The more alcohol you drink per week, the higher the risks according to Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Falquier provides a quick summary of the new Guidance, including the risks associated with number of drinks consumed per week.For more on alcohol and brain health, and how to reduce brain disease risk and optimize brain health, be sure to catch Dr. Falquier’s podcast episode with physician, author and culinary instructor, Dr. Annie Fenn, who founded the Brain Health Kitchen as a way to fight Alzheimer’s. Available now as part of the Doctors+ Premium subscription on Apple Podcasts. You are never too young to be thinking about brain health. As referenced in this episode: Subscribe to Doctors+ Premium Episodes on Apple Podcasts.Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health: Final ReportCREDITS:Sound Recording and Editing: Will CrannExecutive Producer: Esther Garfin©2023 Alternative Food Network Inc.

Are you looking for reliable health information online, but not sure where to start? In this episode, two physicians discuss how to find credible sources of health information, so you can make more informed decisions about your own health. They cover tips for identifying reputable sources and distinguishing between reliable and unreliable information. CREDITS:Sound Recording and Editing: Will Crann

“Delicious and fantastic for your body can and should come together,” says culinary medicine physician and new host of Doctors+ Premium, Dr. Sabrina Falquier. In this episode, Esther Garfin, founder of Alternative Food Network, chats with Dr. Falquier about her new role as host and the benefits of the subscription Doctors+ Premium episodes on Apple Podcasts. A self-described lover of delicious food, Dr. Falquier explains the little understood connection between food and medicine, and how food can play a huge role that goes along with the mainstream medical system. The goal is simple: teach people which foods are better for their body and how to cook in a delicious way to improve health. We invite you to subscribe to these premium episodes that are a perfect blend of information from top medical experts and practical recipe making.Subscribe to Doctors+ Premium here: https://apple.co/3EPaPjFWe appreciate your support!

What’s the difference between premenopause, perimenopause and menopause? Shifting hormones during these stages can have a broad impact on home and work life, and it's time to stop brushing symptoms under the rug. In this episode, Drs. Susan Baumgaertel and Sabrina Falquier discuss what to expect and how to deal with symptoms such as weight gain, hot flashes, libido concerns and sleep disruption. In this episode you’ll hear:2:55 – Pre-menopause, perimenopause and menopause explained5:05 – Hot flashes 7:10 – Night sweats7:45 – Sleep disruption8:40 – Fatigue9:35 – Body image “Live with gusto”10:10 – Mental health including brain fog, depression, anxiety – “Know that you’re not alone.”10:55 – Stress11:20 – Vaginal dryness12:10 – Loss of libido12:50 – Urinary tract changes13:40 – Osteoporosis14:15 – Skin and hair changes14:50 – Impact of menopause on chronic disease15:20 – Cancer risk during menopause15:55 – Weight gain during menopause19:10 – 5 Pillars of wellness: Food, Movement, Sleep, Connection, Mindfulness22:10 – Headaches25:00 – Does soy foods help during menopause?25:25 – Are there foods to eat or exclude at certain times of the cycle?

In this 13-minute episode of Doctors+ excerpted from a livestream cooking class, Dr. Sabrina Falquier and cookbook author Dr. Linda Shiue, both physicians and culinary medicine experts, discuss the health benefits of various spices.In this episode you’ll hear:2:00 - Should you take spices as a supplement?3:00 – What is the best way to store spices?4:35 – Smoked paprika in plant-based cooking6:10 – Garlic7:15 – Coriander7:45 – Salt8:15 – Sumac8:30 – Cumin9:35 – Chili peppers

In the conversation about food, nutrition and food as medicine, there is an emerging evidence-based field of medicine called culinary medicine. In this 7-minute episode, Drs. Linda Shiue and Sabrina Falquier, both medical doctors who are culinary medicine experts, explain what culinary medicine is and how they got into this area.

