Functional NP Megan Kroeker

Menstrual cramps and heavy periods. Let's put it out there. Why are hormonal contraception and anti-inflammatory medications the only options we are given? There is so much more to hormones than that. The menstrual cycle is a vital sign for women. If it's off balance, there's something your body is trying to tell you. ... It is NOT shouting "give me a medication"! It is probably saying something more like: "get more sleep" "lower your stress!" "Eat more fibre!" "Eat less sugar!" "Eat more healthy fats and fibre!" And the list goes on. But no one tells us these things. We are just told "that's normal" "You're perimenopausal" "Yyou have PCOS" "You probably need a hysterectomy" "just go on the pill" or "It will get better after menopause". Seriously? I want to help you figure out your hormone imbalances. Yes, there may be some work involved, but it is SO worthwhile. If you're interested in working with me at a deeper level, send me a message or visit functionalnp.ca to book for premium healthcare services today. (Link in profile) #hormones #thepill #perimenopause #heavyperiods #dysmenorrhea #menorrhagia #sickcare #premiumhealthcare #dutchtest #comprehensivehormonea #pcos #estrogendominance #progesterone #iud #menopause #hormonesolution #ifm #nursepractitioner #rootcause See more

What is functional medicine? To put it simply, it's medicine that focuses on resolving root cause, allowing optimized health and wellness. It is personalized and the practitioner spends a lot of time working through health history and listening to the patient experience. In allopathic medicine, we are typically trained to recognize patterns and make a quick decision on diagnosis and treatment, which is often a medication. But... if you get a rash, use a prescribed cream..., and the rash only goes away when you're using the cream... Does that really solve the health issue? With most health concerns there is an underlying cause that can be addressed, often through lifestyle and diet changes. Though this can require work, it is rewarding, because you are more likely to see long term improvement. We are so fortunate in Canada to have access to healthcare, however, there is little time given to address health problems on a deeper level in our quick appointments. We are driven by quick solutions. Through my private practice, I have more time to do the digging and work deeper with patients to create long term solutions. Of course I always try to use the functional medicine approach, but we simply have more time constraints in a publicly funded clinic. One day, I hope functional medicine will be the norm. It could save our healthcare system A LOT of money through preventative care and actions that decrease health risks and need for hospitalization. Do you wish functional medicine is the way of the future in healthcare? Or are you happy with our sick care system? #healthcare #wellness #ifm #fxmed #nursepractitioner #sickcare #np #privatehealthcare #virtualmedicine #privateclinic #customcare See more

"I tried magnesium but it gave me an upset stomach and/or had to run to the washroom!" Format of magnesium supplement matters. Quality also matters. So how do you know what is best? I'll break it down very basically (there's more to it, but this is the gist). Magnesium (bis)glycinate is a well tolerated easy to absorb format that is good for most people... Magnesium threonate has better ability to get to the brain, so is helpful for neurological (brain and nerve) symptoms Magnesium oxide alone is NOT well absorbed and is typically seen as a laxative (ie. Milk of magnesia) mag oxide may be seen in other formats, but the difference is that it may be chelated or have amino acids paired with it. Magnesium sulfate is the first form of magnesium discovered, in Epsom, England. So guess where you find that? In Epsom salts (topical use) and in IV format for certain conditions in the hospital setting. I remember it most from my days working in labour and delivery, with hypertensive women in labour. Magnesium citrate is well absorbed, but can have a laxative effect in high doses. I use this with patients who experience constipation, but avoid it in people who have regular or loose bowel movements. Magnesium malate is great for muscle symptoms The moral here? If you don't know which one, try magnesium glycinate. It is easy to absorb and affordable. Of course, we also want to continue to incorporate those magnesium rich foods, as discussed in a previous post. Use a high quality brand that doesn't hide any information. They should demonstrate that they do third party testing and have quality standards. If you ask about this and they don't reply, it might be a red flag! Natural health products are NOT regulated in Canada, so it's important to find a trustworthy brand. Often the cheaper ones cut corners of add fillers, or the wrong mix of ingredients. Watch for a giveaway of one of my favourite brands, coming soon! #giveaway #canprev #magnesium #supplementanswers #supplementfacts #naturalhealth #ifm #fxmed #functionalmedicine #np #nursepractitioner #pms #headaches #constipatiom #musclecramps #rls #magnesideficiency See more

