Shelley Gibbs, Naturopathic Doctor

05/15/2026

Why can’t social media have any chill?

Today in ‘of course the internet ran away with things’, I present the TikTok trend “fibermaxxing”.

The idea behind it reflects a genuine nutritional gap. Most Canadians only consume half of the recommended amount of fiber per day.

✅ Fiber’s health benefits are well known – digestive health, appetite control & weight management, cardiometabolic health.

✅ Some of the fibermaxxing content is top notch – inspiring us to add more fruits & vegetables, whole grains, beans & lentils, and nuts & seeds; even highlighting which ones earn gold stars in the fiber department (hey there kiwi! 🥝).

❌ Some of the fibermaxxing content lacks nuance and personalization.

Not everyone will be okay with rapidly increasing their fiber consumption. Start with a small amount and gradually work up.

❌ And not all fibers are well tolerated by everyone. Ingredients like inulin and chicory root fiber are common ingredients in fiber (or “gut health”) bars, powders, gummies, snacks, and cereals. They can lead to gas and bloating and discomfort, especially in more sensitive guts. 💨

05/12/2026

The Lancet Journal announced today that (after years of global collaboration, input and discussion) PCOS is now officially PMOS: Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome.
This is a step in the right direction for a condition that affects 1 in 8 women (170 million people worldwide). More accurate clinical language is helpful and necessary. However, it also needs to result in more accurate and timely diagnoses, better patient care and treatment (that spans a lifetime), as well as more research and research funding.
The Lancet states that the transition will occur over the next 3 years and “overall goals include greater awareness, enhanced diagnosis, improved care quality and patient satisfaction”. I will cross my fingers that all of that is achieved.
What do you think?

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

05/04/2026

Next time you swing by the office, check out the magnolias in bloom on the Caroline Street side of the building!

05/01/2026

Do you experience brain fog? Trouble focusing, grasping for words, mental fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and forgetfulness. There are myriad reasons why this might be happening, perimenopause and ADHD among them. However, one key nutrient deficiency may also be playing a role (alone or by exacerbating underlying conditions like perimenopause and ADHD). Suboptimal ferritin (stored iron) levels are an often overlooked cause of brain fog. Low iron stores limit oxygen delivery to the brain and reduce dopamine synthesis. Suboptimal ferritin levels are also common in populations experiencing perimenopause and those diagnosed with ADHD. So, if you’ve been experiencing brain fog, it’s a good idea to have your ferritin level run. As of September 2025 Ontario has raised the baseline for what is considered normal (from 15ug to 30ug).

02/01/2026

I had a lovely time this week at The Westhill Retirement Living.

Women’s Circle Gathering - An afternoon of Learning & Connection.

Our Women’s Circle met on Monday and had the pleasure of welcoming Shelley Gibbs, Naturopathic Doctor for an insightful and energizing discussion on Optimizing Energy: The Role of Nutrition and Lifestyle.

Shelley explored common causes of fatigue and the important role nutrition plays in supporting energy levels. She shared valuable information about iron, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D, and how these nutrients impact our bodies as we age. She also empathized the importance of starting the day with protein and fiber, along with the powerful benefits of regular, exercise, quality sleep, and proper hydration.

Our residents truly enjoyed Shelley’s presentation and appreciation her knowledge, warmth, and personable approach. She sparked great conversation and left everyone feeling informed, inspired, and energized - we would happily welcome her back to our circle anytime!

Interested in being a guest speaker at our Women’s Circle? Please reach out to us here at The Westhill Retirement Living. We are always looking for engaging and informative speakers to join our Women’s Circle and share their expertise with our community.

12/20/2025

The clinic had a special visitor yesterday!

12/18/2025

Thank you very much to anyone who voted for me in the Waterloo Region Record’s “Best of Waterloo Region Reader’s Choice Awards 2025”. It is much appreciated. It’s an honour to work with you.

10/10/2025

Fire Cider!
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Have you made it before? Tried it before?
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I’ve always wanted to make it (and honestly don’t know why I haven’t) … until now! It’ll be ready in a few weeks, I’ll report back.
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Fire cider was created by Rosemary Gladstar, an herbalist/teacher/author, in the 1970’s. Gladstar wanted vinegar tinctures to take off, and created this concoction using readily available ingredients, that has a hot, sour, pungent & sweet taste. Hat tip to Rosemary for going with the name fire cider instead of vinegar tincture! The original formula calls for macerating fresh horseradish, ginger, garlic, onions, and cayenne pepper in apple-cider vinegar for three to four weeks, then finishing with honey. You will find countless variations/recipes online. I used (peeled & chopped) ginger root, turmeric root, garlic, and red onion. To that I added sliced jalapeno peppers, lemon, and orange. At the end I added a couple of cinnamon sticks, and a couple of sprigs of rosemary and thyme from the garden. I put all of the ingredients in clean mason jars, and then covered the ingredients in apple cider vinegar. You keep your jar(s) in a cool, dry place, and shake them every day or two. At the end, you strain your creation to remove the solids, and then you can add honey to cut the acidity. I wanted to include fresh horseradish, but couldn’t find it at two stores. If I make another batch, I will purposefully seek that out, in addition to trying different hot peppers (and whatever else strikes my fancy/feels like a good idea at the time!). The potential health benefits to Fire Cider (often taken a spoonful or shot per day, or mixed into salad dressing) are myriad and are related to the properties of the ingredients used: digestive aid, antimicrobial, immune tonic, circulatory/cardiovascular support, and anti-inflammatory.

10/06/2025

A big thank you to everyone who nominated/voted for me to be included in the final round of the Record’s ‘Best of Waterloo Region’ Reader’s Choice Awards 2025 in the categories of Best Naturopath and Best Naturopathic Clinic. Much appreciated. Voting in this final round ends on October 17th. 😊 🗳️
https://best-businesses.thereaderschoice.ca/o/waterloo/readers-choice-2025-voting