tag:www.naturalawakenings.com,2005:/categories/in-print?page=81In-Print | Natural Awakenings Magazine Page 81Healthy Living Healthy Planet2022-01-01T20:58:30-05:00urn:uuid:3664a140-4d8c-47a2-8188-8bd6a97af3ac2021-06-09T15:35:55-04:002022-01-01T20:58:30-05:00Huge Indoor Vertical Farm to Serve Food Desert2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Rachael Oppy<p>The agriculture startup <a href="https://www.plenty.ag/" target="_blank">Plenty Unlimited Inc.</a> is building an indoor vertical farm in the South Los Angeles suburb of Compton to provide jobs and fresh produce to the historical “food desert” and surrounding areas. Traditional farms are usually only able to harvest crops a few times a year, but because Plenty’s hydroponic farms are free of the limitations of seasonal changes, weather conditions, pests and natural disasters, they can produce food year-round. The crops are cultivated in a clinically sanitary environment with full personal protective equipment for staff, as well as robots to do much of the picking. The first time produce is touched by human hands is when the consumer opens the package.</p><p>Plenty’s project condenses 700 acres of farmland into a 95,000-square-foot warehouse. Its first vertical farm opened in South San Francisco in 2018, and it maintains a research and development farm in Laramie, Wyoming. By building farms vertically, healthy, quality produce can be grown without harming the environment, especially in urban areas, where land is limited and food insecurity may be widespread. In addition to the vertical plant towers, Plenty uses LED lighting and automation to plant, feed and harvest crops. The warehouses grow plants faster and with more nutritional density with no need for pesticides, using a fraction of the water required by traditional farming.</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:d4f256e1-7231-4b17-83d2-babbea7d093e2021-06-09T15:47:34-04:002022-01-01T20:58:31-05:00Dealers Align Behind Electric Cars2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Rachael Oppy<p>Traditionally, auto dealerships have presented a skeptical and confusing experience for those seeking to purchase electric transportation. When Tesla launched the Model S electric sedan in 2012, it had to build its own stores to educate consumers about electric vehicles (EV) because dealers wouldn’t sell them in Texas or Michigan, for instance. The subsequent success of Tesla, Ford and GM EV models, along with a plan to stop selling new internal combustion cars by 2035 in California, have propelled the transition from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles.</p><p>The American division of German automaker Volkswagen is delivering large quantities of their electric SUV ID.4 as part of a nationwide launch, with more than 650 dealers on board. U.S. CEO Scott Keogh reports that the goal is to have at least one vehicle initially at every VW dealer in America. He says, “We see the potential for EV sales to double this year. We’re optimistic that this is a turning point year for electric vehicles.”</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:9ed1fd7b-bd62-46d0-bfbd-5f95a1123dc32021-06-09T15:59:11-04:002022-01-01T20:58:32-05:00Las Vegas Seeks to Ban Nonfunctional Grass2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Rachael Oppy<p>With <a href="https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/81st2021/Bill/7910/Overview" target="_blank">Assembly Bill 356</a>, Las Vegas-area water officials hope to impose the first policy in the U.S. banning grass on “nonfunctional turf” that no one walks on in such places as highway medians, housing developments and office parks. This ornamental grass, which occupies about eight square miles in Las Vegas, requires four times as much water as drought-tolerant landscaping like cactus and other succulents. Removal by 2026 could reduce annual water consumption by roughly 15 percent. Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones says, “To be clear, we are not coming after your average homeowner’s backyard.”</p><p>California imposed a temporary ban on watering ornamental grass during a recent drought, but no state or major city has eliminated specific categories of grass permanently. The water authority banned developers from planting green front yards in new subdivisions in 2003 and offers owners of older properties up to $3 per square foot to tear out sod and put in desert-type landscaping. Still, water consumption in southern Nevada has increased 9 percent since 2019. The Colorado River, which accounts for 90 percent of southern Nevada’s water, is under intense pressure. Last year was among the driest in the region’s history, when Las Vegas went a record 240 days without measurable rainfall. If the initiative is successful, it may be duplicated in other areas that face their own water crises.</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:3e9a43e8-3d6b-4843-98ab-2ad90e381dab2021-06-09T16:14:46-04:002022-01-01T20:58:34-05:00Nature Documentaries Mislead Public Opinion2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Rachael Oppy<p>Nature documentaries, often narrated in a soothing tone accompanied by a compassionate-sounding orchestral score, offer easy escapism from everyday routines with dramatic landscapes and extreme close-up views of the animal world. Over 1 billion people have watched the BBC shows <i>Planet Earth II</i> and <i>Blue Planet II</i> in the last three years and more than 20 projects are in the pipeline through 2022 from the BBC, Silverback Films (<i>A Perfect Planet</i>) and others. In a way, these documentaries shape the way we define nature, especially in an era of restricted global travel. By selecting the most cinematic shots and editing native peoples out of the picture, they create a virgin, parallel universe that is both beautiful and inaccessible.