Rucking, or wearing a weighted “rucksack” while walking or jogging, started as a training technique to prepare soldiers to carry their gear long distances. Lately, civilians are praising its health benefits too—the hashtag #rucking currently has 23 million views on TikTok. Here, get the rundown on rucking and whether it’s right for you, with Move Host Dr. Andrew Miners and BackFitPro CSO Dr. Stuart McGill, the world’s leading back pain expert (pictured above).

As 2023 comes to a close, Eat Move Think is rounding up the health and wellness trends and updates that left lasting impressions on such Medcan experts as Shaun Francis, Dr. Peter Nord, Leslie Beck and Dr. Andrew Miners. How did their own personal wellness evolve? What innovations will they be watching next year? And what are the biggest takeaways that you can carry forward to optimize your own health in 2024?

When the temperature drops, we spend more time indoors and get less fresh air, increasing our risk of getting sick. Get tips and tricks from all of your favourite hosts (pictured: Dr. Peter Nord) 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 remedies work, which don’t, and which are essential for staying healthy.

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 (pictured above) provide a guide to optimal strength training for everyone.

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. (Pictured above: Medcan RD Neda Rezvany)

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, (pictured above) joins Move host Dr. Andrew Miners to explore the connection between movement and cognition.

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.

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.

As temperatures fall, darkness and cold can make wellness behaviours more difficult. We might skip workouts to avoid going out in the cold, in favour of cozying up to a good book or movie. More time indoors and less sunlight can contribute to mental health issues. And some of us find it more difficult to maintain a healthy diet. So how can we stay healthy and happy through the colder months? Host Shaun Francis (pictured above) leads a tip-filled discussion with Medcan experts Dr. Peter Nord, Dr. Andrew Miners and Joanna Stochla, RD.