ZOE Science & Nutrition

Episoder

• Most replayed moment: The Impact of Ultra-Processed Food on Young People | Dr Andy Chan 02.06.2026 16min

  Today we’re exploring the impact of ultra-processed foods on young people. One of the big reasons ultra-processed foods have become so widespread is convenience. They offer quick, easy meals for people short on time - and few groups are more time-pressed than parents trying to feed young children. But does this convenience come at a cost? I’m joined by Harvard professor Dr Andy Chan, whose research is helping us understand how early exposure to ultra-processed food can shape future health. 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30+ Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here Listen to the full episode here
• Why you can't stop eating: The science of cravings, food addiction and 5 ways to regain control | Michael Pollan & Prof Tim Spector 28.05.2026 52min

  If you feel like you can’t stop eating, constantly crave junk food, or struggle with overeating, this episode will change how you see food.  Michael Pollan, one of the world's most influential science writers, joins Professor Tim Spector to explain how ultra-processed food may drive food addiction, override fullness signals, and keep us craving more. Together, they explore why foods high in sugar, salt, and fat can feel so hard to resist, and what we can do to fight back. Michael and Tim unpack how the modern food system changed over the last 50 years, and why many ultra-processed foods are designed around “craveability.” They explain how these foods may stimulate the brain’s reward systems, why fibre and plants help us feel fuller, and why cooking more meals at home may help reduce overeating without calorie counting. The episode includes practical ways to regain control of your eating habits, reduce cravings, feel better and live more healthy years. If your cravings feel impossible to control, is it really a lack of willpower, or is modern food engineered to keep us coming back for more? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 04:04 How monoculture changed modern food 08:52 Are we basically made of corn? 12:58 The 3 ingredients engineered to drive cravings 14:32 Why ultra-processed food keeps you hungry 15:44 Why governments subsidize junk food 18:01 How fast food changed family cooking 20:00 Is ultra-processed food destroying family meals? 21:46 What happens when you stop eating plants? 22:55 Your gut microbes are eating too 25:31 Caffeine and the world’s most used drug 26:26 Michael Pollan quits caffeine for 3 months 28:35 Is caffeine addiction actually harmful? 29:11 Coffee and heart disease risk explained 32:34 Why workplaces normalized caffeine 33:40 The simplest way to stop overeating 35:30 Did food companies convince us cooking is hard? 37:02 How to identify ultra-processed food 38:25 Michael Pollan’s famous food rule explained 40:14 Why “plant-based” doesn’t always mean healthy 42:46 The Japanese habit that may reduce overeating 44:24 How food companies engineer craveability 45:25 Are food companies manipulating your cravings? 46:41 Why eating 30 plants a week matters 47:36 Eat food, not too much, mostly plants
• Most replayed moment: Which Wellness Trends Are Worth Your Time? | Liz Earle & Dr Federica Amati 26.05.2026 14min

  Today we’re talking about wellness trends. Social media has supercharged the wellness world, with new trends popping up and spreading faster than ever. It feels like we’re constantly being sold the next must-have product - each one a guaranteed route to better health that you simply can’t live without. But how many of these trends are actually backed by science? And could some of them actually be doing more harm than good? I’m joined by wellness expert Liz Earle and nutritional scientist Dr Federica Amati to separate evidence from exaggeration. From red light therapy to cow fat, they’ll reveal which trends are worth your time - and which are best left behind. 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30+ Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here Listen to the full episode here
• 10 million deaths predicted but science is fighting back! The secret gut viruses that attack cancer, fight infection and slow aging | Prof Martha Clokie & Prof Tim Spector 21.05.2026 56min

