Natural Awakenings - December 2013 Read the December 2013 edition of Natural Awakenings. Humanity’s Eternal Quest: Eckhart Tolle on the Kingdom of Heaven Within Personal peace can be attained here and now—and we don’t have to meditate 30,000 hours to tap into it. Read More » Cocoa Calms Inflammation: A Winter Favorite has Healthy Benefits The perfect winter pick-me-up, cocoa reduces inflammation and fatty liver disease, which might help fight obesity. Read More » Meditation Helps Heal Traumatized Veterans: Natural Relief for Post-Traumatic Stress In an eight-week study, vets that meditated daily for brief periods experience sharp reductions in symptoms of stress such as drinking, insomnia and depression. Read More » Sprinkle Cinnamon to Avert Alzheimer’s: Add Some Spice for Brain Protection News about this healthful spice becomes even better with new research showing that it prevents “brain tangles” associated with the memory-robbing disease. Read More » Standard Returns: New Sustainable Currency Geared to Stabilize World Economy An online barter currency called the Terra could help reverse the booms and busts of the international business cycle. Read More » Pet First-Aid Kits: All-Natural Home Health Care If a cat or dog feels under the weather or is injured, surprisingly fast fixes are as close as the pantry. Read More » To Get More, Give More: Boost Personal Wealth through Generosity Want to feel rich in time or money? When we give it away to others—by donating or volunteering—we feel a sense of abundance, a Harvard study finds. Read More » Too Much Togetherness?: Exercise Helps Keep Family Holidays Merry Of course, we love our families—but sometimes during the intense intimacy holidays bring we need to a way to jog or exercise the stress away. Read More » Peace on Our Plates: Mindful Eating for a More Peaceful World By shifting our diets from factory-farmed animal products to plants, we lower environmental costs and aggressive behaviors. Read More » Sweet Slumber: Co-Sleeping in the Family Bed Family bed-sharing is a way of life in many cultures worldwide that improves sleep, builds bonds, enables breastfeeding, and nurtures happiness in kids. Read More » ‘Tis the Season to Be Wise: A Prime Time to Rejuvenate and Birth Creativity A dip in temperature signals our body to slow down while our brain reboots for a new round of activity. Read More » Near Death Experiences: Proof of Life after Death An astonishing 8 million Americans have been resuscitated after ‘death,’ and once they have experienced the purity of higher consciousness, their lives are never the same again. Read More » Genuinely Greenwashed: Six Ploys to Avoid in Eco-Purchases Hidden tradeoffs, outright fibs and more good reasons to look twice at “green” claims before plunking down our money. Read More » Arctic Rescue: Finland Calls for North Pole Sanctuary The Nordic republic leads the way to protect the fragile Arctic environment from destructive drilling and oil spills. Read More » Power Walking: Shoe Insert Generates Electricity A battery charger that feels like a cushy insole can generate enough power in 2.5 miles of walking to charge an iPhone. Read More » Family Games Generate Goodwill All Year: Entertainment with Meaningful Purpose With novel online approaches, we can have fun together while donating rice, preserving waterways, and farming a virtual plot in Africa. Read More » Sustainable Solutions: Competition Launched to Measure Ocean Acidification A $2 million prize is being offered to whoever invents the best instruments for monitoring and sustaining ocean health. Read More » Escalating Thirst: Endangered Western Tree Habitats Too many trees per acre makes trees more prone to drought, hinders native species, and endangers wildlife habitats. Read More » Intuitive Generosity: Spontaneity Sparks Altruism When encouraged to make a quick decision, study participants were more likely to contribute to the common good than to hoard money for themselves. Read More » Button Batteries Imperil Bambinos: Caution to Parents Reports have quadrupled of children harmed by swallowing the mini-batteries found in remote controls, greeting cards and other devices. Read More » Cranberries Support Healthy Circulation: Drink Up to Lower Blood Pressure In an eight-week study, the antioxidant-rich juice lowered systolic blood pressure in people by three points. Read More » Be Happy Right Now: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying By being true to ourselves, expressing our feelings and laughing with gusto, we can avoid heartbreakingly common end-of-life regrets. Read More » Green Merry Making: Retro-Fresh Family Traditions A few simple tweaks can make our holiday celebrations more fun for the family and more friendly for the planet. Read More » Tagging Toxins: Online Database Identifies Safe Products A new web site offers up-to-date information on toxic chemicals that might be lurking in food, baby products, furniture and other items we buy. Read More » In-Print