Thinking Nutrition
Episodes
How berries help build a better brain
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best guides to food variety is colour. And for colour, there’s a group of natural plant chemicals called anthocyanins that are getting a ...
Pickle juice for muscle cramps: effective remedy or sports myth?
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever been stopped dead in your tracks during exercise by a muscle cramp, you know you’ll try almost anything to make it stop. There have...
Mushroom power: can fungi give athletes an edge?
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Athletes are always on the lookout for a new sports supplement that could give them an edge. And there certainly are some sports supplements that deli...
Beet that: why athletes are turning to beetroot juice
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If hearing that athletes are downing shots of beetroot juice to improve their performance makes you exclaim: “What sorcery is this?”, you’re not...
Spice science: exploring cinnamon’s role in blood sugar control
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cinnamon is a spice that has been used around the world for thousands of years. In addition to its use as a culinary ingredient, cinnamon contains bio...
Powering cellular energy and healthy ageing: behind the hype of NAD, NMN and NR supplements
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard any of the buzz about NAD supplements? NAD is a molecule found in nearly every cell and sits at the heart of energy production and DNA ...
Beyond exercise: creatine’s growing role in brain, bone and women’s health
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Creatine is one of the most well-researched and effective sports nutrition supplements for improving exercise performance. But that isn’t what I’m...
Plant-based protein: can it match animal protein for athletic performance?
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adopting a plant-based diet is a trend that continues to grow in popularity. However, for people focused on muscle growth and strength due to their at...
From gut to glucose: the potential of probiotics in diabetes care
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterised by high blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production. It&apos...
From FODMAPs to fibre: navigating dietary treatments for IBS
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal issue marked by abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. This chronic conditi...
Strength in ageing: the role of protein and resistance training
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re all getting older and living longer lives than ever before. But as we age, we are faced with a higher risk of nutritional frailty. This is mar...
Maximising muscle gains with creatine: how well does it work?
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Creatine is one of the most well-researched and effective sports nutrition supplements for improving exercise performance. So it is no surprise that i...
Is hydrogen water healthy or a hoax?
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Heard about hydrogen water? It is regular water that has extra hydrogen infused in it and it’s one of the latest health trends with proponents claim...
Maximising muscle: the role of protein type and timing
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No one nutrient gets greater focus in the sports and performance world than protein – and for good reason. Protein builds and powers our muscles and...
Can probiotics help fight age-related muscle loss?
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some aspects of ageing may be inevitable, but when it happens together with an accelerated loss of weight, muscle mass and strength it makes an older ...
Arthritis relief: can collagen supplements help?
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Interest in collagen supplements continues to grow – and for good reason. That’s because despite rubbish claims that are way off the mark that the...
Are probiotics effective in IBS?
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. With no single identified trigger or treatment, IBS can be a minefield...
Maternal probiotics and their effect on infant health
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The establishment and development of the microbiome in the early stages of life can play a pivotal role in affecting our health throughout life. The f...
Can the humble cranberry reduce the risk of UTIs?
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common with women about 30 times more likely to develop one than men. The bacterial infection of a UTI can cause p...
Tendon troubles: can collagen supplements help with tendon repair?
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tendons play a vital part in helping us move. They are a collagen-infused super-strong bridge that connects muscles to bones allowing you to move your...
Lemon water: is it worth the squeeze or just sour hype?
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you want to lose weight, boost your metabolism, improve your digestion, detox your body, and have glowing skin all while keeping your body nicely a...
The lectin lowdown: time to counter the fear campaign about these plant proteins
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in the potential negative health effects of lectins. What are lectins? They’re a type of protein...
Exercise recovery: the role of protein in post-workout muscle soreness and damage
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It is something that all regular and not-so-regular exercisers have experienced: muscle pain and soreness in the days following a particularly hard tr...
Olive oil: a true ‘essential oil’
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Olive oil is a core staple in a Mediterranean-style diet. And it is for good reasons that it takes a central place as a ‘go to’ salad and cooking ...
Enough of the ‘seed oils are toxic’ rubbish
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re active on social media in the health and nutrition space, it’s very likely you’ve seen health advice over the last few years warning y...
