Dietitians, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, share rapid-fire nutrition tips covering a wide range of topics. (0:00) - Introduction (0:46) - BCAAs (1:22) - Meal Timing & Appetite Management (2:44) - Other Hacks for Appetite Management (3:37) - Convenience Meals (4:33) - Pre-Workout Nutrition (5:14) - Supplementing Alongside a Plant-Based Diet (6:11) - Improving Cognitive Function After Sleep Deprivation (6:44) - Nervous System Regulation for IBS (9:21) - How to Get the Most Out of Iron Supplementat...
Jun 26, 2025•26 min•Ep. 209
Sports Dietitians, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, explore the question of whether women benefit more from creatine supplementation compared to men. (0:00) - Introduction & Background (1:34) - Why Women May Benefit More (3:28) - Why Are stores Lower? (6:07) - Mechanisms & Outcomes (8:06) - Summary & Practical Takeaway WEBSITE: https://www.idealnutrition.com.au/ PODCAST: https://www.idealnutrition.com.au/podcast/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/idealnutrition__/?hl=en Our dietitians 👇...
Jun 19, 2025•10 min•Ep. 208
Dietitians, Aidan Muir & Leah Higl, unpack what you need to know about the MTHFR gene, a common genetic variation affecting folate metabolism. (0:00) - Introduction (1:29) - What Is the MTHFR Gene & How Common Is It? (4:21) - Why Is It Relevant? (5:09) - Impact on Heart Health (7:17) - Pregnancy Outcomes (8:59) - Thoughts on Methylfolate (10:22) - Other Nuances (11:29) - Rare Exceptions (12:38) - Summary WEBSITE: https://www.idealnutrition.com.au/ PODCAST: https://www.idealnutrition.com....
Jun 12, 2025•14 min•Ep. 207
Dietitians, Aidan Muir & Leah Higl, discuss the reasons why a caloric deficit may stop yielding fat loss results. They explore various factors such as metabolic adaptation, changes in energy expenditure, the role of incidental movement, the psychological effects of hunger and cravings & more. (0:00) - Introduction & Background (0:54) - Change in Body Mass (2:05) - Metabolic Adaptation (3:18) - Incidental Movement (5:25) - Thermic Effect of Food (7:09) - Increased Appetite (9:40) - Un...
Jun 05, 2025•15 min•Ep. 206
Dietitians, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, explore the role of probiotics in managing bloating and IBS. They define probiotics, discuss their mechanisms of action, and review recent research findings that highlight their effectiveness. The conversation also covers recommendations for choosing the right probiotic and the potential for future individualisation in probiotic treatment based on ongoing research. (0:00) - Introduction & Background (1:00) - Mechanisms of Action (2:19) - Outcomes from Up...
May 29, 2025•12 min•Ep. 205
Dietitians, Aidan Muir & Leah Higl, dive into the intricate relationship between gut health and mental health. They explore the bi-directional connection between the gut and brain, emphasising how gut health can influence mental well-being through mechanisms such as neurotransmitter production and inflammation. The discussion covers the role of specific gut bacteria, the potential benefits of probiotics, and the importance of a holistic approach to mental health that goes beyond just gut hea...
May 22, 2025•18 min•Ep. 204
Dietitians, Leah Heigl & Aidan Muir, explore the effects of alcohol on muscle growth and recovery. They discuss the overall mechanisms that may impact it, and what the overall impact is according to the research. (0:00) - Introduction (0:34) - Mechanisms (1:43) - Study 1: MPS Difference from Protein vs Protein + 12 Standard Drinks (3:55) - Study 2: Recovery Differences from Placebo vs 10 Standard Drinks (5:58) - Study 3: Systematic Review: Impact on MPS from Alcohol (7:04) - Our Thoughts &am...
