Richmond

Brio is moving to a new BIGGER office!

June 15th, 2013

We are SO excited to announce to all of our patients that we are moving at the end of this month!

We are moving down the hall to a much larger office, which has more rooms for us to expand.The new office is almost 3X the size of our current office. It offers a large room for us to run our Weight Loss Rehab program,offer more educational presentations and offer more services to our patients. 

Visit the blog and be sure to follow our newsletters to stay posted on our exciting changes. 

 

Celebrate Dr.Neetu's 10 Years of Practice

April 26th, 2013

 

Press Release
 
10 years ago this month, April 2003, Dr. Neetu began her practice as a Naturopathic Doctor.  Having her start in Yaletown at a well established Naturopathic Clinic, fresh out of CCNM, the journey began.
 
The Journey, much like a health journey requires many hours of dedication, requires a clear vision, requires high energy, and requires resilience.  
 
The Journey led Neetu to move her practice from Yaletown to a modest office in Richmond in 2005.  Practicing from there for 3 years, she learned to develop her business sense and entrepreneurial skills.  In 2008, Dr. Neetu and Dr. Lee partnered to open what was initially named, Wellspring Integrative Health Center.  Having quickly learned that the name was already in use, it was appropriately re-named Brio Integrative Health Center.  The mix up was a blessing in disguise.  The definition of Brio is:  active, or spirited or alive.  Denoting energy change.  This is the foundation of our clinic practice.  "Energy".
 
Dr. Neetu was always confident in her style of practice, which was established in her first year and hasn't really wavered in the fundamental laws of healing.  Under her mentor Dr. Dickson Thom, she became a proficient student of Biological Drainage.  A system of healing having origins in Belgium and France and Germany.  Using "Energy" to treat the cellular terrain or the "soil" of the garden, give it the proper nutrients, the proper oxygenation, the proper detoxification, a safe environment to grow.  And the growing weeds (symptom) will resolve and the patient comes to realize, weeds were never the true issue.
 
The laws of how Dr. Neetu practices is one of the many things she is most proud of over the past 10 years.  Sticking to her guns, and in a time of "fancy alternative medicine," has never strayed very far from the true roots of Naturopathic Forefathers.  The philosophy always places the patient as priority.  Meet them where they are at  We follow where the patient takes us and act as the coach along the way.
 
Dr. Neetu is extremely proud of the clinic and the team, whose tireless efforts, make up Brio.  It truly is a clinic of healing and excellence, and she is so thankful to come to work each day.  She is humbled by the patients at Brio and their dedication to bettering themselves each and every day.  Dr. Neetu is excited by the thought of the next 10 years, looking forward to growth and bettering Brio, day-by-day.

Save 10% on Thorne B Complex from March 22-April 22, 2013

March 23rd, 2013

SAVE 10% this month at Brio on our Thorne B Complex!

Research has shown B Complex vitamins support:

  • Stress tolerance
  • Hormone Health
  • Mood
  • Nervous System Health
  • Energy
  • Women taking oral contraceptive pills causes vitamin B deficiencies, so for those women it can  be beneficial to supplement with a vitamin B  complex.

 

 
 

Diabetes – Are you at risk?

November 13th, 2012

 

Diabetes in your family? High blood pressure?  Waist circumference greater than 31.5 inches? East or South Asian ethnicity?

An estimated 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. Of these, 1 million Canadians live with diabetes without knowing it. The difficulty is we can have prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes without obvious signs and symptoms so often diagnosis (and care) is delayed. The key, however, is to be able to identify our risk of diabetes so we can make effective changes right away. Why right away? Insulin production is 35% of normal by the time of diagnosis! That’s less than half the production of this critical hormone by the time many of us are made aware of a problem.

Using information such as age, body mass index, waist circumference and family history, the simple Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire (CANRISK) calculates a risk score to let you know if you’re at low, moderate or high risk of developing diabetes. It takes only 3 minutes to do and you may be surprised by some of the risk factors!

CANRISK questionnaire

High risk (scores greater than 33): have a 2 in 5 chance of already having or developing type 2 diabetes

Moderate risk (scores between 21 and 33): have a 1 in 7 chance of having or developing type 2 diabetes.

For the above groups, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing may be indicated. This blood test can diagnose or rule out diabetes while also giving us an idea of your blood glucose control over the past 3 months.

Whether you want to reduce the risk of developing diabetes or you are already taking medication for diabetes, we can provide effective therapies to improve blood sugar control at every stage. We provide thorough but targeted multisystem physical exams, in-office HbA1c testing (results in 5 minutes!), clinically researched nutrients and specific, individualized nutritional and physical activity recommendations based on your risk factors and overall health. For the month of December, Dr. Carin is providing complimentary HbA1c testing with an initial naturopathic consultation – only while tests are available!

Brio's New Naturopath Doctor

November 13th, 2012

Hi! I’m Dr. Carin. It’s great being back in Richmond after completing my naturopathic medicine and acupuncture degrees. My areas of interests include type 2 diabetes, digestive health, sleep difficulty, pain management, infertility and geriatrics. Appointments with me are available from December. I’m very excited to be joining the Brio team and look forward to meeting you!

Back to School Snack Ideas Updated

September 7th, 2012

 

 

Back-to-school season has arrived! Put on those thinking caps, because it's time to plan and pack snacks  to delight your little ones and keep them energized throughout the day.

 

Some snack ideas that are easy to pack and prepare:

~ Wild salmon burger- this has lots of protein to keep them full!

~ Home made lentil soup/chili/chicken noodle soup-(they are great to make in big batches and freeze in meal size portions) pack the child's meal in a thermos to-go!

~ Green Smoothie-prepare in a magic bullet or blender and pack for a refreshment later in the day!

~ Veggie wrap- take a whole wheat tortilla, or brown rice torilla for a gluten free alternative, apply hummus or tzatziki dip to the tortilla. Cut up some veggies length wise, try cucumber, celery, and place them in a row down the middle of the tortilla, wrap it up. Cut it into bite size pices and enjoy!

~ Unsalted umpkin seeds (come in a variety of flavours)  and celery sticks

~ Soft boiled free range organic egg + snap peas – put the egg in cold water, bring to a boil, turn off heat and let sit for 4 minutes.  Run the egg under cold water for several minutes. With this timing the yolk will not be overcooked, providing optimal nutrients

~ ½ green apple and 2 slices of organic ‘raw cheese’ – ‘raw cheese’ can be found in the organic refrigerator section of the local grocery store.  Look for the brand ‘L’ancetre’. 

~ Home made chicken tenders-cut chicken breast into pieces, dredge in an egg wash, lightly beaten. Coat with corn meal and bake in oven.

~ Ryvita crackers or rice crackers with dip-try tomato bruschetta or hummus

Do you have Carpal Tunnel? Tennis Elbow? or a Frozen Shoulder?

August 11th, 2012

 

Come join Dr.Jeffrey Lee and Nathan as they present on common upper body injuries. 

Learn how Low-Level Laser Therapy helps heal these stubborn injuries and learn what you can do at home to prevent them! 

 

When: Wednesday August 22nd, 2012

Time: 6:30-7:30 pm

Location: Brio Clinic (604-271-9355)

RSVP: Limited seating, call to reserve your spot.

Broccoli Tahini Salad

August 3rd, 2012

 

 
 
Broccoli Tahini Salad
(This salad is delicious eaten right away, or even after it's been sitting in the refrigerator for a few hours. Serve cold.) 
 
1 head broccoli

1 cucumber, cubed

3 tbsp red onion, diced


sauce:

2 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp white/mellow miso
2 tbsp orange juice, freshly squeezed

2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1 tbsp water

1 tsp smoked paprika

1tsp cumin
 
cayenne pepper, to taste

sea salt

black pepper
1/4 cup almonds, chopped (toast for a couple of minutes on the stove for more flavor)
orange zest


Cut the broccoli florets into smaller bite sized pieces. Steam for 5-7 minutes, you don’t want to overcook them. While the broccoli is steaming, prepare an ice bath. Pour cold water and ice into a large mixing bowl. When the broccoli has cooked, transfer it from the steam basket to this cold water. This will stop it from cooking. 

Prepare the tahini sauce by combining all the ingredients (tahini to cumin) in a bowl. Whisk until blended well. 

Remove the broccoli from the ice bath, place it in a colander and shake well so that the excess water comes off. Place it into a bowl, then add the cucumber and red onion. Pour the tahini sauce over the vegetables and stir well to coat. Season to taste with sea salt, black pepper and cayenne. Sprinkle the almonds on top of the salad, and using a grater or microplane, shave some orange zest on top.
 

Summer Travel Tips from Dr.Neetu

August 2nd, 2012

 

Dr.Neetu has some great tips for keeping your tummy healthy and happy for Summer Travel while going
abroad, or even while going on local trips!
 
1. Probiotics – Good bacteria to protect the digestive system from any influx of virus, bacteria or fungus
from contaminated water, food, or environmental toxins. The digestive system makes up 80% of our
immune system. Protecting the gut with good bacteria while traveling, will offer protection from travel
related illness. Quality of probiotics make the difference, a lower priced variety will likely have little
protective benefit. Brio carries HMF products by Seroyal which are highly researched and high standards
of regulation.
 
2. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - a distressed stomach's best friend. One to two teaspoons in 1/2 a glass of
water 15 minutes prior to meals. ACV will aid in digestion, decrease gastric reflux, decrease bloating and abdominal pain. Use as needed. Liquid or capsules can be taken along during travel.
 
3. Try to avoid Antacids - we have been programmed to think that symptoms of acid reflux are a result of too much stomach acid production, however, in our clinical observation; the problem is usually too little stomach acid production. Stomach acid production can decrease when the body is stressed. Overeating can absolutely be a stressor to the body. Again, try ACV to help normalize stomach acid levels.
 
4. Peppermint Tea - Peppermint (Mentha piperita) can calm a distressed tummy almost immediately.
This can rid the body of symptoms of dyspepsia, gas, pain, bloating. If peppermint tea does not quite do
the trick, Peppermint Oil Capsules are an excellent supplement, taken as needed.
 
4. Fennel Seeds (Foeniculum vulgare) - Have you ever noticed at the end of a delicious Greek meal,
you will often get a tiny bowl of fennel seed candy? This is not a random offering as fennel can ease
abdominal pain, gas and bloating almost immediately. Simply chew on a small amount and swallow. The
seeds can also be boiled in water, strained, and drink as a tea.
 
5. Try to avoid beverages with meals - Have you also noticed at most Asian restaurants you will not
receive ice water with your meal unless it is requested? You will however, receive small cups of warm tea. Small amounts of warm tea aid digestion. Ice cold drinks place stress on the digestive system, dilute digestive enzymes and stomach acid levels. For optimal digestion, try to limit beverages to half an hour before or after meals. While traveling ensure filtered water is consumed; be careful of ice cubes, inquire if they are also made from filtered water.
 
 
 

 

 

 

Summer Travel Tips from Dr.Neetu

August 2nd, 2012

 

 
 
Dr.Neetu has some great tips for keeping your tummy healthy and happy for Summer Travel while going
abroad, or even while going on local trips!
 
1. Probiotics – Good bacteria to protect the digestive system from any influx of virus, bacteria or fungus
from contaminated water, food, or environmental toxins. The digestive system makes up 80% of our
immune system. Protecting the gut with good bacteria while traveling, will offer protection from travel
related illness. Quality of probiotics make the difference, a lower priced variety will likely have little
protective benefit. Brio carries HMF products by Seroyal which are highly researched and high standards
of regulation.
 
2. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - a distressed stomach's best friend. One to two teaspoons in 1/2 a glass of
water 15 minutes prior to meals. ACV will aid in digestion, decrease gastric reflux, decrease bloating and
abdominal pain. Use as needed. Liquid or capsules can be taken along during travel.
 
3. Try to avoid Antacids - we have been programmed to think that symptoms of acid reflux are a
result of too much stomach acid production, however, in our clinical observation; the problem is usually
too little stomach acid production. Stomach acid production can decrease when the body is stressed.
Overeating can absolutely be a stressor to the body. Again, try ACV to help normalize stomach acid levels.
 
4. Peppermint Tea - Peppermint (Mentha piperita) can calm a distressed tummy almost immediately.
This can rid the body of symptoms of dyspepsia, gas, pain, bloating. If peppermint tea does not quite do
the trick, Peppermint Oil Capsules are an excellent supplement, taken as needed.
 
4. Fennel Seeds (Foeniculum vulgare) - Have you ever noticed at the end of a delicious Greek meal,
you will often get a tiny bowl of fennel seed candy? This is not a random offering as fennel can ease
abdominal pain, gas and bloating almost immediately. Simply chew on a small amount and swallow. The
seeds can also be boiled in water, strained, and drink as a tea.
 
5. Try to avoid beverages with meals - Have you also noticed at most Asian restaurants you will not
receive ice water with your meal unless it is requested? You will however, receive small cups of warm
tea. Small amounts of warm tea aid digestion. Ice cold drinks place stress on the digestive system, dilute
digestive enzymes and stomach acid levels. For optimal digestion, try to limit beverages to half an hour
before or after meals. While traveling ensure filtered water is consumed; be careful of ice cubes, inquire if
they are also made from filtered water.

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Office Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 11:00am - 7:00pm
Wednesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm
Saturday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday Closed
  • Early morning, evening, and weekend appointments accommodated.
  • New patients welcome.
  • No referral necessary.