South Asian Health Magazine - 11th Edition - January 2019

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11TH EDITION OF THE SOUTH ASIAN HEALTH MAGAZINE

PUBLISHERS NOTE Welcome to the 11th edition of the South Asian Health Magazine.

The ONLY publication in the world solely dedicated to health, beauty, wellness and fitness in the South Asian community.

Since launching in Surrey BC in 2011, we have been consistently organizing FREE admission trade shows for the local community as well as publishing this FREE magazine. It has not been easy but we realized that it is absolutely necessary to provide continuous health awareness, education, on-going support and resources to the South Asian community. It started off as a passion project but has now turned into a full movement!

In this 11th issue, we wanted to shed some light on a growing epidemic in the community - which is obesity. A close family member of mine struggled with this issue for many years and because of a long waiting list in Canada, he sought treatment in India through Dr. Jammu and Jammu Hospital. The results are nothing less than a miracle. Please read our feature cover story inside to find out more about Dr. Jammu’s background in the medical industry.

Since it’s the beginning of a new year, we have many interesting articles that will help you get off to a great start. From loving yourself in a very holistic way to being in a healthy, loving relationship before marriage. Fraser Health Authority shares some healthy eating tips for the South Asian community along with a fun recipe for a popular traditional snack. Project Bhangra touches on a new program geared towards children through dance while stressing the importance of exercise and staying fit. Lastly, we have a personal story of a young local female entrepreneur who recently launched her own business in the Beauty industry.

We hope that you enjoy and gain valuable knowledge from this issue. The longterm goal has always been to expand the SA Health Brand across Canada.

We are hoping to do this in 2019. We appreciate the continued support from our advertisers and the community as a whole. Health is not the most exciting topic but it is one of the most important issues we deal with on a daily basis. The South Asian community (of all ages) needs to be more proactive and receptive to this message.

Cheers to Good Health!

Rina Gill 778 688 4973 rina@thehypeadagency.com Organizer, SA Health Expo Publisher, SA Health Magazine CEO, The #HYPE Advertising Agency

The publisher is not responsible for any manuscripts, images, photographs or any other material. By accepting and publishing advertising, editorial, advertorial, profiles or any other information in this publication; the publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses quality of services or products and information within the context of the above-mentioned. Although every precaution is taken in the preparation of this publication, the Publisher shall have no liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused by the contents of this publication. The Publisher is not liable for any errors or omissions and does not guarantee in any way the accuracy of information provided in the contents of this publication.

Copyright 2019 by The Hype Advertising Agency. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including internet or photocopying without written permission of the Publisher.

TOUCHING THE EARTH, OPENING THE HEART, RIDING THE WAVE, BEING…PRESENT. …A boutique, private yoga studio that inspires, cultivates and supports the transformational healing practices of yoga and meditation…A place to find balance and harmony…A welcoming, safe and nurturing place to relax, release, heal, reflect, grow and be…A sacred space to deeply listen to the wisdom of the body, to the opening of the heart and mind…A place where we come together in breath and movement, in stillness and in silence, with love and laughter to deeply connect with the undercurrent energy that unites us all…A place to practice yoga and meditation.

At Endless shore, We invite you to engage and explore your practice mindfully, with awareness, with patience and dedication.We keep our yoga class small to allow a maximum amount of attention to each individual and to also provide modifications.

The small size class enables your teacher to give you the time and attention needed to support you. It lets you move deeply into your practice at your pace knowing you are safely supported.

It is our overall aim to help people learn how to relax, live a healthy joyful life, become at peace and well in their own being and environment.

There are many reasons for starting and/or continuing a yoga practice; and whatever they may be, we are here to guide and aid along the journey. We are honoured to help in the exploration and share with the experience along the path of well being.

Endless Shore Yoga and Meditation Endless Shore Wellness Haven 2570 King George Boulevard, South Surrey, B.C. V4P 1H1 www.endlesshoreyoga.com 604-817-2236 nadine@endlesshoreyoga.com endlesshoreyoga@gmail.com www.facebook.com/endlesshoreyoga

LOVE, MERGING INTO ONENESS AND HAPPINESS. Welcome to “InnerQ Holistic Center” Love is the highest vibration, breath is the wisest teacher, good health is the balance of mind, body, and soul.

We believe that LOVE IS a state of merging into Oneness with LOVE, in LOVE, & through LOVE to see, hear, feel, experience and unleash infinite possibilities of turning all IMPOSSIBLE into EVER POSSIBLE. Merging into oneness happens when an inner state of loving kindness and compassion flows towards self and the entire creation.

Love has a unique definition for each human being.

Since every human being is unique in their own way, their unique definition of love becomes confusing and challenging at times. It is a part of human experience, and it is difficult to generalize since our likes, dislikes, desires, emotions, feelings, intentions and perception about love, people, and the world are very different.

Our translation of energetic stimulus and its response or reaction is purely based on our belief system of the conditioned mind.

According to our understanding, “Love” is the affection or care or emotional flow of unconditional loving kindness and compassion that one person shows to the other, or self or to different people in a relation, based on types of relation, individual ability and awareness.

For example: Lover and beloved, husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters, a group of people and their leader, spiritual leader and their followers, King and his people and human being and the entire Universe etc.

At InnerQ Holistic Center Inc. we look at the word LOVE in the following way....

L is for Love - Love is natural flow of emotion of unconditional LOVE. (Emotion is force in action).

