Plant Proof - Plant Based Nutrition & Inspirational Stories

In Episode #83, a very good friend of mine, Drew Harrisberg, returned to the show to talk about hidden agendas in science and the media, with specific reference to a few somewhat dangerous trends we have noticed. In this unscripted exchange, Drew and I covered topics including the manipulation of science to produce favourable outcomes and the confusing and oversimplified messages we get from people of influence on social media.   We started by chatting about how Drew’s transition to a plant-based diet has played out since Episode 62. We then went on to discuss some specific studies and claims, such as Dr Mark Hyman’s confusing promotion of an extremely conflicted study on the ‘reversal of diabetes’ and Sarah Wilson’s claims about methane and the impact of animal agriculture on climate change. We also talked about the ‘If It Fits Your Macros’ and ‘calorie deficit’ ideologies and why these are oversimplifications – it is possible to look and feel good at the same time without needing to choose one or the other.

In Episode #82, I return from a small break and record the first ‘solo’ episode of The Proof podcast. Yes, that’s right, the first episode without a guest – just you and me.   In this episode, I explain why I took a short break from the podcast and the new direction for the show. You’ll also hear about my time in Bali and Sydney’s newest plant-based restaurant, Eden Bondi. And I discuss the recent media headlines about vegans needing to be careful about choline deficiency and about vegetarians and stroke risk. For both of these, I walk through what was reported and what the science actually says.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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

In Episode #81, I sat down with Dr Will Bulsiewicz for a second session of answering your gut health questions. All of the topics were suggestions from The Proof community – so firstly, thank you for contributing to this conversation by sending through such important questions. If you’re a regular listener and have tuned into previous episodes with Dr B (#17, #71, and #80), you’ll already know what a wealth of knowledge he is; Dr B is a board-certified gastroenterologist, having completed over 16 years of medical training to become an expert in all things gut health. So he is perfectly positioned to help us navigate tricky gut health questions and clear up some of the confusion.   In this episode, we cover a lot of really interesting gut health topics, such as the effect of the keto diet on the gut; dairy, probiotics, prebiotics (lactose), and gut health; intermittent fasting; prolonged juice or water fasting; breastfeeding and infant gut health, including the role of human oligosaccharides; antibiotics and g

In Episode #80, I sat down with Dr Will Bulsiewicz, or Dr B, to go through some of the most common gut health questions out there! If you have tuned into The Proof podcast before, you’ll have no doubt come across my previous conversations with Dr B – he is incredibly knowledgeable and has a unique ability to break complicated science down and turn it into simple practical tips. If you haven’t listened to the previous episodes with Dr B, I strongly encourage you to check them out – Episode 17 (how to build a healthy gut) and Episode 70 (gut health and quitting a plant-based lifestyle).   With so many bloggers and unqualified people providing advice on gut health these days, it’s refreshing to hear from a gastroenterologist who genuinely understands the science inside out. In this episode, we cover heavy bloating and gut health, how to identify if your gut needs repair, how our mind can affect digestion, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and ‘leaky gut’. We also talked about preparing and seasoning food, juici

In Episode #78, I sat down with Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai for a second episode on brain health (both were previously guests on Episode #65). I cannot even begin to describe how brilliant these guys are. In this information-packed, 2-hour episode, we talk about creating an environment to help kids flourish, the importance of sleep for brain health, tips for optimising sleep, why it’s important to be able to hyperfocus, how to improve focus, removing inhibitions and the practice of ‘fearless’ living, what we should be eating, and much more.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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 Hill  Author of The Proo

In Episode #77, I sat down with Rip Esselstyn to talk about his journey as a PLANTSTRONG athlete, health activist, and author. Rip is well known for The Engine 2 Diet, a book he authored in 2009 on a whole-food, plant-based diet, which was inspired by his father’s work (Dr Caldwell Esselstyn Jr) and his time as a firefighter. If you are looking for inspiration from someone who has been a long-term whole-food, plant-based athlete, then look no further than Rip – in fact, just this weekend at age 56, he set another world record in the 200m backstroke!   In this episode, Rip shared the inspiration that led him to change his diet in 1987, his experiences as a swimmer, triathlete, and firefighter, the inspiration behind the Engine 2 Diet, what his kids eat, and much more.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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 su

In Episode #76, I sat down with a good friend of mine and plant-based, pro bodybuilder, Nimai Delgado. In this episode, we chat about some of the more common concerns and barriers that stop people from adopting a plant-based diet.    Some of the topics we cover are nutrient deficiencies, carbohydrates and body fat, sugar and diabetes, soy foods and oestrogen, taste buds, giving up cheese, food for brain health, eating enough calories, gaining muscle with a plant-based diet, and much more.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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 Hill  Author of The Proof is in the Plants  Watch the episodes on YouTube, or

