You are what you eat. This is more than a trite phrase, as this mantra may have some direct relevance to the area of skin protection from UV sun damage. And here, it is the carotenoid family of vitamin A precursors which give many fruits and vegetables their vivid rich red, orange and yellow colours that could be getting into our skin to prevent the oxidative damage from the sun. In this podcast, I’ll look closer at those carotenoids and profile the latest research on how they could protect your...
Jul 26, 2021•16 min•Ep. 75
Going ‘all in’ on plant foods is a trend that is showing no signs of slowing down. But for those who are all about the muscle gainz for their sport and health, should you be concerned that your hard-won muscle growth is being compromised because you’ve embraced a mostly plant-based life? In this podcast, I’ll delve into the key differences between animal and plant-based proteins, the main supplements on the market for each, and profile the latest research on how people fare for muscle growth whe...
Jul 19, 2021•13 min•Ep. 74
Turmeric has been used in traditional Asian cultures for thousands of years as both a spice for cooking and for medicinal uses. Now medical science is backing up many of the traditional health claims made about turmeric and the compounds it contains. In this podcast, I investigate the turmeric story, outline why the focus seems to be on the bioactive compounds such as curcumin contained in it, what the research says about the many health conditions linked to it, and give you some guidance on the...
Jul 12, 2021•13 min•Ep. 73
Are you tired and worn out all the time? Are you always feeling tense and anxious? Do you crave salty foods? Then you could have adrenal fatigue. Well, that is to say, you could have it if it was actually recognised as a legitimate medical condition. In this podcast, I’ll explain what your adrenal glands do, look closer at the alternative health diagnosis of ‘adrenal fatigue’ and compare that to known medical conditions that do affect your adrenal glands. Links referred to in the podcast Systema...
Jul 05, 2021•10 min•Ep. 72
For this week’s podcast, it’s a break in the normal episode format. Instead, this episode is a bit of self-reflection where I’ll answer many of the common questions I get asked about this podcast and why I do what I do. Episode transcript To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com Connect with me Instagram: doctimcrowe Facebook: Thinking Nutrition Twitter...
Jun 28, 2021•8 min•Ep. 71
You’ve probably heard the popular advice to ‘feed a cold, starve a fever’ many times over when you’ve come down with a cold or the flu. But is there any truth to this advice? That’s what I’ll explore in this podcast. Episode transcript To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com Connect with me Instagram: doctimcrowe Facebook: Thinking Nutrition Twitter: C...
Jun 21, 2021•5 min•Ep. 70
The protein powder supplement market is big business. Popular in the world of sport where muscle growth is a priority, the marketplace is dominated by glossy pictures of cut models and an ever-expanding list of claims for how these products will pack on the muscle. So, do the bros at the gym have it right in that you need these supplements if you’re serious about the gainz, or could plain old boring ‘food’ do the same job? In today’s podcast, I dig deeper into the world of protein and muscle gro...
Jun 14, 2021•24 min
Collagen supplements are big business. And is it any wonder when they are touted as the elixir for youthful and glowing skin. With plenty of A-list celebrities singing its praises, it’s no wonder collagen is having a moment in the spotlight. And a look at Google Trends shows search interest in collagen supplements really took off at the start of 2019 and it is showing no signs of slowing down. Reading the shopping list of health claims made about collagen - from turning back the clock on your sk...
Jun 07, 2021•14 min
Tart cherries, also known as Montmorency cherries or sour cherries, are growing in popularity as a favourite sports supplement over the last couple of years. And here the interest is in their seeming ability to aid in recovery from intense exercise. In this podcast, I’ll look into what could make tart cherries different compared to other foods, the evidence for their benefits on exercise recovery and what other conditions they are being promoted for. Links referred to in the podcast Systematic r...
May 31, 2021•11 min•Ep. 69
Keeping hydrated is important for optimal sports performance. And for decades we’ve had that area covered by sports drinks. But are sports drinks really performance-enhancing, or are they mostly marketing spin when just plain old water will do the trick for most people? That’s what I’ll explore in in my latest podcast along with giving you my personal DIY recipe for sports drink to get these drinks into you on the cheap. Links referred to in the podcast AIS sports drinks fact sheet https://www.a...
