Plant-Powered Physicians – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we chat with Maxime Sigouin, founder of Fit Vegan Coaching, about his inspiring journey from bodybuilder to plant-based athlete and coach. Maxime shares practical tips for building muscle, improving fitness, and creating a sustainable lifestyle—without sacrificing delicious meals or long-term results.

Learn more:  🍏 Guest: @maximesigouinofficial 🌿 Program Resources: fitvegancoaching.com and @fitveganpodcast

In this bonus episode, we dive into the world of plant-based dinners, sharing our favorite go-to meals, comfort food classics, and practical tips to simplify your cooking routine. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting your plant-based journey, there’s something for everyone!

It can be hard to answer patient questions about plant-based diets if you don't have direct experience with it yourself - so we're answering some of the most common patient FAQs in this bonus episode! From concerns about protein to questions about gas and bloating, we've got you covered. 

Other resources mentioned in this episode: 

Nutrition for Families

Balanced.org

PCRM

NutritionFacts.org

eCornell Training

American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Another quick bonus episode featuring easy tips for transitioning to more plant-based eating.

We know it can feel overwhelming to get started, and there's a misconception it has to be all or nothing. In reality, it can be much simpler, so we're breaking down the basics of making the transition and sharing some of our favorite products to help you and your patients get off to a great start!

Check out some of the products/brands we love:

Meati

ImpossibleFoods.com

Beyond Meat

Jack and Annie's

Miyoko's

Just Egg

Ben and Jerry's

Trader Joe's

More products can be found and purchased at plantbasedvendors.com

We're back with a bonus episode for Season 2. This week: more travel tips to make plant-based eating possible...no matter where you're venturing! 

Special shout out to Happy Cow and The Vegan Stay for making it easy to find great food and accommodations while traveling.

Featuring guest Dr. Michelle Loy, this week we're talking all things Integrative Medicine and the role of nutrition in overall health and wellbeing.

References:

Twohig-Bennett C, Jones A. The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environ Res. 2018 Oct;166:628-637. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030. Epub 2018 Jul 5. PMID: 29982151; PMCID: PMC6562165.

Michelle Loy. Clinician Wellness—Self-Care for Staying Healthy: Narrative Medicine for Optimizing Well-Being and as an Antidote to Stress and Burnout.Integrative and Complementary Therapies.Aug 2022.163- 165.http://doi.org/10.1089/ict.2022.29027.mlo Pub-lished in Volume: 28 Issue 4: August 17, 2022 

Puma J. Culinary Medicine and Nature: Foods That Work Together. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2020;14(2):143-146. Published 2020 Jan 7. doi:10.1177/1559827619895149

Michelle H. Loy, John Usseglio, Danielle Lasalandra, and Melanie A. Gold.Probiotic Use in Children and Adolescents with Overweight or Obesity: A Scoping Review.Childhood Obesity.ahead of print http://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2022.0059 Online Ahead of Print:June 20, 2022

Alejandra Ríos-Hernández, José A. Alda, Andreu Farran-Codina, Estrella Ferreira-García, Maria Izquierdo-Pulido; The Mediterranean Diet and ADHD in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics February 2017; 139 (2): e20162027. 10.1542/peds.2016-2027

Sílvia Fernández Barrés, Dora Romaguera, Damaskini Valvi, David Martínez, Victoria Arija, Jordi Sunyer, Martine Vrijheid, Mediterranean Dietary Pattern in Pregnant Women and Offspring Risk of Overweight and Abdominal Obesity in Early Childhood: The INMA Cohort Study, Advances in Nutrition, Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2016, Page 34A, https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/7.1.34A

Velázquez-López L, Santiago-Díaz G, Nava-Hernández J, Muñoz-Torres AV, Medina-Bravo P, Torres-Tamayo M. Mediterranean-style diet reduces metabolic syndrome components in obese children and adolescents with obesity. BMC Pediatr. 2014;14:175 

Chatzi L, Apostolaki G, Bibakis I, et al. Protective effect of fruits, vegetables and the Mediterranean diet on asthma and allergies among children in Crete. Thorax. 2007;62(8):677–683 123. Cepeda AM, Del Giacco SR, Villalba S, et al. A traditional diet is associated with a reduced risk of eczema and wheeze in Colombian children. Nutrients. 2015;7(7):5098–5110 

Castro-Rodriguez JA, RamirezHernandez M, Padilla O, PachecoGonzalez RM, Pérez-Fernández V, Garcia-Marcos L. Effect of foods and Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and first years of life on wheezing, rhinitis and dermatitis in preschoolers. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2016;44(5):400–409 125. Pepino VC, Ribeiro JD, Ribeiro MA, 

Jacka, Felice & Kremer, Peter & Berk, Michael & de Silva-Sanigorski, Andrea & Moodie, Marjory & Leslie, Eva & Pasco, Julie & Swinburn, Boyd. (2011). A Prospective Study of Diet Quality and Mental Health in Adolescents. PloS one. 6. e24805. 10.1371/journal.pone.0024805. 

Loewen OK, Maximova K, Ekwaru JP, Faught EL, Asbridge M, Ohinmaa A, Veugelers PJ. Lifestyle Behavior and Mental Health in Early Adolescence. Pediatrics. 2019 May;143(5):e20183307. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3307. Epub 2019 Apr 19. PMID: 31004047.

Ventriglio A, Sancassiani F, Contu MP, et al. Mediterranean Diet and its Benefits on Health and Mental Health: A Literature Review. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2020;16(Suppl-1):156-164. Published 2020 Jul 30. doi:10.2174/1745017902016010156

Oddo, V. M., Welke, L., McLeod, A., Pezley, L., Xia, Y., Maki, P., Koenig, M. D., Kominiarek, M. A., Langenecker, S., & Tussing-Humphreys, L. (2022). Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with Lower Depressive Symptoms among U.S. Adults. Nutrients, 14(2), 278. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14020278

Yin, W., Löf, M., Chen, R., Hultman, C. M., Fang, F., & Sandin, S. (2021). Mediterranean diet and depression: a population-based cohort study. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 18(1), 153. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01227-3

Dr. Urvi Shah joins us this week to discuss the impact of plant-based diets on cancer and the practice of oncology.

Episode Sources:

Soy and isoflavones consumption and breast cancer survival and recurrence: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Pre-diagnosis and early post-diagnosis dietary soy isoflavone intake and survival outcomes: A prospective cohort study of early stage breast cancer survivors

Association between Soy Isoflavone Intake and Breast Cancer Risk for Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women: A Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies

Soy Isoflavones and Breast Cancer Risk: A Meta-analysis

Nephrologist Dr. Shivam Joshi joins us this week to discuss plant-based nutrition and renal health.

Sources:

Neurologist Dr. Ali Saad joins us again to discuss the connection between plant-based nutrition, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis.

Studies:

Variation in Population Attributable Fraction of Dementia Associated With Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors by Race and Ethnicity in the US

Association of Ultraprocessed Food Consumption With Risk of Dementia

World Stroke Organization (WSO):Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2022

Global and regional eff ects of potentially modifi able risk factors associated with acute stroke in 32 countries (INTERSTROKE): a case-control study

PALF Action Plan

Neurologist Dr. Ali Saad joins us to discuss the connection between plant-based nutrition and brain health.

Studies:

Variation in Population Attributable Fraction of Dementia Associated With Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors by Race and Ethnicity in the US

Association of Ultraprocessed Food Consumption With Risk of Dementia

World Stroke Organization (WSO):Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2022

Global and regional eff ects of potentially modifi able risk factors associated with acute stroke in 32 countries (INTERSTROKE): a case-control study

PALF Action Plan