The Proof with Simon Hill

In late 2024 a CT scan revealed a small amount of soft plaque in my arteries. Sixteen months later I scanned again, and my plaque volume had dropped by around forty percent. In this episode I ask the cardiologist behind the technology whether a result like that can really be trusted. Dr Campbell Rogers is an interventional cardiologist, a former Harvard faculty member who ran the cath lab at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and now Chief Medical Officer at Heartflow. What we cover: The difference between a calcium score, a CT coronary angiogram, and AI plaque analysis Why a calcium score of zero does not mean you are free of disease What my own scans showed, and why Campbell believes the result Soft versus calcified plaque, and why calcification can be a sign of stabilisation Treating the plaque you can see rather than just an ApoB number Who should consider getting scanned, and the honest trade-offs This is a conversation about seeing a disease we used to only guess at, held with the right amount of scientific humility. If you want to understand your own heart health, I think it is well worth your time. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to rate and review The Proof on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It genuinely helps more people find these conversations. To connect with Dr Campbell Rogers, visit Heartflow. How Campbell Rogers went from cardiologist to Heartflow (00:00) What Heartflow is and how it works (07:26) Coronary CT angiogram vs. stress test (11:54) Why symptoms alone miss early heart disease (13:18) How Heartflow analyzes CT scans in 90 minutes (15:58) Calcified vs. non-calcified plaque: which is riskier (21:28) Why calcium score zero doesn't mean no heart disease (28:45) Who should get a CT angiogram with AI plaque analysis (31:09) Why seeing your plaque improves medication adherence (34:04) Simon's 2024 Heartflow scan results (39:12) How plaque rupture triggers a heart attack (43:25) Simon's 2026 Heartflow scan: 40% plaque reduction in 16 months (45:43) How long to wait between CT scans (51:14) Heartflow vs. Cleerly vs. QAngio (53:12) How Heartflow results led Simon to start statins (58:21) JAMA study: Heartflow tracks plaque in prostate cancer patients (1:00:10) What is low attenuation plaque and why it's high risk (1:02:53) Who should ask their doctor about a coronary CT angiogram (1:07:37) Want to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. You can also support the show by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast app and sharing your favourite episodes with friends and family. We'd love your feedback. Complete our quick 2-minute audience survey to help us better understand what content, topics, and guests you enjoy most. Take the survey at voicingchange.media/simon. This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. 38Tera ships to the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Eight Sleep Upgrade your sleep with the Pod 5 Ultra by Eight Sleep. Clinically validated to deliver up to 1 extra hour of quality sleep per night through temperature control and biometric tracking. Use code THEPROOF at eightsleep.com/theproof for up to $500 off. The 4th of July sale ends July 12, and you get 30 days to try it at home and return it if you don't love it. Eight Sleep ships to the U.S. (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and territories), Canada, Mexico, most of the EU, the U.K., Australia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland. LMNT Stay hydrated with LMNT. Get a free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavours with any purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/SIMON Find your favourite LMNT flavour, or share with a friend. And if you don’t like it? Full refund, no questions asked. LMNT ships to the U.S. and Canada, with sparkling flavors available only in the contiguous U.S. Shopify Shopify, the world's leading e-commerce platform, helps you turn browsers into buyers with the internet’s best-converting check out–up to 36% better compared to other leading e-commerce platforms. To boost your conversion rate, and grow your business, sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial at shopify.com/proof. Momentous My go-to supplement brand for protein and creatine is Momentous. Use code THEPROOF for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com. Momentous ships to many countries worldwide depending on local import regulations. WHOOP Whoop, the most advanced fitness and health wearable available. Your personalised fitness and health coach to recover faster, sleep better, and train smarter. Claim your first month free on join.whoop.com/simon. Whoop ships to 56+ international markets, including the US, Canada, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Singapore, and parts of Asia. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com Host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Subscribe & Connect: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram: @simonhill Twitter: @theproof Facebook: The Proof with Simon Hill Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide and download my Two-Week Meal Plan.

