Natural Awakenings Phoenix ~ February 2021 Welcome to our February Issue A Song to Open Our Hearts and Relieve Stress Many of us are searching for ways to relieve stress. Eckankar, the path of spiritual freedom, offers a direct link to divine love and guidance amid the stresses of daily living. Read More » Combining Plants and Crystals for Profound Healing While plants work to heal the physical body and ease symptoms of “dis-ease,” crystals help us shift our energy, and move into the energy of wholeness and health. Using both simultaneously means that we are treating ourselves as emotional, energetic and physical beings—after all, we are not one dimensional. Read More » Heart Health with Herbs Even if our blood pressure and cholesterol levels are within normal range, over time, chronic stress can wreak havoc on our heart health. It is more important than ever that we familiarize ourselves with the following herbs and foods that have been proven to prevent heart problems and incorporate them into our diets. Read More » Mouse in the House [publisher's letter] While reading the article on page 30 in this month’s Natural Pet section, I couldn’t help but think of my childhood pet mice: Miss Mousie, Sir George, Little Ann and Old Dan, along with a half-dozen babies, compliments of Little Ann! Read More » Your Mouth and Heart Disease Isn’t it interesting that both the buildup on teeth and the buildup in arteries is called “plaque”? Read More » Becoming Heart-Minded Meditation teacher Sarah Blondin explains how drawing our attention inward and focusing on our heart center can help us become more kind, calm, loving, accepting, inspired and creative. Read More » Big Love From Small Animals: The Joy of Furry Little Companions Smaller pets, such as hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice or guinea pigs, can be the furry friend that a family may long for without the long-term commitment and higher care costs of a dog or cat. Read More » Blueberry and Pumpkin Seed Yogurt Bark This frozen yogurt bark recipe can be an easy breakfast alternative that balances high-quality protein, dietary fiber and heart-healthy fats. Read More » Childhood Immunity Enhanced by Natural Environment Research finds that switching a child’s playground from gravel to natural forest floor could foster a better immune system by exposing them to a greater variety of skin and gut bacteria. Read More » Climate Change Makes Hurricane Destruction Worse Research suggests hurricanes will remain stronger and persist longer after making landfall, causing greater and more widespread destruction, because of ocean waters heated by climate change. Read More » Consider Melatonin to Lower COVID-19 Risk Melatonin, a hormonal sleep aid, appears to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 by 30 percent, report researchers from the Cleveland Clinic. Read More » Disaster Fatigue Influences Decisions Extreme levels of stress from wildfires, hurricanes, floods and the pandemic can induce “disaster fatigue”, a form of emotional exhaustion that may reshape how people make choices. Read More » Earth-Friendly Engagement Rings From conflict-free or ethical diamonds to inherited pieces or alternative gems, here are green, sustainable and meaningful jewelry for engagement rings. Read More » Eat Chili Peppers to Live Longer Regular consumption of chili peppers can reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 26 percent and from cancer by 23 percent, suggests a review of thousands of studies. Read More » Europe Tightens Methane Emission Monitoring, But U.S. Does Not 62 oil and gas companies acting as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership have adopted framework to report methane emissions, but none of them are in the U.S. Read More » Government Updates Risks of Amalgam Fillings In updated guidelines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that dental amalgam fillings may cause health problems for some high-risk groups because of mercury vapor leaks. Read More » Halting Hypertension: Exercises to Lower High Blood Pressure Fortifying healthy lifestyle changes with aerobic exercise, yoga and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can help prevent and manage high blood pressure readings. Read More » Heartfelt Eating: Best Foods for a Heart-Healthy Diet The basics of heart-healthy eating with plant-based foods to incorporate into diets for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Read More » Lentil, Raisin and Pecan-Stuffed Acorn Squash With lean proteins from the lentils, complex carbohydrates from the squash and heart-healthy fats from the pecans, this well-balanced vegan recipe is nourishing and delicious. Read More » Live a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle: Integrative Cardiologists on Preventing Heart Disease Research shows that simple lifestyle changes can prevent 80 percent of cardiovascular disease deaths through diet, exercise and other holistic prevention options to improve heart health. Read More » Low-Carbon Cement Offsets Climate Change The manufacture of cement creates up to 8 percent of the total global carbon dioxide generated by humans, but a variety of approaches are being explored to lower these worrisome emissions. Read More » Plastic Particles Ingested in Food and Water Researchers estimate people that drink bottled water ingest an additional 90,000 microplastic particles annually compared to 4,000 microplastics for those that drink only tap water. Read More » Quinoa, Edamame and Carrot Salad with Ginger-Sesame Dressing Edamame’s flavors pair well with quinoa, crunchy cabbage and carrot slaw, and combine seamlessly with the spicy, toasty notes of the ginger-sesame dressing in this heart-healthy recipe. Read More » Saying ‘I Do’ to the Planet: Green Weddings Embrace Sustainability Ways to green up your wedding through eco-friendly, sustainable invitations, venues, flowers, vegan food, favors and other planning details. Read More » Shefali Tsabary on Conscious Relationships Clinical psychologist, international keynote speaker and bestselling author, Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D., discusses conscious relationships, intimacy, romance and love. Read More » Shoes Off! Keep Germs Outside Prevent the spread of germs, including viruses and bacteria, from entering the home via shoes with these helpful tips. Read More » Special Valentine’s Offer from NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com is having a sale to help singles connect with like-minded individuals looking for loving relationships online through the conscious dating website. Read More » Take Propolis and Vitamins A, E and D for Respiratory Tract Infections Studies find that propolis and vitamins A, E and D help to reduce symptoms and durations of upper respiratory tract infections. Read More » Tools for Inner Peace: Exploring Mindfulness and Meditation Mindfulness, which puts us into the moment, and meditation, which accesses deeper levels of consciousness, offer science-backed benefits for body and psyche, helping us achieve inner peace. Read More » Use Glass Baby Bottles to Avoid Microplastic Particles Polypropylene baby bottles—which comprise 82 percent of the global baby bottle market—release an “extraordinary” number of microplastic particles, reports a new study. Read More » Veggie Tricks: How to Get Kids to Eat Better Parenting bloggers and nutritionists share effective ways to get even the pickiest of children to eat more vegetables. Read More » In-Print Mens Health Womens Health Healthy Phoenix healthy pets childrens health kids health pet health
