Sigma Nutrition Radio

Recently a new trial was published in Nature Medicine comparing the effect of ultra-processed versus minimally processed diets. Specifically, the UPDATE trial compared these two diets in the context …

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Facciani explores how social psychology influences health beliefs and the spread of misinformation. The conversation delves into why people adopt certain nutrition or hea…

Dairy is often treated as a single food group, yet milk, yogurt, cheese, and butter can have very different effects on health. Some evidence links yogurt to favourable outcomes, while butter is known…

They’re in our oceans, our air, our food, and now even in our bodies. Microplastics, once a distant environmental issue, have become a topic of urgent relevance in medicine, public health, and nutrit…

In this episode, performance nutritionist Daniel Davey discusses how his approach to elite sports nutrition has evolved over his career. Davey reflects on his decade working with top Irish teams (Dub…

Nutrition science plays a pivotal role in shaping public health advice, but the influence of industry funding on research has become a pressing concern. In this episode we want to examine whether we …

In recent years “Zone 2 training” has gained immense popularity in fitness and health circles, often being proclaimed the “best” cardiovascular training for metabolic health.  Zone 2 training is sust…

Fructose has often been labeled a uniquely damaging nutrient, blamed for obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. But does fructose truly have unique harmful effects or are the risks associat…

Vitamin A is often one of the less-discussed micronutrients in relation to bone health, taking a back seat to nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. Yet this fat-soluble vitamin plays a fundamental ro…

The idea that saturated fat might be harmful to our health has sparked controversy for decades. In recent years, counter-narratives have surged: suggesting that concerns over saturated fat were overb…

To what extent can maternal nutrition during pregnancy influence a child’s later cognitive or behavioural development?

While genetic and environmental factors are known to contribute to neurodevelopm…

For decades, dietary guidelines—and the Food Pyramid in particular—have been at the center of heated debates and considerable controversy. These guidelines have often been accused of being influenced…

Inflammation has become a nutrition buzzword, often used in extreme or misleading ways. This episode aims to clarify what inflammation is, how it relates to diet and health, and whether specific food…

GLP-1 receptor agonists have changed the landscape of obesity treatment, offering levels of weight loss once thought unattainable without surgery. But what happens after the weight is lost? And can w…

Zinc is an essential micronutrient that often flies under the radar, despite being vital for hundreds of enzymes and transcription factors involved in immunity, antioxidant defense, and DNA repair.

A…

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the commonly held belief that protein is the most satiating macronutrient. It’s an idea that shows up frequently in both clinical guidance and popular nutrit…

Global food systems have been increasingly subjected to financial speculation, leading to adverse consequences for growers, consumers, and public health. But what are the systemic vulnerabilities tha…

Seed oils have recently become a hotly debated topic in nutrition, fueled by sensational claims on social media. In this episode, the central theme is examining whether seed oils are truly harmful or…

In this Quack Asylum episode, Danny and Alan critically examine the claims surrounding “detoxification protocols” – specialized diets, cleanses, or supplements marketed to eliminate toxins from the b…

Emulsifiers are a ubiquitous component of the modern food supply, found in everything from salad dressings and dairy products to pastries and sauces. Traditionally regarded as safe by regulatory agen…