ZOE Science & Nutrition
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The world’s top scientists explain the latest health, nutrition, and gut health research and translate it into practical advice to improve your health & weight. Join ZOE Science & Nutrition, on a journey of scientific discovery.
Hosted by Jonathan Wolf.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
2 days ago
How body fat impacts health and aging
As we age, the distribution of our body fat changes, particularly around menopause.
Most people think of body fat as bad, but fat tissue plays a number of hugely important roles in our health.
In today’s episode of ZOE Science and Nutrition, Jonathan is joined by Dr. Sarah Berry and Prof. Deborah Clegg. Together, they debunk the myth that fat is bad, enlighten us about why body fat is distributed where it is, and explore the differences in fat distribution between men and women.
Deborah Clegg is a professor and Vice President for Research at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso. Her research focuses on sex differences in metabolism, adipose tissue, and the brain and the impact this has on our health. Dr. Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition. She has run more than 20 randomized clinical trials looking at how humans respond to different fats.
Head to zoe.com/podcast if you want to uncover the right foods for your body and get 10% off your ZOE membership.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Follow ZOE on Instagram
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
04:00 What is body fat?
06:32 What is healthy fat?
07:52 Female vs male body fat
11:56 Why is belly fat the most unhealthy?
19:43 Waist to hip ratio
21:24 How estrogen affects fat distribution
27:41 Perimenopause symptoms
31:01 Fat cells producing estrogen
36:00 Hunger the menopause
38:46 Weight gain and the menopause
40:54 Physical changes in men
42:28 Exercise and fat distribution
43:26 What to eat during menopause
46:37 Estrogen supplements
Mentioned in today’s episode:
The evolutionary impact and influence of oestrogens on adipose tissue structure and function from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 2023
Menopause is associated with postprandial metabolism, metabolic health and lifestyle: The ZOE PREDICT study from EBioMedicine 2022
Episode transcripts are available here.
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it.
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Nov 23, 2023
Exercise myths busted: Practical steps to sustain your health
Admit it, exercise isn't everyone's favorite pastime. Of course, our ancestors weren't hitting the gym by choice — our evolution has wired us to stay active, and this natural activity actually slows down the aging process.
The good news is that you can achieve the benefits without feeling like you're "exercising."
In today’s episode, Prof. Daniel Lieberman debunks exercise myths. He also teaches us how exercise impacts our health and how learning from our evolution can unlock the secrets of a longer life.
Daniel Lieberman is a paleoanthropologist at Harvard University. He’s the Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences and a professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology. He’s best known for his research on the evolution of the human mind and the human body.
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to zoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
01:34 Quickfire questions
03:22 The Rudyard Kipling view of our ancestors
04:54 Is exercise good for us and why do most of us hate it?
06:19 For millions of years, people were physically active for 2 reasons only…
15:38 Our bodies have evolved to save calroies and preserve energy
18:31 It’s normal to think your life is normal
22:27 We need to exercise because we don’t move enough!
34:00 Diet, exercise and sleep can prevent these diseases…
39:54 The active Grandparent hypothesis
43:10 Study of men matriculating as undergraduates at Harvard University
49:44 How can we enjoy keeping physically active?
01:00:00 The importance of weights exercise
01:06:43 Summary
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Three generations of HSPH researchers explore health benefits of exercise from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Stanford marshmallow test experiment, a summary from Simply Psychology
We also mention Daniel’s book Exercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health, and you can find it here.
Episode transcripts are available here.
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it.
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Nov 16, 2023
We risked it all! Does ZOE work? Here's what our latest trial results show
We’ve been working for the past 2 years on a randomized controlled trial of ZOE membership.
Participants used personalized nutrition advice to try to improve their health — and the results are fascinating.
In today’s episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan, Sarah, and Tim ask: How did ZOE hold up as part of this trial?
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to zoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Follow ZOE on Instagram.
Timecodes
01:03 - Quickfire round
02:10 - Sarah’s first impression of Jonathan
05:29 - What is an RCT
10:20 - What is ZOE and how does it work
14:14 - What did the RCT participants experience
16:16 - Using cookies to measure blood sugar
20:07 - What is blood fat
25:02 - What happens once you’ve done your tests
26:17 - Recent dietary changes Jonathan, Sarah and Tim have made
34:52 - How are you guided through the ZOE program
37:19 - Control group vs ZOE group
41:23 - Results of the ZOE RCT
45:03 - Do other wellness products have RCTs
47:57 - Will the results be greater after a year of ZOE
54:44 - Does the ZOE membership work
57:02 - The difference between ZOE and other medical devices
58:44 - Summary and outro
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Mentioned in today’s episode:
* Epidemiology of constipation in Europe and Oceania: A systematic review published in BMC Gastroenterology
* Recent advances in understanding and managing chronic constipation published in F1000Research
* Human Postprandial Responses to Food and Potential for Precision Nutrition published in Nature Medicine
* Microbiome connections with host metabolism and habitual diet from 1,098 deeply phenotyped individuals published in Nature Medicine
* Postprandial glycaemic dips predict appetite and energy intake in healthy individuals published in Nature Medicine
Episode transcripts are available here.
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it.
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Nov 9, 2023
How to prevent heart disease, according to science
Heart disease is among the top five causes of death globally, and it’s the first in the United States and United Kingdom. In the U.S., it causes 1 in 5 deaths.
But what is heart disease, exactly? Can we take steps to avoid it? Prof. Eric Rimm, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, is here to enlighten us.
In today’s episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Eric explore what we can do to reduce our chances of getting heart disease.
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to zoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Follow ZOE on Instagram.
Timecodes:
00:15 - Intro
01:07 - Quick fire questions
02:10 - Biggest myth about Heart Disease
03:2 6 - What is Heart Disease?
08:03 - What is a stroke?
10:29 - What are the differences in Heart Disease symptoms between men and women?
12:51 - Did you know that…
14:24 - The multi-decade diet study
21:24 - The 4 ways to lower chances Heart Disease
28:16 - Weight and Heart Disease
32:09 - What can you do to reduce Heart Disease risk?
34:30 - Exercise and Heart Disease risk
37:11 - Body Weight and Heart Disease risk
38:01 - Diet and Heart Disease risk
41:06 - Sleep and Heart Disease risk
46:18 - What is the cutting edge research in Heart Disease?
49:35 - Summary
53:18 - Conclusion
Mentioned in today’s episode:
* Optimal dietary patterns for prevention of chronic disease from Nature Medicine
* Frequency, type, and volume of leisure-time physical activity and risk of coronary heart disease in young women from Circulation
* Diet, lifestyle, biomarkers, genetic factors, and risk of cardiovascular disease in the Nurses’ Health Studies from the American Journal of Public Health
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com and we’ll do our best to cover it.
Episode transcripts are available here.
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Nov 2, 2023
The surprising truth about lectins
What are lectins, and are they dangerous? These “antinutrients” have come under attack and were recently the subject of a dietary fad fueled by a popular book. As always, there’s more to the story.
In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz to dive deep into the world of lectins. They dissect questionable studies, debunk myths, and offer expert advice about how to approach foods containing these misunderstood compounds.
Will is a board-certified gastroenterologist with 14 years of experience. He’s also the New York Times best-selling author of Fiber Fueled and ZOE’s U.S. medical director.
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Follow ZOE on Instagram.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Lectins as bioactive plant proteins: A potential in cancer treatment from Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
Plant-derived lectins as potential cancer therapeutics and diagnostic tools from BioMed Research International
A legume-based hypocaloric diet reduces proinflammatory status and improves metabolic features in overweight/obese subjects from the European Journal of Nutrition
Dietary legume consumption reduces risk of colorectal cancer: Evidence from a meta-analysis of cohort studies from Scientific Reports
Intake of legumes and cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis from Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
Legume consumption is inversely associated with type 2 diabetes incidence in adults: A prospective assessment from the PREDIMED study from Clinical Nutrition
The effects of legume consumption on markers of glycaemic control in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus: A systematic literature review of randomised controlled trials from Nutrients
Effects of dietary pulse consumption on body weight: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
The "white kidney bean incident" in Japan from Methods in Molecular Biology
Fructan, rather than gluten, induces symptoms in patients with self-reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity from Gastroenterology
Is there a...
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Oct 26, 2023
Aging and longevity reimagined: Is mindfulness the secret?
Can the power of your thoughts help defy aging? Could your mind help improve your eyesight or even heal wounds faster?
These ideas might seem far-fetched, but our guest, Harvard Professor Ellen Langer, has spent four decades uncovering the real science behind this.
In this episode, discover how to harness your mind-body connection to enhance your well-being.
Ellen Langer is an American professor of psychology at Harvard University. In 1981, she became the first woman ever to be tenured in psychology at Harvard.
Prof. Langer studies the illusion of control, decision-making, aging, and mindfulness theory.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Follow ZOE on Instagram.
Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
01:48 Quickfire questions
04:34 The mind and body should be understood as one unit
05:42 The counterclockwise study
06:51 Chambermaid exercise study
09:33 What is Mindfulness?
10:59 All of the misery we experience is a function of our mindlessness
14:47 Mindful optimism
23:12 Everything should be different, every day of your life
25:33 How Ellen approaches a simple eyesight test
28:21 We have more control over our health and lives than we think…
33:35 Placebos could be our strongest medicines…
39:00 Blood sugar study results
44:50 How to approach mindfulness
54:05 Summary
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Ageing as a mindset: A counterclockwise experiment to rejuvenate older adults sponsored by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
Mind-set matters: Exercise and the placebo effect from Psychological Science
The Mindful Body and Mindfulness, two books by Prof. Langer
Episode transcripts are available here.
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Resistance training: How to stay strong as you age
Do you feel like your muscles are shrinking or getting weaker? Many people gradually lose muscle mass as they get older. And this leads to an increased risk of falls, osteoporosis, and fractures.
