Dr. Cayla, Sudbury Naturopathic Doctor
430 Westmount Ave, Unit L P3A 5Z8 Greater Sudbury, ON, Canada

Progesterone. The lovely hormone that supports mood, energy, sleep, periods and as its name suggests pro-gestation... it also supports your pregnancy. Your body can only make progesterone after you ovulate. Hear that again; during a menstrual cycle, you make progesterone by ovulating. What this means is that in order to figure out if your progesterone is truly low, you have to get your progesterone tested in the mid-luteal (second phase) of your menstrual cycle for the numb...er to be relevant. This can be tricky for women with PCOS or irregular menstrual cycles. I can’t tell you the number of times a woman had her progesterone tested in the follicular phase of her cycle and worried unnecessarily because the number was found to be low. While progesterone hormone replacement therapy can be beneficial for some women, it might not be the solution for you. If you’re trying to conceive and it’s taken at the wrong time of your cycle, it can suppress ovulation. If you’re on hormonal birth control (with some IUD exceptions), you are not ovulating so you do not make progesterone and taking progesterone would not be relevant. Moral of the story. Progesterone may be the solution to your hormone, pregnancy or fertility concerns but having a proper work up to understand how this might fit your specific needs is invaluable. ... and please oh please. Do not purchase any hormones on ‘the black market’. I never even knew this was a thing until a few patients told me about it. Hormones are PRESCRIPTION drugs and only certain regulated healthcare providers can write you a prescription for them which you would then go to a pharmacy to fill. Talk to your healthcare provider to get an accurate workup for your hormonal concerns. As an ND, patient education is where we shine! #doctorasteacher #bodyliteracy #safetyfirst #progesterone #bhrt #hormonebalance #hormonetherapy #fertilityawareness #infertilitysupport #periodproblems #pregnancy #womenshealth

Hey #Sudbury! Join me this Saturday March 6th at ARC Climbing + Yoga for another birth prep & prenatal yoga workshop! First one of 2021! I love teaching these workshops and we’re so happy to be able to offer them again this year. Spaces are limited but for those who register, birth partners are welcome! I include tips to partners so they know how to support you during labour! This is a great way to learn about what to expect throughout the end of pregnancy, postpartum an...d how to prepare your body for birthing your baby. I share some of my top ND tips that I chat with patients about that you can discuss with your own providers. Can’t wait to see you this weekend! *Note: this photo is from 2019 at 23 weeks pregnant #prenatalyoga #birthpreparation #pregnancy #firsttrimester #secondtrimester #thirdtrimester #prenatalfitness #prenatalhealth #pregnancyjourney #pregnancynutrition #fitmom #postpartumjourney #postpartum #newborn #drcayla

Fertility & preconception care. How do you optimize your egg (i.e. oocyte) quality? You’ve likely heard this a million times: the number one factor contributing to declining egg quality is your age. This factor is obviously, non-modifiable. Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and throughout life their quality declines with age. Your skin changes with age, muscle mass changes, vision, hearing, etc. all changes as we get wiser. Because of this, after age 35 th...e risk of chromosomal abnormalities and pregnancy complications increases. H O W E V E R it’s not all doom and gloom folks. DID YOU KNOW that eggs (oocytes) are the largest cell in the body and contain more mitochondria (i.e. the energy making organelles) than any other organelle?! After sperm fertilize the egg, the sperm’s mitochondria are degraded, but the egg’s mitochondria survive! This means that the mitochondria proving energy to a growing embryo are derived exclusively from the mother‘s egg/oocytes. What does all of this mean? It means that if we can optimize our mitochondrial function, we *may* be able to optimize certain modifiable factors relating to egg quality. How can you improve mitochondrial function relating to egg quality? Talk to your healthcare provider and stay tuned! We love to help keep those mitochondria happy and healthy. #mitochondria #eggquality #ttc #fertilitytips #preconception #pregnancyjourney #infertilitysupport #oocyte #pregnancyhealth #fertilityawareness #drcayla #fertilitysupport

Dinner from my toddler’s plate and a chat on food combining. Once your baby (from 6+ months old) is past the point where you’ve introduced the top allergenic foods individually, I recommend having some meals where the allergenic foods are combined. Oftentimes with sensitivities (which are different than food allergies), eating a food on its own can be tolerated, but if that food is combined with other triggering foods it can sometimes cause digestive symptoms. This makes ide...ntifying a food sensitivity tricky. Food tip when trying to identify a sensitivity, keep meals simple! More simple than the photo here. If you’re stuck, talk to your ND about a strategy to help introduce individual foods and then when to combine foods to tease apart what foods are triggering your (or your child’s) symptoms. We love talking about food! Pictured here: veggies doused in olive oil, olives, avocado, salmon, (so many healthy fats!), pinto beans, aged grass fed cheese from @kerrygoldusa and some pomegranate seeds. Buon appetito! #foodsensitivity #toddlerfood #whattoddlerseat #blw #toddlermeals #foodcombining #avocado #healthyfats #drcayla #functionalnutrition

