Food, We Need To Talk

This is an update to our last episode on alcohol. New research has been accumulating suggesting that perhaps even a glass a day of alcohol is not beneficial. For instance, the new Canadian guidelines say that zero alcohol is the safest amount of alcohol. Today, we revisit the topic with Professor Mariann Piano , Senior Associate Dean for Research, Postdoctoral Fellowship Director. Thank you to eve...

If you’ve ever wondered what science has to tell us about being more fulfilled, feeling more joy, and living a good life, this is the episode for you. Today, we talk to happiness researcher and professor Dacher Keltner , from the University of California Berkeley and founding director of the Greater Good Science Center . How much money makes us happy? Is it harder to be happier today than it used...

You’ve seen it on the news, on Tiktok, and on magazine covers. Ozempic is being credited as a magical weight loss solution, allegedly responsible for countless celebrity transformations, and everyone is talking about it. But now, people with diabetes who need the medication are having trouble getting it. What is Ozempic? How does it work? Why does it cause weight loss and is it safe to use? Today,...

Thank you to everyone who has listened, downloaded, rated, or reviewed, your support made this a possibility, and now, a reality. FOOD WE NEED TO TALK: The Science-based, Humor-laced Last Word on Eating, Diet and Making Peace with Your Body | Published by St. Martin’s Press, releasing on July 11, 2023 Preorder at Barnes and Noble before Friday January 27, and use code “PREORDER25” at checkout for...

Is there anything better than a piping hot cup of coffee on a frigid winter day, or the first cold brew of a beautiful summer? For a lot of us… likely not. Coffee is the way we kick off a day, pick up an afternoon, and rehash the work week with a friend on the weekend. Besides saving us an untold amount of cash, is there any health benefit to giving up coffee? Or is it actually making us live long...

A cocktail with your friends, a glass of wine after work, a beer at a barbecue–alcohol is everywhere. Undoubtedly, it’s been an integral part of our society for thousands of years. But when it comes to its effects on our health, results can feel more mixed than your favorite margarita. Is alcohol a “poison,” or maybe, in moderation, is it actually ok, or even good for us? Today, we speak to Profes...

Donuts, cupcakes, lattes, and cookies–sometimes it seems like the best things in life are full of it: the sweet, delicious thing we call sugar. It’s one of the first places we look to when we’re trying to make a “lifestyle change,” and also one of the first places we look to when we need a pick-me-up. Some scientists say that sugar is akin to a poison, giving rise to diseases like diabetes and met...

We’ve all done it: you resolve to… go to the gym, eat healthier, save money. You’re excited and doing great, and then… it’s January 10th and you’re back to grabbing takeout, sitting on your sofa, and thinking, “Eh… I’ve got too much going on right now, next year!” Well what if there was actual research conducted on New Year’s Resolutions and how we can maybe (gasp) actually keep them for once? It...

Today, we interview Professor Dan Lieberman all about why exercise doesn't have to be so stressful or complicated. This is a look at exercise through the anthropological perspective, and why it’s normal to not "feel like it" sometimes. Find out the answers to questions like: Is sitting actually that bad for you? How much do we need to exercise? Is there such a thing as exercising too much, and mor...

The holidays are supposed to be the happiest time of the year, and yet, many people would agree "jingle hell" may be more appropriate than "jingle bell." Delicious treats are everywhere, and yet one wonders, is there such a thing as too many cookies? Family is coming together, including that one uncle who always makes some rude comment about your weight, and a whole smorgasbord of feelings--guilt,...

Weight stigma, or weight-based discrimination, is a form of stigma that is widely accepted and has been rising over the past few decades. People think that being mistreated because of your body shape or weight is deserved because a person's weight is "their fault." Some even think that "fat shaming" is a way to help people "change" and "become healthier." Today, we discuss the detrimental physical...

You may have heard online that calorie restriction, or intermittent fasting, or both combined can actually make us live longer. But what does science have to say about this? Today, we talk to Professor John Speakman about the science of calorie restriction, health, and longevity. Remember to head to our website for our show notes ! Follow us on Instagram @foodweneedtotalk . Find Juna on Instagram...

