free use of a couch, air mattress or spare bedroom. Available in more than 200,000 cities worldwide, it has 14 million members and sponsors local language exchanges, dance classes, hikes and dinners, so there are opportunities to make new friends and have new experiences even without offering a place to sleep. (During COVID-19 restrictions, these activities were moved online.)

Similar organizations that offer opportunities for local hosting (including low- or no-cost lodging) include Servas.org, established in 1949, which stresses world peace and cultural exchange, and preinterviews potential guests and hosts to ensure safety; GlobalFreeloaders.com, a free registry for hosts and guests that do their own online screening and matching; and EvergreenClub.com, in which hosts provide a bed-and-breakfast homestay for travelers over age 50 for $20 a night.

An exciting option for homeowners is HomeExchange.com, a $150-a-year service that allows people in far-flung places to switch homes, either directly or through a staggered point system so they can truly live like locals.

John Fackenthal, of Rockville, Maryland, has hosted more than 100 couchsurfers from 29 countries, and loved every experience. “I had a big apartment in the heart of Washington, D.C., when I first started hosting, but lived alone and felt a little isolated. I wanted to bring back the youth hostel feel from travels in my younger days, where you’d hang out with fellow travelers and go hiking, share a meal or play cards,” he says.

A web developer, he recalls such memorable guests as a carpenter in his 60s from the Pacific Northwest that helped him with fixer-upper projects, a pair of pro volleyball players from the Czech Republic and two young women from China that prepared him a massive traditional Chinese feast “with all four burners going,” he says.

“It’s restored my faith in humanity. I’ve encountered nothing but wonderful June 2020

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Agrotourism, in which working farms open the barn doors to visitors for day or overnight trips, has the added advantage of supporting local agriculture. AgritourismWorld. com and FarmStayUS.com provide listings for farm stays worldwide searchable by type, such as Christmas tree farm, vineyard, orchard, dude ranch or alpaca farm.

The 40-acre Taos Goji Farm and Eco-Lodge Retreat, in Taos, New Mexico, is one such venue. “My husband and I returned to the land nine years ago after many years working as professionals in stuffy offices. The farm has been developed for our family and others who wish to be close to nature and to live off of the land,” says co-owner Elizabeth vom Dorp.

The farm is open for paid guests, as well as to the volunteers known as “Wwoofers” that come through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms to help raise goji berries, fruits, vegetables

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Be a Weekend Farmer

and free-range chickens. All cabins date from the early 1900s, including an old dairy barn converted into a duplex and five sheep herder cabins. The farm is surrounded by a national forest, so many guests visit to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, rafting and ballooning. “Families with children love to come and pick berries, collect eggs and pet the animals. We have rescue alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens and turkeys,” says vom Dorp.

While the world may still be at the mercy of unfortunate circumstances this summer, travel is ultimately a state of mind. By staying open, curious and present, there are always new encounters and discoveries underfoot very close to home.

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

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people, all with such different personalities and backgrounds.”

June 2020

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green living

Everyday Adventures Taking to Vans and RVs for Life on the Road

M

by Sandra Yeyati

any Americans choose to travel in recreational vehicles (RVs) or well-equipped vans with all the comforts of home—no hotels, just the open road and a tank full of gas. Cindy Jane is a Florida naturalist, vegan advocate, accomplished artist and wife to land surveyor Kevin Georgeson. Now 50 years old, she’s had a dream since she was 18 to travel the country in a van, visiting state and national parks, hiking trails and spending quality time in nature. She envisions setting up an easel and painting in inspiring settings. “It’s about getting out of that social norm of always knowing what the next day is going to be like, doing the same thing every day. I like a little bit of the unknown, the unexpected. I want to see things. I want adventure. I want the freedom that comes with going,” she says.

The couple purchased a 2018 Ford Transit van with low mileage and a little warranty left on it. Together, they are customizing it to create a comfortable home away from home to satisfy Jane’s wanderlust. Crafty and resourceful, they voraciously watch YouTube videos to learn the ins and outs of solar panels, electrical hookups, kitchen countertops, insulation and 1,000 other details that go into a suc-

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cessful buildout. They’re taking their time to do it right after investing thousands of dollars already. To document their progress and hopefully inspire others, they record videos on Jane’s smartphone and post them to her website (ArtfulVeganNomad.com).

Val and Nick Wheatley are veteran nomads, having travelled the world for almost four years in all kinds of rides, including the 1994 Ford Bronco they drove across the U.S. for six months. Camping outdoors was challenging, and they vowed never again to travel in a vehicle without a bed. They purchased a Ford Econovan to explore New Zealand and sold it three months later when they left. In Germany, where beautiful campgrounds and free public lots with inexpensive electric and water hookups are plentiful, a rented RV was the way to go. With experience, the couple has come to prefer converted vans or smaller RVs, thanks to their fuel savings and easier maneuverability in cities and on narrow country roads.

According to the Wheatleys, traveling and living in close quarters has its drawbacks. Cleaning out portable toilets and taking showers at truck stops can be challenging, but for the avid explorers,

these inconveniences were always eclipsed by jaw-dropping scenery and cultural immersion in new countries. “Because we had wheels and time, we got to see some cool stuff off the beaten track that most people that were visiting for a weekend or week never see,” says Val.

