#547: Healthspan, Healthy Ageing & Chronic Disease – Best of 2024

Release Date: 12/23/2024

#560: Neurodiversity & Nutrition: Choline, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Beyond – Emma Derbyshire, PhD

Sigma Nutrition Radio

Nutrition is increasingly being considered as a modifiable factor that may influence neurodevelopmental outcomes. While severe deficiencies in certain nutrients are known to have dramatic effects, there is growing interest in the potential impact of more subtle insufficiencies — particularly during critical windows such as pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood. In conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, and autism spectrum condition (ASC), questions have been raised around whether specific nutrients may play a role in cognitive performance, attention, or learning. Could low choline intake be a...

Do Lipids Increase During Weight Loss? (SNP39)

Sigma Nutrition Radio

This is a segment from one of our Premium-exclusive AMA (ask me anything) episodes, where we answer questions submitted by Premium subscribers. To listen to the full episode, you’ll need to be a and access the episode on the private Premium feed. Questions Answered in This Episode [02:00] Why does the Mediterranean diet emphasize monounsaturated fats over polyunsaturated fats when the latter seem more beneficial for heart health? [08:48] What dietary patterns or foods best support strength and recovery in premenopausal women, especially on a plant-based diet? [20:33] Are...

#559: Skin Health & Nutrition – Thivi Maruthappu, PhD

Sigma Nutrition Radio

The intersection of nutrition, dermatology, and skin health is an area of growing interest, yet one that remains riddled with misinformation and oversimplified claims. The influence of dietary patterns, specific nutrients, and lifestyle factors on conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, and skin aging has been widely debated, with varying levels of evidence supporting different interventions. While some nutritional strategies may play a role in optimizing skin health, the challenge lies in distinguishing practical, evidence-based approaches from overstated or anecdotal claims. A...

#558: Rethinking Ultra-Processed Foods in the Modern Food System – Duane Mellor, PhD

Sigma Nutrition Radio

Discussions around ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and their role in public health have gained significant traction in recent years. While some advocate for categorizing and regulating these foods due to their potential negative health effects, others argue that such classifications can oversimplify the issue and detract from more actionable dietary changes. In this episode, Dr. Duane Mellor, a registered dietitian and researcher, joins us to explore the complexities of the UPF debate. Rather than dismissing the concept outright, Dr. Mellor emphasizes the importance of nuanced discussion,...

#557: Health Psychology & Eating Behaviour – Prof. Jane Ogden

Sigma Nutrition Radio

In the realm of health psychology, our understanding of eating behaviors extends beyond mere physiological hunger cues. Research indicates that factors such as learned associations, cultural influences, and individual perceptions play pivotal roles in shaping our dietary choices. Recognizing this complexity is essential for developing effective dietary interventions that move beyond simplistic recommendations, acknowledging the intricate web of cognitive, emotional, and societal factors at play. A significant discussion within nutrition science centers on the regulation of eating patterns,...

SNP38: What is Quality Sleep?

Sigma Nutrition Radio

Sleep is one of the most critical yet often overlooked components of health, performance, and overall well-being. Poor sleep quality or insufficient sleep can disrupt circadian rhythms, impair glucose metabolism, and alter hunger signals, leading to increased food intake, reduced insulin sensitivity, and other undesirable outcomes. In this episode, we bring together expert discussions from some of the leading researchers in sleep science, to explore what defines high-quality sleep, the mechanisms behind sleep regulation, and the factors that influence sleep-wake cycles, from light exposure to...

#556: Can We Restore the Gut Microbiome Through Dietary Changes? – Anissa Armet, PhD

Sigma Nutrition Radio

There is research suggesting that industrialization has significantly altered the composition of our gut microbiota, with certain microbial species now absent in many industrialized populations. Given the known associations between gut microbiome diversity and health, researchers have begun investigating whether restoring lost microbial species and adopting dietary patterns similar to those of non-industrialized populations could lead to measurable health benefits. In a newly-published study, the investigators aimed to explore whether L. reuteri could be successfully reintroduced...

