Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction DEXA Bone Density Scans are the gold standard for assessing the quality of the inside of bone and determining whether a person has osteopenia or osteoporosis. However, a DEXA Body Composition Scan is a different tool entirely. While it is excellent … Read more
NOTE: This article was originally posted on August 20, 2023, and was revised and reposted on April 19, 2026. Introduction Some people are considering going “plant-based” for perceived health reasons or for ethical considerations, and while these are important, evaluating plant protein quality is also necessary. Assessing protein quality using the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid … Read more
Note: This article was originally posted on August 13, 2023, and was updated on April 19, 2026. Introduction In the interest of time, many people throw a cup or more of fruit, some green veggies, and maybe some protein powder into a blender to make a smoothie for breakfast. But most people don’t realize how … Read more
NOTE: This article was originally posted on August 11, 2023, and has been updated and reposted on April 19, 2026. Introduction The inability to retain muscle and strength associated with aging is called sarcopenia. Since adults lose approximately 1% of muscle mass each year after the age of thirty [1], knowing how to retain muscle … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction In the last several years, there has been increased interest in the use of a ketogenic diet to support mental health; however, some types of therapeutic ketogenic diets used in mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder with psychosis and schizophrenia, … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction A recent social media post about a Canadian woman living in the United States who discovered that the ingredients in a major brand of ketchup manufactured in Canada and the United States were different caused quite a stir. Online discussion centered … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction Most people have heard of the high-fat, low-carb “keto” diet for weight loss and blood sugar control, but a therapeutic ketogenic diet (TKD) is different (read more here). A therapeutic ketogenic diet is a type of medical nutrition therapy used as … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction Did you know that thyroid medication can worsen blood sugar? The “highlights of prescribing information” sheets available to pharmacists and doctors for medications such as Synthroid® (generic: levothyroxine) and Cytomel® (generic: liothyronine) warn that both these types of thyroid medication can … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction This update marks just over six months since I was diagnosed with profound hypothyroidism and began medication and nutritional treatment. It is written from a subjective perspective and thus is categorized as part of my personal story, “A Dietitian’s Journey.” At … Read more
Introduction Three years ago, Tim Rees, a clinician from Germany, lost all his hair a second time to alopecia universalis (AU). As a registered clinical nutritionist, he felt he had lost his credibility to help others with autoimmune conditions, and when he expressed those feelings in a recent blog, it struck a chord with me. … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction People’s identity is tied to their appearance, which makes significant hair loss at any age or gender devastating, but can nutritional supplements help? Those experiencing different types of hair loss are often desperate to find a solution, and there is no … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction People’s identity is tied to their appearance, which makes significant hair loss at any age or gender devastating, but can nutritional supplements help? Those experiencing different types of hair loss are often desperate to find a solution, and there is … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction The previous article titled “Hair Loss – Root Causes” was about the three most common types of hair loss, including androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, and the most common form of diffuse hair loss, telogen effluvium, which is the type often associated … Read more
Note: This article is 6 of 6 articles that have been posted to this website and are in a separate category from research articles, and that category is called “A Dietitian’s Journey”. These 6 articles document my recovery from profound hypothyroidism (June 3, 2022 – October 31, 2022) and represent only my personal experience. They … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction As outlined in a previous article, the standard screening test for abnormal thyroid function is thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), but if those results come back within normal range and a person has no known risk factors or obvious symptoms of thyroid disease, … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction Hair loss can be a very distressing symptom, especially when it is noticeable to ourselves and others. However, before outlining strategies for addressing it, we first need to understand what’s causing it. That is the purpose of this article. The next … Read more
Introduction According to the American Thyroid Association, 6% of the population have some type of thyroid disease and 60% of them (~12 million people) are unaware of it. Assuming the same rate applies in Canada, 2.3 million people in Canada have thyroid disease and almost 1.4 million people are unaware of it. Since changes in … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction The role of diet in metabolic health is well-known, but many people do not realize that hormones, including those from the thyroid, impact that health significantly. The Role of Thyroid Hormones from The Merck Manual of Medical Information (1997) [Image of … Read more
Introduction NOTE: This article contains aspects of my personal story which are clearly marked. My personal experience is not objective data. The pictures are provided only so that people can better understand what the “weight gain” of hypothyroidism can look like, and how different it is from ordinary weight gain. In-person visits to the doctor … Read more
Note: This article was originally posted on July 14, 2022, and was completely updated and reposted on November 3, 2025, and reviewed on April 26, 2026. Introduction When people have blood tests to “check their thyroid,” the test that is performed is a TSH test. TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone. Provincial … Read more
Introduction I never planned to write a low-carb bread book, but it came about due to both interest and need. Beginning in September 2021, I started experimenting with low-carb breads not made from nut flour. By mid-December, I was finally successful and posted the recipe for Low Carb High Protein Yeast Bread, and it turned … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 24, 2026. Introduction I have been wanting to write an article about constipation and the role of fiber for a while, but yesterday I saw a cartoon drawn by Glenn McCoy that was the final motivation. (posted with written permission from Glenn McCoy) … Read more
This article was written on November 5, 2021, and was reviewed and updated by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD, on April 24, 2026. Practitioner’s Preface In the last 5 years of my almost 18 years of private clinical practice and my licensure in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, I have seen meat prices rise more … Read more
This article was written on October 11, 2021, and was reviewed and updated by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD, on April 24, 2026. Practitioner’s Preface The idea that there is a specific food that acts as the “off switch” for appetite is very compelling. Who hasn’t eaten more food than they planned or wanted? Whether … Read more
This article was written on October 10, 2021, and was reviewed and updated by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD, on April 24, 2026. Practitioner’s Preface As a Dietitian who supports people with food addiction, when I was asked to speak at a food addiction summit, the evening before, I was given a list of the … Read more
