Sigma Nutrition Radio

By Danny Lennon

What's Sigma Nutrition Radio about?

Discussions about the science of nutrition, dietetics and health. The podcast that educates through nuanced conversations, exploring evidence and cultivating critical thinking. Hosted by Danny Lennon.

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#422: Psychobiotics – Can P...

01.18.2022

In this episode the Sigma team discuss the research looking at 'psychobiotics'; i.e. probiotics that have health impacts on those with pyschiatric disorders or symptoms. They discuss the origins of the research, the gut-brain axis, mechanisms by which gut microbiota ...

Sigma Nutrition Radio episodes:

01.18.2022 #422: Psychobiotics – Can Probiotics Improve Mood-related Disorders? In this episode the Sigma team discuss the research looking at 'psychobiotics'; i.e. probiotics that have health impacts on those with pyschiatric disorders or symptoms. They discuss the origins of the research, the gut-brain axis, mechanisms by which gut microbiota ...
01.11.2022 #421: Brendon Stubbs, PhD – The Research on Depression & Physical Activity Dr. Brendon Stubbs, PhD, is a Senior Clinical Lecturer and researcher at King's College London, conducting research in physical activity & mental health, the mind-body interface, and meta-research. He has published over 600 academic papers in several leading journals across ...
01.04.2022 #420: Cannabis – Kevin Boehnke, PhD & Carrie Cuttler, PhD Kevin Boehnke is a researcher at the University of Michigan, in the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center. His current research focuses on therapeutic applications of illicit or semi-licit substances (cannabis, psychedelics). His goal is to rigorously assess appropriate use ...
01.01.2022 A New Year Message For Our Listeners Wishing all the Sigma audience a great 2022!
12.30.2021 #419: Nathan Bryan, PhD – Role of Nitric Oxide in Human Health Dr. Nathan Bryan, PhD is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Bryan has been involved in nitric oxide research for the past 18 years and has made many seminal discoveries in the field. He was the ...
12.21.2021 #418: Should We Consume a Direct Source of DHA? In this episode Danny and Alan discuss the debate around whether a direct source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid DHA should be recommended. Many people do not consume the marine foods (primarily fatty fish) that contain DHA, and higher ...
12.14.2021 #417: Austin Baraki, MD – What Do Nutrient Blood Tests Actually Tell Us?: Understanding Biomarkers Dr. Austin Baraki joins Danny and Alan to critically evaluate the assumption that blood levels of a nutrient directly tell us about overall nutritional status. With many people getting blood tests done outside of clinical settings, there is significant risk ...
12.07.2021 #416: David Nunan, PhD – Evidence-Informed Health Care: Evidence-based Medicine 2.0 Dr. David Nunan, PhD is a Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford. There, he is the Director of the Postgraduate Certificate in 'Teaching Evidence-Based Health Care' and the lead tutor ...
11.30.2021 #415: Prof. Bruce Neal – Can Salt Substitutes Reduce Cardiac Events & Death? Bruce Neal is Executive Director at The George Institute for Global Health Australia; and Professor of Medicine, UNSW Sydney. Prof Neal is a UK-trained physician who has 25 years’ experience in clinical, epidemiological, and public health research with a focus ...
11.24.2021 #414: Will Machine Learning Overtake Traditional Nutrition Research Methods? In this episode, the Sigma team discuss the claim that machine learning and data science may overtake traditional research methods in nutrition. They discuss how machine learning could solve some current limitations of traditional methods, studies on its use so ...
11.16.2021 #413: Anthony Fardet, PhD – Nutritional Reductionism, the Food Matrix & Impact of Processing " data-userid="424351203778215936" data-orgid= "425311536639447040">Anthony Fardet, PhD is a nutrition science researcher in the Human Nutrition Unit at Université Clermont Auvergne, France. His work has focused on a number of related areas; the consequences of the reductionist and holistic approaches applied ...
