Centered Sunday Wellness Meetup Recap

September 2025

​September is packed with opportunities to nourish your body and soul. 🌟 From National Fruits & Veggies Month and National Yoga Month to awareness campaigns like Hunger Action Month, National Cholesterol Education Month, and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, this is a time to focus on health, wellness, and giving back. At Centered Wellness & Yoga, we’re celebrating with community events, donation drives, and special classes that support both personal growth and collective healing. Plus, don’t miss our Yoga Teacher Training—recognized as the best in the Treasure Coast—where you’ll deepen your practice, expand your knowledge, and step confidently into teaching. Dive in to learn how eating more plants, moving your body through yoga, and engaging in mindful practices can improve longevity, lower disease risk, and create positive change in our community.

🥦 National Fruits & Veggies Month
History of this observance day

• Started in 2019 as a way to celebrate produce and make it a bigger part of everyday life.
• Grew out of the old “5 A Day” campaign (1991) by the National Cancer Institute + Produce for Better Health Foundation.

The FDA 5 A Day for Better Health Campaign

• Guideline: Eat 5 servings/day (2 cups fruit + 3 cups vegetables)
• Launched in 1991 by the National Cancer Institute and the Produce for Better Health Foundation
• Research showed 5 servings of fruits and vegetables lowered cancer and chronic disease risk
• 5 A Day Prevents deficiency, but does not necessarily promote optimal wellness.
• Based on population-level data / lowest common denominator of what reduces disease risk

🥬 Functional Medicine Model: 7-9 Servings

• Higher veggie intake = higher soluble + insoluble fiber
• More Nutrients → more vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients
• More Fiber → digestion, blood sugar balance, cholesterol, microbiome
• These compounds fight oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and support detox pathway
• Benefits: better digestion, balanced blood sugar, improved cholesterol, stronger microbiome
• Colors matter:
  • Red → heart & prostate
  • Orange/Yellow → eyes, skin, immunity
  • Green → detox, bone, blood
  • Purple/Blue → brain, memory
  • White → anti-inflammatory, immune

Many people are undernourished even if they’re not calorie deficient

5 servings = enough to not get sick
7–9 servings = enough to feel well, age well, and protect your body long-term

A meta-analysis (Aune et al., Int J Epidemiol, 2017) found that while 5 servings lowered risk, 7-9 servings/day gave the strongest protection against premature death, heart disease, and cancer.
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🥗 📦 Hunger Action Month 
Hunger Action Month was established in 2008 by Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S. Every September, communities across the country come together to raise awareness about food insecurity and to take action through volunteering, donating, and advocacy. 

 🥕 Food for Thought: Clean Eating as a Privilege
While we often talk about food in terms of clean eating, organic produce, and nutrient density, the reality is that millions of people don’t have consistent access to any food, let alone the kind that promotes wellness.

• Clean eating is a luxury that many people don’t have access to
• Those who are food-insecure often rely on shelf-stable, highly processed foods that don’t nourish long-term health

 📊 Hunger Awareness Facts 

• Food insecurity affects 44 million Americans, including 13 million children
• Nearly 1 in 4 military families experiences food insecurity
• Veterans and seniors are disproportionately impacted, often forced to choose between food, housing, or healthcare
• Hunger is not about lack of food production - it’s about access and equity
• Access is not equal: many families rely on ultra-processed, inexpensive foods that lack nutrients, fueling cycles of chronic disease
• People facing food insecurity are more likely to experience diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, largely because low-cost, high-calorie foods are often the only option

🌟 What Can We Do? Giving Back Through Yoga
We are deeply grateful for our own abundance, and this month, we’re also moving from awareness into action.  Michelle, one of our beloved teachers and our massage manager, is working to do volunteer work with a local organization 

About Angels of HopeA local “hands on” Grassroots 501 c 3 all volunteer organization that supports local homeless children, veterans, elderly and disabled.  These are people living on the streets and in camps located in the woods and fields and other areas not meant for human habitation all along Florida’s space and Treasure coast. 

