ZOE Science & Nutrition

• Cold exposure, saunas and your health: what the science says | Dr. Susanna Søberg & Prof. Tim Spector

  Unwrap the truth about your food 👉 ⁠Get ZOE’s new app Most of us avoid the cold. We crank up the heating, bundle up in layers, and curse every icy gust of wind. But what if freezing — or even sweating — could be the key to better health? In this episode, Jonathan is joined by two world-leading scientists to explore a radical idea: that extreme temperatures might unlock powerful benefits for your metabolism, mental health, and even longevity. Dr. Susanna Søberg, the researcher who coined the “Søberg Principle,” has spent years studying the effects of cold plunges and saunas on the human body. Her findings? Just minutes of exposure a few times a week could improve insulin sensitivity, activate brown fat, and lower stress. She’s joined by Prof. Tim Spector - professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, one of the world’s top 100 most cited scientists, and scientific co-founder at ZOE - who explains how these temperature shocks may even impact your gut microbiome. This episode will change how you think about discomfort, explain the science behind extreme temperatures and might just inspire your healthiest new habit. 🥑 Make smarter food choices. Become a member at zoe.com - 10% off with code PODCAST 🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30+ Follow ZOE on Instagram. 00:00 Can saunas improve metabolism? 02:03 Can heat really mimic a cardio workout? 05:13 Why do I feel sleepy after a sauna? 07:33 The surprising link between heat and your heart 10:37 What cold water instantly triggers in your body 13:19 This 'good fat' burns your bad fat — here’s how 16:11 How just walking in the cold can raise your metabolism 18:57 Why a colder bedroom could transform your blood sugar 22:07 Winter swimmers vs non-swimmers — the science is clear 25:39 How short dips beat long soaks in cold water 29:12 Cold plunges activate your cell repair systems 31:37 The 30-second switch: from panic to peace 33:58 Can cold water really boost mental health? 36:07 Could gut bacteria respond to temperature? 38:53 Cold plunges and antidepressants: early findings 41:01 Cold shock vs hyperventilation — what to avoid 43:27 Is combining hot and cold better than just one? 45:36 Cryotherapy vs cold plunge — which works better? 47:19 Do cold showers actually do anything? 50:59 Why daily plunging might be too much stress 53:31 Should women cold plunge differently than men? 📚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 Mentioned in today's episode: Altered brown fat thermoregulation and enhanced cold-induced thermogenesis in young, healthy, winter-swimming men, Cell (2021)  Cold exposure, gut microbiota and health implications: A narrative review, Sci Total Environ (2024)  The gut microbiota facilitate their host tolerance to extreme temperature, BCM Microbiology (2024)  Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.

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• Recap: The power of a 12 hour eating window | Prof. Satchin Panda

  Today we’re exploring the power of a restricted eating window. Do you enjoy a late night snack? A little nibble or drink after dinner but before bed? If so, you’re not alone - many of us indulge in this habit. After all, it’s just a small treat, so it couldn’t possibly have a big impact on our health… right? Well, a growing body of research suggests otherwise. That seemingly harmless snack could be disrupting your eating window and preventing your organs from functioning at their best. In this episode, Dr. Satchin Panda joined me to discuss the science behind time-restricted eating and how it interacts with our body’s natural circadian rhythm. 🥑 Make smarter food choices. Become a member a zoe.com - 10% off with code PODCAST 🌱 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 from our ZOE Scientists:The Food For Life Cookbook by Prof. Tim Spector Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Free resources from ZOE: Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition  Gut Guide - for a healthier microbiome in weeks Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here Listen to the full episode here

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• Why the ‘big food’ industry is killing us – and how to fight back | Prof. Brian Elbel and Prof. Tim Spector

  👀 Unwrap the truth 👉 Try the new ZOE app Why do we eat what we eat? It might feel like a personal choice, but hidden forces—industry tactics, government policies, and even cutting-edge food science—shape our decisions every day. In this episode, Professor Brian Elbel from NYU and Professor Tim Spector unravel the truth behind our ultra-processed food (UPF) obsession and its alarming impact on global health. Our food system isn't just flawed; it's deliberately engineered. From seductive marketing to strategic supermarket layouts, Brian and Tim reveal the invisible hands guiding us toward unhealthy choices. Learn to spot UPFs in disguise, understand how corporate profits trump public health, and question whether interventions like soda taxes and calorie labeling truly make a difference. But all is not lost. Tim and Brian provide actionable strategies to reclaim control of our health. Discover practical tips for decoding confusing food labels, making healthier choices, and advocating for transformative policies. Tune in to learn how individual awareness and collective action can challenge—and change—a food system that’s designed against us. 🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30+ *Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 00:00 write timecodes 📚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 Free resources from ZOE Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Mentioned in today's episode The corporate capture of the nutrition profession in the USA: the case of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2022) Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake (2019) Relationship between community characteristics and impact of calorie labeling on fast-food purchases Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.

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• Signs you may have high-functioning depression – and 5 ways to fix it | Dr. Judith Joseph and Dr. Sarah Berry

  We often associate depression with withdrawal and low energy - but what if it hides behind a packed schedule and staying busy? Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph joins Professor Sarah Berry to explore high-functioning depression. Dr. Joseph explains how depression gets missed by medical professionals, explaining what’s really happening in the brain. She shares how traditional definitions of depression often overlook people who appear to be coping, leading many to go undiagnosed and unsupported. We discuss how a busy, high-achieving lifestyle can actually mask the symptoms of depression - and even perpetuate it. Dr. Joseph, the first psychiatrist to run a lab focused on high-functioning depression, shares her latest findings on its causes, signs, and long-term impact. ZOE’s Chief Scientist Prof. Sarah Berry explains how food and the gut microbiome may hold the key to reducing these symptoms. If this sounds familiar, Dr. Joseph introduces a quick self-test to help identify high-functioning depression - and outlines five practical strategies to begin healing, and Sarah gives you the foods that could help. 🥑 Make smarter food choices. Become a member at zoe.com - 10% off with code PODCAST 🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30+ Follow ZOE on Instagram. Timecodes 01:55 Quickfire questions 03:55 How depression has changed 05:34 Do you have Anhedonia? 10:05 What is high functioning depression? 12:22 3 categories you should understand 14:48 The risk of being busy all the time 17:55 How to cultivate joy and purpose 18:28 Why men are at increased risk 21:38 What is trauma? 24:14 Is depression influenced by what we eat? 26:23 Gut microbiome and brain health 27:43 You need these brain foods 30:55 How to beat stress eating 33:50 Try this trick when you eat 36:49 The power of slowing down Get Dr Judith’s new book: UK | US 📚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 Free resources from ZOE Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.

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• The brain-gut mystery: what’s really causing your IBS? with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz

  IBS affects over 300 million people globally, yet remains one of the most misunderstood gut conditions. In this episode, we explore the latest science uncovering the real drivers behind IBS - and why your gut microbiome may hold the key to understanding it. Joining us is Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, a board-certified gastroenterologist and ZOE’s U.S. Medical Director. Dr. Will breaks down why IBS is so difficult to diagnose, how stress and modern lifestyles are making symptoms more common, and what “problematic” poo can tell us. We then dive into the science: how the gut-brain axis influences everything from pain to food intolerances, why women are disproportionately affected, and how a disrupted microbiome plays a central role in IBS. Finally, Dr. Will shares practical strategies backed by the latest research -  from dietary changes to cutting-edge treatments - offering hope for healing and prevention. Whether you're living with IBS or simply want to understand your gut better, this episode is packed with insights into one of the most common yet elusive health conditions of our time. 🥑 Make smarter food choices. Become a member at zoe.com - 10% off with code PODCAST 🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30+ 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 Free resources from ZOE Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks  Mentioned in today's episode Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Gut Microbiome: A Comprehensive Review (2023)  Diet and gut microbial associations in irritable bowel syndrome according to disease subtype (2023) The association between low birth weight, childhood recollections of parental response to illness, and irritable bowel syndrome: a twin study (2020) Analysis of brain networks and fecal metabolites reveals brain–gut alterations in premenopausal females with irritable bowel syndrome (2020) Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.

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