Migraines and Diet

by Kathleen Regan, ND Migraines are disabling headaches that often occur with sensory or motor changes including: • sensitivity to light, noise, and smells, • nausea and vomiting, • upset stomach, • loss of appetite, • fatigue, and dizziness. Aside from food sensitivities, there are a number of diets which have been found to relieve intensity or frequency of migraines. […]

By |2023-07-27T04:52:25-04:00June 14th, 2023|Allergies, Digestion, Mental Clarity, Migraines, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutrition, Pain and Fatigue|Comments Off on Migraines and Diet

How To Detect High Blood Sugar and Insulin Resistance

By Kathleen Regan, NDWhat is ‘blood sugar’?Blood sugar is the amount of glucose or sugar found in your blood.Is it normal to have sugar in the blood?A certain level of sugar is normal in the blood. 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 |2023-07-27T04:52:20-04:00May 1st, 2023|Diabetes, Fertility, Hormone Health, Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on How To Detect High Blood Sugar and Insulin Resistance

Why Choose a Naturopathic Doctor?

Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are healthcare providers that use natural remedies to support healing and wellness. Is a naturopathic doctor reputable and knowledgeable? 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.  Why Choose a Naturopathic Doctor for Your Health and Well-Being? Here are the top 4 reasons why you might choose to see a Naturopathic Medicine Doctor.  You 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.  You are wondering if different types of symptoms may be connected. As holistic practitioners, naturopathy 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.  You wish to complete further blood work and testing to explore your health concerns. A doctor of naturopathic medicine in Ontario has access to [...]

By |2023-02-23T09:22:05-05:00February 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. 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.  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 therapies are supportive, your body is doing much of the work. Benefit: You will be encouraging your body to restore balance rather than relying on therapies that suppress symptoms. While suppressive therapies are sometimes required, your body gets stronger and learns each time it is naturally able to self-correct.  3. Identify and Treat the Cause: An ND will explore deep into your health [...]

By |2023-02-23T09:20:19-05:00February 1st, 2023|Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on 6 Benefits of Naturopathic Medicine

A Guide to Naturopathic Medicine

There are many naturopathic medicine guides 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.  Naturopathic doctors (ND) are trained in the foundations of health sciences, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, and pharmacology. Their tools for treatment include lifestyle counseling, nutrition, supplementation, western herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  An ND is in a unique position to understand conventional medicine and play a supportive role or a primary role by using these tools. This means that a naturopathic doctor may play a vital role on your healthcare team, supporting you while you also work with a conventional medical doctor. Or you may choose to seek out a naturopathic doctor to act as your main health care 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), the passage of which is required to obtain licensure. Licensure is offered by regulated provinces or territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, Northwest Territories. There are 26 states in the United States offering regulation or licensure of Naturopathic Doctors. The scope of practice varies between provinces, territories, and states.  Naturopathic medicine [...]

By |2023-02-23T09:11:22-05:00January 17th, 2023|Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on A Guide to Naturopathic Medicine

Improve Sleep with Naturopathic Medicine

Want to improve your sleep? Disrupted sleep can look different for everyone. A typical night’s sleep changes depending on age. The average adult sleeps 7 hours per night. By the time an adult is 55, this may decrease to 6.5 hours, while the average 80-year-old sleeps 6 hours per night. Disrupted sleep may involve: Difficulty falling asleep Difficulty staying asleep Frequent waking Consistently getting less than 6 hours per night Non-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 Hygiene Underlying Medical Conditions Nutrition Supplementation Acupuncture Lifestyle & Sleep Hygiene for Improving Sleep Quality A ‘physically active lifestyle’ is a ‘sleep-promoting lifestyle,’ but when it comes time to sleep, your environment should be calm and dark. Start dimming the lights a couple of hours before you go to bed to send the message to your brain that it is time for lights out. Yes, this means reducing or eliminating screen time. Your room should be completely dark and silent. Restorative sleep is best achieved when you climb into bed before midnight. The quality of sleep you get is better if you are in bed between 10-11pm at the latest. Underlying Medical Conditions That Could Affect Your Sleep If you are having sleep disturbance or low energy, it is important to check in with your primary care provider for a routine physical exam and bloodwork. There are a few conditions that can affect sleep; blood sugar imbalance or diabetes, digestive disturbance, heart disease, hormone changes, chronic pain, hyperthyroid, anemia, and stress are just some of the [...]

