This renewable resource grows 150 times faster than trees and produces four times the yield. It grows well without pesticides or fertilizers and doesn’t require much water. In addition, hemp helps build soil, making it a good rotation crop.

Hemp—one of the strongest, most durable fibers around—is long lasting, holds its shape over time, gets softer with age, naturally resists UV light and mold, and blends well with other fibers such as silk and flax. “It can be used in everything from heavy canvases to lightweight linens,” says Tony Budden, a partner in Hemporium (hemporium.co.za), which offers textiles and select custom pieces. “Hemp chipboard is lighter than wood and does not use formaldehyde binder, making it a healthier alternative for interior furniture.”

U.S. farmers are prohibited from cultivating hemp because federal government policy doesn’t distinguish between Cannabis varieties that contain THC, marijuana’s main psychoactive ingredient, and the industrial kind that contains little to no THC. As a result, hemp must be imported—at least for now.

Hemp History Week is June 4 – 10; hemphistoryweek.com.

–Liz Robins

Elegant & Durable 

Rose Tarlow makes beautiful hemp print fabrics. rosetarlow.com

Fine with Feathers

Arhaus’s Algernon Grain Sack Pillow features hemp cording, a jute cover and a feather-down insert. arhaus.com

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From juice fasts to colon-cleanse formulas, options abound for those looking to start spring with a clean slate and improve overall health. Deborah Straub, a nutritionist at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, who emphasizes integrative medicine, encourages another alternative: “clean eating.” Aiming for 8 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day could help protect against chronic diseases related to impaired detoxification, including cancer, Parkinson’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. But, Straub adds, “it’s important that the food you choose is ‘clean.’”

She advises seeking out minimally processed foods free of additives, artificial ingredients, high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, pesticides, antibiotics, hormone residues and genetically modified organisms. “Choose organic foods whenever possible,” Straub says. “Organic is especially important for high-fat dairy products because pesticides accumulate in the fat.”

Steer clear of meat that contains additives or preservatives, she suggests, and opt for grass-fed over grain-fed. “Avoid meat from animals treated with antibiotics or hormones,” she cautions. Seafood that tends to be high in mercury or PCBs (shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, bluefin tun, Chilean sea bass and orange roughy) is also best avoided. And drink plenty of clean, filtered water.

Choosing foods rich in bioactive components that maximize the body’s detoxification systems is the second part of this clean-eating regimen. Eat garlic, onions, crucifers (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and the like), whole grains, turmeric, berries, green tea, legumes, nuts, seeds, soy, red grapes, kefir and yogurt containing live cultures “to minimize toxic exposure and maximize your natural detoxification abilities,” Straub recommends.

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Don’t let headlines about dietary supplements being harmful scare you away from taking them. “With proper use, high-quality herbs and dietary supplements are safe to use, with extremely low rates of reported adverse reactions,” says Jennifer Brusewitz, N.D., medicinary development supervisor at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

Supplement quality in the United States has improved significantly since the FDA implemented Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) in 2007. “CGMPs assure a product’s quality by addressing production processes and records, lab operations, packaging and labeling,” Brusewitz says.

CGMPs ensure properly labeled, unadulterated supplements, but manufacturers must address ingredient safety under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. “The FDA doesn’t approve supplements or their ingredients before they are marketed and sold to the consumer, unlike pharmaceuticals,” says Brusewitz. “Consumers can contact manufacturers directly to inquire into the quality of their products by requesting peer-reviewed documents, third-party testing and adverse-event reports.” For an annual $33 fee, ConsumerLab.com provides its independent tests, quality ratings and product comparisons.

Knowing which supplements to take—and how—is as important as their quality. Sipping a cup of chamomile tea without a health practitioner’s advice is fine, but it’s best to consult a naturopathic physician or master herbalist, who can recommend high-quality products at the proper dosage, before you start a supplement regimen.

Working with an expert is especially important if you have a health condition or take prescription medication, as supplements can interact with drugs. “Some herbs and supplements, especially when taken long-term, can affect how the liver metabolizes pharmaceuticals, potentially increasing or decreasing their potency,” Brusewitz says.

Shop Wisely
Look for these third-party certifications when buying supplements.

National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) tests and verifies the identity and quantity of ingredients declared on labels. nsf.org

United States Pharmacopeia (USP) sets standards for quality, identity, purity and strength of supplements, medicines and food ingredients. usp.org

Find a Practitioner

Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine azcim.org

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians naturopathic.org

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Plan ahead. Look at your calendar and plan to cleanse or fast when you have time to truly take care of yourself. Don’t detox during a weekend with the kids or an especially hectic workweek.

Walk more. While you detox, enjoy a mindful walk outdoors each day instead of working out at the gym. Feel the sun helping to naturally build your Vitamin D supply. You’ll notice your mood lift, but
you’ll also boost your immunity and improve bone health. Breathe the fresh air, be present and really look around you.

