Ep. 163: The Latest On Personalized Nutrition
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 director of nutrition studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center (pictured above).
Ep. 162: Walking for Fitness
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. Walking is one of the best ways to get that routine going. Here, Move host Dr. Andrew Miners chats with Dr. Nelson Ferreira. They break down the physical and mental benefits of walking, and share some inspiring fitness stories from walking podcaster Dave Paul, (pictured above) and Medcan client Raysa Hidalgo.
Ep. 161: Can You Breathe Your Way to Better Mental Health?
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.
Ep. 160: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Her Nutrition
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 (pictured above) clear up the biggest misconceptions around nutrition for women, and provide a suggestion for what you should be incorporating into your diet, right away.
Ep. 159: A Woman’s Guide to Preventive Health
This week, Medcan senior medical advisor, and bestselling author of The New Woman’s Guide to Healthy Aging, Dr. Vivien Brown, (pictured above) 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.
Ep. 158: Explaining Canada’s New Alcohol Guidelines
Canada’s new alcohol guidelines tell us there is no safe amount when it comes to drinking alcohol. To learn about the implications for us all, Medcan’s chief medical officer Dr. Peter Nord (pictured above) walks us through interviews with guideline coauthors Dr. Tim Naimi, physician and director of Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, and Dr. Jürgen Rehm, epidemiologist at CAMH and professor at the University of Toronto. We also check in with guideline critic Dr. Dan Malleck, historian and health sciences professor at Brock University.
Ep. 157: What Is Zone 2 Training, and How to Do It Right
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. 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 researching the concept of the “polarized training” that separates training styles by lactate range and heart rate. Here, he explores the benefits of slowing down with Medcan CEO Shaun Francis.
Ep. 156: Workplace Wellness Success Stories
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 Eat Move Think, join such MAS physicians as Dr. Peter Nord (pictured above), 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.
Ep. 155: What Do I Need to Know About Heart Disease?
February is Heart Health month, so 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, (pictured above) joins Dr. Peter Nord to break down everything you need to know about heart disease, and the main risk factors that cause it.
Ep. 154: What Can I Do to Promote Mental Health?
Mary Deacon has been pioneering efforts to improve Canada’s mental health for 25 years. She and Medcan CEO Shaun Francis ways to improve access and reduce stigma. It’s a conversation you don’t want to miss.
Ep. 153: How to Talk to Someone Who’s Struggling
Our conversations about mental health have changed in the past few years. 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? And how can you take care of yourself? Learn about things to say, do, and avoid to best show your support, from wellness host Dr. Peter Nord and Medcan social worker Jennifer Baldachin (pictured above).
Ep. 152: How to Calm Your Mind
When you fixate too much on productivity and goal-chasing, focus can fizzle, and burnout results. 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 (pictured above) about his own journey to calm, and how the rest of us can become more engaged, more present, and more productive.
Ep. 151: What Does A Genetic Counsellor Do?
Genetic technology isn’t just for scientists anymore. We give genetic tests as gifts to our friends, our family, even our pets. Yet few people really understand what it is that a genetic counsellor does, or how clinical genetic testing works. Here, director of clinical innovation Allison Hazell (pictured above), clinical director of genetics Jessica Gu, and genetic counsellor Justin Lorentz answer the questions they get asked most.
Ep. 150: How to Change, with Dr. David Macklin
Ah, the last week of the year. It might be a time of reflection as you reminisce, or maybe you’re already planning your 2023! Most of us make New Year’s resolutions with true intentions of sticking with them. So what’s the secret to making long-lasting, permanent, healthy change? As you finalize your goals and hopes for next year, join Shaun Francis as he chats with weight management expert Dr. David Macklin about creating practical goals that are sure to last.
Ep. 149: Food Trends of 2023
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.
Ep. 148: How to Get (And Stay) Fit in 2023
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? Here, fitness managers Anna Topali (pictured above) and Tyler Kerr lead a group of experienced personal trainers in a discussion about how to set yourself up for ongoing success when starting out.
Ep. 147: The Year in Wellness
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.
Ep. 146: Skincare on Your Holiday Schedule
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 (pictured above) 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 to best care for your skin through the winter.
Ep. 145: A New Way to Assess Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Early detection of cardiovascular disease can be life-changing. Problem is, many methods 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 this conversation between our Wellness host, Dr. Peter Nord, Medcan’s chief medical officer, and Tricia Ravalico, (pictured above) Director, Global Scientific Leadership and Education at Abbott, we explore the development of the hs-Troponin test and describe why it is so innovative.
Ep. 144: Can Strength Training Help You Live Longer?
Conventional wisdom (and plenty of research) says engaging in aerobic activity like running, swimming, or cycling can 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 Dr. Andrew Miner as he chats with the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Jess Gorzelitz, (pictured above) an associate professor at the University of Iowa with expertise in kinesiology and epidemiology. Learn how older people can start strength training, why lifting weights provides longevity benefits—and why strength training is most beneficial for women.