Category: blog

As a naturopathic doctor, I love sharing research on prevention! Here’s a new study published recently on the CBC website that notes lifestyle adjustments that people can make to cut the risk of developing  stroke, dementia or late life depression.

The numbers supporting prevention are impressive: previous research had shown that taking action could stop or slow at least 60 per cent of strokes, 45 per cent of dementia and 35 per cent of late-life depression.

The new research was conducted by the University Health Network in Toronto and looked at data from 59 studies to identify the risk factors.

Four preventative factors have an impact on brain-related conditions:

• Regular cognitive activities (such as reading or doing puzzles)
• Moderate or high levels of physical activity
• A feeling that your life has purpose
• Low to moderate alcohol intake (less than one drink a day)

Two additional factors decrease risk of developing a brain-related conditions:

• A diet high in vegetables, fruit, nuts and dairy (and reduced red meat, sugar and salt)
• Social engagement

Lifestyle changes can also help prevent eleven factors that increase the risk of the above brain conditions:

• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Smoking
• High blood sugar
• Poor or disrupted sleep
• High body mass index
• Hearing loss
• Depressive symptoms
• General stress or stressful life events
• Pain
• High cholesterol

 

See the full article for more information:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/17-risk-factors-dementia-stroke-1.7521625

Prevention is part of my everyday work with patients, so If you have any of these conditions, I can help you create a plan to reduce or eliminate them. Contact me to set up an appointment.

How is your immune system? As winter melts away, it can be easy to get less vigilant about your health. But as the seasons change and we start to gather with friends and family, there’s potential for exchanging germs. So just wanted to share a few ways to optimize your immune system:

Continue careful hand washing

Hand washing remains a great way to prevent germs from entering your body. A good 20-second lather whenever you use the bathroom, before meals and any other times your hands get dirty can help to keep clean. If you don’t have access to water, use hand sanitizer for a quick fix.

Keep up your sleep

Germs look for a body that’s run down, so make sure that you keep your body refreshed with sleep. Adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep nightly to feel rested. Teenagers and youth need even more, so keep those bedtimes in place despite the longer daylight.

Find out about immune boosters

Here’s where I come in as a health care provider – if you find you’re feeling run down or getting sick often, maybe there are treatments we can try, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, or zinc supplements, pre- and probiotics. We can also work on regulating your cortisol levels (that’s the stress hormone). It’s important to see a naturopathic doctor to assess your levels so you can get an appropriate dosage for your body.

Would you like to schedule an immune system check? I offer naturopathic consultations to help guide you. Call or email me today!

Spring is coming! Let’s get moving!

One of my core focus points as a naturopathic doctor is on lifestyle changes that can make a difference in your life. By moving your body, watching what you put in your mouth and controlling your stress, you can boost your health and even decrease your potential for some diseases. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Find one new way to move your body (or restart an old favourite)

The best exercise is the one that works for you and that you will stick with. If that’s going on a walk with a friend or family member after dinner, do that. If it’s dusting off your bicycle and taking it out for a spin once a week, schedule a time for this week. Maybe it’s just getting back to stretching in the morning after you wake up. Whatever you decide, start slowly and aim to work up – one walk per week can turn into two or three, and suddenly you’re a walker again.

Watch your diet

The first way to better nutrition is to observe what you’re eating and consider what choices could be healthier. For the first week, use a journal or the notes app on your phone to record what you eat and when. Then look for one swap you could make for a healthier choice. Maybe reach for an apple instead of a cookie. Again, taking it slowly can help to avoid overwhelm, so set small goals.

Find a way to de-stress

Considering the effects that stress can have on your mood or even your body, finding ways to increase or improve your downtime can be a great lifestyle change. Maybe it’s limiting the amount of time you spend on social media. Maybe it’s setting aside an extra half hour before bed to truly unwind listening to your favourite music. Whatever you choose, pick one thing and notice the effect that it has on your mood. Then add more!

Want help identifying ways to work on your lifestyle habits? I offer naturopathic consultations to help guide you. Call or email me today!

In my practice, I treat many different types of patients with a variety of issues. But many conditions come up regularly.

For example, I have a major focus on women’s health, where I see many patients for issues including hormone balancing, treating burn out, adrenal fatigue, fertility issues, IBS, and thyroid issues.

This is the first in a series of occasional posts where I’ll share some common conditions I treat.

SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is a condition where too much bacteria grows in the small intestine, leading to digestive concerns like bloating, diarrhea, and nutrient malabsorption. Sometimes this can be caused by surgery disease. Other symptoms can include weight loss and abdominal pain.

If you have symptoms of SIBO, I can help with a test to check for this bacterial overgrowth. The test involves testing the amount of hydrogen or methane that you breathe out after drinking a sugar water mixture, which may indicate the overgrowth. Blood tests are also possible to identify vitamin deficiency. Treatments for the condition can include antibiotics and nutritional supplements.

If you recognize some of these symptoms and would like to investigate them, don’t hesitate to reach out and make an appointment. You may also have a different condition that I can also help with, and it all starts with a discovery call.

Why did I write it in all capital letters? Because in winter, some people suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). That’s a type of depression that is related to the changes in seasons. Symptoms can be a drop in energy, low mood, loss of pleasure in everyday activities, and sleeping for longer or finding it hard to get up in the morning.

If you’re feeling this way and it’s affecting your life, there may be things you can do (so don’t just accept it!). Here are a few things to try:

Get outside even if the weather is foggy, rainy or snowy. Even a short walk can be good for your mood. If you can’t stand to be outside, move your exercise routine indoors, as getting more movement into your day can also help with depression.

