Core Elements of Naturopathic Medicine
Nutrition
Food is the core foundation of your health. Establishing a healthy food routine and adding in nutrient dense, nourishing foods is the only way to rejuvenate the body and maintain health.
Supplements
Sometimes we need an extra boost of specific vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to get our health on track. These should always be used as a complement to healthy food changes.
Botanicals
Many plants have strong medicinal properties and can be very helpful at healing and rebalancing the body.
Acupuncture & Homeopathy
The body has it’s own energy that flows through it. Acupuncture and homeopathy are two different ways to tap into and rebalance that energy and support healing from a different perspective.
Dr. Jennifer Kaster
At a young age I suffered from debilitating digestive issues. My days were spent worrying I'd be sick after eating and I planned my activities based on proximity to a washroom. This was my life for years.
Living with digestive upset is what led me to Naturopathic Medicine and learning how to treat and heal my body.
Food sensitivities played a major role in my digestive issues and once I had a clear understanding of what foods I needed to avoid at that time, paired with the guidance of a health practitioner to help me incorporate healing supplements into my routine, my digestive issues resolved. And as an added bonus all the foods that caused me so much pain and discomfort in the past are all back in my food routine now without any issues.
After hearing my story I'm sure it comes as no surprise that after achieving my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo and graduating from The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2007 I’ve focused my Naturopathic work on helping people who suffer from digestive concerns. In my practice as a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in Ontario I utilize a number of different testing methods to uncover food sensitivities that can be a contributing factor.
If you find yourself in a situation like I was where your daily routine is driven by your digestive system, I'd love to support you to tame your tummy troubles
Check out my blog for healthy tips and recipes
Safety First! …the natural way
Summer is a busy time of year with lots of outdoor activities to take part in. Family time spent in the great outdoors is wonderful, but sometimes we find minor accidents interrupting our fun in the sun. I was reminded of the importance and helpfulness of a natural first aid kit during our last trip Read more about Safety First! …the natural way[…]
The Power of Probiotics
We’ve been inundated by this word through television ads for yogurt products. What exactly are probiotics? Are they simply a healthy nutrient found only in yogurt? Not at all. The word probiotic is derived from the Greek meaning “for life”. Probiotics are the healthy bacteria that naturally reside in our digestive tract. There are more bacteria in our Read more about The Power of Probiotics[…]
Are You Deficient In Vitamin B12?
If you’re feeling run down, under the weather, low in energy, experiencing low moods, finding it difficult to focus, having nerve pain, or suffering from insomnia a Vitamin B12 injection protocol might be what you need. Probably most known for its energy boosting ability, Vitamin B12 is a complex water-soluble vitamin that is involved in Read more about Are You Deficient In Vitamin B12?[…]
Have Your Cake And Eat It Too…Guilt Free
My son just had his 3rd birthday and for the first time in his life he got to have a birthday party. And we all know that birthday parties mean birthday cake. Yum! I’m all for a delicious dessert, but I prefer to have a delicious dessert that’s good for me, even when it comes Read more about Have Your Cake And Eat It Too…Guilt Free[…]
Sunshine Injections Now Available
It’s commonly known that we get most of our Vitamin D supply from sun exposure. This can be rather hard to achieve when living in Canada where we only have a brief period of time with long daylight hours. Vitamin D has many roles in the body including: -growth and development -immune function -memory and Read more about Sunshine Injections Now Available[…]
Gluten Free Snacking
Gluten is a protein found in some grains and it can cause heavy duty symptoms for some people. Symptoms can include fatigue, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and possible damage to the intestinal villi. As you can see this protein can really wreak havoc on the digestive system. Making the change to remove wheat or all gluten Read more about Gluten Free Snacking[…]
Sprinkle On Some Nutrition
Some people may be surprised to hear that I let my 1 year old son have sprinkles on his food. In fact I encourage it! What my son knows as “sprinkles” is actually hemp hearts. These tasty little additions are loaded with nutrients. They give our foods an extra boost of protein, healthy fats and Read more about Sprinkle On Some Nutrition[…]
Chocolate Treat for Your Sweet
I’m always on the lookout for delicious healthy treats and this one has become one of my favourites. Chocolate, peanut butter, rice crispies and sea salt. You can’t go wrong! I found this tasty recipe in the book “Oh She Glows Every Day” by Angela Liddon. https://ohsheglows.com As with most recipes I like to make Read more about Chocolate Treat for Your Sweet[…]
Where It All Began.
This photo was taken when I was 11 years old. This was the year when everything changed. It was at this age that I developed a long list of food sensitivities. There are many thoughts on how food sensitivities develop, but I strongly believe that in my case it was related to stress from an Read more about Where It All Began.[…]
Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Medley
The cold winter months are a great time to bring more root veggies into your food routine. You may notice your body naturally starts to crave more squash, carrots and potatoes during these months. It’s important to fuel your body with warm cooked foods when living in a cold climate. Don’t try to power through Read more about Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Medley[…]
Tips For A Happy Tummy While You Travel
Whether you’re hopping in the car for a weekend road trip or boarding an airplane for an adventure far away traveling is always exciting, but can come with some unexpected tummy challenges as well. Traveling can be a real trial on the digestive system for many reasons. When we travel we easily slide out of Read more about Tips For A Happy Tummy While You Travel[…]
Greens Greens Glorious Dark Leafy Greens!
