Plant Proof - Plant Based Nutrition & Inspirational Stories

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

In Episode #92, I sat down with Australian environmentalist James Stanton Cooke, or ‘Jimmy Halfcut’, to talk about the role that our rainforests play in keeping our climate cool. I met James a few months ago at a charity night in Bondi, and with the fires currently burning across Australia, I couldn’t help but think this was the perfect time to sit down and talk about mother nature.   Listen to hear Jimmy and I discuss the importance of rainforest preservation, as well as Australian wildfires, controlled burning, hazard reduction, circulation burning, regenerative agriculture, and Australia’s energy situation with regard to coal and renewables. You’ll also hear Jimmy share some practical things you can do to lower your environmental footprint. 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 s

In Episode #91, it’s you and me again for another solo episode of The Proof podcast. As usual, this episode – focused on weight loss – is about clearing confusion, breaking down the science, and giving you practical tips to hopefully allow you to lead a healthier, more sustainable, and happier lifestyle. I focus in on social media and body image, what dietary patterns are best for weight loss, and other aspects to consider when it comes to trying to lose weight.   This episode is not about obsessing over belly rolls or cellulite. My aim is to bring you the science without the fads, quick fixes, or anything else that gets you reaching for your wallet – I simply want you to understand what factors affect your body weight so you can be empowered to take control of your health. That said, I do understand that our food system is set up in a way that makes it hard to lose weight; the cheapest and most convenient foods are usually the unhealthiest. So by no means do I want you to feel any less of yourself if you are

In Episode #90, I sat down with former president of the American College of Cardiology, Dr Kim Williams, to discuss the role that our diet plays in preventing, suspending, and reversing cardiovascular disease. While many of us see heart attacks and strokes as ‘inevitable’ and a ‘normal’ part of getting old, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Many populations with different diets are significantly less likely to develop cardiovascular disease. Observational science and controlled trials both point to a predominantly or exclusively plant-based diet as the ultimate way to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.   If you want to know what foods are causing your arteries to ‘clog’ and how to avoid this, then I highly recommend listening to this exchange. Kim is an absolute wealth of knowledge, and unlike so much of what you see on social media these days, his stance is based on hard evidence from all different levels of scientific investigation. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for

In Episode #89, I sat down with a long-time friend of mine, Sean Ryan. Sean and I recently caught up for dinner, and he expressed interest in changing his lifestyle. One particular reason is that cardiovascular disease runs in his family, and he ticks quite a few of the boxes when it comes to modifiable risk factors for having a heart attack or stroke.   In fact, Sean has been contemplating and embarking on lifestyle changes for the better part of a year with mixed results. He cannot help but feel confused by all of the mixed messages across the internet and among health professionals in his community. As a result, he’s been left feeling disempowered and unsure what to do. As Sean and I got talking during our dinner, I realised how valid his questions were and suggested that we share our conversations and his journey to better health as a series on this show to hopefully inspire others. He generously agreed, and here we are – the first of a handful of episodes with Sean. It’s a slightly different format that

In Episode #88, I sat down with Seb Alex to discuss the importance of animal welfare and what life looks like through the lens of an animal activist. I understand that the topic of animal welfare is often a little uncomfortable (I totally get it), and perhaps you hold the stereotypical view of animal activists as being angry, weird, and violent. I know I used to. But Seb is anything but that, and I urge all of you, plant-based eaters or not, to listen to this conversation with an open mind. Even if you’re not interested in a plant-based lifestyle, it’s interesting to listen to what people from different walks of life have to say.   In this episode, Seb and I discuss normalising plant-based diets and what Seb thinks about the Impossible Burger and large chains like Hungry Jacks who have added plant-based burgers onto their menu. We also tackle some big questions like what counts as a sentient being, whether there are different levels of sentience, what speciesism is, and whether ‘humane slaughter’ exists. For

In Episode #87, I sat down with Marie Fe and Jake Snow, who are arguably two of the most inspiring individuals that I’ve come across in using social media to build a powerful community with purpose. It was a pleasure to sit down with them, share their story, talk about various aspects of their lives, and celebrate the positives of using social media.   Listen to hear about their backstories, how they met, how they funded their first travels, and the inspiration behind their transition to a plant-based diet. We also chatted about the evolution of their social media content and why they feel the desire to share information about important global issues.    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

In Episode #86, I sat down with AFL player Chris Mayne to talk about his transition to a plant-based diet as a professional athlete. Chris plays for the Collingwood Football Club, the largest club in Australia, and in the past few years has been able to take his game to the next level.   In this episode, we cover the ups and downs of Chris’s career, when and why he changed his diet, and the impact this had on his life and football. Chris shares his typical day of eating, some advice for other young players, 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 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

In Episode #85, I sat down with plant-based Australian track athlete Catriona Bisset, who currently holds the national record for the 800m event. If you haven’t heard of Catriona, chances are you will very soon – seemingly coming out of nowhere, she is now destined to represent Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.   In this episode, we talked about Catriona’s journey from a young track athlete and the pressures she faced, through her struggles with anxiety, depression, and disordered eating, to how and why she adopted a plant-based diet. She shares the ins and outs of her diet and how she has worked on it to improve her well-being and performance. And, of course, we talk about her amazing achievement of setting the Australian national record for the 800m event and her future as an Olympic hopeful and a voice for positive 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

In Episode #84, it’s you and me again for another solo episode of The Proof podcast. As usual, this episode is about clearing up confusion, breaking down the science, and giving you practical tips to hopefully allow you to lead a healthier, more sustainable, and happier lifestyle.   In this episode, I cover recent headlines about the dangers of ‘fake’ or ‘mock’ meats, Formula 1 driver Romaine Grosjean’s comments about a vegan diet and endurance performance, a recent article in the Global Environmental Change journal that was covered in a somewhat misleading fashion by HuffPost, and some tips for building a healthy plant-based diet. Of course, I could talk about building a plant-based diet for hours and hours, so in this episode I focused on some of the top principles and myths about a plant-based diet that I most wanted to get across so you can set yourself up for success. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?