O is for Observation IN ONENESS - Observation of natural flow of emotion of unconditional LOVE with, in and through ONENESS -- ie flow of emotion of unconditional Love from self to others ( since the fabric of this Universe is made up of LOVE & EXCEEDINGLY LOVING COMPASSION) (Oneness means energetically we are all connected to each other and the

Supreme Creator or the Universal Love).

V is for Validating - Validating natural and unconditional flow of emotion of LOVE in Oneness, with Oneness and through Oneness from self to others.

E is for Experiencing - Experiencing the Joy, Bliss, Happiness, Loving Kindness, and Compassion, being immersed in the above mentioned expansion of the four letter word LOVE at our own body, mind and soul level, while truly enjoying the glowing smiles on the other person’s face.

The Universe or Matrix in which we are all swimming is made up of energy whose frequency is equal to the frequency of Loving kind compassion and it has a built - in code to return back the energetic frequency of what we put into it (also called Universal Law of Attraction). Love in its purity is rooted in the ‘LOVE THE LORD (OR UNIVERSAL LOVE) HAD FOR HIS CREATION’.

When we look at the human journey as a soul in human journey, it becomes easy for us to understand, accept, forgive, tolerate, sacrifice and surrender for the happiness and benefit of self and rest of the souls in journey. Forgiving others is very necessary for healing self, others and the entire creation. However he may or may not pardon, but the consequence of action at the level of physical law is important. Why are you manifesting chaos? How do you take control?

Ancient wisdom has always guided us into the truth that the Universal Love is the LIGHT OF EARTH SKY AND EVERYTHING IN AND BESIDE IT. Today with the established scientific discovery and proof of Quantum Physics, it is beyond doubt that the smallest unit of matter is photon.(The smallest part of an atom or subatomic particle as it is called include many things like quarks, gluons, electrons and neutrinos. ... And there is the Higgs boson particle, which we found last year, which is also smaller than an atom, photons are smallest particle) - from Google science facts.

If everything is energy...including us...then our words, thoughts, emotions, desires and intentions are also energy. We know from the laws of science that energy can’t be created or destroyed but can be changed from one form to another. Our thoughts, words, feeling, emotion, and intentions work as “Like attracts like”.

Whatever we hold within ourselves, is what we would attract in our lives as events. The only thing that becomes a barrier in the Universal Law of Attraction is DOUBTS and because of doubts other emotions get generated, such as FEAR WORRIES etc.

Let me tell you with many years of focused studies, meditation, life experiences, meditation downloads and powerful intuitions, where the Universal Love whispers and shows in the eye of the mind. Universal Love says...through many gospels and divine revelations...DO NOT DOUBT, DO NOT FEAR...I AM with you, as your laser focus is on me with unshakable faith. FAITH is everything...and as one starts going deeper and deeper….becomes One with the Universal Love most of the time, one will realize that, “Nothing is impossible if one has a FAITH beyond words could describe.

MEDITATION Meditation is one of the processes to connect to the supreme source, and expand the horizon of consciousness. Meditation is a gradual process of slowing down your number of thoughts per hour. Meditation gives the following benefits :Aligns self with the source of creation, so that every moment we are immersed in the light of Universal Love. Ability to tap into a limitless source of energy, enabling you to become unstoppable every moment.

Ability to unleash the power of meditation. Ability to access the miracle of expanded consciousness and allow its energy to be available for every avenue of your life. Ability to experience an inner quantum of freedom from the doubt, fear and meet life’s challenges with grace and courage. Ability to unleash wisdom that arises spontaneously from the deep well of wisdom within, in response to the needs of the current moment, with a laser-like clarity. Ability to access inner realm of creativity and see the endless flow of unexpected new ideas, visions and solutions. Ability to become a channel of overflowing, love and compassion aligned to Oneness. Ability to awaken to the true purpose of life .

At InnerQ Holistic Center Inc. we teach Meditation and Reiki classes.

Shah J. Sahib is the founder of InnerQ Holistic Center Inc.-- a Center of Happiness based on “Ancient wisdom meets the Modern Science on a platform of Loving kindness & compassion. We help heal your all problems at a physical. mental, emotional and spiritual level.

InnerQ Holistic Center ushers you to embark on a journey that will allow learning, growing and discovering the being within..... capable, strong, powerful, blissful, peaceful, knowledgeable, loving, compassionate, pure, happy, and enlightened.

“Tap into your POWER OF HEALING“. Your Healer is within YOU. We heal and empower people with various meta-physical tools to tap into their self healing ability by coaching, guiding, counselling, and taking them into an experiential journey of being ONE AT THE LEVEL OF LIGHT.

Dr. Malek Moosa M.D, C.C.F.P Family Physician

“Dr. Malek Moosa, M.D, C.C.F.P Family Physician I am Dr. Malek Moosa, practicing in B.C for the last 30 years as a family physician. I have known Shah J. Sahib for the last nineteen years. She is very passionate about her energy healing practice.

She is highly professional and dedicated to the selfless service of helping people.” She combines the knowledge of energy, art of transformation, and science into her healing sessions and customizes it to her client’s needs. She communicates with clients in a level and language that they will easily understand. Shahida has a strong understanding of cross cultural values and handles sensitive issues with utmost care and attention to give maximum stress/pain relief to clients. Besides being born gifted, Shahida has mastered energy healing arts and uses Adam’s techniques and other healing techniques. I have referred her to multiple patients. In most situations, she was able to heal all my clients who had chronic, incurable illnesses using complementary and alternative holistic healing practices. She has been helping my patients with all kinds of the following problems. She deals with all kinds of addiction problems, including alcohol, drugs, and smoking. She deals with psychological problems like depression, acute anxiety episodes, panic attacks, insomnia, emotional disorders, fear, PTSD. She also deals with relationship challenges, marriage counselling, teenage counselling, grief, stress, and self esteem counselling. She deals with medical problems like chronic illness, cancer, chronic headaches, allergies, arthritis, and many more.”