</p><p>In a 1995 essay, “<a href="https://www.williamcronon.net/writing/Trouble_with_Wilderness_Main.html" target="_blank">The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature</a>,” historian William Cronon debunks the concept of wilderness, arguing that European settlers in North America had transformed the idea of wilderness as worthless, scary and unimproved land by reimagining it as a pristine garden of Eden. The unswerving presentation of nature as an untouched wilderness in nature documentaries misleads viewers into thinking that an abundance of these areas currently remains. This encourages people to build environmental solutions around preserving untouched places and possibly kicking indigenous peoples out of their homeland, he charges.</p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:3b5ee345-d8a6-43f7-a41f-5df560bcae3c2021-06-09T16:52:33-04:002022-01-01T20:58:38-05:00Composting Made Easy: Turn Food Waste into ‘Black Gold’ 2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Rachael Oppy<p>Just 3 percent of uneaten food in the U.S. is composted, reported the Natural Resources Defense Council in 2012. The remaining food scraps rotting in landfills account for 23 percent of U.S. methane emissions, a greenhouse gas at least 25 times more powerful than carbon monoxide in global warming. With minimal planning and effort, however, food scraps can be recycled through composting into an organic, high-nutrient fertilizer.</p><p>Compost is called “black gold” for its high value in gardening, but it’s simply decayed organic material. Consider all the organic materials that fall to the forest floor, break down and return to the earth. This process can be easily recreated at home.</p><p><b>To start composting, get a couple of containers. </b></p><p>• <span><b>A covered kitchen bucket. </b>Beautiful containers abound, but an old pan will work. Countertop positioning makes it easy to toss in kitchen scraps, but it could also be placed under the sink or in the freezer. A review of several options can be found at </span><a href="https://www.thespruceeats.com/" target="_blank">The Spruce Eats</a><i>. </i></p><p>• <span><b>A yard bin or pile.</b> Due to critters and pets, a lid is recommended. Gardening stores sell compost bins, but they can be made using instructions at </span><a href="https://homesteading.com/" target="_blank">Homesteading</a><i>. </i></p><p>Bins in place, start collecting and piling. Organic materials will break down—it’s just a matter of time. The pile should consist of yard waste (grass clippings, plant scraps, small sticks) and kitchen waste (peels, cores, eggshells, tea leaves, coffee grounds, bread). Do not include invasive weeds, meat, bones, dairy products, oils or pet excrement. </p><p>The basic recipe is a mix of nitrogen-rich/green materials (food waste, grass clippings, plant trimmings) and carbon-rich/brown materials (dried leaves, sticks, shredded newspaper or cardboard). Shoot for 25 percent green materials. </p><p><b>An unbalanced pile can be amended.</b></p><p><b> </b>• If it’s wet, moldy or stinky, add more brown materials and stir with a pitchfork to increase oxygen flow and loosen the pile.</p><p>• A pile that is too dry will take longer to break down. Add kitchen scraps, green grass clippings or sprinkle with water to encourage microbial activity. </p><p>A balanced pile that is stirred or turned weekly will decay the fastest. Seeing worms and other soil organisms in the pile is a good sign that the process is working. </p><p><span><b>Finished compost </b>looks like dark, rich soil. Spread it onto the garden in the spring. Scoop some into the holes for new plants. Side dress plants all season. </span></p><p>Compost releases nutrients gradually, improves soil condition and helps retain water. Plants thrive with better root systems. Compost gardeners reap bountiful harvests. </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:03a435b2-8369-46b5-b92b-57becfe066522021-06-10T14:41:24-04:002022-01-01T20:58:48-05:00Food as Medicine: The Healing Power of Nutrition2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Julie Peterson<p>Eating is a basic need, but many Americans are not filling this need with healthful choices. Among the more than 700,000 Americans that die each year from heart disease, stroke or Type 2 diabetes, about 45 percent eat meals heavy in salt, processed meat and sugary drinks, and low in fruits, vegetables, fish and nuts, according to a March 2017 <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2608221" target="_blank">study</a> in the <i>Journal of the American Medical Association.</i></p><p><span>“I fully understand and empathize with people in the public,” says T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., author of the groundbreaking <i>The China Study</i> and founder of the </span><a href="https://nutritionstudies.org/" target="_blank">T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies</a>, in Ithaca, New York. Campbell has often stressed that public and professional understanding of nutrition is lacking. </p><p>The problems with the Standard American Diet (SAD) start with the very ground it is grown in. Large-scale farming in the U.S. has depleted the soil, producing lower nutrient foods. In addition, many foods are processed by manufacturers to improve shelf life, which further destroys nutrients and requires toxic additives. </p><p>“The default choice, the easy choice, is the inexpensive, highly processed food. Our built environment throughout