Plant-Based Canada Podcast

First, a quick note, the Plant-Based Canada Nutrition Conference is back again this year!  For more info, check out: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/4th-canadian-plant-based-nutrition-conference-2023-tickets-555842027467

In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast we are joined by Dr. Helen Voronina. Dr Voronina is a principal dentist at Dr Helen's Dental & Implant Studio - an implant focused practice in Melbourne, Australia. She advocates for a whole food plant-based diet for optimal health, as well as ecological and compassionate reasons, and believes that prevention is the most important aspect of medicine. Her clinic utilizes waste conscious technology, and uses non-animal derived materials where possible. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Incorporating plant-based practices into personal and professional practices 
• Dentistry tools and techniques
• Plant-based sugars & dental decay
• Beverages & dental health
• Oral health microbiome & overall health
• Acidic erosion & brushing 
• Myths & misconceptions

Episode Resources:

Do vegans get more cavities?

Vegetarian Diet & Dental Health Review

Dr. Helen Voronina´s Socials:

Website: https://drhelen.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drhelensdental/?hl=en
Facebook: Dr Helen's Dental & Implant Studio

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:

Instagram  (@plantbasedcanadaorg)
Facebook (Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/)
Website  (https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/)

Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi PhD, RD.

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In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada podcast, we talk to Dr. Akhtar. Dr. Akhtar is a double Board-certified neurologist and preventive medicine  specialist. She is the Co-founder, President, and CEO of the Center for Contemporary Sciences – a non-profit that is catalyzing the replacement of unreliable animal testing with more effective human-specific research techniques.

Dr. Akhtar is a U-S veteran. She previously served as Deputy Director of the U.S. Army Traumatic Brain Injury Program developing the Army’s brain injury prevention and treatment strategies for soldiers. As a Commander in the U-S Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Dr. Akhtar frequently deployed to assist with national public health emergencies.

For a decade, Dr. Akhtar was a Medical Officer at the Food and Drug Administration, most recently in the Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats, implementing studies on vaccine effectiveness and safety and using her Top Secret Security clearance to develop national preparedness strategies for public health threats.  

Dr. Akhtar is a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. She is the author of the two books, Our Symphony With Animals. On Health, Empathy and Our Shared Destinies and Animals and Public Health, which argues for the need for health institutions to include animals as part of the “public” in public health. More recently, her non-profit -- the Center for Contemporary Sciences – was instrumental in the U-S Congress passing the FDA Modernization Act – a bill which allows the FDA to consider non-animal drug testing methods, instead of requiring animal tests for approval

If you enjoy this episode please consider supporting our show through the link at the bottom of the show notes… or you can donate directly through our website.

Socials
Center for Contemporary Sciences
CCS Facebook
CCS Instagram
CCS Twitter

Links and References
Our Symphony with Animals: On Health, Empathy, and Our Shared Destinies

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What does a cardiologist recommend for a heart healthy life? 

In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast we are joined by Dr. Shane Williams. Dr. Williams is a medical doctor with a private practice in Cardiology and Internal Medicine located in Muskoka, Ontario. He was born and raised in Newfoundland, attending Memorial University in St. John´s and then completed his Doctor of Medicine degree and post-graduate fellowship program in Internal Medicine at Memorial as well, followed by a Cardiology Subspecialty Fellowship at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. 

Dr. Williams has both personal and professional experience assessing the science and implementing nutritional approaches, following a whole-foods, plant-based diet. Since 2010, he has been incorporating nutritional education and training into his own everyday life as well as the care of his patients. He is the founder of Williams Cardiology & Wellness Medical Centre and has empowered thousands of his patients with plant-based nutrition and helped them avoid invasive cardiac procedures. Check out the episode for more information.

