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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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In This Issue: August 2021

August 2021 Digital Magazine

Please enjoy the August Issue of Natural Awakenings by flipping through the pages of our digital magazine or scrolling through the articles below. 
Grow Local, Eat Local
Six or seven years ago, I listened to a presentation about food—more specifically fruits and vegetables. About soils, chemicals, spoilage, the costs of delivery and about time from picking to eating. Read More »
The Heart Of Oneness Holistic Expo- Sept 24-26 • NJ Convention & Exposition Center In Edison
Get ready to reset, restore & renew in 2021! The Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo is a national community event that connects attendees with some of the finest holistic experts, practitioners and businesses. Read More »
A Fall Shamic Toltec Retreat in Hudson Valley
Breathe in the beauty of peak colors of fall, two hours away, in a beautiful natural space at the Shamanic Toltec Retreat on October 22-24, in the Hudson Valley. Read More »
Zero Waste at Simple Bare Necessities
A new zero-waste shop and refillery has opened in Sparta. Simple Bare Necessities is a store where customers can bring in their containers and fill up on a variety of products without having any packaging to send to the landfills Read More »
Routine Returns at Be Here Now Yoga
Last month, Be Here Now Yoga reopened its studio doors after 14 months of exclusively online classes. “It feels good to be back in the space and we are excited about our summer offerings,” says studio owner Karen Walsh. Read More »
The Emerging Self Festival Opens This Fall in North Brunswick
Touch Mother Earth Non-Profit announces The Emerging Self Festival, enabling people to experience a life-style change event on September 17-19. Read More »
Feng Shui Certification Program, October 1-6
The Conscious Design Institute is excited to announce its fully accredited Professional Feng Shui Certification program. This program is all about your success! Read More »
In This Issue: August 2021
The Happiness Issue! Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, Smiling Makes You Happier, Save Your Gardens Bounty, Pollinator Friendly Gardens and Much More! Read More »
Alberto Villoldo
Alberto Villoldo on Shamanic Healing
Alberto Villoldo, psychologist, medical anthropologist and best-selling author, discusses how shamans today combine ancient wisdom teachings with cutting-edge neuroscience to heal. Read More »
Child blowing nose into tissue in city from irritation of polluted air
Avoid Air Pollutants to Protect Children’s Mental Health
Exposure to even moderate levels of traffic-related air pollutants during childhood results in a greater risk of mental illness by age 18, report researchers. Read More »
Person offering sugary beverage to hand declining
Avoid Sugary Drinks to Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk
Drinking two sugary drinks per day from ages 13 to 18 increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 32 percent in women by age 50. Read More »
Mom sitting at dining room table feeding kid on her lap piece of fruit from fork
Back-to-School Wellness: Tips to Keep Kids Healthy
Parents can ensure children’s health and well-being as they go back to school with these tips for kid's healthy food, family communication, adequate sleep and more. Read More »
Person spraying spray bottle of natural mosquito bug repellent on upper arm
Bug Battle: How to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay
Mosquitoes aren’t just an annoyance; they can carry infectious diseases, so it’s important to know the best ways to keep them at bay, including natural bug repellents. Read More »
Cactus plant
Cactus Poachers Are Denuding Deserts
More than 30 percent of the world’s 1,500 or so cactus species are threatened with extinction, and criminal scavengers are primarily to blame. Read More »
Homemade kimchi with chopsticks
‘Clean the Garden’ Kimchi
This easy kimchi recipe turns common garden veggies into a spicy probiotic ferment that’s loaded with good bacteria and health benefits. Read More »
Bottle of omega 3 supplements next to food sources
Eat Oily Fish to Live Longer
A new large-scale analysis suggests that omega-3s from oily fish may extend lifespan. Read More »
Basket of fresh produce fruits and vegetables
Eat Produce to Lower Stress and Heart Disease
Research finds that eating one cup of nitrate-rich vegetables a day lowers blood pressure and risk of heart disease, while two cups of fruits and vegetables a day can decrease stress levels. Read More »
Gut microbiome under magnifying glass
Microbiome Linked to Risk of Death from Disease
