The Eat This Podcast with Dr. Alan Desmond

Latest Episodes:

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows - the Psychology of Food Choices - Dr. Melanie Joy May 12, 2025

Show notes

“Guilt and shame are the enemies of sustainable change. Compassion and understanding are the keys.”

Dr. Melanie Joy is a Harvard-educated psychologist, author, and one of the world’s foremost experts on the psychology of food choices. Dr. Joy’s groundbreaking book, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, explores the invisible belief system she calls “carnism,” which conditions us to eat certain animals while loving and caring for others.

In this episode, we dive into the psychology of our dietary choices, the ethical implications of animal agriculture, and the powerful ways we can align our actions with our values. Melanie’s insights are as thought-provoking as they are empowering, offering a fresh perspective on how we think about food and its impact on the world around us.

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

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Easons Ireland

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US Australia and New Zealand

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The Sprouting Revolution: Learning to Nourish Yourself & Your Community – with Harold Craston May 05, 2025

Show notes

“If an absolute amateur can grow organic veg at home and begin to feed a community — so can you.”

From sprouting seeds on a shelf to launching a transparent, mission-driven supplement brand, Harold Craston shares his journey with Shhine - built on sustainability, simplicity, and local organic farming.

Harold also opens up about supporting his father through a terminal cancer diagnosis - and how this transformed his own approach to health and nutrition.

Whether you're curious about growing your own nutrient-dense food with minimal fuss, or seeking ways to support your health and that of your loved ones, this inspiring conversation will encourage you to start small, think local, and create meaningful change from the ground up.

Learn more about Shhine’s mission: www.Shhine.co

Connect with Harold and Shhine: Instagram

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

Why You Can’t Have Human Health Without Animal Welfare — Zoologist Turned NHS Dietitian Rosie Martin Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

Zoologist turned NHS Dietitian Rosie Martin changed careers - to save more lives.

Today, I’m joined by Registered Dietitian Rosie Martin, who shares her powerful journey from zoologist to NHS dietitian and plant-based advocate.

Tune in for some incredible insights on

- Advocating for positive dietary change within the healthcare system.
- What to say to people who ask, “where do you get your protein?”
- How the “one health” approach links animal welfare and human health.

Rosie also shares her tips on staying grounded and kind—even when you’re the only plant-based voice in the room.

Follow Rosie on Instagram: @plantdietitianrosie

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

Live Q&A with Dr. Neal Barnard: Saturated Fat, Precision Nutrition, and Why Humans Are Built for a Plant-Based Diet Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Neal Barnard returns for Part Two—this time joining me to take questions from the audience at our recent sold-out Live Podcast. Listen in as we weigh in on:

How plant-based eating is entering mainstream medical practice
Why precision nutrition isn’t ready for primetime
The truth about saturated fat and heart disease
How plant-based diets support athletic performance
Why plant protein is high-quality protein

Practical, inspiring, and deeply human—this is nutritional wisdom from one of the world’s leading experts - Dr Neal Barnard.

Listen now and share with someone ready to feel their best through food.

Join the audience: The Eat This Podcast LIVE on Wednesday May 14th, Exeter UK.

I highly recommend Dr. Barnard’s latest book The Power Foods Diet :The Breakthrough Plan That Traps, Tames, and Burns Calories for Easy and Permanent Weight Loss

Connect with Dr Neal Barnard on Instagram and Twitter/X

Learn more about: The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

Yogurt: Gut Health Superfood or Just Clever Marketing? Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Yogurt is a multi-billion dollar industry - and is heavily advertised as a gut microbiome-boosting super food. But what does the scientific literature actually tell us about yogurt and gut health?

The History of Yogurt: How yogurt became a Western staple, moving from niche food to health product.
What Science Actually Says About Yogurt: Why those ‘live probiotic cultures’ never reach your microbiome.
Is Kefir Truly a Superior Option for Gut Health?
Plant-Based Alternatives: Can non-dairy options like soy yogurt offer better health benefits?
Environmental Impact: Comparing the carbon footprint of dairy yogurt versus plant-based alternatives.
Final Verdict: Is yogurt really essential for better gut health, or is it all just clever marketing?

I hope this episode helps you look beyond the advertising and make evidence-based choices that genuinely safeguard your digestive health.

Links to some of the key papers mentioned in today’s episode:

Long-term dietary patterns are associated with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory features of the gut microbiome.

Effects of Regular Kefir Consumption on Gut Microbiota in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Parallel-Group, Randomized, Controlled Study

Is consuming yoghurt associated with weight management outcomes? Results from a systematic review

The Effects of Kefir and Kefir Components on Immune and Metabolic Physiology in Pre-Clinical Studies: A Narrative Review

A comparison of the nutritional profile and nutrient density of commercially available plant-based and dairy yogurts in the United State

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

How One Sustainability Activist Can Change Millions of Lives - with Klaus Mitchell Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

“Momentum breeds momentum. Don’t ever feel like you’re not making a difference—because I promise, you are.”

