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Natural Awakenings Northwest Florida

May 2020 - Letter from the Publisher

May 01, 2020 03:22PM ● By Daralyn Chase

As you would expect, a big focus of this month’s magazine is on health. Several local healthcare providers have generously shared their expertise as we try to wrap our brains around the concept of pandemic, understand what’s known about this particular virus, and put ourselves in the best position to stay well. 

On page 20, Dr. Tony Salamay, who practices chiropractic, functional medicine and clinical nutrition in Panama City, explains one of the scariest things about COVID-19: how it can turn from a manageable illness into a catastrophic, even deadly one. Knowledge is power. When we understand how a disease progresses, we can act strategically to defend ourselves against it—and when it comes to coronavirus, our plan should entail far more than social distancing. Dr. Salamay also discusses holistic strategies that have been shown in clinical studies to boost the body’s ability to repel viruses and respiratory infections. 

Brian Mobley, owner of the Golden Almond—our area’s flagship health store—explains which nutritional supplements have the best track record for boosting immunity. Check out his advice on page 23, and pay attention to his recommendations regarding dosage and other specifics. As he notes, you should check with your doctor before starting certain supplements to make sure they’re compatible with your current medications and health history.

Even if you’re one of the millions of Americans who’ve gotten used to attending virtual meetings, the idea of seeing the doctor via Zoom or Skype might seem unrealistic. But Dr. Karen Kennedy, a gynecologist in Gulf Breeze and Navarre, says telemedicine can be safe, efficient and cost-effective—it just took coronavirus to get health insurance companies to pay for it. As you’ll read on page 18, this is one temporary change that Dr. Kennedy hopes will become permanent.

Of course health is never just about addressing our physical needs. It’s widely accepted that our physical health is affected by our mental, emotional and spiritual health. And here’s another important part of that formula: our community’s health. 

It’s never been clearer that a strong sense of community is vital to our well-being. We rise and fall together, and we’re at our best when we use our collective strength to lift up those who are struggling. This is the natural rhythm of a healthy community. It has always helped us recover from disaster, and it will help us recover from pandemic, too. 

So as we adjust to our new virtual reality, let’s not forget the parts of our community that have been virtually “leveled” by the virus: small businesses like fitness centers, yoga studios, hair salons, restaurants, and the eclectic places that feed our souls, like Roots Shoppe and Stone Soup. Let’s make it a weekly habit to support these special neighbors however we can. And as we begin pulling away from the grip of the disease, let’s keep it going. By saving them, we’re saving us.

Daralyn happened to return home from a year of travel in early March. It’s been unsettling, seeing a landscape that is both wonderfully familiar yet changed in ways she couldn’t have imagined when she left. Yet her thoughts always return to signs of hope, like a beautiful double rainbow she saw in Holland. Everywhere around us, nature is promising that we will get back to normal, that we will travel again. And whether we’re flying around the world to chase rainbows, or walking across the street to hug a neighbor, the experience will be sweeter than ever.  

See you next month, with our travel issue. It’s never too soon to dream!

Scott

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