NOTHING IS

IMPOSSIBLE. (the word itself says I am possible.)

FRIEND ANXIETY MEDICINE BETRAYS SLEEP DISTURBS FAILS

OVERWHELMING CHALLENGES ANXIETY JOB DISAPPOINTS ILLNESS ATTACKS PREVAILS FAMILY MONEY ELUDES DE-CLUTTERING DISINTEGRATES EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE PAST TRAUMA ALERGIES Inner Q Holistic Centre will help you from sinking to soaring! We offer Reiki and Energy healing, Reflexology, Intuitive Guidance, Hypnosis, Holistic Counseling, Healing Meditation and Many More Soul Healing Techniques and Guidance.

Shah J Sahib B Eng, RP, RT-CRA, CAM 604-355-7786 www.innerqholistic.com shahidasahib786@gmail.com

Learn the signs of stroke

With the support of

Š Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2017 | ™The heart and / Icon on its own or followed by another icon or words in English are trademarks of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

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X Beauty Profile

Harleen Sran Owner of Flare Lashes

L

ife will not simply hand you something because you earned it, you have to work hard and fight harder to get what you deserve. After successfully graduating from a local high school, I went straight into university. My first year there was spent trying to discover myself and find something that really intrigued me. There was a lot of pressure to pursue medicine, however my heart was not set on it. I wanted to be my own boss. I was not interested in receiving regular paycheques. I wanted to leave my mark in this world, and now I am working my way towards doing just that.

High school had given me an illusion about how the adult life would be. I thought it would be more freedom and independence. In way I was right but wrong about this theory. I achieved more freedom when my mind was developed in the classes I took, and I gained independence when I had nobody to hold my hand throughout the process. Coming from high school and into university was a huge jump. I had less time now for a social life and everything seemed to focus around “building a future�, I had soon forgotten how to live in the present. Second year university and I had started to finally pull myself together. I started to take classes like Philosophy, English, and Psychology and realized that I wanted to become a teacher. The one and only thing that always bothered me was that the rest of my life I would be having to rely on a bi-weekly or monthly pay cheque. I wanted to be my own boss and just couldn’t figure out how.

It was hard enough that I had to start planning on how to accomplish my teaching goals and started to feel empty again. It is very easy to say, “I want to start my own business”, but it was just as hard to do it. I couldn’t figure out what kind of business, how I’m going to do it, where it was going to be located or who was going to help me. I didn’t want to use my parent’s money for this because I wanted it to be solely my business. I wanted to take full pride in it. Therefore, I decided to start with something like lashes. Knowing that I wanted to start with lashes was only going to solve half my problems though. I registered myself in the lash technician course and took the classes.

Throughout the course I felt very vulnerable. I had no idea how to do any of this because I had never even worn a pair of false lashes before. The instructor began to feel that I wanted to quit, however she didn’t let me. She mentored me and assisted me when I thought I didn’t have it in me. I was instilled with patience and grace. Patience to add one extensions lash to every lash of the individual.

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After I had successfully gotten my certification, there were clients that had to be serviced right away. This was the ultimate dream of any owner of a start-up business. I found myself extremely busy and overwhelmed as we were in the process of moving houses, school stress and I also had another part time job as well. My life consisted of running around and getting things done. I had to be in so many places and there were only 24 hours in a day to accomplish everything. This is how I understood the life and role of a business woman. My goal now it to ensure that every client walks away with a smile, not just because I wanted them to enjoy my lash services, but I also wanted to connect with people. I always believe that if you listen closely enough, there is something valuable to learn from every individual. Being at such an early and fresh start of my business, I knew I had to offer more than a physical service. One thing I always keep in mind whenever a client walks in is “what can I do to blow this person away?” While I do the clients lashes I talk and I listen. I make a relationship with whoever my client is. Customer service is the biggest part of any growing business because word or mouth that travels faster than any social media site. I aspire to continue learning about my own business every day. I know that it will not be easy and there will be rocky turns, steeps mountains, stormy days, however the end destination is always worth it.

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harleensran4898@gmail.com 778 885 7035

10

ways to reduce your cancer risk

Did you know that about half of all cancers can be prevented?

Learn about the impact of cancer and how to reduce your risk with It’s My Life!

01 Be a non-smoker

06 Practise sun safety

Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health. Within 10 years of quitting, an ex-smoker’s risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half. If you don’t smoke, do your best to avoid smoke. No amount of second-hand smoke is safe.

In Canada, sunlight is strong enough to cause skin cancer. Stay in the shade, wear protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and apply sunscreen properly. Also, don’t use tanning beds!

Tanned skin is damaged skin.

02 Have a healthy body weight

07 Ask about vaccines

Besides not smoking, having a healthy body weight is one of the best things you can do to prevent cancer.

Check with your doctor about what a healthy body weight is for you and how you can work toward it.

Hepatitis B infection increases your risk of liver cancer.

HPV infection can lead to cervical, penile and other cancers. Check with your doctor about whether a hepatitis B or HPV vaccine is a good idea for you.