  10 million deaths a year.  That is how many people are predicted to die from antibiotic-resistant infections if we do not find new treatments. In today’s episode, Professor Martha Clokie and Professor Tim Spector explore the secret gut viruses, known as phages, being studied to fight deadly infection, target cancer cells, and to protect your gut microbiome.  Martha is a world-leading expert on the mysterious phage and, for the last 20 years, has pioneered research to revolutionise the treatment of infections without antibiotics. She explains why antibiotic resistance is a growing global threat, why everyday infections are becoming harder to treat, and how some bacteria are now resistant to every antibiotic available. We explore how the viruses in our gut may help solve this problem, and how scientists may one day use them to deliver highly targeted cancer treatment. By the end of the episode, you’ll have some ideas to help support a healthier gut ecosystem and understand how to increase the number of friendly gut viruses that live inside you. The science is still early, but the message is clear: the small choices we make every day are shaping our long-term resilience to disease. If viruses can help protect us from infection rather than cause it, how much of human health are we only just beginning to understand? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 01:34 The gut viruses scientists say we need to survive 03:19 There are more gut viruses than stars in the universe 10:50 The billion-year war happening inside your gut 13:10 The hidden system controlling your microbiome 14:42 What healthy microbiomes have that unhealthy guts lose 16:33 The gut viruses that may protect you from infection 17:38 Why your immune system allows trillions of viruses to live inside you 19:25 The natural viruses that kill salmonella 20:52 Why ageing may weaken your gut’s viral defences 22:05 Scientists still don’t know what most gut viruses do 25:12 The strange origin story of phage therapy 27:22 Doctors are already using viruses to treat deadly infections 28:02 Why antibiotics are starting to fail 29:07 The deadly infection crisis bigger than cancer 30:38 How factory farming fuels antibiotic resistance 32:27 The antibiotic resistance emergency is already here 33:25 The forgotten treatment abandoned after antibiotics 35:50 Why phage therapy may spare your microbiome 36:37 The dying patient saved by experimental viruses 39:41 Could phages replace antibiotics in the future? 40:50 The viruses scientists are using to target cancer cells 44:35 How diet shapes the viruses living in your gut 46:05 The surprising link between coffee and gut health 47:25 The foods that may increase healthy gut viruses 50:34 The future of gut health, cancer treatment and infection prevention 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Good Mood Food (preorder) by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE The Hormone Harmony Guide: Tuning Your Body’s Internal Orchestra Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Mentioned in today's episode How gut viruses shape your gut microbiome Phages to the rescue, Trends in Microbiology (2024) Compounds in the foods we eat can trigger phage production, Gut Microbes (2020) Microbiomes of garden vs supermarket produce, Nature (2022) Phage Therapy at Belgium’s Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Viruses (2019) Habitual coffee intake shapes the gut microbiome, Nature (2026) Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here.Episode transcripts are available here.
• Most replayed moment: Ice Baths: Science or Fad? | Susanna Søberg & Prof Tim Spector 19.05.2026 13min

  Today, we’re diving into one of the most requested topics we’ve ever had: cold water therapy. Cold showers, ice baths and wild winter swimming have exploded in popularity over recent years with supporters claiming a range of health benefits.  But are these claims actually backed by science, or is it all just another wellness fad?  I’m joined by Dr. Susanna Søberg and Proffesor Tim Spector to break down the studies and discover if we could all do with a bit more ice in our life. 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30+ Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide
• Is your gut making hay fever, seasonal allergies, eczema and food intolerances worse? Here are 5 ways to fight back | Prof. Adam Fox 14.05.2026 1t 2min

