Blood Sugar Hacks
As a naturopathic doctor, I often see patients who don’t realize that their daily ups and downs in energy, mood, and cravings are rooted in something deceptively simple, blood sugar instability. You don’t need to have diabetes for your blood glucose levels to impact how you feel. In fact, even subtle fluctuations, common in people […]
Menopausal Weight Gain
In my practice as a naturopathic physician, I often see women in their 40s and 50s who are doing everything right—eating well, staying active—yet still struggling with unwanted weight gain and declining energy. What they’re experiencing isn’t a failure of willpower. It’s a reflection of the profound hormonal changes that accompany perimenopause and menopause, changes […]
Brain Fog? The Gut-Brain Connection
Many of my patients come to me with concerns that feel both familiar and frustrating: mood swings, brain fog, and memory lapses. While these symptoms are often chalked up to changes in the brain itself, research is increasingly pointing to a less obvious but powerful player: the gut. In this article, I’ll explore the fascinating […]
Meal Planning: The Key to Healthy Eating
It’s never to late too embark on new healthy habits, especially regarding nutrition and menu planning – a concept I wholeheartedly support in my practice as a naturopathic physician. Menu planning might sound like a chore, but its benefits are far-reaching. It’s a powerful tool to enhance your nutrition, save time and money, and foster […]
Intestinal Hyperpermeability (aka “Leaky Gut”)
The prevalence of intestinal hyperpermeability, also known as “leaky gut,” has gained attention in recent years. Normally the small intestine aids in digestion of foods and absorption of nutrients, while also acting as a barrier to harmful substances. These functions become compromised when the lining of the small intestine becomes excessively permeable, allowing harmful substances […]
Fibre – More than just Constipation
Fibre – More than just Constipation March is colorectal cancer awareness month here in Canada. In my naturopathic practice, I find myself thinking often about colon cancer prevention using nutrition and lifestyle. This is because there are multiple nutrition and lifestyle-based risk factors that we can do something about to help prevent colon cancer. These […]
The Scoop on Digestive Enzyme Supplements
There are many digestive enzyme supplements available on the store shelves and it can be confusing to choose the right one for yourself or your customer. Through my time at working at various health food stores, here are some helpful tips to weed through the confusion. From what I can see, two main confusing elements […]
Digestive Enzymes – Why are they Important?
The Scoop on Digestive Enzymes Generally speaking, there are 3 classes of enzymes: metabolic enzymes, food enzymes, and digestive enzymes. Metabolic enzymes are those that facilitate in performing a number of biochemical reactions in the body. Unless one has a condition that affects how a metabolic enzyme functions in the body most people will never […]
Smoothies vs Juicing
What is a smoothie? A smoothie is a drink mixed of frozen or fresh fruit and/or vegetables blended to a desired consistency. Anything else can be added to a smoothie to change the flavor or incorporate nutrient-dense foods in a fun and delicious way. What is a juice? Essentially a juice is a concentrated version […]
The Many Faces of Food Intolerances
We all know that eating healthy food is essential to maintaining our health. But sometimes, what is healthy food for one person, can be a cause of physical distress for another. Deciphering which foods are causing problems can be a frustrating task. But in my 24 years of practicing naturopathic medicine, I’ve found that helping […]