How shocking is it to think that by the time you are in your 30s and 40s that your brain is already showing signs of Alzheimer’s. There is no immediate cure, yet, but there are things we can do to protect our brains around our diet and knowledge that we can actually apply and put into action. One of the ways to optimise your brain is by managing your nutrition and one topic within this field that I want to understand is that of metabolism. Metabolic dysfunction. What is it? What is sugar? Why is...
Jan 26, 2023•41 min
Surgery is a highly skilled and demanding field that requires the same level of precision and decision making as an elite athlete. As my guest, Dr Karan Rajan explains, just as an athlete must perform under pressure and make split-second decisions on the field, a surgeon must do the same in the operating room. Surgery requires a high level of focus and concentration, and mistakes can have serious consequences. From nutrition and sleep to exercise and decision-making, learn how to take your healt...
Jan 25, 2023•35 min
In this informative and eye-opening podcast, I sit down with renowned endocrinologist and obesity expert, Dr. Robert Lustig, to discuss the often misunderstood topic of saturated fat. Dr. Lustig breaks down the complex concept in a "beautifully simplistic" way and explains how the scale lies when it comes to measuring our overall health. We delve into the three separate fat depots in our bodies and how they contribute differently to our health. Dr. Lustig also touches on the link between stress,...
Jan 19, 2023•32 min
In this episode, I sat down with Professor Stuart Phillips to discuss the importance of exercise - resistance training, nutrition, and recovery in building muscle and improving strength. This is all in the pursuit of better brain health and as we know, brain health and longevity has a greater impact when we have more strength and increased muscle mass. Professor Phillips is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Skeletal Muscle Health in Aging. He is a Professor in Kinesiology, and Graduate Faculty i...
Dec 22, 2022•1 hr
No one wants to overeat. And certainly no one wants to overeat for years, become overweight, and end up with a high risk of diabetes or heart disease– yet two thirds of Americans do precisely that. Stephan is a neuroscientist who, in this episode, will go into the topic of obesity. Stephan provides insights into obesity that are not normally spoken about. He talks in depth about the role of genetics, the brain, and hormones such as leptin that play in the regulation of fat mass. He dives deep in...
Dec 12, 2022•55 min
How do we get the most out of our time at the gym? What is protein and how do we get lean? Joining me today is fellow Aussie and practising dietician, Holly Baxter. Holly is a competitive bodybuilder, fitness and nutrition educator, and coach. In this episode Holly introduces the topic of how she would start and design a nutrition and resistance training program for someone who is starting out and wanting to add lean body mass, los body fat and improve physique. We touch on protein requirements,...
Nov 30, 2022•48 min
Matt is someone who is deeply interested in understanding the biology of aging. Why do we age? What happens to us as we age? What are the things we can do to slow the aging process? How can we delay or prevent the onset of age-related diseases? In this episode we discuss: 1. What ageing is, what is healthspan 2. Extending lifespan with calorie restriction 3. Rapamycin as a longevity agent for longevity 4. Psychological side effects of certain diets on longevity 5. The MTOR pathway and cancer 6. ...
Nov 14, 2022•1 hr 24 min
Olympic bronze medalist, Molly Seidel, joins Louisa Nicola today to talk about mental health, running and eating disorders. Molly has been struggling with her mental health—and it’s a struggle that is ongoing. In February, she received a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and was trying different strategies to cope with the symptoms, which include depression, anxiety, and the return of the eating disorder that Molly has suffered with at different times for the past 12 y...
Nov 07, 2022•55 min
Sleep is generally divided into two phases, REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement). While the REM sleep phase is when your body focuses on reenergizing your mind, the NREM phase, and specifically the deep sleep stage, is when your body’s physically restorative processes take place. With your brain less active, the blood supply to your muscles and tissues increases, delivering oxygen and nutrients that promote muscle repair and growth. Let’s dig into some specific connections ...
Oct 31, 2022•39 min
Dopamine is the primary brain chemical response that motivates us and makes us feel good. Aside from making us feel moody and tired, low dopamine levels also contribute to many mental health conditions and addiction. This episode I interview Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Lembke is a psychiatrist expert in treating addictions of all kinds: drugs, alcohol, food, sex, video games, gambling, medicati...