Melatonin is an antioxidant. Huh? What? Thought its only role was for sleep? As one of the pillars of health, sleep literally plays an integral role in every single process in the body. Melatonin is not a sedative. It is a hormone that is released by the pineal gland in response to darkness, which helps to initiate the sleep cascade. ... In the case of fertility, sleep modulates the maternal circadian reproductive rhythm and melatonin is involved in the development of the oocyte, sperm & endometrium. Melatonin helps with uterine receptivity. At the level of the ovary, it may impact the maturation of the corpus lutem after ovulation which in turn, may help with the formation of progesterone. If you’re trying to conceive, taking a detailed inventory or your health and lifestyle habits is so important! Individuals most at risk for circadian disruptions are shift workers or frequent travellers changing time zones. There is always a reason why ND’s ask so many detailed questions about your sleep! Bedtime, frequent night waking, early morning rising, screen time exposure, etc. can tell us a lot about how your sleep might be impacting your hormones & fertility. Talk to your ND about how to improve your sleep. There might be some simple solutions that will make a world of a difference! #melatonin #fertility #ttc #circadianrhythm #bedtime #infertility #oocyte #progesterone #fertilitytreatment #natmed #drcayla

https://www.the-scientist.com//breastmilk-harbors-antibodi

Have you ever been feeling off, gotten bloodwork done hoping for some answers only to be told everything is normal? Well let me tell you there is a differen...t between within normal range and OPTIMAL levels. The example I always give my patients is Iron levels. The normal reference range for ferritin (which is the stored form of iron in the body) is 5-272 (which is a MASSIVE range). If your levels come back at 12, technically you are within range but you better believe that you are most likely still going to have iron deficiency symptoms. Normal reference ranges are designed to help identify is something is wildly out of whack, leading to something super serious. They are not necessarily designed to help guide what your optimal levels should look like. If you have had bloodwork done recently where everything came back normal but you still don’t feel your best it is time to have someone get into the nitty gritty details of your results. Let’s chat. #drtalkswithdenise #womenshealth #drdenisend #naturopathicmedicine #uxbridgeon #durhamregion #brocktownship #naturopathicdoctor #sunderlandontario

Bottoms up! Any ideas what these custom tinctures are used for? @perfect_herbs #botanicalmedicine #herbalmedicine #botanicals #botmed #tincture #menstrualcycle

E L D E R B E R R Y G U M M I E S We are steadily peaking in cold & flu season. Have no fear my friends! There are some excellent supportive therapies to keep you and your family healthy this year. Today I’m going to share one of my favourite botanicals that most of my patients tend to enjoy. The best part? You can make them at home! ... Behold, the elderberry; known botanically as Sambucus Nigra. Elderberries have been shown in studies to have the following effects: Decrease symptoms of viral upper respiratory tract infections Decrease duration of cold & flu infections The anthocyanins in elderberry are anti-viral & immune-supportive Elderberries are adaptogenic The magical medicinal compounds in these berries are called anthocyanins - an antioxidant that falls within the flavonoid family. Talk to your healthcare provider for a product that is best for you or your kids. Interested in the recipe for these yummy little gut healing immune supporting gummies? Check out my blog for details. Have a wonderful weekend friends! #elderberry #elderberrysyrup #gummies #pediatrichealth #healthykids #guthealth #healthyrecipe #naturopath #herbalmedicine #botanicalmedicine #plantmedicone #healingpowerofnature #drcayla #functionalmedicine #healthykids https://www.drcayla.com/s/e-l-d-e-r-b-e-r-r-y-g-u-m-m-i-e-s

Picky eaters at your dinner table? What if I told you that the foods you ate in pregnancy could influence the food flavour preferences of your kids? Yes, there was a study done on this! Flavours in a mother’s diet while she is pregnant are transferred into the amniotic fluid which is then swallowed by the baby. Babies get to experience flavours before they ever take their first bite of food! Same thing goes for breastfeeding. A woman’s diet can influence the flavour profile ...of her milk, which then impacts a baby’s food preference later on. Getting pregnant is one step, but learning how to optimize your pregnancy for the health of your future child is an intricate process. This is why it is valuable to work with your healthcare provider from preconception to pregnancy, though a baby’s first year and beyond. If there’s any way to prevent picky eaters, I’m all in. Side note: Wouldn’t it be so much fun to be one of the researchers conducting this study on babies?! Some days I really miss my research days. Mennella et al. pick me to help with the next study! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1351272/ #pickyeaters #weaning #blw #firstfoods #babyfood #babies #preconception #pregnancynutrition #pregnancy #prenatalnutrition #pregnancynutritiontips #breastfeeding #breastfeedingnutrition #researcher #kidsfood #drcayla #sudburyhealth

WE MOVED! Today was our last day at our old location on Barrydowne Rd. We have relocated to 430 Westmount Ave Unit L to serve you better! All appointments starting next week will be here (swipe to see photos of where to find us). When driving down Barrydowne turn West on Westmount Avenue just after the new Starbucks location. ... Take the second left on Westmount Ave in a plaza with a strip mall where there is a convenience store on the corner. Drive up the hill to the second building where you will find Nickel Ridge located on the right! This facility is fully wheelchair and stroller accessible! Can’t wait to see you there! #movingday #naturopathicdoctor #newclinic #integrativehealth #sudburyhealth #sudbury #northernontario #sudburynd #northernhealth #outinsudbury #sudburyontario Sudbury,Ontario

We've joined forces with ten local businesses to give you the chance to win $950 value of winter love. G I V E A W A Y W I N N E R will receive a head start on Christmas shopping or an early birthday. @unityshapesyoga $200 gift certificate @drcayla.nd one hour acupuncture and cupping session... @zoimonroy one hour hypnosis session @twosoulsyoga five class pass + earrings by: Nicole @wholeandgreenwellness one hour initial holistic nutrition consultation @oliveandannie necklace @shop.goldenco scrunchie bundle @atelier.coin two handmade face masks @kuppajoespressobar $25 store credit @pickedthisforyou $25 store credit R U L E S 1. Follow all ten local businesses 2. Share this photo and tag @unityshapesyoga so we know you did it 3. Tag all the people you love in the comments 1 comment = 1 entree (unlimited entrees) Winner will be announced November 13th. May the odds be ever in your favor

Another weekend another conference. This time it was all about updates in hormone prescribing for #PCOS #Thyroid #Fertility and #Perimenopause. What do I consider to be an ND perk? Getting to learn from these amazing practitioners in the comfort of my home! Look at that lineup None of these conferences ever came to Sudbury, so I’m grateful for online learning. I suppose a treadmill walk & yoga while learning is another perk. I’ve done quite a bit of seated lea...rning over the years. Will never complain of extra movement or asana in my day. Hope you’re all having a great start to your week! #OAND #oandcon2020 #onlinelearning #alwaysastudent #hormones #hormonehealth #womenshealth #naturopathicdoctor #alwaysastudent #yogapractice #yogagirl #yoga #asana

Let’s talk sugar and the not so sweet effects on your immune system. Did you know that eating sugar can decrease your immune system by 50% for up to five hours?! The immune suppressing effects of sugar occur within the first 30 minutes after sugar consumption and last for up to 5 hours! That’s right. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that consuming 75 to 100 grams of sugar can hinder the body’s immune function by up to 50%. Whi...le this is a LOT of sugar, decreased immunity was found at even smaller doses. How much sugar is in some common items? - 1 can of Coke 39 grams of sugar - 1 Kit Kat chocolate bar is 21 grams of sugar - 9 small gummy candies (ex. Fuzzy Peaches) is 30 grams of sugar - 1 cup (8 ounces) of chocolate milk is 25 grams of sugar This is over 115 grams of sugar, which is equal to 29 tsp of sugar! What does this mean for all those leftover Halloween treats? What about Stevia, is that ok? Does it impact my fertility? Acne? Check out my blog post (linked) for a few easy tips to balance out the highs and lows of a blood sugar rollercoaster, along with some not so sweet info on sweeteners. Don’t get me wrong, I too enjoy my favourite sweets from time to time. It’s not about guilt or shame, but rather empowering you with information to make choices that are right for you. https://www.drcayla.com/single-post/sugar-sugar https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/26.11.1180 #enjoyresponsibly #sugar #acne #PCOS #infertility #pediatrichealth #halloweencandy #stevia #functionalnutrition #naturalhealth #clinicalnutrition #candy #nd #naturopathicmedicine #letstalkhealth #drcayla #sudburyontario

