The Proof with Simon Hill

In Episode #245, I'm joined by endocrinologist and clinical researcher Professor Susan Davis, AO. In this detailed exchange – taking place over more than two hours – Professor Davis shares the best practice guidelines for managing menopause. You will learn from a world-leading expert about sex hormones, the physiological changes underpinning menopause, signs and symptoms of peri-menopause/menopause, the struggles of menopause, medical and lifestyle interventions for managing menopause (including hormone therapy), testosterone and sexual desire, the beautiful side of menopause, and plenty more."One of the – dare I say – more sinister symptoms that women often do not relate to menopause is anxiety."Professor Susan R Davis AO*,* is Director, Monash University Women’s Health Research Program and an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow; Consultant Endocrinologist and Head, Women’s Endocrine Clinic, Alfred Hospital Melbourne; and consultant at Cabrini Medical Centre.Her research spans from basic science to clinical trials, and has been pivotal in the understanding of sex hormones in women across the lifespan in multiple non-reproductive target tissues, including the brain (cognition, mood, sexual function), cardiovascular system (lipids, vascular function, and coagulation), and other tissues (fat, muscle, joint cartilage, and bone).Specifically, we cover: Intro (00:00) Understanding Menopause: Communication and Misconceptions (06:00) Hysterectomy and its Impact on Menopause (10:48) Medical Consultation during Menopause: Is it necessary? (15:48) In-Depth Discussion on Menopause Symptoms and Phases (18:03) Menopause as a Part of the Aging Process (28:28) Hormones and Reproduction during Menopause (30:47) Women's Experiences and Body Changes during Menopause (33:10) Estrogen and Sex Hormones during Menopause (48:20) A Proactive Approach to Menopause: Starting Early for Symptom Management (49:10) Guidelines for Managing Menopause (1:04:31) Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (1:13:28) HRT and Breast Cancer Risk (1:24:30) HRT Medications: Guidelines and Recommendations (1:26:50) The Trustworthiness of Big Pharmaceutical Corporations (1:45:35) Breast Cancer and Menopause Medications (1:55:12) The Funding of Menopause Research (1:58:00) Testosterone Therapy in Menopausal Hormone Treatment (2:00:10) Empowering Menopausal Women: Their Continued Contributions to Society (2:18:55) Outro (2:19:40) To connect with Professor Davis, you can find her on Twitter @SRDwomenshealth. Read her published work here, and make sure to check out the resources below for more useful information on this topic.Discover more insights and supporting studies 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 complimentarytwo-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

In Episode #244, cardiologist Dr Mohammed Alo joins me to talk about cardiovascular disease myths, many of which he has been brilliantly covering on Tik Tok over the past year.Is it perfectly ok to eat a lot of saturated fat and red meat if your triglycerides and HDL are normal? Does a coronary artery scan of zero mean we won’t have a heart attack? What’s better - a coronary artery scan or a CT angiogram for measuring plaque in our coronary arteries. Are statins beneficial? Is too low cholesterol a problem? Does this affect brain health and hormone production? Eggs, fish and fish oil, cooking oils - the list goes on.Specifically, we discuss: Intro (00:00) Fighting Misinformation on Cardiovascular Disease and Nutrition (03:49) TikTok and Cardiology: Reaching Diverse Audiences and Navigating Challenges (18:30) The Risks of the Carnivore Diet and False Claims on LDL Cholesterol (26:50) Atherosclerosis, Familial Hypercholesterolemia, and Treatment Options (36:30) The Importance of Non-HDL Cholesterol as a Predictor of CVD (43:41) Optimizing LDL Cholesterol Levels and Avoiding Unnecessary Medications (49:39) Assessing Cardiovascular Risk in Prediabetes (55:21) Cardiac Imaging and Detecting Heart Attack and Stroke Risk (57:24) Artery Calcification in Endurance Athletes: Understanding Imaging Tests (1:08:48) Debunking Myths on Coconut Oil and Fish Oil (1:20:02) Oils of choice and Dr. Alo's stand on canola oil (1:30:00) Eggs and Cholesterol: How much is too much? (1:32:40) Can Unprocessed Red Meat Raise Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease? (1:36:39) Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed Beef: Examining the Debate (1:46:39) Salt, Salt Substitutes, and Hypertension (1:57:25) Outro (2:00:04) We covered a lot.To explore more of Dr Mohammed Alo’s work, check out his website or connect with him on YouTube and TikTok.Discover more insights and supporting studies in the full show notes.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.