natural awakenings southeast texas april 2015

1natural awakenings April 2015

H E A L T H Y L I V I N G H E A L T H Y P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

April 2015 | Southeast Texas Edition | NA-SETexas.com

LabelLiteracy

Five Tips Help Kids Choose

Healthy Foods

Dr. Andrew Weilon America’s Evolution into Integrative Medicine

WholeFoodGreater Than the Sum ofits Parts

Build Your Own Wellness

Dream TeamTake Your Healthto the Next Level

FREESoutheast Texas Premiere Issue

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Welcome...

Let’s get started! caretakers make wise decisions in protecting children‛s health and well-being.

Natural Pet – We love to see our family pets active and thriving. Surprising alternative therapies, nutrition ideas and resources open new possibilities.

Fit Body – We all know that exercise and physical fi tness are essential. The trick is fi nding the right options for you. We will supply fresh windows of thought that can help get you moving.

Healing Ways – Turn here to learn about therapies and modalities both new and traditional, all focused on enhancing the body-mind-spirit connection for optimal well-being.

Inspiration – Spreading light and encouraging positive perspectives, this column is a beacon that spotlights our interconnections with nature, spirit and community.

Wise Words – Exclusive interviews with renowned national and international leaders, experts and authors offer lively dialogues on topics both current and timeless.

Feature Articles – Interesting, informative, often exclusive articles take advantage of Natural Awakenings‛ national scope and local interest in our community. You‛ll want to read them all.

Calendar of Events – There‛s so much to do in Southeast Texas. Check out the exciting classes, weekend workshops and special events that pop up each month.

Community Resource Guide – Here‛s a quick reference to the best health and wellness resources in Southeast Texas. It‛s a quick way to fi nd gifts of health and fun for yourself or others.

Display Ads – Our advertisers are the absolute best! They not only make this magazine possible, but are the nicest people in town. Please patronize them and tell them you saw their ads in Natural Awakenings.

Distribution Locations – Please ask for Natural Awakenings at every business you visit, and support our distributors with purchases. Our distributors are just as important as our advertisers and readers. All three are essential elements of the wider community we seek to cultivate for the benefi t of all.

...to the premiere issue of Southeast Texas’ healthy living magazine! From the photos

selected for our eye-catching covers to the appealing editorial throughout, you’ve

discovered the perfect guide to a healthier and more balanced life for you and your

family. Each month, Natural Awakenings’ advertisers and authors provide a helping hand

along your personal path to wellness and creative self-expression.

FRIENDLY-USER GUIDENATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE

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Publisher‛s Letter – Each month, Publisher Roxanne Pirooz shares her thoughts on the featured monthly topic. She‛ll offer her entertaining and informative perspective with a nod to stories from her own experience.

News Briefs – Local and national news keeps you up-to-date on cutting-edge perspectives in the fi elds of natural health, alternative medicine, fi tness and related fi elds. We welcome everyone‛s contributions of newsworthy information.

Health Briefs – Timely news items introduce and hook you up with the latest treatments and tools for specifi c health and wellness con-cerns. They include practical tips that you can use today to advance a healthy living lifestyle.

Global Briefs – The rainforest is half a world away, yet our health depends upon its health. This department keeps you wired with relevant current events and opportunities for action vital to our planet‛s well-being.

Community Spotlight – Articles packed with insight into local businesses and healing arts practitioners that show how they can be of service to you and your loved ones. You‛ll be amazed by the level of knowledge and expertise to be found right here in Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, Jefferson, Hardin and Polk counties!

Healthy Kids – Our children‛s health is paramount. This column helps parents and

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©2015 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

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Welcome to the Southeast Texas edition of Natural Awakenings! We’re excited to bring you this free community magazine for natural, healthy and environmentally friendly living. Our aim is to make each monthly issue your go-to guide for wellness education, practical green-living solutions and knowledgeable resources able to contribute to your ongoing physical, emotional and spiritual growth. Each month, you can expect to see cutting-edge information on natural health, fitness, personal growth, creative expression and sustainability. You’ll find valuable articles by well-known national and local experts, includ-

ing local area practitioners ready to work with you. Community briefs target news of interest and the calendar enables you to network with others in our growing healthy living community. Spotlight articles introduce you to leaders and busi-nesses in spirited initiatives close to home. What began as a hometown newsletter in Naples, Florida, in 1994, is now a fam-ily of 100 independently owned magazines reaching nearly 4 million readers across the country. As you browse these pages, you’ll understand why Natural Awakenings con-tinues to embrace new and longtime readers, loyal advertisers and business partners. For me this journey began 10 years ago, when a routine medical exam revealed a chronic illness that rocked my world. How could I, someone who ate whatever and whenever I wanted without a problem, never became overweight and only caught a cold once a year, develop a benign tumor? Suddenly, I found myself launched into researching why an athletic, energetic and fit person such as myself could encounter such a problem. What I learned is that I’d been unknow-ingly beating up my body daily with poor nutrition, excessive stress and alcohol, soda, sugar and coffee to keep me going. I was happy and having fun, but was quietly paying a price. I now have new appreciation for how miraculous the human body is in what it can endure and teach us. I’ve learned more about diet and exercise and how the body works than I ever imagined, having had no previous interest in physiology or nutrition. Main-taining optimum health is a foundation of happiness for our self and loved ones. I’m glad to have made great strides forward, and realize my journey now con-tinues on a new level. The more we learn, the more we realize how much there is to learn. It’s why I chose to become a part of the Natural Awakenings team. During recent years, the New York City edition of Natural Awakenings has been my long-sought resource for information and practitioners to help me in my journey. I have always been inspired to share it widely, which is why I am thrilled to now share this edition with you! This month we feature Kathleen Barnes’ “Build Your Own Wellness Dream Team” and Margie King’s “Whole Food” articles. We learn that when we mind our own health, we naturally mind the health of our planet, marked with special Earth Day celebrations this month. As we imbibe spring’s energies, let’s all renew our commitment to clean and healthy living for ourselves, our communities and our planet.

Blessings,

Roxanne Pirooz, Publisher

Blessings,

contact usPublisher

Roxanne Pirooz

EditorsS. Alison Chabonais

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6 newsbriefs

8 healthbriefs

10 globalbriefs

13 healthykids

14 consciouseating

20 healingways

21 therapyspotlight

22 greenliving

24 fitbody

25 wisewords

26 inspiration

27 naturalpet

28 ecotip

29 calendar

3 1 resourceguide

3 1 classifieds

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

contents

1 1 EARTH DAY 2015 Hope for Our Future by Julianne Hale

13 LABEL LITERACY Five Tips Help Kids Choose Healthy Foods by Elisa Bosley

14 WHOLE FOOD Greater than the Sum of its Parts by Margie King

16 BUILD YOUR OWN WELLNESS DREAM TEAM Take Your Health to the Next Level by Kathleen Barnes

18 DR. ANDREW WEIL on America’s Evolution into Integrative Medicine by Andrea Schensky Williams

20 BE SUPPLEMENT SAVVY How to Choose Wisely for Optimal Health by James Occhiogrosso

22 TOXIN-FREE BEAUTY SALONS Pure Pampering Feels Natural and Safe by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

24 STAND UP AND MOVE! How to Sizzle, not Fizzle

by Debra Melani

26 NO DUST ON THE MIRROR Reflections on a Life of Conscious Wholeness by Michael Bernard Beckwith

27 LONG-LIVED PETS Anti-Aging Care Aids Youthful Vigor by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

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newsbriefsNew Group Program at Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork

Jennifer Steakley, of Wellness Nutri-tion & Bodywork, in Friendswood,

is offering a new group program called RESTART that begins April 15. The five-week nutrition program guides participants through a detoxi-fication diet using real food to restart their health. By naturally eliminating toxins from the body, participants may experience better, more restorative

sleep; greater energy throughout the day; balanced immune function; effortless weight loss; and mental clarity. Members of this small group will receive support through weekly meetings, email newsletters, recipes, a guidebook and a private Facebook page. Steakley will teach participants about nutrition, digestion, blood sugar balance, the impor-tance of healthy fats and conscious eating habits.

Cost: $119. Location: 208 S. Friendswood Dr., Ste. B. For more information or to register (required), call 713-714-3700, email [email protected] or visit ThatWellnessPlace.com. See ad, page 15.

Pearland Earth Day Celebration

Keep Pearland Beautiful and the city of Pearland will host

an Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 18, at the Pearland Recreation Center. This free event features educational lectures and hands-on activities. Attendees will discover ways to connect to the Earth and take care of the environment in a responsible way. Games, inflatables and activities will be run by the Earth Day Committee, with a staff that includes a group of middle-school children from Pearland School known as KIPPERs. Hospitality is available for volunteers, but there will be no food vendors on-site.

Location: 4141 Bailey Rd. For more information, call 281-652-1659 or visit Mykpb.org.

Eighth Annual Celebrating Women: Mind, Body, Spirit Conference

The Galves-ton Region-

al Chamber of Commerce will host the eighth annual Celebrating Women: Mind, Body, Spirit Conference on April 17 at the Moody Gardens Convention Center. The all-day event will feature keynote speakers from Texas, including Amie and Jolie Sikes, known as the Junk Gypsies, and Dr. Jennifer Arnold, of The Learning Channel program The Little Couple. Visitors can shop for clothing, shoes, cosmetics, jewelry, gifts and more at the popular vendor market, along with participating in many professional and social networking opportunities with more than 800 women. Free consulting is available on topics such as developing a business plan, find-ing financing, attracting customers, growing sales, develop-ing foolproof procedures and making more profit at the small business development headquarters operated by the Galves-ton County Small Business Development Center. The Chamber will partner with the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to present the most cutting-edge women’s health information available. UTMB physicians will discuss health topics to educate attendees about living a healthier lifestyle. Available to VIPs and sponsors, The Lone Star Luxury Lounge offers the opportunity to meet the keynote speakers, enjoy refreshments and hors d’oeuvres and receive compli-mentary neck massages.

Cost: $150, $100 extra for Luxury Lounge access. Location: 1 Hope Blvd. For more information or tickets, call 409-763-5326 or visit GalvestonChamber.com.

Free Meditation Workshop in Galveston

Hooked on Acupuncture, a community clinic in Galves-

ton, will offer a free meditation workshop from 7 to 8:30 p.m., April 23. The event, to be taught by Bryan Manuele, is for all levels of meditation practitioners, from novices to experts.

The ancient practice of meditation helps individuals cope with stress and become more in tune with the self. Manuele, who has taught meditation for more than 35 years and has a background in Chinese medicine, will lead a dis-cussion, followed by a guided meditation. No equipment is required and participants should come as they are.

Location: 2505 Market St. For more information or to RSVP (required), email [email protected] or visit Facebook.com/hookedonacupuncture. See ad, page 14.

Jennifer Steakley

News to share?Email information to: [email protected]

Submittal deadline is the 5th of the month.


Southeast Hypnosis Offers Group Meetings for Client Success

Julie Nise, director of Southeast Hyp-nosis, in Friendswood, is offering

monthly support meetings for current clients as part of their hypnosis train-ing, from 6 to 7 p.m. the last Thursday of each month. Clients may bring guests interested in learning about the process to the meetings. Nise added the meetings because the U.S. surgeon general determined that group classes, in addition to indi-

vidual training, enhance the program’s success. Nise has also observed that clients that participate in these fun, social group gatherings do better in their chosen hypnosis training program, because it gives them the ability to learn from others.

Location: 607 S. Friendswood Dr. For more information, call 281-996-8000 or visit SoutheastHypnosis.com. See ad on page 3 and spotlight article on page 21.

Rahul Sharma Holds Workshops at The Yoga Haven

The Yoga Haven, in Galveston, will host

two workshops led by Rahul Sharma this month. At a pranayama (breath work) work-shop from 2 to 4 p.m., April 25, attendees will explore the relationship

of the mind and body to the breath and learn dynamic breathing techniques and conscious control of the move-ment of energy. Sharma will discuss the significance of pranayama in-spired by Light on Pranayama by BKS Iyengar, Hatha Yoga Pradipika,Yogasutras of Patanjali and modern scientific literature. Participants will practice several pranayamas, as well as work with bandhas and asana posture practice. An Eight Limbs of Yoga workshop will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., April 26. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the old-est written literature about yoga, describes the eight limbs of yoga as a route to complete well-being for the individual and society. Sharma will help participants explore asana, pranayama, yoga philosophy and meditation. Sharma holds a Ph.D. in life science and received a diploma in yoga education from a university in India. He teaches yoga and pranayama and is the founder of Live Like Yogi, an organization that promotes yoga as a part of a life-style inspired by ancient Vedic sciences.

Cost: $45 per workshop. Location: 2507 Market St. For more information or to register (required), call 409-770-9995 or visit TheYogaHaven.net. See ad, page 9.

New Farmers’ Market in Friendswood

The Friendswood Farmer’s Market is open from 8 a.m.

to noon on the first Saturday of each month in the gazebo area of Stevenson Park. This new market offers locally grown produce, prepared food, artisan breads, local honey, delicious baked goods, live music and handcrafted products. Home gardeners interested in selling their extra bounty can sell their produce at the Backyard Gardener booth, and free booth space is available to nonprofit organizations. Run by a board of local community residents and business owners, the nonprofit Friendswood Farmer’s Market came about as the result of a grassroots effort in 2013 petitioning the city to revisit their zoning regula-tions that prevented local produce growers from selling their wares in outdoor stands. More than 1,000 signatures were delivered to the city council, resulting in a unani-mously approved ordinance allowing farmers’ markets in the city.

For more information, visit FriendswoodMarket.com or visit Facebook.com/FriendswoodMarket.

Julie Nise


healthbriefs

Acupuncture Increases Quality of Life for Allergy Sufferers

Research from Berlin’s Charité University Medical Center suggests that acupuncture

is an effective treatment for patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunol-ogy, in 2013, the study analyzed data on the

costs and quality of life of 364 allergy patients that had been randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: rescue medication alone (taken when symp-toms are greatest); acupuncture treatment plus rescue medication; or sham (non-therapeutic) acupuncture plus rescue medication. Patients receiving acupuncture incurred higher total treatment costs, but also gained significantly more quality of life compared with the rescue medication-only groups.

THE COLOR GREEN MAKES EXERCISE FEEL EASIERResearch from the University of Essex, in England, sug-

gests that viewing natural green images while exercis-ing may be better than being exposed to other colors. The researchers tested 14 people doing moderate-intensity cycling while watching video footage of predominantly gray, red or green imagery. Each of the participants under-went three cycling tests—one with each of the videos—along with a battery of physiological and mood testing.

The researchers found that when the subjects watched the green-colored video, they had better moods, with a lower relative perception of exertion than when they exercised while watching the red and grey videos. They also found those that exercised while watching the red video experienced greater feelings of anger during their exercise.

Strawberries Reduce Blood PressureA study published in the World Journal of Diabetes

concluded that the regular consumption of a flavonoid-rich strawberry beverage reduces blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes. The study divided 36 subjects, all with moderately high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, into two groups—the first drank the equivalent of one serving of fresh strawberries per day made from freeze-dried berries, and the other group drank the same amount of an imitation strawberry-flavored drink over a six-week period. Blood pressure was tested at the beginning and end of the study for all participants. At the end, the group drinking the real strawberry beverage registered sig-nificantly lower diastolic blood pressure than at the outset; it was also lower than the imitation strawberry group. The average diastolic blood pressure of the group drinking real strawberries went down by 6.5 percent and the systolic dropped by 12 percent. The strawberry-flavored group’s systolic blood pressure was also reduced, but only by 3.7 percent.

Memory Works Better Reading Real BooksResearchers from Norway’s Stavan-

ger University and France’s Aix-Marseille Université found that readers remember a story better if it’s on paper. The study tested 50 people that read the same 28-page short story. Half of the group read the paper version and the other half read the story on a Kindle e-reader. The researchers discovered that readers of the digital version could not remember details from the story or reconstruct the plot as well as the group that read the paper copy. The researchers found that the feedback of a Kindle doesn’t pro-vide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does. “When you read on paper, you can sense with your fingers a pile of pages on the left growing, and shrinking on the right,” explains Stavanger University’s Anne Mangen, Ph.D. These findings confirm a study performed a year earlier, also led by Mangen. Seventy-two 10th-graders were given text to read either on paper or on a computer screen. The students that read the paper text ver-sions scored significantly higher in reading comprehension testing than those reading digital versions.


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Olive Oil Boosts Healthy Cholesterol

In an effort to understand what makes olive oil so good for heart

health, a study from Europe’s Cardio-vascular Risk and Nutrition Re-search Group and the U.S. National Institutes of Health has found that olive oil’s polyphenols significantly increase the size of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) in the blood and enhance the HDL’s ability to inhibit formation of the abnormal fatty deposits, known as plaque, within the walls of arteries. Polyphe-nols are natural compounds from plants known to help prevent cancer and heart disease.

In the three-week study, researchers isolated the effect of polyphenols by dividing 47 healthy European men into two groups: one ate a diet containing polyphenol-poor olive oil and the other consumed polyphenol-rich olive oil. The enriched diet resulted in increased size, fluidity and stability (resistance to oxidation) of the HDL molecules by reducing their triglyceride core. The researchers note that the oxidation of cholesterol lipids such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is linked with arteriosclerosis.

Local Toxins Increase Risk of AutismConfirming previous findings, a large

study from the University of Chi-cago has found that autism is linked to toxic environmental exposure. The research examined data from nearly a third of the U.S. population, which showed that both autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities increased as exposure increased in region-by-region testing. The research measured clusters of autism incidence together with exposure rates in different coun-ties and states across the country. The areas with greater environmental toxin exposures had significantly increased autism rates. The correlation was significant among both boys and girls, but stronger among girls. Proximity to urban areas also increased autism incidence. For every 1 percent increase in urbanization, there was about a 3 percent rise in autism and intellectual disabilities. Influential toxins include pes-ticides, plasticizers, lead and pharmaceuticals.


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

Vanishing Wildlife50 Percent Gone in Under 50 yearsThe latest World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Living Planet Report shows that the Living Planet Index (LPI), which measures more than 10,000 representative populations of mam-mals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, has declined by 52 percent since 1970. The report is widely considered the leading science-based analysis on the health of our planet and the impact of human activity (Tinyurl.com/WWF-Living-Planet-Report). In fewer than two human generations, populations of vertebrate species—the life forms that constitute the fabric of life-sustaining ecosystems and serve as a barometer of how humans are impacting nature—have dropped by half. Nature conservation and sustainable development go hand-in-hand; it’s not only about preserving biodiversity and wild places, but about safeguarding the future of humanity. Living Planet Report partners include the Zoological Society of London, Global Footprint Network and Water Footprint Network. Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, states, “We need leadership for change. Sitting on the bench waiting for someone else to make the first move, doesn’t work. Heads of state need to start thinking globally; businesses and consumers need to stop behaving as if we live in a limitless world.”

Soil SalvationOrganic Farming May Counteract Greenhouse Effect

The nonprofit Rodale Institute, the United Nations and the Soil As-sociation are reporting that mod-ern, chemical-intensive industrial farming is stripping the soil’s natural ability to take carbon back out of the atmosphere through photosyn-

thesis and store it in the soil. Rodale researchers say that by returning to small-scale organic farming, more than 40 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions could be captured in the soil, and if the entire world’s pasture and rangelands were managed using regenerative techniques, an additional 71 percent of those emissions could be sequestered. Further, organic practices could counteract the world’s yearly carbon dioxide output while producing the same amount of food as conventional farming. Rodale claims that using regenerative organic agriculture—like low or no-tillage, cover crops and crop rotation—will keep pho-tosynthesized carbon dioxide in the soil, instead of return-ing it to the atmosphere. The institute cites 75 studies from peer-reviewed journals, including its own 33-year Farming Systems Trial, which directly compare organic farming with conventional farming.

Source: OrganicConsumers.org

Buzzing Buddies‘Flying Doctor’ Bees Prevent Cherry Disease

University of Adelaide researchers are introducing a “flying doctor” method of employing bees as pre-ventive medicine. Project leader and bee researcher Katja Hogen-doorn, Ph.D., says, “All commer-cial cherry growers spray during flowering to control the later development of cherry brown rot.

Instead of spraying fungicide, we’re using bees to deliver a biological control agent right to the flowers, where it’s need-ed.” The innovative delivery works via entomovectoring. This is a new technique for Australia, with potential appli-cation in many horticultural industries. The biological con-trol agent contains spores of a parasitic fungus that prevents another fungus that causes the brown rot from colonizing the flower. Future applications of the small, winged medics are expected to become available for disease control in almonds, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, apples, pears and stone fruit.

Source: Adelaide.edu.au


When we learn about the condition of our most valu-able resource—this spinning

planet we call home—we may feel a sense of urgency, desperation or even defeat. Global climate change is a powerful foe, and current efforts may seem like a losing race against time. Yet, mounting evidence suggests that the global community is making progress, giving rise to the possibil-ity that climate change may not be the insurmountable obstacle we once thought. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) article, “We Can Do This: 10 Reasons there’s Hope for our Cli-mate,” by Dan Upham, summarizes a speech given by EDF President Fred Krupp at the 2014 Aspen Ideas Festival (Tinyurl.com/HopeForTheClimate). Here are some encouraging highlights. The price of solar energy panels has dropped by 75 percent in the U.S. since 2008, and affordable wind energy is increasingly available. According to a study published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, carbon

EARTHDAY 2015Hope for Our Future

by Julianne Hale

dioxide emissions from energy in this country dropped by 10 percent be-tween 2005 and 2012. In addition, China, the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, is actively seeking ways to reduce emissions. Proof of progress is also found in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan to cut billions of tons of pollution, a goal supported by two-thirds of Americans, according to a survey conducted by Harstad Strategic Research. Aligned with this, the government is requiring that manufacturers double automobile fuel mileage by 2025. Perhaps the best argument for hope reflects the priorities of America’s younger generations. A recent bipar-tisan poll of young voters conducted by Benenson Strategy Group and GS Strategy Group suggests that 80 percent of voters under the age of 35 support the president taking action to address climate change, making it an issue that both major political parties must take seriously.

earthdayevents It’s time to realize that mankind is making decided progress, that the majority of us do care, that what local communities accomplish has a posi-tive effect and that the global commu-nity can take the steps needed to avert catastrophic climate change.

