443 John Schoonbee - Why a $43B reinsurer believes type 2 diabetes is reversible
Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food · Oct 6, 2026 · 1:20:25
Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food
Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food · Oct 6, 2026 · 1:20:25
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Four or five eggs, swimming in butter. For breakfast!
That is how Dr. John Schoonbee eats. A trained doctor and Global Chief Medical Officer at Swiss Re (a $43 billion reinsurance giant), John studied medicine in South Africa and worked as a GP before following his love of maths into reinsurance. His job is to spot the health trends that shape how long people live; and for the past decade, one trend in particular has caught his attention: nutrition.
It’s a breakfast that goes against almost everything many of us have been taught about healthy eating. But John’s blood work is perfect, and he argues that our fear of fat may be one of the great misconceptions of modern nutrition — what he calls “probably the most successful brainwashing exercise ever.” Meanwhile, 53% of US adults are diabetic or pre-diabetic. John’s case is that type 2 diabetes, long taught as chronic and progressive, can be put into remission through more nutrient-dense food, fewer carbohydrates and more fat. And because healthier policyholders live longer, a reinsurer has a very concrete reason to care.
In this episode, we get into the fear of fat, why diets fail, and what John has learned from the evidence around low-carb, higher-fat diets. He shares how Swiss Re is piloting nutrition programmes with US life insurers, and why he believes we may have misunderstood some of the fundamentals of nutrition.
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In Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast show we talk to the pioneers in the regenerative food and agriculture space to learn more on how to put our money to work to regenerate soil, people, local communities and ecosystems while making an appropriate and fair return. Hosted by Koen van Seijen.
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The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed financial advisor or investment professional before making any financial decisions.
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