Episode #235. Cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong shares a different approach to skincare – one you're probably not used to seeing on your Instagram feed. In an age of extensive skincare routines and misleading marketing, how do we navigate our skin’s natural state and optimise its appearance and wellness? We cover this question and many more in this week’s episode. Specifically, we discuss: Intro (0:00) Defining ‘Clean Beauty’ (2:17) ‘Natural’ vs synthetic (7:14) EWG’s Skin Deep Database (8:26) What...
Nov 21, 2022•2 hr 5 min
Episode #234. We all know that sunscreen is important, but what are the consequences of using (or not using) certain products? Cosmetic chemist Dr Michelle Wong joins me to examine sun damage and aging, chemical vs mineral sunscreens, “reef safe” sunscreens, and scary-sounding ingredients. Learn all you need to know about choosing and applying a sunscreen to offer you the best protection of your largest organ. We discuss: Intro (0:00) Michelle's Story (2:20) Defining Cosmetics (4:56) Understandi...
Nov 15, 2022•2 hr 34 min
Episode #233. Dive deeper into how saturated fats and sugar affect metabolism and the liver in this conversation with Dr Richard Johnson. The Proof community had many questions after Dr Johnson’s appearance on Episode #215, and we return today to answer them: What does human outcome data say? What are the risks of the keto diet and high blood sugar? Do our opinions align? We answer these questions and more, addressing: Intro (0:00) Dr. Johnson’s Thesis on Fructose (3:27) Gaps in Current Studies ...
Nov 08, 2022•2 hr 44 min
Episode #232. Time-restricted eating seems like a holy grail for those looking to lose weight and improve their health. Dr Peterson joins me in this episode to answer some pressing questions on TRE: does it help you lose weight and shred fat? Will it curb my appetite? What times should shift workers eat? These questions and much more are covered in Episode #232. We discuss: Intro (0:00) New Study: TRE & Weight Loss (1:47) Subjects of study (6:35) Outcomes of Interest (10:06) Significant Results ...
Nov 01, 2022•1 hr 8 min
In Episode #231, I sit down with Dr Alan Flanagan and Danny Lennon to examine cholesterol, statins, the ketogenic diet, and longevity. Dr Alan Flanagan and Danny Lennon address whether cholesterol matters if you’re metabolically healthy, why our veins don’t get atherosclerosis, and why our body makes cholesterol if it’s “bad for us”. They also offer advice on dietary adjustments you can make regardless of your dietary pattern, claims by social media “health gurus”, and much more. LDL cholesterol...
Oct 27, 2022•2 hr 28 min
In Episode #230, I’m joined by ecologist Nicholas Carter to examine the role of dairy and other animal foods on the environment. We discuss the implications of our food choices, detailing the impact of dairy specifically. Nicholas Carter breaks down the ways we measure environmental impact, and the strengths and shortfalls of these systems. We also cover “carbon neutral” dairy, regenerative grazing, biodiversity loss, and much more. Over the course of recent episodes, we’ve worked towards buildi...
Oct 17, 2022•2 hr 32 min
In Episode #229, I’m joined by Paul Taylor to discuss how to exercise to live better for longer. We cover the importance of intermittent stressors, the relative impact of nutrition and exercise, and the significance of biological evolution in health. Paul also breaks down exactly how to build an exercise regimen, with considerations for age and gender. Over the past month, The Proof has increasingly explored the role of exercise in relation to long-term health outcomes. In today’s episode, we bu...
Oct 11, 2022•2 hr 36 min
In Episode #228, I sit down with Dr Stuart Phillips and Dr Christopher Gardner for a discourse on how much protein we really need. We discuss nitrogen balance, lack of protein vs lack of exercise, and protein restriction. We also cover protein quality, satiety, and environmental considerations. Recommended daily intake (RDA) is a key factor in this conversation, with discussion points including its definition, the studies used to inform it, and whether you should eat above it. There is ongoing c...
Oct 04, 2022•1 hr 18 min
In Episode #227, I sit down with Alan Flanagan, PhD and Drew Harrisberg to discuss the carnivore diet and veganism, assessing many of the popular claims made by health and nutrition “influencers”. We discuss Big Pharma, social media censorship, and vegan protein intake. We also zoom in on the ethics of veganism, spotting a legitimate academic, and why socioeconomic and environmental factors impact nutrition decisions. In the current social media climate, it is crucial that we develop the skills ...
Sep 27, 2022•4 hr 51 min
In Episode #226, I’m joined by Drs Ayesha and Dean Sherzai to examine how exercise impacts brain health. We focus on two main considerations: what we know about the relationship between exercise and cognition, and how we can explain this relationship from an evolutionary lens. We discuss how movement impacts cognition, engaging your brain while exercising, and aging and brain health. We also cover neurogenesis, brain trauma, exercise and mood disorders, and motivation versus discipline. Drs Dean...