the country has made it easier to find fast food than a produce store,” says Lisa McDowell, director of <a href="https://www.stjoeshealth.org/find-a-service-or-specialty/lifestyle-medicine/" target="_blank">lifestyle medicine</a> and clinical nutrition at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. </p><p>SAD is a primary risk factor for high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids, increased blood glucose and weight gain, <a href="https://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/media/Factsheet1.pdf?ua=1" target="_blank">according to the World Health Organization (WHO)</a>. These intermediate conditions can lead to full-blown chronic diseases such as <a href="/article_tags/heart-health" target="_blank">heart disease</a>, stroke, <a href="/article_tags/cancer" target="_blank">cancer</a> and <a href="/article_tags/diabetes" target="_blank">diabetes</a>, all of which are on the rise. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/chronic-diseases.htm" target="_blank">The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports</a> that 60 percent of American adults have at least one chronic disease and 40 percent have two or more, making chronic disease the leading cause of death and disability in the country.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/media/en/gsfs_general.pdf" target="_blank">good news from WHO</a> is that up to 80 percent of heart disease cases, 90 percent of Type 2 diabetes cases and one-third of cancer incidences could be avoided by a healthier diet, as well as lifestyle changes like stopping smoking and increasing physical activity.</p><p>A healthy diet is not as simple as cutting out convenience foods, because many people literally can’t stop eating them. Studies have compared the addictive properties of added <a href="https://alcoholstudies.rutgers.edu/sugar-addiction-more-serious-than-you-think/" target="_blank">sugar</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110711151451.htm" target="_blank">salt</a> to those of nicotine and cocaine. “Additives like sugar release opioids and dopamine in the brain. The same neurochemical changes in the brain occur in addictions,” says Claire Stagg, DDS, founder of <a href="https://www.mynaturalawakenings.com/businesses/fl-indian-harbour-beach-health-connections-dentistry" target="_blank">Health Connections Dentistry</a><span>, in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, and author of <i>Smile! It’s All Connected, </i>a layperson’s guide that explains the essential connections between the mouth and overall wellness.<i> </i>“People need to be educated, or re<i>-</i>educated, to take ownership of their health by remembering the basic premise that their bodies can be healthy if they get the right nutrients to facilitate and support that basic process.” </span></p><p><span>Campbell agrees that more people need to be educated. A major theme in his latest book,<i> The Future of Nutrition, </i>is how to sift through the conflicting information that exists. </span></p><h3>Healthier Helpings</h3><p>As the food industry continues to woo Americans with fast and easy processed foods, there are consumer shifts taking place. “About a quarter of U.S. adults are trying to manage a health or medical condition by making healthy food and beverage choices,” <a href="https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/2019/us-consumers-desire-to-use-food-as-medicine-is-evidenced-by-emerging-superfoods/" target="_blank">stated the NPD Group consumer research firm</a> in 2019. “Younger adults, ages 18 to 24, are particularly interested in using foods to improve their health.”</p><p>It turns out that it’s most beneficial to focus on adding what is needed for optimal health, instead of worrying about what to eliminate. As <a href="https://drwilliamli.com/" target="_blank">William Li, M.D.</a><span>, counsels in <i>Eat to Beat Disease, </i>“Human nature abhors deprivation.” As president of the Angio</span>genesis Foundation, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Li advises us to “practice health care at home every day in our own kitchens.” He suggests frequently eating such simple, but disease-defying foods as dark chocolate, walnuts, kiwis, sourdough bread and sauerkraut.</p><p>“I recommend participating in bigger box stores. They do a great job at making high-quality food available at an inexpensive price,” says McDowell. She also suggests batch cooking and planning meals ahead for the week. </p><h3>The Power of Plants</h3><p><span>Plant-based eating<b> </b>is finally becoming mainstream, thanks in part to such eye-opening documentaries as <i>Forks Over Knives</i>, <i>Earthlings</i>, <i>PlantPure Nation </i>and <i>Food, Inc.</i> Research backs up the benefits. In a 2019 </span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.119.012865" target="_blank">study</a><span> in the <i>Journal of the American Heart Association,</i> Johns Hopkins researchers report that in a 30-year period, people eating a mostly plant-based diet were 32 percent less likely to die from a cardiovascular condition and 25 percent less likely to die from any cause. A 2017 </span><a href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/46/3/1029/3039477" target="_blank">report</a><span> published in<i> International Journal of Epidemiology</i> suggests that fruits and vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of many chronic diseases and may protect against certain types of cancers. </span></p><p>For treatment, reversal and prevention of chronic disease, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, in Chesterfield, Missouri, recommends eating a primarily plant-based diet containing minimally processed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. </p><p>Campbell says that moving to a 100 percent plant-based diet “and staying there for one to three months, provides an opportunity for virtually everyone to finally crave a salad on a regular basis. This is a place wherein people have little or no interest to backslide because their taste preferences have profoundly changed.”