Toronto Naturopathic Doctor for Metabolic Health
Fix Your Metabolism Naturally (Not Another Quick Fix Diet)
I’m Dr. Claire Lockridge, ND, a registered Naturopathic Doctor in Toronto. I have a clinical focus in metabolic health for women dealing with insulin resistance, weight issues, and hormonal concerns.
- Root cause assessment through clinical assessment, blood work and functional testing
- Natural treatments that restore function, not just mask symptoms
- Personalized protocols based on your specific underlying factors
- Ontario residents only (regulatory requirement for naturopathic doctors)
Why Your Metabolism Matters
When your metabolism breaks down, nothing works right. You eat well and exercise but gain weight. Your energy crashes by 2pm. Blood sugar swings leave you hangry. Hormones go haywire.
Your doctor says your blood work is “fine” or hands you a prescription without explaining why. Your body isn’t broken. Your symptoms are real signals pointing to specific imbalances.
We identify what’s driving YOUR metabolic problems through comprehensive assessment and testing. Then we address them naturally through strategic nutrition, targeted supplements, and lifestyle changes that fit your life.
Metabolic Health Problems I Treat
Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes
Your blood sugar numbers are creeping up. Maybe you have been told you have insulin resistance. HbA1c (blood sugar average) climbing toward 6. Your doctor mentioned pre-diabetes but didn’t give you much guidance beyond “stop eating carbs.”
Insulin resistance develops when cells stop responding to insulin properly. Left alone, insulin resistance becomes type 2 diabetes and increases heart disease risk.
I work to help women improve insulin signalling and blood sugar control, addressing the foundational reason why blood sugar is dysregulated.
Type 2 Diabetes Management
Your body can regain insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control with the right support.
I work alongside your doctor to support diabetes management naturally. This is about supporting your body so it functions better. If you are already taking medication prescribed by your family doctor, we can work together to continue improving metabolic health and manage side effects
Weight Loss Resistance
You’re doing everything right. Eating whole foods. Exercising regularly. Managing portions. But the scale won’t budge.
Multiple metabolic factors can impact weight loss, including changes in the gut microbiome, chronic inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, poorly managed stress, hormonal shifts (such as during perimenopause or thyroid dysfunction), and impaired liver function.
These factors can impact metabolic function, but by identifying which ones are affecting you through comprehensive blood work, we can target and address your specific challenges.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
PCOS is often thought of as a hormonal condition, but at its core, it is a metabolic condition that also affects hormones. Insulin resistance is at the root of PCOS, and improving symptoms, such as jawline acne, irregular hair growth, missed or long periods, and weight loss resistance, requires addressing insulin resistance and blood sugar control.
PCOS comes in different types requiring different approaches. We identify your specific type through clinical assessment and blood work, then create protocols tailored to your drivers.
Cardiovascular Health
High blood pressure. Cholesterol numbers climbing. Family history of heart disease. You’re worried about your heart disease risk.
Insulin resistance increases heart disease risk. Inflammation damages blood vessels. High blood sugar harms arterial walls. Stress elevates blood pressure.
Working on improving cholesterol metabolism, supporting blood vessel health, lowering blood pressure, and enhancing liver function can all help reduce your risk of cardiovascular events.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
PCOS is often thought of as a hormonal condition, but at its core, it is a metabolic condition that also affects hormones. Insulin resistance is at the root of PCOS, and improving symptoms, such as jawline acne, irregular hair growth, missed or long periods, and weight loss resistance, requires addressing insulin resistance and blood sugar control.
PCOS comes in different types requiring different approaches. We identify your specific type through clinical assessment and blood work, then create protocols tailored to your drivers.
Thyroid Problems
You’re exhausted no matter how much you sleep. Weight gain despite eating less. Always cold. Hair thinning. Brain fog making work hard. Constipation that won’t quit.
Thyroid problems slow your metabolism. We test your complete thyroid function and address what’s broken.
Stress and Burnout
You’re running on empty. Coffee doesn’t help anymore. Sleep doesn’t restore you. You feel anxious, overwhelmed, or completely numb. Small tasks feel impossible.
Chronic stress wrecks your metabolism. Elevated cortisol promotes fat storage and disrupts multiple body systems.
Supporting the nervous system through mindset, herbal support, nutrient-dense foods, blood sugar regulation, and proper sleep helps you develop a resilient and reliable nervous system.
Chronic Inflammation
Inflammation shows up everywhere. Joint pain. Skin issues. Digestive problems. Brain fog. Fatigue. Elevated inflammation markers on blood work.
Chronic inflammation drives metabolic problems. It worsens insulin resistance, weight, hormones, and disease risk.
We identify your triggers and address them.
Autoimmune Conditions
Your immune system is attacking your own tissues. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Rheumatoid arthritis. Celiac disease. Lupus.
Autoimmune conditions impact metabolism, inflammation, nutrient absorption, and energy.
Ready to identify what's blocking your metabolism?
My Approach to Metabolic Health
Testing I Use
Blood work gives us clarity about what’s broken in your metabolism.
We test blood sugar levels (fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c), complete thyroid panels, sex hormones, inflammation markers, cholesterol, and key nutrients like vitamin D, B12, iron, and magnesium.
This shows us your insulin sensitivity, inflammation level, thyroid function, hormone balance, heart disease risk, and nutritional gaps.
Functional testing, continuous glucose monitoring, and wearables are tools I use to gain a deeper understanding of what’s happening in your body.
Treatment Protocols
Your metabolic health plan is built for you specifically.
Strategic Nutrition. Blood sugar balance through meal composition, timing, anti-inflammatory foods, and hormone-supportive nutrition.
Targeted Supplementation. Evidence-based supplements for insulin sensitivity, thyroid support, hormone balance, anti-inflammatory support, and nutritional gaps.
Lifestyle Support. Movement strategies that improve insulin sensitivity. Stress management that fits your life. Sleep optimization. Practical habits you can maintain.
Botanical Medicine. Herbal support for blood sugar regulation, thyroid function, hormone balance, and stress resilience when appropriate.
Who I Can Help
You must be located in Ontario due to regulatory requirements for naturopathic doctors in Canada.
I work primarily with women in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area dealing with metabolic issues and weight loss resistance. But I help women of all ages who want to optimize their metabolism naturally.
Good Fit If You're Experiencing
- Weight loss resistance despite healthy habits
- Insulin resistance, pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes and you want natural support
- PCOS affecting your weight, hormones, and fertility
- High blood pressure or cholesterol concerns
- Thyroid problems
- Chronic stress and burnout affecting your metabolism
- Autoimmune conditions impacting your metabolic health
- Inflammation showing up in multiple ways
- Symptoms your doctor says are normal but don’t feel normal to you
- Interest in understanding what is going on in your body and how to support your health.
Not a Good Fit If
You’re looking for quick fixes without diet and lifestyle changes, or you need emergency medical care (naturopathic medicine works alongside conventional care, not instead of it).
Let’s work together to restore your health
Metabolic Health FAQs
How is metabolic health different from just losing weight?
Metabolic health is about how your body processes energy. Weight is one outcome, but not the only one.
You can lose weight on a restrictive diet and still have poor metabolic health. Poor blood sugar control, high inflammation. Low energy and poor hormonal function can all be results of poor metabolic health.
When insulin sensitivity, blood sugar regulation, hormones, inflammation, and thyroid function improve, weight naturally responds. But you also get better energy, clearer thinking, stable mood, and reduced disease risk.
Will I have to follow a restrictive diet forever?
As a self-proclaimed foodie, I never want my patients to feel like they’re on restrictive diets. My goal is to improve your metabolic health to a point where you have metabolic flexibility, meaning your body can adapt even if your diet isn’t perfect 100% of the time.
In the beginning, some patients may follow a therapeutic diet. This means certain foods might not be supporting your goals. My job is to help identify which foods support you and which don’t, so we can create a sustainable, enjoyable diet strategy that still helps you reach your goals. We sometimes use specific eating patterns temporarily to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation.
Over time, the goal is to reintroduce as many foods as possible. As your metabolic function improves, you gain more flexibility: better insulin sensitivity allows you to tolerate carbohydrates more easily, and lower inflammation reduces food reactions. Ultimately, the goal is metabolic flexibility and food freedom.
Ready to Fix Your Metabolism Naturally?
You don’t have to live with insulin resistance, weight struggles, low energy, and metabolic problems. Through comprehensive assessment, testing, and personalized natural protocols, we’ll identify what’s broken and fix it.