I had my magnesium level checked on my blood work and it was normal. Do I still need magnesium? The answer is probably YES. Does this matter? Well, let me remind you that 65% of magnesium is in bones, 35-40% is in soft tissues and ONLY 1% is in the blood. So if your magnesium is normal on your labs, it is not necessarily normal in other areas of your body. The bones and soft tissues will actually let go of their magnesium storage if the blood stream is lacking. If you have... low levels on your blood work results, then you are certainly deficient in other areas, so should be supplementing and paying close attention to dietary intake. We often look at supplementing based on symptoms and diet. Something as simple as adding a magnesium supplement can allow proper enzymatic functions so that processes in the body start working properly. This may allow symptoms reduction, better sleep, improved mood, less tension and improved brain and hormone function! It is something to chat with your practitioner about, but magnesium is generally a very safe supplement! Next up, what form of magnesium do I take? Does it matter? I'll tell you that there are a variety of forms and benefits depending on the form. Watch for more info on which magnesium supplement to choose in my next post! #magnesium #supplements #health #wellness #np #nursepractitioner #ifm #fxmed #functionalmedicine #diet #foodismedicine #canprev See more

Giveaway time (CLOSED)! Tag a friend and follow/like my page. Now that I've told you all about magnesium, would you like to try some? @canprev is a Canadian company with high quality products. They have provided one of their products for me to giveaway! This one is a fun herbal infusion mix to help you increase your magnesium levels!... Feel free to review my previous posts all about magnesium for more information. What is comes down to is that magnesium is an essential mineral that many of us are lacking. The symptoms of magnesium deficiency can present in a variety of ways because of its ubiquitous nature in the body. Symptoms can include but are not limited to: Fatigue Low mood Constipation Muscle aches/cramping Headaches PMS Vitamin D /calcium deficiency Cardiovascular issues/palpitations Follow me on Instagram and/or Facebook AND tag a friend for entry to win! Valid on Facebook and Instagram to Canadian residents only. Draw will be held on April 1! #giveaway #canprev #magnesium #supplement #ifm #giveawayontario #health #fxmed #nursepractitioner #np #freesupplement #hormonehealth #headache #painmanagement

Food is information. It is instructions for our cells. What is food telling your body? #diet #healthyfoods #foodismedicine #wellness #ifm #phytonutrients #tastetherainbow #vegetables #fruit #healthyfats #np #nursepractitioner #fxmed #immuneapm2021 #autoimmune #hormonehealth #dutchtest #environment #exposure

