Optimum Nutrition
The Optimum Nutrition podcast is a weekly interview series brought to you by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) - one of Europe’s longest established nutritional therapy training providers. Each episode, we explore a new topic within the world of nutrition with an expert guest, touching on their food and health journeys, and addressing common myths and misconceptions. Together, we’ll discover how powerful food can be for our health and happiness. We’ll find out how a ‘healthy diet’ looks different for everyone. And, because food is so personal, with each guest we’ll talk a bit about what food means to them.
Optimum Nutrition
What's really in your food? Dan Kittredge on nutrient density
In this episode, Dan Kittredge – founder of the Bionutrient Food Association and the Bionutrient Institute – takes us on a journey from his roots on an organic farm to leading a global movement for better food.
He breaks down the concept of nutrient density, why soil health matters more than ever, and how citizen science is empowering everyday consumers to demand higher-quality food.
Dan shares simple, actionable steps farmers can take to improve crop nutrition and outlines a bold vision for shifting agriculture’s focus from yield to quality. If you’ve ever wondered what’s really in your food and how it impacts your health, this episode is your wake-up call.
Chapters
00:00 The Journey of Dan Kittredge
05:34 Understanding Nutrient Density
15:49 The Science of Soil Health and Food Quality
22:29 Empowering Consumers through Citizen Science
23:43 The Nutritional Decline Across Generations
25:32 Transforming Soil Health: A Simple Approach
30:42 Shifting Focus: From Yield to Quality in Agriculture
32:10 The Role of Citizen Science in Agriculture
33:50 Defining Nutrient Density: A New Framework
35:07 The Future of Food: Enhancing Nutrient Density
39:19 Global Outreach: Building a Movement for Change
🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:
The Bionutrient Institute is a project of the Bionutrient Food Association.
The Bionutrient Meter is a handheld spectrometer that works through the principle of spectroscopy. The Bionutrient Meter has lights (LEDs - light emitting diodes) that emit light at very specific wavelengths, which then bounce off objects like carrots, or carrot pulp, or spinach, or soil. Some of it is absorbed by the object and turned into other forms of energy, like heat. A light sensor in the device reads how much light bounces back for each wavelength very quickly and multiple times throughout a given measurement.
Want to learn more?
The Power of Medicinal Mushrooms
Fri 7 November 2025 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM
BMA House, London, WC1H 9JP
Join ION for an inspiring evening exploring the science and practice of medicinal mushrooms - with expert talks, a panel discussion, and opportunities to connect.
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Interested in learning about nutritional therapy?
Visit www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.
Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.
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