Dr. Tanya McEachern ND

02/05/2026

I do a lot of hormone testing with people who book appointments with me. Below is an example of the summary page (usually its about a 14 page report if we’re testing hormones)

It allows women to stop guessing about their hormones (almost everyone thinks they have high cortisol for example). With a comprehensive hormone test (and me as your guide), we can see exactly where the imbalances lie, and this results in us knowing EXACTLY what we need to do to fix them

I often hear the question “But Dr. Tanya, aren’t my hormones changing in perimenopause?”

And the answer is YES, which is why we test using saliva & urine. Blood (serum) tests are notoriously terrible for perimenopausal women, especially when it comes to questions like “should I try HRT?” and “what type of HRT do I need? Progesterone? Estrogen? Pills? Patches?”

But saliva & urine testing look at your tissue level averages, which is the information we need to evaluate the above questions and more.
I prescribe HRT (bioidentical creams to be exact), but never without doing a test like this first

Because it doesn’t make sense to take hormonal therapies without first testing hormones accurately

Another advantage is we can get a sense of what dosages you will need (unlike the one size fits all approach of the estrogen patch and progesterone pill, standard HRT prescriptions from family doctors and gynaecologists here in Ontario)

The hormone test, which is a kit I will give you to take home and complete, includes:
* 7 data points of cortisol, measured throughout the day and night (so we can see if its spiking overnight and impacting sleep for example)
* The body’s 3 main estrogens (estrone, estradiol and estriol) and how well you metabolize them
* Progesterone and its metabolites (so you’ll know if you’re better off with a pill or a cream)
* All the androgens (DHEA, Testosterone & More)
* Measurements of a TON of other stuff like your melatonin & dopamine levels, your biotin levels, how well your body’s detoxifying (glutathione status), how much inflammation you have, +more

Stop guessing and start testing! You’ll save yourself a lot of wasted time & effort. Book yourself an appointment - link in Bio

01/08/2026

This is not a vitamin you want to be low on.

Probably the number one most important vitamin, if I had to choose only one. And really, its actually more a hormone than a vitamin. So why do I love this vitamin so much?
 
… Because its used by every single cell in the body! All 37 trillion! Only vitamin D and T3 hormone have this in common, so its a factor in every body system including:
-hormones (estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, insulin, etc)
-bone health
-fertility
-pain reduction
-mood/anxiety/depression
-sleep
-skin
-cancer prevention
-immune health
-weight loss
… basically the stuff I treat day in & day out
Testing & fixing vitamin D is an easy win for us
 
Blood test facts:
Conventional range is 75-250 in Ontario. In the naturopathic world, we consider optimal levels to be around 150. So even if someone comes back within the range, they might still need more, especially if dealing with any of the above issues
 
Symptoms of deficiency (long list, considering all the body systems, so here are the biggest ones):
Seasonal Affective Disorder & low mood
Headaches
Fatigue
Bone stuff
High cholesterol
Most cancers
Diabetes
Frequent /recurrent/neverending colds & infections
Kidney stones and/or gallstones
Muscle cramps/weakness
Skin concerns (acne, boils, eczema…)
 
Also, not a symptom, but most people with auto-immune diseases are deficient in D at some point - psoriasis, hashimotos, IBD, Rheumatoid arthritis…
 
Drugs that lower vitamin D:
cholesterol meds
laxatives
steroids
weight loss drugs
seizure meds
 
Being overweight also predisposes you to lower D levels automatically, because Vitamin D kind of gets trapped in the fat cells & cant be used (biochem nerd note - this is because its a “fat soluble” vitamin)

This is a lot of info so I’ll stop here! And please dont get me started on Vitamin B12 or magnesium!
 
If you would like to discuss your vitamin D levels, testing them, or anything else please let me know and/or book an appointment using the link in my bio ☀️

01/05/2026

Most people trying to lose weight focus on calories, carbs, or willpower

But there’s a much more powerful factor that determines how easily your body can burn fat: insulin — what I call the forgotten hormone.
Insulin is your body’s storage hormone. When it’s high, your body is locked into fat-storage mode and struggles to shift into fat-burning mode. Many people — especially those with stubborn weight gain — walk around with chronically elevated insulin, a condition called hyperinsulinemia

Here’s the surprising part 👇
Most medical doctors test glucose, not insulin. And glucose can look completely normal even when insulin is sky-high. That means people are often told their blood sugar is “fine” while insulin is quietly working against their metabolism every day

Hyperinsulinemia = weight-loss resistance
When insulin stays elevated:
• Fat storage increases (especially belly fat)
• Fat burning slows
• Hunger and cravings increase
• Energy crashes become more common
• Weight loss becomes extremely difficult — even with a “perfect” diet

You can’t burn fat efficiently when insulin is holding the brakes

Hyperinsulinemia vs. insulin resistance — not the same thing
Hyperinsulinemia means insulin is too high. Insulin resistance means your cells don’t respond well to insulin, so your body produces even more to compensate. Many people have both at the same time, creating a cycle that drives stubborn weight gain, cravings, and energy crashes

