Foods That Make You Smell!

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND While some meals leave you glowing, others have the power to transform your aroma in ways you might not expect. Ever caught yourself wondering, “Why do I suddenly smell… different?” Turns out, your meals might be the culprit behind this unexpected transformation. Foods can make you smell due to the unique compounds they release when they’re digested or metabolized by your body. Some foods contain sulfur, like garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage), which, when broken down, produce sulfur containing gases. These gases can then be released through your skin or breath, giving you a novel odour. Spicy foods like curry or chilli can stimulate your sweat glands, making your body release more sweat, which can carry the pungent aromas with it. Foods high in certain acids, like coffee, can also affect your scent by altering the balance of bacteria on your skin or in your mouth. Even foods rich in strong flavors, like fish or cheese, can create compounds that seep through your pores, leaving you with a fragrance that sticks around longer than expected! In some cases, the scent can also be tied to how your body is detoxifying. You will notice that some of the foods on this list below are considered medicinal foods and can even be found in the ingredient list of some natural supplements. Foods with active phytochemicals (medicinal properties) are more likely to cause changes in your body scent. If you are noticing a change in how you smell, take a look through the list below to see if one of these foods may be contributing. Make sure to check the label on any supplements you take! […]

By |2025-03-07T14:11:31-05:00March 7th, 2025|Naturopathic Medicine, Nutrition|Comments Off on Foods That Make You Smell!

Healing Green Soup

By Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?!! Green soup made with bone broth and puréed vegetables is a powerhouse for gut health, recovery, and overall wellness. Here’s why: 1. Supports Muscle Recovery & Joint Health Bone broth is rich in collagen, gelatin, and amino acids (glycine, proline, glutamine) that: • Help repair muscles and tendons after workouts. • Reduce joint pain and inflammation. • Improve skin elasticity and hydration. […]

By |2025-03-07T14:08:18-05:00March 7th, 2025|Cold and Flu Season, Detoxification/Cleanse, Digestion, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutrition, Recipes|Comments Off on Healing Green Soup

Diets and Foods That Can Help With Migraines

by Kathleen Regan, NDWhat are Migraines?Migraine headaches, characterized by intense pain, often come with symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and fatigue. Diet plays a key role in managing these episodes. Research indicates that certain foods can either trigger or help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. Identifying and avoiding foods that cause migraines, while incorporating migraine-reducing foods into your diet, can be a proactive approach to minimizing symptoms. This strategy is part of a broader migraine diet plan that aims to identify dietary causes of migraines and employ natural remedies for migraine headaches. […]

By |2024-04-08T03:02:06-04:00June 14th, 2023|Allergies, Digestion, Mental Clarity, Migraines, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutrition, Pain and Fatigue|Comments Off on Diets and Foods That Can Help With Migraines

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

Why Choose a Naturopathic Doctor?

Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are healthcare providers that use natural remedies to support healing and wellness. So, why choose a naturopathic doctor? All licensed NDs in Ontario, including our team of licensed naturopathic doctors, must complete a minimum of three years of university-level training, including pre-medical courses, and four years at an accredited naturopathic medical program. The foundation of naturopathic medicine training is rooted in health sciences, while the therapies include clinical nutrition, supplementation, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle counselling. Benefits of a Naturopathic Doctor for Your Health and Well-BeingHere are the top 4 reasons why you might choose to see a Naturopathic Medicine Doctor. Comprehensive ConsultationsYou are looking for more time to discuss your health concerns in depth with a trained healthcare practitioner. Naturopathic medical doctor visits range in length, but the average appointment time is 45-60 minutes. This allows you to discuss your health concerns at length without feeling like you have to rush and possibly leave something important out of the discussion. The benefits of seeing a naturopath include having a thorough understanding of your health history and current conditions, which is essential for providing individualized care. Holistic ApproachYou are wondering if different types of symptoms may be connected. As holistic practitioners, naturopathic doctors consider all of your health concerns as part of a larger pattern or picture. No matter how seemingly unconnected your symptoms might seem, your ND would like to hear about each concern. A doctor of naturopathy will further explore the details and timing of your concerns in the context of your health history and look to see if there is a common thread. NDs believe in treating the ‘root cause’ and thereby addressing all of the different ‘branches’ or symptoms. [...]

By |2024-06-10T02:19:08-04:00February 8th, 2023|Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on Why Choose a Naturopathic Doctor?

6 Benefits of Naturopathic Medicine

There are many benefits to working with a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and even more benefits of naturopathic medicine. Whether you are looking for general wellness advice or support while working through chronic health concerns, a licensed naturopathic doctor from our team can provide support by recommending individualized lifestyle, nutrition, and natural therapies. The main benefits of naturopathy flow from the guiding principles of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine focuses on holistic approaches that treat the whole person rather than just the symptoms. This system of medicine can help improve your overall health and well-being by incorporating natural treatments and lifestyle changes.Here Are The Naturopathic Medicine Benefits. 1. First to Do No Harm: A naturopath will use the least invasive and least toxic therapies to gently guide you back to wellness. There are circumstances (injury and illness) where stronger medicine is required; NDs are trained to assess and refer for treatments outside their scope of practice. By incorporating naturopathic medicine, you benefit from natural remedies that support your body’s natural ability to heal. This approach contrasts with conventional medicine, which often relies on more aggressive treatments.Benefit: You will receive non-invasive therapies with fewer side effects. 2. Maximize the Healing Wisdom of Nature: The nature of biology is to be self-healing and self-correcting. Many of the body’s innate mechanisms for healing (pain, inflammation, redness, and heat) are signs that the body is attempting to regenerate. An ND from our professional team will look for these signs and work with the body to promote healing where possible with lifestyle recommendations and natural therapies. It is important to understand that these recommendations and naturopathic medicine advantages are designed to support your body’s capacity to heal. This means that while the [...]

