Food For Thought

Did you know that over 50% of the average adult’s diet—and 65% of a child’s diet—in the UK is made up of ultra-processed foods (UPFs)? 🍞In this eye-opening episode of Food for Thought, I’m joined by the incredible Dr Giles Yeo (@gilesyeo), a renowned geneticist specialising in obesity and how our brain controls food intake. 🧠💡 Hormones: Dr Yeo explains how hormones influence our brain's hunger signals and why this matters for weight management.🌸 Menopause: Discover how hormonal changes during menopause can drastically alter how your body reacts to diet and exercise.🍞 UPFs: Get the real story on ultra-processed foods—why they’re not all inherently ‘bad,’ but why their prevalence is concerning.🥗 Healthy Eating: Why is it so hard to access healthy foods? We discuss the barriers that make nutritious options less accessible to many.🍦 Childhood Obesity: Shockingly, 1 in 4 children under the age of 5 or 6 are overweight. Learn how the cost of living crisis is making it a privilege to eat well—something that shouldn’t be the case.🏫 School Dinners: Find out why schools are turning to more processed foods to cut costs and the impact this has on the quality of food for children.💉 Ozempic: Dr Yeo sheds light on the use of weight loss injections like Ozempic and the broader implications of these treatments.👩‍⚕️ Seek Help: If you’re struggling with weight or diet-related health issues, remember to consult a medical professional for guidance.🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and watch the full episode on YouTube now ✨#FoodForThoughtPodcast #ObesityAwareness #UPF #Genetics #HealthyLivingTips #ChildhoodObesity #NutritionMatters #HealthyDiets #SchoolMeals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you overwhelmed by the ever-changing diet trends and confused about who to trust for nutrition advice? 🤔 Do you feel like every ingredient is being demonised, and food restrictions are everywhere? 😬Join me in this week's episode of Food for Thought as I sit down with the incredible Graeme Tomlinson, also known as The Fitness Chef (@thefitnesschef_), founder of The Fitness Chef App! 🧑‍🍳In this episode, we break down the most common diet myths and explore how social media impacts your food choices. Plus, we share how to maintain a healthy relationship with food while still enjoying the foods you love!What We Cover 👇🏻🍗 Protein Obsession: Why are we so fixated on protein? Are we really deficient? Learn the truth about protein and if those protein bars and snacks are as rich in protein as they claim to be.💊 Supplements: Discover which supplements truly benefit your health and performance—like creatine, whey protein, BCAAs, electrolytes, and L-Glutamine. Should you rely on them, and which ones are actually backed by science?📚 Ditching Perfection: You can enjoy every food in your diet without guilt. Find out why understanding your food choices and maintaining balance is the key to a healthy lifestyle.⚖ Weight Loss Myths Exposed: We dive deep into common misconceptions about calorie counting, food labels, and weight fluctuations. Learn how factors like weather, hydration, time of day, and the menstrual cycle impact your weight—and how to manage it effectively.🧁 Ultra-Processed Foods: Are all ultra-processed foods bad? Not necessarily! Learn why some ultra-processed foods, like frozen vegetables or baked beans, can be a nutritious part of your diet.📱 The Fitness Chef App: Discover how Graeme's app can help you sustainably track your nutrition, support your fitness goals, and promote a healthy, balanced diet.🍬 Sugar Myths Busted: Get the facts about sugar, including the truth about glucose spikes and whether they’re really as "bad" as they’re made out to be.🎧 You can also catch the full episode on YouTube now! ✨And don't forget to download The Fitness Chef app and follow @thefitnesschef_ for more evidence-based, accessible, and humorous nutrition insights! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel overwhelmed by the maze of nutrition misinformation? You’re not alone! This week on Food for Thought, I’m thrilled to chat with the brilliant Dr. Federica Amati (@dr.fede.amati), fellow Registered Nutritionist, Author, Speaker, and a trusted voice cutting through the noise in a world full of myths!  We dive into the rise of GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic, marketed for weight loss but carrying significant risks. Did you know the ‘First 1000 Days’—from conception to age two—is a critical period for child development? Influencers are pushing the carnivore diet, but is it safe? Dr. Amati shares the serious health risks you need to know about. We explore how a plant-rich diet and fibre can ease menopause symptoms and boost overall health. Don’t forget to follow @dr.fede.amati for more valuable nutrition tips! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that women's health concerns like endometriosis and PMDD are often dismissed by healthcare professionals? Shockingly, it can take up to 8 years to get an endometriosis diagnosis in the UK—longer than in the US! In our latest Food for Thought episode, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Karen Tang (@karentangmd), a leading gynaecologist and reproductive health advocate. We dive deep into the barriers women face in getting proper care and how to break the stigma surrounding reproductive health. Remember, if you’re struggling with menstrual symptoms, it’s not something you should endure alone. Book a consultation at our Rhitrition Clinic to speak to a specialist today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered what the secret to living a longer, healthier, and happier life might be? In this week's episode of Food for Thought, I chat with the incredibly inspiring Giulia Crouch, a food and health journalist and co-host of a weekly food segment on Times Radio! Giulia reveals the secrets of the world’s Blue Zones—regions where people live longer, healthier lives. Drawing on her rich Sardinian heritage, she shares insights from her bestselling book, The Happiest Diet in the World. 