Mind Body Plants

Adam Verwey is a founder and managing director at Future Super, Australia's first 100% fossil fuel-free superannuation fund. Many traditional super funds invest in fossil fuels, gambling, detention of asylum seekers and for-profit prisons, weapons, live animal exports, uranium mining, alcohol, fast food, even pornography. Many of us are well-versed in the ethics of waste and energy, like carrying a keep-cup to reduce waste, or having shorter showers, or installing solar panels, but did you know that you can choose to put your money into ethical and responsible investment options? Have you ever considered how ethical your super fund is or where your super is being invested? Future Super

Tom Earls is a beekeeper and educator in Surf Coast, Victoria, and the founder of Coastal Nectar.Subscribe to the podcastSpecifically, we discuss:  Why we need to protect bee populations Role in the ecosystem Pesticides and insecticides Medicinal properties of honey How to help local bee populations thrive Coastal Nectar links:Coastal Nectar on Facebook Coastal Nectar on InstagramMind Body Plants links:Mind Body Plants on InstagramEducation and further resources:Bringing bees back to Australian backyardsSupporting native bee populationsEnsuring our food securityBees are dying. What can we do about it?Worldwide, bee populations are on the decline. This is caused by the use of pesticides and herbicides, climate change, loss of habitat, and agriculture services like monoculture farming, contributing to a loss in plant biodiversity. Without plant biodiversity for bees to pollinate or feed on, bees are hindered to provide their colony and subsequently, the ecosystem at large.  Why do we need to protect bee populations? Bees are keystone species, meaning they are an organism that helps hold the system together. Without keystone species, the ecosystem would be drastically different or cease entirely. If bees die off it will end most life. Throughout nature, animals depend on bees for their survival because their food sources, things like berries, fruits, seeds, and nuts, rely on insect pollination. Pollination is needed for the growth of flora, providing the habitat and nutrition for animals.

Jeff Chilton, raised in the pacific north-west, studied ethno-mycology in the late 1960s. In 1989 he founded Nammex, a business that introduced medicinal mushrooms to the nutritional supplement industry in the United States. Nammex extracts are used by many supplement companies and are noted for their high quality based on scientific analysis of the active compounds. In this conversation, we explore mushroom composition and anatomy, and their medicinal properties, including their immunological benefits. We discuss adaptogens and bringing harmony to our body and health, and also psychedelic mushrooms and healing. Specifically, we cover: Mushroom cultivation Beta-glucans and triterpenoids Mushroom composition and anatomy Mycelium and fruiting body Ensuring mushroom quality and what to look for Immunological benefits and properties of mushrooms Adaptogens and bringing harmony and balance Psychedelic mushrooms and healing Self-transcendence NammexMind Body Plants

Robert grew up on a farm in Corvallis, Oregon where he adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1995 at age 15, weighing just 120 pounds. Today he is the author of four books, Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, Shred It!, Plant-Based Muscle, and the new release, The Plant-Based Athlete. As a two-time natural bodybuilding champion, Robert is considered one of VegNews magazine's Most Influential Vegan Athletes. Robert is the founder and president of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness and maintains the popular website, VeganBodybuilding.com. He is a regular contributor to No Meat Athlete, Forks Over Knives, and Vegan Strong, is a multi-sport athlete, entrepreneur, and has followed a plant-based diet for more than 25 years. Vegan Bodybuilding and FitnessThe Plant-Based AthleteRobert Cheeke Website@robert.cheeke@veganbodybuildingandfitness@mindbody_plants

Overview of the conversation: Opportunities And Innovations With Climate Change The Benefits Of Eating More Plants Fibre, Mood, And Serotonin Addressing Climate Change Land Use, Water Use, And Waste The Biggest Impact On Climate Change Methane And Carbon Dioxide Nutrient Absorption Optimisation Techniques Impact Of Food Waste And Ways To Reduce It The Biomechanics Of Minimalist Running Links:@plant.paradigmThe Plant Paradigm Podcast@mindbody_plants