Get a SUN lamp and look at it for 10 to 30 minutes per day. The best time is when you wake up. Lamps are relatively affordable at around $40 to 70 and can make a difference to your melatonin level.

One way I can help is to test your Vitamin D levels. Canadians are often low in Vitamin D because the sun is less intense during the winter months, the days are shorter, and the weather forces us indoors. I find patients who don’t yet take a supplement are often SEVERELY low in Vitamin D, which can contribute to depression, anxiety, low energy, low immune function, higher risk of cancer and autoimmune diseases (MS), and general inflammation in the body.

After we’ve tested your Vitamin D, I prescribe an individualized dose based on your lab results (often way more than the usual 1000IU day that has become standard) and we monitor your levels as Vitamin D can also be toxic at higher levels.

Want to give it a try? Connect with me today to book an appointment.

Did you know I offer IV Vitamin Drip Therapy?

Treatments are based on patients individual needs, but this important therapy can help to improve both your mental and physical health.

Patients can access

Vitamins: C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12

Amino acids: Glycine, Carnitine, Taurine

Minerals: Calcium, Selenium, Magnesium, Zinc

Antioxidants: Glutathione

NAD: good for energy, chronic fatigue!

Who would benefit? If you have a B12 deficiency, you could feel tired and weak, or even experience nausea or diarrhea. Vitamin C and Zinc can be great for boosting your immune system. Magnesium and taurine are good for headaches and anxiety related issues. All the vitamins help with moods and energy!

Please connect with me for a free discovery call to discover whether IV Vitamin Drip therapy is right for you!

We may be back to work, back to post-holiday “normal”, that doesn’t mean we need to be back to same old.

In other words, are you feeling your best? If not, how can I help?

It’s a question I’ve put out there before, and at the start of the own year, I like to remind people that they don’t have to suffer in silence.

Since much of my practice is devoted to helping women, I thought I would remind you that I regularly work with my female patients to improve their hormones.

What can I do? I help with regular tests for hormones and cortisol (the stress hormone) levels, to help identify issues that might be affecting your health. I’m also trained in prescribing menopausal hormone therapy for women, both at the perimenopause or menopause stages. We can also discuss ways that diet and exercise can help at these stages. Don’t just suffer with your symptoms!

Besides these common conditions, there are many others I treat regularly in women, from sleep problems to infertility to chronic fatigue. I have prescription rights in BC and I have access to refer for bloodwork, so can help you dig deep into any issue. I am also covered by extended health insurance!

I also offer 15-minute no-charge discovery calls. Book online or via phone and at our appointment we will chat about your issue and how I can help. After your discovery call, I’ll suggest some next steps, and I’d be happy to welcome you as my patient!

Ready to get started? Make this the year you take action to feel better!

As the holidays approach, we may feel our spirits rise. But our body doesn’t always follow. For some patients I meet, that tired feeling has been around a long time, and causes can be complex. If you’re experiencing more than the usual burnout or tiredness, it may be worth investigating one of the conditions I see often in my practice—adrenal fatigue.

After years of high stress—or overwork or lack of sleep that goes on for years—the body reacts by getting burnt out. We sometimes refer to this as adrenal fatigue. This is when the body’s hormone cortisol becomes dysregulated meaning either too much or too little is secreted by the adrenal glands.

Cortisol is a very important hormone in the body, as it helps with energy, inflammation and immune system. When cortisol levels become dysregulated, patients can experience chronic fatigue, inflammation, chronic infections, weight gain and hormone imbalances.

I regularly test cortisol levels through blood or saliva. I treat using supplements to help support cortisol production like vitamin C, B5, and herbs such as ginseng or rhodiola. I also give lifestyle advice and counsel patients on how to get more rest and find ways to de-stress their busy lives! Dietary recommendations are also critical.

Are you feeling unreasonably tired? Maybe it’s time for a consultation. Get in touch for a free discovery call and we can discuss.

Did you know that every three minutes one person in Canada is diagnosed with diabetes?

This month, Diabetes Canada is recognizing Diabetes Awareness Month with a campaign on social platforms, including Facebook and Instagram!

They’re inviting people to visit their page at https://www.diabetes.ca/let-s-make-time-to-end-diabetes  and contribute stories. Add their hashtag #spillthediabetea and tag @diabetescanada to help them raise awareness.

As a naturopathic doctor, I regularly see patients working to manage this condition. I give dietary advice, offer lifestyle counseling about exercise and sleep, and prescribe supplements to reduce inflammation and help sugar control. I also can prescribe medication when necessary.

If you live with diabetes, why not reach out to schedule a discovery call and find out about how I can help you?

Do you want to learn how you can feel your best with healthy eating? I promote health plans that patients can follow LONG term to move toward optimal weight and blood sugar management.

I am keen on helping patients achieve their best healthy lifestyles. Here are some of the ways I support you:

• provide detailed dietary plans for patients based on foods you like to eat
• create a baseline of measurements from body fat percentage to BMI
• help you figure out how many servings/calories to eat

Here’s a bit more about my diet philosophy:

• I promote healthy eating plans that help get patients on track to feel higher energy, better health, and ultimately set you on the pathway to longevity!
• I embrace a healthy, whole food, plant-based diet with simplified meal ideas that are easy to follow.
• I provide individualized charts for patients with information on serving sizes of different categories of foods (vegetables, fruit, grains, fats, proteins, nuts and seeds, and legumes).

If you’re ready to make a long-term lifestyle change to banish those extra pounds for good, let’s work together! We can identify the right meal plan that incorporates vegetables in a fun way.