May 15, 2025•9 min•Ep. 203
Dietitians, Aidan Muir & Leah Higl, discuss the various nutritional requirements that change as we age. (0:00) - Introduction & Disclaimer (1:12) - Anabolic Resistance (3:23) - Calcium (6:07) - Iron (8:55) - B12 (10:01) - Appetite (11:05) - Healthy Weight Range Our dietitians 👇 Aidan Muir @aidan_the_dietitian Leah Higl @plantstrong_dietitian Tyler Brooks @lift_dietetics Hanah Mills @hanahmills Samantha Staines @nourished.by.sammy Monica Cvoro @fuellingperformance Josh Wernham @josh_does...
May 08, 2025•14 min•Ep. 202
Sports Dietitians, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, explore whether it's worthwhile for endurance athletes to take creatine. They discuss the common concerns surrounding creatine supplementation, its mechanism of action, and the potential benefits it may offer to endurance athletes through both direct and indirect mechanisms. (0:00) - Introduction & Background (0:35) - What Are the Downsides? (1:40) - How Does Creatine Work? (2:41) - How Can It Directly Improve Endurance? (4:39) - How Can It Indire...
May 01, 2025•10 min•Ep. 201
In this milestone episode 200 of the Ideal Nutrition podcast, Dietitians Aidan Muir and Leah Higl engage in a personal Q&A session, exploring various topics beyond nutrition. (0:00) - Introduction (1:13) - Leah: How Was Your Studying Experience With ADHD? (3:08) - Aidan: How Did You Meet Your Partner? (4:43) - Leah: Have You Ever Experienced Professional Barriers With Your Presentation? (6:36) - Aidan: If You Weren’t a Dietitian, What Career Would You Have Chosen? (9:00) - Aidan: Do You Have...
Apr 24, 2025•25 min•Ep. 200
Dietitians, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, discuss the challenges of weight loss and the importance of maintaining weight loss long-term. The conversation highlights the key strategies for successful weight maintenance backed by research. (0:00) - Introduction & Background (5:10) - Self Monitoring (7:36) - Meal Planning And/or Prepping Meals in Advance (8:30) - Planning for Events in Advance (9:45) - Home Cooking More Frequently (10:36) - Consistent Routine (12:10) - Strategies for Troubleshootin...
Apr 17, 2025•21 min•Ep. 199
Dietitians, Adam Muir & Leah Higl, discuss how various micronutrient deficiencies can impact energy levels. They explore the prevalence of these deficiencies, their effects on fatigue, and the importance of testing and dietary assessment to address these issues effectively. (0:00) - Introduction (0:25) - Iron (1:44) - B12 (2:31) - Magnesium (4:38) - Vitamin D (6:22) - Honorable Mentions (7:50) - Practical Takeaways WEBSITE: https://www.idealnutrition.com.au/ PODCAST: https://www.idealnutriti...
Apr 10, 2025•10 min•Ep. 198
Dietitians, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, answer listener questions covering a range of nutrition topics. (0:25) - Is the Mediterranean Diet the Gold Standard for Health? (2:58) - Do any micronutrient deficiencies impact energy levels? (5:14) - Does the glycaemic index matter? (7:12) - Can probiotics help with bloating? (10:28) - How does protein help fat loss? (13:00) - Should endurance athletes take creatine? (18:12) - Can certain foods boost your metabolism? WEBSITE: https://www.idealnutrition.co...
Apr 03, 2025•21 min•Ep. 197
Dietitian's, Aidan Muir & Leah Higl, dive into the effectiveness of fat burners. They explore the mechanisms by which fat burners are believed to work, including increased metabolic rate, appetite suppression, and fat oxidation. The discussion also covers common ingredients found in them, and what the current body of research shows. (0:00) - Introduction (1:11) - Mechanisms for How They Could Work (2:04) - Analysis of Those Mechanisms (5:22) - Individual Ingredients (9:01) - Research Finding...
Mar 27, 2025•13 min•Ep. 196
Sports Dietitian's, Leah Higl & Aidan Muir, dive into the significance of pre-training nutrition, particularly focusing on carbohydrates and their impact on performance in both endurance and resistance training. They explore various studies that highlight the benefits of carbohydrate intake before exercise, discuss the importance of feeling good during workouts, and touch on other nutrients like sodium and dietary nitrates that can enhance performance. (0:00) - Introduction (1:00) - The Theo...
