Am I living my life in my own ideal?  This is a question I often ask myself.  It is easy to loose ourselves and what is important to us in the day-to-day grind.  Taking time to reflect on this question can have tremendous benefit to your health, happiness and prosperity.

To live in "your ideal" you must first decide what that means to you.  If you have never thought about this before, the first step is to determine what your core values are.  Core values are what drive us and  determine in what we find happiness.  There are many ways to figure out your core values.  An easy method is below.

1.       Write down the answers to these questions:

• What do you do with your time?
• How do you spend your money?
• How do you fill your space?
• What do you think about?
• What do you dream about?
• What are your most common actions?
• How do you spend your energy?
• What do you talk about?

2.       Look for trends in the answers; common themes that repeat themselves and write these down as 3-5 word phrases.

3.       Take the phrases above and distill this further to one word concepts.  Try to make a list 3-6 one word terms and rate them from highest to lowest priority.

Examples of some common core values are:

• Family
• Spirituality
• Integrity
• Social/ Friends
• Thinking/Learning
• Excitement
• Nature
• Security
• Success
• Career

This is just a small list.  The possibilities for your core values are endless, with one exception; the value has to be a positive attribute.  For example anger, procrastination, cynicism are not core values; they are learned actions.

4.       Optional Step- Share this list with your partner or friend.  It is amazing to hear how our loved ones view us.

Knowing these values allows you to design your life in your own ideal.  It enables you to create a level on congruency that makes life very enjoyable.  You can look at any piece of your life and make decisions easily because if they are not congruent with your core values you either do not choose them, or choose them understanding the impact it will have in your life.

The American Heart Association recommends Omega-3 fatty acids for the benefit of the heart in both healthy people, and those at high risk of - or who have - cardiovascular disease.  Increasing omega-3 fatty acid intake through foods is preferable.  The AHA recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week.  When one does not get enough omega-3 through diet alone, one should consider a high-quality omega-3 fatty acid supplements, free of contaminants.

According to the AHA, the ways that omega-3 fatty acids reduce CVD risk are still being studied.  However, research has shown that they:

• decrease risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death
• decrease triglyceride levels
• decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque
• lower blood pressure

However, fish oil benefits many more than those concerned about heart health.  In fact, in addition to a daily multi-vitamin, the supplement most of us could greatly benefit from is a high quality fish oil supplement.  The modern American diet is extremely low in life-sustaining omega-3 essential fatty acids. These necessary nutrients promote and support healthy cardiovascular, nervous, and immune system health, in addition to maintaining health eyes.

The Top 8 Benefits of a Fish Oil Supplement*:

1.  Supports optimal brain development for the fetus and nursing mothers.

2.  Supports healthy eye development in children and newborns.

3.  Supports healthy emotional growth and response in children and adolescents.

4.  Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega 3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of disease of coronary heart disease. 

5.  Helps maintain brain and memory function.

6.  Supports healthy mood and helps address the challenges of stress.

7.  Supports healthy inflammatory response and healthy immune system function.

8.  Supports joint health.                               

As always, if you have questions about fish oil or other supplement needs; feel free to talk with Dr. Anthony.

*Take from www.standardprocess.com  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This products in not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.   

Many thanks to Cindy Klein, HHC, of www.boundlesswellness.com for teaching her class on Seasonal Eating at Noya Chiropractic last month.   We learned the importance of eating with the seasons to obtain the highest quality and most nutritious food.  Raw Kale Salad is one of the recipes our guests enjoyed during the class.  Kale, often referred to as a "superfood", is packed with antioxidants, calcium, and important vitamins.

Eve's Raw Kale Salad

1 head of kale, rinsed and cut into         thin strips with most of the stem         removed
Juice of 1 lemon
3 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs sea salt
1 Cup raw pinenuts
1 red bell pepper, diced

1.  In a bowl, combine the kale, lemon, olive oil and sea salt.  Massage the kale to ensure that the leaves are broken down.  Kale should be shiny and bright green.

2.  Add the pinenuts and red pepper and mix again to combine.

Note:  This salad is best made ahead but pinenuts should be added just prior to serving to ensure crispness.