Christopher Gardner, PHD, Director of Nutrition Studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, discusses the diet wars, common misconceptions about protein, personalized nutrition, rigorous scientific studies, healthy microbiome, and the underappreciated role of diet in preventing disease.

Protein experts discuss the impact of different proteins, recommended protein intake for adults, protein distribution in diet, maximum protein threshold, optimal protein quantities for health, ageing and protein, plant-based vs animal protein, protein and satiety, mTOR and IGF1 in ageing, causes behind elevated IGF1 levels, and acute vs chronic protein consumption.

Proteins, carbs, and fats … most people understand what the last two are. Carbs are sugars, and fat is, well, fat. It's protein that’s so important to our diets, but so often misunderstood — by the general public, that is.Since the 1950s and 1960s, scientists have been measuring how protein affects our performance, how it supports and maintains the body’s structure, and how best to incorporate it into our diets. From big steaks to protein shakes, tofu to seitan, protein is more available now than ever before. With so many options, surely we’re getting enough protein? In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks with a leading nutritional researcher to find out. Christopher Gardner is a professor at Stanford University and a member of ZOE’s scientific advisory board. He’s pioneering the movement to redefine how we understand the quality of our protein intake.Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide03:02 - Quickfire questions04:19 - What is protein?08:07 - Can our bodies make the proteins we need?08:37 - The mechanism for our bodies creating amino acids.09:33 - What is an essential amino acid?10:45 - Crazy study Stanford scientists did to find the Estimated Average Requirement of protein.15:24 - How much protein should we consume?18:15 - How much protein do we already consume?23:02 - Can our bodies store protein?24:02 - What happens to excess protein in our bodies?24:51 - Protein Scam Alert!25:28 - Stanford Study: Does the type of protein we consume affect physical performance?28:15 - Protein requirements for kids and pregnant women.31:05 - What is Amino Acid Distribution?33:03 - Are plants missing certain amino acids?33:47 - How is AAD like the game of Scrabble?38:30 - What is the healthiest source of protein?38:41 - Dr. Gardner’s case for changing the way we define “protein quality” in the US41:33 - Jonathan’s summary43:59 - Goodbyes 44:42 - Outro  Episode transcripts are available here.Follow Chris: https://twitter.com/GardnerPhDStudies mentioned in this episode. Maximizing the intersection of human health and the health of the environment with regard to the amount and type of protein produced and consumed in the United States Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé Perspective: The Public Health Case for Modernizing the Definition of Protein Quality Follow ZOE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoe/Is there a nutrition topic you’d like us to cover? Get in touch, and we’ll do our best to cover it. 

Lead researcher Christopher Gardner discusses his twin study on healthy eating, addressing critiques from nutrition spaces. Topics include vegan vs. omnivore diets, dietary patterns, study design, cardiometabolic markers, and response to criticisms from Peter Attia and Mark Hyman.

Dr. Christopher Gardner, Stanford nutrition professor, discusses how diets may not lead to long-term weight loss for most people. He explains the individual variability in diet outcomes, the impact of food choices on satiety, and societal influences on diet trends. The podcast explores the benefits of plant-based diets for personal health and the environment.

Prof. Christopher Gardner and Dr. Sarah Berry discuss diets, debunk myths, and emphasize the importance of finding a lifelong approach to healthy eating. They explore the impact of different diets on healthy years, the importance of fiber and diversity in diet for a healthy microbiome, and debunk low-fat myths. They also discuss the benefits of a plant-based diet, personalization, and exciting new science in the field of nutrition.

Episode #269. Dive into the heart of controversial nutrition studies and discover the surprising complexities behind everyday food choices with Professor Gardner, a respected authority in the field of nutrition science.As we navigate the maze of dietary patterns, this insightful conversation bridges the gap between scientific evidence and practical nutrition, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health.We discuss: Intro (00:00) A twin study is in the works (4:06) Plant-based meat vs. red meat (8:53) How to make homemade kombucha (18: 40) Different diets for athletic performance (the SWAP-MEAT trial) (23:02) Feedback from athletes (37:21) Which popular diets are truly heart-healthy? (40:35) How different diets measure up to health guidelines (49:12) Practical insights for doctors and patients (55:07) The truth about low fat, vegan diet (59:36) Controversies vs consensus in nutrition (1:02:45) The food industry and medical institutions (1:10:19) Low-fat & low-carb diets for weight loss (the DIETFITS study) (1:14:30) Sustainable weight loss and GLP-1 agonists (1:28:25) Psychological strategies to make veggies irresistible (1:36:00) The “protein flip”, the academe, and a new book (1:46:09) Outro (1:49:55) Professor Gardner has also shared his homemade kombucha recipe with us. You can find it in this blog post.Connect with Professor Christopher Gardner on Twitter. Head to https://nutrition.stanford.edu/ for more resources and studies, and the Stanford Nutrition YouTube channel for more videos. Listen to past episodes featuring Professor Gardner here.Optimise your health with InsideTracker’s biomarker analysis. Get exclusive access to InsideTracker’s new ApoB test, and a significant discount at insidetracker.com/simon.Enjoy, friends.SimonWant 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 HillAuthor of The Proof is in the PlantsWatch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/SpotifyConnect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and FacebookNourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments GuideDownload my complimentary Two-Week Meal Plan and high-protein Plant Performance recipe book

In this enlightening discussion, Christopher Gardner, a Professor at Stanford University and expert on protein and health, tackles the craze over high-protein products like ice cream and cereals. He dispels myths about protein needs, revealing that more isn't always better. Gardner shares insights on how athletes calculate their protein requirements and the unique ways our bodies store carbs, fats, and proteins. His perspective encourages smarter food choices and a deeper understanding of dietary needs for optimal health.

To bring in the new year I thought it would be good to take a moment and consolidate some of the memorable moments, and key takeaways, from 2022. In Episode #241, part 1 of a 2 part year in review, we traverse how to think about nutrition, so we can better make sense of claims online, diet, and cardiometabolic health, how you can flip the switch on your microbiome so the trillions of gut bugs in your large intestine reward you with better health, and the benefits up for grabs through consuming our food over less hours - otherwise known as time restricted eating or fasting.Guests featured include Dr Gil Carvhalo, Dr Richard Johnson, Dr Alan Flanagan, Danny Lennon, Dr David Jenkins, Dr Justin Sonnenburg, Dr Erica Sonnenburg, Dr Christopher Gardner, Dr Tim Spector, Dr Don Layman, Dr Valter Longo, Dr Stuart Phillips, Dr Satchin Panda and Dr Courtney Peterson.Specifically, we cover: Intro (00:00) Circadian Disruption is a Problem with Dr. Satchin Panda (01:59) Fasting & weight loss with Dr. Courtney Peterson (08:26) Optimal fasting window with Dr. Satchin Panda (15:49) Nutrition science claims with Dr Gil Carvalho (36:49) Diet & metabolic health with Dr. Richard Johnson (51:32) Cholesterol & CVD with Dr Alan Flanagan and Danny Lennon (57:22) Lowering cholesterol with Dr. David Jenkins (1:14:06) Gut microbiome with Drs. Erica and Justin Sonnenburg (1:24:44) Fibre & inflammation with Dr. Sonnenburg and Dr. Gardner (1:32:43) Fermented foods (1:49:35) Building microbiome diversity with Drs. Erica and Justin Sonnenburg (1:50:26) Simple dietary advice with Dr Tim Spector (1:55:57) Muscle & metabolic health with Dr. Donald Layman (1:58:34) Aging pathways with Dr. Valter Longo (2:07:24) Muscle & aging with Drs. Stuart Phillips and Christopher Gardner (2:14:48) Outro (2:20:11) Episodes featured: Episode #221 with Dr Satchin Panda Episode #232 with Dr Courtney Peterson Episode #207 with Dr Gil Carvhalo Episode #233 with Dr Richard Johhson Episode #231 with Dr Alan Flanagan & Danny Lennon Episode #216 with Dr David Jenkins Episode #202 with Dr Erica Sonnenburg & Dr Justin Sonnenburg Episode #191 with Dr Justin Sonnenburg & Dr Christopher Gardner Episode #224 with Dr Tim Spector Episode #236 with Dr Don Layman Episode #237 with Dr Valter Longo Episode #228 with Dr Stuart Phillips & Dr Christopher Gardner I hope you find this episode helpful for consolidating some of the key learnings from 2022.Part 2 of the year in review will be released next week with a focus on exercise, planetary health and more.Happy new year.Enjoy, friends.SimonWant 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 HillAuthor of The Proof is in the PlantsWatch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/SpotifyConnect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and FacebookNourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments GuideDownload my complimentary two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Prof. Christopher Gardner discusses the rise of plant-based meat alternatives and their impact on health. They compare the nutritional value of plant-based options to red meat and highlight concerns about ultra-processed foods. The podcast explores studies comparing plant-based meat to real meat and emphasizes the health benefits of choosing plant-based alternatives.