May 24, 2021•14 min•Ep. 68
Lactose intolerance is the most common food intolerance in the world. Rare in infants because they can easily digest lactose in breastmilk, its incidence skyrockets with age. And your genetic ethnic background is the key predictor of your risk of developing it. In this podcast, I’ll look at the causes, signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance and then go on to explain how it is diagnosed and importantly how it can be managed. And the good news is that rarely does that mean the exclusion of dair...
May 17, 2021•17 min•Ep. 67
With a rapidly ageing population worldwide, more adults than ever are becoming at risk of nutritional frailty. Older age is a time when specific nutrient needs may be higher while the ability to meet those needs has more barriers. In this podcast, I’ll highlight how our nutrition needs change as we age, the factors that make it harder to meet these needs, and the role that nutrition can play in promoting healthy ageing and improving the outlook of age-related diseases. Links referred to in the p...
May 10, 2021•21 min•Ep. 66
Our thyroid gland plays a major role in the metabolism, growth and development of the human body. So when things go wrong with your thyroid gland, it can have systemic effects. Hypothyroidism is where the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. And the most common reason for this is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The Internet is awash with all sorts of dietary advice for how a person with hypothyroidism should eat to treat and even cure this condition. In this p...
May 03, 2021•19 min•Ep. 65
Thanks to earlier detection and much better treatment options, cancer today is more survivable than ever. But we are still a long way from curing cancer across the board for all types of cancer with equal outcomes. If you caught my podcast from several episodes back on improving cancer survival with diet and lifestyle choices, I covered the broad lifestyle habits linked with improving cancer survival odds. I also touched briefly on many of the so-called ‘cancer cure’ diets that abound on the Int...
Apr 26, 2021•14 min•Ep. 64
Coffee is one of the most popular and safest stimulants that we consume. But during pregnancy, and potentially even when planning a pregnancy, it is one ‘legal drug’ where advice for women becomes a little more prescriptive. Alcohol, soft cheeses, raw fish and even raw sprouts are all foods that are best to limit or avoid during pregnancy. So, should coffee be added to the list and if so, how much is a safe amount to drink? That is what I’ll explore in today’s podcast. Links referred to in the p...
Apr 19, 2021•12 min•Ep. 63
Coughing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, fatigue. The classic collection of symptoms synonymous with an acute respiratory tract infection. From the common cold right through to the flu, it is something most people are faced with many times over in their life. So what role nutrition, in particular micronutrient supplements, in helping to bolster your immune system to stop you from getting sick in the first place or helping to fight off an illness once an infection takes hold? In this podcas...
Apr 12, 2021•14 min•Ep. 62
Inflammation is now getting top billing as the latest health concern you should be worrying about. From avoiding so-called inflammatory foods to eating anti-inflammatory foods to treat and even cure inflammation, is there no disease that cannot be explained by our understanding of inflammation? Far from something scary, inflammation is a natural process that helps your body heal and defend itself from harm. It is only when inflammation becomes chronic that the story changes. In this podcast, I’l...
Apr 05, 2021•14 min•Ep. 61
Move aside coconut oil, your time in the superfood spotlight has passed. Today it is apple cider vinegar, the latest all-natural, all wholesome, all singing, all dancing superfood that's here to save you from just about anything that ails you. With claims ranging from sterilising toothbrushes, curing diabetes and melting away waistlines, in this podcast I’ll look behind the apple cider trend to see what the science has to say. Links referred to in the podcast ACV and weight loss clinical trial 1...
Mar 29, 2021•13 min•Ep. 60
Eating well and positive lifestyle choices are an important part of reducing a person’s risk of cancer. But when it comes to food choices for people who have survived cancer, key themes surface. A healthy diet and other lifestyle changes are just as important to improve the chances of surviving cancer and reducing its chance of coming back. In this podcast, I’ll look at what the scientific evidence says about lifestyle choices in improving cancer survivability and what are the key recommendation...
Mar 22, 2021•14 min•Ep. 59
A person’s risk of cancer can be significantly lessened by simple and fairly obvious nutrition and lifestyle changes. In this podcast, I’ll explore where you should put most of your focus and spoiler alert, none of it has to do with avoiding 5G signals, GMO foods, artificial sweeteners, underarm deodorants or acid causing foods. Links referred to in the podcast WCRF cancer prevention recommendations https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/cancer-prevention-recommendations Adherence to WCRF recommenda...
