January 2020 Natural Awakenings Jacksonville - St. Augustine Welcome to the January 2020 Issue! Beach Junk: Microplastics Found in Brand-New Sand A Hawaiian beach that was formed by lava from the erupting Kilauea volcano in 2018 is already littered with invisible pieces of tiny plastic. Read More » Bill Moyers on Covering Climate Now Bill Moyers, an icon of broadcast journalism, is calling upon reporters and news outlets to join the Covering Climate Now project to push a cohesive message of science and truth. Read More » Drink Pomegranate Juice to Protect Fetal Brain Growth Babies whose mothers drank pomegranate juice while pregnant have evidence of both better brain connectivity and development of white matter. Read More » Eat Fermented Dairy to Lower Heart Risk Eating and drinking fermented probiotic dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, cheese and sour cream reduces the risk of heart disease for women, report researchers. Read More » Eat Garlic and Onion for Breast Health According to a study, women eating more onions and garlic reduced their risk of breast cancer by 59 percent compared to those that ate less of these. Read More » Green Therapy: Ecopsychology and the Nature Cure Ecotherapy, green therapy or nature-based therapy, all branches of ecopsychology, is helping to connect people with nature as a means of healing physical and mental health. Read More » Gut Check: Feeding the Immune System Nutrition is key in building up a strong immune system. How to foster healthy gut bacteria plus immune-boosting recipes for Creamy Turmeric Cauliflower Soup and Lentil Stew. Read More » Live Near Green Spaces to Stave Off Metabolic Syndrome Middle-aged and older adults that live in greener neighborhoods have a lower risk of metabolic syndrome. Read More » Living Long and Well: Age-Defying Habits and the Fountain of Youth Researchers have long pursued the keys to a long and healthy life, concluding that longevity is determined by a combination of genes, environment, lifestyle choices and luck. Read More » Money Talks: Climate Change Increases Banks’ Financial Risks Climate risks may cause home values to fall significantly; banks to stop lending to flood-prone communities; and towns to lose tax money needed to build seawalls and other protections. Read More » Munch More Nuts to Stave Off Weight Gain Research finds that increasing nut intake by a half serving a day—about 12 almonds or seven walnut halves—is linked to lower instances of weight gain and obesity. Read More » Natural Healing For Hands: Getting a Grip on Pain Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome are commonly linked to hand and wrist pain, but these effective holistic solutions can alleviate discomfort. Read More » Raising Environmentalists: Teachers Prep Kids for the Future Educators are using hands-on lessons to get K-12 students not only interested in the world’s environmental priorities, but also actively participating in solutions. Read More » Rethinking Rice: Farmers Respond to Climate Change Nfamara Badjie is planning to bring the rice-growing practices of his West African ethnic group to East Coast climates through his Ever-Growing Family Farm operation. Read More » Tidying Up The Bucket List: Deciding What We Really Want Many people have a bucket list of things they want to make sure they experience. Tidying up that bucket list when it no longer reflects a person’s values and deepest desires makes sense. Read More » Time’s Up: Renewable Energy Should Speed Progress The International Energy Agency predicts that renewable energy will surpass coal as the world’s leading source of electricity by 2030. Read More » Trays Up: Air Meals May Get an Eco-Makeover Each airline passenger produces about three pounds of trash per flight. British design firm PriestmanGoode has refashioned the economy meal tray, replacing plastic with renewable materials. Read More » Uncowed by a Hurricane: Cattle Survive Churning Sea Three cows turned up at Cape Lookout National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina months after being swept out to sea by Hurricane Dorian. Read More » When Older Pets Get Quirky: Dealing With Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) can affect dogs or cats. Here are signs to look for, ways to care for the pet and tips for possibly preventing cognitive decline. Read More » When Workouts Don’t Work: Why Less Is Sometimes More Exercise is a proven component in losing weight and preventing cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but working out can serve as a physical stressor. Here's how to find an optimal balance. Read More » WEIGHT LOSS What Works and What Doesn’t Weight loss reduces join pain, improved movement, better sleep as well as regulation of hormones. Read More » Yoga Den Mandarin Sponsored Content Spotlight on Yoga Den's founders Read More » Bob Sima and Shannon Plummer in Concert Consciousness Concert January 31 Read More » Acupuncture Physician Joins "A Way of Life Acupuncture" Dr. Christine Yastrzemski, AP, founder of A Way of Life Acupuncture in Jacksonville, is excited to welcome licensed acupuncture physician Dr. Jen Hart, DACM, AP, to her practice. Read More » Mind Body and Beyond Center Announces New Location Sponsored Content Mind Body and Beyond Center, an integrative, holistic wellness center in Jacksonville, has moved to a new, larger location across from Mayo Clinic. Read More » New Options for Addressing Chronic Pain and Poor Posture New office inside Be Still Float Studio, 1050 Riverside Avenue, suite A, in Jacksonville. Read More » New Year, New Location, New Services for First Coast Clinic Sponsored Content New location 14215 Spartina Court, near Mayo Clinic. Read More » Ponte Vedra Founder of International SI School Graduates First Class in India Gill is on a mission to grow the number of SI practitioners worldwide. Read More » The Unexpected Benefits of Tai Chi Practitioners find better balance, less danger of falls, lowered stress levels and a calmer outlook on life and relationships. Read More » In-Print, Inspiration