03 Eat well

08 Test for radon

Enjoy a variety of vegetables and fruit every day.

Limit red meat and avoid processed meat. Eat lots of fibre. Eating a healthy diet can help reduce your cancer risk.

Radon is a colourless, odourless, tasteless radioactive gas found naturally in the environment. About 16% of lung cancer deaths in Canada are related to indoor radon. Test your home for radon by buying a test kit and take steps to lower radon levels if needed.

04 Move more and sit less

09 Be aware of hormones

Aim for 30 minutes of daily activity that gets your heart going each day to help protect against cancer.

Too much sitting is different from not enough physical activity and can also increase your cancer risk. Try to take frequent, short breaks from sitting.

Taking hormone replacement therapy for menopause or the birth control pill increases the risk of some cancers and decreases the risk of others. If you’re concerned, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.

05 Limit alcohol

10 Get screened

It’s sobering news, but drinking any type or amount of alcohol increases your risk of developing cancer.

The less alcohol you drink, the more you reduce your risk of cancer.

Screening tests help find cancer before you have any symptoms and even help prevent cancer by finding changes in your body that would become cancer if left untreated. Find out about organized screening programs for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers in your area.

Find out more about It’s My Life! and ways to reduce your cancer risk at itsmylife.cancer.ca or call 1-888-939-3333.

© Canadian Cancer Society, 2015

SPF

Have you prepared for your marriage?

By Arv K. Grewal “Happily Ever After” …what does that mean?

When I ask couples about their wedding, they begin to tell me about the wedding venue, what they are planning to wear, what the colour scheme is, etc.

When I ask them about their marriage, they look at me in confusion. The truth is that a couple’s marital life is comprised of two parts: The Wedding (Day 1) and The Marriage (Day 2 onwards).

It is a well-known fact that couples spend considerable time and money so that their wedding day is planned out perfectly and no problem arises to ruin the day. They dream of a happy, joyous wedding leading to a happy, joyous marriage…and this is how it should be. However, the question that comes to mind is, “have they discussed how to have the happy, joyous marriage?”

The reality is that most couples spend considerabletime discussing and planning their wedding, but do not spend time discussing and planning their marriage. A marriage is a union of two different individuals with two distinct pasts. After these two individuals get married, they will have to find a way to blend their individuality to form a foundation that will carry them through their remaining lives together.

Couples may find that their decision to discuss their

marriage is well-intended but may find that communicating their thoughts and views is difficult. Afterall, it is not the norm to question each other on views on money, chores, etc. It is easier and more fun to plan the wedding. Therefore, couples, many times with the help of their parents, spend lavish amount of money on the wedding and put little time, money, and effort on the marriage. However, this does not have to be the case.

Preparing for your marriage can be fun too. Discussing each other’s likes, dislikes, similarities, and differences can be done in a relaxed, interactive, and fun atmosphere. This will help couples understand each other’s thoughts, opinions, and patterns of behaving that they learned during their upbringing, in their family of origin.

It is not only important to recognize how your family of origin has shaped your thoughts and opinions but how these will impact your views on different areas of your marriage. Most couple’s do not go into marriage realizing their partner’s views and beliefs and are shocked that their partner does not agree with them. Usually this awareness of the difference in beliefs only becomes apparent when it becomes an issue between the couple. Couples should be proactive and talk about their values, beliefs, and views of a healthy marriage prior to their wedding.Some areas of discussion will require less work whereas other areas may take considerable time or need help from a professional. Money is known to be the reason for

most disagreements within couples, whether dating, engaged, or married. Next to finances, household chores are another area of conflict faced by most couples. These topics, among other marriage-related topics, can be shared with your partner through discussion.

Discussion!!...discussion means communication and communication can be hard. Unless one has taken effective communication training, it can be hard to know how to communicate what you are thinking and/ or feeling. Many factors can affect communication between partners, such as respect versus disrespect or talking versus listening. Couples who are having difficulty communicating with each other do not need to despair because effective communication can be learned. There are many skills that can be learned to help couples relate their thoughts and desires to each other.

They can either have these discussions on their own, or they can enrol in a marital education course. The purpose of a marital education course is to provide instruction, resources, skills, and to support couples who are considering marriage. Couples who participate in these courses tend to communicate better, solve problems more effectively, and report better relationships than those couples who did not have an opportunity to attend such a course. In short, marital education strengthens the foundation for a stronger marriage.

Being prepared for the reality and challenges of married life helps build a strong foundation to deal with situations that arise post-marriage. With divorce rates around 40% in Canada and 50% in the U.S., many couples are deciding to become better prepared for the reality and challenges that come after getting married. Some people or communities might worry that taking a marital education course may cause a couple to not go through the marriage, due to incompatibility.

This is not the role of marital education courses. Marital education is a method to help couples think about their experiences, wishes, desires, and share them with their partner. The course is designed to assist partners in understanding each other, discussing differences in opinion, and come to a comxsWpromise that satisfies both partners, or seek professional help, if needed.

Unfortunately, there has not been a pre-marital education course geared to the South Asian community.

Therefore, I have developed a structured, interactive course for this community. It incorporates the collective values of the South Asian community, as well the western community. The pre-marital education program will consist of 4 2.5 hours sessions, or a weekend intensive.

For further information, please email grewal.arv@gmail.com.

How to speak so your spouse will listen?

The following rules will help in communicating with your spouse: 1. Be sure your spouse is listening. Check to make sure your

spouse is not too angry or distracted. Generally, it is advisable to actively check out your spouse’s readiness by asking, “Can you listen to me now?”

