Thinking Nutrition
Health, Fitness & Longevity
About
Thinking Nutrition is all about presenting the latest nutrition research in plain language and then translating this into what it means for your health. Dr Tim Crowe is a career nutrition research scientist and an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian. Tim has over 30 years of research and teaching experience in the university and public health sectors, covering areas of basic laboratory research, clinical nutrition trials and public health nutrition. He now works chiefly as a freelance health and medical writer and science communicator.
Episodes
- How berries help build a better brain
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 lot of attention for their potential benefits on the brain. Anthocyanins are the pigments t…
- Pickle juice for muscle cramps: effective remedy or sports myth?
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 been countless theories and remedies put forward to explain and treat a dreaded muscle cramp…
- Mushroom power: can fungi give athletes an edge?
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 deliver on their promises: creatine and caffeine are two clear examples. But a new supplement…
- Beet that: why athletes are turning to beetroot juice
If hearing that athletes are downing shots of beetroot juice to improve their performance makes you exclaim: “What sorcery is this?”, you’re not alone. But this isn’t just another passing fad - there’s some solid science showing that the n…
- Spice science: exploring cinnamon’s role in blood sugar control
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 bioactive compounds that have attracted attention for their potential health effects. One of…
- Powering cellular energy and healthy ageing: behind the hype of NAD, NMN and NR supplements
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 repair. Our levels of NAD though can decline with age which has led to the idea that this…
- Beyond exercise: creatine’s growing role in brain, bone and women’s health
Creatine is one of the most well-researched and effective sports nutrition supplements for improving exercise performance. But that isn’t what I’m going to talk about in this podcast episode. Instead, I want to give the spotlight to creati…
- Plant-based protein: can it match animal protein for athletic performance?
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 athletic pursuits, there may be concerns about whether their muscle development and sports…
- From gut to glucose: the potential of probiotics in diabetes care
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterised by high blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production. It's a growing global health concern. While diet, exercise and medication form the cornerstone o…
- From FODMAPs to fibre: navigating dietary treatments for IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal issue marked by abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. This chronic condition can lead to anxiety, depression and a reduced quality of life. With no definitive trig…
- Strength in ageing: the role of protein and resistance training
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 marked by unintentional weight loss, loss of muscle mass and strength which increases the like…
- Maximising muscle gains with creatine: how well does it work?
Creatine is one of the most well-researched and effective sports nutrition supplements for improving exercise performance. So it is no surprise that interest in using creatine supplements to enhance performance during intense activity has…
- Is hydrogen water healthy or a hoax?
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 claiming it will fight off disease, reduce inflammation, boost energy, improve mental health and…
- Maximising muscle: the role of protein type and timing
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 with that comes strength and performance gains – something just about every athlete wants…
- Can probiotics help fight age-related muscle loss?
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 person much more susceptible to disability, poor quality of life and earlier death. The c…
- Arthritis relief: can collagen supplements help?
Interest in collagen supplements continues to grow – and for good reason. That’s because despite rubbish claims that are way off the mark that there is ‘no evidence they work’ and ‘all the research is funded by the collagen industry’, the…
- Are probiotics effective in IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. With no single identified trigger or treatment, IBS can be a minefield for a person to try and get on top of. Dietary changes like a low-FODMAP diet, supplemen…
- Maternal probiotics and their effect on infant health
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 formation of our microbiome happens during the perinatal period where it is influenced by…
- Can the humble cranberry reduce the risk of UTIs?
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 painful burning sensations when urinating, frequent and strong urges to urinate, and chang…
- Tendon troubles: can collagen supplements help with tendon repair?
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 limbs. When overused, overloaded or damaged, these same tendons can cause us a lot of pa…
- Lemon water: is it worth the squeeze or just sour hype?
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 alkalised and in balance? You can. All you need do is start each day with a glass of water…
- The lectin lowdown: time to counter the fear campaign about these plant proteins
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 found in many plant foods such as legumes, wholegrains and some fruits and vegetables. If…
- Exercise recovery: the role of protein in post-workout muscle soreness and damage
It is something that all regular and not-so-regular exercisers have experienced: muscle pain and soreness in the days following a particularly hard training session. It is the price paid for the benefits exercise, especially resistance tra…
- Olive oil: a true ‘essential oil’
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 oil in kitchens around the world. In this age where too many foods are dubiously anointed wit…
- Enough of the ‘seed oils are toxic’ rubbish
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 you about the evils of seed oils. These seed oils are toxic don’t you know? And they’re blamed f…
- Nightshade vegetables: friend or foe for your health?
