Natural Awakenings Twin Cities May 2023

HEALTHY LIVING | HEALTHY PLANET
FREE
WOMEN’S WELLNESS
TWIN CITIES EDITION
MAY 2023

JUNE: MEN’S HEALTH SERIES
Alan Christianson, NMD
Increase Metabolism
in 28 Days
CHANGE YOUR LIFE
AS YOU AGE!
Join the most influential
and renowned experts
in men’s health and
personal development!
Ben Greenfield
Key Habits to Create Tough
Kids and a Lasting Legacy
Eric Plasker, DC
The 100 Year Lifestyle
Create tangible next steps
and masterfully apply
new life skills TODAY!
Krista Burns, DC
Peak Performance Posture
Bryce Appelbaum, OD, FCOVD
Keeping Your Eyes
Strong as You Age
Scan the QR code to
JOIN US LIVE ONLINE
Every Tuesday in
June at 8pm EDT
Tarin Forbes, DO, ABFM,
ABAARM, FAARFM, ABOIM
Performing When and
How You Want
Christopher Smith
Tracy Gapin, MD, FACS
Overcoming the
Men’s Health Crisis
Christopher Smith
How to Show up as a
Leader in Your Home
2 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

May 2023
3

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET
letter from the publisher
TWIN CITIES EDITION
Publisher Candi Broeffle
Editors Cheryl Hynes
Randy Kambic
Ad Sales Candi Broeffle
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CONTACT US
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Ph: 763-270-8604
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appropriate use of any treatment.
Candi Broeffle
May is Natural
Awakenings’ annual
Women’s Wellness
month, and we celebrate all
the people who have accepted
the nurturing role of a mother.
In the early days of Mother’s
Day, the idea was to honor the
sacrifices that mothers made for their children. Though this sounds like a noble sentiment, it
can set us up for unrealistic expectations and resentments.
If you are someone who was not blessed with a nurturing maternal person in your
life, this day can leave you feeling lonely and hurt. Perhaps you are a mother who, God
forbid, has lost one or more children or is distanced from them, leaving a void where love
should be. Rather than a day of celebration, we are faced with a day of sadness.
Instead, we can all take this day as a reminder of the person we want to be and the life we
want to live. It is the perfect time for a reset from the New Year’s resolutions we made, and the
upcoming long, sunny days are the best incentive to focus on our well-being.
• Take time for self-care. As a mother, it’s easy to put the needs of others first, but
it’s essential to prioritize your own well-being. Schedule time for exercise, meditation
or hobbies that bring you joy and fulfillment.
• Pursue your dreams. Don’t let the responsibilities of motherhood hold you
back from pursuing your passions and goals. Whether it’s starting a new career,
taking a class or traveling to a new destination, show your children that it’s possible
to find purpose and joy outside of our everyday life.
• Set a positive example. By prioritizing your own well-being and happiness,
you are setting a positive example for your children. You are teaching them that
self-care and pursuing one’s dreams are important parts of a fulfilling life.
• Embrace joy. Let go of the idea that sacrifice is necessary for motherhood. Instead,
embrace joy and all that life has to offer. Show your children that having a family
and a life that brings you purpose and joy is not only possible, but necessary.
Inside these pages are articles to help you on your wellness journey, with more
online-only content at NaturalTwinCities.com. There are suggestions for exercise, healthy
eating, stress reduction and other self-care practices that can be incorporated into your
busy life. Additionally, local advertisers offer excellent gift ideas for services and products
that also help focus on your loved one’s well-being.
Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish—it’s essential. By prioritizing your
own health and happiness, you are better able to care for your loved ones and live a wholly
fulfilling life. So, let’s toss out sacrifice and make room for all the joy we deserve!
Wishing you wellness,
Natural Awakenings
Magazine is ranked
5th Nationally in
CISION’S ® 2016
Top 10 Health &
Fitness Magazines
Natural Awakenings is printed on
recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.
Candi Broeffle, Publisher
4 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

Natural Awakenings is a network of natural lifestyle
magazine publishers empowering local communities
with knowledge, resources and connections to lead
healthier lives on a healthy planet.
16
16 SOLVING STRESS
Holistic Tips From Lifestyle Doctors
18 TAKING CHARGE
OF HEALTH THROUGH
BIOLOGICAL DENTISTRY
Contents
18
20 TAKING CONTROL
OF OUR HORMONES
Nutritional Tips to Support
the Delicate Balance
20
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23 THE DIVINE MESSINESS
OF MOTHERHOOD
24 FIRST SIGNS
OF MENOPAUSE
How to Resolve Vaginal Dryness
26 ENVIRONMENTAL
CAUSES OF WOMEN’S
COMPROMISED HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS
6 news briefs
10 health briefs
12 global briefs
14 business
spotlight
15 eco tip
26
20 conscious eating
23 inspiration
24 healing ways
27 calendar
29 resource guide
May 2023
5

Broeffle, CPC
Candi
ComposureCoaching.com
Courtesy of The National Center for Appropriate Technology
news briefs
AgriSolar Partnerships Bloom in Minnesota
Minnesota energy companies,
solar developers,
farmers and chefs are
partnering in innovative
ways to grow food, renewable
energy and pollinator habitat,
all within the same piece of
land. The National Center
for Appropriate Technology’s
(NCAT) AgriSolar Clearinghouse
has released its short
film, Dive into the Prairie,
which takes viewers on a short tour of Minnesota’s agrivoltaic success stories.
AgriSolar or agrivoltaic partnerships are growing across solar-appropriate farmland
in the U.S., providing a new revenue source for farmers, clean energy for surrounding
communities and myriad benefits to crops, livestock and pollinators.
Chef Mateo Mackbee uses solar-grown foods at his St. Joseph restaurant. Everything
from salad greens grown under or around solar panels to the honey that sweetens his salad
dressing, “Agrivoltaics is a big thing for me to see what can be grown, grazed or raised in
and around solar arrays,” shares Mackbee. “AgriSolar is the future, for sure.”
Mackbee sources solar-grown honey from Bare Honey, in Minneapolis, which
partners with energy companies and solar developers to place his commercial beekeeping
boxes on the same land as the solar panels and pollinator habitat. “Pollination is a huge part
of what commercial beekeeping is,” states Bare Honey Founder Dustin Vanasse. “We have
our co-located honeybees and those, combined with the native pollinators on these sites,
will provide pollination to the farms that are around the site.”
NCAT’s AgriSolar Clearinghouse is connecting businesses, land managers and researchers
with trusted resources to support the growth of co-located solar and sustainable
agriculture. “The partnerships blossoming in Minnesota show a real-world example of
how it can work for several industries that share common goals,” explains NCAT Energy
Director Stacie Peterson, Ph.D. “Land is finite, and AgriSolar partnerships mean we can
maximize our resources for the benefit of communities, the environment and businesses.”
To learn more, visit ncat.org.
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6 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com
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for a free Discovery Session
Lime Relaunches
E-Scooters in Twin Cities
Lime, the world’s largest shared electric
vehicle company, has relaunched a fleet
of 650 industry-leading Gen4 e-scooters in
Minneapolis, with an additional 150 at the
University of Minnesota, as well as a full fleet
in St. Paul—one of the company’s longest
running markets. To add something new
this year, Lime has also launched a fleet of
1,000 of its industry-leading Gen4 e-bikes
for the first time in Minneapolis. Lime’s
introduction of e-bikes ensures Minneapolis
residents will have continued access to
bikeshare service following the loss of Nice
Ride. The Gen4 e-bike pairs perfectly with
its e-scooter counterpart to provide different
options for various types of trips.
In its ongoing effort to prioritize safety
and equity in the Twin Cities, Lime’s discounted
rides program, Lime Access, offers
significant discounts for riders receiving
public assistance. Eligible riders can sign up
for “Lime Access” on the website. To further
bolster this program, Lime will offer automatic
discounts in the city’s Equity Distribution
Areas, regardless if users are signed up
for Lime Access.
“Lime takes pride in our continued
partnership with Minneapolis, a city that
is able to rely on us to provide sustainable
transportation options that are safe, affordable
and emissions-free. We know the
keys to success in Minneapolis are safety
and equity, which is why we’ll continue our
proactive safety outreach and ensure shared
vehicles are available to all riders, regardless
of ZIP code or income,” shares LeAaron
Foley, director of Government Relations
at Lime. “We look forward to working to
increase ridership among folks underserved
by traditional transportation options while
strengthening connections to Metro Transit
buses and light rail,” further explains Foley.
To learn more, visit Li.me.
Courtesy of Lime

Men’s Wellness Series
Join Natural Awakenings and KnoWEwell for a life-changing series entitled The
Healthy Man each Tuesday in June at 5 p.m. PDT/8 p.m. EDT.
TOPICS
n Lifestyle choices that add years to a man’s life and life to his years
n Tips to maintain youthful energy, a desired weight and a healthy libido
n Strategies for optimal eye health
n Good posture techniques for peak human performance and pain-free aging
n Habits that create resilient kids and a lasting legacy
SPEAKERS
n Ben Greenfield, human performance consultant and author of 17 books
including Boundless Parenting
n Dr. Eric Plasker, chiropractor and author of The 100 Year Lifestyle
n Dr. Tracy Gapin, board-certified urologist and author of Male 2.0 and
Codes of Longevity
n Dr. Krista Burns, chiropractor, founder of the American Posture Institute
and author of The Posture Principles
n Christopher Smith, co-founder of Family Brand and the Campfire Effect,
creating leaders at home and in business
n Dr. Bryce Appelbaum, board-certified optometrist and pioneer
in neuro-optometry
n Dr. Tarin Forbes, board-certified integrative doctor specializing in
anti-aging and metabolic medicine
n Dr. Alan Christianson, naturopathic endocrinologist specializing in
thyroid disease and author of The Metabolism Reset Diet and The Thyroid Reset Diet
Admission is $59, which includes all Tuesday evening sessions and a
one-year membership to KnoWEwell. To learn more and register, visit
Tinyurl.com/KWWmen or scan the QR Code.
We have a secret in our culture,
and it’s not that birth is painful.
It’s that women are strong.
~Laura Stavoe Harm
Silver Fillings:
Just ugly?
Or harmful too?
This is a picture
of a “Silver”
or “Amalgam”
filling. It is 50 -
52% MERCURY!
If the mercury in
this filling were spilled in a school,
it would be evacuated....
This is a picture
of a “light cured”
composite filling.
They can last as
long or longer
than mercury
fillings with no danger of releasing
harmful heavy metals.
As noted on Dr. Mercola,
Dr. Oz, and 60 Minutes...
Mercury fillings may have a
significant negative impact on your
overall health.
Make 2023 2017 YOUR year
for healthy choices!
Dr. Madelyn Pearson is the
current president of the
Holistic Dental Association and
has advanced training in safe
mercury removal.
Call or visit our website for
more info: (651) 483-9800
www.NaturalSmilesDental.com
May 2023
7