Offering tips, tricks, candid descriptions and inspiring photography of their many world-trotting experiences, the couple’s travel blog (WanderingWheatleys. com) tallied more than 600,000 visitors last year. Through online advertising and affiliate programs, they earned enough money for living and travel expenses. “The world actually isn’t a scary place at all. People all over the world in every culture are friendly and welcoming,” Nick says.

For those looking to connect with fellow travelers, there are numerous recreational clubs that offer base camps, programming and social opportunities. One such club is Sisters on the Fly (SistersOnTheFly.com), an all-women outdoor adventure club founded in 1999 by Maurrie Sussman and her sister Rebecca Clarke with a penchant for small, vintage trailers that are restored and embellished by their owners.

With 9,000 active members and an organizer in each state, these resourceful and festive ladies hold more than 1,000 events nationwide every year, including fly fishing, guided tours, kayaking, mountain climbing, biking and more. “It’s about being outdoors and meeting amazing women. We love going into the national parks, taking back roads and visiting all the small towns,” Sussman says.

Living in an RV or van full-time has become an attractive option for many people, including college kids looking for inexpensive housing or retirees on limited incomes. “I think more and more we’re seeing people who value their time more than a bunch of possessions,” says Jane. “Maybe that means working less and living more frugally, so you see a rise in minimalism and van life.”

For a wealth of information on vans and RVs as full-time options, as well as in-depth interviews with van lifers, visit Bob Wells’ YouTube channel CheapRVLiving.

Sandra Yeyati is a freelance writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

June 2020

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smrm1977/Shutterstock.com

natural pet

Soothing Separation Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope

by Julie Peterson

S

eparation anxiety is a common canine problem, diagnosed in as many as 40 percent of dogs seen by veterinary behavioral specialists. When the dog is left alone, it may serenade the neighbors, soil the house or cause damage.

Stories abound of unstuffed couches, dugup floors, destroyed window coverings and dog injury from chewing out of a crate or trying to escape through windows.

In an article on separation anxiety syndrome (SAS) in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine, Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, cites several studies that agree on common risk factors for SAS in dogs: history of traumatic separation, inexperience with being alone, excessive greetings and prolonged departures by owners, relocation and changes in routine or family structure.

Symptoms vary in scope and degree, but SAS is painful for both dog and parent.

Repeatedly returning home to complaints from neighbors or considerable damage can cause owners to surrender their dogs.

Get the Diagnosis

If a dog is acting out, an assessment is needed to ensure that what seems like 18

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SAS isn’t caused by underlying conditions.

Boredom, illness or canine cognitive dysfunction could result in actions and symptoms such as pacing or excessive salivating that mimic anxiety. If SAS is diagnosed, owners must understand that dogs aren’t exacting revenge and should never be punished for behavior exhibited when they are terrified, advise veterinarians.

Natural Solutions Human Tricks

A 2018 study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests that petting a dog for one minute before leaving may make the dog calmer during separation. Some dogs feel safest when left in a crate covered with a blanket. The human attitude toward separation can be felt by the dog, as well, but some dogs simply need more help coping.

Changing the brain might be the way to go. Calmer Canine is a device that sends targeted, pulsed, electromagnetic field (tPEMF) signals to the dog’s brain. Unlike approaches like medications, supplements and cannabidiol (CBD) that have to be administered repeatedly as needed, “the

dog gets two, 15-minute treatments per day for four to six weeks,” says veterinarian Judy Korman, at Assisi Animal Health, in New York City and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

A 2019 pilot study of nine dogs that she conducted in cooperation with the North Carolina State University of Veterinary Medicine, which developed the device, showed that the tPEMF signals reduced anxiety and restored calm.

Exercise

“I’ve tried medication and natural supplements, and have found that what works best for all three of my dogs is plenty of exercise. Long walks, especially in new locations with new smells, are a favorite,” says Kimberly Gauthier, a blogger at Keep the Tail Wagging and Dog Mom Style, in Marysville, Washington.

There is a physiological reason for engaging in walks guided by the dog’s nose.

“The more the dog is able to take in scent, the more it triggers the seeking part of the brain, the more enriching life is for the dog and the more it calms them down,” says Mittsy Voiles, a behavior specialist at the Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic, in Wisconsin.

Food and Supplements

Good nutrition allows dogs to be more successful citizens. “If you make the baseline fundamentals good, it gives the dog the ability to think, process its environment and have less anxiety,” says holistic veterinarian Catherine Alinovi, at Healthy Pawsibilities, in Clearwater, Florida. Processed kibble with food coloring is doggie junk food. “Kibble Quandary: A Fresh Look at Pet Food,” at NaturalAwakenings.com, suggests healthier feeding options.

How a dog is fed can also have an impact. Putting food in puzzle toys facilitates a brain exercise that improves confidence. “Dogs who spend part of their day working out puzzles are really engaging that opportunistic scavenger part of their biology,” says Voiles.