</p><p>As plant-based eating gains momentum, there are more imitation meat products. These foods can be helpful to transition away from meat, but Campbell cautions, “They do not replace the whole plant-based foods, even though they are plant-based, because salt, sugar and added oil are usually added.” </p><h3>Eating by the Colors</h3><p>Eating fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of vibrant colors ensures we get a variety of phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The federal <a href="https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/previous-dietary-guidelines/2015" target="_blank">Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends</a> consuming two and one-half cups of vegetables and two cups of fruit each day. McDowell suggests including “deeply pigmented fruits and veggies in at least five different colors, so that you’re getting all of the micronutrients and they’re all working together.”</p><div class="image-main"><div class="image-with-caption image-main"><img alt="Tomatoes shredded carrots corn zucchini broccoli red cabbage on tortilla representing colorful vegetables" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/828701/fill/700x0/colorful-vegetables.jpg?timestamp=1623360254"><div class="small"><p>anna shkuratova/AdobeStock.com</p></div></div><p> </p></div><p>Aim to include a couple different foods from each of the following color groups over a week’s time. Infographics and charts are available for download from the <a href="https://www.heart.org/" target="_blank">American Heart Association</a><span><i>,</i> </span><a href="https://www.veganeasy.org/" target="_blank">Vegan Easy</a><i>, </i><a href="https://drchatterjee.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Ranjan Chatterjee</a><span><i> </i>and others. Apps such as Eat the Rainbow Food Journal, </span><a href="http://rwapps.co.uk/" target="_blank">Eat Five</a> and <a href="https://www.veghunter.com/" target="_blank">VegHunter</a> also make vegetable and fruit intake easy to track.</p><p><b>Green: </b>Dark greens have cancer-blocking chemicals like allyl sulfides, lutein and indoles, which inhibit carcinogens. They also contain folate for healthy cells and calcium for stronger bones, muscles and heart regulation. Get plenty of asparagus, avocados, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green tea, kale, kiwi, spinach and green herbs.</p><p><b>Blue and purple: </b>Anthocyanins wipe out free radicals, boost brain health and reduce inflammation. Resveratrol can delay cellular aging, protect the heart and reduce risk of some cancers. Add blueberries, blackberries, eggplant, elderberries, figs, grapes, plums, raisins, eggplant and purple cabbage. </p><p><span><b>Red: </b>Rich in lycopene, a potent scavenger of gene-damaging </span>free radicals, red plants lower risk of certain cancers and boost heart, brain, eye and bone health. Try apples, beets, cherries, cranberries, raspberries, red peppers, tomatoes and watermelon.</p><p><span><b>Yellow and orange: </b>Contain vitamin C, hesperidin and carotenoids such as beta-carotene to inhibit tumors, protect eyes, detoxify the body, reduce inflammation and boost the </span>immune system and heart health. Add apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, carrots, mango, oranges, pineapple, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tangerines and yellow peppers. </p><p><b>White and brown: </b>The onion family contains allicin and beta glucans, which have anti-tumor properties and can help lower cholesterol. Nuts contain healthy fats. Other foods in this group contain blood pressure-regulating potassium and antioxidant flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol, along with digestion-boosting fiber. Choose beans, cauliflower, garlic, leeks, mushrooms, nuts, onions, parsnips and whole grains.</p><h3>Gaining Gut Health</h3><p><span>The gut<b> </b>contains the organs that make up the digestive tract and the gut microbiome, a balance of microorganisms that survive </span>on food. A healthy gut can prevent and heal illnesses in the digestive tract, immune system, cardiovascular system, kidneys and brain. </p><p>If the gut is burdened with unhealthy foods and digestion is impeded, illness may arise. However, shifting to healthier, plant-based foods can cause a measurable shift in the gut microbiome in three to four days, Duke University <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature12820" target="_blank">researchers report</a><span> in <i>Nature. </i>Gut health can be enhanced and restored with specific foods: </span></p><p><b>Enzymes </b>to break down food are found in raw fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nuts and fresh herbs, and can be destroyed by cooking or processing. These work before the body’s digestive enzymes kick in to improve digestion, eliminate toxins and boost energy. <a href="https://www.nestacertified.com/the-science-behind-the-raw-food-diet-plan/" target="_blank">Studies</a> have shown that raw plants also help with weight loss, decreasing cholesterol and reducing inflammation.