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EPISODE 1 – Making and Breaking Habits
On the first episode of the Season 5, Dr Hazel is joined by Joe O Brien. Joe is currently completing a doctorate in Health Psychology and runs the Instagram page @headfirst0.
In this episode they cover:
✔️ new years resolutions
✔️ breaking and making habits
✔️ emotional eating and binge eating disorders
✔️ the psychology of online dating
EPISODE 2 – Periods, Performance, and Recovery
On this episode, Dr Hazel is joined by Kelly McNulty, a PhD student at Northumbria University investigating the effects of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use on performance, recovery, and adaptation in sportswomen. They chat all about how periods affect strength and performance in sport and exercise.
Topics covered include:
?♀️ training around the menstrual cycle
?♀️ differences in strength and performance across the menstrual cycle
?♀️ injury susceptibility, recover and sleep at different phrases of the menstrual cycle
?♀️ period tracking methods
?♀️ oral contraceptive us and the impact on strength and performance
?♀️ the menstrual cycle changes during the pandemic
EPISODE 3 – How to Stay Calm in a Global Pandemic
On this weeks episode Hazel is joined by Dr Emma Hepburn – better known on instagram as @thepsychologymum. Emma is a clinical psychologist, with expertise in neuropsychology, who has over 15 years’ experience of working with and treating mental health difficulties in both the public and private sector. She also has a book titled A toolkit for modern life: 53 ways to look after you mind – which frankly could not have come out at a better time!
Topics covered include:
? the foundations of mental wellbeing
? the impact social media has on our mental health – the good and the bad
? comparison as the thief of joy
? how trauma is relative – and all trauma is valid
? goal setting and habit building: help or hindrance?
? loneliness and isolation during the pandemic
? dealing with uncertainty
EPISODE 4 – Sexual Wellness and Female Anatomy
This week Dr Hazel is joined by Jordan Jones, a physician assistant, women’s sexual health educator and the founder of the Vaginas, Vulvas, and Vibrators podcast. Jordan is passionate about women’s health and sexual education. Her goal is to provide a safe place for women to learn about their bodies.
Topics include:
♀️Anatomy of extra female genitalia
♀️Orgasms and anorgasmia
♀️Painful Sex in Women (Dyspareunia)
♀️Low libido: why am I not interested in sex anymore?
♀️WAP: normal and abnormal vaginal discharge
♀️Genital herpes: transmission and treatment
♀️Plastic free period options
EPISODE 5 – Sports Nutrition in Crossfit and Weightlifting
This week I am joined by Taylor Ryan (@the_sportsdietitian) – an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Nutritionist, Accredited Sports Dietitian and director of ‘The Sports Dietitian Co’. We chat all about sports nutrition, particularly in relation to Crossfit – BUT if you’re not crossfitter – don’t worry as the advice here is transferable to basically all forms of gym-based training, HIIT and weight lifting.
Topics covered:
?? Fuelling for a sport like Crossfit + weight lifting.
? Nutrition for hard training sessions vs recovery rest days.
⚖️ Tracking calories and macronutrients – is it essential?
⚠️ Signs of under-fuelling
? Crossfit diet trends (low carb/keto/paleo)
? Immunity after intense training periods/competitions
? Sports Nutrition Supplements
? Fasted training + intermittent fasting
? Vegan protein shakes vs animal protein.
Ps. If you’re looking for the basics of sports nutrition make sure to check out season 1 episode 1 for an overview of fuelling your fitness with @anitabean1 and also season 4 episode 9 on the plant based athlete – also with Anita.
EPISODE 6 – Breast Biometrics and Finding the Right Sports Bra
This week we are discussing breast health in sports and exercise, and how to find the right sports bra. Dr Hazel is joined by Dr Jenny Burbage, Associate Head in the School of Sport, Health & Exercise Science at the University of Portsmouth. Her primary research area is breast biomechanics and breast health, with interests in breast pain, poor bra fit, functional breast support and the effect of breast support on performance; her PhD was focused on investigating breast support implications for female recreational athletes.
