1. A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Publisher: Jade Kutchaw Account Managers: Joyce McCaffrey, Melissa MacDonald Business Developer: Samantha Blandford Managing Director: Martin Kocandrle
Production Director: Carlo Ammendolia Lead Designer: Matthew Senra Special Contributor: Dr. Jennifer Pearlman Cover Photo: Nadia Ebrahim Photo credits: All images are from Getty
Images unless otherwise credited. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve FLARE or its editorial departments.
PERSONALHEALTHNEWS.CA
STACEY
MCKENZIE
Breaking down
conventional
beauty standards
WOMEN’S HEALTH
READ MORE INSIDE <
3LIFETIPS
FROMSTACEY
➊ Growing up I used to look into
the mirror and tell myself that I’m
beautiful, smart, and funny. To this
day it continues to do wonders for
my self-esteem. To wake up every
day, give thanks for another day of
life, and remind yourself — you are
beautifully crafted, wonderfully
made,and an awesome chick!
➋ When you are not feeling your
best, wear a pop of colour!
It does wonders for both your outer
and inner being.Whether it’s a piece
of clothing, accessory, makeup, or
nail polish — colour givesyou life!
➌Life will be full of a lot of ups
and downs. It’s difficult at times
but we really need to try our best
not to take the negatives in life too
personally.Instead,focus on making
thebestoftheonelifeyouweregiven
toworkwith. MORE TIPS ONLINE <
Kayla Itsines
gives advice on
staying fit
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE <
Women’s health expert
Dr. Jennifer Pearlman
shares 10 tips
on navigating
menopause
like an expert
2. PERSONALHEALTHNEWS.CA A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
➊ Type
I. Whey protein powder is the go-to when
athletes are looking to maximize quick de-
livery of amino acids,which may better sup-
port muscle protein synthesis and recovery.
II. An isolate product is generally recom-
mended for a balance of quick digestion,cost,
and availability.
III. Casein protein is more slowly digested,
which is good for before bed to improve over-
nightmuscleproteinsynthesis.
IV.Egg,soy,rice,pea,and hemp are inferior un-
lesstheyincludeaddedleucine.
➋ Quality
Not all protein powders are created equal,and
some trigger gastrointestinal symptoms or
have a poor texture,or poor proteinyield due to
the inclusion of more fillers.
➌ Nutritional profile
A product that offers 110–150 calories and
20–30 grams protein per serving,and is low in
fat and carbohydrate,offers the most flexibility
when combining with other foods.Look for an
ingredient list that doesn’t resemble a chem-
istry textbook and also includes more natural
sweeteners than artificial sweeteners.
➍ Taste and mixability
If it doesn’t taste great and mix easily it will sit
in your cupboard. Ask around for what sport
dietitians and other athletes are using.
WHATYOUNEED
TOKNOWABOUT
CHOOSINGA
PROTEINPOWDER
By Dana Lis
Vancouver Whitecaps
MLS Soccer Team — Dietitian
Supporting Partner
W
hen Stacey McKenzie was
just six years old and living
in Jamaica she came across
a picture of Jean Paul Gaul-
tier and instantly knew she
wanted to be a part of the fashion industry.De-
spite being bullied continually for her looks,she
started training herself to be a model.Her family
moved toToronto,and at just 13 McKenzie began
cold-calling the city’s modelling agencies. Un-
deterred byconstant rejection and cruel apprais-
als of her looks,she kept at it.For five long years,
shetriedandfailedtobreakintotheindustry.
“They said I was too different-looking,that I
wasn’tgoingtobeabletosellanything,”saysthe
5’ 8” model.“There was nobody that looked like
meandtheysaidIwouldn’tbeabletomakeit.”
McKenzie disagreed: she felt confident in her
own skin andwas determined to make it.In her
long and successful career,the former Canada’s
NextTopModeljudgehaswalkedthecatwalksfor
Christian Lacroix,Kenzo,and even for her idol
Jean Paul Gaultier.She has graced the covers of
Vogue,Harper’sBazaar,and Essence.
