Naturopathic Doctor in Vancouver

Exciting update  🐾🌲🌊 I can now prescribe a Parks Canada Discovery Pass to my patients! This is thanks to an initiative by BC Parks Foundation and Parks Canada to promote time in nature to people living in Canada.   Why is this a big deal? Spending time in nature promotes cardiovascular health, mental health, respiratory health, immunity, and can improve work/school performance. Here are some tips for utilizing nature: -spending at least 2 hours per week has been shown to increase our sense of wellbeing. This can be broken into smaller time segments throughout the week. As little as 20 minutes in nature makes a difference to our mental health. -Nature time includes city parks, provincial parks, national parks, or any setting that feels like a meaningful connection to the natural world. -Schedule nature time into your week for a friendly reminder to prioritize self-care.

Vitamin D, aka the happy vitamin 🌞 Vitamin D is an essential nutrient not commonly available in food sources. We can find small amounts in fish, eggs, beef and fortified foods, but most of our vitamin D comes from sunlight. Weak winter rays can pose a problem to communities situated far from the equator... like Canada *cough cough*. Canadians could stand outside naked, all day, every day during winter months and still not get enough vitamin D. When the days get longer, it does get easier to synthesize vitamin D. Still, it's important to know that melanin (skin pigmentation) absorbs UVB rays, thereby reducing vitamin D synthesis in the skin. This means people with dark complexions may have an increased need for vitamin D throughout the year. Supplementing with vitamin D can be a good thing for health, but it is crucial to check with a qualified health care professional before doing so. Because vitamin D is fat-soluble, excess amounts are not easily excreted like water-soluble vitamins. Too much vitamin D leads to toxicity which can be harmful. Some people require small doses to meet bodily needs, while others require larger amounts. Because of this, I like to test vitamin D status before moving into higher doses. Importance of vitamin D: -Mood -Immune function -Hormone regulation -Bone health

A big happy birthday to this incredible woman, doctor, and friend 🤍 Nook wouldn’t be the same without you. Cheers to you, Sean🥂

Balance. There's so much emphasis on productivity, hard work, and accomplishing goals. These ideas aren't inherently wrong or dangerous, but they can be overdone. I've been grappling with my own work ethic pretty much for the past decade. In my 20's, I was a ski bum, and it was glorious. Then I started school, which became all-consuming. There simply wasn't enough time to do the things I enjoyed. I was constantly pushing myself, working towards the next goal. Thinking, "I'll sacrifice for the time being". The problem with that mentality is there is always something to work toward. Before I knew it, ten years had passed, and I was still overworking myself. Reflecting on my first year of practice, it was hugely satisfying and also exhausting. As I move into my second year, I'm drawing on my ski bum years for inspiration. I LOVE my job. I also love snowboarding, skateboarding, friends, family, books. All those things have been largely put on hold. Until now. Here's to more days on the mountain with friends or whatever your version of that may be.

Exercise 🫀 Like humans, exercise comes in all shapes and sizes. Some people love high-intensity, sweat-inducing activities. Others, not so much. Remember, there is no "right way" to exercise. The best way to exercise is by doing something you enjoy, and that's safe for the body. This can include anything from high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to an evening walk around the block, bike riding, swimming, gardening, bodyweight exercises, and my personal favourite...snowboarding with friends! The benefits of exercise are many: -Increases longevity and quality of life as we age -Supports cardiovascular health -Improves learning and memory -Reduces stress -Decreases joint pain -Increases energy during the day and -Induces sleepiness at night -Slows the progression of osteoporosis If you're considering adding more exercise to your routine, please consult with a professional. Not all activity is safe for everybody, and customizable plans are helpful.