When the temperature drops, we spend more time indoors, in closer proximity to other people, increasing our risk of getting sick. To help you stay healthy and happy during the colder months, we’re bringing you a comprehensive guide to the prevention and treatment of the cold and the flu. Get tips and tricks from all of your favourite hosts to help you eat, move, and think your way to staving off the sniffles, avoiding those aches and pains, and getting back on your feet. Learn which common remed...
Oct 23, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 189
Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky is the clinical director of the Menopause and Perimenopause at Medcan . Since the program launched this year, she’s been working with women at Medcan to educate them about their health and help treat their unique symptoms and situations. Here, she joins Marisa Ciarlitto to chat about the questions that she gets asked most, how she helped some of her clients get through common problems, and how you can get the most benefit out of your next appointment with your doctor. Che...
Oct 09, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 188
Adult acne affects 5.6 million Canadians (and 75% of them are women!). September is Acne Awareness Month, so in episode 187 of Eat Move Think, we’ve teamed up with Refine, Medcan’s dermatology clinic, for the ultimate guide to adult acne. Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Tran breaks down the who, what, where, when and whys of acne, and how you can know what’s best for your skin. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info....
Sep 25, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 187
It’s an exciting time for the fields of nutrition and neurology. This year, two large studies determined that taking a daily multivitamin could improve memory and cognition in older adults. So can supplements actually improve your brain health? How else can food choices affect cognitive function? Here, our Eat host, Leslie Beck, RD, is joined by Toronto Memory Program medical director Dr. Sharon Cohen to provide a comprehensive guide to multivitamins and cognition. Check out the episode webpage ...
Sep 11, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 186
Whether you’re working on a deadline or enjoying time with friends, city noise is jarring to the ears and even worse for concentration. A growing body of scientific evidence also suggests that high noise levels can be harmful to your health, increasing risk of hypertension, stroke and heart attacks. Here, environmental studies researcher Dr. Tor Oiamo joins Medcan CEO Shaun Francis to explore the connection between noise and health. They explain what’s so bad about long-term noise exposure, and ...
Aug 28, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 185
Gastrointestinal health complaints form a large proportion of the reasons people visit their doctors— even though few people like to talk about what’s going on down there. And Medcan’s registered dietitians often get questions about how to promote digestion. So our Eat host, Leslie Beck, Medcan’s clinical director of food and nutrition, suggested a guide to all the gut, microbiome and digestive tract questions our listeners might otherwise not be comfortable asking. Here, Beck is joined by Medca...
Aug 21, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 184
Research suggests that “ one in three Canadians is living with diabetes or prediabetes.” So if your doctor tells you that you’re insulin resistant, what steps can you take? Here, Dr. Peter Nord is joined by Medcan endocrinologist Dr. Susan George—who was named to the Order of Canada in 2020—to break down how you can eat, move and think your way to improved insulin sensitivity—and maybe even reverse your diagnosis. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info....
Aug 14, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 183
Perhaps your doctor mentioned it to you: consider adding strength training to your weekly routine. And here’s the thing: Strength training gets even more important as we get older. So in this episode, Dr. Andrew Miners, Medcan’s director of sports medicine and fitness, and McMaster kinesiology professor Dr. Stuart Phillips provide a guide to optimal strength training for everyone — particularly those who are getting older, who can use their stronger muscles to stay active and vibrant longer than...
Aug 07, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 182
Intermittent fasting is one of the most popular fitness and nutrition trends out there right now —not only as an effective weight loss technique, but as a way to manage chronic disease risk and lower blood pressure. So what risks come with IF, and what should you know before giving it a try? In this encore presentation, Eat host Leslie Beck joins IF expert Dr. Krista Varady of the University of Chicago, Illinois to break down the various types of IF, and how to do it safely and effectively for y...
Jul 31, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 181
Last year, Medcan director of weight management Dr. David Macklin predicted the diabetes medication semaglutide would be a game changer for those seeking help to lose weight. Now known by trade names like Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, today semaglutide is advertised on billboards and in TV commercials — and the hashtag has more than 330 million views on Tiktok. So we invited back Dr. Macklin to get his perspective on the medication, now that it’s actually on the market and being used by hundreds...
