Plant Proof - Plant Based Nutrition & Inspirational Stories

In Episode #112, I sat down with Harvard-educated psychologist and bestselling author Melanie Joy to discuss how we form our beliefs about food and how people on plant-based diets can have healthier, more productive conversations with meat eaters. This is an episode that I believe will be highly enlightening regardless of which diet you follow.   In this episode, Melanie shared her personal journey to studying psychology at Harvard and writing her award-winning book Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism. We discussed the carnism ideology, carnistic defence systems, and why our food choices matter. Listen to hear some fascinating insights into effective advocacy for a plant-based lifestyle and better communication with people holding a different opinion to you. While my episodes usually focus on the science of nutrition, I found this exchange fascinating, and I believe that it provides so much insight into communication in general, whether or not it’s related to food choices. F

In Episode #111, I sat down with environmental researcher Nicholas Carter to discuss the claims made in the Kiss the Ground documentary that was released on Netflix a few weeks ago. Together we talked about the solutions put forward by the documentary and what a shift to holistic grazing would mean for diets globally. We also discussed the evidence-based way for individuals to lower their food-based environmental footprint. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes. For more from Nicholas Carter, see Episodes #104, #116, #136, #175, and #230. 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 Th

In Episode #110, I sat down with Drew Harrisberg to talk about my book The Proof is in the Plants and how we should be using science to make public health recommendations. We also answered a bunch of questions sent in from the community.   Listen to hear about the evidence hierarchy in nutrition science and why fibre recommendations may in fact be lower than optimal. We also discussed the carnivore diet and secondary bile salts, omega-3s and the evidence surrounding protection against heart disease, supplementing with B12 and vitamin D, getting enough calcium in your diet, beneficial food groups for brain performance and protection against cognitive decline, and much more.    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 y

In Episode #109, I sat down with Bruce Friedrich, lawyer and co-founder of the Good Food Institute, to talk about two solutions to current problems with our food system: plant-based meat and cultivated or ‘cell-based’ meat.   Bruce and I discussed what exactly is wrong with the current food system and how it affects human health, planetary health, and animal welfare (including specifics on climate change, COVID-19, antibiotic resistance, production inefficiencies, and food security). We then talked about plant-based and cultivated meats, particularly bio-mimicking meat made using cells collected via biopsy. Bruce shared his knowledge on where these industries are currently, the projections for the future, the barriers to entry, when we can expect to see cell-based meat on the shelf, and how these types of products are likely to be perceived by customers.   (I apologise in advance for the slightly tinny audio from Bruce’s end in this episode – the recording software is a bit hit and miss compared to when you a

In Episode #108, I sat down with Dr David Katz, MD, who in my opinion is one of the clearest voices in an area of science littered with confusion, hidden agendas, and biases. This is a great episode that reinforces many of the key principles that I have been sharing with you via social media and on this show for the past two years. It also emphasises the three pillars that I base my personal food decisions on: human health, planetary health, and animal welfare.   In this episode, we talked about why an infectious disease pandemic may help us to take chronic disease more seriously, what the number one risk factor for chronic disease in developed countries is, and why debating the little stuff is keeping us from making an impact on the big stuff. We also discussed the characteristics of an optimal diet and whether there is one ‘single best diet’ that we should all be following. And David’s shares his thoughts on whether we should eat fish and whether adding animal products to an optimally planned vegan diet wou

In Episode #107, I sat down with Doug Evans, author of The Sprout Book, to talk about the magical process of sprouting seeds and why we should all strive to include sprouts in our diet. Doug shares why he changed his own personal diet some twenty years ago and what the nutritional benefits of sprouts are. Listen to find out what sprouting is and how to do it, including the costs involved, the equipment needed, the right seeds to use, and 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 (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Pla

In Episode #106, I sat down with Dr Valter Longo, PhD, to talk about eating to beat disease, manage your body weight, and live a long, healthy life.   Specifically, we covered Roy Walford’s ‘Biosphere 2’ research; calorie restriction versus fasting; fasting and biomarkers of cancer, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease; findings from clinical trials on the ‘fasting-mimicking’ diet; and eating for longevity. We also discussed what we can learn from centenarians and how animal protein compares with plant protein.   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 thepr