Topics covered include:
⚡️Research Group in Breast Health at the University of Portsmouth @uop_rgbh
⚡️the evolution of the sports bra
⚡️the importance of adequate breast sport in sports and exercise
⚡️the impact of poor breast support on performance
⚡️high, medium and low impact definitions (or lack thereof)
⚡️step by step guide to finding the right sports bra
⚡️sports bras in pregnancy + breastfeeding
⚡️breast knowledge and awareness for school age girls
EPISODE 7 – Women and Heart Disease
In honour of #HeartHealthMonth on this weeks episode I am joined by Professor Chris Gale (@cpgale3 on Twitter!) to pick apart the common myth that heart disease is a man’s disease.
While heart disease can affect any person, at every stage – from diagnosis to treatment – the odds are stacked against women. For example research shows that; women delay seeking medical help and present to hospital later than men, women are also more likely than a man to receive the wrong initial diagnosis for a heart attack, and following a diagnosis women are less likely to receive timely ‘reperfusion’ therapy, like drugs or stents.
Topics include:
♥️ Heart disease is *not* just mans disease
♥️ Differences in symptom presentation and diagnosis of a heart attack between men and women
♥️ Why women don’t receive timely treatment after a heart attack
♥️ Sex specific cut off’s for blood tests used to diagnose heart attacks
♥️ Menopause and the heart
♥️ The two-way link between mental health and heart disease
♥️ What we can do to protect our heart health
EPISODE 8 – Overheard on Social Media: Nutrition Edition
This week on #TheFoodMedicPodcast I am joined by my mates (and two of the most intelligent people I know in the nutrition space) @dannylennon_sigma and @thenutritional_advocate. Danny is perhaps most well-known for being the host of the top-ranked podcast, Sigma Nutrition Radio, where he discusses nutrition science with academic researchers and dietitians. Alan is currently pursuing his PhD in nutrition at the University of Surrey and is the founder of Alinea Nutrition and also a Research Communication Officer for Sigma Nutrition.
The topic of this podcast is a bit of a mixed bag of everything to do with nutrition including questions sent in by you guys on things you’ve overheard on the internet. We bounce from dissecting claims such as diets don’t work, to PCOS, to fasting, and a few things that you wanted to get fact checked. I want this podcast to be a space where we can have nuanced, balanced discussions about nutrition and health (some of which may be uncomfortable) – something that is often missing from online conversations on these topics.
Topics covered include:
? Why misleading nutrition claims should be called out.
? ”Diets don’t work” – a discussion.
? HAES/Health-at-every-size positives and limitations.
? Nutrition and Lifestyle for PCOS
? Turmeric and cancer claims
? Intermittent fasting/Time restricted feeding
? Metabolism “boosting” foods
? Soy and gynaecomastia (a.k.a. man boobs.)
EPISODE 9 – Probiotic and Prebiotics
In this week’s episode I am joined by @dr.eirini.dimidi, a registered dietitian and Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences at KCL. Dr Dimidi is undertaking research on nutrition-based interventions, including fibre, plant foods, prebiotics, probiotics, and the low FODMAP diet, in gastrointestinal health.
Topics include:
? What is gut health?
? How do we know if we have a healthy gut microbiota?
? IBS: diagnosis, management, and dietary advice
? The Low FODMAP diet
? Probiotics and their role in IBS and in healthy individuals
? Evidence for probiotic food and drink in gut health
? Prebiotics in IBS
? IBS and a plant-based diet
? Food and Mood: the gut-brain axis
EPISODE 10 – How to Sleep [Better]
On today’s episode [the season finale!!] I am discussing all things sleep with @drsophiebostock – a Sleep Evangelist who is on a mission to help millions of people to improve their lives by unlocking the science of sleep. Sophie studied Medicine and Entrepreneurship before completing a PhD in Health Psychology at UCL. Following several years with award-winning digital medicine company, Sleepio, Sophie launched TheSleepScientist.com to provide education and coaching for clients in business, the military, healthcare and elite sport.
Topics include:
? Why do we sleep? And why is it so important?
? The 8 hour rule and can you sleep too much?
? Can you make up for sleep debt on the weekend?
? Tips on how to achieve a good nights sleep.
? Sleep tracking devices – help or hinder sleep?
Plus some great listener questions including:
?♀️ “If I’m a light sleeper – does that mean I’m not achieving deep sleep?”
?♂️ “Is melatonin effective for sleep problems? Or just jet lag?”
?♀️ “CBD is widely marketed as a sleep aid – what does the evidence say?”
?♂️ “Relationship between food and sleep – foods we should avoid/include”
?♀️ “why do some people remember their dreams and others don’t? Is it down to sleep quality?”