My favourite "basic" smoothie recipe! This is a follow up to my post on breakfast, scroll back for more info on that. I follow a flexible recipe, depending on what's in my fridge. 1/2-3/4 cup unsweetened nut milk (I like coconut or almond) ... Approx 1 cup leafy greens (a big handful)- spinach, kale, mixed greens, whatever you have in the fridge! Some of the more bitter ones might give a stronger flavour. Start with spinach if you're hesitant to add greens. There is basically no flavour. 3-4 pieces frozen cauliflower (if you're feeling adventurous). Cruciferous veggies are great for fibre and hormone balancing 2-3 ice cubes 1/2 ripe banana 1/2 avocado (if they aren't in season, try frozen, or sub for another healthy fat like almond butter or MCT oil) 1/4-1/2 cup blueberries (low in sugar, lots of antioxidants and fibre) 1 scoop collagen powder (I like sport research brand) this is great for hair, skin, nails, and the digestive tract. 1 tbsp flax (ground preferred. I use whole though and my Vitamix grinds them up no problem) this has healthy fats and fibre for hormone balance 1/2-1 scoop of plant based protein that is not loaded with sugar. I like Sunwarrior. If you like whey a nice option is Kaizen naturals. Dress it up! Add some cinnamon (great for glucose regulation), matcha powder, maca powder (great for hormones), a drop of food safe peppermint or wild orange essential oil, turmeric, etc. Lately I love using @awakenedroots beet and shisandra powder - great for antioxidants as well as energy, the liver and hormone balance. I also love dandyblend powder - great for the liver and hormones with a little sweetness to it. As you can see, this is still very flexible. It's a guideline. Just work with what's in your fridge. I have an insulated cup so that I can tote my smoothie to work and it stays smoothie texture. It's awesome! #smoothie #veggies #recipe #antioxidants #healthyfat #fibre #hormones #breakfast #nursepractitioner #np #ifm #functionalmedicine #foodismedicine See more

Don't begin your day with toast, bagels, muffins, granola, cereal, etc. etc. Going from a fasted state to a rush of simple carbohydrates (sugar) is very hard on the body! I'm not saying never eat these foods, but keep in mind, there isn't a great deal of nutritional benefit to them. Our typical breakfasts have become convenience foods and are generally high in simple carbohydrates (stuff that is white, sugary and has little nutrition). This type of fuel really doesn't las...t long, and our body actually can feel overwhelmed. Our muscles often can't use this energy fast enough. We want to give the body protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates to give longer lasting energy and more importantly, nutrients. Blood sugar spikes are no good, regardless of whether or not you have diabetes. Research shows better health outcomes with more stable blood sugar levels, and particularly better energy throughout the day if you keep the glycemic load low at breakfast. If you want to include some carbohydrates with breakfast, make them complex carbohydrates (think high fibre whole grains, legumes, and vegetables) and COMBINE them with healthy fats and proteins to create less of a sugar rush. You heard me. I said fats. Don't be scared of healthy fats!!! Think nuts, seeds, avocado, fatty fish and olive oil. So what are some good breakfasts (think, you are literally breaking a fast, you don't want to go from nice level blood sugar to a huge spike. Let's be gentle with ourselves)! Try these: Omega 3 rich foods, including flax, chia, walnuts, salmon, or even omega 3 rich eggs Almond butter or avocado paired with a whole grain or nut bread (your glucose spikes less if healthy fat/protein is combined with carbohydrates) Nutrient dense veggies, fruits and nuts/seeds fermented foods like yogurt, cottage cheese or kefir Chia pudding is an excellent sub for traditional oatmeal Smoothies that are not overloaded with juice and fruit. I love to load mine with veggies and healthy fats. I'll be sharing a recipe soon! Egg or tofu scramble, loaded with veggies and herbs, topped with avocado My favourite protein waffles (recipe coming soon)! See more

All of our systems are CONNECTED. What is happening in the brain is affecting what happens in the gut. What happens in the gut affects hormones. What happens with hormones affects the skin. What happens with your skin affects your liver. What's happening in the liver affects the blood sugar. (These are just examples ... And guess what, no matter what system you ask about, I could explain a way it is connected to any other system)! I could keep going in circles and n...ame how each system impacts the next. One symptom does not happen independently. That's why I don't really get the "one concern per visit" mentality. I can't help but make associations of how one system is impacting the others. It's my detective work! I'd love to help you figure out the interconnected web of systems and how your symptoms may not simply be impacting one silo of your wellness. #np #ifm #functionalmedicine #fxmed #a4m #safm #nursepractitioner #health #wellness #differenthealthcare #rootcause See more

My life partner and forever adventure pal. #valentines #peru #machupicchu #incatrail #2019 #whenwecouldtravel #aadventure #hiking #np #nursepractitioner