A simple, inexpensive blood test — fasting insulin — paired with fasting glucose allows us to calculate HOMA-IR, a marker of insulin resistance. This helps explain:
• stalled weight loss
• constant hunger
• easy weight gain
• fluctuating energy

Some people have normal fasting labs but huge insulin spikes after meals, especially after carbohydrates. Testing both fasting and fed-state insulin (1–2 hours after a meal) shows how your body actually handles food in real life

Once we know your pattern, we can tailor nutrition and lifestyle strategies to what your body is telling us — instead of guessing

📍 Insulin testing is affordable, quick, and available to my patients through LifeLabs. Book your appointment now and lets get started

12/20/2025

Let’s make this your best year yet 👏

Will we be meeting soon? Below is a list of ways I might be able to help

* 1-on-1 if you live in Ontario - join the millions of Canadians who have sought Naturopathic care. NDs are crucial to improving health and quality of life in today’s world. For you if you feel standard medical care has disappointed you, are looking for a more thorough evaluation, want time to ask questions during visits, and would prefer to use drugs & surgery as a last resort. Covered by most extended health care plans
* Easy START 5-Step System to Healthy Weight - it’s a comprehensive 5 module online course complete with video lectures, handouts and more. We cover hormone testing, what heath tests to ask about, HRT, what foods to eat & avoid, exercise, sugar cravings, sleep, and so much more. It’s your one stop shop if you’re in perimenopause, especially if you’re the DIY type looking for information you can trust to help yourself achieve your weight & wellness goals. Complete from home at your own pace
* Achieving Healthy Weight Free Masterclass - on demand webinar. I teach the WHY of the weight (hint: it’s hormones like cortisol & estrogen), the easiest instant metabolism boosting secret, and the biggest exercise mistake women make
* Hot Flashes Mini Masterclass - always available, this is a quick study for anyone looking to better understand where their hot flashes are coming from, and some effective natural strategies to reduce them immediately
* Holistic Perimenopause Haven - our free Facebook group for anyone looking for community and support in peri. It’s a great place to share and ask questions (anonymously if you wish) about the changes you might be experiencing, and swap tricks & tips for success with women who are just like you

These resources are packed with credible information to teach you about your health & your body. Because once you know better, you do better (shoutout to Oprah for the quote!)

Is there another topic you would like me to cover in the coming year? Let me know below in the comments! Links in my bio for all this and more

Dr. Tanya 💜

11/24/2025

The $28 Insulin Test That Explains Why Weight Loss Feels Impossible

Most people trying to lose weight focus on calories, carbs, or willpower. But there’s a much more powerful factor that determines how easily your body can burn fat: insulin (or what I call the forgotten hormone)....

Discover how insulin affects weight loss and metabolism. Learn about hyperinsulinemia and the test that can change your approach to fat burning.

08/03/2025

Juicing is an easy way to get your 5-10 recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables, which most people don't get but is SO important not only for achieving and maintaining excellent health but also preventing disease......

https://tanyamceachern.com/2025/08/03/3-easy-juicing-recipes-to-help-you-live-long/

07/11/2025

It’s a probiotic, and in addition to aiding digestion and elimination, this healthy bacteria is important for the absorption and production of certain nutrients, like B vitamins and vitamin K......

It’s a probiotic, and in addition to aiding digestion and elimination, this healthy bacteria is important for the absorption and production of certain nutrients, like B vitamins and vitamin K& #8230…

06/20/2025

I read a survey recently by the National Mental Health Association that found, unbelievably......

I read a survey recently by the National Mental Health Association that found, unbelievably…

05/01/2025

It's not just men who have testosterone. Women have testosterone too, and here’s why its really important for us......

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02/28/2025

Insulin resistance impacts healthy weight management by preventing your body from burning fat efficiently......

Insulin resistance impacts healthy weight management by preventing your body from burning fat efficiently…

02/26/2025

Read this if you don’t really know what insulin resistance is… 👇

Insulin resistance impacts healthy weight management by preventing your body from burning fat efficiently

When assessing a woman’s hormones, this one is often overlooked (and testing blood sugar is not the same as testing insulin)

It’s estimated one out of every two people are now insulin resistant (so unfortunately this can easily be you)... 👀

I test almost every patient with a simple & cheap blood test to see if they’re insulin resistant and if they are, to what degree

Insulin resistance is something we can improve with food, lifestyle changes and natural supplements once we know you have it

If ignored or untreated, insulin resistance can progress to diabetes, now estimated to impact 10% of Canadians 😱

Women with PCOS are often insulin resistant but have never had this assessed (it’s treatable too)

My patients love it when we re-test after 3 months and see their insulin resistance has decreased (or resolved entirely, our favourite)

Don’t overlook insulin resistance when it comes to your health & weight loss efforts. It’s too important 💪

Follow me for more like this and book an appointment if you live in Ontario (link in bio) 👩🏻‍⚕️

01/31/2025

POV: You've been to see your regular Doctor about some symptoms you've been having. They run a few basic tests and tell you everything's fine. You leave the office feeling......

Lab tests - optimal results