Dr. Tamar Ferreira, BSc, ND
Downtown Brampton Wellness Centre, 118 Queen St W #205 L6X 1A5 Brampton, ON, Canada

What do EMFs (electromagnetic fields) have to do with your health? Probably more than we want to acknowledge. Since most of us are working from home to some capacity and using technology to connect with our loved ones outside of work, we may be increasing our exposure these days. Some big red flags that you could have EMF related symptoms: -tingling of your hand when holding your phone -palpitations or chest pain in front of your computer... -headaches when in front of screens But many symptoms can be more subtle like -chronic infections you can't shake -waking up with low energy -joint pain If you have had mould-related issues or Lyme disease, you are prone to being even more sensitive to the effects of EMFs. And with the rolling out of 5G, we will all be more likely to start exhibiting symptoms. Learn more in this podcast!

These are delish! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and only a few ingredients. Enjoy! https://www.theroastedroot.net/paleo-blueberry-crumb-bars/ If you try it with any other berry than blueberries, let me know how it turns out!... Fyi - when cooking down the blueberries with the tapioca flour, it will get slimy, but don't be alarmed like I was (I've had my share of slimy tapioca/arrowroot fails)... Somehow it magically loses the slimy texture as it cooks down! #healthytreats #bramptonnaturopath #ibs #glutenfree #dairyfree #happytummy

We're so honoured to be nominated once again for the Brampton Guardian Reader's Choice Awards! But it doesn't end there... If you've benefited from my services or those of my colleagues, please take the time to vote for the final winners. Voting ends October 2nd, so do it now before you forget! Remember to vote for "Downtown Brampton Wellness Centre". We have been nominated in these categories:... -Acupuncture -Alternative Medicine/Healing -Chiropractic Clinic -Foot Care Clinic -Holistic Health/Healing -Massage and Wellness -Massage Therapy -Naturopathic Clinic/Services Your vote of confidence means that more people will hear about us and get the help they need, just like you did! Thank you so much for your continued support! Here's the link: https://www.bramptonguardian.com/readerschoice

Thinking of making your space look prettier with some new house plants? A dash of green live plants can make such a difference! Here are a few suggestions for plants that can help us filter the toxins in our air - based on research done through NASA. This is especially important for those who are much more sensitive to these things, such as those with autoimmune conditions or chemical sensitivities. As we head into the fall, you may be spending more time indoors, so indoor ai...r quality becomes even more important. I need to get myself a few of these...

Are you in perimenopause and feeling like your hormones are in a "mad chaos"? It's probably because the are!!! Take a look at this...... Doing some continuing education on women's hormones and wanted to share this amazing graphic from Dr. Carrie Jones's presentation. Let's help you make this phase of your life more manageable! #bramptonnaturopath #perimenopause #hormonehealth

I have seen this in many of my Hashimoto's patients as well as in other autoimmune conditions. Gluten can wreak havoc on the gut and the immune system... Treating autoimmune conditions usually starts by treating the gut! #hashimotos #thyroid #bramptonnaturopath #guthealth

You may feel like you have a flat enough stomach in the morning, but as the day progresses, you are feeling 6 months pregnant and searching for your stretchy pants... You may be feeling tight around the middle and uncomfortable. And painfully aware of your belly, when ideally that shouldn't be top of mind as you go through your day. So what does bloating mean? What's causing it?... Generally, it means that you have an imbalance in your gut microbiome, in that your "good" bugs are being outnumbered by the "bad" bug. And when the bad bugs are well fed, they usually produce lots of gas! Trapped gas = bloating. Figuring out your gut aggravators, healing the gut, and feeding the good guys is essential for you to be able to eat a variety of foods pain-free again. I'd love to help you figure it out! #bramptonnaturopath #ibs #microbiome #guthealth #findthecause

Drumroll... I'm so glad to be able to offer the SIBO Breath Test once again to my patients! Since the beginning of the pandemic, SIBO testing was temporarily unavailable due to concerns about processing samples potentially contaminated with the virus.... We've now been given the green light that we can resume testing! I know I have several patients waiting to get this test done who will be thrilled to hear this good news! Testing allows us to target our treatment more specifically to each patient, and there are different kinds of bacterial overgrowth that can be detected through testing. Do you have IBS and want to get to the root cause? Let's chat! SIBO testing may be an option for you, but based on your history, we may choose other avenues instead. #individualizedmedicine #sibo #ibs #naturopathicdoctor #bramptonnaturopath

If you have IBS symptoms, they are more likely to be caused by SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) if you score high on these factors. But you can certainly have SIBO if you have constipation-predominant SIBO, or if you're male, under 55... You get the picture. Testing is always best, through a SIBO Breath Test.... #sibobreathtest #findthecause #ibs #bramptonnaturopath

If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it could very well be caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. A lactulose breath test could let you know if that's the case. It's always best to test when possible.... #itstartsinthegut #bramptonnaturopath #naturopathicmedicine #sibo #ibs

Is there something you want to learn but you're having a really tough time with it? Find a way to turn it into a game! You'll safe yourself lots of time and effort!