Researchers found that greater numbers of bacteria in the gut from the Enterobacteria family increase the risk of death from cancer, respiratory disorders and gastrointestinal disease. Read More »
Jar of pickled watermelon radishes
Pickled Watermelon Radishes
Enjoy fresh radishes year-round with this flavorful recipe for pickled watermelon radishes. Read More »
Sliced pineapple on cutting board next to jars of homemade pineapple tepache
Pineapple Tepache
Tepache is a wonderful, effervescent, lightly fermented pineapple beverage. It’s made from the skins and core of pineapple, making use of the parts typically discarded. Read More »
Bee pollinating pink and white flower
Pollinator-Friendly Yards: Gardening for Wildlife with Native Plants
Create a pollinator-friendly yard with these gardening and landscape tips for choosing native plants, mowing less often, and avoiding pesticide use. Read More »
Person giving golden lab dog a high five
Power Up Fido: Five Ways to Strengthen Your Dog’s Immune System
Five ways to build resilient immune systems in dogs to stave off disease, keep them healthy, promote optimal wellness, reduce trips to the vet and extend their lives. Read More »
Jars of canned fruits and vegetables for food preservation
Preserving the Harvest: Classic Ways to Store Garden Bounty All Year
Preservation techniques to help capture the bounty of the garden harvest or farmers' market hauls through canning, dehydrating, refrigerator pickling, fermentation or cold storage. Read More »
Person standing outside in sunshine smiling looking happy
Smiling Can Make Us Happier
The benefits of smiling including increased happiness, reduced stress and anxiety, lowered blood pressure and heart rate and less pain. Read More »
No pesticides sign
Soil Regulators Soft on Pesticide Use
A new study recommends changes in how regulatory agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assess the risks posed by the nearly 850 approved pesticide ingredients. Read More »
Cleaned river flowing in woods with mountains in the background
Superfund Mine-Polluted Stream Restorations See Success
Large investments made to clean up acid drainage into streams and rivers polluted by toxic metals from abandoned mining sites are yielding success. Read More »
Textiles of various colors tied together in sky
Textile Manufacturers Fight Climate Change
With a goal of 45 percent reduced CO2 emissions from textile fiber and material production by 2030, Textile Exchange is pushing for urgent climate action. Read More »
Person running through field holding colorful balloons with mountains in background
Think Yourself Happy: Seven Ways to Change Your Mind and Be Happier
Simple, research-based methods to change our thinking, rewire our brains and ultimately, increase our levels of happiness. Read More »
Life coach taking notes while working with client during coaching session
Unleash Your True Potential: Working with a Life Coach Can Help
The benefits of working with a life coach to better understand ourselves and lead fulfilled lives, including tips for hiring the right coach for individual needs. Read More »
Pair of cows tagged for meat
UN Methane Report Faults Big Meat and Big Dairy
With livestock contributing 32 percent of the methane footprint, there is a great need to regulate and mitigate methane emissions from global meat and dairy companies. Read More »
Person in bathing suit doing downward dog yoga pose on stand up paddleboard in the water
Water Sports for a Total Body Workout: Cool Ways to Stay Fit this Summer
Waterskiing, stand up paddle boarding (SUP), river rafting, kayaking, SUP yoga and other summer water sports that improve bone density, elevate mood and engage major muscle groups. Read More »
Person smiling looking happy in the middle of tree holding leaves on branches
Well-Being Basics
Choose happiness by taking these research-supported daily actions to enhance overall well-being. Read More »
Zucchini sliced and dehydrated to look like bacon strips
Zucchini Bacon
This recipe for a vegan take on bacon uses seasoned, dehydrated zucchini strips for a healthy, plant-based snack. Read More »
BACKPACKING is a Learning Experience
Three books in, I thought that I was familiar with what I would encounter on the trail. I went into my section-hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) with preconceived ideas of what it would be like. Read More »
Trail Magic
Acts of generosity in the wild and primitive setting of the Appalachian Trail, where basic amenities of civilization are intentionally absent, are often received in a heightened sense of wonder and gratitude by hikers. These acts of generosity are referred to as “trail magic”. Read More »
In-Print August 2021
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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