Show Notes
This week, Emily and Perry explore the vast array of protein vehicles that's taken over our influencer culture and supermarket aisles. How much protein are we told we need, and what's the over/under on how much we really need? What does protein do for our bodies anyway? And given the protein bars and protein water and protein Pop Tarts available (protein is having a moment, you guys), is it possible to have too much? Plus: GLP-1s all over the news cycle, the rising use of gas station kratom, and, ladies and gentlemen, the American Contact Dermatitis Society presents our 2026 Allergen of the Year. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from Wellness, Actually with Emily Oster & Perry Wilson, MD
This week, Emily and Perry are going classy with a close look at eating organic. We all know it's more expensive, but is it worth the sticker (shock)? Do organic foods actually taste better, are they healthier, and, most importantly, are they safer? Safer for you, better for the environment? The answer, like your grocery bill, might surprise you. Plus: what doctors really think about you, according to your chart, testosterone in the military (again), and gentlemen, don't worry about, erm, holding off before trying to impregnate someone. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm. Previous episodes referenced: What's the deal with declining sperm counts? What's the deal with Botox? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Emily and Perry discuss the highly disciplined world of intermittent fasting: all the different ways you can not eat and all of their purported health effects. Will it make you lose weight, reset your metabolism, live longer? Only if you're a mouse, alas. And they've got problems of their own. Plus: RFK Jr. institutes billing codes for vaccine injuries, an experimental new medicine will kill your fat cells dead, and do not - we repeat, DO NOT - get your herpes treatment from Amazon. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Emily and Perry explore Botox, literally the most toxic substance in the universe, so why not inject it into our faces? From its discovery to its biomechanics to its myriad uses, it might just turn out that smooth foreheads are the least interesting part of this cunning little spore. Plus: it's Nobel Prize week! Also, the plague is back, baby, and GLP-1s might make your fingernails fall off. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, we're rebroadcasting our episode on GLP-1s, those blockbuster weight-loss drugs that have taken the world by storm -- and not just what you already know about them. From the origins in Gila monster venom to the surprisingly long history of their use, they explore their effectiveness, side effects, lingering questions about long-term usage, and the weird knock-on effects in both the brain (libido?) and our society (protein water?). These drugs are here to stay, so let's understand them from every angle. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Emily and Perry are joined by Producer Tamar to answer series of short health and wellness suggestions - by you, the listeners! - that don't merit a full deep dive but are still fun to dissect. From vampire facials to vibrating plates to salt lamps to toxic salmon, we're here for you. Plus: U.S. officials failed to detect flaws in the covid vaccine, President Trump wants to split other vaccines up, science be damned, and Montana eschews the FDA. Past episodes referenced: What's the deal with seed oils? What's the deal with poop? The Vagina Whisperer Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.