Commonly, pet owners are turning to the hemp plant derivative CBD as a calming aid. For those considering nutraceuticals, herbs and supplements, a holistic veterinarian can make recommendations.

Life is like riding a bicycle.

To keep your balance, you must keep moving. ~Albert Einstein June 2020

19

Common risk factors for separation anxiety syndrome in dogs include history of traumatic separation, inexperience with being alone, excessive greetings and prolonged departures by owners, relocation and changes in routine or family structure.

Accessories

Diffusing calming essential oils may relax some dogs, but a mild scent for humans could supersaturate a dog’s olfactory organ, preventing them from smelling what’s necessary. Learning how to use essential oils safely around pets is critical. But the pacifying scent of natural pheromones that mimic the comfort of nursing are hard to beat; pheromone-based products in sprays, diffusers, wipes and collars can be found in natural-health stores and pet stores. “It’s effective for dogs who need to feel safe or when adjusting to a new environment,” says Voiles.

ThunderShirts, special blankets and Dog TV are tried by many, but no one option works for every dog. “When people try things and don’t get improvement, they should seek a holistic veterinarian who can help figure out what is going on,” says Alinovi.

Julie Peterson writes about wellness and the environment. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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VoFLNatural.com

June 2020

21

wise words HEALTHY LIVING

David Hamilton on Kindness in the Pandemic Age

HEALTHY PLANET

2020 EDITORIAL CALENDAR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ISSUE

JAN

Age-Defying Habits Plus: Healthy Immune System

FEB

Cardiovascular Health Plus: Regenerative Medicine

PLANT-BASED NUTRITION ISSUE

MAR

Thriving on a Plant-Based Diet Plus: CBD

APR

Grassroots Climate Crisis Strategies Plus: Healthy Home

WOMEN’S WELLNESS ISSUE

MAY

Autoimmune Breakthroughs Plus: Protein & Collagen Connection

JUN

Inspired Lifestyle Travel Plus: Brain Health

THE FOOD CONNECTION ISSUE

JUL

Beyond Factory Farming Plus: Gut Health

AUG

Biological Dentistry Plus: Environmental Education

SELF-EMPOWERMENT ISSUE

SEP

Emotional Well-Being Plus: Adaptive Yoga

OCT

Stress Management Plus: Joint Health

THE DIABETES CHALLENGE ISSUE

NOV

Personalized Diabetes Strategies Plus: Skin Care

DEC

Creating Community & Connection Plus: Spending Locally

IN EVERY ISSUE...

HEALTH BRIEFS | GLOBAL BRIEFS ECO TIP | GREEN LIVING HEALING WAYS | FIT BODY CONSCIOUS EATING HEALTHY KIDS | WISE WORDS INSPIRATION | NATURAL PET

22

Volusia / Flagler

by Sandra Yeyati

D

avid Hamilton has authored 10 books, including The Little Book of Kindness, How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body and The Five Side Effects of Kindness. He holds a doctorate in organic chemistry and spent four years in the pharmaceutical industry developing drugs for treating cardiovascular disease and cancer.

During clinical research trials, he noticed that a significant number of people experienced health improvements while on fake, or placebo, drugs. This inspired a career change more than 20 years ago, when he became a writer and public speaker teaching people how to understand and harness the mindbody connection to improve health.

We are genetically wired for kindness. The genes that produce the kindness hormone are some of the oldest in the human genome, like 500 million years old. So, our natural state is to care, to be kind and compassionate. But in life, we get caught up in everyday stresses and worries—financially, work-wise and in relationships—that often obscure that natural tendency to care. When a lot of that stuff is taken away, people’s natural sense of kindness and compassion come to the surface.

Have you noticed an increase in kindness during the current pandemic emergency?

Absolutely. We’ve been called to unify, to recognize that we are part of the same human family. There’s a global outpouring of compassion. We’re transforming, becoming more aware of our own kindness and the needs of other people.

On another level, I saw a meme that said, “It feels like the universe has sent us home to our rooms to think about what we’ve done.” There’s research that correlates an increase in viruses and parasites over the last couple of years to a loss in biodiversity due to human action, like knocking down rain forests and humaninduced climate change. Species extinctions are 1,000 to 10,000 times greater today than they’ve ever been in recorded history, except for 65 million years ago

I think so. In the past, you said things like, “Hello, how are you?” as a greeting. But now, when people say it, they really mean it. There’s a sense of genuine compassion that I think is coming out in everyone on a scale that I’ve never seen before. We’re feeling empathy for people that are suffering, but also feeling empathy for each other, because we realize that everyone is in a similar place.

How do you explain this upsurge in kindness during social distancing and isolation?

VoFLNatural.com

Do you see an opportunity for a shift in collective consciousness?

when an asteroid crashed into the Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs. Parasites, viruses and bacteria have nowhere else to go, so they’re jumping species, from bats to humans, for example. We’re being called spiritually not only to be more compassionate and kind to each other, but also to recognize the damage we’re doing to the planet and to be more respectful of nature, the environment and animals.

What are the positive physical effects of kindness?

Physiologically speaking, kindness is the opposite of stress. Where feeling stressed can increase blood pressure, tense the nervous system and suppress the immune system, feelings induced by kindness reduce blood pressure, calm the nervous system and elevate the immune system.

