Since 2018 I have been part of a women’s group practicing IF. I find it interesting when experiencing inflammation, then fasting to 20 hours, it goes away, which makes me want to spend more time in that 20-hour window, but it also clearly demonstrates the effect my diet has on my inflammation.

Go to our Healing Ways column titled “More than Skin Deep: Healing the Heartbreak of Psoriasis,” by Lorraine Maita to learn more about psoriasis, an autoimmune condition of the skin affecting 3 percent of Americans, which includes these symptoms: scaly, itchy, inflamed and peeling skin; aching joints; burning genitals; broken nails; and depression. It’s associated with psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, autoimmune thyroiditis, insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, lymphoma and cardiovascular disease. Traditional treatments with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs cause harsh side effects. A functional medicine approach recommends modulating the reaction to stress, eliminating toxins and trauma, improving diet to heal the gut, reducing inflammation throughout the body and supplementing with vital nutrients.

Our Fit Body section titled “Fitness Delivered: Benefits of an In-Home Personal Trainer,” by Kirby Baldwin, she reminds us how a common New Year’s resolution—to adopt healthy habits—is too often dropped at the six-month mark. We lose steam because of unrealistic expectations and our failure to keep track of our progress. An in-home personal trainer may be the perfect way to stick to fitness goals long term. Benefits include individually tailored workouts in the comfort of home with professional accountability and motivation, saving time not having to commute to the gym and privacy for those that feel self-conscious about exercising in front of other people. Recommendations are offered for finding the right trainer and saving money by inviting a few friends to join in for a semi-private experience.

In our Green Living column titled “The Perils of Plastic Clothing: Embracing Slow Fashion and Sustainable Fabrics,” by Sandra Yeyati she found that in 2021, polyester—a petroleum-derived textile—comprised 54 of all fabrics. Because it is inexpensive, it drives the fast fashion industry, leading to 92 million tons of discarded clothing every year globally. In America, 85 percent of textiles are tossed. Plastic clothes are terrible for the environment. They produce greenhouse gases at every stage of their long lives and release marine-killing microfibers when washed. Alternatives are discussed, including lyocell made of sustainably sourced wood cellulose; organic or recycled cotton, linen and hemp; plant-based leather; peace silk; responsibly harvested wool; and recycled polyester. The best solution is to reduce the consumption of new clothing, buy longer-lasting garments and shop secondhand.

I’ve always been drawn to natural fibers, loving how they feel next to my skin, and the way they hold up over time. I have clothes that are 20 plus years old and still look good, of course I never put clothes in the dryer, but rather opt for a large drying rack in my laundry and air dry everything. Little did I know, this would eventually become an environmentally conscious thing to do.

To conscious living,
Pamela Gallina, Publisher