Sep 19, 2022•2 hr 47 min
In Episode #225 I sit down with Alan Flanagan, PhD to discuss the health implications of consuming dairy. We have a broader conversation about misinformation and public health before specifically examining the health outcomes of dairy consumption. We also cover whether you can trust industry-funded studies, the representation of dairy on social media, and how much information we actually have. Misinformation is an ongoing occurrence in online nutrition conversations. The capacity to spread misin...
Sep 12, 2022•2 hr 12 min
In Episode #224, I sit down with Dr Tim Spector to address the significance of eating for your specific biology. We discuss research on twins, exploring nature versus nurture; the role of the microbiome in health outcomes; and whether conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes are genetic. Dr Spector also offers advice on adapting your diet to your specific needs. When we place so much focus on population-level data for health outcomes, it can be easy to lose sight of the unique biology that...
Sep 05, 2022•2 hr 45 min
In Episode #223, Drew Harrisberg and I sit down to discuss how to optimise your exercise. Drew provides a detailed outline of how to develop an exercise program, working around different time constraints. We recap past episodes with Dr Richard Johnson and Professor Kieran Rooney, sharing our thoughts on these conversations. We also cover my recent Bali retreat, HIIT training and VO2 max, resistant starch and cancer, and much more. With new episodes of The Proof weekly and an abundance of new stu...
Aug 29, 2022•3 hr 32 min
In Episode #222, I’m joined by Drew Harrisberg and Kieron Rooney, PhD to discuss how the biochemistry of exercise can impact your health. We cover a wide range of topics, including mitochondria efficiency, metabolic flexibility, and fat adaptation. Dr Rooney also offers training advice, and his thoughts on a ketogenic diet. Evidence continuously shows us that the multitude of factors contributing to health and longevity are incredibly complex. Today, Kieran Rooney, PhD sits down with Drew Harris...
Aug 22, 2022•3 hr 56 min
In Episode #221, I sit down with Dr Satchin Panda to continue The Proof’s conversation on time restricted eating. We discuss circadian rhythms, circadian disruption, and health impacts. We also cover TRE in the context of circadian biology, blood glucose, and calorie restriction. Dr Panda offers his advice on the optimal TRE lifestyle. Time-restricted eating (TRE) has caused a stir on social media in recent years. Many studies on TRE are misrepresented online, with people drawing absolute conclu...
Aug 15, 2022•2 hr 54 min
In Episode #220, Dr MeiLan Han joins me to discuss the lungs and respiratory system. Despite being an incredibly important factor of our overall health, the respiratory system is often overlooked. Most people’s knowledge is surface level, and we aren’t educated on the importance of the lungs or how to best support respiratory health. Dr MeiLan Han joins me in this episode to explain what the respiratory system is, how it works, and what we can do to optimise it. In this episode, Dr Han establish...
Aug 08, 2022•2 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 220
In Episode #219, I sit down with Layne Norton, PhD to answer one very topical question: does insulin make us fat? Welcome to the first bite-sized episode of The Proof. In these short conversations, I am joined by a guest to tackle a single topic in a brief, digestible time frame. In this episode, Layne Norton, PhD addresses recent online claims by Ben Bikman, PhD. Dr Bikman claims that if we keep insulin low and control seed oils, fat cells can stay smaller and healthier. But is there any truth ...
Aug 03, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 219
In Episode #218, I’m joined by entrepreneur Arturo Elizondo to discuss the future of egg production. Ground-breaking changes are happening in our food industry every single day. While animal agriculture continues to grow, there is an increasing field of innovation seeking sustainable, ethical alternatives to the foods most people consume daily. Arturo Elizondo joins me today to pull back the curtain on one such initiative, The EVERY Co., revealing his journey and where this technology will take ...
Aug 01, 2022•2 hr 51 min
In Episode #217, I sit down with dietician Ginny Messina to address common nutrition myths about the vegan diet. With an abundance of nutrition “information” presented to us any time we use social media, it becomes difficult to identify whether a claim is fact or fiction. Misinformation is a common issue across all patterns of eating — including a plant-based diet — and understanding the full picture is incredibly important to ensure health and longevity. Ginny Messina, MPH, RD joins me to addre...
Jul 25, 2022•2 hr 52 min
In Episode #216, I sit down with Dr David Jenkins to discuss the relationship between cholesterol and health. Cholesterol levels are concerningly high among populations consuming a standard Western diet. On the flip side, plant-based diets are often criticised for their lack of cholesterol. We know that cholesterol is an essential component of the human body — but is it necessary to consume it, and is this a concern for plant-based eaters? Dr David Jenkins answers this question and much more in ...
