This article was written on October 22, 2024, and updated on April 23, 2026. Introduction Approximately 90% of Canadians (87%) have extended health benefit plans; 64% of people have them through their employer, another 14% access them through another type of group plan, and 9% of people buy private health insurance [1]. Significantly, most major … Read more
This article was first written on June 17, 2024, and was updated on April 23, 2026 Practitioner’s Preface Popularized ketogenic diets restrict carbohydrates primarily for weight loss or metabolic management without strict macronutrient tracking. In contrast, therapeutic ketogenic diets function as precise medical nutrition therapies that strictly control macronutrient ratios, weigh all ingredients, and monitor … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction The International Diabetes Federation has just released a new Position Statement that indicates that an oral glucose tolerance test performed at 1 hour is more effective in screening at-risk individuals for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes than a 2-hour Oral Glucose … Read more
Last clinically reviewed by Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD on April 23, 2026. Introduction If you are considering having a DEXA bone density scan to assess your risk of osteoporosis, where you have it done will significantly impact the accuracy of the results and whether they will provide you with the information you want. While … Read more
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 updated on July 14, 2026. What is Protein Quality? Protein quality determines how effectively the body can use amino acids to build and repair muscle tissue. Evaluating food sources using current tracking metrics helps identify optimal options for maintaining muscle mass, … Read more
Note: This article was originally posted on August 13, 2023, and was updated on September 3, 2026. Practitioner’s Preface This morning, I saw a social media post in which a naturopath challenged a wellness podcast producer’s claim that blending fruit quadruples its glycemic profile. In the video, podcast producer Gary Brecka is heard saying; “I don’t … Read more
NOTE: This article was originally posted on August 11, 2023, and has been updated and reposted on April 19, 2026. Practitioner’s Preface The natural process of aging causes a gradual loss of muscle mass and physical strength each year. Failing to preserve this tissue can limit mobility, increase the risk of falls, and reduce overall … 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
NOTE: This article was originally posted on April 30, 2023, and was updated on July 22, 2026 Can Thyroid Medication Make Blood Sugar Worse? Yes, thyroid medication can result in higher blood sugar in people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The highlights of prescribing information sheets available to pharmacists and doctors for medications such … 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
