This podcast examines the accelerating global prevalence of chronic diseases, particularly Early-Onset Colo-Rectal Cancer (EOCRC), and its likely link to modifiable lifestyle exposures. The analysis spotlights a recent study that examined the consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) as a major potential risk factor for the development of EOCRC precursors. While the researchers did not find sufficient evidence to directly associate UPF intake with EOCRC, they identified a 45% higher risk of early-onset conventional adenomas—disease precursors—among the highest consumers of UPFs in the cohort. The study’s limited findings on actual cancer incidence may be due to participants being health professionals whose UPF intake was substantially lower than that of the average American, thereby supporting the overall hypothesis that avoiding these foods helps mitigate risk.

Podcast (~15 min)

Source: https://foodmedcenter.org/study-spotlight-take-away-with-chef-dr-mike-upfs-and-colon-cancer/

This podcast examines the accelerating trend of industrial food additives in the American food supply, citing a study that tracked household purchases between 2001 and 2019. This analysis reveals that over 60 percent of packaged foods purchased by consumers now contain these additives, often referred to as Markers of Ultra-Processing (MUPs), and that the average product shows an increase in the total number of additives over time. Specifically, the source highlights that categories such as frozen entrées contain an extremely high count of additives. At the same time, baby foods have seen significant growth in both sales and products containing three or more additives. This phenomenon is concerning because many newly introduced chemicals lack Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and have largely unknown health consequences, including potential links to disruption of the gut microbiota and direct cytotoxic effects. Effects demonstrated by commonly used preservatives.

This podcast examines the common belief that fasting negatively impacts cognitive function. The podcast discusses a meta-analysis of 63 studies that found no meaningful difference in cognitive performance between healthy, fasted adults and satiated adults, supporting the feasibility of short-term fasting. The authors caution, however, that children and adolescents may exhibit reduced cognitive performance when skipping meals, likely due to their still-developing brains. Overall, the data support the idea that fasting practices such as intermittent fasting (IF) and time-restricted eating (TRE) are safe for the average adult’s brain health, contradicting conventional wisdom.

This podcast examines the relationship between dietary choices and genetic expression, a concept supported by the centuries-old notion that "you are what you eat." The podcast highlights the modern ability to identify how food can influence specific genes, turning them on or off, leading to different molecular outcomes, or phenotypes. This is illustrated by summarizing a longitudinal study involving baboons that demonstrated significant changes in gene expression across different tissues and sexes when their diet was switched from a traditional baboon diet to a baboon equivalent of a modern Western diet. Ultimately, diet strategies need to be based on an individual's unique genetic profile and the context-dependent nature of gene expression.

This podcast examines the conventional wisdom suggesting that caffeine consumption increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib). The podcast highlights that this widely accepted belief among healthcare professionals is not supported by recent evidence, citing a prospective, randomized clinical trial showing that patients with A-Fib who consumed caffeinated coffee had a lower recurrence rate of A-Fib than those who abstained. The podcast notes that coffee’s total composition, which includes anti-inflammatory compounds, may actually offer a protective effect against A-Fib, suggesting that focusing on single ingredients like caffeine can be misleading, and that often, particularly when it comes to food and health, the conventional wisdom is neither.

This podcast discusses the findings of an observational study presented at the 2025 Congress of ECTRIMS regarding a potential link between ultraprocessed food (UPF) consumption and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) activity. The study followed patients with Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) for five years and found that while UPFs did not trigger MS onset, higher consumption correlated with greater lesion volume, lower neurological function scores, and a statistically significant increase in relapse risk among those who developed MS. The study suggests that UPFs may act as chronic inflammatory accelerants rather than as a cause of the disease, and recommends avoiding them as an early MS management strategy.

This podcast, based on an article titled "Weight and Health Study Spotlight Take-Away with Chef Dr. Mike," examines the phenomenon of "weight cycling" or "yo-yo dieting" in America. This podcast highlights that aesthetics, not health, is the primary motivation for the estimated 50 million Americans who spend over $70 billion annually on weight-loss products, despite the short-term nature and frequent failure of fad diets. The podcast examines a qualitative study of weight-cycling adults that connects dieting for appearance to negative behaviors like disordered eating, low self-esteem, and increased risks of cardiovascular disease. Ultimately, the evidence suggests long-term, self-aware ,healthy lifestyle choices and intuitive eating may be better than quick-fix dietary methods.

This podcast focuses on the gut microbiome and depression, specifically exploring the link through the microbiome-gut-brain (MGB-Axis) and reviewing a meta-analysis on the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in alleviating depressive symptoms. The analysis suggests that FMT can provide short- to mid-term improvements, particularly in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), by modulating the gut environment, reducing inflammation, and promoting neurotransmitter synthesis. Overall, the content emphasizes the growing importance of diet and the gut-brain axis in managing both physical and mental well-being, suggesting that nutritional and microbial interventions are promising therapeutic strategies.