Dr. Sarah Penney, ND, MSc - Naturopathic Doctor

01/15/2022

Having some fun between virtual visits today- in hindsight I think it guessed I have been a Naturopathic Doctor for 10 years now!

11/16/2020

Some of the conditions I am treating every day as an ND. And a ton of these could be linked together! I am still offering virtual (anywhere in ) and in person visits (In )!

11/05/2020

08/10/2020

How do you find you are staying hydrated with a mask on all day? I am having more patients come in with headaches and constipation caused by dehydration. I’m finding a cup with a reusable straw at my desk I can easily slip under my mask is doing the trick! 😷 💦

08/09/2020

Do you have a little one that is heading back to school in September? Even kiddos can sense the stress going on in their environment, and may feel some extra pressure with social distancing rules. I love this post about how to make a school kit that could help your child relax in times of panic or stress put together by social worker Nicole Carter (.alfie )! Check out her page for more great info on childhood emotions and management. @ Hamilton, Ontario

04/15/2020

⁣Does smoking ma*****na affect female fertility? Asking for a friend. ⠀
⠀
Ma*****na is the most common recreational drug used before and during pregnancy.⠀
As it turns out, smoking w**d may not PREVENT you from getting pregnant, but it could cause some major issues during your pregnancy. ⠀
⠀
Research shows that THC (one of the main chemical compounds in ma*****na) can travel through the bloodstream and cause complications with the developing fetus, increasing the risk of pregnancy loss or miscarriage. Synthetic cannabinoids often used in vapes may have a stronger effect on THC receptors, posing an even higher risk of pregnancy complications. ⠀
⠀
Activation of cannabinoid receptors in the body can have negative effects on the placenta, which is the organ that provides the developing fetus with all the nutrients and oxygen it needs. This can result in problems during early stages of embryo development, increasing risk for low birth weight and pre-term birth. Ma*****na use may also increase the risk of a tubal pregnancy (a potentially life threatening condition) or cause implantation failure. ⠀
⠀
One study showed that among 317 pregnancies, women who were smoking ma*****na were more than two times more likely to have a miscarriage then women who had stopped smoking the drug or had never smoked it. Ma*****na has also been shown to increase the risk of pregnancy loss among women undergoing treatments for infertility. ⠀
⠀
CBD oil has not yet been well evaluated in pregnancy. ⠀
⠀
These effects can even happen in women who only smoke ma*****na one or twice per week. If you are thinking about preparing your body for pregnancy, it is important to stop smoking 3 months before getting pregnant to prevent issues with implantation. ⠀
⠀
Want to know more about preparing your body for pregnancy? I am booking fertility discovery calls at the end April where you can learn more about Naturopathic Medicine and my fertility prep program. Link in profile to book! ⠀
⠀
*****na

04/09/2020

It’s crazy how important Vitamin D is for our systems. It’s classically involved in bone health but also influences inflammation, cancer risk, sugar metabolism, autoimmune disorders and of course mood. A new study released in April 2020 describes the role that vitamin D levels can have in supporting fertility. Both men and women have vitamin D receptors in reproductive tissues. In men this may play an early role in s***m production. Women have vitamin D receptors in the o***y, fallopian tube cells, walls of the uterus and in the placenta during pregnancy. It may influence both egg health and a healthy uterine lining. Vitamin D also plays an important role in estrogen and progesterone production.

PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome) - During fertility treatments, Vitamin D supplementation decreased inflammatory markers, improved insulin resistance and helped increase the number of mature follicles at ovulation. Higher vitamin D levels also appear to increase the chance of ovulation and pregnancy in PCOS.

ENDOMETRIOSIS - Vitamin D receptors in the uterine lining can regulate local inflammation and immune response, but it is not yet known though if Vitamin D actually makes endometriosis worse. Some human and animal studies suggest that decreasing stimulation of these receptors can improve symptoms although evidence is mixed.

