Beyond the Limits | Health and Performance Medicine

Caffeine is an essential part of many people’s day to day life. Is it beneficial? Or can it be dangerous? And is it turning us all into insomniacs? Sleep expert Dr David Garley returns to Beyond the Limits to spill the beans on all things caffeine, and reveal why his sleep clinic has produced its very own coffee… In a world of endless health fads and self-help noise, it’s hard to know what to trus...

Hospital admissions due to lack vitamins and minerals are soaring, whilst adverts for vitamins and supplements are all over social media. What's the evidence for multivitamins? Should we all be taking them every day? To listen to the full episode, see episode 5 published on 8 Jan 2025

If 2025 was the year of mouth taping, protein and GLP1s, what does 2026 have in store?  Dr Matt and Dr Mike are joined by Dr Sophie Newton, a GP and medical content creator, to shake the magical 8 ball of wellness and predict what the year ahead might look like in the world health, wellness and performance medicine.  In a world of endless health fads and self-help noise, it’s hard to know what to...

Performance medicine and health performance should start with sleep. Dr Matt and Dr Mike bust myths on sleep with expert Dr David Garley. This microdose episode contains teasers on key insights into sleep. For the full, beyond the limits download, go back to episode 14

Is Heart Rate Variability the most important health metric you aren't tracking correctly? In this episode, Dr Matt and Dr Mike dive deep into the science of HRV—the ultimate window into your Autonomic Nervous System. What is HRV? And why are so many people in the sports science world so interested in it? Should we all be measuring our HRV? Or is "training" your HRV nothing more than...

Melatonin is often considered one of the safest sedatives, and is readily available to buy in the USA. But what is it? And is it safe, given recent research has cast doubt on this? And could it have a role without sleep? This is an audio-only MICRODOSE episode - for the original episode please see episode 6, published on 19 Jan 2025

Is preventative medicine the future of healthcare? In this episode of Beyond the Limits, Dr. Mike and Dr. Matt explore Neko Health’s innovative approach to health performance through AI-assisted preventative scans. Neko Health was founded in 2018 and focuses of preventative measures and early detection of diseases, providing 50 million data points and a consultation with a GP, although within an h...

When should I get a PSA test? This microdose episode aims to help answer this question. Go back to episode 2 to hear this episode in full: Find out about the PSA test for prostate cancer and what factors might mean you are at higher risk of prostate cancer. In this episode we break down whether or not you should have a PSA blood test and the benefits and risks of this. A lot of people are urging m...

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, but depending on who you ask, deficiency of this hormone is either a) massively under appreciated, or b) grossly over-hyped. But is the truth something else entirely?  What causes your testosterone levels to drop, and what can you do about it? Matt and Mike are joined by GP and men's health expert Dr Hugh Coyne to reveal the truth behind this key h...

Microdose : Revealing evidence on health and performance medicine breakthroughs, in short form. For the full episode, please see episode 11. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is showing some promising results in the treatment of depression. But how does it work? Are there any side effects? And how can it help in such a complex condition as depression?

Concussion and head injuries are a hot topic in the media right now. But what exactly is a concussion? And why does it matter? Dr Mike and Dr Matt explore this complex - and sometimes controversial - topic, and look at the evidence behind new products on the market claiming to either prevent or treat concussions.  Finally, we address the most important question of all; do woodpeckers get concussio...

Microdose : Revealing evidence on health and performance medicine breakthroughs, in short form. For the full edit, please go back to episode #18 VO2 Max is the reserve of the endurance athlete with the smart watch that's worth more than your car, right? Or is it more useful than that? Could this mysterious number may play a more important role, and provide a useful metric into your overall health....

Forget what you think you know about your insides as we go Beyond the Limits with Dr. James Kinross, author of Dark Matter , to reveal evidence about the gut microbiome's crucial role in health performance. Dr. Kinross, a consultant colorectal surgeon, dives deep into how this inner ecosystem impacts everything from mood and appetite to chronic disease risks, including colorectal cancer. Disco...