When it comes to your muscles, it’s a case of use them or lose them. But what is the most effective way to use our muscles and maintain strength? Ex-bodybuilder and professor of exercise science Brad Schoenfeld tells us how. And it’s easier than you might think!
In today’s episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Brad ask: How can you maintain muscle mass as you age?
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Follow ZOE on Instagram
Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
1:25 - Quickfire round
2:38 - How do our muscles work
3:01 - Why are muscles important for our health
5:15 - The loss of muscles and how to prevent it
8:19 - Resistance training - How it builds muscles
11:24 - Nutrition and muscle growth
13:01 - How muscle growth changes with age
17:45 - Resistance training vs Cardio
20:20 - How to do resistance training
28:11 - No time to exercise?
30:28 - What weight to train with
36:10 - How menopause affects muscle maintenance
41:13 - Summary and outro
Mentioned in today’s episode:
* Effects of resistance training on muscle size and strength in very elderly adults from Sports Medicine
* Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance Training from The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Episode transcripts are available here.
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it.
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Oct 12, 2023
The surprising link between dementia and oral health
More than 50 systemic health conditions — including Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and heart disease — are associated with oral disease.
The link between systemic and oral conditions is always microbial, inflammatory, or both. So, how can we look after our gums to improve our health?
In today’s episode, Jonathan and Prof. Alp Kantarci pose the question: How does the health of your oral cavity shape your general health?
Dr. Alp Kantarci is a professor, scientist, dentist, oral health researcher, periodontist, dental implant surgeon, and senior member of staff at the Forsyth Institute, an independent research institute that focuses on the connections between oral health and overall wellness. Dr. Kantarci is also a faculty member at Harvard University School of Dental Medicine. He has published more than 190 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has presented more than 170 talks and posters at dental and medical congresses.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Follow ZOE on Instagram.
Timecodes:
01:35 - Quickfire questions
04:11 - What is oral health?
08:35 - How is our oral health connected to the health of the rest of our body?
11:01 - Oral microbiome
18:48 - Why does bad oral health affect the rest of the body?
22:47 - How much does the state of our oral health contribute to dementia?
25:48 - The link between oral health and diabetes
28:31 - The link between oral health and cardiovascular diseases
32:41 - What are the key steps to look after our oral health?
35:36 - Alp’s view on mouthwash
37:51 - Oral health & probiotics
42:22 - Impact of food on our oral health
45:45 - Does sparkling water affect our oral health?
50:04 - Summary
52:34 - Goodbyes
52:41 - Outro
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Dementia and the risk of periodontitis: A population-based cohort study from the Journal of Dental Research.
Microglial response to experimental periodontitis in a murine model of Alzheimer’s disease from Scientific Reports.
Fusobacterium nucleatum dissemination by neutrophils from the Journal of Oral Microbiology.
Safety and preliminary efficacy of a novel host-modulatory therapy for reducing gingival inflammation from Frontiers in Immunology.
Episode transcripts are available here.
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it.
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Oct 5, 2023
Unlock longevity: Dr. Peter Attia's essential strategies
Dr. Peter Attia doesn’t want a slow death. He doesn’t want his final years to be defined by poor mental and physical faculties that only worsen as the years roll by. But, by making changes to his lifestyle today, he’s taking control of his health tomorrow
In today’s episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Peter ask: How can you maintain your health as you age?
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program
Follow ZOE on Instagram
Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
1:29 - Quickfire round
3:14 - Healthspan vs lifespan
09:52 - The difference between slow and quick death
12:23 - What diseases cause slow death
13:34 - Acting before there’s a problem
16:17 - Is it too late to improve my future health
19:20 - How to improve modern medicine
25:07 - The importance of blood sugar
33:03 - The centanarian decathlon
34:00 - Cardio training
38:00 - Strength training
40:43 - Summary and outro
Mentioned in today’s episode:
* The inequities in the cost of chronic disease from the National Council on Aging
* Early lesions of atherosclerosis in youth from the Journal of the American Nutrition Association
* Coronary heart disease causes and risk factors from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Episode transcripts are available here.
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com and we’ll do our best to cover it.
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Sep 28, 2023
Cardio exercise: How much do you really need?
Not all of us want to go to the gym 5 times a week, but what if there was a way to do quick, short high intensity 20 second exercises and still reap benefits - or does that sound too good to be true?
Javier and Jonathan break this down as they look at recent studies and results, optimizing exercise routines to achieve the desired health benefits, taking into account factors like intensity, duration, and frequency as well as discussing the effect of working from home vs commuting to the office.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Follow ZOE on Instagram
Mentioned in today’s episode:
The Effects of High Intensity Interval Training vs Steady State Training on Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity; from The Journal of Sports and Science Medicine
Episode transcripts are available here.
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it.
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Sep 21, 2023
Gut microbiome testing: What can it reveal about your health?
Your gut microbiome, a bustling community of microorganisms, is a vital player in your overall health. It doesn’t just impact your digestive system — it has a profound influence on your brain health and well-being.
However, the gut microbiome is a complex, long misunderstood realm, and figuring out how it affects daily life can leave even the most dedicated health enthusiasts scratching their heads.
Here at ZOE, we’ve transformed our understanding of this bustling microbial world, where both “good” and “bad” gut bacteria reside.
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks with Prof. Nicola Segata and Prof. Tim Spector to explore how ZOE's microbiome testing and unique microbiome health scores provide personalized insights into your gut health.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
* Nicola Segata is a professor and principal investigator at the Laboratory of Computational Metagenomics, at the CIBIO department of the University of Trento. His background is in metagenomics, machine learning, microbiome research, and microbial genomics.
* Tim Spector is ZOE's scientific co-founder and one of the world's top 100 most cited scientists.
Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
01:41 Quick fire questions
03:38 Why should we care about gut microbes?
07:00 How many different microbes do we have in our gut?
11:37 Why would we want to measure our microbiome?
13:15 Can we change our microbiome?
18:00 Is it possible to make a dramatic change in your microbiome over time?
20:21 What does the latest data tell us about improving our diet?
23:24 How does the ZOE micobiome gut test work?
27:07 What goes on in the lab to get these results?
30:54 Is there enough information in the gut microbiome to make a full health assessment?
34:20 What can our microbes tell us about diseases?
35:55 What useful information does the microbiome test show us?
36:51 Are we still making new discoveries in the microbiome?
41:03 Do different microbes prefer specific foods?
43:14 How do different lifestyles around the world change your microbiome?
47:44 5 simple tips to improve gut health
50:45 How rapidly can you damage your microbiome?
53:58 Can taking painkillers regularly negatively impact the microbiome?
56:10 Summary
60:03 Goodbyes/Outro
Mentioned in today’s episode:
* The person-to-person transmission landscape of the gut and oral microbiomes from Nature
* Sharing of gut microbial strains between selected individual sets of twins cohabitating for decades from PLoS One
* A genetic gift for sushi eaters from Nature
Find Nicola on ResearchGate and X.
Episode transcripts are available
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Sep 14, 2023
The shocking damage ultra-processed foods cause to your brain
There’s been a surge in our consumption of ultra-processed foods, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States, where these foods contribute about two-thirds of people’s caloric intake.
Also a cause for concern is emerging evidence of ultra-processed foods’ detrimental effect on our brain health and overall well-being.
When most of our calories come from ultra-processed foods, the risk of chronic physical and mental health conditions escalates. Scientists are now uncovering the intricate mechanisms behind this relationship, particularly concerning the effects of these foods on our brains.
In today’s episode, we welcome back Prof. Felice Jacka, OAM. Felice is an Alfred Deakin professor of nutritional psychiatry and the director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, in Australia. She’s also the founder of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research and the world’s leading researcher on food’s impact on our brain and mental health.
N…
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Sep 7, 2023
Food before exercise: What does science say?
Get science-based nutrition advice straight to your inbox: https://bit.ly/3ExWxCG
Most of us like to have breakfast before we exercise in the morning, but what happens if we don’t eat anything first?
The issue goes beyond weight loss and exercise timing to involve blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, and other — perhaps unexpected — aspects of your health.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Professor Javier Gonzalez ask: Should we exercise on an empty stomach?
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalised nutrition program.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Lipid metabolism links nutrient-exercise timing to insulin sensitivity in men classified as overweight or obese from The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Body composition changes associated with fasted versus non-fasted aerobic exercise from Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
The Acu…
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Aug 31, 2023
Skin aging and acne: What you should do
As a listener to this show, you’ve probably heard of the gut microbiome. But did you know that your skin has its own microbiome?
Recent evidence suggests that these microbiomes are vital for our skin health. So, what should we do? Which foods make an impact?
And if we want our skin to look healthier, how about those collagen supplements that many of you have asked us about?
In today’s episode, our guest is Dr. Justine Kluk, a consultant dermatologist with a specialist interest in acne. Justine is a member of the British Association of Dermatologists, the Royal Society of Medicine, and the Royal College of Physicians.
ZOE’s Chief Scientist Dr. Sarah Berry also joins as a cohost to explore these ideas.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
02:01 Quick Fire questions
03:52 What does skin do?
04:51 Why is the skin so important?
06:34 Is there a correlation between aging skin and health?
07:41…
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Aug 24, 2023
The great calorie deception: Are food labels misleading?
Millions of us are counting calories every day. But do we know if those numbers truly reflect the energy we get from eating?
It’s about time that we debunked the “one-size-fits-all” approach to calorie counting and unmasked the outdated methodologies that contribute to inaccuracies in food labeling.
In today’s episode, Jonathan and Dr. Sarah Berry ask: How exactly do we measure calories, and is calorie counting actually effective?
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe
Mentioned in today’s episode:
The Wilbur Olin Atwater Papers from the United States Department of Agriculture
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it.
Episode transcripts are available here.
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Aug 17, 2023
Antibiotics: The surprising truth about probiotics and what to do instead
Antibiotics are one of the greatest discoveries of the 21st century. Since their inception, they’ve saved countless lives, but these miracle drugs come at a cost. In some cases, they can seriously affect your health or can even be life-threatening.