Are certain acts of kindness better than others?

It doesn’t matter what you do. What matters most is that you do it because you mean it; you genuinely have a sense of empathy and want to help someone. All of the physiological benefits of kindness come because the feelings induced by kindness generate what I call kindness hormones, the most important one being oxytocin, which is a female reproductive hormone that also plays a big role in cardiovascular health.

Can a small act of kindness really make a difference in the world?

Absolutely. It’s been charted scientifically that if you do something kind for somebody, that person will be kind or kinder to five other people over the next day or two because of how you made them feel. Those five people will be kind or kinder to five further people, which turns into 25 people, and each of those 25 will be kind to five people, which takes it to 125 people’s lives that can be changed and affected in small and large ways three social steps away from you simply because of one tiny little thing you did.

Sandra Yeyati is a freelance writer in Naples, Florida. Connect at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

June 2020

23

FAMILY STORIES Help Kids Cope During Tough Times

by Ronica O’Hara

I

n these challenging times as our children struggle to cope with a swiftly changing world, one of the best things we can do is simply to let them know what strong stuff they come from. Decades of research show that children that know their family’s stories—especially how their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other forebears overcame adversity—have

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the ability to handle societal and personal trauma better.

“Family stories help children feel safe, secure and grounded,” says psychology professor Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., director of the Family Narratives Lab at Emory University, in Atlanta. “The stories provide a sense that they belong to something larger than themselves.” In the midst of unsettling

events, she says it’s especially important for children to know that the family has been through hard times before and persevered.

Emory research shows that children, teens and young adults that know more of their family’s narratives have a greater sense of control over their lives, more self-esteem, better grades, higher social competence, less anxiety and depression, and fewer behavior problems. After 9/11, children that tested high in measures of family narratives proved to be more resilient and less stressed.

Family stories can be of loss—“Once we had it all”—or of triumph—“We came up from nowhere”—but the most powerful stories are those that show both the peaks and the valleys, the hilarious escapades and deep losses. “Even simply hearing what other people wish they could have done differently helps to offer children a broader perspective to current experiences,” says Carrie Krawiec, a family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic, in Troy, Michigan. Accounts of the deepest trauma also prove formative: Knowing how their great-grandparents survived the Holocaust gave young adults a sense of gratitude, pride, courage and a greater religious commitment, a University of Pennsylvania study found.

Stories unfold easily at holiday dinners and during long car rides; even during an ordinary dinner, some kind of story—“Guess what happened today at the store?”—occurs about every five minutes,

jannoon028/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

jannoon028/Shutterstock.com

Fivush’s research shows. But summer vacation or days spent together inside a house provide a special opportunity for kids to dive deeper into their family background.

For example, they can write an essay about a grandparent or aunt, write and direct a play with siblings, make a scrapbook, read history or novels to study events that took place during a specific time period, write a song or story from the ancestor’s point of view, research and draw a family tree or create a mini-documentary based on an interview with an older relative.

This is the quiz used in family narrative research, but Fivush cautions that the 20 questions are only a starting point, and many more can be created. Nor does getting the facts exactly right matter—those can easily be in dispute among family members. “It is the telling, the sharing and the listening that is more important than the story itself,” she says.

Do you know how your parents met?

Do you know where your mother grew up?

Do you know where your father grew up?

Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up?

Do you know where some of your grandparents met?

Do you know where your parents were married?

Getting Started with Family Narratives Read more about family narratives at Robyn Fivush’s Psychology Today blog: PsychologyToday.com/intl/blog/the-stories-our-lives Ideas for writing and craft projects: Tinyurl.com/ CreatingAFamilyNarrative Questions kids can ask family grownups: Tinyurl. com/ClassroomRoots

Do you know what went on when you were being born?

Do you know the source of your name?

Do you know some things about what happened when your brothers or sisters were being born?

Do you know which person in your family you look most like?

Do you know which person in the family you act most like?

Do you know some of the illnesses and injuries that your parents experienced when they were younger?

Do you know the national or ethnic background of your family?

Do you know some of the jobs that your parents had when they were young?

Do you know some awards that your parents received when they were young?

Do you know the names of the schools that your mom went to?

Do you know the names of the schools that your dad went to?

Do you know some of the lessons that your parents learned from good or bad experiences?

Do you know about a relative whose face “froze” in a grumpy position because he or she did not smile enough?

Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school?

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com.

June 2020

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Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock.com

fit body

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

Getting Fit Without a Gym

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

O

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

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

Eat Mushrooms to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

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

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

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.

Maintain a Healthy Diet and Weight to Lower Cataract Risk

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.

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.

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

Eat a Better Diet to Improve Gut Bacteria

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

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.

Homebody Workouts

community spotlight

8

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.

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.

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

Join our email list and receive your E-edition before it hits the news stands!

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.

To join, email

W

Publisher@VoFLNatural.com VoFLNatural.com

by Marlaina Donato

hen getting to the gym is not possible, there are plenty of options to explore for at-home workouts. From finding fun ways to stay fit to getting loved ones involved, figuring out what works and committing to a few simple goals is a good start.

