Dr. Lisa Weeks, Naturopathic Doctor

09/11/2025

Who can relate?
This was literally my morning today.

Some days, we feel like we can and are doing it all.
Other days, we are lucky to get in a shower or brush our teeth.

Let's acknowledge the load that parents carry...all before the first 9 am work meeting.

And don't beat yourself up if you are cooking pre-made sausage rolls in the air-fryer or ordering in. We do the best we can with the energy and resources we have at that time.

Celebrating all the parents out there!

Is it bedtime yet?

09/04/2025

The messy, unpredictable, yet transformative ride toward freedom and rebirth.

08/26/2025

I haven’t picked up a fishing rod since I was a kid… but I’m giving it a go again .

I am excited to unplug, be with family, and soak in the calm of nature.

Sometimes the best medicine for health + wellbeing is slowing down and getting away from it all.

Want to join me in taking a digital pause? The Offline Club’s Aug 31st Challenge is all about logging off, connecting with yourself, loved ones, and nature.

Sign up here: https://www.theoffline-club.com/24-hour-digital-detox-challenge

08/23/2025

Yum! Gonna try this recipe with my leftover peaches. Thanks, Joyous Health! I was wondering what to do with them.

Make it this weekend! Peach and Wild Blueberry Cake.

https://www.joyoushealth.com/25974-blog-gluten-free-peach-and-wild-blueberry-cake/

08/14/2025

I’ve been coasting for months. Safe. Comfortable.

Then a sunrise paddleboard and a Friday night dance class changed everything.

David, my paddleboard instructor, told stories of deliberately stepping right into his fears—and slowly conquering them.

Then Kara, my dance instructor, and my friend Lisa (yes, another Lisa!) dropped a daring idea in my lap: perform in the Pink Studio’s dance recital in November.

Cue instant nerves. But I said yes.

I’m at home on stage (or on Zoom) when I’m talking about health.

I danced in recitals as an adolescent/teen.

But this? This is a whole new stage—different, thrilling, and way outside my wheelhouse.

Now I’m stepping onto a stage with silk fans in hand, pushing past the fear… and into growth.

If I trip? If I collide with another dancer? I’ll laugh, get up, and keep moving.

✨ What’s one thing you could say yes to that scares you just enough to grow?

08/12/2025

What you don’t know can hurt you.

We have to advocate for our own health. And that includes me, a Naturopathic Doctor, whose life’s work is to do what I can to feel good in my body as I age.

In November, last year, as I was entering late perimenopause, I asked my doctor for an early bone mineral density test. Osteoporosis runs in my family, including in the males. I knew family history was a risk factor as was my declining estrogen levels.

I was already on a regime of hormone therapy (yes, you can be on hormones even if you are still getting some menstrual cycles). I was eager to find my baseline bone density and didn’t want to wait 19 years till I turned 65 to get an unwelcome surprise.

My doctor agreed to an early bone mineral density (DEXA) scan. To her, and my surprise, the results showed I had significant osteopenia in my lumbar spine. My doctor could have left it at that, but we discussed it and she agreed to order a blood parathyroid hormone (PTH) test. This normally would not have been done, since my blood calcium levels and vitamin D levels were normal.

Lo and behold, my parathyroid hormone (PTH) was high! I was diagnosed with normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism. It sounds scarier than it is. It can be reversed by removing the benign tumour(s) from the parathyroid gland. Parathyroid hormone is involved in calcium homeostasis and bone remodelling. If left unchecked, it can leach calcium out of the bones, reducing bone density. I’m so grateful that I have this knowledge so that I can be even more proactive in preserving my bone mineral density. I'm now taking a higher dose of topical estrogen (which can help to maintain bone density) along with oral micronized progesterone. I’ve amped up my strength training game and protein intake further. I’m awaiting some follow up tests before we decide on surgery.

Don’t leave your health into the hands of others. Book in with me if you want to be proactive with your health and uncover other potential causes that may not be investigated.

Conditions and diseases are usually multi factorial – you need to address the root causes and not just go for the lowest hanging fruit

07/29/2025

☀️ Summer Mocktail: Lemon Balm Iced Tea 🌿

Looking for a refreshing drink that also helps calm your nervous system? Meet lemon balm iced tea—a cooling herbal infusion that’s alcohol-free, delicious, and supportive for mind and mood.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a gentle nervine herb that has been traditionally used to reduce anxiety, ease digestion, and support restful sleep. It has a subtle lemony-mint flavor that pairs beautifully with lime, mint, or even a splash of honey.

💛 Here's how to make it:

Steep 2 tablespoons of dried lemon balm (or 2 tea bags) in 2 cups of hot water for 10–15 minutes.

Let it cool, then pour over ice.

Add a squeeze of fresh lime or a few mint leaves for extra flavour.

✨ No alcohol, no sugar crash—just herbal goodness to help you stay cool, grounded, and glowing this summer.

Would you try it? Let me know your favourite herbal summer drink! 🍋🌿

07/11/2025

☀️ Feeling Down in the Summer? It Might Be Summer SAD

When we think of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), most of us picture the winter blues—low mood, fatigue, and cravings when the days get short and dark. But did you know that SAD can also happen in the summer?

🌞 Summer-pattern SAD (less common, but very real) affects some people when the weather gets hotter and the days grow longer. Instead of slowing down, people may feel:

👉Irritable or anxious
👉Restless or agitated
👉Struggling with sleep (insomnia)
👉Loss of appetite or weight loss
👉Overwhelmed by heat or social expectations

The long daylight hours and intense heat can disrupt your circadian rhythm, throw off melatonin and serotonin levels, and leave you feeling anything but sunny.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I look at:
🌿 Nutrient status (Vitamin D, magnesium, B vitamins)
🧠 Hormone and neurotransmitter balance
🧘‍♀️ Nervous system regulation with herbs, acupuncture, and lifestyle
☀️ Sleep and light exposure strategies

You don’t have to suffer just because it’s “supposed” to be a happy season.

✨ If you’re feeling off and can’t quite explain why, let’s talk. Support is available—summer sadness is real, and you don’t have to push through it alone.

Existing patients can book an appointment. Potential new patients (Ontario resdients, only), can start by booking a free 15-min Discovery call here: https://www.drlisaweeks.com/fees/online-booking-links/