</p><p><b>Probiotics</b>, live bacteria that promote healthy gut flora, are found in fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, sourdough bread, yogurt, kefir, pickles, miso and cheddar cheese. </p><p><b>Prebiotics</b>, undigestible natural fibers that feed probiotics, abound in apples, asparagus, bananas, barley, burdock root, dandelion greens, flaxseeds, garlic, oats and onions. </p><h3>Going Local</h3><p><span>Whole foods grown locally provide the most nutrition.<b> </b></span><a href="https://michaelpollan.com/" target="_blank">Michael Pollan</a><span>, professor of science and environmental journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of <i>In Defense of Food</i>, famously said, “Don’t eat anything your great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.”<b> </b></span></p><p>Buying, preparing and eating whole foods may seem laborious at first, but the shift away from “easy foods” can quickly become a way of life as the body begins to feel better. “We hear stories every week about people who have fixed health issues from eating healthy,” says Brock Hall, owner of the <a href="https://www.mynaturalawakenings.com/businesses/fl-melbourne-beach-florida-field-to-forks" target="_blank">Florida Fields to Forks</a> organic community supported agriculture (CSA) farm in Malabar, Florida. He adds that everyone “ought to get closer to your food” by growing it or getting to know organic farmers at local markets, self-pick operations or through CSAs.</p><p>Healthy eating is about balance. Enjoy comfort foods occasionally, focusing on the bigger picture of more healthful foods overall.</p><p><i></i><br></p><p><span><i>Julie Peterson has contributed to </i>Natural Awakenings<i> for more than a decade. Connect at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.</i></span></p><p><i><br></i></p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/06/30/359216/the-nutrition-shift-in-the-medical-field" target="_blank"><img alt="michelle lemanPexelscom" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/828696/fit/80x80/healthy-food-medicine.jpg?timestamp=1623359737" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/06/30/359216/the-nutrition-shift-in-the-medical-field" target="_blank">The Nutrition Shift in the Medical Field</a></h4>
<p>The medical community is slowly shifting toward using nutrition in tandem with traditional care to help manage and prevent disease. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/06/30/359216/the-nutrition-shift-in-the-medical-field">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/06/30/359217/food-to-heal-the-planet" target="_blank"><img alt="markus spiskeUnsplashcom" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/828698/fit/80x80/healthy-food-soil.jpg?timestamp=1623359786" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/06/30/359217/food-to-heal-the-planet" target="_blank">Food to Heal the Planet</a></h4>
<p>Organic, locavore and small-farm advocates are speaking out against the U.S. food system with its use of pesticides, poor treatment of animals and lack of regenerative soil management. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/06/30/359217/food-to-heal-the-planet">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:b78fde2e-5f32-48fb-a70e-be188e7341d92021-06-10T17:02:37-04:002022-01-01T20:58:49-05:00The Nutrition Shift in the Medical Field2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Julie Peterson<p>“We, as a society, have gotten locked into focusing on disease cure over health care,” writes <a href="https://nutritionstudies.org/" target="_blank">T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D.</a><span>, author of the bestselling <i>The China Study</i> and the recently released <i>The Future of Nutrition</i>. Fortunately, as studies prove that diabetes, kidney disease, cancer and Crohn’s disease improve with changes in diet, the medical community is slowly shifting toward using nutrition in tandem with traditional care to help manage and prevent disease. </span></p><p>Unfortunately, says John Osborne, M.D., director of cardiology at <a href="https://sothcardiology.com/" target="_blank">State of the Heart Cardiology</a>, in Dallas, “The amount of nutritional education in medical school is minimal.” Now, the <a href="https://www.lifestylemedicine.org/" target="_blank">American College of Lifestyle Medicine</a> (ACLM) is aiming to fill that void by training healthcare teams to prevent and reverse chronic disease through lifestyle behaviors. </p><p>Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is one example. After a group of physicians and registered dietitians received ACLM certification, it launched a <a href="https://www.stjoeshealth.org/find-a-service-or-specialty/lifestyle-medicine/" target="_blank">Lifestyle Medicine</a> and Clinical Nutrition program. “The goal is to provide support to individuals and teach them to hardwire best practices that optimize their own personal health and potential,” says Lisa McDowell, program director. </p><p><a href="https://foodasmedicineinstitute.com/" target="_blank">The Food as Medicine Institute</a>, in Portland, Oregon, also offers a training program for healthcare professionals and nutritionists to implement community-based nutrition programs. <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/functional-medicine" target="_blank">The Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine</a>, in Ohio, offers programs that help patients identify genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors to shift health from illness to well-being. <a href="https://www.gaplesinstitute.org/" target="_blank">The Gaples Institute</a>, in Deerfield, Illinois, offers nutritional training and accreditation for medical clinicians, as well as free nutritional instruction online for the public.</p><p><br></p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/06/30/359186/food-as-medicine-the-healing-power-of-nutrition" target="_blank"><img alt="prostock-studioAdobeStockcom" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/828651/fit/80x80/food-as-vitamin-sources.jpg?timestamp=1623360651" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/06/30/359186/food-as-medicine-the-healing-power-of-nutrition" target="_blank">Food as Medicine: The Healing Power of Nutrition</a></h4>