2. Begin with something positive. Whenever you need to have a

serious discussion with anyone, it is always advisable to begin with something positive. Be sincere not artificial.

3. Do not attack. Attacks tend to begin with “you” statements,

such as “You are?,” “You never?,” or, “You always?” The best way to avoid attacking your spouse is to try to frame your comments using “I” statements to express your feelings.

4. Do not exaggerate. Exaggeration is one way in which we vent

our feelings when we are upset. This may relieve our inner tension but it does not do much to promote marital harmony.

5. Do not mind-read. If you assume that your assumptions of

our spouse’s motives are completely accurate, you run the risk of inflaming his temper.

6. Focus on preferences, not principles. Often spouses try to con-

vince each other that they are “right.”In order to “prove” that they are right, they often cite statistics, books and magazine articles.

They will assert that their position is “normal” or that “everyone” thinks and acts the way they do.

7. Explain what made you feel the way you did. If you do not explain, in the most specific language possible, exactly how you felt, your spouse will not understand what bothered you.

8. Clarify your needs. You will not be able to get what you want from your spouse unless you are able to articulate exactly what

your needs are, what bothers you, andwhat you would have wanted done differently.

9. Limit yourself to one or two topics. spouses sometimes find that they have accumulated a long list of complaints and grievances.

When each one finally gets his or her turn to be the speaker, (s)he often tries to address too many subjects all at once.

10. Allow time for questions at the end. It is always a good idea

to stop speaking before your spouse loses patience and allow him

or her to ask you questions. It is only through the questions of the listener that the speaker’s words are fully understood.

BACK TO

SHAPE.

H

e may be rightly called as the ‘messiah’ for those who are suffering from the harrowing repercussions of being obese, for obesity is not just a disease in itself but also gives way to many other diseases. While a controlled diet and exercise can work well in some cases, but there comes a time when either your will power gives up or your body just stops responding to anymore efforts.

What can you do in such a case?

Don’t you worry! We have Dr Gurvinder Singh Jammu, a visionary and an innovative doctor, whose determination to rescue people from the clutches of obesity, led to the inception of Jammu Hospital in Jalandhar.

Jammu Hospital provides a perfect solution to you in the name of “Bariatric or Metabolic Surgery”, and this is the first hospital in Punjab to provide BARIATRIC surgery under all kinds of high-tech modern equipments and facilities.

Doctor Jammu did his graduation (MBBS) in 1991 and Masters in Surgery (MS) from Dayanand Medical College & Hospital Ludhiana in 1995 and also served as the chief surgeon of the Guru Nanak Mission (GNM) hospital, Jalandhar before founding his own hospital.

He has an experience of more than 25 thousand laparoscopic, general and cancer surgeries to his credit.

According to Dr Jammu, Bariatric or weight-loss surgery should be performed on those patients who are unable to treat obesity through a good diet and exercise regime. “If your BMI is greater than 30 and you no more can lose the extra kilos with a healthy diet and exercise, then this surgery is a good option for you. The biggest advantage of under-going the Bariatric surgery is that, in the process, a lot of other problems resulting out of obesity, like, Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart ailments, Kidney problems, Snoring etc, get cured too,” he says. “Bariatric surgery limits the amount of food you can take in. Many people who have the surgery lose weight quickly. If you follow diet and exercise recommendations, you can keep most of the weight off,” adds the noble doctor.

The Jammu Hospital at a glance: With state-of-the-art facilities, Jammu hospital is a multi-specialty hospital that has four Operation Theatres well equipped with Ventilators, Central Oxygen, Nitrous Oxide and Vacuum, latest Multi-parameter Monitors and Defibrillators, and the most-modern equipments for surgical procedures. From the routine laparoscopic surgeries like, Gall bladder stones, Apendix, Ovarian Cyst, Tubal Patency, Pancreatic laparoscopy, etc. to the most advanced ones like Bariatric Surgery, Metabolic Surgery for Type II Diabetes, Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy, Thoracoscopy, Nephrectomy and Intestinal Surgery, the hospital provides treatments for all.

The best part is that in case of advanced surgeries like Bariatric Surgery, the patients are also provided with pre-surgical psycho-counseling wherein they’re taught about the post-operation lifestyle they must adhere to.

“Since we provide the facilities that conform to the international standards, therefore, a large percentage of the patients visiting our hospital are either from Metropolitan cities or from the countries like US, UK, Italy and other European countries. The Bariatric surgery cost in India is much cheaper than the western countries and this fact alone, helps a great deal in promoting the medical tourism in our country,” enlightens Doctor Jammu, who is also, a member in good standing, at International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists, and Oncologists- IASGO.

The Achievements * Jammu hospital, under the aegis of Dr Jammu, has achieved the feat of becoming the first hospital in North India to start SILS (Single Incision Laparoscopic surgery), and NOTUS (Natural Orifice Trans Umblical Surgery). Along with this, the hospital also holds the honour of being the first hospital in North India to acquire the most advanced Visual System for Advance Laparoscopic procedures, i.e. HIGH DEFINITION SYSTEM by Karl Storz, Germany. * The Director and the Head, Doctor Gurvinder Singh Jammu himself, is a dynamic and self-motivated individual who has been honoured with a number of awards and accolades at both the national and international level. Besides being the member of prestigious international medical organizations, like, SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons), ASMBS (American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons), he’s also been instrumental at organizing live Laparoscopic workshops (the first of its kind in Jalandhar) in the Jammu Hospital.