In today’s episode, Jonathan puts himself under the microscope. After an injury forced him to take antibiotics, he shows you the effect they had on his own gut bacteria.
Jonathan’s joined by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and Prof. Tim Spector, who explore the impact of different types of antibiotics, how they affect your bacteria in the short and long term, and how we can reverse the unwanted effect of these drugs.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:15 Jonathan’s Intro
00:50 Quickfire round
01:40 Jonathan’s accident
04:00 Unpacking clindamycin
11:40 Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
14:45 Side effects prevention advice
22:20 Jonathan’s gut at 7 days…
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Aug 10, 2023
Butter vs. margarine: What does science say?
Whether you’re frying, baking, or topping your toast, most of you will eat either butter or margarine at some point today. The fact that these spreads are such a staple means that we need to know their effects on our health. And It might surprise you to learn that this impact has changed quite dramatically over the past 20 years.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Dr. Sarah ask: Which is healthier, butter or margarine?
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Follow ZOE on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Margarine from Science Direct
Margarines: Historical approach, technological aspects, nutritional profile, and global trends from Food Research International
Reduction of LDL-cholesterol as a result of the change from butter to soft margarine from Polish Archives of Internal Medicine
Americans' per capita consumption of margarine & butter from t…
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Aug 3, 2023
Healthy aging: The surprising power of your social life
Unfortunately, many of us spend our later years in poor health. But is this avoidable? And can we actually increase our healthy years?
While aging is inevitable, there are steps we can take to minimize its effects on our health. And surprisingly, some of these steps have nothing to do with exercise or diet. Simply spending time with others can provide countless benefits to us as we age.
But how can we maintain these connections? Does retirement affect our social interactions? And can attitude alone keep you healthier in your later years?
In today’s episode, one of the world’s top experts on aging, Prof. Rose Anne Kenny, joins us to explore these ideas.
Rose Anne is a world-leading geriatrician at Trinity College Dublin, where she leads a huge, long-term study on aging. She’s also the author of the number one international bestseller Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/f…
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Jul 27, 2023
Chronic diarrhea? Here's what to do | Dr. Will Bulsiewicz
We’ve all had unpleasant toilet experiences in our time. It can be distressing to deal with and not something we like talking about.
But when does normal diarrhea become chronic? And when do we need to seek medical care?
In today’s episode, Jonathan and Dr Will ask what is chronic diarrhea and how can we rule out something more serious? Will also shares tricks of the trade to ease your symptoms and tells us how our amazing guts work to keep our whole body healthy.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get
10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
Chronic Diarrhea by Garrett J. Descoteaux-Friday; Isha Shrimanker from the National Library of Medicine
Chronic Diarrhea by Cleveland Clinic
Diarrhea From John Hopkins Medicine
Diarrhea From Stamford Medicine Healthcare
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficienc…
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Jul 20, 2023
The truth about organic food - according to science
What does "organic" food mean? And how do you know if something's organic?
Of course, foods tell you if they're organic in massive letters on the packaging. And they cost way more. But what makes a food organic? Is eating organic better for your health? And are the benefits worth the expense?
Luckily, Professor Tim Spector is here today with answers. Tim is one of the world's top 100 most cited scientists, a scientific co-founder of ZOE, and the author of the bestselling book Food for Life: The New Science of Eating Well.
Stick around until the end, and you'll also find out the answer to a question we get often: Does Tim eat organic?
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
01:21 - Quickfire round
02:36 - What is organic food?
03:06 - Pesticides vs insecticides
08:06 - Diseases
09:15 - Herbicide risks
16:03 - Nutrient comparison
18:21 - Natural chemical defences
20:32 - Does Tim Eat organic food?
22:1…
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Jul 13, 2023
What’s the best natural sugar substitute?
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Are you trying to eat less sugar? If you are, you might have tried a natural sugar alternative.
Stevia, robinia honey, coconut sugar, agave… the list of these table sugar replacements seems to be growing day by day. But what even are these alternatives? Are they really natural? And do they offer us a healthier way of getting that sweet taste?
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Dr. Sarah ask: What are natural sugar alternatives, and are they healthier than table sugar?
Follow ZOE on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Mentioned in today’s episode:
The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk from Nature Medicine Effects of D-allulose on glucose tolerance and insulin response from BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Ca…
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Jul 6, 2023
Is dairy good or bad for you?
Decades ago, there were reams of adverts instructing us to drink our milk so we don’t break our bones. But in the decades since, public opinion toward dairy is very different, and the scientific community has largely debunked these ideas.
Many of the health-conscious among us choose to avoid it altogether. Our reasons range from a belief that dairy leads to inflammation, to acne, or even to an increased risk of heart attack due to high levels of saturated fat.
But have we fallen into the same trap we often do, bouncing from one extreme to another? Could cutting out dairy mean we miss out on vital nutrients? Or could it hold the secret to a healthy gut microbiome?
Today, Jonathan is joined by ZOE regulars and renowned experts, Dr. Sarah Berry and Prof. Tim Spector.
In this episode, you’ll not only find out whether you should eat dairy or cut it out, but you’ll also hear two leading nutritional scientists try to reach an agreement on how to translate the latest research in…
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Jun 29, 2023
The truth about menopause supplements
More than half of women who go through menopause find its symptoms distressing. In fact, 10% leave their jobs because of the burden.
It’s no wonder that a huge selection of supplements claim to relieve menopause’s unpleasant effects. But do they actually work? Which products are backed by clinical evidence, and which are just “menowashing”?
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Dr. Sarah Berry ask: What’s the evidence behind menopause supplements?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Mentioned in today’s episode:
* Introduction to menopause from John Hopkins Medicine
* What is menopause? from The National Institute on Aging
* What you should know about hormone therapy and menopause from the Columbia University Irving Medical Centre
* Menopause symptoms in depth from the National Center For Complementary and Integrative Health…
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Jun 22, 2023
How snacking impacts your health
Evidence shows that all over the world, people are snacking more — with the United Kingdom and the United States leading the way in unhealthy snacking habits.
But what exactly counts as a snack? And is all snacking unhealthy?
Snacking can be a confusing and controversial topic. There are various opinions and myths about what's good for you. Many people struggle to make healthy choices, while others may be unaware of the impact of snacking habits on their gut health and overall well-being.
In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by ZOE regulars and renowned experts Sarah Berry and Tim Spector for an enlightening discussion that will help you snack smarter.
Armed with the latest scientific research, they unravel the complexities of snacking and share evidence-based insights on what's truly beneficial for your body. Along the way, they cover healthy options, snack timing, and what we should all be avoiding.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe…
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Jun 15, 2023
How to stop diarrhea and what NOT to do
We’ve all wrestled with diarrhea at some point.
It comes in many forms. And being able to read these differences can help us understand what’s going on inside us and how we should treat it.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Dr. Will ask: What are the health risks associated with diarrhea, and how can we treat it?
Follow ZOE on Instagram.
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get
10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
* Diarrhea, a global overview from the World Health Organization (WHO)
* Key takeaways from a University of Oxford analysis of the global impact of antimicrobial resistance
Episode transcripts are available here.
Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we’ll do our best to cover it.
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Jun 8, 2023
The menstrual cycle decoded: Lifestyle tips to ease your symptoms, with Hazel Wallace
How much do you know about menstrual cycles? About half of us are more informed than the other half.
The menstrual cycle has great significance, affecting various aspects of health. And more than 90% of people who get their periods experience premenstrual symptoms.
However, misconceptions and limited understandings abound, leaving many people in the dark.
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Hazel Wallace. She’s a medical doctor, nutritionist, and author of The Female Factor. She’s here to give us an education about the menstrual cycle.
* Dr. Hazel Wallace describes how the cycle affects almost every aspect of the body, from heart health and sleep to metabolism. She also explains whether there’s scientific evidence behind “cycle syncing.”
Whether or not you’ve had a menstrual cycle, you’ll learn a lot from this episode.
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Ti…
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Jun 1, 2023
Conquer IBS: 3 steps to healthier digestion
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a lot more common than you might think. In fact, it affects 1 in 10 people globally. Yet there are still a lot of questions about why it occurs and how best to treat it.
Could new research connecting gut health to mental health help us unravel its mysteries?
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Dr. Will ask: What exactly is IBS, and how does it connect to our brains?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Referenced in today’s episode:
* FODMAP Diet: What you need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine
* Large-scale genetic study reveals new clues for the shared origins of irritable bowel syndrome and mental health disorder from the University of Cambridge
* Irritable bowel syndrome: A chronic sequelae of acute gastroenteritis from Gastroenterology
* William Olser: Biographical overview from the National…
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May 25, 2023
Protein & exercise: The secrets of healthy aging?
As we age, our bodies undergo numerous changes, including a decline in muscle mass and cognitive function. For many of us, exercise and diet play crucial roles in maintaining our health and well-being.
But how can the protein we eat affect our abilities to exercise and stay healthy as we age?
It can be difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the effects of protein. How much do we need? Is it better to eat protein before or after exercise? And what roles do protein and exercise play in brain function?
In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by Prof. Ben Wall, an expert in nutritional physiology at the University of Exeter. Together, they unpack the latest scientific research on the connection between protein consumption and exercise.
* Prof. Ben Wall shares his insights into the optimal amount and timing of protein intake for building and maintaining muscle mass, as well as the potential impact of exercise on cognitive function and brain health into later life.…
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May 18, 2023
The surprising health impact of eating too fast
We’ve probably all been reprimanded for eating too fast at the dinner table or suffered the dreaded “itis” from eating way too much food at a family gathering. Our society and the systems we’ve developed to feed it have ballooned to such a point that they easily override our natural bodily systems that tell us when we’ve had enough to eat.
When nearly 50% of the United States population is projected to have obesity by 2030, can something as simple as changing the speed with which we eat really be an effective tool for weight loss and sustaining a healthy body?
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: What is eating rate and does it have any impact on our health?