For decades we have treated the number on the scale as the goal of metabolic health. Dr Mauricio Gonzalez, a triple board-certified physician and endocrinology fellow practising in New York, makes the case that we have been measuring the wrong thing. In this conversation we explore why liver fat, not body weight, is becoming the real target, what the latest weight-loss medications can and cannot do, and how to cut through the hype and dogma that surround this field. What we cover: Why isolated blood tests and blood pressure readings tell you very little The myth that GLP-1 medications are "the easy way out" Why liver fat may matter more than body weight How diabetes clinics now remove medications instead of adding them Which supplements earn their place, and which Mauricio has cooled on The minimum effective dose for exercise, and knowing when "enough" is enough A grounded, practical conversation with a doctor who meets people where they are. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to rate and review The Proof on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it genuinely helps more people find these conversations. To connect with Dr Mauricio Gonzalez, follow him on Instagram, X, and YouTube, or visit his website at drmauriciogonzalez.com. Intro (00:00) Minimum Effective Dose for Exercise (01:38) Why Continuity of Care Reduces Mortality (07:09) How Type 2 Diabetes Silently Develops Over 12 Years (09:23) Statin vs. PCSK9 Inhibitor: How Doctors Choose (12:45) How GLP-1 Drugs Transformed the Diabetes Clinic (21:46) Why Doctors Now Measure Organ Fat, Not Body Weight (30:25) How Fatty Liver Disease Is Diagnosed (34:05) How Liver Fat Drives Insulin Resistance (40:47) Wegovy vs. Zepbound: How to Choose a GLP-1 (48:18) Should Lean People Use GLP-1s for Metabolic Health? (51:53) Why Patients Feel Guilty Taking GLP-1s (54:13) How Mauricio’s Nutrition Advice Has Evolved Over a Decade (01:04:35) Supplements on GLP-1s: What's Worth Taking (01:09:42) Minimum Effective Dose for Resistance Training (01:16:52) When Health Optimization Becomes Counterproductive (01:21:20) Want to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. You can also support the show by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast app and sharing your favourite episodes with friends and family. This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. 38Tera ships to the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. SwimClub SwimClub is a science-backed supplement designed to support male fertility, sperm health, and reproductive wellness. Head to swimclub.co to get 25% off your first order with code THEPROOF. Eight Sleep Upgrade your sleep with the Pod 5 Ultra by Eight Sleep. Use code THEPROOF at eightsleep.com/theproof for up to $500 off. The 4th of July sale ends July 12, and you get 30 days to try it at home and return it if you don't love it. Eight Sleep ships to the U.S. (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and territories), Canada, Mexico, most of the EU, the U.K., Australia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland. Truemed Truemed helps qualified customers use pre-tax HSA or FSA dollars on health-related products like fitness, recovery, and sleep tools, often saving around 30% on average. Visit truemed.com/THEPROOF to see what qualifies. This is hands down the best way to make the most of your health dollars. ProLon ProLon’s 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet is a science-backed, plant-based program designed to support metabolic health while keeping your body in a fasting-like state. Get 15% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift at ProLonLife.com/THEPROOF. ProLon ships within the United States. WHOOP Whoop, the most advanced fitness and health wearable available. Your personalised fitness and health coach to recover faster, sleep better, and train smarter. Claim your first month free on join.whoop.com/simon. Whoop ships to 56+ international markets, including the US, Canada, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Singapore, and parts of Asia. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com Host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Subscribe & Connect: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram: @simonhill Twitter: @theproof Facebook: The Proof with Simon Hill Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide and download my Two-Week Meal Plan.

Can diet really reverse atherosclerosis, or is that an overpromise? Since sharing my own coronary CT angiogram results, this question has come up almost daily. In this episode, I revisit the best clinical trials to see what the evidence actually says. I break down six randomised controlled trials and explain how different dietary patterns influence plaque progression, plaque stability, and cardiovascular events. What we cover What atherosclerosis is and how it develops over time The tools used to measure plaque and artery health Evidence from six major randomised controlled trials on diet and atherosclerosis What Mediterranean and low fat diets actually achieve in practice Whether diet still matters if you are already on medication Key takeaways for prevention, progression, and long term heart health Diet cannot do everything, but the evidence shows it can meaningfully change the trajectory of atherosclerosis and reduce cardiovascular risk. Intro (00:00) What is Atherosclerosis? Understanding Plaque Buildup (02:06) 4 Ways to Measure Plaque: CAC, IMT, CTA, and QCA (05:35) The Gold Standard: 6 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) (09:36) The 1990 Lifestyle Heart Trial (Dean Ornish) (12:20) The STARS Trial: Omega-3s & Fiber for Plaque Reversal (19:17) The SCRIP Trial: Stacking Lifestyle and Medication (23:36) PREDIMED Study: The Power of the Mediterranean Diet (26:53) CORDIOPREV Results: Secondary Prevention of Heart Disease (32:53) DISCO CT Trial: Modern AI Imaging of Plaque Changes (39:24) Summary of Clinical Evidence: What Actually Shrinks Plaque? (43:53) 3 Critical Takeaways for Managing Your Heart Health (46:25) This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. 