#555: What Should the Dietary Guidelines Say? – Prof. Christopher Gardner

Sigma Nutrition Radio

Every five years, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines are updated based on the latest scientific evidence to help shape national nutrition recommendations. A panel of experts was assembled to review the existing research, evaluate new findings, and provide recommendations that will inform the next edition of the guidelines. One of the committee members involved in this process is Professor Christopher Gardner, a leading nutrition scientist at Stanford University, who joins us to share key insights from the committee’s work. In this discussion, Professor Gardner provides an inside look into how the...

#554: Crucial Ideas for Understanding Nutrition Science

Sigma Nutrition Radio

Understanding the complexities of diet-disease relationships requires a nuanced approach to nutritional science. Unlike other scientific disciplines, nutrition research often grapples with the inherent challenges of studying dietary patterns and nutrient intakes in free-living populations over long periods. The cumulative effects of dietary exposures, combined with the necessity to control for confounding factors such as total energy intake and population-specific dietary habits, highlight the need for rigorous study designs and careful interpretation of findings. Despite their utility, these...

#553: Healthy Habits for Fertility and Reproductive Health – Marjorie Nolan Cohn, RD

Sigma Nutrition Radio

This episode focuses on the intersection of nutrition, lifestyle, and women’s health, with a particular emphasis on managing complex conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Registered dietitian Marjorie Nolan Cohn shares insights from over two decades of clinical practice, highlighting the importance of addressing foundational health behaviors—such as adequate sleep, hydration, and nutrient-dense dietary patterns—before introducing targeted interventions like supplementation. Marjorie explores the nuanced relationship between body weight,...

More Episodes

Healthspan, healthy ageing, and chronic disease are pivotal topics in today’s health discourse, emphasizing not just the length of life but the quality of those additional years. Focusing on healthspan means striving for a longer period of life free from disease and disability, which is increasingly important as global life expectancies rise. Healthy ageing involves adopting lifestyle habits that promote physical, mental, and social well-being throughout the lifespan, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Addressing chronic diseases risk requires a proactive approach centered on prevention and early intervention. By prioritizing healthspan and healthy ageing, individuals can significantly decrease the likelihood of developing chronic illnesses, leading to improved quality of life and reduced healthcare costs.

Sigma Nutrition Radio has consistently addressed these critical themes across many episodes. In this episode, we go back over some of the best episodes of 2024 in this area, including discussions on Alzheimer’s, cholesterol-lowering medications, impact of exercise, and the debate about red meat.

Timestamps

(03.12) Alzheimer’s: Genetic susceptibility vs. modifiable factors
(14.59) Heart disease: the “risk factor, disease, event” framework
(22.10) The strength of evidence we have for the impact of exercise on mortality and longevity
(28.23) Why high blood pressure is so problematic
(37.23) Where do we see risk for unprocessed red meat?
(48.34) The evolution over the years of dietary fat research
(53.20) Claims about the proposed risks of consuming seed oils
(56.16) How does fat quality impact heart disease risk?
(60.35) History of Portfolio Diet research for reducing LDL-C

Episodes referenced:

512: Alzheimer’s Disease – Drs. Ayesha & Dean Sherzai
525: Cholesterol-Lowering Medication – Dr. Paddy Barrett
524: Strength & Fitness Levels for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk & Promoting Health Ageing – Jordan Feigenbaum, MD
527: How to Prevent & Treat Hypertension – Dr. Mohammed Alo, DO
528: Is Unprocessed Red Meat Problematic for Our Health?
532: Dietary Fat: Evidence vs. Misinformation – Alice Lichtenstein, DSc
515: Does Dietary Fat Quality Causally Affect Atherosclerosis Risk? – Jacob Christensen, PhD
507: Does a Higher Portfolio Diet Score Reduce Heart Disease? – Andrea Glenn, PhD

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Timestamps

Episodes referenced:

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