The BIG experiments
We put surprising new research claims to the test...
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The big air pollution experiment
A surprising way to reduce your air pollution exposure put to the test...
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The big sleep experiment
Could just 1 hours of extra sleep a day really transform your health?
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The big standing up experiment
Is sitting down really as bad for us as smoking? We put the claims to the test...
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The big brain-maintenance experiment
We all fear losing our marbles as we get older- but we reveal ways to prevent it.
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The big cholesterol-busting experiment
How easy is it to lower your cholesterol naturally? We put some simple ideas to the test.
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The Big Craving-Beating Experiment
A simple trick that could help us all conquer our bad habits.
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The big blood pressure experiment
Can garlic, watermelon or beetroot reduce blood pressure? We put the claims to the test.
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The big brain boost experiment
How to keep our brains at their best throught the day? We reveal some surprising tips.
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The big vitamin D experiment
Michael Mosley puts three recommended sources of vitamin D to the test.
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The big experiment: how can I get my body to burn more fat, without doing more exercise?
Here's what 'antioxidant-rich' products really have in them, and what they do.
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The big experiment: could I lose fat just by changing my meal times?
A ground-breaking experiment: eat breakfast later and dinner earlier to lose fat
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Is olive oil really good for me?
It's supposedly the key to a long and healthy life - but what's the truth?
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Are oils ‘rich in polyunsaturates’ or ‘rich in monounsaturates’ good for me?
We’ve seen the adverts for ‘heart health’ oils and spreads — so we put them to the test.
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The big motivation experiment
How can we all stick to our health resolutions? We do a big experiment to find out.
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Is there a short-cut to getting fit?
High intensity interval training is all the rage and we find a way you can do it at home.
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Should I go gluten free?
We carry out an experiment: is there such a thing as ‘gluten sensitivity’?
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Does turmeric really help protect us from cancer?
We do an ambitious experiment to discover whether turmeric really could be good for us
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Can I alter my gut bacteria and improve my health?
The gut microbiome is a hot topic in health right now – but can we change it?
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Can I speed up my metabolism?
We test some popular methods that claim to give your resting metabolic rate a boost.
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How can I get more omega-3 into my diet and how much difference will it make to my health?
Our volunteers see what happens when they eat oily fish or take fish oil supplements.
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Can fizzy drinks make you eat more?
Finding out if the fizz in fizzy drinks can contribute to weight gain
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Is coconut oil good or bad for your cholesterol?
A so-called ‘superfood’ whose sales are rocketing because of its health claims
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Is eating carbs in the evening bad for you?
Evidence from studies suggests that large quantities of carbohydrate is bad for you
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What’s the best way to get Iodine in your diet?
Iodine is essential to our health used by the thyroid gland to produce hormones
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Can beetroot boost your brain and body?
Can the nitrate in beetroot improve physical performance and mental acuity?
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Which type of exercise gives you the strongest bones?
Studies have shown that exercise can slow, even reverse, declining bone strength with age
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Can learning a new language boost your brain?
We test whether learning a new language for a month can boost your brain.
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Do I really need to exercise for 30 minutes at a time to get the health benefits?
We test whether 5 minute walks spread across the day can match a single 30 minute session.
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Are over the counter breathalysers worth the money?
We put a selection to the test, with some surprising results.
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Can my choice of drink protect me from what I eat?
We see if drinks containing antioxidants can protect our blood vessels from harm.
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Can singing give you a natural high?
We test whether singing, dancing and cycling can boost feel good chemicals in our blood.
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Is giving up alcohol for a month really worth it?
We find out what really happens to our bodies when we spend a month off booze.
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Could massage boost your immune system?
We put massage to the test, with some intriguing results.
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Could Tai Chi offer the same benefits as more vigorous exercise?
We team up with the University of Birmingham to pit Tai Chi against Zumba.
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How Much Exercise Do You Really Need To Do?
How much do you really have to do, and how vigorously do you need to do it?
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Can your food change your mood?
An experiment to test whether the food you eat can improve your mental wellbeing
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Can time in nature improve my health?
We test whether spending more time in nature improves your physical and mental health.
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Is yoga as good for me as aerobic exercise?
We test the effects of gentle yoga on blood pressure and mental health
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Can thinking about food help me eat less?
We test whether eating 'mindfully' can help us eat less