The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast

👉 If you’d like help eating a more anti-inflammatory diet, try The Doctor’s Kitchen app free for 7 days.

Inflammation has become a huge wellness buzzword, but it isn’t always bad. It’s an essential part of how your immune system protects and repairs your body.

The problem is long-term, unwanted inflammation. It’s linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other chronic health problems. And it may also play a role in how we feel day to day, including our energy, gut health, skin and more.

The good news is that simple changes to what you eat and how you live can help keep inflammation well regulated.

Today, I’m joined by Dr Jenna Macciochi, an immunologist, author and inflammation expert with over 20 years of experience.

We walk through:

• What inflammation actually is and why everyone is talking about it
• The biggest everyday drivers of inflammation
• What to eat to support a healthy inflammatory response
• How light, movement, stress and sleep affect your immune system
• Simple habits to build into your day, from morning to evening

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here

📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app

🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website

☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here

🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan

📷 Follow on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you want to stay healthier for longer, one of the best things you can do is lower chronic inflammation. 

The great thing is, food is one of the most powerful tools we have. 

So I sat down with Professor Rob Thomas, consultant oncologist at Addenbrooke's and UCLH, Professor of Sports and Nutritional Science, and one of the UK's leading experts in healthy ageing, to talk about what makes the biggest difference.

We cover:

• The best foods to lower chronic inflammation
• The link between inflammation and ageing
• How to reduce your biological age
• Why grip strength predicts how well you'll age

There are so many practical takeaways in this one. I hope it inspires you to add a few more anti-inflammatory foods to your plate this week!

–

One of the most important ways we can impact our health, feel stronger and more energetic everyday and even slow ageing is by lowering inflammation. And the good news is, that what you choose to put on your plate is a powerful lever to reduce it, alongside improving sleep, moving more and stressing less.

So today I'm joined by Professor Robert Thomas, NHS Consultant Oncologist at Addenbrooke's and Bedford Hospitals, and Head of Integrative Oncology at The Royal London Hospital for Integrative Medicine, where he advises lifestyle, complementary and nutritional strategies to improve patient outcomes.

We’re going to discuss the 8 key foods he believes we should be eating everyday to optimise inflammation to help us live longer, healthier lives and protect us from diseases of ageing including cancer and heart disease.

Professor shares 8 longevity foods to eat daily to protect against ageing

OR

Eat these 8 foods daily to reduce inflammation and age slower

SEE SUGGESTED DISCUSSION POINTS FROM ROB BELOW.

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here

📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app

🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website

☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here

🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan

📷 Follow on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next time you look at the calories on the back of a packet or the nutritional breakdown of a recipe, remember that number doesn't tell you the whole story. 

It says nothing about the nutrients, the quality of the food, how satisfying it'll be, or even how many calories your body will actually absorb.

To unpack it all, I'm joined by Professor Giles Yeo, Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology at the University of Cambridge, MBE, and author of the brilliant book Why Calories Don't Count.

We cover:

• 5 reasons calorie counting matters less than we think
• Why "low-cal" doesn't always mean healthy
• Why we don't absorb every calorie we eat
• Why the calories in nuts, avocados and seeds aren't the same as the calories in a ultra-processed foods, even when the numbers match
• Is fruit juice really healthy?
• 3 strategies to maintain a healthy weight

I hope this changes the way you think about calories and gives you a few practical ideas you can start using straight away. If you know someone who's always checking the calorie label before anything else, send this episode their way.

As always, thanks for listening!

Dr Rupy x

More from Professor Giles Yeo

https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/people/giles-yeo

https://x.com/GilesYeo

https://www.instagram.com/gilesyeo/?hl=en

More from us

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here

📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app

🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website

☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here

🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan

📷 Follow on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you become happier?

Professor Arthur Brooks describes 3 “macronutrients” for a happier life: enjoyment, satisfaction and meaning. Rather than chasing positive feelings, the idea is to build more of each into our everyday lives.

