Degrees of Health
Benjamin Hopkins and Eloise Desoutter
We exist to connect the dots across health disciplines, and to share information that gives you the agency to change the trajectory of your own health journey - wherever you are at. The health industry is siloed, confusing and means we're often in the back seat, with little to no belief in our autonomy to improve our health status. We're here to change that and to highlight the ways that you can too.
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Top 10 Degrees of Health Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Degrees of Health episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Degrees of Health for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Degrees of Health episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Dr Dom D'Agostino | Augmenting Cancer Outcomes: Ketogenic Diets, Caloric Restriction & Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Degrees of Health
10/15/24 • 77 min
This podcast episode features an in-depth conversation on metabolic therapies and their potential in cancer treatment, particularly focused on glioblastoma and other glycolytic cancers. Our guest, Dr Dom D'Agostino, a researcher and professor with a diverse background in neuroscience, molecular pharmacology, nutrition and physiology, has a particular interest in metabolic therapies. Dr Dom shares how manipulating the body’s metabolism through the glucose ketone index (GKI), therapeutic ketogenic diets, and redox therapies can improve cancer outcomes by reducing tumour growth and enhancing standard treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. We also explore the synergies of non-toxic therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen, metformin, and IV vitamin C, and how these could potentially reduce the side effects and overall outcomes of cancer treatment.
We cover:
🩺 Standard cancer care with and without metabolic interventions
💊 Managing seizures with ketogenic therapies - a superior alternative to anti-seizure drugs
🍽 The power of fasting and the importance of protein intake in chemotherapy and cancer augmentation
🔥 Why certain cancers are more susceptible to metabolic-based therapies
🔬 How overall mitochondrial health dictates cancer cell transformation
Dom also touches on the fundamental relationship between liver health and cancer growth and metabolic strategies to prevent cancer. If you're interested in the intersection of nutrition and cancer or wondering how far we are from keto becoming part of standard care, this is a must-listen episode.
Find Dom:
Metabolic Health Summit YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
Cancer cases attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors
Fasting Cycles Retard Growth of Tumors and Sensitize a Range of Cancer Cell Types to Chemotherapy
Ketones inhibit mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species
The Ketogenic Diet and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Prolong Survival
Metabolic management of glioblastoma ...with a restricted ketogenic diet
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Dr Mitesh Patel | YOUR MIND MATTERS - Tele-Therapy, Tech, and Transformation in Mental Health
Degrees of Health
09/17/24 • 48 min
Mental health - we all have it. Yep, even you.
We are all getting so good at looking after the various aspects of our physical health - nutrition, types of exercise, light exposure, cold baths - whatever your bag is, we're here for it. And many are catching on that the same approach can be used to look at aspects of our mental health. There are things we know make us feel great and then things we do that make us feel... well, not so great. We're human and we have and will continue to get that balance wrong a lot. But we believe part of getting it wrong a little less is being aware of what those things are. Enter the world of therapy that can help us with this process of discovery, identification and support in understanding our rationale behind behaviours that no longer serve us present day and illuminating a world in which we might be able to make differences choices.
Here, we're speaking with Dr. Mitesh Patel discussing mental health and psychiatry. Mitesh talks about the pyramid of sound foundational principles - what we can do to foster sound mental health - and offers a unique perspective of what this field of work is highlighting at the moment. We cover:
💭 Mistruths around what it means to mentally well
💛 Emotional language mapping for young children in schools
🚫 Social media diets
🥽 The future of psychiatry - in-person, telehealth therapy, VR therapy
🛠️ Psychedelics for positive change - micro dosing, assisted therapies, guided trips
Find Mitesh:
Mentioned in this episode:
Film - Her
Film - Ready Player 1
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Mary Newport, M.D. Part 2 | Brain Fuel: How Coconut Oil and MCTs Can Transform the Alzheimer's Brain
Degrees of Health
10/02/24 • 43 min
PART 2! If you or someone you love is affected by Alzheimers, this is for you. If you believe you’re at risk genetically or you want to prevent your own cognitive decline, this is also for you. If you’re curious about the role of ketones and the ketogenic diet in brain health, this is absolutely for you.