Let’s talk blueberries. My favourite berry by far. Growing up in #Sudbury, I always looked forward to blueberry picking season. We would go out to pick for hours and the berries were so ripe that they would fall into our buckets. My grandma would make blueberry pie at camp and we would snack on cups of berries all August long. Northern Ontario blueberries are quite different than the grape sized berries you see in the store. Little did I know that these tiny gems have poten...t health boosting properties! In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (AKA the best kind of research trial ) that was published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that dietary blueberry consumption improved cognition among older adults aged 60-75! How many blueberries did they eat in the study? 24 grams per day of freeze dried blueberries which is equivalent to 1 cup of fresh blueberries. How quickly did they document improvements? In just 90 days! Nutritional science is fascinating! It is so great to see studies conducted on the benefits of real food. Now tell me, do you love blueberries? DOI: 10.1007/s00394-017-1400-8 Check out my stories for a step by step recipe breakdown of these gluten free dairy free muffins! #blueberries #nutrition #antioxidants #northernberries #blueberryfestival #northernontario #sudbury #sudburyhealth #nutritiontip #functionalnutrition #eattherainbow @ Sudbury, Ontario

When you know, you know. HAPPY OCTOBER 31 to you all! #thegreatpumpkin #charliebrown #halloween #october2020 #vintage #1966 #nostalgichalloween

When my son was born, I didn’t set any breastfeeding expectations because I wasn’t sure what our experience would be like. Well, 14 months later we’re still nursing. I never realized how polarizing a discussion of breastfeeding could be. Friends and family still give us the eyebrow lift when they ask if he’s ‘still’ nursing. Did you know that the WHO recommends breastfeeding until age 2 to promote better health in children and mothers? In Ontario, only 26% of moms breastfeed ...until 6 months of age and that number starts dwindling each month thereafter. My son never really took a bottle, so I had to arrange my life and clinic schedule around his feeding schedule. I’ll never forget in those early months rushing home after clinic to a hungry little boy. Planning events, appointments or errands around his feeding schedule. Nursing him on the side of the road during a walk or in a parking lot before getting groceries. It was certainly a juggling act that wasn’t always easy. I know that many other moms are faced with similar struggles. Many moms stop nursing because of lack of parental support, going back to work or physical breastfeeding challenges with baby. Breastfeeding is a FULL TIME job but it has to be a mutual relationship for it to work out - both baby and mom have to be on board. This week is for every mom who has tried to nurse, is hoping to nurse or is actively nursing. Any way you choose to feed your baby is the right way #internationalbreastfeedingweek #worldbreastfeedingweek #breastfeedingawareness #nursing #breastfeeding #newborn #normalizebreastfeeding #breastfeedingsupport #maternalhealth #newmom #firsttimemom #natmedperinatalcare #workingmom

Calcium in plant foods. What’s a person to do when avoiding dairy? You don’t ‘need’ milk to get your calcium. Check out this great read from my ND colleague Dr. Tamara Kung, ND

Hi there I’ve been quiet on here lately because, well, it’s been quite the heavy month. I also know too well that it’s been a difficult year for many of you as well. #2020 But, here’s what I also know... no matter how difficult life can be, no matter what kind of pain, sorrow or challenges that might come your way, there is ALWAYS SO MUCH to be thankful for. ... So happy Canadian thanksgiving to you all! Tell me, what are you thankful for this year? #family #friends #fallcolours #gratitude #canadianthanksgiving #thanksgiving2020 #iamcanadian #sudbury #fallleaves

#challengeaccepted . Thanks for the shoutout @drkylahriengeutte.nd ... When women support each other, incredible things happen

Another night, another webinar. This one was on Pediatrics - The Right Diet for the Right Child, from @drcarolinemeyernd Gained some clinical pearls and learned about the latest research updates for different diets including: * Gluten-Free/Casein-Free * Ketogenic... * Modified Atkins * Feingold * Low Histamine * Low Oxalate * Ancestral/Paleolithic * GAPS * SCD * SIBO * FODMAPS Feel overwhelmed and confused looking at this list of diets? Nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated. The ‘art’ of naturopathic medicine involves working with you to customize your nutrition so that it is manageable for you and your family. Remember, dietary interventions aren’t always a forever thing... and overly restrictive diets may not be healthy either! I’ve seen countless people limiting so many foods that it creates food fear and subsequent problems - also not good. With school about to start up again, let’s get your kids feeling their best. Nutritious food fuels the brain, supports the immune system and feeds the soul. #functionalnutrition #backtoschool #pediatrics #childrenshealth #functionalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor #doctormom #foodismedicine #fodmap #sibo #histaminefree #gaps #scd #ancestraldiet #drcayla #nutrition

