In a Nutshell: The Plant-Based Health Professionals UK Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Strong - multiple record-breaking cyclist, age-group World Champion triathlete, climate-activist adventurer, motivational speaker, ex aerospace engineer and of course Plant-Based Health Professionals UK Ambassador.Kate shares her journey from competitive sport and plant-based performance to becoming a leading voice in sustainability and systems thinking.Amongst her many achievements, in 2023 she completed Climate Cycle, a 3,300 mile bike ride around mainland Britain on a hand-made bamboo bike. During these three months, she visited 50 communities, charities, companies, initiatives and projects that are working towards mitigating climate change.Kate explains how lessons learned through endurance sport mirror the mindset needed to address climate challenges - and why collective action begins with individual awareness.This conversation is both energising and practical, offering listeners a fresh perspective on how small steps can create meaningful change.To find out more and connect with Kate:https://katestrong.global/https://katestrong.global/contact/Study on hypertension:https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2026/05/04/bmjnph-2025-001449https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/plant-power-soy-and-legumes-connected-to-lower-hypertension-riskIf you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.And if you liked this episode please consider leaving us a rating or a review, it helps more people discover the podcast and supports our mission to share evidence-based nutrition.

Oat milk has enjoyed growing popularity in recent years. Despite a flurry of questions around its healthfulness, this is a plant milk generally accepted for its taste, and which is widely available. It's also often calcium fortified to the same level as dairy. Nevertheless, concerns remain  regarding the swap from cow's milk. Perhaps you've even been persuaded to wear a continuous glucose monitor whilst drinking your latte?So, for those of you for whom no other plant milk will do, podcast hosts Daisy and Clare explore the good and bad of the nation's most popular plant milk.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

In this episode we are joined by Dr. David Jenkins, MD, PhD, DSc, a globally recognised leader in nutrition science, research and metabolic health.Dr Jenkins is best known for developing both the Portfolio diet and the Gycaemic Index. His work has shaped how we understand the relationship between carbohydrates and blood sugar, lipids and heart health, and continues to influence how clinicians and researchers approach nutrition science.In this episode we explore the cholesterol-lowering foods which make up the Portfolio diet, a dietary pattern that can have a powerful effect on lowering LDL cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk.We break down the science behind the diet, how it works in real life, and why it’s gaining attention as a practical dietary strategy for improving heart health.To read more :https://nutrisci.med.utoronto.ca/faculty/david-jenkinshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523293338https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40394599/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37877288/Portfolio Diet app:https://www.portfoliodiet.app/enPortfolio Diet infographic:https://practice365.co.uk/uploads/sites/601/2024/10/Portfolio-Infographic-EN-FINAL.pdfIf you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.And if you liked this episode please consider leaving us a rating or a review, it helps more people discover the podcast and supports our mission to share evidence-based nutrition.

This week the hosts of In a Nutshell ask an important question. Can you get enough calcium on a plant-based diet without fortified foods? And even if you can, do you have to have a degree in nutrition to do the planning? Daisy and Clare provide a lively listen helping us to understand the role of calcium in the diet, and how to make sure you have a good intake as a plant-based eater without obsessing about which green vegetable comes with the mushroom pie.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.References:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/getting-calcium-on-a-plant-based-diet-everything-you-need-to-knowNourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for FamiliesReshma Shah (author), Brenda Davis (author), David L. Katz (foreword)Tong TYN, Appleby PN, Armstrong MEG, Fensom GK, Knuppel A, Papier K, Perez-Cornago A, Travis RC, Key TJ. Vegetarian and vegan diets and risks of total and site-specific fractures: results from the prospective EPIC-Oxford study. BMC Med. 2020 Nov 23;18(1):353. doi: 10.1186/s12916-020-01815-3. PMID: 33222682; PMCID: PMC7682057.Dunneram, Y., Lee, J.Y., Watling, C.Z. et al. Vegetarian diets and cancer risk: pooled analysis of 1.8 million women and men in nine prospective studies on three continents. Br J Cancer 134, 1218–1229 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-025-03327-4

In episode 8 of this season we discuss the food industry's role in green washing, health washing, and welfare washing.  Nicola Wilks from Adfree Cities describes how advertising seeks to influence our eating habits and planetary health choices, and why we'd probably be better off making choices without adverts. We also hear how cities in the Netherlands want to promote plant-based diets, and on this basis have recently taken steps to level the food industry playing field with a ban on outdoor advertisements for meat.To find out more about Adfree Cities and their campaigns:https://adfreecities.org.uk/If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.And please consider leaving a review,  it helps more people discover the podcast and supports our mission to share evidence-based nutrition.References:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ebd0080238e863d04911b51/t/5fbfcb1408845d09248d4e6e/1606404891491/Advertising%E2%80%99s+role+in+climate+and+ecological+degradation.pdfhttps://cdn.bitebackmedia.com/media/documents/Bite_Back_Report_Fuel_Us_Dont_Fool_Us_Advertising.pdfhttps://adfreecities.org.uk/https://changingmarkets.org/report/the-new-merchants-of-doubt-how-big-meat-and-dairy-avoid-climate-action/https://adfreecities.org.uk/explore-harmful-advertising/end-meat-advertising/https://adfreecities.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-cows-arent-laughing_Adfree-Cities_Oct-2023_Final.pdfhttps://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/assured-food-standards-a23-1199608-assured-food-standards.html

