Ask Dr Vincent

Doomsday - After Hours #039

Dr Vincent — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:00:22 GMT

Quite honestly, not too sure what to write here because I certainly do not want to come across as a prepper, but I still think it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

Stephen and I dove into multiple topics on how to survive a big disasterous event. Certainly the episode you don’t want to miss!

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!

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Newsletter Issue #18 - Knowledge Is Power at the Supermarket Shelf

Dr Vincent — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:03:02 GMT

From food labels to seafood sourcing, knowing what we’re buying helps us make better choices for our health, our families and the world around us.

Reading it on your phone or tablet? Click HERE

Newsletter Issue 18

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This week’s After Hours newsletter looks at how much we really know about the food we buy, from the “health halo” created by clever packaging to the importance of reading ingredient lists, understanding sugar content and knowing where our food comes from. We also explore why food processing itself is not the enemy, how seafood sourcing and fishing methods can affect both ethics and sustainability, and why transparency across the food chain matters. Ultimately, the message is simple: better information helps us make better choices, and good health should never depend on confusing labels, marketing tricks or how much money you can afford to spend.

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One thing I keep coming back to is that healthy choices should not depend on guesswork. Whether I’m standing in a supermarket, ordering dinner or choosing seafood at a restaurant, I want enough information to make a decision that feels right for me. That means looking beyond the front of the packet, understanding where food comes from, and questioning the assumptions created by words like “fat-free”, “plant-based” or “no added sugar”. This issue explores exactly that: how food marketing can create a health halo, why provenance matters, and why even simple information such as whether seafood is Australian, imported or mixed can give us more control over the choices we make.

For me, though, this conversation goes beyond labels. I don’t believe food needs to be perfect, expensive or completely unprocessed to be part of a healthy life. I believe we need transparency, context and balance. Processing can make food safer, reduce waste and extend shelf life, just as responsible fishing and farming can help feed a growing population. The real question is whether the system gives us enough information to understand how something was produced, who benefited from it and what impact our choice might have. In the end, I’m not interested in telling people exactly what to eat. I want people to have the knowledge and confidence to decide for themselves—because good health should never be complicated, gatekept or reserved for those who can afford it.

With my best

Dr Vincent

Newsletter Library

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This newsletter and podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Two and a half mates

Dr Vincent — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 06:30:30 GMT

Well let us explain! We both are dads, foudners, business owners and MATES!

We find it quite challenging to make time to catch up and have a proper chat, so we decided to commit to doing a podcast instead! Not really scripted, no agenda. Just two mates having real conversations that you happen to be listening to!

We won’t solve all the problems in the world, but hopefully the things we talk about are relatable and since you’re our half mate, feel free to drop in your questions, suggestions or feedback.

We can’t wait to record our first episode next week! We plan to record LIVE on Substack every Thursday and publish the full episode on Saturdays!

Casual chats, real conversations. We’re the two mates: Vincent and Andrew, and you’re the half, listening in.

Food for thoughts: Stop Reading the Front of the Pack? - After Hours 038

Dr Vincent — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:01:27 GMT

I spend a lot of time talking about making healthier choices, but there is a problem we don’t talk about enough: the supermarket is designed to make those choices feel much simpler than they really are. A strawberry on the front of a packet, the words “no added sugar,” “fat free,” “plant-based” or a beautifully photographed serving suggestion can create what we call a health halo—the perception that a product is healthier than it necessarily is. This is why one of the simplest things I tell people is to turn the packet around. Look at the first few ingredients. Look at the sugar. Look at what is actually in the food rather than relying entirely on what the marketing department decided to put on the front. I don’t think eating well should require a science degree, and consumers shouldn’t have to decode clever language just to understand what they’re putting into their bodies.

