Can We Trust The Science Of Nutrition? – A Question of Science with Brian Cox

Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel dive into the complex world of diet, nutrition and food choices. With new probiotic and high-protein products appearing on supermarket shelves every day, and conflicting nutritional advice coming from every direction, it’s difficult to cut through the noise when it comes to what we eat. Our panel uses expertise from their roles as nutritionists, geneticists, gastroenterologists and policymakers to answer audience questions about food advertising, wellness advice on social media, and whether it’s really possible – or worthwhile – to avoid food ‘additives’. #nutrition #dietscience #foodscience In this episode 0:00 What’s this episode about? 2:05 What do the panel eat? 4:23 Who should we trust? 10:15 Can we measure how additives affect us? 14:55 Why isn’t food part of medical treatment? 25:24 Are high-protein foods worth it? 29:22 What about ultra-processed foods? 32:42 Would reducing salt improve our health? 35:38 Have diet drugs replaced nutrition advice? 40:18 How close are we to personalised diets? Panellists • Giles Yeo – Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge • Christina Vogel – Professor in Food Policy and Director of the Centre for Food Policy, City St George’s, University of London • Saliha Mahmood Ahmed – Gastroenterologist and MasterChef winner, 2017 • Nita Forouhi – Professor of Population Health and Nutrition, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge A Question of Science A Question of Science is a groundbreaking series of panel discussions where experts from different fields respond to your questions, sharing the scientific perspective on society’s most pressing questions. A Question of Science is BBC Studios production for the Francis Crick Institute. The Francis Crick Institute The Francis Crick Institute is one of the biggest research institutes in Europe. We’re an independent lab and registered charity, and home to more than 1,500 scientists working to understand health, disease and how life works. © BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025