This week a listener question has prompted us to discuss iron absorption and the effect of anti-nutrients. In particular, do phytates and oxalates in plant foods put us at risk of iron deficiency? Daisy and Clare conclude the answer as ever may be to focus on eating a diverse range of plant foods and not to go too much into the weeds (unless of course they are dandelions- an important source of iron we forgot to mention!)If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.References:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IronFactsheet201123.pdfhttps://www.bda.uk.com/resource/iron-rich-foods-iron-deficiency.htmlPires SMG, Reis RS, Cardoso SM, Pezzani R, Paredes-Osses E, Seilkhan A, Ydyrys A, Martorell M, Sönmez Gürer E, Setzer WN, Abdull Razis AF, Modu B, Calina D, Sharifi-Rad J. Phytates as a natural source for health promotion: A critical evaluation of clinical trials. Front Chem. 2023 Apr 14;11:1174109. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1174109. PMID: 37123871; PMCID: PMC10140425.Piskin E, Cianciosi D, Gulec S, Tomas M, Capanoglu E. Iron Absorption: Factors, Limitations, and Improvement Methods. ACS Omega. 2022 Jun 10;7(24):20441-20456. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01833. PMID: 35755397; PMCID: PMC9219084.

In this episode we’re joined by registered dietitian Soraya Pineda, to explore the science of weight loss, satiety, and appetite regulation.Soraya has extensive experience supporting individuals with weight management, metabolic health, and behaviour change. Her work focuses on helping people move away from restrictive dieting towards sustainable, evidence-based approaches that prioritise long-term health. As interest in GLP-1 medications continues to grow, this episode explores how a high-fibre, plant-based diet may naturally support appetite regulation, offering a practical and sustainable alternative or complement to pharmacological approaches.We also discuss why traditional weight loss approaches often fail, and why so many of us regain weight and enter a yo-yo dieting pattern, so join us today to hear more about effective approaches rather than relying on restriction alone.To connect with Soraya and learn more about her work:https://www.linkedin.com/in/soraya-pineda/https://linktr.ee/plantnutritionwithsorayaTo read the Plant-Based Health Professionals weight loss fact sheet:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FS-EnergyDensity-260310.pdfIf you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.And please consider leaving a review,  it helps more people discover the podcast and supports our mission to share evidence-based nutrition.

Ever found yourself drawn to a supplement and don't know why? With brand names like Bulk, Impact, and Warrior, it's no wonder you may have asked yourself more than once whether you should be taking a daily dose. In this week's Nutshell nugget you will find our attempt to cut through the advertising to take a look at the science to date on the pros and cons of supplementing. We hope it helps you decide, as you may be surprised to learn both omnivores AND vegans alike will not be getting anywhere near the standard daily amount recommended as a supplement through diet alone.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.References:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37968687/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-54249-9https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39940383/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40395689/https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/should-you-be-worried-about-creatine-on-a-plant-based-diethttps://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/cjdjrvr4dk5o

What children eat at school has the potential to shape their health for decades to come.In this episode, we speak with Sophia Millar from ProVeg UK about the School Plates initiative- a programme working with schools and local authorities to support more plant-rich, nutritious, and sustainable meals for children across the UK.For healthcare professionals concerned with prevention, childhood nutrition, and the growing burden of diet-related disease, school food represents a powerful but often overlooked lever for improving population health.We discuss why schools are such a critical setting for shaping lifelong dietary patterns and how initiatives like School Plates are helping schools make healthier food the default.To find out more:https://proveg.org/uk/https://proveg.org/fsd-article/ultra-processed-foods/To join us at this years Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Conference and for early bird tickets:https://nlmc.org.uk/If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

This week's nugget discusses the evidence around including oil in our diets, showcasing a special interview with expert patient Sue Brewer who in recent years has been managing the cardiovascular consequences of 40 years on dialysis with an oil-free plant-based diet.https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/oil-or-no-oil-a-viewpointhttps://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/seed-oils-bad-pressed-myth-busting-misinformationhttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2831265https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.035034https://www.dresselstyn.com/site/If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

In this episode we explore how agricultural systems shape human and planetary health.We are joined by Professor Amir Kassam, a globally recognised expert in conservation agriculture (CA), whose work has helped advance sustainable farming systems worldwide. Professor Kassam explains the scientific foundations of CA and how it differs from the increasingly popular concept of regenerative agriculture.Drawing on his contributions to global food systems discussions, including work aligned with the EAT-Lancet Commission, we examine how agriculture must operate within planetary boundaries to safeguard soil, water, biodiversity, climate stability, and ultimately public health.For healthcare professionals, this episode reframes prevention at a systems level, highlighting agriculture as an upstream determinant of health. If we are serious about sustainable diets and long-term wellbeing, we must also consider how food is grown.To find out more: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amir-Kassamhttps://fable.co/author/prof-amir-kassamhttps://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/sustainable-farminghttps://www.thelancet.com/commissions-do/EAT-2025Rockström J, Kassam A, Friedrich T, et al. Conservation agriculture: helping to return to within planetary boundaries. Global Sustainability. 2026;9:e11. doi:10.1017/sus.2025.10045https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/global-sustainability/article/conservation-agriculture-helping-to-return-to-within-planetary-boundaries/3641F08ABCEF6438590242B968C8FAD1To get NLMC tickets:https://nlmc.org.uk/If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

