The debate between animal-based and plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) has garnered significant attention, especially concerning their impact on cardiovascular health. As PBMAs become increasingly popular, questions about their nutritional profiles and long-term health implications have emerged. Are these alternatives genuinely healthier than traditional meat, or do their highly processed nature and high sodium content undermine potential benefits? This discussion is crucial as dietary choices increasingly influence public health policies and consumer behaviors.
#528: Is Unprocessed Red Meat Problematic for Our Health?
In this episode we delve into the contentious topic of unprocessed red meat and its potential health impacts. The episode addresses the common debates and confusion surrounding the risks associated with red meat consumption.
SNP29: Athletes & Plant-Based Diets – Evidence & Application in Practice
Contemporary society is witnessing a growing interest in, and embracing of, plant-based diets. Numerous athletes are now gravitating towards such dietary choices, motivated by concerns for health, performance or ethics. Consequently, coaches, nutritionists, and other fitness experts find themselves increasingly tasked with guiding athletes who adhere to plant-based diets. For coaches and trainers, understanding the possible impacts of these dietary preferences on athletes’ objectives is paramount, as is devising dietary plans that optimize their performance. This episode discusses the scientific and practical aspects of supporting athletes who have adopted a vegetarian lifestyle and diet.
#463: Do Vegan Diets Cause Depression?
Do vegan diets increase risk of depression? We look at: 1) research on the proposed mechanisms, 2) impact of such diets on outcome measures.
#434: Is a Vegan Diet Really Best for Diabetes?
Many different diets have been put forward as solutions that treat type 2 diabetes. Some will claim the diet “reverses” diabetes, some say it puts it into “remission”, while others more conservatively recommend a diet to manage diabetes symptoms in a healthy way.
There has been some debate on the use of terms like reversal, cure or resolution. And recently more clarity has been found in defining each.
One of the diets that has been recommended by some for the purposes of “reversing” or treating diabetes is a low-fat, whole food plant-based (WFPB) diet. Specifically, there is a claim that it is superior to other diets in treating diabetes. Some of these claims relate to popular online diet & lifestyle programs that use such a diet. While there is also a number of studies that are commonly cited in support of the claims.
In this episode, we evaluate these claims by looking at the published research in this area, across epidemiology, human intervention trials and mechanistic rationale. We also ponder what it means for something to be the “best” diet to treat a chronic disease.
#362: Alistair Monteyne – Impact of Mycoprotein & Vegan Diets on Muscle Protein Synthesis
Listen on these AppsPodcast TranscriptsGuest InformationAlistair Monteyne Alistair Monteyne is the lead author on some recent RCTs examining the impact of mycoprotein on muscle protein synthesis. Alistair is currently a PhD student at the University of Exeter, and has a MSc. in Sport and Exercise Nutrition from Loughborough University.In this episode we discuss: What is mycoprotein? Nutritional profile of mycoprotein Are there safety concerns? Muscle protein synthesis as the target of protein-based meals to build/repair muscle Typical comparisons of animal-based vs. plant-based protein sources Why animal-sources typically outperform plant sources Role of leucine and EAA content Impact of mycoprotein on …
#356: Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD – Plant-based Diets, Meal Timing & Meal Frequency
Listen on these AppsPodcast TranscriptsGuest InformationHana Kahleova, MD, PhD Dr. Hana Kahleova is the director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee and directs research testing the effect a plant-based diet has on metabolism, insulin function, fitness, and mental health, as well as studying the impact meal timing and meal frequency have on metabolism and body weight. Dr. Kahleova earned her doctorate in nutrition and diabetes and her medical degree from Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. As a postdoctoral research fellow at Loma Linda University in California, Dr. Kahleova analyzed data from 50,000 Adventist Health Study-2 participants. She analyzed …
A Plant Based Diet Reverses Heart Disease: True or False?
It is often claimed that a plant based diet reverses heart disease. And three specific studies are commonly cited to support this. This article breaks those studies down to see if they really support the claim that a plant based way of eating will reduce heart disease risk.
#342: Are Vegan Diets Superior for Health?
In this episode we discuss:Today’s Topic in Focus: Vegan Diets & Human Health Defining “plant-based” diets Examination of various intervention trials comparing diets Is veganism suitable across the lifestage? Benefits of a vegan diet Are there benefits to excluding animal products? Can the benefits of a vegan diet be gleaned whilst including animal foods? Nutrient considerations if deciding to eat vegan: a well-forumulated vegan diet Should athletes consider: creatine, carnosine, carnitine, leucine, etc.? Links: Research Referenced in this Episode: The BROAD study – Wright et al., 2017 Barnard et al., 2006 Barnard et al., 2009 “An Important Part of Who …
#340: Ethics of Veganism & Omnivorism (Part 4) – Diana Rodgers, RD & Robb Wolf
Listen on these AppsPodcast TranscriptsGuest InformationDiana Rodgers and Robb Wolf are the co-authors of Sacred Cow, a book exploring the important role of animals in our food system.Diana Rodgers, RD Diana is a Registered Dietitian living on a working organic farm in New England, where she runs an active nutrition practice. She speaks at universities and conferences internationally about nutrition and sustainability, social justice, animal welfare and food policy issues. She’s just completed work on the new book and film project, Sacred CowRobb Wolf Robb Wolf is a former research biochemist and a New York Times/WSJ Best Selling author (for …
#338: Ethics of Veganism & Omnivorism (Part 3) – Alex O’ Connor
Listen on these AppsPodcast TranscriptsGuest InformationAlex J. O’Connor Alex J. O’Connor is founder of the Cosmic Skeptic YouTube channel, podcast and blog; platforms dedicated to the publication of philosophical ideas and debates in an accessible format. He is currently reading for a degree in philosophy and theology at St John’s College, Oxford University. Alex is an impassioned animal rights advocate and religious critic, regularly discussing these topics on his online platforms. He has spoken at conferences internationally and has engaged in debates on ethics and philosophy.In this episode we discuss: How Alex evaluates the ethics of food choices Moral vs. …
#337: Ethics of Veganism & Omnivorism (Part 2) – Prof. Paul Thompson
Listen on these AppsPodcast TranscriptsGuest InformationProf. Paul Thompson, PhD Professor Paul B. Thompson holds the W.K. Kellogg Chair in Agricultural, Food and Community Ethics at Michigan State University, where he serves on the faculty in the departments of Philosophy, Community Sustainability and Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and has held posts at Texas A&M University and Purdue University. Thompson’s research and teaching has focused on ethical and philosophical topics in food and agriculture. He is the author or co-author of over two hundred articles …
#336: Ethics of Veganism & Omnivorism (Part 1) – Andrew Chignell, PhD
Listen on these AppsPodcast TranscriptsGuest InformationProf. Andrew Chignell Andrew Chignell is a professor at Princeton, with appointments in Religion, Philosophy, and the University Center for Human Values. He was previously an associate professor at Cornell and a professor at University of Pennsylvania. He received his PhD from Yale. Chignell’s work to date focuses on Immanuel Kant and other modern European philosophers, philosophy of religion, the moral psychology of hope and despair, and the ethics of belief. He also has an interest in food ethics, and recently co-produced (with Will Starr at Cornell) a Massive Open Online Course on “The Ethics …