Studies referenced in the episode:
* Does Eating Fast Make You Gain More Weight?
* Eating slowly increases the postprandial response of the anorexigenic gut hormones, peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide-1
* Association between eating rate and obesity: a systemat…
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May 11, 2023
HRT for menopause: is it safe?
Menopause is a time of significant hormonal changes which can lead to a range of symptoms that can severely impact quality of life for many women. So, a drug that promises to reduce these symptoms is incredibly welcome, but it has been steeped in controversy.
HRT (Hormone replacement therapy) has been widely debated, with conflicting information about its effectiveness, with some suggesting HRT is outright dangerous. In fact, a massive study twenty years ago linked it to an increased risk of breast cancer. As a result, the numbers of women taking HRT plummeted. So should HRT be avoided at all costs?
In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by the author of that very study and esteemed Professor JoAnn Manson, alongside Dr. Sarah Berry to explore the science behind HRT.
* Professor JoAnn Manson is a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and one of the world's most experts on HRT and menopause having run multiple enormous studies to uncover the effects…
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May 4, 2023
Omega-3 supplements: why you're (probably) wasting your money
“Omega 3s,” - we’ve all seen the name Omega 3s advertised on labels from nuts to seeds and even eggs! But are these fats healthy for us, or is this just another food myth?
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: Is fish oil and omega 3 intake essential or is this just another food myth?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* High-fat meals rich in EPA plus DHA compared with DHA only have differential effects on postprandial lipemia and plasma 8-isoprostane F2α concentrations relative to a control high–oleic acid meal: a randomized controlled trial
* Intake of fish and marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of cardiovascular disease mortality: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
* Omega-3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease
* The…
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Apr 27, 2023
How ultra-processed foods wreak havoc on your body
Ultra-processed foods have become ubiquitous in modern diets. Many of us eat them regularly without understanding their potential impacts on our health.
From hidden additives to addictive properties, these highly processed foods can pose risks.
Navigating the complex world of ultra-processing can be challenging, and many people struggle to understand what to avoid, how to break unhealthy habits, and make positive changes to their health.
In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by a special guest, Dr. Chris van Tulleken, to explore the science behind ultra-processed food.
* Dr. Chris van Tulleken is an infectious diseases doctor at University College Hospital, in London, and one of the BBC’s leading science presenters.
Chris shares the groundbreaking research from his own lived experiments, including the now famous study with his twin brother Xand. His book Ultra-Processed People is out now.
Jonathan and Chris are joined by ZOE regular Tim Spector. Drawing from their co…
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Apr 20, 2023
Why eating nuts makes you healthier, according to science
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: If nuts are so full of fat, can they really be good for us?
There is no shortage of variety when it comes to the mighty (yet humble) nut and the ways we consume them. Dried, chopped, made into butter or roasted (over an open fire, anyone?) these little guys provide the nutrients our brains and bodies need in surprisingly high quantities. From industrially farmed to indigenously hand-harvested, the story of these nuts is, well…nuts!
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: If nuts are so full of fat, can they really be good for us?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* Red-rumped agouti
* 8 Health Benefits of Nuts
* Are nuts good for you?
* Avoiding nuts and seeds for better gut health? You shouldn’t
* Nuts and the…
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Apr 13, 2023
Protein: are you getting enough?
Proteins, carbs, and fats … most people understand what the last two are. Carbs are sugars, and fat is, well, fat. It's protein that’s so important to our diets, but so often misunderstood — by the general public, that is.
Since the 1950s and 1960s, scientists have been measuring how protein affects our performance, how it supports and maintains the body’s structure, and how best to incorporate it into our diets.
From big steaks to protein shakes, tofu to seitan, protein is more available now than ever before. With so many options, surely we’re getting enough protein?
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks with a leading nutritional researcher to find out.
* Christopher Gardner is a professor at Stanford University and a member of ZOE’s scientific advisory board. He’s pioneering the movement to redefine how we understand the quality of our protein intake.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
03:02 - Quickfire q…
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Apr 6, 2023
Trans fats: how worried should you be?
Trans fats have a bad reputation. But we now know a lot more about these fats than we did when the first horror stories about them emerged.
So, based on the latest science, just how worried should we be?
Listen to today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition to find out.
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* Hydrogenation of Unsaturated Fats and Trans Fats
* Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on serum lipids and apolipoproteins: a meta-analysis of 60 controlled trials, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
* Association of dietary, circulating, and supplement fatty acids with coronary risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis, published in Annals of Internal Medicine
* Potential of trans fats policies to reduce socioeconomic inequalities i…
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Mar 30, 2023
'Miracle' weight loss drug Ozempic is approved. But does it work?
A miracle weight loss drug that’s approved in the US and the UK and has few side effects?
Ozempic is going viral on social media. Users are posting dramatic before and after pictures of their weight loss. An Ozempic trend is allegedly blossoming in Hollywood, and famous personalities like Elon Musk claim to have taken it.
Many remain doubtful, dismissing the craze as just another internet scam preying on people’s insecurities. However, earlier this month - semaglutide - the drug’s active ingredient, was approved as a weight loss treatment by the UK’s National Health Service. Even the most sceptical are taking note.
Jonathan speaks to Dr Robert Kushner the lead investigator of the huge phase 3 clinical trial that evaluated the safety and effectiveness of semaglutide. He is a founder of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and hailed the drug as a ‘game-changer’ in regards to the treatment of obesity.
Please be aware: Dr. Kushner is also a consultant on the medical ad…
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Mar 23, 2023
Nightshade vegetables: hazard or health food?
Nightshade vegetables — even the name is ominous. Some people believe they exacerbate arthritis and can cause inflammation. So, should we avoid them?
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Will ask: What are nightshade vegetables, and how can they benefit our bodies?
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* Potato glycoalkaloids and adverse effects in humans: an ascending dose study
* Effect of red pepper on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: preliminary study
* Treatment of arthritis with topical capsaicin: a double-blind trial
* In defence of potatoes: How resistant starch from potatoes affects the gut microbiota
* Health benefits of eating tomatoes emerge
Episode transcripts are available here.
Want to create your own podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
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Mar 16, 2023
Michael Mosley: 4 habits that changed his life
If you had to do just one thing to improve your health, what would it be?
Our busy lives mean it can be difficult to keep up healthy habits, and with so much conflicting advice out there it’s tricky to separate fact from fiction. In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by medical doctor, journalist, and presenter Michael Mosley, who is alongside ZOE regular Tim Spector, to discuss Michael’s four key habits to improve our health.
Michael’s latest book ‘Just One Thing’ explores these habits and has seen him speak to singing scientists and eccentric iceman to healthy habit experts and evangelists. And of course, being Michael, he tried every habit out himself. We talk about which methods are the most effective, which he has incorporated into his life, and how he makes his new habits stick.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Topic introduction
01:38 Quick Fire Questions
03:24 Michael'…
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Mar 9, 2023
Everything you've heard about lactose is wrong
Lactose is usually only discussed in the context of intolerance. This intolerance can make us feel bloated, gassy and uncomfortable. But from cow’s milk to yoghurt and even breast milk, lactose is everywhere! So, can it really be that bad for us?
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, we’re joined by Dr Will B. to find out.
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
Nature: How humans’ ability to digest milk evolved from famine and disease
PubMed Central (PMC)
Effects of Prebiotic and Probiotic Supplementation on Lactase Deficiency and Lactose Intolerance: A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials
PubMed Central (PMC)
Improving lactose digestion and symptoms of lactose intolerance with a novel galacto-oligosaccharide (RP-G28): a randomized, double-blind clinical trial
PubMed Central (PMC)
Impact of short-chain galactoolig…
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Mar 7, 2023
Best of gut health - anniversary edition
Gut health is a topic we talk about a lot at ZOE. The gut doesn’t just fight disease, it boosts our mood, processes energy and so much more. Today’s bonus episode journeys through everything we’ve learnt about gut health so far. And what a myth-busting journey it is!
In this episode, Jonathan delves into the microbiome, highlighting the most useful tips from conversations with ZOE’s U.S. Medical Director and resident gut health expert, Will Bulsiewicz, and Tim Spector, one of top 100 most cited scientists and author Food for Life.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
01:27 - Is bacteria bad for us?
04:10 - How is the microbiome affected by what we eat?
10:00 - What happens to the gut when fasting?
11:53 - Why bacteria eats the inside of our bodies
13:59 - What causes heartburn?
17:00 - What’s going on with gas and bloating?
19:09 - Tell-tale signs of constipation
22:42 - How to treat consti…
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Mar 2, 2023
The future is here: AI and personalized healthcare with Eric Topol
If you were to ask Siri, Alexa, or ChatGPT for medical advice right now, that would be a terrible idea.
But with recent developments in technology, this looks set to change. AI has become more intelligent, wearable devices - more accurate, and personalized medicine - increasingly mainstream.
But is any of this safe? Should we really trust machines with our health? And will any of this actually happen?
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to Eric Topol to explore how artificial intelligence may transform your next trip to the doctor.
* Eric Topol is one of the top 10 most-cited researchers in medicine, the author of 3 bestselling books on the future of medicine, and a practising cardiologist.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
If Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
00:11 - Topic introduction
01:53 - Quickfire questions
04:17 - Doctor-patient relationship
05:49 - Jonathan’s story with Eric
08:02 - How has medicine changed…
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Feb 23, 2023
Eggs: are they good for me?
Eggs are nutrient-dense and have a long shelf life. Compared with many other protein sources, they’re on the cheaper side. But they’re not as popular as they used to be. And a lot of this comes down to a debate about cholesterol.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: What’s the truth about eggs?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Episode transcripts are available here.
Want to create your own podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
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Feb 16, 2023
How to maximize health in your later years
Why do some people remain fit and healthy in their later years while others become increasingly frail?
Researchers from Kings College London have been following thousands of twins for 30 years in an effort to understand how each of us ages differently. And some of their findings will surprise you!