<p>Well-being is increasingly linked by researchers to a healthy diet, motivating many people and the medical community to take seriously plant-based diets and the role of gut microoganisms. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/06/30/359186/food-as-medicine-the-healing-power-of-nutrition">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:ee7801ad-275d-47b5-9f20-ce1ac3b593152021-06-10T17:15:12-04:002022-01-01T20:58:50-05:00Food to Heal the Planet2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Julie Peterson<p>Eating healthy also means making a choice for the health of the planet. </p><p>Organic, locavore and small-farm advocates are speaking out against the industrialized U.S. food system with its extensive use of pesticides, poor treatment of animals and lack of regenerative soil management. Organizations like the <a href="https://rodaleinstitute.org/" target="_blank">Rodale Institute</a>, <a href="https://regenerationinternational.org/" target="_blank">Regeneration International</a>, <a href="https://kisstheground.com/" target="_blank">Kiss the Ground</a> and the <a href="https://eco-farm.org/" target="_blank">Ecological Farming Association</a> are working to train farmers to <a href="/2021/02/26/347675/down-to-earth-the-promise-of-regenerative-organic-farming" target="_blank">regenerate soils</a> to not only restore climate stability, but also provide far healthier foods from nutrient-rich soils.</p><p>“I believe if we have a greater understanding of our local and regional food systems, we will be moving in a more sustainable, intentional and responsible direction for ourselves, our communities and the planet,” says <a href="https://dishingupthedirt.com/" target="_blank">Andrea Bemis</a>, author of the farm-to-table cookbook <i>Local Dirt </i>and operator of Tumbleweed Farm with her husband Taylor in Mount Hood, Oregon. </p><p>Local food is easier on the planet for several reasons. “Large commercial farms work the soil so intensively that they must use synthetic fertilizers to get anything to grow,” says Brock Hall, owner of <a href="https://www.floridafieldstoforks.com/" target="_blank">Florida Fields to Forks</a>, in Malabar, Florida. Alternatively, cover crops keep nutrients in the soil, requiring less water and naturally sequestering more carbon from the atmosphere. Shorter transit or shipping distances after picking uses less pollution-causing fuel. </p><p>“Choosing the right food is not only important for our personal health, but also is important for our planet and for our checking account,” says <a href="https://nutritionstudies.org/" target="_blank">T. Colin Campbell</a>, author of <i>The China Study </i>and <i>The Future of Nutrition.</i> “I have come to believe, after being in this discipline for 65-plus years, that our choice of food is the easiest and most important choice we can make to address the many existential problems that we now face.”</p><p><br></p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/06/30/359186/food-as-medicine-the-healing-power-of-nutrition" target="_blank"><img alt="prostock-studioAdobeStockcom" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/828651/fit/80x80/food-as-vitamin-sources.jpg?timestamp=1623360627" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/06/30/359186/food-as-medicine-the-healing-power-of-nutrition" target="_blank">Food as Medicine: The Healing Power of Nutrition</a></h4>
<p>Well-being is increasingly linked by researchers to a healthy diet, motivating many people and the medical community to take seriously plant-based diets and the role of gut microoganisms. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/06/30/359186/food-as-medicine-the-healing-power-of-nutrition">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:794b7d9d-a38f-4d6b-b459-56502a435ad72021-06-14T14:36:29-04:002022-01-01T20:58:51-05:00Growing Food Security: The Benefits of Urban Gardening2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Laura Paisley Beck<p>For a lot of Americans, healthy food is scarce. According to <a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/" target="_blank">Feeding America</a>, more than 35 million Americans faced food insecurity in 2019. That number is expected to increase substantially due to the pandemic, which disrupted the food supply chain in ways that most Americans have never seen. </p><p>The good news is that urban and localized gardening can bring fresh, healthy, organic, sustainable and affordable food to nearly every household. A 2013 <a href="https://agricultureandfoodsecurity.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2048-7010-2-8" target="_blank">abstract</a><span> from Michigan State University published in <i>Agriculture & Food Security</i> states that </span><a href="/2019/06/28/225035/crops-in-the-city-urban-agriculture-breaks-new-ground" target="_blank">urban gardens</a> could not only provide healthy food, but also create a more resilient food system. </p><p>During the pandemic, many people jumped at the chance to put in a garden, and in cities, where available land is limited, creative solutions have emerged. Just about any space could serve as a viable garden, including a spare room, rooftop, shipping containers or an empty warehouse. With hydroponics, no soil is required and with vertical systems, planters are stacked, requiring a small footprint.