Mar 15, 2021•10 min•Ep. 58
Want to eat the exact opposite of plant-based? Then the carnivore diet has you covered. A diet that consists entirely of animal foods and zero carbs and plants, it offers the promise of weight loss and a cure for all that ails you from autoimmune diseases to depression. Of all the trends that buck conventional nutrition advice, the carnivore diet lies several standard deviations to the right of the diet crazy curve. In this podcast, I look at what created the carnivore diet trend, what it involv...
Mar 08, 2021•11 min•Ep. 57
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and it’s not just there for making healthy bones. Calcium is needed to move muscles, send nerve signals and release hormones. While dairy gets a lot of the attention for being a good source of calcium, there are plenty of other foods that help meet your needs too. In this podcast, I look at the roles of calcium, the consequences of not getting enough and tackle the controversial area of if calcium supplements are to be recommended or not. Links re...
Mar 01, 2021•15 min•Ep. 56
Collagen supplements are big business. And is it any wonder when they are touted as the elixir for youthful and glowing skin. With plenty of A-list celebrities singing its praises, it’s no wonder collagen is having a moment in the spotlight. And a look at Google Trends shows search interest in collagen supplements really took off at the start of 2019 and it is showing no signs of slowing down. Reading the shopping list of health claims made about collagen - from turning back the clock on your sk...
Feb 22, 2021•14 min•Ep. 55
What if I told you that all it takes to lose weight, boost energy and prevent diseases like arthritis, osteoporosis and cancer was to eat the right foods to keep the pH of your body in the alkaline zone? Well, if I were prepared to throw out every bit of scientific knowledge that I have of how the human body works to buffer against acidity and alkalinity then sure, I could tell you that. But I’m not. Instead, in today’s podcast, I’m going to investigate those wild health claims made by the celeb...
Feb 15, 2021•13 min•Ep. 54
Coeliac disease affects less than 1 percent of the population, yet, despite its relative rarity, there has been an explosion in the adoption of a gluten-free lifestyle. It is becoming more and more common for people to report having problematic reactions to foods containing gluten. Termed non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, this is a condition still in search of a defined disease despite having a large degree of overlap in symptoms with coeliac disease. In this podcast, I’ll explore the connection b...
Feb 08, 2021•16 min•Ep. 53
There was a time when plant-based meat substitutes were the exclusive domain of vegetarians and vegans. Now the food science technology behind these plant-based foods has come of age with products designed to closely look, feel, taste and even bleed like the real thing. The rise of meatless meats is all about meeting the demands of traditional meat-eaters who want to cut down on meat and are looking for plant-based protein alternatives. But are these foods really a healthier alternative to their...
Feb 01, 2021•12 min•Ep. 52
Gone are the days when cow’s milk was the only choice at the supermarket. There has been an explosion in recent years of plant-based non-dairy alternative milks. From the very familiar soy milk, we now have almond, coconut, oat, and rice milk plus a host of others joining the party. How well these contender alt-milks stack up against the ‘reference standard’ of cow’s milk is what I’ll be digging into in this podcast. Links referred to in the podcast Scientific review of plant-based milks compare...
Jan 25, 2021•10 min•Ep. 51
If you want to be less confused about just how to make sense of conflicting nutrition messages that you hear about each day then you’ve come to the right place. In today’s podcast, I’ll unpack what makes nutrition appear to be such a confusing area. But importantly, I’ll help set you straight in knowing how to make sense of it all. Links referred to in the podcast Industry conflict of interest in research https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0040005 Review of di...
Jan 18, 2021•25 min
Coffee. For some, it is deserving of its own essential food group. But is coffee more than just a way to achieve functioning human capacity first thing in the morning? You may have seen media headlines in the past warning about health risks of coffee. But now that the science has matured, coffee turns out to be one of the most surprisingly positive health stories of recent years. Forget about the latest superfood trend, coffee is where it is at. In this podcast, I’ll look closer at those health ...
Jan 11, 2021•20 min
Intermittent fasting is currently one of the world's most popular health trends. Characterised by alternating periods of food absence followed by periods of normal eating, promoters of intermittent fasting claim that it is the ‘metabolic key’ to unlocking weight loss, reducing inflammation, cutting the risk of diabetes and heart disease and maybe….even extending your life. This show covers what intermittent fasting is, how to do it, and what the evidence says about that long list of health claim...
Jan 04, 2021•23 min