We get into some really practical ways to do this, including:

• Why being bored is good for your brain

• The three times to put your phone away each day

• How to make your downtime more meaningful

• How to find more meaning through love, awe and spirituality 

👤 About today’s guest: Arthur Brooks is a professor at Vanderbilt University, a senior fellow at Harvard Business School, a New York Times bestselling author and a leading researcher on happiness and meaning.

His latest book, The Meaning of Your Life, is out now. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Strength to Strength, it's an account of how the modern world sets us up to fail at finding meaning, and a plan for finding what you seek.

More from us

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here

📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app

🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website

☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here

🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan

📷 Follow on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve been talking a lot about eating healthy high protein. And sometimes it feels like you have to choose a side. High protein or plant-focused.

But both play really important roles for energy, appetite, muscle health, gut health and healthy ageing. 

My guest today actually describes them as a dynamic duo 🤝 They work best together. You want both on your plate, not one crowding out the other.

Dominique Ludwig is an accredited nutritionist and registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner with more than 30 years of clinical experience helping people improve their health, energy and relationship with food.

She’s also the author of the brilliant new book ‘No-Nonsense Nutrition’, which is filled with practical, realistic advice and beautiful recipes that make healthy eating feel really achievable.

We cover:

• Protein recommendations for every meal
• Why protein becomes more important after 30
• The benefits of prioritising protein during menopause
• Top protein foods and easy 10g protein top-ups
• How to upgrade breakfasts, salads and pasta
• Whole carbs vs refined carbs
• How to lose weight without counting calories
• Building balanced plates that keep you full

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here

📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app

🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website

☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here

🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan

📷 Follow on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if I told you that two people could eat the exact same meal, with the exact same calories, and have completely different hormonal responses because of what they believed about what they were eating?

These aren't fringe findings.

A growing body of evidence suggests that the way we think about our health can meaningfully impact our biology.

In this episode, I'm joined by nutritionist and Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Ann Macklin to unpack four ways our thoughts can either help or hinder our health.

We explore:

• How your beliefs about food can influence hormones, appetite and metabolism

• Why the way you think about exercise may affect the health benefits you experience

• Whether your genes are really your destiny

• Why self-compassion could be one of the most powerful tools for lasting health

This is a fascinating conversation about the hidden connection between mind and body, and how changing the way we think could help shape our health for the better.

Hope you enjoy this one and find something practical you can apply to your own life.

Dr Rupy

Learn more about Sarah's work

Sarah's latest book 'Healthy Shouldn't Be This Hard' is out now

Instagram: @sarahannmacklin

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

Substack:https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/ 

Website: www.sarahannmacklin.com

Join the Doctor’s Kitchen

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here

📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app

🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website

☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here

🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan

📷 Follow on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve been talking a lot about healthy protein and sometimes it can feel like you have to pick a side. Protein or fibre. But for long-term health, you want both on your plate.

The problem is, 96% of people still don’t hit the recommended daily fibre target. Even if you eat vegetables at every meal. 

A salad is brilliant for micronutrients and polyphenols, but alone it’s usually not enough to reach the 30g of fibre a day linked to better gut health, satiety, cholesterol and a lower risk of disease.

But for a lot of people, trying to eat more fibre comes with one big problem… bloating.

So today I’m joined by Dr Emily Leeming, former chef, registered dietitian, scientist at King’s College London and author of the new book ‘Fibre Power’, to break down how to increase fibre in a way that works for your gut.

She brings a rare combination of ongoing research, clinical practice and love for food.

We cover:

• Key signs you may not be eating enough fibre
• How to eat 30g of fibre a day without bloating
• High-fibre foods people often overlook
• The difference between high and low FODMAP foods
• Whether fibre supplements are worth it
• One fibre habit to start today

It’s a really practical episode and I hope it leaves you inspired to make a few tweaks to gently increase your fibre intake.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s the healthiest way to lose weight and keep it off without counting calories?

On paper, it sounds simple. But in a modern world of ultra-processed foods, clever marketing and disrupted hunger signals, it’s rarely that straightforward.

