The Eat This Podcast with Dr. Alan Desmond

“You get more out of your workout when you’re fueled by plants. That’s the whole point.”

Today, I’m joined by two leading voices in plant-based fitness—Robert Cheeke, former champion bodybuilder, and Matt Frazier, ultrarunner and founder of No Meat Athlete - to explain why a plant-based diet may be the key to unlocking world class athletic performance.

Together, they co-authored the New York Times bestseller The Plant-Based Athlete: A Game-Changing Approach to Peak Performance and in this episode, they share everything you need to know to fuel your body, build muscle, and smash your personal fitness goals - with plants.

We discuss:

• The science behind faster recovery and greater endurance on a plant-based diet
• How to meet your protein needs—without obsessing over powders
• What elite athletes actually eat in a day (spoiler: there’s no one-size-fits-all)
• Why plant-based performance is no longer a secret weapon—it’s a competitive edge

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned athlete, this conversation is packed with actionable advice to help you train smarter, recover faster, and thrive on plants.

Get the book: The Plant-Based Athlete: A Game-Changing Approach to Peak Performance

Follow Robert on Instagram: @robert.cheeke

Follow Matt and the No Meat Athlete community: @nomeatathlete_official

Learn more: www.nomeatathlete.com

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Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads X/Twitter
Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods.
Shop their entire range at linwoodshealthfoods.com and use code DESMOND for a 15% saving and free delivery.

Yogurt is a multi-billion dollar industry - and is heavily advertised as a gut microbiome-boosting super food. But what does the scientific literature actually tell us about yogurt and gut health?

• The History of Yogurt: How yogurt became a Western staple, moving from niche food to health product.
• What Science Actually Says About Yogurt: Why those ‘live probiotic cultures’ never reach your microbiome.
• Is Kefir Truly a Superior Option for Gut Health?
• Plant-Based Alternatives: Can non-dairy options like soy yogurt offer better health benefits?
• Environmental Impact: Comparing the carbon footprint of dairy yogurt versus plant-based alternatives.
• Final Verdict: Is yogurt really essential for better gut health, or is it all just clever marketing?

I hope this episode helps you look beyond the advertising and make evidence-based choices that genuinely safeguard your digestive health.

Links to some of the key papers mentioned in today’s episode:

Long-term dietary patterns are associated with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory features of the gut microbiome.

Effects of Regular Kefir Consumption on Gut Microbiota in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Parallel-Group, Randomized, Controlled Study

Is consuming yoghurt associated with weight management outcomes? Results from a systematic review

The Effects of Kefir and Kefir Components on Immune and Metabolic Physiology in Pre-Clinical Studies: A Narrative Review

A comparison of the nutritional profile and nutrient density of commercially available plant-based and dairy yogurts in the United State

Updates and tickets to live podcast recordings: Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads X/Twitter
Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods.
Shop their entire range at linwoodshealthfoods.com and use code DESMOND for a 15% saving and free delivery.

“Momentum breeds momentum. Don’t ever feel like you’re not making a difference—because I promise, you are.”

Today, we're sitting down with sustainability advocate Klaus Mitchell, the powerhouse behind Plant Based News. If you’ve watched a viral video about veganism, sustainability, or plant-based health in the last decade—there’s a good chance Klaus and his team were behind it.

With an online platform reaching over 85 million people every month, Klaus has helped shape influential Netflix documentaries, interviewed A-list changemakers like Joaquin Phoenix, and taken the stage at the UN’s COP climate conference to advocate for a better food system.

In this inspiring conversation, Klaus takes us behind the scenes—from launching Plant Based News in his parents’ back garden greenhouse to becoming one of the most impactful media voices in the global movement for sustainable food.

We explore the realities of burnout, misinformation, and advocacy —and why hope and storytelling remain our most powerful tools. A timely reminder that each of us can drive positive change, every single day.

Follow Klaus Mitchell: Instagram X/Twitter KlausMItchell.com

Follow Plant Based News: Instagram X/Twitter YouTube.com

Tune in: Plant Based News Podcast

Updates and tickets to live podcast recordings: Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads X/Twitter
Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods.
Shop their entire range at linwoodshealthfoods.com and use code DESMOND for a 15% saving and free delivery.

This bite-sized episode tackles a question that comes up time and time again: Do vegans eat too many highly processed foods? This discussion was sparked by a live Q&A with The Happy Pear, where we explored what the evidence really says about diet quality in vegans.

We break down the differences between a vegan diet and a whole food plant-based diet, looking at how food choices impact overall health. Plus, if you’re vegan (or thinking about making the switch), we share some practical tips on how to keep your diet as healthy as possible—maximizing nutrients, minimizing ultra-processed foods, and making plant-based eating work for you.

Join us as we separate fact from fiction and help you build a balanced, nourishing diet that supports long-term health.

Follow Stephen and David Flynn—The Happy Pear —on Instagram and YouTube.
Buy “The Happy Pear 20: Recipes and Learnings from the First 20 Years” on Amazon UK, Amazon US, and at all good booksellers.

Updates and tickets to live podcast recordings: Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads X/Twitter
Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods.
Shop their entire range at linwoodshealthfoods.com and use code DESMOND for a 15% saving and free delivery.

Thanks to the standard Western diet and our busy modern lifestyles, gut health issues like acid reflux and diverticular disease have become so common that we almost accept them as normal.

In this live episode recorded in Washington D.C. with Chuck Carroll of The Exam Room Podcast, I break down what’s really driving these gut problems — and how the food on your plate can be your most powerful medicine.

We dive into the science behind gut-friendly diets, the essential role of fibre, and why millions of people are set up for gut issues by a low-fibre, meat-heavy diet. I also share a story from a visit to a U.S. pharmacy that made the connection between diet, disease, and drugstore shelves all too clear.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why diverticular disease has become so common in countries following a Western-style diet
• How fibre protects your gut — and how low-fibre diets increase hospitalisations
• What you need to know about acid reflux and GERD — and how to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms
• The problem with relying on antacids long-term
• Why high-fat meals can make reflux worse — and the case for a high-fibre, low-fat diet
• The gut health red flags I spotted in the pharmacy aisle
• The simple, evidence-based changes that can transform your gut health

If you or someone you care about is struggling with gut symptoms — or just wants to support long-term gut health — this episode is packed with practical advice and powerful insights.

If you enjoyed this conversation then you’ll love: The Exam Room Podcast from the Physicians Committee.

Follow Chuck Carroll: on Instagram

Want more gut health insights? The Real Science Behind Gut Health And Food Intolerances - What Everybody With Gut Problems Needs To Know.

Updates and tickets to live podcast recordings: Join the mailing list
Connect with Dr Alan Desmond Instagram Threads X/Twitter
Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods.
Shop their entire range at linwoodshealthfoods.com and use code DESMOND for a 15% saving and free delivery.