Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley

By BBC Radio 4

What's Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley about?

If time is tight, what's the one thing that you should be doing to improve your health and wellbeing? Michael Mosley reveals surprisingly simple top tips that are scientifically proven to change your life.

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Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley episodes:

04.18.2024
Play an Instrument
Humans have been making music for thousands of years, but for Michael Mosley and our volunteer Matthew, the musical journey is only just beginning. Playing a musical instrument has been shown to strengthen your memory and lift your mood. It...
04.11.2024
Enjoy Olive Oil
Michael Mosley discovers that enjoying more olive oil in your daily diet can come with a whole host of surprising benefits, including protecting your brain, improving your memory and reducing chronic inflammation. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to be...
04.04.2024
Get Fit with HIIT
There’s no question that exercise is important for our health, but many of us find it difficult to fit into our busy schedules. In this episode, Michael Mosley explores how high-intensity interval training, HIIT for short, might be the most...
03.28.2024
Announcing Series 7 of Just One Thing
Dr Michael Mosley looks ahead to his new series which starts on Thursday 4 April, 2024. He'll be revealing more surprisingly simple and scientifically proven ways to improve your health and wellbeing. New episodes will be released on Thursdays. If...
03.13.2024
Get Gardening
Michael dons some gardening gloves and gets grubby. It’s no surprise that digging, hoeing and heaving bags of soil around is great for our physical fitness. But Michael learns how gardening can also impact our microbiome from Dr Hannah Holscher...
03.06.2024
Get Skipping
It’s time to dig out that skipping rope, as Michael learns that the popular childhood pastime could have big benefits for health and wellbeing, especially as we get older. Professor Urs Granacher from the University of Freiburg, shares how skipping...
02.28.2024
Snack Smartly
We are a nation of snackers and we tend to get a whopping 25% of our daily calories from our snacks. But surprisingly, snacking isn’t necessarily bad for our health. Dr Sarah Berry at Kings College London explores a pragmatic...
02.21.2024
Track Your Exercise
Tracking your exercise is a simple and surprisingly effective way to motivate you to move more. Most of us own an exercise tracker, whether it’s the fitness app on our phone or a special bit of kit on our wrist....
02.14.2024
Get an Early Night
Michael discovers his long-time penchant for an early night could have some real health benefits. If you are someone who could go to sleep earlier and simply put it off with an extra episode or phone scrolling, Michael recommends going...
02.07.2024
Eat Whole Grains
Michael discovers incorporating wholegrains into our diet, is a tasty swap that could really benefit our health. Wholegrains such as wholegrain pasta, bread and brown rice contain more fibre, vitamins and minerals, than refined grains. This simple swap can help...
01.31.2024
Do a Plank
Michael adds a plank into his exercise routine and is surprised to learn of its huge benefits to our physical health. Dr Jamie O'Driscoll, a Reader of Cardiovascular Physiology at Canterbury Christ Church University, reveals how the plank is a...
01.24.2024
Drink Green Tea
Michael takes a break to brew up a cup of green tea, warming up to its distinctive taste and its health benefits. Dr Edward Okello, from the Human Nutrition Research Centre at the University of Newcastle, reveals how green tea...
01.17.2024
Take Vitamin D
During the winter months, here in the UK, days are short and there isn’t enough sunlight for most of us to make the vitamin D we need. Taking a tiny vitamin D supplement is a minute change that could have...
01.10.2024
Be Kind
We could all use a little kindness in our lives. Surprisingly, a little altruism can actually have big benefits for our own health! Michael discovers that small acts of kindness can not only boost your mental health and improve your...
01.06.2024
Inflammation Special – with Prof Janet Lord
In this series of special editions of BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing, Michael Mosley quizzes the world’s leading health experts on the best ways to live well. In this Inflammation Special, we hear from Janet Lord, who...
01.04.2024
Weight Loss Special – with Prof Giles Yeo
In this series of special editions of BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing, Michael Mosley quizzes the world’s leading health experts on the best ways to live well. In this Weight Loss Special, we hear from Professor Giles...
01.02.2024
Stay Young Special – with Prof Andrew Steptoe
In this series of special editions of BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing, Michael Mosley quizzes the world’s leading health experts on the best ways to live well. In this Stay Young Special, we hear from Professor Andrew...
12.27.2023
Exercise Special – with Prof Marie Murphy
In this series of special editions of BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing, Michael Mosley quizzes the world’s leading health experts on the best ways to live well. In this Exercise Special, we hear from Marie Murphy –...
12.20.2023
Sleep Special – with Prof Russell Foster
In this series of special editions of BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing, Michael Mosley quizzes the world’s leading health experts on the best ways to live well. In this Sleep Special, we hear from Professor Russell Foster...
12.13.2023
Happiness Special – with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
In this series of special editions of BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing, Michael Mosley quizzes the world’s leading health experts on the best ways to live well. In this Happiness Special we hear from Dr Rangan Chatterjee...
12.03.2023
Cold Therapy - Ep 5: Sleep and the Cold
There’s a chill in the air as the winter months come around again. But the cold isn’t always something to fight or guard against. With a little bit of care, you can invite the cold into your life - with...
12.02.2023
Cold Therapy - Ep 4: Cold Water Swim
There’s a chill in the air as the winter months come around again. But the cold isn’t always something to fight or guard against. With a little bit of care, you can invite the cold into your life - with...
12.01.2023
Cold Therapy - Ep 3: Cold Exercise
There’s a chill in the air as the winter months come around again. But the cold isn’t always something to fight or guard against. With a little bit of care, you can invite the cold into your life - with...
11.30.2023
Cold Therapy - Ep 2: Cold Recovery
There’s a chill in the air as the winter months come around again. But the cold isn’t always something to fight or guard against. With a little bit of care, you can invite the cold into your life - with...
