Eat Move Think

Does sunscreen cause cancer? That’s just one of the many skincare myths circulating this summer on social media. As a dermatologist at Refine by Medcan, Dr. Jennifer Tran gets a lot of questions about what’s trending on the various platforms. So in this episode, Dr. Tran provides her take on what’s based in scientific evidence — and what is completely suspect. Featuring such topics as snail mucin, pimple patches, benzoyl peroxide and benzene, glass skin, red LED lights, whether kids should be buying expensive skincare products and whether a flax seed facemask can function as a more cost-effective alternative to neuromodulators. 

For both audio and video of this show visit the official episode page at: https://medcan.com/podcast/social-media-skincare-myths-205/

LINKS

Arrange an appointment with Refine by Medcan at one of its convenient locations today.  

Follow double-board certified dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Tran on Instagram @drjenntran.

A positive account from a woman who incorporated snail mucin into her routine. And here’s an article that provides more detail on how snail mucin is extracted.

More about the K-beauty trend, glass skin.  

A good article examining how pimple patches work. 

The academic article describing the link between benzoyl peroxide and benzene. Another article, by CNN, notes that the study was in part based on a test that stored the skincare treatment at 158 degrees Fahrenheit for 17 hours. 

Why 10-year-olds are buying expensive skincare routines, from the National Post.

An academic study examines the efficacy of red LED light therapy.  

This article features another derm weighing in on the the “flax seed as neuromodulator” trend.  

KEY MOMENTS 

00:00 Introduction

01:19 Dr. Tran introduces herself and the topics she will cover, including pimple patches, sunscreen, benzoyl peroxide, "glass skin", expensive skincare for children, red light LED masks, snail mucin, and flaxseed as an alternative to Botox.

03:34 Dr. Tran provides her verdict on pimple patches.

05:15 Dr. Tran addresses the myth that sunscreen causes cancer, stating that there is overwhelming evidence that sunscreen protects against skin cancer, and recommends mineral sunscreens as a safe alternative to chemical sunscreens.

06:32 Dr. Tran discusses the "glass skin" trend, explaining that it requires a combination of skincare products and in-office procedures to achieve the desired luminous, glowing skin.

08:16 Dr. Tran expresses concern about the trend of younger people, including children, being targeted with expensive skincare products, stating that this can be harmful to their self-esteem and body image.

11:06 Dr. Tran discusses red light LED masks, stating that they can provide some benefits, but are very expensive, and that in-office procedures may be more effective.

12:54 Dr. Tran addresses the trend of using snail mucin and flaxseed as skincare ingredients, explaining the potential benefits and drawbacks of each.

14:41 Dr. Tran concludes by advising listeners to be cautious of skincare trends on social media and to consult with a dermatologist before trying new products or remedies.

Cottage season is here. For many of us, that means trading the congested city for a cabin in the woods — and outdoor activities like paddleboarding, pickleball, wakeboarding, kayaking, golf or tennis. And whether you’re an expert or just getting started, preventing injury can be crucial to a successful summer vacation. That’s where functional movement training comes in. Join Medcan Interim Fitness Manager Simon Lim and Fitness Team Lead Stephanie Tzemis as they discuss the most common cottage sports, then walk you through specific functional movements designed to reduce injury, and promote mobility, stability and flexibility. 

Find both video and audio versions of the podcast at the episode webpage:

https://medcan.com/podcast/cottage-sports-injury-prevention/

LINKS

Looking for more tips on how to reduce injury and promote strength? Consult with a Medcan fitness trainer today.

The internet is full of sport-specific workouts. Here are some of them:

• Pickleball workout 

• Paddleboarding workout

• Tennis workout

• Improve your strength for golf

• Wakeboarding/wakesurfing workout

KEY MOMENTS

00:00 Beginning

00:12 Preparing for a summer full of fun

01:47 What are functional movements and how can they prevent injury? 

02:43 The four pillars of healthy joints: flexibility, mobility, stability, and strength 

04:37 Cottage sports can be dangerous because we’re not used to doing these movements every day. 

06:29 Are people more likely to get injured from cottage activities?

07:55 Functional movements: The basics

09:18 Poor posture can actually increase injury severity

11:50 When is the most optimal time to do some functional movements, and how often should I do them?

13:38 Who could benefit the most from functional movements? 

15:53 Pickleball & Tennis: The best functional movements to prevent injury

17:41 Golf: The best functional movements to prevent injury

19:05 Paddleboarding: The best functional movements to prevent injury

21:24 Swimming: The best functional movements to prevent injury

22:02 Kayaking: The best functional movements to prevent injury

22:48 Do I need to do functional movements if I’m just going for a leisurely swim?

24:18 Is there a full-body warmup we can do that targets every muscle group? 

25:00 Three most important takeaways from this episode about functional movement.

It’s estimated that this year, on average, 76 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every day. In Canada, prostate cancer makes up 22% of all cancer diagnoses in men. However unlike many cancers, prostate cancer is a condition that you can live and even thrive with.

Here, Dr. Peter Nord and Dr. Rajiv Singal hear from two Medcan clients who were diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer here at Medcan. Hear about their experiences, how you can prevent prostate cancer, and why a diagnosis does not have to hold you back from living a long and happy life. 

LINKS

• Visit our Men’s Health webpage to learn more about your prostate cancer risk and stay up to date on your screening.

• See more prostate cancer statistics from the Canadian Cancer Society

• Read some of the latest research on prostate cancer prevention and management:

• ”...higher intake of plant foods after prostate cancer diagnosis was associated with lower risk of cancer progression,” from this 2024 study in JAMA Network Open

KEY MOMENTS

00:57 How common is prostate cancer?

03:44 Your risk goes up with age

4:58 It might not affect your quality of life at all

6:54 Men don’t always advocate for their health

7:55 Meet two Medcan clients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer

9:19 What is PSA?

11:59 Prostate cancer screening: MRI, PSA ratio and biopsy

14:08 Experience and risk of getting a biopsy

16:22 The Gleason Score, and stages of prostate cancer

20:50 Is it cancer or BPH? (benign prostatic hyperplasia) How to know

23:47 Does testosterone increase your risk of prostate cancer?

25:02 Your PSA trend matters more than your current levels

26:24 A regular GP may not have caught this Medcan client’s cancer

27:55 Treatment options: radiation vs surgery

30:55 The importance of being proactive about your health and recovery 

31:34 One man’s post-surgery 10,000 step streak

34:36 Surgery results and recovery

36:52 Lifestyle choices that can prevent an enlarged prostate

37:36 Tips from two of Dr. Singal’s patients

Menopause costs the Canadian economy $3.5 billion a year. Many women suffer through their symptoms in silence in the workplace, with fears of being criticized, isolated or even terminated. At Medcan, we’re working hard to fight against the stigma surrounding menopause. Here, we feature our recent webinar, Leading Through Menopause: Strategies for Success.

Joined by Janet Ko, President of the Menopause Foundation, and Salima Valji, CEO of Unleash Forward, Inc., Clinical Director of Menopause and Perimenopause, Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky, covers critical topics on menopause awareness and support in the workplace. The panelists debunk myths about hormone therapy and breast cancer risk, offer valuable tips for advocating for menopause-related needs in the workplace, and share resources to empower women and foster supportive environments at work.

LINKS

• Medcan’s Menopause and Perimenopause Program led by Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky, offers six months of comprehensive, holistic support that is personalized to your unique symptoms and concerns. 

• Janet Ko is the President and Co-Founder of The Menopause Foundation, where you’ll find a helpful symptom tracker among other useful resources.

• Salima Valji is the CEO and Founder of Unleash Forward Inc., a purpose driven leadership accelerator focused on elevating women and people of colour to senior leadership roles and board positions. 

• Find more helpful resources at The Menopause Society (formerly known as the North American Menopause Society).

• More references and research: 

• The Menopause and Work in Canada report by the Menopause Foundation breaks down the economic impact of menopause. 