news briefs
Cowles Center Presents Full
Season of Shows
The Cowles Center for Dance
& the Performing Arts, Minnesota’s
hub for dance, presents
a stellar 11-production season of
shared performances, new work
commissions, mainstage debuts,
co-productions, world premieres
and a returning holiday tradition.
The full season of evening-length
productions includes productions
by Rhythm Street Movement,
Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre, Crash Dance Productions, Arena
Dances and more.
“What’s so special about this season particularly is that it showcases
the progression of those who engage with the Cowles Center,”
remarks co-director Joseph Bingham. “We have a Generating Room
artist making their Cowles debut, a 2021 MERGE artist now sharing
the stage for the Fall Forward Festival, two artists from last year’s Fall
Forward Festival presenting full-scaled productions, reimagined pieces
featured at other venues and, of course, a returning holiday tradition.”
The season begins October 21 with the second annual Fall Forward
Festival, a three-week festival of shared evening performances
that uplifts the incredibly robust dance community and connects a
variety of artists with one another and new audiences. Then, back
for the holiday season is Rhythm Street Movement’s Who Brought
the Humbug? What has quickly become a holiday favorite, the fun,
funky, hilarious show pairs live music with amazing tap dance for a
unique mix of comedy, drama and mystery that’s sure to be a memorable
evening for the whole family.
“Presenting stellar dance productions is at the forefront of our
work, but so is professional and artistic development, and this season
perfectly represents that momentum-building,” adds co-director Jessi
Fett. “We’re proud of the steppingstones we’ve built into our programming
and will continue to be supportive players in accelerating
the careers of artists throughout the state.”
Cost: $30-$45. Sunday matinee is pay as you are. Location: 528
Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. To learn more, visit TheCowlesCenter.
org/season.
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8 NA Edition/Location website address
Photo by Bill Cameron
Lauren Gaffney and Alina Hornfeldt
Mastel’s Health Foods to Live
on Through New Owners
Mastel’s Health Foods, a local, independently owned health
food store, is now owned by two of its current employees.
After years of dedicated service to the store, General Manager
Lauren Gaffney and Marketing Manager Alina Hornfeldt have
purchased the store from Founder John Mastel. They are eager to
continue providing the community with healthy, natural supplements
and organic food options.
“We are thrilled to take the helm of this beloved community
institution and build upon its legacy,” states Gaffney. “Our goal is
to continue offering the same commitment to quality and wellness
while exploring new and innovative ways to serve our customers.”
Founded 55 years ago, the store is renowned for its knowledgeable
staff, dedicated to helping customers make informed decisions
about their health and wellness.
“We are passionate about the wellness industry and are dedicated
to providing our customers with the highest quality products and
services,” shares Hornfeldt. “We believe in the power of supplements
to improve health and well-being and are committed to helping our
community live their healthiest lives.”
Under the new ownership, Mastel’s Health Foods will continue
to offer the same high-quality products and exceptional customer
service that customers have come to know and love. The store will
also expand its offerings to include new products and services to
meet the community’s changing needs.
“We are excited for the future of Mastel’s and look forward to
serving our community for many years to come,” Gaffney states. “We
have been a part of this store for years, and we are passionate about
its mission to help people lead healthier lives,” explains Hornfeldt.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to carry on this important work
and positively impact our community.”
Mastel’s Health Foods is a locally owned health food store offering
a wide selection of supplements, organic food and personal care
products. The store is dedicated to helping customers make informed
decisions about their health and wellness. The new owners are eager
to continue serving the community and to provide a welcoming and
educational environment for all customers.
Location: 1526 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul. For more information, visit
Mastels.com. See ad, page 25.
Courtesy of Mastels

Courtesy of KookaburraMeets
Friendship Building Events
for Minnesota Women
Erica Schulte-King, founder of Kookaburra Meets, announces
the schedule of spring/early summer events coordinated specifically
to encourage friendship among Minnesota women. At 10
a.m., on May 7, interested parties can join for a leisurely 2.8-mile
walk around Lake Harriet, in Minneapolis.
“Everyone is welcome,” shares Schulte-King. “Even if you
are not interested or able to make the walk, I encourage you to
come. There will be others who will want to leisurely stroll closer
to the bandshell or just sit and visit.”
Wanting to provide access to as many women as possible,
Schulte-King has scheduled a special evening event, from 6 to 9
p.m., on May 18, at Camp Bar, in St. Paul. A hike at the Murphy-Hanrehan
Park Reserve, at 9 a.m., on May 20, rounds out the
May events.
Kookaburra Meets began after an impulsive TikTok video in
which Schulte-King shared how difficult it was to make friends in
Minnesota. She heard from hundreds of women sharing their own
struggles with making friends, so an idea was birthed to connect
women seeking friendships. She boldly stated that she would be
at Lake Harriet one Saturday morning in November and invited
others to join her.
Women from all over the country shared how they wished
they could be there, confirming her belief that many felt disconnected
and lonely. Not knowing if anyone would indeed show
up, Schulte-King got to the bandstand early and held up a sign
with the TikTok logo and her channel #eckadoo. She hoped that
at least one or two people would show up and, instead, welcomed
over 100 women at that first event. Following this success, Kookaburra
Meets, a company dedicated to connecting women of all
backgrounds, was born.
Additional events this summer will include a Stillwater
Riverboat Cruise in June and an evening event at the Northland
Country Club in Duluth in July, with more events being planned
for later in the year.
Cost: Free-$54, depending on event. For more information, visit
KookaburraMeets.com.
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May 2023
9

health briefs
Light Therapy for
Autoimmune Symptoms
Fatigue is often reported
as the most disabling
symptom for people with
autoimmune disorders,
significantly impairing their
physical, mental and social
quality of life. Autoimmune
researchers in Denmark,
Fran.Vila/ShutterStock.com
noting previous studies
wherein bright light therapy
significantly reduced
fatigue related to traumatic brain injury and cancer, devised
a study involving multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The study
was conducted as a randomized, sham-controlled trial of
26 people with MS that reported a Fatigue Severity Scale
(FSS) score greater than 36. Participants received either
bright light therapy or a dim red light sham intervention for
30 minutes each morning for two weeks. The bright light
therapy decreased FSS scores over the course of the study.
However, this benefit occurred in the sham control group as
well, highlighting the need for more research on the effects
of light therapy on fatigue.
Reversing Type 2 Diabetes
With Diet
A Type 2 diabetes (T2D) diagnosis is often regarded as a
lifelong sentence and typically treated as such, requiring
an increasing number of drugs. However, sustained remission
of T2D is now well established.
In a recent primary care-based cohort study published
in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, advice on a
lower-carbohydrate diet and weight loss protocols was
offered routinely to 9,800 patients with T2D between
2013 and 2021. Overall, remission was achieved in 51
percent of the patients that adopted a low-carb lifestyle,
with individuals diagnosed with T2D within the previous
year more likely to achieve remission (77 percent) than
those that had been diagnosed for longer (20 percent
for patients with a T2D duration greater than 15 years).
Additionally, about 97 percent of the patients experienced
improvements in blood glycemic control. Average
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and systolic blood
pressure decreased, and there were also significant
financial savings on drugs.
A low-carb diet may give hope to those with T2D as a
practical, manageable way to achieve remission, as well
as substantial health and financial benefits. Even for those
with poorly controlled T2D that may not achieve remission,
improvements in diabetic control may be within reach.
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10 NA Edition/Location website address

Benefits of Water Immersion
During Birth
Water immersion during labor is an increasingly popular
birthing option for healthy women that experience a
straightforward pregnancy, labor spontaneously at full
term and plan to give birth in a midwifery-led care setting.
The process involves immersion in a birth pool to achieve
relaxation and pain relief during the first and possibly part
of the second stage of labor. The mother exits the pool
for the actual birth, allowing the infant to emerge outside
of the water. This method is different from a water birth,
during which the woman remains in the pool as the infant
emerges into the water and is then brought to the surface
to initiate breathing.
In a new systematic review and meta-analysis published
in BMJ Open, researchers compared the interventions
and outcomes of water immersion, water birth and
no-water-immersion births. After reviewing 36 studies
encompassing the experiences of about 150,000 women,
researchers found that water immersion significantly
reduced the use of epidurals, injected opioids, episiotomy,
maternal pain and postpartum hemorrhage. There was
also an increase in maternal satisfaction and improved
odds of an intact perineum with water immersion. Water
births were associated with increased odds of the tearing
of the umbilical cord from the placenta, making delivery of
the placenta difficult, although the absolute risk remained
low (4.3 versus 1.3 per 1,000). There were no differences
in any other identified neonatal outcomes.
Ground Picture/ShutterStock.com
Seniors Avoid the Hospital
With Nature
New research has found
that exposure to natural
environments may reduce
the risk of hospitalization
for older adults with Alzheimer’s
disease, related
dementias and Parkinson’s
disease. The cohort study
included approximately 62
million Medicare beneficiaries
aged 65 years or older
Ruslan Huzau/ShutterStock.com
that lived in the contiguous
United States from 2000 to
2016. Researchers looked at ZIP-Code-level greenness,
percentages of park cover and blue space (water) cover,
as well as hospitalizations. They found that exposure to
greenness, park cover and blue space cover reduced hospitalizations
for patients with Parkinson’s. Greenness—but
not park or blue space cover—was associated with a lower
risk of hospitalization due to Alzheimer’s disease and
related dementias.
Ashwagandha May Improve
Women’s Sexual Experience
Poor sexual function
affects about 40 percent
of women and may worsen
their quality of life. Ashwagandha
(Withania somnifera)
is a known adaptogenic
herb that has been
reported to improve sexual
satisfaction, sleep and
quality of life in women.
Researchers in Mumbai set
Indian Food Images/ShutterStock.com
out to evaluate the efficacy
and safety of standardized
ashwagandha root extract in improving sexual function in
healthy females.
A randomized, placebo-controlled study of 80 women
between the ages of 18 and 50 with hypoactive sexual desire
disorder and no other hormonal imbalances were given
either 300 milligrams of ashwagandha root extract
twice daily or a placebo for eight weeks. Sexual function,
quality of life and safety were assessed. In comparison to
the control group, the ashwagandha participants experienced
statistically significant improvements in sexual
desire, arousal and satisfaction; improved lubrication and
orgasm; and less pain.
May 2023
11