Although it may be hard to pull ourselves up from the couch during periods of adversity, sticking to an exercise program can help boost immunity and emotional resilience. “Not feeling like exercising is common during stressful times, but try to remember how good you feel afterward and the sense of accomplishment. Remember the why,” says life coach Suzanne King, in Marlton, New Jersey.

Begin With the Basics

Trainers agree it’s important to see working out and taking care of our health as an investment, and having a plan goes a long way. “You would never just brush off a business appointment if it was in your calendar and you knew you had to attend,” says personal trainer Chris Wong, in Oakville, Ontario. “The simple act of put26

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ting it in your schedule makes it real. Now you have a responsibility. Now you have structure.”

Stephanie Mansour, host of the PBS fitness and health show Step it up with Steph, concurs: “Once I started viewing workouts as my own personal confidenceboosting time, a lightbulb went off in my head and I became addicted to this time with myself.” The Chicago-based personal trainer recommends lightening up. “Find something fun. Do something goofy like dancing around. Schedule this in and instead of ‘workout’, call it ‘pump-up time for me’.”

Getting outside and hitting the trails or walking every evening after dinner is a great way to get oxygen-infused aerobic time. “Use outdoor space to your advantage,” says Wong. “I’ve taught boot camps at parks, and one game I like doing is Touch 20 Things. Run around and touch 20 things at least 15 to 20 feet apart, but don’t touch the same thing twice. He also suggests doing sprints or bear crawls for distance exercise and step-ups on park benches or large rocks. “If a park is not

available, similar things can be done in your backyard. Just have fun with it.”

Tetiana Rostopira/Shutterstock.com

Exercising Outside the Box

Working out with a different rule set offers an invitation to add a new twist to a usual favorite. “I personally practice martial arts every day, but that can be done in a variety of ways,” says Wong, pointing to gentle qigong, shadow boxing, breathing exercises, footwork drills and heavy bag training.

He recommends exercising every day, but limiting more intense workouts to three or four times a week. Cardio exercises such as walking and bicycling are a good daily choice, while high-intensity interval training workouts can be accomplished with minimal or no equipment. There are a variety of methods with timing elements that can be used to get a good workout.

For example, with the As Many Rounds As Possible regimen, three exercises are done back-to-back for as many rounds as possible in a 10-to12-minute period.

Exploring free online classes on YouTube and other platforms opens up even

more options, including yoga, Pilates and dance classes. Many trainers offer virtual workouts over Zoom or Skype live in real time. There are also mobile apps with workouts available for download.

The Support Factor

Partners or family members can help each other to stay on a workout schedule.

“You can set up a chart for you and your family members to put a star or checkmark once you’ve finished a workout.

Turn it into a competition, and whoever has the most stars at the end of a few weeks gets to pick the workout for the whole family to do,” suggests Mansour.

Partners can also make a pact to take care of the kids when it is the other’s turn to grab some fitness time.

Being motivated is easier with some self-love, King reminds us: “You can begin something new by fully appreciating yourself with daily gratitude.”

A Home Workout

Stephanie Mansour suggests this quick workout: 4 Run and march in place, punching your fists in the air.

4 Hop over a tile line on the floor and back. Both of these count as cardio.

4 After 60 seconds, add in some strength training, like 10 squats or half push-ups on your hands and knees.

4 After that, do 10 repetitions of an ab exercise such as crunches or toe taps.

4 Then repeat the circuit for as much time as you have. This adds aerobic and strength aspects to the workout.

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

June 2020

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Feeding Happiness

Lifting Moods with Feel-Good Foods

W

by Marlaina Donato

hether it’s a pandemic, a breakup or a busy day with the kids, heading to the kitchen for a carb fix or a pint of ice cream is a common knee-jerk response to stress. It’s easy to get caught in a whirlpool of poor eating when our bodies need nutritional support more than ever.

Sustained or chronic stress can reduce levels of dopamine and serotonin—neurotransmitters linked to feelings of both satiety and happiness. “When serotonin levels are normal, it leads to both emotional satisfaction and a sense of fullness after a meal,” says Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Maria Marlowe, in New York City and Dubai. “Conversely, when serotonin levels are low, it can lead to depression and a tendency to reach for sweet and starchy foods.”

“Finding healthier substitutes that are less processed can make a huge impact.”

Experts agree that concentrating on weight loss or super-strict diets during times of adversity might do more harm than good. “Focusing on the need to lose weight during crisis will only do two things—make you feel guilty if you’re not eating what you think you’re supposed to and potentially make you eat more out of guilt,” says Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Jennifer Neily, in Dallas.

Opting for healthier versions of favorite comfort foods is a doable compromise that can prevent endorphins from plummeting after the usual temporary spike.

“With the right ingredients and recipes, we can satisfy our cravings for sweet, salt, creamy or crunchy with healthier upgrades of our favorite junk foods,” says Marlowe.

Avoiding Extremes

Friendly Fare

Stress-eating sparks only temporary physical and emotional fulfillment. “When your brain is in need of energy, it can mimic the symptoms of depression and anxiety,” notes Tara Waddle, holistic life coach at The Center of Balance, in Greeley, Colorado.

