It seems that the benefits of fish oils are not a secret anymore! Omega-3 fatty acids found in Fish, Krill, Flax or Borage Oils have the ability to knock out disease and give your body a fighting chance to prevent and treat a huge list of health conditions from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ulcerative Colitis to Heart Disease and Stroke. Pharmaceutical companies and well intentioned but mislead health care providers will instead dose patients with these conditions with Powerful and Toxic Corticosteroids like prednisone or Statin Meds like Lipitor or that ever famous and unfortunately unfounded "baby" 80mg dose of Aspirin.

Take a look at the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. There is no drug that has even a fraction of the benefits of healthy oils. Health isn't in a bottle but if you want the best chances of living a healthy life Omega-3 fatty acids should definitely be a part of your diet. The research on krill oil verses fish oil shows that it is much more potent in the good stuff when compared to fish oil or any other for that matter.

Yours in Health and Living life to its Maximum Potential,

Dr. Malik

"Researchers at Auburn University have found that wearing flip-flops alters the way one walks, changing the gait in subtle ways that can lead to serious sole, heel and ankle problems. They presented these findings earlier this month at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis.

The Auburn team videotaped 39 flip-flop-wearing volunteers and noticed how they scrunched their toes to keep the flip-flop on the foot while the heel lifted in the air. This motion stretches the plantar fascia, the connective tissue that runs from heel to toe, causing inflammation, pain along the sole, heel spurs and tired feet in general." –article written by Christopher Wanjek of LiveScience

It is the wellness revolution. There is no better time than the present to embark on a journey of living life to it’s maximum potential. More and more of North American society is realizing that the Western Medical Approach to health isn't helping them live better quality lives. On the contrary rates of Heart Disease, Cancer, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, and Auto-Immunes conditions have gone up exponentially and continue to.

We are turning to the days of old when food was simple and unprocessed; when medication was good sleep, proper nutrition, decreased stress, massage therapy, acupuncture and herbs and root teas. The past 100 years of research on old world therapies yield tremendously positive results for the majority of diseases and ailments that afflict North Americans. From India's work with Laughter and Aloe Vera, and the Chinese with Ginseng and Green Tea to South America's promotion of Cacao and Yerba Mate, the answer to good health has always been simple. You cannot heal selectively.

When I was in high school my Enterprise 10 teacher Mr. Mcleod told us that the world’s most successful people have credited a portion of their success to their daily nap. He called it a Power Nap. He encouraged us all to take 10 to 20 minutes everyday to ourselves away from stimulus, "NO MORE" he stated sternly "JUST TWENTY MINUTES". It took me seven years later to take his advice. After my first degree I moved to Taipei, Taiwan where the working and school custom was to nap for 20 minutes after eating. Nap at your desk after eating lunch or some time in the middle of the work day go to a dark, quiet place and spend 20 minutes alone. Eventually you will become good at falling asleep quickly. It took me months to become accustomed to napping. Like any healthy habit it takes practice and effort. The endeavor is well worth it!

Here are some benefits of napping. Could your life use anymore of these?

1. Music: What ever gets you up and out of bed, with a hop in your step. Wake up, clap your hands and say "It’s going to be a great day". You have the power to choose what side of the bed you wake up on!
2. Oatmeal: Oatmeal contains a super metabolic enhancer called lecithin and tons of complex carbohydrates that gives you lasting energy and takes stress off your pancreas keeping insulin secretion low decreasing your risk of developing Type II diabetes. Stay away from oatmeal packs that are too sugary. I like Irish Steel Cut Oatmeal. It’s thick and tasty. Flavor your oatmeal with cinnamon and applesauce or almond butter.
3. Vision Board and Vision Statement: Make a placard of your goals and positive thoughts with pictures of the things you want most in life. Put it up on the wall of your room or in the bathroom so that you look at it and read it every morning. Having your goals along with positive energy served up at the start of your day will instill a subliminal consciousness that will drive you closer to the things and emotions you want.
   

Like the famous hip hop star Jay Z says in one of his songs, “H to the O!” (I’m sure that’s not what he meant but it works for the purpose of this article). Everyday in our clinic the importance of water has become a mantra. We hear so much about how our body is made primarily of water and that we need to drink lots. What is lots? Some say 8 cups a day, others say 64 ounces a day, some say just keep drinking until your urine is clear. Well I’d have to agree the closest with the latter, but how do you get there without inspecting your urine constantly?

Here is the simple formula to follow in relation to water:

Drink 1/2 Your body weight in ounces every day. Therefore if you weigh 100 lbs, you should drink 50 ounces of water.

In addition to that for any beverage you drink that isn’t water you need to drink that much more water. For example, if you have a 20 ounce cup of coffee in the morning you must add 20 more ounces of water to your daily quota. THIS GOES FOR ANY BEVERAGE THAT ISN’T WATER.

Use this diet to take a load off of your pancreas, kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract.

Here is what you should avoid:

Processed foods
Any food that contains genetically modified ingredients, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors or anything you cannot pronounce.

Starches and grains
Pasta, Potatoes, Breads, Cereals and anything with gluten content.

Juices and soft drinks
Water and teas are the only acceptable beverage, juice is a waste of energy they usually contain processed sugars and artificial sweeteners.

Here is what you should upload into your life:

Highlight the boxes as you go and CELEBRATE your accomplishment!

Every week in our clinic I get to hear about foot pain. It is one of the most common and commonly misunderstood problems in medicine. Plantar Fascitis occurs along the medial arch of the foot that can manifest pain anywhere from the inside of the heel to just behind the big toe. A huge number of people have falling arches, women more so than men. This fact along with the majority of humanity wearing shoes that aren’t fit for them is the reason Plantar Fascitis occurs so often.

The plantar fascia is a strip of muscle and tendon that extends between the inside of the heel (medial calcaneal tuberosity) and then forks into 5 pieces that fall behind all the toe bones (metatarsal heads).

Here are the treatments most commonly recommended. Take a look and see if you can figure out why the results are not long lasting.

1. ALMONDS - I’m nuts about nuts and almonds as far as nuts are concerned are hard to beat. They carry the most nutritional bang for your buck when compared to any other nut.
2. QUINOA - This humble seed hails from the Andes. Once considered the “gold of the Incas" quinoa is rich in protein, yes protein, magnesium, manganese and copper. This single grain can aid cardiovascular health as well as calm down muscle spasms and migraines while detoxifying the body as a powerful antioxidant. In all my talks on nutrition I give quinoa honourable mention. Make quinoa your go to “grain”.