11.09.2021 #412: Eirini Dimidi, PhD – Diet, Chronic Constipation and the Gut Dr. Eirini Dimidi of King’s College London discusses the research on diet in chronic constipation and functional bowel disorders. Dr. Dimidi is a Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences and a Registered Dietitian. In 2016, she was appointed as a Research Associate ...
11.02.2021 #411: Bone Health & Nutrition In this episode Alan and Danny discuss the role of nutrition in bone health. They cover the importance of bone health, bone disorders such as osteoporosis, how nutrients play a role in bone remodelling, and the evidence of dietary and ...
10.26.2021 #410: Q&A: Sodium, Protein, Quackery Tactics & More! In this episode Alan and Danny answer a variety of questions sent in from listeners. Questions: [1:10] Gabriel - Is there any benefit to including SFAs and cholesterol in low quantities in our diets for healthspan? [10:42] Luis Arrondo - ...
10.19.2021 #409: Simon Hill – Shifting Towards a Healthier Diet In this episode nutritionist Simon Hill discusses the barriers to eating a healthy diet, steps that can be taken to shift both individuals and the general population to a healthier dietary patten, and a number of other topics. Find the ...
10.12.2021 #408: Mario Kratz, PhD – Is Eating Full-fat Dairy, Low-fat Dairy, or No Dairy Better for Cardiometabolic Health? Dr. Mario Kratz is a clinical researcher in the areas of nutrition, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease, with more than 20 years of experience running clinical studies in a variety of populations. He is a former research associate professor at the ...
10.05.2021 #407: Polyphenols - Impact on Blood Pressure, Endothelial Function & Heart Disease Risk In this episode we discuss the potential impact of dietary polyphenols on cardiovascular disease risk; including impacts on blood pressure, flow-mediated dilation, and other related outcomes. We talk about some potential mechanisms and then several specific randomized, controlled trials. You ...
09.28.2021 #406: Polyphenols & Cognitive Health In this episode we discuss the potential impact of dietary polyphenols on cognitive health; including cogitnitve funciton, memory, and risk of dementia and Alzeimher's. We talk about some potential mechanisms, cohort studies, and then direct controlled trials. You can find ...
09.21.2021 #405: Adrian Brown, PhD - Dietary Strategies in Type 2 Diabetes Dr Adrian Brown is a NIHR Lecturer and Research Fellow in the Centre of Obesity Research at University College London. He is also a senior Specialist Weight Management and Bariatric dietitian with over 15 years of clinical experience and a ...
09.14.2021 #404: Prof. Marion Hetherington – Psychology and Development of Food Preference & Eating Behaviour Prof. Marion Hetherington is Professor of Biopsychology at University of Leeds, where her research is focused on the psychology of appetite across the lifespan. She has previously been at Johns Hopkins, the NIH, the University of Dundee, University of Liverpool ...
09.07.2021 #403 Prof. David Jacobs – Food Synergy & The Top-Down Approach to Nutrition Research Prof. David Jacobs, PhD is Professor of Public Health, in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, at the University of Minnesota. He has published highly inflential work in nutritional epidemiology and health epidemiolgy for decades. A number of his ...
08.31.2021 #402: Prof. Leanne Redman – Pregnancy, Maternal Diet & Intergenerational Transmission of Obesity Prof. Leanne Redman is a Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology & Women’s Health, based at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. As the director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Laboratory, she is focused on understanding the intergenerational transmission of obesity. ...
08.24.2021 #401: Quack Asylum – Part 2: Greger, Berg & Saladino We take a look at three more "quacks" who spread misinformation; Dr. Michael Greger (01:21), Eric Berg (36:26), and Dr. Paul Saladino (55:18). We give reference to some specific examples. Show notes available at sigmanutrition.com/episode401/ If you wish to support ...
08.17.2021 #400: Quack Asylum – Part 1: Malhotra & DiNicolantonio To celebrate our 400th episode, we take a look at two "quacks" who spread misinformation; Dr. Aseem Malhotra and Dr. James DiNicolantonio. We give reference to some specific examples. Show notes available at https://sigmanutrition.com/episode400/ Subscribe to Danny's free weekly email, ...
