Optimum Nutrition – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of the Optimum Nutrition podcast, host Natalie Li speaks with Tom Baxter, farmer and founder of the Bristol Fungarium, which produces the UK's first organic certified medicinal mushrooms.

Tom explores the journey of mushroom farming, the health benefits of various mushrooms like Reishi and Lion's Mane, and the science behind their medicinal properties. Tom shares insights into the challenges faced by the mushroom industry, the cultural significance of fungi, and the future trends in mushroom consumption.

This conversation highlights the importance of soil health and the potential of mushrooms to address various health issues, making it a rich resource for anyone interested in nutrition and wellness. 

If you want to support their work or try their tinctures, head over to bristolfungarium.com and explore their offerings. 

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.

In this episode, Dan Kittredge – founder of the Bionutrient Food Association and the Bionutrient Institute – takes us on a journey from his roots on an organic farm to leading a global movement for better food. 

He breaks down the concept of nutrient density, why soil health matters more than ever, and how citizen science is empowering everyday consumers to demand higher-quality food. 

Dan shares simple, actionable steps farmers can take to improve crop nutrition and outlines a bold vision for shifting agriculture’s focus from yield to quality. If you’ve ever wondered what’s really in your food and how it impacts your health, this episode is your wake-up call.

Chapters 

00:00 The Journey of Dan Kittredge

05:34 Understanding Nutrient Density

15:49 The Science of Soil Health and Food Quality

22:29 Empowering Consumers through Citizen Science

23:43 The Nutritional Decline Across Generations

25:32 Transforming Soil Health: A Simple Approach

30:42 Shifting Focus: From Yield to Quality in Agriculture

32:10 The Role of Citizen Science in Agriculture

33:50 Defining Nutrient Density: A New Framework

35:07 The Future of Food: Enhancing Nutrient Density

39:19 Global Outreach: Building a Movement for Change

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS: 

The Bionutrient Institute is a project of the Bionutrient Food Association.

The Bionutrient Meter is a handheld spectrometer that works through the principle of spectroscopy. The Bionutrient Meter has lights (LEDs - light emitting diodes) that emit light at very specific wavelengths, which then bounce off objects like carrots, or carrot pulp, or spinach, or soil. Some of it is absorbed by the object and turned into other forms of energy, like heat. A light sensor in the device reads how much light bounces back for each wavelength very quickly and multiple times throughout a given measurement.

Want to learn more?

The Power of Medicinal Mushrooms
Fri 7 November 2025 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM
BMA House, London, WC1H 9JP

Join ION for an inspiring evening exploring the science and practice of medicinal mushrooms - with expert talks, a panel discussion, and opportunities to connect.

Find out more and book

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.

Dr Kirstie Lawton is a nutritional therapy practitioner and ION lecturer who specialises in paediatric nutrition, i.e. nutrition for children. In this episode of the Optimum Nutrition podcast, Kirstie addresses common questions and misconceptions about how best to support a child’s health with nutrition, particularly focusing on how to help them develop a healthy relationship with food that will serve them for life. In conversation with host Hatty Willmoth, a journalist and communications officer, this episode tries to shed light on some difficult conundrums that parents might face. Is it ever okay to put a child on a diet? Should children be allowed to snack? What is the best way to handle picky eating? And should any foods be off-limits for children?

This episode was recorded during a busy day in the office, so there is some background noise. Apologies!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and Kirstie at @drkirstielawton.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.

Giulietta Durante is a menstrual cycle nutritionist, registered nutritional therapy practitioner, and podcaster who lives and breathes her specialist subject: the menstrual cycle. In this episode, Giulietta explores why she feels it’s so empowering to embrace every phase of the menstrual cycle, with all the challenges and opportunities each brings. Joined by host Hatty Willmoth, a journalist and communications officer at ION, she addresses the misconception that we should aim to feel the same every day, arguing that we should build fluidity into our diet and lifestyles. How can we adapt what we eat to support our bodies throughout the cycle? What does it mean to be a cyclical being living in a linear world? How can we embrace our periods?