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 217
In Episode #215, I’m joined by Dr Richard Johnson to discuss obesity, fructose, and metabolic disease. “Fructose” has become something of a fear word in modern diet culture. It is often positioned as the villain, without the in-depth breakdown of where we are sourcing this fructose and the quantities it is consumed in. Similarly, the relationship between health and obesity is hotly contested. Dr Richard Johnson sits down with me today to clarify the scientific relationship between these factors,...
Jul 11, 2022•2 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 216
In Episode #214, I sit down with Josh Tetrick to discuss reshaping our food system towards plant-based products and slaughter-free meat alternatives. As animal-free proteins grow in popularity, technologies for creating them are too. Josh Tetrick wants to reshape our food system, and joins me today to share his journey with Eat Just. Josh is committed to facilitating innovation in the plant-based sphere and offers valuable insight into emerging technologies in today’s episode. In this episode, w...
Jul 04, 2022•2 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 215
In Episode #213, Dr Jenna Macciochi joins me for a deep dive into the human immune system. “Immunity” has become a buzzword in health spheres at the moment. From supplement marketing to recipe promotion, there seem to be countless quick-fix products or ingredients to “boost” and improve the immune system. But is there any validity to these claims? Dr Jenna Macciochi joins me today to look deeper into what actually creates a balanced immune system. In this episode, we cover broader explanations o...
Jun 27, 2022•3 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 214
In Episode #212, Dr Eric Rawson joins me to examine the muscular and cognitive effects of creatine. Performance supplementation is a flooded field. With supplementation sceptics on one hand and relentless marketing promotion on the other, it can be difficult to know what to believe. Dr Eric Rawson joins me today for an in-depth conversation on creatine, breaking down everything you need to know about this widely studied compound. In this episode, we cover the basics of creatine consumption and p...
Jun 20, 2022•2 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 213
In Episode #211, I sit down with Dr Jared Raynes to discuss precision fermentation and the future of dairy. As our world becomes more populated and animal agriculture continues to unsustainably expand, we need to examine alternatives to the products people know and love. While animal-free dairy may sound like an impossible feat, innovation in the field of precision fermentation is proving otherwise. Dr Jared Raynes joins me today to explain what precision fermentation is, where this technology i...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 212
In Episode #210, Professor Stuart Phillips returns to expand on our conversation about using science to improve training outcomes. One very common criticism of a plant-based diet is that it’s difficult to meet protein requirements due to both quantity and quality of plant-based protein sources. “Evidence” provided for this often centres around amino acid profiles, linking back to the DIAAS and PDCAAS protein scoring systems. Today, Professor Stuart Phillips offers clarity on this topic and much ...
Jun 13, 2022•2 hr 38 min•Season 1Ep. 211
In Episode #209, I sit down with Dr Kristina Harris Jackson to deep dive into the effects of omega-3 consumption on lactation and pregnancy. Dr Kristina Harris Jackson furthers The Proof’s exploration of omega-3s in this episode, offering her expertise in a discussion centred around maternal health. Nutrition during pregnancy can be a sensitive and confusing topic; when parents are trying to do everything they can to ensure optimal health outcomes, the abundance of available information is overw...
Jun 07, 2022•2 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 210
In Episode #208, I’m joined by expert researcher Dr Bill Harris to discuss the relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and human health. Increasingly, online nutrition conversation is moving away from scientific literature and is more heavily influenced by marketing and controversial claims for personal gain. Whether people are making these statements to grow their online community or capitalise on a financial opportunity, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are yet another topic surrounded by bold...
May 31, 2022•2 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 209
In Episode #207, Dr Gil Carvalho explains how to approach nutrition information from an evidence-based viewpoint, breaking down the details of data analysis. In recent years, we’ve seen a huge influx of information being presented as fact without any real scientific foundations. Being able to assess the validity of these claims is critical, and Dr Carvalho offers useful insight into how a layperson can approach them. In today’s episode, we shift the focus away from what to think about the scienc...
May 23, 2022•2 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 208
In Episode #206, Drew Harrisberg joins me to debrief The Proof’s first debate and discuss blood tests, sleep, and the interaction between HIIT training and blood glucose. Last week, I released a special episode on YouTube: a debate on seed oils and heart disease between Tucker Goodrich and Dr Matthew Nagra. You can find it here. Regardless of whether you’ve watched the debate, you’ll gain insight from the reflections we share in this episode. Our discussion of this debate covers the interpretati...
May 16, 2022•3 hr 45 min•Season 1Ep. 207
