Dr. Tanya McEachern ND

03/28/2026

If you feel like your body has changed and no one has explained why… this is for you.

So many women are told their labs are “normal” while dealing with fatigue, hormone shifts, weight changes, and brain fog.

There is usually a reason—and when you understand what’s going on, everything becomes clearer.

My door is open to help you figure it out, whether you’re a new patient and it’s been a while or you’re totally new to natural health. I’ve got you.

I focus on identifying the root cause and creating simple, effective natural healing plans so you can start feeling like yourself again.

✨ Book an initial visit to get started
📍 Cambridge + Virtual Ontario

03/26/2026

How do you know your diet is actually healthy for YOU? You know your diet needs to change, but what are you doing wrong and how do you figure out what you should do?

This is one of my top approaches for weight management—and it’s essential for hormone balance too.
But here’s the catch 👇

“Healthy” foods can still be inflammatory… if they don’t agree with your body.

Most people assume gluten or dairy are the problem and try cutting them out.
But what if they’re not?

👉 What if your body reacts to almonds… eggs… or something you’re eating every single day?

On average, people have multiple food sensitivities (often 10–20+).
So you might be trying to lose weight, increasing protein, eating more eggs + dairy…
…and unintentionally driving inflammation → slowing progress → hitting a plateau.

Food sensitivities don’t just affect digestion. They can show up as:

• Bloating, gas, heartburn, loose stools
• IBS / IBD symptoms
• Headaches + migraines
• Mood, focus + attention issues
• Weight gain or stalled weight loss
• Skin issues (hives, eczema)
• Fatigue + sweating
• Joint pain + inflammation
• Brain fog, memory changes
• Asthma + allergies

✨ The good news: this is something we can actually test.

It’s a simple blood test (done through LifeLabs), and once we get your results, we build a plan around exactly what your body needs.

✔️ No guessing
✔️ No unnecessary restriction
✔️ No cutting out foods “just because”

And it’s not forever—
we typically use a targeted elimination for ~3 months, then reintroduce strategically.

Because the goal isn’t restriction.
It’s helping your body feel safe enough to heal, balance hormones, and finally respond.

—

If your body isn’t responding the way it “should”…
it’s usually trying to tell you something. 💬 Book an appointment (link in bio) to get started 🍎

03/25/2026

If you feel like your body has changed and no one has explained why… this is for you.

So many women are told their labs are “normal” while dealing with fatigue, hormone shifts, weight changes, and brain fog.

There is usually a reason—and when you understand what’s going on, everything becomes clearer.

My door is always open to help you figure it out, whether you’re an existing patient and it’s been a while or whether you’re totally new to natural health. I’ve got you.

I focus on identifying the root cause and creating simple, effective natural healing plans so you can start feeling like yourself again.

✨ Book your initial visit to get started
📍 Cambridge + Virtual Ontario

03/21/2026

If you’ve been trying to figure out your health on your own… this is exactly why you feel stuck.

Real progress usually doesn’t come from one approach—it comes from the right combination of care. You might need more than one person on your health care team.

At Health in Balance, your treatment isn’t limited to one perspective. You have access to a collaborative team and tools that support your health from multiple angles—so we can move forward with more clarity, better insight, and a more effective plan. This doesn’t replace what your medical doctor offers, but compliments & adds to it.

This means:
✔ more answers
✔ more support
✔ better outcomes

If you’re tired of guessing and want a clear, personalized plan, this is where to start.

✨ Book Your Appointment Today - Link In Bio

📍 Cambridge + Virtual Ontario

03/03/2026

A better plan: test & treat your hormones (properly!), make sure you don’t have any nutrient deficiencies zapping your energy, know your insulin pattern (which means figuring out if you should fast or snack for example), and get on a personalized anti-inflammatory diet for the win 💚. Link in bio to book your initial visit - make some real progress with your health AND feel better while you do it. Testing makes all the difference ✅

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…