Natural Awakenings Charlotte - April 2025 Enjoy the April 2025 edition of Natural Awakenings Charlotte. Waste Not, Want Not: Benefits of a Circular Economy A circular economy reduces waste and resource use by keeping materials in circulation through reuse, repair and redesign. Read More » Leslie Davenport on Resiliency and Creative Action in the Face of Climate Change Psychotherapist Leslie Davenport outlines ways to build emotional resilience in response to climate-related stress and uncertainty. Read More » Kefir Kraut Dip Creamy, zesty and teeming with probiotics, this simple dip pairs tangy sauerkraut with luscious kefir cheese—perfect with crisp veggies or whole-grain chips at your next gathering. Read More » Apple Kefir Salad Dressing This silky kefir-based dressing combines the sweet-tart notes of apple and vinegar with probiotic power—an easy way to upgrade any salad with tang, depth and gut-friendly benefits. Read More » Blender Salsa Bold and smoky with a hint of heat, this fermented salsa delivers a punch of flavor plus gut-boosting benefits, thanks to live cultures and prebiotic-rich ingredients like garlic and onion. Read More » Blueberry Blast Smoothie Bright, creamy and bursting with antioxidants, this tangy kefir smoothie blends banana, blueberries and coconut milk for a refreshing sip that supports digestion and urinary health. Read More » Increasing Gut Health With Prebiotics: How To Feed the Good Microbes Prebiotic-rich foods like asparagus and bananas support gut health, reduce inflammation and may play a role in preventing chronic disease. Read More » Making Time To Marvel Spending time in nature can restore emotional balance, improve attention and renew a sense of wonder in everyday life. Read More » Earth Day 2025: Our Power, Our Planet This year’s Earth Day calls for a global shift to renewable energy to combat climate change and create jobs. Read More » Clean and Renewable Energy: New Advancements That Promise a Greener Future Advancements in solar, wind and AI technology are reshaping how clean energy is generated, stored and integrated into daily life. Read More » Moving More: The Path to Greater Health and Energy Regular movement, even in small amounts, can improve cardiovascular health, increase energy and support mental well-being. Read More » Relief for Fibromyalgia Promising: Strategies for Pain Reduction Emerging approaches link fibromyalgia relief to gut health, vagus nerve stimulation and targeted anti-inflammatory therapies. Read More » Cooking With Kids: Health Benefits and Life Lessons in the Kitchen Preparing meals with children teaches life skills, encourages healthier eating habits and strengthens family connections. Read More » Treating Urinary Infections in Cats: How Diet, Hydration and Supplements Can Help Nutrient-dense, moisture-rich diets and holistic care help support feline urinary health and reduce the risk of infections. Read More » Rating the Level of Processing in Foods A new database ranks grocery items by processing level, using AI to analyze ingredients, additives and techniques. Read More » Mouth Bacteria Transplants Researchers are testing oral microbiome transplants from cavity-free donors as a novel approach to fight tooth decay. Read More » Recovering From a Bad Night’s Sleep A single dose of creatine partially reversed cognitive effects of sleep deprivation in a small controlled study. Read More » Potential New Benefit of Eating Fiber High fiber intake may support gut bacteria that suppress harmful microbes, according to a global microbiome study. Read More » Federal Ban of Toxic Food Dye The FDA banned Red No. 3 for foods and ingested drugs, citing cancer risks linked to animal studies. Read More » Jurassic Period Birds A fossil found in China pushes the estimated origin of birds back to 164–172 million years ago. Read More » Algae-Based Cooking Oil Algae oil, lower in saturated fat and higher in monounsaturated fats, shows potential as a sustainable cooking alternative. Read More » Smart Devices for the Blind Emerging Braille technologies aim to improve accessibility with tactile displays, though high costs remain a barrier. Read More » 74-Year-Old Albatross Becomes Mom Again The world’s oldest known wild bird, Wisdom, laid an egg at Midway Atoll at age 74, extending a lifetime of reproductive activity. Read More » Natural Solution for Forever Chemicals A bacterial strain reduced 96% of PFOS at a polluted site in Portugal, offering potential for PFAS cleanup. Read More » In-Print