doctor as teacher Archives - Quinte Naturopathic Centre

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How to drink like your naturopath

This was one of the more popular posts from last year (I'm not really sure why...ha! ha!) so I'm posting it again this summer. Enjoy! So often I will have people ask me, or more often ask people who know me, “ does Dr. Durkin (Michelle) ever eat meat…have dessert…or have a few adult beverages…?” […]

Why you should know about the dirty dozen

A question I get often is "should I be eating organic?". My answer is "yes, as much as you can." In order to be healthy, we need to detoxify properly and reduce the number of toxins we are exposed to on a regular basis. Chronic low-level toxin exposure has been linked to an increased risk […]

Avoid industrial seed oils with this simple salad dressing

I have been eating what I call a real food diet for about four years now and it wasn't until about half way in that I decided I should be making my own salad dressings. Commercially prepared salad dressings contain a substantial amount of sugar and polyunsaturated oils - usually disguised under names such as high fructose corn […]

Why industrial seed oils make you fat

Everyone knows that trans-fats are bad for our health, but what about so-called vegetable oils? Soy and canola oil, as well as less familiar products like corn, peanut, sunflower, safflower, and cottonseed oil, all fall under the term of “vegetable oils.” Kinda weird because they don't come from vegetables at all. This is just a […]

Why I’m taking a month off

Have you ever gotten back from a week's holidays and thought, "that just wasn't long enough."? I know I have. Even though I'm good at relaxing and letting go of work once I'm on vacation, I do always feel like I am still connected to it in a subtle way. I always have my phone […]

What is the fourth trimester and why is it important?

I see so many moms in the clinic who have specific health complaints that they attribute to “since having kids”. Whether it’s fatigue, weight gain, back pain, or insomnia, many patients feel like their body hasn’t been the same since before pregnancy. The other common pattern that I see is the compounding effect that multiple […]

5 easy (and tasty) smoothie recipes you should try

Smoothies are one of my go-to breakfasts that are quick and easy especially when I'm in a rush to get out the door. Over the years I've reduced the amount of fruit that I use and increased the amount of good fat and protein. By doing so it has really improved my blood sugar balance […]

Alternative medicine news

A common complaint from the traditional medical system is that natural medicine doesn’t have any evidence to support its use. I find it interesting however that what is now considered “cutting edge” research in the medical world it actually information that naturopathic medicine has been promoting for decades. I guess the research is finally […]

Video episode – What thyroid hormone should you know more about?

The thyroid gland is a confusing topic for a lot of people. In this special video episode of Doctor as Teacher Tuesday I hope I can shed some light on some of this confusion. [video_player type="youtube" width="560" height="315" align="center" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="20"]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9keDNhQ2ZZcXJiVQ==[/video_player] Now I would love to hear from you! What did you think about this […]

How to know what’s really going on with your hormones

Does this scenario sound familiar? I really think something is going on with my hormones but whenever I talk to my doctor I'm told...that's normal for someone your age...or, there is nothing wrong with your blood work...or, let's put you on the pill (without any investigation of the actual cause). Last year the lab I […]

Are you an apple or a pear?

Bodies come in all shapes and sizes. But did you know there are two common shapes that tell the secret of which hormones are making you sick, tired, and overweight? Where you distribute fat is under hormonal control. Research done on thousands of athletes and over many years, by world famous Olympic trainer and coach […]

It’s spring detox time!

Do you… Feel Bloated? Feel Tired? Have Headaches? Have Aches & Pains? Wake up with a Foggy Head after having enough sleep? Have Bad Breath? If you answered yes to any of these questions, doing a detox (sometimes called a cleanse) is a great way kick start getting your health back on track. To get […]

Celebrate Naturopathic Medicine Week!

Did you know that May 8th- 14th is Naturopathic Medicine Week? This is a Canada-wide initiative for naturopathic doctors to increase awareness about Naturopathic Medicine in our communities. In previous years Quinte Naturopathic Centre has participated by holding free seminars, open houses, a group detox program, and many other events with different levels of attendance. […]

5 easy food swaps for a healthier diet

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be hard. It’s just a matter of having the right information, doing a bit of planning, and being open to trying new foods. Here are some easy swaps you can make to get you started. Greek Yogurt instead of Regular Yogurt: It contains twice the amount of protein. Don’t be […]

Avoid allergy medication hangovers

Are you sick of using over-the-counter antihistamines? Maybe it's time to try some of these natural alternatives: Quercitin - Quercetin is a bioflavonoid found in apples, grapefruit, onions, and red wine. It is known as a mast cell stabilizer. This is important in the treatment of allergies because your mast cells are the cells in your […]

Why joining a CSA is good for your health

For the past 5 years I have used a CSA. I even consider them to be part of my health care team. I also promote CSA's to my patients. So if you don't know what they are, it's time to be in the know! CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. When you sign up you […]

Kid approved Belly fat detox recipe

Changing your diet is likely much easier than changing that of your family. But are there recipes that are healthy, that everyone will like? Sure there are. It just takes a little effort, experimentation, and an open mind to find a few that work for your family. Here is one that I included for those […]

What is my secret to stress management?

If someone asked me how I was doing over the last three months I could easily have said "stressed". I have taken on a couple of major projects that probably should not have been attempted at the same time, I have had two significant staff changes, and I'm training for the CN Tower Climb. Add […]