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Natural Awakenings Atlanta

Moms, Dads, Kids and You

Jun 01, 2021 06:00AM ● By Diane Eaton

“Statistically speaking, living long and well is an uphill battle for most American men.”

Did I get your attention? There’s more:

“Of the 15 leading causes of death, the only one men don’t lead in is Alzheimer’s, because many of them don’t live long enough to develop it.”

So begins the distressing news about the state of men’s health in this country. In this issue, we follow last month’s focus on integrative women’s health with a look at the rugged reality of men’s health in America. The article I quoted above, “Integrative Health for Men: Natural Approaches for Robust Vitality,” takes a look at four leading health issues in men—heart disease, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer and depression—and reveals new research and integrative approaches to help turn these conditions around. The good news is, as more men continue to embrace holistic information and practices, that trend seems to be turning.

In this issue, however, the focus is on all family members—male, female, young, old and everyone in between.

Since 2002, the Holistic Mom’s Network (HMN) has connected families who want to learn holistic, conscious and earth-friendly ways to live healthier, more natural lives. In our feature story, “Andria Somers on Holistic Parenting,” we learn more about HMN from the nonprofit’s executive director. Then, for our companion piece, “Local Holistic Moms Learning and Growing Together,” I had the pleasure of interviewing the two co-leaders of Atlanta’s only chapter, West Atlanta Metro HMN. The clarity, passion and commitment these two women exhibit as they create a safe place for people to have fun and learn blew me away. And their insistence that one doesn’t have to be a mom to join didn’t get past me, either. After all, you don’t have to be a mom to want to learn more about healthy living for you and your family!

What about the kids? In these turbulent times of heightened emotions, rapid change and uncertain futures, kids feel the stress as much as anyone. We share with you “Simple Ways to Calm Anxious Children,” so your young ones can get a head start learning fun ways to calm their own nerves.

Rounding out our “family” collection of stories is our first from Atlanta lifestyle medicine health coach, Chef Beee. “In Turbulence There is Opportunity,” shares her trials and personal discoveries as she and her family rode the emotional waves of quarantining in 2020.

We also give you a toolkit for these summer months! In her second article in two months, Susan Gonzalez’s “The Age of Anti-Aging” gives us an insightful glimpse into how to deal with the effects of aging on the skin. And if travel is part of your summer plans, you’ll want to learn more about what vegan snacks to pack for a road trip in “Vegan Road-tripping.” If you’re planning a more ambitious excursion, you’ll find helpful tips for traveling with sustainability in mind in “Traveling for the Planet.”


Trish Ahjel Roberts

We’re very pleased and excited to introduce the newest member of our team! Trish Ahjel Roberts, our consulting editor for African American issues, is an author, coach and yoga and meditation instructor. I find her to be an island of calm in a turbulent world, and I look forward to her continued contributions to this magazine! ❧









Diane Eaton is the managing editor of this magazine.

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