🍝 The Power of Simplicity: Discover why the simplest dishes, like her Nonna’s tomato pasta, can be the most delicious and nutritious. 🍅✨🌱 Carbohydrates are Healthy: Learn why carbohydrates are a staple in Blue Zone diets, offering affordable, accessible, and sustainable nutrition. 🥔🍕🥗 Attitude Towards Food: Blue Zones aren’t just about what they eat, but how they eat—with joy, tradition, and no fear around food. 🎉🍷 Food & Social Connection: In Blue Zones, food is more than just nutrition—it’s a social experience, celebrated with family and friends. Sadly, many in the UK have lost touch with these traditions. ❤🚫 UPFs vs Real Whole Foods: We explore how ultra-processed foods can’t compete with the satisfaction and health benefits of real, whole foods. 🌿👩‍🍳 Cooking & Longevity: Giulia emphasises the importance of cooking from scratch, not just for nutrition, but for overall well-being and longevity. 🍲💪 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thinking of buying an online intolerance test? Did you know they aren’t scientifically backed and could be a waste of your money? 🤯Join me in this week's episode of Food for Thought, where I sit down with the amazing Kirsten Jackson (@the.ibsdietitian), an expert in gut health and IBS. 🧠Listen as Kirsten unpacks the complexities of IBS, from symptoms to misdiagnoses, and the often-overlooked impact of mental health. 🌿🌟 Kirsten’s ‘Take Control’ Method: Discover her powerful approach that combines movement, sleep optimisation, mental well-being, and nutrition to help you manage IBS effectively. 📚🧠 Gut-Mind Connection: Explore how anxiety, depression, and stress play a major role in triggering IBS symptoms. 💭📋 IBS Diagnosis: Learn about the ROME Criteria—guidelines doctors use to diagnose IBS—and the key symptoms you should be aware of. 🔍🧪 Intolerance Tests: Kirsten explains why these tests aren’t reliable, as they measure your immune response, not true food intolerances. ⚠🌱 Low FODMAP Diet: Understand how this diet can help manage symptoms, but why it’s not a long-term solution and should be used carefully. 🥦🍞🛌 Sleep & Stress: Discover how poor sleep and stress directly affect your gut health and why they’re just as crucial as your diet. 😴🔄💬 Top Tips for IBS: From cutting down on caffeine to keeping meals regular, get practical advice to help manage your symptoms. ☕🚫🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to gain valuable insights into managing IBS and improving your gut health! ✨And don’t forget to grab a copy of Take Control of Your IBS and follow @the.ibsdietitian for more tips and guidance! 📚 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medical misinformation is everywhere! Have you seen bananas being compared to mars bars?In this week’s podcast I sit down with Dr Karan Rajan (@drkaranrajan), at The Happy Place Festival, to discuss how misinformation can cause problems and how as a doctor he uses his platforms to help educate people. Probiotics - do the supplements all really work? We look into how you can get healthy bacteria strains and extra benefits from foods rather than capsules. Discover what factors determine how many times you pass wind! Boosting the immune system - find out whether you can actually do this and whether you want an overactive immune system. Or is it more about optimising your immune system by promoting your sleep for example? Balancing hormones - understand what this really means for us. Should we be doing this extrinsically or externally? Do we want this? BMI - learn what BMI means, what it is and what factors affect this number. Is it a useful number to look at? Ozempic - discover the misinformation and the issues around this drug being unregulated and the serious consequences that can arise from taking this without proper medical guidance. Tackling misinformation - discover how to be pointed in the right direction to steer away from medical misinformation. Glucose monitors - do we all need to wear one? What are they really used for? Is glucose bad? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode I sit down with nutrition scientist and physiotherapist Simon Hill (@simonhill) to talk about all things nutrition, research, exercise and optimising health! We discuss topics surrounding misinformation -  is the information on the news and in social media accurate? Does it accurately summarise the research? Study types - discover how some research can increase anxiety for people when it comes to food. Is the study based on humans or animals? What dose is the subject exposed to and for how long? Plant-based diets - find out how choosing a diet high in fibre, plant diversity, and low in ultra processed foods help you to shift risk factors in a more favourable direction, improving your health outcomes. Discover whether there are any limitations and for any particular groups of people specifically. Protein - is animal protein better than plant protein for building muscle or healthy ageing? Is it about protein intake or actually increasing resistance training? Find out how plant protein consumption can reduce your cardio metabolic risk factors whilst still increasing muscle mass. Phytates - learn what they are, what foods contain them and should we be concerned that they may reduce absorption of certain minerals? Make sure to follow @simonhill for more information! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode I sat down with the incredible Professor Sarah Berry. With over 20 years experience of nutrition research, Sarah is Chief Scientist at Zoe and has recently conducted exciting research examining diet & health outcomes of menopausal women. Discover how seed oils can actually benefit our health. Why are people so paranoid about omega-6 ratios? Uncover the truth about the underrepresentation of women in health research. Is it really the patriarchy or is there more to the story? Changes during menopause...how do hormonal changes during this time impact our lifestyle needs? Learn about the latest findings on how our diet can impact menopause symptoms. Is there such a thing as a “menopause friendly diet”?#FoodforThought #ProfessorSarahBerry #MenopauseandHealth #PlantBasedDiets #SeedOils Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode I sit down with the incredible Peter Hammarstedt, Director of Campaigns for @SeaShepherd.Sea Shepherd’s sole mission is to protect and conserve the world’s oceans and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd stands at the critical line between survival and extinction for countless marine species targeted by illegal ocean exploitation. Discover how illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide is bigger than the illicit drug trade, and it is devastating the ocean. Learn about the dangerous missions Peter and the other crew undertook in the name of protecting our marine life. How much of our oceans are actually protected? Where is the illegal fishing happening? Is there any way to sustainably consume fish? What species should we be avoiding? Find out what challenges face our oceans today and what we can do on a personal level to help. Discover how harvesting krill for use in Omega-3 supplements is stripping an important food source from marine life. If you’re able to help out by donating to the Sea Shepherd mission, visit seashepherdglobal.org. Your support goes directly to defending, conserving & protecting the oceans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel overwhelmed by the maze of nutrition advice for little ones? You’re not alone! This week on Food for Thought, I’m thrilled to chat with the brilliant Charlotte Stirling Reed, expert in feeding, weaning & fussy eating. Ultra-processed foods: How do we navigate the minefield that is UPF’s? Should we be completely avoiding these foods for the health of our children? Breakfast cereals: How do high-sugar breakfast cereals impact the health of our little ones? Early Nutrition Matters: Did you know the ‘First 1000 Days’—from conception to age two—is a critical period for child development? Learn why early nutrition is so vital! School and Nursery: What action can we take in improving the food served in our children’s school environments? Holiday season: Trying to ensure our children receive good nutrition is particularly hard during the holiday periods. Discover expert approved ways to navigate the festive season! Misinformation: Did you know that only 2% of nutrition advice we receive on TikTok is accurate? Uncover why these types of videos gain so much traction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back for Season 17 with a brilliant episode as Ella Mills, the force behind Deliciously Ella, delves into her journey of shaking up the food scene. In a candid conversation, Ella confronts the preconceptions about veganism and dishes out the rich flavours of her plant-based life. Plus for more information, visit Rhitrition.com, Instagram.com/rhitrition, Rhitritionplus.com, Instagram.com/rhitritionplus.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this incredibly inspiring episode join us as Tia Toomey, six-time CrossFit Games champion and author of ‘The Heart is the Strongest Muscle’, shares her journey into fitness and competing. Today's episode is full of inspiring stories of how hard work and heart-felt determination can lead you to the outcomes you’ve always dreamed of. We delve into the struggles faced by many when dealing with societal pressure to ‘bounce back’ after giving birth, how the landscape in women’s sports is changing for the better, how Tia navigates diet and health during training periods for sustained energy and performance, the empowering message behind her new book, how Tia progressed into the CrossFit champion she is today, and the importance of resilience to face challenges head-on, fuelled by determination!Plus for more information, visit Rhitrition.com, Instagram.com/rhitrition, Rhitritionplus.com, Instagram.com/rhitritionplus.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It will save your life…Unlock the secrets to a longer life with Dr. Marianne Trent. Shockingly, 50% of employed adults in the UK don't utilise their annual leave, with 42% experiencing work-related stress during holidays and 46% still working while off-duty.Dive into the psychological effects of skipping annual breaks and discover how setting boundaries, avoiding burnout, and unplugging can contribute to a longer, healthier life.In a recent survey, 79% agreed that taking a break is beneficial for mental health. Join us in emphasising the importance of taking holidays seriously – because your well-being deserves priority.Special thanks to British Airways Holidays for partnering with us on this bonus episode, they are encouraging everyone to prioritise their well-being by taking their holidays seriously. Search ba.com/holidays for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that 1 in 4 males suffer from an eating disorder? During the pandemic, the number