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Pearland Earth Day

Celebration, from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m., April 18, at the

Pearland Recreation Center:

Become a part of the solution by attending the Pearland Earth Day Celebration, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 18, at the Pearland Recreation Center. The free event features educa-tional lectures and hands-on activities to help attendees discover ways to connect with the Earth and become environmental stewards. Games and activities will be run by the Earth Day Committee, with a staff that includes Kids In Pearland Preserving the Environment through Responsible Service (KIPPERS), a group of envi-ronmentally minded children from all Pearland middle schools. Hospitality is available for volunteers, but there will be no food vendors on-site.

Location: 4141 Bailey Rd., Pearland. For more information, call 281-652-1659 or visit KeepPearlandBeautiful.org.

Julianne Hale is a freelance writer and contributing editor for Natural Awaken-ings magazines throughout the country. Connect at [email protected].


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According to the National Cen-ter for Health Statistics, obesity more than doubled in children

ages 6 to 11 and tripled in adolescents ages 12 to 19 between 1980 and 2010. Nearly one in five youths in both age groups, plus one in eight preschool-ers, are now considered obese and at increased risk for consequent health problems. By 2013, the Centers for Disease Control finally showed signs of hope, with some states reporting small reversals in the trend. Positive developments might continue if parents and teachers gently coach kids to better evaluate what’s going into their mouths and bodies by understanding food labels. Here are five basic tips to increase knowing what food labels really say that will benefit a youngster’s health for a lifetime. Visualize serving sizes. Assem-ble two or three packaged food items—preferably those that the child regularly eats, like cereal, oatmeal and apple-sauce—plus a measuring cup. Point out the serving-size number on the package label, and let the child measure out a single serving. This visually reinforces serving sizes, the first number anyone needs to consider on a food label. Try it

Label LiteracyFive Tips Help Kids Choose Healthy Foodsby Elisa Bosley

with a single soda or juice bottle, too, which often says, “two servings.” Important note: Most nutrition label serving sizes are based on a 2,000-calorie adult diet. For kids ages 4 to 8, portion sizes are about two-thirds of an adult portion; for preteens, por-tions run 80 to 90 percent of the adult amount, says Registered Dietitian Tara Dellolacono-Thies, food coach for CLIF Kid nutrient-rich organic energy snacks. Evaluate numbers. Next, dis-cuss the numbers noted for calories, fat, sugar, fiber and cholesterol. When evaluating a packaged food for an elementary school child, Dellolacono-Thies suggests aiming for 175 calories or less per serving; one gram or less saturated fat; no trans fats; no more than 13 grams of added sugars; no more than 210 milligrams sodium content; and at least two grams of fiber. She notes that cholesterol alone is less of a health risk factor for kids than saturated fats and sugars unless a child is on a specialized diet. Added bonus-es: Look for high-percent daily values (shown as DV percentage) for nutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin D, which experts generally agree most kids’ diets lack in sufficient quantities.

Compare and contrast. Armed with these basic guidelines, compare, for example, the grams of sugar in a can of soda with a serving of cooked rolled oats, or the amount of calcium in a carton of milk versus a juice box. One-to-one evaluations will begin to give a child a sense of what numbers constitute “high” or “low” amounts. Check the fine print. “Artificial colors and flavors, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated anything signal that the food is likely of lower nutritional qual-ity,” counsels Dellolacono-Thies. Make a game of sounding out items in the ingredient list. “It’s a classic teaching moment: Unpronounceable ingredients often mean it’s a lab-cre-ated, fake, food-like item,” she says. Next, ask the youngster to read the label on an apple. Surprise! No food label means it’s a whole, real food—the best, most nutritious kind. Translate knowledge into choic-es. Once a child has gotten the hang of it, let him or her compare different food labels and choose which one is the healthier option. Plan a little extra time to also do it during grocery shopping. With time and practice, an educated youngster will begin to incorporate the power of reading food labels before choosing foods.

Elisa Bosley is senior food editor at Delicious Living magazine.

Families have three key weapons in combating America’s childhood

obesity epidemic: keeping them active, reducing their soda and junk

food intake and teaching youngsters how to read food labels.

healthykids


consciouseating

Western science is obsessed with deconstructing food, researching and analyzing its

component parts, isolating the active ingredients, repackaging them in pills or powders and prescribing them in daily doses. But according to Annemarie

WHOLE FOODGreater than the Sum of its Parts

by Margie King

Colbin, Ph.D., author of Food and Healing, this chemistry-based theory of nutrition is upside-down. Colbin, founder and CEO of the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts, in New York City, has crafted her own nutrition theory based on more

than 30 years of nutrition practice, teach-ing from a foundation that a whole food, like the complex human being consuming it, is greater than the sum of its parts. She defines whole foods as “those that nature provides and all the edible parts.” She limits them to those com-prising one ingredient, such as plants, whole grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. Animal foods are more challenging to categorize. Eggs are a whole food, but steaks are not, because they are one part of the entire animal. She includes small fish if we eat the head and bones, and small birds like quail. Whole milk is included, but not low-fat dairy. Colbin maintains that our bodies know the difference between a whole food and an aggregation of isolated nutrients. We have evolved over thousands of years to eat the food that nature presents to us, and if that food has been fragmented, the body realizes it and seeks what’s missing. For example, if we eat fragment-ed wheat like white bread, in which the bran and germ of the whole grain have been removed, the body will still be hungry and seek the missing part of the food, something with fiber or crunch. Likewise, health enthusiasts that devour wheat germ or wheat bran in isolation will also feel something is missing and may find themselves crav-ing refined flour in the form of cake or other baked goods. Table sugar is another example, a fragment of sugar cane. Colbin calcu-lates that it takes 17 feet of sugar cane to make one cup of sugar. What’s miss-ing is mostly the cane’s water content and the result, she says, is that sugar makes you thirsty. It’s a big reason why when we drink a soda, ingesting an average equivalent of 12 teaspoons of sugar, we’re thirsty afterward and drink even more, creating a vicious cycle. Fruit juices are, by definition, a fragmented food. When we drink orange or grapefruit juice, all or most of the fiber from the raw fruit is obviously missing. Craving something to chew, we may reach for chips or something crunchy. Vegetable juices may yield the same result.


Colbin cautions that while vitamin and mineral supplements can be helpful in treating specific conditions or deficiencies, they nevertheless comprise fragments of food at best. She notes that the body may have difficulty process-ing these isolated nutrients outside of the whole food. Supportive studies include Kentucky’s University of Louisville School of Medicine comparison of the effects of the spice turmeric with those of its active ingredient, curcumin. Adding the whole food turmeric to the diet of rats reduced inflammation significantly, while curcumin alone was ineffective. Results suggested the difference may be explained by turmeric’s higher bioavailability. A Pennsylvania State University research review determined that although population studies con-sistently report that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables protects against cardiovascular and other chronic

diseases, studies of antioxidant supplements did not show the same benefits. The difference may be that a whole foods diet naturally contains not only antioxidants, but a wide range of nutrients and compounds that may act synergistically to protect against diseases. Colbin goes further, suggesting that supplements may even make us less likely to want to eat vegetables and set us up for junk food cravings to balance out too many vitamins or minerals. Her advice is to use vita-mins and supplements if medically required, but not every day and not for a lifetime. Her views are all about main-taining the natural balance in the foods that nature provides without worrying about striving for perfection or radical changes in diet. Colbin recommends aiming for 70 percent whole foods overall to keep every-thing in balance. Start by taking a few small changes, listen to the body to see if there’s a noticeable differ-ence and adjust accordingly.

Margie King is a former corporate at-torney now working as a holistic health and nutrition coach and natural health copywriter from Philadelphia, PA. Con-nect via NourishingMenopause.com.

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Build Your Own Wellness Dream TeamTake Your Health to the Next Level

by Kathleen Barnes

man body on three levels, Yang explains: structural; biochemical; and bioenergetic, a form of psychotherapy. Ideally, he says, conventional and integrative medicine, plus complementary practitioners, work together to provide the total care an in-dividual patient needs. “Any problem on one level affects all levels, so we assess patients on all three with whatever tools we have,” he says. While conventional medicine may be able to treat structural problems well and biochemical problems to a certain extent, it falls short on the energetic level. That’s when it’s time to expand the team, counsels Yang. “‘Know yourself’ is the watchword. Get to know what to use and when to use it. It’s the practitioner’s job to educate patients in this way.” Dr. Andrew Weil, renowned as the father of the integrative medicine move-ment in the U.S., has remarked, “If I’m in a car accident, don’t take me to an herbal-ist. If I have bacterial pneumonia, give me antibiotics. But when it comes to maxi-mizing the body’s natural healing poten-tial, a mix of conventional and alternative procedures seems like the only answer.” Dr. Shekhar Annambhotla, found-ing director and president of the As-sociation of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America, turns to the integrative realm of ayurvedic medicine for heal-ing and wellness. The 5,000-year-old Indian healing tradition incorporates lifestyle changes, yoga and medita-tion, detoxification, herbs, massage and various other individually targeted healing modalities, depending on the patient’s diagnosis and recommended treatment plan.

Customized Team “Wellness is a team effort,” advises integrative medicine specialist Dr. Vijay Jain, medical director at Amrit Ayurveda for Total Wellbeing, in Salt Springs, Florida. It’s not only a matter of knowing what needs the practitioners will address at specific times, it’s also knowing who can help when the going gets tough. “Modern medicine has the edge for early detection of disease,” Jain notes. “However, Ayurveda is excellent in determining the earliest imbalances in the mind and body that eventually lead to disease.” Most experts consulted agree that

Conventional doctors too often dispense vague, boilerplate health advice, urging their patients to eat

a healthy diet, exercise and take helpful supplements. Some are lucky enough to also be directed to detoxify their body and manage stress. That’s typically the best most people can expect in terms of practical advice. It is rare to receive specific, individualized answers to such burning questions as:

What is the best diet for this specific problem or my body type?

Which exercise will work best for me—yoga, running, tennis or some-thing else?

Why do I feel stressed so much of the time, and what can I do about it?

What supplements are best for me, and which high-quality products can I trust?

Complementary natural healing modalities can address all of these queries and more. Finding the right mix of treatment and preventive measures requires some creativity and self-knowledge. The experts Natural Awakenings consulted maintain that it is both desirable and possible to assemble an affordable and effective personal health care team that focuses on optimum wellness.