11.29.2023
Cold Therapy - Ep 1: Colder Room
There’s a chill in the air as the winter months come around again. But the cold isn’t always something to fight or guard against. With a little bit of care, you can invite the cold into your life - with...
11.24.2023
Welcome to Cold Therapy - with Michael Mosley
There’s a chill in the air as Dr Michael Mosley uncovers the surprising power of the cold to enhance your health and wellbeing in ways you might not expect.
11.22.2023
Listen to Music
Bring on the tunes! In this episode, Michael explores the power of music, from reducing pain to forging strong family relationships. Neuroscientist Dr Psyche Loui from Northeastern University in Boston reveals how just eight weeks of music listening can change...
11.15.2023
Walk Backwards
Step out - backwards! The Chinese have a saying that 100 steps backwards are worth 1000 steps forward - and they might be onto something! It may look bizarre to onlookers, but Michael delves into the research and finds some...
11.08.2023
Have a Laugh
Laughter really is good medicine. From releasing pain-killing endorphins to improving your memory, laughter can have many benefits on your body and brain - it’s even been shown to boost “gamma” brainwaves, which are associated with higher level brain processes,...
11.01.2023
Embrace the Rain
Get that brolly out! It may feel deeply counter-intuitive - but rainy days could offer a host of health and mood-lifting benefits. Rain improves air quality, literally washing fine particulate pollution away, and rainfall also releases Geosmin, a fragrant compound...
10.25.2023
Reheat Pasta
Load up on those leftovers - because it’s surprisingly easy to make your bowl of pasta better for you! In this episode, Michael uncovers how reheating carb-heavy foods actually boosts the resistant starch in them. Resistant starch is a healthy...
10.18.2023
Practise Pilates
It’s a low-impact, low-intensity exercise that can make you stronger, more flexible, and benefit your posture and balance. It’s proven to reduce lower back pain and it can even enhance your exercise performance! No surprise that tennis star Andy Murray...
10.11.2023
Breathe Through Your Nose
Take a nice deep breath in… through your nose. It’s a simple way to get healthier gums, a better memory, and improved lung function. How? Well, it may partly be due to a special molecule called nitric oxide. Michael Mosley...
10.04.2023
Cook Tomatoes
Tomatoes are packed full of goodness & cooked tomatoes are even better for you! In this episode, Michael reveals how cooking your tomatoes - sautéed, or in a sauce or soup - can reduce your blood fat levels, help your...
09.27.2023
Swim
Michael Mosley ventures to his local pool and the sea to explore the unique benefits of going for a swim - from improving memory and mental agility, to boosting longevity. Professor Hirofumi Tanaka, from the University of Texas at Austin,...
09.20.2023
Have a Cup of Tea
Michael gets cosy with a cuppa to find out how drinking tea can boost your heart health, reduce stress and may even benefit your bones! With the help of Professor Andrew Steptoe, Head of Behavioural Science at University College London,...
07.14.2023
Stay Young - Ep 5: Stay Strong
Michael explores the best way to help you look younger as well as live longer and healthier – revealing how strength training can benefit your waistline, preserve muscle fibres and increase healthy lifespan. Pumping up your muscles is one of...
07.13.2023
Stay Young - Ep 4: Stay Feeling Good
Michael reveals the best food to boost your mood, your energy levels, reduce inflammation and improve your immune system. In this episode, Michael discovers the benefits of fermented foods and their live bacteria. He speaks to Professor Justin...
07.12.2023
Stay Young - Ep 3: Stay Sharp
Want to get the mental sharpness of someone decades younger? Challenging your brain with something difficult, like learning a new language or taking up juggling, can trigger your brain to form new connections, increasing your brain’s white matter and...
07.11.2023
Stay Young - Ep 2: Stay Looking Young
How a simply dietary change can reduce wrinkles, improve skin texture and slow ageing. In this episode Michael reveals how a daily portion of colourful fruit and vegetables can help retain skin moisture and boost collagen. Carotenoids...
07.10.2023
Stay Young - Ep 1: Stay Fit
Exercise is one of the best things you can do to rejuvenate yourself at the cellular level – but what’s the best way to do it? In this episode, Michael speaks to Associate Professor Matt Robinson from Oregon State...
07.07.2023
Welcome to Stay Young - with Michael Mosley
In his new podcast series, Dr Michael Mosley reveals simple things you can do to rejuvenate yourself from the inside out.
06.28.2023
Food Special with Tim Spector
Professor Tim Spector, a leading expert on nutrition and gut health, takes Michael Mosley through his top food and nutrition tips, sharing stories from his life and research along the way. Joined by an audience at the Hay Festival, Michael...
03.08.2023
Write It Out
When things go wrong, you might think that focusing on the bad and writing about them would make things worse. But in some cases, the opposite seems to be true. Michael Mosley investigates a technique called “expressive writing”, a simple...
03.01.2023
Try Some Turmeric
Turmeric is a close relative of ginger – it has a similar knobbly root-like stem. The golden-hued powder of turmeric adds colour and flavour to food, but it’s also been linked to some surprising health benefits. As well as helping...
02.22.2023
Nibble Some Nuts
Nuts are a rich source of fibre and polyphenols. They are also very high in fats and calories, but studies have shown that eating these bite-sized snacks won’t add to your waistline. These nutrient powerhouses could also help slow-down the...
02.15.2023
Lift Some Weights
Lifting weights is obviously great for your strength, but it can also boost your brain power, improve your immune system, and even reverse signs of cellular ageing. Michael enlists Jenny, a self-confessed weight-lifting novice, to try strength training at...
02.08.2023
Clean Your Teeth
Taking good care of your teeth can prevent tooth decay and boost your oral health - but, surprisingly, the benefits extend well beyond your mouth. Keeping your teeth and gums clean can help your heart and your brain, reducing the...
02.01.2023
Put Your Phone Down
Most of us in the UK use our phones for over three hours/day! They are incredibly useful - but using them just a little bit less can have big benefits for your health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that reducing...
01.25.2023
Choose Red Wine
All alcohol is bad for you but if you’re already a drinker, switching out your usual drink with a small glass of red wine could bring surprising benefits to your health - improving blood sugar and fat levels and reducing...

What's Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley episodes:

Play an Instrument

Enjoy Olive Oil

Get Fit with HIIT

Announcing Series 7 of Just One Thing

Get Gardening

Get Skipping

Snack Smartly

Track Your Exercise

Get an Early Night

Eat Whole Grains

Do a Plank

Drink Green Tea

Take Vitamin D

Be Kind

Inflammation Special – with Prof Janet Lord

Weight Loss Special – with Prof Giles Yeo

Stay Young Special – with Prof Andrew Steptoe

Exercise Special – with Prof Marie Murphy

Sleep Special – with Prof Russell Foster

Happiness Special – with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Cold Therapy - Ep 5: Sleep and the Cold

Cold Therapy - Ep 4: Cold Water Swim

Cold Therapy - Ep 3: Cold Exercise

Cold Therapy - Ep 2: Cold Recovery

Cold Therapy - Ep 1: Colder Room

Welcome to Cold Therapy - with Michael Mosley

Listen to Music

Walk Backwards

Have a Laugh

Embrace the Rain

Reheat Pasta

Practise Pilates

Breathe Through Your Nose

Cook Tomatoes

Swim

Have a Cup of Tea

Stay Young - Ep 5: Stay Strong

Stay Young - Ep 4: Stay Feeling Good

Stay Young - Ep 3: Stay Sharp

Stay Young - Ep 2: Stay Looking Young

Stay Young - Ep 1: Stay Fit

Welcome to Stay Young - with Michael Mosley

Food Special with Tim Spector

Write It Out

Try Some Turmeric

Nibble Some Nuts

Lift Some Weights

Clean Your Teeth

Put Your Phone Down

Choose Red Wine