Diet matters in heart disease says Dr. Joel Kahn, MD, FACC, also known as “America’s Healthy Heart Doc”, who is interviewed in this episode. A practicing cardiologist, professor, author and the first physician in the world to certify in metabolic cardiology, Dr. Kahn discusses the role of diet in the prevention and reversal of heart disease. Later in the episode, he is joined by Energybits Founder & CEO, Catharine Arnston, to talk about the health benefits of microalgae for heart health.In this episode you’ll hear:2:40 - What is metabolic cardiology?4:30 – The role of genetics v. lifestyle in cardiovascular disease6:55 – The role of diet in heart disease10:15- Food as medicine for heart health: prevention and reversal 12:10 – Dr. Kahn on the American Heart Association and ethical conflicts16:10 – Oil free diet: yes or no?18:35 – What should people look for when buying extra virgin olive oil?21:15 – Patient concerns when Dr. Kahn recommends a diet change23:00 – Ketogenic diets and cardiac health25:30 - Heart palpitations and coffee27:25 – Microalgae (spirulina and chlorella) for heart healthUse code AFN to get 20% off your ENERGYbits at www.energybits.com.

Regulation of healthcare professions helps to provide health services to the public that are professional, safe and ethical. Should all physicians be governed by similar professional conduct rules? In this episode, integrative medicine consultant, Dr. Esther Konigsberg, and health law lawyer, Elyse Sunshine, discuss potential issues relating to professional conduct expectations of physicians practicing complementary and alternative medicine.Resourceshttp://policyconsult.cpso.on.ca/?page_id=13083cam@cpso.on.cahttps://www.onpim.ca/

If you’re a foodie who’s into health, this episode is a must listen. Imagine going to your doctor’s office and participating in a cooking class with the doctor that’s covered by insurance! Our guest in this episode does just that. Dr. Sabrina Falquier Montgrain, MD, is a primary care physician who also specializes in Culinary Medicine. In this episode, she chats about culinary medicine and the Mediterranean Diet.In this podcast you’ll hear:3:30 - What is culinary medicine?4:30 – Dr. Falquier’s path to specializing in culinary medicine6:30 – How Dr. Falquier teaches cooking in her medical practice that’s covered by insurance!14:40 – The Mediterranean Die pattern of eating16:30 – 9 point Mediterranean Scale21:10 – How Dr. Falquier helps her patients with their diet22:00 – Mediterranean scale breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas

What should you be eating and drinking if you’re recovering from COVID-19? Unfortunately, many COVID patients or “long haulers” continue to have lingering symptoms. In this episode, returning guest and Integrative Medicine Consultant Dr. Esther Konigsberg, MD, provides credible tips on fighting infection and treating fatigue, muscle pain, respiratory and gastro issues resulting from COVID-19.In this podcast you’ll hear:2:40 – What the body needs when fighting infection7:10 – Tips to deal with specific symptoms during Coronavirus recovery (fatigue, respiratory issues, gastrointestinal issues, muscle & joint pain)14:20 – Latest on Vitamin D and COVID-1917:40 – Should you get your Vitamin D level tested?20:00 – How to find an integrative practitioner in your area

If you suffer from stomach pain or other gastrointestinal disorders, you won’t want to miss this episode with one of the only integrative gastroenterologists in the United States, Dr. Marvin Singh, MD. He explains the idea of personalized medicine, and how our genes and what we eat interact, otherwise known as nutrigenomics. Thinking of starting a trending diet? Listen to this episode first because that diet may not be right for you.In this podcast you’ll hear:1:50 - What is an integrative gastroenterologist?3:30 - Dr. Singh’s professional journey to becoming an integrative gastroenterologist and how it affected his personal diet choices/health choices9:30 – What is personalized medicine?12:40 – Dr. Singh’s integrative approach to gastrointestinal problems and his diagnostic methods 17:20 – Nutritional genomics: the science of applying nutritional recommendations based on one’s genes25:15 – How affordable is this type of healthcare?29:30 – How does a person find the right healthcare provider?32:00 – Types of patients that Dr. Singh treats33:00 – SIBO: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth37:00 – Why can’t I eat this? (food sensitivities, leaky gut, celiac, crohn’s)39:30 – What’s wrong with diets for the masses?40:00 – Are stomach problems hereditary?

