BROADCASTS.com

My guest today is on a mission to help people feel better, live longer, and maximise their brain health by optimising their diet. Max Lugavere is a science journalist and a New York Times bestselling author. He believes brain decline is not inevitable, we all have agency in how we age, and the secret lies in our food. This drive began following his mother\u2019s diagnosis with Lewy body dementia aged just 58, and his frustration at the medical world\u2019s ineffective, drugs-only approach to treatment. Years spent trawling the research and asking experts, \u201cWhy her?\u201d has given him a wealth of knowledge that he is keen to share with others.\n\nThrough his books\xa0Genius Foods, The Genius Life, and cookbook Genius Kitchen, as well as a long-running podcast, Max shares evidence-based principles that will help all of us protect our brains. And his passion, along with an encyclopaedic ability to recall and communicate the science, is why I really wanted to talk to Max on my show.\n\nMax talks us through the three food types we should think about cutting out \u2013 and why. We discuss ultra-processed foods and why it\u2019s not in our nature to consume them in moderation. He explains the wholefood matrix, and the protective synergy that comes with eating foods, in a minimally processed state. If you\u2019ve ever wondered about the healthiest fats to cook with, Max covers this in detail.\n\xa0\nHe also shares which specific foods he recommends we all include in our diets and what brain-healthy nutrients they provide.\xa0Perhaps controversially, we discuss the adage \u2018Everything in moderation\u2019 and why this might not be the healthiest approach. If we\u2019re going to declare some foods good, says Max, other foods must therefore be bad. And within the context of a sick population, surely we should be bolder about advising people to quit the food types we know are unnatural and harmful?\n\xa0\nHaving experienced the trauma of his mother\u2019s illness, Max isn\u2019t bothered about the critics, he\u2019s just really keen to help people. He\u2019s an advocate for informed consent, sharing facts to enable us to make tailored, better food choices. Above all, his message is one of balance and realism. We can all make choices every single day that set us on the path to better health, even if we\u2019re only taking baby steps. I immensely enjoyed my conversation with him. I hope you enjoy listening.\n\nSupport the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts\xa0https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to\xa0https://fblm.supercast.com.\n\nThanks to our sponsors:\nhttps://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore\nhttps://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemore\n\nShow notes\xa0https://drchatterjee.com/330\n\nDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.