08.10.2021 #399: Prof. James Betts – Does Fasting Have Benefits Beyond Those Caused By Calorie Restriction? James Betts is Professor of Metabolic Physiology at the University of Bath, where he is Co-Director of the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise & Metabolism. His research employs randomised controlled trials to study the effects of nutrition on metabolic regulation. His ...
08.03.2021 #398: Carole Hooven, PhD – Testosterone: Behavioural Endocrinology & Sex Differences Carole Hooven, PhD, is lecturer and codirector of undergraduate studies in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. She earned her PhD at Harvard, studying behavioral endocrinology and evolution of sex differences in humans (physiology, behavior and cognition). ...
07.27.2021 #397: Dietary Nitrates & Nitrites In this episode Danny & Alan discuss the impacts of nitrates and nitrites on health. They look at the beneficial impacts of dietary nitrate, as well as issues around nitrites in processed meat. Show notes available at sigmanutrition.com/episode397/
07.20.2021 #396: Leigh Frame, PhD – Nutrient Trials: RCT Design, Ethics and Placebo Groups Dr. Leigh Frame, PhD is Director of Integrative Medicine at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington DC. Dr. Frame received her PhD in Human Nutrition, as well as a Master of Health Science degree in Molecular ...
07.14.2021 #395: Prof. Carel le Roux – Current Thinking in Obesity Treatment Professor le Roux is an expert in metabolic medicine and is currently a Professor of Experimental Pathology, University College Dublin. He is recognised as a world leader in metabolism and obesity. Professor le Roux’s clinical focus is in the management ...
07.09.2021 #394: Gar Benn – Nutrition Coaching Q&A Gar Benn is the Head of Coaching at Sigma Nutrition, where he works with nutrition coaching clients and oversees the coaching services. He is the owner of CityGym Limerick, a powerlifting-centric gym in Ireland. And he is also the co-founder ...
06.29.2021 #393: Vitamin D: Does Supplementation Actually Improve Health? Vitamin D status is linked to a variety of health outcomes, and avoiding or correcting deficiency is important. However, does supplementing with vitamin D actually benefit most people? Is there evidence for supplementation improving health outcomes like mortality, cancer risk, ...
06.22.2021 #392: Clare Pettinger, PhD, RD – Environmentally Sustainable Diets & Food Access Dr. Clare Pettinger is a Registered Dietitian, Public Health Nutritionist and experienced educator. Dr. Pettinger publishes research in the public health nutrition field, and lectures at the Universtity of Plymouth, UK. Dr. Pettinger is actively engaged in community-focussed research around ...
06.15.2021 #391: Is There a Body Weight Set Point?: Models of Body Mass Regulation In this episode Danny and Alan discuss the three primary models used to explain body mass regulation: 1) Set Point Model, 2) Settling Point Model, 3) Dual Intervention Model. They discuss the role of feedback systems, environment, behaviour, as well ...
06.09.2021 #390: Gil Carvalho MD, PhD – Dairy, Olive Oil & Diet Debates: Understanding Evidence Gil Carvalho, MD PhD is a medical doctor, research scientist, science communicator. Dr. Carvalho trained as a medical doctor in the University of Lisbon, in his native Portugal, and later obtained a PhD in Biology from Caltech (California Institute of ...
06.04.2021 #389: Renee McGregor, RD – Why Are Athletes Under-Eating? Renee McGregor is a leading sports dietitian, specialising in Eating Disorders, REDs, The Female Athlete, athlete health and performance. She is regularly asked to work directly with high performing and professional athletes that have developed a dysfunctional relationship with food ...
05.27.2021 #388: Consequences of Weight Stigma and Weight Bias Danny & Alan discuss the current evidence on the health consequences and societal consequences of weight stigma and weigh bias. This includes implicit bias, explicit bias, and internalization of bias. What evidence do we currently have? And what questions remain ...
05.18.2021 #387: Shift Work and Health In this episode Danny and Alan discuss the relationship between shift work and health. Why does shift work have negative health impacts? How can one mitigate circadian misalignment? How does shift work impact nutrient metabolism? What nutrition, sleep and lifestyle ...
