The Proof with Simon Hill

Latest Episodes:

Nutrition & Exercise tips for Women | Stacy Sims, Phd Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

Episode #248. There is a huge research and science communication gap when it comes to nutrition and exercise for women. Stacy Sims, MSc, PhD joins me today to address this inadequacy, providing guidance on how women can optimise training and nutrition at each stage of life.

Specifically, we discuss:

Intro (00:00)
Dr. Stacy Sims' academic journey (02:00)
Female physiology (05:38)
Implications of applying results of male-centric studies to women (09:12)
Discerning the variances in physiological makeup between genders to customize training regimes (16:29)
Physiological disparities between genders (20:53)
Understanding the significance of a balanced diet and exercises tailored to accommodate the menstrual cycle (24:14)
Ideal training programs tailored to the menstrual cycle of a 30-year-old woman (52:30)
Exercise regimes during pregnancy (1:06:00)
Achieving balance through nutrition, diet, and supplementation in your 30s (1:12:58)
Female bodybuilding: androgenic compounds and hormones (1:27:55)
The correlation between contraception and exercises (1:32:06)
Optimizing exercise during menopause: evidence-based strategies for 60-year-old women (1:37:10)
Training, nutrition, and supplementation beyond the age of 60 (1:51:44)
The significance of lipids in your 30s and 60s (1:56:04)
Outro (1:59:12)

To connect with Stacy Sims, MSc, PhD, you can do so on Instagram or Facebook. Her website, https://www.drstacysims.com, offers a myriad of resources to guide you on your journey to maximise your body’s potential, and you’ll also be able to find her books there.

Discover more insights and supporting resources in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. You can also show your support by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast app and/or sharing your favourite episodes with your friends and family.

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Food, politics, and the environment | George Monbiot Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Episode #247. It's widely accepted that we are in a climate crisis. But what does that mean? Renowned author and journalist George Monbiot joins me in this episode to examine how our food systems are directly impacting our planet's health, and what we can do about it. What do soil and the human gut have in common? Why is food a political issue? What does radical change in the food system look like, and how do we get there?

We cover these questions and more, discussing:

Intro (00:00)
George Monbiot on wildlife, farming, & global food systems (03:39)
Plants & soil microbes: a remarkable connection (09:45)
Soil bacterial diversity & the dangers of soil degradation (20:36)
Profit over sustainability (26:32)
The role of citizens in shaping the food system (34:09)
Why is animal agriculture problematic? (45:38)
Are we the complacent and the silent majority? (57:35)
George Monbiot's alternative to farming animals (01:05:53)
Outro (01:10:16)

You can find a comprehensive database of George Monbiot's work on his website, https://www.monbiot.com/, which encompasses his journalistic work and books. Get his book 'Regenesis' here. Connect with him on Twitter, and search "George Monbiot" on YouTube to find a wealth of videos like his short film with Greta Thunberg, this TED Talk, and this fascinating video about wolves and the balance of nature.

Discover more insights and supporting resources in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Food Compass: a new food scoring system | Professor Dariush Mozaffarian Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Episode #246. Have you ever considered the way our current food system was shaped? Or the way it continues to impact modern dietary guidelines? This episode is for you. In this conversation with distinguished researcher Professor Dariush Mozaffarian, we analyse the past 120 years of nutrition science and assess how this research continues to impact the modern diet.

We cover:

Introduction (00:00)
A Journey Through Nutrition Science History (03:49)
The Food Industry's Contributions to Improving Vitamin and Calorie Deficiency and What Went Wrong (16:05)
The Evolution of Dietary Guidelines (26:59)
Are Food Rating Systems Accurate? (37:48)
Is the Role of Saturated Fat in Nutrition Neutral? (44:22)
Understanding the Algorithm Behind Tufts' Food Compass (46:57)
Industry Funding and Scientific Research (52:03)
Validating the Food Compass Scoring System (57:04)
Are Breakfast Cereals Healthier? (01:04:45)
The Food Compass System: A Work in Progress (01:08:04)
Exploring the Uses of the Food Compass and the Possibility of Improving Its Functionality (01:10:33)
Takeaways (01:29:19)
Outro (01:34:50)

If you found this conversation informative, you can learn more about Dr Mozaffarian here, and read more of his work here. If you have any additional questions you would like answered in future, make sure to leave a comment on YouTube.

Discover more insights and supporting resources in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Menopause masterclass (Part 1) | Endocrinologist and Professor Susan Davis Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

In Episode #245, I'm joined by endocrinologist and clinical researcher Professor Susan Davis, AO. In this detailed exchange – taking place over more than two hours – Professor Davis shares the best practice guidelines for managing menopause. You will learn from a world-leading expert about sex hormones, the physiological changes underpinning menopause, signs and symptoms of peri-menopause/menopause, the struggles of menopause, medical and lifestyle interventions for managing menopause (including hormone therapy), testosterone and sexual desire, the beautiful side of menopause, and plenty more.

"One of the – dare I say – more sinister symptoms that women often do not relate to menopause is anxiety."

Professor Susan R Davis AO*,* is Director, Monash University Women’s Health Research Program and an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow; Consultant Endocrinologist and Head, Women’s Endocrine Clinic, Alfred Hospital Melbourne; and consultant at Cabrini Medical Centre.

Her research spans from basic science to clinical trials, and has been pivotal in the understanding of sex hormones in women across the lifespan in multiple non-reproductive target tissues, including the brain (cognition, mood, sexual function), cardiovascular system (lipids, vascular function, and coagulation), and other tissues (fat, muscle, joint cartilage, and bone).

Specifically, we cover:

Intro (00:00)
Understanding Menopause: Communication and Misconceptions (06:00)
Hysterectomy and its Impact on Menopause (10:48)
Medical Consultation during Menopause: Is it necessary? (15:48)
In-Depth Discussion on Menopause Symptoms and Phases (18:03)
Menopause as a Part of the Aging Process (28:28)
Hormones and Reproduction during Menopause (30:47)
Women's Experiences and Body Changes during Menopause (33:10)
Estrogen and Sex Hormones during Menopause (48:20)
A Proactive Approach to Menopause: Starting Early for Symptom Management (49:10)
Guidelines for Managing Menopause (1:04:31)
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (1:13:28)
HRT and Breast Cancer Risk (1:24:30)
HRT Medications: Guidelines and Recommendations (1:26:50)
The Trustworthiness of Big Pharmaceutical Corporations (1:45:35)
Breast Cancer and Menopause Medications (1:55:12)
The Funding of Menopause Research (1:58:00)
Testosterone Therapy in Menopausal Hormone Treatment (2:00:10)
Empowering Menopausal Women: Their Continued Contributions to Society (2:18:55)
Outro (2:19:40)

To connect with Professor Davis, you can find her on Twitter @SRDwomenshealth. Read her published work here, and make sure to check out the resources below for more useful information on this topic.

Discover more insights and supporting studies in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary

two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Debunking Myths about Cardiovascular Disease | Cardiologist Dr Mohammed Alo Jan 27, 2023

Show notes

In Episode #244, cardiologist Dr Mohammed Alo joins me to talk about cardiovascular disease myths, many of which he has been brilliantly covering on Tik Tok over the past year.

Is it perfectly ok to eat a lot of saturated fat and red meat if your triglycerides and HDL are normal? Does a coronary artery scan of zero mean we won’t have a heart attack? What’s better - a coronary artery scan or a CT angiogram for measuring plaque in our coronary arteries. Are statins beneficial? Is too low cholesterol a problem? Does this affect brain health and hormone production? Eggs, fish and fish oil, cooking oils - the list goes on.

Specifically, we discuss:

Intro (00:00)
Fighting Misinformation on Cardiovascular Disease and Nutrition (03:49)
TikTok and Cardiology: Reaching Diverse Audiences and Navigating Challenges (18:30)
The Risks of the Carnivore Diet and False Claims on LDL Cholesterol (26:50)
Atherosclerosis, Familial Hypercholesterolemia, and Treatment Options (36:30)
The Importance of Non-HDL Cholesterol as a Predictor of CVD (43:41)
Optimizing LDL Cholesterol Levels and Avoiding Unnecessary Medications (49:39)
Assessing Cardiovascular Risk in Prediabetes (55:21)
Cardiac Imaging and Detecting Heart Attack and Stroke Risk (57:24)
Artery Calcification in Endurance Athletes: Understanding Imaging Tests (1:08:48)
Debunking Myths on Coconut Oil and Fish Oil (1:20:02)
Oils of choice and Dr. Alo's stand on canola oil (1:30:00)
Eggs and Cholesterol: How much is too much? (1:32:40)
Can Unprocessed Red Meat Raise Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease? (1:36:39)
Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed Beef: Examining the Debate (1:46:39)
Salt, Salt Substitutes, and Hypertension (1:57:25)
Outro (2:00:04)

We covered a lot.

To explore more of Dr Mohammed Alo’s work, check out his website or connect with him on YouTube and TikTok.

Discover more insights and supporting studies in the full show notes.

The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary

two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Clearing the confusion on saturated fat once and for all | Dr Gil Carvhalo, MD, PhD Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

Episode #243. It’s time to face the facts on saturated fat. Dr Gil Carvalho returns to examine a bold new study on this controversial topic, breaking down whether you need to reconsider your food choices in the wake of this study’s release.

