Dr. Samantha Ristimaki

Dr. Samantha Ristimaki Dr. Samantha Ristimaki is the chief medical officer at Bronte Wellness Boutique. She received her un

After over 10 years of practice, my mission is to inspire and empower people to feel happy, healthy and beautiful. Attaining optimal health involves addressing the underlying causes of health issues, while assessing and integrating physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of health. “Doctor as Teacher” is my guiding principle, as I encourage my patients to take an active role in their own

health. Effective, evidence-based and individualized treatment plans are built with each and every one of my patients in mind. I have a wealth of experience in dealing with digestive health concerns, hormone health and weight loss. My special interest lies in thyroid disease, immune disorders, bioidentical hormone replacement and anti-aging therapies. I’ve also designed specific programs in detoxification, cosmetic acupuncture, weight loss and healthy aging. I believe that the foundation of health lies in nutrition and a healthy, active lifestyle. When I’m not in clinic, you will find me staying active outdoors by running, cycling or rollerblading. I spent many years as a fitness instructor and personal trainer before finding my passion in teaching yoga. I teach yoga in the studio or corporate setting encouraging people to find balance through active movement and meditation.

The Evidence-Based Benefits of Estrogen in Perimenopause and MenopauseAs women transition through perimenopause and meno...
04/14/2026

The Evidence-Based Benefits of Estrogen in Perimenopause and Menopause

As women transition through perimenopause and menopause, estrogen levels naturally decline. This shift can contribute to symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood changes, vaginal dryness, and changes in bone health.

For many women, estrogen therapy can be an effective and well-studied option to help support health and quality of life during this stage.

Research has shown that appropriately prescribed estrogen therapy may help:

✨ Reduce hot flashes and night sweats
Estrogen therapy is considered the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause.

✨ Improve sleep and mood
Hormonal shifts can influence sleep quality and emotional well-being. Restoring estrogen levels may help support more stable sleep and mood patterns.

✨ Support vaginal and urinary health
Estrogen helps maintain the thickness, elasticity, and hydration of vaginal tissues, which can reduce dryness, discomfort, and recurrent urinary symptoms.

✨ Protect bone health
Estrogen plays an important role in maintaining bone density. Declining estrogen levels after menopause are associated with increased risk of osteoporosis.

✨ Support overall quality of life
Many women notice improvements in energy, comfort, and daily functioning when symptoms are appropriately addressed.

Like any medical therapy, hormone treatment should always be personalized and guided by an experienced practitioner, taking into account each woman’s health history, symptoms, and goals.

✨ If you’re navigating perimenopause or menopause and want to explore evidence-based options for hormone support, book a visit with Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, ND at .

5 Symptoms Women Often Think Are “Normal Aging” — But Aren’tMany women are told that certain symptoms are simply part of...
04/09/2026

5 Symptoms Women Often Think Are “Normal Aging” — But Aren’t

Many women are told that certain symptoms are simply part of getting older. While our bodies do change over time, persistent symptoms are often signals that something deeper may need attention.

Here are 5 symptoms I frequently see in clinic that women are told are “normal aging,” but often have underlying causes:

✨ Constant fatigue
Feeling tired all the time isn’t something you just have to accept. Hormones, iron levels, thyroid health, and nutrient deficiencies can all play a role.

✨ Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Many women notice changes in memory or focus during their late 30s and 40s. Hormonal shifts, sleep disruption, and stress can all contribute.

✨ Weight gain around the midsection
Changes in metabolism and hormone balance can influence how the body stores fat, particularly during perimenopause.

✨ Poor sleep
Trouble falling asleep or waking during the night is often linked to shifts in progesterone, cortisol patterns, or blood sugar balance.

✨ Mood changes or increased anxiety
Hormones have a powerful impact on the nervous system. Feeling more anxious, irritable, or emotionally sensitive can sometimes reflect underlying hormonal changes.

These symptoms are common, but they are not something you simply have to live with. Understanding what your body is communicating is the first step toward restoring balance.

✨ If you’re experiencing these changes, book a visit with Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, ND to explore personalized support for your hormones, energy, and overall health.

Over 40, many women start to notice a shift…✨ Your energy isn’t the same✨ Your brain feels foggy✨ You don’t bounce back ...
04/04/2026

Over 40, many women start to notice a shift…

✨ Your energy isn’t the same
✨ Your brain feels foggy
✨ You don’t bounce back the way you used to

And it’s not in your head.

Hormonal changes, stress, poor sleep, and nutrient depletion can all impact how your brain and body function — leaving you feeling like you’re running on empty.

This is where IV therapy can be a powerful support. 💛

By delivering vitamins and nutrients directly into your bloodstream, IV therapy helps:
✔️ Replenish depleted nutrients
✔️ Support brain clarity and focus
✔️ Improve energy and resilience
✔️ Support your immune system
✔️ Help your body recover during busy or stressful periods

Many of my patients describe it as giving their body the support it’s been quietly asking for.

✨ This isn’t about a quick fix — it’s about helping your brain and body have what they need to function at their best.

If you’ve been feeling off, depleted, or not like yourself… this may be a piece of your plan.

💛 You deserve to feel clear, energized, and fully available in your life.

Book your IV therapy appointment or a free Meet & Greet to learn more.

Over the years, I’ve noticed a pattern in the women who walk through my door…They’re not “sick enough” to be taken serio...
04/03/2026

Over the years, I’ve noticed a pattern in the women who walk through my door…

They’re not “sick enough” to be taken seriously — but they don’t feel like themselves anymore.

