The Wellness Scoop

Are smoothies actually as healthy as we think? This week, we’re clearing up the confusion around blending fruit, what happens to the fibre and how smoothies compare with eating whole fruit.

We also look at whether organic processed meat is any better, share easy ways to make tofu genuinely delicious and tackle the eternal workday question: what can I actually take for lunch? Plus, does batch cooking reduce the nutrients in your vegetables, and is a quick stir-fry really better than a slow-cooked stew?

Please sign and share the petition to stop Krill farming for supplements: http://act.our-antarctica.com/

Ella’s recipe: Mushroom and coconut Noodle bowls 

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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

Can writing actually rewire your brain and make you more resilient? Is journaling woo woo? We dig into the science of expressive writing, plus why the mackerel in your supermarket might not be what you think and what that means for your omega-3 intake. We’re also sharing our easiest packed lunch upgrades, looking at the return of ultra-thin beauty ideals, and tracking the latest crackdown on social media and addictive algorithms.

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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

Can you eat too much healthy food? This week, we’re talking portion control, hunger and why a huge plate of vegetables might not actually leave you satisfied.

We also unpack the myths around tofu and oestrogen — what phytoestrogens actually are and whether soy really affects your hormones. Plus, we look at the rise of steak, liver and bone marrow for babies, bowel cancer anxiety and childhood diets, and how to increase fibre when you have IBS.

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

Pre-order your copy of Rhiannon's brand-new cook book for kids: ⁠'Ready, Set, Cook!' ⁠

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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

Should you really be taking vitamin D, magnesium, collagen and the rest, or are we wasting our money on supplements? We unpack the latest debate and why the NHS is warning against taking health advice from wellness influencers.

We also explore a fascinating new discovery about how plant proteins could help feed your gut microbes, and new research linking the common sweetener xylitol with heart attacks and strokes.

Plus, why reading could be surprisingly powerful for your brain, from childhood right through to older age.

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

Pre-order your copy of Rhiannon's brand-new cook book for kids: ⁠'Ready, Set, Cook!' ⁠

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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

Can we undo the effects of an unhealthy childhood diet? What's the best way to increase iron levels, particularly during pregnancy? And are fibre powders and resistant starch really worth the hype?

This week, we discuss the powerful relationship between stress, nutrition and hormone health, explore the growing fascination with fibre supplements and resistant starch, and ask whether it's ever too late to change the way we eat. Plus, we answer your questions on perfectionism, introversion and the pressure to get everything right as parents.

Margaret’s healthy bites - 

Rough recipes are below:

Chocolate Chip Cookie (Chickpea base)

-1 tin chickpeas

-1/3 cup nut butter

-1/3 cup oat flour

-1/4 cup maple syrup

-2 teaspoons vanilla extract

-chocolate chips

Brownie (black bean base)

-1 tin black beans

-1/3 cup nut butter

-1/3 cup maple syrup

-1/4 cup cocoa powder

-1 tsp vanilla

-chocolate chips

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

Pre-order your copy of Rhiannon's brand-new cook book for kids: ⁠'Ready, Set, Cook!' ⁠

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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

Should the way we eat change as we get older? This week, we look at the foods and nutrients that become increasingly important through our thirties, forties, fifties and sixties, from fibre and protein to supporting our heart, bones, gut and muscle health.

We also unpack Tesco’s decision to restrict or ban 114 additives from its own-brand foods. Is this another sign that concerns around ultra-processed food have gone mainstream, and does fewer additives necessarily mean healthier food?

Plus, we look at the biggest overhaul of school food in more than a decade, including more vegetables, wholegrains and pulses, and tighter rules around fried foods, sugary puddings and processed meat.

And finally, after our recent conversation about GLP-1s and the pressure to be thin, you got in touch. We share some of your experiences of food noise, body image, postpartum pressure and the complicated feelings these drugs are creating even for people who don't medically need to lose weight.

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

Pre-order your copy of Rhiannon's brand-new cook book for kids: ⁠'Ready, Set, Cook!' ⁠

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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

Should we all be taking magnesium? What does a healthy gut actually look like? And what makes the perfect afternoon snack?

This week, we unpack the evidence behind magnesium supplements, explore the surprising reasons appetite can disappear during stressful periods of life and answer your questions on bloating, electrolytes and gut transit time. We also discuss satisfying snacks, the truth about soya milk and whether we're paying enough attention to our digestive health. Plus, we have a new television recommendation to add to your watch list.

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

Pre-order your copy of Rhiannon's brand-new cook book for kids: ⁠'Ready, Set, Cook!' ⁠

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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

How can we beat the dreaded 3pm slump? Could 20 minutes of exercise really help after a terrible night’s sleep? And should we actually stop feeling guilty about a weekend lie-in? This week, we share simple ways to boost energy as we head into autumn, from spreading protein across the day and eating more fibre to making your carbs work harder. We also unpack fascinating new research on exercise after sleep deprivation and whether catching up on sleep at the weekend could actually be good for your heart. Plus, fibre officially goes mainstream and we dive into the extraordinary world of the “most measured woman in history”, including why her health experiment means she can’t even sleep in the same bed as her boyfriend.

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

Pre-order your copy of Rhiannon's brand-new cook book for kids: ⁠'Ready, Set, Cook!' ⁠

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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

Can stress and grief affect our digestion? Could creatine help protect our brains as we age? And when should we embrace healthy shortcuts instead of trying to do everything ourselves?This week, we explore the fascinating connection between stress and the body, discuss how appetite and digestion can change during difficult periods of life, and unpack the growing interest in creatine and brain health. Plus, we answer your questions on CoQ10, discuss intimate probiotics and share a brilliant recommendation for anyone looking to cook with more plants.

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

Pre-order your copy of Rhiannon's brand-new cook book for kids: ⁠'Ready, Set, Cook!' ⁠

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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

Can inflammation really affect our mood and mental health? Could eating more plants help us age better? And what on earth is “ferritin face”?

This week, we explore the fascinating connection between our immune system, inflammation and mental health, and unpack new research suggesting a plant-rich diet could influence markers of biological ageing. We also look beyond the scary headlines linking sugary drinks with stomach cancer, and dive into the viral “ferritin face” trend — including why low iron may be going unnoticed in so many women. Plus, why you definitely shouldn’t diagnose an iron deficiency from TikTok.

The Way 30-day trail: https://www.thewayapp.com/wellnessscoop

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

Pre-order your copy of Rhiannon's brand-new cook book for kids: ⁠'Ready, Set, Cook!' ⁠

For more from Rhi and Ella: 

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