Write it down. Journaling can help you develop greater self awareness about your relationship with food as you identify emotions that come up during the cleanse. You may find that you react to stress by wanting to eat a lot, or you might feel anger in response to some aspect of the experience. Note it all. Self-awareness helps you make more conscious decisions about what foods you choose.

Savor a spa treatment. Spa treatments help with detoxification and let you relax and feel nurtured. Try an exfoliating salt scrub, mud or clay mask or an Epsom salt bath. “The salt goes into your skin, and magnesium helps detoxify,” Engel explains. “It also helps muscles relax and calms down the heart.”

Retreat. If you can,find a spa or retreat center that specializes in detoxing and cleansing. In addition to expert guidance and support, you’ll benefit from having someone take care of your daily needs so you can focus on looking inward and caring for yourself. Another bonus: a blessed absence of everyday distractions.

LIZ ROBINS is a health, spa and travel writer whose favorite ways to detox mentally include yoga, hot springs soaks and forest hikes.

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TRAVAASA HANA
Maui, Hawaii
The former Hotel Hana–Maui, in the tiny, traditional town of Hana on Maui’s secluded eastern shore, is a low-key resort that offers a wide array of enriching activities led by cultural guides. Learn how to hula (it’s trickier than it looks, but fun to try), make your own fresh-flower leis or take a ukulele lesson.
travaasa.com/hana

TRAVAASA AUSTIN
Austin, Texas
Given Austin’s rich musical history, it’s no surprise that music is on the menu at Travaasa. A seasoned local musician teaches small-group harmonica lessons; you don’t have to read music to play. Guests can also learn the Texas Two-Step, a country-western partner dance sure to impress friends back home. (Cowboy boots are optional.)
travaasa.com/Austin

RED MOUNTAIN RESORT
St. George, Utah
Drawing inspiration from the region’s Native American heritage, use ancient Anasazi techniques and tools to hand-shape pottery and decorate with paints made from natural ground minerals and native vegetation. On the three-hour Native American Art Walk, archaeologist Borna Johnson reveals aspects of the region’s rich cultural history by way of ancient rock art.
redmountainresort.com

THE TIDES RIVIERA MAYA
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Casita Maya, an authentic Mayan cooking experience, includes a trip to the market to gather ingredients before you prepare a traditional meal in a typical Mayan house featuring wood-stick walls, a palapa roof and an in-ground Mayan oven, or pib. Learn to make Tikin Xic, a fish and vegetable favorite flavored with the Mayan herb achiote, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked on hot coals. Savor the results in a lush jungle setting.
tidesrivieramaya.com

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Prevention is key to avoiding heart disease. Dr. Holly Lucille, ND, RN, a licensed naturopathic physician, author and educator in Los Angeles, calls it “the cure.” February is American Heart Month, and there’s no time like now to adopt healthier habits to take care of your ticker.

1. Know your risk. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity are all major risk factors that call for medical monitoring. Family history, smoking, lack of exercise, stress and poor diet also play a role and may prompt a practitioner to recommend more sophisticated testing to measure homocysteine, C-reactive protein and other markers.
2. Eat well. A healthy diet is essential to maintaining a healthy heart. Lucille recommends increasing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish and lean proteins while decreasing sugar, saturated fats and cholesterol. Limit or avoid foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, which contain trans fats linked to increased heart-disease.
3. Up the omega-3s. Cold-water, fatty fishes are good sources of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but most people don’t get the levels of two varieties (DHA and EPA) that they need from diet alone. “Omega-3 fatty acids are lazy; they need to be picked up and carried,” Lucille explains. “In fish oil, what carries them are triglycerides, which are slow and inefficient. That’s why you have to take so much fish oil to get any benefits.”
4. Get moving. “Regular exercise lowers cholesterol levels, improves blood supply (and, therefore, oxygen) delivered to the heart, and increases the strength of the heart muscle, improving the volume of blood it can move,” Lucille explains. Exercise also helps reduce blood pressure, body fat and stress. Aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise five to seven days a week.

OUR FAVORITE FISH OILS
Barlean’s Omega Swirl
12 oz., $19.99; barleans.com
naturally sweetened with a smoothie-like texture in three flavors

Vectomega
60 tablets, $36.76; vectomega.com
omega-3 fatty acids extracted from salmon and naturally bound to phospholipids

Genceutic Naturals
60 capsules, $21.99; genceutic.com
patented molecular distillation from wild-caught fish removes soaps, pesticides, pigments and heavy metals

Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fortify
30 single-serve pouches, $29.95; nordicnaturals.com
neutral-tasting powder in single-serve packs that can be added to foods and beverages

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Dr. Kracker Snackers
6 ounces, $3.49; drkracker.com
These certified-organic whole-grain, seedenriched
crispbread crackers are high in
protein and fiber. Available in Klassic 3
Seed (topped with flax, sunflower and
sesame seeds), Pumpkin Seed with Toasted
Cheddar Cheese and Seedlander.

