Dr. Lydia Thurton ND
10-1550 Kingston Road L1V 1C3 Pickering, ON, Canada

WEIGHT LOSS TIPS YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF. . Tip #1: CARBS + PLANT PROTEIN - We all kinda know that carbs (rice, potato, pasta, bread, sugar) can cause weight gain. That's only part of the story. . It's not carbs; it's the insulin spike that carbs cause. When insulin goes up, it tells our body to start storing energy as fat. To lessen that spike, eating plant proteins with carbs helps. Beans, nuts, tofu, peas, and seeds can all help blunt this effect.... . Animal protein does not work. Dairy and meat, make that insulin spike even worse. . Interestingly, a lot of cultures intuitively know this. It's probably why rice and beans are such a staple in so many cultures. . Do you make rice and beans? . . Tip #2: STOP GUILTING YOURSELF - When you feel guilty about the large pizza, or the donut run, you activate reward pathways in the brain. Reward pathways reinforce behaviour. . Every time you feel guilty about a behavior you're further lodging it in your brain. . Try to see every food you eat as okay. If you need help, come and see me or another professional. But beating yourself up is doing the opposite of what you want. . Set yourself free. Love your body. . Do you label food as "bad" or "good?" See more

HOW TO PRACTICE GRATITUDE WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT . We know gratitude wires the brain for happiness. . We also know life is hard, and sometimes gratitude isn't natural. It's much easier to focus on what's wrong.... . Five ways to practice gratitude when you don't feel like it. . 1. Place your focus on a body part, or body organ that's working well for you right now. Your heart is beating, your kidneys and liver are filtering. Your eyes can see, and your ears can hear. We often take our body function for granted until we lose it. Do a thankful body scan. . 2. Eat well. Giving your body nourishing food is a big "thank you" to your body. If you can't say it, eat it. . 3. Thank yourself for all of the help you give to others, all the times you show up when it's hard. Appreciation is just a shade away from gratitude. Appreciate your tenacity, sheer will, and determination. . 4. Rest when you need it. Rest is a recognition that your value isn't dependant on 24/7 production. It's an appreciation for your intrinsic value. . 5. Vote. There are actions we can take that reflect gratitude for the agency and privilege we have. When we act in a way that appreciates our capabilities, we are showing gratitude. See more

4 WAYS TO LIVE WELL WITH PCOS. . Very common but little discussed, Polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS, changes your period, weight, hair-growth, and mood. . You may have cysts on the ovaries or not.... . 4 Ways to Live Well with PCOS 1. Understand that self-care isn't an option. PCOS can be vastly improved with proper rest, food, fun and fitness. Everyone's a little differentMarch to the beat of your own drum. Avoid extremes and enjoy your life. Yup, life enjoyment = better PCOS management. . 2. Get regular hormone updates. PCOS doesn't have to be a mystery, but often women go YEARS without knowing what's really going on. Every 1-2 years, get an update so you can track yourself. Need help with this, talk to me. . 3. 80/20 rule eating. PCOS raises your blood sugar, which can put you at risk of diabetes. Follow this Michael Pollan quote "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." . 4. Protect your sleep - everyone needs sleep, but the complex hormone picture of PCOS means its extra snooze-time is key. Sleep helps blood sugar, stress hormones and mental health. On top of PCOS 2020 has been nothing to play with honey! Lights out. Good night. Sweet dreams. . Do you have PCOS? Any tips on how you manage your symptoms?

DO YOU HAVE A CHEMICAL INTOLERANCE? Here's how to know. Answer these 3 questions. . 8-33% of the population are sensitive to chemicals. With a ton of cleaning happening right now there is more exposure to chemicals than ever. . If you are sensitive to chemicals, you may need to make lifestyle modifications - eating cleaner, cleaning greener, and minimizing exposures at work and out and about.... . Here are the three questions. If you answer yes to all three, you have a 97% chance of a chemical intolerance. . Answer Yes or No . 1. Do you feel sick when you are exposed to tobacco smoke, certain fragrances, nail polish/remover, engine exhaust, gasoline, air fresheners, pesticides, paint/thinner, fresh tar/asphalt, cleaning supplies, new carpet or furnishings? By sick we mean: headache, difficulty thinking, difficulty breathing, weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, etc. . 2. Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse or allergic reactions to any drugs or medications (such as antibiotics, anesthetics, pain relievers, X-ray contrast dye, vaccines or birth control pills), or to an implant, prosthesis, contraceptive chemical or device, or other medical/surgical/dental material or procedure? . 3. Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse reactions to any foods such as dairy products, wheat, corn, eggs, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, or food additives (e.g., MSG, food dye)? . Yes to all three? Please pay attention to your environment at home and work. You have a chemical intolerance. See more