• Donation-based beachside yoga class in September (date TBA) / 100% of proceeds directly to support this cause.  
• Food and essential supply drive at the studio- all of Sept. 
• All donations will go directly to Angels of Hope

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🩺 National Cholesterol Education Month
National Cholesterol Education Month was created by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute back in 1985 to raise awareness about high cholesterol and heart disease. Almost 40 years later, it’s still one of the most recognized health observances each September.


What Is Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body makes and uses in every cell. It’s not a toxin or something “bad” - it’s a natural building block that keeps your body running. Because it doesn’t dissolve in water, your body packages it into carriers called lipoproteins (that’s where HDL and LDL come in).

Why Cholesterol MattersMost people think of cholesterol as “bad,” but the truth is: cholesterol is essential for life.

• Cell membranes: gives every cell strength and flexibility
• Hormones: raw material for estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, and vitamin D
• Nerve insulation: helps messages travel smoothly in your nervous system
• Brain health: 25% of all cholesterol is in your brain; low cholesterol is linked to dementia risk

Where Cholesterol Comes From

• Only 20–25% comes from diet (eggs, meat, dairy, seafood)
• The majority (75–80%) is made by your own body - mainly the liver, but also intestines, adrenal glands, and reproductive organs
• Self-regulating system: eat more cholesterol and the liver makes less; eat less and the liver makes more
  
  

Dietary Cholesterol: Myths vs. TruthFor decades, cholesterol-rich foods were blamed. But modern evidence tells a different story:

• For most people, dietary cholesterol has little effect on blood cholesterol
• Eggs actually raise HDL (“good” cholesterol) and shift LDL into larger, less harmful particles
• Only about 20–30% of people are “hyper-responders” whose cholesterol rises more noticeably with diet

💊 Conventional Treatment for High Cholesterol
Statins are prescription drugs that lower cholesterol by blocking an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase. That enzyme is basically the factory switch your body uses to make cholesterol.

• Primary goal: lower LDL (“bad cholesterol”)
• Secondary effects: can also reduce inflammation in blood vessels, helping prevent plaque buildup

🚦 Why Statins Are Controversial
Statins can absolutely save lives in certain high-risk groups. But they’re not without drawbacks, and it’s important to understand the trade-offs before starting one.

⚠️ Common Side Effects (10–20% of patients)

• Muscle pain and weakness (sometimes severe)
• Fatigue and lower exercise tolerance
• Brain fog or memory issues
• Digestive upset (nausea, constipation, diarrhea)
  
  

⚠️ Long-Term Risks

• Increased risk of Type 2 diabetes (especially with long-term use)
• Liver enzyme elevations (rare but monitored)
• Possible higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke in some groups
  
  

⚠️ Nutrient Depletion

• Statins block the same pathway that makes cholesterol, but it also reduces other critical compounds. 
  • CoQ10: vital for mitochondrial energy production → deficiency linked to fatigue, muscle pain, and heart function decline
  • Vitamin D: may lower active vitamin D levels
  • Selenium & others: minor impacts on antioxidant status
    
    

⚠️ Bigger Picture Questions

• Despite widespread use, heart disease remains the #1 cause of death in the U.S.
• Statins focus on lowering cholesterol numbers, but don’t address root causes like inflammation, blood sugar imbalance, poor diet, or chronic stress
• Many people are prescribed statins based on moderate risk - not dangerously high cholesterol

📊 How Doctors Decide on Statins
Before 2013 (old guidelines): Focused on cholesterol numbers

• LDL ≥190 mg/dL or known heart disease → statin candidate
• Moderate cholesterol without other risks → usually no medication
• Analogy:  We only give medicine if the thermometer shows a really high fever.
  