Dark leafy greens like kale, collards, spinach and Swiss chard are probably the one food LEAST consumed by most North American’s. Most people in my generation didn’t grow up with these types of foods and so as adults they continue to shy away from them. Those who have tried them, may had been turned Read more about Greens Greens Glorious Dark Leafy Greens![…]
Raw Chocolate Pudding – Yum!
Raw Chocolate Pudding is one of my favourite desserts and snacks to have on hand. It meets my desire for chocolate without being a sugar overload for my body and it’s super simple to make! I love to make up a batch and divide it into small tupperware containers to enjoy over the next few Read more about Raw Chocolate Pudding – Yum![…]
Chicken and Black Bean Soup
Has your household already been battling colds and illness this winter? Here’s a great recipe for a chicken and black bean soup full of nutrients that are soothing on the throat and healing to the body. And best of all it’s simple to make. Any soup that is broth based is rich in easy to Read more about Chicken and Black Bean Soup[…]
Parasites: You are not alone
Parasites…..most people shudder at this word. Parasites aren’t all giant scary organisms. In fact I can guarantee that you’ve had parasites at least once in your life time, probably more, without even knowing it. These tiny little guys are very common and are transmitted via their microscopic eggs, which can be obtained from unwashed fruits Read more about Parasites: You are not alone[…]
Stressed?
Jump out of bed, dress, feed kids, drop off kids, dash to work, meet the demands of the day, dash home, throw dinner together (literally), drop kids at hockey, back home, kids to bed, collapse. Is this the rhythm of your days? Intense with multiple things thrown at you all at once with little time Read more about Stressed?[…]
Doable Daily Digestive Support
Good digestion is one of the most important aspects to our health. Since food is the only substance our body has to make and repair all cells, tissues and organs in our body it’s vital that we not only eat good nutritious food, but that we ensure we digest these foods properly. You can Read more about Doable Daily Digestive Support[…]
Breathe Easy This Winter
If you live far enough north, winter is synonymous with skating, tobogganing, snowball fights, and other snowy pursuits. But it can also be a season of sickness, during which our bodies transform into mucous factories. Do you ever wonder where all this mucous is coming from? How can one tiny person produce so much yuck? Read more about Breathe Easy This Winter[…]
Let the “Joy of the Mountain” Support You During the Winter Months
We all know it’s the dreaded cold and flu season. Have you already had your first illness? Are you surrounded by sneezing co-workers and coughing family members? Being sick can really put a damper on things. I’d like to share with you my favourite go-to preventative and support for the winter months. OIL OF OREGANO Read more about Let the “Joy of the Mountain” Support You During the Winter Months[…]
Coffee Break!
I’m fortunate that I very rarely have headaches, but yesterday I had a doozy. I don’t know if it was the intense heat or all the humidity we’ve been having, but my head was pounding all day. By late afternoon I was desperate for relief and I decided to test the information I’d been reading Read more about Coffee Break![…]
Salted Caramel Bars
Some times we just need something sweet. These salty caramel bars are my new sweet obsession. Loaded with healthy ingredients providing you with the added benefit of antioxidants, magnesium, healing medium chain fatty acids, protein and so much more you can enjoy without feeling guilty. My favourite way to have these is straight out of Read more about Salted Caramel Bars[…]
Nourishing Bone Broth
Bone broth is one of the most healing foods in the world and it’s SUPER easy to make. A simple bone broth is made by boiling bones (beef, chicken, fish etc). You can add veggies and herbs as well if you like. Some acid, like vinegar, helps to pull the minerals from the bones and Read more about Nourishing Bone Broth[…]
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
It can be hard to find a nutrient dense snack that will keep you feeling energized and satisfied without overloading you on carbohydrates. Typically when we reach for a snack it’s a granola bar, cookie, crackers, muffin, or maybe an apple. All of which are carbs, carbs, carbs on top of some more carbs. When Read more about Toasted Pumpkin Seeds[…]
Veggie Re-Grow Challenge!
We like to re-use our vegetables. I understand this may sound strange, but did you know you can grow new veggies from the ones you buy at the grocery store? We most commonly do this with celery. It’s fun to chop the bottom off, set it in a dish of water in the window and Read more about Veggie Re-Grow Challenge![…]
Eat Away Inflammation
Inflammation has been at the top of my mind since aggravating my shoulder while skiing this long weekend. Usually we don’t give much thought to inflammation unless we have physically injured ourselves and are feeling the aching pain or seeing redness and swelling, but inflammation can easily be happening inside the body with out us Read more about Eat Away Inflammation[…]
My Basic Garden
I’m currently reading the book “Food Energetics- The Spiritual, Emotional, and Nutritional Power of What We Eat” by Steve Gagne. I’m just scratching the surface of it, but am excited for the information that lies ahead. I think this is a fascinating aspect of how food influences us. Food isn’t just all about vitamins and Read more about My Basic Garden[…]
Power Balls – Chocolate coconut goodness!
