Fasting and Muscle Mass Retention
Considering the growing interest in fasting protocols (both TRF and longer fasting protocols) - what would you recommend in these circumstances for the preservation / growth of muscle mass. Would it differ between Intermittent Fasting / Time-Restricted Feeding, and longer (1-3 day) fasts?
Animal Vs Plant (the norm subject)
Does the literature still show that an additional 30-40% of plant derived protein is required to equate a similar response from animal protein? Isolates and sources such as mucoprotein play a role? How does this increase play out when looking at the viability of plant protein in older populations that exhibit anabolic resistance? Is animal protein really still the gold standard? And required as a "high quality" source, especially when dealing with sarcopenic/ co-morbid individuals, who eat less/ move less etc?
Seed Oils
Sorry if you've covered this before (I'm new to the podcast), but what are your thoughts on the "seed oils as the One True Cause of all human suffering" thing, à la Cate Shanahan, Chris Knobbe, etc.? Seems like a lot of mechanistic speculation with little to no evidence around human outcomes, with some abuse of apparent correlation thrown in for good measure, but I'd love to hear your take. Thanks!
Synthesized whey protein
We're starting to see commercially available whey that has been produced by bacteria engineered to synthesize whey protein directly from nutritional substrate. It seems like we should expect this to have directly comparable effects given the identical molecular structure. Is there any reason to think this bacterially synthesized whey will have any different effects that whey from dairy?
The Most Dangerous Nutrition Trends / Fads?
First - just started listening last week, have listened to probably a dozen episodes, loving it so far. The most sensible and thorough "deep dive" nutrition podcast I've encountered, so thanks very much. So here's a big one for you - what do you think are the two or three most dangerous nutrition trends / fads in the world today? By "dangerous", I *think* I mean those most likely to cause significant negative health outcomes for the largest number of people. Or, alternately, you could interpret this as the fads that are the most unhealthful in absolute terms, the ones that are most likely to result in the most severe negative health outcomes for those who have adopted them. I'm good either way, whichever (or both!) you think is most relevant, interesting, and important in the grand scheme of things. Thanks again, and please keep up the good work! Mike p.s. And thanks for the prompt response to my previous question, I listened to that episode and found it helpful.
Nutrition and Colorectal Cancer
I've recently listened to #346, your interview with Dr. Kathryn Bradbury on nutrition and colorectal cancer. I found this useful and informative, so thanks very much for that! But I have a question for you based on this episode... I already have colorectal cancer, Stage 4, in fact. It started, not surprisingly, in my colon, and was dealt with via a combination of radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Approximately 10 months after my chemo was done, it showed up in my lungs, both of them. I was lucky, for a certain personalized definition of lucky, as it was deemed operable and I had two surgeries in the first quarter of last year to remove the cancer from both lungs. I've now gone about 14 months since my second lung surgery, am feeling great, and as of mid-March of this year have no evidence of cancer in me. So here's my question - given that the cancer is (or was...?) already in me, and given that there seems to be decent evidence that dietary choices can reduce the probability of it arising in the first place, is there any evidence that I can do anything nutrition-wise to minimize the chances of it returning again, spreading further, etc.? I've done some digging but haven't been able to find anything that I understand well enough to act on. Thanks again and as always for your great work! Mike (p.s. I've lost count of the number of people who've laid the "carbs feed cancer" stuff on me in the past few years! Fortunately, this is one I've been able to figure out by myself.)
Studies comparing VLED vs bariatric surgeries for T2D
Good morning, As a follow-up to the episode with Adrian Brown and the episode with Dr Taylor, I was wondering if we have any quality studies reviewing VLED and bariatric surgery for long term T2D remission and QoL? Looking at the studies from Mingrone and al., most studies still seem to suggest that bariatric surgeries seem to improve QoL and remission better than traditional MNT interventions, especially long-term. However, I am not aware of studies comparing intensive lifestyle/VLED interventions vs bariatric and even vs weight-neutral/lifestyle approaches (control) for T2D/mortality. Thanks!
Protein status
Would you please share your opinion about how you evaluate protein status in the body? Do you consider serum proteins (albumin etc) as a reliable indicators of protein sufficiency/ insufficiency in the diet, or indicators that people absorb all the protein they consume? Or amino acids profile would better indicate the protein status? Thank you
Visual muscle size differences in plant-based athletes
Hi Sigma team. I'm a coach of a combat sport. Subsequently, I am very aware of my students' weights. Anecdotally, I have noticed a trend in my plant-based students that, when compared to students eating non plant-based diets, there appears an obvious visual difference in muscle sizes (smaller/not as pronounced in plant-based) in individuals of the same weight and approximate height/dimensions. This difference only seems visual, there does not appear to be differences in strength, power, speed etc. Has this been tested/documented/researched anywhere? While I acknowledge these observations might simply be a confirmation bias of mine, if true what might explain this phenomenon? Thanks, Steve.
Anorexia and morbid obesity and metabolic compensation
Can you talk about the conditions of anorexia and morbid obesity and how they essentially defy the rules of metabolic compensation? In other words- I understand anorexia to be a mental health condition where the individual starves themselves with a purpose to control weight. And morbid obesity being excessive consumption despite over fatness, etc. If the body has these numerous mechanisms by which calorie restriction or calorie over- consumption results in these compensatory processes-driving us to eat more/less slow us down/speed us up, and many more; do these individuals NOT "hear" these signals or are they just adept at ignoring them or is it that their bodies have lost the ability to compensate for their under or over consumption? Additionally, can anyone become anorexic or morbidly obese or is it merely genetics, and if you are in the proper life circumstance- you set these tendencies off? Thanks so much for your consideration of this convoluted question! Kristen in Dallas.
Stephen Guyenet vs. Gary Taubes
I just got through listening to the debate on Joe Rogan between these guys and firstly- clearly Guyenet "won," but I wanted to ask him about whey protein and why didn't he mention how whey protein increases insulin despite it being a protein and not a carbohydrate? If Taubes is all about insulin and carbs/sugars- wouldn't this fact destroy his hypothesis? Additionally I thought that overeating on any macronutrient would increase insulin simply because you are eating food? Also is it possible that both men are correct- that both schools of thought could co-exist and they both be playing a major role in obesity? I loved the debate but was thinking about these 2 things the whole time. Thanks!!
Fish consumption linked with cancer risk
What are your thoughts on the recently released study in the US ( NIH-AARP diet and health study ) linking 2 servings/week, or more. of fish to a 22% increase in risk of developing Skin Cancer. From what I read, the study didn't take into account some key confounders such as history of sun exposure or severe sun burns.
Obesity - Are the only efficacious interventions drugs and bariatric surgery?
It seems like there are significant differences in policies put forth between researchers from biomedical backgrounds and ones from public health policy backgrounds. Pr Allison touched on this during recent interviews, noting that there is very little evidence regarding the efficacy of upstream obesity prevention interventions, such community gardens, combatting food deserts, nutrition education, and cooking classes. On the other hand, governments are increasingly turning to such interventions, as well as policies such as front of pack labelling (Canada, 2022), nutrition facts tables, calorie labelling on menus, as well as the aforementioned ones. Given your research on determinants of health and obesity, what are some of the most promising interventions to prevent NCD morbidity, as well as stones unturned in public health policy? Would you agree with individuals such as Pr Allison that in our current environment, the only efficacious interventions are drugs and bariatric surgery? Regards, Gabriel
What's Up With Skinny People?
I'm a naturally skinny guy who helps other naturally skinny guys bulk up. I think it largely comes down to a blunted pleasure response to food, smaller stomachs, and/or higher NEAT. A lot of us seem to be taller and more thinly built, too. But why do you think things are things so different for us? Why is it so hard to gain weight? And what can we do about it?
Quantifying Everything
As an iOS developer, my instinct is to assume determinism and quantifiability of the entire universe. I believe this to be fundamentally true. But what is hypothetically possible differs from what we can realistically know. I worry that attempts like yours to quantify some seemingly qualitative measures are doomed. I have similar concerns about happiness research. How do you reassure yourself you can really construct an algorithm that deciphers the "ideal weight program" for any given user - do you rely on averages?
Patient Information actual model of obesity
Is there a good simple patient information for healthcare professionals that can be handed to a help seeking patient with obesity in first contact, to have a common ground of evidence based knowledge that the professional as well as the patient can start there journey.
Bacteria, obesity, and the brain
In 2018 a poster was presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience titled “The human brain microbiome; there are bacteria in our brains!” which showed bacteria apparently penetrating and inhabiting the cells of healthy human brains. While the work was preliminary, have you heard of any further work in this area? What is your opinion on the possibility that, if bacteria do inhabit the brain, they could play a part in appetite regulation and/or obesity similar to how the gut microbiome can affect our health?
weight periodization
Are there best practices for the maximum duration someone should spend in fat loss or weight gain phases? Or perhaps an optimal ratio of fat loss/weight gain to maintenance phases? For example, should fat loss phases be for a maximum of 12 weeks followed by maintenance of at least equal duration before resuming a fat loss phase?