Conventional beauty standards do not always
reflect the breadth and diversity of the human
family.McKenzieandotherslikeherarechanging
thefaceofbeauty.Thesuccessesofplus-sizemod-
els and the popularity of non-traditional beauty
bloggers — like Tess Holliday and transgender
advocate Gigi Gorgeous — are indicative of the
contemporarychangestakingshapeinsociety.
As a young model,McKenzie often found her-
self nurturing other aspiring models.She would
take these fledglings under her wing and of-
fer them advice and encouragement.“I always
wanted to open doors for others that looked dif-
ferent,Iwanteddesignersandphotographersto
change their minds.I felt like Iwas on a mission
— to make it myself — and to show others that
it doesn’t matter how different you look, how
uniqueyouare,there’sstillaplaceforyou.”
Her successes and teachings eventuallyled to
abusinessventure—McKenzieisthefounderof
Toronto-based fashion school WalkThis Way,in
which aspiring models can learn about the life
and business of being a model.She encourages
womentoembracetheiruniquedifferencesand
to feel confident in their own skin.Her school is
one of the reasons Vogue recently selected Mc-
Kenzie as one of the top five Jamaican models
changingthefaceoffashion.
To this day, McKenzie’s passion for break-
ing down barriers and honouring other
like-minded individuals is evident.
“Thisworldisnotone-dimensional,”shesays.
“Therearesomanydifferentkindsofbeautyout
thereandIthinkweshouldcelebratethat.”
Bronwen Keyes-Bevan
“There are so many
different kinds of
beauty out there and
I think we should
celebrate that.”
StaceyMcKenzieOnWhy
ThereIsBeautyInDiversity
Breaking into the fashion industry was a struggle for Stacey McKenzie.
Having overcome hurdles surrounding her upbringing and appearance,
she turned adversity into an industry-wide celebration of diversity.
Protein powder is a great option if your
training requires very quick, easy delivery
of amino acids to optimize immediate
recovery and adaptation. The key attributes
an athlete should look for when buying a
protein powder are type, quality, nutritional
profile, taste, and mixability.
Photo:NadiaEbrahim
4. A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Mediaplanet Over the past few years
you have become a social media
sensation. Was inspiring women across
the world your original goal? If not, what
was your original inspiration, and how has it
shaped your journey?
Kayla Itsines I was always active growing up and
played a lot of sports,particularly basketball.My cli-
ents were (and still are) a huge inspiration for me to
continuetopursuemydreamandcareerinthehealth
and fitness industry.Seeing these women feeling fit-
ter,stronger,andmoreconfidentisseriouslythemost
rewarding aspect of myjob.It’s so amazing that there
are so many unique women,all from different back-
grounds,withvaryingagesandfitnesslevels,yetthey
allshareonecommongoal—tofeelconfident.
MP What advice do you have for women
who want to stay fit as they age?
KI I personally believe setting goals is so important.
Theycangiveyouthemotivationtokeepdoingwhat
you love and push you to get where you want to be.
I always say that if you want to climb a mountain,
make sure you have another goal set for when you
get to the top soyou don’t lose motivation!
MP What advice can you share with women
who want to get back into shape?
KI I know it can be daunting; however,my best ad-
vice is to remember that something is always better
thannothingandtonotbesohardonyourself.Devel-
oping newhabits can take time,so be patient and set
realistic goals. Focus on your own personal goals as
well,and try not to compare yourself to others.Prog-
ress photos are an amazing form of motivation to
help you on your health and fitness journey.There’s
nothing more motivating than being able to see the
results fromyour own hardwork and dedication.
MP How can the busiest of women stay
active?
KI So many women struggle with extremely busy
schedules,which means it is more important than
ever to try to make the most of the time you do have
to work out! The high-intensity resistance train-
ing sessions in my Sweat With Kayla app are only
28 minutes — which is just two percent of your day.