In Episode #105, I sat down with Ryland Engelhart and Finian Makepeace from Kiss the Ground to continue the theme of how our food system and food choices are affecting the health of our planet.   In this episode, we covered regenerative agriculture and how it differs from sustainable, organic, and biodynamic farming practices, as well as the problem with industrial agriculture. We also discussed tilling, cover crops, carbon sequestration, and holistic grazing, including White Oak Pastures (for a more detailed dive into the science on this, see episodes #104 and #111 with environmental researcher Nicholas Carter). Listen to find out why it’s so crucial we change the way we farm. 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 b

In Episode #104, I sat down with environmental researcher Nicholas Carter to chat about how our current food system is affecting the environment. We discussed the changes needed to meet climate goals and create a system that results in better food security, less water pollution, less land use, less freshwater use, and greater production efficiency.   We covered some big questions in this episode, including what climate change is, what the implications of a warming planet are, and whether climate change is more than an energy issue. We also discussed greenhouse gases and their connection to human activity and agriculture, before going on to talk about the environmental impact of animal- versus plant-based foods as well as food transportation. Nicholas also shares some top tips that we can implement individually to lower our environmental footprint. There’s so much more in this episode, making it one of my favourite episodes yet. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show note

In Episode #103, I sat down with Dr Shivam Joshi to explore nephrology: the fascinating area of medicine dedicated to kidney health. Whether you have kidney disease, know someone with kidney disease, or simply want to learn about protein consumption and kidney health, I believe you will find this episode particularly informative.   In this episode, we covered the role of our kidneys, and what chronic kidney disease (CKD) is. Dr Joshi shared the risk factors and stages of CKD, how to manage or reverse it, and some evidence-based nutritional recommendations for those with CKD. We also discussed high- versus low-carbohydrate diets, protein consumption and kidney health, and the ancestral diet. 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

In Episode #102, Dr Will Bulsiewicz joined me for the fifth time to talk about his new book, Fiber Fueled, and to tackle a few areas of gut health that we haven’t yet explored on this show. If you are looking for more evidence-based knowledge bombs about gut health, then this is an episode you will want to digest.   In this episode, Dr B and I discussed whether it makes sense to ‘eat like our ancestors’. We also covered dysbiosis (when the bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract become unbalanced) and whether it could cause, or at least contribute, to autoimmune diseases, weight gain, and chronic diseases. Of course, we also talked about Dr B’s new book, the importance of fibre, microbiome research, and much more.   If you enjoyed this episode and haven’t yet listened to the previous episodes with Dr B, you can listen to them here: #17, #70, #80, and #81.    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 chec

In Episode #101, I was fortunate enough to sit down with well-known National Geographic writer and author David Quammen to talk about zoonotic diseases and mitigating the risk of future pandemics. This is a fascinating area of science that gives yet another reason to be mindful of our lifestyles. Given that predictions suggest there are over 1.5 million animal viruses yet to be discovered, understanding what increases the likelihood of one of those viruses passing from an animal to a human is incredibly important for human health.   David and I discussed the origin of zoonotic diseases, what a ‘spillover’ means, what reservoir hosts are, and specific zoonotic diseases such as HIV and Ebola. David also shares his insights into transmissibility and fatality rates, the likely origin of COVID-19, and how human activity affects the risk of these emerging novel diseases.    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 sponsor

In Episode #100, I sat down with Drew Harrisberg to talk about the first 100 episodes of this show and some of the most important takeaways for me so far, particularly in regard to human and planetary health. We also delve into the current circumstances that we all find ourselves in and reflect on our personal experiences and learnings thus far. While this free-flowing chat between two mates is exactly as I imagined and the perfect summary for the first 100 episodes, the unplanned nature of it does mean that we jump around a little bit. But for those willing to look past that, I think there is some thought-provoking material inside for everyone.   Thank you for all your support. I really do appreciate all of you, and I look forward to bringing you another 100 episodes!    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

In Episode 99 I sit down for a second time with ultra athlete Rich Roll to talk about the humble beginnings of his show, which is now one of the world's leading podcasts in the education and wellness space, and what it feels like to have now released over 500 episodes into the wild. We cover a bunch of other topics too, including overcoming adversity and seeking out new challenges, that I think you will also find interesting. Of course anyone who know's Rich will be familiar with how beautifully he's able to articulate his experiences, thoughts and learnings for us all to benefit from. A craft of his that no doubt comes with decades of introspection and self work, and years behind the microphone conversing with a diverse range of interesting guests. Please also note, as mentioned in the introduction this was recorded before LA went into social isolation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. So if you see videos of us online from this episode, they were shot well and truly before there was any advice to prac