I’m also not anti-processing—in fact, as a food scientist, I think food processing is one of the great achievements of modern food technology. It can make food safer, extend shelf life, reduce waste and make nutrition more accessible. The problem begins when we confuse processed with engineered to look healthier than it is, or when better nutrition becomes something reserved for people with more money, more time or more knowledge. At the very core of what I believe as a scientist is that health should be accessible to everyone. Better labels, clearer information and greater transparency don’t make the decision for us—they give us the ability to make that decision for ourselves. And sometimes, being a smarter shopper really does begin with one very simple action: turn the packet around.

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!

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Newsletter Issue #17 - Beyond the Label

Dr Vincent — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 11:46:31 GMT

From allergen warnings to Health Star Ratings, understanding food labels isn't just about making healthier choices—it could protect your health and your family's safety.

Reading it on your phone or tablet? Click HERE

2026 08 09 Newsletter

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This week, we investigate the truth behind food labels, explain Australia's updated allergen labelling rules, explore the realities of food allergies, introduce Activated Greens Plus+, and share a delicious gluten-free friand recipe. Understanding your food starts with reading beyond the marketing on the front of the pack.

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Food packaging is designed to inform us, but how much can we really trust what it says? This week on After Hours with Dr Vincent, we unpack the growing concerns surrounding food labelling in Australia—from allergen declarations and country-of-origin claims to the limitations of the Health Star Rating system. Inspired by the recent Four Corners investigation, we explore why clear, accurate labels matter, who is responsible when they fail, and why consumers should never rely on front-of-pack marketing alone when making important health decisions.

This issue also examines Australia's new Plain English allergen labelling laws, explaining how clearer ingredient declarations can make food safer for millions of Australians living with allergies. We dive into the science behind food allergies, discuss why ingredient lists are ultimately safety documents rather than marketing tools, and highlight practical ways to navigate food labels with greater confidence. Alongside this, we introduce Activated Greens Plus+, share a gluten-free friand recipe, and reinforce a simple message: the more informed you are about what's in your food, the better equipped you are to make healthier, safer choices every day.

With my best

Dr Vincent

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After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This newsletter and podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Food (mis)labelling: Can You Really Trust Food Labels?

Dr Vincent — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:02:51 GMT

Every time I walk through the supermarket, I’m reminded that most of us make buying decisions in just a few seconds. We trust what is printed on the front of the pack—whether it’s “Australian made,” “gluten free,” “organic,” or a high Health Star Rating—to guide those decisions. But after watching the recent Four Corners investigation into food labelling, I was reminded how important it is to look beyond the marketing. Food labels should exist to help consumers make informed choices, not leave them confused. When allergen statements are unclear, country-of-origin claims are misleading, or health ratings oversimplify nutrition, it isn’t just a marketing issue—it becomes an issue of trust and, in some cases, safety.

As both a food scientist and a consumer, I believe honesty should always come before marketing. I don’t expect food to be perfect, but I do expect labels to accurately reflect what’s inside the package. Consumers deserve transparency so they can make decisions that suit their health, values and budget. Rather than chasing buzzwords or relying on a single rating, I encourage people to read ingredient lists, understand what they’re buying and remember that no front-of-pack claim can replace informed decision-making. The best food label is one that tells the truth—clearly, consistently and without compromise.

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Available for iOS and Android

Newsletter Issue #16 - The Hidden Health Crisis Men Don't Talk About

Dr Vincent — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 11:17:29 GMT

Newsletter #16

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This week, we unpack the hidden impact of chronic inflammation, share ten simple habits to help reduce it, explore the science and everyday uses of ginger, and explain why smarter skincare works with your skin instead of against it. Small choices, repeated consistently, can make a remarkable difference to your long-term health.

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Loneliness isn't just an emotion. It's a health issue. Discover why meaningful connection, movement and community may be some of the most powerful forms of preventive medicine.

This week on After Hours with Dr Vincent, we tackle a topic that too often goes unspoken: male loneliness. We explore the difference between being alone and feeling lonely, why major life transitions such as fatherhood, retirement and career changes can leave men feeling isolated, and why asking for help is a sign of strength rather than weakness. Through personal stories, research and practical advice, we discuss how genuine connection is built through consistent effort, shared experiences and having the courage to reach out before loneliness takes hold.

We also answer a timely listener question about breaking out of winter routines as spring approaches. From chasing morning sunlight and joining walking groups to discovering playful new ways to move, we share simple strategies to rebuild healthy habits without chasing perfection. Alongside these conversations, we explain the science behind Activated Greens Plus+ and how broad-spectrum plant nutrients can help support everyday health, finishing with a delicious gluten-free friand recipe to make healthy eating both practical and enjoyable.

With my best

Dr Vincent

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

The Male Health Crisis Nobody Wants to Talk About - After Hours #036

Dr Vincent — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 06:55:08 GMT

There is a growing health crisis that doesn’t show up on a blood test, an MRI or even during a routine check-up. It’s loneliness. We often think of loneliness as something that only affects older people, but the reality is that it can affect anyone, especially men. As life changes through careers, fatherhood and increasing responsibilities, many men slowly lose the friendships and routines that once kept them connected. What makes this particularly challenging is that loneliness is often hidden behind success, busyness or the belief that everyone else is coping just fine. Yet research shows loneliness is linked to poorer physical and mental health, reminding us that meaningful relationships are just as important to our wellbeing as exercise and good nutrition.

I don’t believe the solution is simply telling people to “make more friends.” Real connection takes intention. For me, some of the best places to build friendships are through shared experiences, whether that’s joining a gym, a walking group, a community class or even attending a local workshop. The goal isn’t to leave with a best friend after one visit. It’s simply to keep showing up. A simple conversation, a familiar face or asking someone how they’re really doing can make a remarkable difference. Being alone isn’t the same as being lonely, and investing in our relationships with others, and with ourselves, may be one of the most powerful things we can do for our long-term health and happiness.

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Available for iOS and Android

Newsletter Issue #15 - Breakfast: The Habit That Refuses to Go Away

Dr Vincent — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:53:05 GMT

Newsletter #15

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This week's newsletter explores the evidence behind breakfast, sugar and coffee, offering practical, science-backed strategies for building a healthier morning routine while making smarter everyday nutrition choices.

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Breakfast is one of nutrition's most enduring debates, and this week on After Hours with Dr Vincent, we revisit the science with fresh eyes. We explore what decades of research tell us about breakfast and cognitive performance, why quality matters more than simply eating first thing, and how the modern obsession with health data can sometimes create more anxiety than better health. Along the way, we discuss sleep, sustainable habits and why the best health advice is often the advice you can actually stick with for life.

We also answer a listener's question about whether sugary breakfasts are acceptable if you're active, comparing popular cereals, explaining how much exercise it takes to burn them off, and why reading nutrition labels is so important. Plus, we examine the role of coffee in your morning routine, including the best time to enjoy your first cup, and share practical ways to use Activated Greens Plus+ to bridge everyday nutritional gaps. It's a reminder that lasting health isn't built on extreme routines, but on small, repeatable choices that work with your body rather than against it.

With my best

Dr Vincent

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

The Best of Both Worlds - After Hours #035

Dr Vincent — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 06:41:47 GMT

One of the things I love most about hosting the After Hours podcast is that it constantly challenges my own thinking. Every week, Stephen and I explore questions that seem simple on the surface but quickly become much more complex. In this episode, we revisit one of the biggest debates in health: is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? Along the way, we also talk about wearable technology, sleep tracking, the balance between data and intuition, and why living a healthy life is about much more than chasing perfect numbers. The more I learn, the more I realise that health is rarely black and white. It is about finding what works for your body while staying curious enough to keep asking better questions.

Perhaps the biggest lesson I took away from this conversation is that longevity should never come at the expense of actually enjoying life. I want to live a long life, but more importantly, I want to live a healthy, happy and meaningful one. Whether it’s deciding if breakfast suits your lifestyle, learning something new every day, or resisting the temptation to obsess over every health metric on your smartwatch, I believe balance will always beat perfection. I hope this episode encourages you to think critically, stay curious and remember that sometimes the best health advice isn’t choosing one extreme over another, but finding the best of both worlds.