Mar 20, 2025•12 min•Ep. 195
Dietitian’s, Leah Higl & Aidan Muir, discuss various strategies to make fat loss easier. (0:00) - Introduction (0:50) - Choosing an appropriate sized deficit (2:22) - Protein Intake (4:33) - Fibre Intake (5:13) - Consistent Meal Timing (7:23) - Food Volume (10:47) - Minimally Processed Foods (11:39) - Sleep (12:44) - Appropriate Flexibility (15:23) - Liquid Calories (17:37) - Avoid large feeding windows (19:43) - Optimising Calorie Deficit Length (21:03) - Low Calorie Drinks (23:06) - Limit ...
Mar 13, 2025•26 min•Ep. 194
Sports Dietitian's, Aidan Muir & Leah Higl, discuss what the optimal protein intake is for maxamising muscle growth. They explore the widely referenced 1.6 to 2.2 grams per kilogram of body weight, the origins of this guideline, critiques surrounding its validity, and the complexities of interpreting protein research. (0:00) - Introduction (2:35) - Exploring the 1.6-2.2g/kg Paper (4:37) -Difficulties Interpreting the Research (8:34) - What Does Recent Research Suggest? (10:56) - Our Interpre...
Mar 06, 2025•17 min•Ep. 193
Dietitian's, Leah Higl & Aidan Muir, discuss into the complexities of metabolic adaptation, exploring its significance in weight loss and the factors that influence it. They review research findings on calorie reductions due to metabolic adaptation, the practical implications for individuals undergoing weight loss, and the role of incidental movement in energy expenditure. (0:00) - Introduction (1:27) - What Is Metabolic Adaptation (2:26) - The Research (5:49) - How to Test Your Energy Expen...
Feb 27, 2025•13 min•Ep. 192
Dietitian's, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, discuss the challenges of maintaining weight loss and avoiding the post-diet rebound. They explore various scenarios of weight regain, emphasising the importance of understanding the transition phase after dieting. (0:00) - Introduction & Weight Regain Scenarios (2:01) What to Do in Scenario 1 (You Regain Weight After a Period of Being Able to Maintain It) (4:54) - What to Do in Scenarios 2 & 3 (You Lose Weight and Feel Good/Not Good on the Way Down...
Feb 20, 2025•13 min•Ep. 191
Sports Dietitians, Aidan Muir and Leigh Higl deep dive into the topic of bulking. They explore the claims that bulking is 'dead' and discuss the reasons behind this shift in perspective, including the role of caloric surplus, muscle growth mechanisms, and the importance of research in understanding these concepts. (0:00) - Introduction & Background (1:17) - Reasons Why People Claim it is “Dead” (3:12) - Unpacking these claims (9:16) - The research & Outlier Cases (12:23) - Our Interpreta...
Feb 13, 2025•15 min•Ep. 190
Dietitian's, Aidan Muir & Leah Higl, explore the relationship between creatine supplementation and cognitive function. They discuss the mechanisms by which creatine may enhance cognitive performance, and also dive into potential benefits for neurodegenerative diseases, concussions and more. (0:00) - How Does Creatine Work? (3:02) - Creatine & Sleep Deprviation (5:31) - Memory, Attention, Focus & Problem Solving (6:57) - Neurodegenerative Diseases (9:30) - Does It Benefit Concussions?...
Feb 06, 2025•13 min•Ep. 189
Accredited Practising Dietitian's, Leah Higl & Aidan Muir, discuss the controversial topic of nightshade vegetables and their potential effects on health, particularly in relation to autoimmune conditions. They explore what nightshades are, the presence of solanine, and the debate surrounding their consumption. The conversation delves into the autoimmune protocol diet, individual dietary adjustments, and the importance of trial and error in identifying personal food sensitivities. (0:00) - W...