Thismakesthemperfectforanyoneonabusysched-
ule.They require little to no equipment and can be
done at the gym,at the park,and even in the comfort
ofyour own home.
“I always say that if you
want to climb a mountain,
make sure you have
another goal set for when
you get to the top.”
KAYLASHARESFITNESSTIPSFOR
EVENTHEBUSIESTWOMEN
Fitness guru Kayla Itsines talks about
motivation, her role in the fitness world,
tips on staying active, and how to be
part of a larger fitness community.
MP We understand that you have been on
the road for the past few weeks for your
Sweat With Kayla tour. What were you
hoping to achieve with this tour, and what
was its outcome?
KI Yes, I’ve just returned from my Sweat Tour 2016,
whereIhostedfreebootcampeventsinLondon,New
York, and Los Angeles. It’s crazy to think I trained
almost10,000womenacrossthesethreecapitalcities
in just eight days!To me,these tours mean absolutely
everything. It’s an opportunity for me to be able to
meet and train the girls who I communicate with
onlinedayinanddayout.Thetoursalsoallowthegirls
to come and work out as friends and be a part of the
world’s largest female fitness community — the BBG
Community.It is so amazing to see these girls come
alone and then leave with friends! I feel so blessed to
be a part of such an inspirational movement full of a
supportiveandempoweringcommunityofwomen.
MP We’ve all gotten out of our gym routine
before. What’s your solution for the days
you just want to skip exercising?
KI I think the important thing is to remember that
we’re all human! I would suggest that you don’t see
taking a day off as a setback, but rather as a day of
restyourbodydeserves!Forme,Iactuallyturntomy
incredible BBG Community when I may be lacking
motivation. I personally believe that it’s really im-
portant to surround yourself with positive individ-
uals who share the same goals as you so they too can
motivateyou onyour health and fitness journey!
SPONSORED
FEATURE
RachelHannahTalks
Snacks,Training,and
GuiltyPleasures
New Balance sponsored athlete
and Pan Am bronze medallist,
Rachel Hannah leads a jam-
packed life. As one of Canada’s
premier marathoners, Rachel
trains daily with her coach while
also leading a fulfilling career as
a registered dietitian. We asked
Rachel to share her top training
and nutrition tips to maximize
your fitness goals.
➊ What is your go-to meal or
snack before a gruelling workout?
When heading out for a training
session after a long workday,
I need something to cure my
hunger pains. I eat a Clif Bar plus
some type of fruit (usually a
banana, grapes, or cantaloupe).
This pre-workout snack leaves
me feeling satisfied and energized
thanks to the combination of
protein and carbohydrates.
➋ What is the one health food
trend you’d like to see go away?
The low- or no-carb trend needs
to go, since carbohydrates are
the main fuel source for our
body. When you make quality
carbohydrate choices — like
fruit, vegetables, whole grains,
unsweetened yogurt, milk, and
legumes — you are also getting
quality vitamins, minerals,
and other important nutrients
essential for good health.
➌ Top 3 guilty pleasure foods?
I. Maple syrup — I keep it close to
my Canadian heart.
II. Menchie’s frozen yogurt — if it’s
good enough for the Hollywood
A-listers…
III. Chocolate powdered peanut
butter — what can be better than
chocolate and peanut butter
combined?
➍ Best advice for someone
training for their first marathon?
It is extremely important to have
proper footwear when you start
to increase your mileage. Visit the
professionals at a New Balance
store for a proper assessment to
ensure you get the right pair of
shoes that are comfortable, stylish,
and will keep you healthy during
your runs.
Rachel Hannah
Pan Am Games
Distance Runner
Photo: Kat Stanley
5. STRONGER
WITH EVERY STEPI may not know what tomorrow will bring, but I’ll be ready for it. #whywesweat
NBOEN
Run hard. Train harder. Take risks.
Dream big. Lift each other up. Laugh. Love.
