ZOE Science & Nutrition

ZOE

The world’s top scientists explain the latest health, nutrition, and gut health research and translate it into practical advice to improve your health & weight. Join ZOE Science & Nutrition, on a journey of scientific discovery. Hosted by Jonathan Wolf. read less

Michael Mosley: 4 habits that changed his life
5d ago
Michael Mosley: 4 habits that changed his life
If you had to do just one thing to improve your health, what would it be?Our busy lives mean it can be difficult to keep up healthy habits, and with so much conflicting advice out there it’s tricky to separate fact from fiction. In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by medical doctor, journalist, and presenter Michael Mosley, who is alongside ZOE regular Tim Spector, to discuss Michael’s four key habits to improve our health. Michael’s latest book ‘Just One Thing’ explores these habits and has seen him speak to singing scientists and eccentric iceman to healthy habit experts and evangelists. And of course, being Michael, he tried every habit out himself. We talk about which methods are the most effective, which he has incorporated into his life, and how he makes his new habits stick.Take part in the Big Poo Review 💩. Fill out the survey here.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Timecodes:00:00 Introduction00:12 Topic introduction01:38 Quick Fire Questions03:24 Michael's simple changes to improve health04:26 Are cold showers good for you?05:54 How long do you need to be immersed in cold water for the benefits to work?06:40 Can cold showers improve mental wellbeing?10:25 Potential dangers of cold water swimming11:58 Do cultural differences present different outcomes across the world?13:08 Can these small stressors help us?13:28 What is the theory behind this working?15:21 Will this work for everyone or is this very personalized?17:45 What effects does breathing have on your health?18:57 How breathing exercises affect our brain21:23 How do you keep up the breathing exercises?22:36 ZOE app breathing exercise24:44 Is there a difference between breathing through your nose and your mouth?26:04 How important are plants and nature for our health?29:21 Can exposure to nature improve things like mental health and even gut health?31:01 Can herbs also help improve our health?31:27 What are the benefits of exercise?32:42 What are endocannabinoids?33:41 Are preferences for exercise genetic?35:12 Is it endorphins that make us feel good after / during exercise?36:31 How exercise affects us is extremely personalized38:42 How do we encourage people who don't enjoy exercise to do it?40:13 Tips to improve your exercise routines43:08 Are there benefits to walking downhill?45:42 Summary48:34 Goodbyes49:08 OutroEpisode transcripts are available hereMichael Mosley’s book is available to buy hereFollow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/Have an idea for a podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
Everything you've heard about lactose is wrong
09-03-2023
Everything you've heard about lactose is wrong
Lactose is usually only discussed in the context of intolerance. This intolerance can make us feel bloated, gassy and uncomfortable. But from cow’s milk to yoghurt and even breast milk, lactose is everywhere! So, can it really be that bad for us?In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, we’re joined by Dr Will B. to find out. Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/Take part in the Big Poo Review 💩. Fill out the survey here.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalised nutrition program.Studies referenced in the episode:Nature: How humans’ ability to digest milk evolved from famine and diseasePubMed Central (PMC)Effects of Prebiotic and Probiotic Supplementation on Lactase Deficiency and Lactose Intolerance: A Systematic Review of Controlled TrialsPubMed Central (PMC)Improving lactose digestion and symptoms of lactose intolerance with a novel galacto-oligosaccharide (RP-G28): a randomized, double-blind clinical trialPubMed Central (PMC)Impact of short-chain galactooligosaccharides on the gut microbiome of lactose-intolerant individualshttps://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lactose-intolerance The Importance of Lactose in the Human Diet: Outcomes of a Mexican Consensus Meeting: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893676/ Episode transcripts are available here.Want to create your own podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
Best of gut health - anniversary edition
07-03-2023
Best of gut health - anniversary edition
