Why to See a Naturopathic Doctor - Even If You're "Healthy"
- Dr. Alana Shnier, ND
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is:
"I don't have anything seriously wrong with me, so I don't need to see a naturopathic doctor."
Many patients seek my care after years of navigating the medical system, often feeling like they've run out of road.
I treat this as an opportunity; as their turning point.
The truth is, you don't need to be very unwell to benefit from naturopathic care.
In fact, seeing an ND can be your smartest first move to living a long and healthy life.
There is so much value in:
Preventing problems before they start and grow
Optimizing how you feel on a daily basis
Getting personalized guidance that actually fits into your life
Understanding your body on a deeper level Having a safe space to ask questions, debunk or clarify health trends you find on TikTok, and explore solutions
Here are some of the reasons you might book in before illness becomes a part of the picture:
1 - If you are well, you already hold the advantage
If you are doing well, you gain exponential leverage in the game of longevity and resilience.
The biggest benefit to starting your health and wellness journey while you are healthy is you get to build a foundation that keeps you that way for decades, turning good habits into prevention.
This is your superpower and it is a privilege!
2 - Your symptoms might be common, but they are not normal
Symptoms we, as a society, have learned to tolerate - like headaches, painful periods, sleep issues, high stress, constipation, caffeine reliance, cravings, acid reflux, a lingering cough, etc - are not normal just because they are so common.
These types of symptoms are signals of imbalances and the body trying to compensate.
These early signals are worth responding to before becoming something bigger.
3 - Stress and nervous system support
No matter what your health goals may be, nervous system regulation will ALWAYS get you closer to your goals.
You don't need a diagnosis to notice signs of overwhelm, tension, overthinking, anxiety, or being stuck in go-go-go mode.
Regulation tools improve sleep, mood, metabolism, energy, performance, focus, digestion, pain, immunity, fertility, and emotional resilience overall.
4 - Sleep support
Sleep is when the body goes into repair mode.
Having trouble falling or staying asleep, not getting enough sleep, and waking up feeling unrefreshed are signs to dig deeper.
Sleep is crucial to longevity because of all its downstream impacts on health.
Getting great sleep results in benefits for: stress, mood, immunity, pain, blood sugar stability (aka no overeating or cravings), digestion, and hormone balance.
5 - Feeling tired all the time
Dragging yourself out of bed, through your morning, afternoon slumps, energy crashes, brain fog, and relying on caffeine to function is a serious sign that you need support.
Digging deeper to assess any nutrient deficiencies, gaps in your diet, hydration status, and more is the starting point to natural energy so you can keep up with life.
6 - Hormone, fertility, & cycle support
Supporting your cycle, preconception care, and hormonal support is a good idea to make sure you are in good reproductive standing.
Even if you are on the birth control pill or have an IUD as many people can still experience PMS, nutrient deficiencies, weight changes, and mood changes.
7 - Immune support
Through cold and flu season, supporting your body through vitamins, minerals, botanicals, fixing nutrient deficiencies, and decreasing inflammation can decrease how often and how severely you get sick.
There is no problem with using ibuprofen and Tylenol to get through, but using naturopathic medicine alongside those measures can bolster your body's immune response and lead to better recovery after the fact.
8 - Lab work and the optimal range
Labs help me to identify early patterns, personalize your care, and establish a baseline for prevention and long-term health.
Testing for organ function markers, nutrient status, blood sugar values, and hormones are a great way to assess the things we cannot see.
Within the standard reference ranges on lab work, there is a tighter, optimal range in which patients feel their best. Using these optimal targets help me to catch things other doctors might miss.
9 - Doing supplements the right way
Whether you have a laundry list of supplement, or you are starting from scratch, choosing better quality and targeted supplements with an individualized approach is something I do with every patient.
I can help guide you toward the right supplement, in the right form, at the right dose and duration. This can shift your system in ways generic recommendations cannot.
You don't have to wait for your body to scream to want to get started on a health journey to sustainable wellness. If you experience a health issue in the future, by then, you will have the toolkit, understanding, and support you need to navigate it.
I work collaboratively with every patient, ensuring that you are educated on your options, that recommendations fit into your lifestyle, timeline, and budget, and that you feel supported the whole time.
If you don't know where to start, don't worry - I do!
Feel free to book a free consult with me to learn more.
Dr. Alana Shnier, ND is a licensed Toronto-based Naturopathic Doctor focused on integrative, root-cause care and clinical strategies for longevity. She supports patients, students, and wellness professionals through engaging, evidence-based education—translating complex clinical science into clear, empowering, health-literate tools. Her practice blends clinical nutrition, lifestyle counselling, targeted supplementation, botanical medicine, and functional lab testing, emphasizing consistency over perfection, sustainable protocols, compassionate, collaborative, judgement-free approach to care.
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