Find Mary Newport:
Mentioned in this episode:
Use of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil in subjects with Alzheimer's disease
Study of the ketogenic agent AC-1202 in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease
Dr Stephen Cunane. Can Ketones Help Rescue Brain Fuel Supply in Later Life?
Low-fat versus ketogenic diet in Parkinson's disease:
Study due 2025: Refueling the post COVID-19 brain: potential role of ketogenic medium chain triglyceride supplementation: an hypothesis
A short history of saturated fat: the making and unmaking of a scientific consensus
Lauric acid promotes neuronal maturation mediated by astrocytes in primary cortical cultures
Metabolical by Robert Lustig
Cancer as a Metabolic Disease by Thomas Seyfried
Ravenous by Sam Apple
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Mary Newport, M.D. Part 1 | Brain Fuel: How Coconut Oil and MCTs Can Transform the Alzheimer's Brain
Degrees of Health
10/02/24 • 48 min
PART 1! If you or someone you love is affected by Alzheimers, this is for you. If you believe you’re at risk genetically or you want to prevent your own cognitive decline, this is also for you. If you’re curious about the role of ketones and the ketogenic diet in brain health, this is absolutely for you.
Dr. Mary Newport, neonatologist, author and certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist, shares her personal story of using a ketogenic diet to support her late husband, Steve, in his battle against early-onset Alzheimer’s. She explains the science behind ketones and how they serve as an alternative fuel for the brain. This episode doesn’t only offer insight into how ketones can improve cognitive function, mood, and overall quality of life, it also provides a very valid explanation for how they can be used to improve already existing cognitive decline.
We cover (but so much more too):
🧠 The brain-energy gap – how ketones bridge the gap
🥥 MCT oil and coconut oil – their structures and unique role in producing ketones
🍼 The connection between MCTs in breast milk and infant brain development
🔥 Ketones: anti-inflammatory, appetite-suppressing, and brain-protective properties
🩺 Can ketones prevent Alzheimer’s in high-risk individuals?
🔬 Research on ketone esters and future treatments for cognitive decline
Dr. Newport also touches on the need for more research into the use of ketones for Alzheimer's, the impact on inflammation and cerebral blood flow, and the challenges to traditional low-fat dietary guidelines. She emphasises the potential of ketogenic diets to improve brain health both in slowing the development of Alzheimer's and as a preventative measure, and discusses her upcoming book on dietary guidelines and brain ageing.
Find Mary:
Mentioned in this episode:
Reference list on Mary Newport's website
Full reference list can be found in Part 2
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L.J. Amaral, MS, RD, CSO | The future of oncology isn’t just in the lab - it’s on your plate
Degrees of Health
12/11/24 • 62 min
LJ Amaral dives us deep into the world of metabolic therapies and the ketogenic diet as a potential treatment for cancer. LJ shares valuable insights into the promising intersection of diet and cancer care and her pioneering research in the field makes this a must-listen for anyone interested in personalised cancer treatments and improving quality of life through dietary changes.
We cover (but so much more too):
📖 The Warburg theory - understanding a cancer cells’ glucose dependence
🥑 Getting the fat equation right - omega-3s, whole fats, and tips for sticking to a high-fat diet. And why fat matters more than protein here...
🫒 Keto vs. Keto for cancer - dramatic tumour reductions and improved patient-reported outcomes in fatigue and cognition
💡 Future research - ketosis thresholds, 428 ongoing clinical trials, and personalised metabolic therapies
🩺 Patient-centered care in cancer treatment - respecting choices while providing evidence-backed support
🌟 BHB and inflammation - how ketones stabilise damaged cells and improve outcomes
LJ Amaral’s commitment to extending healthspan and improving quality of life shines through. Her belief in the importance of maintaining hope and collaboration between patients and clinicians is inspiring.
