Plant Proof - Plant Based Nutrition & Inspirational Stories

In Episode #132, Dr Michelle McMacken walks us through the most important things we need to know about dietary fats and promoting good health. Listen to find out about the different types of fat, which types we should minimise, which types are health promoting, and what this looks like for the food choices we make day to day.   For more from Michelle McMacken, see Episodes #2 and #37. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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/Spoti

In Episode #131, I sat down with Paul de Gelder to talk about his journey to the military and his near-death shark attack experience in Sydney harbour back in 2009. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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  Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #130, the very first Wednesday Wisdoms bite-size episode, ultra-athlete and author Rich Roll talks about investing in experience, welcoming challenges, and becoming more connected to ourselves and the world around us.   For more from Rich Roll, see Episodes #42 and #99. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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  Download my complimentary two week meal plan and h

In Episode #129, I sat down with Hollywood actor, musician, and environmentalist Adrian Grenier to chat about his learnings from his life and the changes he has made in more recent years to add greater meaning and purpose.   We chatted about Adrian’s upbringing and his road to Hollywood, specifically getting the role of Vinny Chase in Entourage, and the indulgences that come with being a Hollywood star. Adrian shared the feelings he experienced at that time and the moment when he was forced to critically review his life. We talked about environmental activism, the not-for-profit organisation The Lonely Whale, making the world a better place through purpose-driven business, and much more. Find out what books and practices have helped Adrian become more self-aware, more sure of his path, and more in harmony with the world around him. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to u

In Episode #128, I’m joined by registered dietitians Alexandra Caspero and Whitney English to discuss raising babies and toddlers on a predominately plant-based diet. If you’re wondering why people would consider a predominately plant-based diet for young kids, what the advantages are, and how plant-predominant diets compare to plant-exclusive diets, then this episode is for you.   Alexandra, Whitney, and I went over the science of growth and development in plant-based populations and addressed the fear in the media surrounding plant-based diets for children. We also looked at where a plant-based diet could go wrong and they key nutrients of focus. You’ll also hear about the importance of dietary fat, whether soy products are safe for babies and toddlers, and things to consider when using infant formula. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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

In Episode #127, I sat down with Khory Hancock, an Australian media personality and environmental scientist, to chat about planetary health and solutions to help mitigate climate change. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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  Download my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book

In Episode #126, I have pulled together the very best of Team Sherzai from our previous episodes together to create a masterclass on improving the health of what is arguably our most important organ – our brain!   In this episode, you will hear the Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai talk about stress and focus; multitasking; nutrition tips for a healthy brain; the importance of fats for brain health; fish oil, vegetable oils, kids getting omega-3s, and supplementing; the links between nutrient deficiencies and brain problems; and reducing the risk of cognitive decline outside of nutrition. You’ll also hear about how to optimise brain capacity and some tips for sleeping better to improve brain health, along with so much more. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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.co

In Episode #125, I sat down with New York Times bestselling author Darin Olien to chat about his view on human and planetary health, as well as his time spent producing the super popular Down to Earth Netflix show that he co-hosted with Zac Efron.   In this episode, we discussed ‘fatal conveniences’ – chemical and plastic exposure from modern conveniences that we all use (tea bags, tap water, spray deodorant, etc.). We also talked about how Down to Earth came to be, working with Zac Efron, the second season of Down to Earth in Australia, solutions to solving climate change, and much more.   *DISCLAIMER: As I mention in the introduction, Darin raises some interesting topics in this episode, not all of which are supported by in-depth science due to the nature of the conversation. So take them with a grain of salt. I intend to take a deeper dive into some of these ideas in future episodes – with Darin and other guests – to find out exactly what the science says (fluoride in water for example). For more insights

In Episode #124, I sat down with bestselling author and podcast host Melissa Ambrosini to talk about comparison; or more specifically, how unhealthy comparison can send us into a downward spiral of negative self-talk and low self-esteem.   We covered what ‘comparisonitis’ is, why it’s important to be aware of it, its signs and symptoms, and unhealthy versus healthy comparison. Melissa also shares what to do when we notice unhealthy comparison, including some specific strategies from her new book. If you’re a parent, there are also some useful strategies for parents to help kids navigate comparisonitis. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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 ep

In Episode #123, I sat back down with Dr Alan Desmond to continue our conversation on all things gut health! Alan shared his path to gastroenterology and what his role as a gastroenterologist entails, as well as the common types of gut health problems he sees in his work and why he recommends a whole-food, plant-based diet to his patients.   You’ll also hear some learnings from COVID-19, a recap of some of the important things we need to know about our microbiome, and what foods we should be eating more and less of. We discussed the happiness effect – how food can affect our mood – and how meat affects inflammation in the gut. There’s much more in this episode, including how to manage inflammatory bowel disease and the relationship between gluten and a healthy gut, so I recommend giving it a listen if you want to find out more about good gut health. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to suppor

In Episode #122, I sat down with Dr Gemma Newman to chat about her new book, The Plant Power Doctor, and the benefits of a plant-based approach. We covered Gemma’s understanding of nutrition as a young doctor, the advantages of a plant-based approach, and what Gemma sees in her medical clinic.   We also talked about nature versus nurture, plant-based versus vegan, antioxidants, food and hormones (including thyroid health and polycystic ovary syndrome), the role of dietary fats and hormones, organic versus conventional produce, and what Gemma eats in a day. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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 Hil

