How to Support Your Skin After a Summer of Sun Exposure
Given how grey the winter months are here on Vancouver Island, many of us make it our priority to get out and enjoy the sunshine while it’s here, soaking up that vitamin D and enjoying our beaches, lakes and rivers. But after months of soaking up the sunshine, your skin might be feeling the effects, even with careful SPF use. The combination of UV rays, heat, salt water, and chlorine can leave skin dry, dull, or uneven. The good news is our skin is remarkably resilient and with a little extra care, we can help it recover, restore its glow and vitality.
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“Ask the ND”: Your Top Wellness Questions Answered
There’s no shortage of wellness advice floating around out there…some of it helpful, some of it... not so much. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I get asked a lot of the same questions online and with my patients. I love being your go-to source for clear, grounded, and natural health wisdom, so I figured I’d round them all up together for any curious minds who aren’t able to come see me in the clinic.
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Smart Snacking for Summer Adventures
Summer is full of on the go adventures… road trips, beach days, weekends at the lake, and spontaneous hikes… but what about keeping yourself fuelled on these wild adventures? It’s easy to fall into the trap of grabbing gas station junk that leaves you feeling more sluggish than satisfied. While there's a time and a place for indulging in your favourite snacks, I’m all about making your summer snacks work for you.
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Strategies for When You Feel like You’re too Busy to Cook
It’s easy to find yourself swinging by a fast food drive thru on the way home, or ordering in doordash for the 3rd time this week, but cooking healthy meals doesn’t have to be a huge time suck. There are some great strategies you can use to make things easier on yourself while maintaining good nutrition for you and your family. You’re probably even too busy to read this article, so I’ll keep it super quick.
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Refreshing and Hydrating Beverages to Sip this Summer (Instead of Alcohol)
There’s something about pool, or oceanside lounging that practically begs for a drink in hand, but that drink doesn’t have to be boozy to feel luxurious. In fact, skipping the alcohol can mean better hydration, clearer skin, fewer headaches, and waking up the next day feeling refreshed instead of wrecked. Keep your poolside vibes high and your blood sugar stable this summer with these fun, flavourful, and functional beverage ideas that taste like vacation— minus the hangover.
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International Self-Care Day: Time to Put Yourself at the Top of Your To-Do List
Let’s get honest for a sec: Did you make the cut on your to-do list today? This week? Or even this month? Self-care is often the first thing we cancel when life gets full, but life is always full. We bail on ourselves in favour of deadlines, drama, and dishes, promising we’ll “get to it later” because everything else is just so much more urgent. The truth is neglecting your self-care doesn’t save time, it steals energy. It chips away at your mood, your health, your spark. And since July 24th is International Self-Care Day, consider this your gentle but firm nudge to stop ghosting yourself.
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Nature’s Ozempic: How to Eat to Hack Your Body’s Natural Weight Loss Response
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve likely heard all of the buzz about Ozempic, the diabetes medication making waves for weight loss. There has been a fair bit of controversy arising from its viral popularity, with supply issues leading to shortages for diabetic patients. Controversy aside, Ozempic works by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone your body naturally produces, that helps regulate appetite, slow stomach emptying, and promote insulin release. Let’s explore how you can naturally stimulate your GLP-1 and other ways to support a healthy metabolism, balance hunger hormones, and feel amazing in your body — no needles required.
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Why Social Media Is Bad for Your Health (And What to Do About It)
For those of us who remember a time without social media, it is incredible to reflect on how much life has changed since it seemingly took over our culture. So much of our lives are spent online. It’s not just about sharing photos with your friends anymore. It’s where we get our news, our health and lifestyle advice, where we look to decide what products to buy, and even how we form our self image. Now I would argue that most of that isn’t for the best. In fact, I am here today to talk about why social media is bad for our health.
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Make the Most out of your Grill This Summer: Recipe Roundup
Dust off those tongs, Summer is HERE. The season of sunshine, barefoot mornings, and, let’s be honest, grilling everything. Whether you're hosting backyard BBQs, camping with friends, or just not in the mood to turn on your oven, your grill can be your best friend for quick, healthy, and ridiculously tasty meals. The best part? Grilling doesn't have to mean charred hot dogs and sugar filled sauces. With a few clean ingredients and creative twists, you can turn your BBQ into a wellness tool.
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Is Intermittent Fasting Right For Me?
Intermittent fasting (IF) has officially hit the mainstream. From podcasts to social media to that friend who swears by it, it’s clear that this eating pattern has people talking and often, not eating (at least for part of the day). But here’s the real question: is intermittent fasting right for you? Let’s dive into the pros and cons, and who could potentially benefit vs who should steer clear of this trend.
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Father’s Fertility Prep: For the Dads to be and the Dads who want to be
Why am I talking about conception preparation on Father’s Day? Well, when it comes to preparing for pregnancy, most of the spotlight tends to shine on the woman. Hormones, ovulation tracking, prenatal vitamins—her body takes center stage. But here’s the truth that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough: a man’s health plays a major role in fertility and the health of the future baby.
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World Ocean Day: Sustainably Sourced Seafood Culinary Inspirations
Our oceans are teeming with life, and much of that life sustains our lives here on the land either directly or indirectly.And yet, our oceans are suffering at the hands of many harmful industrial practices such as over fishing, dumping of contaminants, or destructive fishing practices.World Ocean Day falls annually on June 8th and aims to bring awareness to issues with our shared oceans.
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Recipe Roundup: Seasonal Weeknight Recipes for Van Isle in Spring
Spring on the Island means the markets are waking up again— and we are so lucky to get this earlier than many other parts of Canada. Hello leafy greens, radishes, herbs, and the first tender asparagus. Here's a mix of quick dinners using local, in-season ingredients that embrace the fresh energy of spring without keeping you in the kitchen all night long.
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A Day in the Life of Dr. Marita
Ever wonder what a typical day looks like for a Naturopathic Doctor who's just as passionate about pushing her body at the gym as she is about sipping herbal tea and taking a break? One of my patients requested this look behind the curtain so let’s take a peek behind the scenes of my daily rhythm where I can show you how I’m living in alignment with what I teach.
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For Busy Moms: Taking Care of Your Nervous System (Without Adding to Your To-Do List)
Happy Mothers day! Let’s be real— If you asked most mom’s what they want for mothers day, the answer would probably be a break! Being a mom is a full-time labour of love (with overtime, no breaks, and zero sick days). Between drop-offs, snack requests, work deadlines, and keeping everyone alive and mostly happy… your nervous system? Yeah, it’s probably running on fumes.
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Naturopathic Medicine Week: A Celebration of Healing, Growth, and the Future of Healthcare
Every May, we take a moment to celebrate Naturopathic Medicine Week—a time to honour a profession rooted in nature, guided by science, and driven by the belief that true health comes from within. As a naturopathic doctor (ND), this week always feels like a beautiful pause—a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come and where we’re headed in this ever-evolving world of healthcare.
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Dr. Marita’s Top Supplement Recommendations
As your friendly neighbourhood Naturopathic Doctor, I firmly believe that food is our best medicine. However, in our modern age, even the healthiest diet can sometimes fall short in providing all the essential nutrients our bodies need. Supplements are like our trusty sidekicks that help fill in the gaps and optimize our health and help us get the best out of our time here on earth. Here are my top supplement recommendations, including some from my personal supplement shelf, for vibrant health, longevity, and resilience.
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Move Over Chocolate Bunnies: Why Your Brain Loves Eggs
While I hope you’re enjoying your chocolate Easter eggs, as your Naturopathic doctor friend, I would be remiss if I didn’t nudge you back to good nutrition with my blog post today. When seeking a nutrient-rich food to fuel our minds and bodies, we need not look any further than the wondrous egg. Eggs have gotten a bit of a bad rap in recent years due to their cholesterol content, but I consider them a valuable part of a healthy and balanced diet.
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The All Natural Mommy Makeover: 10 ‘Glow Up’ Foods for Beauty From the Inside Out
Instagram and TikTok filters have brought about the biggest rise in women turning to cosmetic surgeries, with mothers especially being targeted with the ‘mommy makeover’ packages. But what if I told you, the secret to the biggest glow up actually lies in how you nourish your body. Beauty truly does come from within, and the best secret to looking your best is to be at your healthiest. Let’s take a look at some beauty boosting foods.
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What is Histamine Intolerance and How to Manage It
Are you plagued by mysterious headaches, itchy skin, bloating, or even anxiety after eating certain foods? Histamine intolerance might be the culprit! While it's not a true allergy, it can certainly make life uncomfortable, and lead to chronic inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is linked to increased risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and even poor mental health, so this isn’t something to sleep on long term.The good news, with a little detective work, histamine intolerance can be relatively simple to manage. Let’s dive into what histamine intolerance is, why it happens, and how you can manage it naturally.
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