ENDOMETRIOSIS Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of pelvic pain and infertility in women and many women do not know they have it. Endometriosis is where tissue similar to what grows within the uterus growths outside of the uterus. This growth can occur on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels and other areas within…

ACUPUNCTURE FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT Have you tried acupuncture for pain management? Pain can be due to a sedentary lifestyle (prolonged sitting), ergonomics in the workplace or at home, exercise, cramps (dysmenorrhea), injury, joint dysfunction, degeneration, nerve entrapment or misalignment. Back pain is especially common. 4 in 5 adults will experience back pain, and 5 in…

HEALTH & WELLNESS SUPPORT: PHYSICAL DISTANCING Physical distancing and the overhaul of routine has had a huge impact on all of us. We’re working from home, homeschooling our kids and our usual daily and weekly routines have shifted. Our schedules of meal prepping, coffee dates, lunch meetings, exercise classes and so on have been muddled…

MENOPAUSE: THE BASICS Millions of women experience menopausal symptoms each year, however there is often confusion over when menopause starts, what’s happening below the surface and what options we have for testing and treatment. Let’s start by defining a few terms. DEFINING THE TERMS PREMENOPAUSE starts at puberty and continues into your 40s (typically). During…

DO YOU HAVE ESTROGEN DOMINANCE? Estrogen dominance is one of the most common hormone imbalances I see. Simply put, it is too much relative estrogen in the body. This can cause unwanted symptoms such as PMS and a heavier flow. To learn about the important of estrogen and it’s roles in the body check out…

BIOHACKING FOR BETTER SLEEP   Do you have insomnia? Studies show over 40 million Canadians have at least 1 symptom of insomnia. Insomnia can be trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or early morning awakening. The number one question you should ask yourself to determine if you are getting adequate sleep is: do you feel rested…

WHAT CAUSES IBS? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal (GI) condition. 9-23% of the world’s population is thought to be affected by IBS. Canada has one of the highest rates of IBS in the world, with 120,000 new cases each year! WHAT IS IBS? IBS is a GI condition consisting of abdominal…

  BODY FAT & BLOOD SUGAR   Weight gain and stubborn weight loss are common concerns in my practice. Poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles, nutrient deficiencies, under-active thyroid glands, hormone imbalances, blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistance are some of the many areas we address to promote sustainable weight loss. The latter two are especially…

COLD & FLU SEASON   Its that time of year again! Cold and flu season is here! Do you have a plan in place to keep you and your family healthy? Its important to focus on prevention but you should also have some products on hand so you can start treatment at the first sign…

HORMONE BALANCING: TESTING   Have you had your hormones tested? Do you remember the time of day or time of month they were tested? Was it blood, saliva or urine? If you’re not doing the right type of sample at the right time your results could be meaningless, and your imbalances could be overlooked. Hormones…

VITAMIN B12: YOUR ENERGY BOOSTER   Vitamin B12 is one of the most commonly overlooked deficiencies. Do you know the importance of Vitamin B12 for your health? Do you know how to tell if you are deficient? Keep reading to discover if you’ve been overlooking signs of a Vitamin B12 deficiency and what you can…

LYME DISEASE: REDUCING THE RISK   Lyme Disease has been in the media a lot lately. Reports are showing that both the number of ticks and their location are growing. It is important to be proactive and understand what to do if you find a tick on yourself or a loved one. Lyme Disease is…

3 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL DETOX   We talked about the importance of timely detoxing in the last post. But how do you actually detox successfully? Here are the 3 keys to a successful detox.   [1] LIVER SUPPORT The liver has many important jobs in the body. The most well-known being detoxification. The liver…

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REALLY DETOX?   Spring is in the air and you’re ready for that fresh start. You’ve finally decided to make your health a priority… detox time! You fill your shopping cart with fresh fruits and vegetables and re-start your gym membership. You are ready. It’s going to work this time. Aaand…

THE 4 DRIVERS OF PCOS   Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Before reading this article make sure you check out “What is PCOS? (and Why It Needs a New Name)” to learn about what qualifies as PCOS and how to get an appropriate diagnosis. When it comes to…

WHAT IS PCOS? (and Why It Needs a New Name)   PCOS is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and affects around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. The hallmarks of PCOS are anovulation (lack of ovulation) and high levels of androgens (such as testosterone). The signs and symptoms of PCOS can vary woman to woman and…

PMS vs PMDD: Do you know the difference?   PMDD is “premenstrual dysphoric disorder” and affects 3-8% of women in their reproductive years. PMDD mirrors PMS in many ways, but is distinct in the severity of the emotional symptoms. In fact, 9 of the top 10 symptoms reported by women diagnosed with PMDD are related…

WHY IS PMS SO COMMON?   Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a catch-all diagnosis for countless symptoms occurring around the luteal phase of your cycle. Symptoms may last days or weeks; typically worsening 6 days before and peaking 2 days before the start of menses. Most women have some degree of PMS and about 20-40% of…

WHY TESTING TSH IS NOT ENOUGH   Did you know that up to 50% of thyroid disorders may go undiagnosed? The good news is testing TSH (and sometimes T4) is becoming more common in your doctors’ office. The bad news is that’s not enough, and here’s why.   TSH (THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE) This hormone is…

IT’S NOT JUST YOUR THYROID   The thyroid plays a very important role in achieving optimal health. Your sleep, stress level, activity level, immune system and even the food you put in your body all impact this gland’s function. You can usually tell when it’s not functioning at its best. The thyroid is a gland…

CYCLE TRACKING: GET TO KNOW YOUR TEMPERATURE   WHAT IS CYCLE TRACKING? Cycle tracking consists of measuring your basal body temperature (BBT) each morning. Your BBT is the lowest temperature your body reaches while you sleep. When you understand what is happening in your body at a physiological level you can determine if and when…

  5 SIMPLE WAYS TO BOOST YOUR ENERGY   Struggling with your energy? Mid-morning crashes and the urge to nap after a meal are common, especially as the winter months roll around. Just because it is common does not mean it is normal. The good news is there is a lot you can do to…

  HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR PERIOD IS ACTUALLY NORMAL   Our cycles can vary drastically from one woman to another, but it is important to know when these variations are abnormal. The post breaks down 5 key factors of your menstrual cycle to help you determine if your period is normal or if something…

COOKING OILS: The Best Oils and When to Use Them   There are many cooking oils out there to choose from. So many in fact that it may just feel easier to keep using that classic ‘vegetable oil’ you’re accustom to. But we use oil while preparing meals almost daily and I strongly believe you…

  SELF-CARE: THE DANISH WAY    The Danes are one of the happiest countries in the world, according to the World Happiness Report.  Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) is the Danish art of contentment, comfort and connection and may be the secret of why they are so happy! Hygge is simply about being present during even the most…

  YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE   This is your menstrual cycle. It’s a spectacular, yet complex system and I want to help you understand it. Understanding your cycle gives you a foundation for taking control of your reproductive health. I’m going to help break down the key players and the phases of this balancing act. My goal…