  Allergies have tripled - with hay fever, seasonal allergies, eczema and food intolerances now affecting millions of people. But why are allergy symptoms getting worse, and what does gut health have to do with it? In this episode, Adam Fox, a world-leading allergy Professor at King’s College London, explains why allergies may be rising so fast, why many beliefs about allergies are wrong, and what new science reveals about your immune system, skin and gut. Professor Fox explores why some foods are more likely to trigger reactions, and why modern allergy science is increasingly focused on gut health. Adam also discusses why 90% of people told they are allergic to certain things may not actually be allergic, the difference between allergies and intolerances, and why some antihistamines may be doing you more harm than you realise. By the end of this episode, you will have some practical ways to manage hay fever and seasonal allergies, including which antihistamines experts now recommend avoiding, simple ways to reduce pollen exposure at home, and when allergy testing or desensitisation treatment may help. Adam explains how newer treatments are starting to retrain the immune system rather than simply suppress symptoms. If allergies barely existed a few hundred years ago, what changed? And could your gut now be shaping the way your immune system reacts to the world around you? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 03:19 Why peanut allergies became so common in children 08:05 Why allergies are different in every country 10:00 The hidden link between eczema and food allergies 11:14 Your gut and skin train your immune system differently 12:42 What eczema actually does to your immune system 15:15 Did hay fever barely exist 200 years ago? 17:36 Why hay fever can seriously affect your life 18:11 Hay fever may affect exam results and work performance 20:20 Most people diagnosed with penicillin allergy may not have it 22:30 90% of penicillin allergies may be wrong 25:52 The hygiene hypothesis may not explain allergies after all 28:10 The microbiome connection scientists can’t ignore 31:24 The mouse experiment that changed allergy science 34:05 The eating pattern linked to fewer allergies in children 36:35 Food allergy vs food intolerance - what’s the difference? 39:51 What anaphylaxis actually feels like in the body 43:43 Gluten allergy, celiac disease and gluten sensitivity explained 47:49 Why allergy blood tests can give misleading results 49:46 The new treatment changing peanut allergy care 52:41 5 science-backed ways to reduce hay fever symptoms 55:16 The antihistamines some doctors now avoid 56:40 The future of allergy treatment is changing fast 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Good Mood Food (preorder) by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE The Hormone Harmony Guide: Tuning Your Body’s Internal Orchestra Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Mentioned in today's episode Professor Adam Fox OBE uses Instagram to share clear bite-sized insights on children’s allergies, eczema & other allergic diseases - Follow at @DrAdamFox Rising Trends in Food Allergies, The Lancet (2024) Pollen exposure and exam performance, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (2026) Almost nine in ten patients labelled allergic to penicillin had no allergy, The Lancet (2025) Risk Factors for the Development of Food Allergy, JAMA (2026) Food Allergy and the Microbiome, Current Research in Microbial Sciences (2025) Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.
• Most replayed moment: Is Our Food System Making Us Sick? | Prof Brian Elbel & Prof Tim Spector 12.05.2026 13min

  Today, we’re zooming out to look at the bigger picture. On this podcast, we often talk about things that you can do to improve your diet. However, you're not the only one who has an impact on your health. The truth is, our food system - from government policy to supermarket placement - has a profound influence on what we eat, how we eat, and ultimately how healthy we all are. So, what steps can we take to improve not just our own health, but the health of society as a whole?  Today, I’m joined by Professor Brian Elbel and Professor Tim Spector to explore the forces shaping our food system — and the changes that could benefit our collective well-being.
• How 'boosting' your immune system increases inflammation and 4 ways to support balance instead | Dr Giulia Enders 07.05.2026 1t

  What if boosting your immune system is the wrong goal?  Today, Dr Giulia Enders explains how boosting immunity may increase inflammation and why your symptoms are often part of your body’s defence. Your immune system is not failing when you feel sick. It is trying to protect you. So what should you focus on instead? That’s the idea at the very heart of Giulia’s new book, Organ Speak. Giulia is a gastroenterologist and author whose previous book, Gut, sold eight million copies and helped convince the world that gut health was worth taking seriously. She explains how the immune system really works and why symptoms like a runny nose, cough, or fever come from your body, not the infection itself. You’ll learn how sugar may push the immune system toward inflammation, how stress can weaken it, and why sleep is key for producing immune cells. This episode also explores how exercise helps regulate your immune response. The core idea is simple: health is not about making your immune system stronger. It is about keeping it balanced. By the end of this episode, you will have practical ways to support that balance and habits to help your immune system respond in the right way. If the sneezing, runny nose, fever - all of it - are actually the whole point, how much energy should you spend in suppressing them? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 02:45 Why being sick feels like failure 04:30 The problem with only treating the gut 07:16 Why your body is not broken 10:25 When your immune system gets overprotective 13:28 The virus may not cause your symptoms 15:36 Should you stop cold symptoms? 16:40 When diarrhoea medicine can backfire 18:05 Should you take painkillers when sick? 18:52 Why immunity is not a war 20:46 The invisible microbe cloak protecting you 22:49 How your body clears bacteria from skin 24:10 Your microbiome is part of immunity 26:58 Is your immune system like AI? 28:00 Why boosting immunity can go wrong 30:36 Are immune supplements worth taking? 31:45 How stress weakens your gut barrier 34:25 The one-minute breathing reset 37:48 Why sleep builds immune cells 39:27 The most important half of sleep 44:16 Do naps help your immune system? 46:40 What to eat for immune balance 48:00 How exercise moves immune cells 49:10 Why exercise when sick can be risky 54:26 Strength vs cardio for immunity 56:00 The immune system takeaway everyone needs 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Good Mood Food (preorder) by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE The Hormone Harmony Guide: Tuning Your Body’s Internal Orchestra Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Mentioned in today's episode Organ Speak: What it really means to listen to our bodies by Giulia Enders Gut by Giulia Enders Association of Stress-Related Disorders With Autoimmune Disease, JAMA (2018) Sugar-sweetened soda consumption and risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, AJCN (2014) Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.
• Most replayed moment: Do You Have High-Functioning Depression? | Dr Judith Joseph & Professor Sarah Berry 05.05.2026 13min