Family is everything. Every year I am reminded of this, especially this year. Happy birthday to my incredible sister. For those of you who know her, you’ll know just how amazing she is. As a mother, a nurse, an aunt, wife, friend, daughter and granddaughter, she stops at nothing to care for everyone. Life is short. Hold your loved ones close. Let them know just how much they mean to you. Especially in a year like this. #2020... #happybirthdaysister

Cosmetic Acupuncture (also called facial rejuvenation acupuncture) is a skincare treatment that has been used for thousands of years as a natural alternative to treat the visible signs of aging. As we get older the collagen production in our body starts to slow down and with the cumulative exposure of sun damage, our skin begins to show the visible signs of wrinkling, aging & hyperpigmentation. How does cosmetic acupuncture work?... Fine acupuncture needles are inserted under the skin to stimulate your body’s natural injury and repair mechanisms. The needles create small microtears in your skin, which encourages your body’s innate cellular repair mechanisms to kick-in and repair the microtear. These are called positive microtraumas that stimulate new collagen and elastin in the area of needling. In addition, cosmetic acupuncture stimulates circulation, lymph and blood flow, which leaves you with a long lasting glow. Studies noted mprovements in: - Skin texture - Skin elasticity - Wrinkle reduction - Minimizing the size of pores - Reducing acne scars - Reduced swelling or puffiness - Skin tonicity (ex. improvements in eye lid drooping) Interested in learning more about cosmetic acupuncture? Check out my blog post (linked here: https://www.drcayla.com/single-po//21/Cosmetic-Acupuncture) and enjoy that post-acupuncture glow for yourself! #facialacupuncture #cosmeticacupuncture #facialrejuvenation #facialrejuvinationacupuncture #microneedling #antiagingskincare #acupuncture #collagen #wrinklereduction #naturalskincare

Recognize this space? This is my cute little office tucked in the back of Nickel Ridge. It will only be my home for a little over another month! So many laughs, tears, revelations and realizations were had between these walls. Looking forward to making new breakthroughs with you in our new space... anticipated to be in September! ... Swipe for another sneak peek of the new clinic! #sneakpeek #newclinic #naturopath #naturopathicdoctor #sudbury #sudburyontario #northernontario

Are you taking Biotin to help with growing your hair? All too often people self prescribe Biotin (vitamin B7) for hair loss, when hair loss can be a sign that something might be off with your thyroid hormones. But here’s the kicker... Taking a biotin supplement and getting your TSH levels tested can skew your TSH results! This can lead to a false thyroid diagnosis or an improper thyroid medication prescription. ... Always be sure to disclose a full list of your vitamin supplements and medications to your healthcare provider so that we can make a proper assessment of your test results. This is why getting a customized plan when it comes to your supplements is important. I know we all like to self-diagnose (I used to fall in this trap too), but hundreds of dollars later without any progress in your goals is motivation enough to consult a qualified professional. There are a host of factors that can impact hair loss and while your thyroid is one of them, it might not be the only player. #thyroidfacts #biotin #hairlosshelp #hairloss #hairlosstreatment #hypothyroidism #functionalmedicine #functionalnutrition #longhairjourney #hashimotosdisease #thyroidhealing #drcayla #thyroiddisease

Hashimoto's disease (or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) is an autoimmune disease that affects your thyroid gland. This is the most common cause of hypothyroidism! But here’s the kicker, you could have Hashimoto’s disease even if your TSH is normal. Recall from my previous post on TSH, that oftentimes this is the only lab marker tested to assess for an under active thyroid. In the case of Hashimoto’s, you want to assess for your thyroid antibodies on blood work. These antibodie...s can show up mildly elevated in the early stages of Hashimoto’s disease. If we catch this early enough, we can intervene accordingly so that we can prevent the future *destruction* of your thyroid gland. Your thyroid gland is that little butterfly shaped organ that controls how fast your heart beats, how fast you burn calories, energy levels, brain function, digestion and your hormonal health! I work a lot with women wanting to optimize their hormones and fertility to eventually get pregnant. In cases of recurrent miscarriage and infertility, it becomes paramount to check for your antibodies! If your TSH is normal and your thyroid antibodies are high in pregnancy, it can lead to: Preeclampsia Placenta abruption Preterm birth Low birth weight babies Postpartum haemorrhaging Anemia Impacts of fetal brain development I see this all too often in clinic. So if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, work with your provider on a plan to address your antibodies. If caught early, there are safe and effective interventions that can be taken. We are here to help. #hashimotosdisease #hashimotosthyroiditis #hypothyroidism #hypothyroid #miscarriage #miscarriageawareness #recurrentmiscarriage #infertility #naturopath #naturopathicmedicine #drcayla #pregnancyloss #antibodies