Find LJ:
Mentioned in this episode:
Keto Nutrition.org - also see our episode with Dom D’Agostino
Keto Mojo by Miriam Kalamian
Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss
Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
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Dr. Kate Balestrieri | Modern Intimacy and The Nuances of Sex: Trading Judgement for Curiosity
Degrees of Health
11/20/24 • 61 min
Just how judgey are we when it comes to sex? With ourselves, with our partners, with friends, when listening to others online... Be honest. What benefit does it serve? Or a better question to ask perhaps is what damage might it be doing?❗Whether you’re navigating your own relationship challenges or seeking deeper insights into your own sexual exploration, listen here to Dr Kate because it's a rich and honest conversation that might just reshape how you think about and experience intimacy, equality, and desire.
Dr. Kate, who has spent thousands of hours with individuals and couples in private practice, shares with us the complexities of sexual struggles that are often silenced. And what's most sad to Dr Kate is just how many people tolerate dissatisfaction in their relationships, and never experience the full potential of their intimate capacity.
We unpack a lot in this episode:
🤨 Can we trade out judgement for curiosity when it comes to ... well everything, but sex in particular?
🪝 Hook up culture - what happens when we only focus on individual rather than shared pleasure?
🖋️ Better sex education (not excl. anatomy + pleasure) and pleasure equity
👨 The challenges men face in being emotionally present balanced with still proving that they check all the boxes of 'what it means to be a man'
🍼 How intimacy evolves and changes (!) over time, the inequities of emotional labor and discrepancies in desire
Some tougher topics to face: --Why do happy people cheat? --How do trauma and dissociation impact intimacy? --What does it take to create the psychological and emotional space necessary for genuine connection?
Dr. Kate is relentlessly positive in her regard and nothing is off the table to explore. She shares actionable advice on how couples can work at building shared realities, breaking down barriers to arousal, and cultivating a sense of safety and play.
Mentioned in this episode:
She Comes First by Ian Kerner (see previous episode with Ian)
Come As You Are - Emily Nagoski
Kate Mann - Down Girl; Entitled
The Patriachs by Angela Saini
Everyday Sexism - Laura Bates
Yes, Mistress by Alicia Zadig
Find Kate:
Podcast: Get Naked with Dr Kate
Book release Feb 2025 - What Happened To My Sex Life?
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Dr Thomas Seager, PhD | The Metabolic Theory of Cancer: Mitochondrial Defects, Cold Water and Ketosis
Degrees of Health
08/28/24 • 55 min
Thomas Seager joins us again for a conversation challenging the conventional understanding of cancer. Thomas argues that the war on cancer, launched over 50 years ago, has failed to make significant strides in combatting the disease due to a fundamental misunderstanding of its origins.
With scientific clarity, Dr. Seager explains:
🔬the theory of cancer as a metabolic disease, beginning with defects in mitochondrial DNA, rather than the previously believed nuclear DNA
🍯 how glucose metabolism plays a crucial role in cancer growth
💧 ketosis and cold exposure therapies in inhibiting tumour growth
🏆 inspiring case studies using cold water to combat cancer (see episode with Dean Hall)
⚠️ the limitations of traditional cancer treatments (chemotherapy and radiation) and the need for more research and openness towards alternative and/or adjunct therapies focused on metabolic health, mitochondrial function, and lifestyle choices.
If you know of someone with cancer at the moment, share this with them. Or better yet, read the papers and books mentioned below and entertain the possibility that there may be additional things you can do to revolutionise their cancer care and improve the prognosis for a loved one. Surely that's worth a read.
Find Thomas:
Twitter & Instagram: @seagertp
Mentioned in this episode:
Book: Uncommon Cold by Thomas Seager
Study - Cancer as a metabolic disease: implications for novel therapeutics
Book - Cancer As A Metabolic Disease by Thomas Seyfried
Study - Brown-fat-mediated tumour suppression by cold-altered global metabolism
DNA repair and anti-cancer mechanisms in the longest-living mammal: the bowhead whale
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Dr Lauren Burns, PhD OAM OLY | An Olympic Mindset Masterclass
Degrees of Health
07/24/24 • 60 min
The opportunity to sit down with an Olympic gold medallist is a rare one - but an even rarer opportunity is to speak with an Olympic athlete-naturopath-nutritionist-performance coach-author-keynote speaker in one. Don't believe us? Introducing Dr Lauren Burns, PhD OAM OLY. Lauren has a unique perspective of how we can each tap into our inner resources to bring about desired outcomes in our lives and has developed her career to foster that in others through her coaching, speaking and books.