</p><h3>Veggies Instead of Lawns</h3><p>Phan Truong, known as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/asuburbangardener/" target="_blank">A Suburban Gardener on Instagram</a>, turned her entire yard into an organic vegetable garden and invited her Scaggsville, Maryland, neighbors to share in the bounty. “I had this table of abundance in front of my house, but people weren’t taking anything! So, I hid in my garden, waiting for neighbors to walk by, and then I’d rush the fence and encourage them to take food,” Truong says. “My husband thought everyone would think we were weird.” Now, instead of getting polite waves from afar, the garden has become a communications hub among neighbors. </p><h3>Sharing the Abundance</h3><p>When Truong witnessed friends losing jobs and struggling, she was inspired to lend a hand by assisting some of them to plant their own low-maintenance, high-yield gardens to save money on healthy meals. Once she had assisted people close to her, she decided to expand her reach. “My garden spits out a lot of food. I discovered there are local food banks and charities that collect food. I was surprised that they will take any abundance,” says Truong. </p><div class="image-with-caption image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/829539/fill/700x0/flowers-as-food.jpg?timestamp=1623696201"><div class="small"><p></p><p>geografika/AdobeStock.com<br></p><p></p></div></div><p> </p><p>Garrett Livingood, a North Atlanta, Georgia, blogger, developed <a href="https://sites.google.com/growmycommunity.org/growmycommunity/home" target="_blank">Grow My Community</a> where local farmers, growers and community gardens can upload their location and what they offer, so that the locals know where to go for fruits, vegetables, herbs and other healthy eats. According to Livingood, “<a href="https://www.usda.gov/foodwaste/faqs" target="_blank">Forty percent of produce gets thrown out every year</a>, so it’s not that we don’t have enough food, the problem is access.” </p><h3>Food Security Equals Health</h3><p>Ashlie Thomas, a research scientist known as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the.mocha.gardener/" target="_blank">The Mocha Gardener on Instagram</a>, started gardening for healthy produce and medicinal plants at home in Graham, North Carolina, when family members on limited incomes living in a food desert had been diagnosed with health issues like hypertension and Type 2 diabetes.</p><p>“Imagine having diet requirements that included mostly plant-based food, but your resources are simply not there,” Thomas says. “I didn’t know there was a term for that: food security. There is an increasing population with disease, and food could be the answer.”</p><p>The problem is particularly prevalent in communities with no grocery stores, forcing residents to buy food at gas stations or drive considerable distances to big-box stores. Thomas observed that choices at these kinds of facilities are often between expensive produce or inexpensive junk food. Healthful food is not available or affordable for all. </p><div class="image-with-caption image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/829537/fill/700x0/urban-grown-spinach.jpg?timestamp=1623696051"><div class="small"><p></p><p>geografika/AdobeStock.com<br></p><p></p></div></div><p> </p><p>Thomas believes gardening empowers people to take control of their diet and their health, not only physiologically, but psychologically and spiritually. “It doesn’t just stop at the garden,” she says. “How you treat your body and other people has a positive healthy impact, as well.”</p><h3>Tips to Get Started</h3><p>Follow local gardeners on social media to get ideas.</p><p><b>Think low-maintenance, high-yield. </b>Cherry tomatoes, salad greens, cucumbers and beans are high-producing, low-cost staples.</p><p><b>Flowers can be food. </b>Try violets, pansies, nasturtiums and chives to beautify the garden and the plate.</p><p><b>Grow organic. </b>It’s cheaper and doesn’t harm anyone or anything. “I grow organic because I want to respect my space. I don’t want to control Mother Nature, I want to work with her,” says Thomas.</p><p><b>Herb it up. </b>Mint, rosemary and basil taste great and can deter pests.</p><p>Overall, keep it simple. Set up for success with just enough to learn and enjoy a new lifestyle. It can be expanded upon year after year, providing a bounty of nutritious food security.</p><p><br></p><p><i>Laura Paisley Beck is a freelance writer and self-proclaimed foodie in Madison, Wisconsin. Reach her at LauraPaisleyBeck@gmail.com</i><i>.</i></p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>urn:uuid:88f46fd5-301b-4a64-857b-7b8e5042ea6e2021-06-15T11:50:42-04:002022-01-01T20:58:54-05:00Sizzling on the Grill: Healthy, Sustainable Summer Fare2021-06-30 09:30:00 -0400Laura Paisley Beck<p>For most Americans, summer smells like fresh-cut grass and barbecue sizzling in the backyard. Approximately <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/04/29/2024078/0/en/2020-State-of-the-Barbecue-Industry.html" target="_blank">64 percent of U.S. adults own a grill or smoker</a>, but common practices are bad for the environment. Fortunately, many great chefs have the problem covered with delicious alternatives to traditional, carbon-emitting methods.