In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, I chatted with Dr. Nishi Bhopal as we explore the field of sleep medicine and how sleep impacts our overall health. We discussed what the latest research shows regarding optimal blue light exposure and the importance of nasal breathing in sustaining cognitive function. Dr. Bhopal also outlined her recommendations for establishing a dietary strategy for improving sleep quality, as well as some great tips for designing the ideal sleep environment. 

Dr. Nishi Bhopal enjoys reading and hearing people’s stories and is fascinated by the mind-body connection, which drew her to a profession in Psychiatry. She founded IntraBalance Integrative Psychiatry & Sleep and is a founding member of the SamHere Psych Alliance, a global campaign to reduce the stigma around mental health.

After earning her medical degree from the University of Cork, Dr. Nishi then completed her psychiatric residency at Henry Ford Health System and her sleep medicine fellowship at Harvard Medical School. She went on to expand her education at the Maharishi Ayurveda Institute of America and the Integrative Psychiatry Institute.

As a triple board-certified professional in Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine, and Integrative Holistic Medicine, she includes mindset coaching, yoga and medication, psychology, and Ayurveda into her work, offering a comprehensive approach to her clinical treatment. She passionately believes in the innate healing capability of the mind, body, and spirit and aims to help each patient harness their own ability to sleep and perform better through her therapeutic method.

To know more about her services and work, check out IntraBalance Integrative Psychiatry & Sleep.

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:42 — 34.1MB)

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In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro and I chat about the digestive tract, the function of the gut microbiome and its importance to the human body. We talked about genetic versus environmental factors on the microbiome and the effects of macronutrient balance and food on gut health. 

Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro has transitioned from the world of academia to an accomplished full-time nutrition coach, guiding hundreds of clients to achieve their long-term goals. She graduated from Radford University with a BS in Exercise, Sport, and Health Education in 2009 and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech in 2014, where she studied the effect of probiotics on skeletal muscle metabolism. Dr. Fundaro previously taught nutrition for performance and health, physiology, and macronutrient metabolism as an assistant professor of exercise science at Georgia Gwinnett College.

In the spring of 2017, she got her CISSN as an ACE Certified Health Coach and ISSN Sports Nutritionist from the International Society of Sports Nutrition and began working as a nutrition coach with Renaissance Periodization.

She also interacts with peers as a board member of both the Nutrition Coaching Global Mastermind (NCGM) and the Sports Nutrition Association (SNA) to steer discussions and drive change toward best practices in the online nutrition coaching industry.

To know more about her work and services, you may visit Vitamin PhD Nutrition, LLC. Check out her book “The Science of Gut Health” for more details on how to improve your gut function and health. 

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:06 — 39.9MB)

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In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, Marjan Mogharrabi shares with us her passion in the field of Holistic Nutrition. We discussed the practical health tips for improving overall health function, managing blood sugar levels and how to optimize digestion to increase longevity and energy.

Marjan has been a Holistic Nutritionist for over four years, providing one-on-one nutritional guidance to clients from all over the world. She specializes in assisting patients in balancing their blood sugar levels, allowing them to have more energy, better moods, fewer sweet cravings, and far better stress management. She feels that food has tremendous power and is passionate about how it influences our emotions, hormone balance, and mental wellness. Holding the designation as a Certified Nutrition Practitioner, she is also the author of “The Blood Sugar Management Guide“.

You can find more about Marjan and her services by visiting Healthy by Marjan.

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:33 — 33.9MB)

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In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, we chat with Chiropractors Dr. Andrew Thomson and Dr. Steph Romero. We discussed some self-care tips for optimal mental and physical function. They discussed how they empower their patients towards peak health, wellness, and longevity. And we chatted about general chiropractic practices and the preventative core principles of finding joint health.

Dr. Thomson and Dr. Romero met as undergraduate Kinesiology students at Wilfrid Laurier University and went on to complete their Chiropractic degrees at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC). Despite the anticipated hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, they launched Function Health + Wellness in Guelph, ON in March 2021, concentrating on best-practice evidence-based care as well as opportunities for personal development and growth. Offering many services, they designed the business to be an environment where patients can focus on their health and well-being. Their clinic provides a variety of other treatments, including licensed massage therapy and yoga.

You can find their services in Guelph, and learn more about them at Function Health + Wellness.

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:08 — 22.6MB)

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In this episode of Healthspan Academy, Dr. Nick Jackowetz discusses his research and expertise with the medicinal and recreational use of Cannabis. We chat about the myths and stigma behind it, its medical benefits, and its future in the beverage industry. He also talked about teaming up on a project with Seth Rogan.