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Available for iOS and Android

Social Media and Health

Dr Vincent — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:29:23 GMT

Social media often gets blamed for making us less healthy. It fuels comparison, unrealistic expectations and an endless stream of conflicting advice. But after returning from the US, completing my first HYROX and reflecting on the conversations Stephen and I had in this episode, I found myself asking a different question. Could social media also be encouraging more people to move, challenge themselves and build healthier habits? The answer, I think, is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

In this episode, I share my own internal tug of war with social media. I admit that posting my HYROX result gave me a sense of pride, but it also made me question where the motivation was really coming from. We explore how technology can inspire us to walk more, exercise together and celebrate progress, while also recognising the dangers of comparison and turning health into a competition. My hope is that this conversation reminds you to use social media as a tool rather than letting it use you, and to remember that the healthiest journey is still the one that helps you become a better version of yourself, not someone else’s.

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Available for iOS and Android

Newsletter Issue #14 - Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Your Health?

Dr Vincent — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 10:47:00 GMT

Newsletter Issue #14

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This week's newsletter explores how social media shapes our health decisions, examines the science behind breakfast and chia seeds, and shares practical lessons on building lasting healthy habits through consistent daily action rather than chasing online trends.

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Social media has transformed the way we learn about health, but not always for the better. In this week's After Hours with Dr Vincent, we unpack how algorithms often reward engagement over accuracy, making it easier for misinformation, unrealistic body standards and quick-fix wellness trends to spread. We also revisit the timeless foundations of good health, including regular movement, hydration and building sustainable habits, reminding listeners that the basics consistently outperform the latest viral fad.

This issue also takes a deep dive into one of nutrition's longest-running debates: is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? We explore what the evidence actually says, why breakfast isn't essential for everyone, and who is most likely to benefit from it. You'll also discover the science behind chia seeds, practical ways to include them in your diet, insights from Dr Vincent's HYROX experience on becoming an "everyday athlete", and why choosing evidence over hype remains the key to long-term health.

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Newsletter Issue #13 - The Quiet Inflammation You Can't Afford to Ignore

Dr Vincent — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 10:42:00 GMT

Newsletter Issue #13

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Inflammation isn't always obvious. It doesn't always arrive as pain, swelling or illness. More often, it quietly shows up as persistent fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep or getting sick more often than usual. In this week's After Hours with Dr Vincent, we explore why these subtle signals deserve our attention and how learning to recognise patterns, rather than obsessing over numbers, can help us take control of our health before small problems become much bigger ones. We also discuss the importance of having a trusted GP, using blood tests wisely, and listening to your body's own early warning system.

We also share ten practical ways to reduce everyday inflammation, from staying hydrated and eating four different vegetables each day to making plants the hero of your plate and tackling small health issues early. Alongside the podcast highlights, this issue takes a closer look at ginger's long history as both a culinary ingredient and traditional remedy, and explains why some skincare products appear to "stop working" over time, introducing the science behind Activated Phenolics and their role in supporting long-term skin health. Together, these stories reinforce a simple message: lasting health isn't built through perfection, but through consistent, everyday choices.

With my best,

Dr Vincent

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Inflammation: Why Your Body is Quietly on Fire

Dr Vincent — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:01:49 GMT

This episode, Stephen and I finally dove into a topic that I have been wanting to tackle for a while: inflammation. And I want to be honest about why I find this so frustrating as a scientist. Eighty percent of our illnesses and diseases are rooted in inflammation, yet it is consistently one of the most overlooked health conversations out there. Unlike a broken arm or a deep cut, inflammation hides. It shows up as brain fog you brush off as a bad night’s sleep. It shows up as that low-level tiredness you keep blaming on a busy week. We talked about how conditions like PCOS and endometriosis were dismissed for decades, not because patients were wrong, but because the signs were subtle and the pattern was slow. That is the insidious thing about inflammation: because it does not demand your attention the way an obvious injury does, most people put it in the back burner until it has compounded into something far harder to reverse. The key message I kept coming back to is this: know yourself, look for the pattern, and do not wait for a crisis.

