Natural Awakenings Sarasota / Manatee / Charlotte - July 2014 Read the July 2014 edition of Natural Awakenings Sarasota / Manatee / Charlotte. Camping Turns Kids into Nature Lovers: Forsaking ‘Angry Birds’ for Bird Songs “Whether urban or rural, children in our state average 4.5 minutes outdoors and four hours in front of a screen every day,” says Barbara Erickson, president of The Trustees of Reservations conservation nonprofit, in Sharon, Massachusetts. Read More » Essential Oils for Summer: Healing Fragrances for Bites, Allergies and Sunburn A breath of sweet lavender oil can quickly reduce stress. A whiff of lemon oil can energize us. “Essential oils are not magic or folklore. There is solid science behind them,” says Elizabeth Jones, founder of the College of Botanical Healing Arts, in Santa Cruz, California. Read More » Fracking Versus Food: America’s Family Farm Heritage and Health at Stake The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other federal and state agencies set standards and enforce regulations to ensure what we eat is safe and that production is secure. But hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and its accompanying infrastructure threaten this. Read More » Give Freedom a Hand: Let Peace and Prosperity Ring Around the World 2048 is a plan to prevent wars, eliminate poverty and create the conditions for global sustainability by the time we celebrate the centennial of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, unanimously adopted in 1948 by all UN member countries. Read More » Good Clean Fun Water Sports: Saying No to a Wave of Trash “The ocean is my bliss. My job lets me do what I love and call it work,” says Andrea Neal, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Blue Ocean Sciences, a scientific collaboration seeking healthy water solutions, in Ojai, California. Read More » James Gormley Takes On the FDA: Why the Natural Health Movement Must Protect Itself The FDA has been beholden to drug companies for decades. Making the situation worse, a 2012 law loosened conflict of interest restrictions for FDA advisory panels. Read More » Lustrous Pooch: 10 Foods to Make a Dog’s Coat Glow To keep our dog’s skin and coat healthy, supplements may first come to mind, especially oils and powders. However, whole foods deserve a closer look for naturally elegant results. Read More » Quick and Cool Vegan Smoothies: Summertime, and the Sippin’ is Easy Smoothies offer big nutrition in a small package. Based on a vegan source of lean protein like coconut milk or yogurt, soy, chia seeds or a vegan protein powder made from dried beans or hemp, they can energize us for a full day of summer activities. Read More » Stewards of Earth's Bounty: Organic Farmers Sow Seeds of Change From epidemic childhood obesity and rising rates of autism and food allergies to the growing risks of pesticides and climate change, we have many reasons to be concerned about the American food system. Fortunately, many heroes among us—family farmers, community gardeners, visionaries and activists—are striving to create a safer and healthier environment now that will benefit future generations. Read More » In-Print