Eat Move Think

Scientific researchers believe that cardiorespiratory fitness, in the form of VO2max, should be a vital sign that doctors consider alongside heart rate and blood pressure—and Medcan has just taken steps to incorporate a test designed to provide clients with an estimate of their VO2max level. So what is VO2max—and why should you care? This episode provides the ultimate cardiorespiratory fitness explainer. Co-hosted by Dr. Peter Nord and Dr. Andrew Miners, we provide background about the value and illustrate the effect it has on your longevity and quality of life.   Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

The relationship between diet, exercise and weight loss is more complicated than you think. You know that 500 calories you burned on your morning run? Your body doesn’t just credit you that energy for weight loss. In fact, the work of evolutionary anthropologist and globally recognized metabolism expert Herman Pontzer of Duke University suggests that your body will figure out a way to offset those burned calories after your exercise, possibly by decreasing calorie-burning inflammation in the body. Pontzer’s research suggests that while exercise isn’t a great trigger for weight loss, it remains important for all sorts of wellness reasons. In this encore presentation of Pontzer’s conversation with Medcan’s director of weight management, Dr. David Macklin, the Duke associate professor discusses his most recent book, Burn. Also on the agenda: The fascinating metabolisms of Tanzania’s Hadza tribe of hunter gatherers, and what that all means for North Americans and their sedentary lifestyles.

Cannabis has been legal in Canada for almost four years now. Eat Move Think’s very first episode at the start of 2020 explored the wellness implications of legalization. At that point, few gold-standard research studies had been conducted on cannabis, CBD and THC. So in this episode we revisit the topic. Medcan senior medical consultant Dr. Lorne Greenspan checks in with Dr. Mark Ware, the chief medical officer of Canopy Growth, one of the world’s largest cannabis companies. Can the plant and its derivatives change how we treat anxiety, chronic pain, arthritis and other issues? Who is using it, and why? Find out in this episode, which contains a wide-ranging conversation about new developments at the intersection of cannabis and wellness. 

  Which supplements actually help your muscles grow? Do plant-based eaters need more protein than meat eaters? Do sports drinks boost athletic performance? Is chocolate milk the perfect post-workout drink? To find out the answers to these and other questions, we consulted with two of the most prominent names in Canadian nutrition: Medcan’s director of food and nutrition and Dietitians of Canada chair Leslie Beck and McMaster University kinesiology professor Dr. Stuart Phillips. Together, they distinguish between popular misconceptions and evidence-based practice to help you build muscle and stay fit. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

Dog ownership skyrocketed during the pandemic. Lots of pet owners claim that owning a dog can boost your mental health. But which breeds are best? Dan McCann of the legendary McCann Dog Training family, joins Medcan mental health clinical lead Samantha Charan to explore the health benefits that can come with owning a dog. They’ll help you figure out if dog ownership is right for you, and unpack the reasons why these furry friends can keep us happier and healthier.

Health Canada recently approved a new weight loss drug, semaglutide, also known as “Ozempic” or “Wegovy.” Experts refer to it as a “game changer” for its ability to curtail appetite and spur weight loss. In this episode, Medcan’s director of weight management, Dr. David Macklin, a co-author of Canada’s national guidelines for obesity treatment, provides host Shaun Francis with a semaglutide explainer. “We’re in a super exciting stage in my field of medicine,” Dr. Macklin says. Check out episode highlights and links on our webpage.

More people than ever before are exercising to stay fit and active well into their senior years. The field of sports rehabilitation and therapy is flourishing as a result, with lots of therapies generating buzz. But which ones work for aging athletes, and which ones are a waste of money? Here, Medcan’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Peter Nord, and the Director of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Sebastian Rodriguez-Elizalde, explore platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, prehabilitation, cortisone, hyaluronic acid and many more sports rehab treatments designed to boost your athletic performance, whether you’re 25 or 95.

It’s spring, and if you have a garden that means it’s time for yardwork—raking out dead leaves, planting annuals, fertilizing the lawn. Here, Medcan’s Dr. Lorne Greenspan teams up with the legendary gardening expert Mark Cullen to make the argument that gardening is one of the single best things you can do for your overall wellness, with compelling benefits from an eat, move and think perspective—regardless of your age.   Link to episode webpage.

Intermittent fasting is an increasingly popular diet method intended to trigger weight loss. It’s also said to provide other health benefits. But does it actually work? And which form is appropriate for which people? Dr. Krista Varady is the University of Illinois, Chicago professor of nutrition and a globally recognized expert in intermittent fasting. Here she discusses her recommendations with Leslie Beck, the Globe and Mail nutrition columnist and Medcan’s Director of Food and Nutrition.   Link to episode webpage.

You know that exercising is good for your muscles and bones. But exercise can also improve brain health. In her new book, Move The Body, Heal The Mind, Dr. Jennifer Heisz of McMaster University’s NeuroFit Lab shares the latest research about how to use physical activity to optimize mental and cognitive wellness. Here, she speaks with Dr. Andrew Miners, Medcan’s clinical and product director of sports medicine, therapy, rehabilitation and fitness. For more information, links, and insights with timecodes, visit the episode webpage.