FEBRUARY POP:   HEART-CENTERED LIVING - January 21, 2021 Deadline

Feature:  Heart-Heathy Lifestyle                                                   1853 words plus 217 sidebar                                     

Byline: Ronica  O’Hara

Heart disease kills one in four Americans, yet simple lifestyle changes can prevent 80 percent of those deaths. The strategies advocated by leading integrative cardiologists include switching to a largely plant-based diet, taking key supplements to boost cellular energy, getting preventive screening to detect inflammation and other risk factors, exercising a half hour a day, and making mindfulness, gratitude and forgiveness part of daily life. A sidebar includes research-based advice such as brushing teeth often, taking a daily bath, and avoiding traffic pollution when exercising.

Healthy Ways: Meditation and Mindfulness                                        700 words

Byline: Marlaina Donato                        

Although mindfulness and meditation are often confused with each other, their philosophy and approaches differ. Mindfulness teaches us to sink into the moment, bringing our awareness to sights, sounds, thoughts, the environment; it’s used in educational and medical settings. Meditation uses focused breathing, chanting, visualization and other methods to enable us to access the deepest levels of consciousness. They are naturally complementary, and both can boost our health and well-being.

Fit Body: Blood Pressure Moves                                                              685 words

Byline: Marlaina Donato

For the 75 million Americans with high blood pressure, watching their diet and moving the body in everyday activities like gardening  and walking can help keep numbers in check, but even bigger benefits come from focusing on such approaches as weight lifting and high-intensity interval training. Yoga, breathwork and stretching have also been shown to lower blood pressure readings.

Healthy Kids: Veggie Tricks                                               749 words plus 158 sidebar                                                                  

Byline: Ronica O’Hara                        

When it comes to broccoli and cabbage, it’s not easy to get a kid past “yuck!” but many parents and nutritionists have found clever workarounds. Among their tips: serve smoothies, use grated sprinkles, give kids a role in the kitchen, rotate family choices, sneak veggies into burgers, and talk up the benefits. With a sidebar on the research, including that it takes many No’s from kids to get to a Yes, and presenting a veggie as being rare makes it special.

Wise Words: Shefalil Tsabary on Conscious Relationships                                       707 words           

Byline: Sandra Yeyati

The Oprah-favorite psychologist and best-selling author of The Conscious Parent discusses how we typically attract partners that mirror our unmet needs as a child so that we’re forced to relive  childhood patterns and thus can heal them. By undertaking our own inner work, a relationship can help us evolve into our most authentic, whole, free self, allowing conscious intimacy to spontaneously arise.

Conscious Eating: Heart-Healthy Diets                                                      717 words plus recipes

Byline: April Thompson

Decades of research have come to the same conclusion: the best diets for heart health are ones that are mostly or totally plant-based, focusing on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and healthy oils. Processed and sugary foods are best avoided, while it’s key to ensure enough soures of potassium and omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids. Included  are recipes for Quinoa, Edamame and Carrot Salad with Ginger-Sesame Dressing; Blueberry and Pumpkin Seed Yogurt Bark; and Lentil, Raisin and Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash.

Inspiration: Becoming Heart-Minded                                                 470 words

Byline:Sarah Blondin

When we focus on our heart center, fear falls away, space opens up within us, and solutions to challenges start to reveal themselves. We awaken to our own aliveness. From a place of love and acceptance, we allow ourselves to be infused with grace. From that we become what we want to be – kinder, move loving, openhearted, inspired and creative.

Green Living: Green Weddings                                                         716 words plus 222 sidebar

Byline: Sandra Yeyati

Environmentally conscious couples are finding creative ways to say “I do” to the planet as well as each other. Green twists on old traditions can include sending invitations by email or on biodegradable paper, choosing a scenic outdoor setting, decorating with wildflowers or silk blooms, and eating vegan meals on bamboo disposable plates. Caterers can also pitch in by repurposing used vegetable oil, recycling when possible, using non-toxic detergents, and making donations for carbon offsets. With a sidebar on green engagement rings such as family heirlooms and lab-generated stones.

Natural Pet: Small Pets                                                                         675 words

Byline: Julie Peterson

Bunnies don’t just chomp on carrots; they explore, make purring sounds and lick faces, not unlike cats. They’re among the small animals, including ferrets and guinea pigs, that vets often recommend for first-time pet owners: they act as a furry friend without the long-term commitment and higher care costs of a dog or cat. However, these “pocket pets” still need specific diets, bedding, housing, exercise and grooming, so it’s important for prospective pet parents to know what they’re getting into.

Eco-Tip: Going Shoeless                                                                    400 words

Although it might be awkward to explain to visitors at first, leaving shoes at the door keeps a house healthier. It prevents people from tracking in viruses, bacteria, pollen and mold and spreading them over the floors and furniture. If going barefoot isn’t practical in winter months, a pair of indoor shoes, slipppers or socks can keep feet warm while keeping unwelcome microbes out in the cold.