And that’s why I think this is a conversation for everyone. Because learning to regulate your appetite is a health skill for all of us. It shapes your energy, your metabolic health, your gut and how you feel from one day to the next.

👉 I’m joined by Dr Federica Amati, PhD, a Medical Scientist and Registered Public Health Nutritionist with over 15 years of experience in research and clinical practice. 

We take a food-first approach to fat loss by focusing on key foods that improve satiety. 

And we get into a really important and often overlooked topic. What you need to know before, during and after taking GLP-1 weight loss medications.

We talk about…

• Why ultra-processed foods drive overeating
• The benefits of quality fibre, protein and healthy fats 
• Whether skipping breakfast is helpful and how small changes in meal timing can improve your metabolic health
• How to make weight loss sustainable
• How to approach GLP-1 medications safely and effectively

The Appetite Reset: How to Eat, Drink and Thrive Before, During and After GLP-1s by Dr Federica Amati. Release 25/06/26. (Penguin Michael Joseph, £25)

And if you’re listening and wondering how to actually put this into practice day to day, that’s really the intention behind The Doctor’s Kitchen app. Every recipe is developed and tested in your London kitchen, with the pink fridge, to be high fibre, quality protein… and delicious!

More from us

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here

📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app

🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website

☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here

🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan

📷 Follow on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SHOW NOTES

This episode is for anyone dealing with constipation, bloating, reflux, abdominal pain or IBS.

And really, anyone who wants to protect their gut, reduce stress and feel better overall.

When we think about gut health, we usually start with food… what to eat, what to cut out, which diet or supplement to try next.

And while nutrition is foundational, there’s another side we don’t talk about enough: the constant conversation between your brain and your gut 🧠💬

My guest today is Dr Rabia Topan, an NHS consultant gastroenterologist and PhD researcher specialising in disorders of gut–brain interaction like IBS. She works at The Functional Gut Clinic with people who’ve often had “normal” tests for years, but very real symptoms.

She’s also trained in cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy and yoga, bringing a practical, mind–body approach to gut health.

We cover 👇

• Breathwork techniques and why slowing your breath to around 6 breaths per minute can shift you into “rest and digest”

• What the gut–brain axis actually is

• Simple daily movements and pelvic floor exercises to support gut function

• Practical toilet training tips for children

• How cognitive reframing and gut-directed hypnotherapy can ease bloating, constipation and IBS

• One habit you can start today to calm your nervous system and support your gut every morning

🔗 Key links

• Dr Rabia’s website with resources, yoga videos and more

• Gut–brain hypnotherapy audio you can try at home

Important disclaimer: The patient mentioned in this episode gave full consent for their story to be shared.

Hope you enjoy!

Dr Rupy x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What we eat, and how we eat, can have a profound effect on our brain health, even influencing depression, anxiety and ADHD.

Today, we’re unpacking simple food strategies that can support your nervous system, with a big focus on the gut-brain connection.

And I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas to explore this topic.

He’s a clinical neuroscientist, nutrition researcher and author of the brilliant new book ‘ADHD Body and Mind: A Compassionate Guide to Rewilding Your Nervous System’.

He also has a fantastic way of bringing together brain health and delicious, practical food.

We cover 👇

• Why combining foods can unlock more benefits than eating them on their own

• The shift from “more fibre” to “more variety of fibre”

• Everyday foods your gut microbes thrive on that most of us under-eat

• Why how you eat matters just as much as what’s on your plate

• The surprising impact even mild dehydration can have on focus and mood

• Easy ways to upgrade meals you’re already eating, even on low-energy days

This conversation will leave you inspired to cook your way to a healthier brain. And stick around for Miguel’s slightly unusual approach to using a slow cooker to maximise the nutritional value of his food.

​​

Dr Miguel’s socials

https://drmiguelmateas.com/

https://thecreativescientist.substack.com/

http://instagram.com/drmiguelmateas

Hope you enjoy!

Dr Rupy x

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here

📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app

🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website

☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here

🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan

📷 Follow on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.