ZOE Science & Nutrition

Prof Tim Spector, epidemiologist specializing in gut health and ultra-processed foods, and Prof Brian Elbel, population health researcher using big data and policy levers, discuss how the food system shapes public health. They explore what counts as ultra-processed food, why these products are problematic, and policy steps like taxes, marketing limits, and school interventions to shift diets at scale.

Dr Giulia Enders, gastroenterologist and bestselling author who makes gut and body science relatable. She argues that symptoms are often protective, explains how sleep, stress, sugar and the microbiome steer immune balance, and explores when to treat symptoms versus let them run their course. Practical tips include diet, sleep routines, stress reduction and exercise to support a balanced immune response.

Professor Sarah Berry, nutrition scientist who studies diet for mental health, and Dr Judith Joseph, psychiatrist focusing on high-functioning depression, join the conversation. They define anhedonia and how functioning depression hides. Practical frameworks for validation, values and small wins are shared. The role of whole plant foods, fiber, omega-3s and gut health for mood is explored.

Dr Ania Jastreboff, physician-scientist and director of Yale Obesity Research Center, led major GLP-1 trials and co-wrote Enough. She explains how GLP-1 drugs recalibrate appetite and why weight often returns after stopping. She outlines health benefits beyond weight, differences between drugs like Ozempic and tirzepatide, key side effects to expect, and practical dosing and lifestyle tips to use them safely.

Dr Will Bulsiewicz, gastroenterologist and gut-health expert, explains the brain–gut axis and why gut and mood are so linked. He discusses how gut signals reach the brain, the enteric nervous system’s role, microbiome chemicals that affect nerve sensitivity and inflammation, and practical dietary approaches balancing low FODMAP relief with fibre and plant diversity.

Dr William Li, physician-scientist and two-time NYT bestselling author who leads the Eat to Beat Cancer initiative, joins to talk food and cancer. He highlights how inflammation, environment and ultra-processed foods tip the balance. He spotlights tomatoes, berries, apples, coffee and soy, plus the gut microbiome and simple lifestyle patterns that support the body’s natural defenses.

Dr Federica Amati, clinician and nutrition expert, and Prof Tim Spector, epidemiologist and microbiome researcher. They spotlight three inflammation-fighting foods. They discuss broccoli and sulforaphane, extra virgin olive oil’s polyphenols, and high-cocoa dark chocolate. Practical cooking tips and why juice cleanses can harm gut microbes are also covered.

Prof Tim Spector, an epidemiologist who co-founded ZOE, explains gut microbiome testing and biomarkers. Dr Federica Amati, ZOE’s Head Nutritionist, shares practical tips on plant diversity, fiber, and meal habits. They discuss quick mood and energy shifts, the 30 plants weekly idea, simple breakfast swaps, and how small consistent changes can alter cravings and wellbeing within days.

Prof Tim Spector, epidemiologist and gut microbiome researcher, explores how coffee and matcha affect the body. He compares caffeine effects, explains how l-theanine in matcha softens stimulation, and outlines nutritional and polyphenol differences. He discusses evidence gaps and practical ways to combine both for balance.

Prof James Betts, a physiology professor at the University of Bath who researches meal timing and fasting. He explains what truly counts as a fast and why small calories can cancel benefits. He contrasts fasting styles like 5:2 and time-restricted eating. He discusses hunger dynamics, what you can drink during a fast, and why planning your first meal matters.