S***M HEALTH - Low vitamin D levels have been correlated with decreased testosterone, low s***m motility and poor overall s***m quality, although supplemention with Vitamin D in studies does not seem to increase pregnancy rate.

FEMALE VITAMIN D AND IVF - Some research suggests that women who have appropriate levels of Vitamin D get pregnant more often, and this may even holds true during IVF. Making sure to bring your vitamin D levels up to par before an IVF cycle certainly doesn’t hurt, and it may increase the chance of pregnancy, especially if you have PCOS.

Get your vitamin D levels tested with an ND to know if you are deficient and determine how much you need to take!

@ Hamilton, Ontario

04/03/2020

I’ve heard from so many women who are heartbroken their IUI or IVF fertility cycles have been put on hold due to . Every month that goes by can be so frustrating without a pregnancy when you want to be doing everything you can to make it happen. So what can these patients do? Think of this time as an opportunity to prep their body and optimize egg health. Preparing your body for a pregnancy in 2020 ISN’T CANCELLED!

It takes 3 months for the body to mature and release an egg, so this is the perfect time do a nutritional review and make sure you are getting all the nutrients needed for egg health. Healthy fat intake is the biggest area I often find patients lacking - I recommend focusing on coconut oil, avocado, olive oil and nuts and seeds. Should you be eating dairy? I think the answer to that is patient specific. :) And fish oils have also been show to help support fertility, with research even suggesting that higher fish intake could improve outcomes in IVF.

So what can you do right now to increase chances of pregnancy? Work with what you can control:

🥚 support nutrient levels
🥚 decrease inflammation
🥚 optimize sleep and melatonin
🥚 manage stress levels
🥚 move your body

Don’t lose any more time this year sitting around waiting - I’m ready to help you figure out where to start! Book a FREE 15 min Exploration Call any time to meet me and chat about supporting your fertility naturally.

03/27/2020

Well - I don’t know about you but it feels like quarantine day #207 over here. This is such a strange time, not knowing how long this will last and what life will look like when it is over. Will this virus affect any of our family members? How will it impact our local economy? Living with such impending uncertainty can be unsettling for many of us.

Trying to stay present is a coping strategy to stop your mind from racing. This means focusing your attention, energy and thoughts on what is going on right now. And I don’t mean the news flooding in every waking minute about COVID stats, I mean having a tea and watching children still playing on the streets. Or chopping veggies for dinner. Or folding laundry and notice how the towels feel, or relaxing and watching a show that makes you laugh.

If you are finding yourself trying to read but losing your spot, or jumping from task to task without finishing anything, or holding a conversation but really thinking of something else - your mind is likely racing. If you are feeling overwhelmed at home, try making a list of things that you can accomplish one task at a time. Experiment by doing things at a slow pace. You can even talk in your head to yourself about the actions you are doing to keep your mind focused. (ex - now I am washing my hands)

One quick way to get your mind grounded is to focus on your breath. As silly as it might sound, your breath is something you always have with you and can use anytime. Try to take a deep breath in and out through your nose. Notice how your chest feels when it rises and falls. Try to take 10 of these breaths, and close your eyes if that helps you focus more.

Try to monitor the messages you let into your head, especially first thing in the morning. Do you find that going on Facebook or social media makes your mind spin? Evaluate if certain triggers could be dragging you into a downward spiral, and act accordingly. Maybe a social media detox is in order?

I am now offering appointments via telemedicine - reach out if you need help managing stress and anxiety during this time. Book online anytime through my website - www.CompleteNaturalHealth.ca

03/21/2020

Being out of a routine is tough. So is working out of an office at home that is close to the kitchen! What are you doing to try and make it though this period of down time? We are tying to get out for walks every day, meal prepping tonight and I have challenged myself not to nap today! It’s 4:20 so I’m doing good. Let me know how you are making out with maintaining your routines! Maintaining healthy habits is one of the best things you can do for your immune system!!