</p><h3>The Downside of Grilling</h3><p>Most charcoal and all lighter fluids contain chemicals that create air pollution when burned, harming our health and the environment. Better alternatives are sustainably sourced, organic and natural materials, such as <a href="https://www.greenmatters.com/p/eco-friendly-charcoal" target="_blank">charcoal made from bamboo or coconut shells</a>. </p><p>Entrepreneur Fred Grosse sought to solve another problem associated with conventional grilling materials: the taste of lighter fluid on barbecue foods. He invented <a href="https://www.mojobricks.com/" target="_blank">Mojobricks</a>, a carbon-neutral alternative to charcoal designed to impart a smoky flavor to grilled foods. “You’re breathing in 50 percent less particulate matter standing at the grill than if you grill with charcoal or wood,” he says about his bricks made with compressed sawdust from wood mills. “They heat food more efficiently, take up less storage space than bags of charcoal and keep trees growing in the forest.” </p><h3>What Gets Grilled Matters</h3><p>Americans eat three times more meat than the global average. To meet the immense demand, mass-produced beef is trucked across the nation with <a href="https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/what-is-the-climate-impact-of-eating-meat-and-dairy/" target="_blank">dire environmental impacts</a> including cow methane emissions, the burning of fossil fuels for transport and excessive land use. To curtail these impacts, Americans can choose to reduce or eliminate their beef consumption and when they do decide to grill a ribeye or New York strip, choose local, organic, grass-fed beef.</p><p>Eliminating meat is simple as vegetarian and vegan options are innumerable. “Question what a burger is, and off you go with legumes, root vegetables, mushrooms, cheese or whatever you happen to feel like,” says <a href="https://www.martinnordin.com/" target="_blank">Martin Nordin</a><span>, author of <i>Green Burgers</i>. </span><a href="https://www.genevievetaylor.co.uk/" target="_blank">Genevieve Taylor</a><span>’s new cookbook, <i>Charred</i>, features enticing meals to cook over a flame that include vegetables, spices, nuts, herbs and other inventive ingredients. </span></p><p><a href="https://www.thechubbyvegetarian.com/" target="_blank">Amy Lawrence and Justin Fox Burks</a>, co-authors of <i>Low-Carb Vegetarian,</i> have had a dramatic increase in requests for grilled versions of vegetarian dishes, a sign of increasing outdoor cooking trends.</p><h3>Presentation for the Planet</h3><p>When hosting backyard dinner parties, consider that paper and plastic dinnerware will end up in the landfill. Ask guests to bring a plate and fork or mix and match whatever dish sets are on hand. Another suggestion is to go vintage. “There has already been so much manufactured of everything, we wouldn’t need to manufacture another plate, for example, for another generation or two,” says Morgan Miller, owner of <a href="https://rewinddecor.com/" target="_blank">Rewind Decor</a> vintage store in Madison, Wisconsin.</p><p>With a few adjustments, eco-grilling is easy, delicious and much better for the planet. Marinate locally sourced ingredients, burn as carbon-neutral a fire as possible and serve up delicious food on real plates that friends and family will help wash. Guests will be inspired and follow suit in their own homes. As Grosse says, “Each small difference adds up to big change.”</p><p><br></p><p><i>Laura Paisley Beck is a freelance writer and self-proclaimed foodie in Madison, Wisconsin. Reach out at LauraPaisleyBeck@gmail.com.</i></p><p><i><br></i></p><h3><b>Great Grilling Recipes</b><br></h3><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/06/30/359664/bbq-brussels-sprouts-sandwiches-with-brussels-sprout-slaw" target="_blank"><img alt="image courtesy of Justin Fox Burks" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/829755/fit/80x80/BBQ-Brussel-Sprouts.jpg?timestamp=1623777102" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/06/30/359664/bbq-brussels-sprouts-sandwiches-with-brussels-sprout-slaw" target="_blank">BBQ Brussels Sprouts Sandwiches with Brussels Sprout Slaw</a></h4>
<p>This tasty vegetarian recipe for barbecued Brussels sprouts is the perfect meat-free meal to grill up. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/06/30/359664/bbq-brussels-sprouts-sandwiches-with-brussels-sprout-slaw">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/06/30/359665/the-chubby-vegetarian-s-memphis-bbq-dry-rub" target="_blank"><img alt="julia volkPexelscom" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/829757/fit/80x80/vegetarian-memphis-bbq-dry-rub.jpg?timestamp=1623777123" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/06/30/359665/the-chubby-vegetarian-s-memphis-bbq-dry-rub" target="_blank">The Chubby Vegetarian’s Memphis BBQ Dry Rub</a></h4>
<p>Add flavor and spice to your favorite vegetarian grilling recipes with this mixture for Memphis BBQ Dry Rub. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/06/30/359665/the-chubby-vegetarian-s-memphis-bbq-dry-rub">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/06/30/359666/grilled-cumin-carrots-with-pecans-ricotta-and-herbs" target="_blank"><img alt="image courtesy of Genevieve Taylor" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/829756/fit/80x80/grilled-cumin-carrots.jpg?timestamp=1623777144" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/06/30/359666/grilled-cumin-carrots-with-pecans-ricotta-and-herbs" target="_blank">Grilled Cumin Carrots with Pecans, Ricotta and Herbs</a></h4>
<p>Carrots seasoned in cumin and herbs with pecans and ricotta make for a delicious meat-free, vegetarian grilling recipe. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/06/30/359666/grilled-cumin-carrots-with-pecans-ricotta-and-herbs">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.naturalawakenings.com">Natural Awakenings National</a></small></p>