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At Choices Markets, we are proud to help support you on your journey towards vibrant health and wellbeing through our comprehensive nutrition and wellness programming both in store and on the web. It is our aim to bring you current and reliable health information through our network of complementary health practitioners throughout the Lower Mainland and Okanagan. Choices is now pleased to present our Ask Our Experts program, which provides the opportunity for you to have your health and wellness question answered by our Choices Markets Wellness Expert Panel. Read on to learn more about our experts.

Expert BiographiesExpert Biographies

In 2003, Curtis Christopherson came screaming onto the health and fitness scene as a professional training coach. A Simon Fraser University graduate and a former member of the Canadian National Water Polo Team, he is no stranger to rolling up his sleeves and diving into hard work. Since then, Curtis has gone on to become the General Manager of Innovative Fitness after he opened the first Innovative Fitness franchise in White Rock, British Columbia and at the same time has lead himself and others to many challenging fitness destinations.

Some of his athletic accomplishments include: 8 National Water Polo Championships, the 100km Del Sahara desert run, and competing in numerous Half Ironmans and marathons in locations such as Vancouver, New York, and Honolulu. Curtis is also an avid outdoorsman and has achieved adventure race podium finishes and tackled international hikes such as the West Coast Trail in a single day in addition to Machu Picchu and Mt. Kilimanjaro. In 2007, Curtis was also a part of a team of 6 riders that rode their bikes from Halifax to Vancouver in 7 days to raise 1 million dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

For more information, Curtis can be reached by phone at 604.536.1355 or on the web: www.innovativefitness.com

Katolen Yardley, MNIMH, CHT, RNP, RHT is a medical herbalist in private practice and the owner of Alchemy and Elixir Health Group, a holistic wellness centre in downtown Vancouver, BC whose team of holistic practitioners seek to educate, empower and support the health of the whole person to achieve a greater balance within the mind, body and spirit; offering a variety of holistic services to the public including acupuncture, art therapy, thai yoga massage, herbal medicines, reflexology, and infrared sauna.

Katolen sees clients for wellness consultations both in Vancouver and Port Moody and works with herbal medicine, nutrition and lifestyle modifications. She specializes in women’s health issues, skin dis-ease, digestive and nervous system disorders and believes in providing usable tools for healing through inspiration and education.

Since 1998 she has appeared monthly on Global Televisions ‘Ask an Expert’ segment providing information on herbal medicine and nutrition to the public, she appears in print in numerous industry magazines. Katolen is an instructor at Langara College, the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, and a guest lecturer at Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine. She is a director of the Canadian Herbalist’s Association of BC.

Katolen Yardley is currently accepting new clients at Alchemy & Elixir Health Group. Appointments can be booked at www.alchemyelixir.com or 604 683 2298. Katolen's personal website can be found here: www.katolenyardley.com.

Desiree Nielsen, BSc, RD received her degree in Food Nutrition and Health (Dietetics major) from the University of British Columbia and completed her dietetic internship with Capital Health in Edmonton, Alberta. Registered with the BC College of Dietitians, Desiree is also a proud member of Dietitians of Canada.

Desiree advocates that good food is the cornerstone of a lifestyle that prevents chronic disease and promotes energy, vitality and overall wellbeing. While she ensures her practice respects traditional knowledge and beliefs, Desiree maintains a commitment to evidence-based nutrition. To her, food is more than the nutrition it provides — it is a vital part of our culture, our celebrations and our lives. Desiree’s love of food extends well beyond her work: she enjoys strolling through farmer’s markets, hoarding cookbooks and one day hopes to become an expert patio gardener.

Dr Alain Desaulniers, DC was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Inspired his entire life by all the chiropractors in his family, now totaling more than 40, Dr. Alain has dedicated his life to learning and teaching these amazing vitalistic principles of health and vitality. Trained by some of the brightest minds in the profession, Dr. Alain graduated with clinical honours from Life University in Marietta, Georgia. With the masterful authority of his work, he then ran a thriving wellness chiropractic practice in beautiful and quaint Canmore, Alberta where he focused his practice on the care of infants, children and families. “Having grown up receiving regular life-enhancing, specific, scientific chiropractic adjustments from the day I was born has been such an incredible blessing. I’m passionate about giving the opportunity to as many families as I can so that they may experience the same gift of living, growing and healing to their fullest potential as I did.”

Dr. Alain looks forward to helping your family live fully with chiropractic care and is currently accepting new clients at Performance Posture. www.p2clinic.com

Dr. Arjuna Veeravagu, ND is a naturopathic physician and registered acupuncturist who graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) in Portland, Oregon. He completed a four-year doctorate degree in naturopathic medicine as well as a three-year masters degree program in classical Chinese medicine at NCNM, which included over 3000 hours of academic and clinical training in acupuncture, classical Chinese herbalism, and qi gong.

Dr. Veeravagu's practice combines western and Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, clinical nutrition, homeopathy and lifestyle counseling to address the root cause of symptoms and disease utilizing the vis medicatrix naturae, or "healing power of nature". He has a general naturopathic practice with a focus on digestive wellness, stress-induced illness, hormonal imbalances and detoxification. He also completed his naturopathic thesis on the extremely common but largely unrecognized condition of non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Dr. Veeravagu is available for patient consultations Monday through Friday each week. He may be contacted at Sage Clinic at (604) 697-0397 or info@sageclinic.com.

Dr. Allison Patton, ND received her Honors Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Victoria. She became licensed as a Naturopathic Physician upon graduation from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine where she was awarded the John Plante Scholarship for demonstrating outstanding leadership.

Dr. Patton is Board Certified in Chelation and Intravenous Therapies (including Intravenous Vitamin C) and acupuncture. She has completed additional training and certification in Bowen Therapy and Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture. Dr. Patton is a member of the British Columbia Naturopathic Association and the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia. She is also a First Line Therapy Lifestyle Consultant, a contributor to the Natural Health Education Journal and co-publisher of Metanoia Magazine.

Dr. Patton views the relationship with her patients as sacred and essential to the healing process. She uses her tools of assessment and diagnosis along with her listening skills to determine what specific therapies are most indicated for each patient. Dr. Patton has a special clinical interest in infertility, salivary hormone testing and balancing, Peri-Menopause and Menopause, osteoporosis management, adrenal fatigue, vaccination consultations, pediatrics and weight loss programs. Conditions that she addresses in her practice include Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, infertility, pregnancy related health issues, Candida overgrowth, ADHD, Autism, frequent colds and infections and weight management. Dr. Patton practices at Mountainview Wellness Centre in South Surrey; to learn more, visit: www.mountainviewwellnesscentre.ca

Dr. Gurdev Parmar, ND, FABNO and his wife Dr. Karen Parmar launched the Integrated Health Clinic in 2000 and have since facilitated its growth to become one of the largest and most successful integrated health care facilities in Canada.

He was the first Canadian Naturopathic Physician to hold a Fellowship to the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology. He has been consulting on a regular basis at the Lions Gate Hospital cancer clinic for the past several years – the first ND to work in a hospital setting in the country.

Dr. Parmar is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP). He chairs the Education Committee for the OncANP and is the Canadian representative on their board.

Dr. Parmar is an active member of the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC, serving as Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee on Disaster and Pandemic Preparedness for the province of B.C.

In his spare time, Dr. Parmar is a competitive tennis player and enthusiastic Canuck fan. His wife and business partner, Karen, and his three sons Seth, Devan and Jesse keep his life balanced and whole.