Balancing prevention with over-testing

Every week there’s a new study telling us what not to eat. 

Coffee is bad. Eggs are dangerous. Spinach blocks nutrients. Or so we’re told. 

Add in cholesterol numbers, preventative scans, detox trends and a constant stream of “toxic” food warnings online, and it’s easy to start second-guessing what’s on your plate. 

Eating was never meant to feel this stressful. So I sat down with Dr Joanna McMillan - nutrition scientist, dietitian, author of The Fibre Factor, and one of Australia’s most trusted voices in evidence-based nutrition to cut through the noise. 

Joanna has spent decades translating complex research into practical advice, and she brings much-needed sanity to the way we think about food and health. 

If you’ve ever panicked over a blood test result, felt unsure about whether to book another scan, or wondered who to trust when it comes to nutrition advice, this conversation will steady you. 

Joanna and I discuss: 

• The risk of becoming part of the “worried well” and over-testing your health 

• The big ticket preventative checks Joanna prioritises at milestone ages 

• What a coronary calcium score is and when it might be useful 

• Why full body MRI scans may not be the smartest health investment 

• The biggest nutrition myths circulating online, including anti-plant rhetoric 

• Joanna’s core eating philosophy as a plant-rich omnivore 

• Why diversity of fibre matters more than just soluble vs insoluble 

• What actually happens in your gut when you suddenly double your fibre intake 

• The supplements Joanna personally takes and how to assess supplement quality 

• Why joy at mealtimes might be one of the most underrated health habits 

Key quotes 

“There is a risk of overdoing it. We talk about the worried well, and sometimes you can become so worried about your health, you forget about celebrating the things that are good.” 

“Your body, given the right tools, does detox beautifully all by itself.” 

Connect with Dr Joanna McMillan on Instagram, LinkedIn, and her website, and check out her latest book The Fibre Factor. 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ 

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. 

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

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