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Eating to stay healthy during hard times can tickle the taste buds without a lot of invested time. Marlowe’s go-to favorites like homemade banana ice cream or chocolate truffles not only take minutes to prepare, but fortify the brain. For must-have salty fa-

vorites, she suggests opting for snack foods seasoned with unrefined or pink Himalayan salt, fresh guacamole, salsa, olives or pickles. Filling a seaweed sushi wrap with avocado can be a satisfying and easy snack.

For easy-exotic, Marlowe says, “I always keep coconut milk and unsweetened curry paste on hand to whip up a red Thai curry, my favorite 15-minute dinner.

Simply add fresh or frozen vegetables and protein of choice and you have a satisfying, flavorful meal that is faster than delivery.”

Waddle’s healthy comfort foods include nuts of different flavors, dried fruits and baked Brussels sprouts with nitritefree bacon, black pepper and a sprinkle of nutmeg. “The food you consider comfort food is comforting because it’s familiar,” she says. “When you start eating healthier food more often, it will become comfort food. Just keep trying new things.”

Keep it Simple

The kitchen can be our greatest ally during any life-storm, but having a stress-free strategy is key, especially paying attention to emotional states. “Ask yourself, ‘Is it head hunger or belly hunger? Above the neck or below the neck?’ If it’s the latter and that’s truly what is desired, don’t deny yourself, but choose with conscious understanding. Savor the flavor,” says Neily.

Marlowe recommends easy meal planning and maintaining an eating schedule. “This helps remove some of the stress and decision fatigue that comes with figuring out what to eat in the moment, especially with random ingredients in the fridge.” Food shopping can be an instant junk food trap. Waddle’s approach is a sure way to outsmart impulse buying based on habit. She says,“Start with the produce department first. This fills your cart with fresh foods and your cart will be full by the time you get to the snack aisle.”

Self-compassion can be one of the most important, yet overlooked considerations. “Regardless of what you choose to eat, be gentle with yourself,” notes Waddle.

“The guilt of eating poorly is more damaging than the food.”

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

Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock.com

conscious eating

Deborah Lee Rossiter/Shutterstock.com

Sweet Recipes for Healthy Snacking Banana Ice Cream 2 overripe bananas ¼ tsp vanilla extract

photo courtesy of Maria Marlowe

Add-Ins: choose as many as desired 2-3 tsp cacao powder 1 Tbsp almond butter 2-3 tsp carob powder 3-4 pitted dates ¼ tsp cinnamon 1 cup frozen strawberries 6 mint leaves 1 Tbsp coconut flakes (or coconut butter or shredded coconut) 1 Tbsp ginger 1 Tbsp almond butter or almonds ½-inch peeled ginger piece

Five-Minute Chocolate Truffles Truffle

3 Tbsp cacao powder 1½ cups dates, pitted 3 Tbsp shredded coconut, unsweetened

sonchacha/Shutterstock.com

photo courtesy of Maria Marlowe

Toppings (choose a few) Cacao nibs Cacao powder Sesame seeds Shredded coconut Pistachios, crushed Walnuts, crushed Acai powder Goji powder Maqui powder Pomegranate powder

Peel bananas, break in half and put in a zip-top freezer bag. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight. Place all ingredients (banana base plus the add-in ingredients of choice) into a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix, and blend on high until soft-serve ice cream consistency is reached, which should be in about 30 to 60 seconds.

Taste to determine whether any more add-ins are needed and re-blend if desired.

Spoon out and serve.

Source: Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Maria Marlowe

Add cacao powder, dates and coconut to a blender. (A bullet blender works well.)

Blend until a paste is formed, which should only take a few seconds. Roll about a tablespoon or so of paste into a ball. Repeat.

Choose a topping, sprinkle it onto parchment paper and roll date ball in it to coat.

Fast, Healthy Pasta Gluten-free bean and legume-based pastas provide more fiber and protein compared to traditional pasta, points out Marlowe. She suggests placing a steamer basket full of chopped veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and squash over boiling pasta water for a quick pasta primavera.

Add some garlic sautéed in olive oil and a little salt and pepper.

Feel-Good Foods Serotonin boosters for better mood and digestive harmony:

kiwis, bananas, pineapples, plums, all types of berries, tomatoes, raw cacao nibs, 90 percent dark chocolate, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, butternuts (related to walnuts), almonds, eggs, beans, oats, protein-rich foods, sea vegetables, avocados, Swiss chard, beets, green tea and spices like turmeric.

Dopamine boosters for better mood and memory, and warding off neurodegenerative diseases: artichokes, ripe bananas, tahini, wheat germ, almond butter, leafy greens, lentils, chickpeas, black beans, papaya, red beets, apples, watermelon, blueberries and prunes.

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

June 2020

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CAFÉ – JUICE BAR SUPERFOODS CAFÉ & JUICE BAR

ACUPUNCTURE PHYSICIANS ACUPUNCTURE, NUTRITION & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

Debra Pardee, AP, PhD Cedar Ridge Pointe 2235 S Woodland Blvd, Ste 104, DeLand 386-734-4126 • AcuDebra.com Specializing in sensitivities, nutritional counseling, homeopathy, herbal medicine, in a family practice clinic.