This episode covers definitions and discussions of tonic herbs, medicinal mushrooms, and adaptogens. Brief overview of the conversation: Science and Spirit Limitations to Western Medicine and research Definitions & discussion of tonic herbs, medicinal mushrooms, adaptogens Symbiosis and interconnectedness of earth Mushroom anatomy  Daoism Self-regulation  Psychedelic science Psilocybin's main therapeutic mechanisms: Neuroplasticity, functional connectivity, and modulation of The Default Mode Network  Rumination in neuroscience and psychology Rumination in Daoism  Enhancing inner work, exercise performance, and longevity Links:SuperFeastThe SuperFeast PodcastSuperFeast instagram

Stats on mental illness in Australia, psilocybin, and MDMA - psychological phenomena and scientific evidence, antidepressants / SSRIs and common pharmaceutical treatments, the reinforcement of mental illness through diagnosis, destigmatizing drugs and the word "drug", the context of psychedelic psychotherapy including its set and setting, TGA updates - how drug and medicinal laws work on a federal and state level, and much more.Mind Medicine AustraliaMind Body Plants (Instagram)

Dr. Matthew Nagra ND is a Naturopathic Doctor who is a passionate advocate for evidence-based nutrition. He adopted a plant-exclusive diet when he had health problems during his childhood and subsequently improved nearly every health concern he had. Matthew is incredibly knowledgeable within the scientific literature. Through social media, public speaking, his volunteer work with Nutritionfacts.org, and his clinical practice, he aims to educate people to help them gain control of their health through nutrition and lifestyle.This episode is jam-packed with information. Matthew talks us through nutritional concerns of the carnivorous diets like saturated fat. How much is too much? What is LDL? He also dispels some of the many myths surrounding the inadequacy of a plant-exclusive diet from iron and calcium to vitamin D3 and K2, as well as omega 3 fatty acids (ALA/EPA/DHA) and phytates, lectins, and oxalates.

Meditation; for some it's an endeavour, for some it's a fashion. For me, and for most, it’s understanding the fundamental nature of being human.Psychedelics comes from the Greek words "psyche" meaning "mind" or "consciousness" and "delos" meaning "clear, visible". In other words, psychedelics means mind-revealing or mind-manifesting.Both psychedelics and meditation exert huge changes in consciousness, perception and cognition. What is strikingly similar about these two seemingly different modalities is that of the alterations in self-referential processing regions of the brain.The Default Mode Network, or the DMN, is a network of brain regions that primarily includes the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and the inferior parietal lobe, and is responsible for self-reference; referring to traits and descriptions of oneself, theory of mind; thinking about the thoughts of others and what they are thinking, mental imagery, emotion’s of one’s self, reflecting on one’s emotional state and also what is called the autobiographical self.Links:Mind Body PlantsMind Medicine AustraliaMind Medicine (Podcast)Research noted in this podcast:Psilocybin-assisted mindfulness training modulates self-consciousness and brain default mode network connectivity with lasting effectsPsychedelics, Meditation, and Self-ConsciousnessPsilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience in combination with meditation and other spiritual practices produces enduring positive changes in psychological functioning and in trait measures of prosocial attitudes and behaviorsDepression, Mindfulness, and Psilocybin: Possible Complementary Effects of Mindfulness Meditation and Psilocybin in the Treatment of Depression. A Review

In this episode, I break down what is meant by prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. We are an ecosystem. The microbiome reveals a more connected biology and it is evolving our approach to medicine, hygiene, diet and lifestyle. Our bacteria are our gatekeepers to the outside world. When we ingest food, it’s still actually in an external environment. The bacteria that reside within the colon are sitting on the epithelial surface in a mucous membrane and they digest our food, regulate inflammation, synthesize key vitamins, metabolites and neurotransmitters.

