The Health Hype Roast

Is shutting off your food supply for days,or drinking shots of olive oil, a revolutionary longevity hack, or just a dangerous, glorified starvation trend?

In this episode of The Health Hype Roast, host Kev and clinical nutritionist James Ellis take on the massive viral world of fasting. They are joined by returning guest Anne, who shares her firsthand experience undertaking an intense 71-hour extended fast, complete with blood sugar testing, bone broth, and finger pricks.

Together, the team strips away the social media buzzwords to examine what prolonged fasting actually does to the human body, and where the hype completely strays from science.

• The 72-Hour Fast Reality Check: Anne breaks down her step-by-step physical and mental journey through extended fasting and whether she experienced any "magical cellular renewal."
  
• Autophagy & "Insulin Resets": The clinical reality behind cellular cleanup, ketone production, and why claims about exact timeline "reboots" are overhyped.
  
• The Viral Olive Oil Trend: Why chugging extra virgin olive oil shots isn't actually fasting, despite what influencer "zero-insulin response" claims suggest.
  
• Fasting for Women & Hormonal Health: Crucial considerations for women, especially peri- and post-menopausal, regarding muscle loss, bone density, and stress management.
  
• Time-Restricted Eating vs. Extended Fasting: Why simpler protocols like 12:12 or eating to genuine hunger signals often beat extreme biohacks.
  
• Red Flags to Watch For: When fasting transitions from a helpful tool to a physical hazard, and how to safely listen to your body.

Whether you’re curious about testing your own limits or simply trying to separate real wellness science from viral TikTok trends, hit play for a realistic, grounded look at what your body actually needs.

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In this episode of the Health Hype Roast, hosts Kev and clinical nutritionist James Ellis (MSc) go back to basics on the topic that started it all: Gut Health.

From the gut-brain axis to £300 online stool test kits, they strip away the viral social media hacks and $100 supplement marketing to give you the real, science-backed foundation of digestive wellness.

In this episode, we cover:

• What is the Gut & Microbiome? Why your digestive tract is a "long hollow pipe" stretching from mouth to backside, and how it directly impacts your immune system, mood, and skin health.
  
• Probiotic Pills: Do you actually need a cupboard full of expensive daily probiotics, or are you creating hyper-imbalances in your gut?
  
• The Truth About Bloating: Is bloating always a sign of a "broken" gut, or just a normal part of human digestion?
  
• Juice Cleanses & Gut Detoxes: Why 3-day liquid cleanses won't "reset" your microbiome, and what actually happens when you starve your digestive system.
  
• The "Kev Story": How Kev used authentic fermented kombucha to manage psoriasis, sustained energy, and bloating, leading to the creation of the Functional Drinks Club.
  
• At-Home Stool Tests: Why most commercial at-home microbiome test kits are overpriced marketing traps (and when you actually need one).
  
• Plant Diversity (The 30-a-Week Rule): Why "eating the rainbow" with herbs, spices, coffee, and whole foods is far more powerful than any single superfood.
  

Key Takeaway: Your gut is a complex, living ecosystem, not a mechanical pipe that needs a harsh chemical flush. Before taking away the foods you enjoy, focus on adding the good stuff in first!

Is creatine just for gym bros looking to bulge their biceps, or is it the ultimate brain fuel we’ve all been missing?

Show Notes:
In this episode of the Health Hype Roast, we are tackling one of the most researched yet misunderstood supplements on the planet: creatine.

While it has traditionally carried a "gym bro" reputation, a massive new wave of scientific research has transformed creatine into a £1 billion market, with wellness influencers claiming it as a powerful cognitive enhancer and brain fuel.

Hosts Kev and clinical nutritionist James Ellis are joined by special guest Laura Lindley to unpack the real science behind this viral supplement.

What we cover in this episode:

• What is Creatine? The breakdown of the amino acids that form this compound and how it works inside your cells.
• The ATP Energy System: How creatine helps recycle ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to power your body and brain during explosive movement.
• Brain Fuel vs. Muscle Builder: A deep dive into the cognitive benefits of creatine, including focus, mood, and sleep improvements.
• Creatine for Women: Why fitness experts are advocating for women over 40 to use creatine to combat bone mineral density loss and menopausal symptoms.
• The Danger of "Hyper-Dosing": What happens if you take too much too soon, and how to avoid the dreaded "stomach train" digestive issues.
• Spotting Fake Supplements: The true story behind the recent third-party testing scams and why you should look for micronized creatine monohydrate.

Whether you are looking to boost your performance in the gym, clear up daily brain fog, or understand how to properly dose this supplement, this episode cuts through the marketing hype to give you the honest facts.

Is an all-meat diet the ultimate reset for your gut and focus, or an extreme health hazard disguised as a social media trend?

Show Notes:

In this episode of The Health Hype Roast, Kev and clinical nutritionist James Ellis sink their teeth into the viral Carnivore Diet. From social media influencers chewing on butter sticks to hardcore "Lion Diet" advocates living on beef, salt, and water, we separate the bro-science from clinical reality.