In Episode #98, I sat down with Harvard professor Dr David Sinclair, PhD, to discuss the information theory of ageing, and in particular how we can slow down and perhaps even reverse the ageing process. In this conversation, we discussed chronological versus biological age, the role of genetics versus epigenetics in the ageing process, how long he thinks we may be able to live for, how our nutrition and other lifestyle factors affect the ageing process, and more.   This is a deep dive into the underlying mechanisms that take place on a cellular level as we age. It’s an exchange that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I hope you do too. Of course, in two hours it’s hard to cover the topic of ageing in its entirety, so I look forward to having David back on the podcast to dive even deeper in the future. You can also grab a copy of his book Lifespan online or in most book stores – it’s a fascinating read. Connect with David on Instagram or Twitter.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to su

In Episode #97, I sat back down with Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai to talk about strokes – we discussed the different types of strokes (ischemic and haemorrhagic), the prevalence of strokes, risk factors for strokes, eating to lower your stroke risk, and much more. I love these guys; they are absolutely brilliant, and I am sure you will think so too.    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 pla

In Episode #96, I sat down for a catch up with plant-based pro bodybuilder Nimai Delgado. Having recently been in Los Angeles for almost 3 weeks, it was great to catch up with Nimai and hear how things have been with him since our previous episodes. This one’s quite a casual conversation with no real direction, as I already covered his story back in Episode #3. But if you know of Nimai, you’ll be well aware of what a breath of fresh air his humble and gracious personality is. I certainly love catching up with him and am grateful to have him as a good friend.   Some of the things we cover in this relatively shorter episode are bits and pieces about The Game Changers, his current training programme, paying the rent with cardio, his business interests, his daily rituals, training Lewis Hamilton, and 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 o

In Episode #95, I sat down with Whitney English, registered dietician, to talk about plant-based nutrition during pregnancy, infancy, and breastfeeding (lactation). Whitney, along with her partner Alex (also a registered dietician), are the founders of Plant-Based Juniors – an online resource that brings evidence-based nutrition information specific to these stages of life to the public.   In this episode, we covered the benefits of a plant-based diet during pregnancy and infancy; specific nutrients of focus during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and infancy, including recommendations for supplementation; and breast milk versus formula and different formula options. We also discussed introducing solids, picky eaters, and much more. This is an episode I have wanted to do for a couple of years now. It’s quite a comprehensive conversation, so if this is a topic that’s relevant to you, I highly recommend grabbing a pen and paper and listening in a quiet, comfortable space free from distractions. For more insights and

In Episode #94, I sat down with Cyrus Khambatta, PhD, and Robby Barbaro, MPH, for a second episode – this time for a deep dive into the plant-based ketogenic diet and whether or not it’s a good option for people with insulin resistance and diabetes. We talked about why a low-carb diet is popular for diabetics and frequently recommended by doctors, and Cyrus and Robby shared the philosophy of the high-carb Mastering Diabetes program.   We also discussed a new 2019 study looking at a traditional ketogenic diet, whether a ketogenic diet can truly reverse diabetes, who may be suited to a plant-based ketogenic diet, and much more. Whether you have diabetes or not, I think you will still find this episode interesting. Plus, with the rates of diabetes skyrocketing (particularly prediabetes and type 2 diabetes) it’s highly likely that most people listening will know someone who is affected by this disease. Stick around until the end for my summary where I bring together the take-home messages. For more insights and

In Episode #93, I sat down again with Sean Ryan to check in and see how he’s doing with his transition to a plant-based lifestyle. We picked up from where we left things in Episode #89 and reviewed his pretransition baseline blood work, and then spent the majority of the episode talking through cholesterol and how we can use diet to affect our cholesterol levels. At the end, we also touched on meal prep, handling social conversations, and a few other questions that Sean had since our last episode together.   Whether you are thinking about transitioning to a plant-based diet, are currently transitioning, or already eat a plant-based diet, I think you will take something away from both today’s episode and Episode #89. 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/f