ZOE Science & Nutrition

Each day this week, we’re examining one of the world’s most popular diets. Putting the latest scientific evidence under the microscope, we’ll find out these diets' true impact on your health.

Today we’re talking about the low-fat diet, popularised in the 1970s and fueled by the belief that fat was the culprit behind heart disease and weight gain.

However, the aftermath saw a surge in low-quality carbs. Food manufacturers, in the quest for low-fat options, replaced fats with sugar and refined grains, resulting in us opting for low-quality carbs over whole foods and whole grains.

In this special episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan is joined by Christopher Gardner, a professor of Medicine at Stanford University and the Director of Nutrition Studies at Stanford Prevention Research Center. Together, they unravel the complexities of the low-fat diet, addressing its potential and pitfalls. 

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Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

00:42 Topic Intro

02:11 Why do people still follow low fat diets today?

03:56 What happens in the body when you cut out fat?

05:26 Does a low fat diet make you healthier?

07:01 Is it possible to have a healthy low fat diet?

09:49 If you choose a low fat diet with healthy carbs, is it better than a high fat diet?

11:39 What happens if you remove all fat from your diet?

12:06 What's the verdict?

12:35 Outro

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here

Episode transcripts are available here.

Each day this week, we’re examining one of the world’s most popular diets. Putting the latest scientific evidence under the microscope, we’ll find out these diets' true impact on your health.

Today we’re talking about the keto diet, a global phenomenon favoring fats over carbs, lauded for potential health benefits like improved blood sugar control and weight loss.

Yet, the allure of keto does come with downsides. With a dearth of fiber and essential nutrients — as well a reputation for being notoriously difficult to keep on top of long-term — many find ketosis elusive.

In this special episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan is joined by Christopher Gardner, a professor of Medicine at Stanford University and the Director of Nutrition Studies at Stanford Prevention Research Center. Together, they unravel the keto diet's complexities, addressing its potential and pitfalls. 

If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.

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Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

00:42 Topic Intro

01:54 Why would anyone follow the keto diet?

02:59 What's the theory behind cutting carbs and switching to fat?

04:16 What happens in your body if you follow keto correctly?

05:59 What are the possible health benefits of switching to the keto diet?

06:34 What are the downsides to following the keto diet?

07:54 Keto diet study

10:01 What's the verdict?

11:37 Outro

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here

Episode transcripts are available here.

Many of us want to make positive changes to our eating patterns in January. But it’s not easy. Ultra-processed foods, for example, are everywhere. So how can we make healthy habits stick?

In today’s episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan is joined by James Clear and Dr. Federica Amati, who offer strategies for overcoming obstacles and changing the way we eat, so we can all have longer, healthier lives. 

James Clear is a writer, speaker, and author of the number-one New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits. Dr. Federica Amati is a medical scientist and an Association for Nutrition-accredited nutritionist, as well as the head nutritionist at ZOE.

🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30

*Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system

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Timecodes:

01:46 – Quickfire round

04:39 – New Year’s Resolutions

08 :47 – Why is it hard to achieve goals? What role do food companies play?

13:04 – Self-identity driven goals rather than result driven

20:14 – The challenge ultra-processed foods pose

27:30 – How to think about making changes to support New Year’s resolutions

29:24 – James’ 4 laws, make it: obvious, attractive, easy, satisfying 

33:57 – Make it obvious: how your environment

40:00 – How you social circle and community affects your habits

43:50 – 3rd law: make it easy 

47:19 – How many times do you need to do something to make it a habit

53:13 – 4th law: make it satisfying

55:07 – How can we approach healthy food with our children?

58:27 – Summary and outro

Mentioned in today’s episode:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

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Episode transcripts are available here.

Professor Andy Galpin brings you evidence-based exercise regimes to make a fitter future achievable for everyone.

Most people need to do more exercise. Despite us being aware of its obvious benefits to our health, we can still struggle to get active. So, what’s holding us back? A persistent injury, lack of free time, or simply not knowing how to get started? Dr. Andy Galpin believes it’s always possible to incorporate exercise.