Today, we're sitting down with sustainability advocate Klaus Mitchell, the powerhouse behind Plant Based News. If you’ve watched a viral video about veganism, sustainability, or plant-based health in the last decade—there’s a good chance Klaus and his team were behind it.

With an online platform reaching over 85 million people every month, Klaus has helped shape influential Netflix documentaries, interviewed A-list changemakers like Joaquin Phoenix, and taken the stage at the UN’s COP climate conference to advocate for a better food system.

In this inspiring conversation, Klaus takes us behind the scenes—from launching Plant Based News in his parents’ back garden greenhouse to becoming one of the most impactful media voices in the global movement for sustainable food.

We explore the realities of burnout, misinformation, and advocacy —and why hope and storytelling remain our most powerful tools. A timely reminder that each of us can drive positive change, every single day.

Follow Klaus Mitchell: Instagram X/Twitter KlausMItchell.com

Follow Plant Based News: Instagram X/Twitter YouTube.com

Tune in: Plant Based News Podcast

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

Everyday Foods to Achieve and Maintain a Healthy Body Weight - with Dr. Neal Barnard Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

‘There are certain foods, when you bring them into your life, things begin to change dramatically’

Dr. Neal Barnard shares remarkable insights from his groundbreaking research on nutrition, weight management, and chronic disease prevention. We discuss the everyday foods that can help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight while promoting overall well-being. This is an inspiring conversation filled with practical tips and actionable advice that I know you’ll find valuable.

One of the most influential voices in nutrition and disease prevention—Dr Neal Barnard is a leading clinical researcher with over 140 scientific publications on the benefits of a healthy diet, a best-selling author, and the founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I was deeply honored that he traveled from Washington, DC, to join me for a live event in Exeter. I'm thrilled to share his wisdom with you today!

I highly recommend Dr. Barnard’s latest book The Power Foods Diet :The Breakthrough Plan That Traps, Tames, and Burns Calories for Easy and Permanent Weight Loss

Connect with Dr Neal Barnard on Instagram and Twitter/X

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

Why I Ask My Patients To Eat More Plants! Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

One of the most common questions I’m asked is: “Why do you recommend a plant-based diet?”

The answer is simple: I want the best possible outcomes for my patients. As a doctor, I believe we have a duty to use every evidence-based tool available—and healthy dietary change is one of the most powerful tools we have.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Clare Day and Dr. Daisy Lund, hosts of the incredible “In a Nut Shell Podcast,” to share my journey to becoming a doctor who champions plant-based eating. From my early days in medicine to the patients who inspired me to explore the science of food, and the mentors who helped me rethink my approach, this is a conversation about how we can all become more effective advocates for a healthier, more sustainable food system. You’ll also find out what’s usually in my fridge!

Thank you to Dr. Clare Day and Dr. Daisy Lund for their help with this episode. I highly recommend that you add their In A Nut Shell Podcast to your regular listening.

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

Essential Diet and Lifestyle Practices for a Healthier Menopause - with Dr Nitu Bajekal Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Today, I’m in conversation with renowned OBGYN and women’s health expert Dr. Nitu Bajekal as we tackle perimenopause, menopause, and how nutrition and lifestyle can empower women through this crucial phase of life. With over 40 years of experience in female health, Dr. Bajekal shares practical, evidence-based strategies that everyone should know!

Whether you’re approaching perimenopause, currently navigating it, or supporting a loved one through this important life stage, this episode will leave you feeling empowered and ready to start conversations with your doctor about peri-menopause and menopause, to make informed decisions about HRT, and to decide which diet and lifestyle practices are right for you.

We also cover the roles of alcohol, exercise, and community, and take time to debunk the myths around soybeans and hormonal health.

Buy your copy of Dr Nitu’s Books: Finding Me in Menopause: Flourishing in Perimenopause and Menopause using Nutrition and Lifestyle

Living PCOS Free: How to regain your hormonal health with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Visits Dr. Nitu’s website for plant-based recipes & free resources: www.nitubajekal.com

Connect with Dr. Bajekal: Instagram TikTok

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

Do Vegans Eat Too Much Junk Food? - with The Happy Pear Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

This bite-sized episode tackles a question that comes up time and time again: Do vegans eat too many highly processed foods? This discussion was sparked by a live Q&A with The Happy Pear, where we explored what the evidence really says about diet quality in vegans.

We break down the differences between a vegan diet and a whole food plant-based diet, looking at how food choices impact overall health. Plus, if you’re vegan (or thinking about making the switch), we share some practical tips on how to keep your diet as healthy as possible—maximizing nutrients, minimizing ultra-processed foods, and making plant-based eating work for you.

Join us as we separate fact from fiction and help you build a balanced, nourishing diet that supports long-term health.

Follow Stephen and David Flynn—The Happy Pear—on Instagram and YouTube.
Buy “The Happy Pear 20: Recipes and Learnings from the First 20 Years” on Amazon UK, Amazon US, and at all good booksellers.

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount