#131 Tim Spector: Why Everything Youve Been Told About Food Is Wrong
It\u2019s a bold claim: that (almost) everything you\u2019ve been told about food is wrong. But by the end of today\u2019s conversation, I think you\u2019ll be questioning what you previously thought was true and embarking on a new way of eating that\u2019s right for you.\nMy guest, Tim Spector, is a Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Head of the Department of Twin Research at King\u2019s College London. He\u2019s a leading expert on the gut microbiome whose work has transformed what we know about nutrition and health.\nTim\u2019s latest work highlights how much we really don\u2019t know about food. Aside from the consensus that plant foods are good for us, ultra-processed junk foods are not, there\u2019s very little evidence or expert agreement on anything else. So there\u2019s most definitely not a one-size-fits-all \u2018correct\u2019 way to eat.\nDuring our chat we cover calorie counting, artificial sweeteners, the dangers of ultra-processed foods and how poor science lets the food industry maintain that its products are healthy, simply because they\u2019ve not been proven to be harmful. We discuss the benefits of fasting, and the perception that you need to graze all day. The diet industry perpetuates the myth that if we don\u2019t have a snack to hand at all times, we\u2019ll have an energy dip, lack focus and we might even faint! For most of us, it\u2019s actually the reverse that\u2019s true.\nWith this in mind, we agree that nutrition should be at the heart of the curriculum in schools. Our children can cope at school without mid-morning and afternoon snacks. I share Tim\u2019s passion that we should be teaching our children how to recognise real versus fake food with the same enthusiasm that we teach them to read and write.\nI find the concept of personalised nutrition hugely empowering. As Tim states in his most recent book, \u2018You are very unlikely to be average\u2019. I\u2019ve seen it first-hand with my patients, many of whom respond completely differently to the same ways of eating. It\u2019s why I describe my approach as \u2018diet agnostic\u2019 and, like Tim, I\u2019d actively encourage you to start experimenting with what, how and when you eat. I hope this conversation inspires you to explore what makes you thrive.\xa0\nShow notes available at\xa0drchatterjee.com/131\nFollow me on\xa0instagram.com/drchatterjee/\nFollow me on\xa0facebook.com/DrChatterjee/\nFollow me on\xa0twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk\nDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.