Jan 30, 2025•9 min•Ep. 188
Dietitian's, Leah Higl & Aidan Muir, explore the topic of calcium supplements and their potential link to cardiovascular disease. They go through the research, discuss the differences between dietary calcium intake and supplementation, fracture risk outcomes, the potential benefits of vitamin K2 & more. (0:00) - Proposed Mechanisms (1:01) - The Research (2:24) - The Impact of Dietary Calcium (4:46) - Caclium Supplementation & Fracture Risk (9:56) - Can Supplementing with Vitamin K2 H...
Jan 23, 2025•13 min•Ep. 187
Accredited Practising Dietitian's, Leah Higl & Aidan Muir, discuss the complexities of nutrition related to hypermobility, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). (0:00) - Introduction (1:01) - What Is Hypermobility & the Subcategories? (3:01) - What is MCAS? (4:53) - What is POTS? (7:10) - General Nutrition Strategies for Hypermobility (9:08) - Dietary Considerations for MCAS & How to Manage Histamine Levels (13:30) - Enzyme Recomm...
Jan 16, 2025•21 min•Ep. 186
Sports Dietitians, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, discuss common mistakes people make when transitioning to a plant-based diet. They explore the importance of protein intake, caloric management, and the nutritional deficiencies that can arise from a plant-based lifestyle. The conversation also touches on the social challenges of eating out and the impact of perfectionism on one's relationship with food. (0:00) - Introduction (0:37) - Common Protein Related Issues (7:12) - Navigating Calorie Intakes (...
Jan 09, 2025•28 min•Ep. 185
Dietitians, Leah Higl & Aidan Muir, delve into the complex relationship between coffee consumption and health, particularly its impact on longevity. They discuss both the potential downsides of coffee, such as its effects on sleep and anxiety, and the wealth of research suggesting that coffee may actually contribute to a longer life. The conversation highlights various studies, the mechanisms behind coffee's health benefits, and offers practical advice for coffee drinkers. (0:00) - Introduct...
Jan 02, 2025•13 min•Ep. 184
Dietitians, Aidan Muir and Leah Higl, dive into the intricate relationship between gut health and weight loss. They explore how gut health can influence body weight, the role of the microbiome, and the impact of dietary choices. Through the examination of key research studies, they discuss the complexities of energy balance, the significance of calorie intake, and practical steps listeners can take to improve gut health while managing weight. (0:00) - Introduction (1:36) - Interesting Research (...
Dec 26, 2024•14 min•Ep. 183
Dietitians, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, explore into the complexities of insulin resistance, discussing its definition, measurement, and the various factors that influence it. (0:00) - What Is Insulin Resistance, How Do We Measure It & What Are the Causes (3:04) - The Role of Exercise (4:10) - Weight Loss (5:33) - Specific Nutrients of Interest (11:00) - Meal Timing (12:41) - Impact of Stress (13:29) - Summary WEBSITE: https://www.idealnutrition.com.au/ PODCAST: https://www.idealnutrition.com....
Dec 19, 2024•15 min•Ep. 182
Dietitians, Leah Higl and Aidan Muir, delve into the relationship between PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and basal metabolic rate (BMR). They explore the existing research, and other challenges associated with PCOS that may impact weight loss. (0:00) - Introduction (1:14) - The Research (5:00) - Interpreting the Outlier Study (8:28) - Why Is Weight Loss More Diffuclt With PCOS? (11:06) - Summary WEBSITE: https://www.idealnutrition.com.au/ PODCAST: https://www.idealnutrition.com.au/podcast/ INS...
Dec 12, 2024•12 min•Ep. 181
Sports Dietitians, Aidan Muir & Tyler Brooks, answer some of the listeners most common questions. (0:00) - Introduction (0:53) - Do You Need to Have Pre-training Carbs for a Short High-Intensity Session e.g. <30 Minutes of Sparring? (2:28) - I’ve Started Running. At What Point Does Nutrition Need to Be Planned More Carefully Around Runs? (5:48) - How Do You Feel About the Correlation Between “Fixing” Gut Health and Autoimmune Conditions Like Rheumatoid Arthritis? (8:24) - Is It Normal to ...
Dec 05, 2024•25 min•Ep. 180