• Closing the women’s health gap: A $1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies by The McKinsey Health Institute

• Read a recent critical review of the Women’s Health Initiative, which created societal distrust in the efficacy and safety of hormone replacement therapy.

Plus, our panelists’ favourite women’s health books to add to your bookshelf.

• Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky’s pick: Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women's Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives -- Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer by Dr. Avrum Bluming and Dr. Carol Tavris

• Janet Ko’s pick: The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health With Facts And Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunter

• Salima Valji’s pick: The Menopause Brain: New Science Empowers Women to Navigate the Pivotal Transition with Knowledge and Confidence by Dr. Lisa Mosconi

• To stay in touch with our panelists, you can connect with Janet Ko and Salima Valji on LinkedIn.

As women age, physical and hormonal changes lead to new nutritional and wellness needs. So in episode 201 of Eat Move Think, Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky and Leslie Beck, RD, team up to guide you through women’s health by the decade. Learn what’s happening inside and outside your body during each decade of adulthood from your 30s onward—and how simple lifestyle and diet choices can help you move through your life with vitality and confidence.

Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

Within Canada’s 20 million person labour market, 5 million people are working women over the age of 40. According to a recent report from the Menopause Society, an estimated 1 in 10 women will leave the workforce due to unmanaged symptoms of menopause—that’s around 500,000 women who will stop working because of their symptoms this year. 

As the Clinical Director of Medcan’s Menopause and Perimenopause Program, Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky is working to change these statistics. In Part One of our Women’s Health Special Series, she’s joined by her former client, Norma Pasquale. After having faced debilitating perimenopause symptoms, Norma’s life changed after treating her symptoms with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Hear her story, and learn how you can advocate for your health and get the best care and resources for your unique needs.

Whether you’re giving a presentation at work or competing in a swim meet, there’s nothing more frustrating than having all the tools and the practice in the world, and fumbling under pressure.

Dr. Dana Sinclair, the author of Dialed In: Do Your Best When it Matters Most, knows this better than anyone. She’s a performance psychologist, and she’s worked with high-performers of all kinds (from the Toronto Raptors to Jamie Lee Curtis) to help them reach their potential. Here, Mind Station Team Lead Jennifer Baldachin chats with Dr. Sinclair. Get the best strategies to overcome fear, transform your self-talk, and dial into a performance mindset that lets you access your best self, no matter the circumstances.

Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the world’s most common gastrointestinal disorders, and Canada’s rates are some of the highest. It’s difficult to diagnose, impossible to cure, and can be tough to talk about—but not for today’s guest. 

Kate Scarlata, RD, is an expert in IBS and the low FODMAP diet. Here, she joins Leslie Beck, Medcan’s Clinical Director of Food and Nutrition, to give you a comprehensive guide to the many facets of IBS, and how to get the best results using the low FODMAP diet.

Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

A recent report showed that Canada’s national life expectancy dropped for the third year in a row—now sitting at an average of 81.3 years. Why are experts calling this decline a historical change? How does your own life expectancy compare, and how can you make tweaks in your routine to help you increase your lifespan and your healthspan?

Here, Dr. Peter Nord is joined by Dr. Doug Manuel, MD, director of the Big Life Lab at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and expert in preventive medicine. The two docs explore the implications of a shorter national life expectancy on your life, and the most important things you can do to avoid becoming part of that statistic.

Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

Studying the brain has never been an easy feat. Researchers haven’t had steady access to growing human brain tissue—until now. The team at Sunnybrook’s Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program is making impressive progress with the help of their lab-grown organoids, which mimic living human neurons and allow scientists to more accurately study the way different conditions affect the brain.

Here, Dr. Peter Nord explores how this advancement could change the way we understand Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and how your lifestyle choices might affect whether or not you actually develop a cognitive disease. He’s joined by renowned neurologist Dr. Sandra Black, who leads the Dr. Sandra Black Centre For Brain Resilience and Recovery, as well as the Director of Sunnybrook’s Biological Sciences Platform. Dr. JoAnne McLaurin.

Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.