These are the top women I help in my practice 💛

👉 The woman who is exhausted no matter how much she sleeps
👉 The one waking up at 3am with a busy, anxious mind
👉 The woman gaining weight despite doing “all the right things”
👉 The one feeling disconnected, flat, or not like herself
👉 The woman struggling with brain fog and low focus
👉 The one navigating perimenopause and wondering “is this normal?”
👉 The woman told her labs are “normal”… but she knows something is off
👉 The one dealing with hair changes, skin changes, or low confidence
👉 The woman feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and running on empty
👉 The one who just wants to feel like herself again

If you see yourself in this list — you are not alone.

And more importantly… this isn’t something you just have to push through.

✨ Your body is communicating.
✨ There are answers.
✨ There is a path forward.

I take a root-cause, whole-person approach to help you understand what’s happening in your body — and support you in restoring your energy, clarity, and confidence.

💛 You deserve to feel like yourself again.

Book a visit or a free Meet & Greet to get started.

Hair Loss in Your 40s? There May Be More Going OnA patient in her late 40s came to see me feeling distressed about sudde...
03/31/2026

Hair Loss in Your 40s? There May Be More Going On

A patient in her late 40s came to see me feeling distressed about sudden hair loss. She described noticing large amounts of hair coming out in the shower and showed me photos of her once thick hair that had become thinner, brittle, and lacked its usual shine.

She had mentioned it to her doctor but was told that her bloodwork looked normal, leaving her frustrated and unsure what to do next.

When we started looking deeper, several contributing factors became clear.

She was often skipping meals and relying on coffee, which can make it difficult for the body to maintain optimal nutrient levels. We also identified nutrient deficiencies and suboptimal thyroid function. Through additional testing, including a DUTCH hormone panel, we were able to gain further insight into what might be contributing to her hair loss.

Hair changes are very common during perimenopause and menopause. As estrogen levels begin to decline, the balance between estrogen and androgens shifts. This can increase levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that can contribute to weakening of hair follicles and gradual thinning of the hair.

In fact, up to 60% of women notice changes in hair growth or hair quality before the age of 60.

Because hair loss can have multiple contributing factors — including hormones, nutrient status, thyroid health, stress, and lifestyle patterns — a deeper investigation is often needed to understand what the body may be signaling.

Over time, by addressing the underlying factors, restoring key nutrients, supporting hormone balance, and prioritizing self-care, many patients begin to notice improvements not only in their energy and overall well-being, but also in the strength and appearance of their hair.

If you’re noticing increased shedding, thinning hair, or changes in hair quality and aren’t sure why it’s happening, taking a closer look at the root causes can be an important first step.

✨ Book a visit with Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, ND to explore a personalized approach to restoring your hair and overall health.

Why Women Over 40 Benefit from Biometric TestingMany women notice that their bodies begin to change in their 40s. Energy...
03/26/2026

Why Women Over 40 Benefit from Biometric Testing

Many women notice that their bodies begin to change in their 40s. Energy levels may shift, sleep can become more disrupted, metabolism may slow, and symptoms like brain fog, weight changes, or mood fluctuations can appear seemingly out of nowhere.

Often, these changes are connected to hormonal shifts and metabolic changes that naturally occur during this stage of life.

This is where biometric testing can be incredibly helpful.

Biometric testing looks at key markers in the body that give insight into how your metabolism, hormones, and overall health are functioning. Instead of guessing, it allows us to see what’s happening beneath the surface.

Some of the markers we often assess include:

✨ Blood sugar and metabolic health
✨ Cholesterol and cardiovascular risk markers
✨ Inflammation levels
✨ Hormone patterns
✨ Thyroid function and nutrient status

Understanding these markers can help identify early shifts in metabolism and health, often before more significant symptoms develop.

For many women, this information becomes a powerful tool for making informed decisions about nutrition, lifestyle, and personalized treatment strategies that support long-term health.

Your 40s are not just a time of change — they’re also an opportunity to take a more proactive approach to your health.

✨ Book a visit with Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, ND at to explore biometric testing and a personalized plan to support your health moving forward.

Why You Wake Up at 3AM During PerimenopauseIf you’ve been waking up between 2–4AM and struggling to fall back asleep, yo...
03/24/2026

Why You Wake Up at 3AM During Perimenopause

If you’ve been waking up between 2–4AM and struggling to fall back asleep, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common sleep changes women experience during perimenopause.

Hormonal shifts during this stage can significantly affect the nervous system and your sleep cycles.

Here are a few reasons it happens:

✨ Declining progesterone
Progesterone has a calming effect on the brain and helps support deeper sleep. As progesterone levels begin to drop during perimenopause, sleep may become lighter, making it easier to wake during the night.

✨ Cortisol changes
Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone and should naturally rise in the early morning hours to help you wake up. During times of stress or hormonal fluctuation, cortisol can rise too early — waking you up around 3AM.

✨ Blood sugar fluctuations
Hormonal changes can also affect blood sugar regulation. If blood sugar drops during the night, the body releases stress hormones to bring it back up, which can wake you suddenly.

✨ A more sensitive nervous system
Perimenopause often makes the nervous system more reactive, meaning stress, alcohol, or late-night eating can disrupt sleep more easily.

The good news is that these changes are common and manageable with the right support. Understanding what’s happening hormonally can help guide the right strategies to support deeper, more restorative sleep.

✨ If you’re waking at 3AM and not feeling like yourself, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Let's work together to figure it out.

Just a litte reminder.
03/22/2026

Just a litte reminder.

If you’ve been feeling unlike yourself lately, you don’t have to navigate menopause alone.If you’re ready to explore wha...
12/11/2025

If you’ve been feeling unlike yourself lately, you don’t have to navigate menopause alone.

If you’re ready to explore what’s possible with the right support, reach out to get started.

✨ Your next chapter can feel so much better.


Address

250 Wyecroft Road, Unit 7
Oakville, ON
L6K3T7

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 6:30pm
Thursday 10am - 6:30pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 2pm

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