Gut health is a topic we talk about a lot at ZOE. The gut doesn’t just fight disease, it boosts our mood, processes energy and so much more. Today’s bonus episode journeys through everything we’ve learnt about gut health so far. And what a myth-busting journey it is!In this episode, Jonathan delves into the microbiome, highlighting the most useful tips from conversations with ZOE’s U.S. Medical Director and resident gut health expert, Will Bulsiewicz, and Tim Spector, one of top 100 most cited scientists and author Food for Life. Take part in the Big Poo Review 💩. Fill out the survey here.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalised nutrition program.Timecodes:00:00 - Intro01:27 - Is bacteria bad for us?04:10 - How is the microbiome affected by what we eat?10:00 - What happens to the gut when fasting?11:53 - Why bacteria eats the inside of our bodies13:59 - What causes heartburn?17:00 - What’s going on with gas and bloating?19:09 - Tell-tale signs of constipation22:42 - How to treat constipation25:52 - Other signs of an unhealthy gut27:20 - Why do doctors ask about your trips to the bathroom?29:37 - Tips for tackling an unhealthy gut31:40 - OutroEpisode transcripts are available here.Will’s book is available to buy here.Tim’s book is available to buy here.Full length episodes mentioned:Signs of an unhealthy gutGut bacteria and fasting: meet the night crew - The Big IF DailiesGas and bloating: the causes and how to stop itYour gut is full of bugs: why this is great newsThe ultimate guide to constipationHeartburn: Why it happens and what you can doReferenced in today’s episode: A redefinition of constipation from King’s College LondonThe State Of The Nation’s Gut, a report from the U.K.-based Love Your Gut initiativeEpidemiology of constipation in Europe and Oceania: A systematic review published in BMC Gastroenterology Recent advances in understanding and managing chronic constipation published in...
The future is here: AI and personalized healthcare with Eric Topol
02-03-2023
The future is here: AI and personalized healthcare with Eric Topol
If you were to ask Siri, Alexa, or ChatGPT for medical advice right now, that would be a terrible idea. But with recent developments in technology, this looks set to change. AI has become more intelligent, wearable devices - more accurate, and personalized medicine - increasingly mainstream.But is any of this safe? Should we really trust machines with our health? And will any of this actually happen?In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to Eric Topol to explore how artificial intelligence may transform your next trip to the doctor.Eric Topol is one of the top 10 most-cited researchers in medicine, the author of 3 bestselling books on the future of medicine, and a practising cardiologist.Take part in the Big Poo Review 💩. Fill out the survey here.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Timecodes:00:00 - Introduction00:11 - Topic introduction01:53 - Quickfire questions04:17 - Doctor-patient relationship05:49 - Jonathan’s story with Eric 08:02 - How has medicine changed?13:54 - Is there an optimistic future for medicine, utilising AI?17:46 - How close are we to utilizing AI-based solutions in medicine?23:09 - Self-diagnosis and preventative care27:05 - Is prevention possible through AI?32:33 - Personalized healthcare41:51 - Summary43:45 - Goodbyes44:01 - OutroEpisode transcripts are available here.Follow Eric on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricTopolFollow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/Have an idea for a podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
How to maximize health in your later years
16-02-2023
How to maximize health in your later years
Why do some people remain fit and healthy in their later years while others become increasingly frail?  Researchers from Kings College London have been following thousands of twins for 30 years in an effort to understand how each of us ages differently. And some of their findings will surprise you!In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to Claire Steves to better understand what all this means, shedding light on how aging works and what we can do about it:Dr. Claire Steves is a senior lecturer at King's College London, a medical doctor, and the clinical director at TwinsUKTake part in the Big Poo Review 💩. Fill out the survey here.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Timecodes:00:00 - Introduction00:10 - Topic introduction01:39 - Quickfire questions03:16 - Claire’s work during the pandemic05:17 - What happens in our bodies when we age?08:26 - Genes and aging09:33 - What factors affect aging?11:39 - Effects of physical activity12:23 - Microbiome effects on aging13:33 - Claire’s research19:11 - What evidence is there that we can slow the effects of aging?21:44 - What are some modifiable factors that can help reduce aging effects?23:06 - Alzheimer's and dementia28:21 - Stimulating your brain29:45 - The importance of social interaction for the brain31:02 - Diet. health and aging35:27 - Menopause37:30 - Actionable advice about maximizing health while aging39:14 - The biggest myth about aging42:20 - Summary43:41 - Goodbyes43:50 - OutroEpisode transcripts are available hereFind Claire’s publications hereThe UK’s largest adult twin registry - Twins UKFollow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/Have an idea for a podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
How to eat well on a budget
02-02-2023
How to eat well on a budget
The cost of living has soared. Energy prices have doubled, and food costs have gone up enormously. As a result, the weekly shopping bill can be shocking. For some, this is merely an inconvenience. But many others face the awful choice between heating their home and maintaining their usual diet. The consequence is that many of us are throwing cheaper ingredients into our shopping baskets to save money. So does this mean that eating healthy is an indulgence that be dropped in favour of cheap ultra-processed food? Or is it still possible to eat healthily on a budget?In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to Dr. Rupy Aujla and Tim Spector to better understand how to eat healthier while spending less:Dr. Rupy Aujla is a medical doctor who, since 2015, has been teaching people to cook their way to health. He’s the founder of The Doctor’s Kitchen and has recently turned his efforts to healthy cooking on a tight budget.Tim Spector is a co-founder of ZOE and one of the world's top 100 most cited scientists.Take part in the Big Poo Review 💩. Fill out the survey here.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Buy Rupy’s book here. Timecodes:00:00 - Introduction00:10 - Topic introduction02:12 - Quickfire questions with Rupy03:33 - Quickfire questions with Tim04:22 - What’s one swap you can make today if you’re trying to eat well, for less?05:07 - What has Dr. Rupy been up to?06:58 - Do you need to give up eating healthy foods when economizing?08:23 - Options when you’re on a budget09:31 - Batch cooking16:00 - Is it expensive to have healthy and good quality foods?17:54 - Recipe adherence20:24 - Advice for people cooking on their own23:53 - How long does food last?25:24 - How nutritious are canned & frozen foods?28:23 - About protein38:31 - What’s the one food you should spend more money on?41:34 - Summary42:29 - Can you have a healthier diet as a consequence of being on a budget?43:23 - Goodbyes43:26 - OutroGet Tim’s book here.Episode transcripts are available here.Find delicious recipes to cook here.Follow Rupy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctors_kitchen Follow Tim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim.spectorFollow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/Want to create your own podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
How to improve blood sugar control with exercise
19-01-2023
How to improve blood sugar control with exercise
Blood sugar is one of the rare nutrition topics where everyone agrees: We should avoid big peaks and dips and aim for a steady curve. Spikes cause inflammation, accelerate aging, and lead to type 2 diabetes. Crashes make us feel moody and tired, and crave foods we don’t need. We can control our blood sugar through what and how we eat. But something else affects our blood sugar — physical activity. Exercise has a profound effect on your blood sugar response. Together with your food choices, being physically active helps you keep your blood sugar level even.In this episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan speaks with Javier Gonzalez and Sarah Berry to find out how exercise affects our blood sugar response — even when we’re fasting — and how much exercise we need to do to benefit.Javier Gonzalez is an associate professor of human physiology at the University of Bath whose research focuses on the interaction between diet and exercise.Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition. She has personally run over 20 randomized clinical trials looking at how humans respond to different fats.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Timecodes:00:00 - Introduction00:12 - Topic introduction01:39 - Quickfire questions02:55 - Is a 30-minute walk as good as 30-minute cardio?03:39 - What is blood sugar and why should we care about it?05:10 - Blood sugar control throughout the day07:43 - Why is it important to know about blood sugar?09:01 - Blood sugar control12:25 - How exercise affects blood sugar14:17 - The power of fidgeting16:12 - Effects of higher intensity exercise17:00 - Lower intensity exercise vs higher intensity exercise18:41 - Intermittent fasting and blood sugar24:43 - Personalization26:35 - What types of exercises can you do to control blood sugar?29:12 - Cardio vs resistance training34:21 - Blood fats & exercise42:15 - 3 tips on leveraging exercise to control blood sugar and blood fats43:14 - Summary44:25 - Goodbyes44:37 - OutroEpisode transcripts are available here.Follow Javier on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gonzalez_jtFollow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahberry/ Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/Have an idea for a podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
Should we be worried about strep A?
