As we approach International Women’s Day , Eat Move Think begins a two-week look at wellness specifically for females. This week, Medcan senior medical advisor, and bestselling author of The New Woman’s Guide to Healthy Aging , Dr. Vivien Brown, provides an overview on all things preventive health, touching on everything from telomeres to stress, and the importance of self-education to promote brain health. If you’re a woman, it’s an inspiring—and empowering—way to focus on your own wellness. An...
Feb 27, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 159
Canada’s new alcohol guidelines took a radically different approach. Most health recommendations provide advice on safe amounts of the substance in question. But Canada’s 2023 Guidance on Alcohol and Health tells us there is no safe amount when it comes to drinking spirits, wine or beer. Sidestepping any suggestion for specific consumption levels, they instead inform Canadians about the risk we incur for an alcohol-caused death at given consumption levels per week. To learn about the implication...
Feb 20, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 158
Everyone from Peter Attia to the Global Cycling Network is talking about zone-based fitness training. It’s gaining popularity as a way to optimize your workouts and train like an endurance athlete, all while making sure you don’t work too hard. So we contacted a global expert to determine whether it’s worth the hype. What is Zone 2 training, and how can you do it effectively—no matter your fitness level? Dr. Stephen Seiler is a professor at Norway’s University of Agder, and for decades he’s been...
Feb 13, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 157
Workforces increasingly expect their employers to support their health and wellbeing—which is why Medcan created the Workplace Health and Wellness Strategy Playbook . In the latest episode of our weekly podcast, Eat Move Think , join such MAS physicians as Dr. Peter Nord, Dr. Alain Sotto, Dr. Matthew Burnstein and Dr. Aisha Khatib as they share first-hand experiences of best practices for workplace wellness, to promote engagement and productivity among employees. Check out the episode webpage fo...
Feb 06, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 156
February is Heart Health month, and with the heartiest (ahem) of holidays coming up, in the form of Valentine’s Day, what better time to bring attention to how you can keep your heart healthy and strong? Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada, and is the first leading cause of premature death in women. Here, Medcan director of cardiology, Dr. Beth Abramson, joins Dr. Peter Nord to break down everything you need to know about heart disease, and the main risk factors that cau...
Jan 30, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 155
Mary Deacon has been pioneering efforts to improve Canada’s mental health for 25 years. She’s the founding president of the CAMH Foundation and the founding chair of Bell Let’s Talk, which she still leads today. She’s also worked with Medcan CEO and True Patriot Love chair Shaun Francis on a million-dollar fund to support military members, Veterans and their families. Here, the two friends discuss the past, present and future of mental health in this country, with a view to providing us with way...
Jan 23, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 154
Our conversations about mental health have changed in the past few years. Things that were considered taboo or inappropriate to mention are now commonly discussed. And that’s great, because authentic conversations can help to reduce stigma. So when your coworker or close friend discloses that they’re having a tough time, how can you provide the response they need? What’s the best way to set boundaries? What do you do if you don’t have the time to talk? And how can you take care of yourself? Lear...
Jan 16, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 153
Eat Move Think is all about life hacks and wellness guidance to help you be at your best. So what happens when you place too much of a focus on productivity and goal-chasing? In productivity expert Chris Bailey’s new book, How to Calm Your Mind, he writes that “in an anxious world, the path to productivity runs through calm.” Here, Medcan consulting psychologist Amanda Beaman talks to Bailey about his own journey to calm, how our brains are affected by high levels of stress and anxiety, and how ...
Jan 09, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 152
Genetic technology is advancing quickly, and the information in our DNA will continue to grow more important to promoting human health and wellbeing in the decades to come. Genetic counsellors help people to understand the implications of the information locked in their genes. Counsellors can provide guidance on which genetic tests may be appropriate, and, once test results are in, they help the subject understand the meaning of the results. In this episode, Medcan genetic counsellors demystify ...
Jan 02, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 151
Ah, the last week of the year. Hopefully it’s your chance to kick back, relax, and spend time with loved ones. The holidays can be a time of reflection as you reminisce on the past year, or maybe you’re planning your 2023 and setting some New Year's resolutions. So what’s the secret to making long-lasting, permanent change? In this encore episode, join Shaun Francis as he chats with weight management expert Dr. David Macklin for tips to create practical, achievable goals. Check out the episode w...
