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How To Test For Insulin Resistance and High Blood Sugar Levels

By Kathleen Regan, NDInsulin resistance is a condition where cells become less sensitive to the hormone insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. Tests for insulin resistance and high blood sugar can help potentially avoid metabolic health issues. In this blog, we will explore what insulin resistance and high blood sugar are and what tests are used to detect them.What is ‘Blood Sugar’?Blood is the amount of sugar/glucose found in your bloodstream. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is important for overall health, as high levels can lead to serious complications.Is It Normal To Have Sugar In The Blood?A certain level of blood glucose is normal. However, significantly elevated levels can make it difficult for the body to make enough insulin. Our body has developed ways of controlling sugars so that they aren’t too high or too low. A number of things will cause sugar to be released into the blood including food, drink, exercise, stress, dehydration, illness or infection. We use sugar as an energy source. Any signal that the body requires energy can stimulate the release of glucose from our own bodily supply.How Do I Know If My Blood Sugar Is Too High?There are several signs that blood sugar is too high including:• increased thirst and a dry mouth,• needing to pee frequently,• tiredness,• blurred vision,• headaches,• unintentional weight loss,• recurrent infections, such as yeast infections, bladder infections (cystitis) and skin infections.However, these are signs that blood sugar has been elevated for some time. High levels of sugar in the blood are often diagnosed too late. […]

By |2024-07-09T03:16:32-04:00May 1st, 2023|Diabetes, Fertility, Hormone Health, Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on How To Test For Insulin Resistance and High Blood Sugar Levels
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The Importance of Thyroid Health

By Dr. Keara Taylor, ND Are you feeling tired or sluggish?  Have you been experiencing a low mood, weight gain or difficulty losing weight?  These are all symptoms that potentially point to an issue with your thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is located in the neck and controls many vital functions of the body including energy levels, metabolism, body temperature, and heart rate. The thyroid gland can be overactive (hyperthyroidism), or underactive (hypothyroidism), although hypothyroidism is more common.  Additionally, women are more likely than men to experience a thyroid issue at some point in their life.  Some other symptoms of hypothyroidism include: cold intolerance, constipation, brain fog, irregular periods, heavy periods, infertility, high cholesterol, hair loss, and fluid retention. […]

By |2024-06-26T06:04:04-04:00March 19th, 2019|Anxiety, Fertility, Naturopathic Medicine, ND Editorial, Pain and Fatigue, Post Natal Care, Women's Wellness|Comments Off on The Importance of Thyroid Health
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Traditional Chinese Medicine for Fertility

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Helps with InfertilityTraditional Chinese Medicine for fertility focuses on addressing both male and female infertility. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. Women who cannot maintain a pregnancy after conception are also considered infertile. Common signs of infertility in women include irregular menstrual cycles, amenorrhea (absence of periods), excess hair growth, or weight issues such as obesity. Recognizing these symptoms early is important for timely treatment. This article primarily explores infertility treatment for female patients.What Are the Risk Factors of Infertility?Age: Women over 35 experience a natural decline in both the number and quality of eggs, which is a significant factor contributing to signs of infertility and reduced chances of conception.Smoking and Alcohol: Excessive smoking and alcohol consumption not only decrease fertility but also increase the risk of miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies, making it harder to maintain a healthy pregnancy.Weight: Being overweight or underweight can disrupt ovulation and hormonal balance, both of which are vital for fertility. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for improving fertility acupuncture results and overall reproductive health.Stress and Mental Health: Emotional stress, anxiety, and depression can negatively impact fertility, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Addressing mental health concerns may improve outcomes in infertility treatment for female patients.Multiple Miscarriages: A history of multiple miscarriages increases the risk of complications in future pregnancies, making it an important factor to address when evaluating fertility.Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): STIs can cause damage to the reproductive organs, leading to blockages or other complications that affect fertility and the ability to conceive.What Are the Common Causes of Infertility?Regarding female infertility, the main causes include ovulation disorder, fallopian tube damage or blockage, endometriosis, uterus [...]

By |2024-11-13T07:22:42-05:00October 1st, 2018|Acupuncture, Fertility|Comments Off on Traditional Chinese Medicine for Fertility
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Massage Therapy & Women’s Health

Interview with Leigh-Anne Best, Registered Massage Therapist Leigh-Anne is one of the talented team of RMTs at Innate Wellness. Both as an RMT and as a mother, she has tackled many women’s health issues including pelvic floor health, pregnancy, labour and postpartum health. She is a wealth of information on how massage can be used for women specific concerns. We asked her to help us understand a little more about how this wonderful modality can be used for health & healing in women. Q1: How can massage therapy help to address women’s health? Massage Therapy is well known for its ability to promote relaxation, reduce stress and muscle tension, as well as for its role in rehabilitation and injury prevention. However, there is less of an understanding of the benefits of massage as a holistic approach to women’s health issues. What most people don’t know is that Massage Therapy is an effective modality for treating women’s health issues, including irregular menstrual cycles, menstrual disorders like PMS and PMDD, but also for aiding with fertility issues. Additionally, massage is an excellent means in which to support the ever-changing needs in women’s bodies during pregnancy, in preparation for birth and during labour, and, most importantly, as part of the postpartum picture for healing. […]

By |2024-06-26T07:19:44-04:00March 6th, 2018|Fertility, Innate Wisdom Practitioner Q&A, Massage Therapy, Post Natal Care, Women's Wellness|Comments Off on Massage Therapy & Women’s Health
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Natural Pregnancy Free Spring Lecture Series

Join us for our free Spring Lecture Series on Pregnancy. Each week, one of our practitioners will be speaking on their area of expertise. T Whether you are thinking about getting pregnant, are already pregnant or are preparing for delivery, complementary care can be a great support! Contact us at Innate Wellness Naturopathic Medical Centre to learn more! 416.760.9424. Sign up to reserve your spot - space is limited. If you are just thinking about pregnancy and are curious about fertility check our Free Spring Lecture Series on Fertility at our Annex Location Week 1: Naturopathic Support for Pregnancy and Beyond! with Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND Dr. Kathleen Regan, Naturopathic Doctor Wednesday, May 4rd, 7-8pm, 5 Quebec Avenue, Toronto Dr. Regan offers naturopathic support for moms-to-be through nutritional counseling, herbal medicine, supplementation and acupuncture. Wondering how your nutrition requirements change throughout pregnancy? Which herbs are safe to take and which are not? Are all pregnancy vitamins created equal? Join Dr. Regan for a short talk and open Q & A on all your pregnancy questions. Week 2: The Pregnancy Diet—Healthy Eating for Mothers To Be with Liane Wansbrough, CNP Liane Wansbrough, Holistic Nutritionist Wednesday, May 11th, 7-8pm, 5 Quebec Avenue, Toronto Holistic Nutritionist Liane Wansbrough is passionate about good food and helping you understand why it’s important to feed yourself and your baby well. As a mother of two children, Liane found most information about eating for pregnancy overwhelmingly focused on the negative: avoid this, avoid that. Her approach to diet is to educate women about how to capitalize on the many positive things food can do to promote health at critical points during a baby’s development. Join Liane [...]

By |2024-06-11T09:52:05-04:00March 1st, 2016|Fertility, Post Natal Care, Upcoming Events at Innate|Comments Off on Natural Pregnancy Free Spring Lecture Series
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Naturopathic Preconception Planning

By Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND   Preconception is an important, but often overlooked step, in pregnancy preparation. Naturopathic preconception planning can improve chances of conceiving and help ensure a healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby. Ideally preconception work should begin one year, to a minimum of three months before desired conception. During this time the menstrual cycle and ovulation will be tracked, helping us understand when ovulation is occurring. Factors influencing the menstrual cycle will be addressed, along with general health and nutrition. A period of detoxification may be necessary for some. The following is a detailed outline of areas that will be addressed during Preconception Planning: […]

By |2024-09-26T07:24:05-04:00March 1st, 2016|Fertility, ND Editorial, Nutrition|Comments Off on Naturopathic Preconception Planning
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Acupuncture, Fertility & Labor with Matthew Richardson, R.Ac.

Matthew Richardson, Registered Acupuncturist at Innate Wellness, High park, is an experienced acupuncturist who has spent a lifetime studying martial arts, Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture. One thing many people don’t know about Matthew is his experience in fertility, pregnancy, labor and delivery. Wondering about how acupuncture can help fertility? Concerned about the labor and delivery process? Matthew has personal experience and many tips to help you conceive and deliver your baby on your terms! Matthew Richardson, Registered Acupuncturist Q1. For those of us that don’t know – what exactly is acupuncture and how does it work? This is the most common question I get, and the hardest one to answer. The textbook kind of answer is this : Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medical practice that has been practiced, passed down and improved on for over 2000 years and involves the insertion of very thin sterile stainless steel needles into very specific points on the body. The stimulation of these points have the effect of regulating blood pressure, reducing pain, regulating the nervous system and promoting proper organ function. These combined effects are useful for treating any pain, symptom or disease of the body. Put simply though, acupuncture stimulates the body to heal itself. Health is a state of balance.  Your best health comes from you, and acupuncture is the means by which we can improve the body’s function when it has lost balance. As a side note, when people ask me about acupuncture I often suggest they come in to experience a session. There is a look that people have when you ask them to do something they have never imagined themselves doing before [...]

By |2024-06-11T10:09:48-04:00March 1st, 2016|Fertility, Innate Wisdom Practitioner Q&A, Post Natal Care, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Women's Wellness|Comments Off on Acupuncture, Fertility & Labor with Matthew Richardson, R.Ac.
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New @ Innate: Pelvic Massage (Mercier Technique) for Fertility Treatment!

Patti MacGregor, Registered Massage Therapist, is new to Innate. She is pleased to offer Mercier Technique. This is a form of pelvic massage that can loosen adhesions and decrease tension in the pelvis. This non-invasive technique is an excellent addition to your fertility package. Patti is available on Saturdays from 9am-3pm. Book in advance as her spots are limited! […]

By |2024-06-21T03:25:58-04:00August 19th, 2014|Fertility, Massage Therapy, Women's Wellness|Comments Off on New @ Innate: Pelvic Massage (Mercier Technique) for Fertility Treatment!
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