global briefs
Scientists Invent Battery Made of Paper
Scientists have developed a
water-activated, disposable,
paper battery, according to a
proof-of-concept study published
in Scientific Reports.
The developers believe
that their invention could
be used to power a variety
of low-power, single-use
electronics, such as smart
packaging, environmental
sensors and medical diagnostic
devices, thereby reducing
their environmental impact.
The single-cell battery consists
of one square centimeter of paper treated with salts. One side is printed with ink containing graphite flakes, which
serves as the positive terminal, and the other side is printed with ink containing zinc powder to create the negative terminal.
Another layer of ink containing graphite flakes and carbon black is applied over that, linking the battery’s positive
and negative ends to two wires secured by wax.
When a few drops of water are added to the paper, the salts dissolve, releasing charged ions that spread across the
paper to activate the battery. In tests, researchers were able to reach a stable 1.2 volts. (The voltage of a standard AA
alkaline battery is 1.5 volts.) The battery’s performance decreased significantly after an hour when the paper dried. However,
after two more drops of water were added, the battery maintained 0.5 volts for an additional hour.
Exploring the ‘Doomsday Glacier’
Roughly equivalent to the
size of Florida, the Thwaites
Glacier is one of the
most rapidly melting ice
formations in Antarctica,
having retreated more
than eight miles since the
1990s. Scientists refer to it
as the “doomsday glacier”
due to concerns about
its collapse, which could
raise global sea levels by
more than a meter, causing
devastation along coastal
cities and communities.
According to two papers
published in the journal
Nature, researchers are learning more about the driving forces behind the glacier’s rapid retreat, thanks in part to a robot
deployed through a 600-meter-deep borehole in the glacier. Although melting has increased beneath the ice shelf, the
current melt rate is slower than many computer models had estimated. A layer of fresh water between the bottom of the
ice shelf and the ocean below slows the rate of melting along flat parts of the shelf.
Scientists discovered that the melting had produced a stepped topography across the bottom of the ice shelf,
resembling a staircase, as well as cracks in the ice where rapid melting was taking place. “Our results are a surprise,
but the glacier is still in trouble,” says Dr. Peter Davis, oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey and lead author
of one of the papers.
12 NA Edition/Location website address
photo courtesy of newatlas
photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Sulfur Shortage Predicted
According to a study in The Geographical Journal led by
University College London, a shift away from fossil fuels
and an increase in agricultural demand will cause the demand
for sulfuric acid to increase considerably from 246
to 400 million metric tons by 2040. The result is an annual
supply shortfall of between 100 and 320 million metric
tons, or between 40 and 130 percent of the current supply.
Sulfur is a byproduct of processing crude oil and natural
gas. As the world decarbonizes in response to climate
change, there will be a diminished supply of both fossil
fuels and sulfur. Sulfuric acid is required for the manufacture
of phosphorus fertilizers used in global food production
and for the extraction of rare metals from ores crucial
to the transition to a green economy, such as cobalt and
nickel used in batteries.
Unless action is taken to reduce the need for this chemical,
the study authors warn, environmentally damaging
mining will be required to fill the shortfall.
erome LABOUYRIEShutterStock.com
Fir Trees Die in
Record Numbers
According to unpublished
research by the U.S. Forest
Service reported by Columbia
Insight, fir trees in
Oregon and Washington
died in record-breaking
numbers in 2022. Labeled
“Firmageddon” by
researchers, the event involved
more than 1.23 million
acres across the two
states, with Oregon being
hardest hit. In some areas,
an estimated 50 percent or
more of fir trees died.
Surveys of more than 69
million forest acres (over
100,000 square miles) in
Tomasz Klejdysz/ShutterStock.com
Oregon, Washington, and
small sections of California
and Idaho were conducted using a combination of fixedwing
aircraft, helicopters, drones and satellite imagery.
Although fir die-offs have been recorded as far back
as 1952, when surveys began, Firmageddon dwarfs all
previous accounts. The causes are believed to be drought
compounded by insects and fungal diseases working together
to weaken and kill trees. Extreme heat, including a
record-breaking heat dome, is also being investigated as
a possible factor. The dead fir trees pose a major fire risk,
especially during the next two years while the trees hold
onto their dried-out needles.
Using Algae for Industrial
Carbon Capture, Food, Fuel and Plastic
In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, Honda is experimenting
with the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii class of algae
they have nicknamed “Dreamo”, which can eat twice its
weight in carbon dioxide in three to five days, depending
on the time of year. Developers are growing Dreamo on the
roof of a car factory in Tochigi, Japan, where it can absorb
CO 2
emissions from manufacturing. It has been genetically
modified to grow hardier and five times faster than
ordinary microalgae, allowing the growth solution to last
lazaalaexa/ShutterStock.com
months instead of weeks.
The development team is also exploring additional uses
for Dreamo. After serving its pollution-fighting role, the algae can be harvested, dried and turned into food, fuel or plastic.
Depending upon the amount of nitrogen applied to the algae, its cellular composition can be modified to be either
predominantly carbohydrate- or protein-based. When the algae is mostly protein, an enzyme can be added to easily
extract the starch to be used as food or as a raw material in animal food, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. When the algae
is mostly carbohydrate, it can be extracted as glucose and ethanol to be converted into plastic resin or jet fuel.
May 2023
13

Courtesy of Hope Academy
business spotlight
Hope Academy: Fostering
Emotional and Spiritual Health
Through Community
Seeking a healthy lifestyle means far more than eating the right
foods and exercising; it calls for pursuing wellness in all areas of
life: mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Many women, particularly
mothers, face countless demands on their time as they struggle to
juggle jobs, childcare, school, family relationships, sports, lessons,
family dynamics and more. We have come to understand, as a society,
we are uniquely built for community—to find support, share
our resources and know we are not alone.
Yet, in a digital world, the opportunities to connect in real life can
be difficult to find. Where neighborhoods, community centers and
churches were once the hub for connection, more and more people are
isolating and engaging through digital means. The results are feelings
of isolation and loneliness, mounting stress and feeling overwhelmed.
What a Community Can Offer
No one can do it all. That is why churches, schools and community
centers offer support groups, resources and the opportunity
to connect with others in a similar life stage and experience. Hope
Academy, a local Minneapolis K-12 school, actively seeks to not only
offer a quality Christian education to its students, but to also support
parents and families emotionally and spiritually.
“Hope Academy has been my rock. They show me that they’re
not just a school, they’re like a family; there’s a light at the end of the
tunnel and you’re not alone,” one parent shares. “The teachers
have let me know that they are always there whenever I need
help with homework or just with my own life. I was introduced
to Emerge Mothers Academy, a partner organization
to Hope Academy. They are onsite to meet with families
to provide social support. Emerge has helped me with job
resources, resume writing, clothes and food. They also help
me with the financial literacy part of after you get the job and
getting out of debt.”
Spiritual and Financial Support
Our wellness goes beyond just our health and immediate
needs. We also need a sense of purpose and the ability to
pursue our dreams. “Hope Academy has supported me as a single
mother,” shares a Minneapolis parent. “I knew that if I needed
anything, I could call out on them, and they would help me. The
financial support that Hope has offered me has been very helpful
and very affordable and came into my life at a time that I really
needed it. To know that Hope Academy is right here centered in
the middle of Minneapolis—to help us pull out from all the sadness
and tragedies that are going on here—it’s nice to know that Hope
Academy is right here.”
Finding Hope
To embody wellness, women need to seek a community where they
can be known and supported and where people listen; where they
can prioritize self-care and soul-care, and build trustworthy relationships—most
importantly, where they can experience unconditional
love. Hope Academy is a resource for local families, providing a
God-centered, remarkable education for students and an admissions
team focused on supporting women and families. Learn how
this community can help one make connections, receive solutions
to common barriers and provide an education affordable for all by
visiting their campus for a tour. Use this opportunity to experience
how together, with community support, there is Hope.
Location: 2300 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis. For more information
and to set up a tour, contact the Admissions Team at 612-489-5154
or visit HopeSchool.org/tour. Applications for the 2023-2024 school
year can be completed at HopeSchool.org/apply. See ad, page 3.
14 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

eco tip
Earth-Friendly
Delights for Mom
by Marlaina Donato
This year, consider putting an ecological spin on Mother’s
Day by showering her with gifts that honor Mother Earth.
Here are some sustainable gifting ideas.
Flower Power
Lavish her with an eco-friendly bouquet. Conventional
blooms that are flown in from South America can be
riddled with fungicides, carcinogen-laden floral foams,
sheens and other hazardous chemicals, not to mention the
huge carbon footprint required to bring them here. Locally
grown, organic flowers at farmers markets, sustainable
florists and small-business greenhouses are produced
with fewer or no chemicals, support pollinators and require
no jet fuel to get to mom’s doorstep.
Choice Chocolates
Satisfy mama’s sweet tooth with organic, fair-trade
chocolate that helps cocoa farmers earn a living wage and
does not promote deforestation. Opting to buy ethical
chocolate prevents child and slave labor and provides
women equal pay as well as opportunities to own a business.
Look for certified, fair-trade labels as well as non-
GMO and organic certifications.
Bling Blessings
Adorn her with ethically sourced and sustainable jewelry
created from recycled precious metals, Fairmined
Ecological gold and conflict-free gemstones. Beautiful, one-of-a-kind creations can be found at local artisan fairs or
online from eco-conscious jewelers. Look for sellers with sustainable jewelry certifications and those that use recycled,
upcycled or reclaimed materials.
Climate Café
Fill her cup with bird-friendly, shade-grown, fair-trade coffees and teas that offer a healthier caffeine fix while protecting
bird populations and canopy cover. Choosing products labeled Rainforest Alliance Certified or Bird Friendly helps to
ensure the habitat for 40 species of migratory songbirds that winter in plantations.
Local Luxuries
Natalia/AdobeStock.com
There are so many ways to support the local economy while treating mom to an unforgettable experience that makes her
feel extra-special. Give her a gift certificate for a massage, aromatherapy session or makeover at an organic salon. Treat
her to a fabulous dinner at a vegan restaurant. Subscribe her to receive a monthly produce box from a community-supported
agriculture outlet. Pack a healthy picnic and spend the afternoon together at the park. Create a gift basket of
goods made by local artisans, including beeswax candles, pottery or body treats like handmade soaps and lotions.
May 2023
15

Prostock-studioAdobeStock.com
SOLVING STRESS
HOLISTIC TIPS FROM LIFESTYLE DOCTORS
by Linda Sechrist
16 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