05-01-2023
Should we be worried about strep A?
This year, cases of an invasive bacterial infection are rising earlier than usual in the US, the UK and other countries across Europe. The group A Streptococcus bacteria - commonly known as Strep A - usually only causes mild illness. However, things have become severe in some cases, with several children dying in recent weeks.So, should we be worried? And what symptoms should we look out for to help us identify this illness in ourselves and our families?In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by world-leading expert on the subject: Shiranee Sriskandan is a professor of Infectious Diseases at Imperial College London whose scientific research focuses specifically on Strep A bacteria. Regular guest and ZOE co-founder Tim Spector also joins, and as one of the world’s top 100 most cited scientists, Tim has been closely following infectious diseases in the community through the ZOE Health Study. If you want to boost your immune system by uncovering the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Timecodes:00:00   Introduction00:10   Topic Introduction01:40 Quickfire Questions03:15 What is Strep?04:04 How common is Strep?05:02 Seasonality of Strep and symptoms in different climates05:30 What makes this year different?06:31 Can Strep make other illnesses worse?07:07 We've already seen signs of Strep rising over time, is this due to lockdown?09:36 How worried should we be about Strep infections?10:10 Group A Strep will often get better on its own11:07 The risk of rarer invasive infections is greater as the pool of cases increases11:59 Immune response to Strep A can increase chances of Rheumatic Fever13:35 What is Rheumatic Fever?14:59 What are the symptoms of Strep A16:53 How to treat Strep Throat18:12 What is the relationship between Strep A and Scarlet Fever18:53 Who gets Scarlet Fever and what are the symptoms?19:34 What are the distinguishing features between covid and other sore throats20:53 Do children get more fevers if they are younger?22:54 What to do if you think your child has strep throat24:01 Can you get rapid tests for Strep A?24:25 Why has Strep throat been seemingly more prominent in the US than the UK25:41 Different health services around the world and their respective responses to Strep27:36 Should we be testing and treating?30:15 What role does differing attitudes to healthcare play in this?32:02 Should we be cautious about using antibiotics for Strep A?33:51 What potential problems are there around antibiotics?36:00 Would a vaccine be the answer to stopping Strep in its tracks?38:41 Tim's top tips to boost your immunity this winter41:06 SummaryEpisode transcripts are available hereRead about Tim Spector’s ZOE Health Study hereFollow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/Have an idea for a podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
How to make New Year’s resolutions stick
01-01-2023
How to make New Year’s resolutions stick
Welcome to 2023! Whether you partied last night or went to bed early, we’re all in the same boat: a new year means thinking about new year’s resolutions. This tradition dates back 4000 years, so it’s certainly stood the test of time. But are new year’s resolutions a good idea? Or simply a get way to set yourself up to fail? Perhaps science has something to say about this.In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Tara Swart and Sarah Berry, who share techniques that will give you the best chance of sticking to your New Year’s resolutions. They also discuss whether these promises are a good idea in the first place. Tara Swart is a medical doctor, a neuroscientist, and the author of The Source: Open Your Mind, Change Your Life. She also has her own podcast, called Reinvent Yourself.Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition. She has personally run more than 20 randomized clinical trials looking at how humans respond to different fats.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Timecodes:00:00 - Introduction00:10 - Topic introduction01:54 - Quickfire questions02:32 - Making good choices for the New Year without it being hard work04:28 - Why do we do New Year resolutions and is it a good idea?07:07 - How to achieve New Year’s resolution goals?09:18 - Scientific evidence about how to achieve goals09:53 - What is neuroplasticity16:02 - 4-step process to change your brain18:36 - How to approach weight loss resolutions23:07 - Avoiding dieting as a New Year’s resolution25:49 - The science of habits33:07 - Tips & actionable advice40:02 - Quitting alcohol43:26 - Summary44:00 - Goodbyes44:11 - OutroEpisode transcripts are available here.Get Tara’s book here.Follow Tara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtaraswartFollow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahberry/ Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/Have an idea for a podcast? Contact Fascinate Productions to bring it to life.