Jul 24, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 180
Something about exercising in nature just makes you feel good. Hiking up a hill to enjoy forest views. Biking through the countryside. Even a walk through your community. And in fact, a new study suggests that working out in fresh air provides a special boost to your cognitive abilities – one that you won’t get if you exercise indoors. So how does exercising outside really affect your body? Here, Medcan CEO Shaun Francis sits down with the study’s lead authors, Dr. Olav Krigolson and Katherine B...
Jul 17, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 179
Eat Move Think is all about giving you new ways to become the healthiest version of yourself. So in this special summer episode, we’ve challenged some of Medcan’s most wellness-obsessed teammates to tell us all about the content that changed the way they make their healthy choices. Hear about the media and pop culture that has made a big impact on Medcanners’ lives, and you might just find your next best read, watch or listen along the way. Follow along with the books, podcasts, films and other ...
Jul 10, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 178
If you’re anything like us, you’ve been waiting for the sunny days of summer. Between all the plans and trips you might have in store, it can be easy to let your healthy habits and routines fall by the wayside. So how can you optimize your wellness while you’re away? Join fitness managers Anna Topali and Tyler Kerr as they and their fitness team leads to find out. They provide tips and tricks to help you turn your weekend trip from a wellness challenge to a healthy cross-training opportunity, an...
Jul 03, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 177
Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky is the clinical director of women’s health and vitality at Medcan and leads the new perimenopause and menopause program. She’s a certified menopause practitioner and an advocate for the benefits of hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Zelovitzky also has an unusual backstory that includes working on Bay Street before attending medical school while raising two young daughters. Here, she joins Director of Clinical Innovation Allison Hazell to talk about menopause misconceptions...
Jun 26, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 176
Medcan is expanding. There’s a summer pop-up in Muskoka’s Port Carling, a new location in Collingwood is coming soon and the Oakville location has been open for 18 months. The design in each of these spaces feels less medical and more high-end hotel. Elements like natural light and organic materials promote a sense of optimal wellness in visitors, encouraging relaxation and comfort regardless of the reason for the visit. So can our listeners learn from Medcan’s interior design choices, the bette...
Jun 19, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 175
“Worst air quality in a lifetime for many,” read the Weather Network app for many North Americans recently. Residual smoke from the wildfires in northern Ontario and Quebec created serious air pollution, causing Environment Canada to recommend that we avoid strenuous activities and limit our time outside. So how does wildfire smoke and air pollution affect our health, what can we do to protect ourselves, and are there ways to counteract health effects of wildfire smoke? Here, the Eat Move Think ...
Jun 12, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 174
We’ve all had a headache that stopped our day in its tracks. To mark Migraine Awareness Month, we’re devoting an episode to the causes and cures for all sorts of headaches. That dull, throbbing pain could be caused by stress, poor diet, eye sight issues, or many other underlying conditions. So how can you know what is causing your headache? What is the best way to get rid of it, and how can you avoid them in the long run? Here, Dr. Peter Nord breaks down everything you need to know about getting...
Jun 05, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 173
When you experience stress, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. So what exactly does the “stress hormone” do? Why is there an instinct to freeze in stressful situations, and what lifestyle changes could improve our ability to handle stress? Here, Medcan CEO Shaun Francis talks to the director of the UHN Krembil Research Institute, Dr. Jaideep Bains, an expert on stress, about how exactly stress affects our wellness—and why it’s so important to have healthy coping mechanisms when dealin...
May 29, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 172
“If you’re eating something that came wrapped in plastic and contains even one ingredient that wouldn’t be found in most household kitchens, it is most likely ultra-processed food,” writes today’s guest, Dr. Chris van Tulleken. He’s an Oxford-educated infectious diseases doctor, with a Ph.D. in molecular virology, as well as a BBC television personality. His latest book, an international bestseller, is Ultra-Processed People: Why We Can’t Stop Eating Food That Isn’t Food . He says that North Ame...
May 22, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 171
In 2022, Medcan became the first wellness provider in the country to enter the age of truly personalized medicine by integrating whole genome sequencing into a comprehensive preventive health assessment — allowing clients access to the most advanced technology available to promote longevity and address potential future health concerns. Now, a year later, Medcan genetic counsellors look back and evaluate what they’ve learned. Who is getting their whole genome sequenced, and what impact has the de...