Medicine is changing as a new class of doctors endeavors
to treat the whole person rather than the symptoms
of disease, helping their patients achieve optimal
health with lifestyle changes, medicine, herbs, supplements and
modalities tailored to the individual. No longer reaching for a prescription
pad as often, these functional and integrative physicians
are spending an average of 45 minutes per office visit. Using their
sleuthing skills and innovative skillsets, they ask probing questions
about a patient’s current lifestyle and history, pinpoint the
root cause of a problem and craft customized solutions.
To help someone manage stress, a functional or integrative
doctor may suggest a daily dose of herbal tea, nightly entries in a
gratitude journal, a visualization practice, brisk walks, gardening,
art therapy, mindful meditation, a nutrient-rich diet that reduces
food allergies, yoga poses and regular sessions of qigong or tai chi.
Armed with an extensive list of better-for-you choices than addictive,
prescription sleeping pills or tranquilizers, individuals are
empowered to improve their health and eliminate stress. Studies
suggest that 75 to 90 percent of illnesses are stress related. Getting
to the root cause before it escalates into cardiovascular disease, depression
or diabetes is what curious and compassionate doctors do.
“Because sleep is a great resolution to almost anything, it’s one
of the first things I consider,” says Carrie Jones, a functional and
naturopathic doctor in Portland, Oregon. “Stress can be physiological,
caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria and toxins, as well as
blood sugar imbalances. Not getting enough sleep, or poor sleep,
is stressful to the body, which is on alert all the time.”
According to Jones, finding ways to coax the body into feeling
safe can help people relieve stress and get a good night’s sleep.
“People rarely realize that basic things such as joy, play, laughter
and a community of supportive people have anything to do with
feeling safe enough to sleep deeply. It’s why I inquire about those
things,” she explains.
Tips for Sounder Slumber
n Turn the thermostat down in the bedroom. A cool temperature
combats insomnia.
n Snuggle under a weighted blanket. The gentle pressure signals
the autonomic nervous system to go into rest mode.
n Install blackout shades. Light decreases melatonin, the
sleep hormone.
n Avoid alcohol before bed, as it can disrupt the sleep cycle.
n Stop using electronics, including social media, television and
phones, two hours before getting under the covers. The blue
light emitted by screens restrains the production of melatonin.
Connecting and spending quality social time with friends helps to
alleviate stress. Anna Cabeca, a triple board-certified obstetrician
and gynecologist, advises, “Every day, stress causes the stress hormone
cortisol to go up and oxytocin, the connecting hormone, to go down,
lessening the desire to connect. It’s a double whammy for women in
perimenopause and menopause, because hormones are declining, and
stress overloads the already overtaxed endocrine system.”
Rebecca Hunton, personalized medicine doctor and founder
of Radiantly Healthy MD, in Melbourne, Florida, coaches her
patients to modify unhelpful habits. “I’m always looking for that
one thing that patients can easily change. Sometimes it’s teaching
them the difference between stress resilience and stress avoidance.
A stress avoidance activity is spending two hours playing a game on
your phone that leaves you beating yourself up and feeling like, ‘Why
did I waste all that time?’ If, on the other hand, an activity leaves
you feeling energized and wanting to tackle the other things on
your to-do list, you just did a stress resilience activity,” says Hunton.
Stress Resilience Activities
n Meditation
n Prayer
n Chanting a mantra
n Expressing creativity, such as cooking or painting
Carol Penn is a dual board-certified physician and movement
coach in New Jersey. While observing her 87-year-old father
practicing qigong, a form of meditation in motion, she had an
epiphany and saw a powerful life lesson occurring before her
eyes. “Moving with strength and grace through his practice
so close to the end of his life, it occurred to me that he was
role-modeling what it would be like for me to be kind to my
future self. I teach my patients from this perspective, visualizing
their future selves full of health, vitality, wonder and awe,” says
the author of Meditation in a Time of Madness.
Qigong has psychological and physical components, regulating
the mind, body movement, breath and posture. “It balances and
calms the autonomic, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems so that you feel less stress upon completion of the
practice. Movements are designed to build longevity on a cellular
level,” Penn explains.
According to Lorraine Maita, a board-certified functional and
integrative doctor in New Jersey, “The body sends out hormonal
fight-or-flight signals when it’s distressed. In the initial stages,
there’s a release of adrenaline, followed by cortisol, keeping your
body on high alert. To most people, stress is just worry, and
they’re thinking they’re handling it, but stress can be like a viral
program running in the background all the time. It’s still there
whether you’re reacting to it or not, whether you’re stuffing it
under the surface or not. It’s why you go to therapy with mental
stress, or why you need someone to talk to for processing it.”
Maita is a proponent of alternative modalities that help people
modulate the stress response. “I recommend HeartMath to my
patients, which is self-regulation technology based on more than
32 years of scientific research on the psychophysiology of stress,
resilience and the interactions between the heart and brain,”
says the author of Vibrance for Life: How to Live Younger
and Healthier.
Jaquel Patterson, a naturopathic physician and medical director
of Fairfield Family Health, in Connecticut, might determine if her
patient is suffering from chronic stress by testing their saliva for
May 2023
17

cortisol levels in the morning and evening.
Noting that her favorite teas for sleep and
relaxation are chamomile and passionflower,
she explains that passionflower is for someone
that can’t fall asleep because there’s a
radio playing in their head. “For dealing with
stress, I like adaptogens, such as Siberian
ginseng, rhodiola rosea, ashwagandha, holy
basil and L-theanine. The stress response
requires a lot of B vitamins, along with magnesium
and vitamin C,” she says.
Citing Hal Elrod’s book The Miracle
Morning, Patterson recommends starting
every day with a set of stress-relieving
rituals Elrod calls “Life S.A.V.E.R.S.” She
explains, “S is for silence, like meditation. A
is for affirmations. V is for visualization, so
you can visualize how your day is going to
be. E is for exercise. R is for reading, and S
is for scribing, writing things in a journal.”
Pointing out the differences between
stress and anxiety, Patterson notes that
anxiety is a continual rumination of
thoughts, second-guessing and overthinking.
Anxiety can cause stress, but
stress can occur without anxiety. People
with high anxiety sometimes have heart
palpitations. Some stress is good for us.
Without any stressors, Patterson cautions,
we are unmotivated, lethargic and lacking
in enthusiasm.
Technological Solutions to
Quiet the Anxious Mind
n Reflect Orb: This handheld biofeedback
device can help an individual
self-monitor their body’s physiology
and learn to control the involuntary
body-mind connection.
n Meditation apps: Insight Timer, Calm
and similar apps offer guided meditations,
relaxing music videos and
meditation instruction for newbies and
experienced practitioners.
n YouTube videos: Look for musical
compositions with energy frequencies
and binaural beats that encourage
relaxation, promote positivity and
decrease anxiety.
Linda Sechrist has been a contributing writer
to Natural Awakenings publications for
almost 20 years.
Taking Charge of Health
Through Biological Dentistry
by Holly Thompson
Americans are clearly getting sicker in epic proportions. Let us begin with a few
startling statistical facts. Since 1990, chronic fatigue syndrome has gone up
11,027 percent, bipolar disease in youth 10,833 percent, fibromyalgia 7,272
percent, autism 2,094 percent, celiac disease 1,111 percent, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder 819 percent, hypothyroidism 702 percent, osteoarthritis 449 percent and sleep
apnea 430 percent. The list goes on. Various changes have occurred over the past 30 years
that resulted in these alarming trends.
For instance, common sense is not so common anymore. Today, healthcare providers
seem to forget that everything is connected. They understand that humans begin life
as a single cell, and that after many cell divisions that first cell has been turned into the
trillion cells that make up the body.
The childhood song that proclaimed “ … the foot bone is connected to the ankle
bone, the ankle bone is connected to the leg bone,” somehow got lost in medical and
dental training. Let’s shed light on the facts we can no longer ignore.
Dentists see things far sooner in the mouth than a medical doctor. Just looking at
the tongue, a well-trained holistic biological dentist can see it as a condensed map of the
entire body for diagnostic purposes. This has been proven for centuries by Chinese medicine
to be accurate and effective. Unlike modern Western medicine, Chinese medicine
can attest to centuries of effectiveness.
Dentists also know common medications like proton pump inhibitors such as
Prevacid and Prilosec, used for treating acid reflux, address the symptoms in the opposite
way of what is needed to cure or treat. People with acid reflux need more acid—not
less, yet it is treated by decreasing acid. This causes the entire systemic pH to drop to an
acidic level. The drop in body pH has devastating consequences that easily show up in
the mouth and can be detected sooner by dentists when they see things like unexplained
bone loss around teeth and impaired bone healing. The reason for this is calcium and
phosphorus get pulled from the bones and teeth to try to reduce the acidic pH levels.
This further leads to a domino effect of other health issues like kidney disease, infections,
mineral deficiency, dementia, pneumonia, liver disease, CVD, RA, adverse pregnancy
outcomes, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cancer.
©BalanceFormCreative
18 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

There are far more effective ways to
correctly treat acid reflux that will not
have detrimental long-term health effects.
Again, if one system is treated by a drug
in which that drug did not consider the
connections to all the other systems of the
body, then the patient will get sicker and
sicker without knowing why.
When a dentist recommends a night
guard to prevent the wear caused by
grinding of teeth, it’s important to understand
the underlying cause. Although
stress is commonly blamed, clenching
and grinding may be a sign of an airway
deficiency. This can be caused by factors
such as a tongue tie or oversized tonsils
or inflamed tonsils and can lead to the
narrowing of the airway. Tooth grinding
has also been associated with elevated
cortisol levels. Interestingly, heavy meals
at dinner and evening indoor activities
like watching TV and using phones or
computers can drastically increase cortisol
levels.
In addition, dentists have been putting
toxic materials into patients’ mouths
which ultimately affect all the human body
systems. For instance, mustard gas, used in
past warfare, is the same substance that is
released in our bodies if we have “mummified
teeth” resulting from root canal
treatment. A root canal tooth is a dead
organ that has been shown to release this
toxin gas into our bodily systems because
it becomes more gangrenous and toxic the
longer it is in the body. Imagine, the only
place in our body where we leave a dead
organ is in our mouth.
Dentists have also been removing
teeth without properly cleaning the socket
and replacing it with healing/growth factors
to allow the bone to fill in. This leads
to dead, infected bone that is as dangerous
and unhealthy as leaving a dead, infected
bone in the body. These areas of poor
bone healing are called ‘cavitations’ which
release toxins into the body over time.
Cavitations and tooth infections have been
linked to insomnia, poor digestion, suicidal
tendencies, trigeminal neuralgia, cancer,
chronic sinusitis—the list goes on.
Dentists have been putting mercury
fillings into the mouth that they cannot
even flush down the drain or throw away
because they require special hazardous
waste removal. Yet they somehow think
putting it into a patient’s tooth with which
they chew every day, releasing mercury into
their body with each bite, is acceptable.
Titanium implants are commonly placed into jaws even though they are not 100
percent titanium. These implants have a percentage of mixed metals, including aluminum
and nickel, to which many people are highly sensitive—so much so that they are
unable to wear earrings made of these metals without getting a rash. Imagine what it is
doing to the body when placed into bone.
Titanium has been the solution to replacing missing teeth for years. It was
effective for some, but we must remember it is a metal in a wet environment in the
mouth. This moisture leads to corrosion, which attracts bacteria on the titanium
implant, and acts as a battery in the head. In a world of electromagnetic fields where
5G wi-fi is growing, this will have significant effects and cause unexplained ailments
like tinnitus, headaches, and general sensitivity to the environment that patients battle
every day. Thankfully, today’s patients have access to zirconia implants, a much
better non-metal solution.
In today’s toxic world, we must be our own advocates for our health. While modern
medicine is effective for emergency acute care, it is not suitable for treating chronic
diseases. Relying on quick fixes may ultimately worsen one’s condition.
There is hope. Biological dentistry and functional medicine are growing every
year. There are practitioners in the Twin Cities who understand that everything truly is
connected. They realize that when treating chronic disease, that “common sense” fact is
crucial to understand. It takes courage to step out of what has become the “normal but
not-so-common sense” way of doing and thinking in American health care. Take a few
steps out of the mainstream to start drastically reversing the disease statistics that have
occurred in the past 30 years.
Holly Thompson, DDS, NMD, HHP, is a biological dentist who specializes
in zirconia dental implant placement at Natural Smiles Dental Care, in
Shoreview. She has fellowships with The International Dental Implant
Association and The Zirconia Implant Society, and is currently in the
Naturopathic Physician training program though the American College of
Integrative Medicine & Dentistry.
At Natural Smiles Dental Care, the team includes patients, dentists and healthcare
practitioners collectively paving the way for a healthier tomorrow. Thompson is optimistic
that dentistry and medicine can finally truly unite and work together to understand
how the teeth and jaw are tied to overall health. Location: 3434 Lexington Ave.
N., Ste. 700, Shoreview. For more information or to make an appointment, call 651-
483-9800 or visit NaturalSmilesDental.com. See ad, page 7.
Kari Seaverson DDS
John Seaverson DDS
Tooth by the Lake
HOLISTIC GENERAL DENTISTRY
Experience healthier dentistry
1401 Mainstreet
Hopkins, MN 55343
952-475-1101
ToothByTheLake.net
May 2023
19