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 complimentarytwo-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Episode #243. It’s time to face the facts on saturated fat. Dr Gil Carvalho returns to examine a bold new study on this controversial topic, breaking down whether you need to reconsider your food choices in the wake of this study’s release.We discuss: Intro (00:00) Saturated fat misunderstandings: Is saturated fat bad? (17:20) Principle 1: Dose matters? — How much saturated fat is too much? (22:07) Is no saturated fat the goal? (30:12) Principle 2: Replacement nutrient matters (31:54) Principle 3: Source matters (45:53) Mechanisms: Saturated fat and heart disease (50:48) Saturated fats and genetics (55:47) Target ApoB level (59:40) Importance of lifetime exposure (1:03:02) Statins and heart disease risk: Are statins bad for you? (1:08:53) Mendelian randomization studies (1:10:52) The totality of evidence (1:15:59) Saturated fats and total mortality (1:17:46) Saturated fat and liver health (1:19:51) Gaps in the research (1:20:43) Common arguments against lowering saturated fat (1:23:52) Outro (1:38:36) To explore more of Dr Gil Carvalho’s work, you can find him on YouTube. You can also connect with him on Twitter and Facebook, and listen to our previous conversation in Episode #207.Discover more insights and supporting studies 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 complimentarytwo-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Last week we featured Part 1 of the best moments from The Proof in 2022, and this week we bring you part 2.Episode #242 is a compilation that mostly focuses on sleep, exercise and planetary health featuring a range of guests from across the year.Guests featured include Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, Dr Alan Flanagan, Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr David Jenkins, Dr Kieron Rooney, Paul Taylor, Fritz Horstmann, Drew Harrisberg and Nicholas Carter.Specifically, we cover: Intro (00:00) Sleep and weight gain with Drew Harrisberg (01:28) Tips for better sleep with Dr. Andrew Huberman (13:00) Manage Craving with Fritz Horstman (15:49) Carnivore Crazy with Drew Harrisberg (39:42) Big Pharma and Big Food with Dr. Alan Flanagan and Drew Harrisberg (49:32) Good stress with Dr. Paul Taylor (59:48) Mitochondria and Longevity with Dr. Kieron Rooney and Drew Harrisberg (1:12:14) Mitochondria and Longevity with Dr. Paul Taylor (1:17:46) Fermented foods (1:24:27) Developing an exercise program with Drew Harrisberg (1:25:18) Improving brain function with Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai (1:41:57) Resistance starch and cancer with Drew Harrisberg (1:55:32) What's causing climate change with Nicolas Carter (2:06:11) Should we eat fish with Dr. David Jenkins (2:11:01) Building new habits with Fritz Horstman (2:12:51) Outro (2:26:46) Episodes featured: Episode #206 with Drew Harrisberg Episode #205 with Dr Andrew Huberman Episode #239 with Fritz Horstmann Episode #203 with Drew Harrisberg Episode #229 with Paul Taylor Episode #226 with Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai Episode #223 with Drew Harrisberg Episode #222 with Dr Kieron Rooney Episode #230 with Nicholas Carter Episode #216 with Dr David Jenkins I hope you find this episode helpful for consolidating some of the key learnings from 2022.To make sure you never miss an episode be sure to follow/subscribe on Apple, Spotify and/or YouTube. Whichever platform you prefer to receive notifications from when new episodes of The Proof are released.To check out our sponsors who make this show possible, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.Another way to show your support is to leave a review on the Apple podcast app, or a comment on YouTube - I read all of these.And don’t forget to grab a copy of my new Plant-Based Ferments recipe book - a great way to improve your overall health by encouraging greater microbiome diversity.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

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

Episode #240. There’s a lot of noise about cardiometabolic health: claims that certain diets will work miracles, and hype that specific foods must be avoided at all costs. Research dietitian Dr Andrea Glenn joins me today to get to the core of which dietary patterns will actually improve your cardiometabolic health outcomes.We discuss: Intro (00:00) Andrea Glenn on dietary patterns (07:31) Which country has the best dietary guidelines today? (11:35) What is cardiometabolic health? (13:15) Similarities and differences between the DASH, Nordic, Mediterranean, and Portfolio Diets (16:31) Can the Portfolio diet lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke? (21:29) The compositions of plant predominant diets and the demonization of carbohydrates (37:05) Are DASH, Nordic, Mediterranean, and Portfolio diets good for preventing and managing diabetes? (44:32) The worst and the best sources of fat (50:27) Is the pro-metabolic diet legitimate? (54:19) Is canola oil healthy? And is it better than olive oil? (01:03:39) The effects of protein according to studies (1:11:05) What are plant sterols? (1:17:20) Plant predominant versus plant exclusive (1:22:36) To stay in the loop with Dr Andrea Glenn, you can connect with her on Twitter. Learn more about Dr Glenn and read her research papers here.Discover more insights and dozens of supporting studies 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 #239. Looking for simple, practical ways to improve your exercise regime and eat for better