From there we got practical. I shared the two atomic habits I genuinely believe make the biggest difference when it comes to managing inflammation over time: hydration and plants. Water is unglamorous advice but it is foundational, and I pushed back on the obsession with apps and tracking. We actually discussed a study showing that people with pre-existing sleep issues who started obsessively recording their sleep scores ended up sleeping worse because of the anxiety it created. The same principle applies more broadly: a little bit of honest self-awareness trumps drowning in data.

I also launched a seven-day challenge on my Instagram, asking people to include four different colored vegetables in at least one meal per day. The digestive tract repairs itself every three to five days, so within a week of doing this consistently, you will feel the difference in energy, regularity, and even skin quality. Four vegetables, seven days. That is not a diet overhaul, that is just the beginning of a new pattern.

We also had a genuinely fun conversation about food, including Stephen’s wife’s complicated relationship with lamb, the correct way to cook Brussels sprouts in an air fryer (dark soy, mirin, sesame oil, a little crisp on the outside), and the surprising botanical reality that tomatoes, coffee, and chocolate are all technically fruit.

I also shared something personal heading into the recording: the next day I was flying to Dallas and then Austin to appear on ShopLC again, this time for two shows including a Monday primetime slot broadcasting to 70 million US households. I still get nervous before those moments, but I talked about something I genuinely believe, which is that the energy you put out matters.

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

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Ultra Processed Breakfast - After Hours #031 and Newsletter Issue #12

Dr Vincent — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 09:27:02 GMT

Breakfast might seem like an odd place to start a conversation about the global food system, but it turns out to be the perfect lens. When Stephen and I sat down to record this episode, we weren’t planning to go deep on ultra-processed food or body image or the cultural architecture of what we eat before 9am. But that’s exactly where we ended up, and I think it’s because breakfast is the one meal that most of us treat as automatic. We reach for the same thing every morning without much thought, which is precisely when food engineering does its best work. I’ll be honest: I skip breakfast a lot. That habit goes back to growing up overweight and counting every kilojoule, and it’s a pattern I’ve never fully shaken. Sharing that on the podcast felt a little exposed, but I think it matters, because what we eat is never just about nutrients. It’s about history, self-talk, and the quiet stories we carry about our bodies.

The cereal aisle was where things got genuinely interesting for me. We used Weet-Bix, Cornflakes and Sultana Bran as the baseline, then held them up against Nutri-Grain, Coco Pops, Froot Loops and Milo cereal, and the contrast is pretty striking once you start looking. The branding on those ultra-processed products is doing a lot of heavy lifting. “Nutri-Grain” sounds medical. “Made with whole grain” sounds responsible. But when you actually read the label, you’re decoding marketing far more than you’re understanding nutrition.

That same pattern plays out across the whole food system, and it gets more dramatic when you compare Australian and American products side by side. The same pasta sauce, the same bread, the same mince, but with meaningfully higher sugar and fat baselines in the US version. Eat the “same” diet across both countries and you could be taking in 10 to 15 percent more calories without changing a single habit.

We honestly feel that, this week's After Hours newsletter is one of our most practical yet. Plus, we now have a mobile friendly version too: After Hours Newsletter Issue 12

Enjoy your Sunday evening and have a great week!

With my best

Vincent

Newsletter Issue 12

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This week's After Hours newsletter is one of the most practical yet. Stephen and Dr. Vincent dig into breakfast, ultra-processed food, and why the modern food system is quietly engineered to work against you, from cereal aisle marketing tricks to why the same meal in the US carries 10 to 15 percent more calories than its Australian equivalent. They also get into coffee, and whether Stephen's long black is actually doing him any favours (spoiler: it depends on the brew method, not the postcode). Plus there's a deep dive on what to actually check on a food label when you're standing in a supermarket with kids hanging off the trolley, and why the answer is simpler than the food industry wants you to think.