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to Claire Steves to better understand what all this means, shedding light on how aging works and what we can do about it:
* Dr. Claire Steves is a senior lecturer at King's College London, a medical doctor, and the clinical director at TwinsUK
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
00:10 - Topic introduction
01:39 - Quickfire questions
03:16 - Claire’s work during the pandemic
05:17 - What happens in our bodies when we age?
08:26 - Genes and aging
09:33 - What factors affect aging?
11:39 - Effects of physical activity
12:23 - Microbiome effects on aging
13…
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Feb 9, 2023
The ultimate guide to constipation
The formal definition for constipation is ‘Having fewer than three bowel movements per week’. But, did you know that you can have a bowel movement every day and still be constipated? Recent data has shown that a quarter of people worldwide have at one point reported symptoms, suggesting that there is so much more to constipation than simply infrequent bowel movements.
In today’s short-ish episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Will attempt to dispel some misconceptions about constipation and empower you to have better bowel movements.
Studies referenced in today’s episode:
* A redefinition of constipation by King’s College London, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (2019) here
* The State Of The Nation’s Gut, Love Your Gut here
* Epidemiology of constipation in Europe and Oceania: a systematic review from Prichard & Bharucha via BMC Gastroenterol here
* Recent advances in understanding and managing chronic constipation from Pepp…
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Feb 2, 2023
How to eat well on a budget
The cost of living has soared. Energy prices have doubled, and food costs have gone up enormously. As a result, the weekly shopping bill can be shocking.
For some, this is merely an inconvenience. But many others face the awful choice between heating their home and maintaining their usual diet. The consequence is that many of us are throwing cheaper ingredients into our shopping baskets to save money.
So does this mean that eating healthy is an indulgence that be dropped in favour of cheap ultra-processed food? Or is it still possible to eat healthily on a budget?
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to Dr. Rupy Aujla and Tim Spector to better understand how to eat healthier while spending less:
* Dr. Rupy Aujla is a medical doctor who, since 2015, has been teaching people to cook their way to health. He’s the founder of The Doctor’s Kitchen and has recently turned his efforts to healthy cooking on a tight budget.
* Tim Spector is a co-founder of ZOE and one of the wor…
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Jan 26, 2023
Signs of an unhealthy gut
Our gut helps fight disease. It processes energy for us and boosts our mood. So, having a healthy gut is extremely important – but there’s still a lot we don’t know.
Gut biome tests are a new, exciting technology, but are they the be-all and end-all for dietary decision-making? And are there simpler ways — and tastier ways, perhaps — to tell what’s happening inside our bodies?
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Dr. Will ask: What are the signs of an unhealthy gut? And how can we improve our gut health?
Referenced in today’s episode:
* The Bristol Stool Scale. https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bowel/bowel-resources/bristol-stool-form-scale/
* ZOE’s Blue Poop Challenge: https://www.joinzoe.com/bluepoop
* Blue poo: Impact of gut transit time on the gut microbiome using a novel marker published in Gut https://gut.bmj.com/content/70/9/1665
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Follo…
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Jan 19, 2023
How to improve blood sugar control with exercise
Blood sugar is one of the rare nutrition topics where everyone agrees: We should avoid big peaks and dips and aim for a steady curve.
Spikes cause inflammation, accelerate aging, and lead to type 2 diabetes. Crashes make us feel moody and tired, and crave foods we don’t need.
We can control our blood sugar through what and how we eat. But something else affects our blood sugar — physical activity.
Exercise has a profound effect on your blood sugar response. Together with your food choices, being physically active helps you keep your blood sugar level even.
In this episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan speaks with Javier Gonzalez and Sarah Berry to find out how exercise affects our blood sugar response — even when we’re fasting — and how much exercise we need to do to benefit.
* Javier Gonzalez is an associate professor of human physiology at the University of Bath whose research focuses on the interaction between diet and exercise.
* Sarah Berry is one of…
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Jan 12, 2023
Foods to lower your cholesterol
More than half of us have high cholesterol — and new research suggests that having even slightly raised levels in our 30s could significantly increase our chances of developing heart disease.
Medication is a common fix, but it comes with side effects. So, today we’re looking at how much changing our diets can help.
In this short (ish) episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: Can we lower our cholesterol by changing our diets?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* ‘Association between Carbohydrate Intake and Serum Lipids’ from the Journal of the American Nutrition Association here
* ‘The Mediterranean Diet And Cardioprotection: Historical Overview And Current Research from the Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare here
* ‘Direct comparison of dietary portfolio vs statin on C-reactive protein’ from…
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Jan 5, 2023
Should we be worried about strep A?
This year, cases of an invasive bacterial infection are rising earlier than usual in the US, the UK and other countries across Europe.
The group A Streptococcus bacteria - commonly known as Strep A - usually only causes mild illness. However, things have become severe in some cases, with several children dying in recent weeks.
So, should we be worried? And what symptoms should we look out for to help us identify this illness in ourselves and our families?
In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by world-leading expert on the subject: Shiranee Sriskandan is a professor of Infectious Diseases at Imperial College London whose scientific research focuses specifically on Strep A bacteria. Regular guest and ZOE co-founder Tim Spector also joins, and as one of the world’s top 100 most cited scientists, Tim has been closely following infectious diseases in the community through the ZOE Health Study.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide…
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Jan 1, 2023
How to make New Year’s resolutions stick
Welcome to 2023! Whether you partied last night or went to bed early, we’re all in the same boat: a new year means thinking about new year’s resolutions.
This tradition dates back 4000 years, so it’s certainly stood the test of time. But are new year’s resolutions a good idea? Or simply a get way to set yourself up to fail?
Perhaps science has something to say about this.
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Tara Swart and Sarah Berry, who share techniques that will give you the best chance of sticking to your New Year’s resolutions. They also discuss whether these promises are a good idea in the first place.
* Tara Swart is a medical doctor, a neuroscientist, and the author of The Source: Open Your Mind, Change Your Life. She also has her own podcast, called Reinvent Yourself.
* Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition. She has personally run more than 20 randomized clinical trials looking at how humans respond to different fats.
D…
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Dec 29, 2022
The health benefits of eating together
You might think what you eat and when are the only factors that play into the health of your diet. But recent research has shown that who you eat with can also play a role. And it could even make your food taste better!
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: Can eating with other people really improve your food?
Studies referenced in today’s episode:
* Associations of family feeding and mealtime practices with children's overall diet quality, published in Appetite here
* ‘Diet and Health Benefits Associated with In-Home Eating and Sharing Meals at Home’ from International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health here
* ‘The Protective Role of Family Meals for Youth Obesity: 10-year Longitudinal Associations’ from the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services here
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Follow Sara…
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Dec 22, 2022
Tim Spector’s journey from health crisis to healthy eating - a chapter from Food for Life
What should I have for dinner? A question you no doubt ask yourself daily. But I bet you don't spend too long coming up with an answer. ZOE's scientific co-founder, Tim Spector, has been trying to answer this question for a decade.
If you're a regular listener, you probably know him well. Five years ago, he published the best-selling book, The Diet Myth, and just last month, he released the follow-up, Food for Life, the New Science of Eating Well.
In this episode, you'll hear a chapter from the book titled “So Now What Should I Have for Dinner?”
* Tim Spector is a co-founder of ZOE and one of the world's top 100 most-cited scientists.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Get Tim’s book here.
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
01:44 - Chapter 11. So now what should I have for dinner?
14:00 - Personalizing my diet
26:15 - Five final tips
27:00 - Outro
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Follow Tim on Instagram: www.instagram.com/tim.spector
Episode transcri…
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Dec 15, 2022
Should you worry about gluten?
The last decade saw a rise in gluten-free diets. But the number of us with diagnosed gluten intolerance each year hasn’t changed.
Eliminating gluten is the only treatment for those with celiac disease, but the rest of us could be doing more harm than good by embracing ultra-processed, gluten-free foods.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Will ask: Should you be worried about gluten?
Studies referenced in the episode:
* ‘Health Benefits and Adverse Effects of a Gluten-Free Diet in Non–Celiac Disease Patients’ from Gastroenterol & Hepatology here
* ‘The Gluten-Free Diet: Recognizing Fact, Fiction, and Fad’ from The Journal of Pediatrics here
* ’Is There Evidence to Support the Claim that a Gluten-Free Diet Should Be Used for Weight Loss?’ from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics here
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://z…
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Dec 8, 2022
The secrets of good sleep
We all know how good it feels to drift into deep sleep and wake up feeling refreshed.
The positive effects of a good night’s sleep affect every aspect of our lives. We feel energetic, focused, and ready to take on the day’s challenges.
But the long-term effects of bad sleep are less known. It turns out, they have a huge impact on our health and even how long we live.
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Prof. Matthew Walker to learn what the latest science says about improving our sleep — to give us more energy and better health. They also discuss whether how we sleep changes how our bodies respond to food.
* Matthew Walker is a sleep expert, a professor of neuroscience at UC Berkeley, and founder of the Center for Human Sleep Science. He’s also the author of Why We Sleep.
Matt and his team are currently working with ZOE scientists to research the links between sleep, nutrition, and health.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zo…
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Dec 1, 2022
Heartburn: why it happens and what you can do
The acid in your stomach is so powerful it can dissolve metal. Luckily, your stomach is fine-tuned to deal with its acidic fluid, but the rest of your body isn’t quite as hardy.
So, if acid escapes from your stomach and reaches your esophagus, it can cause a painful sensation in the chest — this is heartburn. It isn’t rare, with more than 1 billion people suffering from it globally.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Will ask: Why do we get heartburn, and what’s the best way to deal with it?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* ‘Prevalence and clinical spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota’ from Gastroenterology here
* ‘Proton-pump inhibitors and risk of fractures: an update meta-analysis’ from Osteoporos Int. here
* ‘Proton pump…
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Nov 24, 2022
The truth about vitamin supplements
Good information about vitamins is hard to find. With over 70% of Americans and 40% of Brits using them, it's a hugely lucrative market, which means numerous voices in the media and online pusing a pro-vitamin agenda. All without the scientific evidence to support their claims.