When I garden, my mind wanders and I can't help thinking about analogies... This morning, I came across these two hostas, growing about 1m apart. The small one was barely making it (along with its dusty miller neighbour), whereas the large one was thriving and flowering (sooo thrilled to see that!). So why the contrast? They got the same rain, sunshine, and elements.... It's the "terrain", the soil they are growing in, along with its drainage capabilities. The smaller hosta is dealing with much more clay than the larger one. Your body is like the hosta, and the terrain is your gut and everything you feed it. The elements are your environment and everything else life throws at ya! How are you nourishing your terrain and the parts of your environment that you CAN control in order to thrive in your health? As for the little hosta, I'm proud that it's pushing through. It got the worse soil, but still, it didn't give up. Now I gotta feed it some better soil! #deepgardeningthoughts #gutsandgardens #digestivehealth #bramptonnaturopath

Overwhelmed by IBS? Take my quiz! #digestivehealth #ibs #babysteps #ibssymptomquiz #bramptonnaturopath #downtownbramptonwellnesscentre

You may have tested for Celiac disease and it was negative. So you were told to go ahead and eat any pasta, bread, or baked goods you wanted. Only problem is... Your symptoms are still with you.... Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) is real. It comes with many symptoms, often *but not always* involving the gut. These symptoms can seem so unrelated to what you eat, so vague, that you can go years or decades without being diagnosed! #ncgs #glutensensitivity #itstartsinthegut #brainfog #bramptonnaturopath #naturopathicmedicine

Glyphosate makes it into our food in inconspicuous ways. This herbicide with a terrible track record (Roundup) is used as a dessicant pre-harvest, basically killing the crops so that they can all be harvested at the same time! You also get a high concentration of the pesticide in your plate became your food has been doused in it right before harvesting! Nice to see this move in Canada by a major organization to no longer accept oats that have been treated this way. This will... only come into effect in January 2021, so your oats and oat products may still be affected. When in doubt, choose organic! #SayNoToGlyphosate #ChooseOrganic #youarewhatyoueat #digestivehealth #bramptonnaturopath

Prebiotics are foods that help feed your "good" bacteria. Oats or oat bran is one source of prebiotics. You want to choose the "slow cook" ones, whole grain or steel cut. If you have any sensitivity to gluten or wheat, choose oats labelled "gluten-free" (oats don't inherently contain gluten, but they are very commonly contaminated with gluten, so assume they have gluten unless labelled otherwise!).... Lower Bifidobacteria counts have been associated with more active symptoms in IBD (irritable bowel disease) patients. #prebiotics #naturopathbrampton #microbiome #itstartsinthegut #feedthegoodguys

As a gut-focused ND, I talk about bowel movements with every patient coming in the door... And for those with digestive issues, the closing of many public washrooms right now can cause a lot of anxiety. If you gotta go, you gotta go! If you are thinking of doing a road trip, washroom anxiety can be a big deterrent. It's not always possible to "hold it" until you get to your destination. ... Here is one resource for washroom road trip information if you are heading to Eastern Ontario. Keep in mind that aerosol particles do spread in washrooms and could expose you more to the virus, so if you are immunocompromised or in poor overall health, you may want to rethink your road trip plans. Stay healthy and enjoy your outing! https://ottawaroadtrips.com//open-public-washrooms-bathro/

Poor gut health can have repercussions well beyond symptoms that appear gut related! That headache, fatigue, dizziness you are experiencing? It could be your gut that's causing it! Dig deeper. Don't give up! Your gut's counting on it .... #ittakesguts #naturopathicmedicine #bramptonnaturopath #ibs #microbiome

You walk around with trillions of these every day... Yes, these are commensal gut bacteria, which are beneficial to you by producing immune-regulating compounds and vitamins, and helping your gut barrier stay effective at sorting through the good vs. the bad. More than 1000 species! You are a walking ecosystem. Did you know that babies with a lower gut biodiversity (which means they have less variety in the commensal bacteria they had) have a higher risk of developing atopy (...allergies, eczema, asthma)? What you eat on a regular basis will affect your microbiome. Naturopathic doctors can help you work on an individualized dietary and supplement plan to optimize your gut microbiome :). But start with the basics. Reduce the sugars and processed foods - they feed the bad guys which leads to lots of bloating and gas! Instead, choose a variety of vegetables and whole foods loaded with nutrients, vitamins, and fiber that will help your good guys thrive! #microbiome #itstartsinthegut #naturopathbrampton #naturopathicmedicine