conscious eating
Taking Control of Our Hormones
NUTRITIONAL TIPS TO SUPPORT THE DELICATE BALANCE
by Sheila Julson
Artem Varnitsin/AdobeStock.com
Think of hormones as the body’s messengers, sending
signals that affect a host of functions. Produced by
the pancreas, thyroid and other endocrine glands and
organs, hormones drive our metabolism, impact mood,
regulate blood pressure, manage our sleep cycles,
influence sexual function and more. Key players
are insulin, cortisol, thyroid and growth hormones,
adrenaline, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
20 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

cabe/Courtesy of Random House
Igisheva Maria/ShutterStock.com
Keeping these hormones in proper balance
is critical for health, and imbalances can
lead to a wide range of effects, including
diabetes, thyroid disease, unintended
weight fluctuations, skin problems, fatigue,
mood swings and infertility. While inactivity,
stress, age and genetics impact hormone
production, our food choices can significantly
tip the scales.
Dr. Ann Lee is a naturopathic doctor
and licensed acupuncturist based in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. When treating hormonal,
thyroid and adrenal imbalances,
she says it is important to focus on foods
that provide the minerals and vitamins
that support those systems. For women of
all ages, she recommends blueberries, asparagus,
lettuce, celery and papaya. Teens
and women in their 20s can also benefit
from apples, bananas, mangoes, avocados,
cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, sweet
potatoes and most lettuce varieties. The
nutrients in these vegetables and fruits
become even more important as women
reach 30 and for those dealing with menopause,
so Lee recommends more frequent
consumption of these fresh, whole foods
to support the adrenal and thyroid glands.
According to Lee, it is equally important
to avoid foods that interfere with hormonal
nutrition. She advises women over 50 to
lower their caffeine intake. Dairy products
contain naturally occurring hormones
that can impede human hormone balance
and should be eaten in moderation. “The
less external hormonal exposure you have,
the easier it is for your own hormones to
balance,” Lee explains.
Despite the popularity of intermittent
fasting, Lee believes that the trendy eating
pattern can deny the body the vitamins
and minerals it needs, causing it to produce
more adrenalin and cortisol to make
up for the loss. “People do intermittent
fasting because it might feel good to have
more adrenalin, and thus more energy, but
it does come at a price—your hormones,”
she says.
Most of the foods Lee recommends are
low in calories. “In order to curb hunger,
you have to eat them regularly, and that
goes against intermittent fasting. People
that do intermittent fasting often focus on
KALE AND TEMPEH TACOS
In this yummy, low-carb taco recipe,
cabbage leaves substitute for the tortillas
and are filled with a mixture of protein-packed
tempeh, veggies and lots of
great spices. Compounds in tempeh called
isoflavones serve as a natural remedy for
menopausal relief.
YIELD: 2 SERVINGS
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
4 oz tempeh, cubed
½ tsp sea salt or more, to taste
½ tsp black pepper or more, to taste
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp paprika
¼ tsp cayenne
¼ cup vegetable broth
2 cups stemmed and chopped fresh kale
4 to 6 large, green cabbage leaves, dipped
for 30 seconds into hot water to soften
½ avocado, sliced
1 radish, sliced
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
½ lime, cut into wedges
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high
heat. Add the onion, garlic and
tempeh and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until
the onion softens and becomes translucent.
Add the salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder,
paprika and cayenne, stir, then add the
broth and kale. Stir again to combine and
cook until the broth thickens and reduces
by at least one-half. Taste and adjust the
salt and pepper as needed.
Spread the cabbage leaves open on a large
plate. Spoon the kale mixture into the center
of the leaves. Add some of the avocado,
radish slices and cilantro, then fold in the
sides like a taco.
Serve with lime wedges.
Adapted from MenuPause. Copyright ©
2022 by Dr. Anna Cabeca. Used by permission
of Rodale Books, an imprint of Random
House, a division of Penguin Random
House LLC, New York. All rights reserved.
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced
or reprinted without permission in writing
from the publisher.
May 2023
21

proteins and fats, so they don’t have to eat
for a long time, but that can cause adrenal
burnout because the body is not getting
what it needs,” she explains, noting that
avocados and potatoes tend to help people
feel full longer.
While inactivity, stress,
age and genetics impact
hormone production,
our food choices can
significantly tip the scales.
Jaclyn Downs is a functional nutrigenomics
practitioner in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
and author of Enhancing Fertility
Through Functional Medicine: Using
Nutrigenomics to Solve ‘Unexplained’
Infertility. She notes that for hormones
to be produced by the body, nutritional cofactors
or “helper nutrients” are required.
“Magnesium, zinc and B vitamins are a
few of the spark plugs that move these
processes and keep the wheels spinning,”
she emphasizes. “Grass-fed beef liver or
capsules contain all of these.”
According to Downs, menstrual problems
can be an indicator of eventual fertility
issues. To support female reproductive
hormones, she recommends cruciferous
vegetables like broccoli, broccoli sprouts,
cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. These
foods also support liver detoxification
pathways due to their high concentrations
of vitamins and sulfur. “The liver helps
clear used or ‘dirty’ hormones,” she notes.
Downs also recommends pomegranates,
which are rich in antioxidants and fight
inflammation-producing free radicals.
Healthy fats from cold-water, wild-caught
fish support pregnant women and growing
fetuses. “Folate is often emphasized as a
nutrient for pregnant women, but choline
is just as important for everybody, regardless
of life stage or gender,” Downs notes.
Choline is found in egg yolks, sunflower
lecithin and shiitake mushrooms. For
50-plus women, Downs prescribes fish or
high-quality fish oil, which can benefit
brain, liver and hormonal health.
Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and contributor
to Natural Awakenings.
VANILLA AND FIG SCONES
WITH PISTACHIOS
A great dessert or breakfast treat, a scone
is a baked good usually made with wheat
flour and butter. This recipe calls for
almond flour instead to reduce the carbs
and increase the nutrition. The pastry has
been enjoyed in Scotland since 1513, and
its name probably derives from the Dutch
word for bread. Figs and pistachios sweeten
the scones and give them a bit of crunch.
YIELD: 6 TO 8 SCONES
2½ cups almond flour
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp baking soda
⅓ cup coconut oil, melted
¼ cup honey
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup chopped dried figs, plus some
for garnish
½ cup pistachios, roughly chopped
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a large
baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the almond flour,
salt and baking soda. In a medium bowl,
whisk together the oil, honey, eggs and
vanilla. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry
until thoroughly combined. Fold in the ½
cup of figs and the pistachios.
Place the dough on the baking sheet and
shape into a rectangle about 1 inch thick.
Cut into squares and then cut the squares
diagonally into triangular wedges. Separate
the wedges so they are about 1 inch apart
to allow for even cooking. Press a few pieces
of fig into the top of each wedge.
Bake for 12 to 17 minutes until golden
brown and a toothpick inserted in a scone
comes out clean. Let cool for 30 minutes
on the baking sheet, then serve.
Adapted from MenuPause. Copyright
© 2022 by Dr. Anna Cabeca. Used by
permission of Rodale Books, an imprint
of Random House, a division of Penguin
Random House LLC, New York. All rights
reserved. No part of this excerpt may be
reproduced or reprinted without permission
in writing from the publisher.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Anna Cabeca
22 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

inspiration
The Divine Messiness
of Motherhood by Marlaina Donato
The pitter-patter of little feet is one of life’s most beautiful blessings, but motherhood
has always been a challenging role. In today’s world, the calling is more complicated
than ever, and the average Mama Bear has a lot on her many plates. Despite support
systems, juggling it all is often an obstacle course moms navigate behind closed doors.
It’s okay to not be okay. Society tends to impose unnecessary guilt upon mothers for
voicing what most parents feel at one time or another. Feelings are human, and so too is
being overwhelmed. Self-care enables us to nurture others, and it begins by being gentle
with ourselves as we weave a tapestry of work, soccer games, homework and bedtime
baths. Even when the threads are haphazard and tangled, it is healing to surrender to the
realization that sometimes we cannot do it all, and it is not a sign of failure. Showing only
the good days on social media or going on autopilot can add pressure, instead of peace.
“There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one,” says author
Jill Churchill. Being a good mother begins by being good to ourselves, and it doesn’t require
a miracle to make it happen. A few minor routine adjustments can renew sanity and energy:
n Take one minute to run comfortably hot water over your hands and relax into the
stream. Hot water helps the body release dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible
for inducing joyful feelings, lessening pain and lifting anxiety.
n Instead of scrolling through social media, take 10 or 15 minutes to do nothing.
Lie down on the floor, close your eyes and just breathe. Surrender completely to
letting go; begin by relaxing facial muscles and work your way down to your toes.
n Play a favorite song and dance with your kids.
n Avoid overscheduling and “shoulds”.
Marlaina Donato is an author, painter and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
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chance to improve your oral health and positively impact
your overall wellbeing.
Dr. Musser is passionate about Holistic Dentistry.
He has a deep understanding of the importance of oral health
as it relates to overall health and a wide knowledge base in the
field of Biological Dentistry.
www.Health Centered Dentistry.com
May 2023
23