So do we need vitamins to lead a healthy life? Or could these supplements actually cause serious health complications?
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Prof. JoAnn Manson and Dr. Sarah Berry to better understand how vitamin supplements affect our health.
* JoAnn Manson is a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and one of the world's most cited researchers. She’s run multiple enormous studies with over 20,000 participants to uncover the real effects of vitamin supplementation on our health.
* Dr. Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition, who has personally run over 20 randomized clinical trials looking at how humans respond to different fats.…
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Nov 17, 2022
Menopause: Does diet play a part?
It's a condition that affects half the population, but there are countless unanswered questions about menopause. The symptoms vary significantly from person to person, including sleep problems, hot flashes, weight gain, and an increased risk of heart disease.
In one of the largest studies to date, ZOE researchers have uncovered a link between menopause and our diets — and this could hold the key to reducing the severity of menopause symptoms.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: what role does diet play during menopause?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahberry/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* ‘Why we are all being let down by the lack of research into menopause’ from Mosaic here
* ‘Menopause’ from the Nature Reviews Disease Primers here
* ‘…
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Nov 10, 2022
How your gut affects your mental health
In a lab in Ireland, a group of scientists stand around a stainless steel table. One of them is holding a device, not unlike a small turkey baster. His free hand plunges into a box on the table and retrieves a mouse.
Using his device, he administers the brown solution within…rectally.
This unfortunate soul has just received a fecal microbiota transplant. The donor was not another mouse but a human being. And the person in question had symptoms of severe depression.
Jonathan speaks to John Cryan, author of the study that showed a relationship between gut and brain. In this episode, we learn more about his fascinating research, how microbes may affect our brain, and to eat to appease your gut bugs.
* John Cryan is a professor at University College Cork and a world-leading researcher into the relationship between our brain and our gut microbiome.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
02:05…
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Nov 3, 2022
Cooking oils: what to use and when
We use it to fry, roast, or dress a salad. Cooking oil is a kitchen staple. But it's hard to know which is healthiest for each scenario.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: what cooking oils should you use and when?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* ‘Heated vegetable oils and cardiovascular disease risk factors’ from Vascular Pharmacology here
* ‘Does cooking with vegetable oils increase the risk of chronic diseases?: a systematic review’ from British Journal of Nutrition here
* ‘Culinary oils and their health effects’ from British Nutrition Foundation here
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Oct 27, 2022
Will fermented foods improve my gut health?
Fermentation is a hot craze in fancy restaurants around the world. And fermented foods, like kombucha and kimchi, are even sold in corner stores.
Listeners of this show will have heard that fermented foods might benefit our gut health. But these foods make us uneasy. The idea of letting food rot, then eating it goes against everything our parents taught us. So, is fermentation scary and dangerous?
This episode will show you why it's not only safe but beneficial to eat fermented foods, and that fermenting foods is something you can try at home.
Jonathan speaks to Tim Spector and Sandor Katz — whom the food magazine CHOW calls a provocateur, trendsetter, and rabble-rouser — to better understand the fabulous world of fermentation.
* Sandor Katz is a food activist who is widely credited with reintroducing fermentation to the US and the UK, calling himself a fermentation revivalist.
* Tim Spector is a co-founder at ZOE and one of the top 100 most cited scientists in the…
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Oct 26, 2022
How fasting affects energy and mood - The Big IF Dailies
Have you ever lost your temper because you were hungry? Feeling short-tempered when you’re overdue a bite to eat is an almost universal experience, with its own adjective - ‘hangry’. If missing just one meal turns you into a grump, you may think that fasting would turn you into the Incredible Hulk. However, new data suggests this might not be the case.
In this daily episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Dr Sarah Berry joins Jonathan to answer the question: how does fasting affect your energy and mood?
This episode is part of a limited series to celebrate the launch of The Big IF Study: The world’s largest clinical study to discover how intermittent fasting affects our mood, energy and hunger levels. Want to know if intermittent fasting can work for you?
Take part for FREE: joinzoe.com/thebigif
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Oct 25, 2022
3 meals a day VS little and often - The Big IF Dailies
Can you make it from lunch to dinner without a snack? Tradition tells us that three meals a day is the right way to eat, but times have changed, and many of us now choose to eat little and often. The debate continues as to which is better.
Today, we discuss new data that could settle this once and for all.
In this daily episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan is joined by Dr Sarah Berry to answer the question: should we eat little and often or 3 meals a day?
This episode is part of a limited series to celebrate the launch of The Big IF Study: The world’s biggest clinical study to discover how intermittent fasting affects our mood, energy and hunger levels. Want to know if intermittent fasting can work for you?
Take part in the Big IF Study for FREE: joinzoe.com/thebigif
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Oct 24, 2022
Gut bacteria & fasting: meet the night crew - The Big IF Dailies
Nowadays, food can be delivered to your door with just a few swipes of your smartphone. The result? Many of us eat more frequently, at any time of the day. And this may have some downsides. New research shows that for our gut bacteria to perform their helpful activities, we may have to embrace the dietary patterns of our ancestors.
In today’s daily episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan is joined by Tim Spector to answer the question: How do gut bacteria repair your gut while fasting?
This episode is part of a limited series to celebrate the launch of The Big IF study: The world’s biggest clinical study to discover how intermittent fasting affects our mood, energy and hunger. Want to know if intermittent fasting can work for you?
TAKE PART for FREE: joinzoe.com/thebigif
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Oct 23, 2022
Does calorie counting work? - The Big IF Dailies
Food package labels can be complex. With so much information, many of us set a beeline for the calorie number, but there’s more going on in food than just the amount of energy. How much value is there in counting calories, and should you continue? The latest science could make you reconsider.
In today’s daily episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan is joined by Dr Sarah Berry to answer the question: Does calorie counting work?
This episode is part of a limited series to celebrate the launch of The Big IF study: The world’s biggest clinical study to discover how intermittent fasting affects our mood, energy and hunger. Want to know if intermittent fasting can work for you?
TAKE PART for FREE: joinzoe.com/thebigif
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Oct 22, 2022
Should you avoid late-night snacks? - The Big IF Dailies
We’ve all been there at least once, hovering by the fridge and looking for something to graze on just before bed. What you eat after dark can disrupt your sleep and digestion. Yet new evidence suggests that when we snack is less important than what we snack on, so suddenly that midnight snack may not be a guilty pleasure after all.
In today’s daily episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan is joined by Dr Sarah Berry to answer the question: should you avoid late-night snacks?
This episode is part of a limited series to celebrate the launch of The Big IF Study: The world’s biggest clinical study to discover how intermittent fasting affects our mood, energy and hunger. Want to know if intermittent fasting can work for you?
TAKE PART for FREE: joinzoe.com/thebigif
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Oct 21, 2022
What breaks a fast? - The Big IF Dailies
Fasting has been shown to improve our metabolism, slow disease and potentially increase our life span. While world religions have practiced fasting for millennia, the trend of fasting has soared in popularity in the last decade.
Not all fasts are made equally and there are a lot of different rules to follow. Some purists argue that you’re only allowed water while fasting others believe there can be more flexibility during your period of abstinence.
In today’s daily episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan is joined by Tim Spector to answer the question: what breaks a fast?
This episode is part of a limited series to celebrate the launch of The Big IF Study: The world’s biggest clinical study to discover how intermittent fasting affects our mood, energy and hunger levels. Want to know if intermittent fasting can work for you?
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
TAKE PART for FREE: joinzoe.com/thebigif
This podcas…
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Oct 20, 2022
5 foods I got wrong - Tim Spector
Where were you in 2015? President Obama was in the White House, The UK was a member of the European Union, and you couldn’t escape Bruno Mars's global smash: Uptown Funk. More importantly, 2015 marked the release of Tim Spector’s first book: The Diet Myth.
If you think the world has felt different since 2015, wait until you hear about the advances in nutritional science. Since then, Tim has had a chance to rethink his position on dietary staples like bread, milk, ultra-processed foods and more.
He’s put everything he’s learnt into his new book Food for Life: The New Science of Eating Well.
In this episode, Tim speaks with Jonathan about what he got right, where he went wrong, and what the future holds for the world of nutrition.
* Tim Spector is a co-founder at ZOE and one of the world's top 100 most cited scientists.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:10 - Topic introduction
02:33 -…
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Oct 13, 2022
What does science say about intermittent fasting?
It seems like every day, someone new mentions intermittent fasting. But what is it, exactly?
There are myriad options — from the 5:2 diet, with two days of extreme calorie restriction each week, to the warrior diet, which involves eating only raw fruit during the day and a mammoth feast at night.
Whatever the approach, intermittent fasting involves restricting the window of time when you eat.
Supporters evangelise the benefits, promising weight loss, disease prevention, and even life extension.
Currently, the scientific evidence is unclear, but it's an exciting area that may be full of potential.
Today, Jonathan speaks with Gin Stephens, who has had a powerful experience of intermittent fasting transforming her health and weight. He also talks to Tim Spector, who will share what science can tell us about intermittent fasting today — and, interestingly, how much it can’t, yet. Plus, an exciting announcement about how this is set to change.
* Gin Stephens is a New…
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Oct 6, 2022
Fiber: Why it’s important and how to get more of it
Diets rich in fiber are associated with good heart health and metabolic wellbeing. This type of diet can do wonders for our gut microbiome.
With so many benefits, relatively low cost, and high availability, fiber should be a staple nutrient in our diets — but most of us have a deficiency.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Will ask: If fiber is so good for us, why are we not eating enough of it?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get
10% off your personalized nutrition program.
Studies referenced in the episode:
* Read ‘Carbohydrate quality and human health: a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses’ from The Lancet here
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Sep 29, 2022
Heart health and aging: Do our blood vessels hold the secret to long life?