This week on the Nutshell , Daisy and Clare discuss whether paying more for organic produce pays off in terms of health benefits. There are lots of things to think about from pesticide burden to the nutrient values in the foods themselves. But with ever rising food bills,  should you prioritise organic, or can we afford not to? Smith-Spangler C, Bravata DM, Hunter-Goren A, et al.“Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives? A systematic review.”Annals of Internal Medicine, 2012; 157(5):348–366.DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007Baranski M, Średnicka-Tober D, Volakakis N, et al.Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses.British Journal of Nutrition. 2014;111(5):794–811.doi: 10.1017/S000711451300284XBaudry, J., Assmann, K. E., Touvier, M., Allès, B., Seconda, L., Latino-Martel, P., Hercberg, S. (2018). Association of frequency of organic food consumption with cancer risk: Findings from the NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort study.mJAMA Internal Medicine, 178(12), 1597–1606.https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4357https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.phphttps://www.pan-europe.info/https://www.pan-uk.org/https://hodmedods.co.uk/If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

From fears around hormone disruption, thyroid health, breast cancer, fertility, and even feminising effects in men, soy has been surrounded by controversy for many years.Yet at the same time, populations consuming soy regularly tend to have lower rates of chronic disease and longer life expectancy. So what does the totality of the scientific evidence actually say?To answer that question we’re joined by Dr Mark Messina, one of the world’s leading researchers on soya foods and health. Dr Messina is Director of Nutrition Science and Research at the Soy Nutrition Institute (SNI) Global. He has dedicated his career to studying the health effects of soya foods and has published over 125 articles and book chapters over his three decades of work in the field.In this deep dive we will distinguish the scientific evidence from pervasive online misconceptions and examine what the current research indicates about soya's effects on cardiovascular health, cancer risk, endocrine function, and well being.To contact Dr Messina:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-messina-985ba642/To read more about Dr Messina's research papers:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Messina-Mark-2And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.Discover evidence-based approaches to transform hospital meals in our upcoming Global Healthy Hospital Network webinar.Join us on 4 March 2026, 16:00 GMT to explore practical strategies to make hospital meals healthier for patients and staff while reducing environmental impact.This session is designed for healthcare professionals seeking actionable, evidence-based ways to transform hospital food environments.Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/-rnYGLwqQ9-ZQPh-P1cfPwThe Global Healthy Hospital Food Network is a collaborative initiative led by PAN International, Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, ProVeg International, and Greener by Default.

In this week's nugget, Plant-Based Health Professionals' founder, Dr Shireen Kassam takes us through two recently published papers exploring what oncologists may and may not know about diet and cancer, the reasons for this, and what they tell their patients.Kassam S, Kassam Z, Nemirovsky D, et al. Oncologists Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Providing Dietary Guidance to Patients With Cancer. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2026;0(0). doi:10.1177/15598276251414349Patel A, Kassam S, Shah UA. Food for Thought: Addressing a Research Gap for Dietary Trials in Hematologic Malignancies. Blood Cancer Discov. 2025 Sep 3;6(5):406-411. doi: 10.1158/2643-3230.BCD-25-0141. PMID: 40778663; PMCID: PMC12405862.

This week on the podcast we speak with nutritionist, author, and retired ITU nurse, Karen Lee. Karen shares her journey of following a whole-food plant-based diet to help manage her symptoms of the autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis. We cover the research showing how whole-food, plant-based dietary patterns may help reduce systemic inflammation, improve gut microbiome diversity, and improve symptoms relevant to many autoimmune diseases.To find out more and connect with Karen:https://thesensitivefoodiekitchen.com/To buy Karen's latest book:https://www.hammersmithbooks.co.uk/product/healing-from-the-inside-out/Published case study discussed:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15598276221141403PBHP Fact Sheet on MS:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/MS-factsheet-210519.pdfTo find out more on OMS:https://overcomingms.org/Clare's vegan omelette recipe:300g silken tofu140g firm tofu 3tbsp gram flour2 tbsp tapioca flour1/2 tsp turmeric Good pinch of Kala namak (if available)Ground pepperDash of plant milk if the mixture is a bit stiffOil of your choice for frying (optional)Filling of your choice e.g vegan cheese, mushrooms, spring onions, kimchi!Blend together the silken tofu, gram flour, tapioca flour, turmeric, Kala namak and pepper. Crumble in the firm tofu and give it a final mix. Heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan. Add the mixture and give the pan a wobble to level it out. Adjust the hob heat so that you can see a bit of steam coming from the pan but it shouldn't be bubbling too vigorously. It will take up to about 20 minutes for the omelette to fully set. When it is starting to look set you can add the filling to the top to start heating through, or melting if it's vegan cheese. Just before serving, fold over the omelette in the pan, then you can slide it onto a plate and decorate with fresh herbs or chopped spring onions.

In this week's nugget, we explore some of the knowns and  unknowns when it comes to eating farmed animals who may carry bacteria known to cause disease in humans. The spotlight is on  helicobacter pylori, campylobacter jejuni, and e.coli. You might think twice about what you store in the freezer or throw on a barbeque. The Ingest podcast:https://www.pcsg.org.uk/podcast/h-pylori/Almagro-Martínez, C., Alenda-Botella, A. & Botella-Juan, L. Systematic review on the zoonotic potential of Helicobacter pylori. Discov Public Health 22, 432 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00834-wQuaglia NC, Dambrosio A. Helicobacter pylori: A foodborne pathogen? World J Gastroenterol. 2018 Aug 21;24(31):3472-3487. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i31.3472. PMID: 30131654; PMCID: PMC6102504.Aziz M, Park DE, Quinlivan V, Dimopoulos EA, Wang Y, Sung EH, Roberts ALS, Nyaboe A, Davis MF, Casey JA, Caballero JD, Nachman KE, Takhar HS, Aanensen DM, Parkhill J, Tartof SY, Liu CM, Price LB, .2025.Zoonotic Escherichia coli and urinary tract infections in Southern California. mBio16:e01428-25.https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.01428-25https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/report-into-the-sources-of-human-campylobacter-infection-published-0Harmful impacts of microplastic pollution on poultry and biodegradation techniques using microorganisms for consumer health protection: A reviewhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579124010344?via%3Dihub

