Sigma Nutrition Radio

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 overblown, that LDL cholesterol doesn’t matter, or that the original diet-heart hypothesis has been debunked. These claims have become especially popular in online wellness spaces and certain dietary communities, often wrapped in compelling ...

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 neurodevelopmental outcomes such as ADHD and autism, growing attention is being paid to the potential role of prenatal exposures, including dietary patterns. Yet, evidence in this area remains limited, and causality is difficult to establish.

One re...

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 by industry interests, oversimplifying nutritional nuance, or even directly contributing to rising obesity and metabolic disease rates.

In this episode, we critically assess common claims surrounding the Food Pyramid, including whether...

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 foods truly provoke inflammatory responses in the body.

The episode provides a nuanced, evidence-based look at inflammation and diet. It explains the difference between acute and chronic inflammation, outlines the role of chronic low-grade ...

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 we really talk about success without talking about maintenance?

While much of the public discourse fixates on dramatic weight loss numbers, the harder question is what comes next. Can lifestyle interventions alone sustain weight loss aft...

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 surprisingly large segment of the population may not get enough – an estimated 10% of U.S. individuals consume less than half the recommended zinc intake, putting them at risk of deficiency.

In this episode, Prof. Emily Ho discusses ho...

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 nutrition discourse: if you want to feel fuller, eat more protein. But how robust is that claim when you drill into the details of the evidence?

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 that impact food security, equitable access to nutritious food, and the broader socio-political frameworks influencing these outcomes?

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 if they’ve been unjustly demonized.

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 body for better health.

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 agencies, emulsifiers play a vital role in enhancing the texture, stability, and shelf-life of countless processed foods.

Nutrition is increasingly being considered as a modifiable factor that may influence neurodevelopmental outcomes. While severe deficiencies in certain nutrients are known to have dramatic effects, there is growing interest in the potential impact of more subtle insufficiencies — particularly during critical windows such as pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood.

This is a segment from one of our Premium-exclusive AMA (ask me anything) episodes, where we answer questions submitted by Premium subscribers.

The intersection of nutrition, dermatology, and skin health is an area of growing interest, yet one that remains riddled with misinformation and oversimplified claims.

Discussions around ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and their role in public health have gained significant traction in recent years. While some advocate for categorizing and regulating these foods due to their potential negative health effects, others argue that such classifications can oversimplify the issue and detract from more actionable dietary changes.

In the realm of health psychology, our understanding of eating behaviors extends beyond mere physiological hunger cues. Research indicates that factors such as learned associations, cultural influences, and individual perceptions play pivotal roles in shaping our dietary choices.

Sleep is one of the most critical yet often overlooked components of health, performance, and overall well-being. Poor sleep quality or insufficient sleep can disrupt circadian rhythms, impair glucose metabolism, and alter hunger signals, leading to increased food intake, reduced insulin sensitivity, and other undesirable outcomes.

There is research suggesting that industrialization has significantly altered the composition of our gut microbiota, with certain microbial species now absent in many industrialized populations.

Every five years, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines are updated based on the latest scientific evidence to help shape national nutrition recommendations. A panel of experts was assembled to review the existing research, evaluate new findings, and provide recommendations that will inform the next edition of the guidelines.