Upstairs is our brain, downstairs is our gut. Most of us think that these two organs live as two separate entities. But let’s consider this, brain health begins in the gut. The gut and the brain are in constant communication, as we speak, there are over 500 million nerves in our intestines, 5 times more than the spinal cord.A healthy gut microbiome is able to influence our brain, keep our mind sharp, our energy levels high and stabilize our emotions. On the other hand, damage to gut flora can cause migraines, headaches, chronic fatigue, and potentially lead to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological disorders.13000 research papers on the gut microbiome have been released in the last 5 years alone. That’s 80% of the total number of papers on this topic in the last 4 decades. You may have heard the importance of the microbiome, but believe me, we are all just scratching the surface.What most of us tend to think is that when we eat food, our body will break down what it can and absorb it, the rest will come out the other end. But this is only partly true. Our microbiome, and particularly our gut microbiome is an incredibly diverse colony of 39 trillion microbes; bacteria, fungi, archaea, protozoa. These single-celled organisms outnumber human cells, 10 fold. Most of us think of microbes as germs or harmful creatures that don’t serve us, but in fact, most bacteria are here to help us. And in the last 15 years of research, we’re beginning to unfold which ones are here to support us, and which ones are here to hurt us. The depth of the microbiota is hard to fathom. So, what exactly are they doing there?They’re doing a lot, actually. In fact, they’re modulating some of the most important aspects of human health; immunity, metabolism, hormonal balance, cognition, gene expression, to name a few. They’re not just chilling because it’s warm and moist, they’re working in synergy with our body to maintain its normal function. Every single one of us has a different set of microbes living in our colon. Every single time you put something into your mouth and swallow, it will interact with the trillions of microbes residing in your gut. You might’ve heard about fiber being that part of a plant that we don’t digest. You might even think all fiber is the same, and that it just passes straight through you.There are many species of bacteria that have the ability to transform fiber into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have incredible abilities in modulating hormone balance, digestion, metabolism, our mood, mindset, gene expression, the list goes on. If we nourish ourselves with fiber, we empower these guys. But considering there are 39 trillion microbes, there ought to be some that aren’t serving us. There are some types of bacteria that cause vicious cycles of inflammation, releasing bacterial endotoxins and the likes. These guys thrive off refined sugars, saturated fats, and animal protein, and produce substances like TMAO, a known driver of chronic low-grade inflammation.@holliejamesdietitian www.holliejamesdietitian.comhttps://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/

The concept of non-dualism is contrasted to that of dualism - the notion that existence consists of two realities. These two realities can often be called "mind and matter" or "God and the world". Non-dualism suggests that there is no separation. When you enter the body deeply, there is no longer the sense of “I am observing the inner body” and there is no longer the sense of “I am feeling the inner body”, the duality disappears. This recognition comes not through the mind, but through presence. You are present of your body just as you are present that which pervades the body. The duality disappears. In reference to the path of self-effort and the path of surrender - spiritual practice is not like a course that you graduate when you finally make it to a state, that you go through this step-by-step process until the completion of the course. Regarding the time involved in spiritual practice is the drawback with most spiritual practices. They give you time to get better and better at it, and to work towards the future goal of finding yourself, and that requires self-effort. Self-effort is like will power, and will power seems to yield results, but they are never lasting. There must be a certain degree of discipline because when you initially enter this path of self-discovery, effort most-definitely predominates. And it’s only progressively that effort gives place to surrender. Surrender implies a transition from resistance to non-resistance. The transition is surrender. Surrendering is both passive and active. Presence is an intrinsic aspect of the surrendered state. This then becomes less of a paradox and more of an absence of desire.

Alison Tierney is a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and board-certified in oncology nutrition and started her business, Wholesome LLC in 2015. Alison is multi-passionate in nutrition and her expertise goes beyond cancer and involves helping others with the management of chronic diseases such as: heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and autoimmune diseases. In this episode, we speak about some of the clear and obvious benefits of adopting a plant-focused or plant-predominant diet, how it can help with hormone regulation, fertility, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). We chat about what hormones and other compounds found in dairy and meat products are doing to our hormone balance, and clear up some of the confusion surrounding soy phytoestrogens. Finally, we discussed some of the benefits of the many thousands of plant compounds that are responsible for altering gene expression, and how that can make you live longer and healthier.Links: *www.wholesomellc.com* *@wholesomellc*