This week we are thrilled to be speaking with Dr Michael Klaper, M.D.Dr Klaper is an experienced physician, educator, and author who has spent decades advocating for a preventive approach to healthcare grounded in healthy, whole-food, plant-based diets.Through the non-profit organisation Moving Medicine Forward, Dr Klaper’s current work centres on integrating nutrition and lifestyle education into medical training, empowering future doctors to use diet to prevent and reverse chronic diseases, aiming for a more holistic healthcare system.If you’re interested in the future of medicine, climate and health, preventive healthcare, or medical education reform, this episode offers a powerful and thought-provoking perspective on how clinicians can help build a healthier, more sustainable world.To find out more and connect with Dr Klaper: https://www.movingmedforward.org/The books recommended in this episode: http://comfortablyunaware.com/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58788258-food-is-climateMeet Dr Klaper at VCO26: https://www.vegancampout.co.uk/Link to Karen Lee's book launch online meeting:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PBkwD14YQdeGNwFyZ3Skyw?_x_zm_rtaid=FwMPrSGOTOahbsDIRb72jA.1768386534935.d80a54aa744af3c37e6b3c922ce0e42d&_x_zm_rhtaid=535#/registration

This week's bonus episode completes our two-parter on psoriasis, as we hear from PBHP member, Kate Dunbar, who prior to the adoption of a whole food plant-based diet was significantly affected by the disease. She has gone on to run marathons, and is the creative master behind many of PBHP's factsheets.Her story is an inspiration to anyone suffering from an autoimmune disease who may have been told diet and lifestyle don't matter. Her experience has even been written up as a case study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34366737/Kate is always very generous with sharing her time and passion regarding the healing powers of food. You can follow her on Instagram @kate.dunbar, find her on Facebook, or email her,  [email protected] 

We are so excited to be back In The Nutshell as we kick off season six with dual qualified NHS Consultant Dermatologist and nutritionist Dr Thivi Maruthappu.We cover the inflammatory condition, psoriasis, and find out why it is considered a systemic condition, and how it links to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic health. Dr Thivi outlines the potential mechanisms through which diet and lifestyle influence systemic inflammation, immune pathways, and the gut microbiome.We take a closer look at the APPLE study (Asking People with Psoriasis about Lifestyle and Eating), co-led by Dr Thivi and researchers at King’s College London, exploring how overall diet quality relates to psoriasis severity, and how dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods are associated with better outcomes, providing important data that lifestyle and dietary assessments have a key role to play alongside standard clinical care.To access the study:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39973353/Zanesco S, Maruthappu T, Griffiths CEM, Dalrymple KV, Gibson R, Hall WL. Associations between diet quality indices and psoriasis severity: results from the Asking People with Psoriasis about Lifestyle and Eating (APPLE) cross-sectional study. British Journal of Nutrition (2025)To connect with Dr Thivi:https://drthivi.com/To buy Dr Thivi's book:https://drthivi.com/skinfood-your-4-step-solution-healthy-happy-skin/To sign up to the Veganuary myth busting talk on Tuesday 13th January 2026 please email [email protected] Made in Hackney book discussed :https://madeinhackney.org/buy-our-new-cookbook-we-cook-plants-%F0%9F%8C%B1/And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

Vanessa Sturman, food coach, is back to guide us on a flexible approach to Christmas plant-based food. She discusses how to enjoy food and celebrate Christmas without feeling like you've lost touch with healthy whole food plant-based eating for the coming year.Those tempeh stuffing balls...https://theveganlarder.com/vegan-christmas-tempeh-sausage-stuffing-balls/#recipeContact Vanessa:https://www.vanessasturman.com/Instagram:@vanessaforhealth

In episode 8 of season 5, we speak with lifestyle medicine expert, and Plant-Based Health Professionals Ambassador, Dr. Chidi Ngwaba.Dr Chidi breaks down how type 2 diabetes, one of the most common chronic diseases, can be prevented, treated, and even reversed through evidence-based lifestyle changes, particularly a whole-food plant-based diet.By explaining the underlying mechanisms of insulin resistance in a way that is accessible, we understand how and why the answer goes beyond just  refined sugar.He highlights why plant-based nutrition is so effective at restoring insulin sensitivity and improving metabolic health, sharing clinical insights from his work helping thousands of patients reverse chronic conditions.We also address common myths surrounding carbohydrates, fruit and diabetes, offering clarity for anyone confused by conflicting nutrition advice.This episode is both inspiring and informative so make sure to listen to the end to find out what Dr Chidi's favourite plant-based meal is!To connect with Dr Chidi: [email protected]://www.linkedin.com/in/drchidimd/Access recipes and learn more about Plant-Based Sis: https://plantbasedsis.com/Plant- Based Health Professionals UK Type 2 Diabetes Factsheets: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Diabetes-factsheet08.11.24.pdfPlant- Based Health Professionals UK article on Type 2 Diabetes treatment and prevention: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/plant-based-diets-for-the-prevention-and-treatment-of-type-2-diabetesFurther information on continuous glucose monitors: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/continuous-glucose-monitorFor the courses discussed: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/coursesAnd please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today. If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a healthcare professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

It will come as no surprise to our regular listeners that kidney disease is another area in which a healthy plant-based diet supports better health. We are therefore delighted to bring you this week's bonus episode: our discussion with Cade Morant about his experience of nephrotic syndrome and a diagnosis of focal segmental glomerulonephritis. Cade has experienced a kidney transplant and ongoing dialysis, but despite these challenges has discovered plant-based diets are not just good for planetary health! https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CKDKidneyfactsheetPBHPUK-May23.pdfhttps://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Reducing-potassium-in-CKD-when-you-are-following-a-plant-based-diet.pdfhttps://kdigo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Key-Takeaways_KDIGO-2024-CKD-Guideline_People-Living-with-CKD.pdf

In episode 7 of the season we dive deep into the world of seaweed. Seaweed is considered one of the most nutrient-dense, sustainable, and surprisingly versatile foods, yet so many of us haven't considered adding it to our plates. So we were delighted to hear from Plant-Based Health Professionals member, Jenny Griffiths, who is currently completing a PhD in U.K. Sustainable Food Systems, about the health benefits of seaweed and why she thinks the U.K. population should consider adding more seaweed to their diets.Listen today to find out about the key nutrients found in seaweed, the differences between major varieties, safety considerations, the potential environmental benefits, and of course practical ways to incorporate seaweed into your diet for both taste and health.Links discussed in this episode:https://beachfood.co.uk/https://www.carymor.wales/https://www.cornishseaweed.co.uk/Guides from the Marine Conservation Society (here) and Natural Resources Wales (here). To reach out and connect with Jenny:[email protected] please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

In this week's nugget we revisit our interview with Carlijn Wagenaar from the Plants for Joints study, as they launch their 'Plants for Health' programme to help those suffering from a range of chronic conditions  - not just joint problems.Order the e-or printed book and sign up for the programme:https://plants-for-health.com/ References for the programme:Two-Year Follow-Up of a Multidisciplinary Lifestyle Intervention for Rheumatoid Arthritis and OsteoarthritisCarlijn A. Wagenaar, Wendy Walrabenstein, Marike van der Leeden et al.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken), 2025Effect of a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention on body composition in people with osteoarthritis: Secondary analysis of the “Plants for Joints” randomized controlled trialCarlijn A. Wagenaar, Wendy Walrabenstein, Sofieke C.S. de Jonge et al.Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 2024Long-term effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: 1-year follow-up of the ‘Plants for Joints’ randomised clinical trial Carlijn Wagenaar, Wendy Walrabenstein, Marike van der Leeden, et al.RMD Open, 2024A multidisciplinary lifestyle program for metabolic syndrome-associated osteoarthritis: the ‘Plants for Joints’ randomized controlled trialAward: Publication of the yearWendy Walrabenstein, Carlijn Wagenaar, Marieke van de Put, et al.Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2023A multidisciplinary lifestyle program for rheumatoid arthritis: the ‘Plants for Joints’ randomized controlled trialWendy Walrabenstein, Carlijn A Wagenaar, Marike van der Leeden, et al.Rheumatology, 2023The effect of a multidisciplinary lifestyle program for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis or with metabolic syndrome-associated osteoarthritis: the “Plants for Joints” randomized controlled trial protocolWendy Walrabenstein, Marike van der Leeden, Peter Weijs, et al.Trials, 2021

This week on The Nutshell, we are joined by Dr. Urvi A. Shah, MD, MS, a board-certified haematologist-oncologist, and physician scientist with expertise in diagnosing and treating plasma cell disorders.At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Shah not only cares for patients but also leads research exploring nutrition and other modifiable lifestyle factors in cancer, mainly blood disorders.After her own experience with cancer, Dr. Shah launched the first 'NUTRIVENTION' trial which has since expanded to five additional dietary trials that will collectively enroll over 600 participants. excitinTo find out more about Dr Shah's work:https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/doctors/urvi-shahTo connect with Dr Shah:https://linktr.ee/urvishahmdTo read Dr Shah's research:https://share.google/FEUQXznH42KhQp88thttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Urvi-Shah-3Other points of discussion from this episode:https://nlmc.org.uk/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joseph-Poorehttps://foodrise.org.uk/roastingtheplanet/https://drpaulbehrens.com/https://www.alcoholfreewarrior.com/And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

Veganuary could be the excuse you need to light some fires, or just send smoke signals on a healthy plant-based diet into the work or community space. So, in this week's nugget, Daisy and Clare talk to PBHP-UK member, Vanessa Sturman - a Multi-Award-Winning Speaker and Transformational Health Coach - to get her ideas on how to bring people with you on sustainable healthy eating. Regularly featured on Sky News, BBC Radio and other media outlets, Vanessa is experienced in bringing healthy, enjoyable, flavour-filled food ideas to the wider public. Educated at Cambridge University in Social and Biological Anthropology, Vanessa is also a published recipe developer and respected 1:1 coach. Follow Vanessa on Instagram for more ideas https://www.instagram.com/vanessaforhealth?igsh=MTZnOHhzMDRweTl1NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrConnect with Vanessa on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-sturman-plant-based-health-coach/Vanessa's recipes: https://theveganlarder.com/recipe-index/And factsheets you can trust for your displays:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/factsheets