Acupuncture without needles is available for children. See ad, page 6.

RP ACUPUNCTURE

Rosa Panos, AP, DOM, PT 397 Palm Coast Parkway SW #5 386-283-4655 • RPAcupunctureFL.com Acupuncture Physician, Physical Therapist and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Dr. Rosa Panos offers integrative pain management combining Eastern Medicine with e x p e r t p h y s i c a l t h e r a p y.

Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupoint Injections and Zyto Elite Scanning. See ad, page 9.

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 14.

ANGEL LIFE COACH

CBD PRODUCTS

PATRICIA ALTON 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 25.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~Saint Augustine

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

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 Open Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat 10am4pm; by appt. Thurs & Sun. A unique experience of natural stones and crystals, sage/blends, cones/ stick incense, singing bowls, pendulums, runes, jewelry/organite, candles, tapestries, books, tarot cards. Services: Tibetan bowl vibrational healings & readings. See our Facebook or in-store.

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 the highest quality CBD products to market; products are formulated using other cannabinoids and terpenes, creating unique synergies that increase efficacy, target specific ailments and increase the binding of CBD. Stop in and try a free sample for yourself.

See ad, page 23.

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 14.

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.

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ENERGY HEALING

DENTIST DR STEVEN CHAMBERLAIN, DMD 2727 N Atlantic Ave, Ste 12 Daytona Beach • 386-677-8466

We offer biological dentistry, safe mercury removal protocols, biocompatible materials, detox programs, one-appointment porcelain crowns, veneers with whole-family progressive dentistry. For more information, visit iaomt.org.

MARYANN BARRETT

Integrative Nurse Practitioner Earth, Body, Spirit Connections Energy Healing 407-982-0948 EarthBodySpiritConnections.com Maryann is skilled in the integration of multiple treatment modalities to create a holistic healing experience, focusing on stress reduction and the mind/ body experience..

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 6.

DERMATOLOGY – HOLISTIC VALERIE G DAVIS, MD

504 S Orange St, New Smyrna Beach 386-423-2218 • DavisDerm.com Valerie G Davis, MD, integrates holistic dermatology in the forms of homeopathy, herbal medicine and energy medicine. Her latest fields of study are ozone therapy and stem cell medicine. Davis also practices and teaches Twin Hearts meditation and Pranic healing at New Smyrna Meditation and Healing Center, next door to her office.

NEW SMYRNA MEDITATION AND HEALING CENTER 516 S Orange St, New Smyrna Beach 386-689-6868 PranicHealingNSB.com

Learn simple techniques to live a happy and healthy life with a sharper mind. Pranic Healing often brings instant relief for acute and chronic conditions.

Free meditation and energy healing session every We d n e s d a y a t 6 : 3 0 p m . D r Valerie Davis teaches Twin Hearts meditation and Pranic healing. See ad, page 24.

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ ILLUSTRATION MY ART DEPARTMENT Wendy Wilson 386-775-7275 LoveToDrawW@gmail.com

Custom logo design, business cards and graphic layout, and illustration created just for you.

Tu t o r i n g i s a v a i l a b l e f o r beginners in Photoshop. Visit us on Facebook.

DIET & NUTRITION MARGO KING, PHD, DN

Debbie’s Health Foods Port Orange • 386-763-7046 Orange City • 386-775-7002 DebbiesHealthFoods.com Dr. Margo King is board certified by the American Alternative Medical Association and practitioner member of the American Holistic Health Association. Available for personal nutritional counseling.

See ads, page 2 and back cover.

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

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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.

VoFLNatural.com

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 14.

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

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 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.

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.

PERRINE’S PRODUCE

New Smyrna Beach: 1044 N Dixie Fwy Ormond Beach: 120 S Nova Rd Port Orange: 3826 S Clyde Morris Blvd PerrinesProduce.com Large selection of organic produce and grocery items, discount wine, fullservice fresh meat and seafood, frozen food, Amish jams and jellies, made-in-Florida products, bakery, deli, ice cream parlor and more.

HERBS – HOLISTIC SPICE OF LIFE HERBS

214 Beresford Ave, DeLand 386-734-0035 SpiceOfLifeHerbs.net Open WednesdayFriday, 11am-5pm; Saturday, 11am-7pm.

Herb and vegetable plants, dried herbs, organic teas, Tea Forte, essential oils, skin care products, gemstones, jewelry, incense, oracle and tarot cards, books, CDs, dragons, fairies, reiki sessions and holistic classes.

Read our newsletter and calendar at SpiceOfHerbs. net. Like us on Facebook.

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

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.

See ads, pages 9 and 21.

LIFE/HEALTH COACHING CASSANDRA FAYE Life Coach 631-334-3872 CassieFaye.com

Cassandra Faye is a Life Coach and Law of Attraction expert who helps people manifest their desires and move past any limiting beliefs, so that they can start living life at their highest potential. She works with clients on every aspect of life, including finding true love, attracting money, landing that dream job, lifting up their self-worth and so much more. Call/text or email to schedule a phone consultation.