What we cover in this episode:

• What is the Carnivore Diet? How this extreme elimination protocol removes plant foods, carbohydrates, and fibre.
• Are Plants Trying to Kill You? The truth about lectins, oxalates, and anti-nutrients.
• Autoimmune & Gut Healing: Why taking away processed foods makes people feel better short-term, and what it actually means for your microbiome.
• Testosterone & Ketosis: Does zero-carbing supercharge focus and hormones, or are you just burning fat for fuel?
• Long-Term Risks: Dissecting cholesterol spikes (LDL), nutrient deficiencies like scurvy, and the crucial importance of plant diversity.

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Is NMN truly the elusive fountain of youth in a pill, or is the multi-billion-dollar longevity market simply capitalizing on our fear of aging?

Show Notes:
In this episode of the Health Hype Roast, we are taking a sledgehammer to the marketing surrounding NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide).

Promoted heavily by online biohackers as a literal "gray hair killer," the global market for this molecule is projected to hit a staggering £1.5 billion by 2026. But behind the flashy ads and promises of cellular rejuvenation, what does the actual data say?

Hosts Kev and clinical nutritionist James Ellis separate legitimate cellular biology from corporate sales pitches in this latest episode of the Health Hype Roast.

What we dissect in this episode:

• What is NMN? How your body converts this Vitamin B3 byproduct into NAD+ to govern metabolism, cellular repair, and daily energy allocation.
  
• The "Mice vs. Humans" Disconnect: Why promising longevity laboratory results on highly controlled, genetically identical lab mice don't automatically translate to a 72-year-old human dealing with modern life stressors.
  
• The Regulatory Wild West: A look behind the curtain at the recent FDA rulings and why independent testing revealed that some popular retail "NMN gummies" contained absolutely zero active ingredients.
  
• The Real Longevity Protocol: Why no single molecule can override the foundational, boring basics of wellness - sleep, stress reduction, lifting weights, and whole-food nutrition.
  
• The Menopause Connection: Discussing the emerging hypotheses around NAD+ degradation as women cross into the post-menopausal phase.
  

Stop chasing miracle pills and learn the ground-level truths about how your body actually manages cellular ageing.

Is creatine just for gym bros looking to bulge their biceps, or is it the ultimate brain fuel we’ve all been missing?

Show Notes:
In this episode of the Health Hype Roast, we are tackling one of the most researched yet misunderstood supplements on the planet: creatine.

While it has traditionally carried a "gym bro" reputation, a massive new wave of scientific research has transformed creatine into a £1 billion market, with wellness influencers claiming it as a powerful cognitive enhancer and brain fuel.

Hosts Kev and clinical nutritionist James Ellis are joined by special guest Laura Lindley to unpack the real science behind this viral supplement.

What we cover in this episode:

• What is Creatine? The breakdown of the amino acids that form this compound and how it works inside your cells.
  
• The ATP Energy System: How creatine helps recycle ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to power your body and brain during explosive movement.
  
• Brain Fuel vs. Muscle Builder: A deep dive into the cognitive benefits of creatine, including focus, mood, and sleep improvements.
  
• Creatine for Women: Why fitness experts are advocating for women over 40 to use creatine to combat bone mineral density loss and menopausal symptoms.
  
• The Danger of "Hyper-Dosing": What happens if you take too much too soon, and how to avoid the dreaded "stomach train" digestive issues.
  
• Spotting Fake Supplements: The true story behind the recent third-party testing scams and why you should look for micronized creatine monohydrate.
  

Whether you are looking to boost your performance in the gym, clear up daily brain fog, or understand how to properly dose this supplement, this episode cuts through the marketing hype to give you the honest facts.

Is "Fibre Maxing" the ultimate natural weight loss hack, or is it a recipe for gut disaster?

Show Notes:
In this episode of the Health Hype Roast, we are diving deep into the latest wellness trend taking over TikTok and Instagram: Fibre Maxing.

With wellness influencers calling massive doses of fibre "Natural Ozempic" due to its supposed ability to hack digestion and stop food cravings, we decided it was time to look past the marketing and find the truth.

Host Kev and co-host clinical nutritionist James Ellis, former ultra-runner Steph Wilson, and gut-health beginner Mark Walsh break down the science of fibre.

What we cover in this episode:

• What is Fibre Maxing? Inside the viral trend of loading up on chia seeds, psyllium husk, and massive fibre bowls.
  
• Does it mimic weight loss drugs? The truth about GLP-1 hormones, satiety, and whether fibre can truly replicate the effects of Ozempic.
  
• Soluble vs. Insoluble Fibre: The distinct roles both play in your digestive tract (and why you need a balance of both).
  
• The Danger of "0 to 60": Why suddenly jumping to 50g–60g of fibre a day can turn your gut into an "explosive machine" (bloating, gas, and distress).
  
