The Proof with Simon Hill

Episode #255. Have you ever wondered about the power of psychedelics in treating mental health conditions? Join me as I sit down with Professor Susan Rossell to examine what the research says on psilocybin and MDMA and whether these revolutionary interventions can assist in the treatment of depression, eating disorders, PTSD, and more.Specifically, we discuss: Intro (00:00) Dr. Susan Rossell on mental health research (02:40) The history of psychedelics (11:53) Concerns over the safety of psilocybin and MDMA (18:31) Feasibility concerns for the rollout of psilocybin and MDMA (21:54) Effects of psilocybin (35:52) Psilocybin, SSRIs, and psychotherapy (44:35) Microdosing psilocybin (56:12) Ketamine vs psilocybin (58:00) MDMA for PTSD and recreational use (1:02:03) Future of psilocybin and MDMA and their decriminalization (1:11:00) Mental health advice (1:21:43) Outro (1:25:23) To learn more about Professor Susan Rossell, you can do so on her Swinburne University profile. Connect with Professor Rossell on Twitter, LinkedIn, or via email.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

Episode #254. How does a plant-based diet weigh up against a ketogenic diet when it comes to cancer treatment and prevention? Discover the answer to this question and more in The Proof’s first episode dedicated to understanding cancer.In this episode, I sit down with Dr Urvi Shah and Dr Neil Iyengar to examine how cancer develops and the lifestyle measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of cancer, treat cancer, and prevent cancer recurrence.Specifically, we discuss: Intro (00:00) Cancer and precancerous cells (06:51) Genetics and cancer risk (20:58) Obesity and cancer risk (24:30) Modifiable factors and reducing recurrence risk (36:44) The role of nutrition in cancer treatment (47:34) Plant-based diet vs ketogenic diet (51:50) Dr. Neil investigates the effects of plant-based diets and exercise on breast cancer (1:13:12) Soy, dairy, protein, and cancer risk (1:17:04) Unprocessed red meat and colorectal cancer (1:30:52) Organic foods vs conventional produce (1:37:10) Ultra-processed food and cancer risk (1:40:52) Alcohol intake and exercise recommendation (1:43:11) Strong predictors of breast cancer (1:49:33) Stress and sleep (1:51:56) Importance of screening (1:52:46) Outro (2:01:54) You can connect with Dr Neil Iyengar on Twitter, and learn more about him here. Connect with Dr Urvi Shah on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and learn more about her here.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

Episode #253. In Part Three of the blood lipids series, we take a deep dive into interventions to lower the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). While nutrition is the most powerful lifestyle tool we have to dramatically decrease ApoB, there certainly remains a need for pharmacological interventions – and in this episode, Dr Thomas Dayspring and I walk through four main drug classes, discussing their mechanism of action, effectiveness, and safety profile.We discuss: Intro (00:00) Evolution of cardiovascular disease treatments (03:42) Are we becoming a drug-dependent society? (07:30) Bile acid sequestrants, statins, and more (13:54) Cholesterol-lowering drugs and cognition (35:12) Is Bempedoic acid a good statin alternative? (47:39) Ezetimibe and nuances you should know (55:46) PCSK9 inhibitors (1:03:32) Do statins increase the risk of diabetes? (1:14:58) Gene therapy targeting PCSK9 (1:19:20) Pelacarsen for lowering Lp(a) (1:23:48) Can we take drugs that raise HDL to lower cardiovascular disease risk? (1:26:38) HDL and atherosclerosis (1:34:59) Elevated triglycerides and atherosclerosis (1:46:48) Takeaways (2:05:12) Outro (2:08:31) The best place to connect with Dr Thomas Dayspring is on Twitter, @DrLipid. Learn more about Dr Dayspring’s career and current work on LinkedIn.Head to The Proof website for the full show notes, including supporting studies and my key takeaways.To assist with the digestibility of this content, Dr Dayspring, my team, and I have included extensive illustrations and graphs in the video format of these episodes. If you are visually inclined, you can watch these episodes on The Proof YouTube channel. Even if you prefer listening through audio the first time, I highly recommend coming back for a second pass with the video versions. These episodes are investments into a healthier future.Get your copy of the Lipid Series Cheat Sheet at theproof.com/lipidseries. This comprehensive resource provides valuable insights on assessing your risk, preventing, and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the leading cause of death worldwide. The PDF not only highlights key learnings from the 3-Part Lipid Series but also includes a 1-week meal plan designed to promote healthy cholesterol levels.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

Episode #252. In Part One of the blood lipids series, you learned what lipids are and how they work. In Part Two, Dr Thomas Dayspring returns to talk about the individualised testing you can get to understand where your lipids are now. Discover the tests you need, the ones you don’t, and when to start testing to protect yourself against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.We discuss: Intro (00:00) What is Lp(a), and why do you need it checked? (02:05) Does diet influence Lp(a)? (20:36) The oxidized phospholipid test (29:00) Early intervention and atherosclerosis screening for children (31:24) The tests are helpful in predicting cardiovascular disease risk (40:27) Discordance between ApoB and LDL-cholesterol (52:35) Normal range of ApoB levels for a healthy young person (1:03:14) Does atherosclerotic plaque ever disappear? (1:16:52) Triglyceride: HDL ratio vs ApoB test (1:22:15) Screening women in their 30s (1:29:31) Screening women in their 70s (1:37:23) What causes elevated ApoB (1:39:25) Do phytosterols help manage cholesterol? (1:58:55) Secondary prevention (2:07:08) The obviously misunderstood case of ApoB (2:20:45) Outro (2:22:35) Next week, we’ll discuss in detail the interventions you can make to optimise your lipids. Make sure to stay connected via my social links below so you don’t miss Part Three.The best place to connect with Dr Thomas Dayspring is on Twitter, @DrLipid. Learn more about Dr Dayspring’s career and current work on LinkedIn.Discover more insights and supporting studies in the full show notes.To assist with the digestibility of this content my team and I, along with Dr Dayspring, have added a bunch of illustrations and graphs to the video format of these episodes. So if you are visually inclined you can watch these episodes on our YouTube channel. Even if you prefer listening to the first time through audio, I highly recommend coming back for a second pass with the video versions. Get your copy of the Lipid Series Cheat Sheet at theproof.com/lipidseries. This comprehensive resource provides valuable insights on assessing your risk, preventing, and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the leading cause of death worldwide. The PDF not only highlights key learnings from the 3-Part Lipid Series but also includes a 1-week meal plan designed to promote healthy cholesterol levels.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

Episode #251. Cardiovascular disease is one of the biggest killers in the Western world, and it’s vital that we understand cardiovascular health in order to improve lifespan and healthspan. In this episode, I sit down with Dr Thomas Dayspring for Part One of a three-part deep dive into cardiovascular disease and blood lipids. In this introductory episode, we examine how our body absorbs lipids and transports them throughout the body – and what happens when it goes wrong.Specifically, we discuss: Intro (00:00) Turning a family heartache into a mission (05:12) Atherosclerosis and the role of lipids (14:52) Lipoproteins & cholesterol transport and recycling (28:01) Cholesterol's role in lipoproteins (54:00) Is ApoB a more accurate marker of cardiovascular risk? (58:38) Endothelial transcytosis of lipoproteins (1:07:10) LDL aggregation (1:16:42) LDL particle retention and inflammation (1:23:15) Difference between veins and arteries (1:28:55) Atherosclerosis and genetics (1:30:22) High-fat diets and cholesterol (1:44:01) Fiber and cholesterol absorption (1:48:14) Outro (1:57:48) The best place to connect with Dr Thomas Dayspring is on Twitter, @DrLipid. Learn more about Dr Dayspring’s career and current work on LinkedIn.Discover more insights and supporting studies in the full show notes.To assist with the digestibility of this content, Dr Dayspring, my team, and I have included extensive illustrations and graphs to the video format of these episodes. If you are visually inclined, you can watch these episodes on The Proof YouTube channel. Even if you prefer listening through audio the first time, I highly recommend coming back for a second pass with the video versions. These episodes are investments into a healthier future.Get your copy of the Lipid Series Cheat Sheet at theproof.com/lipidseries. This comprehensive resource provides valuable insights on assessing your risk, preventing, and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the leading cause of death worldwide. The PDF not only highlights key learnings from the 3-Part Lipid Series but also includes a 1-week meal plan designed to promote healthy cholesterol levels.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

Episode #250. Ice baths and other forms of cold water exposure have gained a huge amount of traction in the past few years. I’m joined by expert Dr Susanna Søberg to examine what the science says – is cold water exposure safe? What does the research say about the bold health claims? Is brown fat just a buzzword? How do you safely and effectively implement hot and cold exposure into your life? Dr Søberg answers these questions and many more in this three-hour deep dive into cold water immersion.Specifically, we discuss: Intro (00:00) The tradition of winter swimming (01:52) Cold water swimming and activating brown fat (09:44) Dr. Søburg's personal experience with cold water bathing (23:13) Funding hurdles and potential benefits of cold water immersion (25:34) Cold water immersion and the body's response (33:36) Brown fat activation and more physiological responses (40:45) What is brown fat? (45:54) Is brown fat genetic? (55:28) Benefits of activating brown fat (58:32) Winter swimming, sauna, and disease: what the data says (1:01:10) Metabolism and shivering (1:13:01) Brown fat activation and muscle building (1:25:06) Who has more brown fat: Women or Men? (1:36:33) Chronic inflammation, exercise, and more benefits of deliberate cold exposure (1:46:11) Cold water immersion for beginners (2:06:18) The minimum threshold for health benefits using cold and heat (2:15:03) Clothes or no clothes? (2:22:57) Temperature regulation and gender differences (2:26:30) Safety protocols & understanding ice plunging lingo (2:34:08) Outro (2:47:18) To connect with Dr Susanna Søberg, you can find her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Head to her website, www.soeberginstitute.com, to learn more about Dr Søberg’s work – including her research and her book Winter Swimming. Friends of The Proof can also receive a 10% discount on her Thermalist course with code SIMONHILL.Discover more insights and supporting resources in the full show notes.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