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and follow Giulietta at @hormones_in_harmony too.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more. 

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.

Layla Gordon is a nutritional therapy practitioner based in Poole, Dorset, who graduated from ION back in 2021. In this episode of the Optimum Nutrition podcast, Layla explains healthy fats in conversation with host Hatty Willmoth, a journalist and communications officer. Together they explore the different types of fats and how they interact with every cell in the body. Starting with the basics, this episode asks, is fat bad? Does eating more omega fats mean better health? How can vegans get enough omega-3? It also covers beneficial foods, supplementation and functional testing.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and Layla at @laylagordonnutrition.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more. 

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.

Amy Pamment is a nutritional therapy practitioner and ION lecturer who specialises in chronic fatigue syndrome, children’s health and neurodiversity. In this episode of the recently relaunched Optimum Nutrition podcast, Amy discusses her own experience with chronic fatigue syndrome, and the steps she took to get well, as well as CFS more generally. Hosted by journalist and communications officer Hatty Willmoth, this episode tries to get to the bottom of what CFS actually is; a condition with no single cause and no single cure, that looks different for each person. Why do doctors struggle to address CFS? Why is it so difficult to treat? And how can tools used by nutritional therapists, such as functional testing and nutrigenomics, help?

This episode discusses psychological trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more. 

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.

Sam Feltham is the founder and director of the Public Health Collaboration (PHC), a charity dedicated to improving public health and saving the NHS money through better lifestyle information. The PHC largely focuses on tackling the UK’s diabetes crisis by promoting ‘real food, low carb’ lifestyles. In this episode of the recently relaunched Optimum Nutrition podcast, Sam Feltham discusses carbohydrates with journalist Hatty Willmoth, exploring the link between carbs, blood sugars, and health. What is a carbohydrate? How do fluctuating blood sugars affect the way we feel? And why do factors such as fibre content, time of day, and age make a difference?

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition.

You can also find out more about the PHC at www.phcuk.org and contribute to The Lifestyle’s Club’s study with the University of Surrey at www.gofundme.com/tlcstudy

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.

Katie Shore is a nutritional therapy practitioner and ION lecturer who specialises in fertility, pregnancy, and women’s reproductive health. In this episode of the recently relaunched Optimum Nutrition podcast, Katie focuses on fertility. She busts myths and addresses misconceptions about why it might be more difficult for some people to get pregnant, joined by host Hatty Willmoth, a journalist and communications officer at ION. Is it true that a woman’s fertility drops off a cliff when she turns 35? Are conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis mean you just won’t have kids? Should overweight women prioritise getting slimmer before trying for a baby? Which supplements make a difference? And what role do lifestyle factors, like stress and pollutants, play?

This episode includes references to female anatomy and discussion of heavier themes such as trauma and baby loss. Listener discretion is advised.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and follow Katie at @katie_intuitivewellbeing too.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.

Jenny Tschiesche is perhaps best known for her bestselling air-fryer cookbooks, but before that she was known primarily as a lunch guru - which is why she's called the Lunchbox Doctor. In the first episode of a brand new series of the Optimum Nutrition podcast, journalist Hatty Willmoth talks to Jenny about lunches. Do we undervalue lunch in Britain? Should we learn to give the midday meal a little more thought - and even think outside the box? What makes a great lunch nutritionally? And how can parents best cope with making lunchboxes for picky eaters, under time and budget constraints?

To start the episode off, Jenny also explains her journey into nutrition, including how she found her time at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION).

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and follow Jenny @jennytschiesche too.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.

Dr Alex Richardson discusses the role of nutrition and diet in ADHD; from conception through to adulthood. As well as unpacking what we mean by the label ‘ADHD’, she explains why the condition often overlaps with other neurological conditions. She also discusses her research into omega-3 fats and brain development, as well as other nutrients that may help to manage symptoms of ADHD, and foods that should be avoided. 

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media @ion_nutrition, sign up to our monthly newsletter and why not leave us a comment below.

Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Recorded on Riverside. See for more https://riverside.com/privacy-policy information.