2020's most popular: intermittent fasting

Gone are the days when cow’s milk was the only choice at the supermarket. There has been an explosion in recent years of plant-based non-dairy alternative milks. From the very familiar soy milk, we now have almond, coconut, oat, and rice milk plus a host of others joining the party. How well these contender alt-milks stack up against the ‘reference standard’ of cow’s milk is what I’ll be digging into in this podcast. Links referred to in the podcast Scientific review of plant-based milk...

25 Jan 202110min

If you want to be less confused about just how to make sense of conflicting nutrition messages that you hear about each day then you’ve come to the right place. In today’s podcast, I’ll unpack what makes nutrition appear to be such a confusing area. But importantly, I’ll help set you straight in knowing how to make sense of it all. Links referred to in the podcast Industry conflict of interest in research https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0040005&n...

18 Jan 202124min

Coffee. For some, it is deserving of its own essential food group. But is coffee more than just a way to achieve functioning human capacity first thing in the morning? You may have seen media headlines in the past warning about health risks of coffee. But now that the science has matured, coffee turns out to be one of the most surprisingly positive health stories of recent years. Forget about the latest superfood trend, coffee is where it is at. In this podcast, I’ll look closer at those heal...

11 Jan 202120min

You are what you eat, but when it comes to your mental health, what you eat can have a profound impact on your mood and how you feel. Welcome to the rapidly moving world of nutritional psychiatry which is uncovering the key links between diet and mental health. And it could just be that it is our gut microbes, by acting as psychobiotics, that are the stars of the show here; so long as they are kept fed well. Links referred to in the podcast Fruits and vegetables consumption and li...

28 Dec 202024min

As the end of 2020 approaches, I thought I’d bring in a Christmas theme, but of course, one with a nutritionally based message. And what better way to do that than by unpacking Charles Dickens’ classic: ‘A Christmas Carol’, as a medical case study in vitamin D deficiency. Listen on to learn more. Links referred to in the podcast Environmental factors and Tiny Tim’s illness https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/1107722Episode transcript To access the full episode transcri...

21 Dec 20207min

Does sugar really make kids hyperactive? Is fresh fruit and veg better than frozen? And does coffee actually make you dehydrated? The answer to all of the questions I just posed is 'no'. Welcome to the world of nutrition myths and in my latest podcast, I’ll go over some of the more popular myths I’ve come across and explain where the truth really lies. Links referred to in the podcast Meta-analysis of sugar and behaviour in kids https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/391812Fro...

14 Dec 202012min

Folate is a vitamin important in growth and development. Everyone needs folate, but it is especially important for women to get enough of it during the early stages of pregnancy to help reduce the risk of foetal brain and spinal cord abnormalities such as spina bifida. In this podcast, I look at the key roles of folate in the body, explain how it helps prevent birth defects and the key dietary and supplement sources of it. Links referred to in the podcast Impact of folic acid fortification on...

7 Dec 202015min