healing ways
First Signs of Menopause
HOW TO RESOLVE VAGINAL DRYNESS
by Linda Sechrist
auremarAdobeStock.com
Let's Talk Natural Wellness
In-depth interviews with natural health
professionals who share the latest
information for you to lead a
healthier, happier life.
Sundays from 10-11 am
Podcasts available at AM950Radio.com
When The New York Times and
National Geographic cover the
subject of menopause in the
same calendar year, perhaps it’s a sign that the
inevitable phase of a woman’s life that ushers
in vaginal dryness, irregular periods, hot flashes,
brain fog, mood swings, night sweats, sleep
problems, decreased sex drive and weight gain
is finally getting the attention it deserves.
Solutions for women experiencing perimenopause,
menopause and post-menopause are
not covered in medical school. Instead, they
stem from the work of pioneers like Dr. Pamela
Wartian Smith, author of What You Must
Know About Women’s Hormones: Your Guide
to Natural Hormone Treatments for PMS,
Menopause, Osteoporosis, PCOS, and More,
and Dr. Christiane Northrup, who wrote
24 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional
Health and Healing.
Today, integrative and functional doctors, researchers and continuing
education instructors are leading the charge to provide innovative
and customized answers for women experiencing vaginal dryness and
other hormone-related symptoms.
The earliest sign of changes occurs between the ages of 40 to 44,
during perimenopause, and according to Dr. Lindsey Berkson, author
of Safe Hormones, Smart Women, vaginal dryness is the flashing red
light. “A sign of insufficient hormone signaling, vaginal dryness is the
body’s warning that bones are beginning to thin; the brain’s structure,
activity and neuron connectivity are beginning to decline; and the
aging process has begun,” she explains.
A continuing-education instructor for doctors and pharmacists,
Berkson notes, “The vagina doesn’t exist alone. Treating only the
vagina is minimized medicine. It’s so important to find a doctor who
practices functional medicine, has completed continuing-education
hours in hormone replacement therapy and nutrition, and has
experience in these areas.”
Dr. Meena Malhotra, a double board-certified internist practicing
functional and integrative medicine for 27 years, understands
that vaginal tissue is hormone-dependent, and dryness left
untreated can lead to urinary tract infections that can progress to
kidney infections. “Atrophic vaginitis with dryness, itching and
burning doesn’t happen overnight; it happens gradually. Many
women who are not seeing a gynecologist regularly for checkups
are unaware of the gradual decrease of their progesterone and
estrogen,” advises the founder of the Heal n Cure Medical Wellness
Center, in Glenview, Illinois.
“Women generally self-treat sexual discomfort from dryness first
with self-prescribed, over-the-counter gels, suppositories and creams,
which are temporary fixes,” Malhotra says. “Functional medicine,
which allows for longer appointments, in-depth intake and more
intimate conversations, can determine the root cause of vaginal dryness,
which can be treated early with FormaV, a non-surgical, painless
rejuvenation procedure which tightens loose labia, improves vaginal
health and makes sexual intimacy desirable again.”
Known as “the girlfriend doctor”, triple board-certified obstetrician
and gynecologist Anna Cabeca has been in practice for 23 years and is
the author of The Hormone Fix: Burn Fat Naturally, Boost Energy, Sleep
Better, and Stop Hot Flashes, the Keto-Green Way. Recognizing that
many over-the-counter lubricants perpetuate dryness and create damage
to the tissue, she formulated her own products. “Inflammation
can happen because of a reaction to the ingredients in the lubricant. I
tell my patients that they can make their own lubricant using organic
coconut oil mixed with aloe vera gel and a few drops of an essential oil
that turns their partner on. They can also strengthen the pelvic floor
with Kegel exercises and eat a keto-green diet,” Cabeca suggests.
Dr. Rebecca Hunton, the founder of Radiantly Healthy MD, in
Melbourne, Florida, believes that treating the changes in a woman’s
body is a form of personalized medicine. “Every woman’s journey is
different, but generally before vaginal dryness comes progesterone
deficiency. Symptoms include trouble falling asleep, anxiousness and
moodiness,” she says, adding that not all vaginal dryness is hormone-related,
as an autoimmune disorder could also be a cause.
Hunton recommends, “Starting early with a transdermal progesterone
cream can mitigate some dryness, but at a certain point,
progesterone won’t suffice. There are nonsurgical treatments such
as MonaLisa Touch, a laser treatment that brings the tissue in the
vagina to a more youthful state. It needs to be repeated every 18
months to two years.”
These doctors all agree that women no longer have to power
through the changes. There are answers. As Cabeca asserts, “This
is a time that heralds a second spring of our lives and should be a
beautiful journey.”
Linda Sechrist is a senior writer for Natural Awakenings.
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May 2023
25

©Juliaap
Environmental
Causes of Women’s
Compromised Health
by Joyce Sobotta
There are 100,000 chemicals that have an estrogen effect on
the body (xenoestrogens). Eighty-five percent of all breast
cancer is caused by factors other than heredity. The big
causes are environmental toxins, bad eating habits and stress.
Chemicals in sunscreen and personal care products can be
estrogenic. Other examples include chlorine, auto exhaust, pesticides,
herbicides, parabens and petroleum-based products such as
mineral oil. GMOs, radiated food, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics,
sugar and simple carbohydrates all contribute to an unhealthy body,
providing a place for disease to grow.
Clutter and noise are culprits of a peaceful life and are
considered toxic in our environment. The more things that take
up space in our mind, the more anxiety, agitation and anxiousness
created. Noise is everywhere: music in the car, while shopping for
groceries and filling up at gas stations, as well as having the TV on
for background noise in the home. The World Health Organization
called noise a “modern plague” and reported that environmental
noise has adverse effects on our health.
Noise pollution has been found to lead to high blood pressure
and heart attacks, as well as impairing hearing and overall health.
Loud noises raise stress levels by activating the brain’s amygdala
and causing the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Studies have
shown silence relieves stress and tension. A study published in the
journal Heart found that two minutes of silence are more beneficially
relaxing than listening to relaxing music.
Silence can regenerate brain cells. A study published in the
journal Brain Structure and Function found that two hours of silence
a day led to the development of new cells in the hippocampus, a key
brain region associated with learning, memory and emotion. These
findings suggest that silence could be therapeutic for conditions like
depression and Alzheimer’s disease.
Silence replenishes our mental resources. Walking in the
quiet stillness of nature can help clear the brain to process more
meaning from each experience, be more creative, and reflect on
mental and emotional states. In contrast, TV news and commercials
are told from angles designed to prey on emotions.
Electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) are a type of non-ionizing
radiation that emits low-frequency radiation and are caused by
electromagnetic fields. EMFs come from cell phones, wi-fi and cell
phone towers, to name a few of its sources. The cumulative effect of
radiation from exposure to cell phones, microwaves, body scanners
and mammogram tests are a concern. Other problematic devices
women often use every day include blow dryers, electric toothbrushes,
microwaves, laptops, tablets, smart TVs and smart meters.
Millions of people are wearing fitness tracking devices and
smart watches that emit EMF radiation. Manufacturers deny the
harm coming from them, saying that the amount or EMFs is insignificant,
but when the body is bombarded by so many sources, it is
concerning. Studies have shown that cell phone towers with the new
5G emit the highest amounts of EMFs. These toxins and carcinogens
add up in the body’s system over time and it is difficult to excrete
them and heal the damage they cause. Make small changes every
day; choose healthier options and allow the body time to detoxify.
Finally, make sure to spend time outside in nature.
Excerpted from Breast Health is In Your Hands, Tips for
Breast Vitality and Sensuality, chapter on Environmental
Factors, authored by Joyce Sobotta. Founder of
Healthy Girls Breast Oil, a unique and effective essential
oil blend for breast health, Sobotta offers consultations on
natural breast health. For more information, visit
AromatherapyNaturesWay.com.
26 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

calendar of events
featured event
Discover Your Highest
Purpose
Sri Harold Klemp, the spiritual leader
of Eckankar, shares wisdom through
stories and spiritual insights that bring
meaning, connection and humor to the
workings of Spirit in everyday life.
MONDAY-FRIDAY, ALL MONTH
Honoree Visitors Welcomed – You are invited
to come and learn more about the Hope Academy
community with an in-person tour scheduled at
your convenience during regular school hours. Call
612-540-2092 or RSVP at HopeSchool.org/inquire.
VIERNES, MAYO 5, 12, 19, 26
Spanish Bible Study (Jesús y las Mujeres) – 10 am
a 12 pm. Todos los viernes y un sábado al mes. Son
siete semanas y luego tendremos nuestro banquete
de latinas en diciembre. Inscribase con Gloria Reyes
enlace de padres latinos al 612-540-2039.
SUNDAY, MAY 7
Fridays at 7pm
Watch on Channel 6 or via MCN6.org
For more information, visit Eckankar.org,
TempleOfECK.org or
Facebook.com/Eckankar.
Lake Harriet Walk – 10am. Join other Minnesota
women for a 2.8-mile leisurely walk around Lake
Harriet while building authentic and lasting friendships.
Free. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W Lake
Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis. KookaburraMeets.com.
Grief Ceremony – 5-6:30pm. Let’s gather in community,
tend to our grief, remember and honors our
loved ones together in this Grief Ceremony. $22. 5701
Kentucky Ave N, Crystal. CollectiveDimensions.com.
MONDAY, MAY 8
Green Seniors: Morning on the Farm – 10-11am.
Tour Dodge’s barn, chicken coop and pastures to
meet our animals and learn about their role in sustainable
food production. Get up close to the newest
arrivals on the farm: lambs, chicks and piglets! $5.
Main Property, Farm Entrance 3, 1701 Charlton
Street, West St. Paul. DodgeNatureCenter.org/event.
Keystone FoodMobile Distribution – 10am-12pm.
The Keystone Community Services FoodMobile will
be distributing free groceries in the parking lot at the
Ramsey County Library in Roseville on the second
Monday of every month. This service is available
to anyone in need. Free. 2180 North Hamline Ave.,
Roseville. RCLReads.BiblioCommons.com/events.
TUESDAY, MAY 9
Lactation Lounge with Ramsey County Health
– 10am-12pm. Come share tips and socialize with
other expecting, breastfeeding/chestfeeding and
pumping families. Free. Highland Park, 1974
Ford Parkway, Saint Paul. Sppl.BiblioCommons.
com/events.
AAPI Heritage Month Class Series: Okinawan
Cooking – 5:30-7pm. A cooking and lecture class
series highlighting the food, traditions, and cultures of
the Twin Cities’ Asian American and Pacific Islander
community. Free. Online. MSMarket.coop/event.
TUESDAYS, MAY 9, 16, 18, 23, 30
Community Resource Advocates – 1-3pm. Social
workers, advocates and county navigators will be
available to help individuals and families with questions.
Obtain information relating to housing resources,
shelter, accessing benefits, food assistance, mental
health, youth services and more. Free. 3001 White
Bear Avenue, Saint Paul. RCLReads.BiblioCommons.
com/events.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
Virtual Class – Budget Cooking: Caramelized
Fennel & Meatballs Over Couscous – 5:30-7pm.
This virtual Budget Cooking class features a savory
caramelized fennel and meatballs recipe that can feed
four people for less than $15 and can be adapted based
on what is in your pantry. Free. Online. MSMarket.
coop/event.
WEDNESDAYS, MAY 10, 17, 24, 31
Moms’ English Bible Studies – 10am-12pm. Come
join other moms for a wonderful time of Christ-centered
learning, growing and fellowship. Light breakfast
& childcare provided. Free. First Care/Odam
Clinic Building, 2015 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis.
HopeSchool.org/family-ministry/family-resources.
Crafternoon – 2-4pm. Join us for a different craft
each session or bring your own knitting, beading,
felting or other craft project to work on. Meet other
local crafters and share in the joy of making cool
things. Drop in or stay the entire time. Free. 620 Rice
St., Wayzata. Hclib.BiblioCommons.com/events.
THURSDAYS, MAY 11, 18, 25
Virtual Citizenship Workshop – 1-2:30pm. Drop
into our online study sessions to practice for your
citizenship interview. Work in small groups or individually.
Study English vocabulary, reading, writing
and civics. Free. Online. Hclib.BiblioCommons.
com/events.
Knitting for Good – 6:30-7:30pm. Do you love
to knit (or crochet or quilt or sew)? Join us for this
unique opportunity to gather with your crafty neighbors
as we Knit for Good! Free. 4560 Victoria St., N.,
Shoreview. RCLReads.BiblioCommons.com/events.
FRIDAYS, MAY 12, 19, 26
Black-African American Basic Computer Class
– 3:30-5pm. Community members who identify as
Black American can learn basic computer skills using
the Northstar curriculum. In this class, attendees will
learn basic computer skills, email navigation, and
internet essentials Free. Rondo Community Library,
461 N. Dale St., Saint Paul. Sppl.BiblioCommons.
com/events.
SATURDAY, MAY 13
Arts Roseville Featured Artist: Bola Koleosho –
11am-12pm. Bola Koleosho is a Nigerian-American
actress with extensive experience in stage theater, including
performances at the Guthrie Theater. Koleosho
can currently be seen in a recurring role on Dear White
People on Netflix. Free. 2180 North Hamline Ave.,
Roseville. RCLReads.BiblioCommons.com/events.
Fix-It Clinic – 12-4pm. Bring your broken household
items to a free Fix-It Clinic and work together
with friendly, skilled volunteers to diagnose, troubleshoot
and fix your item. We can help you with
small appliances, clothing that is clean, electronics,
mobile devices and more. Free. 12601 Ridgedale Dr.,
Minnetonka. Hclib.BiblioCommons.com/events.
TUESDAY, MAY 16
Small Business Consultations – 10:30am-12:30pm.
Bring your small business idea/problem and experienced
SCORE counselors will offer free, one-on-one
confidential counseling on all aspects of small business
start-up and management. Free. 300 Nicollet Mall,
Minneapolis. Hclib.BiblioCommons.com/events.
Wild Cooking – 6-7:30pm. Experience the change
of seasons through cooking with wild, native edibles.
Guided by a naturalist, you’ll forage a few of these
emerging plants and prepare them to eat in a kitchen.
$10. Main Property, Farm Entrance 3, 1701 Charlton
Street, West St. Paul. DodgeNatureCenter.org/event.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
Muscle Test Your Family – 6:15-7pm. Understand
the basics of muscle testing and learn how you can
test your family at home. Must bring a testing partner.
RSVP 651-771-1703. Free. 6993 35th St N #2,
Oakdale. NutritionChiropractic.com/events.
THURSDAY, MAY 18
Spanish Club – 1-2:30pm. Meet with other adults
for friendly conversation, games and activities while
speaking in Spanish. For native speakers or anyone
interested in learning, speaking, or practicing their
Spanish skills. Free. Online. Hclib.BiblioCommons.
com/events.
Camp Bar Social & Nosh and Gather – 6-9pm.
Minnesota Women! Join us for a social and make new
friends. The event includes entry, one drink
featured event
Hope Academy Spring
Musical “Annie”
Enjoy an evening of entertainment
and support the talents of Minneapolis
students. With equal measures
of pluck and positivity, little orphan
Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite
a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New
York City. Annie is determined to find
the parents who abandoned her years
ago on the doorstep of an orphanage
run by the cruel Miss Hannigan.
Friday, May 19 at 7pm
Saturday, May 20 at 5:30pm
Cost: Adults $10, children $8.
Folwell Community School,
3611 20th Ave S, Minneapolis.
HopeSchool.org/Spring-Musical-Annie-Jr.
See ad, page 3.
May 2023
27