I’m Tommy Moore, qualified exercise scientist specializing in nutrition and exercise physiology and I’ve created this platform to make it more accessible to understand the science of optimal wellbeing, and help us all make more informed lifestyle decisions. This is never about putting a title to your lifestyle, but acquiring a deeper understanding of our mind and body with evidence-based information so that you are best equipped to make your own decisions for your health. I’m not here to tell you to prescribe to any type of diet, or any particular way to live, but there are some very clear underlying messages to consider when approaching your health. Health is a spectrum - the greater diversity and volume of whole-foods we eat, the more we exercise, the more we spend time with loved ones and build meaningful connections to ourselves, to other people and to nature the more our bodies thrive. My intention for this podcast is to bridge the gap between nature, science and health.

Should we focus on macronutrients or foods? Currently, there is a hyperfocus on macronutrients - carbohydrates, proteins and fats as our "nutrient requirements". Many people follow a set macronutrient profile or an "if it fits your macros" (IIFYM) approach. Iis this the way we should be approaching nutrition? I discuss the key components of macronutrients, including their chemical structure, function, digestion and metabolism.

Dr. Simon Feros is a lecturer in Functional Anatomy and Strength and Conditioning Sciences and part of the Centre for Sports Research at Deakin University, he’s been and currently heavily involved in a number of different research projects. Simon is a Sports Science Consultant at WestVic Academy of Sport and the Director of Bowl Strong; a worldwide fast bowling academy designed to develop physical, mental, technical and tactical strength for aspiring fast bowlers. Simon is also involved with Cricket Australia, which we discuss in a bit more detail in this podcast. In the past, he’s been a lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology and Exercise and Sport Science and was a PhD student exploring the determinants and developments of physical and biomechanical qualities of sport, specifically, fast bowling performance in cricket. We talk about sport technologies, biomechanical analysis, force-velocity testing, the 4 pillars of performance, training recommendations for building a strong body from the ground up, how to measure muscle imbalances and how that relates to common injuries amongst many young sporting athletes. We discuss his current research project for Deakin and Cricket Australia, sports psychology and the role of imagery, rehearsal and goal setting in performance, and much more.@bowlstrong*https://au.linkedin.com/public-profile/in/simon-feros-05816489?challengeId=AQE-I_jiV0Sr6QAAAXODGv9eTcRzemVQ2mAjRqvZofL0dzT9ICJ2KKMqHQ9wP3JQinQ6JMMAnrAnzG8-Tyuw4imPGm3dkd6XpA&submissionId=de6764a9-42d3-2416-e78b-fe6318877a74*

Carlo Cirillo is the creator of The Conscious Podcast, which is approaching 100 episodes I thought it’d be a perfect opportunity to break down the word “conscious”. What does it mean to be conscious? Is it the same as mindfulness? Of course, we all have our own subjective definitions of these words, but hopefully this episode will inspire you to trust your intuition, listen to your body, find what motivates or excites you and be the best version of yourself. Friends, we are very blessed with today’s guest, Carlo is a connection and mindset mentor, a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, meditation teacher and podcast host. He accelerates growth and transformation within individuals on a mental, physical and spiritual level.A really great, open, honest conversation. Please enjoy.Links: *@carlo_cirillo* *www.carlocirillo.com*