Episode #249. Have you ever wondered how long humans can healthily live for? Professor Matt Kaeberlain joins me in this episode to explain the biological processes of aging, explaining the significance of genetics vs lifestyle, protein restriction, polyphenols, and much more.Specifically, we discuss: Intro (00:00) Aging and disease (03:42) Evolutionary conserved processes and human life span (17:41) Biological aging: Are epigenetic tests more accurate in telling how well you’re aging? (26:29) Aging process and the burden of senescence cells (34:06) Keys to a longer, healthier life (45:08) Sleep and exercise (55:38) Calorie restriction, longevity, and prolonged fasting (1:15:23) Protein restriction and its implications (1:32:14) Plant protein vs animal protein (1:43:31) Natural occurring polyphenols and supplements related to longevity (1:53:06) Rapamycin and rapamycin derivatives (2:13:53) Anti-aging compounds (2:29:38) Ethical implications of prolonging the life (2:51:08) Outro (2:57:23) To connect with Dr Matt Kaeberlein, you can find him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Head to his website, https://kaeberlein.org, to learn more about his work. If the Dog Aging Project interests you, you can visit the website or read this article in Nature. Keep up to date with Optispan here.Discover more insights and supporting resources in the full show notes.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

Episode #248. There is a huge research and science communication gap when it comes to nutrition and exercise for women. Stacy Sims, MSc, PhD joins me today to address this inadequacy, providing guidance on how women can optimise training and nutrition at each stage of life.Specifically, we discuss: Intro (00:00) Dr. Stacy Sims' academic journey (02:00) Female physiology (05:38) Implications of applying results of male-centric studies to women (09:12) Discerning the variances in physiological makeup between genders to customize training regimes (16:29) Physiological disparities between genders (20:53) Understanding the significance of a balanced diet and exercises tailored to accommodate the menstrual cycle (24:14) Ideal training programs tailored to the menstrual cycle of a 30-year-old woman (52:30) Exercise regimes during pregnancy (1:06:00) Achieving balance through nutrition, diet, and supplementation in your 30s (1:12:58) Female bodybuilding: androgenic compounds and hormones (1:27:55) The correlation between contraception and exercises (1:32:06) Optimizing exercise during menopause: evidence-based strategies for 60-year-old women (1:37:10) Training, nutrition, and supplementation beyond the age of 60 (1:51:44) The significance of lipids in your 30s and 60s (1:56:04) Outro (1:59:12) To connect with Stacy Sims, MSc, PhD, you can do so on Instagram or Facebook. Her website, https://www.drstacysims.com, offers a myriad of resources to guide you on your journey to maximise your body’s potential, and you’ll also be able to find her books there.Discover more insights and supporting resources in the full show notes.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

Episode #247. It's widely accepted that we are in a climate crisis. But what does that mean? Renowned author and journalist George Monbiot joins me in this episode to examine how our food systems are directly impacting our planet's health, and what we can do about it. What do soil and the human gut have in common? Why is food a political issue? What does radical change in the food system look like, and how do we get there?We cover these questions and more, discussing: Intro (00:00) George Monbiot on wildlife, farming, & global food systems (03:39) Plants & soil microbes: a remarkable connection (09:45) Soil bacterial diversity & the dangers of soil degradation (20:36) Profit over sustainability (26:32)  The role of citizens in shaping the food system (34:09)  Why is animal agriculture problematic? (45:38)  Are we the complacent and the silent majority? (57:35)  George Monbiot's alternative to farming animals (01:05:53)  Outro (01:10:16) You can find a comprehensive database of George Monbiot's work on his website, https://www.monbiot.com/, which encompasses his journalistic work and books. Get his book 'Regenesis' here. Connect with him on Twitter, and search "George Monbiot" on YouTube to find a wealth of videos like his short film with Greta Thunberg, this TED Talk, and this fascinating video about wolves and the balance of nature.Discover more insights and supporting resources in the full show notes.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

Episode #246. Have you ever considered the way our current food system was shaped? Or the way it continues to impact modern dietary guidelines? This episode is for you. In this conversation with distinguished researcher Professor Dariush Mozaffarian, we analyse the past 120 years of nutrition science and assess how this research continues to impact the modern diet.We cover: Introduction (00:00) A Journey Through Nutrition Science History (03:49) The Food Industry's Contributions to Improving Vitamin and Calorie Deficiency and What Went Wrong (16:05) The Evolution of Dietary Guidelines (26:59) Are Food Rating Systems Accurate? (37:48) Is the Role of Saturated Fat in Nutrition Neutral? (44:22) Understanding the Algorithm Behind Tufts' Food Compass (46:57) Industry Funding and Scientific Research (52:03) Validating the Food Compass Scoring System (57:04) Are Breakfast Cereals Healthier? (01:04:45) The Food Compass System: A Work in Progress (01:08:04) Exploring the Uses of the Food Compass and the Possibility of Improving Its Functionality (01:10:33) Takeaways (01:29:19) Outro (01:34:50) If you found this conversation informative, you can learn more about Dr Mozaffarian here, and read more of his work here. If you have any additional questions you would like answered in future, make sure to leave a comment on YouTube.Discover more insights and supporting resources in the full show notes.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