  

After 2013 (new guidelines): Shift to a 10-year risk score (Pooled Cohort Equations)

• Even with moderate LDL, if your risk ≥7.5%, you’re likely prescribed a statin
• Expanded statin prescriptions to millions more
• Analogy:  We give medicine if your thermometer plus your age, family history, and lifestyle predict you might get a fever later.

📈 How Many More People Are on Statins?

• 2013 guideline changes made 12.8 million more adults (ages 40–75) eligible
• Statin use jumped from 37 million (2012–13) to 92 million (2018–19) - a 149% increase
• That’s more than a threefold rise since 2008–09
  
  

🪦 Real-World Impact: Heart Disease Deaths

• 2013: ~170 deaths per 100,000 (age-adjusted)
• 2023: ~203 deaths per 100,000 (~680,981 deaths in the U.S.)
  
  

👉 Even with the rise in statin use, more Americans are dying from heart disease now than a decade ago.

🩸 Beyond Standard Cholesterol Testing
Most doctors run a basic cholesterol panel (HDL, LDL, triglycerides). But here’s the problem: not all LDL cholesterol is the same. Some particles are big and fluffy (less harmful), and some are small and sticky (more dangerous). The standard test doesn’t tell you the difference.

• 🧪 NMR LipoProfile 
  • Shows particle number and size (big vs small LDL)
  • The regular test says “There’s cargo on the highway.” NMR says “Here’s how many trucks are carrying it, and whether they’re semis or beat-up clunkers.”

• 🧪ApoB (Apolipoprotein B)
  • LDL = how much cholesterol you have.
  • ApoB = how many trucks are actually on the road.
  • More trucks = more chances for accidents (blockages).
  • This number can sneak up, especially during life changes like menopause.
• 🧪Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]
  • This is a cholesterol particle that’s almost entirely genetic.
  • You only need to test it once in your life, but it’s important because if it’s high, it can explain why arteries clog even when other numbers look okay.
  • Most doctors don’t order it — but it can be a missing piece of the puzzle.

🌟 Why This Matters Before Starting a Statin
Too often, patients are put on statins just because of one number (total cholesterol) or because they have Type 2 diabetes. But cholesterol is far more nuanced. Seeing a lipidologist (cholesterol specialist) can provide clarity and prevent unnecessary medication.

• Prescribing based on incomplete tests risks unnecessary medication
• Advanced testing gives a clearer picture of real risk
• Lets you and your provider make decisions from clarity, not guesswork
  
  

🌿 What You Can Control

If genetics aren’t the main issue, the biggest drivers of cholesterol problems are:

• Inflammation
• High blood sugar → sticky like syrup on artery walls
• High insulin → shuts off nitric oxide, preventing arteries from relaxing
• Stress and poor sleep → worsen cholesterol balance
  
  

🥗 Drug-Free Ways to Support Healthy Cholesterol
Food as Medicine

• Cut sugar/refined carbs → lowers triglycerides 20–50%
• Add soluble fiber (beans, flax, chia, oats) → lowers LDL 5–10%
• Healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, nuts, omega-3 fish) → shift LDL into safer particles; omega-3s cut triglycerides 25–30%
  
  

Lifestyle Choices

• Exercise: raises HDL up to 10%, lowers triglycerides 20–30%
• Stress reduction: yoga, meditation, breathwork lower inflammation
• Sleep: 7–9 hours supports healthy cholesterol metabolism
  
  

Targeted Supplements

• CoQ10: supports energy + heart health (especially for statin users)
• Omega-3s: proven triglyceride-lowering effect
• Berberine: supports LDL and blood sugar
• Niacin: raises HDL (must be monitored)
• Red Yeast Rice: natural statin-like effect (requires supervision)

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🎗️ Childhood Cancer (National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month)
National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month was first proclaimed by President George H. W. Bush in 1990. The gold ribbon is its symbol - chosen because children are as precious as gold.

• Only 4% of national cancer funds go toward childhood cancers - despite it being the leading cause of death by disease for children in the U.S.

