Welcome to this episode of The Tonic, terrestrially broadcast on January 17 and 18, 2026 on AM740 and FM 96.7 in Toronto. Topics covered on the show track the lifestyle articles and themes published in The Tonic Newsletter and on the Tonic Website. We’ll discuss how to boost your immunity by supporting your GI tract with nutraceutical formulator Dr. Gordon Chang PhD, how to fix Canada’s broken food system with Second Harvest CEO Lori Nikkel, healthy habits for the new year with naturopath Dr. Kate Hunter ND, and new treatments for MASH (Fatty Liver) with researcher Dr. James Kim.
We specifically discuss:
Boost Your Immunity Via Your GI Tract
- How do bacteria and viruses gain access to our body?
- Our GI tract is very well protected
- What do probiotics do?
- What should we look for in a probiotic?
- How our microbiome changes
- Eating fruits and vegetables provides soluble fibre
- Do other supplements help?
- What does exercise do?
- Are there signs of an unhealthy gut?
How to Fix Canada’s Broken Food System
- $58 Billion of food waste in Canada
- What is ‘food waste’?
- Tariffs are a concern
- How do we deal with overproduction of food?
- We actually don’t measure food waste
- 58% of food produced in Canada is wasted
- How do we mitigate loss?
- Best before dates
- Wonky, weird shaped produce
- How do we deal with food price inflation?
Healthy Habits For the New Year
- 2026 is the year of the horse
- Is there a correct way to make health changes?
- Starting healthy habits
- Morning routines
- Making ‘super coffee’
- Get rid of alcohol
- Supporting our systems and longevity with supplements
- Probiotics, liver support and brain health
- Stress relief
- Eat to 80% fullness
- Trust the burp
New Treatments for MASH
- What is MASH?
- Visceral fat in the liver causes inflammation
- The factors that contribute to MASH
- Why are rates of MASH increasing in Canada?
- Over 40% of adults will be obese in Canada in a few years
- Genetics is a factor: Lean MASH patients
- The problems of diagnosis of MASH historically
- Weight loss is difficult
- Is MASH reversible?
- Wegovy (GLP-1 Agonist used for weight loss) has been approved to treat MASH
- If you are at risk, take a test to see if you have MASH
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To learn more about show sponsor OmegaAlpha and Dr. Gordon Chang PhD go here
To learn more about Lori Nikkel go here
To learn more about Dr. Kate Hunter ND go here
To learn more about Dr. James Kim go here