This week on the Nutshell we hear from Dr Shireen Ksssam, founder and director of Plant-Based Health Professionals U.K. alongside research dietitian Michael Metoudi, and research assistant Isabelle Sadler speaking on the landmark scientific research, 'Eat Lancet'.Last month saw the release of the updated version, Eat Lancet 2.0 and our guests today will be telling us more about what the report says, how it’s built on the 2019 version, and what it could mean for diet change going forwards.And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and consider a share of this episode with one other person today.Links discussed:https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/https://www.thelancet.com/commissions-do/EAT-2025https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/the-food-system-and-planetary-healthhttps://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/sustainable-farminghttps://sites.google.com/convene.space/eatcfas/communities-for-action/healthcare-professionals?authuser=0If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membership

No (potato) waffling this week as we're speaking up for potatoes. We summarise results from a study which assessed associations between eating potatoes and the risk of type 2 diabetes. The results may surprise you.https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj-2024-082121

This week we welcome Plant-Based Health Professionals U.K. campaign manager Sarah Bentley to the Nutshell.On the eve of World Food Day, Sarah gives us an update on the exciting progress made with the Plants First Healthcare initiative, working to prioritise plant-based meals in healthcare settings. Follow the links below to read more about the initiative, download the toolkit, and buy Sarah's new book 'We Cook Plants'. https://plantsfirsthealthcare.com/https://www.greenerbydefault.com/The toolkit:https://plantsfirsthealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/HowTo-PPBF16.09.25.pdfTo buy Sarah's book:https://www.waterstones.com/book/we-cook-plants/sarah-bentley/9781848994454https://madeinhackney.org/https://globalplantkitchens.org/https://proveg.org/And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

Is it true that it is climate and health friendly to eat deer? Whilst our excessive love of meat from the usual farmed sources continues to dominate climate and health concerns,  we ask whether we are paying enough attention to whether the proposed benefits of eating wild animals -or 'game' -are accurate. So, in this week's nugget episode, Daisy and Clare discuss issues relating to the sustainability claims of the UK's wild meat industry.https://www.scottish-venison.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SVA-Carbon-Report-Final-v2.pdf

This week on the podcast we speak to Dr Matthew Nagra.Dr Nagra is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine having studied at the Boucher Institute in Vancouver Canada, after graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Microbiology at the University of Victoria. He has also carried out additional training in nutrition, holding a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification from Cornell University and the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies where he’s authored multiple articles on the subject.And when he isn't in his clinic helping patients improve their health through nutrition, you’ll find him on social media myth-busting and and countering misinformation.In this episode we review the science on plant versus animal protein, the considerations for plant based athletes, recommendations for the older person and we finally get to ask Matthew all our creatine questions!To connect with Matthew:https://drmatthewnagra.com/https://www.instagram.com/dr.matthewnagra/?hl=enhttps://www.youtube.com/@dr.matthewnagraAll the details on Plant-Based Health Professionals forthcoming conferences:https://nlmc.org.uk/And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health;  with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

In this week's nugget, take some time to relax and drop the pressure as Plant-Based Health Professionals' researcher and dietitian Michael Metoudi explains how increasing whole grains in the diet cuts the risk of high blood pressure. Aune, D., Metoudi, M., Sadler, I. et al. Whole grain and refined grain consumption and the risk of hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Sci Rep 15, 21447 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05197-5

This week we cover the topic of omega 3 fatty acids with Dr Tim Radak.Dr. Radak has a masters and doctorate in Public Health Nutrition from The Loma Linda University, the leading university for vegetarian science and nutrition.He is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and has worked in the nonprofit sector and academia for over 20 years, authored or co-authored articles related to plant-based diets in peer-reviewed scientific journals, written several plant-based and vegetarian textbook chapters, and is passionate about helping the public discover the link between good health and plant-based diets via evidence-based nutrition.To connect with Tim: https://radaktim.wixsite.com/websiteComprehensive review on essential fatty acids and brain health:  https://radaktim.wixsite.com/website/post/omega-3-diet-and-lifestyle-factors-influencing-brain-healthTo join the PPOD conference: https://www.preventionofdisease.org/And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health; and with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

Last month there were positive headlines on how opting for a plant-based diet could significantly reduce cancer risk. This was following the latest study using data from the Adventist 2 Health cohort. Daisy and Clare discuss the study's exciting conclusions.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916525003284https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/plant-heavy-diets-link-reduced-cancer-risk-strengthened-2025a1000mhu?ecd=WNL_trdalrt_pos1_ous_250828_etid7673504&uac=299177SR&impID=7673504https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01870-zhttps://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershiphttps://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/diet-and-prostate-cancer

Welcome back to Season 5 of In A NutshellWe are so excited to be back and we have a fantastic season lined up for you, full of inspiring guests and science backed, evidence based conversations on nutrition and lifestyle medicine. We kick off season five with Blue Zones founder, National Geographic Fellow, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author, Dan Buettner. In this episode we explore the various reasons why people in the Blue Zones live the longest and healthiest lives;  from plant-based diets, regular movement and meaningful social connections, as well as hearing all about Dan's own favourite meals and that famous minestrone for breakfast!To find out more about Dan Buettner's work and to buy his new book follow the links below:https://danbuettner.com/https://www.bluezones.com/https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-blue-zones-kitchen-one-pot-meals/dan-buettner/9781426224126And please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and share this episode with one other person today.If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membershipYou don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health; and with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.