Dr. Jackowetz earned his B.Sc. in Biomedical Toxicology from the University of Guelph in Canada and received his Ph.D. in Food Science from Cornell University, where he specializes in wine microbiology. Pursuing his career path, he has hands-on experience directing scientific teams in the beverage, alcohol, and legal cannabis industries. His strong focus on new product innovation has resulted in the commercialization of over 100 food and beverage products as a byproduct of active research into novel ingredients and flavor food processing. Prior to co-founding Cirona Labs, he led the formulation team at Canopy Growth, where he helped design industry-disrupting cannabis-infused beverages for the Canadian market.

Nick’s enthusiasm for food science has fueled his desire to continue advancing the industry through novel research and innovation.

You can learn more about Nick’s initiatives at cironalabs.com

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:36 — 20.2MB)

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In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy we chat with Olympic Champion, Avalon Wasteneys, on her journey as an elite athlete, her training, and the mental preparation it took to become a gold medalist.

While completing an undergrad degree in Psychology, Avalon began her interest in rowing in 2015 when she tried out for the novice team at the University of Victoria. In 2017, she won in the RBC Training Ground B.C. Regional Finals. By 2018, she represented Canada for the first time joining the senior eight at a World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland where they won the Silver Medal. She then competed in the 2018 World Rowing U23 Championships where she helped Canada win its second consecutive gold medal. Avalon was in the stroke seat of the women’s eight during her debut in the 2020 Olympic at Tokyo that won Canada’s first Olympic gold in The Women’s Eight.

Before discovering rowing, she was a competitive cross-country skier and a medalist at the 2014 junior national championships. At the end of her high school education, her passion for the sport shifted, and discovered rowing while pursuing post-secondary education. Away from sport, she enjoys painting, baking, reading, and skiing.

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

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In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, Ron Mourra actively shares his knowledge on how to live leaner and healthier. We discuss the most important behaviors and habits for losing fat, the necessity of time management, and building long-term habits for optimal health.

For over 21 years, Ron has been a successful entrepreneur managing gyms, leading sales teams, and working as an online personal trainer. He developed the Lean-Fit-Healthy Program to help men and women in living active, healthy lifestyles by emphasizing FUN in fitness and encouraging individuals to appreciate their bodies and health. He is a staunch believer in the healing power of exercise for the body, mind, and spirit. Ron lives in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, with his wife Lindsay and his two children, Nova and Bennett (along with a house full of pets including a fish, a dog, a cat, and 2 budgies!). When he is away from work, he enjoys golf and loves spending time with his family.

To learn more about Ron’s program, you can visit Lean-Fit-Healthy.com.

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:42 — 29.5MB)

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In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, we discuss osteopathic principles and health hacks with Andi Jakowlew. Andi shares her passion for this field as we chat about the self-healing capacity of Osteopathic Manual Treatment, Yoga, and self-care techniques for recovery.

Andi is an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner and yoga instructor who obtained her Kinesiology degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and has continued her education with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy. Throughout her work in fitness, health, and wellness, she realized that many of her patients had aches and pains that were exacerbated by their lifestyles. Believing that movement is medicine, she developed a technique that blended mindfulness, body awareness, and stress reduction practices into the therapy process which helped her patients optimize their level of physical health.

Find out more about Andi and her services at Osteopathy with Andi.

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:29 — 23.8MB)

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In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, Dr. Gwen Dutrizac discusses techniques for incorporating positivity into your thoughts and actions, as well as the role of habit in good mental health.

Dr. Gwen is a Registered Psychologist in Guelph who earned her Ph.D. at Western University in London, Canada. As a professional psychologist, she is an expert in human behavior, particularly the processes of how individuals think and feel working in several settings, including private practice, inpatient psychiatric units, and community mental health programs for children, adolescents, and adults. She utilizes a variety of scientific methods to focus on the elements that potentially influence an individual’s behavior, as well as a variety of therapies and interventions aiding patients in managing mental health concerns to improve their quality of life.

Dr. Gwen considers herself privileged to deal with folks who are striving to better themselves and their family. When she’s not at work, she enjoys physical fitness, the outdoors, and family time.

Find out more about Dr. Gwen Dutrizac and her services at Insight Psychology on Norfolk.

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:51 — 35.1MB)

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In this week’s episode of Healthspan Academy, Brett Goldstein takes us on his journey of embracing life with a growth mentality as he shares his knowledge on developing a high-performance mindset and tips on rewiring fixed focus to growth focus.

Brett has been a coach for over 13 years, having grown up as the son of two well-established entrepreneurs. As an experienced leader himself, he believes that the role of a leader/coach isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, A leader’s responsibility is to ensure that people end up in a better position, acts decisively, and is prepared to respond to the outcomes of those actions as well as willing to accept all of the blame while claiming none of the credit. As a result of adhering to these values, Brett has established a name for himself in a variety of sectors, including banking, renewable energy, and coaching/consulting.

Find out more about Brett Goldstein in Grow2Gold Podcast.

*** Please note that the content discussed in this podcast is intended for self-education and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:30 — 28.4MB)

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