Sweat. Push limits. Expect wonderful.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION @nbwomen
newbalance.ca/nbwomen
6. A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANETPERSONALHEALTHNEWS.CA
A Milestone in Health
The 10th Anniversary of the HPV Vaccine in Canada
Dr. Blake has witnessed what
she believes to be the single
greatest event in women’s
health: the HPV vaccine’s
arrival a decade ago.
Photo: Maggie Padlewska
National Cervical
Cancer Awareness
Week is October 17–21.
L
ookingbackatthelast10yearssince
theintroductionoftheHPVvaccine,
it’s clear there’s cause for Canadian
men and women to celebrate. Cer-
vical cancer and several diseases caused bythe
human papillomavirus have significantly de-
creased(althoughothers,includingsomehead
and neck cancers,are still trending upwards).
Andnowalargebodyofresearchandscientific
data gathered from a decade of use has under-
scoredthevaccine’sefficacyandsafety.
For Dr.Jennifer Blake,CEO of the Society of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada,
marking the anniversary of the HPV vaccine’s
arrival in this country is an opportune time to
reviewallthathasbeenaccomplished.
“It has been the single greatest event in
women’s health I’ve ever seen,” she says.
“People are seriously talking now about the
possibility of completely eradicating cervic-
al cancer within decades.The more we vaccin-
ate,the harder itwill be to encounter someone
in the population with the virus and the less
chance it will infect someone and lead to cer-
vical cancer.We will reach a tipping point and
beabletoendthispotentiallylethaldisease.”
In the past, some women were hesitant
about getting the vaccine. In their minds, it
was too new,too unproven.They preferred to
wait until they could see the facts.Canadian
and international researchers have amassed
an impressive body of scientific data that
paintaclearpictureoftheHPVvaccine’ssafe-
tyand effectiveness.
“We have the evidence,” says Dr. Blake.
“We’reseeingreducedratesofHPV-relateddis-
eases in vaccinated young women. We never
expected to see this magnitude of impact so
quickly after the vaccine’s introduction.” And,
the research findings across Canada are con-
sistent.Thevaccineisworking.
In Québec,the number of genitalwart cases
among vaccinated women has decreased by
45 percent.In Alberta,where the entire popu-
lation was studied,teenagers showing abnor-
mal Pap results have declined by 50 percent.
In B.C.,the ratewas six in 100,000women,and
nowit has dropped down to just one.“The data
isclear,”shesays.
There have also been advances with the
HPV vaccine itself. Previous versions pro-
tected against four common HPV strains.The
latest version introduced last year address-
es nine. That means expanded protection
against HPV-related diseases.
Though Canadian Cancer Society figures
show that a Canadian woman dies every day
from cervical cancer, HPV vaccinations are
notjustafemaleissue.Mencanplayakeyrole,
since they can infect their sexual partners
and are subject also to HPV cancers (head and
neck,penile,and anal) at alarmingly increas-
ing rates.It’s recommended they get vaccinat-
edbetweentheagesof9and26.Forwomen,it’s
9to45.Andtheearlierthebetter.
The last 10 years have shown that there is
still a need for more awareness about the HPV
vaccine’s role in protecting the long-term
health of Canadians.It is the impetus behind
the annual Prevention and Awareness Pro-
gram (PAP) Campaign, created by the Feder-
ation of Medical Women of Canada, taking
place this year Oct. 17–21, as part of National
Cervical CancerAwarenessWeek.
Campaign Chair and Board member Dr.
Pamela Liao advocates strongly for screening,
education,and awareness.“Clinics across the
countrywill be available to anyonewho wants
to learn more about their risk profile and to
connect with health care providers who can
arrange pre-screenings to identify cancerous
lesions,” she explains.“Cervical cancer is cur-
able if caught early.We all have an active part
instoppingmenandwomenfromdyingdueto
HPV-related diseases.Tell a friend and get the
conversationstarted.”