By |2023-02-23T09:14:44-05:00January 10th, 2023|Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on Improve Sleep with Naturopathic Medicine

Immune Support: A Naturopathic Approach

By Dr. Angelina Riopel, NDImmune support can be very helpful in preventing infections, as well as lessening the length of the infection and severity of symptoms. I like to look at immune support in two stages.1) Prevention2) Acute care […]

By |2021-05-11T02:29:38-04:00January 16th, 2021|Cold and Flu Season, Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on Immune Support: A Naturopathic Approach

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

Cow Dairy Intolerance: The Evidence

By: Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND Humans have been consuming cow dairy for thousands of years. In fact, a recent archaeological dig from Britain showed that prehistoric farmers were consuming dairy products as early as 6,000 years ago – despite being lactose intolerant! And we are still at it! Humans consume dairy in volumes despite it being linked to a number of problematic health issues such as diarrhea, constipation, dermatitis, eczema, respiratory conditions and more. Cow dairy offers a creamy, satiating food that is readily accessible. Its nutritional profile is noteworthy with 1 cup of 2% milk offering 8g of protein, 5g of fat, 30% of daily calcium requirement as well as naturally occurring Vitamin A and B6. However, despite this healthy profile, milk seems to cause a lot of problems for a lot of people. In Canada, close to 7% of the population report a food allergy. At the top of the list of reported food allergens is dairy with 2% of the Canadian population reporting an actual Cow’s Milk Allergy (CMA). This is the highest reported food allergen in Canada! Anecdotally, from my clinical practice, many patients speculate that dairy is a trigger for their health concerns. However, they are often told that ‘there is no evidence’ that milk or dairy-based foods is an inflammatory or immune-triggering food – and so they don’t eliminate dairy. I am always surprised to hear this as there is plenty of evidence that milk is problematic. Here are a few reasons why:  […]

By |2023-04-20T10:31:16-04:00March 11th, 2020|Allergies, Digestion, Naturopathic Medicine, ND Editorial, Nutrition, Pediatric Health|Comments Off on Cow Dairy Intolerance: The Evidence

Women’s Heart Health

By: Dr. Keara Taylor, ND Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among older post- menopausal women.  As women, the risk of cardiovascular disease is 2-3 times higher after menopause (1).  Statically, men are at a higher risk, however, as women age, their level of risk approaches that of men, and the lifetime risk for women may actually be higher because we live longer (2).  The risk of cardiovascular disease in women should not be underestimated, and because there appears to be a link between hormones and cardiovascular disease – we see rates increase significantly after menopause – we can and should be proactive in managing that risk, especially as we age. The average age of menopause in women is approximately 51, and is often accompanied by the immediate symptoms of hot flashes and night sweats. However, longer-term issues can also arise, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and cognitive impairment. The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) looked at the correlation between a menopausal woman’s experience of vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes with cardiovascular risk factors.  It found that vascular aging, endothelial dysfunction and large artery stiffening seemed to increase in women during the menopausal transition and that women with hot flushes had higher rates of subclinical cardiovascular disease (1). As women enter menopause, treating symptoms with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) may be a good option, and should be discussed with a health care practitioner. While the use of BHRT in menopause is beyond the scope of this article, here are some dietary and lifestyle practices that you can implement right now that have been shown in the literature to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events: […]

By |2023-04-28T10:16:01-04:00February 26th, 2020|Cardiovascular Health, Naturopathic Medicine, ND Editorial, Nutrition, Women's Wellness|Comments Off on Women’s Heart Health
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