Your stool gives you great information about what's going on in your gut! Alarmed when you peek into the toilet? Curious about what different colours may mean? Have a look at this handy poop chart!... #youarewhatyouabsorb #guthealth #bramptonnaturopath #gutfocused

Superfood breakfast cookies, anyone? Or snack, or dessert... Oats are great for your microbiome, helping your good guys thrive! This was a nice change from my usual breakfast options. #healthybreakfast #glutenfree #bramptonnaturopath #gutfriendly https://www.wifemamafoodie.com/superfood-breakfast-cookies/

We're opening up in-person visits starting June 22nd! Call us at 905-451-3963 to book in!We're opening up in-person visits starting June 22nd! Call us at 905-451-3963 to book in!

We're in the process of getting ready to see more of you back in the office! We will let you know as soon as in-person naturopathic services are available again. We're working to have all the protocols in place to help keep you safe. We continue to provide services virtually for those that don't need to be seen in person. We are no longer limited to only treating essential cases - so don't hesitate to book in! Things will be a bit different for a while, but it's so great to step back into the office!

It's Naturopathic Medicine Week! We may not physically be in the office, but we are still changing lives through virtual visits! As a naturopathic doctor, I aim to look for the underlying cause(s) of a patient's condition, so that we can treat the cause.... Your diagnosis does not necessarily tell us what the cause is. For example, if you are diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, the cause could be a combination of low stomach acid, an imbalance in your gut flora, food sensitivities, eating patterns, medications, bacterial or fungal overgrowth, etc. With testing and other assessments, we work together to figure out what is causing your symptoms to that you can feel better, long-term. Not only that - my aim for you is to move you towards and into optimal health! Have you benefited from your visits with your ND? Share your story below with the hashtag #ILoveMyND! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YCXTkbrcZaw #naturopathicmedicine #bramptonnaturopath

It's a beautiful day for gardening! So off I went to support our local small business @thegardeningplace. While I don't have a large backyard, I do have a balcony that has now become my herb garden. If you're relatively new to gardening (like me), a herb garden is a great way to start! Herbs are flavour and phytochemical (beneficial plant compounds) powerhouses! And, you get so much satisfaction from growing some of your own food! Will you join me? Post your garden pictures ...below! If you'd like to know more about the benefits of common culinary herbs, start here https://www.mdlinx.com//10-nutritious-herbs-you-s/lfc-3732 #growyourownfood #supportsmallbusiness #antioxidants #bramptonnaturopath

Meat prices are going up, so it's time to be prepared! Plant-based protein is an inexpensive option, but it can also come with some unwanted consequences (bloating and gas)... But there's hope! In my new blog, find out how you can incorporate more plant-based protein into your diet if you've usually avoided it in the past due to how it made you feel. It can be a slow process, but when you're at home it's an ideal time to experiment! It's a great way to stretch your savings to...o! http://www.tamarferreirand.com//how-to-transition-to-a-mor #happytummy #sprouting #plantbasedprotein #savemoney #ibs #bramptonnaturopath #downtownbramptonwellnesscentre

I had oranges waiting patiently to be eaten, so this is what became of them this morning... Orange coconut muffins! So good! Recipe in the comments. #breakfastideas #noprocessedsugar #glutenfree #lowfodmaps #happytummy #bramptonnaturopath

Hormones - there's always something new to learn! Taking advantage of this time to gain some clinical pearls that will help me up my game in guiding more of you who are struggling in perimenopause. #perimenopause #weightmanagement #thyroid #hotflashes #foodcravings #naturopathic #bramptonnaturopath #dutchtest

With all the time spent indoors and perhaps a loosening of my usual face routine, my face needed some TLC. So today I'm taking a self care day. I made a face scrub using a 2:2:1 ratio of coconut oil, baking soda, and honey (Manuka is best but I didn't have that on hand). It's very mild and ideal for sensitive skin like mine.... While I chose to attend to this need by "pampering" myself, self care does not necessarily mean to create a spa experience for yourself! It can mean getting outdoors to connect with nature, calling a loved one, journaling, showing empathy towards yourself, forgiving someone you've allowed to harden your heart... countless things! Wherever you are at today, what are you doing for self care? #selfcare #diyfacescrub #sensitiveskin #naturopathic #bramptonnaturopath

It's finally here! If you suffer from IBS, you don't want to miss this! I know what it's like to feel held back by chronic digestive issues, because I've been there myself. I don't want you to suffer for years like I did. ... That's why I created this quiz, using questions I ask my own patients as part of my gut health detective work! Let's get you better! https://bit.ly/ibssymptomquiz #IBS #digestivehealth #naturopathicdoctor #sibo #irritablebowelsyndrome #itstartsinthegut #bramptonnaturopath #brampton