  Today, we’re shining a light on a lesser-known form of depression. When we imagine depression, we often think of someone unable to get out of bed, someone who struggles to complete daily tasks. However, many people with depression are the exact opposite. They meet deadlines, achieve goals and appear successful. Yet, on the inside, they feel disconnected and distant from joy.  This quieter, harder-to-spot condition is known as high-functioning depression. I’m joined by psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph and Professor Sarah Berry to unpack what high-functioning depression looks like, why it’s so frequently missed, and how we should approach it. Sarah starts by asking for clarity on a word that is closely connected to this condition. 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30+ Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide
• Should you take Ozempic? The 5 things you need to know before starting GLP-1 drugs | Dr Ania Jastreboff 30.04.2026 1t 1min

  GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are now everywhere. But what do they actually do beyond weight loss? And what do you need to know before starting them? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Ania Jastreboff, a world-leading researcher at the forefront of GLP-1 treatments and writer of the New York Times bestselling book Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It's Like To Be Free, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey. Dr Jastreboff explains everything you need to know about Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications for 2026. You’ll learn how GLP-1s may reduce the risk of heart disease, improve blood sugar control, and support conditions like sleep apnoea. We also explore why weight often returns after stopping, and what you need to know about Ozempic side effects and long-term use. If these drugs can change how your brain controls hunger, what does that mean for willpower, weight gain, and how we treat obesity long term? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 04:25 What these drugs are really treating 06:42 The hunger problem nobody could name 10:57 The diabetes side effect that changed everything 12:15 Why Ozempic isn’t just “more GLP-1” 15:51 Why Mounjaro works differently to Ozempic 17:56 The part everyone gets wrong 20:15 Can these drugs protect your heart? 21:25 The 94% diabetes finding 22:09 Why the weight can come back 23:50 Do you have to take them forever? 25:30 Can you trust pharma-funded trials? 27:46 The risk of microdosing GLP-1s 31:41 Are these drugs becoming surgery-level? 34:10 The health effects beyond weight loss 37:22 The side effects people should expect 40:15 Could stopping leave you worse off? 41:35 Who should actually take GLP-1 drugs? 43:40 The biggest mistake when starting treatment 46:28 What to eat when your appetite drops 50:03 Why these are not weight loss aids 51:52 Should healthy people take small doses? 53:14 The exercise rule people miss 54:24 What comes after Ozempic and Mounjaro? 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Good Mood Food (preorder) by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE The Hormone Harmony Guide: Tuning Your Body’s Internal Orchestra Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Mentioned in today's episode Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It's Like To Be Free by Dr Ania Jastreboff & Oprah Winfrey Retatrutide for Obesity, The New England Journal of Medicine (2023) Healthy Weight Loss Maintenance with Exercise, Liraglutide, or Both Combined, The New England Journal of Medicine (2021) Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients, The New England Journal of Medicine (2016) Tirzepatide for Obesity Treatment and Diabetes Prevention, The New England Journal of Medicine (2025) Tirzepatide for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity, The New England Journal of Medicine (2024) Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.
• Most replayed moment: Fix Your Gut: Improve Your Mind | Dr Will Bulsiewicz 28.04.2026 14min

