Vitamin K is needed for proper bone formation and blood clotting. In both cases, vitamin K does this by helping the body transport calcium. Vitamin K is used by doctors when treating an overdose of the drug warfarin. Also, doctors prescribe vitamin K to prevent excessive bleeding in people taking warfarin but requiring surgery.

By Dr. Shannon Sarrasin, ND

The last century has seen such advance in modern medicine that the age old traditions of “healing” are being forgotten. Conventional medicine offers powerful tools such as antibiotics, antivirals and anti-inflammatory medication that often lead to instantaneous improvement in symptoms. It can be easy to dismiss the reasons we became sick in the first place, and we often throw ourselves back into life too quickly before we have fully recovered.

Preparing for Menopause Naturally

More than ever before, women are educating themselves about the hormonal shifts during menopause.  They are asking their doctors more questions and often requesting information about what different treatment options are available to them.  No two women will have the same transition into menopause and because of this; health care practitioners, educators and women themselves are experiencing the challenge of evaluating and managing each woman individually to achieve optimal results.

Click below to view what's happening in Victoria!

Click here to view our May 2013 Flyer.

Flyer Pricing in effect from May 1 to 26, 2013

Dear Dr.Kim

I have a really bad sweet tooth. Do you have any suggestions to help me stop craving sugar?

D.I. Victoria

Omega 7, known as palmitoleic acid, helps regulate fat and blood sugar metabolism (in adipose tissue and in the pancreas). In vitro studies suggest that omega 7 helps improve the function of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. 

A great article from our own Ken Peters.

Probiotic – you may have noticed this word being used more and more these days, but do you know what it means?

FREE Public Seminar!

Find out the Amazing health benefits of PGX Daily!

Dear Dr.Kim

I am finding my energy to be a little low lately. I have not been waking refreshed and have lost some of my get-up and go. Can you offer some suggestions to help improve my energy?

A.D. Victoria

Say Farewell to Seasonal Allergies!

With the first signs of spring and the warmer weather over the Easter Long Weekend, many of us were out mowing the lawn, tending to our gardens or simply enjoying outdoor activities in the sunshine.  But with the warmer weather also comes blooming flowers, pollen and for some of us, hay fever symptoms such as nasal congestion, itchy eyes, headaches and sneezing.

Strength and flexibility are associated with youthfulness and good health. In the blood vessels, loss of flexibility and strength may be a sign of atherosclerosis, which increases heart attack and stroke risk. Regular exercise helps preserve elasticity and prevent hardening of blood vessels as we age, and a preliminary study published in Nutrition Research suggests that taking curcumin, a popular anti-inflammatory supplement derived from turmeric, may have similar benefits in postmenopausal women.

Taking an NAC supplement —the easy name for N-acetyl cysteine—might help reduce symptoms of irritability in children with autism , according to a small study published in Biological Psychiatry .

There’s a new oil in town. In the first study to investigate the effect of the omega-3 DHA (docosahexaneoic acid) derived from algae, researchers found that people suffering from age-related decline in their thinking (cognition) could get a memory boost by supplementing with...

There are certain foods we reach for when we are feeling blue, but are they the foods that really help us feel better? Probably not, according to a study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, which found that the best moods were experienced on the days, and the days after, eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

Learn more about Diet and Fitness

Just in time for Easter, a promising 2012 study of cocoa on our cardiovascular health. The study is a meta-analysis, meaning that it combines the results of several independent trials. It looked at many different factors to do with our cardiovascular health such as blood pressure, lipid (fat) profiles, fasting blood sugar/insulin, inflammatory mediators and the proper functioning of our blood vessels.

Dear Dr.Kim

My family and I are heading away for spring break. What can we take to make sure we don’t get sick?

G.T. Victoria

Find and prepare delicious, healthy recipes to create the perfect meal!

Are you lacking spark in your love life?  Valentine’s day, with its roses and chocolate may ignite a spark or two, but how is your libido during the rest of the year?  For some people low libido can be a sign of a medical condition, but more commonly it is reflective of an overstressed lifestyle.  Many of us pack so much into the day that by the time we hit the bedroom, our only fantasy is a good night’s sleep. 

What about the environmental impact?

The first question is easy to answer.

Red Palm oil and palm kernel is not GMO.

Life in Balance: Lessons to Share

Come meet Lisa Kilgour from Genuine Health on Friday January 25th, 2013 from 2pm to 4pm.

Join us at the Victoria Health Show, January 26 & 27, 2013 at the Pearkes Arena!

10 Ways to Revive and Kick-Start Your Metabolism!

As the holiday season draws to a close and we celebrate the New Year, another season starts - the season of weight loss commercials and exercise program promotions

Another Step Forward…

In an effort to avoid writing a typical New Year’s resolution article with ideas of what you should do this New Year, I have instead chosen to share with you reflections and intentions of my own journey.

January 2013 Online Specials

 For over 25 years, a nutrient called D-Chiro-Inositol has been extensively studied at the Virginia Medical School. Over 30 published studies have been completed since 1979. Chirositol, which contains around 95 percent D-chiro-inositol derived from carob, is a new nutrient for the treatment of insulin-resistant conditions. Read more.

What to Look For in a Fish Oil

By Jean-Yves Dionne, pharmacist.