60,000 miles long. That’s the length of the tube system inside us that transports blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the cells in our body.
If these tubes fail, the result can be fatal. In some cases, it’s a heart attack. In others, it’s a stroke, where the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, and brain cells are damaged or killed.
Heart attacks and strokes are a major cause of death in developed countries - but we can take action to reduce the risks.
In this episode, Jonathan speaks to a world-renowned physician, scientist, and speaker to gain insights into how looking after this magical pipework could slow down aging.
* Dr. William Li is a world-leading specialist in blood vessels and preventative health and the author of countless papers on the topic, who possesses the gift for communicating this complex subject in terms we can all understand.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:09 -…
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Sep 22, 2022
Gas & Bloating: the causes & how to stop it
Most of us are familiar with the unpleasant feeling of being bloated. It can happen after eating specific foods or when you experience slower bowel movements. Sometimes, it can be a symptom of an underlying health condition.
To take a closer look at issues related to gas and bloating, we’ve invited a special guest this week: superstar gastroenterologist and Zoe’s US Medical Director Will Bulsiewicz.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Will ask: what are the main causes of gas bloating and how do we stop it?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* Burden of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the United States: Results of a Nationally Representative Survey of Over 71,000 Americans + Am J Gastroenterol + here
* Abdominal bloating is the most bothersome symptom in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation…
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Sep 15, 2022
How your food choices affect the planet
Our planet is overheating. Human society is creating too much carbon dioxide, stopping the sun’s warmth from escaping back into space. As earth gets hotter, its ice caps are melting, causing sea levels to rise, and submerging entire communities. Floods, droughts, and wildfires are already becoming much more common.
Some effects of climate change are now irreversible, but there is still hope, and adjusting what we eat might play a bigger part than you’d imagine.
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with a pioneer in science who will help you understand how your eating habits affect the planet, so you can make informed decisions about the foods you eat and how you prepare them.
* Sarah Bridle is a professor of food climate and society at the University of York in the United Kingdom. She is on the vanguard of a new field, and her research carefully measures the exact effects of the foods we eat on climate change.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://z…
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Sep 8, 2022
High cholesterol foods: what really happens when you eat them?
Cholesterol in our food has a bad reputation. Many of us think of it as something to try to cut it out of our diet completely. Yet new research could redeem eggs and other cholesterol-rich foods.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science and Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: what happens when you eat high cholesterol foods?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* Hyperlipidemia as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease + Prim Care. + here
* Dietary cholesterol provided by eggs and plasma lipoproteins in healthy populations + Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care + here
* The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Reverse Cholesterol Transport: A Review + Nutrients + here
*
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Sep 1, 2022
How to make your body clock work for you
In today’s world, we increasingly live our lives late into the night. Whether it's work obligations, socializing, or being glued to a screen, we ignore the sun's rise and fall.
But most of us are unaware that a clock is ticking away inside us.
It uses light to keep time and tells us when to sleep and eat. Should we listen? Or is this biological clock simply a relic from a past time?
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to a leading authority to unravel the latest science that reveals that this body clock, or circadian rhythm, has a dramatic impact on our health, weight, and mental wellbeing:
* Russell Foster is an Oxford University scientist who has dedicated his life to studying circadian rhythms. He’s a world leader in the field and the author of Lifetime: the new science of the body clock.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:12 - Topic introduction
01:23 - Quickfire questions
02:30 -…
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Aug 25, 2022
Artificial sweeteners - worse than sugar?
Artificial sweeteners are everywhere. Not only in diet soft drinks but in many foods that you wouldn’t expect. You’ve probably eaten some today without realising.
Sweeteners have been around for over a hundred years yet remain the subject of much debate. It's hard to know how they stack up next to the alternatives.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: are artificial sweeteners worse than sugar?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in the episode:
* Stevia Leaf to Stevia Sweetener: Exploring Its Science, Benefits, and Future Potential from The Journal of Nutrition here
* Chronic Intake of Commercial Sweeteners Induces Changes in Feeding Behavior and Signaling Pathways Related to the Control of Appetite in BALB/c Mice from Biomed Res Int here
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Aug 18, 2022
Can spices improve your health?
Kanchan Koya grew up in a house filled with wonderful fragrances from the spices simmering on her grandmother’s stove. In India, it was a common belief that spices were more than just pleasant tastes. Ancient wisdom said they had medicinal properties, and it was common for household medicine cabinets to store dried spices, not pills.
Kanchan grew up to become a molecular biologist, studying in the US at Harvard Medical School. When her lab began to investigate turmeric’s healing properties, the ancient wisdom from her childhood met the scientific inquiry of her adult life - beginning a lifelong obsession with the health benefits of spice.
In today’s episode, Kanchan and regular guest Tim Spector help us understand whether there is any scientific evidence to support the health benefits of spices, the easiest way to add spice to our diet, and which ones to choose.
* Kanchan Koya is the founder of SpiceSpiceBaby and The Radical Vitality Podcast with a Ph.D. in Biomedicine…
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Aug 11, 2022
How healthy are meat and dairy alternatives?
Vegan diets are increasingly popular. As more of us reduce our animal product consumption, countless new meat and dairy alternatives appear on our supermarket shelves. Manufacturers market these products as healthy options (unsurprisingly), but perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to trust them…
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: are meat and dairy alternatives healthier than their animal-based counterparts?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in today's episode:
* How well do plant based alternatives fare nutritionally compared to cow’s milk? here
* Risks of ischaemic heart disease and stroke in meat eaters, fish eaters, and vegetarians over 18 years of follow-up here
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions
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Aug 4, 2022
How food can improve your mood
We’ve all felt the effects of food on our mood, so it would stand to reason that dietary intervention for mental health would be well studied and a regularly deployed treatment.
But this is far from reality, as historically, psychiatry was only concerned with what happened from the neck up.
In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by Felice Jacka, Professor of Nutritional Psychiatry and Director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University. Felice was the driving force behind the landmark study to determine if dietary intervention could help treat the symptoms of moderate to severe depression.
With her help, we dive into what the science suggests regarding the relationship between food and our mental health and what foods we can eat to improve it.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:09 - Jonathan’s introduction
01:28 - Quick-fire questions
02:08 - What do we mean when we talk about 'mood'?…
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Jul 27, 2022
Can you reverse damage from a bad diet?
A recent study claims that eating a hotdog reduces life expectancy by 38 minutes, and eating salmon could extend it by 70 minutes. At face value, this data implies you can eat your way to immortality. Taken with a pinch of salt, it suggests you can offset the harm from poor dietary choices. But does food really work this way?
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: can you reverse the effects of a bad diet?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Studies referenced in today's episode:
* Estimating impact of food choices on life expectancy: A modelling study available here
* Small targeted dietary changes can yield substantial gains for human health and the environment available here
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions
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Jul 21, 2022
How to control blood sugar spikes
Biochemist Jessie Inchauspe heads into work one morning at a genetics lab in California. During the morning meeting, management offer staff the chance to self-test a new medical device. Jessie accepts.
She couldn’t have known this device would take her on a journey of discovery to reshape her health and help countless others do the same.
The device was a continuous blood sugar monitor, and it was this, combined with her academic background, and a remarkable willingness to use herself as a lab rat, that began a journey of discovery into how blood sugar affects our health.
In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by two leading experts on the topic:
* Jessie Inchauspe is a biochemist, bestselling author, and founder of the Glucose Goddess movement who’s helped hundreds of thousands of people improve their health by making cutting-edge science accessible.
* Dr. Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition, who has personally run over 20 randomiz…
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Jul 14, 2022
Saturated fat: Monstrous or misunderstood?
If you're confused about the health effects of fats, you are not alone. You've probably read the headlines - fats are killing us! Then found claims they’re actually healthy in the same publication the following week.
Saturated fats have been touted as the worst of all.
While there’s ambiguity around other fat sources, saturated fats are universally demonized.
But are they really the super villain we've been led to believe?
Find out in this week’s episode.
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Jul 7, 2022
This is what the Keto Diet does to your body...
Keto has been promoted as a magic bullet for weight loss by its supporters and slammed as dangerous by its opponents. It's no surprise - completely removing almost all carbohydrates is not what most people consider ‘a balanced diet’.
With carbs off the table, Keto diets involve a dramatically increased fat intake. At the same time, drastically reducing carbs means starving our gut microbes of the fiber that feeds them.
Nonetheless, doctors prescribe keto diets to treat people with severe diabetes and see dramatic improvements, and many healthy people swear by keto for weight loss. On top of this, removing carbohydrates prevents blood sugar spikes and crashes linked to inflammation and disease.
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to a leading nutritional researcher to understand whether or not keto diets are a crazy fad:
* Christopher Gardner is a professor at Stanford University and a member of ZOE’s scientific advisory board who’s produced a clinical trial of keto…
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Jun 30, 2022
Processed foods - convenient or catastrophic?
The word ‘processed’ has become synonymous with being unhealthy. The mainstream media encourages us to detox from processed food or offers us ‘10 easy ways’ to stop eating it.
But nearly everything we consume has undergone some type of processing.
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah ask: If most of what we eat is processed, can it really be that unhealthy for us?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Jun 23, 2022
Our ancestors’ diet: surprising discoveries from a 5000 year old iceman
A mummified man found in the mountains of Italy on a nutrition science podcast? Have we gone completely off track?
We haven’t - we promise.
This unfortunate soul could be the key that unlocks an entirely new understanding of human health.
This mummy, discovered in an alpine snow drift by two hikers, gives us a remarkable glimpse into the surprising dietary choices of our ancestors.
In today’s episode, Jonathan discovers some secrets held by our ancestors by speaking to two outstanding guests:
* Frank Maixner works at the Institute for Mummy Studies in Italy and travels the world uncovering the secrets of our ancestors.