Nightshade vegetables: friend or foe for your health?
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nightshades are a group of plants that belong to the Solanaceae family. They include some very commonly eaten foods such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplan...
Can probiotics or prebiotics prevent or treat respiratory tract infections?
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From the common cold right through to the flu, it is something most people are faced with many times over in their life. And all of us could do with l...
Foods and fertility: how dietary patterns can influence fertility
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What we eat is increasingly recognised as an important element in influencing fertility. With almost one in six couples experiencing fertility problem...
This is your brain on food porn (and how it can promote healthier eating)
14 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Food porn is all about posting and engaging with photos of desirable and stylised food on social media. And those digital images can do real things to...
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): what role does diet play?
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term that describes chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s disease an...
Keto for athletes: its effect on performance and body composition
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, carbohydrates have been at the centre of sports nutrition guidelines to help maximise physical performance and maintain muscle glycogen l...
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): can nutrition supplements slow its progression?
19 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50. AMD is a progressive disease seen as damage t...
Can probiotics help treat eczema in adults?
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Eczema is a general term for rash-like skin conditions with atopic dermatitis being the most common form. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory ...
Intermittent fasting: an update on the weight and metabolic health benefits
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It was my second ever podcast episode released way back in February of 2020, but it has proven to be the most popular. It was titled The User’s Guid...
‘Eat the rainbow’ really is good health advice
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Advice to ‘eat the rainbow’ has been circulating in the nutrition sphere for some time. And no, it is not a call to action to get more Skittles in...
Turning up the heat on chillies and their health benefits
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If variety is the spice of life, then for some, a hot chilli dish is the ultimate way to add spice to life. But outside of the Mexican fiesta party ha...
Will BCAAs give you the muscle gainz?
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are a popular sports supplement with bodybuilders and athletes. But you don’t need to look for them in a bottle a...
How the Mediterranean diet benefits mental health
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Counselling and medication gain most of the treatment attention for depression, but the promise of dietary changes to help to improve the outlook of p...
How beetroot juice lowers blood pressure and improves sports performance
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nitrates are inorganic compounds found in many vegetables such as spinach, celery, radishes, and lettuce, but beetroot is one of the highest sources. ...
Managing IBS with the low-FODMAP diet and probiotics
30 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. With no one single identified trigger or treatment, IBS can be a...
Will magnesium help you sleep better?
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Magnesium is a key mineral that is essential for muscle contractions and nerve transmission while also keeping your heart beating steadily and your im...
Caffeine and resistance exercise: how much do you need?
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Caffeine is a popular go-to supplement for many athletes. And for good reason. Not only is it the key component of one of the world’s most widely us...
Go nuts for nuts: why they’re great for your heart and weight
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Eating nuts as part of a healthy diet is good for your heart. They’re also a super nutritious snack for any time of the day. But, what about all tha...
Nutrient wins and losses on a plant-based diet
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Plant-based eating is on-trend and has been for some time. Fuelled by health, environmental and ethical personal choices, we are seeing more people th...
Focussing on eating healthier is better than trying to eat less
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With no end of diets to choose from, it is clear they collectively make little long-term impact on body weight with most people regaining any weight l...
Want a healthy heart? Eat more of these flavonoid foods
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Heard about flavonoids? They are just one group from a long list of beneficial natural polyphenol chemicals you’ll find in plant foods. While the ch...
Nut allergies: causes, consequences and emerging treatments
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nut allergies are one of the most common types of food allergy seen in children and adults. Caused when the body’s immune system overreacts to prote...
How probiotics can help people with bowel cancer
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bowel cancer (also called colorectal or colon cancer) is the second biggest killer of Australians from cancer each year. This is one form of cancer wh...
The weird way that body posture changes taste
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up, kids are told to sit down at the table when they’re eating. Far from just being about good manners, science is now discovering how stand...
Is a keto diet effective for strength training?
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ketogenic diets have gained popularity in recent years among athletes. While these diets are just as effective for weight loss as any other diet that ...
Alcohol facts and fallacies
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Can you cure a hangover? Do drinks with bubbles get you drunk quicker? Are darker drinks worse for you than clear drinks? Is there really such a thing...