For our season finale we speak with the octogenarian vegan athlete Paul Youd, who discovered a new lease of life after choosing veganism at the age of 66. He now raises money for charities with his ultra-marathon and press-up challenges, and is well on his way to complete 100 ultra marathons before his 100th birthday.We're sure you will be inspired by this conversation where we dive into how shifting to a plant-based diet cured Paul's arthritis pains, to his favourite meals and his biggest challenges, and of course the documentary showcasing his incredible achievements called ' More Like Paul'.To find out more:https://shortstopfilms.co.uk/more-like-paulTo buy tickets for the premier screening:https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/more-like-paulTo connect with Paul on Instagram @youdpaul To read more about Paul's work and sponsor him :https://nobreadisanisland.blogspot.com/2013/02/52-diet-cake-in-mug-vegan.htmlAnd don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to be informed when we're back for season five!

For episode 15 we are joined by Plant-Based Health Professionals U.K. member, Ailsa McHardy, registered paediatric dietitian, and founder of Little Nutrition, to get her advice on food with a focus on children. Ailsa has over 14 years experience as a dietitian. We discuss trends in children's diets, healthfully bringing up children plant-based, fussy eaters, growth concerns, and, in seasonality discussions, the joys of salad and watercress.To get in touch with Ailsa: www.littlenutrition.co.ukInstagram: @littlenutritionwithailsaThe links to the Family and children's zone on the PBHP website and the  factsheets discussed:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/kidshttps://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IronFactsheet201123.pdf

In this bonus episode Daisy and Clare talk to Georges Hayek, owner and general manager at Hayek Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. When you listen to Georges speak about the health benefits and the context for patient 'choice', you may wonder why we make such a meal out of hospital food in the UK and beyond.Inspired? Help us take action on hospital food in the UKhttps://plantsfirsthealthcare.com/

In episode 14 of this season we are joined by Cóilín Nunan, to discuss the growing global threat of antibiotic resistance and how the overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture is contributing to this silent pandemic.Cóilín is the Policy and Science Manager of the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, an alliance of seventy-one member organisations campaigning against the overuse of antibiotics in animal farming.Cóilín breaks down how antibiotics are used not only to treat infections but also prevent disease in crowded, unsanitary conditions. This results in a breeding ground for drug-resistant bacteria that can affect both animals and humans.This discussion highlights why we view the shift to plant-based diets as one of the key ways to drive down this overuse, and protect antibiotics for when we actually need them within healthcare.Please share this episode widely to help raise awareness and be part of the change towards a better future for all.To find out more about the alliance's work and to get involved: https://www.saveourantibiotics.org/

If you've heard that you'll get doughy trying to build muscle on beans, or indeed anything else that's made you doubt pulses even for a second, then this nugget's for you. Daisy and Clare discuss the nutrition of a range of legumes, as well as health benefits and environmental impacts, and how best to cook and eat them.Didinger, C.; Thompson, H.J. Defining Nutritional andFunctional Niches of Legumes: A Call for Clarity to Distinguish a Future Role for Pulses in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Nutrients 2021, 13,1100. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041100Mullins AP, Arjmandi BH. Health Benefits of Plant-BasedNutrition: Focus on Beans in Cardiometabolic Diseases. Nutrients. 2021 Feb5;13(2):519. doi: 10.3390/nu13020519. PMID: 33562498; PMCID: PMC7915747.

In episode 13 of this season we are joined by the Food Foundation's Rebecca Tobi, and Plant-Based Health Professionals UK's founder, Dr Shireen Kassam to discuss the latest Food Foundation report 'Meat Facts'.  Rebecca is a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr), has a masters in Nutrition for Global Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and is the Food Foundation's Senior Business and Investor Engagement manager.Rebecca's in-depth knowledge of the report, combined with Shireen's expertise on the health implications of eating red, processed, and other meats, ensure this is a really rich discussion. The UK may continue to ignore the health warnings that are associated with meat consumption but hopefully anyone who is listening to this episode will take action to curb their own consumption for individual and planetary health.Find the full report  here: https://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/meat-factsThe latest UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-diet-and-nutrition-survey-2019-to-2023/national-diet-and-nutrition-survey-2019-to-2023-reportThe excellent Food Foundation Podcast, Pod Bites: https://foodfoundation.org.uk/podcasts

For this week's nugget we are joined by NHS dietitian Didem Varol, who guides us through the delights and challenges of opting for plant-based food when eating out in Turkey, or when re-creating Middle Eastern flavours at home.Follow Didem on Instagram @plantgevity or find her at www.plantgevity.com

This week we are delighted to welcome Professor Paul Behrens to the Nutshell.Paul is a British Academy Global Professor based at the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford where his research focuses on the impacts of food system transformations. His research and writing on food and energy systems, land use and climate change has appeared in scientific journals and media outlets and he is the editor and author of the textbook  ‘Food and Sustainability’.As an academic with a background in Physics, Professor Behrens is an environmental expert, and he combines this expertise with a communication style that is accessible to all in his book ‘The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Futures from the Frontiers of Climate Science’ which we discuss in this episode.To buy the book:https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/PaulBehrensTo connect:https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-behrens-6b586427/?originalSubdomain=ukLinks to further information discussed in this episode:https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet-commission/the-planetary-health-diet-and-you/https://en.fvm.dk/Media/638484294982868221/Danish-Action-Plan-for-Plant-based-Foods.pdfhttps://www.carbonbrief.org/cropped/https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/author/zacharyboren/https://www.ft.com/susannah-savagehttps://www.theguardian.com/profile/arthurneslenhttps://www.food.systems/https://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/meat-factshttps://foodfoundation.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-05/TFF_Meat%20Facts.pdfhttps://foodfoundation.org.uk/initiatives/broken-platehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2514664525000104

