Awareness: The Foundation for Happiness & Success

By Alexia Georgousis ND, CPC, Conscious Awareness Coach Emotions are a part of who we are as human beings. They are bundles of energy in motion. The key is to understand emotional energy needs to move through us rather than stay still.  Learning how to feel our emotions, learn from them and let them move through us is an essential life skill. Being emotionally aware is also referred to as waking up or becoming more conscious. More research is also supporting the importance of becoming more consciously aware of our emotions.  According to John Gottman a psychological researcher: “emotional awareness and abilities to handle feelings will determine your success and happiness in all walks of life, including family relationships” […]

By |2019-06-25T14:05:22-04:00June 25th, 2019|Anxiety, Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine, ND Editorial, psychotherapy, Relationships, Self Care, Women's Wellness|Comments Off on Awareness: The Foundation for Happiness & Success

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 |2023-04-28T10:28:02-04:00March 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

Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND’s Experience of Natural Birth

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND Some of you may know that I recently welcomed my first child into the world with a natural birth at the Toronto Birth Centre. My husband and I, along with our amazing team of midwives shared the amazing moment that our first-born son entered the world. […]

By |2018-06-21T15:51:14-04:00June 21st, 2018|ND Editorial, Women's Wellness|Comments Off on Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND’s Experience of Natural Birth

Important Tips for Cold & Flu Prevention

By Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND This is the time of year that many of my patients ask about cold & flu prevention. With the holidays on the horizon the pace of life, pressure and late nights are increasing, which can increase your chances of getting sick. There is a lot that you can do to help defend yourself from getting sick and if you do get sick, help to lessen the duration and severity of the symptoms. There are two categories to address when it comes to cold’s & flu’s: 1) Prevention is the stage that we keep the immune system strong in order to prevent getting sick. 2) Acute Care is the stage that you have the opportunity to nip it in the bud and avoid a long, drawn-out illness! We begin treatment at the first sign of getting sick. […]

By |2017-11-16T09:46:00-05:00November 14th, 2017|Cold and Flu Season, ND Editorial, Self Care|Comments Off on Important Tips for Cold & Flu Prevention

Nutrition for Healthy Breasts

By: Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND It is not a stretch to say that health begins with what you eat. This is true of breast health and hormonal health in general. Changes in breast tissue from benign cysts to breast cancer have been linked to estrogen balance within the body or “estrogen dominance”. “Estrogen dominance” is a term used to describe a high ratio of estrogen to progesterone or just globally high estradiol (one of the three types of possible estrogen). Estrogen dominance has been linked to many different types of women’s health issues besides breast health including PMS symptoms, menopausal symptoms, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, allergies, decreased libido, fatigue, fibrocystic breasts, headaches, infertility, irritability, and fat gain around the abdomen and on the top of the thighs. In addition, studies have shown a well-established link between excess estrogen and breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical dysplasia. The good news is that hormones are affected by nutrition. Modifying specific dietary and lifestyle habits can help to keep hormones balanced! The following list includes nutrition habits that negatively impact healthy estrogen balance and healthy breasts. […]

By |2017-10-17T13:48:47-04:00October 17th, 2017|ND Editorial, Nutrition, Women's Wellness|Comments Off on Nutrition for Healthy Breasts

The Natural Anxiety Solution for Kids: Exercise!

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND Back-to-school can create a lot of stress and anxiety for kids. Most parents are looking for natural ways to reduce their child’s stress. Exercise has long been linked to improved mood, reduced anxiety and increased self-confidence. Children need at least an hour of physical activity to achieve these benefits. Feel less stressed Feel better about themselves Feel more ready to learn in school Keep a healthy weight Build and keep healthy bones, muscles and joints Sleep better at night The challenge is fitting exercise into the family schedule OR convincing your child to go! Here are some Toronto-specific suggestions to help you use fitness as a natural family remedy.  […]

By |2019-04-08T19:51:33-04:00August 8th, 2017|Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine, ND Editorial, Pediatric Health|Comments Off on The Natural Anxiety Solution for Kids: Exercise!