In this episode we discuss:

• Incorporating plant-based practices into personal and professional practices 
• Risk factors for heart disease 
• Cardiovascular disease prevalence & current research
• Williams Cardiology “Lunch and Learn” programs

Episode Resources:
Canadian Cardiovascular Society: https://ccs.ca/
Williams Cardiology Lunch & Learn Programs: https://www.williamscardiology.com/programs/lunch-learn/ 

Dr. Shane Williams´ Socials:
Website: Williams Cardiology & Wellness Medical Center: www.williamscardiology.com
Instagram: @drwswilliams
Twitter: @drwswilliams

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:
Instagram  (@plantbasedcanadaorg)
Facebook (Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/)
Website  (https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/)

Listen here (https://plantbasedcanadapodcast.buzzsprout.com/) or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi PhD, RD.

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Are you an animal lover? Do you have or wonder about how animal companions may be fed in a plant-based home?

In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast we are joined by Mikhail Goussev to chat about the considerations and science surrounding the alternative plant-based options available for feeding animal companions.

Mikhail graduated from University of Toronto as a mechanical engineer, then several years later received an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. Mikhail became vegan in 2014 and channelled his compassion for animals into Vecado, a vegan pet food company. This came with a lot of thought and consideration as Mikhail explored in-depth the suitability of vegan pet food for dogs and cats through research and speaking with leading veterinarians in Canada and in the United Kingdom. Outside of work Mikhail is a big volleyball enthusiast and likes spending time in Thailand and other tropical countries. He was actually in Thailand when we recorded this episode and he is always on the lookout for delicious vegan restaurants and cafes.

In this episode we discuss:

• The controversies surrounding plant-based pet food
• The science behind plant-based compared to controversial pet food
• The safety & nutrition of plant-based pet food
• Vecado Plant-Based Pet Foods

Episode Resources:

Vegan-vs Conventional Pet Food & Health: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35417464  

Palatability of Vegan-Pet Food for Animals: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34133456/ 

Nutrient Deficiencies in Cats: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33656761/ 

Pet Owners Plant-Based Pet Food Perceptions & Practices: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6333351/  

Mikhail Goussev´s Socials:

Website: Vecado: https://vecado.ca/ 

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:

Instagram  (@plantbasedcanadaorg)

Facebook (Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/)

Website  (https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/)

Listen here (https://plantbasedcanadapodcast.buzzsprout.com/) or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.

Support the show

In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast we are joined by Sasha Coleman, ND.

Dr. Coleman completed her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Arizona and stayed in the States for almost 10 years. She is originally from Toronto, Ontario and attended McMaster University where she obtained her BSc. She recently moved back home to fulfil a lifelong dream of working alongside her sister, Dr. Tenisha Mitchell-Lambert who is a family physician with an emphasis in Lifestyle Medicine.  (You may remember Dr. Tenisha from Episode 38 of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast, if not, check it out after this episode 🙂.) Together they work at Integrative Interactive Health in Mississauga, Ontario. 

Dr. Coleman was introduced to vegan and vegetarian cooking at a young age and made the decision to adopt this lifestyle for herself. Shortly after making those changes, her father became ill and began working with a Naturopathic doctor. After witnessing her father’s health improve by implementing a more plant forward diet in conjunction with other Naturopathic therapies, she decided to pursue Naturopathy for herself. Due to her personal and professional experiences, Dr. Coleman shares that she is delighted to educate and treat people using the tools of natural medicine and dietary modification to positively impact health and overcome disease.

In this episode we discuss:

• Lifestyle Practices
• Gut Health & The Microbiome
• Food sensitivity*
• Food sensitivity vs. Food allergy
• Impact of Inflammation
• Integrative Interactive Health Clinic and Clients

*Disclaimer: the sensitivity tests discussed in this episode are administered in a clinical setting under medical supervision. For more information on food allergies, intolerances or sensitivities please consult with your healthcare professional.

Episode Resources:

What is Lifestyle Medicine? Resource &  Article 

Food Allergies and Intolerances Health Canada Resource  

Diet & Gut Microbiota Review

Dietary Patterns & Gut Microbiota Article

Vegan Diet & Gut Microbiota Review 

Sasha Coleman´s Socials

Website: Integrative Interactive Health (Clinic)

Instagram: @i2health

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:

Instagram  (@plantbasedcanadaorg)

Facebook (Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/)

Website  (https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/)

Listen here (https://plantbasedcanadapodcast.buzzsprout.com/) or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.