ticket and appetizers catered by Nosh & Gather. $50.
490 Robert St. N., St. Paul. KookaburraMeets.com.
THURSDAYS, MAY 18, 25
Knitting, Knatters, & Crafts Circle – 6:30-7:45pm.
Join us for fun and relaxation with people who want
to learn how to knit and those who want to bring their
own knitting or other crafts. A knitting instructor
will run the circle and provide materials as well as
instruction. Free. 1974 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul.
Sppl.BiblioCommons.com/events.
Guided Chi Practice – 8-8:30pm. Experience a
simple moving meditation to tap into universal life
force energy. A Chi Do practice helps to move energy
and support overall well-being. Utilizing your breath
and simple movements for deeper relaxation and increased
energy. All experience levels welcome. Free.
Online. ModernMysterySchoolMSP.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 20
Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve Hike – 9am.
Calling Minnesota Women to join us for a morning
of fun, friendship and laughter while enjoying the
fresh air and physical activity. Free. 15501 Murphy
Lake Blvd, Savage. KookaburraMeets.com.
TUESDAY, MAY 23
Campaign Town Hall: Farm Animals – 3-4pm . The
Nourishing Everyone’s Need for Nature Campaign is a
$40 million fundraising effort to expand the access, sustainability,
and legacy of Dodge into the next 50 years.
Free. Main Property, Farm Entrance 3, 1701 Charlton
Street, West St. Paul. DodgeNatureCenter.org/event.
AAPI Heritage Month Class Series: Vegetarian
Bibimbap – 5:30-6:30pm. Learn how to make the
delicious, fun, Korean dish Bibimbap. This vegetarian
version is a rice bowl with a variety of colorful,
flavorful vegetables, drizzled with a delicious Gochujang
sauce and topped with an over-easy egg.
Free. Online. MSMarket.coop/event.
East Lake Vegan Recipe Club – 6:30-7:30pm. If
you are curious about vegan cooking, this virtual
club is for you. Each month participants make recipes
from popular cookbooks prior to meeting, then
share their reflections with the group. Free. Online.
HCLib.BiblioCommons.com/events.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31
AAPI Heritage Month Class Series: Japanese
Cooking –Family Recipes – 5:30-6:30pm. A
cooking and lecture class series highlighting the
food, traditions, and cultures of the Twin Cities’
Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
Free. Online. MSMarket.coop/event.
EVENTS FOR KIDS
TUESDAY, MAY 9
Sleepy Stories – 6:30-7pm. Children ages newborn-5
years and their caregivers are invited for bedtime stories,
songs and fun. Free. Penn Lake Library, 8800 Penn Ave.
S., Bloomington. Hclib.BiblioCommons.com/events.
Nature After Dinner: Spring Chickens – 6:30-
7:30pm. Some people like cows—others like
horses—but everyone loves chickens. Learn about
these feathery friends as you get up close with hens,
roosters, and baby chicks. $5. 365 Marie Ave W,
West St. Paul. DodgeNatureCenter.org/event.
Teens Know Best – 6:30-8pm. TKB is for teens,
ages 12-18, who want to read and review Young
Adult (YAA) books that are not available to the
public yet. YA publishers read TKB reviews and use
them to influence the future of the publishing industry.
Free. 2576 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds
View. RCLReads.BiblioCommons.com/events.
TUESDAYS, MAY 9, 23
Level Up! Dungeons and Dragons– 3-5pm. Join a
professional Game Master as you learn how to build
a Dungeons and Dragons character, and then set out
on your Adventures. Free. 90 West 4th St., Saint
Paul. Sppl.BiblioCommons.com/events.
Teen Tech Workshop – 4-5pm. K-grade 12. Come
explore with Brookdale Library’s Teen Tech Squad.
Get creative and experiment with makey-makeys,
mini drones, sphereos, slime, catapults and other
fun projects using both high- and low-tech tools.
Free. 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center.
Hclib.BiblioCommons.com/events.
TUESDAYS, MAY 9, 16, 23
Childrens’ Book Week: Joyce Sidman – 6-6:45pm.
Join us for an evening with Minnesota author Joyce
Sidman, who will read from her new book, We Are
Branches. Free. 4560 Victoria St., N. Shoreview.
RCLReads.BiblioCommons.com/events.
TUESDAYS, MAY 9, 16, 23, 30
Preschool Storytime in the Gym – 10:30-11am.
Join us in the gym for stories, songs, rhymes, and
fun. Following story time, stay for Tot Time, which
runs until noon. Free. 1200 Payne Avenue, Saint
Paul. Sppl.BiblioCommons.com/events.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
Kids Chess Club – 4-5:30pm. Play for fun and to
learn chess basics. Open to all children in grades
K-6. All levels are encouraged to attend, and new
players will be offered help to learn the rules and
get started! Free. 8500 W. Broadway Ave., Brooklyn
Park. Hclib.BiblioCommons.com/events.
WEDNESDAYS, MAY 10, 17, 24
Maker Kids – 4:30-5:30pm. Create. Think.
Craft. Tinker. Build. Learn. A new activity each
week. A tutor will be on hand to help keep you on
track. Free. 2180 North Hamline Ave., Roseville.
RCLReads.BiblioCommons.com/events.
WEDNESDAYS, MAY 10, 17, 24, 31
Anime Club – 6:30-8pm. Join the Franklin
Library’s Anime Club for grades 6-12! Watch
anime, read manga, discuss and participate in
a variety of other fun activities. Free. 1314
E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis. Hclib.Biblio
Commons.com/events.
THURSDAYS, MAY 11, 18, 25
Createch – 3:30-5pm. Explore technology, games,
music and art in a drop-in setting. For ages 12-18.
Free. Rondo Community Library, 461 N Dale St.,
Saint Paul. Sppl.BiblioCommons.com/events.
FRIDAYS, MAY 12, 19, 26
Baby Meet-Up – 10-11am. A special time set
aside for babies and their caregivers to meet up
for weekly play at the library. Free. New Brighton
Library, 400 10th St. N.W., New Brighton.
RCLReads.BiblioCommons.com/events.
Shake Your Sillies Out – 10:30-11:30am. Designed
for children ages 2-5 and includes a story, stretching,
movement, and lots of fun. Little ones can jump,
crawl, balance, and twirl with these specially designed
activities. Free. 2245 Como Avenue, Saint
Paul. Sppl.BiblioCommons.com/events.
SATURDAYS, MAY 13, 20
Paws to Read with Duke or Trevor – 10-11:30am.
Work on your reading skills in a low-stress environment
with Duke or Trevor, licensed therapy
dogs who welcome school-aged readers who need
that extra practice to participate in this special program.
Free. 2180 North Hamline Ave., Roseville.
RCLReads.BiblioCommons.com/events.
SATURDAYS, MAY 13, 20, 27
Warrior Cats Adventure – 10:30-11:30am. If you are
a fan of the Warrior Cat books, join us for an hour of
fun adventure gaming. Continue the adventure through
a role playing game and create your own cat character.
Free. 2576 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View.
RCLReads.BiblioCommons.com/events.
Dayton’s Bluff Fun Lab – 2-4pm. We do all sorts
of activities together from Perler Beads to origami
to candy making, there is something different
each week. Free. 645 E. 7th St., Saint Paul. Sppl.
BiblioCommons.com/events.
TUESDAY, MAY 16
LEGO® Lab – 1:30-3:30pm. Calling all future
engineers and architects! We’ve got the bricks,
but we need you to bring your imagination. We’ll
also have DUPLOS ® , so all ages are welcome.
Free. 4440 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis. Hclib.
BiblioCommons.com/events.
The Youth Restorative Circle Movie Night – 4:30-
6pm. Play Nintendo Switch on the big screen, try out
virtual reality games, and make arts & crafts with
your friends. Free. 347 E. 36th St., Minneapolis,
Hclib.BiblioCommons.com/events.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
Paw Pals: Read with Diaga the Dog – 3-4:15pm. Read
to a friendly dog who loves to sit and listen to stories
For young readers ages 6-12. Free. 1974 Ford Parkway,
Saint Paul. Sppl.BiblioCommons.com/events.
WEDNESDAYS, MAY 24, 31
Storytime – 10:30-11am. Join an interactive learning
opportunity where kids of all ages enjoy stories,
rhymes, songs and fun with our Children’s Specialists
to help your kids develop love for books and literature
while making friends. Free. 461 N. Dale St., Saint
Paul. Sppl.BiblioCommons.com/events.
28 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