  Today, we’re exploring the brain-gut axis We’ve all heard phrases like “gut instinct” or “trust your gut”. These sayings hint towards a sort of mind in your midriff - and it turns out there is some truth to it. Emerging science reveals that the brain and gut are, in fact, closely connected, constantly exchanging signals through this intricate network of nerves. So, the question is: if they’re so tightly intertwined, can treating one help heal the other? I’m joined by gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz to unravel the mystery of this connection - and find out how we can use it to our advantage. 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30+ Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide
• The 5 best foods to fight cancer and lower your risk of death | Dr William Li 23.04.2026 1t 2min

  You have around 10,000 cancer cells in your body right now, but most never become dangerous. The science suggests cancer risk is not just about genetics, but how your body responds to these cells. So what can you do, day to day, to support your body’s natural defences? In this episode, Dr William Li, a world-renowned physician, scientist, speaker, and two-time NYT Bestselling author, explains how everyday foods can fuel cancer growth or help your body keep it under control. We explore how cancer starts, why it is part of normal biology, and explain why lifestyle and environment are more important than genetics when managing your cancer risk. Dr Li shares simple guidance on eating patterns that support your body’s defences, including increasing plant-rich foods and reducing ultra-processed foods. He also highlights everyday habits such as staying active, supporting gut health, and limiting toxin exposure as ways to tip the balance in your favour. If your body is already managing cancer cells every day, what small changes could help it do that job better? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 02:26 Almost everyone has microscopic tumours 08:15 We all have cancer right now? 10:45 Why most cancer cells stay harmless 13:40 The hidden trigger that fuels cancer growth 14:35 What makes cancer turn deadly 16:35 Cancer cells behave like seeds 19:05 How sunburn can lead to cancer 20:55 What smoking really does inside your body 22:20 The new way to fight cancer 24:20 Why genes matter less than you think 26:00 Is vaping worse than smoking? 27:05 The drinking habit that raises cancer risk 29:25 The environmental risk we can’t ignore 33:47 The diet pattern linked to cancer risk 35:10 Why processed meat is a class 1 carcinogen 37:25 How processed meat affects your gut 41:50 A simple way to reduce BBQ toxins 43:40 Does sugar really feed cancer? 45:51 The truth about soy and cancer 47:25 The soy study that shocked scientists 49:05 How tomatoes may lower cancer risk 51:00 Why berries are more powerful than you think 54:40 How tea and coffee support your defences 56:05 The gut link to cancer risk 57:40 Dr Li’s simplest rules to reduce risk 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Good Mood Food (preorder) by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE The Hormone Harmony Guide: Tuning Your Body’s Internal Orchestra Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Mentioned in today's episode Eat to Beat Disease: The Body’s Five Defence Systems and the Foods that Could Save Your Life by Dr William Li Eat to Beat Your Diet by Dr William Li Huge microbiome breakthrough from ZOE, thanks to community science Shanghai Breast Cancer Study, JAMA (2009) The Anti-Cancer Activity of Lycopene, Nutrients (2022) Health Professionals Follow-Up Study Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.
• Most replayed moment: Three Foods to Fight Inflammation | Dr Federica Amati & Prof Tim Spector 21.04.2026 13min

  Today we’re talking about some foods that can change your life. Fatigue, disease, gut problems and weight gain. Many of the issues we discuss on this podcast can be linked back to one thing: chronic inflammation.  However, you don’t need drugs or detoxes to quell this fire. One of the most powerful tools we have to control inflammation is right in front of us: food. I’m joined by Dr. Federica Amati and Professor Tim Spector to spotlight three inflammation-fighting foods - and explain why these small changes to your plate can make a big difference to your body. 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30+ Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide
• 5 simple nutrition changes to boost energy, lift your mood and beat fatigue (in just 72 hours!) | Prof Tim Spector & Dr Federica Amati 16.04.2026 50min