In Episode #75, I sat down with Dr Caldwell Esselsytn Jr, or Essy, to chat about his journey in medicine and the specific findings from his clinical trials on preventing cardiovascular disease. It was a great pleasure to join Essy at his home in Cleveland with his wife Ann – they welcomed me with open arms and a delicious lunch. I am very grateful that I was able to spend this time with them and even more grateful to have been able to record Essy’s wisdom to share with you. Huge thanks to Ann – you are an absolute joy to be around and the food you prepared was incredible.   Listen to find out about Essy’s clinical trials on patients with end-stage cardiovascular disease and how to prevent cardiovascular disease with nutrition. We also discussed the bigger picture and the future of healthcare – how it’s moving from a model of disease management to disease prevention. One of the pioneers of lifestyle medicine, Essy is an absolute wealth of knowledge. If you know ANYONE with cardiovascular disease (a history of

In Episode #74, I sat down with Robby and Cyrus from Mastering Diabetes to chat about diabetes (type 1, 1a, pre-, and type 2) and the role that nutrition plays in insulin resistance. We go through the body of scientific literature and explain what causes insulin resistance and how to actually reverse it. We talked about the difference between low-carb, ketogenic-type diets and high-carb, low-fat diets for insulin resistance, and what truly reversing insulin resistance actually means – specifically the difference between reversing insulin resistance and managing blood glucose control.   Strap yourselves in – this is a long one (2.5 hours). But I guarantee that by the end of it you will have learned so much about diabetes and will finally understand the mechanism that causes insulin resistance, how to reverse it, and how to improve health outcomes. This understanding is important not only for people with diabetes but also for anyone looking to better their health, particularly anyone who is overweight (millions

In Episode #73, I sat down with Brian Turner (aka Brock Lee) to talk about his experience with acne. We delve into the reasons why he is grateful to acne, how his acne improved with dietary changes, bullying, body building, eating a pound of tofu a day for a month, and so much more. I’ve got to say, I have a real soft spot for Brian, and there’s a fair chance that after this episode you will too. His energy is contagious, and he really is an absolute breath of fresh air, bringing light moments to an often very dark and negative conversation to spread his message of compassion for all.   Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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 T

In Episode #72, I sat down with plant-based yogi Sjana Earp to chat about yoga, healing, transformation, and living with purpose. This is a different exchange to the more scientific episodes on this show, yet equally as informative and thought provoking in its own unique way.   Sjana shares her struggles with mental health – bullying, anxiety, and depression – and her strategies for overcoming negative feelings. We also discussed what yoga means to her, her relationship with food, and why she transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle. We cover a lot of topics in this conversation, including social media, what purpose is, breaking the stigma associated with mental health issues, and sustainability and looking after our planet.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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 Podca

In Episode #71, I sat down with one of the pioneers of lifestyle medicine, Dr Dean Ornish. Dr Ornish is best known for the randomised controlled trial ‘the Lifestyle Heart Trial’, where he was able to demonstrate that cardiovascular disease could not only be halted in its tracks but, in many cases, actually be reversed. In this exchange, we talked about why we see such a high rate of chronic disease in Western populations and the steps that you can take to genuinely take control of your health.   We discussed the Lifestyle Heart Trial and what we can learn from the intervention and results, as well as what’s causing cardiovascular disease in the first place and why some people refute the findings that associate saturated fat and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with cardiovascular disease. Dr Ornish also shares his thoughts on the Atkins, keto, and paleo diets and what various approaches fail to address when it comes to healthy eating habits. You’ll also find out what he uses clinically and believes

In Episode #70, I sat down with gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz to talk about those who’ve quit their plant-based lifestyles and the gut-health issues they have described. This episode was inspired by a number of plant-based influencers who bailed on plant-based eating recently and reintroduced animal products back into their diet. I listened to all of their stories and noted many similar patterns, including that none of them were qualified in medicine, nutrition, or dietetics, and that many people in the comments were second-guessing their own diets. I don’t think everyone needs a degree to talk about a subject; however, we need to be careful how certain information is shared and who we, as individuals, go to for qualified information. So with that in mind, I thought it was really important for me to get a world-leading gastroenterologist on the show to make sense of what’s going on here.   The case study we discuss in this episode is 100% hypothetical. It’s the typical journey spoken about by these in