By |2024-06-10T02:28:01-04:00February 1st, 2023|Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on 6 Benefits of Naturopathic Medicine

A Guide to Naturopathic Medicine

There are many guides to naturopathic medicine online, but not all of them are created equal. Naturopathic Medicine is a healthcare profession that combines traditional and natural medicine with modern science and research. It is guided by six main principles. To do no harm.To recognize the healing wisdom of nature.To identify and treat the cause of imbalance. To teach and provide tools that empower health literacy.To treat the person as a whole by exploring beyond the immediate symptoms.To promote the prevention of disease. The Role and Training of Naturopathic DoctorsNaturopathic doctors (ND) are trained in the foundations of health sciences, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, and pharmacology. Their tools for treatment include lifestyle counselling, nutrition, supplementation, western herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). NDs uniquely understand both conventional and naturopathic medicine, allowing them to support your healthcare team. They may work alongside your conventional medical doctor or serve as your primary healthcare provider.All licensed naturopathic doctors (ND) come from 1 of 7 schools in North America. Graduation from a naturopathic medicine program that is accredited or is a candidate for accreditation guarantees eligibility to sit for the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX), essential for obtaining licensure. Licensure is available in regulated provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and the Northwest Territories. In the United States, 26 states offer regulation or licensure for NDs, with the scope of practice varying across regions.Naturopathic medicine is a complete, holistic, and personalized approach to healthcare. NDs work to identify the underlying causes of disease and take steps to support your body’s natural healing abilities. Naturopathic principles emphasize treating the whole person and recognizing the significance of individuality in preparing a wellness or treatment plan. While [...]

By |2024-08-16T05:00:31-04:00January 17th, 2023|Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on A Guide to Naturopathic Medicine

Natural Ways to Help You Sleep with Naturopathic Medicine

Understanding Sleep Problems and Natural SolutionsStruggling with sleep? Natural ways to help you sleep can vary widely. Many adults find their sleep duration decreases with age — from an average of seven hours in early adulthood to about six hours for those over 80. Natural sleep aids and remedies, such as establishing better sleep habits or using herbal sleep aids, may offer relief without the need for prescription sleep medications. Addressing sleep problems early with natural treatment for sleeplessness can prevent long-term sleep disorders.Disrupted sleep may involve:Difficulty falling asleepDifficulty staying asleepFrequent wakingConsistently getting less than 6 hours per nightNon-restorative sleep (waking tired)Naturopathic medicine has several tools used to support sleep, but the most effective types will differ depending on the individual. A naturopathic doctor will consider the following factors when addressing sleep disturbance:Lifestyle & Sleep HygieneUnderlying Medical ConditionsNutritionSupplementationAcupunctureLifestyle & Sleep Hygiene for Improving Sleep QualityMaintaining a physically active lifestyle is a cornerstone of good sleep hygiene. Exercise not only helps you fall asleep faster but also improves the overall quality of your sleep. However, it's just as important to create the right environment for sleep. As bedtime approaches, start by dimming your lights a few hours beforehand, which helps signal to your brain that it's time to wind down. Avoid screens, as their blue light can disrupt sleep signals. Ensure that your sleeping environment is conducive to rest: it should be cool, quiet, and completely dark, optimized for relaxation. Furthermore, following a consistent bedtime, preferably before midnight and no later than 11 PM, aligns with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, facilitating deeper, more restorative sleep.Underlying Medical Conditions That Could Affect Your SleepIf you are having sleep disturbance or low energy, it is important to check [...]

By |2024-05-13T03:08:41-04:00January 10th, 2023|Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on Natural Ways to Help You Sleep with Naturopathic Medicine

Immune Support: A Naturopathic Approach to Boosting Your Immune System Naturally

By Dr. Angelina Riopel, NDExploring how to boost your immune system naturally can significantly reduce infection risks and alleviate symptoms when sick. This process, essential for maintaining health, starts with prevention and includes acute care when needed. By adhering to proven naturopathic practices, you can strengthen the immune system and protect yourself from various ailments. […]

By |2024-05-13T03:03:03-04:00January 16th, 2021|Cold and Flu Season, Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on Immune Support: A Naturopathic Approach to Boosting Your Immune System Naturally

Corona Virus Prevention & Support – A Naturopathic Approach

By Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND Currently the Corona Virus (COVID-19) has become the center piece of every news story. My purpose in this article is to provide you with information on how keep your immune system strong. COVID-19 is classified as a pandemic by the WHO and the number of people infected is rising quickly around the globe. It’s important to recognize that the majority of individuals who are already or will become infected, will experience symptoms of a typical cold or flu. As with any respiratory infection, those at greater risk are the elderly (over 65) and those with underlying health conditions and lowered immunity. Without a known cure or vaccine it’s crucial for individuals to focus on two areas; immune system health and acute care. […]

By |2023-04-28T10:07:54-04:00March 14th, 2020|Cold and Flu Season, Naturopathic Medicine, ND Editorial, Nutrition|Comments Off on Corona Virus Prevention & Support – A Naturopathic Approach
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