Are you suffering from hormonal imbalance and would you even know if you were? From diabetes and weight gain to infertility and moodiness, hormonal imbalance can cause many health problems for both men and women. In this episode, Dr. Kyrin Dunston MD, a board certified Obgyn and Functional Medicine practitioner, discusses the various hormones in our body and why diet can play an important role in hormonal balance. She shares her own personal and professional journey to achieving better health outcomes and offers diet tips to balance hormones.In this episode you’ll hear: 2:00 – Dr. Dunston’s personal and professional journey to becoming a functional medicine practitioner; from being overweight, anxious, depressed and suffering from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia to discovering functional medicine and regaining her vitality.10:30 – Difference between functional medicine and mainstream medicine12:30 – Functional medicine and the cause of health problems: hormone imbalance, toxicity, nutritional deficiency, energetic imbalance14:30 – Are most functional medicine practitioners MD’s?15:00 - What to do when you’re not feeling right16:45 - Symptoms of sex hormone imbalance in all ages19:45 – Perimenopause, menopause and different types of hormone replacement therapy (synthetic hormone replacement, bioidentical hormones)23:00 - Dr. Dunston’s position on bioidentical hormones26:10 – At what age should a woman check her sex hormone levels?30:40 – Types of hormones and can we address hormonal imbalance with diet?34:20 - Blood sugar roller coaster – are you hangry?38:00 – How should we eat? 43:00 – The problem with standard diets today50:45 – Dr. Dunston’s top food picks 56:00 - Greenwashing

Think back to biology 101 when you learned that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell. These mitochondria need nutrients to function properly or else chronic disease can result, according Dr. Mel Litman MD, a family physician whose practice follows the principles of orthomolecular medicine. Unfortunately, our diets today are low in critical nutrients plus we are being bombarded with toxins that disrupt our system even more. In this episode, Dr. Litman explains the connection between mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic disease, and the importance of choosing clean and nutrient dense foods that help us “get the good stuff in and the bad stuff out”.In this episode you’ll hear:2:40 - What is orthomolecular/nutritional medicine?4:40 - Is orthomolecular medicine the same as functional medicine?5:30 - Why is nutrition so important?6:00 - “Hope is an indispensable ally of the physician and an absolute right of the patient.”8:40 - Dr. Litman’s professional journey 14:00 - What are mitochondria?17:15 - What happens if mitochondria don’t function properly? (e.g. neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, auto-immune diseases, psychiatric problems)19:30 - Testing20:30 - Nutrient deficiencies and toxins21:45 - What is toxic to the mitochondria? (e.g. heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, certain medication)23:10 - How Dr. Litman gets the health picture of his patients26:15 - Can we get the recommended nutrients from diet alone?27:00 - Depletion of nutrients in food supply28:00 - The role of supplements31:20 - Science-based evidence31:50 - How to find good quality supplements34:40 - Dr. Litman’s success rate36:10 - Is medical school teaching this area?37:00 - Cancer and mitochondrial damage

In part 2 of our interview with Integrative Psychiatrist Dr. Linda Plowright, we continue the conversation about the role of diet in creating healthy brain cells. Dr. Plowright discusses the importance of certain vitamins and minerals, whether a good diet can increase the efficacy of certain medication, and practical tips for meal preparation.

Can your diet affect your mental health? In part 1 of a 2 part interview, Integrative Psychiatrist Dr. Linda Plowright, MD discusses how nutrition plays a role in the treatment of mental illness. Dr. Plowright shares scientific research on the connection between inflammation and psychiatric illness and provides practical examples of pro and anti-inflammatory foods. Great science-based information for people both in and outside of the healthcare profession.

What should you do if you have a dental problem during the COVID pandemic? In this episode, Dr. Y. Lenga, DDS, MSC, FRCDC, DIP discusses what people can do if an emergency or non-emergency dental problem arises. He discusses infection prevention from his perspective as a dentist and provides food tips to reduce oral inflammation.