Tania De Jong is an inspirational speaker, singer, business woman and social entrepreneur who has founded a number of successful businesses including Creative Universe, leading innovation conference Creative Innovation Global, Inspiring Minds leadership programs, MTA Entertainment and Events, Dimension5 co-working space and acclaimed singing group Pot-Pourri, started 3 charities in Creativity Australia, With One Voice, The Song Room and in relevance to today’s episode Mind Medicine Australia. Tania performs, speaks and presents leadership workshops across the globe.As the title suggests, this episode is about the therapeutic potential for psychedelic medicines.I’ve wanted to talk about them for a long time now. I’ve been researching them for a number of years now and after finding Mind Medicine Australia, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to do so. Before we get into this conversation, I want to provide you with a bit more of an understanding of what conventional psychedelics are doing on a physiological basis. In clinical research settings across the globe, investigations are taking place for the use of psychedelic substances, particularly psilocybin, for treating illnesses such as addiction, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since the termination of research from the 1970, most psychedelic substances were classified as “drugs of abuse”. And unfortunately, due to the government propaganda from this time, psychedelics were considered unsafe for human consumption and of no therapeutic use. Central to the revival is reestablishing it’s set and setting, set being mindset, psychological expectations and intentions for using these substances, and setting being the physical environment, as well as the therapeutic clinician-patient relationship. Set and setting are crucial elements for facilitating paradigm shifting mental patterns and recognizing positive outcomes. The general public is certainly well-versed on the potential harms, and the dangers are absolutely real, however much of this is from cases involving patients who used illicit substances in uncontrolled, undesirable, unsupervised non-medical contexts.Currently, 1 in 5 Australian adults have a chronic mental illness. That’s 4.8 million of us. 1 in 8 are on antidepressants and over 45% of Australians will experience mental illness in their lifetime. There has been no improvement in treatment in mental illness for decades. 50 years, in fact. This screams for innovation. The FDA has now granted psychedelic medicines as “breakthrough therapy designation” to fast-track the approval process. This is not just a preposterous idea, but a potentially quantum leap forward for mental illness.Links: *@mindmedicine.au* *mindmedicineaustralia.org*

This episode is really about "opening the conversation". This was recorded 1 week after the death of George Floyd, a massive week for the world and particularly people of colour, so at times it was a difficult conversation, but one that needed to be had. And this really is about opening the conversation. Talking to your relatives, friends and immediate family can be challenging and scary when talking about racism and systemic racism. That even if no one was racist, people of colour are still at a disadvantage. When we’re speaking to our folks, it’s important to be mindful of how we go about the conversations. If we want to teach people about this, we need to act as teachers. This requires understanding, patience, vigilance. There are 2 types of people; those who are uninformed and those who are bigoted. Bigoted just means that they’re unreasonably attached to a particular belief or belief system and are essentially intolerant to other people’s beliefs. The discussion is never easy, but doable. We can’t just wait around for the boomers to die out. We need them, and with the right strategy, respect, patience, we can teach them. Let’s start with the uninformed folks, all you need to do is inform them BUT be careful with language and tone. Please don’t say “Educate yourself” it’s not the right way of doing it, instead say “here are some materials you can read and watch” and leave it at that. For those who are bigoted, this is a little more challenging. It comes down to a lack of empathy. You must understand the mindset. When someone isn’t affected by a problem, they can have trouble understanding why anyone would care about it. They struggle imaging being hurt, or putting themselves in another perspective or another person’s shoes. So we need to talk to them about these concepts in ways they can understand, and framing the ideas with language they resonate with. Instead of saying things like “white privilege” or “black lives matter” use phrases like “Your life has been hard, but the colour of your skin didn’t make it harder” or “everyone’s life must be protected, but right now black people are in danger and they need our help”. It may be uncomfortable to let go of words you identify with often. Never tell them they’re wrong, but say things like “that’s what they mean when they use the word privilege” instead of “that’s privilege”.Conversations don’t have to be 60 minute conversations like this, but it’s just a matter of opening the conversation. Believe in people; that we can all grow and learn and adapt. @allira.potter@mindbody_plants

