Toronto Naturopathic Doctor for Cardiovascular Health
I’m Dr. Claire Lockridge, ND, a registered Naturopathic Doctor in Toronto with a clinical focus in heart health and metabolism wellness for women. I help you understand what’s happening in your body and address it naturally. Through assessment, blood work, and personalized treatment.
- Root cause approach to high blood pressure, cholesterol, and metabolic changes
- Natural protocols that support heart, blood vessels and inflammation
- Personalized coaching and support for long-term lifestyle changes
- Work alongside your existing healthcare team
Your Heart Health Is Connected to Everything Else
Heart disease starts years before diagnosis. High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, insulin resistance, weight gain around your middle, chronic inflammation. These aren’t separate problems. They’re connected through your metabolism, hormones, and inflammation.
I focus on what’s actually driving your heart disease risk. Blood sugar. Inflammation. Hormones. Liver health. Gut health. Stress. Nutrients.
When we address these foundations, multiple issues improve at once.
Heart and Metabolism Health Issues I Address
High Blood Pressure and Pre-Hypertension
Your blood pressure keeps creeping up despite eating well and exercising. The only things you have been told are to eat less salt and relax.
High blood pressure happens for specific reasons. Insulin problems. Magnesium deficiency. Chronic stress. Inflammation. We identify your causes through assessment and blood work.
Elevated Cholesterol and Abnormal Lipid Patterns
Recently told you have high cholesterol? Not sure what this means for your short-term or long-term health?
Whether or not you are on medication, there is much that can be done to support long-term heart health outcomes.
Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes
Weight won’t budge. You’re exhausted. Blood sugar is creeping into pre-diabetic range.
Insulin problems drive much of metabolism and heart disease. We support healthy insulin signaling through nutrition, supplements, stress reduction, and movement. This not only helps lower blood sugar but also reduces insulin levels, a key driver of symptoms and cardiovascular changes
Metabolic Syndrome
Three or more of these. High blood pressure. Elevated blood sugar. High triglycerides. Low HDL cholesterol. Excess weight around your waist.
Your heart disease risk is significantly elevated. We improve insulin response and reduce inflammation. All the markers improve together.
Weight Management Connected to Heart Disease Risk
You can’t lose weight despite doing everything right. You know excess weight increases heart disease risk but nothing works.
We address it through metabolism work, not restriction. Your body burns stored fat when metabolism is fixed.
Heart Disease Prevention
Family history of heart disease. You’re worried about your own risk.
Genetics play a role, but lifestyle matters too.
Family history increases risk but doesn’t make heart disease inevitable. We identify your specific risks through blood work and address them before they become disease.
Chronic Inflammation Affecting Heart Health
Elevated inflammation markers like hs-CRP. Joint pain. Skin issues. Fatigue.
Chronic inflammation damages your heart over time. We identify what’s causing inflammation and remove it.
Ready to lower your heart disease risk naturally?
My Approach to Heart and Metabolism Health
Testing for Heart and Metabolism Health
Blood work can give us lots of insight into your metabolic and cardiovascular health.
Standard testing includes blood sugar and insulin levels, cholesterol panel, inflammation markers, thyroid, liver and kidney function, and key nutrients.
For complex cases, I order additional tests for deeper insight into your heart disease risk.
Treatment Protocols
Metabolic Nutrition: Food that stabilizes blood sugar and reduces inflammation. Real meals that work with your metabolism and your schedule.
Targeted Supplementation: Supplements for inflammation, blood pressure, mitochondrial support, blood sugar, and heart health based on your specific needs.
Herbal Medicine: Herbs that support heart function, circulation, and stress response when appropriate.
Lifestyle Support: Stress management, better sleep, and movement that improves heart health.
Who I Can Help
Good Fit If You're Experiencing:
- High blood pressure or borderline high blood pressure despite healthy habits
- Elevated cholesterol or triglycerides
- Family history of heart disease and wanting prevention
- Insulin problems or pre-diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Weight management issues connected to metabolism
- Chronic inflammation affecting heart health
- PCOS or hormone problems increasing heart disease risk
- Interest in natural approaches that address root causes
Not a Good Fit If:
- You need emergency heart care. I’m not a cardiologist. Chest pain, heart attack symptoms, or heart emergencies need immediate medical attention.
- You’re looking for quick fixes without addressing diet and lifestyle. Heart health requires commitment to basic changes.
Let’s work together to restore your health
Frequently Asked Questions
Can naturopathic care help prevent heart disease?
Yes. Prevention is where natural medicine excels.
We identify metabolism and inflammation problems early, before they progress to heart disease. Then address them through nutrition, lifestyle changes, targeted supplements, and stress management.
Will I have to stop my heart medications?
No. I never ask patients to stop prescribed medications without their doctor’s approval.
Can I see you if I already see a cardiologist?
Yes, in fact, most of my patients are seeing a cardiologist. My patients have the most success when they are working with multiple providers, because this means they are getting the full benefit of what each practitioner can offer.
Your cardiologist is often focused on in-depth assessments and pharmaceutical management. Alongside this, appointments with me are longer, typically 60–90 minutes for an initial consultation. This gives us time to discuss your complete health picture, not just your heart.
We can cover your diet, lifestyle, stress levels, family history, and other factors that may be impacting your cardiovascular outcomes. This way, we can address these areas while you continue working with your cardiologist.
What if I have PCOS or other hormone problems?
PCOS and hormone problems significantly increase heart disease risk. Women with PCOS have higher rates of insulin problems, inflammation, abnormal cholesterol, and early heart disease.
Addressing PCOS through metabolism work improves both hormone symptoms and heart health. We treat the shared root causes. Insulin problems. Inflammation. Hormone imbalances.
Ready to Protect Your Heart Health?
Through assessment, blood work, and personalized treatment, we’ll identify what’s driving your heart disease risk. Then we’ll address it naturally.
