Eat Move Think

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 media referenced in the episode on the episode webpage. 

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, and come back to the city feeling as great as you did when you left. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

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, the education gap that exists around women’s health—and how Medcan’s new program aims to empower women with knowledge. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

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 better to create wellness-promoting spaces of their own? Medcan CEO Shaun Francis interviews Oakville general manager Eric Giberson and HOK senior principal Laura Jones to learn about the way light and colour promotes wellness at Medcan’s new spaces—and, possibly, within the walls of your own home. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

“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 team breaks down the air quality situation in Canada, with the help of Medcan respirologist, Dr. Chris Chan, and wildfire smoke expert Dr. Stephanie Holm of the University of California, San Francisco.  Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.    

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 rid of headaches, with the help of Medcan physiatrist, Dr. Marcus Jansen, and Medcan optometrist, Dr. Suneet Dhadwar. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.  

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 dealing with difficult situations. He also shares what he does to get through stressful times. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

“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 Americans get 50-60% of their calories from ultra-processed food. So how is ultra-processed food affecting our bodies and our brains? How is it really bad for us, and how can you optimize your wellness in an ultra-processed world? Medcan director of food and nutrition Leslie Beck, RD, answers these questions and more in her conversation with Dr. Chris van Tulleken. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

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 decision had on their lives? What are some of the most surprising findings? And what most excites the genetic team about future innovations to come? Director of clinical innovation Allison Hazell leads director of genetics Jessica Gu and genetic counsellor Justin Lorentz in a fascinating discussion that also features chief medical officer Dr. Peter Nord reflecting on his own personal experiences getting his whole genome sequenced. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.  

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 you discover your diagnosis while sleeping in your own bed. Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.