  Watch “The Gut Health Challenge” on YouTube | LINK Can you boost energy, improve focus and lift your mood in just a few days, just by changing what you eat?  In this episode, Professor Tim Spector and ZOE’s Head Nutritionist, Dr Federica Amati, break down the simple nutrition changes that help beat fatigue and shift how you feel.  They speak to Lucy and Sarah, who put ZOE to the test and changed only their nutrition for six weeks. At the start, they were held back by brain fog, poor sleep, and constant tiredness. Could a six-week nutritional reset really move the needle?  This episode shows what happened in real life as they explore why many people feel tired or flat, even when tests look “normal”. The episode explains why your gut microbiome matters, how you can feel better within days, and why consistency beats perfection. You will also hear the simple changes they made. Bigger breakfasts. More plant diversity. Easy food swaps. Small habits that fit into real life. If you feel tired but your tests say you’re “fine”, what would you change first? And if you felt better in days, would you keep going for six weeks? Join Prof Tim Spector behind the scenes, just search “ZOE Gut Health Challenge” on YouTube | LINK Timecodes 00:00 Intro 04:44 Why you can feel exhausted despite doing everything right 09:59 The test results that didn’t match how you feel 12:36 Why your symptoms may show before your blood tests 15:43 ‘Normal’ results… but still feeling terrible 17:31 The hidden gut problem behind low energy 19:43 Why this experiment wasn’t supposed to work this fast 21:54 Why your cravings may not be under your control 23:46 The first sign your body is changing (in days) 24:09 Feel happier in just 3 days? 24:59 The simple breakfast shift that changes everything 25:57 Why most people miss this one thing in their diet 27:38 The tool that makes healthy eating easier 29:14 How to improve your family’s diet without forcing it 31:06 The meal that proves healthy food can fill you up 32:25 The small food swaps that make the biggest difference 34:31 The eating habit most people overlook 35:57 Why 30 plants a week sounds impossible (but isn’t) 38:22 Why this doesn’t feel like a diet 40:39 What to do when you fall off track 42:22 The 80% rule that makes this sustainable 44:25 Why this finally feels easy to stick to 47:10 The one thing to change first 47:52 Did it work after just 6 weeks? 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Good Mood Food (preorder) by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE The Hormone Harmony Guide: Tuning Your Body’s Internal Orchestra Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Mentioned in today's episode The Gut Health Challenge   Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here. The ZOE app and Gut Health test are for general health and wellness purposes only. They are not intended to prevent, diagnose or treat any medical condition. Sarah and Lucy received free access to the ZOE app and testing and Daily30 for their participation in the documentary.
• Most replayed moment: Coffee vs Matcha | Andrew Kojima & Prof Tim Spector 14.04.2026 13min

  Today, we’re diving into some popular drinks. Coffee has long been the undisputed champion of hot beverages. Its bitter taste is an essential part of most people's morning. However, there’s a new kid on the block. You might have seen its distinctive green hue cropping up in cafés, supermarkets or even TikTok. I am of course talking about matcha. So how do coffee and matcha compare? Do they work differently in the body? And is one better for your long-term health? I’m joined by matcha expert Andrew Kojima and Professor Tim Spector to explore the science behind our daily pick-me-ups - and discover whether we should be switching sides. 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30+ Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide
• 3 intermittent fasting mistakes that cancel fat loss and stop you seeing the benefits | Prof James Betts 09.04.2026 57min