May 15, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 170
5.4 million Canadians are at high risk of experiencing or have been diagnosed with sleep apnea —and not all of them snore. Sleep apnea is the most common breathing-related sleep disorder, and spending the night in a hospital or clinic is an uncomfortable and inconvenient way to be diagnosed and get treatment. Here, Dr. Chris Chan, clinical director of Medcan’s new Sleep Program, explains who is at highest risk for sleep apnea, and he introduces a simple and evidence-based device that could help ...
May 08, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 169
For years, scientific evidence has suggested that there could possibly be a link between exercise and cognitive function. A new study in Scientific Reports analyzed the genetic data of over 350,000 people to determine whether or not regular physical activity can really improve our brain health. So can working out really make us smarter? What type of exercise is best for our brains? Here, University of Geneva senior researcher and study lead author, Dr. Boris Cheval, joins Move host Dr. Andrew Mi...
May 01, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 168
Did you know that loneliness is associated with health risks as negative as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? When we think of a healthy lifestyle designed to promote longevity, we think of factors like diet, exercise or genetics. Rarely do we consider loneliness as a factor in determining how long we live. Yet according to loneliness expert Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, “social connections have potent influences on health and longevi...
Apr 24, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 167
Fitness trainers are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to health and wellness. Here, Medcan fitness managers Anna Topali and Tyler Kerr lead some of our top trainers as they discuss science-based answers to the questions that come up again and again. Do women get bulky if they lift heavy weights? Will my sleep quality suffer if I work out at night? Is it OK to workout on consecutive days? Can I do cardio and resistance training on the same day? Is fasted cardio better for fat-loss, or is it da...
Apr 17, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 166
As the weather heats up, so does the talk about sunscreen. Reapply every 2 hours—or every 4 hours. Only use SPF 30 or higher…but maybe the SPF 15 in your moisturizer is okay. Here, Refine medical director Dr. Jonathan Levy clears up misconceptions about your skin and sunscreen. Learn why SPF 80 might not be as protective as you think, which UV rays your sunscreen is blocking, and how to know which brands will make you less likely to break out. Check out the episode webpage for links and more inf...
Apr 10, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 165
Sleeping well is crucial for wellness. But for those of us who work at demanding jobs, it can be all too easy to sacrifice sleep. In fact, thanks also to streaming services and social media, society is as sleep deprived as we’ve ever been. So in this episode, Medcan chief medical officer Dr. Peter Nord talks with sleep deprivation expert Dr. Ann E. Rogers of Georgia’s Emory University. The two discuss the reasons we’re not getting the slumber we need—and share tips and tricks to maintain perform...
Apr 03, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 164
What’s the best way to lose weight, and keep it off for good? Does your body prefer a low-fat or a low-carb diet? The body’s metabolism rate, genes, and microbiomes can all affect the way we lose or gain weight. The good news? The field of personalized nutrition will likely soon be able to give you a full list of which foods will help your body lose weight, and which will contribute to weight gain. Medcan’s director of food and nutrition, Leslie Beck chats with Dr. Christopher Gardner, the direc...
Mar 27, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 163
Medcan trainers and doctors say that the single biggest change you can do for your wellness is to go from doing nothing, to doing something. For the non-smokers among us, the biggest change in your body happens when you go from a sedentary lifestyle to a simple fitness routine that you can gradually build on, and walking is one of the best ways to get that routine going. Here, Move host Dr. Andrew Miners chats with Dr. Ferreira, who recently started walking over 5km to work on a regular basis. T...
Mar 20, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 162
Can you breathe your way to a better mood and reduced anxiety? This week’s guest says it's possible! Medcan consulting psychologist Dr. Amanda Beaman chats with the medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University, Dr. David Spiegel, a physician. Dr. Spiegel's recent study with podcaster and neuroscientist Andrew Huberman revealed the mental well-being benefits of a kind of breathwork called cyclic sighing. Here, Dr. Spiegel explains how to perform cyclic sighing, a...
Mar 13, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 161
Can certain foods cure pre-menstrual syndrome? Do soy products cause breast cancer? And can a healthy diet help you conceive, or improve the symptoms of menopause? In this episode of Eat Move Think, we explore the world of women's nutrition. Guided by Medcan’s director of clinical innovation, Allison Hazell, our Eat expert, Leslie Beck, RD, and registered dietitian Joanna Stochla clear up the biggest misconceptions around nutrition for women, and provide a suggestion for what you should be incor...
Mar 06, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 160