This week's 'nugget' episode showcases the work of Dr Camille Hirons, a GP with special interest in lifestyle medicine and reducing health inequalities.Esselstyn CB Jr, Ellis SG, Medendorp SV, Crowe TD. A strategy to arrest and reverse coronary artery disease: a 5-year longitudinal study of a single physician's practice. J Fam Pract. 1995 Dec;41(6):560-8. PMID: 7500065.Buettner D, Skemp S. Blue Zones: Lessons From the World's Longest Lived. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Jul 7;10(5):318-321. doi: 10.1177/1559827616637066. PMID: 30202288; PMCID: PMC6125071.The Core 20 NHS work on health inequalities:https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/equality/equality-hub/national-healthcare-inequalities-improvement-programme/core20plus5/Connect with Dr Cami:https://www.lifestylemedicineaccelerator.co.uk/On Instagram: the_lifestyle_med_gpGet qualified:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/iblm/iblm-certificationAnd to get tickets for the upcoming Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine in person and online conferences:https://nlmc.org.uk/

This week we are pleased to be welcoming Dr Neal Barnard, M.D. to the Nutshell.Dr Barnard has an incredible plant-based health CV including founding the Barnard Medical Center in Washington DC, which aims to make nutrition part of routine medical care, as well as working as adjunct Professor of Medicine at George Washington University.He is however perhaps most well known for his role as Founder and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine ( PCRM) - an organisation advocating for preventative medicine, good nutrition and higher ethical standards in research.He himself has led research studies focusing on the role of diet in problems such as diabetes, weight management, and chronic pain and as a result has produced a number of  fantastic studies, and books, and we had the opportunity to talk with him about his latest book 'The Power Foods Diet'.Link to find out more about PCRM:https://www.pcrm.org/To buy Dr Barnard's latest book:https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-foods-diet-the-breakthrough-plan-that-traps-tames-and-burns-calories-for-easy-and-permanent-weight-loss-md-barnard-neal-d/7616351?ean=9781538764954Don't forget to get your tickets to this year's Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Conference in London, by following this link:https://nlmc.org.uk/And if you enjoy this episode please don't forget to share, rate and review! 

Sea salt, iodised salt, Himalayan salt, and lo-salt: what should we be using? Well less of all of them it seems, but why exactly, and how can we do that? Daisy and Clare talk it through, whilst leaving room for a touch of the plant-based eater's favourite - kala namak.

This week, in episode 10, we are talking about chronic kidney disease and diet, and so are excited to be joined by Angeline Taylor, a registered dietitian of over 15 years who has worked within the kidney specialty for most of those years. Angeline is extremely passionate and committed to supporting those with kidney conditions to live a healthy lifestyle. She holds the positions of Renal Dietitian in the NHS, Chair of the British Dietetic Association Kidney Specialist Group, and Renal Dietitian for Kidney Care UK's Kidney Kitchen.  She also sits on the UK Kidney Association Sustainability Committee and advocates a plant-based approach to managing kidney disease.  Angeline sees patients with a variety of kidney conditions at various stages of the disease, from early to advanced stages of chronic kidney disease, dialysis, kidney transplantation, as well as acute illness on a busy NHS ward. In collaboration with the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, she has developed a range of factsheets on plant-based diets for people with kidney disease.https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/factsheetsThe international guidelines discussed:https://kdigo.org/guidelines/The BDA’s Kidney Dietitian Specialist Grouphttps://www.bda.uk.com/specialist-groups-and-branches/kidney-dietitian-specialist-group.htmlAngeline’s work at Kidney Kitchen:https://kidneycareuk.org/get-support/healthy-diet-support/kidney-kitchen/To connect with Angeline: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeline-taylor-32901946/

Nuts are full of fibre, unsaturated fats, vitamins, and polyphenols. So this week's nugget will get you up to speed on why you should be including them in your diet, whilst reassuring they are not 'a second on the lips, a lifetime on the hips'.

In line with the recent World Day for Laboratory Animals on 24th April, we spoke with Savita Nutan, founder of Medicine Without Cruelty.In this episode Savita highlights the suffering of laboratory animals, how unreliable animal experiments are, and how poorly they translate to human health outcomes. As such Savita is committed to ending animal testing in science, medicine and dentistry.Her organisation’s mission is to educate, advocate, and innovate, ensuring that scientific progress is achieved through humane and effective animal-free alternatives.And it seems that innovative technologies are revolutionising research and testing offering accurate, ethical and sustainable solutions without needing to use animals, so tune in to find out more about this important topic.To connect with Savita:https://medicinewithoutcruelty.com/

Celebrating with chocolate can continue. Just make sure it's the dark variety (for maximum flavanoids), you're mindful of portion control, and that it's fairly traded.https://foodispower.org/chocolate-list/Katz DL, Doughty K, Ali A. Cocoa and chocolate in human health and disease. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011 Nov 15;15(10):2779-811. doi: 10.1089/ars.2010.3697. Epub 2011 Jun 13. PMID: 21470061; PMCID: PMC4696435.Tan TYC, Lim XY, Yeo JHH, Lee SWH, Lai NM. The Health Effects of Chocolate and Cocoa: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2021 Aug 24;13(9):2909. doi: 10.3390/nu13092909. PMID: 34578786; PMCID: PMC8470865.