In episode 20 I sit down with Fiona Tuck. She is one of the most well-respected skincare and nutrition experts in Australia. She has over 25 years of experience in the professional skincare and wellness industry and is known in the media as ‘the myth buster’. Fiona takes a forensic and often challenging approach into all things nutrition and skincare.​Fiona is an Author, Nutritional Medicine Practitioner, Skincare Expert, member of the British Dermatological Nursing Group and an accredited member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society. Fiona’s extensive experience in the professional skincare industry includes roles as International Training Manager for Dermalogica, Corporate Trainer for Aspect and Cosmedix Cosmeceuticals, Managing Director of Skinstitut and founder of Vita-sol nutraceuticals. Her experience ranges from nutrition client consulting, hands on skin treatments, industry educator to product innovation and development culminating in both brand and company development.​​Fiona founded Vita-sol in 2017 with a mission to support skin, health and well-being with the highest quality natural wholefoods without the use of synthetic vitamin supplements, fillers, excipients or petrochemicals.​Fiona hosts a fortnightly podcast called “The Forensic Nutritionist” and her in-depth knowledge and insight into future trends within the wellness industry has made her a sought-after media commentator and one of Australia’s most televised nutrition and skin experts.​An impressive resume. In this episode I really wanted to zone in on gut health. I’ve talked about the gut and the gut microbiota in other episodes but I wanted to get a full understanding of gut health from the ground up. Fiona and I talk about fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, what causes inflammation and intestinal permeability, FODMAPs, some skin conditions and their relationship to gut health, the importance of plant based diversity, hormone appetite, hunger regulation and so on.Be sure to leave a review if you found this information useful. Please enjoy!LINKS:@fionatucknutrition @mindbody_plants www.fionatuck.com

In episode 19 I sit down with Tris Alexandra (Bach. HS & Nutritional Medicine) to talk all things fasting, aging and longevity. We discuss the hallmarks of aging and how they relate to different types of fasting, the benefits of fasting and calorie restriction on a cellular level, the epigenome and genome, 'survival circuits', sirtuin activity, autophagy, ketogenesis and ketosis, and much more. If you wish to connect with Tris, you can find her on instagram @trisalexandranutrition

In episode 18 I sit down with Annelise Van Rooye, plant-based PT and health coach. Annelise and I talk through the importance of a holistic approach, total daily energy expenditure, energy balance, the problem with the 'IIFYM' approach to weight loss, calorie and nutrient density of food, high protein vs adequate protein, managing stress, why 'mindfulness' is a loaded term, intermittent fasting and much more. To connect with Annelise you can follow her on instagram @mykindofawesome. She also posts lots of great information online at www.mykindofawesome.com

In episode 17 I discuss how our body uptakes, digests and transports fatty acids and the role they have in insulin resistance. I define key terms including insulin sensitivity, insulin resistance, and the many forms of diabetes. Importantly, what you can do to improve symptoms of diabetes, alleviate insulin, maximise insulin sensitivity and potentially even reverse diabetes. Well worth a listen. You can connect with me on instagram @mindbody_plants

In Episode 16 I go (very) deep into the science of energy metabolism. What role does our food have in energy production? What is energy? How do we get energy? I explore how our body generates energy, the function of the cardiorespiratory and circulatory systems, haemoglobin, heme-iron vs non-heme iron and what that means for our blood. I discuss energy metabolism, the role of caffeine and creatine supplementation in exercise performance, glycolysis, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, the difference between saturated and unsaturated fat and what that means for energy metabolism. I put a lot of time and energy into making this one so I certainly hope you get a lot from this. Please enjoy. If you are wanting a script of this episode, I can now send out scripts on request. You can connect with me on instagram @mindbody_plants

In episode 15, I discuss the fundamentals of nutrition and exercise including energy requirements of exercise, the role of carbohydrates, fat and protein intake, and fluid requirements for exercise.

In episode 14 I sit down with Nutritionist Maree O'Dwyer to tackle all things diet and nutrition. How do we simplify health? What is the science trying to tell us? Maree and I discuss what a healthy diet needs to include and the various approaches to achieving nutritional adequacy. We look into gluten's effect on gut health, fasting, optimizing iron absorption, acute and chronic implications of dietary saturated fat and cholesterol, advice on raising vegan toddlers, and much more!

In Episode 13, I am joined with Mikaela Hamence to tackle sustainability and home Eco solutions. Mikaela and I discuss the current situation of waste in Australia, how to be more resourceful with things we already have, the 5 R's of Zero Waste and much more! Considering we are going to be spending a lot of time at home in the coming weeks and months, it's a great opportunity to start introducing eco-friendly solutions and systems in your house.

