In This Issue: December 2021 December 2021 Digital Magazine Please enjoy the special holiday issue by flipping through the pages of our digital magazine or scrolling through the articles below! The Gift During this holiday season and an increasing amount of pressure on people to spend more, have more, do more to feel appreciated or loved, I have taken a different approach on the meaning of a gift. Read More » Rolling with the Punches I recently volunteered at a food bank in Troy, New York. I fulfilled customer orders by gathering and bagging their groceries. Read More » Winter Farmers Market in Doylestown This season the Doylestown Farmers Market (DFM) will host its first ever winter market at The Mercantile in Doylestown. Read More » A Dietician’s Healthy Dark Chocolate Bark This festive dark chocolate bark recipe is holiday-themed with red, white and green toppings of dried cranberries, shredded coconut and pistachios. Read More » Amp Up Immunity: Proven Boosters for Good Health Enhance immunity with specific adaptogens and mushroom powders. These study-proven substances perform specific functions in the immune system that boost our resistance to illness. Read More » Avoid Antibiotics to Lower Colon Cancer Risk A clear link exists between taking antibiotics for six months and developing colorectal cancer in the next five to 10 years, report researchers. Read More » Baked Apples This sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan recipe for stuffed baked apples is a healthy holiday dessert, perfect for those with dietary restrictions. Read More » Baklava Cookie Cups A healthy recipe twist on baklava using natural sweeteners instead of sugar. Read More » Circles of Healing: The Power of Gathering in Community Small support groups, such as wisdom circles, story circles, power of eight intention circles, prayer circles and dialogue circles, are creating experiences of wholeness and belonging. Read More » Coral Reefs May Soon Be Just a Memory Half of the world's coral reefs have been lost since the 1950s, with 14 percent diminishing between 2009 and 2018 alone, due to climate change, overfishing and pollution. Read More » Drink More Water to Help Prevent Heart Disease Researchers report that people that drink sufficient water every day have a reduced risk of the thickening of the heart’s left ventricle. Read More » Eat an Avocado Daily to Redistribute Belly Fat The deep visceral fat that surrounds internal organs is a major indicator of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, but it can be decreased in women by eating an avocado each day. Read More » Eat Walnuts to Reduce Bad Cholesterol and Heart Disease Healthy older adults that ate about a half cup of walnuts every day for two years gained a modest reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad cholesterol”, reports a study. Read More » Forever Chemicals in Indoor Air A new technique for measuring the presence of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in indoor air has found them in kindergarten classrooms, offices, laboratories and homes. Read More » Greening the Holidays: How to Celebrate Sustainably Sustainable modifications to the holiday dinner, eco-friendly decorating tactics and green gift ideas to celebrate the season in ways that are less harmful to the planet. Read More » Holiday Zen: Stress-Free Fitness and Self-Care Despite our best efforts, holiday time can frazzle our nerves. These simple, self-care fitness tips can help to relieve holiday stress and break the cycle of seasonal overindulgence. Read More » Honey Lavender Cookies Skip the sugar cookies this holiday season and opt for healthier treats made with honey, lavender and whole wheat flour. Read More » Ideas for Starting and Maintaining a Circle No matter the purpose of gathering, here are tips on how to start and maintain a small group or circle of individuals supporting one another. Read More » Large-Scale Solar Power Cost Plummets A report finds a significant decrease in the cost of renewable energy sources compared to 2020, with solar leading the pack by a wide margin. Read More » Native Americans Win Historic Water Battle The Indigenous Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have reached a historic $1.9 billion water rights settlement, resolving thousands of tribal claims to waterways in Montana. Read More » Planting 500 Billion Trees A UK tech company claims their drone can plant two trees per second using artificial intelligence for guidance, with a goal of planting 500 billion trees by 2060. Read More » Season of Light: Celebrating the Soul of Winter Winter has its own jewel-toned beauty that rivals summer’s most dazzling hour if we pay attention. Read More » Sustainable Kitchen: Advice for Buying and Storing Food Sustainability can begin at home, starting in the kitchen. Here are some zero-waste lifestyle tips we can apply when shopping for and storing our food. Read More » The Best Books for Kids: Gift Choices that Can Open Up Worlds Gifting kids books is a perfect way to encourage childhood reading. Here are tips for selecting the best children's books. Read More » The Sweet Danger of Sugar: Ways to Enjoy Healthier Holiday Fare Low-sugar eating strategies and dessert recipes to protect our physical and mental health this holiday season. Read More » Thomas Moore on the Art of Soulful Listening Bestselling author and psychotherapist Thomas Moore explores deeper connections through soulful listening in his latest book, Soul Therapy: The Art and Craft of Caring Conversations. Read More » Tips for Selecting Safe Dog Toys Recommendations to help in choosing toys that will keep a dog not only happy, but safe. Read More » Tips to Eat Less Sugar Expert advice from dietitians on ways to reduce our sugar intake including healthier food alternatives and supplements to help. Read More » Toyland for Pooches: Choosing Safe Playthings a Dog Will Love Veterinary advice on what to consider when selecting toys for dogs that are safe, stimulating and long-lasting. Read More » Try Damask Rose Extract to Boost Liver Function A new study has found that Damask rose (Rosa damascene) extract can boosts liver function in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Read More » Try Garlic to Relieve Endometriosis Pain For women suffering from pelvic and back pain associated with endometriosis (uterus growth), garlic may help. Read More » Wind Energy Can Be a Climate Change Hero Research indicates that advanced wind energy strategies could reduce atmospheric average temperatures of about 32 to 33 degrees Fahrenheit by 2199. Read More » In-Print