Discussions about the science of nutrition, dietetics and health. The podcast that educates through nuanced conversations, exploring evidence and cultivating critical thinking. Hosted by Danny Lennon.
Latest episodes
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46 min
#625: Does Changing the Microbiome Actually Improve Health? – Prof. Harry Sokol
Claims about "improving the gut microbiome" are widespread, but what would improvement actually mean? How do we establish which microbial changes contribute to disease, and which s…
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37 min
#624: Can Athletes Eat for Performance and the Planet? – Peter Res
Can an athlete reduce the environmental impact of their diet while still meeting the demands of training, competition and recovery? Peter Res argues that these aims can be compatib…
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1 h 08
#623: Testosterone Testing: What Do the Results Mean? When Does TRT Help? – Austin Baraki, MD
Men commonly feel that if their testosteone isn't "optimized" and high, they are missing out on greater health in a variety of ways. But what can a testosterone result actually tel…
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1 h 04
#622: Body Composition Testing: Methods & Interpretation – Prof. Grant Tinsley
Body composition testing is widely used in research, sport and clinical practice. But what are these methods actually measuring, and how much confidence should we place in the numb…
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43 min
#621: Hedonic Overeating, Food Wanting and Impact of Perception – Prof. Graham Finlayson
Why do some foods feel difficult to stop eating, while others can be highly enjoyable without prompting the same tendency to overconsume? Answering this requires a clearer understa…
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58 min
#620: BPC-157 and Peptide Medications: What Do We Know? – Jordan Feigenbaum, MD
Commonly people are talking about "peptides" to refer to a heterogeneous group of peptide medications or investigational compounds. These are increasingly promoted for injury recov…
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1 h 03
#619: How Much Fish Should a Healthy Diet Contain?
Most dietary guidelines recommend eating one to two servings of fish per week, often specifying that at least one serving should be oily fish. But how directly is that recommendati…
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57 min
#618: How Wellness & Optimisation Culture Can Commodify Science – Nick Tiller, PhD
Wellness and optimisation culture increasingly presents itself as "science-based". But citing studies, using technical language, or having scientific credentials does not guarantee…
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47 min
#617: What Does Effective Athlete Support Look Like in Practice? – Gemma McGuinness
Effective athlete support requires more than delivering technically correct nutrition advice. It depends on understanding the athlete's wider environment, anticipating the pressure…
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21 min
Fiber: Independent Benefits or Just a Proxy for Healthy Foods?
This episode answers one of the questions raised in the most recent Q&A episode on Sigma Nutrition Premium. The full episode includes the following questions: Fiber: Independent ef…
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1 h 15
#616: More Testing, Better Health? Harms of Overdiagnosis & Overtreatment - Austin Baraki, MD
Medical screening is often framed as an uncomplicated good: if disease is found earlier, treatment can begin earlier and outcomes should improve. This episode examines why that rea…
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56 min
#615: Why Processing Doesn't Determine the Healthfulness of Plant-Based Diets – Alysha Thompson, PhD
What does the evidence actually show when we look at plant-based dietary patterns through the lens of food processing? And does classifying foods as "ultra-processed" meaningfully…
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57 min
#614: The Human Skills of Nutrition Coaching – Krista Scott-Dixon, PhD
In nutrition and health coaching, one of the central challenges is understanding how people actually change, particularly when life is complex, motivation fluctuates, and behaviour…
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57 min
#613: Supplement Safety & Medication Interactions – Giulia Guerrini, MPharm
Supplement safety is often discussed in very general terms, but in practice the risks depend heavily on the individual. A supplement that is reasonable for one person may be inappr…
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39 min
#612: Does Sweet Taste Exposure Actually Develop Preference? – Prof. Katherine Appleton
A common idea is that repeated exposure to sweet taste strengthens our preference for sweetness, which then drives greater intake of sweet foods and drinks. This idea is often used…
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55 min
#611: Electrolyte Mythology: Wellness Marketing vs. Evidence - Zoë Rom & Kylee Van Horn
Electrolytes have become one of the most heavily marketed areas of modern sports nutrition and wellness. What was once a relatively specific tool for certain endurance athletes has…
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13 min
SNP51: Understanding Blood Glucose Reponses
This is a Premium-exclusive episode. Go to the Premium feed to listen. Or subscribe to Premium. Blood glucose is easy to measure, but not always easy to interpret. This Premium-onl…
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57 min
#610: Rock, Paper, Salmon – Errors in Interpreting Food Substitution Models
When considering the health impact of foods, it is important to consider "compared to what?". Increasing the amount of a certain food or nutrient in the diet, typically implies a d…
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1 h 09
#609: Unprocessed Red Meat & Cancer Risk
Unprocessed red meat and cancer risk remains one of the most debated topics in nutrition science, partly because the evidence is often presented in overly simplistic terms. The key…
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1 h 08
#608: Performance Nutrition in Elite Rugby – James Morehen, PhD
Performance nutrition in elite sport is often discussed in terms of meal plans, supplements, and macronutrient targets. However, effective practice in professional environments dep…