The Wellness Scoop

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we explore the small shifts that can have a surprisingly big impact on long-term health, starting with new research showing how just 11 extra minutes of sleep, alongside simple daily habits, could meaningfully reduce heart attack risk. We unpack a major shift in the weight loss landscape as GLP-1 drugs begin to fall dramatically in price, and what that could mean f...

Should we be eating differently across each stage of our cycle? Are microwaves actually harmful, or is it another wellness myth? And do we really need electrolytes, or is it just clever marketing? This week we answer your questions on nutrition for hormone health and PCOS, break down the science behind microwaving and plastic safety, and explore the growing hype around electrolytes. We also talk a...

Is wine actually good for you now? It’s a headline that’s everywhere, but what does the research really say? In this episode, we unpack the nuance behind the story, looking at alcohol, longevity and why the bigger picture matters more than any single drink. We also explore how to build a healthier, more balanced relationship with food, moving away from rigid rules towards a way of eating that feel...

Does eating in front of screens really affect digestion? What would the ultimate healthy shopping list actually look like? And can you eat too much fibre, even when you’re trying to eat well? This week we answer your questions on building a balanced, nutrient-rich food shop, whether very high fibre diets have any downsides, and the science behind eating while distracted and how it may influence di...

Can what you eat really shape how you feel day to day? What’s the ideal amount of sleep for long-term health? And how much of our disease risk is influenced by everyday habits? This week, we break down new research linking flavonoid-rich foods to better mood and long-term wellbeing, the optimal sleep window for supporting blood sugar control and reducing diabetes risk, and a major global study sho...

How can you boost nutrition for fussy children without changing the foods they already love? How reliable is BMI as a measure of health, particularly for women or people recovering from disordered eating? And should desserts really be served every day in primary schools? This week we answer your questions on hidden nutrients for picky eaters, navigating BMI without damaging your relationship with...

Can a daily multivitamin really slow biological ageing? Is obesity simply about willpower, or is the biology far more complex? And could just 15 minutes of exercise help your brain work more efficiently? This week we unpack the science behind obesity for World Obesity Day, break down the new research linking multivitamins to biological ageing, and explore how short bursts of exercise may boost bra...

Why do we reach for sweet food when we’re stressed? Are zero-sugar sweeteners actually better for our health? And can digestive enzymes really help if dairy doesn’t agree with you? This week, we unpack stress eating in busy seasons of life, the science behind low and zero-sugar substitutes like stevia and monk fruit, and whether digestive enzymes can support lactose intolerance. We also dive into...

Does collagen actually do anything for your skin? Which diets are linked to lower cancer risk? Is mental health really declining in younger generations, and have we surpassed peak wellness as we head into 2026? This week we break down collagen hype versus reality, the largest diet studies on cancer risk, and the growing generational mental health divide, alongside the biggest wellness trends set t...

Episode 98 and the countdown to 100 is officially on. This week is a listener Q&A special. We break down the rise of psyllium husk and what it actually does for gut health, separating meaningful fibre support from supplement hype. We also tackle blood sugar anxiety and the growing obsession with glucose “hacks”, asking how much the average person really needs to worry about spikes, post-meal walks...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re looking at the small, everyday habits that may influence our long-term health more than we think. From early research on stress hormones and cancer biology to new data on heart disease risk in men and women, we break down what the science actually shows and where the nuance matters. We revisit dementia prevention through a wider lens, exploring lifelong learn...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we are answering your questions and unpacking some of the biggest wellness trends shaping everyday choices. We start with spirulina. Is it a true superfood or more marketing than substance? We look at what it actually contains, whether it meaningfully contributes fibre, why it is not a reliable source of B12, and what to consider during pregnancy and breastfeeding....

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we unpack four headlines shaping how we eat and think about health. A major Cochrane review finds intermittent fasting is no more effective for weight loss than standard calorie-controlled diets, despite its surge in popularity. We explore what the evidence actually shows and why public perception may not match the data. We then dive into resistant starch, the unde...

In this week’s episode, we’re answering your questions on making everyday food choices simpler and more nourishing. We start with micronutrients on plant-heavy diets, including how to think about calcium, magnesium, zinc and iodine across the week without tracking apps, and when blood tests can be helpful during breastfeeding. We then look at easy food swaps that save time, including packaged grai...

In this week’s episode, we’re diving into the headlines shaping how we think about brain health, everyday habits and modern wellness. First up, we look at a major long-term study exploring tea and coffee consumption and dementia risk, and what it adds to the conversation around coffee and brain health. Then, we unpack the growing evidence linking gut health, inflammation and cognitive decline, and...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re answering your questions on breakfast smoothies, savoury breakfasts, blood sugar balance and the wellness habits everyone seems to be talking about right now. We unpack whether blending foods like oats and bananas actually changes their nutritional value, take a closer look at glucose-focused eating, ACV shots and food-order hacks, and explain what the eviden...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re talking about why so many of us feel constantly distracted, what new research is revealing about cancer-linked ingredients in everyday foods, and why fermented foods are one of the most evidence-backed habits worth building into real life. We break down why attention feels so hard to hold onto right now, how scrolling, sleep and alcohol quietly shape focus an...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re talking about everything from navigating long-term IBS and nutrient gaps on a plant-forward diet, to making sense of fats, oils and everyday cooking choices. We answer questions on flax and chia, including whether heat affects their omega-3 content and how to use them practically in meals. We look at iodine intake on a mostly plant-based diet, which foods con...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re talking about why variety in movement matters for long-term health, what new data is telling us about the rise in bowel cancer among younger adults, and why so many of us are starting to question how screens shape our time, attention and wellbeing. We break down large new studies showing that mixing up how you move, even in small amounts, is linked to a lower...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re answering your questions on eating well in real life, especially when routines are disrupted, budgets are stretched and online wellness advice starts to feel overwhelming. We talk about healthy eating around shift work, whether fruit on its own really causes harmful blood sugar spikes, and how to avoid a whole food approach tipping into restriction or food an...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re talking about whether optimism can influence immune health, what the science really says about exercising on an empty stomach, and why cabbage is being tipped as 2026’s “it” vegetable. We break down new research linking mindset and immune response, look at the evidence on fasted exercise, fat loss, metabolic health and hormones, and explore the rise of fibre,...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re unpacking some of the health debates that have been quietly everywhere. We start with the question that sparked a lot of reaction in December: should restaurants offer smaller portion sizes for women? We look at where the idea came from, what the data actually says, and why it struck such a nerve. We then turn to meditation and breathwork. We talk about why t...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re unpacking some of the health stories shaping how we think about wellbeing right now. We start with new research showing that regular, moderate exercise can be as effective as therapy for depression for some people, and what the evidence actually says about what works best. We then look at two stories that reveal how much our food environment matters. New data...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re answering your questions on fasting trends, supplements, junk food advertising, and the beauty and wellness advice filling our feeds. Plus Ella deep dives into our time off social media and how she stopped doom scrolling to find more calm.  We also talk about low iron and how to support iron intakes without relying on red meat, genetically high cholesterol an...

This week on The Wellness Scoop, we’re digging into some of the biggest health stories shaping how we eat and live right now. We start with new data showing how weight-loss injections are quietly changing eating habits, with more people grazing on snacks instead of sitting down to meals, and what that could mean for nutrition, routine and long-term health. We then explore the idea of the “perfect”...