In today’s episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Andy ask: How can you improve your fitness to live a long, healthy life? 

🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30

*Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system

Learn how your body responds to food 👉 zoe.com/podcast for 10% off

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Timecodes:

00:00 - Introduction

1:03 - Quickfire round

4:16 - Definition of kinesiology, fitness, strength training, and cardio 

11:57 - How do you measure fitness?

13:37 - Fitness and its impact on longevity

18:41 - Strength and its impact on longevity 

23:06 - Strength training and its link to brain health

31:22 - Lowering blood pressure with strength training 

40:15 - How to start strength training

45:07 - Summary and outro 

Mentioned in today’s episode: 

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Episode transcripts are available here

Did you know that you can potentially extend your life by 10 years if you eat the right foods and that this is even possible if put into practice later in life? Inflammation is the cause of most diseases and illnesses, if you would like to learn how to reduce inflammation then look no further!

In today’s episode, Prof. Tim Spector and Dr Will Bulsiewicz delve into the gut microbiome, how it reacts to different foods and overall well-being. We learn about microbial diversity and its pivotal role in reducing inflammation.

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He’s also a New York Times bestselling author. Dr. B has won multiple awards and distinctions for his work as a clinician. Prof. Tim Spector is a Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, director of the Twins UK study, Scientific co-founder at ZOE, and one of the world’s leading researchers. He's also the author of Food for Life, his latest book focusing on nutrition and health.

If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to zoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.

Top tips to control your gut from ZOE Science and Nutrition - Download our FREE gut guide

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Audio Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

01:14  Quick Fire Questions

03:27  What is Inflammation?

07:40  Why is too much inflammation bad for you?

09:06 This is at the core of most diseases…

19:07  How blood sugar levels affect inflammation

24:22  What is the role of Gut and the gut barrier?

15:22 How does food affect inflammation?

23:47  What is the role of Gut and the gut barrier?

28:06  Gut microbes love good food!

30:09  Inflammation and Gut Microbes: A two-way Street

35:00  More plants and fermented food will reduce inflammation

40:15  We need microbiome diversity

45:45  Non-Dietary Approaches to Reduce Inflammation

47:57  Benefits of Time-Restricted Eating

52:01  Summary

Mentioned in todays episode:

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Episode transcripts are available here.

Happy New Year! Thinking about extreme dieting this January? Think again. There are easy ways to eat well and boost your immune system while still enjoying every mouthful. 

In today’s episode, Tim and Sarah break down seven essential strategies for eating healthily in 2024. They also debunk common misconceptions, emphasize the importance of food quality, and encourage you to focus on the sheer enjoyment of what you eat. 

Dr. Sarah Berry is an associate professor in the department of nutritional sciences at King's College London and chief scientist at ZOE. Prof. Tim Spector is one of the world's top 100 most cited scientists and scientific co-founder of ZOE.

🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30

*Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system

Learn how your body responds to food 👉 zoe.com/podcast for 10% off

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Follow Sarah on Instagram

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Timecodes:

00:00  Introduction

02:30  Why does what we eat matter?

04:14  Are most people in the West eating well?

05:45  What are the risk factors of a bad diet?

07:20  Strategy #1: Food is more than fuel

10:38  Food is an energy source for our gut microbes

14:25  Strategy #2: Fat is not your enemy

18:00  Breaking the low fat diet myth

21:30  Strategy #3: Eat more Plants

25:11  What are plant based foods?

29:56  Strategy #4: Reduce ultra processed foods

34:38  What are the food guidelines with ultra processed food?

39:18  Strategy #5: Reduce your blood sugar spikes

42:59  Which carbohydrates are healthy?

52:00  Strategy #6: Eat fermented foods

56:25  Do probiotics have the same effect as eating fermented foods?

1:00:22 Strategy #7: Stick to an eating window

1:08:43  Summary

Mentioned in todays episode:

The Big IF Study from ZOE

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here

Episode transcripts are available here

In this special two-part episode, we’re taking a journey back through all of our episodes to bring you 10 actionable tips that will have a big impact on your nutritional health. 