of eating disorder counselling sessions supplied to men and boys increased by 113%. This is according to BEAT, the UK eating disorder charity. The quest for the perfect masculine body can influence attitude towards diet and exercise, which can quickly escalate into unhealthy behaviour. Join us in the latest Food for Thought episode as we sit down with James McVey, the incredibly talented guitarist and vocalist of the multi-award winning band, The Vamps. In a raw and vulnerable conversation, James opens up about his personal battle with body image and an eating disorder that went unnoticed, shedding light on the often-overlooked topic of male eating disorders and the lack of representation in mainstream media. From the challenges and triumphs of fame to his time in the jungle on "I'm a Celeb," this episode delves into the many parts of James’s fascinating life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that the food we eat has a direct impact on our mood? This is because certain nutrients have direct effects on brain function and neurotransmitter production. In this fascinating episode, we’re exploring the intriguing connection between what we eat and our mood. Join me and Harvard-trained psychiatrist, chef, and nutrition specialist, Dr. Uma Naidoo as we delve into the Gut-Brain Connection. Discover the mood-enhancing foods to include in your diet, unravel the power of fibre for brain health and learn how meal timing and nutrients can influence mental health disorders like PTSD and ADHD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The modern ways of life have drastically affected our work-life balance and stressors, causing many to experience burnout. With 9 in 10 adults in the UK experiencing high or extreme stress in the past year and 1 in 5 needing to take time off work due to poor mental health caused by pressure or stress, we must focus on challenging the causes of chronic stress across society and preventing burnout. In this captivating episode, I am joined by the remarkable psychotherapist and best selling author, Anna Mathur, to discover how to conquer stress & anxiety with insights that could transform your life. Join us as we explore the reality of burnout, the secrets of true relaxation, the role of social media in preventing us from switching off and the root causes of explosive emotions. Shedding light on the realities of parenting in the digital age and the mental benefits of sobriety, Anna shares her expertise on many of the modern difficulties we face, offering valuable solutions and Food for Thought. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode of Food for Thought, we are honoured to have the illustrious musical theatre star and international icon, Kerry Ellis. Renowned as the Queen of the West End, Kerry's impressive career spans a multitude of leading roles and her talents extend beyond the theatre stage, boasting four studio albums and an upcoming tour. In this episode, we delve into Kerry's early life and reflect on her time at Laine Theatre Arts, where she shares insights into the pressures students faced to conform to a certain appearance. Experience the magic of Kerry’s stage performances and discover the heartwarming friendship between Kerry and Queen guitarist Brian May. Kerry describes her transformed perspective on diet and nutrition and its impact on performance endurance. Explore the role of food in her journey and how a mindful approach has enhanced her on-stage capabilities. Tune in to gain profound insight into the realities of the performing arts and Kerry's individual journey — a tale of passion, perseverance, and the pursuit of excellence that continues to captivate audiences worldwide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us on the latest episode of Food for Thought where we are joined by the remarkable Lavina Mehta as she shares her inspiring journey towards embracing a life enriched with movement. Uncover the science behind 'Exercise Snacking', learning how, and when, to practice this habit, and its profound impact on our aging bodies. Did you know that South Asian women can enter menopause 5 to 6 years earlier than the average white female? Explore fascinating insights into cultural differences surrounding menopause and discover the preventative measures you can take towards a happier, healthier future. This episode goes beyond the physical, offering lessons on how to navigate the emotional changes that come with this life stage. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of movement, and discover practical tips for preparing our bodies for the life stages that await us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that 50% of people turn to the internet rather than healthcare professionals for health advice? In the era of social media and TikTok trends, separating helpful information from harmful fads can be a challenge. I am joined by the incredible TikTok sensation, Dr Idz, to decipher the truth around many of the latest dietary fads. From the real impact of seed oils on our bodies, to the noise surrounding oat m*lk and glucose monitoring, we're bringing you the straight up facts, backed by science. Get clarity on whether calorie counting is a necessity for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and further understand the link between red meat and cancer. Tune in as we cut through the noise of social media trends to provide evidence-based information that empowers you to make informed decisions about your dietary choices. Tune in for a deep dive into the science behind these trends and navigate the maze of health advice with confidence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.