
Empowering Firefighters to be Healthy and DETOX
Firefighters have a lot to think about, and until recently their health was not a top priority. Perhaps the Internet and the availability of so much health news and information has brought firefighter health issues to the forefront. Or maybe firefighters have begun to consciously think about their health. I know firefighters in my circle of influence want to be energetic, have vitality and be health. So many of them have engaged in Detox programs and cleanses to begin their healthy movement.
Of course, the concept of firefighter health is not new; what is new is that firefighters are becoming empowered about their own health. They are pursuing healthy eating, greater activity and regular cleansing. The reason for this paradigm shift is irrelevant; what’s important is that the service needs healthy firefighters.
In my many years of medical practice I have learned a thing or two about human patterns and behaviour, and it isn’t by chance that all of the sudden the fire service as an institution is interested in health, all fire service stakeholders have made health promotion a priority. What has motivated firefighters to be healthy is what I call the beginning of sickness. More and more firefighters are dealing with serious health concerns and many firefighters have paired up mainstream medicine and natural medicine to heal their injuries and health challenges. So, many firefighters have turned to natural approaches and treatments that empower them to take control of their own health.
A detox is a preventative health action the moves firefighter’s health from sickness to healthy. Many firefighters have missed the point about prevention and are now dealing in a very reactive way with health issues such as diabetes, injuries, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, auto-immune conditions and cancers.
We know from the evidence-based research on health and disease that many conditions are preventable. This brings me to prevention – which is not a new idea for the fire service. The concept of fire prevention is deeply engrained in firefighters; we need to extrapolate this thinking and apply it to firefighter health.
I have been assessing and treating firefighters for 15 years as the Chief Medical Officer for the Halton Hills Fire Department northwest of Toronto, and I oversee the health of 160 firefighters, plus firefighters who come to my private practice. More and more, I find that firefighters are becoming curious about detox, natural remedies, and therapies to treat their conditions or prevent the onset of the health concerns most common to this profession.
I love what I do. And even more, I love helping my patients rock their detox so that they can get healthy too. If you’re ready to rock your detox, then let’s start with a free 15 minute detox conversation, book online now.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Elias ND

Dr. Elias Markou, ND
Dr. Markou, ND wants you to rethink detox, so you can unclog your mind, body and spirit the natural way. He’s a firefighter turned certified Naturopathic Doctor (ND), Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and a Registered Acupuncturist (R Acu.). Since graduating from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2003, his passion has been helping others get their health back with natural medicine, alternative therapies and detoxification. In 2008, he conceptualized and founded pureBalance Wellness in Mississauga, Ontario, and in 2014 became the Medical Director of Cyto-Matrix, a Canadian natural health products company. He is also an International Speaker, runs corporate wellness programs and is the Chief Naturopathic Medical Officer of the Halton Hills Fire Department. The son of two once-famous restaurateurs, you can often find him whipping up a zesty guacamole for his family when he’s not sharing practical tips for natural health and preventative wellness online and on stage.