Integrative Approach“We need to understand the value of an integrative approach because no single modality treats everything,” says Dr. Jingduan Yang, the Philadelphia-based founder and medical director of Tao Integrative Medicine. By way of example, he maintains credentials as a physician, a board-certified psychiatrist and an internationally recognized ex-pert on classic forms of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. Integrative practitioners see the hu-


a personal wellness program should include a practitioner that acts as a gate-keeper and coordinates a care plan to meet individual needs. Jain recommends that the foundation of the team be a licensed medical professional such as an integrative physician (MD), osteopathic doctor (DO) or chiropractor (DC). In most states, any of these professionals can function as a primary care doctor, authorized to order and read laboratory tests, prescribe drugs and access hospital services. In some states, a naturopathic physician (ND) can perform the func-tions of a primary care doctor in order-ing and reading laboratory tests. As part of a personal wellness team, consider a functional medicine or integrative physician, chiroprac-tor, osteopath, doctor of naturopathy, ayurvedic practitioner, nutritionist, Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor/acupuncturist, herbalist, craniosacral therapist, massage therapist and energy practitioner (such as in Reiki, medical qigong or polarity therapy). It’s not necessary to see all of them, sources say. Sometimes, one practitio-ner will be skilled in practicing several modalities, a bonus for patients. Other complementary practitioners may form a supporting team that works with the primary care team, depending on the challenges a patient faces. They will be identified as treatment unfolds and the team evolves over time.

Contributing Specialists An ayurvedic practitioner likely will begin by helping to define healthful life-style changes, depending on one’s do-sha, or energetic temperament. Yoga and meditation would be a likely recommen-dation, plus specific herbs and perhaps detoxification, says Annambhotla. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture often go hand-in hand with Ayurveda in accordance with the view that illness and disease are caused by imbalances in the body’s energetic flow. Diagnostic techniques employ intuition and pulses to assess

and smooth blocks in energy circulation. Craniosacral therapy is another way to unlock energetic blockages caused by lifestyle stress and other fac-tors that restrict and congest the body’s innate ability to self-correct and remain healthy, says Joyce Harader, a registered craniosacral therapist in Cave Creek, Arizona, and secretary of the board of the Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapy Association of North America. She relied on a whole team to real-ize a natural way back to health after being diagnosed with lupus in 1992. “Members of my health team fluctuate, depending on what is going on in my life and where I am focusing,” comments Harader. She points out, for example, that nutrition education and general deep-tissue massage can both be helpful as part of a foundational plan toward ob-taining and maintaining optimal health. In fact, many of our experts recom-mend both a monthly chiropractic ad-justment and/or massage, as well as daily yoga and an ongoing meditation practice for wellness and total well-being. Naturopathic practitioners operat-ing in states where they are licensed can be good sources of nutrition coun-sel and often recommend herbal rem-edies for relief. “For chronic illness, you need a chiropractor or drug-free physi-cian like a naturopath on your team. Conventional medicine is generally poor at dealing with chronic illness,” observes Naturopath and Chiropractor Michael Loquasto, Ph.D., who practices in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Loquasto should know. He has practiced integrated modalities for 50 years, employing the knowledge gained through his practice and triple doctor-ates, which include one in nutrition. Also a master herbalist, he strongly advocates that people start by working with a good integrative or functional medicine medical doctor. “In some states, like Pennsylvania, chiropractors and osteopaths can perform routine diagnostic work, but in many states they cannot,” he notes. “I

Health insurance may not cover the services we want, and high deductibles may pose a financial challenge

in maintaining comprehensive health care, so we need a personal wellness plan.

Finding the Right Practitioner

Word-of-mouth is the most common way to find a natural health practi-tioner, plus many national organiza-tions will help identify practitioners by location. Schedule an initial conversation to ask a practitioner key questions.

What is your degree, certification or license?

Who trained you and how did you train, specifically?

Do you practice full time?

How long have you been in practice?

Will you provide patient refer-ences I can speak with?

Trust in intuitive responses to the individual during the conversation or interview. His or her passion for the work of healing should be noticeable.

recommend undergoing a physical every six months and regular bone density tests, plus colonoscopies.” Loquasto is not in favor of mammograms because of the radiation exposure associated with them, but supports routine breast screen-ing using ultrasound or thermography.

Self-DiagnosisIntuitive listening and observant self-knowledge are crucial parts of any well-ness plan. Most people are aware when something doesn’t feel right in their body. “Libido is a great barometer of health,” suggests Dr. Diana Hoppe, an obstetrician, gynecologist and hormone specialist in San Diego, California. “If you’re not interested in sex, it’s prob-ably a sign that you need to do some investigating.” Reasons for such a decline of interest are wide-ranging says Hoppe. “For men and women, it might be due to hormonal changes, lack of self-esteem, medications, stress, relationship issues, job, family life or lack of sleep. It means that somewhere, things are out of balance,” she says.


A personal wellness program should include a

lead practitioner that acts as a gatekeeper

and coordinates a plan of care that meets the

individual’s needs.

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N atural Awakenings had the opportunity to pose progressive healthcare-related questions

to Dr. Andrew Weil, world-renowned author, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medi-cine and clinical professor of internal medicine at the University of Arizona.

You frequently speak to the topic of integrative health and happiness. How does

Dr. Andrew Weil on America’s Evolution

into Integrative Medicineby Andrea Schensky Williams

your book, Spontaneous Happiness, reflect that?For a long time, I’ve wanted to see an integrative movement start in psychol-ogy and psychiatry. It’s another field that has become dependent on drugs and is not functioning all that well to help people. There are so many more things that people need to know about maintaining emotional wellness, I think the wisdom of taking an integra-tive approach here is obvious.

The recent passing of actor and comedian Robin Williams has brought about a more informed awareness of men-tal health. Why do you think there is such an increase in the incidence of depression? There are many reasons for it, includ-ing changes in diet and a breakdown in communities that has greatly increased social isolation and disconnection from nature. Another factor is the rise in infor-mation technology, all the new media. Plus, pharmaceutical companies have been highly successful in convincing people that ordinary states of sadness are matters of unbalanced brain chemistry that need to be treated with medication.

Funding a PlanA personal multifaceted wellness pro-gram can be expensive, but there are ways to minimize the cost. “In the new world of high insurance deductibles, people get more for their money from an alternative doctor, especially one knowl-edgeable in a variety of healing therapies, than a conventional one,” Loquasto advises. Costs for tests may also be lower; plus patients are not expected to pay $150 or more just to walk in the door. A current trend has medical doc-tors and chiropractors participating in “umbrella” practices and wellness centers, where several types of practi-tioners collaborate in one facility. They find that sometimes insurance will pay for certain complementary services, including massage and nutrition educa-tion, when doctors or chiropractors prescribe them. Maintaining wellness in an environ-ment filled with chemical, biological and mental toxins is a substantial, yet worthy, investment. It’s far better than the costly alternative of dealing with regular bouts of sickness or escalating disease. In that light, maintenance looks afford-able: an ayurvedic diagnostic session starts at around $100, a consultation with a licensed naturopath at $75 and acupuncture at $100; a massage typi-cally costs about $80 an hour. While insurance is unlikely to pay for treatments outside the realm of conventional medicine and sometimes, chiropractic, “The cost of these preven-tive therapies will be much less than the cost of treatment for a serious disease,” advises Loquasto. “You’re worth it.”

Kathleen Barnes is author of more than a dozen natural health books. Her latest is The Calcium Lie II: What Your Doctor Still Doesn’t Know with Dr. Robert Thompson. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.


With diet being such a major component in affecting our emotional state of mind, what role does an anti-inflammatory diet play?There is a new body of research linking inflammation with depression that I find fascinating. The fact that the main-stream diet promotes inflammation is why I believe there may be a dietary correlation with the rise of depression in our population.

If someone suffers from depression, would you say the steps recommended in Spontaneous Happiness are a proactive approach or an addition to management through medication?I share information about how to wean off of medication. I’d say the book is primary; for people with mild-to-moderate depression, I would follow the information there first. For people with severe depression, it may be necessary to give antidepressant drugs, but I think that they should be used for a limited period, a maximum of one year. You should then be working to find other ways to manage the depression. There is specific information about what to do if you are on medication and how to wean off of it carefully and start these other methods.

Do you feel that the increase in diabetes in the U.S., particularly its onset in early childhood, is another major problem? Yes, it’s a big concern. I think this is mostly due to the way we’ve changed the food we eat; diet is a hugely influencing factor, especially the greatly increased consumption of sugar, sweetened beverages and products made with flour and refined carbohydrates.

How can integrative medicine lower Americans’ healthcare costs?Integrative medicine can help reduce costs in two ways. First, by shifting the focus of health care onto health promotion and prevention, rather than disease management. Most of the diseases we are trying to manage today are lifestyle related. This is where integrative medicine shines. Second, by bring-ing into the mainstream treatments that are not dependent on expensive technology, and I include pharmaceutical drugs in this category. I think we’re going to be forced to change our dysfunc-tional approach by economic necessity, because the current healthcare system is not sustainable. Integrative medicine is in a perfect position to do that because of its emphasis on lifestyle medicine. Integrative medicine is also teaching healthcare practitioners to use inexpensive, low-tech meth-ods of managing common diseases. Both economic drivers will help reshape mainstream medicine.

What influence can the public have in support-ing such a shift?Our dysfunctional healthcare system is generating rivers of money flowing into very few pockets. Those are the pockets of big pharmaceutical companies, medical devices manufac-

turers and big insurers; interests that control legislators. So, I don’t think any real change is going to come from the gov-ernment. The only real change will come from a grassroots movement to change the politics of all of this. Demand that insurers cover the treatments you want. Seek out integrative practitioners. Tell health practitioners you work with that integrative education is available and urge them to get up to speed in those areas. Raise your own awareness of the extent that the powerful lobbies now influence the system and why we need to see a sweeping political change.

You offer several programs through the Uni-versity of Arizona such as a four-year degree, a two-year fellowship for medical doctors and programs for nurse practitioners and physi-cian assistants. What are the benefits of adding integrative medicine to one’s practice?I think it’s what patients want and it makes the practice of medicine much more enjoyable. Many practitioners realize that they don’t have the knowledge their patients want; for instance, informed counsel about diet or uses of alternative medicine. This is a way they can gain knowledge they didn’t get in their conventional medical training. We’ve graduated more than 1,000 physicians over 10 years, supporting a robust and growing community of like-minded practitioners that stay in touch and support each other. We’re eventually hoping that we can get integrative training into all residencies. Whether you go to a derma-tologist, pediatrician, gastroenterologist or psychiatrist, that doctor will have had basic training in nutrition, mind/body interactions, herbal medicine and all the rest that is now left out. We’ve also begun a program in lifestyle medicine that’s open to all kinds of practitioners, from registered dietitians to psychologists.

What reforms would you like to see in the current U.S. healthcare system? We need to change priorities for reimbursement that favor in-tegrative medicine. At the moment, we happily pay for drugs and tests. We don’t pay for a doctor to sit with and counsel a person about diet or teach them breathing exercises. I would like to see a new kind of institution come into being that I call a healing center, where people could go for lifestyle edu-cation and management of common illnesses—somewhere between a spa and a clinic. Stays in these would be reim-bursed by insurance, similar to how it’s done in Europe. Be-yond that, I think it’s unconscionable that the richest nation on Earth can’t provide basic coverage to all of its citizens.

