Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner advises readers on how to remedy common health issues and improve their overall health.

Dr. Turner answers all your detox questions.

Beginning the fall with a cleanse or detox is a fantastic way to jump-start your weight loss process, clear your complexion, improve digestion and optimize wellness. Toxicity of the liver and the digestive system makes us feel bloated, tired and generally unwell, which makes it tough to begin an exercise program and to stay motivated.

Weight Loss and Toxicity
The majority of the toxins in our body are fat-soluble. This means they are stored in our fat cells and may be released into our system when we begin a weight loss and exercise program. Another important factor to consider is that being thin does not necessarily mean being healthy and that the steps used today to achieve your weight loss goals must be safe, well-planned and executed. Now, let's tackle a few questions you may have regarding detox so that you can get started and successfully complete your cleansing program.

How long should I stay on the detox?
A minimum of two weeks is best for a cleanse. However, individuals with chronic symptoms or conditions (arthritis, endometriosis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, etc.) may wish to continue for four to six weeks. Before beginning, and in order to avoid cheating or falling off the program, it is best to eat the foods currently in your fridge that will not be allowed in your detox program. Plan your meals to prepare for the detox, shop for specific foods and supplements and make sure all your social commitments are out of the way. Revisit The Hormone Diet for a detailed detox plan.

Which supplements should I take?

Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner advises readers on how to remedy common health issues and improve their overall health.


A couple of weeks ago we discussed natural and nutritional methods for reducing your risk of breast cancer. This week I would like to touch on another very important topic for women -- cervical dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia is a term used to describe the occurrence of abnormal, sometimes pre-cancerous cells in the cervix, the lowest part of the uterus. Having regular PAP smears is the single most important habit a woman can adopt to detect dysplasia.

The stages of dysplasia can be classified as mild, moderate or severe. Early diagnosis of dysplasia is important as the majority of mild cases may regress on their own, but they can be treated with proper defensive measures. In more severe or untreated cases, the risk of invasive cervical cancer is much higher. This progression into cervical cancer may occur slowly over the years or may evolve aggressively over a shorter period of time.

Early detection and treatment of dysplasia is essential for cancer prevention. For this reason, most physicians remove suspicious cervical lesions right away and see their patients every three to six months for regular PAP smear tests to rule out a recurrence.

Six risk factors and common sense treatment options after the jump.

Have you ever checked the nutrition label of your breakfast cereal? You might be surprised to learn that your favourite, high-fibre, "healthy" cereal is jam-packed with sugar and sodium. Children's boxed cereals are even worse and I've listed 10 brands you might want to avoid on my website.

Breakfast cereals were initially developed for convenience, but most are nothing more than "highly-processed, sweetened grains sprinkled with synthetic vitamins", says osteopathic physician and holistic health expert, Dr. Mercola. I agree and so am posting a delicious homemade cereal that you and your kids will love.

If you're a regular reader of my recipes, you'll know that I'm crazy for quinoa. It's a versatile, gluten-free grain. Actually, it's technically a seed and what makes it really special is the fact it's a complete source of protein – meaning, it contains all essential amino acids. If you've read That's Fit.ca contributor, Dr. Natasha Turner's book, The Hormone Diet, then you know eating protein for breakfast is absolutely essential for blood sugar and hormonal balance, which equates to weight loss and keeping your energy stable all day long. Quinoa can be the base for any breakfast cereal.

I posted a recipe for hot apple cinnamon quinoa last winter, which is comforting and ideal for a cold morning. But as the weather warms up, you may not want crave a hot breakfast. Instead, make up a double batch of quinoa for dinner and then save the leftovers in a glass container for an easy breakfast the next morning.

This is a great recipe is you are following That's Fit.ca's 30-Day Nutrition Challenge.

Nutrition information and recipe after the jump:

Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner advises readers on how to remedy common health issues as well as improve their overall health.


Very soon, for the first time in history, there will be more people over the age of 50 than under it. This means there will be a lot of women going into menopause which may explain why I get questions about this topic daily.

Q: Dear Dr. Turner, What are some things you can take to ease hot flashes and night sweats?
Thanks for your help!

A: Hot flashes can be very irritating because they disrupt sleep. They occur as estrogen levels change in the body, not because of a deficiency of estrogen, a common misconception. What you need to consider as possible treatments are anything that will help support a constant level of estrogen in your body.

Here are eight tips to follow to support your estrogen needs:

1. Pour on the flaxseeds. Add two to three tablespoons of flaxseeds to protein smoothies, salads, cereals, yogurt and oatmeal each day. They should be purchased ground, in a sealed container and kept in the freezer for freshness. You could also purchase whole flaxseeds and grind them yourself at home.

Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner advises readers on how to remedy common health issues as well as improve their overall health.

Many people, myself included, think one of the most attractive parts of the opposite sex's body is their stomach-and maybe a nice set of shoulders...In any case, the last place you want fat hanging around is at your waist. It seems this is the first place it goes when you gain a few pounds and it is the last place to leave.

Believe it or not, those pesky fat patches have more to do with hormonal balance than a pregnant woman eating pickles and ice cream!

Love handles aren't just unattractive, carrying weight around your abdomen is bad for your health-worse than carrying weight on your hips or thighs. Excess fat around the waist, or an apple body shape, is suggestive of insulin resistance, a condition that is linked to the development of heart disease and diabetes. It is also indicative of an imbalance in cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone, which, if chronically high, can result in increased deposition of fat around the abdomen. To further complicate the situation, feeling stressed out or depressed may worsen the problem.

Insulin resistance

Insulin is the chemical signal that allows sugar to enter your cells to be used as fuel. Insulin levels also have a direct impact on body composition, as these sugars are later stored as fat if they are not consumed as a source of energy. Insulin resistance causes levels of insulin in the blood to increase. This increase is related to a reduced sensitivity of the body tissues, like muscle, to normal levels of the hormone. As a result, the body tries to overcome this by secreting more insulin from the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes ensues when the pancreas fails to sustain this increased demand for insulin production.

It is currently estimated that one out of every four Americans has insulin resistance. A primary cause is excess intake of sugar or carbohydrates typical of many diets today. This includes foods such as pop or candy as well as cakes, muffins, pastries, chips, crackers, pizza and many other processed foods. Insulin resistance may also be attributed to lack of exercise, overindulging in alcohol, stress, a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure and excess body fat, especially around the abdomen.

Six sure-fire ways to lose "the handles":

Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner will illustrate a health issue she commonly sees in her practice and advise readers on how to remedy the problem as well as improve their overall health.

This week she tackles the connection between hormonal balance and weight loss.





There is a new formula for fat loss and it's no longer based solely upon calories:

Hormonal Balance + (Calories In - Calories Out) = Lasting Fat Loss

You can ensure the elements of this equation are in check by requesting the basic blood tests I have outlined below from your MD or ND. This little bit of extra effort just might make all your hard work at the gym and in the kitchen pay off this summer.

1. Thyroid Hormone Assessments

Blood test(s) you want to request: TSH, Free T3 and Free T4

Why: These four tests are required to accurately assess the function of the thyroid gland, our master gland of metabolism. An optimal TSH should be less than 2.0, not the currently accepted 4.7 reported by most labs. T3 and T4 should be in the middle of your lab's reference range. It's almost impossible to have a low body fat with an improperly diagnosed or managed case of hypothyroidism. In fact, even a modest increase of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) within the reference range may be associated with weight gain according to a study reported in Archives of Internal Medicine (March 2008).