Tim Spector and personalised diets for long term health

[helvella]

I am just listening to this program and thought it might be of interest to some members.

The idea that we have very individual dietary needs is very much to the fore.

The Life Scientific

Tim Spector and personalised diets for long term health

Released On:19 Oct 2021

Available for over a year

Many of us take dietary rules for granted such as eating little and often, not skipping meals and keeping a check on our calorie intake. But genetic epidemiologist Professor Tim Spector argues we need to re-evaluate what we think we know about a good diet: diversity in both the types of food we eat and in the unique mix of microbes we nurture in our gut is the most important factor for health. In a multi disciplinary career following early training as a rheumatologist, Tim founded the UK Twins Registry at Kings College London to unravel the extent to which genes contribute to a vast range of human conditions and diseases. But the puzzling differences he observed in identical twins would fuel his current research on the gut microbiome and the discovery that each of us has a unique mix of gut bacteria – in effect a chemical factory that dictates our highly individual responses to different foods. Tim tells Jim Al-Khalili how his research has evolved to successfully develop a new scientific approach to personalised nutrition – through technology that during the pandemic has famously been pressed into service to track Covid symptoms across the UK, and that’s now revealing how a diverse diet has huge implications for Covid-19 outcomes.

bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0010pv0

This program is unlikely to be available to those not in the UK.

[tattybogle]

me too ,very interesting. (But i'm still listening cos i've wound the radio back in time this morning)

[shaws Administrator]

Thanks for posting helvella and very interesting to listen to. I hope the professionals will also listen and take notice.

[greygoose]

You can get it in France. I shall listen to it later. Thank you for the link.

[helvella Administrator in reply to greygoose]

I desperately try not to over-promise!

[greygoose in reply to helvella]

Very wise of you!

[Valarian]

It was really interesting. Some of it was just putting some science behind things we probably suspect intuitively then choose to ignore - eg the connection between health issues in the UK and US, and the poor (processed-food heavy) diets of people who can afford better. (For the record, I have no claim to be an angel when it comes to eating what is good for me !) The info they are getting from the Zoe covid study on links between diet and recovery from covid were also interesting.

[wellness1 in reply to Valarian]

For those who may not be able to listen, is it possible to briefly summarise the findings on diet and recovery from COVID?

[Valarian in reply to wellness1]

I'd need to listen to it again, and don't have time at the moment. But if someone hasn't listened to it yet, maybe they could take some notes.

[elsa142]

I heard this too. This chap Tim Spector is great. He has written books on the subject of diet, the basic surmise is that every persons gut microbiome is different and we have to work out what suits us as individuals. Also, importantly, is the variety.........he says 30 different plant foods a week. Years ago he started a study of twins, which has been very successful and provided all sorts of relevant data for various other research, and has shown that even identical twins have different gut activity. You can find him on Youtube.

[MaryMary]

I found this really interesting. Tim Spector is unusual that he takes a multi-disciplinary view which is so refreshing. I wish he looked at all things thyroid!

[imogen2010]

I thought it was so interesting I just love that program never miss it.