Support the show

Recently, several large social media platforms known for spreading misinformation shared a post alleging a new nutrient profile system developed by Tufts University -- called the Food Compass System (FCS) -- suggested “Lucky Charms” were healthier than steak.

While there have been legitimate criticisms of the system, there are many false narratives and inaccuracies that have proliferated online.

In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast, Dr. Matthew Nagra joins us to deep dive into some of that misinformation.

This is Dr. Nagra’s second time on the Plant-Based Canada podcast. If you enjoy this episode, check out our first episode with Dr. Nagra, Episode 2, which covered a wide-range of nutrition myths and misinformation.

In this episode we discuss:

• What the Food Compass System is and how it scores food
• Misrepresentations of the FCS by The Good Ranchers and Joe Rogan
• How misinformation actors manipulate data
• The damage large platforms can cause by spreading misinformation
• Dr. Nagra's misinformation red flags

Socials

Dr. Nagra’s website
Dr. Nagra’s Instagram
Dr. Nagra’s Facebook
Dr. Nagra’s YouTube
Dr. Nagra's Guide to Optimal Cholesterol Levels
Join Dr. Nagra's Nutrition Community 

Links and References

Tufts University Food Compass System
Food Compass FAQ 

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In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast, we talk to Atlanta Grant -- an Iroquois woman with mixed Huron-Wendat and German ancestry, originally from the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Ojibwe, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. She is a present guest on the traditional territories of the xwməθkwəýəm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

Atlanta is a Masters candidate at the University of British Columbia in the Institute of Resources, Environment, and Sustainability. Her research focuses on Indigenous Food Systems, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Decolonized Research Methodologies, Cultural Preservation and Cross-Cultural Collaborations.

In this episode we discuss:

• Indigenous Food Sovereignty
• Food cycling practices, and how it differs from the Western concept of food waste
• The decolonization of our food systems, and the reinstatement of Indigenous Natural Law
• The inappropriate integrations of Indigenous Knowledge into Western systems
• Food insecurity and accessibility in Indigenous communities
• How non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples can collaborate within environmental movements in the climate change sector 

Socials

UBC Food Sovereignty Lab 

Twitter

Instagram 

Email: [email protected] 

Links and References 

Deborah McGregor (Two Row Wampum) – “Survivance: Narratives of Native Presence” and “Traditional ecological knowledge and the two—row wampum”

Ross Neasloss (Two Spirit, Kitasoo/Xai’xais) – “Food Reconciliation”

Georges E. Sioui (Wendat) – “Huron-Wendat: The Heritage of the Circle” 

Kyle Whyte (Potawatomi)

Max Liboiron (Red River Métis/Michif ) – “Pollution is Colonialism” 

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In this episode we talk to Nital Jethalal -- a plant-based policy analyst and economist with Plant-Based Data and the president of VegTO, a Toronto-based non-profit that seeks to inspire people to choose healthier, greener, and more compassionate lifestyles. Nital is also the co-founder and chair of the Veg Climate Network and sits on the board of directors for the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank.

In our conversation, we talk about a recent survey conducted by VegTO and the Angus Reid Institute that looked at food choices and awareness in the G-T-A. It found two in three residents want to reduce their meat consumption and that over 85 percent say they are aware of the impacts of animal products on the environment. We get into these findings and many others… and what they mean moving forward.