Are you looking for a tasty, quick, AND cost-effective meal option? I made this delicious lentil soup in my Instant Pot yesterday, and it was a hit with both my husband and me. It's high in fibre to get your bowels moving more consistently .... I used sprouted lentils (you can make them yourself but I got pre-sprouted ones) for this recipe. Sprouting helps neutralize phytic acid, which means that the nutrients in the lentils, including B vitamins and Vitamin C, will become more bio-available (useable by your body). Sprouting also helps break down the sugars in the lentils to make them more digestible so that you get less gas. So sprouting means you'll get more nutrition out of your lentils and less bloat! Win win! Other changes I made: -I used chicken broth -1 whole onion and a bit more carrots -a dash of red pepper flakes instead of chili pepper -lemon juice instead of lime (just what I had on hand) -baby kale for my greens -included the optional coconut milk I can't wait to have leftovers for lunch ! I'll attach the original recipe in the comments. #guthealth #bramptonnaturopath #naturopathicmedicine #glutenanddairyfree

Happy Easter to you and your family! How are you celebrating? We will be having a virtual get-together.

Life changing crackers... These are tasty crackers you can make from the seeds in your pantry! I used hemp hearts instead of sesame seeds because that's what I had on hand. Today I added garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. They're gluten free if you use GF oats. Learn from my mistake - If you want the whole thing to be crispy, not just the edges, make sure to spread it thin and evenly. Delicious regardless! For the recipe: https://www.mynewroots.org//2014/07/the-life-changing-cra/ #highfiber #gutfriendly #drinklotsofwater #naturopathic #bramptonnaturopath

The CDC now recommends wearing homemade face masks when in areas of higher transmissibility of Covid-19 (like grocery stores). This is more to protect others from YOU (since you can have no symptoms but carry the virus) but if everyone wears one, then the virus is less likely to spread as quickly. Non-woven polypropylene, which is often used in cloth grocery bags or those bags you receive at conferences, is a good and readily accessible material to reduce the transmissibil...ity of respiratory droplets. This weekend, I started making a few masks for me and family. I don't own a sewing machine, so this project is completely handmade. All I had was a small travel sewing kit and grocery bags but it still worked! Grateful for the sewing skills my mother taught me. This is the pattern I used (and enlarged for the one I made for men) http://blog.japanesecreations.com/how-to-sew-a-simple-fabri. I cut along the seams of a bag to create the ties. Make sure to wash after each use. Wash your hands before putting it on and after you remove it. Avoid touching your face. And smile under that mask, you'll look friendlier ! This doesn't replace taking care of your health and your immune system! #homemademask #handmadefacemask #staysafe #stayhealthy #weekendproject #Covid19

Growing some of your own food might be a good idea this year. If you have the space, why not give it a try? Here are 20 vegetables you can grow at home from food scraps! #reuse #resilience #organicfood #foodasmedicine https://gardeningsoul.com/20-vegetables-you-can-re-grow-fr/

For all of you wannabe mamas out there, this one's for you! Right now, the highly valuable book, Carrying to Term, is practically free on Amazon if you buy the Kindle version (C$1.39)!!! It is a great resource for those who have had miscarriages in the past, or those who just want to take steps to prevent them. I highly recommend this book, written by Dr. Jordan Robertson, ND. She writes from her own experience and her drive to provide women with better care in this area.... #healthypregnancy #preventmiscarriage #carryingtoterm

Are you moving your body every day? If you're like most of us, we have great plans of getting fit but we just don't make time for it. Now's your chance. You probably have more time on your hands, or you can carve it out by watching less pandemic news and focusing on what you can do RIGHT NOW.... You see, watching the news right now is probably fueling anxiety and keeping you trapped in fight or flight (sympathetic) mode. You can't think clearly or rationally when you're in that mode. And most of all, you can't grow and flourish into the best version of yourself. So don't sabotage yourself. Get off the couch and engage in an activity that will help you feel strong, energetic, and capable. Build it into your daily routine to provide some structure and normalcy into your day. We all need it. Sending you a virtual fist pump !

We're running low in some items as we haven't been out grocery shopping in almost 3 weeks. Don't have milk? Try adding 1Tbsp of coconut oil into a large glass jar with your coffee, add a dash of cinnamon if you wish, blend it up with an immersion blender, and have yourself a creamy latte! I prefer using a stainless steel immersion blender and a glass jar because it avoids using hot liquids in my plastic Nutribullet - less exposure to hormone disruptors.... Dairy free and delicious!

Who do you want to be at the end of this time of self isolation? How can you make changes in your mindset, actions, and behaviour to become more like that person today? #selfisolation #learnfromhome #bethechange