Common ‘Myth-Conceptions’ of Naturopathic Medicine

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND A large part of naturopathic medicine is empowering patients to recognize the valuable role they play in their own health by asking the right questions and staying informed. As a naturopathic doctor, I have been asked a lot of questions around what naturopathic medicine is and what it is not. Below are the most common & important ‘myth-conceptions’. Myth # 1 – “My medical doctor doesn’t ‘believe’ in naturopathic medicine”. Many patients worry that their doctor does not ‘believe’ in naturopathic medicine. This is an important conversation to have with your doctor– if you don’t ask, you will never know. BUT – most medical doctors and naturopathic doctors will communicate and exchange information to promote the best patient care possible. In fact, more and more, medical doctors and naturopathic doctors work within the same clinics. If your medical doctor says they do not believe in naturopathic medicine than she or he probably has not read about the profession. Naturopathic doctors who are trained through the 7 accredited North American Schools practice evidence-based medicine with a primary focus on lifestyle counseling, nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture and homeopathy. Naturopathic doctors are trained to help you make the ‘health-style’ changes you need to promote wellness or complement conventional treatment. Naturopathic medicine has been found to take the burden off of the health care system and is a great addition to conventional patient care.  […]

By |2019-04-08T19:51:34-04:00April 18th, 2017|ND Editorial|Comments Off on Common ‘Myth-Conceptions’ of Naturopathic Medicine

3 Simple Steps to Weight Loss

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND 1. Choose a weight loss goal that is realistic for you. Bring into mind your ideal weight. Or, use a Body Mass Index calculator to determine your healthy weight. Remember that lasting weight loss occurs at about 1 pound per week. If this seems like it will take too long, plan your weight loss goals in steps. If your healthy weight is 150 and you are currently 200lbs – this could take 50 weeks. So set your first goal at 190 for 10 weeks and when you reach this goal – celebrate! Our best achievements in life do not happen all at once. They are the accumulation of many small victories. 2. Identify the habits that are holding you back BEFORE you choose a weight loss plan. Bad habits are one of the biggest barriers to weight loss. They say it takes 21 days to change a habit. Pick a habit that needs to change and work at it until you can maintain the routine for a month. Yes, this may delay your weight loss plan but it will make you more successful in the long run. ‘Slow and steady wins the race.’ What kind of habits are we talking about? TIME MANAGEMENT. Eating well means planning well so that you can prepare meals at home or at least plan for healthier options. Taking some time on Saturday or Sunday to grocery shop & cook can set you up for the week. Or in today’s world, we have services like Grocery Gateway that bring the groceries right to you, or Blue Apron that bring you the prepped food for healthy meals. There are also healthy meal delivery services that provide you [...]

By |2019-04-08T19:51:35-04:00December 30th, 2016|Detoxification/Cleanse, ND Editorial, Nutrition, Weight Loss|Comments Off on 3 Simple Steps to Weight Loss

Keep Your Hand Out of the Cookie Jar this Holiday Season

The holidays are often a busy and stressful time. The fast pace can lead to an increase in stress hormones, blood sugar fluctuations, cravings and over-eating. The following are some simple strategies that can help you stay grounded and keep your hand out of the cookie jar. Schedule Your Self-Care Creating a self-care plan BEFORE the madness begins can help keep stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol in check! Stress hormones affect mood, blood sugar levels, appetite and food cravings – tempting us to overindulge in sweets, treats and alcohol. Self-care is often something that is prioritized when we have time, but then let go when we need it most. Keep it simple and enjoyable! Examples may include taking time every morning to enjoy a healthy breakfast, a bath at the end of the day, an acupuncture session, a morning walk or going to bed early 1-2 nights per week. Your self-care should keep you in balance and help relieve stress. […]

By |2019-04-08T19:51:35-04:00November 29th, 2016|Digestion, ND Editorial, Nutrition|Comments Off on Keep Your Hand Out of the Cookie Jar this Holiday Season

The Immune System Checklist

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND   Immunity is about harmony between the person and their environment that involves a complex web of interactions including those with other people, culture, food, work, weather…. Everything! One might say that the immune system is about relationships or how the cells of the body relate to the outside world. A person dealing with an immune issue whether it is frequent illness or autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus MUST consider the relationship between their inner world and the outside environment. The Mind-Body-Immune System Connection An increasing body of research supports the idea that the mind and nervous system are capable of modulating immune response. The term ‘psychoneuroimmunology’ comes from the growing understanding that our thoughts, moods and emotions affect our neurological and endocrine systems that affect our immune function. The immune system communicates with our neurological and hormonal systems to activate or inhibit immune function. Physical illness and immune system issues can also affect our mental and emotional well being. This relationship goes both ways.  […]

By |2019-04-08T19:51:36-04:00October 18th, 2016|Allergies, Cold and Flu Season, Detoxification/Cleanse, Mind Body Medicine, ND Editorial|Comments Off on The Immune System Checklist
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