Show Notes
Do you find yourself complaining that you've got a small bladder, as you run to the toilet for the third time in an hour? There are many reasons a person might pee more than others, including some scary medical conditions. But as Norman and Tegan explain, in most cases your bladder is just deconditioned and you need to get your urinary tract into shape. This episode first aired on April 15, 2025. References: Bladder control: Lifestyle strategies ease problems A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of a product containing pumpkin seed extract and soy germ extract to improve overactive bladder-related voiding dysfunction and quality of life Pumpkin Seed Oil Extracted From Cucurbita maxima Improves Urinary Disorder in Human Overactive Bladder Prosta Fink Forte capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Multicentric surveillance study in 2245 patients
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Introvert or extrovert, we've all been told about the importance of social connection to our health. Isolation can have knock-on effects for your brain health – and the health of the rest of your body. Norman and Tegan unpack how many friends the average person "needs" and what happens when you're alone but not lonely. References: Social ties and health: the benefits of social integration Social isolation: a predictor of mortality comparable to traditional clinical risk factors The Connection Prescription: Using the Power of Social Interactions and the Deep Desire for Connectedness to Empower Health and Wellness Friendships, Subjective Age, and Life Satisfaction of Women in Midlife The American Friendship Project: A report on the status and health of friendship in America Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death – World Health Organization Differential Social Cognitive Performance in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Introvert vs Social Anxiety: How to tell the difference If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Is retirement bad for you? Chronotypes: early birds vs night owls Should you aim for an alkaline lifestyle?
You might've heard you'll burn more fat if you exercise in the morning before, or in lieu of breakfast. There is some research to back that claim up, but the science on fasted exercise isn’t clear cut. Norman and Tegan work through the evidence on exercising on an empty stomach, and what you can do to maximise your workouts. References: Effects of fasted vs fed-state exercise on performance and post-exercise metabolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis Effect of Overnight Fasted Exercise on Weight Loss and Body Composition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Interval training in the fed or fasted state improves body composition and muscle oxidative capacity in overweight women Effects of exercise before or after meal ingestion on fat balance and postprandial metabolism in overweight men Effects of time-restricted eating with exercise on body composition in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis Exercising in the Fasted State Reduced 24-Hour Energy Intake in Active Male Adults Appetite, energy intake and resting metabolic responses to 60 min treadmill running performed in a fasted versus a postprandial state Fasting Before Evening Exercise Reduces Net Energy Intake and Increases Fat Oxidation, but Impairs Performance in Healthy Males and Females Fasted cardio is an attempt to burn stored fat If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! What's the best time of day to exercise? What are the health benefits of coffee? Do glasses make your eyesight worse?
Sit back and relax. Close your eyes. Imagine you're sitting on a calm beach. Now, do you feel more open to suggestion? Hypnotherapy has been around for centuries, and you might've heard about it being used for everything from PTSD to addiction and even IBS. Norman and Tegan guide us through the evidence for using hypnosis in a therapeutic setting, and whether there are any downsides. References: Brain Activity and Functional Connectivity Associated with Hypnosis Not everyone can be hypnotized - and researchers are one step closer to understanding why Functional Brain Basis of Hypnotizability A Systematic Review of Hypnosis for Clinical Pain Relief The effectiveness of hypnosis for pain relief: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 85 controlled experimental trials Hypnosis as a non-pharmacological intervention for invasive medical procedures - A systematic review and meta-analytic update Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS: what is it and what are the options? Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Does hypnotherapy help people who are trying to stop smoking? - Cochrane Review Effectiveness of hypnosis in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) A Meta-Analysis of Hypnotherapeutic Techniques in the Treatment of PTSD Symptoms Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Combat-Related PTSD Patients Suffering From Insomnia: A Randomized, Zolpidem-Controlled Clinical Trial Ericksonian hypnotherapy versus cognitive behavioral therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder The Prefrontal Cortex and Suggestion: Hypnosis vs. Placebo Effects If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! What's the deal with night terrors? Can tapping calm your nervous system? Why do we dream?
As we age, levels of a vital molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) decline. Could reversing this be the key to eternal youth? There’s huge interest in NAD-boosting supplements like nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). But is there good evidence that they can help us live longer, healthier? Norman and Tegan unpack how NAD+ became the focus of anti-aging proponents. This episode first aired on November 4, 2024. References: NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing NAD+ in Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders What is really known about the effects of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in humans Dietary Supplementation With NAD+-Boosting Compounds in Humans: Current Knowledge and Future Directions The use of a systems approach to increase NAD+ in human participants Specific ablation of Nampt in adult neural stem cells recapitulates their functional defects during aging
Shift workers make a lot of sacrifices to keep the world running. What are they sacrificing in terms of their own health? There are harms associated with working at all hours against your body clock. Norman and Tegan work through what those are, and what you can do to protect against them. References: 5 long-term health effects of shift work Shift work can harm sleep and health: What helps? Coping with shift work Shift work and health outcomes: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of epidemiological studies Shift work and long work hours and their association with chronic health conditions: A systematic review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses Relationship between long-term shift work; night work; sleep deficiency and stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis Shifting Rhythms: A Systematic Review Exploring the Multifaceted Effects of Shift Work and Circadian Disruption on Employee Cardiovascular Health Exercise interventions for sleep and cognitive dysfunction in shift workers: a systematic review of randomized trials If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! What is the perfect nap duration? Chronotypes: early birds vs night owls Why do some people pee more often?