Step outside, smile at the sky and kick off your shoes—the long, happy, sunshiny days have begun. Summer’s here, so it is time to breathe in new life and embrace this luminous opportunity to improve our mind, body and spirit.

       With Father's Day taking place this month, we are dedicating this issue to men as well as dads in providing many ways for them to achieve good health.

       In this month’s feature article, “Integrative Health for Men,” we show that compared to women, American men die five years earlier on average, in part because they eat worse, smoke more, drink harder, exercise less and suffer more injuries. They are also notoriously difficult to get into a doctor’s office, but can regain control of their health using the mind-body focus of integrative approaches.

            An estimated 17.3 million U.S. adults had a major depressive episode in 2017, and that number has tripled during the challenges of the pandemic. In “Beat the Blues Naturally,” read how some people are turning to homeopathic remedies and natural herbal solutions such as St. John’s wort and American ginseng to avoid the side effects of pharmaceutical antidepressants. Experts also recommend switching to a whole-food diet to reduce the inflammation linked to depression and adopting a steady exercise routine, especially yoga.

            The bending and squatting, carrying, lifting, digging and reaching required by gardening chores makes for a great full-body workout that engages every muscle while elevating the spirits. Using yoga positions in the squatting can ease aches and pains, and simply putting our hands in the soil is a grounding experience. Gardening is the way we love to get our workout, and it’s so rewarding to have yummy, nutritious food to eat as the payoff for all our hard work. Check out “The Fit Gardener” for more tips to help stay fit naturally.

            Whatever it is that helps you recharge to make the most of living an inspired summer, we encourage you to do it! Be it your toes in the sand or your hands tending to your garden, enjoy this lovely month of June and all of the exciting fun summer brings with your family and friends!

 A great big hug to all the special men in our lives … Happy Father’s Day!

 Trina and John

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