Oct 18, 2022•45 min
The compelling and robust body of evidence of ergogenic — enhancing physical performance — effects of creatine supplementation (5 g/day) are well-documented. Besides the evidence supporting its efficacy in increasing exercise performance/muscle function, muscle strength, and lean mass, there is literature suggesting that creatine may also be beneficial for brain health. In this episode I draw on 3 studies in 3 areas: Parkinsons Disease Depression Menopausal women SPONSORS Eight Sleep: $150 off -...
Oct 14, 2022•15 min
At 28 years old, Lauren Fisher has been one of the best known names in CrossFit. Since the NorCal Regionals in 2012, she’s collected a Top 10 finish at the Games (2014), a 1st place finish at the California Regional (2016), and eight overall Games appearances in total (4 individual, 4 team). In 2022, her team finished 4th overall at the 2022 Games. Her mission is to challenge women to tap into the individual strength of females to see that strong is beautiful and giving up is simply not an optio...
Oct 12, 2022•38 min
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that are required by the human body. There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids: Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) Found in flaxseed oil and chia seed oil Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) In short : ALA⇒ EPA⇒ DHA Your body isn’t good at producing omega-3s. That’s why they’re called essential fatty acids—you have to get them from food or supplements. In this solo episode I will: 1. Break down what Omega 3 fatty acids are. 2. Talk...
Sep 30, 2022•24 min
There are around 40 trillion bacteria in your body, most of which are found in your gut. Collectively, they are known as your gut microbiome, and they’re incredibly important for overall health. However, certain types of bacteria in your intestines can also contribute to many diseases. In this episode I speak with Dr Kirten Parekh from Klora about optimising your gut health so you can have a better performing brain. In this episode we discuss: What is the gut microbiome What is dysbiosis? How do...
Sep 26, 2022•40 min
During the ageing process, physical capabilities (e.g., muscular strength) and cognitive functions (e.g., memory) gradually decrease. Regarding cognitive functions, substantial functional (e.g., compensatory brain activity) and structural changes (e.g., shrinking of the hippocampus) in the brain cause this decline. From a glance: Dementia affects approximately 47 million individuals globally with projections of 130 million by the year 2050. Late-onset Alzheimer's disease is the most common form ...
Sep 21, 2022•21 min
Cognitive enhancing drugs are claimed to improve cognitive functions such as learning and attention. However, little is known presently about the characteristics of off-prescription cognitive enhancing drug users or their perceived everyday experience with these drugs. Modafinil has been the drugs of desire for a long time now. If you ever saw the Bradley Cooper movie called limitless, you probably wish you had access to this drug. Laboratory studies have even shown that it may have potent antio...
Sep 12, 2022•51 min
Current evidence indicates cold water immersion may be the most effective method of pre-cooling to improve endurance performance in hot conditions, although practicality must be considered. Ice slurry ingestion appears to be the most promising practical alternative. Dr. Craig Heller, Professor of Biology at Stanford University and world expert on the science of temperature regulation.In this episode Dr. Heller explains how heat impairs muscular and mental performance, and how to cool the brain a...
Aug 29, 2022•47 min
Hormones are like a symphony, with each one acting as a specialized instrument to keep our bodies in tune. But as we age, those instruments start to get a little rusty. Small changes over time create a variety of imbalances, until one day we wake up realizing we’re flat and out of tune. This leads to things like menopausal symptoms in women, hair loss and belly fat in men, thyroid dysfunction, bone loss, and so much more. That’s why it’s never too early, or too late, to start optimizing hormonal...
Aug 15, 2022•57 min
Shawn Stevenson, host of The Model Health Show and author of Sleep Smarter, joins Louisa to discuss sleep, health, diet and exercise. In this episode we discuss: What is the brain made of? Best nutrients for brain health Magnesium and how magnesium can help reverse brain ageing Foods for brain health and ageing What is oleocanthal-rich EVOO and its relation to the BBB How to fight inflammation Neuroinflammation and the damaging effects it has on our brain Lowering neuroinflammation Studies menti...
Aug 01, 2022•59 min
The brain is a fascinating and complex organ. It’s the primary control center for our whole body, and it can be affected by stress in many different ways. Stress itself is an important part of life – it helps us prepare for danger or respond to emergencies. But when we’re constantly stressed out, that’s when our brain starts to pay the price. This blog post will explore how stress affects your brain, both positively and negatively, so you can develop strategies to reduce your brain’s vulnerabili...