Nightshades are a group of plants that belong to the Solanaceae family. They include some very commonly eaten foods such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and potatoes. These foods have been eaten for centuries by many cultures around the wo…
- Can probiotics or prebiotics prevent or treat respiratory tract infections?
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 less coughing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches and fatigue in our lives. Our gut micro…
- Foods and fertility: how dietary patterns can influence fertility
What we eat is increasingly recognised as an important element in influencing fertility. With almost one in six couples experiencing fertility problems, knowing more about lifestyle factors such as diet that can alter this has major conseq…
- This is your brain on food porn (and how it can promote healthier eating)
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 our brains. Researchers are now digging below the surface level of social media trends a…
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): what role does diet play?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term that describes chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common forms of IBD. In recent years, research into t…
- Keto for athletes: its effect on performance and body composition
For decades, carbohydrates have been at the centre of sports nutrition guidelines to help maximise physical performance and maintain muscle glycogen levels. But interest in an alternative approach, that being very low-carbohydrate ketogeni…
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): can nutrition supplements slow its progression?
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 to the retina, which can lead to permanent central vision loss and even blindness. Good nu…
- Can probiotics help treat eczema in adults?
Eczema is a general term for rash-like skin conditions with atopic dermatitis being the most common form. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by itching and recurrent eczema patches. Up to 20 percent of c…
- Intermittent fasting: an update on the weight and metabolic health benefits
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 Guide to Intermittent Fasting. Now, it is time to revisit the topic of intermittent fasting wit…
- ‘Eat the rainbow’ really is good health advice
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 your life. Instead, it is all about choosing a variety of fruits and vegetables primarily ba…
- Turning up the heat on chillies and their health benefits
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 happening inside your mouth and the waterworks from your sweat glands, could there be some…
- Will BCAAs give you the muscle gainz?
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 as our diet naturally contains them as part of the amino acid building blocks of protein. Wi…
- How the Mediterranean diet benefits mental health
Counselling and medication gain most of the treatment attention for depression, but the promise of dietary changes to help to improve the outlook of people with depression and other common conditions such as anxiety is gaining traction. We…
- How beetroot juice lowers blood pressure and improves sports performance
Nitrates are inorganic compounds found in many vegetables such as spinach, celery, radishes, and lettuce, but beetroot is one of the highest sources. Nitrate contributes to the production of nitric oxide, which has an important role to pla…
- Managing IBS with the low-FODMAP diet and probiotics
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. With no one single identified trigger or treatment, IBS can be a minefield for a person to try and get on top of. Diet changes are one area that can have…
- Will magnesium help you sleep better?
Magnesium is a key mineral that is essential for muscle contractions and nerve transmission while also keeping your heart beating steadily and your immune system strong. Of the many health conditions linked to magnesium, it is poor sleep q…
- Caffeine and resistance exercise: how much do you need?
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 used legal drugs – I’m talking about coffee here people – it is also a sports supplement that…
- Go nuts for nuts: why they’re great for your heart and weight
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 that fat? Be fearful not of fat as not only is the type of fat found in nuts considered health…
- Nutrient wins and losses on a plant-based diet
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 than ever adopt this way of eating. But there is no one ‘right’ way to eat. And even within…
- Focussing on eating healthier is better than trying to eat less
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 lost within months. So, rather than putting the focus on dieting to lose weight, how much…
- Want a healthy heart? Eat more of these flavonoid foods
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 chemistry and naming structure can be daunting, there is nothing daunting about the foods tha…
- Nut allergies: causes, consequences and emerging treatments
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 proteins found in nuts or peanuts, it can lead to a range of symptoms from mild reactions to sev…
- How probiotics can help people with bowel cancer
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 where diet and lifestyle choices play a big part in changing a person’s risk of developing…
- The weird way that body posture changes taste
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 standing up while eating can change taste perception, temperature sensation and even how much is…
- Is a keto diet effective for strength training?
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 causes a calorie deficit, the evidence for a real sporting advantage over other diets is…