Dec 26, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 150
Curious about the food trends that will affect how and what you eat in 2023? Medcan director of food and nutrition Leslie Beck sure is. So in this episode she checks in with Nourish Food Marketing president Jo-Ann McArthur, the author of a closely watched annual report on food trends. The two experts discuss what’s likely to trend in the next year, the innovations headed our way, and how we may eat differently in the next 12 months and beyond. Check out the episode webpage for links and more inf...
Dec 19, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 149
Fitness activity explodes in January as New Year’s resolutions motivate people to join gyms and begin physical activity regimens. So why do those numbers drop after March, and what can you do to ensure you stick with it? How can you become one of those successful people who uses the New Year to trigger long-term lifestyle change? Medcan fitness trainers have helped thousands of people start exercise habits that become permanent lifestyle improvements. Here, fitness managers Anna Topali and Tyler...
Dec 12, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 148
The last 12 months have whizzed by, and so in this episode, Medcan experts like CEO Shaun Francis, Eat host Leslie Beck, Move host Dr. Andrew Miners and many more take stock of the way wellness changed in 2022, both for them personally, and for society as a whole. We also hear where our experts expect wellness to go in the next 12 months. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info....
Dec 05, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 147
The holiday season often prompts thoughts of skincare rejuvenation treatments. Medcan’s dermatology clinic, Refine, takes over Eat Move Think this week to round up the most innovative and effective skincare treatments to address your biggest skincare concerns. Refine medical director Dr. Jonathan Levy and Refine aesthetician Lesley Bray answer listener-submitted questions about the best ways to boost collagen, get an instant glow or tackle fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, get important tips on how...
Nov 28, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 146
Early detection of cardiovascular disease can be life-changing. Various methods are used to assess risk. Problem is, many identify cardiac disease only after it has progressed to later stages. High-sensitivity troponin screening uses a blood sample to detect elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, years before most other methods. In fact, hs-Troponin is so sensitive that it may allow clinicians to forecast heart attacks a decade before they happen. In this conversation between our Wellness host...
Nov 21, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 145
Conventional wisdom (and plenty of research) says you’re supposed to engage in aerobic activity like running, swimming, or cycling if you really want to lengthen your life. Now, a new study suggests that adding strength-training exercises to your aerobic fitness routine will provide an added boost when it comes to living longer. Join our Move host, Dr. Andrew Miners of Medcan, as he chats with the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Jess Gorzelitz, an associate professor at the University of Iowa with ...
Nov 14, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 144
Eat Move Think host Shaun Francis is the founder of True Patriot Love, one of Canada’s largest charities supporting serving military members, Veterans and their families. So the week of Remembrance Day, we join Shaun and True Patriot Love CEO Nick Booth as they explore the inspiring stories of three Canadian soldiers who overcame wellness challenges and transformed their lives. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info....
Nov 07, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 143
As temperatures fall, darkness and cold can make wellness behaviours more difficult. As we head into winter, many of us find it more difficult to maintain a healthy diet. We might skip more workouts to avoid going out in the cold, in favour of cozying up to a good book or movie. More time indoors and less sunlight both contribute to many of our struggles with mental health, and we’re more likely to become depressed. So how can we stay healthier and happier than ever through the colder months? Sh...
Oct 31, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 142
Women’s wellness is under-discussed, under-researched and under-considered by the Canadian healthcare system—and Breast Cancer Awareness month provides a great opportunity to explore two key aspects of women’s health: Breast cancer and menopause. What are the implications of 422,000 missed mammograms in Ontario during the pandemic? Canadian women are likely to live a third of their adult lives in menopause, so why do we know so little about how to cope with its symptoms? What do you need to know...
Oct 24, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 141
We hear lots of talk about the importance of a healthy and diverse gut microbiome. So what foods should we be eating to maintain our gut health, and how does a healthy microbiome affect the rest of our body? What’s the science behind at-home microbiome testing products, and are they worth trying? How could microbial science help with early detection or treatment of conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s? Medcan’s director of food and nutrition, Leslie Beck, RD, sits down with Dr. Brett Finla...
