We are so excited to be back In The Nutshell as we kick off season six with dual qualified NHS Consultant Dermatologist and nutritionist Dr Thivi Maruthappu.

We cover the inflammatory condition, psoriasis, and find out why it is considered a systemic condition, and how it links to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic health. Dr Thivi outlines the potential mechanisms through which diet and lifestyle influence systemic inflammation, immune pathways, and the gut microbiome.

We take a closer look at the APPLE study (Asking People with Psoriasis about Lifestyle and Eating), co-led by Dr Thivi and researchers at King’s College London, exploring how overall diet quality relates to psoriasis severity, and how dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods are associated with better outcomes, providing important data that lifestyle and dietary assessments have a key role to play alongside standard clinical care.

To access the study:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39973353/

Zanesco S, Maruthappu T, Griffiths CEM, Dalrymple KV, Gibson R, Hall WL. Associations between diet quality indices and psoriasis severity: results from the Asking People with Psoriasis about Lifestyle and Eating (APPLE) cross-sectional study. British Journal of Nutrition (2025)

To connect with Dr Thivi:

https://drthivi.com/

To buy Dr Thivi's book:

https://drthivi.com/skinfood-your-4-step-solution-healthy-happy-skin/

To sign up to the Veganuary myth busting talk on Tuesday 13th January 2026 please email [email protected]

The Made in Hackney book discussed :

https://madeinhackney.org/buy-our-new-cookbook-we-cook-plants-%F0%9F%8C%B1/

And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.

If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membership

You don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

Vanessa Sturman, food coach, is back to guide us on a flexible approach to Christmas plant-based food. She discusses how to enjoy food and celebrate Christmas without feeling like you've lost touch with healthy whole food plant-based eating for the coming year.

Those tempeh stuffing balls...

https://theveganlarder.com/vegan-christmas-tempeh-sausage-stuffing-balls/#recipe

Contact Vanessa:

https://www.vanessasturman.com/

Instagram:

@vanessaforhealth

In episode 8 of season 5, we speak with lifestyle medicine expert, and Plant-Based Health Professionals Ambassador, Dr. Chidi Ngwaba.

Dr Chidi breaks down how type 2 diabetes, one of the most common chronic diseases, can be prevented, treated, and even reversed through evidence-based lifestyle changes, particularly a whole-food plant-based diet.

By explaining the underlying mechanisms of insulin resistance in a way that is accessible, we understand how and why the answer goes beyond just  refined sugar.

He highlights why plant-based nutrition is so effective at restoring insulin sensitivity and improving metabolic health, sharing clinical insights from his work helping thousands of patients reverse chronic conditions.

We also address common myths surrounding carbohydrates, fruit and diabetes, offering clarity for anyone confused by conflicting nutrition advice.

This episode is both inspiring and informative so make sure to listen to the end to find out what Dr Chidi's favourite plant-based meal is!

To connect with Dr Chidi: [email protected]https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchidimd/

Access recipes and learn more about Plant-Based Sis: https://plantbasedsis.com/

Plant- Based Health Professionals UK Type 2 Diabetes Factsheets: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Diabetes-factsheet08.11.24.pdf

Plant- Based Health Professionals UK article on Type 2 Diabetes treatment and prevention: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/plant-based-diets-for-the-prevention-and-treatment-of-type-2-diabetes

Further information on continuous glucose monitors: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/continuous-glucose-monitor

For the courses discussed: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/courses

And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today. If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a healthcare professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

It will come as no surprise to our regular listeners that kidney disease is another area in which a healthy plant-based diet supports better health. We are therefore delighted to bring you this week's bonus episode: our discussion with Cade Morant about his experience of nephrotic syndrome and a diagnosis of focal segmental glomerulonephritis. Cade has experienced a kidney transplant and ongoing dialysis, but despite these challenges has discovered plant-based diets are not just good for planetary health! 

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CKDKidneyfactsheetPBHPUK-May23.pdf

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Reducing-potassium-in-CKD-when-you-are-following-a-plant-based-diet.pdf

https://kdigo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Key-Takeaways_KDIGO-2024-CKD-Guideline_People-Living-with-CKD.pdf

In episode 7 of the season we dive deep into the world of seaweed. Seaweed is considered one of the most nutrient-dense, sustainable, and surprisingly versatile foods, yet so many of us haven't considered adding it to our plates. So we were delighted to hear from Plant-Based Health Professionals member, Jenny Griffiths, who is currently completing a PhD in U.K. Sustainable Food Systems, about the health benefits of seaweed and why she thinks the U.K. population should consider adding more seaweed to their diets.Listen today to find out about the key nutrients found in seaweed, the differences between major varieties, safety considerations, the potential environmental benefits, and of course practical ways to incorporate seaweed into your diet for both taste and health.