LODGING BEACHFRONT INN & HOLISTIC SPA RETREAT

*Each location is independently owned and operated.

1104 S Oceanshore Blvd, Flagler Beach 386-439-4944 • WhiteOrchidInn.com

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.

Recipient of Trip A d v i s o r Certificate of Excellence. Amenities include heated mineral pool, swimming pool, full breakfast, afternoon wine & appetizers, beach chairs, bicycles, high-speed WIFI. Holistic healing and spa services on site.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A. SCHAEFFER-PAUTZ, MD

Board Certified in Internal and Integrative Medicine Persephone Healing Arts Center 485 6th Ave N, Jacksonville Beach 904-246-3583 • DrPautz.com Medical practice emphasizing highest quality personalized care, integrating spiritual, emotional and physical. Practicing naturopathy, homeopathy, anthroposophic medicine. Monthly open house and lecture.

WALK-IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINICS 100 S Spring Garden Ave, DeLand 386-232-5599 631 Beville Rd, Daytona Beach 386-222-1667

Certified marijuana doctors. Get your medical marijuana card. 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. No appointment required. See ad, page 27.

MEDIUM CARL SEAVER

Carl@CarlSeaver.com CarlSeaver.com Carl Seaver is an international psychic medium. His calling to become a medium has led him on an inspired journey to be the voice for our departed loved ones, as they lovingly remind us of their continuation of life after death, that they are not alone or suffering and that they are still very much a part of our lives, even after they are gone from our sight. Services include 1:1 private mediumship session, psychic readings, mediumship demonstration events (with audiences), private house parties and psychic/ mediumship development classes. All sessions are by appointment and are as effectively done over the phone as in person.

METAPHYSICAL CENTER THE KARMA CASTLE

1437 N US Hwy 1, Ste C8, Ormond Beach TheKarmaCastle.com Psychic & Mediumship Development classes and workshops, Kundalini Yoga classes for all levels.

Mediumship Demonstrations, Group Meditations, and Spiritually oriented events. Private Psychic and Mediumship Readings with International Psychic & Medium, Carl Seaver. Healing Sessions and Meditation Instruction with Spiritual Healer, Shannon MacDonald. Hours by appointment. See website to schedule appointments, and view the Calendar for events. See ad, page 16.

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 BARKLE N SHINE

1370 N US Hwy 1, Ste 201, Ormond Beach 386-256-4999 • BarkleNShine.com All dog lovers welcome to come and pamper your pet without getting you or your bathroom soaked at our beautiful self-serve d o g w a s h f a c i l i t y.

Lavender diffused, state-of-the art grooming salon features quality shampoo, ramped tubs and fullservice grooming appointments. Also offering doggy daycare and home pet sitting. See ad, page 21.

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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 19.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

SOLAR ENERGY 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.

THOMAS ORTHOPEDIC & SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY 100 Professional Blvd, Daytona Beach 386-257-2672 ThomasPhysicalTherapy.com

We are the movement experts, offering expert care for individuals seeking treatment, knowledge and guidance for a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Take an active role in your healing today. See ad, page 23.

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 5.

PSYCHIC CHANNEL REV JUDI WEAVER

Heart 4 Souls Inc, Ormond Beach Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com 386-503-4930 • Heart4Souls.com

energy distance.

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

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION LAUREE MORETTO

Soft Tissue Specialist 321-271-1678 Jacksonville, 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.

See ad, page 20.

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 19.

WELLNESS AMETHYST WELLNESS

Amy Coopersmith, ARNP 50 Cypress Point Pkwy, B-1 Palm Coast 386-283-4180 • AmethystWellness.com Preventative healthcare, 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 11.

YOGA

SPAS

VETERINARIAN

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 5.

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 18.

PADMA YOGA

Micki Higgins, E-RYT 500 YACEP 5 Utility Dr, Ste 15, Palm Coast 386-225-4733 • PadmaYogaOnline.com Evening Classes, Sky Styx and Chair Sky Styx offered. 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 21.

The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered, there is opportunity for growth. ~Unknown

34

Volusia / Flagler

VoFLNatural.com

June 2020

35

Leon

Cerankowski

Serving the community since 1988!

www.debbieshealthfoods.com

Debbie

Cerankowski

Cruise in to

Save 25% During June! on Solaray® products*

*Employees and vendors are not eligible to win.

Save 25% on all in stock Solaray skus. Expires June 30, 2020

Register to Win this Beach Cruiser!

Drawing to be held on June 30. Complete Details at both Debbie’s locations.

SAVE 20% S T O R E W I D E on All Regular Priced Items at Port Orange AND Orange City Stores!

JUNE

TUESDAY

2

nd

JULY

TUESDAY

7th

on Rainbow Tuesday ! s le p m a S ree F Port Orange 8am-8pm • Orange City 8am-8:30pm

PORT ORANGE 3850 S. Nova Rd

M-F 9-7 • Sat 9-6 • Sun 12-6

(386) 763-7046

(samples vary by store location)

ORANGE CITY 862 Saxon Blvd Mon-Sat 9-7 • Sun 11-6

(386) 775-7002