Dr. Andrew Weil will be spearheading the 12th annual Nutrition & Health Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 4 through 6. Learn more about integrative medicine at IntegrativeMedicine.Arizona.edu and DrWeil.com.

Andrea Schensky Williams is the publisher of Natural Awak-enings of Northern New Mexico.


Be Supplement

SAVVYHow to Choose Wisely for Optimal Health

by James Occhiogrosso

While mainstream media have recently targeted supple-ments with alarming cover-

age about their value and safety, James J. Gormley, former editor of Better Nutrition and author of User’s Guide to Brain-Boosting Supplements, helps set the record straight. In an open letter on

the Citizens for Health website, at Ti-nyurl.com/LetterRebuttal, he contends the worst part about misleading articles is that they can scare readers away from benefits that safe supplements might offer. He notes that although nothing in life is 100 percent risk-free, supple-ments are inherently benign, while pharmaceutical drugs frequently have unhealthy side effects. Controversy over supplements seems to arise primarily from misinfor-mation. Following are some guidelines and resources to help ensure their wise use and maximum benefit.

Supplements Versus Pharmaceutical DrugsNatural health practitioners report that their clients tend to mentally group pharmaceuticals and supple-ments together. However, pharma-ceutical drugs are typically synthetic, single-action chemicals that target one body system or organ, causing it to alter its function; they mask symp-toms, but do not cure disease. On the other hand, the goal of vitamins,

minerals and plant-derived supple-ments is to provide nutrients to help a troubled body system by supporting health and healing. Some confusion occurs because many pharmaceutical and supple-ment manufacturers take advantage of people’s desire for a one-bullet solution, which rarely exists in either source. Stephen Lawson, adminis-trative officer of the Linus Pauling Institute, at Oregon State University, maintains that, “Lumping together items like vitamins, minerals and botanicals, each of which can have profoundly different physical profiles and effects on the body, is dangerous and misleading.”

Who Needs Supplements?Everyone can benefit from taking the right supplements to address specific health needs. Numerous studies at-test that many diseases, especially in older adults, are caused by a deficien-cy of certain vitamins or minerals. For example, pernicious anemia, common in adults over the age of 60, is due to a long-term deficiency of vitamin B12. The condition often proved fatal until researchers discovered that taking such supplements could effectively treat it. Another common nutritional deficiency disease among aging adults is osteoporosis, a loss of bone miner-als that often leads to fractures. Its primary cause is chronic deficien-cies in calcium and vitamin D levels. The latter is crucial for absorbing calcium—a primary mineral for build-ing bone. According to the National Institutes of Health, older adults are likely to spend more time indoors, plus, even when they are exposed to the sun, their skin does not synthesize vitamin D as efficiently as when they were younger. Serious nutrient deficiencies rarely cause fatal outcomes, but deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals can deter organs from optimal functioning. General medical tests do not always show minor shortfalls, and practice shows that supplementing with the ap-propriate vitamin or mineral can often both eliminate symptoms and resolve an underlying problem.

healingways

Helpful ResourcesAlliance for Natural Health Tinyurl.com/HelpfulReading

Dr. Andrew Weil DrWeil.com

HerbReference.com

Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center lpi.OregonState.edu/infocenter

National Institutes of Health Tinyurl.com/NIH-Supplements

NutrientReference.com

SupplementReference.com

According to the U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements, nearly half of us regularly use some kind of dietary supplement, including vitamins, minerals and botanical herbs.


Choosing Helpful SupplementsDetermining which supplements can best meet individual needs requires sound information. First, determine if a perceived condition could be caused by a vitamin or mineral deficiency, and then identify the best dosage. It is also vital to know how a supplement might interact with any current medications. Most vitamin and mineral supple-ments are safe when used properly, but always consider asking an experienced professional for guidance; this is espe-cially true for botanicals, because some manufacturers make unsupported claims based only on their own research. Gen-erally, nonprofit organizations such as the Linus Pauling Institute (lpi.Oregon State.edu) that do not sell supplement products, present unbiased information.

Final WordAlthough conflicting information con-tinues to circulate, abundant scientific evidence verifies that commonsense use of vitamin and mineral supplements is safe and usually helpful. The recom-mendation is to take enough, but not too much, of a deficiency-specific sup-plement, along with nutritious foods, in order to achieve a normal balance. A 2009 report by the U.S. National Poison Data System indicated that the number of serious adverse events that year from the use of vitamins, minerals, amino acids or herbal supplements was extremely low, with no related U.S. deaths. Many natural healthcare experts, including naturopaths, nutritionists and dieticians, conclude that supplements are useful and in some cases, necessary, especially when treating a significant nutrient or hormonal deficiency. It’s wise to consult a knowledgeable professional before buying the antioxidant du jour mentioned by a friend from the gym.

James Occhiogrosso, a natural health practitioner and master herbalist, specializes in salivary hormone testing and natural hormone balancing for men and women. Find helpful articles at HealthNaturallyToday.com. Connect at 239-498-1547 or DrJim@ HealthNaturallyToday.com.

therapyspotlight

There is no short-age today of methods for los-

ing weight and quitting smoking. Weight loss is promised via pills and surgery; prescrip-tion chemical patches and medicines claim to relieve the urge to smoke. Although these options provide suc-cess for some, many others fail. “Diets fail about 95 percent of the time,” says hypnotist Julie Nise, who started Southeast Hypnosis in 2004 in Friendswood. She adds that the reason for the failures is that none of these solutions address the underlying issue that drives the behavior. “I love to help people learn that it isn’t that they ‘love to eat’ or are hungry that is causing them to gain weight; it is stress relief and sometimes a reward,” comments Nise, who is member of the Master Hypnotist Society and runs a state-certified School of Hypnosis. “People need to learn there is a bet-ter way to manage their stress without sacrificing their health.” Nise observed the life-threaten-ing impacts of obesity, smoking and unmanaged stress while she served as an emergency medical technician before pursuing a counseling career. Seeing the internal struggle people faced with these issues led her to pursue certification as a hypnotist in 2005 by the National Guild of Hyp-notists and the International Hypno-sis Federation. “Hypnosis is the skill of becom-ing calm and relaxed in your mind,

creating a serene mood by slowing your thoughts and emo-tions way down,” she explains. “Your state of mind controls your thoughts, and your thoughts control your actions. Hypnosis combines mental re-laxation with specific suggestions given.” Before any treat-ment program begins, Southeast Hypno-sis conducts a free screening. “It takes less than an hour and is fun and informa-tive,” affirms Nise.

“Potential clients receive an in-depth and honest evaluation of their situation. If we believe that circumstances do not make them good candidates for hypno-sis treatment, we tell them.” As a hypnotist with additional training as a master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Nise says she has helped thousands of people become non-smokers, lose weight, improve self-confidence and manage stress. “Creating motivation, overcoming procrastination, pursuing a goal and improving self-esteem are all byproducts of learning the skill of hypnosis,” says Nise, who also trains others and directs a hypnosis certifica-tion program. “The best part is that anyone can do it if they want to; it’s fun and works right away.”

Southeast Hypnosis is located at 607 S. Friendswood Dr., in Friendswood. For appointments and more infor-mation, call 281-996-8000 or visit SoutheastHypnosis.com. See ad, page 3.

Southeast Hypnosis Empowers Healing Self-Control

by Roxanne Pirooz

Julie Nise


greenliving

When clients walk into New York City’s Swing Salon, they may be surprised by

what they don’t smell—the range of chemicals usually wafting around hair salons. That’s because the owners have decided to use only natural and organic products. While many people may assume that all salon hair and body treatments are regulated and safe, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no authority to require companies to test cosmetic products for safety, due to loopholes in the Toxic Substances Con-trol Act. So, people are being exposed to dangerous toxins through salon prod-ucts like nail polish, hair color proces-sors and hair straighteners. Be aware that while labels of over-the-counter body care products are required by law to list ingredients, with the exception of the chemical soup of-ten hidden under the term “fragrance”, the loophole for salon products is large. Jamie Silberberger, with the Women’s Voices for the Earth’s National Healthy Nail & Beauty Salon Alliance, reports, “Products sold for professional use in spas and salons are not required to be labeled with ingredients.” Fortunately, healthy alternatives are available, either by patronizing a green salon or using natural beauty treatments at home.

Hair StraightenersOne salon treatment—Brazilian Blowout hair straightening—can continue to expose customers and salon workers to toxic fumes even months after application. It’s among the conventional straightening products that contain formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen. “Exposure to formaldehyde doesn’t end with the treatment—the fumes are reactivated every time heat is applied to the hair,” says Jennifer Arce, a San Diego, California, salon worker who became sick after apply-ing a single Brazilian Blowout treat-ment. “So, when a client who’s had a Brazilian Blowout done elsewhere comes into the salon to get a haircut or color and has her hair blow-dried, flat-ironed, curled or processed under the hood dryer, the fumes that come out of her hair make me and several of my coworkers sick all over again.” Solution: Avoid chemical hair-straightening treatments. Sign on to the Women’s Voice for the Earth letter campaign petitioning the FDA to remove Brazilian Blowout from U.S. shelves by visiting Tinyurl.com/ BanBrazilianBlowout.

Hair Dyes and ExtensionsAbout two-thirds of conventional hair

Toxin-Free BEAUTY SALONSPure Pampering Feels Natural and Safe

by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

dyes in the U.S. contain para-phenyl-enediamine (PPD), a chemical banned for use in such products in Germany, France and Sweden. Exposure to PPD can cause allergic reactions ranging from skin irritation to death by ana-phylactic shock, which happened to a teenager in 2010. When Spain’s University of Santiago de Compostela researchers conducted a metastudy examining the risk of cancer among hairdressers and related workers, all reported that em-ployees had a higher risk of cancer than the general population. Hair extensions also warrant atten-tion. Many adhesives used on exten-sions may contain 1,4 dioxane, listed as a probable carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and styrene, a neurotoxin and suspected endocrine disruptor. Solution: Look for a clean, green salon that uses natural hair color treat-ments free from synthetic chemicals, ammonia or PPD. Individuals can also order nontoxic organic color kits direct from EcoColors.net.

Nail PolishWhen getting a manicure or pedicure, beware of the toxic trio of dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and toluene. Used to help nail products hold color, they’re linked to reproductive and development problems, plus dizziness and eye and lung

Ask questions to ensure

all of a salon’s products

are nontoxic or as low

in toxicity as possible.


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irritation, according to the Environmental Work-ing Group. Facing pressure from consumer groups and salon workers, some polish compa-nies are now producing so-called “nontoxic” nail polish, although their labels aren’t verifiable. Califor-nia’s Department of Toxic Substances Control recently tested 25 nail polishes sold to salons, 12 of which claimed to be toluene-free, including seven said to be free of the toxic trio. The researchers found toluene in 10 of those, and one or more of the three ingredients in five out of the seven.

