Approximately 70% of women suffer from increased bloating around their menstrual period. Bloating and other PMS symptoms are caused by fluctuations in the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Women who have inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) are more likely to experience increased cyclical gastrointestinal symptoms. While it can be difficult to completely resolve increased bloating, gas and constipation around your menses, you can decrease symptom severity and feel more comfortable during your monthly cycle. Dietary choices, exercise and natural supplementation can be effective in decreasing period bloating woes.

Hashimoto’s is the most common cause of hypothyroidism and is an extremely prevalent autoimmune disease that is said to affect 1-2% of the population. The job of the thyroid is to regulate the metabolism and body temperature, which ultimately is important for every cell and organ of the body. Because of that, symptoms of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease can show in my many different systems.

It’s normal to go through temporary periods of increased anxiety during the various chapters of life. A new job, familial challenges or world events can lead us to feel more anxious.

Unfortunately, many people feel anxiety for prolonged periods of time or at a high level of intensity. Frequent and/or severe anxiety is not normal and can have a drastic impact on the quality of one’s life. Many people turn to alcohol in an attempt to decrease their anxiety and its use is closely linked to mental health disorders. Alcohol initially causes us to feel relaxed and at ease but frequent use can actually cause anxiety to worsen and be detrimental to mental health and well-being.

As a naturopathic physician I discuss digestion with most, if not all, of my patients. I’d say most of my patients complain of bloating, gas, belching, constipation and/or reflux following meals. Although these symptoms are extremely common, they are not normal. Sub-optimal digestion can be caused by a variety of factors including food sensitivities, low stomach acid and increased stress. Learn about our top tips in the blog.

Balanced blood sugar is a key foundation for health. Balanced blood sugar encourages healthy energy levels and a stable mood. Long term blood sugar balance helps to prevent the development of certain conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and vision loss. Stable blood sugar levels are also vital for optimal hormone health.

Many parents are looking for an alternative way of supporting their children’s immune systems to be better prepared for encountering viruses and bacteria out in the world. In this country, the only option widely available has really been traditional vaccines. Much of the rest of the world also acknowledges another option called homeoprophylaxis (HP).

Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, prioritizing sleep and avoiding harmful chemicals are potent daily practices that support optimal testosterone levels in men. It can be challenging in today’s modern world to move your body daily, eat well and get enough sleep but these lifestyle basics are the building blocks of healthy hormones. It’s helpful to choose one of these areas to focus on at first, make a plan and then implement!

We all have an internal terrain in our bodies. You can think of bodily terrain as being similar to the soil in your garden. A healthy terrain is vital to resilient health, just like the health of your garden soil is to the quality of the vegetables you hope to harvest. Cultivating a healthy terrain through health foundations such as whole-foods nutrition, quality sleep, regular exercise and stress management can make you less susceptible to severe infections and the development of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Read on below for some of our top recommendations for developing a solid health foundation.

The popular saying, “I have a gut feeling” may be more accurate than you think. It is estimated that almost 95% of our body’s serotonin is produced by bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Serotonin is one of our “happy hormones” and is greatly influenced by the gut microbiome. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiome can influence neural development, brain chemistry, emotional behavior, pain perception and our stress response! Read more for tips on how to optimize your gut health and improve your mood.

Magnesium is an essential nutrient and our bodies need it to function optimally. Magnesium is found in a variety of foods but many individuals are deficient in this vital nutrient due to mineral depletion in the soil, decreased absorption and/or poor dietary choices.

There are a variety of forms of magnesium and each has a slightly different function in the body. Many magnesium supplements exist and it can be confusing knowing which one to choose.

Common causes of iron deficiency anemia include blood loss (including monthly menstruation), pregnancy, a lack of iron in the diet or a decreased ability to absorb iron. You can usually correct iron deficiency anemia with iron supplementation or by incorporating more iron rich foods into your diet.

PMDD is a condition that affects women for 2-3 weeks every month. It has the same distinct cyclical pattern and similar physical symptoms as PMS, but is different because there are associated mood disturbances that result in marked social or occupational impairment that can impact important professional and personal relationships.

Progesterone cream is often the recommendation when a woman has low progesterone. It's easy to find over the counter and it makes sense that if you're low in progesterone, it's probably worth supplementing. We like to take a few steps back from that thinking and consider why you might not be producing enough progesterone and start building up the system that way. Let's first take a look at what progesterone does for you body and why it's important.

So maybe you've been tracking your cycle and you notice you have a short luteal phase, which is generally less than 10 days between ovulation and bleeding time, or you just had your progesterone tested and it came back low. It's possible your doctor recommended progesterone cream and maybe you're looking for other ways to increase your own production of progesterone. Here are my top progesterone production boosting tips!

Vitamin D, the wonder vitamin! You have likely heard some of the health-related claims surrounding vitamin D. Some of these assertions are true but many need more research to back them up. Regardless of the hype, vitamin D has been shown to be beneficial for a variety of health concerns.