479 Popcorn
12 1-ounce pouches, $19; 479popcorn.com
This company sources its corn from an organic
family farm in Sacramento and pays
locals fair wages to process it. Available in
Chipotle Caramel, Vietnamese Cinnamon
Sugar, Ginger Sesame Caramel and five
other artisan flavors.

Kashi TLC Pita Chips
7.9 ounces, $3.19; kashi.com
Made from Kashi’s famous
seven-whole-grain blend, these
crispy crackers come in Sea
Salt and Zesty Salsa flavors.

Hail Merry Grawnola
3.5 ounces, $5.38; hailmerry.com
This raw, vegan, gluten-free
granola, made with raw, coldpressed
coconut oil, is an addictive
snack. Available in Cherry Almond
Hemp, Lemon Blue Agave and
Orange Cranberry.

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Golden Door Spa nutrition adviser Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, RD, a doctor of public health and registered dietitian in San Diego and author of The SuperFoods Rx Diet (Rodale), offers the following tips for fueling and refueling.

• 2-4 hours before a workout: Eat a light meal of quality carbs, lean protein and a little fat: whole-grain pita half with sliced turkey, cheddar, Romaine, tomato and an apple.
• 30–60 minutes before a workout: Eat a small, mostly carbohydrate snack with 75 to 100 calories: a banana, an orange, toast or small cup of oatmeal.
• During a workout: For workouts lasting longer than an hour, consume 6 to 8 ounces of a carbohydrate-electrolyte replacement/sports beverage every 15 minutes or 6 to 8 ounces of water every 15 minutes and 75–100 calories of carbohydrate sports gel or equivalent every 20– 30 minutes.
• Post-workout: Eat a modest meal with carbs, protein, and healthy fat: a sandwich with whole-grain bread, peanut butter and fruit preserves or banana slices, nuts, dried fruit, low-fat yogurt with honey.

FUEL TO GO
Oxylent Multi-Vitamin Drink
30 servings, $34.95; oxylent.com
A multi-vitamin drink that energizes
without caffeine.

Clif Shot Electrolyte Drink
45 servings, $22; clifbar.com
91 percent organic drink mix includes
decaffeinated green tea extract, sodium
chloride, potassium and magnesium.

Liquid Gold Sports Gel
5 servings, $5.99; liquidgoldenergy.com
Made with organic honey, sea salt and
molasses, this gel energizes with only
100 calories.

ProBar Halo
1.3-ounce bar, $1.59; theprobar.com
Certified organic, vegan, low in sugar and
high in omega-3s.

Larabar
16 bars, $25.45; larabar.com
Gluten-free and made with raw ingredients,
this bar has 6 grams of protein.

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At last, some good news about the cost of health care. Thanks to a groundbreaking decision, Medicare now reimburses eligible beneficiaries for intensive cardiac rehabilitation (ICR) at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in Miami, Fla. Medicare will pay for the intensive diet and exercise program for individuals with history or risk of cardiovascular events. Those eligible can attend a one- or two-week residential or non-residential program and be reimbursed for up to 72 ICR sessions with Pritikin’s physicians, exercise physiologists, dietitians and other health professionals. (Accommodations, food and other expenses—an estimated 50 percent of the cost—are the responsibility of the guest.)

The heart-healthy Pritikin Program has changed little since Nathan Pritikin introduced it 50 years ago. This lifestyle-altering program continues to emphasize exercise and a plant-based diet low in fat, cholesterol and sodium—with impressive results. More than 115 clinical studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals over the last few decades have demonstrated dramatic health benefits: reduced need for bypass surgery and medication as well as healthier levels of heart-disease risk factors such as cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index and others. Given that track record, it’s hardly surprising that Pritikin is the first healthy lifestyle education program in the United States to meet Medicare’s stringent coverage criteria. So, who qualifies?

“The program at this time is limited to several significant disease processes,” says cardiologist Ronald Scheib, M.D., F.A.C.C., medical director of the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa. “They include a heart attack within a year, a previous coronary artery bypass surgery, previous coronary angioplasty (stent), chronic angina pectoris, previous cardiac transplantation or valve surgery.”

It may be limited, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

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Vermont Soap’s Certified Organic Toothbrush Sanitizer, a patent-pending formula of certified organic alcohol and a blend of spearmint and essential oils, kills more than one trillion germs when sprayed on your toothbrush, dentures and bridgework, according to Vermont Soap Founder Larry Plesent. Fewer germs means less likelihood of tooth decay and gum disease. Free of artificial colors, fragrances and preservatives, the sanitizer comes in a 4-ounce spray bottle that’s easy to stash in a medicine cabinet or holiday sock. vermontsoap.com

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