Solution: Customers should bring their own safe nail polish and only pa-tronize well-ventilated salons.

Find a Green SalonMany conventional body products like shampoos and massage oils contain a litany of ingredients that add to our chemical exposure. Ask questions to en-sure all of a salon’s products are nontoxic

or as low in toxicity as possible. For example, a large network of

independently owned “concept salons” across America are connected with the Aveda Corpo-ration (Aveda.com), a national leader in

developing hair and body products that are

free from the most danger-ous ingredients. More than 90

percent of Aveda’s essential oils and 89 percent of its raw herbal ingredients are certified organic. Also look for members of the Green Spa Network, a nationwide coalition of spas that pledge to be energy efficient and sustainable in all of their practices (GreenSpaNetwork.org). If a green salon hasn’t yet arrived locally, bring nontoxic products for appointments and ask the stylist to use them. Visit the Skin Deep Database at ewg.org/skindeep to find the least-toxic products for at-home use.

Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist is a freelance writer in Tucson, Arizona.

Join for FREE atNaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

Chill With That Special

Someone


STAND UP AND MOVE!How to Sizzle, not Fizzle

by Debra Melani

fitbody

As millions of Americans ponder

quitting newly launched fitness resolutions after finding it tough to squeeze in toning workouts or sweat off a few extra pounds, research-ers implore: Don’t give up. Just pump out 20 minutes a day of any kind of exercise—take a brisk walk, jog, lift weights—and stop sitting so much. Results can bring a healthier, more youthful feeling of well-being, akin to what explorer Juan Ponce de León sought in the Americas long ago. In a 2012 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, research-ers from the University of Texas South-western Medical Center compared the Medicare claims of more than 18,000 men and women, ages 70 to 85, that had participated in a treadmill evalua-tion of cardiorespiratory fitness an aver-age of 26 years earlier as part of the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. “We found those who were fitter had a much lower rate of heart failure, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, certain kinds of colon cancer and coronary artery disease,” says co-author Dr. Benjamin Willis. “Fit people that did become ill did so at a much later age than their non-fit counterparts.

They were able to enjoy a healthier life longer.” Research-ers found that for every higher MET fitness level (standard meta-bolic equivalent, a unit for measur-ing fitness related to the amount of oxygen used by the body during physical activity), the risk of chronic disease decreased by about 6 per-cent. “So those that can raise their fitness levels by

three METs have an estimated 18 to 20 percent reduced risk of developing a chronic disease,” Willis explains. The take-away message is, “Just move,” says study co-author Dr. Laura DeFina. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends in-vesting in a weekly total of 150 to 300 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous exercise, either of which can be broken down into two or three 10-minute increments a day, DeFina confirms. As simple as it sounds, few people are doing it, something New York Times fitness columnist Gretchen Reynolds underscores in her recent book, The First 20 Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can: Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer. “Most of us sit an average of eight hours a day,

whether it’s at a desk or in front of a television,” Reynolds says. “The human body was not meant to be sedentary.” More than three-quarters of Americans are not meeting exercise recommen-dations, with one-quarter remaining completely sedentary, the CDC reports. Breaking this cycle does not need to be difficult, Reynolds notes. “You get the benefits from just moving. Start by standing up more and moving around in your office.” Reynolds, who hops on one foot while brushing her teeth and reads standing up using a music stand, says studies have shown that bad things happen to bodies that sit for long stints, even those that start each day with an hour of exercise, and good things happen to bodies that stand often, even if it’s just for two minutes every half-hour. “For instance, when you stand, the big muscles in your legs and back contract, releasing enzymes that stabilize blood sugar,” Reynolds says, echoing findings of a study of more than 120,000 men and women published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The researchers found that the combination of both sitting more and being less physically ac-tive was associated with a significant increase in accelerated death rate, particularly in women, at 94 percent, as well as men, at 48 percent. As Reynolds’ book title suggests, the majority of health benefits are derived from the first 20 minutes of exercise and begin to flatten out after 30 minutes or so. Dr. Carl Lavie, medi-cal director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at the Ochsner Medi-cal Center, in New Orleans, points out that this timeframe supports general health. He and Reynolds agree that to reach specific goals, such as increased running speed or dramatic weight loss, moderate levels won’t do the trick, so do more, if possible. The most vital message, experts agree, is to do something every day, consistently. Willis observes that, “The effects can quickly reverse if you stop.”

Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health care and fitness from Lyons, CO. Connect at Debra Melani.com or [email protected].


wisewords

Katie Teague’s in-spiring documen-tary, Money and Life

(MoneyAndLifeMovie.com), provocatively asks: Rather than disastrous, can we view economic crises as brimming with opportunities to shift our thoughts about money and thereby improve models of economic exchange?

Why did you produce a documentary on the subject of money? As an in-depth psychotherapist familiar with observing humanity, I felt that I could use the simple lens of storytelling to chronicle the complexity of money and economics. Because I had no ex-perience in economics or filmmaking, I was often brought to my knees in the crucible of all I was learning, a virtual crash Ph.D. course. In interviewing David Korten, economist, author and former professor at the Harvard Business School, he soothed my worries by pointing out that because I hadn’t been indoctrinated into the world of economics and its jargon, my language of metaphors and analogies would help lay people better recognize and under-stand convoluted economic concepts. As a therapist, I repeatedly see how disconnections due to eroding relation-ships with ourselves, our natural world and each other are wreaking havoc on people and the planet. I routinely see that money isn’t a root cause of a person’s issues, just the container for them. Most frequently the issues I hear about result from setting dreams aside “for later” and squelching the sparks of individual genius, usually because

Money MythsFilmmaker Katie Teague Uncovers

Our Misperceptionsby Linda Sechrist

of a perceived scarcity of money. I became curious about what role our rela-tionship to money plays in such disconnections.

What are the effects of awaking to what money is and isn’t in our lives? In considering this from the perspective of heal-

ing and tending the soul, asking, “Where are we most wounded in our modern world?” I had my own quan-tum awakening to the fact that I’m not separate from the subject matter I’m exploring: What is my own story with money? Have I given up healthy self-government to the money god? What are my opportunities to reclaim my own power? I discovered that the core principle of the economy, money and currency is relationship itself, and that we’ve unwittingly disempowered ourselves by entrusting too much power to middle-men like central banks and financial consultants, but are now realizing that we don’t need them. One clear example is that more individuals are having a direct experi-ence of the divine. Also, entire com-munities are investing their time, energy and money in their local economies, where they have established relation-ships and can see the results. I believe that the technologies supporting our emerging new economy reflect our own consciousness coming online.

Were you surprised at what you learned?I did not know that the U.S. and global economies are based on debt and scar-

city nor understand beforehand that our perceptions of scarcity and separation from one another are only illusions. While the majority of economists say that money is an exchange, Bernard Lietaer, author of The Future of Money, states, that is what money does but not what it is. Fundamentally, money is a human agreement—a form of currency via an artifact designed, engineered and built by humans. This is something we have forgotten and it’s hurting us.

How did you approach the universally sensitive subject of money?The film is purely a starting place and a tool that individuals can use to educate themselves and spark con-versations. I kept the tone of the film as non-polarizing as possible so that conservative family members could cull compelling concepts that inspire further exploration, rather than walk away feeling a need to defend their beliefs. Awareness and knowledge breeds empowerment and innovative perspectives so that we all can better participate in whatever is emerging.

Will a new economy replace or parallel the existing one?A new economy is emerging and operating in parallel. Beyond being based on gifting, alternative money, barter or other buzzwords, it’s com-ing online from a previously unknown place. This is one of the reasons I term the film emergent-oriented, rather than solution-oriented. A quote by Richard Buckminster Fuller, systems theorist, architect and inventor, eloquently applies: “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” The fact is that the old economy, based on debt and scarcity, is designed to collapse. The more innovative we can be in participating in the emerging econ-omy, the more conscious awareness we can bring to bear, improving the chances for increasingly positive impacts.

Linda Sechrist is a Natural Awakenings senior staff writer. Visit ItsAllAboutWe.com for recorded interviews.


inspiration

We spend a good deal of time gazing at ourselves in a mir-ror with the physical eye, as

well as into the mirror of our mind with an analytical eye, endeavoring to size ourselves up in our own estimation, and also determining how others might evaluate us. Both of these mirrors are clouded with ego-related dust that dis-torts our vision. Only when we turn our gaze inward with the intuitive eye of awareness can we perceive our innate wholeness, for there is no dust on the mirror of the soul. Consider this: A consciousness of wholeness reunifies us with our authen-tic self, so that even during those times when we are unaware of it, our whole-ness is intact and utterly dust-free—only our awareness of it is missing. When awareness returns, we live free from ego’s bondage and its ignorance-soaked history and habits. We are reunified with the reality of our being. Our daily practice is to be ever mindful—on the dot—the moment we lose sight of our true nature. Everyday experiences grace us with reminders by mentally tapping us on the shoulder and returning us to the qualities we wish to express in our interactions with our self, others and all of life. We are continually given the opportunity to reconnect with the high vision we hold

for ourselves in our mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, professional, rela-tional and communal life structures. It serves us well to remember that we are here learning to mother our consciousness, just as the universe mothers us throughout our lifetime and beyond. Intelligence, wisdom, intuition, joy and creativity—these are the qualities we want to mother within ourselves in order to unveil our original face. As we set a conscious in-tention to evolve, we live as the master artists we are—creating, directing and producing our lives. The more time we set aside for meditation, contemplation and life visioning, the more we can have 20/20 vision in foresight, rather than hind-sight. Through practice, we activate our intuition, clean off egoic dust and enter a more consistently clear-sighted state of mindful being. Thus we actualize our highest potential and realize our organic, enlightened consciousness.

Michael Bernard Beckwith is the found-er of the Agape International Spiritual Center, in Los Angeles, California, au-thor of Life Visioning: A Transformative Process for Activating Your Unique Gifts and Highest Potential (Sounds True, 2011/2013), and originator of the Life Visioning process.

No Dust on the MirrorReflections on a Life

of Conscious Wholeness

by Michael Bernard Beckwith

Southeast Texas Edition409-939-8156

NA-SETexas.com


In human health care, naturopathic doctors offer a specialty called anti-aging medicine. The goal is to restore

optimal health to those at midlife and older that seek to prevent or reduce the incidence of diseases often associated with aging. But when it comes to aging pets, most veterinary doctors fail to focus on the necessary specialized care. In fact, some traditional vets may decline to treat older pets at all. Often, these animals are suffering from chronic diseases and when they are treated, prescriptions may include numerous drugs. As many know, drugs can entail serious, even debilitating side effects, further deteriorating the prospects for sustained health. Owners may thus find themselves spending a lot of money maintaining their pets in a chronic state of ill health with little hope for improvement. Ani-mals that might benefit from surgery for problems ranging from dental disease to tumors may not receive ameliorating care when the family vet simply consid-

LONG-LIVED PETSAnti-Aging Care Aids

Youthful Vigorby Dr. Shawn Messonnier

ers them “too old” to invest in or pull through surgery.

