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

Resiliency: An Essential Skill To Thrive In Life

By Dr. Alexia Georgousis ND I used to believe resiliency was related to my ability to recover quickly, to be less sensitive and to push through suffering. However, over the years I have come to realize my interpretation couldn’t be further from the truth. Resiliency is an expansive softening – more fluid vs elastic. I believe the experience of stress does change us, it needs to change us and hopefully for the better. We are not rubber bands returning to the same level of elasticity after being stretched. Rather, we are multidimensional beings with a nervous system highly linked to how we live and experience the world. Trying to be like a rubber band is a pathway to collapse because with repeated stretching, the elastic weakens and eventually breaks. There is no flow or value to the experience of being stretched when we act as rubber bands. And this is what happens when we expect ourselves to snap back to our original “shape” after stressful experiences. […]

By |2019-10-23T14:42:24-04:00October 23rd, 2019|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Resiliency: An Essential Skill To Thrive In Life

Summer is a great time to detox!

Yes, summer is a great time to detox! The arrival of summer brings warmer temperatures, sunshine, and longer days, which lends itself to us wanting to get the most out of the season.  While detoxes are usually thought of as a springtime endeavour, summer can be a fantastic time to reset your health and build some positive habits to support your wellness. The summer season is the time our bodies feel most resilient.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine, summer is the most yang of all seasons – a positive force characterized by light, warmth, dryness, activity, etc.  Because of this, it’s easier to make changes in our life during the summer, where we may experience more resistance at other times of the year.  Likewise, it’s easier to choose the food that is going to leave you feeling light and energized instead of heavy and weighed down. […]

By |2019-06-17T14:47:36-04:00June 17th, 2019|Detoxification/Cleanse, Naturopathic Medicine, Nutrition|Comments Off on Summer is a great time to detox!

Mother’s Day Meal Planning Package

By Kerri Lambie, RHN There are so many great reasons to visit a Holistic Nutritionist but I find the most common reason is to help with meal planning. Planning a meal can be tough with limitations that include work priorities, family responsibilities, time constraints or simply being unsure of what to eat. I understand this all! And my journey to holistic nutrition started because of it…… […]

By |2019-05-09T20:42:13-04:00May 9th, 2019|Nutrition|Comments Off on Mother’s Day Meal Planning Package

Start Your Spring Detox With These 3 Simple Steps

By Dr. Keara Taylor, ND Detox, cleanse, reset – these are words that frequently pop up at this time of year.  Are you curious about what a detox actually is and whether it is appropriate for you? First of all, detoxification is a metabolic process that the body undergoes to clear out toxins; those created within the body (endogenous toxins) and those coming from outside of the body (exogenous toxins).  The process includes mobilization, biotransformation, and ultimately the elimination of these substances.   Many of our organs are involved in this process, including the skin, liver, kidneys and intestines.  The liver is where phase I and phase II detoxification occurs, which is essentially the biotransformation of toxins so they can be eliminated safely from the body through the intestines and kidneys.  Phase I and Phase II detoxification require specific nutrients in order to occur, for example, B vitamins and antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, CoQ10 and bioflavonoids, as well as nutrients like glutamine and N-acetyl-cysteine. […]

By |2021-06-01T01:14:41-04:00April 8th, 2019|Detoxification/Cleanse|Comments Off on Start Your Spring Detox With These 3 Simple Steps

Choose to BE – How Meditation Helps

By Dr. Alexia Georgousis ND Nearly twenty years ago I had the privilege of seeing the Dalai Lama here in Toronto. Even though I was seated in the nosebleed section, I was amazed at the power of his presence.  Tears spontaneously ran down my cheeks as he walked on stage.  It was as if my heart completely opened and all the hidden walls inside of me melted. I was not alone; the majority of people around me wiped their tears, sitting in silence, eyes fixed on his every movement – and he hadn’t even uttered a word. His opening statement was worth the price of the ticket; “I am just a man” he said. Then shortly there- after; “Don’t try to be a Buddhist. Be yourself.”  Hearing those words felt like I was being wrapped in a warm blanket on an icy cold night. I mention this story because I attribute those simple, wise words of the Dalai Lama to be what encouraged me to continue to practice and study meditation to this day.  I had struggled for years trying different techniques, teachers and styles.  I read extensively on the subject, took courses and even became an Applied Mindfulness Meditation Specialist.  Despite this training I would be frustrated or disappointed that the lasting changes I was hoping for were fleeting. I would still be impulsive at times, anxious, sad or angry, and yet I continued to practice inconsistently and often with reluctance. Then one day something clicked. I began to notice I was struggling with my struggle. For example; judging my meditation practice as either good or bad, having expectations and attachments to a specific outcome or feeling disappointed with not being able to control [...]

By |2019-03-19T13:24:13-04:00March 19th, 2019|Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine|Comments Off on Choose to BE – How Meditation Helps

Behind the Scenes

With Marijke Boucher, Artist Have you seen the beautiful bracelets and earrings at our Annex location? These are the work of local Toronto artist, Marijke Bouchier. Marijke has worked with Innate on a number of creative design projects over the years. Beyond her design work and jewellery she also had a portfolio of fine arts work and is launching a new textile line! She will be showcasing her fine art work this year at the One of a Kind Show. […]

By |2019-04-08T19:51:29-04:00November 21st, 2018|Innate Wisdom Practitioner Q&A|Comments Off on Behind the Scenes

7-Day Change of Season Cleanse

By Dr. Angelina Riopel As we move from autumn to winter and approach the holiday season, it is a great time to pause and cleanse (not detox), in order to clean up our diets and recharge. […]

By |2019-04-08T19:51:30-04:00November 21st, 2018|Detoxification/Cleanse, Nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture|Comments Off on 7-Day Change of Season Cleanse

The Relatable Lunchbox Recipe

By Kerri Lambie, Registered Homeopath & Holistic Nutritionist Food was an integral component to my upbringing. I have great memories of sitting around the kitchen table for hours with my family laughing and enjoying the meal prepared for us. Going to school I had the same enjoyment from opening my brown paper bag (yes I am aging myself) and eating with my friends. Although there were many times I was envious of the cakes and cookies my friends had, as my mother opted for healthy snacks. I used to think that times had changed, however now as the mother of two boys I see the same lunch comparisons coming up much like I had those years ago. Soon after beginning kindergarten, my eldest son came home asking why he didn’t get cookies in his lunch like his friends (up until that point his sugar intake was pretty minimal aside from some natural sugars). I knew he was referring to those multi-coloured sprinkle cookies that attracted kids like a magpie to a shiny object! It dawned on me that in addition to making sure he was getting nutritious food for lunch, the snacks also needed to be trendy food that he and the other kids could relate to, so that he didn’t feel deprived and left out. Here are a couple of my boy’s favourites: Easy Chocolate Avocado Pudding […]

By |2021-06-01T01:01:37-04:00September 4th, 2018|Digestion, Nutrition, Recipes|Comments Off on The Relatable Lunchbox Recipe

Advocating for Your Child’s Learning Style

By Lindsey Danisch, MSW, RSW The start of the school year can be both exciting and scary. For some, it’s a fresh start! For others, it’s the return of challenges and struggles. For most, it’s both. Being a former Special Education teacher, I support many parents in my private practice as they navigate the ins and outs of school support. From in-class support, to assessment and understanding the alphabet soup of Special Education:  ILP, IEP, SST, ASD, ODD, LD, etc, I provide a safe place for parents explore their rights and options. […]

By |2018-09-04T18:42:12-04:00September 4th, 2018|Mental Clarity, Supporting Your Child|Comments Off on Advocating for Your Child’s Learning Style
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