VITAMIN D AND COVID-19 - "Strikingly, 100% of ICU patients less than 75 years old had vitamin D deficiency" . Friendly reminder, to keep your vitamin D levels up. As kids get ready to go back to school there are a lot of unknowns. Vitamin D is cheap, easy to take and you can dose it once a week because your body stores it. . Good for mood, bone health, cancer prevention. Please consider taking it with your whole family. We have to take our health into our own hands.... . https://www.medrxiv.org/cont/10.1101/2020.04.24.20075838v1

BOX BREATHING: An Easy way to Chill . My patient said this is the only technique that helps her manage agoraphobia (fear of having a panic attack in a public space). . Navy Seals use it to stay calm too. ... . I tried it and liked it. . Would you give it a shot? . . . . . #justbreathe #anxeity #consciousness #selfhealing #anxietyrelief #emotionalhealthmatters #mentalhealth See more

Working on this daily. Judge not that ye not be judged. #consciousness #krishnamurti

This is fun. What blood type are you? #BPositive #cheerful #selfish

THE BEST TIME FOR YOUR MORNING COFFEE . A morning cup of coffee helps us burn fat and feel more alert. . The best time to drink it? 1 hour after waking. ... . When you first wake up, a healthy dose of the hormone cortisol is released. This cortisol surge is normal and helps us feel energized. . If you wait until that cortisol surge has passed (1hr after waking), you can dose with coffee and keep the good vibes going longer. . . . . . Photo from artist @eyluelaslan . #nutritionhack #coffee #cortisol #hormones #naturopathy #L60 #emotionalhealthmatters See more

10 things I remind myself when I've had to let go of something or someone I love. 1. I don't have ownership over anything beyond myself. 2. Anytime I have successfully let go better things always fill in the spaces. 3. Real love is wanting the best for other people.... 4. Letting go is just as much about setting myself free. 5. You can only lose what you cling to. Buddha 6. I can refocus my mind on things I'm thankful for at any time. 7. Real courage is not about holding onto things that don't belong to me. 8. Put your faith in life, not individual people. 9. Everything is always working out for me, even if I can't see it right now. 10. Be still and just breathe. . . #mindfulness #lettinggo #grace #naturopathy See more

NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. An oldie but a goodie. Non-violent makes it sound like the style of communication is for crazy, aggressive people. It isn't. This style of communication that resolves conflicts. The goal is to have each person give, genuinely from their heart. ... It's a way to hear people; to see people. It's a way to feel intelligent because you aren't judging and criticizing and feeling hurt and powerless. It's a way to be kind. And it's a way to get what you want! Mitchell Rosenberg developed the technique and has used it to settle disputes in international affairs, war zones, and families in trauma. This video explains the basics of it. Set your mind free and avoid unnecessary conflicts. P.S. Don't be weirded out by the puppet. He uses it to help people step outside of themselves. #nonviolentcommunication https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek1jKidJt60

GENTLY REGULATE YOUR PERIOD: . Periods can become irregular in a 1000 different ways. . - shorter cycles - longer cycles... - more cramps - more clots - lower back pain - more acne - mood changes - breakthrough spotting . Western medicine typically regulates periods with birth control pills. Ok for some, but what if you’re trying for a baby? Or smoke? Or just don’t want to take meds? . Seed cycling is a gentle way to improve your hormonal health. Providing you with healthy plant chemicals and fibre to restore your body’s natural rhythms. . . . Safety note: If your period changes, it’s always good to see your doctor. . . #naturopathy #nutrition #health #periods See more

STORY TIME: LAXATIVES FOR WEIGHT LOSS Every health food store has a particular type of customer, usually female. You ask if she needs help. Nope, she knows what she came for: laxative tea. Dieter's tea, with a dancing ballerina on the front of the box. It's a senna tea. Senna (the herb in the photo) stimulates and irritates the lining of the colon so that you have to poop.... Short-term Senna can help if you feel bloated or constipated. Long-term you get hooked. Alcohol, cigarettes, opiates, we all know these are addictive. So are laxatives. I got chatting with one of our regular customers, and she was honest. She said she started drinking the tea when she was constipated and liked the way it made her tummy flat. So she kept drinking it - for 16 years. Now, she can't stop. She tries every month but gets so backed up, she ends up just buying another box. And so the cycle goes. If you are taking laxatives to lose weight or to treat constipation for longer than 2-3 weeks get help. Laxatives don't burn fat, you are losing poop and water. And laxatives can mask other reasons why you are constipated. I can help. . . . #naturopath #flattummytea #weightloss

Make life easy. #enlightenment #flow #life