A ‘Healthy’ Piece of Advice: According to Doctor Jammu, the part of India that’s suffering the most from the obesity-epidemic is Punjab with having 35 percent of the population, obese.

Though in 40% of the cases, the reasons tend to be genetic, but in the remaining, it’s all due to the erratic lifestyles that the people of this region have got themselves accustomed to. “Alcoholism, fast food culture and lack of physical activity and stress, all contribute towards obesity. Diet-control followed by healthy exercise regime is a ‘must’ in case you want to curb obesity in its earlier stages, however, beyond a certain point, no amount of dieting and exercising can stop the occurrence of obesity. In such cases, going for a life-saving surgery like, Bariatric surgery becomes an absolute must if you want to lead the rest of your life disease-free,” says, Doctor Jammu.

For more information, please contact Rimpy Dhillon 778 903 3673

www.jammuhospital.com

Does Bariatric Surgery remove all fat from the body?

What are the types of Bariatric surgery?

Not a single gram of fat is removed or liposuction is done in bariatric surgery. It is based on the principle of restriction of food and less absorption of food.

Bariatric surgery is a type of procedure performed on people who are obese for the purpose of losing weight. It refers to the various procedures perform to treat obesity by modification of gastrointestinal tract to reduce nutrient intake and absorption.

Before you decide to go for bariatric surgery you must know which procedure suits you as there are different types of surgical procedures which include: • Mini Gastric Bypass • Gastric By Pass • Laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve Resection • Laparoscopic Gastric Banding • Duodenal Switch • Ileal Interposition • Endo Liner

Is Bariatric Surgery a cosmetic surgery?

This surgery not only reduces your over weight but also helps in the resolution of your comorbidities like Type II Diabetes Mellitus, High Cholesterol, Snoring, Sleep Apnea, Joint Pain, PCOD and Fatty Liver Disease. So, this is not a cosmetic but a ‘life saving surgery’.

When is Bariatric Surgery recommended?

What is Obesity or Morbid Obesity?

Who will benefit from Bariatric Surgery?

Obesity is considered a health “condition”. A person is considered “obese” when he or she weighs 20% or more than his or her ideal body weight. At that point, the person’s weight poses a real health risk. Obesity becomes “morbid” when it significantly increases the risk of one or more obesity related health conditions or serious diseases.

Morbid obesity, sometimes called “clinically severe obesity” is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

People with Diabetes Mellitus, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, High Blood Cholesterol, Asthma, Respiratory Insufficiency, Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Gallbladder Disease, Stress Urinary Incontinence, Low Back Pain, Degenerative Disk Disease & Degenerative Joint Disease.

Bariatric surgery is major life-changing procedures. It can help reduce your risk of weight-related health problems.

It increases your life expectancy.

Bariatric surgery could be an option for you if: • Your BMI is 30 or more then 30 without any medical problem.

(IDF guidelines for Asian’s) • Your BMI is 27.5 with medical problems like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure etc.

• Efforts to lose weight with diet and exercise have been unsuccessful.

• You are unable to perform routine activity in your day to day life due to overweight.

These surgical procedures are major gastrointestinal operations that work on the principles: • To bypass most of the stomach to reduce the amount of food one can eat.

• To rearrange the small intestine so as reduce the calories the body can absorb.

At what age you can undergo Bariatric surgery?

Age is not the bar for bariatric surgery, as it improves the longevity and quality of life.

There are different surgical procedures for different age group. There are bariatric surgery procedures which are done in younger age group like children < 18, adults & old age.

Renu Mishra weighed a mighty 115kg when she first visited Dr. Jammu.

Within a few months, she underwent the Bariatric Surgery, her body weight slipped down to 80kg and today, after a year, she’s a bright and cheerful woman with a high self esteem, weighing just 70kg.

Check out the next issue of Surrey Health Magazine to see patient testimonials before & after pictures.

EATING TO BOOST ENERGY! Article written by Sharon Heer, Registered Dietitian Fraser Health South Asian Health Institute

If you are feeling overly tired by the afternoon, it might be time to think about how the foods you eat are affecting your energy level. Constantly reaching for a cup of coffee or looking for a sugary snack every hour or two are signs that you may be choosing the wrong foods.

OATS Rolled oats and steel cut oats are a whole grain along with wheat, rice, quinoa, and even popcorn. Whole grains are high in fibre which digest slowly in the body, allowing a constant supply of energy throughout the day.

Whole grains contain important nutrients like iron, vitamin E, B vitamins, healthy fats, and antioxidants for good health. To eat more oats, have oatmeal for breakfast topped with fresh fruit and seeds. You can also use oats in baking recipes like cookies and muffins.

LENTILS Lentils are high in protein and fibre while naturally low in sodium. Lentils are also a good source of folate and iron. They are available in different colours, shapes, and sizes, and easy to prepare in soups, stews, and curries making them a staple in vegetarian and vegan diets.

Try making a red lentil curry or adding lentils to some of your favourite dishes like soups or quinoa salad.

WALNUTS While all nuts and seeds are nutrient dense, walnuts seem to really shine. They are an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, a healthy fat and they contain a group of antioxidants called polyphenols which help to promote energy in the body.

Try eating a handful of walnuts for a snack, or add them to your oatmeal at breakfast.

BLUEBERRIES Blueberries are considered a superfood for good reason. They contain antioxidants and a wide range of nutrients that help nourish and protect body cells.