That’s sage advice for everyone as we mark
the 10-year anniversary of the HPV vaccine’s
introduction.It’s a chance to glimpse into the
future to a time when HPV-related diseases
are eradicated once and for all.
Michele Sponagle
Talk to your doctor about
access to cervical cancer
screening and receiving the
HPV vaccination.
7. A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
G
etting pregnant isn’t al-
ways easy, no matter what
your high school health
teacher told you. Fortun-
ately, when couples are pro-
active and well-informed, there are a lot of
ways to help our bodies make healthy babies.
Of course,the elephant in the room when it
comes to fertility is age. “There’s been a huge
paradigm shift,” says Dr. Marjorie Dixon, CEO
and Medical Director at Anova Fertility & Re-
productive Health in Toronto. “I know people
think that 40 is the new 30, but we consider
advanced maternal age to be 35. By the time a
woman is 30,her ovaries have been depleted of
90 percent of their eggs.The good news is that
the remaining 10 percent are still relatively
well-functioning. By the time she is 40, she’ll
have a 97 percent depletion of eggs, and the 3
percent that remainwill be poorer quality.”
Be an active participant in your
reproductive health
Increasingly,women are delaying having chil-
dren in favour of pursuing higher education,
traveling,andstartingacareer.Thistrendmakes
sense,butwomen do need to be mindful of their
ownpersonalbiologicalclockandwhatmakesit
tick.Thisincludestakingproactivestepslikenot
smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight,
and starting a conversation with their doctor.
“Between the ages of 25 and 30,women should
ideally be having a fertility check-up,” says Dr.
Dixon.“Therearefactorstheirfamilydoctorcan
ask them about or see in their health history as
well as simple blood tests that could alert them
topotentialfertilityissues.”
Don’t suffer in silence, there are
options
When fertility issues are revealed,it’s import-
ant to know that they are common,often treat-
able, and nothing to be ashamed about. More
than 15 percent of all Canadian couples looking
to conceive deal with fertility issues.And, it’s
not all about women’s bodies either,men are a
contributing factor to these issues up to 40 per-
cent of the time.
When there is any concern about fertility,be-
cause age is so important,it is always better to
look into modern options like IVF, insemina-
tion,or cryogenic egg preservation sooner rath-
erthanlater.“Thetraditionaldefinitionofinfer-
tility is one year of unprotected intercourse
without success,” says Dr.Dixon.“However,if a
woman or couple knows they might be predis-
posed to fertilityissues,waiting even ayear may
notbeappropriate.”
The most important message, for women
looking to get pregnant now or 10 years from
now,isthattheyhaveeverythingtogainbytalk-
ingtotheirdoctorearlyandtakinganactiverole
intheirownreproductivehealth.
D.F. McCourt
Self-Aware Fertility
The Well-Informed
Future Mom
Dr. Marjorie Dixion encourages her patients at Anova Fertility to be proactive about their fertility and reproductive
health. Photo: Sian Richards
re not telling you
be easy,
e telling you
definitely be worth it.
25 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto ON M2N 6S6
anovafertility.com
We’re not telling you
it will be easy,
we’re telling you
it will definitely be worth it.
25 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto ON M2N 6S6
anovafertility.com
We’re not telling you
it will be easy,
we’re telling you
it will definitely be worth it.
25 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto ON M2N 6S6
anovafertility.com
We’re not telling you
it will be easy,
we’re telling you
it will definitely be worth it.
25 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto ON M2N 6S6
anovafertility.com
We’re not telling you
it will be easy,
we’re telling you
it will definitely be worth it.
25 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto ON M2N 6S
anovafertility.com
We’re not telling you
it will be easy,
we’re telling you
it will definitely be worth it.
25 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto ON M2N 6S6
anovafertility.com
FLARE_Anova_2016_1.indd 1 8/17/2016 9:57:35 AM
8. PERSONALHEALTHNEWS.CA A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Canada’s Kate Pace Lindsay
competing in the downhill
event at the 1994 Lillehammer
Winter Olympics.