Links discussed in this episode:

https://beachfood.co.uk/https://www.carymor.wales/https://www.cornishseaweed.co.uk/Guides from the Marine Conservation Society (here) and Natural Resources Wales (here). 
To reach out and connect with Jenny:[email protected]And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membership

You don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

In this week's nugget we revisit our interview with Carlijn Wagenaar from the Plants for Joints study, as they launch their 'Plants for Health' programme to help those suffering from a range of chronic conditions  - not just joint problems.

Order the e-or printed book and sign up for the programme:

https://plants-for-health.com/ 

References for the programme:

Two-Year Follow-Up of a Multidisciplinary Lifestyle Intervention for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Carlijn A. Wagenaar, Wendy Walrabenstein, Marike van der Leeden et al.
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken), 2025

Effect of a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention on body composition in people with osteoarthritis: Secondary analysis of the “Plants for Joints” randomized controlled trial
Carlijn A. Wagenaar, Wendy Walrabenstein, Sofieke C.S. de Jonge et al.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 2024

Long-term effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: 1-year follow-up of the ‘Plants for Joints’ randomised clinical trial 

Carlijn Wagenaar, Wendy Walrabenstein, Marike van der Leeden, et al.

RMD Open, 2024

A multidisciplinary lifestyle program for metabolic syndrome-associated osteoarthritis: the ‘Plants for Joints’ randomized controlled trial
Award: Publication of the year
Wendy Walrabenstein, Carlijn Wagenaar, Marieke van de Put, et al.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2023

A multidisciplinary lifestyle program for rheumatoid arthritis: the ‘Plants for Joints’ randomized controlled trial
Wendy Walrabenstein, Carlijn A Wagenaar, Marike van der Leeden, et al.
Rheumatology, 2023

The effect of a multidisciplinary lifestyle program for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis or with metabolic syndrome-associated osteoarthritis: the “Plants for Joints” randomized controlled trial protocol
Wendy Walrabenstein, Marike van der Leeden, Peter Weijs, et al.
Trials, 2021

This week on The Nutshell, we are joined by Dr. Urvi A. Shah, MD, MS, a board-certified haematologist-oncologist, and physician scientist with expertise in diagnosing and treating plasma cell disorders.

At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Shah not only cares for patients but also leads research exploring nutrition and other modifiable lifestyle factors in cancer, mainly blood disorders.

After her own experience with cancer, Dr. Shah launched the first 'NUTRIVENTION' trial which has since expanded to five additional dietary trials that will collectively enroll over 600 participants. excitin

To find out more about Dr Shah's work:

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/doctors/urvi-shah

To connect with Dr Shah:

https://linktr.ee/urvishahmd

To read Dr Shah's research:

https://share.google/FEUQXznH42KhQp88t

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Urvi-Shah-3

Other points of discussion from this episode:

https://nlmc.org.uk/

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joseph-Poore

https://foodrise.org.uk/roastingtheplanet/

https://drpaulbehrens.com/

https://www.alcoholfreewarrior.com/

And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.

If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membership

You don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

Veganuary could be the excuse you need to light some fires, or just send smoke signals on a healthy plant-based diet into the work or community space. So, in this week's nugget, Daisy and Clare talk to PBHP-UK member, Vanessa Sturman - a Multi-Award-Winning Speaker and Transformational Health Coach - to get her ideas on how to bring people with you on sustainable healthy eating. Regularly featured on Sky News, BBC Radio and other media outlets, Vanessa is experienced in bringing healthy, enjoyable, flavour-filled food ideas to the wider public. Educated at Cambridge University in Social and Biological Anthropology, Vanessa is also a published recipe developer and respected 1:1 coach.

Follow Vanessa on Instagram for more ideas https://www.instagram.com/vanessaforhealth?igsh=MTZnOHhzMDRweTl1NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-sturman-plant-based-health-coach/

Vanessa's recipes: https://theveganlarder.com/recipe-index/

And factsheets you can trust for your displays:

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/factsheets

This week on the Nutshell we hear from Dr Shireen Kassam, founder and director of Plant-Based Health Professionals U.K. alongside research dietitian Michael Metoudi, and research assistant Isabelle Sadler speaking on the landmark scientific research, 'Eat Lancet'.

Last month saw the release of the updated version, Eat Lancet 2.0 and our guests today will be telling us more about what the report says, how it’s built on the 2019 version, and what it could mean for diet change going forwards.

And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and consider a share of this episode with one other person today.

Links discussed:

https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/

https://www.thelancet.com/commissions-do/EAT-2025

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/the-food-system-and-planetary-health

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/sustainable-farming

https://sites.google.com/convene.space/eatcfas/communities-for-action/healthcare-professionals?authuser=0

If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membership

No (potato) waffling this week as we're speaking up for potatoes. We summarise results from a study which assessed associations between eating potatoes and the risk of type 2 diabetes. The results may surprise you.

https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj-2024-082121