* Tim Spector is a co-founder at ZOE and one of the top 100 most cited scientists in the world.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:10 - Topic Introduction
01:45 - What happened thirty years ago high in the mounts on the border between Italy and Austria
03:02 - Who was t…
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Jun 16, 2022
Introducing: ZOE Shorts
We’re excited for you to hear our NEW bitesize podcast: ZOE Shorts.
Some of you requested some short-form episodes, so we delivered!
In between the longer episodes, Jonathan teams up with world-leading nutrition researcher and podcast regular Dr Sarah Berry to tackle one hot topic from nutrition science in just 15 minutes.
From saturated fats to vitamins, time-restricted eating and much more, find out the history, the different sides of the argument and, of course, hear what the latest science says from ZOE Science and Nutrition.
Think of this podcast as a convenient, healthy snack: easy to consume but keeping you full throughout the day with bitesize nutrition advice and entertainment!
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get
10% off your personalised nutrition program.
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Jun 16, 2022
Superfoods
From blueberries to salmon, kale to acai, it seems like anything and everything can be classed as a superfood these days.
Supposedly they can prevent cancer, reduce inflammation, and even help you live longer…
In today’s short episode of ZOE Science and Nutrition, Jonathan and Sarah look at the history of superfoods and ask: are some foods really more ‘super’ than others? Or is this just another marketing ploy?
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
10% off your personalised nutrition program.
This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
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Jun 9, 2022
Inflammation, aging and disease. What's food got to do with it?
It’s a biological process that we need to stay alive. Yet too much of it leads to disease and a shorter life.
Inflammation is the immune system’s response to an outside event it thinks is dangerous. This stimulus could be an injury, like falling off your bike or an infection by a virus or bacteria. But inflammation can also be triggered by our food in the hours after we eat.
But if this natural process is required to protect us from infections and injuries, why is inflammation usually cast in a negative light? Is there something behind this, or is the idea that inflammation is bad a lie, designed to sell magic potions with dubious evidence?
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to two show regulars to unravel all the information about inflammation:
* Dr. Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition, who has personally run over 20 randomized clinical trials looking at how humans respond to different fats.
* Tim Spector is a co-founder at ZOE and…
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May 26, 2022
Can bread be healthy?
It’s no exaggeration to say that bread shaped modern humanity - it was the cultivation of wheat for flour that transformed our ancestors from hunter-gatherers to city dwellers.
Today, millions of us start the day with a slice of toast, and most lunches in the US and UK are wrapped in a slice of bread or a burger bun as a cheap, flexible, and delicious energy source.
But modern industrial processes designed to reduce the time and cost of baking mean today’s bread would be unrecognizable to our ancestors.
Today’s bread tastes good but has lost most of its nutritional content. With most of its fiber gone, and no time for bacteria to work its fermenting magic, bread has become a simple starch, rapidly turned into sugar in our blood and offering little to support our gut bacteria. For this reason, bread is increasingly demonized as an evil carb.
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to two authorities on the subject to ask: Can bread can ever be healthy?
* Vanessa Kimbel…
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May 12, 2022
Is Coffee Healthy?
Coffee’s earliest consumption dates back millennia when the tribesmen of Ethiopia used its ground-up berries to help aid concentration during prayer.
Arriving in Europe in the 17th century, Coffee quickly began to replace beer and wine as a favourite breakfast drink.
In the 20th century, coffee was blamed for high blood pressure and heart attacks, and more recently linked to a rising epidemic of poor sleep.
None of this has prevented coffee’s relentless rise. Over 2 billion cups of the stuff are drunk each day.
So, is coffee a guilty treat as many of us suspect? Or is it a health drink feeding your good gut bacteria?
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with James Hoffmann and Tim Spector to find out. They discuss how coffee affects your gut bacteria, your hormones and your heart, whether decaffeinated coffee is healthy, and discover some of coffee’s most surprising side effects – which could come in handy if you find yourself in the jungle.
* James Hoffmann is a…
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Apr 28, 2022
Your Gut is Full of Bugs: Why This is Great News
You may have heard there are bugs in your gut. But do they matter?
Today, the evidence shows the answer is a resounding yes. This ecosystem of tiny microbes living in our bodies is one of the most exciting areas in medical research, linked to everything from metabolic to mental health.
So while many of us have heard that gut health is essential, few of us understand why and what we should do to support our gut bacteria.
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Will Bulsiewicz to find out when our microbiome begins to form, the most effective ways to support our gut health, and the role these gut bacteria play in controlling our weight.
* Will Bulsiewicz is a board-certified gastroenterologist, and New York Times bestselling author of the microbiome book Fiber Fueled.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:11 - Topic introduction
01:29 - Quickfire questions
02:55 - What is the microbiome?
08:51 - The…
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Apr 14, 2022
Fats and oils: What’s the real story?
Today we’re talking about fat, a delicious component of our food with a terrible reputation.
Fats have been broadly associated with weight gain and heart disease until recently.
A mountain of new scientific evidence suggests this is wrong and that it's not as simple as ‘all fat is bad’. Indeed, eating more healthy fat might actually reduce heart disease for many people.
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to Dr Sarah Berry to learn about what science tells us today, whether it is possible to lose weight on a high-fat diet, what oils we should be cooking with, and the different types of fats.
* Dr. Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition, who has personally run over 20 randomised clinical trials looking at how humans respond to different fats.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide
Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
02:50 - Episode Start
03:08 - Quickfire round
04:54 - Can fat ever be healthy?…
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Mar 31, 2022
Is exercise or nutrition more important for weight loss?
Our transformation into coach potatoes happened in the blink of an eye. Only 100 years ago, most people relied on manual work to make their living.
Today, things are different. Many of us live our lives in front of a screen. Online shopping and remote work mean some of us don’t need to leave the house at all. So how bad is this for us?
The answer is now clear: Low levels of physical activity lead to an increased risk of disease and a lower quality of life in older age. However, when we come to the question of what sort of exercise you should be doing, how often, and how much it contributes to weight loss, the answers might surprise you.
In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to a Human Physiologist to learn about the interactions between diet and exercise and their impact on human health:
* Dr. Javier Gonzalez is an associate professor of Human Physiology at the University of Bath and also a technical advisor to the athletes in the INEOS Tour de France cycling team.
Downloa…
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Mar 24, 2022
Menopause: How your body changes and what you can do
There's a condition that leads to an increased risk of heart disease, dementia, and early death that's been affecting people for as long as they've existed. The many symptoms can severely impact quality of life - ranging from headaches and memory problems to anxiety and weight gain.
This condition affects more than half of the world's population, but unbelievably its rarely discussed and the scientific research that exists on it is limited.
It's called menopause, and it affects 1.2 billion women worldwide. It's not a disease, but the effects can be just as serious for some women.
Jonathan talks to the British doctor who's working to educate us about menopause and bring the discussion on the topic into the mainstream.
Dr Louise Newson is a GP, menopause specialist and founder of the Newson Health Menopause & Wellbeing Center. Director of the Balance Menopause App and the non-profit Newson Health Research and Education. Founder of The Menopause Charity.
Download our FREE guide…
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Mar 17, 2022
Alcohol: Can it ever be healthy?
For many of us, it's a ritual to help us wind down after a long day, an excuse to catch up with friends, or a lubricant to an awkward social situation. Alcohol can be delicious, but our relationship with it is often complicated.
Good times with friends aren’t without sacrifice, and many of us feel the morning after impact of a few too many drinks. For an unfortunate minority, alcohol can lead to addiction and even death.
What we want to know is, can alcohol ever be healthy? Is any amount of alcohol a sure path to an early grave, or could a glass of red wine be the best thing for your heart health? This episode examines these contradictions to see what the science says.
Jonathan speaks to two leading scientists to better understand the effects of alcohol:
* Tim Spector - scientific co-founder at Zoe and one of the top 100 most cited scientists in the world
* Dr. Sarah Berry - one of the world's leading experts in human nutrition, with over 30 randomised human clinical tr…
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Mar 10, 2022
Is Dark Chocolate Good for Weight Loss?
This plant has been used by human beings for thousands of years with samples found in 5000-year-old pottery discovered in the upper Amazon. The Mayans considered it a gift from the gods and used it in their sacred ceremonies, where it was believed to have mystical healing powers. For the Aztecs, it was worth more than gold and given to their victorious warriors.
We are talking, of course, about chocolate. Even though our relationship with chocolate spans thousands of years we still can’t agree about it. It seems obvious that something so delicious must be bad for us. Can there be any truth to the claims that chocolate can improve our mood, our health and even our libido?
Jonathan speaks to Professor Tim Spector, one of the world's top 100 most cited scientists and author of the diet myth, and Spencer Hyman, one of the world’s leading chocolate experts and founder of the craft chocolate business Cocoa Runners.
Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https…
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Mar 10, 2022
Food Intolerances: What's the Story?
1 in 5 people suffer from food intolerances, a figure that’s growing each year. As a result, people are eating increasingly restricted diets, removing dairy, gluten and many other foods from their plates. Unfortunately, they end up eating highly processed foods that damage their gut microbiome and lead to long-term health problems. Even with food restrictions, many people see limited improvements in their symptoms.
The whole topic of intolerance is full of pseudoscience, dubious blood tests, and miracle cures.
However, in the last few years, we have seen a revolution in our understanding, with gut bacteria now the stars of the show. This new understanding has profound implications for how we should treat our food intolerances.
Today we’ll focus on what the latest science says. Jonathan is joined by Will Bulsiewicz, board-certified gastroenterologist, New York Times best-selling author and ZOE's science board member, whose latest book is all about food intolerance.
Download ou…
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Mar 10, 2022
Welcome to ZOE Science & Nutrition
Welcome to the brand-new podcast from ZOE, the people behind the world's largest scale nutrition study.
ZOE Science & Nutrition is the podcast where the world’s top scientists explain the latest health, nutrition, and gut health research in terms we can all understand.
So join us every other Thursday on this journey of scientific discovery!
Scientists featured in this trailer:
Will Bulsiewicz & Tim Spector OBE.
Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/
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