Above all, I went into naturopathic medicine as a way to help people to help themselves. I believe that health care should involve as much teaching self-awareness and empowering self-care as it does treating and alleviating symptoms. As my work with women and families continues to grow and evolve, my philosophy has only deepened as I experience awe, respect and joy on a daily basis as I watch our community begin to shift, heal and thrive. Health Begins At Home Day to day lifestyle habits. Micro choices. Easily integratable changes over time. That’s how we powerfully transform our experience of life for ourselves and those we love. Sometimes you need guidance to get you past where you’re “stuck”. For minor … Read More
5 Ways to Prepare for Your Best Birth
By Christa VanderVelde, Doula The average couple does more research and preparation before purchasing a new vehicle than they do before giving birth. This is understandable. With all the information available to parents, preparing for birth can be more overwhelming than magical. As a Doula, I am passionate about helping parents sort through the information available to them and decide what is most important for birth preparation. So this month I sat down and compiled my favourite ways to prepare for your best birth. 1 – Address Your Assumptions More important than choosing a care provider or understanding your options, (we will get there), is addressing your assumptions. Ask yourself, “What do I believe about my body?” A negative self imagine … Read More
“What’s That Rash?” Clearing Up Common Skin Questions in Kids
As naturopathic doctors working with kids, we get a lot of questions from parents about a new or ongoing rash they’ve seen cropping up on their baby or child’s skin. Rashes or other skin issue are a good reason to check in: the skin is the largest organ of the body, tends to be extra sensitive in little ones, and conveys a lot of information about his or her overall health status. Below The Surface You might be surprised to learn that most skin conditions aren’t “just” skin conditions. The skin happens to be one way that symptoms express themselves that we can easily see and observe. It’s also why we include a skin health exam with your baby or … Read More
5 Reasons to Fall In Love With Fat
If you’ve been trying to conceive, or are struggling with unwanted weight gain, you may have been told to reduce the fat content in your diet. We’re going to shake things up and reassure you that fat doesn’t make you fat…in fact dietary fats are oh-so-good for you for so many reasons. Let’s talk about 5. Why Is Fat…So Phat? 5 Reasons to Ditch “Low-Fat” For Good: 1. Fats = Energy Without The Roller Coaster. They’re a source of energy (and mental clarity, which we LOVE) that’s independent of sugar. Nice! 2. Fats Are the FedEx of Vitamin Delivery! You need fats to deliver vital fertility-boosting nutrients, including coenzyme Q10, vitamin D, vitamin E to your eggs (or sperm, for the … Read More
Boost Fertility Naturally With the 21-Day Fertility Cleanse Program
Fuel Your Fertility With the 21-Day Fertility Cleanse Have you been told that losing weight will help you get pregnant? Do you struggle with irregular periods, PCOS, thyroid or autoimmune issues? Did you know that inflammation is a hidden roadblock to your fertility success, and that you can use foods to reduce your levels of inflammation within days? Do you know how to overcome cravings for the foods that are actually sabotaging your efforts to get pregnant? Do you want to rid your body of toxins so you can reclaim healthy hormonal balance, fine-tune your fertility and give your baby the healthiest possible start in life – starting even before conception? If we haven’t met, I’m Dr. Elizabeth Cherevaty, Integrative Fertility Expert, naturopathic doctor & the creator of the 21-Day Fertility … Read More
Easy Green Juice
It’s easy being green! At least we’d love to make it as easy as possible, since green vegetables have so much to offer! Juiced Up Greens Everyone can benefit from going green. Richly coloured leafies like spinach, kale and broccoli give us minerals like iron and calcium, detoxifying compounds that help us release hormone-disrupting toxins, and are rich in antioxidants that nourish our blood vessels and keep our skin glowing! Green veggies are also rich in fibre so they make great additions to support a healthy gut – which, as you’ll know if you’ve worked with us, helps you create the foundation of your entire health picture! How to Make a Green Smoothie We like the idea of using the … Read More
Restore Your Health & Wellbeing
As a health professional, business owner, & sensitive woman wearing many hats (a.k.a. “crowns” as Cara Alwill Leyba suggests in one of my new fave books, Girl Code), it took some hustling hard times including crushing fatigue and flatlined mood before I realized I had not only permission, but a responsibility, to proactively Restore before doing more. For years, I’d worked my January to the max. New plans, new programs, new routines and plenty of hustle and muscle to make sure I met those resolutions. Plus plenty of anxiety and icky self-blame if I didn’t. Since experiencing burnout not one, but two Januarys in a row, and finally getting a handle on what led up to that frightening and depressing experience of losing … Read More