The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast

Today we invite Dr Amrita Vijay to the podcast. She is a leading scientific advisor and researcher specialising in the intersection of diet, the gut microbiome, and health. With a strong background in conducting nutritional interventions in both India and the UK, Dr Vijay explores how food influences inflammation, mood and overall well-being.

We discuss:

• The prebiotic potential of omega-3
• Why not all dietary fibres can be cons...

What if everything you thought you knew about cholesterol, fat, and metabolic health was up for debate? As someone interested in nutrition research, I’m always up for exploring differing points of view especially when they come from a rigorous scientific background and can speak to the evidence base. 

So in this episode, I sit down with Dr Nick Norwitz PhD, to challenge some of my long held positions in nutrition science an...

Today I’m joined by personal trainer Sophie Waplington to break down one of the biggest concerns for plant-based eaters: getting enough protein and maintaining strength.

We tackle common fears around plant-based eating, including:

🥩 "Am I getting enough protein without meat?"

💪 "Will I lose muscle if I switch to a plant-predominant diet?"

💰 "Is plant-based eating too expensive or complicated?"

Together, we explore the science of ...

Today, I’m joined by Professor Leigh Breen, a leading expert in muscle health and ageing. He’s Professor of Translational Muscle Physiology at the University of Birmingham, where he researches how exercise and nutrition can help us maintain muscle as we get older.

We’ll be covering:

✅ Why strength training is essential for healthy ageing

✅ The key exercises every older adult should be doing

✅ How much protein you actually need ...

Before we dive in, my new cookbook Healthy High Protein is out now…and it’s a Sunday Times bestseller! I'm super proud of this book and hope you love it too. You can get your copy here.

We know it can be hard to keep up with hours of podcast content every week. In fact, over the past couple of months alone, we’ve shared more than 48 hours of conversations!

So in today’s episode, we’ve distilled some of the key takeaways to sa...

Is ‘organic’ worth it or just clever marketing? We’ve all been there, standing in the supermarket, holding two identical-looking apples and wondering if the price difference is actually doing anything for our health. And if we want safer food, how do we push for a system where pesticide-free isn’t just for those who can afford organic? Today, I’m asking these big questions to Nick Mole from PAN UK.

We’ll dive into:

• What pesti...

“High protein” has turned into a bit of a marketing buzzword. I’m seeing it plastered on everything from snack bars to cereals and even crisps. Is this actually necessary? 

Are we getting enough protein in our diet, or are some of us actually under-consuming this vital macronutrient? Do we need supplements and powders or are whole foods enough? And what about the debate between animal based proteins and plant based?

That...

Feeding children can feel like a minefield. When should you start weaning, what should you start with, how to handle fussy eaters, and whether certain foods should be avoided altogether? In this episode with Charlotte Stirling-Reed, we’re diving into the science and practicalities of feeding babies, toddlers, and beyond to help parents feel more confident and less overwhelmed .. like me!

We explore weaning from the ground up, co...

What is your gut trying to tell you? It might not speak in words, but it’s always sending signals through your energy levels, mood or even our skin. But most of us don’t think about those little signs as part of a bigger picture.

And a blatant way your gut communicates your general state of health, is through the state of your poo! Quickly flushed away, many of us don’t take the time to examine our poop for signs of health, but ...

We know that gut health plays a crucial role in everything from digestion to immunity, weight management, and even mental well-being. But what does looking after your gut actually look like in practice?

In this episode, I’m again joined by Dr James Kinross a senior lecturer in colorectal surgery and consultant surgeon at Imperial College London, he’s a researcher, and author of Dark Matter, to explore the science behind our gut ...

What makes a mushroom ‘medicinal’ and are they worth the hype? How do these fungi differ from the everyday varieties we cook with? On this week’s episode of The Doctor’s Kitchen podcast, we’re diving deep into the fascinating world of mushrooms with our expert guest Tom Baxter. 

From Lion’s Mane to Reishi, we’ll explore the unique healing properties of these incredible organisms and what the research reveals about their pot...

In February 2018, Rebecca Devine, a mum of 4 children, was diagnosed with Glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive form of brain cancer, and given just 12-15 months to live.

Remarkably in 2025 she’s still here. And today we’re going to talk about her incredible story from diagnosis and treatment, to continual perseverance and ongoing health.

I met Rebecca recently at a small gathering hosted by Dr William Li for the angiogenesis fou...

I spend a ton of time exercising, but more recently I’ve wondered if I can direct my training to be as efficient as possible. If I’m going to spend hours each week on this activity, I want to ensure that I’m extracting the maximum amount of value I can from this time investment.

Coupled with the new perspective of being a father, I’m also interested in staying as fit, healthy and mentally sharp as I can. That’s why at the start ...

In this episode, TJ is going to walk us through a single day in the life of your brain through the lens of 4 neurochemicals - dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. 

From the moment you wake up to the way you wind down at night, TJ will guide us through the incredible influence of our brain chemistry and how simple, everyday habits can reshape our mental and physical health.

TJ’s new book, The DOSE Effect, shares...

Something I’ve become a lot more knowledgeable about after my training as a GP, is cholesterol. It’s probably the most important measurement every primary care doctor should know about, along with measures of metabolic health like weight, insulin resistance and blood pressure, but perhaps the least well understood.

On today's episode we do a deep dive into all things cholesterol and cardiovascular disease with Professor Kausik R...

Going into 2025, we all want to make changes. But instead of focusing on new goals, and perhaps stacking more habits on top of ones that you’ve already got, or failed at before, maybe it’s time to break free from habits that hold you back? Perhaps this is the reason why you struggle to make changes that last?

On today’s episode,  Dr Rangan and I unpack some of the concepts in his latest book “Make Change that Lasts”, diving...

Welcome to this quarterly review episode with Sakina, science writer & researcher at Doctor’s Kitchen. Every quarter, we pull together insights from recent expert-packed podcasts into one episode - to make it easier to take action.

👉 Tell us what you think & ask questions here.

Today, we dive into pain, which affects so many of us – whether it’s back pain, joint pain, headaches, IBS or chronic conditions like fibromy...

Dr Mindy Pelz is back on the show talking about what foods to break your fast with, the fat burning potential of specific ingredients and how she thinks about cooking food for health and vitality.

I love talking to various thought leaders across the health and wellbeing space, which is why I’ll speak to a professor of immunology, a psychologist and a chiropractitioner all on the same podcast. You don’t get many people in the nut...

Today we’re diving into how nutrition intersects with the complicated world of pain. Today I have former guest and colleague Prof. Dr Deepak Ravindran to talk to us about how our immune system can impact our perception of pain, the different types of pain patients and how we can do better as medical professionals in the management of chronic pain.

This topic covers IBS, pelvic pain, chronic cystitis, fibromyalgia, migraine, func...