What can you do to strengthen your immune system? At the time of the recording of this podcast, there is an outbreak of the coronavirus called COVID-19. In this episode of Doctors+, Dr. Esther Konigsberg, MD CCFP, discusses integrative strategies to boost the immune system. You’ll learn about foods and vitamins that can boost the immune system, and what to avoid if you have COVID-19.In this podcast you’ll hear:2:35 - Can a strong immune system prevent someone from getting COVID-19?4:30 - Prevention strategies5:30 - Can the severity of symptoms be lessened with a strong immune system?6:40 - Viral load7:20 - Boosting the immune system with sleep, stress management, exercise12:00 - Boosting immunity and reducing inflammation with diet16:30 - Vitamin C and other natural health products to boost immune system19:00 - Cautions on what natural health products to avoid during symptoms of infection or if test positive for COVID-19. *NOTE*: FOR UPDATED DISCUSSION ON VITAMIN D, LISTEN TO EPISODE 13 OF DOCTORS+, "COVID RECOVERY: WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK", WHERE DR. KONIGSBERG PROVIDES NEW INFORMATION ABOUT TAKING VITAMIN D WITH COVID SYMPTOMS.23:00 - Supplements that can boost immune system, continued.25:00 – Importance of consulting a qualified healthcare practitioner26:30 – Frozen v. canned food28:00 – Safe grocery shopping31:15 - Healthy snack ideas for kids32:00 – Dispelling COVID myths

The connection between the gut and the brain is fascinating! In this episode, Dr. Simran Rattan, MD, an integrative medicine physician, integrative health coach, meditation coach and tai chi instructor, explains the gut-brain axis and how inflammation, mental health and chronic disease fit in. You’ll learn about leaky gut, our microbiome and what causes gut imbalance. Plus, discover what foods can help restore gut balance, including a discussion about prebiotics, probiotics and fermented foods.In this podcast you’ll hear:5:45 - Gut-brain Axis: a 2 way street8:15 – Microbiome and leaky gut10:15 - Gluten sensitivity and leaky gut11:15 -The connection between gut imbalance and eczema12:47 -Signs of leaky gut (bloating, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, mood changes, abdominal pain)13:20 – Stomach aches & migraines in children17:00 – Mind-body therapy17:35 - What causes gut imbalance?19:00 -Relationship between gut health, nutrition and mental health19:20 -Whole foods19:40 -Anti-inflammatory foods & Mediterranean diet22:50 –Fermented foods, prebiotics & probiotics27:55 –Mental health and mind-body therapy

What can you do to prevent foodborne illness? How long does food poisoning last? In this episode of Doctors+, Dr. Ashley Salomon, M.D., discusses what foodborne illness is and how to avoid it both at home and while travelling.

What are heavy metals and why are they in our food? In this episode Dr. Ashley Salomon, MD, provides examples of toxic heavy metals, the big food offenders, and the symptoms and illnesses associated with heavy metal exposure. You’ll learn what foods can protect us plus hear about some great alternatives to foods that are high in heavy metals. Brown or white rice? How should you rinse rice? If you’re a fan of sushi, seafood, rice and/or wine, you’ll want to listen to this one! In this podcast you’ll hear:1:00 - Dr. Salomon’s educational and professional background3:25 - What is functional medicine10:20 - Examples of heavy metals12:00 - Symptoms and illnesses associated with heavy metal exposure16:37 - Arsenic in rice; brown rice v. white rice17:40 - Recommendation for soaking rice18:45 - Mercury in fish; fish with higher metal levels v. lower metal levels20:20 - Who should avoid foods with heavy metals22:50 - Alternatives to foods with high heavy metal levels24:00 - Water and water filtration26:00 - Protective foods 29:00 - Pesticides and heavy metals30:45 - Wine31:40 - Heavy metals in medicinal herbs & supplements34:00 - More on wine and heavy metals37:30 - Testing for heavy metals