A Better AlternativeFor an enlightened holistic vet, no pet is too old to warrant and benefit from proper health care. By instituting the correct care and focusing on anti-aging efforts, health can be improved and of-ten restored, with the added advantages of reducing unnecessary medications and increasing their lifespan. As an example, most doctors expect larger breeds of dogs to live 10 to 12 years, but with informed care, these same dogs can typically live 15 to 16 years. Smaller dogs and cats typi-cally have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years; using an anti-aging approach, such pets routinely live 18 to 20 years or longer, in good health and with a good quality of life. Exemplary TreatmentHere’s how the team at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, in Plano, Texas, success-fully approaches anti-aging medicine.

naturalpet Beginning at 5 years of age, all pets—including dogs, cats, other small mammals, birds and reptiles—are screened via a physical examination and special blood and urine tests twice a year, with a focus on bionutritional analysis of results. Abnormal results indicating some risk, even slight ones, often ignored by mainstream medicine, are treated using vet-specified natural medicines that help return biometric values to normal and slow down the progression of problems that could, if untreated, turn into serious diseases. Dietary evaluation, including a bionutritional analysis, ensures that the pet is eating what’s most appropriate for its age, breed and health status. Potential dental and other oral is-sues are treated aggressively and early, because they are the most common source of infection and inflammation contributing to poor bodily health, including diabetes and diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart and lungs. A review of prior medications confirms or adjusts proper use. In most cases, some of these medications can be eliminated or replaced as needed with natural therapies that have the same clinical effect, but without the possible side effects associated with chronic use of medical therapies. Natural supplements, which can benefit all pets, also are reviewed and/or prescribed. Most older pets benefit from supplementation with phosphati-dylcholine, vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, glucosamine and other elements to support thyroid and adrenal functions. Paws & Claws also favors the herbal rem-edy Healthy Qi to support the immune system of any ill or older pet; astragalus, green tea, gotu kola and ginseng ingredi-ents give an extra boost toward achieving homeostasis and improved quality of life. Like human senior citizens, pets in their golden years deserve dignified specialized care that allows them to live more happily and peacefully.

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


ecotipSustainable Shopping TipsSmart Choices Help our Home PlanetThe buy local movement and popu-larity of local farmers’ markets continue to grow, but we can do even better when it comes to sustainable shopping. A recent Greendex.com survey on environmen-tal impacts of consumer behaviors in 18 countries reports that more Ameri-cans are eating local and organic foods and say they’re going to consume less meat and bottled water. Nevertheless, we continue to eat the most processed and packaged foods and the fewest fruits and vegetables of all the countries surveyed. Evidently, we need to literally put our money where our mouths are. The Greendex survey cites several basic ways to make our diets more sustainable. These include eating more vegetables and less beef and lamb (recognizing the greater environmental impact of raising animals); partici-pating and supporting community supported agriculture and fishery initiatives; economizing meal planning; and storing food properly in the refrigerator to maximize space and freshness periods.

When grocery shopping, peruse the perimeter aisles first, where whole foods are

stocked, instead of the interior shelves, which typically comprise processed foods according to MotherEarthLiving.com. More cooperation between the public and private sectors and individual involve-ment can also increase sustainability in

communities around the world. Rachael Dur-rant, Ph.D., a research fellow with the UK-

based Sustainable Lifestyles Research Group, cites in a recent paper the need for improved

understanding of the key roles that civil society organizations play within processes of large-

scale social change and warned that many com-munities are vulnerable to grave environmental and

social risks. Durrant lauds “greener, fairer and healthier prac-tices, such as community gardening or cookery classes,” plus “those that change the rules of the game through campaigns or lobbying to coordinate and facilitate activities of other groups.” Supporting food and farm-ing management that’s independent, cooperative and welcomes volunteers, for example, is highly beneficial.

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calendarofeventsFRIDAY, APRIL 3Illustration Friday – 4-6pm. A casual, friendly open-studio session. An artist-volunteer will introduce a one-word creative prompt topic and each person responds however they like. Music and refreshments provided. Free. Galveston Arts Center, 2501 Market St, Galveston. 409-763-2403. GalvestonArtsCenter.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4Friendswood Farmers’ Market – 8am-12pm. Local vendors selling produce, spices, baked goods and more. Stevenson Park, gazebo area, 1100 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood. Details: FriendswoodMarket.com or Facebook.com/FriendswoodMarket.Full Moon Labyrinth Walk: Pink Moon – 8pm. The public is invited to participate in Full Moon labyrinth walks. Each walk begins approximately a half hour after sunset. The Moody Methodist Labyrinth, 2803 53rd St, Galveston. Galveston.com/Labyrinth.

SUNDAY, APRIL 5Galveston’s Own Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm. Every Sunday. Offering locally grown produce, prepared foods and edible farm products. They strive to foster a greater sense of community while supporting farmers and producers and connect-ing individuals with their local food economy. 2508 Postoffice, Galveston. 832-819-1561. Info: Facebook.com/GalvestonsOwnFarmersMarket. Easter in the Gardens – 11am-3pm. Kids ages 12 and under are invited to search for the golden eggs in our fun-filled egg hunts. A variety of activities will be offered for all ages beginning at 11am, such as face painting and games for prizes, as well as a petting zoo. Free. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston. 800-582-4673. MoodyGardens.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Fes-tival – Apr 9-12. See more than 200 species of birds during early spring migration in world-renowned Upper Texas Coast birding hot spots like Bolivar Flats and High Island. Experts lead nature and photography adventures by bus and boat to beach, bay, marsh, coastal prairie and wood mott habitats. More than 100 trips, workshops and social events to choose from. Galveston. GalvestonFeatherFest.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 10Pearland Crawfish Festival – Apr 10-11. 11am-10pm, Fri & Sat; 11am-6pm, Sun. Offering deli-cious, spicy crawfish, Cajun dishes, classic festival food, music, vendors, games and more. Pearland Parks & Recreation Center Grounds, 4141 Bailey Rd, Pearland. PearlandCrawfishFestival.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11Pearland Community Cleanup – 7:30am. Vol-unteers across Pearland clean adopt-a-spots (up to 72 miles of roads, parks and schools in Pearland). Breakfast at 7:30am then pick up supplies and head out to pick up litter. For all ages and families. KPB Office/City Hall Annex, 3525 Liberty Dr, Pearland. Volunteer: Lenora: 281-652-1659. [email protected].

Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off – 8am. Pick up trash all over the city with the Port Arthur Beautifica-tion Commission. Community breakfast, register and pick up supplies and instructions. Proctor St Pavilion, 500 Proctor, Port Arthur. Volunteer: Ruenette Bolden: 409-728-5465. [email protected]. ktb.org.Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off – 8am-12pm. Angleton Junior High, 1201 Henderson, Angleton. Info/volunteer: Geri Gonzales: 979-849-4364. [email protected]. ktb.org.Pearland Old Townsite Farmers’ Market – 8am-12pm. 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month. Zychlinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd, Pearland. Info: Friendswood-Market.com or Facebook.com/FriendswoodMarket.Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off – 8am-2pm. City-wide cleanup, recycling, yard sale and document-recycling for the annual Spring Sparkle. Centen-nial Park, FM 528, Friendswood. Volunteer: Susan Stephens: [email protected]. ktb.org.The 20th Annual Grand Kids Festival – 10am-5pm. Presented by The Grand 1894 Opera House indoors and out, this premier family fun event pro-vides hands-on access to activities for children and their families to raise an appreciation and awareness of the fine arts and to demonstrate the talent and ability of our community’s children. $5/adults, $3/kids 5-12, free/kids 4 & under. Cultural Arts Dis-trict, 2300 Postoffice St, Galveston. 409-763-7173. Tickets: TheGrand.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15RESTART Class – 12-1:30pm. With Jennifer Steakley, NTP. Five-week class. Lose weight, bal-ance hormones, boost immunity, feel energized, sleep better and fall in love with real food. Part education, part detox, part support group using real food. $119. Free gift with paid registration. Well-ness Nutrition & Bodywork, 208 S Friendswood Dr, Ste B, Friendswood. 713-714-3700. Info/register: ThatWellnessPlace.com. See news brief, page 6.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16Galveston Island Food and Wine Festival – Apr 16-19. Specialty food items, culinary events, artisan exhibits, and live musical entertainment. Enjoy wines from around the world paired with delicious local food and learn first-rate tips from popular chefs and renowned winemakers. Galveston. Tickets/packages/events: Galveston.com/FoodAndWine.RESTART Class – 7-8:30pm. See Apr 15 listing. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 208 S Friend-swood Dr, Ste B, Friendswood. 713-714-3700. Info/register: ThatWellnessPlace.com. See news brief, page 6.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17Ja-Ga Reggae Festival – Ja-Ga stands for Jamaica – Galveston. Experience the island of Jamaica on the island in your own back yard. Celebrate culture, his-tory, music, fun and all the sights, sounds, and tastes of Jamaica. Reggae music, colorful crafts of the Islands, mouth-watering Jamaican food, activities, and more. Beach Central Park, 2100 Seawall Blvd, Galveston. 409-763-5326. JaGaReggaeFest.com. Eighth Annual Celebrating Women: Mind, Body, Spirit Women’s Conference – 7:30am-5:30pm. Of-fering sessions and networking opportunities with more than 800 women. Texan keynote speakers: Amie and Jolie Sikes, also known as The Junk Gypsies, and Dr. Jennifer Arnold, from TLC’s The Little Couple. Moody Gardens Conference Center, 7 Hope Blvd, Galveston. 409-763-5326. GalvestonChamber.com. See news brief, page 6. Sacred Gong Concert – 7pm. With Richard Hite. Experience the transformative power of the Tibetan gongs. Soothe and release tension, turn inward with meditative Yin Yoga practice and sound healing of polyphonic Tibetan gongs. $20. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. Details/register: TheYogaHaven.net.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18Gritty Goddess Women’s 5K Fest – All day. First wave begins at 8:30am (10 minutes between waves). Join the Sisterhood of the Soul and gather your fel-low goddesses for an event that’s all about women, and women only. $75 preregistered by 4/3, $80 thereafter. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston. 512-535-5224. Info: GrittyGoddess.com. Pearland Earth Day Celebration – 10am-2pm. Collaboration between Keep Pearland Beautiful and the city of Pearland. Connect with the Earth and learn how to take care of it in an environmentally re-sponsible way. Vendor booths, interactive activities, games, educational lectures and hands-on activities. Food not available. Free. Pearland Recreation Cen-ter, 4141 Bailey Rd, Pearland. KeepPearlandBeauti-ful.org/Event. See stories on pages 6 and 11.Galveston ArtWalk – 6-9pm. For over 20 years the Galveston Arts Center has organized and pro-duced ArtWalk approximately every six to eight weeks on Saturday nights in the heart of the historic district. A coordinated evening of opening receptions and art-related events that are hosted in existing commercial galleries, nonprofit arts spaces and “other walls” – retail stores and restaurants. Galves-ton. 409-763-2403. Info: GalvestonArtsCenter.org.Island BrainWorks Open House – 6-9pm. Island BrainWorks opens their doors as part of the Galves-ton ArtWalk. Learn how to balance and harmonize the brain using Brainwave Optimization, a nonin-vasive personalized process of brain optimization that allows the brain to balance itself. Try it for free. Island Brain Works, 2218 Postoffice St, Galveston. 409-599-7268. IslandBrainWorks.com.Sacred Gong Concert – 7pm. With Richard Hite. See Apr 17 listing. $20. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Mar-ket St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. Details/register: TheYogaHaven.net.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19Divas Half-Marathon & 5K – 7am. The Divas Half Marathon & 5K Series is about girl power. Get glam on Galveston Island and get ready to have a fit


NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email [email protected] for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

ongoingevents

sundayGalveston’s Own Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm. Offering locally grown produce, prepared foods, and edible farm products. 2508 Postoffice, Galveston. 832-819-1561. Info: Facebook.com/ GalvestonsOwnFarmersMarket.

mondayYoga Focus: The Back – 9-10:15am. With Svetlana. All levels. Work with postures to help strengthen and stabilize the musculature supporting the spine and alignment techniques to deepen understanding of posture. Bring towel and mat. $15/drop-in. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. TheYogaHaven.net.Yoga 101 – 5:30-6:45pm. With Kathleen. Foundational hatha yoga for students new to yoga or returning to practice. Fine tune basic skills that will deepen your un-derstanding and enjoyment of the practice of yoga. Bring towel and mat. $15/drop-in. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Mar-ket St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. TheYogaHaven.net.

tuesdaySenior Tuesday – All day. On Tuesdays, anyone 65+ years can visit Moody Gardens for $5/attraction per senior. (Restrictions may apply.) Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston. 800-582-4673. Details: MoodyGardens.com.Meditation – 9:30-10:30am. Unity Bay Area Hous-ton, 1911 Hwy 3 S, League City. 281-554-2450. UnityOfBayArea.org.

wednesdaySmall Dog Socialization – 7:30-8:15pm. Bring in small dogs to have fun and socialize. Gimme a Bark, 101 East Edgewood Dr, Friendswood. 281-482-1911. GimmeABark.com.

thursdayYoga Focus: The Back – 9-10:15am. With Svetlana. All levels. Work with postures to help strengthen and stabilize the musculature supporting the spine and alignment techniques to deepen understanding of posture. Bring towel and mat. $15/drop-in. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. TheYogaHaven.net.Course in Miracles – 1-2:30pm. Unity Bay Area Houston, 1911 Hwy 3 S, League City. 281-554-2450. UnityOfBayArea.org. Oneness Blessing Meditation – 6:30-8pm. Visit for a unique experience which brings each person into a closer connection with each other and God. Unity Bay Area Houston, 1911 Hwy 3 S, League City. 281-554-2450. UnityOfBayArea.org.

saturdayClear Lake Shores Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm. A nonprofit outlet operated by volunteers offering locally grown fruit, vegetables and other homemade products. Texas certified farmers’ mar-ket. 1020 Marina Bay Dr, Clear Lake Shores. FarmersMarketAtCLS.com.

and fun girl’s weekend. Get pampered with roses, amazing medals and more. Saengerfest Park, 2300 Strand, Galveston. [email protected]. RunLikeADiva.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 23Free Meditation Workshop – 7-8:15pm. Discussion and meditation led by Bryan Manuele. Bring friends and comfortable items. Free. Hooked on Acupunc-ture, 2505 Market St, Galveston. 409-241-3199. HookedOnAcupuncture.com. See news brief, page 6.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25“A Bark in the Park” – Fourth Annual Galves-ton Island Dog Show – 10am-2pm. This fun and family-friendly dog show welcomes all dogs and breeds and their families. Onsite registration opens at 9:30am, followed by the “Blessing of the Dogs” ceremony at 10am; with the competitions commenc-ing immediately thereafter. Benefits the Galveston Island Humane Society. $10/entry/class. Kempner Park, 27th & Ave O, Galveston. 409-241-3199. GalvestonIslandDogShow.com. Pranayama Workshop – 2-4pm. With Rahul Sharma, PhD. Learn dynamic breathing techniques and conscious control of the movement of energy. $45. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. Details/register: TheYogaHaven.net. See news brief, page 7.

SUNDAY, APRIL 26Memorial Herman Ironman 70.3 Texas – Athletes begin with a 1.2-mile, one-loop saltwater swim in Offats Bayou, staged at Moody Gardens’ Palm Beach Hotel. The 56-mile bike course takes cyclists on a one-loop ride along the Texas Gulf Coast. The 13.1-mile, three-loop run takes athletes through Moody Gardens and along Offats Bayou. Finish next to the majestic Colonel Paddlewheel Boat. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston. [email protected]. Ironman.com. The Eight Limbs of Yoga Workshop – 1-3pm. With Rahul Sharma, PhD. The Yoga Sutras of Pa-tanjali, the oldest written literature about yoga, de-scribed eight limbs of yoga for complete well-being for the individual and society. Workshop includes asana, pranayama, yoga philosophy and meditation. $45. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. Details/register: TheYogaHaven.net. See news brief, page 7.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30Group Hypnosis Training – 6-7pm. With Julie Nise. A monthly group hypnosis training the last Thursday of the month. Offered to enhance in-dividualized efforts in personal hypnosis to stop smoking, lose weight, reduce stress and improve self-confidence. Free for current patients only. Southeast Hypnosis, 607 S Friendswood Dr, Friend-swood. 281-996-8000. SoutheastHypnosis.com.

plan aheadSATURDAY, MAY 2Friendswood Farmers’ Market – 8am-12pm. See Apr 4 listing. Stevenson Park, gazebo area, 1100 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood. Details: FriendswoodMarket.com or Facebook.com/ FriendswoodMarket.

SUNDAY, MAY 3Full Moon Labyrinth Walk: Flower Moon – 8pm. See Apr 4 listing. The Moody Methodist Labyrinth, 2803 53rd St, Galveston. Galveston.com/Labyrinth.

FRIDAY, MAY 8Old Time Village Fair & Texas Music Festival – May 8-9. 5:30pm-1am, Fri; 10am-1am, Sat. The annual fundraiser for the charities of the League City Lions Club. Bands, BBQ, carnival attractions, extreme obstacle course race, karaoke contest and more. All proceeds benefit local charities. 807 Hwy 3 N, League City. [email protected]. Facebook.com/TexasMusicFestival.

SATURDAY, MAY 16Sixth Annual Red, White & Bayou Crawfish & Texas Music Festival –11am-11pm. Headliner: Texas country artist Kevin Fowler. Performances by Grupo Vida, Zane Williams, and Curtis Poullard and The Creole Zydeco Band. Featuring vendors selling products, a Kid Zone with rides and activi-ties, crawfish races, some of the best crawfish on the Gulf Coast and other great food. Tickets: $5 by

5/15, $10 thereafter. Intersection of FM 517 & Hwy 3, Dickinson. RedWhiteAndBayou.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 30Galveston ArtWalk – 6-9pm. See Apr 18 listing. Galves-ton. 409-763-2403. Info: GalvestonArtsCenter.org.Island BrainWorks Open House – 6-9pm. See Apr 18 listing. Island Brain Works, 2218 Postoffice St, Galveston. 409-599-7268. IslandBrainWorks.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3RESTART Class – 12-1:30pm. See Apr 15 listing. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 208 S Friend-swood Dr, Ste B, Friendswood. 713-714-3700. Info/register: ThatWellnessPlace.com. See news brief, page 6.

THURSDAY, JUNE 4RESTART Class – 7-8:30pm. See Apr 15 listing. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 208 S Friend-swood Dr, Ste B, Friendswood. 713-714-3700. Info/register: ThatWellnessPlace.com. See news brief, page 6.


communityresourceguideConnecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email [email protected] to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE

HOOKED ON ACUPUNCTUREClint McCallum, LAc2505 Market Ave Dr, Galveston409-241-3199HookedOnAcupuncture.com

Hooked on Acupuncture community clinic in Galveston is a healing place that is a f f o r d a b l e , w e l c o m i n g , nu tu r ing , i n sp i r ing and educational. We heal with

acupuncture and herbs. See ad, page 14.

DAY SPA

AFFINITY LASER & MED SPA2808 61st St, Galveston409-497-2800AffinityLaserMedSpa.com

We focus on your natural beauty, enhance it, while dimishing distractions that steal from you

looking and feeling your best by providing non-invasive ways to improve skin health and enhance weight-loss efforts. See ad, page 7.

HEALTHY DINING

OASIS JUICE BAR & MARKET409 25th St, Galveston409-762-8446OasisJuiceBar.com

Oasis in the heart of downtown Galveston offers freshly made juices, smoothies, coffee, tea and healthy breakfast options. Lunch op t ions inc lude

sandwiches and creative salads. We also offer an organic products market. See ad, page 10.

HYPNOSIS

SOUTHEAST HYPNOSIS CENTERJulie Nise607 S Friendswood Dr, Ste 1, Friendswood281-996-8000SoutheastHypnosis.com

Southeast Hypnosis Center has helped thousands of people make positive changes in their lives through personalized one-on-one hypnosis sessions to stop smoking, lose weight, improve confidence and reduce stress. Call for free hypnosis interview. See ad, page 3.

NUTRITION

WELLNESS NUTRITION & BODYWORKJennifer Steakley, LMT, NTP208 S Friendswood Dr, Ste B, Friendswood 713-714-3700ThatWellnessPlace.com

Individualized nutrition counseling for clients dealing with chronic health issues. Group nutrition classes using the RESTART Program. Let me show you how to eat your way to wellness! See ad, page 15.

YOGA

THE YOGA HAVEN2507 Market St, Galveston 409-770-9995TheYogaHaven.net

For 10 years offering the path of yoga for vibrant body, awakened mind and open heart, the studio provides an inspiring environment for yoga classes. Daily classes

for students of all levels; special workshops and events offered. See ad, page 9.

Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email [email protected].

classifieds

NA Fun Fact:Natural Awakenings

prints 1,537,000 magazines nationwide

each month.

To advertise with us call:409-939-8156

enings magazine once a month to various loca-tions in Jefferson County the (Beaumont and Port Arthur). Must have a driver’s license, car and valid insurance. $2 per drop location. Email your name, phone number and your experience to [email protected].

SERVICES

MASSAGE – Hawaiian Hands massage offers La Marque residents relaxation and therapeutic services in a relaxing setting. Call 409-797-4484 for an ap-pointment. HawaiianHands.MassageTherapy.com.

OPPORTUNITIES

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS (BRAZORIA AND MATAGORDA COUNTIES) – Distribute copies of Natural Awakenings magazine once a month to various locations in Brazoria and Matagorda counties (Bay City, Lake Jackson, West Columbia, Angleton). Must have a driver’s license, car and valid insurance. $2 per drop location. Email your name, phone number and your experience to [email protected] DRIVERS (JEFFERSON COUNTY) – Distribute copies of Natural Awak-

natural awakenings southeast texas april 2015

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