Sliced Bread

If you are heading somewhere tropical this summer, or just want to protect yourself from bites in your own back garden, then which mosquito repellents can you trust?

Greg Foot gets up close and personal with a box full of hungry mosquitoes to find out.

Is it all about DEET or are there alternatives which are just as effective? What about citronella? And how well do bracelets, patches and candles perform?

And if you do get bitten, what is the best treatment for a mosquito bite?

Greg assesses the scientific evidence with Professor James Logan from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Dr Jane Wilcock, an indepedent researcher and GP.

If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad relating to another consumer product and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to [email protected] or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

This is one of your most-requested topics and as a keen runner myself I couldn’t wait to get into it. Barefoot shoes claim to encourage you to run in a more ‘natural’ way, landing on your mid or forefoot rather than on your heel. Some brands say they’ll increase your speed and reduce the likelihood of injury. But will they?

Listener Sam runs marathons and wants to know if the science backs up the marketing hype. He also wonders whether the wider toebox in barefoot shoes really does allow for our toes to be separated out in a more natural way.

It’s not just runners who got in touch either; Jon is a dog walker and is interested in wearing barefoot shoes on a more casual basis. Is there any benefit to that?

And what about children? Listener Zoe already wears barefoot shoes herself but wants to know if they might be good for her son, too.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

Owners clearing up after the UK's 11 million estimated pet dogs have a bewildering array of bags from which to choose.

Some are labelled 'degradable', others are called 'biodegradable', 'compostable and biodegradable' or 'recycled.'

So which ones are best for the environment? And what is the most environmentally friendly way of disposing of our dogs' doo?

Greg Foot is on the case on behalf of listeners including Nicola Jones and Craig Hart who are perplexed by the claims being made on dog poo bags.

If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad relating to another consumer product and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to [email protected] or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

Which cycle helmets give you the best protection?

I’m a big fan of cycling and so when listener Migue got in touch wanting to know what cycle helmet he should buy next, I was really keen to investigate.

Migue wanted to know what factors make a cycle helmet the most effective when it comes to protecting your head: the shape, the material, the fit? He’s seen all sorts of neat tech, including collapsible helmets and ones that fit around your neck and act like airbags! To find out more I speak to an expert at one of the world’s leading helmet testing labs in Virginia, USA.

And in researching this episode I also discovered there is a hotly-contested debate about whether cycle helmets should be the focus at all when it comes to safety. Some - including the organisation Cycling UK and the charity Sustrans - argue that introducing tougher rules around helmets would mean far more lives lost through physical inactivity than would be saved in protecting from collisions, which are rare. That’s a view shared by Dr Ian Walker from Swansea University, who also features in this episode.

Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to [email protected] or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

During the pandemic, as people sought to protect themselves from Corona Virus, more and more products entered the market claiming to use Ultra Violet light to clean your belongings. These vary from UV wands and lamps, to phone boxes and UV baby bottle sterilisers.

I'll be finding out by speaking to an expert in radiation safety Professor John O'Hagan at Loughborough University and Matt Knight, Product Testing Expert at the consumer group Which?

Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to [email protected] or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Jay Unger

If you’ve ever made the mistake of going for a hike wearing just jeans and a t-shirt you’ll know it can be a pretty sweaty, uncomfortable experience. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are myriad products promising to keep you dry, warm and protected from whatever the weather can throw at you.

Listener Julie is keen to know more about that after she went on an adventure holiday without the right kit, leaving her cold and miserable.

She’s heard about fabrics that promise to ‘wick away’ the sweat and others that keep you warm in cold weather and cool when it’s hot. And what about the jackets that claim to stop rain getting in yet still be breathable enough to let vapour and sweat out. How does that work?!

I’ll be finding out by speaking to an expert in textile technology and the Gear Editor from the UK’s best-selling walking magazine.

Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to [email protected] or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

According to recycling charity Wrap, an estimated three billion nappies are thrown away every year in the UK.

Me and the team speak to Wendy Richards, also known as The Nappy Lady. She runs one of the biggest nappy advice and sales websites specialising in reusables. Crunching the numbers with her we look at the complete financial costs of both reusable and disposable nappies, even taking into consideration the extra washing costs needed to clean reusables.

But what about the environmental impacts of reusable nappies. Are they really better than disposables when you factor in the energy and water used to clean them? That's what we ask Professor Rob Holdway from Brunel University and Giraffe Innovation. Giraffe Innovation recently completed a thorough study - commissioned by DEFRA, the government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - looking at exactly this.

Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to [email protected] or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

What works to help with the symptoms of hay fever?

The better weather’s here but for the millions who have hay fever that just means a runny nose and itchy, streaming eyes. And for some people it’s seriously debilitating – listener Richard got in touch because his wife can’t go out and play with the kids in the spring and summer months.

In this episode I’m investigating the treatments that claim to help. I speak to an expert from Allergy UK to find out what works and whether - as listener Lisa wonders - the generic or own-brand versions work as well as the more expensive branded ones. And could a hay fever injection be the one-shot solution Richard’s wife is looking for?

Also, you might have heard about the gut microbiome…but did you know there’s a nasal microbiome too?! I’m finding out about some new research which shows probiotics could play a role in treating hay fever.

This series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to [email protected] or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

Sales of alcohol-free beer in the UK have more than tripled in the past five years, and you'll find more types of no and low-alcohol beer on sale in your local supermarket.

But what does 'alcohol-free' really mean? And are these drinks always better for your health?

Various listeners got in touch with us about this one, so we enlisted the help of two experts to answer their questions.

Laura Willoughby knows a lot about no/low alcohol beer as co-founder of Club Soda which says it exists "to help people drink more mindfully and live well”.

Kerry Torrens is a registered nutritionist who has been working in the food and drink sector for two decades.

Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so f you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to [email protected] or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

Research suggests four in 10 of us do it and it can even get so bad it’s been blamed for the breakdown of relationships. Snoring can be a living nightmare for you and your partner. But what if there was something that works to give you – and the people around you – a more peaceful night’s sleep?

Listener Neville got in touch with a recording taken by his wife of him snoring – and it’s pretty loud! He’s seen various solutions from throat sprays to nasal strips and even a chinstrap which literally keeps your mouth shut while you sleep. But do any of them actually work? Are they the best thing since Sliced Bread – or marketing BS?

I speak to experts to find out including an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon and a scientist who’s looked into the extreme end of snoring.

Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to [email protected] or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot