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As people navigate perimenopause, they start to become familiar with those common menopausal experiences. Hot flashes. Irregular periods. Heavy periods. Light periods. Night sweats. Vaginal dryness. Mood changes. So on and so forth. What is often a surprise is being told that their cholesterol or blood pressure has changed as well. This unexpected news may come during a routine check-up and folks may be left feeling like they’ve done something wrong. This can be particularl

In recent years, I’ve added educator to my CV. After 20+ years of private practice, I decided to share my knowledge in a different way and have had the privilege of speaking to my colleagues about integrative heart health in a variety of venues. It’s been a pretty busy two years, but 2024 is the biggest year yet! I started writing this blog on the plane back from San Diego where I spoke at the California Naturopathic Doctors Association’s Annual Conference about familial hy

But I’m Not Anemic … Understanding Iron Deficiency without Anemia This year I’ve had more people than ever coming into the clinic asking about their newly diagnosed iron deficiency. It may sound strange, but I’m so excited to hear this! For years I have been highlighting lower than optimal ferritin levels on lab work that were considered normal. So many people with classic symptoms of iron deficiency (mainly women) have been told that everything is fine, as though the absence

Given that heart disease affects millions of Canadians, it’s somewhat mystifying to me that we (health professionals) only seem to highlight the broad strokes of risk. I think it’s fair to say that many people know that things like cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, diet, and exercise all have something to do with heart health. You may not understand what the relationship is, but you probably know it exists. It’s true; these factors are definitely important and improving t

PMDD is similar to PMS, but much more severe and often debilitating. It involves mood, cognitive, and physical symptoms caused by the normal variations in estrogen and progesterone levels during the later half of the menstrual cycle leading up to the next period. It can be difficult to get a diagnosis by a health professional, which may be partly due to confusion about whether it is a psychiatric or a hormonal disorder, and likely also because doctors are taught that patients

Several years ago, as some of you may remember, I regularly wrote a newsletter for Kura. It was dense – lots of categories and links and interesting bits of health info. And although I really liked putting it together, it took so much time every month. Eventually, the time I thought I needed to spend on it became overwhelming and my newsletter-writing slowly trailed off. I was reminded of this when deciding what to write for the newsletter today. Although I’m super excited to

Preventing Falls Before They Happen: A Clinician’s Guide to Safer Aging Every 30 minutes, an older adult in Canada is admitted to the hospital due to a fall. It’s a statistic that often surprises people. But as a clinician, I see the ripple effects every day: loss of independence, chronic pain, surgeries, and the emotional toll of never quite feeling safe in your own home again. The good news? Most falls are preventable. In recognition of Fall Prevention Month, I want to shar

by Dr. Stephanie Cordes, ND I’m excited to share that I’ve officially completed training in the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and am now offering this intervention to my naturopathic clients. The Theory If you know me or you’ve followed me for a while on social media, you’ve likely heard me talk about Polyvagal Theory (PVT) . Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, this framework has deepened my understanding of the nervous system and what happens when our nervous systems interac

October marks Menopause Month, with October 18 recognized as World Menopause Day. In 2025, the International Menopause Society (IMS) has highlighted the theme of lifestyle medicine, a timely reminder of how everyday choices can shape health and well-being during the menopause transition. Remember, menopause is not a disease. But is true that the hormonal changes it entails can make many people feel pretty lousy by increasing risks for hot flashes, sleep difficulties, bone

Established in 2009 by Oldways, a non-profit organization teaching people about various traditional diets, Med Diet Month actually celebrates the Mediterranean Lifestyle which involves more than just eating certain foods. Definition Diet Component This plant-forward diet is fibre-rich, low in sodium and saturated fats, high in potassium and unsaturated fats. This generally breaks down as follows: Every day: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, herbs, spices, nuts, seeds

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women globally, but its connection to stress and mental health is often overlooked. Stress is more than just a feeling; it’s a physiological response that can have profound effects on the body, especially the cardiovascular system. Stress and Cardiovascular Health: The Science Behind the Connection Unsurprisingly, stress, anxiety, and depression are linked to cardiovascular risk. These connections are particularly (but not