Natural Awakenings - August 2014 Read the August 2014 edition of Natural Awakenings. Cures in the Kitchen: Dr. Mark Hyman is Fed Up with Our National Health Crisis For the first time, this generation of young Americans is predicted to live sicker and die sooner than their parents. The culprit is a culture of entrenched sugar-heavy eating habits. Read More » Runner’s Hi: Women and Social Media Revolutionize the Sport These days, with women comprising a majority of marathon runners, the emerging mantra is “Forget elapsed running time; just cross the finish line and have fun doing it.” Read More » Safe & Sustainable Seafood: Navigate Today’s Best Choices Using Updated Guides Easily overwhelmed by the ocean of information on the risks of seafood? Here are some practical guides to help you choose fish that is low in toxicity and ecologically valid. Read More » Schools that Rock: Innovators Blaze Creative Paths Fresh educational approaches offer kids a rich array of hands-on experiential learning—everything from knitting to designing shoes that walk on water. Read More » Harvesting Fog: Simple Device Provides Safe Water in Africa A fog-harvesting fabric can collect 25 gallons of safe drinking water a day, making life safer and easier for villagers. Read More » True Grit: Why Persistence Counts Educators are learning how to build invaluable attributes in children, such as motivation, self-control and positivity. Read More » Learning that Transforms Hearts and Minds: Rethinking How We See Our World Changes Everything A pioneering approach to learning and problem-solving known as Transformative Education is having profound impacts in communities worldwide. Read More » Cycling Rx: Doctors Order Up a Bike for Patients To combat obesity, Boston doctors are writing prescriptions for bike-sharing programs, reducing the annual cost from $85 to $5. Read More » Flight Zone: Airports Establish Bee-Friendly Acres Vacant land around airports is being dedicated to the planting of native wildflowers that attract beleaguered bee colonies. Read More » Dangerous Influx: Gas Pipeline Pumps Radioactive Radon into Homes The pipeline from natural gas wells in Pennsylvania to New York City’s homes and businesses contains dangerous radon at 30 to 80 times safe baseline levels. Read More » Dirty Waters: Trenton to Chicago via Eco-Outrigger A mom and activist is paddling 1,600 miles in a canoe this summer to dramatize the polluted state of our nation’s waterways and vital need for cleanup. Read More » Fitness Update: Healthiest U.S. Metro Areas in 2014 The latest information on the fittest U.S. cities shows some surprise winners. Read More » Parents’ Smoking Linked to Artery Damage in Children: Leads to Dangerous Effects Later in Life Even 25 years later, children of two smoking parents have thickened carotid arteries as a result. Read More » Heelless Shoes May Help Prevent Runners’ Injuries: Reduces Harm from Excessive Impact Running shoes without heels may reduce impact injuries in runners but increase the potential for injuries from ankle rolls. Read More » Medicinal Mushrooms Boost Athletic Performance: Improves Results and Recovery Time In a small Italian study, male cyclists that took cordyceps and reishi mushroom supplements enjoyed higher testosterone and cortisol levels post-race. Read More » Pine Bark Extract Reduces Perimenopausal Symptoms: Remedy for Hot Flashes and Restless Legs Symptoms such as restless legs and hot flashes were reduced by using pine bark extract in two recent studies. Read More » Flaxseed Lowers Blood Pressure: Food for Heart Health Canadian researchers report that in six months, daily use of flaxseed reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Read More » Tough Family Life Linked to Chromosome Aging: Unstable Beginnings Tied to Shortened Lifespans Children raised in unstable or harsh conditions have shorter chromosomes, a condition linked to shorter lifespans. Read More » Be Happy Now: Simple Ways to Quickly Lift Your Spirits No need to stay down in the dumps when we can call on these happiness jump-starters. Read More » Day Care Goes Green: What’s Good for Kids is Good for the World Lead-based paints are long gone, but concerned day-care providers also avoid threats to the health of young children in soaps, cleaners and new carpets. Read More » New School Rules: Eco Strategies for Back-to-School Prep Reusing supplies, quality buys at thrift stores and plastic-free lunch boxes keep back-to-school prep both inexpensive and ecologically sound. Read More » Summer Mini-Getaways: Green Travelers Recharge at Spas, Parks and Vineyards A getaway doesn’t have to last long to go deep. From train trips to retreat centers and green spas, a world of relaxation and renewal awaits us, close by home. Read More » Super-Immunity for Kids: Simple Ways to Boost a Child’s Long-Term Health We all know that kids need fruit and veggies but there’s much more to building strong bodies, including probiotics, daily sun and laughing a lot. Read More » Water Doggies: Given a Pool or Lake, Canines Dive Into Action Beginners require a life jacket at first, but many dogs soon love to lunge into the water for balls, stand on paddleboards and even synchronize swim with their person. Read More » In-Print