Socials

Plant Based Data

VegTO

TO Veg Food Bank 

Veg Climate Network

Studies/Links

“Food Choices & Awareness in the Greater Toronto Area” (2022)

“Will People Cut Down the Amount of Meat They Eat for the Planet?  For many the answer is no” (2022)

“Survey Finds that 77% of Canadians Understand the Harmful Impacts of Eating Meat” (2020)

“Food Politics: How the food industry influences nutrition and health” Marion Nestle (2008)

“Regenesis: Feeding the world without devouring the planet” (2022) - George Monbiot

“A Menu for Change: Using behavioural science to promote sustainable diets around the world” (2020)

“The Economic Burden of Not Meeting the Canada Food Guide Recommendations” (2018) - Lieffers et al

Food Empowerment Project

Apex Advocacy

“Can Lifestyle Changes Reverse Coronary Heart Disease?” - Dean Ornish (1990) 

“Geography, International Trade & Political Mobilization in US Industries”  - Marc
Busch (2001) 

“Bloodless Revolution” - Tristan Stuart (2008) 

Doug Evans “The Sprout Book” (2020)

“Nudge” (2008)

 The China Study

C40 Good Food Cities Declaration

Canadian Institute for Health Information

 “Sapiens” - Yuval Noah Harari (2011)

“Animal Liberation” - Peter Singer (1975)

Sacred Economics (2011) - Charles Eisenstein 

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In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast we are joined by Jane Thurnell-Read.

Jane is an independent author & blogger with more than 10 published books and a blog that aims to provide scientific information about health and wellness to the public. Jane is in her seventies and loves inspiring others, especially as it relates to achieving good health and happiness regardless of your age. She has been vegan for 7 years and vegetarian for over 40 years before that, and regularly goes to the gym and enjoys lifting weights. She posts gym videos on Instagram to encourage other older people. However, it wasn’t always like this. Earlier in life, Jane shares she hated exercise and her diet was half a bottle of scotch, 40 cigarettes, chocolate, toast and orange juice. Now she is a passionate vegan and committed to staying healthy and strong as she gets older.
 
In this episode we discuss:

• Menopause & symptom reduction
• Weight loss/management strategies
• Staying healthy as we age
• Exercising / deadlifting
• Misconceptions about health in older age
• Role models

Episode Resources:
Menopause knowledge article
Menopause symptom management article
Impact of exercise on menopause symptoms article
Weight management in midlife for women article
Harvard Medical School - Menopause Symptoms
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Health and Soul Fitness
Jane´s Books

Jane Thurnell-Read´s Socials:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube 

Plant-Based Canada’s Socials:
Instagram
Facebook
Website 

This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.

Correction: Please note the quote from the Harvard Medical School should refer to 40,000 meals and not the 4,000 meals that was said in this episode. Thanks for your understanding!

Thank you for tuning in! 

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In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada we chat with Dr Alfonsi. Dr. Jeffrey Alfonsi is an engineer and physician specializing in Internal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology. He serves as the Chief Product and Medical Officers of RX Food. He currently practices at Trillium Health Partners, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and London Health Sciences Centre.

Dr. Alfonsi has an interest in the delivery of personalized medicine, and is actively involved in research to develop a model to deliver personalized medicine across Ontario and Canada. He also believes in the power of diet and lifestyle medicine – helping his patients build healthy and sustainable habits when it comes to what they put on their plates.

He has maintained his passion for engineering over the years, creating multiple mobile health applications – including RX Food, an app using A.I. to assess patients’ daily eating habits – and is currently developing image-processing technologies to identify the nutritional content of foods to better manage chronic diseases.

In this episode we discuss:

• Dr. Alfonsi’s interest in engineering and nutrition and how he merges the two 
• How he utilizes lifestyle medicine and plant-based diets with his patients
• How sustainability and personalized medicine plays into his approach
• How Dr. Alfonsi developed RX Food, how it works, and how it helps his patients
• The biggest challenges when it comes to educating physicians and patients about the power of lifestyle medicine

Socials

Dr. Alfonsi's Twitter
RX Food
AI Twitter

Studies

Carbohydrate-last meal pattern lowers postprandial glucose and insulin excursions in type 2 diabetes

Fermented-food diet increases microbiome diversity, decreases inflammatory proteins, study finds 

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