 When choosing a fish oil supplement, there are many things to take into consideration: potential contaminants, heavy metals, rancidity, and irresponsible fishing practices. So how do you ensure that you are getting a fish oil that will help your body and not harm you or the planet?

Dear Dr.Kim

I am starting a new exercise program this January and am wondering if there is anything I should be taking to help support my system?

J.M. Victoria

Dear G.F.

The start of a New Year is a great time to rejuvenate your health and establish fresh routines.  Make sure your goals are realistic and (literally) pencil time into your day to dedicate to your new endeavours.

Dear Dr.Kim,

Do you have any advice for helping me stay on track over the holidays? My work gets flooded with sweets and holiday indulgences usually see me gaining several pounds.

H.S. Victoria

For those celebrating Christmas this year with a turkey dinner, what will you do with all of those left over turkey bones and vegetable scraps? Throw them away? I hope not! Consider using those nutritious leftovers to make soup stock, it requires very little effort and you can make a large amount of nourishing stock that can then be used to make healthy soups for the winter. This is also a wonderful way to stretch your grocery dollars further!

The holidays are right around the corner and usually this time of the year will result in countless parties accompanied by never ending delicious foods, exquisite holiday baking and for some, impressive amounts of alcohol.  The holidays are for gathering with family and friends, spreading good cheer and of course eating too much. 

With the change of season upon us, it is a good time to take stock and make some adjustments to your nutrition and lifestyle. The fall and winter can be busy but they can also be a good time to change your habits, improve your health and prepare for the coming year.

Every year, November also known as “Movember” is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in Canada and all around the world. This health initiative was conceived in 1999 by a group of Australian men from Adelaide Australia and then made its way to Canada in 2007. With the growth of their “mo’s”, men all around the globe raise funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer).

New Flyer Coming Soon

Boost Your Immune System

Important Strategies to Prepare You for Cold and Flu Season

With the above season temperatures outside and beautiful sunshine, it’s hard to believe that we are in the month of October!

Summer is at its finest, and the BBQ is fired up!  What a great way to enjoy the outdoors, socialize with friends, and revel in the tastes of summer.  Unfortunately, outdoor grilling gives us a dose of something that we don’t want on the menu, carcinogens.  Regardless of the type of BBQ set up you have, grilling meat, poultry or fish exposes us to two cancer causing agents that have been linked to stomach, pancreatic and colorectal cancer.

Dear Dr.Kim

Is it worth taking Vitamin D?

G.M. Victoria

Dear G.M.

Generally speaking, yes...

Dear Dr.Kim,

It seems like a lot of people are avoiding gluten or wheat?  I am wondering if this is something I should consider.

D.K. Victoria

Dear D.K.

It seems more common to find people trialing a wheat-free diet or avoiding gluten.

Open, elastic arteries are crucial for a healthy heart.  Because it is essentially a muscle (though fantastically intricate), the heart depends on other organs for its nourishment and energy and on our blood vessels to transport these...

Heart Disease and Stroke are two of the three leading causes of death in Canada.  In 2008 (the latest year available from Statistics Canada), cardiovascular disease accounted for 29% of all deaths in Canada – more than 69,500 people...

Happy New Year Everyone!  It’s that time of the year again thanks to the abundance of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and countless social gatherings; when the majority of us are trying to shed the excess 5-10 pounds put on over the holiday season...

The beginning of every New Year, brings a lot of excitement and a lot of new beginnings for many people around the world.  And this is the time when 40% of North Americans set (and break) resolutions.  So here are some tips I’ve found to help me stick with it...

Dear Dr.Kim,

The last year proved to be challenging as I faced a couple health issues and have gained about 20 pounds. I am a 32-year-old woman, don’t have any illnesses but I don’t feel very healthy. I wonder if you can make a few suggestions to help me get started for the new year...

‘Tis the season of holiday parties and gatherings and their accompanying array of rich foods, baked goods and treats.  Not surprisingly, weight gain, fatigue, sluggishness and digestive woes like gas and bloating also tend to accompany the festivities, and may even remain as unwanted souvenirs into the New Year...

While some people look forward to fall and winter, others dread the cooler temperatures and shorter days. They know that the winter season will bring worsening symptoms of depression...

Seeing as it’s Diabetes awareness month, we wanted to share this information about the use of cod liver oil and how it’s associated with lower risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes...

In November, it is Diabetes Awareness Month in Canada and the United States.  Our focus should be on prevention, because once we have developed diabetes we can not get rid of it. The best way to reduce the risk of developing diabetes is a healthy diet and regular exercise...

I’m always asked  by people who have never used a protein powder before, how to make a smoothie.  I find the most basic of recipes are the easiest to remember and make.  Here is my all time favourite...

For over 25 years, a nutrient called D-chiro-inositol has been extensively studied at the Virginia Medical School. Over 30 published studies have been completed since 1979. Chirositol™, which contains around 95 percent D-chiro-inositol derived from carob, is a new nutrient for the treatment of insulin-resistant conditions including metabolic syndrome (syndrome X), type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), excess androgen (male hormone) conditions such as male facial hair growth in women and belly fat, and weight management...

Dear Dr.Kim,

I have just taken up road cycling –recreationally –and am wondering what I should do for supplements to help me recover.

O.B. Victoria

Dear O.B.

Great question. ‘Tis the season where many people increase their activity level -running or riding, tennis or tae bo...