38Tera ships to the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Shopify Shopify, the world's leading e-commerce platform, helps you turn browsers into buyers with the internet’s best-converting check out–up to 36% better compared to other leading e-commerce platforms. To boost your conversion rate, and grow your business, sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial at shopify.com/proof. IM8 With 92 nutrients, including Vitamin B12, Iodine, Selenium and Vitamin D, in highly absorbable forms, IM8 Daily Essentials is the perfect all-in-one daily multi-vitamin to ensure you meet your daily micronutrient needs. IM8 is offering an exclusive 10% off your first order with a free welcome kit when you enter the promo code SIMON at checkout on im8health.com. IM8 ships to 27 countries including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and many regions across Europe, Asia, and South America. Pique Tea Pique’s Pu’er Tea Duo brings ancient fermentation into a simple daily ritual, delivering living nutrients that support digestion, metabolism, and sustained energy from the inside out. Unlock 20% off and establish your powerful foundation for sustained well-being at Piquelife.com/SIMON. Pique ships within the U.S. and to Australia, Canada, and select EU countries. Function Health Take charge of your health with advanced blood testing and personalised insights. Function Health offers a practical way to track key health markers such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and more. Learn more and join at functionhealth.com/simonhill for a $25 credit toward your membership. Only available to those living in the United States. Function Health ships to 48 U.S. states, excluding Rhode Island, Hawai‘i, and Puerto Rico. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com Host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Subscribe & Connect: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram: @simonhill Twitter: @theproof Facebook: The Proof with Simon Hill

Fertility is not just about timing ovulation. In this episode, Dr Natalie Crawford explains how sleep, stress, insulin resistance, diet, toxins, supplements, and lifestyle choices influence egg and sperm quality, miscarriage risk, and fertility outcomes. We cover fertility myths, evidence-based nutrition, supplements that matter, and when medical treatments like IVF or egg freezing make sense. What We Cover Sleep, inflammation, and hormone signalling Insulin resistance and reproductive health Strength training, stress, and metabolic resilience Fertility nutrition and soy myths Supplements that support fertility Sex, ovulation timing, and common misconceptions Fertility treatments and realistic expectations A practical, compassionate, and science-driven conversation for anyone planning a pregnancy or struggling to conceive. You can learn more from Dr Natalie Crawford by preordering her book The Fertility Formula at nataliecrawfordmd.com/book. You can also follow her on Instagram for ongoing fertility education, and listen to her podcast As a Woman. Intro (00:00) How Personal Loss Changed Medical Practice (03:34) Infertility, Isolation, and the Power of Support Systems (11:32) Fertility Is Not Luck: How Empowered Choices Shape Outcomes (16:03) Common Fertility Myths and Misconceptions (21:31) Sperm Health, Lifestyle, and Testosterone Risks (32:59) Chronic Inflammation and Its Impact on Reproductive Health (42:50) Egg Quality vs Age: What Really Drives Infertility (50:55) Hidden Signs of Chronic Inflammation You Shouldn’t Ignore (01:01:22) Tracking Your Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Health Sign (01:10:34) Birth Control and Fertility Awareness (01:19:17) Lifestyle Changes That Can Improve Natural Fertility (01:28:33) Why Sleep Is Critical for Hormones, Fertility, and Metabolic Health (01:34:13) Muscle Mass, Insulin Resistance, and Fertility Health (01:43:48) How Food Influences Inflammation (01:53:33) Supplements That Support Fertility and Egg Quality (02:05:56) Fertility Supplement Red Flags (02:15:55) Everyday Behavioral Toxins That Harm Fertility (02:29:46) Common Fertility Myths Explained (02:36:19) When to Consider Medical Interventions for Infertility (02:42:43) This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. ProLon Just in time for the new year, ProLon’s 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet offers a science-backed way to support metabolic health while still allowing you to eat. ProLon is offering The Proof listeners 15% off their 5-day nutrition program at ProLonLife.com. Caraway Caraway’s cookware set is a favourite for a reason. It can save you up to $190 compared to buying items individually, and The Proof listeners can take an additional 10% off at CarawayHome.com or by using code THEPROOF at checkout. Caraway. Non-toxic cookware made modern. Eight Sleep Upgrade your sleep with the Pod 5 Ultra by Eight Sleep. Clinically validated to deliver up to 1 extra hour of quality sleep per night through temperature control and biometric tracking. Use code THEPROOF for $350 off at eightsleep.com/theproof. Try it risk-free for 30 days, with worldwide shipping. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com Host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Subscribe & Connect: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram: @simonhill Twitter: @theproof Facebook: The Proof with Simon Hill