We all know about cholesterol, right? Maybe, it turns out, that’s not entirely true.   In this eye-opening episode, Dr Mike and Dr Matt decode your lipid panel, exploring the truth about the good, the bad, and the downright ugly when it comes to cholesterol. We discuss whether current guidance is fit for purpose, and whether all of us - young and old - should be much more conscious of our choleste...

In this episode of Beyond the Limits, we dive into the future of healthcare in an AI-focused world, and reveal evidence of where AI is already integrated into daily practice. Dr. Matt and Dr. Mike are joined by Dr. Hugh Harvey, a healthcare visionary and consultant radiologist turned health tech expert. Together, they discuss the integration of AI in healthcare, chatbot diagnoses, and the regulati...

Dr. Matt and Dr. Mike explore the crucial topic of early cancer detection and examine whether a blood test can effectively screen for cancer. Revealing evidence behind cancer screening blood tests such as Trucheck, we tackle the pressing question: do they really work and are they worth it? With tests claiming to detect up to 70 types of cancer before symptoms arise, we delve into how these methods...

Make evidence based decisions with vaccines. Dr Matt and Dr Mike will be revealing evidence and debunking myths around vaccine hesitancy. Measle is re-emerging with vaccination rates plummeting across the country and we explore the reasons for this, the danger and risks this poses, and ultimately what can be done about it In a world of endless health fads and self-help noise, it’s hard to know wha...

Loneliness: In 2023 the World Health Organisation declared loneliness a global health crisis, highlighting an alarming rise in its rates.  In this episode we explore what is causing this crisis and also discuss a three step approach for people to address it personally Hosts Mike and Matt are joined by Amy Perrin, founder of the Marmalade Trust, who delves into the devastating psychological and phy...

Discover if CBD actually delivers on its various promises: from anxiety relief to better sleep, does CBD actually work? Drinks, oils, tinctures.....even leggings and mascara! It seems CBD is infused in everything, these days. But whilst many swear by its relaxing qualities, and capacity to improve anxiety, chronic pain, and sleep, does the science back this up? And are there any risks to this cann...

How do we achieve high performance? And how best do we share knowledge and experience? From freezing in the face of major trauma in South Africa to soaring over Sydney in a helicopter, Dr Robbie Lloyd is an Emergency Medicine Consultant passionate about the pursuit of high performance. In this episode we explore his passion project - Coffee and Cases - and disagree, without a huge amount of expert...

Given the general level of ignorance of the Beyond the Limits hosts when it comes to anything dentistry related, we're delighted (and relieved) to welcome Dr Anni Seaborne, Head of General Dentistry at Bupa, to shed some light on the topic. What whitening products are most effective? And can they be dangerous? What's the best type of toothbrush? And what about flossing? Anni tackles these...

VO2 Max is the reserve of the endurance athlete with the smart watch that's worth more than your car, right? Or is it more useful than that? Could this mysterious number may play a more important role, and provide a useful metric into your overall health. Matt (represented GB as a triathlete) and Mike (a slow 5km run every other week) compare notes. In a world of endless health fads and self-h...

Every 2 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. This week we're joined by Consultant Oncologist Dr Harry Gasper to explore developments in cancer care, raising rates of cancer in the young, and less traditional treatments promoted in some corners of the internet. We also look at the latest study postulating exercise as an effective means of reducing recurrence in bowel cancer, outl...

We've focused previously on the potential role of Psychedelics in Mental Health, but given the legal status in the UK it's difficult to explore the practicalities of psychedelic therapy. This is where Nigel Pedlingham comes in. Nigel is a plant medicine practitioner and psychedelic coach based in the Netherlands. What does a psychedelic experience look like? Does it work? And perhaps even...

Creatine has always been the reserve of gym-lovers and body builders. Does it work? And are there risks? And does this inexpensive supplement potentially have a role in brain health? Mike and Matt investigate. In a world of endless health fads and self-help noise, it’s hard to know what to trust. Subscribe to Beyond the Limits, our myth-busting fortnightly podcast, to get clear insights on the lat...