Eat Move Think

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 a...

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, Universit...

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 neuros...

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...

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...

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 di...

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 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...

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 k...

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 bigg...

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 bra...

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 in...

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...

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 workplac...

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 No...

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...

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 bounda...

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...

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 s...

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 managem...

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 ea...

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 exerci...

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.  ...

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 bo...

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 t...