We discuss:

Intro (00:00)
Saturated fat misunderstandings: Is saturated fat bad? (17:20)
Principle 1: Dose matters? — How much saturated fat is too much? (22:07)
Is no saturated fat the goal? (30:12)
Principle 2: Replacement nutrient matters (31:54)
Principle 3: Source matters (45:53)
Mechanisms: Saturated fat and heart disease (50:48)
Saturated fats and genetics (55:47)
Target ApoB level (59:40)
Importance of lifetime exposure (1:03:02)
Statins and heart disease risk: Are statins bad for you? (1:08:53)
Mendelian randomization studies (1:10:52)
The totality of evidence (1:15:59)
Saturated fats and total mortality (1:17:46)
Saturated fat and liver health (1:19:51)
Gaps in the research (1:20:43)
Common arguments against lowering saturated fat (1:23:52)
Outro (1:38:36)

To explore more of Dr Gil Carvalho’s work, you can find him on YouTube. You can also connect with him on Twitter and Facebook, and listen to our previous conversation in Episode #207.

Discover more insights and supporting studies in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary

two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Part 2: Health and longevity | The Proof 2022 year in review Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

Last week we featured Part 1 of the best moments from The Proof in 2022, and this week we bring you part 2.

Episode #242 is a compilation that mostly focuses on sleep, exercise and planetary health featuring a range of guests from across the year.

Guests featured include Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, Dr Alan Flanagan, Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr David Jenkins, Dr Kieron Rooney, Paul Taylor, Fritz Horstmann, Drew Harrisberg and Nicholas Carter.

Specifically, we cover:

Intro (00:00)
Sleep and weight gain with Drew Harrisberg (01:28)
Tips for better sleep with Dr. Andrew Huberman (13:00)
Manage Craving with Fritz Horstman (15:49)
Carnivore Crazy with Drew Harrisberg (39:42)
Big Pharma and Big Food with Dr. Alan Flanagan and Drew Harrisberg (49:32)
Good stress with Dr. Paul Taylor (59:48)
Mitochondria and Longevity with Dr. Kieron Rooney and Drew Harrisberg (1:12:14)
Mitochondria and Longevity with Dr. Paul Taylor (1:17:46)
Fermented foods (1:24:27)
Developing an exercise program with Drew Harrisberg (1:25:18)
Improving brain function with Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai (1:41:57)
Resistance starch and cancer with Drew Harrisberg (1:55:32)
What's causing climate change with Nicolas Carter (2:06:11)
Should we eat fish with Dr. David Jenkins (2:11:01)
Building new habits with Fritz Horstman (2:12:51)
Outro (2:26:46)

Episodes featured:

Episode #206 with Drew Harrisberg
Episode #205 with Dr Andrew Huberman
Episode #239 with Fritz Horstmann
Episode #203 with Drew Harrisberg
Episode #229 with Paul Taylor
Episode #226 with Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai
Episode #223 with Drew Harrisberg
Episode #222 with Dr Kieron Rooney
Episode #230 with Nicholas Carter
Episode #216 with Dr David Jenkins

I hope you find this episode helpful for consolidating some of the key learnings from 2022.

To make sure you never miss an episode be sure to follow/subscribe on Apple, Spotify and/or YouTube. Whichever platform you prefer to receive notifications from when new episodes of The Proof are released.

To check out our sponsors who make this show possible, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.

Another way to show your support is to leave a review on the Apple podcast app, or a comment on YouTube - I read all of these.

And don’t forget to grab a copy of my new Plant-Based Ferments recipe book - a great way to improve your overall health by encouraging greater microbiome diversity.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Part 1: Health and longevity | The Proof 2022 year in review Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

To bring in the new year I thought it would be good to take a moment and consolidate some of the memorable moments, and key takeaways, from 2022.

In Episode #241, part 1 of a 2 part year in review, we traverse how to think about nutrition, so we can better make sense of claims online, diet, and cardiometabolic health, how you can flip the switch on your microbiome so the trillions of gut bugs in your large intestine reward you with better health, and the benefits up for grabs through consuming our food over less hours - otherwise known as time restricted eating or fasting.

Guests featured include Dr Gil Carvhalo, Dr Richard Johnson, Dr Alan Flanagan, Danny Lennon, Dr David Jenkins, Dr Justin Sonnenburg, Dr Erica Sonnenburg, Dr Christopher Gardner, Dr Tim Spector, Dr Don Layman, Dr Valter Longo, Dr Stuart Phillips, Dr Satchin Panda and Dr Courtney Peterson.