In Episode #69, I sat down with Red Bull athlete Patrick Seabase, who cycles over mountain passes involving gruelling climbs and steep descents on a bike that has one gear and no brakes, often reaching speeds close to 100 km/hr (62 mph). Yes – mind blowing! This is the first time Patrick has told his story on a podcast, so I was very honoured to have him on the show and am incredibly grateful to have this platform to share our conversation with you.   In this episode, we covered Patrick’s early years, being kicked out of home, and how he discovered his passion for cycling. He shares the type of bike he rides, what’s unique about it, and the concentration required to ride this bike and finding the ‘flow state’. We also talked about how his diet has changed over the years and why he was inspired to remove animal products from his plate.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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

In Episode #68, I sat down with gastroenterologist Dr Sarina Pasricha to break down irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an incredibly common condition that approximately 10–20% of adults suffer from.   Specifically, we cover the different types of IBS, how they present clinically, and how they’re diagnosed. Dr Pasricha also discusses the difference between healing and managing symptoms and shares her evidence-based approach for reducing IBS symptoms and the results she’s seen clinically. Of course, we talk about the low FODMAP diet, how it’s used incorrectly, and why it’s not Dr Pasricha’s first line of treatment for patients with IBS.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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,

In Episode #66, I sat down with Adam Sud, a tremendously brave young man who turned his life around from the lowest of lows by discovering his ‘true why’ and mastering the practice of self-love. From disordered eating and being overweight to rehabilitation, recovery, and self-love, he’s been on a remarkable journey.   Adam’s story is tremendously powerful, and one that I feel incredibly privileged to be able to share with you. Today, Adam is helping save people’s lives across the world through his work with Whole Foods Market, his public speaking, his role as a diabetes and food addiction coach, and his upcoming clinical trial, the INFINITE Study – exploring the effects of a nutrient-dense diet and nutrition education in early addiction recovery. I have no doubt in my mind that by the end of this conversation you are going to absolutely fall in love with Adam; it’s impossible not to. I am incredibly grateful to call him a friend.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want to support the show?  The best way to support t

In Episode #65, I sat down with Drs Ayesha and Dean Sherzai, or Team Sherzai, who are neurologists from California. They are experts in the prevention of neurological degenerative disorders and authors of the well-known book The Alzheimer’s Solution.   In this conversation, we discussed why talking about lifestyle and degenerative neurological conditions is so important, what the science tells us about degenerative neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and the underlying mechanisms and physiological risk factors that contribute to the development of these conditions. Dean and Ayesha shared the science they’re publishing and the work they’re doing at a community level, as well as the foods we should eat to reduce the chances of developing these conditions. To hear more from Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, check out episodes #78, #97, #117, #126, #188, and #226.   Enjoy, friends.   Simon. Want to support the show?  The best way to support the show is to use the products and ser

In Episode #64, I sat down with Kieran De Visser, founder of the not-for-profit organisation Endurothon Oz, which aims to stop plastic pollution at its source. Kieran will be cycling, kayaking, and running 25,000 km across Australia to raise awareness for this campaign and raise $1 million to clean our oceans. What a goal that is!   What I find really interesting about Kieran’s story is not only his desire to help the planet, but the fact that the source of his inspiration came from a time in his life where he could have easily put his own best interests first. Listen to the episode to find out about Kieran’s backstory, how he became inspired to raise awareness about plastic pollution, and a whole lot more. I love celebrating stories of young people doing inspirational things to help better our home – and that’s what this episode is all about.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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,

In Episode #63, I sat down with Australian athlete, media personality, podcaster, and health advocate Katie Williams to chat about social media and controlling our environment to stay present, live in reality, and essentially optimise our life for happiness.   As well as discussing Katie’s own experiences with social media and how she creates boundaries and healthy habits, we also discuss big topics and questions – such as whether social media is an addiction, impressionable age groups and social media, and the pros and cons of social media. I hope you enjoy this episode, friends. It’s a little different to previous ones, but so relevant to the world that we find ourselves in.    Enjoy, friends.   Simon Want 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 wi

In Episode #62, I sat down with exercise physiologist, and lover of all things health and wellness, Drew Harrisberg. We discussed Drew’s journey with type 1 diabetes and how various dietary frameworks – paleo, keto, and low-fat, plant-based diets – have affected his blood sugar, insulin requirements, and overall well-being.   Among many other things, we discussed why sugar shouldn’t be blamed for type 2 diabetes, myths and misconceptions about the keto diet, and the importance of keeping healthy carbohydrates like unrefined grains and legumes in the diet. This episode is for absolutely everyone, not just folks with diabetes. Drew is a wealth of knowledge and, through his regular blood-glucose monitoring, has so much objective insight into how food affects our bodies at the cellular level each and every day. Above all, he’s a super honest and articulate fella who just wants to help people realise true health. For more insights and reflections, visit The Proof website for the full show notes.    Enjoy, friends