Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the Western world. Approximately 40% of North Americans die due to cardiovascular disease. However, heart disease is seen as being mostly preventable. There are many factors involved that relate to your risk for developing cardiovascular disease, particularly exer…

Nothing is more refreshing than waking up and actually feeling ready for your day…can you imagine? Yes, unrefreshed sleep and sleep problems are quite common, studies show that 40% of adults experience at least one symptom of insomnia. When you are sleep deprived, you tend to have less energy and worse concentration at…

Summer is an active time of the year for individuals, families, and any kind of group. You may have a favourite outdoor sport, or favorite park for picnics or camping. Wherever you plan to be and whatever you plan to do, I have 6 healthy tips to help make sure you are ready for your summer. 1. Gear Up. Make sure your c…

Do you have nature deficiency disorder? Increasingly, we have become an indoor society as well as one that is glued to a screen of some sort (ie: hand held devices, tablets, laptops, etc.). I am amazed at how low some of my patients’ vitamin D levels are when I review their test results – without fail, those in careers…

There are a few aspects of a good immune system that we all know about: getting fewer colds and sore throats and resolving them quickly; absence of allergies and asthma; healing well from cuts and other injuries. Still other immune-related issues correspond to auto-immunity which is common in the area of thyroid and jo…

If you are an allergy sufferer, you may not be looking forward to spring or summer. As a naturopathic doctor, I often see patients with a range of allergies seeking more nature-based options. There are a few simple yet useful tools to have in your spring survival kit that may help reduce the intensity of your spring hi…

There are hundreds of medical studies being carried out on the role of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, on your health. Many are showing interesting associations. As a naturopathic doctor, I have found that vitamin D is one of the particularly important nutrients since the body converts it into an active hormone that i…

You know smoking is profoundly detrimental to your health. Often you wonder why you can’t seem to quit the habit. Some say it ‘calms the nerves’ while others say it helps with their weight, or is part of their social scene, or it’s what they grew up with. Ultimately, it’s a personal choice and when you are ready, below…

There are four seasons and winter is often the toughest on your mind and mood. The connotations are usually negative: bitter cold, dry skin, back pain from show shoveling, multiple layers of clothing, colds and flu, trudging to work or around town. Winter is also associated with darkness and some people are susceptible…

As you get older, it is natural to expect changes in your body. One clear example is what are known as ‘age spots,’ or ‘liver spots’ – flat, darkened spots that tend to show most on UV-light exposed areas of the body. Typically it affects your face, arms, hands and the tops of your feet. They commonly show up in your 4…