Specifically, we cover:

Intro (00:00)
Circadian Disruption is a Problem with Dr. Satchin Panda (01:59)
Fasting & weight loss with Dr. Courtney Peterson (08:26)
Optimal fasting window with Dr. Satchin Panda (15:49)
Nutrition science claims with Dr Gil Carvalho (36:49)
Diet & metabolic health with Dr. Richard Johnson (51:32)
Cholesterol & CVD with Dr Alan Flanagan and Danny Lennon (57:22)
Lowering cholesterol with Dr. David Jenkins (1:14:06)
Gut microbiome with Drs. Erica and Justin Sonnenburg (1:24:44)
Fibre & inflammation with Dr. Sonnenburg and Dr. Gardner (1:32:43)
Fermented foods (1:49:35)
Building microbiome diversity with Drs. Erica and Justin Sonnenburg (1:50:26)
Simple dietary advice with Dr Tim Spector (1:55:57)
Muscle & metabolic health with Dr. Donald Layman (1:58:34)
Aging pathways with Dr. Valter Longo (2:07:24)
Muscle & aging with Drs. Stuart Phillips and Christopher Gardner (2:14:48)
Outro (2:20:11)

Episodes featured:

Episode #221 with Dr Satchin Panda
Episode #232 with Dr Courtney Peterson
Episode #207 with Dr Gil Carvhalo
Episode #233 with Dr Richard Johhson
Episode #231 with Dr Alan Flanagan & Danny Lennon
Episode #216 with Dr David Jenkins
Episode #202 with Dr Erica Sonnenburg & Dr Justin Sonnenburg
Episode #191 with Dr Justin Sonnenburg & Dr Christopher Gardner
Episode #224 with Dr Tim Spector
Episode #236 with Dr Don Layman
Episode #237 with Dr Valter Longo
Episode #228 with Dr Stuart Phillips & Dr Christopher Gardner

I hope you find this episode helpful for consolidating some of the key learnings from 2022.

Part 2 of the year in review will be released next week with a focus on exercise, planetary health and more.

Happy new year.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Eating for cardiometabolic health | Andrea Glenn, PhD, RD Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

Episode #240. There’s a lot of noise about cardiometabolic health: claims that certain diets will work miracles, and hype that specific foods must be avoided at all costs. Research dietitian Dr Andrea Glenn joins me today to get to the core of which dietary patterns will actually improve your cardiometabolic health outcomes.

We discuss:

Intro (00:00)
Andrea Glenn on dietary patterns (07:31)
Which country has the best dietary guidelines today? (11:35)
What is cardiometabolic health? (13:15)
Similarities and differences between the DASH, Nordic, Mediterranean, and Portfolio Diets (16:31)
Can the Portfolio diet lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke? (21:29)
The compositions of plant predominant diets and the demonization of carbohydrates (37:05)
Are DASH, Nordic, Mediterranean, and Portfolio diets good for preventing and managing diabetes? (44:32)
The worst and the best sources of fat (50:27)
Is the pro-metabolic diet legitimate? (54:19)
Is canola oil healthy? And is it better than olive oil? (01:03:39)
The effects of protein according to studies (1:11:05)
What are plant sterols? (1:17:20)
Plant predominant versus plant exclusive (1:22:36)

To stay in the loop with Dr Andrea Glenn, you can connect with her on Twitter. Learn more about Dr Glenn and read her research papers here.

Discover more insights and dozens of supporting studies in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

How to Lose Fat & Gain Muscle on a Plant-Based Diet | Coach Fritz Horstmann Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Episode #239. Looking for simple, practical ways to improve your exercise regime and eat for better health? Coach Fritz Horstmann understands the difficulties of balancing health with a busy life, and joins me today to offer guidance on how you can do just that.

We discuss:

Intro (0:00)
Fritz’s Vegan Fitness Transformation (12:48)
Combining Intuitive & Educated Eating (30:52)
Fritz’s Coaching with Calorie Counting (42:04)
Plant-Based Protein Sources (46:55)
Bloating (55:32)
Results in Fritz’s Program (57:43)
Getting your steps in (1:09:08)
Develop Habits for Success (1:11:01)
How to get Motivated (1:19:18)
Fritz’s Training Structure (1:24:38)
Principles for Progress (1:30:04)
Is Your Gym Program Working? (1:35:48)
Protein Powder (1:38:03)
Heart Disease & Animal Protein (1:52:30)
IGF1 & Lactate Testing (1:58:21)
Fritz’s Vegan Hat (2:07:50)
Nutrient Supplements (2:11:44)
Is Juicing Good for You? (2:17:37)
Manage Cravings (2:21:46)
Meal Prep vs Eating Out (2:30:59)
Overrated / Underrated Claims (2:52:05)
Outro (3:13:41)

To connect with Fritz Horstmann, join his community on Instagram. You can also visit his website to learn more about his coaching, and listen to his podcast, Plant Based Fitness Secrets.

Discover supporting studies and more insights in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book