• James’s Ultimate Fibre Hack: A simple, cheap, and delicious seed-cracker recipe you can make at home to hit your daily 30g target safely.
  
• The "Hand Guide" to Portion Control: How to easily balance your plate using your hand as a measurement tool.
  

Whether you're struggling with IBS, trying to close your personal "fibre gap," or just curious if the social media hype is real, this episode is packed with realistic, actionable advice to help you improve your gut health without the extreme wellness drama.

In this episode of the Health Hype Roast, your hosts dive deep into the $146 billion peptide market to separate clinical breakthroughs from 2026’s version of snake oil.

With influencers claiming "God molecule" status for weight loss and "Wolverine-style" recovery, clinical nutritionist James Ellis (MSc Sports Nutrition) provides a much-needed reality check.

We break down the hottest topics in biohacking, including:

• What are Peptides? Understanding how these signaling molecules mimic natural bodily functions to influence hormones, inflammation, and cellular repair.
  
• The "Leaky Gut" Fix: Does peptide BPC-157 actually "cork" a leaky gut, or is it just a temporary band-aid for poor lifestyle choices?
  
• The Dark Side of the Market: Why 30% of online peptides are estimated to be fake or contaminated, and the hidden risks of using products labeled "for animal use only".
  
• Weight Loss & GLP-1: The truth about "weight loss jabs," appetite regulation, and what happens to your metabolism once you stop the cycle.
  
• The Anti-Aging Myth: Can peptides like Semax truly provide "Limitless" brain function and eternal youth?
  

James’s Final Verdict: Peptides offer incredible potential for medical conditions like obesity and Type 2 diabetes when prescribed by a doctor, but they are not a substitute for gut health, sleep, and nutrition. If you can’t get it from a GP, you’re likely just "roasting" your wallet.

Stop the scroll and start the science. Tune in to find out if your "healing stack" is fact or pure hype.

In this episode of Health Hype Roast, Kevin Gillespie and nutrition scientist James Ellis dive deep into the multi-billion dollar world of collagen.

Once a niche anti-aging cream ingredient, collagen has exploded into a $13 billion global market, with projections suggesting it will balloon to $30 billion by the 2030s. But is this "structural glue" of the body worth the hype, or are we just drinking expensive protein shakes?

• The Science of "The Glue": James explains how collagen acts as the scaffolding for our skin, tendons, ligaments, and gut lining.
  
• The Aging Decline: Why our natural production drops as we hit our 30s and 40s, and what that actually means for your joints and skin.
  
• Creams vs. Powders: The hard truth about why your expensive collagen face cream might just be a glorified (and pricey) moisturiser.
  
• The Leaky Gut Connection: Exploring how collagen supports intestinal permeability and why gut health is the foundation of any wellness journey.
  
• Essential Co-factors: Why taking collagen without Vitamin C or Zinc is like trying to build a house without the right tools.
  

"I run between two and three thousand miles a year... my joint health is absolutely crucial." — James Ellis, Nutrition Scientist & Ultra-Marathoner

James shares his personal supplement stack and reveals a pro biohack: taking collagen 30–45 minutes before explosive resistance training to maximize its effects on joint recovery and cartilage health.

Before you grab that "collagen-infused" coffee, Kevin and James break down what to look for on a label:

• Third-party testing (like Informed Sport).
• Organic, grass-fed sources for higher purity.
• The importance of dosage (aiming for 5–10 grams daily for at least three months).
  

Whether you're looking to fix a leaky gut, improve skin elasticity, or protect your joints for long-distance training, this episode strips away the marketing fluff to give you the clinical truth.

Are you currently taking a collagen supplement, and if so, have you noticed a bigger difference in your joint recovery or your skin's appearance?

In Episode 8 of The Health Hype Roast, Kev, James, and Julie dive into one of the most controversial topics in modern wellness: GLP-1 weight loss injections (like Wegovy and Mounjaro).

With an estimated 1.6 million adults in the UK already using these "magic bullets," the team strips away the hype to look at the clinical reality versus the lifestyle trend.

Joined by Anne, a guest from a gut health and menopause workshop, the panel explores why these drugs are skyrocketing in popularity among women in midlife and the hidden costs of taking a medical shortcut.

• The Science of the Jab: How GLP-1 agonists actually work in the brain and gut to regulate appetite and blood sugar.
  
• Lifestyle vs. Medical Need: The shift from treating Type 2 diabetes and morbid obesity to using the jabs for "fitting into a bikini" or pre-holiday weight loss.
  
• The "Menopause Connection": Why 75% of users are women navigating the hormonal changes of midlife.
  
• The Dark Side of the Hype: From "Ozempic Teeth" and muscle loss to the lack of long-term safety studies and the rise of black-market sellers.
  
• Natural Alternatives: How to support your body’s natural GLP-1 production through fiber, protein, and gut health without the needle.
  

"Weight loss is a side effect of good health, not a thing on its own. You can force it with a drug, but if you don't change the lifestyle, it won't stay off." — Julie