Something about exercising in nature just makes you feel good. And in fact, a new study suggests that working out in fresh air provides a special boost to your cognitive abilities – one that you won’t get if you exercise indoors. So how does exercising outside really affect your body? Here, Medcan CEO Shaun Francis sits down with the study’s lead authors, Dr. Olav Krigolson and Katherine Boere (pictured above) of the University of Victoria, to understand what’s up.

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)

Between all the plans and trips you might have in store this summer, 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 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. (Left to right: Medcan trainers Erol Ivanov, Stephanie Tzemis & Kurt Morrison.)

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. 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.

Medcan is expanding. We’re opening a summer pop-up in the Muskoka region’s village of Port Carling, a new location in Collingwood is coming soon and the Oakville location has been around for 18 months. The design in each of these spaces feels less medical and more high-end hotel. Medcan CEO Shaun Francis interviews Oakville general manager Eric Giberson and HOK senior principal Laura Jones (pictured above) to learn about how listeners can learn from Medcan’s interior design choices to create wellness-promoting spaces of their own.

“Worst air quality in a lifetime for many,” read the Weather Network app for many North Americans recently. 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 and clinical director of sleep, Dr. Chris Chan, and wildfire smoke expert Dr. Stephanie Holm.

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. 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 (pictured above) 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.

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, (pictured above) 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.

“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 (pictured above). His latest book, an international bestseller, is Ultra-Processed People. 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.

In 2022, Medcan became the first wellness provider in the country to enter the age of truly personalized medicine by providing whole genome sequencing to clients seeking the most advanced technology available to promote longevity. Now, a year later, 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? Director of clinical innovation Allison Hazell (pictured above) leads director of genetics Jessica Gu and genetic counsellor Justin Lorentz in a fascinating discussion that also features CMO Dr. Peter Nord reflecting on his own experience getting his whole genome sequenced.

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, (pictured above) 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.

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.

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 neuroscience at Brigham Young University, “social connections have potent influences on health and longevity, and lacking social connection qualifies as a risk factor for premature mortality.” Here, Dr. Holt-Lunstad (pictured above) joins Medcan MIND station team lead Jennifer Baldachin to explore how social connections promote wellness—with guidance on how to create new relationships.

If you've ever worked with a fitness trainer, you probably know that they're a wealth of knowledge when it comes to health and wellness. On a regular basis, they get asked popular questions like, “Do women get bulky if they lift heavy weights?” or, “Will my sleep quality suffer if I work out at night?” Here, get the science-based cheat sheet to these and other common fitness questions that Medcan trainers are asked every day. (pictured: trainer Sean Trotman)

As the weather heats up, so does the talk about sunscreen. Reapply every 2 hours—or every 4 hours. Only use SPF30 or higher…but maybe the SPF15 in your moisturizer is okay. Here, Refine medical director Dr. Jonathan Levy (pictured above) clears up misconceptions about your skin and sunscreen. Learn why SPF80 might not be as protective as you think, which UV rays your sunscreen is blocking, and how to know which brands will make you less likely to break out.

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 (pictured above) of Georgia’s Emory University. The two discuss the reasons we’re not getting the slumber we need—and share tips and tricks to maintain performance even during those periods where you’re not getting enough shut-eye.

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).

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.

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.

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.