burial (InTheLightUrns. com). Memorial blown-glass artwork is another option for remains (Tropical
GlassDesign.com). Scattering
ashes—whether casting them into the air or over a body of water, burying them or raking them into the soil—pro- vides an intimate burial experience and has minimal environmental conse- quences. Sehee says it’s legal on private land and also allowed in some parks. “It rarely does harm to the ecosystem,” he says. “Calling your local park agency is a great idea. Many allow for scatter- ing and some without a fee.”
Burial at Sea The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency governs the disposal of cremat- ed remains at sea—it must take place at least three nautical miles from land and may include artful flowers and wreaths of decomposable materials. Even non-cremated remains may be buried at sea, provided it takes place at the same distance from land in water that is between 600 and 1,800 feet deep, depending on the location. Another sea burial option is of-
fered by Eternal Reefs, a company that mixes remains into liquid concrete as the centerpiece of a personalized reef ball, lowered to the ocean floor to provide a home for marine life. Before the boat heads out, family members are invited to press handprints into the wet concrete and to decorate the ball with shells and other mementos. Reef balls can hold from one to four people, plus a pet. Sites are cur- rently available off the Florida, New Jersey and Texas shorelines and can be revisited at any time. “We don’t look at it as a funeral,” remarks CEO George Frankel. “We’re months or years removed from the pass- ing. This is a celebration of life.”
Brita Belli is the editor of E-The Envi- ronmental Magazine and author of The Autism Puzzle: Connecting the Dots Between Environmental Toxins and Rising Autism Rates. Connect at
BritaBelli.com.
20 NA Twin Cities Edition
Food & Mood A
Solutions for Emotional Eating by Judith Fertig
stressful day might have us seeking solace in ice cream, pizza or potato chips. Other times, we may feel a second donut or another high-calorie treat is our reward for a task well done. Occasional food indulgences are
one of life’s pleasures, but habitually eating in response to our emotions can cause weight gain and health problems.
Core Issues
“Emotional hunger represents an appetite, craving or desire to eat in the absence of true physiological hunger cues,” explains Julie Simon, author of The Emotional Eater’s Repair Manual: A Practical Mind-Body-Spirit Guide for Putting an End to Overeating and Dieting. “Emotional hunger often feels the same as physical hun- ger,” she adds, yet it might represent an unconscious longing for pleasure, calm, comfort, excitement or distraction. It can also have a physiological basis. A 2011 study from the University of
Leuven, in Belgium, shows that stomach-based hormones can connect directly to the brain, setting up cravings for sugary and fatty foods, suggesting that we are hardwired to want the foods that provide the greatest number of calories in the smallest quantities. Sugary, starchy, salty and fatty foods also push the brain’s “reward” button, prompting the production of more dopamine, the neurotransmitter of pleasure and well-being. Dr. Pam Peeke, Ph.D., author of The Hunger Fix: The Three-Stage Detox and Recovery Plan for Overeating and Food Addiction, maintains that these foods also create a difficult-to-break addiction cycle. According to Peeke, an assistant clinical professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, in Baltimore, the more high-calorie foods we eat, the more we need the “high” they produce. Soon, increased amounts of foods like cheeseburgers, potato chips or chocolate chip cookies are necessary to help us feel good again.
natwincities.com
consciouseating
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