Cinnamon is a spice that has been used around the world for thousands of years. In addition to its use as a culinary ingredient, cinnamon contains bioactive compounds that have attracted attention for their potential health effects. One of these effects is how it can influence blood sugar levels which could have relevance for people with diabetes. In this podcast episode, I’ll look at what the clinical trials have to say on how cinnamon may help people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar levels under better control.

Links referred to in the podcast

• Review of cinnamon supplementation on metabolic markers in people with T2DM https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-abstract/83/2/249/7699031

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram doctimcrowe
Facebook Thinking Nutrition
X CroweTim

Have you heard any of the buzz about NAD supplements? NAD is a molecule found in nearly every cell and sits at the heart of energy production and DNA repair. Our levels of NAD though can decline with age which has led to the idea that this could be one cause of many age-related diseases, chronic inflammation and cognitive decline. Enter the idea of boosting NAD levels by supplementing with NAD itself or its precursors called NMN and NR. A surface level reading of this topic will soon bring someone across all sorts of claims about benefits including extending lifespan, improving metabolic health and many more. In this podcast episode, I explain what these NAD family of molecules are and critique the clinical evidence to see how it stacks up in front of the health claims.

Links referred to in the podcast

• Review of effect of NR supplementation in humans https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adi4862
• Review of NMN and NR supplementation on muscle mass and function https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12022230

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram doctimcrowe
Facebook Thinking Nutrition
X CroweTim

Creatine is one of the most well-researched and effective sports nutrition supplements for improving exercise performance. But that isn’t what I’m going to talk about in this podcast episode. Instead, I want to give the spotlight to creatine’s new moment in the sun thanks to evolving research linking it to improving brain and bone health. And then tying all this together, I’ll profile why it may just be one supplement that women could especially benefit from over men during their reproductive lifespan and beyond.

Links referred to in the podcast

• Systematic review of creatine supplementation and cognitive function 2018 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6093191
• Systematic review of creatine supplementation and cognitive function 2022 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9999677
• Systematic review of creatine supplementation and cognitive function 2024 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11275561
• Clinical trial of creatine supplementation and CBT in the treatment of depression https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39488067
• Review of creatine supplementation and its applications for brain health https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10721691
• Dr Darren Candow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dr.darrencandow
• Clinical trial of creatine supplementation on bone health in post-menopausal women https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10487398
• Creatine supplementation in women’s health: A lifespan perspective https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7998865

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram doctimcrowe
Facebook Thinking Nutrition
X CroweTim

Adopting a plant-based diet is a trend that continues to grow in popularity. However, for people focused on muscle growth and strength due to their athletic pursuits, there may be concerns about whether their muscle development and sports performance are being compromised by eating predominantly protein from plant foods. In this podcast episode, I’ll explore the fundamental differences between animal and plant-based proteins, discuss the primary supplements available for each type, and review recent research on the effect of these different protein sources on muscle growth, strength and physical performance.

Links referred to in the podcast

• Systematic review of animal vs plant protein on muscle mass, strength and physical performance https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39813010

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram: doctimcrowe
Facebook: Thinking Nutrition
Twitter: CroweTim

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterised by high blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production. It's a growing global health concern. While diet, exercise and medication form the cornerstone of diabetes management, researchers are continually exploring new avenues to improve blood sugar control. One such area gaining traction is the use of probiotics that can alter gut and metabolic health. But can these tiny microorganisms make a meaningful difference for people with type 2 diabetes? That’s what I explore in this episode.

Links referred to in the podcast

• Review of the effects of probiotics on glucose control in T2DM https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39349104

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram doctimcrowe
Facebook Thinking Nutrition
X CroweTim

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal issue marked by abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. This chronic condition can lead to anxiety, depression and a reduced quality of life. With no definitive trigger or treatment, managing IBS can be challenging. However, diet changes can positively influence IBS. In this podcast episode, I’ll outline evidence for various approaches, from supplements like probiotics right through to low-FODMAP diets.

Links referred to in the podcast

• Review of nutritional interventions in IBS https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39110917

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram doctimcrowe
Facebook Thinking Nutrition
X CroweTim

We’re all getting older and living longer lives than ever before. But as we age, we are faced with a higher risk of nutritional frailty. This is marked by unintentional weight loss, loss of muscle mass and strength which increases the likelihood of disability. In this podcast episode, I highlight how our nutrition needs change as we age and why a firm focus is needed in preserving muscle mass through a combination of resistance exercise and additional protein.

Links referred to in the podcast

• Review of protein supplementation combined with resistance training in older adults https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38753309

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram doctimcrowe
Facebook Thinking Nutrition
X CroweTim

Creatine is one of the most well-researched and effective sports nutrition supplements for improving exercise performance. So it is no surprise that interest in using creatine supplements to enhance performance during intense activity has grown dramatically over the last few years. One of the most common ‘use cases’ for creatine supplements is for muscle and strength gains. This makes creatine a popular choice by strength and power sports athletes, bodybuilders and recreational exercisers to supplement their resistance training. In this podcast episode, I dig deeper into what creatine is, how it may work and importantly: what the latest scientific evidence has to say about how it performs in maximising muscle gains.

Links referred to in the podcast

• IOC Consensus Statement on dietary supplements for use by high-performance athletes https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/7/439
• Systematic review of creatine supplementation and body composition https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39074168

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram doctimcrowe
Facebook Thinking Nutrition
X CroweTim

Heard about hydrogen water? It is regular water that has extra hydrogen infused in it and it’s one of the latest health trends with proponents claiming it will fight off disease, reduce inflammation, boost energy, improve mental health and enhance athletic performance. That’s quite a list of impressive claims. But what does the research have to say? That’s what I explore in this podcast to see if hydrogen water can live up to the hype or if it should be labelled the latest health hoax.

Links referred to in the podcast

• Systematic review of molecular hydrogen and exercise performance https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1387657/full 
• Hydrogen water and long-COVID https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38794767
• Systematic review of health claims of hydrogen water https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10816294

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram doctimcrowe
Facebook Thinking Nutrition
X CroweTim

No one nutrient gets greater focus in the sports and performance world than protein – and for good reason. Protein builds and powers our muscles and with that comes strength and performance gains – something just about every athlete wants to have more of. Understanding how dietary protein improves muscle mass, strength and performance is crucial. Two topics that are hotly debated are the role of protein type and timing around a resistance training program. And they’re the topics I’m going to tackle in this podcast episode.

Links referred to in the podcast

• Network meta-analysis on the effect of protein type and timing on muscle and physical performance https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38039960
• Systematic review on the effect of protein supplementation on resistance-training mass and strength gains 2017 https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/6/376.long
• Rethinking protein intake and timing needs https://www.mysportscience.com/post/rethinking-protein-intake-needs

Episode transcript
To access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.com

Connect with me
Instagram doctimcrowe
Facebook Thinking Nutrition
X CroweTim