In Episode #83, a very good friend of mine, Drew Harrisberg, returned to the show to talk about hidden agendas in science and the media, with specific reference to a few somewhat dangerous trends we have noticed. In this unscripted exchange, Drew and I covered topics including the manipulation of science to produce favourable outcomes and the confusing and oversimplified messages we get from people of influence on social media.   We started by chatting about how Drew’s transition to a plant-based diet has played out since Episode 62. We then went on to discuss some specific studies and claims, such as Dr Mark Hyman’s confusing promotion of an extremely conflicted study on the ‘reversal of diabetes’ and Sarah Wilson’s claims about methane and the impact of animal agriculture on climate change. We also talked about the ‘If It Fits Your Macros’ and ‘calorie deficit’ ideologies and why these are oversimplifications – it is possible to look and feel good at the same time without needing to choose one or the other.

In Episode #82, I return from a small break and record the first ‘solo’ episode of The Proof podcast. Yes, that’s right, the first episode without a guest – just you and me.   In this episode, I explain why I took a short break from the podcast and the new direction for the show. You’ll also hear about my time in Bali and Sydney’s newest plant-based restaurant, Eden Bondi. And I discuss the recent media headlines about vegans needing to be careful about choline deficiency and about vegetarians and stroke risk. For both of these, I walk through what was reported and what the science actually says.    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

In Episode #81, I sat down with Dr Will Bulsiewicz for a second session of answering your gut health questions. All of the topics were suggestions from The Proof community – so firstly, thank you for contributing to this conversation by sending through such important questions. If you’re a regular listener and have tuned into previous episodes with Dr B (#17, #71, and #80), you’ll already know what a wealth of knowledge he is; Dr B is a board-certified gastroenterologist, having completed over 16 years of medical training to become an expert in all things gut health. So he is perfectly positioned to help us navigate tricky gut health questions and clear up some of the confusion.   In this episode, we cover a lot of really interesting gut health topics, such as the effect of the keto diet on the gut; dairy, probiotics, prebiotics (lactose), and gut health; intermittent fasting; prolonged juice or water fasting; breastfeeding and infant gut health, including the role of human oligosaccharides; antibiotics and g

In Episode #80, I sat down with Dr Will Bulsiewicz, or Dr B, to go through some of the most common gut health questions out there! If you have tuned into The Proof podcast before, you’ll have no doubt come across my previous conversations with Dr B – he is incredibly knowledgeable and has a unique ability to break complicated science down and turn it into simple practical tips. If you haven’t listened to the previous episodes with Dr B, I strongly encourage you to check them out – Episode 17 (how to build a healthy gut) and Episode 70 (gut health and quitting a plant-based lifestyle).   With so many bloggers and unqualified people providing advice on gut health these days, it’s refreshing to hear from a gastroenterologist who genuinely understands the science inside out. In this episode, we cover heavy bloating and gut health, how to identify if your gut needs repair, how our mind can affect digestion, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and ‘leaky gut’. We also talked about preparing and seasoning food, juici

In Episode #78, I sat down with Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai for a second episode on brain health (both were previously guests on Episode #65). I cannot even begin to describe how brilliant these guys are. In this information-packed, 2-hour episode, we talk about creating an environment to help kids flourish, the importance of sleep for brain health, tips for optimising sleep, why it’s important to be able to hyperfocus, how to improve focus, removing inhibitions and the practice of ‘fearless’ living, what we should be eating, 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 your friends and family. Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)  Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill  Author of The Proo

In Episode #77, I sat down with Rip Esselstyn to talk about his journey as a PLANTSTRONG athlete, health activist, and author. Rip is well known for The Engine 2 Diet, a book he authored in 2009 on a whole-food, plant-based diet, which was inspired by his father’s work (Dr Caldwell Esselstyn Jr) and his time as a firefighter. If you are looking for inspiration from someone who has been a long-term whole-food, plant-based athlete, then look no further than Rip – in fact, just this weekend at age 56, he set another world record in the 200m backstroke!   In this episode, Rip shared the inspiration that led him to change his diet in 1987, his experiences as a swimmer, triathlete, and firefighter, the inspiration behind the Engine 2 Diet, what his kids eat, 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 su

In Episode #76, I sat down with a good friend of mine and plant-based, pro bodybuilder, Nimai Delgado. In this episode, we chat about some of the more common concerns and barriers that stop people from adopting a plant-based diet.    Some of the topics we cover are nutrient deficiencies, carbohydrates and body fat, sugar and diabetes, soy foods and oestrogen, taste buds, giving up cheese, food for brain health, eating enough calories, gaining muscle with a plant-based diet, 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 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

In Episode #75, I sat down with Dr Caldwell Esselsytn Jr, or Essy, to chat about his journey in medicine and the specific findings from his clinical trials on preventing cardiovascular disease. It was a great pleasure to join Essy at his home in Cleveland with his wife Ann – they welcomed me with open arms and a delicious lunch. I am very grateful that I was able to spend this time with them and even more grateful to have been able to record Essy’s wisdom to share with you. Huge thanks to Ann – you are an absolute joy to be around and the food you prepared was incredible.   Listen to find out about Essy’s clinical trials on patients with end-stage cardiovascular disease and how to prevent cardiovascular disease with nutrition. We also discussed the bigger picture and the future of healthcare – how it’s moving from a model of disease management to disease prevention. One of the pioneers of lifestyle medicine, Essy is an absolute wealth of knowledge. If you know ANYONE with cardiovascular disease (a history of