health? Coach Fritz Horstmann understands the difficulties of balancing health with a busy life, and joins me today to offer guidance on how you can do just that.We discuss: Intro (0:00) Fritz’s Vegan Fitness Transformation (12:48) Combining Intuitive & Educated Eating (30:52) Fritz’s Coaching with Calorie Counting (42:04) Plant-Based Protein Sources (46:55) Bloating (55:32) Results in Fritz’s Program (57:43) Getting your steps in (1:09:08) Develop Habits for Success (1:11:01) How to get Motivated (1:19:18) Fritz’s Training Structure (1:24:38) Principles for Progress (1:30:04) Is Your Gym Program Working? (1:35:48) Protein Powder (1:38:03) Heart Disease & Animal Protein (1:52:30) IGF1 & Lactate Testing (1:58:21) Fritz’s Vegan Hat (2:07:50) Nutrient Supplements (2:11:44) Is Juicing Good for You? (2:17:37) Manage Cravings (2:21:46) Meal Prep vs Eating Out (2:30:59) Overrated / Underrated Claims (2:52:05) Outro (3:13:41) To connect with Fritz Horstmann, join his community on Instagram. You can also visit his website to learn more about his coaching, and listen to his podcast, Plant Based Fitness Secrets.Discover supporting studies and more insights 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 #238. Left with questions after last week’s conversation with Dr Valter Longo? You’re not alone. In this episode, Dr Longo returns to answer some of the queries I had in the wake of our last episode, tying off some loose ends and clarifying his stance on protein consumption and longevity.Specifically, we discuss: Intro (0:00) Reduce Cancer Risk with IGF1 (1:47) Biological Age Test (4:11) Laron Syndrome & Longevity (6:24) Does Everyone with High IGF1 get cancer? (13:06) Pressure for Longevity (20:30) Does Exercise Reduce Risk? (22:15) Average IGF1 (26:19) Conclusion (31:03) Make sure to listen to the last episode of The Proof, where Dr Valter Longo and I examine protein consumption in detail. To connect with Dr Valter Longo, you can find him on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more about Dr Longo’s research on his website, https://www.valterlongo.com/, where you will also be able to view and purchase his book, The Longevity Diet. Dr Longo first appeared on The Proof in Episode #106, which you can listen to here.Discover supporting studies and more insights 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 #237. Dr Valter Longo introduces intriguing questions to the show: could protein consumption actually be harmful to our health? How important is muscle tissue? Can fasting be used as an adjunct cancer treatment? We investigate these questions and many more, diving into the research on IGF-1, mTOR, and the fasting-mimicking diet.Specifically, we discuss: Intro (0:00) Ideal diets for longevity (2:58) Important Pathways for aging (9:15) IGF1 Elevation (16:24) Actue vs Chronic elevation of IGF1 (19:46) Danger of Protein Over Consumption (25:11) Impact of exercise on IGF1 (32:52) Muscle Mass and Longevity (38:35) Study on High Protein Later in Life (41:59) How to get IGF1 tested (48:03) Low IGF1 & Cognitive Decline (49:54) Resistance to IGF1 (53:00) Mendelian Randomization Studies (54:38) Fasting Mimicking Diet (59:21) Fasting and Cancer (1:16:03) Ketogenic Diet & Cancer (1:27:51) Outro (1:32:15) To connect with Dr Valter Longo, you can find him on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more about Dr Longo’s research on his website, https://www.valterlongo.com/, where you will also be able to view and purchase his book, The Longevity Diet. Make sure to listen to Dr Longo’s previous appearance on The Proof, Episode #106.Discover supporting studies and more insights 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 FacebookDownload my complimentary two-week meal plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Episode #236. Dr Donald Layman is an expert in protein synthesis and metabolism. With endless online dialogue on protein, Dr Layman offers clarity and answers pressing questions in this episode: how does protein interact with skeletal and metabolic health? Is aging dependent on our DNA? How much protein should I consume, and when?These questions, and many more, are answered in this week’s episode. We cover: Intro (0:00) Muscle & Metabolic Health (5:00) Moderate vs HIIT Training (14:00) Are Aging Outcomes Genetic? (16:29) Longevity vs Vitality (19:15) Muscle Protein Synthesis (24:40) Is the Protein RDA Sufficient? (43:03) Protein Intake for Aging (56:05) Why Leucine (59:48) Longevity and Protein (1:03:33) Cardiovascular Disease (1:16:08) Protein Distribution (1:25:30) Questionable Industry Funding (1:29:17) Meal Timing (1:34:09) Protein Threshold (1:39:33) Danger of Cold Therapy (1:43:26) Important Supplements (1:46:20) Chronic Kidney Disease (1:49:20) Outro (1:52:41) To connect with Donald Layman, PhD, you can find him on Twitter. Check out his website, https://metabolictransformation.com/, to learn more about metabolic health.Discover additional resources, supporting studies, and more insights 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.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 FacebookDownload my complimentary two week meal plan and high protein plant performance recipe book