Can curcumin help with PCOS?
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Curcumin is the bioactive ingredient found in the popular spice turmeric. Medical science is backing up many of the traditional health claims made abo...
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO): symptoms, causes and treatment
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition where there is an abnormal increase in the number of bacteria in the small intestine – e...
Why bitter foods are better for you
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us describe ourselves as having a sweet tooth. But science is now unlocking the secrets of why having a well-developed taste and tolerance to ...
Cutting back on sugar? Here’s why fruit should stay on the menu
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With all the recent health focus on sugar, poor old fruit has gotten undeserved attention for the simple reason that it is high in sugar. And from tha...
Episode rewind: Inflammation – the good, the bad and the ugly
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Inflammation is now getting top billing as the latest health concern you should be worrying about. From avoiding so-called inflammatory foods to eatin...
Episode rewind: Is it better to exercise fasted or fed?
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To exercise fasted or fed? It’s a controversial topic with strong views coming from both camps. For those promoting weight loss, exercising fasted i...
Inflammatory bowel disease: the latest nutrition research for helping to manage it
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders that cause painful and chronic inflammation to the digestive tract with Crohn’s disease and...
What sorcery is this? How carbohydrate mouth rinses improve sports performance
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Taking on carbohydrates during exercise is a well-described way to help fuel muscle and endurance. But the research in this area took a decidedly stra...
Collagen supplements: an update on the evidence for health benefits
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It was back in episode 55 that I first tackled the topic of collagen supplements. It proved to be one of my most popular episodes ever. And for good r...
Blue is the new black: berries, anthocyanins and your brain health
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best guides to food variety is colour. And for colour, it is a group of natural plant chemicals called anthocyanins that are getting a lot ...
Weight loss supplements: how hype triumphs over substance
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Weight loss supplements are big business. Fat burners, fat blockers, metabolism boosters, appetite suppressants – these are just some of the popular...
Are chromium supplements helpful for people with diabetes?
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chromium is an essential trace mineral that is most closely tied to helping insulin work to lower glucose levels. That means you will often see it as ...
Can you really ‘boost your metabolism’?
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
All manner of diet and exercise hacks are claimed to ‘boost your metabolism’, but what, if anything are they really doing to your body? In this po...
Can you be addicted to food?
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sugar addiction. Carb addiction. Junk food addiction. It seems we’re in the middle of a food addiction epidemic. But everyone is addicted to food to...
How the MIND diet keeps the mind sharp
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If there was a particular way of eating that could give you the best chance possible of keeping your mind healthy and sharp into older age, would you ...
Let food be thy sunscreen
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You are what you eat. This is more than a trite phrase, as this mantra may have some direct relevance to the area of skin protection from UV sun damag...
Plant vs animal protein for the muscle gainz
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Going ‘all in’ on plant foods is a trend that is showing no signs of slowing down. But for those who are all about the muscle gainz for their spor...
Turmeric: super spice or super overhyped?
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Turmeric has been used in traditional Asian cultures for thousands of years as both a spice for cooking and for medicinal uses. Now medical science is...
Is adrenal fatigue a thing?
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you tired and worn out all the time? Are you always feeling tense and anxious? Do you crave salty foods? Then you could have adrenal fatigue. Well...
Why I do this podcast
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For this week’s podcast, it’s a break in the normal episode format. Instead, this episode is a bit of self-reflection where I’ll answer many of ...
‘Feed a cold, starve a fever’: fact or fiction?
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve probably heard the popular advice to ‘feed a cold, starve a fever’ many times over when you’ve come down with a cold or the flu. But is...
Episode rewind: Protein supplements
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The protein powder supplement market is big business. Popular in the world of sport where muscle growth is a priority, the marketplace is dominated by...
Episode rewind: Collagen supplements
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Collagen supplements are big business. And is it any wonder when they are touted as the elixir for youthful and glowing skin. With plenty of A-list ce...
Are tart cherries the Holy Grail of exercise recovery supplements?
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tart cherries, also known as Montmorency cherries or sour cherries, are growing in popularity as a favourite sports supplement over the last couple of...
Sports drinks: a user’s guide
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Keeping hydrated is important for optimal sports performance. And for decades we’ve had that area covered by sports drinks. But are sports drinks re...