They also have a sweet taste without any added sugars. Frozen blueberries are a convenient way to keep blueberries around all season. Add them to smoothies, your oatmeal, whole wheat pancakes, and muffins!

AVOCADOS Avocados are a fruit that provide a great source of healthy fats and contain other nutrients such as fibre, folic acid, and vitamin E. Avocados are so rich and creamy making them a good base in smoothie recipes, sandwiches, and vegetable wraps.

CITRUS FRUITS Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes not only boost your body’s immune system but they also help your body absorb nutrients like iron and folate found in plant foods.

Iron is essential to producing healthy red blood cells so they can carry oxygen to different cells in your body. Use citrus fruits to boost your iron absorption by adding oranges and grapefruit to your leafy green salad and sprinkling lime juice on your bean and lentil dishes!

WATER Avoid drinks that are full of added sugar and caffeine such as energy drinks, sports drinks, and sugary lattes! Instead, keep it simple with water. Water plays a role in body cell hydration, metabolism, digestion, and so much more! Add fruits like crushed blueberries, lemons and limes in your water for a refreshing, flavourful taste.

For more information about the South Asian Health Institute and recipes visit www.fraserhealth. ca/SAHI.V

TRY OUR DELICIOUS SEHAT PROTEIN PINNI RECIPE Full of whole grains like oats, chia seeds, and ground flaxseed.

Makes about 24 pinnis INGREDIENTS 1 cup oatmeal 2/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes ½ cup peanut butter ½ cup ground flaxseed 1/3 cup honey 1 tbsp chia seeds 1 tsp vanilla extract DIRECTIONS Combine all ingredients together and let it set in the fridge for ½ hour. Roll into small balls (about 1-inch size). Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Where extra energy is extra welcome.

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Breaking the Barriers: South Asian Families Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder

By Dr. Ramen Saggu

I

t is every parent’s aspiration to hold their newborn baby in their arms and visualize the stages in life they will go through including: their first steps, their first words, their high school graduation, obtaining their driver’s license, their wedding day or what career path they will take. However, hopes and dreams may quickly become shattered when a parent learns that their child may not be developing as typically as other children around them. There is a devastating condition that is lurking amongst us that is being more and more frequently detected and diagnosed. It does not choose; it hits us all the same. You can be Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Muslim or come from an upper or lower socio-economic status, be less or more educated.

It does not matter what religion or class you are, it affects us all equally. It is one condition that does not prepare any of us for the lifetime of hardships and sacrifices that parents need to make to help their child find their place in the world.

Autism spectrum disorder, or universally known as autism, is a life-long disorder that affects 1 in 66 children in North America and it typically appears at about 18 months of age to three years old.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 describes autism as a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour.

Autism is a spectrum of disorders varying from mild autism to severe autism across individuals. It affects 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls. This is the only disorder where there is no medical detection of the condition in utero. At this time, it is known as the most baffling childhood disorder as there is no known cause and no known cure.

Some of the early signs and symptoms that raise red flags for families include: no social smiles or emotional expressions by 6 months of age, and no back and forth communication of sounds, social smiles, joint attention or facial expressions by 9 months of age. As a child approaches their first birthday, it may become more evident that there is still no progression of language including babbling or speech sounds. In addition there is an absence of communicative gestures, such as pointing, showing items, reaching, or waving by 12 months of age. Sometimes even these early indicators can be missed, especially if this is a parent’s first child and there is no other sibling to compare the milestones with. However, the 18-24 month mark is the critical point where parents should start getting concerned. Particularly, when their child has no spoken words or meaningful speech and may have a regression in speech. Majority of newly diagnosed parents often mention that their child had speech, but that the language disappeared after the 18-month mark. This 18-24 month phase in typical development also marks the onset of the critical social skills that children develop such as eye contact, social engagement and playing interactively with peers the same age. Children with autism have difficulties in all of those areas in addition to having repetitive motor movements, such as hand flapping, toe walking or other stereotypical behaviours.

Parents may also notice that their child has sensory aversions to the taste, smell or feel of objects and textures such as not being able to tolerate water on their head when bathing or smelling wooden items.

Mental illness or psychological disorders are still a repressed topic in the South Asian culture. It’s almost considered “taboo” to talk about psycholog-

ical disorders or illnesses with family and friends. If a parent is concerned their child may not be developing normally, then they should not wait to get to a doctor. An early diagnosis helps the family get treatment quicker, so the child can start making gains. All the cultural assumptions imbedded in our South Asian society deeply affects when and how the child goes for a diagnosis of Autism. One of the stigmas in the South Asian community if the child is boy is that “boys develop slower” and other gender neutral assumptions include: “he will catch up with the other kids” or “my child is an only child and has no one to refer to” or “we speak two languages in the home so he or she is picking up language slower.” These cultural assumptions regarding development are not accurate when dealing with a potential diagnosis of autism or any other delay and will affect how soon a parent will approach their doctor to get a referral for a diagnosis.

Typical development is relatively the same in boys and girls and the order of birth or how many languages are spoken in the home does not change the average range of the innate developmental milestones.

Parents who get to the initial diagnostic assessment and receive the devastating news experience further horrors that may haunt their perception of a developmental disorder. I have had countless South Asian families ponder through questions like “what will people think?” or “How will my family react?” or “who will marry my child in the future” or even more disheartening “who will want to marry their child into my family if there is a sibling with autism?” There is a significant degree of shame felt amongst families when a child is given a diagnosis of autism. Psychologically, research has shown that parents view autism as the “death of a typical child” because it creeps up silently after the child appeared to be developing normally. The diagnosis can cause a significant degree of confusion for a family when they try to understand how and when the child fell off the normal trajectory of development.