community resource
guide
Connecting 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 Publisher@NAtwincities.
com to request our media kit.
BODY WORK
MYOFASCIAL RELEASE &
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
Barb Ryan, CMT, CSD • 612-922-2389
Bhakti Wellness Center
7550 France Avenue S, #220, Edina
WisdomSisterStudio.com
Specializing in persistent and
chronic pain and mysteries of the
body. Also for people seeking the
experience of deep relaxation
and increased self-connection.
Skilled and compassionate care.
See ad, page 8.
COACHING
ANNETTE RUGOLO
Soul Coach, Author and Teacher
AnnetteRugolo.com
We are in a time of fast evolution
and we have the opportunity to release
deeply held emotional and
mental patterns along with karmic
lifetimes that are keeping us stuck.
The tools I have acquired and honed
for more than 20 years will help you
move beyond the stuck places in
your life and help you align with the light of your soul.
You will receive tools of empowerment that will help
you continue on your life’s path and soul’s journey.
See ad, page 9.
COMPOSURE COACHING
Candi Broeffle, MBA, CPC
Candi@ComposureCoaching.com
763-270-8604
ComposureCoaching.com
Master your business so you can
practice your passion. Business
coaching for purpose-driven entrepreneurs
to clarify your vision,
build your confidence and create
a soul-centered strategy. Call today
for a free Discovery Session
and get on your path to business
success. See ad, page 6.
COACHING
TRANSFORMATIONAL COACH
AND LIFE MASTERY TEACHER
Nea Clare
NeaClare.com • Nea@NeaClare.com
Would you like to say “YES”
and make your dreams come
true? If so, I can help! Book a
strategy call with me today. I
work exclusively for extraordinary
women who are tired of
waiting on the right time or
circumstances before pursuing
their dream career path – we’ll
explore how life coaching has tremendous transformative
power in strengthening self-confidence
while also giving one unshakeable faith in your capability
to achieve your goals. What you want is on
the other side of your hesitation. If it is time to
breakthrough, schedule a call today at 612-227-3854
or email Nea@NeaClare.com. See ad, page 25.
DENTIST
HEALTH CENTERED DENTISTRY
N7915-902 St
River Falls, WI • 715-426-7777
HealthCenteredDentistry.com
Whole Person Dentistry observes
and deals with the mind,
body and spirit, not just your
teeth. This approach to dentistry
encompasses both modern
science and knowledge drawn
from the world’s great traditions
in natural healing. See ad, page 23.
NATURAL SMILES DENTAL CARE
3434 Lexington Ave. N., Suite 700
Shoreview • 651-483-9800
NaturalSmilesDental.com
We’re an integrative
practice committed to
promoting dental wellness
and overall assistance to
the whole person. We
desire to participate in the
creation of healthier lives,
while being sensitive to physical, philosophical,
emotional and financial concerns. See ad, page 7.
PURE DENTAL
Dr. Amy Ha Truong
6230 10th St. N., Ste 520, Oakdale
651-731-3064 • PureDentalMN.com
Pure Dental offers integrative,
holistic, alternative and biological
dentistry for your dental health.
We take pride in providing
quality, holistic dental care and
service for our patients. See ad,
page 26.
DENTIST
SEDATION AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY
1815 Suburban Ave, St. Paul
ToothBuilder.com • 651-735-4661
We are a holistic dental practice
devoted to restoring and enhancing
the natural beauty of your smile
using conservative, state-of-the-art
dental procedures that result in
beautiful, long-lasting smiles! We
specialize in safe removal of
infected teeth as well as placing
ceramic implants and restorations. See ad, page 14.
TOOTH BY THE LAKE
1401 Main St, Hopkins
952-475-1101 • ToothByTheLake.net
We build a foundation of trust
by treating our patients as
individuals. Understanding
how uneasy some patients
may feel about their dental
visits, we make a difference
by providing a relaxing and
positive experience. See ad, page 19.
EDUCATION
HOPE ACADEMY
2300 Chicago Ave. S.,
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612.489.5154 • HopeSchool.org
Hope Academy is a private,
Christ-centered opportunityequalizer
education for
inner-city youths. Currently
we serve 550 students in
grades K-12, with a vision
of growing to 700 students. We encourage your
questions and welcome your presence. Contact us
today! See ad, page 3.
ENERGY HEALING
EMOTION CODE HEALING
Master Hong
Certified Emotion Code Practitioner
11012 Cedar Lake Rd., Minnetonka
952-513-7285 or 914-708-9463
Chronic pain? Suffering from
emotions? Relationship problems?
Life not going as planned? The
Emotion Code is a tool I use to
help you break through any
emotional and spiritual blocks so
you can live your best life. Trial
session only $35.
May 2023
29

ENERGY HEALING
YOUR HEALING CONNECTION
Mary Rice
YourHealingConnection.com
YourHealingConnection@gmail.com
Mary uses The Body Code* to
transform the lives of her clients.
This comprehensive energetic
healing method, developed by Dr.
Bradley Nelson, allows her to
quickly and easily identify specific
imbalances that can underlie
chronic ill health, pain and
discomfort, dysfunction, and stress. Dr. Nelson
discovered that you can access the wisdom of the
subconscious to identify and address the energetic
imbalances that cause health problems. The “hidden”
root causes of disease and dysfunction are these
emotional and physical imbalances that can drain
energy and prevent healing, leaving you unable to live
the life you deserve. The best part is, you can do this
from the comfort of your own home via phone or
Zoom. Set up a free 20-minute consultation today!
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALING
ANNETTE RUGOLO
Master Dowser
AnnetteRugolo.com
Is the energy of your home depleting
you or supporting you? If you
feel like you are hitting your head
against a brick wall, it may be the
wall of dense energy in your home.
To more easily expand into our
light and our soul purpose, it is
important that the spaces we live
energetically support us. Contact
me for more information on dowsing, environmental
healing and space clearing. See ad, page 9.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
CAMPFIRE STUDIO
Sara Shrode, Graphic Designer
612-554-6304 • CampfireStudio.net
Sara@CampfireStudio.net
Ignite the possibilities of
your next project by
having Campfire Studio
design it! Innovative, fullservice
graphic design studio that takes the essence
of a campfire—warmth, stories, community—and
infuses it into every design project we do.
HEALTH FOOD STORES
MASTEL’S HEALTH FOODS
1526 St Clair Ave, St Paul
Mastels.com • 651-690-1692
Mastel’s Health Foods is Minnesota’s
oldest health and wellness
store. We carry a full line of vitamins,
minerals, supplements, herbs
and more. We emphasize organic,
biodynamic, biodegradable, holistic
and hypoallergenic products and
pride ourselves on stocking hardto-find
items. See ad, page 25.
INTEGRATED HEALTH
APRIL JONES ND, MS
AprilJonesND.com
Info@AprilJonesND.com • 952-373-1173
Dr. Jones is a registered naturopathic
doctor providing virtual
naturopathic medicine and holistic
nutrition appointments.
She works alongside patients to
identify the root cause of health
concerns while supporting them
in becoming the healthiest version
of themselves. Dr. Jones’
clinical areas of focus include health optimization,
disease prevention, preconception and postpartum
care, gastrointestinal health, and natural support
for anxiety. Schedule a free introductory call to
learn more.TH
GENEVIEVE WACHUTKA
7801 East Bush Lake Rd., Suite 240,
Bloomington
763-222-8600 • GenevieveWachutka.com
Genevieve specializes in the
practical application of time-tested
tools and metaphysical wisdom
to embody more of your
potential, and experience greater
clarity, joy, and purpose in life.
Benefits include increased intuition
and clarity; upleveled daily
baseline of joy; peace within
your heart and mind; improved relationship with
self; and the ability to navigate a path of self-mastery
to realize your greatness. Text 763-222-8600 or
email Hello@GenevieveWachutka.com to schedule
a complimentary discovery session. See ad, page 9.
MARKETING
NATURAL AWAKENINGS
TWIN CITIES MAGAZINE
NAtwincities.com/Pages/Advertise
763-270-8604
Multiple advertising
opportunities allow you to
build and maintain your
brand’s presence within your target market of healthconscious
individuals. Through cutting-edge,
inspiring print content and dynamic online presence,
Natural Awakenings helps you get connected and stay
effective. Online advertising is also very attractive,
with great rates and opportunities to promote your
business. Maximize your visibility and take advantage
of unique opportunities to promote your business.
MARKETING
PARTNERING UP VIRTUAL
ASSISTANT SERVICES
PartneringUpVa.com • 763-270-8604
As a business owner, you’re
expected to be available 24
hours a day, seven days a
week to run your business,
leaving you little time to
focus on what you do best; strategize for growth, market
your services and serve your clients. Partnering Up takes
pride in helping small business owners outsource their
tasks to our top notch, trained and highly skilled Virtual
and Marketing Assistants that can help you automate
your business.
PROFESSIONAL LISTENING
PROFESSIONAL LISTENING
BarbBarb Ryan, CSD • 612-922-2389
Wisdom Listening
WisdomSisterStudio.com
Longing for someone who will
listen without judgment? Facing
a tough decision and need a
space to explore possibilities?
Have some secrets corroding
your being? Need a place to vent
about loved ones without repercussions?
Wisdom Listening can
help. It’s not therapy or coaching.
My sole objective is to provide a safe and
supportive space for you to unburden and explore
your mind, heart, and soul. Book your virtual session
now. See ad, page 25.
RADIO/PODCASTS
AM950 THE PROGRESSIVE VOICE
OF MINNESOTA
AM950Radio.com
The only Progressive Talk Radio
station in Minnesota. We strive to
provide the best progressive
programming available and
feature national talkers Thom
Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Mike
Crute and Brad Friedman. We are
also dedicated to local programming that creates a
community forum for important Minnesota Progressive
issues. See ad, page 32.
SPIRITUAL TEACHING
ECKANKAR TEMPLE OF ECK
7450 Powers Blvd., Chanhassen
952-380-2200 • Eckankar.org
Are you looking for the
personal experience of
God? Eckankar can help
you fulfill your dream. We
offer ways to explore your
own unique and natural
relationship with the Divine
through personalized study to apply in your
everyday life.
30 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

MAY: WOMEN’S WELLNESS SERIES
Anna Cabeca
DO, OBGYN, FACOG
Stress and Libido
Jaquel Patterson, ND, IFMCP
Sleep, Cortisol and Its
Relation to Stress
Arti Chandra, MD, MPH
Healing Your Gut
Carol Penn, DO
Aging Gracefully
Join these Top Women in
Wellness as they share their
expert tips to empower
you to reduce your stress
and inspire you to achieve
WELLthier Living!
Carrie Jones, MD, FAAP
Stress and Your Thyroid
Trevor Cates, ND
Stress Impact on Skin
Scan the QR code to
JOIN US LIVE
ONLINE
Every Tuesday in
May at 8pm EDT
Jaclyn Chasse, ND
Stress and Fertility
Jyl Steinbeck
Women’s Health and Homeopathy
Kela Smith, PhD, DNM
Stress and Fertility
Anne Marie Fine, ND
Cracking the Beauty Code
May 2023
31