The secrets of good sleep
08-12-2022
The secrets of good sleep
We all know how good it feels to drift into deep sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. The positive effects of a good night’s sleep affect every aspect of our lives. We feel energetic, focused, and ready to take on the day’s challenges.  But the long-term effects of bad sleep are less known. It turns out, they have a huge impact on our health and even how long we live.  In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Prof. Matthew Walker to learn what the latest science says about improving our sleep — to give us more energy and better health. They also discuss whether how we sleep changes how our bodies respond to food.Matthew Walker is a sleep expert, a professor of neuroscience at UC Berkeley, and founder of the Center for Human Sleep Science. He’s also the author of Why We Sleep. Matt and his team are currently working with ZOE scientists to research the links between sleep, nutrition, and health.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Timecodes:00:00 - Intro00:33 - Episode start01:22 - Quickfire questions02:48 - What’s the biggest myth about sleep»04:09 - What is sleep?07:46 - Why do we sleep?10:29 - REM14:22 - How does Matt study sleep?16:18 - What happens when you don’t get enough sleep?22:48 - Collaboration with ZOE28:16 - Sleep and menopause32:38 - Tips on how to sleep better33:23 - Sleep regularity35:12 - How do you find out about your chronotype?37:20 - Bedroom temperature38:04 - Lighting39:04 - Caffeine and Alcohol effects on sleep44:22 - Making your room like a cave44:57 - The influence of screens on your sleep47:03 - Summary48:14 - Goodbyes48:35 - OutroGet Matt’s book here.Listen to Matt’s podcast here.'How people wake up is associated with previous night’s sleep together with physical activity and food intake' - Read the paper: here.Find out your chronotype here.Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.
The truth about vitamin supplements
24-11-2022
The truth about vitamin supplements
Good information about vitamins is hard to find. With over 70% of Americans and 40% of Brits using them, it's a hugely lucrative market, which means numerous voices in the media and online pusing a pro-vitamin agenda. All without the scientific evidence to support their claims. So do we need vitamins to lead a healthy life? Or could these supplements actually cause serious health complications?In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Prof. JoAnn Manson and Dr. Sarah Berry to better understand how vitamin supplements affect our health.JoAnn Manson is a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and one of the world's most cited researchers. She’s run multiple enormous studies with over 20,000 participants to uncover the real effects of vitamin supplementation on our health.Dr. Sarah Berry is one of the world's leading experts on human nutrition, who has personally run over 20 randomized clinical trials looking at how humans respond to different fats.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Timecodes:00:00 - Introduction02:29 - Quickfire questions04:27 - Why are people confused about supplements?05:17 - Which supplement does the majority of the population benefit from taking and why?05:51 - What are dietary supplements and vitamins?09:33 - Why is there so much advertising suggesting supplements?10:54 - JoAnn’s research14:07 - About vitamin C15:15 - Megadosing19:51 - VITAL and COSMOS trials25:13 - Should we take vitamin D27:37 - Omega-332:48 - Variation & personalization36:51 - Actionable advice on supplements38:45 - Should children take supplements?42:13 - Should we all take a standard dose multivitamin?44:54 - Summary46:25 - Goodbyes46:57 - OutroEpisode transcripts are available here.Check the trials mentioned in today’s episode: AREDS 2, COSMOS, Physicians' Health Study II, VITALFollow Sarah: https://twitter.com/saraheeberryFollow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/This podcast was produced by Fascinate Productions.