Here, in part two, we’ll find out why you should stop counting sheep and how fidgeting can boost your health. These are evidence-backed tips to help you live and eat healthier.

If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalised nutrition program.

Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Which oil is best?

06:45 Plants and the microbiome

10:37 Move after eating

16:40 Give your gut a rest

23:20 Getting to sleep

Resources from ZOE:

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here

Episode transcripts are available here

In this special two-part episode, we’re taking a journey back through all of our episodes to bring you 10 actionable tips that will have a big impact on your nutritional health. 

Here, in part one, we’ll explore whether you actually need to spend more on organic food, why snacking can help your diet, and plenty more. 

These are evidence-backed tips to help you live and eat healthier.

If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinzoe.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalised nutrition program.

Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide

Follow ZOE on Instagram

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction 

01:57 Snacking

8:44 Ultra-processed foods

14:58 Organic food

21:00 Fermented foods

28:47 Protein

Resources from ZOE:

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here

Episode transcripts are available here.

Do you realize how closely your diet affects your general health and well-being? Have you ever wondered how advertising affects what you eat? How much do you think your childhood diet is affecting your health in the long run?  

In today’s episode, Jonathan is joined by Prof. Walter Willett to discuss the importance of carefully considering what you eat and making decisions that support your health.

Professor Walter Willett, from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, is the world's most cited nutritional scientist — with over 2,000 publications and several books to his name. Prof. Willett has focused much of his work over the last 40 years on the development and evaluation of methods to study the effects of diet on the occurrence of major diseases. 

If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to zoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.

Follow ZOE on Instagram.

Timecodes:

00:00  Introduction

01:42  Quickfire questions

04:07  What is the average Western diet today?

08:01  Why is so hard to get a straight answer on diet and disease?

10:15  The latest understanding on the link between diet and disease

14:31  Carbohydrates: distinguishing the beneficial from the detrimental

17:47  The hidden truths behind refined starches and sugary beverages

27:06  Diet is a public health issue

32:18  How bad is red meat consumption and soy alternative?

46:09  Exploring the impact of childhood dietary habits on lifelong health

54:21  Is it too late to change what we eat and benefit from it?

58:10  Walters view on the current American diet guildelines    

1:05:15 What is the influence of vitamin supplements on sustaining peak vitality?

1:09:13 How the traditional Mediterranean diet can prevent diseases    

1:11:07 Summary

Mentioned in today’s episode:

Diet assessment methods in the Nurses' Health Studies and contribution to evidence-based nutritional policies and guidelines from the American Journal of Public health

Diet, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes: A review from the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study 2, and Health Professionals’ Follow-up Study from Current Nutrition Reports

Association between healthy eating patterns and risk of cardiovascular disease from JAMA Internal Medicine 

The Mediterranean diet: Science and practice from Public Health Nutrition

Books:

Nutritional Epidemiology by Walter Willet

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here

Episode transcripts are available here.

Do you know what FODMAPs are? Many of us aren’t aware of these cryptic carbohydrates hidden in everyday foods.

How can undigested FODMAPs cause bloating, gas, and other symptoms as they ferment in your gut? 

In today’s episode, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, ZOE’S U.S. medical director and a board-certified gastroenterologist, teaches us about FODMAPs and how to tell if a low-FODMAP diet could be right for you. 

If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to zoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.

Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide

Mentioned in today’s episode:

Nutritional, microbiological and psychosocial implications of the low FODMAP diet from Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Personal view: Food for thought — Western lifestyle and susceptibility to Crohn's disease. The FODMAP hypothesis from Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Low fermentable, oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyol diet in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis from Nutrition

Low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet improves symptoms in adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared to standard IBS diet: A meta-analysis of clinical studies from PLoS One

Nutritional, microbiological and psychosocial implications of the low FODMAP diet from the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

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Episode transcripts are available here.

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here