Let food be thy medicine. —Hippocrates

As the days get hotter, we bring you the July issue of Natural Awakenings Magazine to help keep things cool with refreshing ideas to nourish our bodies, minds and spirits and sustainable ideas for summer living.

In addition to holistic health and natural wellness insight, you can expect to find tips to help incorporate sustainable, cleaner choices into your lifestyle in every issue of Natural Awakenings. Mind, Body, Spirit, Planet, Community. Each pillar is important to live healthfully, joyfully and consciously. And each pillar is interconnected.
    
A healthier planet starts in our own home and yard. Enjoy the Eco Tip on page 8 that promotes eco-friendly practices in our yards to maintain soil health and biodiversity while reducing toxins to people and pets. We all want the best for our furry family members, too, and that starts with choosing more Natural Pet Food that is truly healthy, affordable and eco-friendly (page 24). Check out local stores like Mastel's Health Foods that offer eco-friendly household items and natural, organic foods and supplements.

On the note of healthy nourishment for body and mind, let us recall that we have known food to be medicine for centuries. A tremendous part of the holistic, natural health paradigm is looking upstream at root causes of health and illness. What we eat and drink is perhaps the most fundamental piece of health promotion and disease prevention.

What we eat impacts everything from our brain and mental health—focus, emotions, cognition—to our physical health—organ function, joint health, energy levels, sleep, vitality—to our skin, gut health, and much more. One way to eat well is by embracing the Ayurvedic perspective of eating with the seasons, which we explore on page 10. We discuss the impact of healthy food choices for glowing skin and gut health on page 14. In our Green Living section on page 20, we dig deeper into sustainable, nutrient-dense supplements and share an example of Natural, Organic, Green and Protein Supplements from our neighboring state on page 22.

Lastly, what better way to support our body, clear the mind, and embrace Mother Nature than by enjoying outdoor activities in our beautiful Midwest summer. Find inspiration in our Fit Body article on page 26. For more ideas to help kids have fun while learning and growing this summer, read the online exclusive, Planting Seeds of Knowledge: Teaching Kids About the Origin of Foods.

Here’s to keeping it cool this summer,