Can we boost our health with a beverage? In this week's nugget we ask whether the green powder that is matcha is worth our attention. Can it perhaps help with attention (and cognition, and energy levels)? Would productivity in the work place go up if we replaced the 'Bean to Cup' machine with ceremonial grade matcha powder and a bamboo whisk?

Disclaimer: this last question may not be fully answered.

If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membership

You don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health; with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.And if you liked this episode please consider leaving us a rating or a review, it helps more people discover the podcast and supports our mission to share evidence-based nutrition.Further reading:

Sławińska, P.; Raczkowska, E. Matcha as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: A Review of Health-Promoting Properties and Potential Applications. Nutrients 2026, 18, 1613. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18101613

White, H.M., Meyer, B.R., McCormack, J.D. et al. Comparison of culinary and ceremonial matcha green teas: relationship between phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties. Food Measure 19, 7070–7079 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-025-03448-7

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Ayesha Sherzai MD, neurologist, researcher, and co-author of The 30 Day Alzheimer’s Solution, to explore one of the most important questions in modern medicine: how much control do we really have over the future health of our brains?

For decades, cognitive decline and dementia were often viewed as an inevitable consequence of ageing or genetics. But emerging research is painting a far more hopeful picture. Dr Sherzai explains how lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, social connection, and cognitive engagement may significantly influence long-term brain health and dementia risk.

We also discuss why brain health needs to become a much earlier public health priority rather than something we only think about later in life.

To find out more about the Sherzais' work:

https://www.thebraindocs.com/

To buy the book:

https://www.thebraindocs.com/books/

Further reading:

https://www.thelancet.com/commissions-do/dementia-prevention-intervention-and-care

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/diet-lifestyle-and-brain-health

If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membership

You don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health; with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.And if you liked this episode please consider leaving us a rating or a review, it helps more people discover the podcast and supports our mission to share evidence-based nutrition.

In this week's nugget we are back to evidence-based myth busting!

So, the American dietary guidelines favour olive oil, butter, and beef tallow. And urge caution on seed oils.

This isn't the first we've heard of it. Most of us have seen seed oils discussed in the context of ultra processed foods, leading us to wonder whether we should worry about cooking in a bit of sunflower or rapeseed oil. Thank goodness last month brought us a useful paper in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, with the title 'Concerns about the health effects of industrially produced seed oils are without scientific foundation'. Could there be more to say? Not really, but since the attacks on seed oils continue, it's good to unpack this one as a study of how things can get out of hand beyond social media.Full article: Concerns about the health effects of industrially produced seed oils are without scientific foundation: a scoping narrative review of the clinical and observational evidence

If you'd like to support our work and be part of a growing community of like-minded people working towards creating a healthier and more sustainable future please join the Plant-Based Health Professionals UK following the link below:
https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/membership
You don't have to be a health care professional to join, but by doing so you’re not only supporting our work, you'll be improving your own health; with membership starting from as little as £15 a year, join us now and be part of the change you want to see.