In Episode #121, I sat down with Drew Harrisberg (again) to talk about my new book, The Proof is in the Plants, and why it’s important for us to consider how our lifestyle is serving us.   We discussed the inspiration for writing The Proof is in the Plants, the various parts of the book, and who it’s written for. We also go into exercise versus nutrition, body weight and disease risk, using the word ‘diet’, orthorexia (an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating), pain versus pleasure as a motivator for sustained behaviour change, and much more. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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 (

In Episode #120, I sat down with Dr Hannah Ritchie, geoscientist and senior researcher at Our World in Data, to dive deeper into our food system and the changes we need to make in the coming decades to meet climate goals.   In our conversation, Hannah shared her journey into the world of geoscience and environmental research. She explained why it’s important to zoom out and look at data over a long period of time and why it’s important to consider agriculture when thinking about planetary health. Listen to find out about the major drivers of deforestation and how plant-based foods compare to animal-based foods when it comes to planetary health. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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

In Episode #119, I sat down with Dr Jonathan Foley, one of the world’s most highly regarded climate and environmental scientists. Jonathan has published over 130 peer reviewed papers in the field of sustainability in highly prestigious journals such as Science and Nature. He is also an author, a highly sought-after guest speaker, and the executive director at Project Drawdown, a not-for-profit organisation widely considered to be the world’s leading resource for information on climate solutions. However, as brilliant as his resume is, his communication is arguably what makes his work so incredibly powerful.   Listen to hear Dr Foley and I talk about individual versus government action, looking at climate change as a game of chess, the changes we can make as individuals, and much, much more. If you want to learn real facts about climate change and the available solutions from someone who both values and contributes to science, then I strongly recommend you make time to listen to this episode. For more insight

In Episode #118, I sat down with James Stanton-Cooke, or Jimmy Halfcut as he goes by, to talk about the current climate conversation here in Australia and what his organisation, HalfCut, are doing to help mitigate climate change and protect our future.   We covered the Big Scrub rewilding project, the PSS (push-ups, sit-ups, squats) challenge, what divesting means and why it’s important, investing with companies doing good (e.g., Enova Energy and Bank of Australia), protecting the Daintree Rainforest (including updates on the success so far and HalfCut’s goals looking forward), and much more. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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 wit

In Episode #117, I sat down with Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, leading neurologists who specialise in cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s. Recently, Dean and Ayesha performed a thorough review of the literature to find out how important omega-3s are for brain function and whether or not we should be taking them. They ended up splitting this review into two parts: one covering pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence and the other covering adulthood.   In this episode, we break down their findings with the goal of helping you understand what omega-3s are, where we get them from and whether we should consider supplementation. It was a pleasure to have them back on the show. I love everything that they are about and I’m sure you’re going to find this a very informative episode. To hear more from Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, check out episodes #65, #78, #97, #126, #188, and #226. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support

In Episode #116, I sat down with environmental researcher Nicholas Carter to talk more about grass-fed beef and planetary health. We started by discussing the results from a new, peer-reviewed study of White Oaks Pasture – a farm that for years has claimed their beef is carbon negative – before covering the importance of rewilding for cooling our planet. Find out how changing the foods we eat can help free up land to be rewilded and protect existing forests. We also talked about the UK’s ‘Regenuary’ movement and much more.   For more from Nicholas Carter, see Episodes #104, #111, #136, #175, and #230. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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 epis

In Episode #115, I sat down again with Thomas King, the founder and CEO of Food Frontier, a not-for-profit organisation that is helping build the future of protein in Australia. We discussed the findings from a new report by Food Frontier on the healthfulness of plant-based meats, and we also talked about cellular agriculture and how it works. Listen to find out why the growth of cellular agriculture is important, what problems it solves, and how the industry has changed in the past few years. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for 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 Proo

In Episode #114, I sat down with Emily Manoogian, PhD, from the Panda Lab at Salk Institute for Biological Studies, to learn about how we can improve our health by nurturing our circadian rhythms. Emily and her team are considered world leaders in the field of science known as ‘chronobiology’, and they have published several studies (with more currently underway) investigating how the timing of our meals affects our health.   As well as circadian rhythms and circadian disruption, we also discussed time-restricted feeding (TRF), the difference between TRF and fasting, and what Emily’s research has identified about TRF so far. There’s plenty of practical information and recommendations in this fascinating episode.   (As I note at the beginning of this episode, although TRF is not an extreme protocol, if you suffer from an eating disorder and find the subject of meal timing to be in any way triggering, then this may not be the best episode for you. And that is totally fine! Simply pick the show back up in the ne

In Episode #113, I sat down with Dr Matthew Nagra to talk about how he uses evidence-based nutrition science to help his patients upgrade their health. If you are looking for an episode that consolidates several topics previously raised on the show, along with findings from new research, then I think you will really enjoy this episode.   We talked about the latest EPIC-Oxford study on bone health, the health advantages of people who adopt plant-predominant or exclusive diets, naturopathy as a form of health care, and important nutrients and supplements for people reducing their consumption of animal-based foods. Dr Nagra shared how he helps his patients make sustainable changes, his answers to the common questions he gets from patients (including questions about protein, soy, lectins, and cooking oils), and his personal food philosophy.   For more from Matthew Nagra, see Episodes #133, #197, #198, and the special debate episode. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show not