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After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Available for iOS and Android

Newsletter Issue #12 - Stop Trying to "Boost" Your Immune System

Dr Vincent — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:30:04 GMT

Newsletter Issue 12

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In this Issue, Stephen and Dr Vincent take apart the idea of "boosting" immunity and replace it with something more useful: understanding how the immune system actually works. They cover the basics (white blood cells, macrophages, skin as a first line of defence), why vaccination works like language training for your immune system, and the often-overlooked role of vitamin K in newborns. From there the conversation gets practical, hydration, sleep quality over sleep quantity, and eating with the seasons, before tying it all back to a simple idea: a calm, well-regulated immune system beats an over-amped one every time.

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People ask me all the time how they can boost their immune system before flu season hits, and I understand why. The marketing around “immune support” makes it sound like your body is an engine that just needs more fuel. But that’s not how immunity works. Your immune system isn’t a single dial you can turn up. It’s closer to a highly trained defence force, made up of cells that need to recognise threats accurately and respond proportionally. When that system is “boosted” beyond its normal range, it doesn’t get better at its job, it gets trigger happy. That’s the mechanism behind autoimmune conditions, where the immune system starts treating your own tissue as the enemy. So when I say no to “immune boosters,” I’m not being difficult. I’m pointing out that the goal isn’t a bigger army, it’s a smarter one.

This is actually the principle I had in mind when I formulated Immunity Plus+. The activated phenolics in the formula aren’t designed to ramp anything up or override what your body is already doing. They work by supporting the internal environment your immune system relies on, helping calm oxidative stress and inflammation so your cells can do their job without being pushed into overdrive.

The same logic applies to the rest of what we cover in this episode. Hydration, sleep quality, and seasonal eating all work the same way, they support the system rather than push against it. None of it is glamorous, but it’s the difference between a body that’s primed to respond well and one that’s constantly being told to do more than it needs to.

With my best,

Dr Vincent

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Immunity: Flu Season, Vax and the Autoimmune Trap - After Hours #031

Dr Vincent — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:08:53 GMT

Winter is here in the southern hemisphere and cold and flu season is already making itself known. In this episode, Stephen and I dig into how the immune system actually works, and the first thing I need to clear up is the biggest misconception in the wellness space: you do not want to boost your immune system. A system that is over-activated is called autoimmune disease, and there are close to a hundred of them. What you want is an immune system that is calibrated, not supercharged. We also go deep on vaccination, including why I think flu shots are more important than most people realise, how vaccines act as a training program for your immune system rather than just a one-time fix, and the genuinely alarming research linking regular immunisation across a lifetime to lower rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s. We also talk honestly about why so many parents feel hesitant when it comes to infant vaccination, and why I think the medical system needs to do a better job of having that conversation before the delivery suite rather than during it.

The second half of the episode is the practical stuff: hydration in winter (your brain will lie to you about being thirsty), sleep as a non-negotiable reset for your immune function, and food as medicine. I wrap up with a story from our recent US trip where I picked up a loaf of bread at the supermarket and checked the best before date. It was nearly a month away. At room temperature. What followed was an ingredient list I can only describe as the longest thing I have read all year, and I pride myself on knowing food additive codes. That bread was not bread. We are what we eat, and this episode is a reminder of exactly why that matters.

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Available for iOS and Android

Newsletter Issue #11 - This Week We Cooked Up a Storm

Dr Vincent — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:09:31 GMT

Newsletter Issue 11

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In this week's After Hours, Dr. Vincent and Stephen dive into the kitchen, arguing that everyday cooking decisions have a far greater impact on inflammation and disease risk than most people realise. They cover everything from knife sharpness and oil smoke points to food storage, defrosting safely, and why you should never wash raw chicken. A lively segment on tea explores the growing variety available in Australia, from classic black to herbal and ginger options. Stephen takes a deep dive into wasabi, revealing that most commercial "wasabi" is actually dyed horseradish and lacks the key isothiocyanate compounds, particularly 6-MSITC, that drive real wasabi's impressive antibacterial and cognitive benefits. The issue closes with a quick-pickle onion recipe using Renovatio apple cider vinegar, and a "Product of the Week" feature for APSKIN.

