Constipation is a common symptoms with IBS. However, for some people adding more fibre can make symptoms worse. Learn about the difference between constipation and SIBO or IMO.

Our clinic offers testing options for SIBO and IMO when appropriate. Make an appointment to speak with Dr. Brandon Testa, ND about how naturopathic and functional medicine can help IBS and SIBO

Calgary Naturopath and Functional Medicine Doctor - Learn about IBS and SIBO symptoms, learn how to tell the difference and when SIBO breath testing would be appropriate. If you have questions about SIBO, and would like to know more about testing, schedule an appointment to meet with Calgary Naturopath and Functional Medicine doctor, Dr. Brandon Testa, ND.

IBS affects 12–20% of Canadians, causing abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and disrupted lives—yet standard tests often miss it. As a functional medicine practitioner in Alberta, I uncover root causes like diet (high FODMAPs), gut-brain stress, microbiome imbalance, and food triggers through personalized assessments.

Unlike symptom-only treatments, functional medicine for IBS delivers tailored low FODMAP diets, stress relief, probiotics, fiber, and botanicals to reduce flares and restore gut function. Serving Alberta residents with 60-min in-person/virtual consults + free 15-min discovery calls.

Reclaim digestive health—book today!

Calgary Naturopath and Functional Medicine Doctor, Dr. Brandon Testa ND discuss ways to improve heart health without the use of medications, focusing on lifestyle modifications.

Insulin resistance drives the development of type II diabetes. However, it often is not explored when discussing prevention or treatment of pre-diabetes. Insulin resistance can start before pre-diabetes, and addressing it early can help improve your health and reduce the likelihood of developing a chronic illness.

Insulin resistance is a hidden driver of heart health problems. A functional medicine approach looks beyond cholesterol to advanced labs that assess insulin, inflammation, and metabolism, helping reveal risks early and guide personalized prevention.

Chronic inflammation is a silent threat to heart health, damaging arteries and driving plaque buildup. A functional medicine approach looks beyond cholesterol to advanced tests that reveal hidden inflammation and metabolic stress, guiding personalized nutrition, lifestyle, and root‑cause strategies to protect your heart.

Advanced lab testing in functional medicine offers a more complete way to assess heart health by looking far beyond LDL cholesterol. Instead of focusing on a single number, this approach evaluates inflammation, genetics, metabolic and renal health, and key nutrient levels to reveal your true cardiovascular risk. As an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, I use these advanced tools to uncover root causes that standard panels may miss and create personalized strategies to protect your heart. By looking beyond cholesterol alone, we can design holistic, tailored plans that reduce your risk of heart disease and support long‑term heart health and overall wellness.

Exercise is a proven powerhouse for heart health, slashing risks of heart disease through better blood pressure, lipids, insulin sensitivity, body composition, and stress resilience. Yet 1 in 2 adults skip the recommended 150 weekly minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity.

Functional medicine makes exercise work for you—personalized, sustainable, and joyful. Ditch the gym if it’s not your vibe. Choose meaningful movement like dog walks, neighborhood jogs, paddle ball, or basement workouts that fit your life. Pick routines easy to restart after life interruptions, and select activities you crave to stay motivated year-round.

This blog reveals why generic “exercise more” advice fails and how to build a heart-protective routine that’s truly sustainable for lasting cardiovascular wellness.

Functional medicine transforms heart health by targeting root causes—inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, hormones, gut health, and lifestyle—not just symptoms or cholesterol drugs. As an IFMCP-certified practitioner, I use advanced lab tests to reveal hidden cardiovascular risks and design personalized plans: targeted nutrition, exercise, stress relief, and more.

This holistic, patient-centered approach empowers you to prevent heart disease, optimize heart health, and achieve lasting wellness through evidence-based, proactive care.

Nutrition - Tik Tok makes it seem complicated. It is not. Let’s keep it simple. Eat your vegetables, eat your fruit, choose foods that are rich in fibre like whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. If you like eating, well this is the perfect treatment. Eat your way to heart health!

Secret to heart health… there is no real secret or surprise. The path to heart health includes 8 simple elements, that when maximized help to reduce your risk of developing heart disease, and dying for heart disease. Are you looking for a functional medicine approach to heart health, that is practical and not going to break the bank? I got you covered.

Erectile dysfunction impacts more than 30% of men over the age of 40 years old. Not only is ED common with advancing age, it is also a warning sign for heart disease. ED and cardiovascular disease can share a common cause. Functional medicine lab work can be helpful to understand the root cause of ED, and evaluate heart health.

A center piece to heart healthy eating focuses on foods that are high in fibre. By eating foods that are rich in fibre you can lower your risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease. We offer heart healthy meal planning for elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, people living with heart disease, and type II diabetes.

Heart health is influenced by multiple elements, but often the conversation centers on “good” and “bad” cholesterol. Though cholesterol plays a key role in the development of heart disease, it does not capture the whole picture. Looking at other components such as inflammation and genetic factors can provide a fuller picture of a your heart health.

Prediabetes carries an increased risk of progressing to type II diabetes. But using functional medicine with diet and lifestyle medicine you can improve your metabolic health and likely reverse insulin resistance. In clinical research diet and lifestyle medicine has the strongest level of evidence for effectiveness of reversing prediabetes.

An estimated one out of every three people living in Canada have diabetes or prediabetes. This is a staggering statistic, as insulin resistance and diabetes is a driver of cardiovascular disease. Learn about insulin resistance and prediabetes, and how functional medicine can help improve your metabolic health!

High blood pressure impacts 1 in 5 Canadians, and is one of the primary causes for poor heart health. High blood pressure can be prevented and treated with functional medicine. Diet and lifestyle can dramatically lower blood pressure without the use of medication. Improve your heart health with functional medicine.

What price would you pay for relief of your IBS symptoms? Some would give 25% of their remaining life to be symptom free. What if you could do it with just food? Let’s talk about how the low FODMAP diet helped 70% of people with IBS achieve symptom relief.

Schedule your annual wellness checkup to discuss ways to optimize your health with diet and lifestyle, and be screened for common health concerns.