05.12.2021 #386: Deirdre Tobias, ScD – Study Design, Diet Collection Methods and Nutrition Epidemiology Dr. Tobias is a nutrition and obesity epidemiologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. She received doctoral and postdoctoral training from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, under mentor ...
05.04.2021 #385: Insulin Resistance & Diet In this episode we explore the causes of insulin resistance, and the dietary modifications that may help those with insulin resistance. We discuss how insulin resistance is a complex metabolic disorder, that goes beyond one single pathway or cause. There ...
04.27.2021 #384: Research Review: The Interference Effect & Concurrent Training In this episode Greg Nuckols and Mike Zourdos breakdown two research papers related to the interference effect and concurrent training. Greg and Mike (along with Eric Helms and Eric Trexler) produce the MASS research review, which breaks down the latest ...
04.20.2021 #383: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) & Diet In this episode Danny and Alan discuss irritable bowel syndome and the evidence related to dietary interventions. They discuss diagnosis of the condition, various sub-types, potential mechanisms, the gut-brain axis, first line treatments, impact of fibre, and evidence on the ...
04.06.2021 #382: Andy Morgan – Practicalities of Body Composition Change Andy Morgan is the founder of RippedBody.com and an online coach. He co-authored the Muscle & Strength Pyramids books along with Dr. Eric Helms and Andrea Valdez. He has published a host of excellent nutrition and training resources in the ...
03.30.2021 #381: Prof. Chris Packard – LDL Cholesterol, ApoB & Atherosclerosis Prof. Chris Packard holds an Honorary Professorship of Vascular Biochemistry at the University of Glasgow. Over his career, Professor Packard has focussed on two aspects of atherosclerosis research, lipoprotein metabolism and how it is affected by diets and drugs, and ...
03.23.2021 #380: Prof. Barry Popkin – The Nutrition Transition & Using Policy Actions to Create Healthier Diets Prof. Barry Popkin is the W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a nutrition and obesity researcher at the Carolina Population Center and is the director of the Interdisciplinary ...
03.16.2021 #379: Obesity & Chronic Disease Risk with Dr. Spencer Nadolsky Danny and Alan are joined by Dr. Spencer Nadolsky. Dr. Nadolsky is a board-certified obesity specialist, lipidologist, and family physician. In this episode we discuss the strengths and limitations of BMI, adipose tissue type and relevance to risk, hypertrophic vs. ...
03.09.2021 #378: Nutritional Epidemiology In this episode Danny and Alan discuss some critical aspects to understand about nutritional epidemiology in order to evaluate diet-disease relationships appropriately. Of particular focus in this episode is the unique exposure of interest in nutrition studies, why its crucial ...
03.02.2021 #377: Herman Pontzer, PhD – Metabolism, Mitochondria & Evolutionary Biology Herman Pontzer, PhD is an Associate Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University and Associate Research Professor of Global Health at the Duke Global Health Institute. He is an internationally recognized researcher in human energetics and evolution. Over two decades ...
02.23.2021 #376: Kevin Hall, PhD – Plant-based Diet vs. Ketogenic Diet: Impact on Calorie Intake Dr. Kevin Hall, PhD is Senior Chief of the Integrative Physiology Section of the Laboratory of Biological Modeling at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). His laboratory investigates how metabolism and the brain adapt in ...
02.16.2021 #375: Salt, Sodium & Health In this episode Danny and Alan discuss the current evidence base related to sodium intake and health, most notably cardiovascular disease. The episode walks through understanding diet-disease relationships, the epidemiology of sodium and health outcomes, the reasons for conflicting conlusions, ...
02.09.2021 #374: How to Plan a Fighter’s Diet In this episode Danny becomes the interviewee, as he is interviewed by sports dietitian and owner of The Fight Dietitian, Jordan Sullivan RD. Jordan oversees the diet of several UFC athletes, including champions Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski. Danny and ...

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