The Wellness Scoop

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 and why diet alone doesn’t always change the numbers, and whether viral trends like sardine fasts or sea moss actually offer benefits or unnecessary risk. We also unpack magnesium for sleep, red light face masks, and how to approach supplements and beauty tech without getting pulled in by marketing.

We zoom out to the wider food environment too, including junk food advertising bans, celebrity endorsements of ultra-processed food, and whether these policies are likely to shape children’s health in a meaningful way. Along the way, we cover warm, nourishing meals that are easier to digest, budget-friendly shopping, and how to eat well without slipping into restriction.

Send your questions for our weekly Q&A to [email protected].

Recommendations: 


Brick⁠ - win back a bit of presence in your day


Emily In Paris⁠ on Netflix


The White Princess⁠ on Channel 4


Loved Before⁠ - Eco-friendly toys! 


The Great Escaper⁠ (find it on the BBC iPlayer)

Order your copy of Ella's new book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quick Wins: Healthy Cooking for Busy Lives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pre-order your copy of Rhi's upcoming book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Fibre Formula⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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” morning routine. Inspired by a Guardian piece we loved, we talk about why there’s no one-size-fits-all formula, but how a handful of simple, repeatable habits can genuinely improve how the day begins without turning mornings into another thing to optimise.

We also take on detox culture. Drawing on a grounded BBC article, we explain why your body already detoxes itself extremely effectively, what actually supports those systems, and why fibre is emerging as one of the most important nutrition conversations of the year. And we unpick the new US food guidelines for you.

Pre-order your copy of Ella's new book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Quick Wins: Healthy Cooking for Busy Lives⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pre-order your copy of Rhi's upcoming book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Fibre Formula⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re answering your biggest nutrition questions with Professor Sarah Berry, one of the UK’s leading nutritional scientists. Together we break down how to really understand UPFs, what the science says about seed oils and how to spot the healthier options, and the simple everyday principles that genuinely support how you feel.

We dive into gut health and why diet diversity matters, the myths surrounding glucose, whether intermittent fasting is useful, and the truth about everything from plant points to low-fat foods. It’s a clear, practical, myth-busting conversation designed to cut through the confusion and help you feel confident in your everyday choices.

Recommendations: 

Teasy Tea Infuser


⁠Order your copy of Ella's new book: ⁠⁠⁠Quick Wins: Healthy Cooking for Busy Lives⁠⁠⁠

Pre-order your copy of Rhi's upcoming book: ⁠⁠⁠The Fibre Formula⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re unpacking three of the health stories that have been everywhere as January gets underway. We start with why friendship and social connection are now being talked about as a serious health issue, from loneliness in our 30s to the growing evidence that connection supports mental health, reduces inflammation and even influences longevity.

We then look at the headlines linking dark chocolate to ageing, breaking down the new research on cocoa compounds and biological age, why it was picked up so widely, and what it does and doesn’t mean in real life. As ever, context matters more than hype.

Finally, we dive into the nervous system and the vagus nerve, one of the biggest wellness trends heading into 2026. We explain what’s actually going on beneath the buzz, why so many people feel overstimulated and wired, and what genuinely helps your nervous system feel calmer and more regulated, without falling for quick fixes.

Order your copy of Ella's new book: ⁠⁠⁠Quick Wins: Healthy Cooking for Busy Lives⁠⁠⁠

Pre-order your copy of Rhi's upcoming book: ⁠⁠⁠The Fibre Formula⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we’re answering your questions on gut health and everyday nutrition, focusing on what genuinely supports your body without tipping into overwhelm or rigid food rules. From fibre and fats to supplements and sweeteners, we unpack what actually matters and how to build habits that feel sustainable in real life.

We talk about how quickly dietary changes can influence gut health, why small additions like seeds, fibre-rich foods and regular meals can make a noticeable difference, and what that tells us about how responsive the gut microbiome really is. We also break down the differences between omega 3, 6 and 9, how to think about seed oils without fear, and when supplements like zinc may be genuinely helpful, particularly after pregnancy.

We also spend time on the emotional side of eating well. We discuss how to nourish your body without slipping into obsessive behaviours, how to navigate body image pressure and online trends, and why true health should support flexibility, enjoyment and resilience rather than control.

Recommendations:

Amandaland Christmas Special

Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber

Simon Cowell: The Next Act

Poldark

Order your copy of Ella's new book: ⁠⁠Quick Wins: Healthy Cooking for Busy Lives⁠⁠

Pre-order your copy of Rhi's upcoming book: ⁠⁠The Fibre Formula⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices