​This is my favourite way to cook local lake trout over the summer season and also makes a quick and simple weeknight meal. Purchase your lake trout and cook the same day, or freeze and enjoy into the fall and winter months. You can also use the same seasoning and cooking method on other types of fish such as white fish, salmon, rainbow trout etc. (But if you have whitefish, checkout my pesto whitefish recipe here)

You will need:
- your desired portion of fresh or frozen lake trout fillets (skin on) 
- 4-8 slices fresh lemon 
- 1-2 tsp fresh or dried thyme 
- 2-3 tsp of olive oil 
- salt and pepper (to taste) 

Clean fillet(s) and place directly on baking sheet, skin side down. You can also line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easier clean up. 

Drizzle the fish with olive oil and then salt and pepper. Sprinkle with thyme, then cover with lemon slices. 

Bake in the oven (or BBQ on those hot summer days) on 350C for approximately 10-15 minutes depending on how large / thick your fillet is. The areas covered up by the lemon tend to cook slower, so slice your lemons thinly. 

When cooked, the fish will flake easily and be firm to touch (but not dry). Don't overcook! Overcooked fish will taste bland and dry, not flavourful and delicate. 

Happy Eating, Hope you enjoy! 

Dr. Katie Rothwell, ND

​You know the feeling... heavy eyelids, trouble focusing, craving a sweet treat or cup of coffee. You glance at the clock and sure enough, it's 3pm. The dreaded mid-afternoon slump.

This is something I hear from SO many patients but fortunately there are some really easy ways to help combat this. 

I discuss a few of them in my most recent article for EcoParent magazine which you can read here 

Hope you enjoy, 

Dr. Katie Rothwell, ND 

Direct link: https://www.ecoparent.ca/health/beat-afternoon-fatigue-without-coffee​

​Recently I’ve been getting a ton of questions about desiccated thyroid from my thyroid patients and as Naturopathic Doctors have recently gained access to the prescribing of this medication, it’s a great time to do some Q&A.

So, here’s the top 5 things you need to know about Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT)

1. What is desiccated thyroid?
NDT is considered a more natural form of thyroid medication and is sourced from porcine (pig) thyroid glands. NDT is NOT the same as natural thyroid “extracts” (the ones found online and in health food stores – these should be avoided!). NDT is used in place of synthetic thyroid medications such as levothyroxine (T4) or cytomel (T3).

2. What is the difference between NDT and levothyroxine (Synthroid)?
Synthroid is the synthetic version of T4 which is only one of our thyroid hormones. NDT is sourced from actual thyroid glands and contains the full spectrum of thyroid hormones including T3, our most metabolically active thyroid hormone.

3. Where can I get desiccated thyroid?
NDT is available at most pharmacies by prescription only through your medical doctor or naturopathic doctor. In the US, desiccated thyroid is called armour thyroid or nature thyroid. Here in Canada, it’s referred to as desiccated thyroid, ERFA, or just plain ‘thyroid’. You don’t need to go to a compounded pharmacy to get desiccated thyroid.

4. My doctor says desiccated thyroid isn’t safe, is that true?
Historically there has been concerns about NDT doses not being standardized, meaning that in one pill you could have a different amount of hormones than the next. Because the thyroid is so sensitive to changes in hormones, this is definitely a serious concern! NDT was at one time the only medication available for hypothyroidism until the synthetic version of T4 was produced. Currently, NDT is produced by only one manufacturer in Canada (a pharmaceutical company called ERFA) and is standardized to contain specific amounts of hormone in each capsule. I don’t consider dosing standardization to be an issue in Canada using ERFA.

5. Is desiccated thyroid better than Synthroid?
This is a tough one and it really depends on the person and their current state of health. Some people do feel better on NDT due to the fact that it better represents our natural hormone production and contains T3, our most active thyroid hormone. There hasn’t been much research comparing the two, but a 2013 study compared levothyroxine to NDT and found that 49% preferred desiccated thyroid, 19% preferred levothyroxine, and 23% found no difference. So, while NDT may work well for many, it’s not for everyone.

Hope that helps!

Dr. Katie Rothwell, ND

Decode your Thyroid! Get your free guide to optimal thyroid hormones here