Prof. Don Layman: Protein, Policy and the Future of Dietary Guidelines

About this episode

Mikki Williden interviews Professor Emeritus Don Layman about dietary guidelines, protein's role in health, and the science behind nutrition research.

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz , www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz This week on the podcast Mikki speaks to returning guest Professor Emeritus Don Layman, a leading nutrition scientist whose work has been central to how we understand protein, metabolism, and the role of diet in long-term health. In this episode, the conversation starts at the top—unpacking what dietary guidelines actually are, why they exist, and how they came to shape the way we think about food at a population level. Don walks through the historical context behind early guidelines, including where things may have gone off track, particularly around the treatment of fat, cholesterol, and protein-rich foods. From there, the discussion moves into the science. Don outlines the limitations of relying heavily on observational nutrition research and contrasts this with findings from controlled trials, particularly in relation to protein…

People in this episode

Host: Mikki Williden

Guest: Professor Emeritus Don Layman

Topics covered

• dietary guidelines
• protein
• metabolism
• nutrition science
• health policy
• observational research
• controlled trials

Keywords

• dietary guidelines
• protein
• metabolism
• nutrition
• health
• observational research
• controlled trials
• satiety
• muscle health

Sponsors

Nuzest, Curranz, Calocurb

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

More episodes of Mikkipedia

• Metabolic Psychiatry: Rethinking Mental Health - Dr Matt Bernstein · June 9, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Mini Mikkipedia - What Really Supports Immunity in Winter · June 7, 2026 · 18 min
• Brad Currier discusses Urolithin A and Resistance Training Guidelines · June 2, 2026 · 1h 16m
• Mini Mikkipedia - Omega-3 Benefits Beyond Heart and Brain · May 31, 2026 · 21 min
• Understanding Hypermobility and EDS with Dr. Melissa Koehl · May 26, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Mini Mikkipedia - Can Multivitamins Slow Brain Ageing? · May 24, 2026 · 29 min