Today, you've got Q's, we've got A's! What do you do if you don't like resistance training? How do you get back into the gym after a long break? Can you lose weight if you're eating junk food? And how can you get kids to eat healthy without putting certain foods off limits? Join us for this spooky Q&A. Remember to head to our website for our show notes ! Follow us on Instagram @foodweneedtotal...

If you've ever wondered where fat goes when you lose weight, what exactly a calorie is, and what on earth physics has to do with all of it, this is the episode for you! Today, we talk to Ruben Meerman, AKA “the surfing scientist”, about the physiology and the physics of our bodies. What do atoms have to do with calories? What does carbon dioxide have to do with your waistline?! Find out today. Rem...

Chances are you're one of two types of people: you love running, biking, and spin... or you love being at the gym, lifting weights, and HIIT. Whether your goal is weight loss, health, or longevity (or all three), there seems to be a never-ending debate. We know exercise is "good," but should we be doing cardio? Or lifting weights? Or maybe... BOTH? Today's episode is for the cardio bunnies and the...

We spend over a third of our lives asleep, so it must be pretty darn important--but why? What is going on in our brains when we sleep? What makes sleep so crucial for our overall health, and how does it affect our eating, weight, energy, and mood? And perhaps most importantly, how can we improve our sleep? Today, a conversation with Dr. Param Dedhia on all things sleep: circadian rhythms, blue lig...

Back to school season is here, which means late nights, yummy foods, and a LOT of socializing. The Freshman 15 (the weight gain many experience in their freshman year of college) is something we've all heard about, but is there any science behind it? In this episode, we figure out exactly what happens when we go back to school that makes it so hard to keep up our usual health behaviors, and what w...

We answer some questions from YOU, our listeners. In this episode, we cover balancing body positivity and overall health, navigating your relationship to food after having dealt with disordered eating, and... it's back to school season! So how do we maintain good healthy habits, even while we're in school? Remember to head to our website for our show notes: https://www.foodweneedtotalk.com/ And pl...

Having a good relationship with food is complicated. Sure, we should be eating our fruits and veggies, of course we should exercise, but when does this go too far? Is not being able to eat cake at a birthday party truly "healthy?" Today, we talk to Jordan Syatt, a record-holding powerlifter and formerly Gary Vee's personal trainer, about how to develop a healthy relationship even with "unhealthy"...

We usually think of stress as a "bad" thing, something to be avoided–but is stress actually bad for our health? How does stress affect our eating and our food choices? Why do some of us gain weight when we get stressed, while others lose weight? This week, we talk to Professor Daryl O'Connor of University of Leeds all about stress, food, and our waistlines. All shownotes can be found on our websit...

You know those people who have it all together—their eating, their exercise, their work life—all seemingly with no effort? Well, it turns out it's not because they have amazing "self-control" or "will power." It's actually because they have really good habits. In this episode, we speak to Professor Wendy Wood all about how to create new habits, break bad ones, and the power of habit hacking and ha...

From the time of the Victorians to the time of the Kardashians, there's always been a body type that's been "in." The only problem? It's always changing. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Katharina Vester of American University about the origins of body ideals and how they have impacted society and culture over time. Having a six pack used to mean you were broke? Only men were allowed to watch their...

We all have that little voice inside our heads—you know the one: calling you names, criticizing everything you do, just in general being a negative Nancy. Although we may think "tough love" will get us to our goals faster, it turns out it may actually backfire and make it harder to be successful. On this episode, we talk to Dr. Kristin Neff all about the science of self-compassion, and how practic...

When it comes to nutrition, it seems like we disagree about nearly everything: carbs, sugar, fat... even fruit. But, it turns out, there's actually a lot that the entire scientific community agrees on. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Christopher Gardner about nutrition science, what we've gotten wrong, and more importantly, what we've gotten right. It turns out, nutrition may not be as complicated...

We've all heard advice like "take the stairs!" or "park in the furthest spot," but can this stuff actually make a difference? What's the point of movement if it's not leaving you out of breath, dripping in sweat, and sore the next day? This week, we talk to Dr. James Levine about the powerful health (and non-health) benefits of non-exercise. Get ready to bust out the bike desk. Learn about your ad...