Oct 17, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 140
The National Ballet of Canada has an innovative Dancer Wellness programme that helps elite dancers stay healthy and happy. As the ballet's official Health and Wellness provider, Medcan helped to design the program. So what can other high-performing organizations learn from the holistic way that the arts company cares for its human resources? Exploring these topics and more, Medcan’s chief growth officer, and former member of the NBOC board of directors, Bronwen Evans, sits down with the ballet’s...
Oct 10, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 139
Your perception of the things that happen in your life—both the successes and the failures—can have a big impact on your performance and wellness. So how do you handle setbacks? How can you find purpose in your leadership journey, and upgrade your inner narrator to tell the best, most successful stories possible? Here, Medcan CEO Shaun Francis talks with Christine Miners and Rick Lash, leadership consultants and authors of the recently released book Once Upon A Leader. They explore the steps you...
Oct 03, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 138
“I’m going to NAD for the rest of my life and I’m never gonna age,” Hailey Bieber tells her friend Kendall Jenner in the latest season of The Kardashians. New anti-aging technologies like NAD+ IV therapy and plasmapheresis are making waves in pop culture—but do they work? What does the latest research say? Medcan chief medical officer Dr. Peter Nord checks in with Dr. Eric Verdin of California’s Buck Institute for Research on Aging to separate the science from the snake oil—and to share tips on ...
Sep 26, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 137
Are you dealing with chronic pain and need tips on how to manage it? Anyone who has experienced chronic pain knows how debilitating it can be. But why does chronic pain happen? How much of it is neurological, and what are the best ways to soothe it? And is it possible to cure chronic pain? Dr. Michael Wansbrough is the medical director of the pain management and recovery program at Medcan. Here, he and our Move host, Dr. Andrew Miners, explore why we feel chronic pain. They describe how reframin...
Sep 19, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 136
If you’re a dietitian, some questions come up all the time . Is diet soda bad for you? How much coffee is too much? How many eggs can I eat? Which supplements do I need to take? How many calories should I eat every day? Which foods should I never eat? In this episode, Eat host Leslie Beck, Medcan’s director of food and nutrition, leads her colleagues Olivia Cupido and Terence Boateng in an engaging discussion that provides easy-to-understand answers to all of the above questions. Check out the e...
Sep 12, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 135
The debate has been going on for years: while some swear by the benefits of a stretching routine, others will say there is little to no point. What does the research say, and how much of a difference could a stretching routine make on our range of motion and physical health as we age? Can you use stretching to help heal an injury, or prevent future injuries? What sort of stretches should you be doing on a daily basis, if any? Here, Medcan’s Dr. Andrew Miners talks to physiotherapist and chiropra...
Sep 05, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 134
How can employers best prepare for higher rates of absenteeism or supply chain issues in the upcoming season? How to keep employees and their families safe and healthy? In this episode, pandemic planning experts Dr. Alain Sotto and Dr. Matthew Burnstein of Medcan’s Medical Advisory Services join program manager Mark Beairsto to share everything you need to know about what to expect this fall from COVID, how to prepare—and how investing in workplace wellness can maximize staff retention and engag...
Aug 29, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 133
“We’re the most connected, and the loneliest generation ever,” says Dr. Jack Muskat, Medcan’s clinical director of psychology, describing the paradox of apps like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook. Inspired by a recent study showing that a one-week break from social media led to significant improvements in well-being, Dr. Muskat leads Eat Move Think producer Jasmine Rach on a social media cleanse of her own. It also features context from the bestselling Johann Hari book on the cognitive ef...
Aug 22, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 132
Wearables like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, the WHOOP band and the Oura Ring help us track our exercise and lifestyle habits, collecting loads of data as we use them. So what’s happening with all that information, and how can wearable data help to promote optimal human wellness? What cool things are wearable data allowing researchers to do today? And what new capabilities will this data enable in the future? Evidation is a Silicon Valley-based company that aggregates the data from wearables and enab...
Aug 15, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 131
Adults tend to gain weight as they age — about one to two pounds a year, research shows. A recent study indicates that small changes to one’s diet and/or exercise routine can prevent that incremental accumulation. In this episode, our Eat host, Leslie Beck, interviews the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Robert Ross of Queen’s University, a global expert on sustainable positive lifestyle change for weight loss and better health. He shares the study’s findings, and discusses tips on how to halt age-r...
Aug 08, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 130