In Episode 12 I am joined with Aman Brar, owner of Eka Wholefoods to speak about mindfulness, kindness, compassion and living a healthy holistic lifestyle. We discuss her upbringing throughout India and how diversity of landscape has shaped her life. Aman and I also talk about meditation and its applications, connecting to our food, ourselves, other people and other beings. If you wish to connect with Aman you can reach out to her on instagram @ekawholefoodsYou can also contact me @mindbody_plants

In the first guided meditation of Mind Body Plants, I introduce the delusion of the self. I first explain the concept, then follow with a short guided meditation with this concept in mind.

In Episode 11 I discuss the several ways to enhance sleep quality. There is strong correlation between chronic lack of sleep and cognitive decline. Thus conversely, getting good quality sleep improves energy levels, mood, concentration and memory formation. You can find more information and Tommy's sleep hygiene techniques on instagram @mindbody_plantsSadhana Forest is a non-profit organisation with goals of reforestation and water conservation. Learn more at sadhanaforest.org

In Episode 10 I look scope inside the human microbiome and its relationship with our gut and brain. We are a host to trillions of microbial cells, 10 times more than our own human cells, so it's in our best interest to keep these microorganisms happy and thriving. This synergistic relationship can influence our emotional state, energy levels, nutrient absorption, immune function, neurotransmitters, b vitamins, and much more.

In Episode 9 I sit down with Steph Watson to address some of the reasons why people are avoiding a plant-based diet. We address some of the main nutrients of concern when adopting a plant-exclusive or plant-predominant diet including vitamin b12, iron, omega 3 (ALA/EPA/DHA), vitamin D, iodine, choline, and protein.To connect with Steph, you can follower her on instagram @stephw_thriveDISCLAIMER: Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

In Episode 8 I discuss the fundamentals of neurobiology in habit formation. How habits work, how they are structured, and steps to forming new habits and making them work for you. Your habits are the result of your physical environment. Most people have the motivation to change but lack the system to do so. I cover the steps to breaking bad habits, building your systems and understanding the plateau of latent potential.

In Episode 7 I explore the nature of experience. When it comes to discussing the profound nature of consciousness, it requires more than explaining objective behavioural or cognitive functions. This episode poses more questions than answers, and will leave you feeling fascinated by the origin of consciousness.

In Episode 6 I uncover some of the neurological benefits to exercise. I discuss the relationship between exercise and improvements in cognitive function.

In Episode 5 I discus the role of soy and soy products on our health. Soy contains a type of phytoestrogen called soy isoflavone, which has estrogen-like properties. Does this mean that soy is healthy or harmful?

In Episode 4 I discuss the scientific evidence behind popular sports and nutrition supplementation including caffeine, creatine, protein powder, nitrate, and the amino acids arginine and citrulline. Can any of these improve athletic performance?

In Episode 3 I explain what inflammation actually is and associated terminology. I cover different types of immune responses, what antigens are, acute vs chronic inflammation, and how lifestyle choices can cause inflammation and potentially imply a low-grade chronic inflammatory state, a hallmark of many chronic diseases.

In Episode 2 I explore the neuroscience of meditation. What the neurological adaptations are for the brain and how this can benefit everyday life. I look into neurphysiological commonalities of long-term meditators and why this differs to the general population (non-meditators).

In Episode 1 I discuss protein requirements for general, healthy active and athletic populations (specifically endurance and resistance-trained). I also cover plant-based sources of protein, risks of excessive protein, nutrient deficiencies, and the relationship between animal protein vs plant protein in all-cause mortality and disease prevention.

How can we better our lives through mindfulness, exercise and plant-based nutrition? I, myself, Tommy Moore, have a background of nutrition, sport and exercise science and would love to share my journey in this field of health to uncover a multitude of ways to optimise human health, mitigate chronic disease, and enhance athletic performance.MIND refers to the brain, consciousness, mindfulness, neuroscience.BODY refers to anatomy, physiology, and improving its functionality. PLANTS allude to whole food plant-based nutrition.