In this bonus episode, we talk to the directors Dan Richardson and Giles Alderson about the story of their joint film, Food for Thought. We wanted to think about what a film like this could do to motivate people to follow a healthy, plant-based diet.

To watch the film:

https://foodforthoughtdoc.com/

This week we welcome Michael Metoudi, RD, M.Sc, a registered dietitian working within both research and clinical practice. Michael talks about his research on the knowledge and views held by registered dietitians in England and Northern Ireland on plant-based diets.

Michael holds a master in Molecular Medicine and has previously worked in clinical trials for immunotherapy-related cancer treatments at King’s College London.

During this time he found himself exposed to the emerging research into plant-based nutrition and the many benefits it can have in terms of human health. Attending the first PBHP conference in 2018 inspired him into to redirect the course of his career path into clinical nutrition.

Having obtained a masters in clinical nutrition and dietetics from University College Dublin, Michael now works in nutrition research as well as in clinic with clients of all ages, and within an eating disorders recovery centre.

Michael's published paper discussed:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jhn.13386

Link to the binge eating disorder factsheet:

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BingeEatingDisorder-250221.pdf

Link to the newly published position statement from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39923894/

It's over to Plant-Based Health Professionals researcher Isabelle Sadler for this week's nugget. PBHP UK have published groundbreaking research examining NHS hospital menus which shows that despite national recommendations to shift towards more sustainable, plant-forward diets, UK hospitals are showing limited progress in offering environmentally-friendly meal options.

The reference:How Sustainable Are Hospital Menus in the United Kingdom? Identifying Untapped Potential Based on a Novel Scoring System for Plant-Based Provisions Isabelle Sadler, Alexander Bauer, Shireen Kassamhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jhn.70019

Ahead of Rare Disease Day on the 28th February, we speak with nutritionist, author and lifestyle medicine professional Rohini Bajekal about a rarer form of diabetes, MODY, or maturity onset diabetes of the young. Rohini shared the challenges she had to overcome to finally reach her diagnosis of this rare genetic condition.

To connect with Rohini:www.rohinibajekal.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rohinibajekal Explanation of MODY: https://www.diabetesgenes.org/what-is-mody/

Guidelines for genetic testing in MODY: https://www.diabetesgenes.org/tests-for-diabetes-subtypes/guidelines-for-genetic-testing-in-mody/

MODY calculator tool: https://www.diabetesgenes.org/exeter-diabetes-app/

Genetic Test Referral Form: https://www.diabetesgenes.org/genetic-test-referral-forms/

Diabetes UK information: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/other-types-of-diabetes/mody

Example case study: https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/genotes/in-the-clinic/presentation-patient-with-incidental-finding-of-raised-blood-glucose/

Plant-Based Health Professionals UK Type 2 diabetes factsheet: https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Diabetes-factsheet08.11.24.pdf

References Discussed:

Chakera, A. J., Steele, A. M., Gloyn, A. L., Shepherd, M. H., Shields, B., Ellard, S., & Hattersley, A. T. (2015). Recognition and Management of Individuals With Hyperglycemia Because of a Heterozygous Glucokinase Mutation. Diabetes care, 38(7), 1383–1392. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc14-2769 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26106223/

Stride, A., Shields, B., Gill-Carey, O., Chakera, A. J., Colclough, K., Ellard, S., & Hattersley, A. T. (2014). Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies suggest pharmacological treatment used in patients with glucokinase mutations does not alter glycaemia. Diabetologia, 57(1), 54–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-013-3075-x https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24092492/

Steel AM, Shields BM, Wensley KJ and others. ‘Prevalence of vascular complications among patients with glucokinase mutations and prolonged, mild hyperglycemia’. Journal of the American Medical Association 2014: volume 311, issue 3, pages 279–286. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2013.283980 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1814212

Are you literally sick of bringing home the bacon? Good news is plant-based diets are not only healthier, but they can also be cheaper. In this week's nugget Daisy and Clare discuss ideas to save money on your food bill. And if money worries are keeping you up at night, you can find a full explanation of cognitive shuffling and more in Jane Thurnell- Reed's book:
Health & Wellbeing on a Budget: Simple and Affordable Strategies for a Healthier, Happier You

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Wellbeing-Budget-Affordable-Strategies/dp/1739294149https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00251-5/fulltext

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9321292/

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808910

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/plant-based-on-a-budget-

This week we had the pleasuring of speaking with the fabulous skin specialist, Star Khechara. With a 20 year career spanning skincare formulation and nutrition – author of The Holistic Beauty Book, original founder of Formula Botanica, creator of The Facelift Diet® and leader of Skin Nutrition Institute – Star has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to skin health.We cover why skin is so important, and how our skin is a reflection of our overall internal health.She tells us how our diets and lifestyle can impact its protective barrier, what a good skin care regimen looks like, how to combat the signs of ageing, and finally how to treat problematic skin conditions such as acne. To learn more about Star's work:https://www.starkhechara.com/

Other links from the pre interview chat:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PLANTS-FIRST-HEALTHCARE-REPORT-R.pdf

https://ukhealthalliance.org/news-item/government-urged-to-stop-multi-million-pound-campaign-promoting-meat-and-dairy/

https://feedbackglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AHDB-Jan-2025.pdf

This week's nugget reacts to the latest efforts by the dairy industry to make cow's milk more 'sustainable'. We'll be talking about Bovaer which is a compound added to feed to reduce the amount of methane produced by cows.

You can listen to more on dairy with our brilliant guests if you check out 'Strength to go dairy-free: milk choices, with Rosie Martin RD' and 'Hip hip hooray: here's to fracture free living and healthy bones on a plant-based diet, with Dr Rajiv Bajekal.'

Dr Ajaz is a Specialist Hepatologist and a Lifestyle Medicine Physician, and her work intersects clinical medicine and research within the Institute of Liver Studies at King’s College Hospital. She is also an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences.She established the LIVFIT group, the UK’s first patient support group for metabolic dysfunction- associated steatotic liver disease ( MASLD), where lifestyle medicine is a key part of improving cardio-metabolic health, through nutrition, exercise and social connection.In this fascinating discussion you will learn all about MASLD, previously named non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We talk about why the name changed, how prevalent the condition is, how it is diagnosed and what treatment options are available.So whether you are a clinician, or a patient with a metabolic health condition, or just curious about improving your health and preventing common conditions related to metabolic dysfunction then this episode is for you.To connect with Dr Ajaz and LIVFIT follow these links:https://www.kch.nhs.uk/about/get-involved/groups-and-events/livfit/https://www.linkedin.com/in/saima-ajaz/?originalSubdomain=ukFurther information:https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278(24)00329-5/fulltextTo send us an email :inanutshellpodcastuk@gmail.com