We Do Science

About We Do Science

We Do Science is the sport and exercise nutrition podcast hosted by Dr Laurent Bannock, practitioner, educator, researcher, and Founder of The Institute of Performance Nutrition. Relaunching in September 2026 for a new era, the show brings together leading researchers, elite practitioners, educators, and thinkers to explore the science, context, and real-world application of performance nutrition. Each episode goes beyond headlines, protocols, and simplistic advice to examine how evidence is interpreted, challenged, and applied in practice. Topics include sport and exercise nutrition, body composition, protein and muscle, supplements, recovery, endurance nutrition, football nutrition, female athlete nutrition, behaviour change, practitioner development, and evidence-informed decision-making. Originally launched as one of the leading podcasts in the sports nutrition field, We Do Science returns with the same core mission: to bridge the gap between science and practice. Whether you are a sports nutritionist, dietitian, performance practitioner, coach, researcher, student, or serious health and fitness professional, this show is designed to help you think more critically, practise more effectively, and make better decisions in the real world. Serious conversations in sport and exercise nutrition — from science to practice.

Publisher

Dr Laurent Bannock

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Jun 2014

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

186 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Can Muscle Adapt When You're Eating Less? | Dr Jose Areta

   What happens to your muscles when you exercise in a calorie deficit? In this episode of We Do Science, I’m joined by Dr José Areta, Associate Professor in Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University, to explore how muscle responds when energy intake is reduced—and why muscle size is only part of the picture. José takes us through his research examining five days of low energy availability alongside aerobic exercise in men. Looking beyond body weight and lean mass, his team tracked changes in individual muscle proteins to understand how the muscle was adapting. We discuss what they found, including changes in proteins involved in energy production, and explore the distinction between muscle quantity and quality. We also consider how the body prioritises energy, the role of protein intake, and the relevance of these findings to athletes managing their body composition. Throughout, we address the study’s limitations and why short-term changes shouldn’t be taken as evidence that prolonged energy restriction improves performance. For practitioners, coaches, athletes and students, this conversation offers a closer look at the relationship between nutrition, exercise and muscle adaptation. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and José’s background 06:43 Understanding energy availability 11:40 Why study muscle during an energy deficit? 22:23 How the body prioritises energy 35:36 The study: diet, exercise and muscle measurements 45:02 Key findings: hormones and muscle adaptation 51:06 Short-term versus prolonged energy restriction 54:27 The roles of protein and exercise 1:04:03 Main takeaways Connect with Jose: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jose_l_areta/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-areta-8671738a/ Connect with Laurent: Substack: https://substack.com/@laurentbannock Website: https://www.laurentbannock.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurent_bannock Subscribe to We Do Science for more conversations on the science and practice of performance nutrition.

2. 

   9 Oct 2026

   The Food Matrix: Rethinking Protein Nutrition | Prof. Nick Burd

   Is more protein always better? In this episode of We Do Science, I’m joined by Professor Nick Burd to explore protein nutrition, muscle adaptation and why the amount of protein we eat is only part of the story. Returning to the podcast after six years, Nick shares insights from his research at the University of Illinois into protein metabolism and the food matrix: how a food’s structure and surrounding nutrients influence the way our bodies respond to it. From eggs and salmon to whey and casein, we examine what we can learn from studying whole foods alongside isolated proteins and supplements. We discuss the difference between maximal and optimal protein intake, why muscle protein synthesis shouldn’t automatically be equated with muscle growth, and how protein strategies may differ between strength and endurance athletes. We also explore anabolic resistance, muscle quality and the questions researchers are still working to answer. Whether you’re a sports nutrition practitioner, coach, athlete or student, this conversation offers a closer look at how to interpret protein research and apply it in practice, with a reminder of the central role of consistent exercise in supporting muscle adaptation. Subscribe to We Do Science for more conversations on the science and practice of performance nutrition. Connect with Nick: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasburd/ Connect with Laurent: Substack: https://substack.com/@laurentbannock Website: https://www.laurentbannock.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurent_bannock Chapters: 01:59 Protein, the food matrix and the questions ahead 03:03 Nick’s background and research 06:25 A career investigating protein metabolism 09:03 Making sense of muscle protein synthesis 12:28 Muscle remodelling versus muscle growth 14:30 How protein research shapes recommendations 16:52 Understanding the protein RDA 23:21 Individual responses and personalised nutrition 25:36 Maximal versus optimal protein intake 29:59 Food first, supplements and questions about timing 31:42 Strength versus endurance athletes 33:20 Looking beyond total protein intake 35:29 Understanding the food matrix 36:08 Lessons from eggs, salmon and minced meat 41:54 Whey, casein and attempts to improve the response 46:58 Exercise, protein and anabolic resistance 50:45 Anabolic resistance in different populations 54:45 Muscle size, strength and quality 59:52 Are we too focused on protein quantity?

3. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Nutrition for Pro Cycling: From Plate to Performance - Dr. Dana Lis & Nicki Strobel

   On this episode of We Do Science, Dr Laurent Bannock welcomes back Dr Dana Lis, registered dietitian and performance nutrition practitioner, alongside chef and nutritionist Nicki Strobel, to discuss their paper Plate to Performance: Culinary Nutrition Support for Professional Road Cycling, part of the UCI Sports Nutrition Project. Drawing on years of experience in elite cycling, Dana and Nicki explain how the culinary nutrition team of nutritionists, chefs and soigneurs turns evidence into food riders will actually eat across Grand Tours, Classics and training camps. The conversation covers the chef–nutritionist relationship, on-bike fuelling, menu planning around stage demands, and how power meter data, doubly labelled water and continuous glucose monitors inform daily decisions. Laurent, Dana and Nicki also discuss educating riders in a decentralised sport, building buy-in across the team, planning for illness, crashes and kitchens without power, and where the journey from science to plate most often breaks down. With lessons that apply well beyond cycling, this episode offers sports nutritionists, chefs, coaches, students and athletes a practical look at how performance nutrition is delivered in the real world. Subscribe for more conversations exploring the science and practice of sports nutrition. Read the paper: Plate to Performance: Culinary Nutrition Support for Professional Road Cycling https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijsnem/36/3/article-p335.xml Connect with Dana: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-dana-lis/ Connect with Nicki: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicki-strobel-44b41347/ Connect with Laurent: Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@laurentbannock⁠ (https://substack.com/@laurentbannock) LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurentbannock/⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurentbannock/) Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/laurent_bannock⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/laurent_bannock) Website: ⁠⁠https://www.laurentbannock.com (https://www.laurentbannock.com) Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:13 Welcoming Dana and Nicki to We Do Science 04:31 Bridging the gap between science and practice 06:35 Dana's background and career 10:08 Nicki's journey from Michelin-star chef to pro cycling 15:20 How the Plate to Performance paper came about 20:38 Why chefs and nutritionists need a shared language 23:18 Cooking on the road: chefs, hotels and logistics 26:27 Prioritising nutrition interventions 28:41 The chef–nutritionist relationship 33:12 On-bike nutrition and the role of soigneurs 38:02 Keeping the evidence intact across the team 42:01 Planning menus around race demands 45:15 Day types, fuelling time points and daily adjustments 49:56 The data behind fuelling decisions 52:55 Energy availability and RED-S in the field 56:16 Turning precise numbers into real meals 59:36 Rider education in a decentralised sport 1:04:06 Building rider buy-in 1:07:11 Working through the rider's support network 1:11:04 Establishing yourself in a new team 1:15:25 When things go wrong on the road 1:17:26 Planning for illness and injury 1:22:09 Where the science breaks down in practice 1:24:47 What Dana and Nicki have changed their minds on

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