Dr. Brandi Honaizer, ND

Some soup inspiration for this fall weather! If you have any food sensitivities, most of the soups can be tweaked to use gluten free substitutes (pasta, flour) and dairy can be replaced by almond milk or full fat coconut milk (canned) in the place of cream.

I love this article! "Symptoms experienced at different points of the cycle can tell us A LOT about our hormones and hormonal balance (or imbalance). The bleeding days of our period alone are packed with clues about our health." If your cycle is not following a healthy pattern, determining the cause of the hormonal imbalance is essential. PMS, although common, is not normal. By restoring hormonal balance, periods can be effortless and pain-free.

Some soup inspiration for this fall weather! If you have any food sensitivities, most of the soups can be tweaked to use gluten free substitutes (pasta, flour) and dairy can be replaced by almond milk or full fat coconut milk (canned) in the place of cream.

There are several factors to consider when looking at acne and skin inflammation, and sugar intake is certainly a big one.

Vitamin D is a common deficiency that I see in practice. If you are like most people, you rarely have the bare skin sun exposure in the summer for your body to make Vitamin D. And now that we are approaching November, supplementing is important because our northern climate means we can't make Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for bone health, cardiovascular health, muscle function and immune health. A blood test is a great way to determine a specific daily amount of Vitamin D to achieve optimal levels and maintain through the winter months.

Do you have an irregular menstrual cycle that comes every few months, not at all, or too frequently? Do you suffer from excess body hair (face, chest, back), hair loss (on scalp), acne, difficulty losing weight or fertility complications? You could have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). 1 in 10 women have PCOS but many of them to not realize it. Read more in the article below. ... The conventional medical options only mask symptoms and don't get at the root cause. A naturopathic treatment approach can address the root cause of the hormone imbalance to restore normal menstrual cycles, reduce testosterone, improve fertility and address insulin resistance.

"What you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood. Like an expensive car, your brain functions best when it gets only premium fuel."

Come down and watch our Silly Boat "Dory's Glory" as part of the 50th anniversary Bathtub Parade today! It starts at 10:30. "Crush" the Turtle will be on display after the parade at Maffeo Sutton Park so everyone can take pictures with him!! Hope to see you there : )

We had a great time at this year's Sillyboat Regatta!! Our team raised a total of ~$6600 for the Nanaimo Child Development Centre! Our boat, "Dory's Glory", was awarded Most Corporate Pledges, Super Silliest Sailors and an honorable mention for Top Team Spirit. Thank you to all that donated and supported our team!. We will be displaying our boat this Saturday in the 50th Bathtub Parade!

There are only 6 days left until the Silly Boat Regatta! This is a great community event hosted annually to raise much needed funds for the Nanaimo Child Development Centre (NCDC). The NCDC provides services and programs to over 1900 children with developmental challenges and their families each year. Please help us to reach our fundraising goals and maybe beat our previous year's records for obtaining the most corporate donations! If you would like to make a donation, click ...here: https://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage http://sillyboat.com/page/index

Just a reminder about this free event happening tonight in celebration of Naturopathic Medicine Week! There will be some great giveaways and local NDs to meet and chat with!

Answer today's quiz question to be entered in a draw to win a $75 voucher for a visit to a naturopathic doctor in BC. There are seven prizes available, one for each day of Naturopathic Medicine Week. http://www.bcna.ca/2016/05/daily-contest-monday-may-9/

In celebration of Naturopathic Medicine Week, I will be offering free breast and pap exams May 10-13th. Current and new patients welcome. Call the office at 250-729-4969 for more information. Space is limited.

In celebration of Naturopathic Medicine Week, myself and a group of other local ND's will be hosting a film screening of "The Widowmaker" next Thursday, May12th at Oliver Woods Community Centre. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Admission is by donation (food or money) to support the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank. Light refreshments and snacks will be served. There are also door prizes to be won! Please share with anyone you know that might be interested in attending. Info about the film...: More than 700,000 Americans die of heart disease each year from a completely preventable disease. THE WIDOWMAKER features cardiologists, heart attack survivors and lawmakers. It reveals that a hidden battle fought inside America’s medical establishment has pitted prevention against intervention. This film will change the way you think about heart disease and it just might save your life. See more

New research investigates 'zinc spark' at time of fertilization and the link between determining an egg's quality and ability to grow into a viable embryo, whic...h could improve the selection process for in vitro fertilization. (Dr. Thomas Hannam) http://www.cbc.ca//technol/sperm-egg-zinc-sparks-1.3553550 See more

You can take medicines to block histamine or dry up your runny nosewhich may cause drowsiness, liver stress, and/or they can lose their effectiveness over timebut as a naturopathic doctor, I have a different approach.

Eating some healthy fats every day is essential! I recommend a serving with every meal. Some great healthy fat sources include: coconut (oil, milk, flakes), nuts and seeds (including flax, chia, hemp), avocado, olive oil and grass fed meat and dairy products.

My little ones are enjoying all the fun things to do at the Pregnancy to Pre-k expo this weekend! We will be here again tomorrow. Come say hi!

I'm super excited to be a part of the Pregnancy to Pre-K Expo happening this weekend (March 19 and 20th) at Beban Park Centre! There will be lots of great exhibitors and fun things for the little ones to do. Including two performances by Bobs and Lolo on Saturday. Stop by my booth to say hi or ask me any questions you have related to pregnancy, parenting, and children's health. I will have some supplement samples and free product draws!

I am very excited to announce that I am now providing services as a naturopathic doula! Please check out my website for more information. Please share if you know anyone who may be interested :)

Avoid these common mistakes when purchasing natural health products. Not all products are created equally in terms of safety and effectiveness.

Basal body temperature charting is a great tool for determining what is happening during your monthly cycle. It can be very helpful for couples trying to conceive. Here is a great article to get you started! If your interested in learning more - the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" is a great resource.

Check out our updated clinic website! http://www.arbourcentre.com/

This slaw recipe looks delicious! http://cookieandkate.com/20/simple-healthy-coleslaw-recipe/

The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends to "watch and wait" before treating ear infections. Most ear infections do not need to be treated with antibiotics. The recommendation is to manage with pain medication unless there are signs of a more severe ear infection. Naturopathic doctors have many gentle treatment options available to support the immune system and reduce pain. If chronic ear infections are an issue, getting to the root cause and supporting the immune system can prevent further infections. http://www.ctvnews.ca//watch-and-wait-before-treating-chil

Have you tried making homemade nut butter? This cashew butter came together in about 5 min in my food processor. This was 2 cups cashews with about 1 tsp coconut oil added near the end to get the consistency I wanted. I will be trying to re-create "rainforest butter" next! It's so addictive!