The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast

If you ordered a steak at a restaurant are you essentially ordering a heart attack or a nutrient-rich whole food?Few foods spark more debate than red meat. It’s been blamed for heart disease, cancer and diabetes, but some people praise it for being high in iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and quality protein. So, if you add red meat to your plate is it helpful or harmful?Whether you eat meat or avoid it, I think you’ll find today’s conversation cuts through the noise of social media and clears up a lot of confusion in the nutrition space. I wanted to disentangle the obvious issues surrounding environmental concerns of eating animal products from today's discussion, and simply talk through the data as we have it. It’s given me a lot to think about when it comes to recommendations for people, as well as how concerned I would be about red meat consumption overall.Today we’re chatting with researcher and academic Dr. Kevin Maki, PhD, who specialises in clinical studies on nutrition, metabolism, and chronic disease risk factors. He's also an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University School of Public Health, a Master and Past President of the National Lipid Association, and a Fellow of the American Heart Association and The Obesity Society. Dr. Maki has participated in over 300 clinical trials and published more than 250 scientific papers, books and book chapters.You’re going to learn about:Whether red meat is actually unhealthier than poultryWhat red meat really does to your cholesterol, your blood pressure and your long-term health riskWhether red meat is a source of unhealthy fatsTypes of red meat and which ones are less healthy than othersHow much red meat you can safely consumeWe also talk about seed oils, plus high protein diets and their relationship to kidney disease, longevity and diabetes risk.The 4 big takeaways I got from this episode were:Moderate amounts (50g per day) of unprocessed lean red meat in the diet is fineDiet quality and the addition of whole unprocessed foods is more importantHigh Protein is very important in middle aged and older adultsBeware of the 4 white poisons: Sugar, Salt, Saturated Fat and refined Starches🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram

Are you truly allergic to dairy or just intolerant? Can headaches, joint pain or fatigue be signs of hidden allergies? And what about those online food intolerance tests? Can you trust them?In this episode, Dr Helen brings clarity and evidence to the confusing world of food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities.We cover:🧠 Whether allergies can show up as migraines, fatigue, gut issues or mood changes🔬 Why allergy rates are rising🧪 The truth about IgG testing and other common myths🥜 Whether it’s safe to give babies peanut or egg before age one, and why early exposure matters💬 How to approach elimination diets and reintroductions safely❤️ The emotional toll on families and where to find supportWe also explore rising allergy rates, the hygiene hypothesis, environmental triggers including plant-based proteins, and what is actually working in clinics today, such as immunotherapy and support networks.If you or someone you love is navigating the food allergy maze, this episode is full of practical and science-based insights.Dr Helen Evans Howells is a GP with a Master's in Allergy with distinction from the University of Southampton. She trained and worked with the hospital’s allergy team for over four years. She now runs a specialist allergy clinic offering food immunotherapy for children and lectures widely across the UK and internationally. Dr Helen is a trustee of Anaphylaxis UK, Chair of its Clinical and Scientific Panel and former Chair of the Primary Care Group at the British Society of Allergy.🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram

Have you ever wondered if some people simply have a fast metabolism? You know the kind of people that seem to be able to eat anything and still maintain a healthy weight? Does your metabolism slow as you age? What about the effect of the menopause? And are intermittent fasting and certain supplements evidence based ways to speed up your metabolism?These are the questions I put to Dr Adam Collins, researcher at University of Surrey where I completed my Nutritional Medicine Masters. Dr Collins is a well-known expert in metabolism and nutrition science. He's done a lot of research on energy expenditure, intermittent fasting, and how different diets affect metabolism.Topics we cover include …🔬 What is metabolism?🐢 Can you actually have a “slow” metabolism?📉 Metabolism and aging❄️ Cold exposure for metabolism😰 Stress and metabolic dysfunction🔁 What is metabolic flexibility?❤️ Why it matters (beyond weight)⚡ Carbs vs fat—who fuels what?🧠 How to boost metabolic flexibility🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram

Up to 40% of cancers are attributable to modifiable risk factors, including diet, obesity, alcohol, tobacco use, and physical inactivity. The WCRF estimates that about 1 in 3 cancer cases in high-income countries could be prevented by healthier diets, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular physical activity. And according to the National Cancer Institute in the US, physical inactivity is a recognized risk factor for colon, breast, and endometrial cancer.But even with the best intentions there’s a lot of confusion around lifestyle and cancer. One day it’s red meat, the next it’s microwaves. We hear about them in headlines, social media posts or passed around in conversation, which can make it really hard to know what matters most.I’m joined today by Professor Robert Thomas, an NHS oncologist and researcher who’s spent decades studying how lifestyle (from food and movement to gut health and supplements) affects cancer risk and recovery.We talk about …🧠 Common cancer myths - mushrooms and herbs🥗 Anticancer diets – What to eat to reduce your risk.🦠 Gut health & cancer – The powerful connection between your microbiome and cancer.🔥 Inflammation & risk – How chronic inflammation increases cancer susceptibility.🏃‍♂️ Exercise & cancer – The science behind how movement helps fight cancer cells.🧴 Microplastics & personal care products – The hidden risks in everyday items.💄 Aluminium in makeup & deodorants – Investigating the potential health impacts.👶 Fertility impact – How lifestyle and environmental exposures may affect reproductive health.He’s also recently appointed Head of Integrative Oncology at The Royal London Hospital for Integrative Medicine making him the UK’s first NHS Integrative Oncologist, to complement his existing role as an NHS Consultant Oncologist at Addenbrooke's and Bedford Hospitals. He is also a Clinical Teacher at Cambridge University. At the start of our conversation we talk about his new role and the types of patients he encounters.View the podcast on our YouTube ChannelYou can find out more from Professor on his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ProfThomasMDBooks: How to Live, Keeping healthy with Cancer🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram

Today marks the 300th episode of The Doctor’s Kitchen podcast!I started this journey 8 years ago and since then I’ve sat down with world-class researchers, doctors, nutritionists, neuroscientists, exercise physiologists and many more, all with the aim of sharing their knowledge so you can improve your health and understanding of food and lifestyle medicine.What has made the biggest difference to me personally are a few simple rituals I return to, even when I am sleep deprived, overwhelmed… or caring for a very cute but very demanding newborn.In this episode, I’m walking you through the daily and weekly habits, shared by some of our amazing guests, that have actually stuck. The ones that help me feel better, think more clearly and stay grounded, no matter what the week throws at me.Episodes referenced in this podcast:Ep #281 with TJ Power - Digital devices and mental healthEp #291 - Prof Leigh Breen - Exercising for older adultsEp #6 - Dr Michael Farquar -  Sleep for Night shift workersEp #282 - Dr Kiran Chopra - Exercise strategies for longevityEp #193 with Johann Hari - Why You Can't FocusEp #267 with Dr Louisa Nicola - Sleep health and how to optimise your brain🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram

It’s World Gut Health Day this week (officially known as World Digestive Health Day), and I wanted to do a dive into something I get asked about more frequently. And that’s leaky gut.I’m cutting through the supplement marketing and scary-sounding terms to talk about:Why your gut might need support even if you feel totally fineWhy gut health is linked to bloating, fatigue, brain fog and moreWhat “leaky gut” actually meansCan you test for leaky gut, and are the online kits worth itMy favourite foods for a healthy gutFor gut-friendly recipes, check out our collection in the Doctor’s Kitchen app and website – all designed with fibre, polyphenols and plant variety in mind to support a healthy gut.👉 https://tdk.link/gut-health-recipesPapers referencedhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6790068/#S10 https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(21)00416-7/fulltext https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29519916/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8427160/#s1🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram

We brush our teeth every day. It’s one of those things we do without thinking. But your mouth is doing so much more than just housing your teeth. It has a strong link with protecting your heart, avoiding type 2 diabetes and even potentially preventing dementia. In fact having a regular hygienist appointment can improve your blood sugar levels and significantly reduce inflammation in the body.Flossing, brushing properly and even tongue scraping is far more than keeping your teeth looking spick and span, it’s critical to keeping inflammation in balance which could extend to longevity benefits. But what about fluoride in toothpaste, mouth washes, antibacterial gums and prebiotic flossing?Today, I’m joined by Dr Victoria Sampson - a functional dentist and researcher who’s changing how we think about oral health. She’s helping us understand that the mouth isn’t separate from the rest of the body, it’s also where chronic disease shows up.Today we’ll discuss:👄 The 5 signs your mouth is trying to tell you about your health🧠 What your oral health reveals about your brain, heart and gut🦷 How to care for your mouth in under 5 minutes a day👩🏽‍⚕️ The daily routine a dentist wants you to follow💦 Why saliva is much more important than you think🔬Whether we should be testing our ‘oral microbiome’?We’ll also talk about why I’m going to be adding propolis, mouth taping, chewing gum and tongue scraping to my regime. If you’re interested in learning more about Dr Victoria’s clinic and tests, check the show notes or head to https://thslabs.co.ukOral Microbiome Test (ORALIS-1): https://thslabs.co.uk/@Drvictoriasampson🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram

I asked some of the brilliant minds we've had on The Doctor’s Kitchen Podcast (doctors, neuroscientists, psychiatrists, nutritionists) one question: What’s your number one tip for better mental health? The truth is, there’s no single fix. Mental health is a mosaic of biology, lifestyle, connection, meaning and nourishment. It’s not something we “deal with” when things fall apart. It’s something we need to tend to every day, like we do with brushing our teeth or watering plants.These insights are not only evidence-based, but deeply human. I hope you find something in this episode that resonates with you, whether it’s a small shift, a fresh perspective or a reminder to care of yourself.You’ll hear from:TJ Power, neuroscientistDr Romayne Gadelrab, Consultant Psychiatrist Julia Samuel, psychotherapistKiran Chopra, Sport and Exercise PhysiologistDr Megan Rossi, dietitian & researcherDrew Ramsey, PsychiatristDr. Amrita Vijay, researcherDr Miguel Toribio-Mateas, neuroscientistI’ll be giving you the low down on food and mental health to kick off the episode too!🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram

What if ageing well had less to do with your genes, your skincare routine or the supplements you take ... and more to do with your immune system?Most of us think about immunity as something that only matters when we’re fighting off a cold or flu. But actually, it’s quietly working behind the scenes every single day shaping how we feel, how we recover and how long we stay well.Our immune health is also constantly evolving and changing over our lifecycle. From birth to our 20s, midlife and beyond our immune system plays a critical role in how we feel, our risk of disease and how well we age.Dr Jenna Macciochi is an immunologist specialising in the intersection of nutrition, movement, mind-body practices and lifestyle with the immune system in health and disease. She’s also a brilliant science communicator who has a beautiful way of weaving science with story. In her new book, Immune to Age, Dr Jenna reframes immunity not as a fortress that springs into action, but as a lifelong partner guiding us through the seasons of our lives from the day we’re born to the way we age.We dive into:Why inflammation is not just good or badHow your immune system changes with ageWhat to focus on in your 20s, 40s and beyondThe role of inflammation, infection and stress in ageingSupplements like creatine, collagen, taurine, peptides and nootropic mushroomsFollow  @dr_jenna_macciochi and preorder the book “Immune to Age”🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram