The Eat This Podcast with Dr. Alan Desmond – Details, episodes & analysis

“The most powerful tool we have to transform our health isn’t a high-tech prescription or the latest online wellness trend. It’s the food on our plate.”

That’s the message at the heart of my brand-new book, What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food, available now in audiobook and hardback.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing an exclusive preview from the audiobook: an extract from the chapter on heart health, exploring how food can help prevent our number one killer.

So, what are doctors not telling us about food?

Far too much.

In What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food, I'll guide you through fifteen conversations I wish every doctor had the time and confidence to have with their patients. Conversations that cut through the online confusion about food and health, and show just how powerful our daily food choices can be.

Regular listeners of this podcast will also recognise some familiar voices throughout the book, with contributions from many former guests and friends of the show, including Dr Neal Barnard, Dr Dean and Dr Ayesha Sherzai, Stephen and David Flynn from The Happy Pear, and Ian and Henry from BOSH!

Let’s jump in!

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

In this live festival bonus episode, I sit down with Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, the duo behind BOSH!, one of the most influential forces in the plant-based movement.

For nearly a decade, the BOSH! boys have inspired millions with indulgent plant-based comfort food, bestselling cookbooks, and viral videos. But now, as dads in their 40s, they’re shifting focus towards health, balance, and longevity.

We cover:
- Why their Healthy Vegan cookbook became such a hit
- Ian’s journey from marathon to ultramarathon
- Henry’s fitness transformation
- How parenthood reshaped their approach to food and family meals
- Finding balance with the 80/20 rule
- Their exciting new range of affordable, high-protein, high-fibre plant-based meals
- The responsibility they feel influencing how millions of people eat

Recorded live in a buzzing festival tent, this is an energetic and inspiring conversation about how two pioneers of plant-based cooking are evolving for the next decade - and how their mission to make plant-based eating mainstream, healthy, and accessible is stronger than ever.

Follow BOSH! on Instagram and YouTube or visit bosh.tv to learn more about their books, recipes, and upcoming supermarket range. Follow Ian’s running adventures here.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Healthy Vegan by BOSH!
The Plant-Based Diet Revolution by Dr. Alan Desmond
The Plant-Based Athlete by Matt Frazier & Robert Cheeke
Recipes for Happiness by The Happy Pear

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

“Guilt and shame are the enemies of sustainable change. Compassion and understanding are the keys.”

Dr. Melanie Joy is a Harvard-educated psychologist, author, and one of the world’s foremost experts on the psychology of food choices. Dr. Joy’s groundbreaking book, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, explores the invisible belief system she calls “carnism,” which conditions us to eat certain animals while loving and caring for others.

In this episode, we dive into the psychology of our dietary choices, the ethical implications of animal agriculture, and the powerful ways we can align our actions with our values. Melanie’s insights are as thought-provoking as they are empowering, offering a fresh perspective on how we think about food and its impact on the world around us.

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

“If an absolute amateur can grow organic veg at home and begin to feed a community — so can you.”

From sprouting seeds on a shelf to launching a transparent, mission-driven supplement brand, Harold Craston shares his journey with Shhine - built on sustainability, simplicity, and local organic farming.

Harold also opens up about supporting his father through a terminal cancer diagnosis - and how this transformed his own approach to health and nutrition.

Whether you're curious about growing your own nutrient-dense food with minimal fuss, or seeking ways to support your health and that of your loved ones, this inspiring conversation will encourage you to start small, think local, and create meaningful change from the ground up.

Learn more about Shhine’s mission: www.Shhine.co

Connect with Harold and Shhine: Instagram 

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

Zoologist turned NHS Dietitian Rosie Martin changed careers - to save more lives.

Today, I’m joined by Registered Dietitian Rosie Martin, who shares her powerful journey from zoologist to NHS dietitian and plant-based advocate.

Tune in for some incredible insights on

- Advocating for positive dietary change within the healthcare system. 
- What to say to people who ask, “where do you get your protein?”
- How the “one health” approach links animal welfare and human health.

Rosie also shares her tips on staying grounded and kind—even when you’re the only plant-based voice in the room.

Follow Rosie on Instagram: @plantdietitianrosie

Sign up for Rosie's free masterclass: The 3 Secrets to Banish Cravings and Lose Weight on a Plant-Based Diet.

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

Dr. Neal Barnard returns for Part Two—this time joining me to take questions from the audience at our recent sold-out Live Podcast. Listen in as we weigh in on: 

• How plant-based eating is entering mainstream medical practice
• Why precision nutrition isn’t ready for primetime
• The truth about saturated fat and heart disease
• How plant-based diets support athletic performance
• Why plant protein is high-quality protein

Practical, inspiring, and deeply human—this is nutritional wisdom from one of the world’s leading experts - Dr Neal Barnard.

Listen now and share with someone ready to feel their best through food.

Join the audience: The Eat This Podcast LIVE on Wednesday May 14th, Exeter UK.

I highly recommend Dr. Barnard’s latest book The Power Foods Diet :The Breakthrough Plan That Traps, Tames, and Burns Calories for Easy and Permanent Weight Loss

Connect with Dr Neal Barnard on Instagram and Twitter/X

Learn more about: The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

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

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

“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

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

‘There are certain foods, when you bring them into your life, things begin to change dramatically’

Dr. Neal Barnard shares remarkable insights from his groundbreaking research on nutrition, weight management, and chronic disease prevention. We discuss the everyday foods that can help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight while promoting overall well-being. This is an inspiring conversation filled with practical tips and actionable advice that I know you’ll find valuable.

One of the most influential voices in nutrition and disease prevention—Dr Neal Barnard is a leading clinical researcher with over 140 scientific publications on the benefits of a healthy diet, a best-selling author, and the founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I was deeply honored that he traveled from Washington, DC, to join me for a live event in Exeter. I'm thrilled to share his wisdom with you today!

I highly recommend Dr. Barnard’s latest book The Power Foods Diet :The Breakthrough Plan That Traps, Tames, and Burns Calories for Easy and Permanent Weight Loss

Connect with Dr Neal Barnard on Instagram and Twitter/X

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount

One of the most common questions I’m asked is: “Why do you recommend a plant-based diet?”

The answer is simple: I want the best possible outcomes for my patients. As a doctor, I believe we have a duty to use every evidence-based tool available—and healthy dietary change is one of the most powerful tools we have.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Clare Day and Dr. Daisy Lund, hosts of the incredible “In a Nut Shell Podcast,” to share my journey to becoming a doctor who champions plant-based eating. From my early days in medicine to the patients who inspired me to explore the science of food, and the mentors who helped me rethink my approach, this is a conversation about how we can all become more effective advocates for a healthier, more sustainable food system. You’ll also find out what’s usually in my fridge!

Thank you to Dr. Clare Day and Dr. Daisy Lund for their help with this episode. I highly recommend that you add their In A Nut Shell Podcast to your regular listening. 

Order my new book: “What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You About Food”

Amazon UK

Waterstones UK 

Easons Ireland

Barnes & Noble US (release date July 14)

US Australia and New Zealand

Updates and free guide "Build Your Healthy Plate" Join the mailing list

Connect with Dr Alan Desmond  Instagram Threads 

Sponsored by Linwoods Healthfoods: Shop with 15% discount