The Proof with Simon Hill

Dr Nicola Guess, a registered dietitian and Oxford research fellow, examines a controversial diet trial labeled “keto.” She explores whether protein, not ketosis, drove liver-fat reduction, how weight loss shaped glucose and ApoB results, and whether liver fat causes insulin resistance or signals it. They also discuss building a high-protein Mediterranean-style plate, fiber, seed oils, and saturated fat.

Christopher Gardner, Stanford nutrition scientist and author of Food Sense, shares lessons from 30 years and 20+ diet trials. He explains why perfect diet studies are impossible, why a costly garlic trial finding nothing still mattered, and where keto and Mediterranean eating diverge. They explore fermented foods, protein and muscle aging, contradictory research, and transforming institutional kitchens.

A deep dive into conflicting heart-scan results, with three platforms offering dramatically different plaque measurements. Simon Hill breaks down cumulative ApoB exposure, his plant-forward diet, exercise, sleep and supplement choices, then explains why stable plaque, family history and aging led him to start a PCSK9 inhibitor. He also explores scan percentiles, AI overestimation and the limits of dramatic short-term changes.

Dr Howard Luks is an orthopaedic surgeon with nearly 30 years of experience in sports medicine. He explores why MRI “tears” rarely mean surgery, what sham-surgery trials reveal, and how language shapes recovery. They also discuss metabolic health, tendon loading, injections and peptides, ankle rehabilitation, ACL decisions, and the importance of power and balance with age.

Dr Federica Amati, nutrition scientist and Head Nutritionist at ZOE, explores the first 1,000 days of life. They discuss birth and the infant microbiome, breast milk versus formula, practical weaning, iron and early allergen introduction, plus microplastics and endocrine disruptors. A clear-eyed conversation about nutrition, resilience, and parenting without the guilt.

Prof Aleksander Krag, a leading liver specialist and former European liver association secretary general, explores the silent disease affecting one in three people. He explains why scarring matters more than liver fat, how alcohol and metabolism shape risk, and which tests reveal hidden damage. They also discuss weight loss, semaglutide, lifestyle changes, and policy solutions for prevention.

Preventive cardiologist Dan Soffer and lipidology expert Thomas Dayspring unpack the case for treating cholesterol before plaque appears. They debate whether ApoB is causal or simply necessary, challenge the meaning of “normal” cholesterol, explore LDL-C years, early screening, imaging, the latest guidelines, medication choices, and statin symptoms. An illuminating discussion for anyone told their cholesterol is fine.

Dr Deborah Kado, Stanford physician and geriatrician, explores what truly supports a long, independent life. They discuss positive attitudes toward aging and dementia risk, balance and power training, osteoporosis medications, deprescribing, nutrition and weight, vitamin D, sleep regularity, the gut microbiome, and finding purpose in later life.

Professor Roy Taylor, a diabetes researcher behind the Twin Cycle Hypothesis and the DiRECT trial, discusses diet-driven remission of type 2 diabetes. He explains liver and pancreatic fat as the root cause, why weight regain returns diabetes, and how GLP-1 drugs really work versus marketing claims. They also cover five-year DiRECT outcomes, cancer and hospital admission reductions, and gestational diabetes risks.

Dr Nicola Guess, registered dietitian and Oxford researcher studying dietary approaches to type 2 diabetes. She explains calorie-independent strategies that lower post-meal glucose, the role of protein in waking beta cells, and practical high-protein, lower-carb approaches. The conversation also covers fruit, fat quality, menopause, PCOS, shift work, and the real effects of GLP-1s on muscle.