Here, Ben and Lauren discuss:
⭕ The Circle of Lifestyle - Lauren's holistic method to elevate individual potential
🔄 Supportive networks and feedback loops in and out of high-performance sports
⌛ 20-Year Plans and Seasonal Plans - where people struggle most with goal-setting
🤝 Stress resilience in relationships - the benefits of quality alliances
🧍 Personalised medicine and tailored health practices
💭 Reframing negative self-talk
If you don't get the opportunity to watch the whole thing - we invite you to think about this question from Lauren: When you get to the end of your life, what do you want to look back and have done? Life is too long not to.
Find Lauren:
Lauren’s Books: Fighting Spirit (autobiography) & Food from a Loving Home (cookbook)
Mentioned in this episode:
-Supportive interpersonal relationships: a key component to high-performance sport
Lending a Hand: Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat
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Professor Russell Foster | "The quality of your life is downstream of your circadian biology"
Degrees of Health
07/17/24 • 61 min
Russell Foster is a Professor of Circadian Neuroscience and the Head of Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford. Russell has received globally renowned prizes, medals and awards for his discovery of non-rod, non-cone ocular photoreceptors - which he explains in this episode is revelatory in our understanding and application of circadian biology.
Here, we learn:
😴 Disrupted sleep-wake cycles and associated health issues
⏰ Sleep individuality - aligning sleep-wake patterns with your biology
🔵 Blue light blockers may not be as effective as previously thought
💤 Melatonin as a mild modulator of sleep and not a sleep hormone
👫 Gender differences in the circadian system - and the future of this research
💡 Potential of light therapy to optimise sleep and treating sleep-related disorders
Find Russell:
Book - Life Time
Mentioned in this podcast:
Study - Effect of early and late light exposure on the inherited retinal degeneration in rats
Lux Measurement Apps - search on App Store
Study - Sex Differences in Behavior and Learning Abilities in Adult Rats
Study - Shift Work Disorder Among Oil Rig Workers in the North Sea
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Professor of Behavioural Psychology John Parkinson | "When do we stop and think, I can change this"?
Degrees of Health
08/21/24 • 65 min
We can all talk a good game - but how often do we actually deliver on the goods? If we know what we need to do to feel good, to attain and maintain good health, and achieve our goals and desires - why is that we find ourselves not doing the things?! Professor John Parkinson and Ben dive head first into the theories of behavioural psychology behind these patterns in us - where they come from, why they develop and what we can do to change them.
Here we cover:
🎯 The Intention-Action Gap
💡 The need for specificity in setting and achieving goals
🧠 Optimists and pessimists - do you believe you can or you can’t?
🏆 Fear of failing - we all know it, so what do we do with it?
🎲 Gamifying life - “how would you live differently if you viewed life as a game?”
👫 Gender differences in achievement, and optimism.
💪 Self-determination theory and 3 core motivating categories
Listen in to John and Ben's open discussion on how to stack the deck in your favour through understanding what is driving our behaviour, self-awareness and optimising your environment for goal achievement.
Find John:
Public Health Wales - Behavioural Science Unit Website
Wales Centre for Behavioural Change blog
Mentioned in this episode:
Psychology Students’ Marathon Achievements
Book - Super Better by Jane McGonigal
Study - Motivation and Behaviour Change in Parkrun Participants
Book - Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Book - Determined: Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky
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FAQ
How many episodes does Degrees of Health have?
Degrees of Health currently has 51 episodes available.
What topics does Degrees of Health cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Emotional Health, Mental Health, Community, Podcasts, Social Sciences, Science and Health.
What is the most popular episode on Degrees of Health?
The episode title 'Professor Russell Foster | "The quality of your life is downstream of your circadian biology"' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Degrees of Health?
The average episode length on Degrees of Health is 60 minutes.
How often are episodes of Degrees of Health released?
Episodes of Degrees of Health are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Degrees of Health?
The first episode of Degrees of Health was released on Dec 12, 2023.
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