  Intermittent fasting may help with blood sugar, appetite, fat loss, and energy. But many people do it wrong.  In this episode, Professor James Betts, one of the world’s leading experts on meal timing and its metabolic effects, explains what fasting actually is, how long you need to fast to see changes, and the key mistakes that can stop the benefits. Today, we break down what happens in your body when you stop eating and explain why it may support weight loss and blood sugar control, but also why fasting doesn’t work for everyone. You will learn why breakfast may not matter, why the 5:2 diet often fails, and why eating even small amounts can stop a true fast. By the end of this episode, you will understand what counts as a real fast, how long your eating window may need to be, why longer is not always better if you cannot stick to it, and why planning your first meal matters, because hunger can drive poor choices. If fasting can work, but is not magic, what actually makes the difference: the timing, the consistency, or simply eating less? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 02:30 The answers that completely contradict fasting advice 09:10 What fasting really means (it’s not what you think) 12:10 Why most people never actually fast 14:25 Why “eat to fuel your day” may be wrong 16:00 The 3 types of fasting people confuse 17:30 Why 5:2 might not work the way you think 18:15 The tiny mistake that ruins a fast 19:45 Why stricter fasting can feel easier 20:20 Why hunger disappears after a few days 21:20 What happened when he fasted for 5 days 22:35 What you can actually have during a fast 24:25 Do coffee and tea break your fast? 26:20 The truth about breakfast (finally tested) 28:15 The breakfast result no one expected 29:15 The hidden downside of fasting 32:20 What your body switches to when you stop eating 34:25 What really happens on day two of fasting 35:30 Why fasting might improve your health 37:05 Does fasting reduce inflammation? 38:25 What fasting actually helps with 39:20 How much weight people really lose 40:00 The most effective way to fast 41:00 The minimum fasting window that works 42:30 Who benefits most from fasting 44:30 Should you exercise before eating? 47:20 Do your eating times need to be consistent? 50:25 Does olive oil secretly break a fast? 51:45 The one rule for breaking a fast 53:40 The biggest takeaway about fasting 58:15 Should you actually try fasting? 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Good Mood Food (preorder) by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE The Hormone Harmony Guide: Tuning Your Body’s Internal Orchestra Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Mentioned in today's episode Effect of the 5:2 Diet on Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Disease Risk, The International Journal of Endocrinology (2025) Intermittent fasting ‘no magic bullet for weight loss’, Science Translational Medicine (2021) Bath Breakfast Project, Springer (2011) The role of intermittent fasting and meal timing in weight management and metabolic health. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, (2020) The causal role of breakfast in energy balance and health: a randomized controlled trial in lean adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, (2014) Nutrient timing and metabolic regulation. The Journal of Physiology, (2022) Calorie counting vs. minute counting; does nutrient timing matter for weight-loss? Current Opinion on Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, (2025) Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here.Episode transcripts are available here.
• Most replayed moment: Keeping mobility as you age | Gabby Reece & Federica Amati 07.04.2026 12min

  Today we’re talking about mobility well as you age. As we get older, staying mobile becomes even more important. But often, it also becomes more difficult too.  So today, we’re going to break down some barriers, take the slog out of staying active, and make movement fun. I’m joined by Gabby Reece and Dr Federica Amati to explore simple ways to stay agile as we age. From the surprising benefits of walking backwards, jumping in a swimming pool, and not wearing shoes. 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know hereListen to the full episode here
• How to tell if your poo is normal and the 5 warning signs you shouldn't ignore | Dr Trisha Pasricha 02.04.2026 59min

  Most people think you need to poo every day to be healthy. You don’t. In this episode, we explain how to tell if your poo is normal, the warning signs you shouldn’t ignore, and the gut mistake you may be making on the toilet every day.  Dr Trisha Pasricha, a leading Harvard gastroenterologist, a columnist for the Washington Post and author of the book You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong, explains how your poo, gut health, and disease risk are linked, and when you should see a doctor. Dr Pasricha guides us through why frequency, colour, and consistency all matter, and why there is no single “normal.” You’ll learn how to spot changes that could signal disease, including early warning signs linked to cancer and long-term brain health. You’ll hear simple advice you can use straight away. This includes how to recognise your normal pattern, what changes to look out for, and how to avoid the common toilet habit that may affect your gut. Are you looking at your poo every day? And, if not, what might you notice if you did? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 03:11 Your phone on the toilet: hidden risk? 07:26 Your colon runs on a clock 10:40 The illness that changed his gut for years 13:05 Why you should look before you flush 15:25 The poo colours you should never ignore 16:25 Why this sign is rising in younger adults 18:15 The stool colour doctors treat as urgent 19:27 What “perfect” poo actually looks like 21:05 What holding it in really does 23:05 The 3 things that control your bowel movements 25:35 Why gut problems are getting worse 26:43 The posture fix most people miss 27:35 The phone habit linked to 46% higher risk 29:47 Why your phone keeps you stuck there 32:35 The hidden gut–brain connection 34:50 What stress really does to your gut 36:50 Your gut may be controlling more than you think 38:50 Is IBS really misunderstood? 41:05 The theory that changes how we see Parkinson’s 44:15 The gut damage linked to future brain disease 47:45 The simple rule for better bowel movements 49:00 The foods that changed gut health in weeks 50:22 The surprising fix for constipation 52:05 The 2 habits most people ignore 54:31 A 60-second trick to calm your gut 55:30 If you change one thing, make it this 56:10 What matters most 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Good Mood Food (preorder) by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Mentioned in today's episode You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong by Dr Trisha Pasricha Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the United States, The American Journal of Gastroenterology (2018) Smartphone use on the toilet and the risk of hemorrhoids, PLOS One (2025) Impacts of Gut Bacteria on Human Health and Diseases, International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2015) Association between Early Adverse Life Events and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, CGH (2011) Management of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: A Comprehensive, National Library of Medicine (2024) Constipation and risk of dementia in adults, Frontiers (2025) Gastrointestinal issues and Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America (2020) Stanford fermented foods study Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Nutrients (2025) Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.
• Most replayed moment: Lessons from a 5000-year-old diet | Frank Maixner & Tim Spector 31.03.2026 13min