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This week Stephen and I got into one of our favourite topics: the kitchen. We made the case that most people are dramatically underestimating how much their everyday cooking habits shape their inflammation levels and long-term disease risk.

We covered a lot of ground, from why a sharp knife actually protects the nutritional value of your food, to choosing the right oil for the right temperature, to the truth about microwave-safe plastic containers and what they are actually releasing into your food. We also had some friendly disagreements along the way, including whether you should wash your rice, and I’ll let you read the newsletter to find out where we landed.

Stephen also took us deep into the science of wasabi this issue, and I have to say, it’s one of the most pharmacologically interesting culinary plants I’ve come across. The catch is that the vast majority of what you’re eating at your local Japanese restaurant is dyed horseradish with none of the active compounds that make real wasabi worth talking about.

We also brewed a pot of tea, talked about the growing variety available to Australians today, and I shared a quick-pickle onion recipe using Renovatio apple cider vinegar that genuinely makes home cooking feel like restaurant food in about ten minutes. As always, the goal is the same: giving you the knowledge to make better choices, without making it complicated.

With my best,

Dr Vincent

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

In the Kitchen - After Hours #030

Dr Vincent — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:18:45 GMT

Everyday things we do in the kitchen that may be sabotaging our health and wellbeing.

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.

Available for iOS and Android

Newsletter Issue #10 - Why Aren’t We Healthier?

Dr Vincent — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 03:30:05 GMT

Newsletter Issue #10

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In this issue of After Hours, Dr Vincent and Stephen explore a deceptively simple question: why are we not healthier despite having more supplements, health products, and wellness information than ever before? The discussion examines the gap between marketing and science, highlighting how cumulative nutrient exposure, poor supplement combinations, misleading "natural" claims, and a lack of focus on bioavailability may prevent people from achieving better health outcomes. The newsletter also answers subscriber questions about simplifying supplement routines, choosing effective products, understanding antioxidants, and avoiding the hidden risks of over-supplementation.

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In this week’s After Hours podcast, Stephen and I tackled what I believe is one of the biggest contradictions in modern health: we have more supplements, health technology, and wellness advice available to us than ever before, yet many people still don’t feel healthier. We explored why regulation, transparency, and scientific evidence matter when making health decisions, and why consumers need to be cautious of bold promises and the endless stream of “breakthrough” products that appear almost daily. We also discussed the important role regulatory bodies such as the TGA play in maintaining standards and protecting public trust.

One of the key themes we explored was supplement overload. In my experience, more supplements rarely mean better outcomes. In fact, taking too many products can sometimes reduce effectiveness when nutrients compete for absorption or create unnecessary complexity. My philosophy has always been to focus on a small number of well-formulated, highly bioavailable products that your body can actually use. Stephen shared some practical examples of how common supplement combinations can interfere with one another and highlighted how AI tools may help people identify potential issues in their routines, while remembering that AI should never replace professional medical advice.

We also discussed what separates genuinely effective supplements from clever marketing. Not all antioxidants are created equal. Their source, structure, extraction method, and bioavailability all influence whether they can deliver meaningful benefits. I shared why I’ve spent much of my career studying how to preserve and activate apple phenolics so they remain usable by the body. We also spoke about the risks of assuming that “natural” automatically means safe. Supplements can be beneficial, but they can also be harmful when used excessively or combined inappropriately. Ultimately, the message of this episode is simple: focus on quality over quantity, understand what you’re putting into your body, and make evidence-based decisions rather than chasing the latest wellness trend.

With my best,

Dr Vincent

After Hours is where science gets personal. Hosted by Dr Vincent, your friendly neighbourhood scientist and Stephen!
This podcast is part of the Ask Dr Vincent on Substack.