Photo: CP PHOTO/COA
An Olympic Skier’s Epic Battle
with Uterine Fibroids
D
ownhill skier Kate
Pace Lindsay is no
stranger to over-
coming difficult
challenges. As a
three-time Olympian and for-
mer world champion, she faced
the toughest courses in the world,
bounced back after injuries, and
kept on going.After her retirement
from skiing in 1998,the North Bay-
born athlete was about to face
her biggest uphill battle yet — an
eight-year struggle with uterine
fibroids (UF) requiring three sur-
gical procedures and treatment of
resulting complications.
When Pace Lindsay first sought
medical attention for a sore hip in
2008,shewassurprisedtolearnthat
she had a large fibroid,the size of a
grapefruit,sittingandgrowingnear
herhip.Itcausedherconstantpain.
Living with pain due to
fibroids
“Trying to manage it dominat-
ed my life,” she says. “I was tak-
ing over-the-counter pain medi-
cation every three hours and was
constantly using a heating pad.
I couldn’t leave the house with-
out worrying about what kind of
pain I might have and whether
I’d be able to control it.It changed
my mood and sleeping patterns.It
even affected what I wore because
I’d be hypersensitive to anything
tight. With fibroids, I was never
free to live the life Iwanted.”
That’s true for so many women
around the world.An estimated 50–
80 percent will develop fibroids in
their lifetime. While half of them
will not have symptoms,the other
50 percent will have clinically sig-
nificant ones.And,their impact on
every aspect of a woman’s quality
of life can be devastating,from an-
emiaduetoheavymenstrualbleed-
ingtoanxietyoverfertilityissues.
Dr. Sony Singh, Vice-Chair of
Gynaecology at The Ottawa Hos-
pital, has witnessed the effects of
UFs on women like Pace Lindsay
first-hand. When the doctor met
her,shehadalreadygonethrougha
myomectomy,a surgical procedure
to remove uterine fi-
broids.It didn’t gowell.
Pace Lindsay had a bad
post-op reaction to
morphine and landed
back in the operating
room to treat ongoing
surgical bleeding. And
worse,thefibroidsgrewback,even-
tually requiring her to have a full
hysterectomytwoyearslater.
Surgery-free treatment
option
With newoptions and more data on
oralmedications,thesymptomsand
fibroids themselves can be treated
effectively without surgery. Exces-
sive bleeding can be slowed in just
one week, and oral medicines can
shrink fibroids and prevent them
from growing. “These new options
havechangedthewaywepractisein
a dramaticway,” Dr.Singh explains.
“I wish that I could go back in time
so that Kate could have been treat-
ed with this medication, sparing
her eight years of suffering and
possiblyavoidingsurgery.”
Dr. Singh adds: “It’s
so important that we
make surewomen have
goodoptionsearlyonso
they don’t get into a vi-
cious cycle of difficul-
tiesandsurgery.”
Fortunately, oral
medications to treat fibroids are
now available to women.The Soci-
ety of Obstetricians and Gynaecol-
ogists of Canada,in their updated
clinical practice guidelines from
February 2015 on uterine fibroids,
has recognized the efficacy of oral
treatments. Level one evidence
(the gold standard) indicates
medication can be used for abnor-
mal uterine bleeding, correction
of anemia, fibroid shrinkage, and
other symptoms due to fibroids.
Meanwhile, Pace Lindsay is
totally pain-free for the first time
in almost a decade following a
hysterectomy. For many other
Canadian women, there is new
hope in treating uterine fibroids
free from surgery and the risks
that can comewith it.
Dr. Sony Singh
Vice-Chair of
Gynaecology,
The Ottawa Hospital
Sex (43%)
54 percent of women
with uterine fibroids
were negatively
impacted, revealed a
large online survey of
more than 21,000.
By Michele Sponagle
54%
Of that
Life was affected in the following ways:
Work (27%) Relationships (27%) Sports (20%)
Source: BMC Women's Health