  Today we’re going prehistoric. We have to stay sharp at ZOE. Nutritional science moves fast, so it’s important for us to stay up to date with new discoveries and the latest advice.  However, every now and then, it helps to look back - way back. In this recap, we’re turning to a rather unusual teacher: a 5,000-year-old Iceman, preserved in ice and carrying clues about the diet of our ancient ancestors. I’m joined by Frank Maixner and Professor Tim Spector to uncover what this prehistoric man ate and what those findings can teach us about our diet today. 🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily30+ *Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here Listen to the full episode here
• The first 1000 days: The 5 ways early nutrition determines your future risk of obesity and heart disease | Prof Lucilla Poston & Dr Federica Amati 26.03.2026 1t 2min

  The blueprint for your life starts much earlier than you realise - long before you took your first breath, before your heart beat its first beat, before your mum and dad even met.  This is the story of the first 1,000 days of life. From conception to age 2, a window so powerful that scientists now believe it influences our future risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and even how our immune system reacts to the world. In this episode, the world’s leading expert on how childhood nutrition and metabolism shape our long-term health, Professor Lucilla Poston, explains how early nutrition may influence appetite, metabolism, and future disease risk.  Lucilla and ZOE’s Head Nutritionist, Dr Federica Amati, break down what science says about pregnancy, early feeding and the food children eat, and questions how lifelong health is shaped before a child even chooses their first meal. Lucilla offers practical guidance on what matters most and explains key nutrients to consider. They discuss why regular movement may help support healthy blood sugar levels. They also explain what a balanced diet can look like for parents and young children, why babies should try a wide range of whole foods, and why many packaged baby foods may contain far more sugar than parents expect. What small choices can you make today to help shape a healthier future for you, your children, and your children’s children? 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30 Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 Intro 03:47 Why the first 1,000 days can shape your entire life 08:12 What happens in the womb doesn’t stay in the womb 11:16 The tiny window where everything can go wrong 13:35 Why obesity in pregnancy is now a silent epidemic 15:17 Can a father’s health affect a baby before it even exists? 17:50 The missing nutrient most women don’t realise they need 20:35 The simplest way to improve your chances of conceiving 22:31 Should pregnant women worry about getting it wrong? 24:25 The biggest lies about pregnancy you’ve probably heard 26:47 Why pregnancy nutrition isn’t about being perfect 28:13 Why some children are at higher risk before they’re born 30:05 Can a mother’s diet rewire a baby’s brain for life? 31:47 The hormone that could make you crave junk food forever 35:11 When a normal pregnancy change becomes dangerous 39:04 Why pregnancy diabetes doesn’t end after birth 40:07 The one habit that lowers blood sugar during pregnancy 42:11 What pregnant women should actually be eating 45:37 The truth about ‘6 eggs a day’ and other diet myths 47:11 Why breast milk is more powerful than we ever realised 50:14 What babies should eat (and what to avoid) 52:13 The truth about baby food pouches parents aren’t told 55:20 The shocking reality of childhood obesity today 60:19 Is it too late to undo what happened before birth? 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Good Mood Food (preorder) by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE The Hormone Harmony Guide: Tuning Your Body’s Internal Orchestra Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Better Breakfast Guide Mentioned in today's episode Paternal body mass index and offspring obesity, Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism (2023) Lifestyle intervention in obese pregnancy, Nature (2022) Exercise during pregnancy, BMJ (2026) The long-term impact of obesity in pregnancy on offspring hypothalamic feeding pathways, Royal Society Open Science (2025) Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.