In Conversation

Why does it take longer for women to receive an ADHD diagnosis? How does ADHD present in girls and women, and has the research been keeping up with the complex realities of this developmental condition? Prof. Davida Hartman, Chartered Educational and Child Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland, joins us In Conversation to answer these questions. In Conversation is a Healthline Med...

This episode of In Conversation explores the bidirectional relationship between sleep and mental health, focusing on insomnia and sleep deprivation. Editors Yasemin Nicola Sakay and Maria Cohut discuss with Dr. Lauren Waterman, a consultant NHS psychiatrist, the physiological and psychological aspects of sleep, the science of sleep cycles, and the role of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating i...

In this episode, Medical News Today editors Yasemin Nicola Sakay and Maria Cohut join brain health researcher Claudia Suemoto, MD, PhD, to discuss how artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, aspartame, and erythritol affect the body — and in particular, the brain. The discussion centers on a recent Brazilian study on sugar substitutes and accelerated brain aging, aiming to answer the question: Ca...

Can you eat your way to a longer, healthier life? And if so, what diet might best foster longevity? Over the past decade or so, a long string of studies has added to the evidence that a Mediterranean-type diet may do wonders for the body and mind. In this episode of In Conversation, Dr. Tom Barber, professor of endocrinology and obesity expert, helps us explore the evidence linking a Mediterranean...

In this Ask Me Anything episode, Medical News Today editors Yasemin Nicola Sakay and Maria Cohut ask registered dietitian Lisa Valente all about fiber — what it is and why we need it. They also discuss how much fiber everyone needs to consume, whether whole foods are better than supplements like psyllium husk, and whether fiber can help improve insulin sensitivity and aid weight loss. You can find...

In the age of viral content and fast and furious social media communication, health disinformation and misinformation are spreading more widely than ever. Why is this the case, and how can we learn to spot inaccurate and even malicious health information? Why do we fall so easily for false health info, and how can we update our mistaken beliefs? These are some of the questions we answer in this ep...

In this episode, editors and co-hosts Yasemin Nicola Sakay and Maria Cohut discuss some of the most significant studies of 2024 related to improving brain, heart, and metabolic health, focusing on sleep, diet, and exercise habits. They list the biggest takeaways from these findings and share three actionable resolutions that can help people improve their health in the new year. In Conversation is...

This episode discusses some of the most important information everyone should have about perimenopause and menopause, in a world where, until recently, these key stages of life have received insufficient attention. Our special guest is Prof. Kate Clancy, professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois, a human reproductive ecologist who specializes in uterine health, feminist science, and...

In this episode, editors and co-hosts Yasemin Nicola Sakay and Maria Cohut are joined by Dr. Thomas Barber, associate professor at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom and honorary consultant endocrinologist. They discuss how type 2 diabetes affects cognitive health and the steps people can take to help slow down brain aging. They focus on two recent studies showing how diabetes is link...

In this podcast episode, editors and co-hosts Maria Cohut and Yasemin Nicola Sakay discuss whether tampons, pads, and other menstrual products pose a threat to health, as a recent study found traces of 16 heavy metals, including lead and cadmium, in several tampon brands. Anna Pollack, PhD, MPH, professor of global and community health at George Mason University College of Public Health, joins the...

In this podcast episode, editors and co-hosts Maria Cohut and Yasmin Nicola Sakay discuss whether having tattoos can increase the risk of different types of cancer, particularly blood cancer, as recent evidence from a Swedish cohort has suggested. Special guest Dr. Milena Foerster, who researches the link between tattoos and cancer at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the W...

In this episode, Feature Editor Maria Cohut and Global News Editor Yasemin Nicola Sakay dive into the science behind how extreme exercise may help some people live longer. The study in question tracked a group of elite runners and found they could live an average of 5 years longer than the general population. Prof. Michael Papadakis, president of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (...

In this episode of our podcast, Feature Editor Maria Cohut discusses matters related to diet and heart health with Prof. Oyinlola Oyebode, PhD, from Queen Mary University of London, in the United Kingdom. Some of the questions we address are: Why are certain foods, regardless of whether or not they are plant-based, so bad for the heart? How does salt impact the cardiovascular system? And what make...

This episode of our podcast takes a deep dive into intermittent fasting and its effects on health. Joining the conversation is Ali Javaheri, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine from the Center for Cardiovascular Research at Washington University. Dr Javaheri explains what intermittent fasting does to the body and discusses the benefits and dangers of this eating plan in light of a recent vira...

In this episode of our podcast, we take a deep dive into the topic of semaglutide — or GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs — use for weight loss. How does semaglutide help with weight management, why do some people on Wegovy hit a weight loss plateau, and what are some issues to keep in mind when it comes to using semaglutide for weight loss? Dr. Simon Cork, senior lecturer in the Faculty of Health, Medi...

In our wrap-up of 2023’s most pressing and perhaps controversial research in the health and wellness field, Medical News Today’s editors — Andrea Rice, Maria Cohut, and Yasemin Nicola Sakay — delve into three interesting topics: The WHO’s decision to declare sucralose a potential carcinogen, the symptoms of colon cancer and the worrying rise of cases in young people, and the still-elusive male bir...

How do we prolong our longevity? Plenty of recent evidence suggests that exercise — in the correct amount and combination — can help us live longer, healthier lives. This episode of our podcast discusses how and why intentional physical activity prolongs our health span. Joining the conversation is Dr. Borja del Pozo Cruz, principal researcher in Applied Health Sciences at the University of Cadiz,...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — an umbrella term for conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — affects millions of people worldwide, sometimes severely affecting their quality of life. How is the gut microbiome of a person with IBD different, and can we use diet to change it and help with disease management? To answer these and other questions, we are in conversation with Dr...

In this episode, Dr. Hilary Guite and Medical News Today editors Maria Cohut and Yasemin Nicola Sakay discuss why it's so hard for humans to change their minds and behaviors. They give us a peek into their daily lives while sharing the three podcast episodes that inspired them to change their habits surrounding nutrition, pain, and helping others. They also offer their own tips and tricks on how t...

In this episode, we discuss why health disparities between different racial and ethnic groups, including those that surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, cannot be explained by biological race. We also explore how racism affects the health and well-being of future generations. Joining the conversation are Dr. Monique Rainford, obstetrician and gynecologist at Yale School of Medicine and author of...

In this episode of our podcast, we discuss why the gut microbiome is important in Parkinson's disease and what researchers are doing to discover more about the link between Parkinson's and gut health. Our guests are Dr. Ayse Demirkan, senior lecturer in AI multiomics for health and well-being at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, and Gary Shaughnessy, chair of trustees at Parkinson's...

In this episode, Medical News Today investigates whether reversing prediabetes via lifestyle changes — such as diet and exercise — is possible. Joining the conversation with Dr. Hilary Guite and Global News editor Yasemin Nicola Sakay are Dr. Thomas Barber, associate clinical professor at Warwick Medical School and consultant endocrinologist at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, and A...

In this episode of our podcast, we delve into the science behind how sounds and silence affect our cognitive health and seek to uncover whether music can be healing for people with dementia. Joining the conversation this month with Dr. Hilary Guite and global news editor Yasemin Nicola Sakay are Dr. Kelly Jakubowski, assistant professor in music psychology at Durham University in the United Kingdo...

In this episode, we discuss how and why diet could help manage the symptoms of endometriosis and which interventions might be the most effective. We are in conversation with Dr. Hana Kahleova, director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine — a nonprofit organization in Washington, DC — and Hannah Alderson, a registered nutritionist with the British Association F...

In this episode of our podcast, we discuss the possible benefits and drawbacks of adopting the ketogenic diet for managing chronic pain and autoimmune conditions. We also address the many controversies surrounding this diet. Joining the conversation with Dr. Hilary Guite and Global News editor Yasemin Nicola Sakay are Dr. Susan A. Masino of Trinity College, CT, who is the Vernon D. Roosa professor...