This is a favourite snack to make for a group of people or when you need to make some thing ahead to take to a party. These little guys freeze well! They’re always a big hit AND they’re healthy! It can be hard to find a great gluten and dairy free dessert. I highly recommend Read more about Power Balls – Chocolate coconut goodness![…]
Signs That You Need To Detoxify
We are all exposed to toxins daily. Things like – pesticides, industrial wastes, synthetic medicine, food additives, car exhaust and cigarette smoke and all of these are chemicals that are foreign to our body. They end up accumulating inside because our body does not know how to deal with them. This has a dramatic affect Read more about Signs That You Need To Detoxify[…]
The Power of Your Food
This week I’d like to share with you about the power of your food. I love working with people on the topic of nutrition and assessing what they’re eating, but more importantly discussing what things can be added in to support them and move their health in the direction they’d like it to go. Read more about The Power of Your Food[…]
Begin with a Balanced Breakfast
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I’m going to reinforce that point one more time for you. Breakfast REALLY is the most important meal of the day! This is the only opportunity you have to get your day off on the right foot with good energy, even Read more about Begin with a Balanced Breakfast[…]
Naturally Clean Laundry
If you’re like me and you have extra sensitive skin you already know how hard it is to find a good laundry detergent that doesn’t leave you feeling irritated for hours on end. I often find myself questioning the use of chemically loaded detergents found in stores. It didn’t feel right to clean items that Read more about Naturally Clean Laundry[…]
Curried Coconut Chicken
Last weekend we had a group cooking fest at the house. It was great fun to have a few people in the kitchen each focused on their own task as we tackled 2 new recipes. Yes, there were a few moments of chaos as we were flipping back and forth between recipes in the same Read more about Curried Coconut Chicken[…]
Feeling Under the Weather
As I sit here feeling congested, achy and fatigued I’m in awe of how the human body works. It has so many ways to help us get through an illness. Let’s start with the most disgusting feature – mucus. Our nasal cavity produces excess mucus in the winter, which traps foreign invaders – virus or Read more about Feeling Under the Weather[…]
Eating your way through a healthy winter!
As the seasons change and the temperature drops many of us begin to think about the dreaded colds and flus that accompany this time of year. It seems like we’re always on a mission to defend ourselves from the germs that everyone around us is trying to share. To help us make it through this Read more about Eating your way through a healthy winter![…]
Chicken Cassoulet
Any meal I can make in one pot sounds like a fantastic idea to me, so for Christmas I asked for a healthy slow cooker (crockpot) recipe book and that’s exactly what I got. It’s called “The Healthy Slow Cooker” by Judith Finlayson. This book is great. In addition to each recipe Judith includes a Read more about Chicken Cassoulet[…]
Don’t Let the Mucous Monster Take Over Your Winter!
Winter is a great season for many things – skating, tobogganing, snow ball fights, holidays with family, but for most of us it can also be a season of sickness, during which our body transforms into a mucus producing factory. Do you ever wonder where all this mucus is coming from and why it happens Read more about Don’t Let the Mucous Monster Take Over Your Winter![…]
Banishing Topsy-Turvy Turkey Tummy!
Do you fear developing your own little round belly,that gurgles like a bowlful of jelly this holiday season? So many good things come with this time of year, especially when it comes to food. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes made into magical sugar covered dishes, decorative cookies, pies, and tarts. So many mouthwatering foods to choose from, Read more about Banishing Topsy-Turvy Turkey Tummy![…]
Wild Rice Poultry Stuffing
1 week left until Christmas Eve! Many families are getting together in the next week or two to share a holiday feast together. Here’s a twist to your usual stuffing – and it’s gluten free! WILD RICE POULTRY STUFFING 4 Tbsp butter, melted 1/2 tsp each salt Read more about Wild Rice Poultry Stuffing[…]
A Sweet Treat without the Sugar!
The holidays are nearly here and Christmas baking is in full swing. Here’s one of my favourite sweet treats that’s not loaded with refined sugars or white flour, but is still delicious! And it’s easy and quick to make. Carob Bark 1 ½ cup carob chips 1/3 cup almond butter 2 cups whole almonds Melt Read more about A Sweet Treat without the Sugar![…]
Electrodermal Screening
Electrodermal Screening is a tool I use in my Oakville Naturopathic practice regularly, but it’s a type of testing that’s new to most people. Here’s answers to a few FAQ to help you understand what it’s all about. Q: What is Electrodermal Screening? A: Electrodermal Screening (EDS) is a tool which allows the practitioner to Read more about Electrodermal Screening[…]
Doing it…the natural way.
Have you ever felt like your body is some mystery that only your doctor can understand? Do you feel like getting older is just another way of saying “falling apart”? Your body is your greatest asset and the health of your body is greatly influenced by every decision you make regarding your lifestyle and eating Read more about Doing it…the natural way.[…]