The Proof with Simon Hill

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...

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...

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...

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)...

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 longev...

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...

Episode #235. Cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong shares a different approach to skincare – one you're probably not used to seeing on your Instagram feed. In an age of extensive skincare routines and misleading marketing, how do we navigate our skin’s natural state and optimise its appearance and wellness? We cover this question and many more in this week’s episode. Specifically, we discuss: Intro (0:0...

Episode #234. We all know that sunscreen is important, but what are the consequences of using (or not using) certain products? Cosmetic chemist Dr Michelle Wong joins me to examine sun damage and aging, chemical vs mineral sunscreens, “reef safe” sunscreens, and scary-sounding ingredients. Learn all you need to know about choosing and applying a sunscreen to offer you the best protection of your l...

Episode #233. Dive deeper into how saturated fats and sugar affect metabolism and the liver in this conversation with Dr Richard Johnson. The Proof community had many questions after Dr Johnson’s appearance on Episode #215, and we return today to answer them: What does human outcome data say? What are the risks of the keto diet and high blood sugar? Do our opinions align? We answer these questions...

Episode #232. Time-restricted eating seems like a holy grail for those looking to lose weight and improve their health. Dr Peterson joins me in this episode to answer some pressing questions on TRE: does it help you lose weight and shred fat? Will it curb my appetite? What times should shift workers eat? These questions and much more are covered in Episode #232. We discuss: Intro (0:00) New Study:...

In Episode #231, I sit down with Dr Alan Flanagan and Danny Lennon to examine cholesterol, statins, the ketogenic diet, and longevity. Dr Alan Flanagan and Danny Lennon address whether cholesterol matters if you’re metabolically healthy, why our veins don’t get atherosclerosis, and why our body makes cholesterol if it’s “bad for us”. They also offer advice on dietary adjustments you can make regar...

In Episode #230, I’m joined by ecologist Nicholas Carter to examine the role of dairy and other animal foods on the environment. We discuss the implications of our food choices, detailing the impact of dairy specifically. Nicholas Carter breaks down the ways we measure environmental impact, and the strengths and shortfalls of these systems. We also cover “carbon neutral” dairy, regenerative grazin...

In Episode #229, I’m joined by Paul Taylor to discuss how to exercise to live better for longer. We cover the importance of intermittent stressors, the relative impact of nutrition and exercise, and the significance of biological evolution in health. Paul also breaks down exactly how to build an exercise regimen, with considerations for age and gender. Over the past month, The Proof has increasing...

In Episode #228, I sit down with Dr Stuart Phillips and Dr Christopher Gardner for a discourse on how much protein we really need. We discuss nitrogen balance, lack of protein vs lack of exercise, and protein restriction. We also cover protein quality, satiety, and environmental considerations. Recommended daily intake (RDA) is a key factor in this conversation, with discussion points including it...

In Episode #227, I sit down with Alan Flanagan, PhD and Drew Harrisberg to discuss the carnivore diet and veganism, assessing many of the popular claims made by health and nutrition “influencers”. We discuss Big Pharma, social media censorship, and vegan protein intake. We also zoom in on the ethics of veganism, spotting a legitimate academic, and why socioeconomic and environmental factors impact...

In Episode #226, I’m joined by Drs Ayesha and Dean Sherzai to examine how exercise impacts brain health. We focus on two main considerations: what we know about the relationship between exercise and cognition, and how we can explain this relationship from an evolutionary lens. We discuss how movement impacts cognition, engaging your brain while exercising, and aging and brain health. We also cover...

In Episode #225 I sit down with Alan Flanagan, PhD to discuss the health implications of consuming dairy. We have a broader conversation about misinformation and public health before specifically examining the health outcomes of dairy consumption. We also cover whether you can trust industry-funded studies, the representation of dairy on social media, and how much information we actually have. Mis...

In Episode #224, I sit down with Dr Tim Spector to address the significance of eating for your specific biology. We discuss research on twins, exploring nature versus nurture; the role of the microbiome in health outcomes; and whether conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes are genetic. Dr Spector also offers advice on adapting your diet to your specific needs. When we place so much focus o...

In Episode #223, Drew Harrisberg and I sit down to discuss how to optimise your exercise. Drew provides a detailed outline of how to develop an exercise program, working around different time constraints. We recap past episodes with Dr Richard Johnson and Professor Kieran Rooney, sharing our thoughts on these conversations. We also cover my recent Bali retreat, HIIT training and VO2 max, resistant...

In Episode #222, I’m joined by Drew Harrisberg and Kieron Rooney, PhD to discuss how the biochemistry of exercise can impact your health. We cover a wide range of topics, including mitochondria efficiency, metabolic flexibility, and fat adaptation. Dr Rooney also offers training advice, and his thoughts on a ketogenic diet. Evidence continuously shows us that the multitude of factors contributing...

In Episode #221, I sit down with Dr Satchin Panda to continue The Proof’s conversation on time restricted eating. We discuss circadian rhythms, circadian disruption, and health impacts. We also cover TRE in the context of circadian biology, blood glucose, and calorie restriction. Dr Panda offers his advice on the optimal TRE lifestyle. Time-restricted eating (TRE) has caused a stir on social media...

In Episode #220, Dr MeiLan Han joins me to discuss the lungs and respiratory system. Despite being an incredibly important factor of our overall health, the respiratory system is often overlooked. Most people’s knowledge is surface level, and we aren’t educated on the importance of the lungs or how to best support respiratory health. Dr MeiLan Han joins me in this episode to explain what the respi...

In Episode #219, I sit down with Layne Norton, PhD to answer one very topical question: does insulin make us fat? Welcome to the first bite-sized episode of The Proof. In these short conversations, I am joined by a guest to tackle a single topic in a brief, digestible time frame. In this episode, Layne Norton, PhD addresses recent online claims by Ben Bikman, PhD. Dr Bikman claims that if we keep...

In Episode #218, I’m joined by entrepreneur Arturo Elizondo to discuss the future of egg production. Ground-breaking changes are happening in our food industry every single day. While animal agriculture continues to grow, there is an increasing field of innovation seeking sustainable, ethical alternatives to the foods most people consume daily. Arturo Elizondo joins me today to pull back the curta...

In Episode #217, I sit down with dietician Ginny Messina to address common nutrition myths about the vegan diet. With an abundance of nutrition “information” presented to us any time we use social media, it becomes difficult to identify whether a claim is fact or fiction. Misinformation is a common issue across all patterns of eating — including a plant-based diet — and understanding the full pict...