As the only doctorate level behaviour consultant and diagnostician for autism in BC, I have the passion to work with the South Asian community on awareness and acceptance of autism and fully understand the cultural stigmas affecting our ability to talk about the disorder. There are several support strategies and recommendations that all families should consider to help ease the difficult journey they may encounter once they receive a diagnosis of autism. Autism is becoming more and more prevalent in the South Asian community due to the growth of our population over the last few decades, which includes the influx of new immigrants. It is time for the South Asian community to break down the barriers to help their children reach their potential. A strong family and friend network is the greatest support you can receive when faced with a diagnosis. Although autism is a life-long journey for many families, the key for progress and best outcome is early detection, an early diagnosis, and

early intervention prior to the age of three. Another cultural assumption with autism I have encountered is, “if I ignore the problem, maybe it will just go away and my child will eventually develop normally.” Autism does not go away without intervention, in fact, autism symptoms worsen if gone untreated. Families should seek a private diagnosis for autism as the government funded waitlist can be an upwards of 12-18 months wait through the British Columbia Autism Assessment Network (BCAAN). It is critical to start a home-based or clinic-based Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) program with a highly certified behaviour consultant soon after diagnosis, as early intervention is the key to best outcome. It is also important to find someone who speaks your mother tongue but the challenge in BC is there are less than a handful of behaviour consultants who are South Asian. Hiring a private Punjabi-speaking therapist in the home if you choose a home-based program is helpful to connect the extended family members who need help with translation regarding the child’s therapeutic goals. A newly developed South Asian community network called the South Asian Autism Committee (SAAC) which is supported

by Autism Speaks Canada is an important organization to join to receive more education and support on autism diagnosis and treatment.

The prevalence of autism is only increasing and every 20 minutes someone around the world is being diagnosed with this disorder. The South Asian culture is not immune to this prevalence rate. As a strong community we need to overcome these cultural stigmas and break down those barriers so we can help these children live fully independent lives. Be your child’s voice and never lose hope.

Dr. Ramen Saggu has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. She is one of the only South Asian doctorate level BCBAs working in the field of autism in British Columbia. She is the clinical director of her award-winning and provincially recognized private practice, Pacific ABA Academy, and she specializes in the treatment of autism and related disabilities, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, intellectual disability and other psychological disorders. Dr. Saggu is also one of the few practitioners specializing in conducting supervised private autism diagnostic assessments out of her private practice.

She is the co-founder of the Angels for Autism organization and she is on the board of directors for Moving Forward Family Services Society. She is also the co-founder of the South Asian Autism Committee (SAAC) supported by Autism Speaks Canada. Dr. Saggu has been the recipient of several awards for her tireless contribution in the field of autism and for providing quality autism treatment: including the Shakti Award in 2012, The Times of Canada Award in 2014, The 2014 Above and Beyond Award for the Surrey Leader, and most recently her agency was nominated for the 2017 Premier’s Choice Award for best business by the Small Business BC Awards.

What is Project Bhangra?

S

outh Asian (SA) children living in Canada are twice as likely to be overweight and physically inactive compared to their non-SA counterparts, putting them at greater risk for type 2 diabetes. By building a culture of exercise early on, not only can we reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but we can also imprint staying active as a way of life with our youth and generations to come.

Dr. Tricia Tang, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and her research team (Indepreet Basra, Simran Gill, Pravnit Kooner, Bushra Mahmood, Parteek Johal, Yasmin Banga, and Rehan Jessa) sought to improve physical activity and fitness levels in South Asian children by developing and investigating Project Bhangra, a culturally innovative after-school exercise program. This project aims to target obesity and diabetes prevention in the South Asian community by promoting an active and healthy lifestyle through Bhangra dance.

The Project Bhangra team recruited 172 South Asian children across 4 elementary schools: Newton Elementary, Beaver Creek Elementary, Jarvis Elementary, and Coyote Creek Elementary. The intervention consisted of weekly Bhangra sessions (2 sessions per week) delivered after-school, taught by instructors trained at the Royal Academy of Bhangra and video workouts (accessed via website) performed at home. Sessions were conducted over the school year and were supervised by a faculty member or parent.

Project Bhangra comprised 3 phases: Phase 1 involved conducting semi-structured interviews Principals, teachers, parents, children and Bhangra instructors to help culturally and developmentally tailor the intervention. To encourage physical activity in the home setting, we also developed 7 web-based Bhangra workouts on our website (www. projectbhangra.com).

Phase 2 launched the after-school Bhangra sessions in early November 2017 and was complete at the end of the school year in late May 2018.

Phase 3 investigates program sustainability and is currently underway Impacts: Results revealed significant improvements in cardiorespiratory (20 metre shuttle run), morphological (waist circumference) and musculoskeletal (vertical jump) fitness.

Fostering long-lasting change requires a collaborative community effort. To sustain the project we hosted fall bhangra workshops and a dance performance at Diabetes Canada-sponsored South Asian Healthy Banquet. In order for this novel program to continue into the future, Project Bhangra is seeking out volunteers in high school and university to serve as Bhangra instructors to teach and shape the health of the younger generation.

Submitted by: Inderpreet Basra Research Assistant | Division of Endocrinology Department of Medicine - UBC Phone: (604) 825-1419

www.alisaai.com

mralisaai@gmail.com

604 780 5605

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