Jul 12, 2022•53 min
Stacy Sims, MSC, PHD, is a forward-thinking international exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist who aims to revolutionise exercise nutrition and performance for women. She has directed research programs at Stanford, AUT University, and the University of Waikato, focusing on female athlete health and performance and pushing the dogma to improve research on all women. In this episode we discuss: WOMEN ARE NOT SMALL MEN Why women are different to men Scientific controversy around studying w...
Jul 07, 2022•59 min
Layne Norton, Ph. D., is a scientist, pro natural bodybuilder, raw elite powerlifter, and physique coach , among other things. He received his BS in Biochemistry, and his PhD in Nutritional Sciences. He is a current IPF and USAPL world and national record-holder in squat (668 lb). “I always tell people, I don't think I would've had the success I did in business or social media or academia if I hadn't done weightlifting because that taught me so much about other things in life.” —Layne Norton In ...
Jun 14, 2022•1 hr 50 min
In most cases, your genes have less than five per cent to do with your risk of developing a particular disease, in fact the vast majority of diseases, including many cancers, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease, have a genetic contribution of 5 to 10 per cent at best. To learn more about this I brough Dr Mike Malin and Dr Mike Stone from Wild Health on the podcast today to talk about all genomics based medicine. At Wild Health, they combine an in-depth genetic analysis with extensive blood work an...
May 31, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Robbie Bent is the CEO and Co-Founder of Othership, a platform for breathwork, connection, and mental wellness. This is a part II to our series with Robbie Bent. Be sure to check out the first episode which is linked below. This particular episode is all about heat and cold. Heat from sauna and hot tub therapy improves cardiovascular and metabolic health by stimulating heat shock proteins that initiate a downstream series of favorable health improvements. Cold exposure has many health (metabolic...
May 26, 2022•29 min
The deaths of six former Philadelphia Phillies players from brain cancer since 2003 have sparked concerns over the playing surface and radar guns at the team's former stadium - and now one doctor is calling for an investigation. Interestingly, there has been an outbreak of glioblastomas at a local New Jersey High School resulting in 107 cases of glioblastomas at this school. Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord . Glioblastoma forms from cells ca...
May 24, 2022•8 min
I have been dying to do this podcast, it’s been quite a long time coming. As many of you know I have been wearing a WHOOP strap for many years to track and measure my performance. This strap is pretty much a self-quantification device and allows me to measure my sleep, HRV, recovery, exercise and much more. The thing I love most about this company is the amount of research that is being done on the back end. WHOOP as a company partners with well known physicians and scientists with well known la...
May 23, 2022•1 hr 32 min
This episode is all about cognitive function and brain performance. If you haven't listened to part I and part II with Tommy, you can find them below. Part I Part II More than 2 billion people worldwide suffer from brain-based health and productivity challenges resulting in a global economic burden of more than $2 trillion. There is no miracle "smart drug" like in the movie Limitless . Instead, your everyday actions, with the help of technology, can help boost your brain health and thrive at eve...
May 19, 2022•31 min
Today I interview Michael Brandt- CEO and founder of HVMN- Health via modern nutrition and the research lead for his company- Dr Latt Mansor. Together, these two gentlemen are on a mission to solve many dysfuntions in the body and brain with the help of ketones. Michael believes ketones are a nutritional primitive; a tool for everyone’s toolkit, akin to Omega-3, caffeine, or CBD. H.V.M.N. launched the world’s first ketone ester in 2017, secured a $6MM contract with U.S. Special Operations Comman...
May 16, 2022•1 hr 15 min
Imagine if you could wake up everyday feeling completely rejuvenated, like you’ve squeezed every last beneficial drop out of your sleep. How do you think that would affect your life? Would you be happier? Would you get more done? Would you have better relationships with family and friends? Could you even live longer? Sleep is part of what makes us human. We all know we need it, and appreciate it on a daily basis. Yet it is largely taken for granted as a fact of life, and we mostly fail to utiliz...
Apr 26, 2022•24 min
Todays inspiring episode is with Drew Canole, founder of Organifi, serial entrepreneur and global leader in health and fitness. Drew has helped thousands of women and men revitalize their health, ignite their vision, and shift the course of their life forever. After reaching a dead-end in his own health, Drew discovered the chasm of difference between going through the motions and living with radical intention. He now helps people tap into the "Big You" to create the change they never thought po...
Apr 18, 2022•53 min
