Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

My name is Dr. Christa Kostromin, and I am SVP of science and research here at the DNA Company.

I'm a licensed naturopathic doctor with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario, and earned my doctorate from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.

I'm also an active member of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors, the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, and the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Welcome to another episode of the DNA Talks podcast.

That's interesting.

By the way, I just have to say, and you know the story, my... childhood physician slash health guru was a Cairo naturopath, Dr. John McLean, one of the first graduation classes out of the CCNM in Toronto.

And one blue eye, one green eye.

I don't know why I always mention that when I think of this man, but just an amazing man that was the epitome of health himself, lived to a very ripe old age of 100, just met his 100th birthday and then kicked it.

a fourth-generation naturopathic doctor with more than 40 years of clinical experience.

She is the founder of the Cap Ridge Eco-Wellness Center, former clinic director at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, author, lecturer, and advocate for mind-body approaches to health.

Throughout her career, Dr. Wilu has explored how emotional experiences, stress, trauma, and life events may influence physical health outcomes, particularly in cases that don't respond well to traditional interventions.

Join me as I welcome Dr. Katherine Wilu to Mind Over Habit podcast.

That's interesting.

By the way, I just have to say my, and you know, the story, my childhood physician slash health guru was a Cairo naturopath, Dr. John McLean, one of the first graduation classes out of the CCNM in Toronto.

And one blue eye, one green eye.

I don't know why I always mention that when I think of this man, but just an amazing man that was the epitome of health himself, lived to a very, very old age of 100, just met his 100th birthday and then kicked it.

I know it's the behavior change aspect, I think, that so many of us forget.

I remember at CCNM when I was an intern, I remember thinking, like, I want nothing to do with any of the, like, behavior change piece.

I wanted nothing to do with it.

Like, please just listen to what I tell you to do.

And this was such a nice synergy.

So I applied in my fourth year and then started at CCNM the following September.

And I kind of like, you know, it did fit with my general interest, but I don't know if I exactly knew what I was getting myself into.

I think that might be true for a lot of NDs.

So that's another thing, you know, I look at where people are at, and like, okay, if we're 30 to 40 grams of protein with your first meal of the day.

And, you know, usually then, as one thing gets accomplished, or feels a little easier than, you know, people are ready to try, okay, what's, what's the next thing?

yeah I um it's it's interesting how much of a change it makes when you have a good breakfast like before before I started CCNM I would have like a bagel some almond butter call it a breakfast a coffee and when I added in like I do like a yogurt bowl now.

So I have like my Greek yogurt.

So for someone who, a huge part of my story is really struggling to belong and feel a part of a community.

That was my early childhood experience up until I actually met friends in Naturopathic College where I truly felt like I found my pack.

And there was this moment.

There's always like these little glimmer moments in your life where you're like, I'll never forget that.