Lactose intolerance: symptoms, diagnosis and treatments
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lactose intolerance is the most common food intolerance in the world. Rare in infants because they can easily digest lactose in breastmilk, its incide...
Nutrition for healthy ageing: fighting sarcopenia and inflammageing
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With a rapidly ageing population worldwide, more adults than ever are becoming at risk of nutritional frailty. Older age is a time when specific nutri...
Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease: what role for diet?
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our thyroid gland plays a major role in the metabolism, growth and development of the human body. So when things go wrong with your thyroid gland, it ...
Can keto cure cancer?
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to earlier detection and much better treatment options, cancer today is more survivable than ever. But we are still a long way from curing canc...
Is it safe to drink coffee during pregnancy?
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coffee is one of the most popular and safest stimulants that we consume. But during pregnancy, and potentially even when planning a pregnancy, it is o...
Can micronutrient supplements prevent or treat respiratory tract infections?
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coughing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, fatigue. The classic collection of symptoms synonymous with an acute respiratory tract infection. From ...
Inflammation: the good, the bad and the ugly
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Inflammation is now getting top billing as the latest health concern you should be worrying about. From avoiding so-called inflammatory foods to eatin...
Apple cider vinegar: superfood or super scam?
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Move aside coconut oil, your time in the superfood spotlight has passed. Today it is apple cider vinegar, the latest all-natural, all wholesome, all s...
Improving cancer survival with diet and lifestyle choices
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Eating well and positive lifestyle choices are an important part of reducing a person’s risk of cancer. But when it comes to food choices for people...
Lifestyle keys to cutting cancer risk
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A person’s risk of cancer can be significantly lessened by simple and fairly obvious nutrition and lifestyle changes. In this podcast, I’ll explor...
The carnivore diet raises the middle finger to the plant-based trend
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Want to eat the exact opposite of plant-based? Then the carnivore diet has you covered. A diet that consists entirely of animal foods and zero carbs a...
Calcium: foods, functions and supplemental forms
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and it’s not just there for making healthy bones. Calcium is needed to move muscles, send nerve sig...
Collagen supplements: legit or Insta influencer fairy dust?
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Collagen supplements are big business. And is it any wonder when they are touted as the elixir for youthful and glowing skin. With plenty of A-list ce...
Alkaline diets: the antithesis of how human physiology works
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What if I told you that all it takes to lose weight, boost energy and prevent diseases like arthritis, osteoporosis and cancer was to eat the right fo...
Coeliac disease, gluten sensitivity and the rise of gluten-free diets
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coeliac disease affects less than 1 percent of the population, yet, despite its relative rarity, there has been an explosion in the adoption of a glut...
The rise of meatless meat
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There was a time when plant-based meat substitutes were the exclusive domain of vegetarians and vegans. Now the food science technology behind these p...
How do the plant-based milks stack up?
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gone are the days when cow’s milk was the only choice at the supermarket. There has been an explosion in recent years of plant-based non-dairy alter...
2020's most popular: what makes nutrition so confusing?
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to be less confused about just how to make sense of conflicting nutrition messages that you hear about each day then you’ve come to the ...
2020's most popular: coffee and its surprising health benefits
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coffee. For some, it is deserving of its own essential food group. But is coffee more than just a way to achieve functioning human capacity first thin...
2020's most popular: intermittent fasting
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Intermittent fasting is currently one of the world's most popular health trends. Characterised by alternating periods of food absence followed by...
2020's most popular: food, mood and mental health
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You are what you eat, but when it comes to your mental health, what you eat can have a profound impact on your mood and how you feel. Welcome to the r...
A Christmas Carol of vitamin D deficiency
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the end of 2020 approaches, I thought I’d bring in a Christmas theme, but of course, one with a nutritionally based message. And what better way ...
More nutrition myth busting
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Does sugar really make kids hyperactive? Is fresh fruit and veg better than frozen? And does coffee actually make you dehydrated? The answer to all of...
Folate: more than a pregnancy vitamin
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Folate is a vitamin important in growth and development. Everyone needs folate, but it is especially important for women to get enough of it during th...