• Kids face higher risks of long-term side effects from chemo and radiation because their bodies are still developing.
• The Hope: Advances in immunotherapy and integrative care approaches are showing promise in safer, more effective treatments.
• How We Can Help: Beyond research dollars, community efforts like fundraisers, bracelet sales, and volunteering provide families with comfort and resources during the hardest fight of their lives.

💜 Maddie’s Fight Foundation (MFF)

• Local organization that raises awareness and funds for children battling cancer. 
• 100% volunteer operated 
• To Date- helped over 700 families between financial awards, gifts and care packages
• Allied with several pediatric cancer teams across the country, including Joe DiMaggio and Jack Nicklaus Children’s Hospitals, Nemours, The Cleveland Clinic and P.O.S.T. (Pediatric Oncology Support Team, Inc.) 
• Upcoming Gala & Casino Night: Next Saturday! Tickets are still available 
• Maddie’s Fight bracelets- just a $5 donation / handmade by the organization 

• Learn more at maddiesfight.org

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🧘🏻‍♀️ National Yoga Month
National Yoga Month was officially designated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in 2008 to inspire people to embrace healthier lifestyles through yoga and mindful movement.  This Year’s Theme: “Yoga – The Path Back to You”

𖤓 History & Recognition

• Yoga Month has been nationally recognized since 2008, honoring a practice that nurtures body, mind, and spirit.
• Research-Backed Benefits of Yoga
• Regulates the nervous system - calming anxiety and stress
• Supports cardiovascular health - improving heart rate and circulation
• Builds mental resilience, focus, and emotional balance
• Styles for Every Need:
• From gentle and restorative to Vinyasa and Yin- each class meets you where you are.
• Holistic Fit: Yoga complements sleep, nutrition, detox, and movement- forming a complete wellness ecosystem.

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Join Treasure Coast Best Yoga Teacher Training.
Get certified by medical professionals.

Payment Plans available. Starts October 2025.

• ​Sign up NOW!

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🪬 Studio Yoga Offerings & Special Sale
​Centered Wellness and Yoga offers a diverse lineup of yoga styles: Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Restorative, and Hot classes- ideal for all levels and needs​

• Sale Highlight
  ​Normally $159/Month
  ​(First three months $129 | $139 after that)

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🌟 Spotlight: Michele Redlien, LMT & Massage Manager

• New licensed massage establishment.
• Services: lymphatic, energetic, relaxation.
• More workshops are coming this fall.
• License: FL MM46631 | LMT MA97461.

More info - book now!

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🧖‍♀️ Other Wellness Services

• Integrative / Functional Nutrition and Health Coaching- Free 1:1 consultation.
• Detox groups, metabolic resets.
• Lab Testing
• Custom protocols & nutrition coaching.
• Practitioner-grade supplements via Fullscript (10% off always).
• Acupuncture Fridays (TCCA).
• IV Therapy Day (date TBA).
• Red Light + PEMF sessions.
• Ionic Detox Foot Baths.
• Private Sound Meditation.

View all

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📅 Upcoming Events
🌿 Regular Events in September3rd Fri: ✍️ Word Flow 
3rd Fri: 🌴 Outdoor Yoga (OBM Jensen Beach)
4th Fri: 🎶 Kirtan & Sacred Chant 


🌟 Special Events in September
Sep 12: 🪷 Discover Calm: A Meditation Workshop for All Levelsl (Paula Caracappa).
Sep 13: 💃LaSoca Sip & Sweat – Dance Party (JJ).
Sep 14: ⭕ Rolling Into Release – Yoga Wheel (Carlyn).
Sep 20:  🧘‍♀️ Pathways to Peace: a Light Language Experience (Maria Teresa Swanson)
Sep 21: 🪽Fly With Confidence – Arm Balance (Carlyn).
Sep 27: 💃LaSoca Sip & Sweat – Dance Party (JJ).

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