The brain use more energy than any other part of the body, and its main fuel source is glucose - a type of sugar derived from the food we eat. What happens to the brain when it is exposed to the excessive amounts of sugar that most people have in their diet? Well - more is definitely not better! I unpack why excessive sugar impairs mood, memory and self-control and how to avoid these dangers by satisfying our sweet tooth. RESOURCES & LINKS: Register for live online workshop -->...

Can supplements boost your brain health? Forget about those over-the-counter products that promise better memory. A recent survey found that about a quarter of adults over 50 take a supplement for their brain health with the promise of better memory and sharper attention and focus. The problem? There’s no solid scientific proof any of them work. I break down why most supplements for brain health and memory are a waste of money and what to use instead. RESOURCES & LINKS: Live Online...

What can you eat to brighten your mood? Not only is there a relationship between what you eat and your physical health, but there's a direct line to your mental and emotional health as well. Some foods lift your spirits, while others lead to low mood, anxiety, and troubled sleep. I share the three best nutrients to include in your diet to boost your mood along with a shopping list to keep your brain working in optimal condition. RESOURCES & LINKS: 20 Brain Foods to Boost Your Mood,...

In today’s hyper-connected, fast-paced environment, the challenge more than ever is to have the discipline to slow down. Taking a “brain break”—relearning how to slow down and go inward—has become increasingly popular. That’s because meditation, just like exercise, can transform your brain. As a more mindful individual, you’ll create a more whole, conscious experience with more meaningful connection. So it really is within your power to change your brain. Listen to this episode to learn...

Stress and anxiety are common experiences for many people. Work, family issues, health concerns, and financial obligations are parts of everyday life that make us more stressed. What’s more some people are more likely to become stressed than others. Minimising the chronic stress of daily life as much as possible is critical for reducing your chances of chronic health conditions like heart disease, anxiety disorders, depression and dementia. So here are 10 science-backed ways to help you...

The brain is involved in everything we do and, like any other part of the body, it needs to be cared for too. Exercising the brain can improve memory, focus, and daily functionality. Not only will this help your brain health now, it will also help to prevent the development of brain problems as you get older, like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. I breakdown how to incorporate a few simple mental exercises into your daily life to improve your brain health. Test your risk of developing...

Are you getting enough sleep? Even if you manage to carve out time in your schedule to get enough sleep, you may have a hard time nodding off, or you may wake up during the night. You’re not the only one! Sleep disruption has become something of a hidden public health epidemic in recent years. You might be surprised to hear that it’s what you’re doing during the daytime that is sabotaging your sleep. Let’s discuss! RESOURCES & LINKS: Free Guide: 12 steps to help you sleep...

What makes you age faster? There’s no escaping ageing – and nor should we feel pressure to look like we’ve escaped it. But looking much older or younger than your biological age isn’t all down to genetics. Your lifestyle choices make a real difference to how old you feel and look. To help you make the right lifestyle choices, I share 9 things that science has revealed accelerates ageing. RESOURCES & LINKS Test your risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia   Connect with us on...

What are you eating that is damaging your brain? Of all the different parts of the body, the brain is the most vulnerable to the detrimental effects of a poor diet. Some foods will make your memory and mood worse, and increase the likelihood of developing dementia, so should be avoided at all costs. I share the 7 worst foods for your brain to cut out of your diet immediately and keep your brain working in optimum condition. RESOURCES & LINKS 20 brain foods that will boost your...

You finally have a few quiet moments to yourself, only to immediately start replaying that negative thought in your mind or worrying whether you’ve got enough time to meet that work deadline next week. Sound familiar? Worrying and overthinking are part of the human experience, but when left unchecked they can take a toll on your well-being, and can even increase your risk of certain mental health conditions. So how can you take control of your thoughts and stop worrying?  I share some...

What is the best diet plan to keep your brain young? Forget fad diets that are popular for losing weight, but have no scientific support for their use. You should try the MIND diet, designed by scientists to focus on food groups that can boost your brainpower and protect you from age-related problems like Alzheimer’s disease. I breakdown the foods to eat and avoid on the MIND diet and give you a free seven-day MIND diet meal plan. RESOURCES & LINKS: Get Free 7-Day MIND Diet Meal...

Want to improve your memory? Get a good night’s sleep. Forget brain training and crosswords. Improving your sleep is one of the the best things you can do to stop forgetting and enhance your memory. I discuss how to use sleep to improve memory and share three science-backed methods to help get to sleep, stay asleep and wake feel rested. RESOURCES & LINKS: Discover 12 science-backed steps to better sleep. Connect with us on...

Whether you play a musical instrument, are a festival goer or just love listening to your favourite tunes on the radio, many of us instinctively know the effects of music on our mood and energy. But did you know about the huge benefits that playing and listening to music can have for your brain? Today, I breakdown the most important emotional and cognitive benefits of music for brain health and mental health. RESOURCES & LINKS: Discover your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by...

When we’re overweight, we know implicitly that it’s unhealthy and we also know that the right diet and exercise should help to shift those extra pounds. But what about an unhealthy brain? What can we do for our brain when it’s out of shape? There are some simple science-backed changes you can make to your diet and lifestyle which have immense power to change the way your brain operates. So today I am going to walk through the five steps you can take to nurture and maintain a healthier...

Feel as though you’re constantly tired and always struggling to catch up? You need to reset your circadian rhythm to meet your brain’s needs and have the energy to do the things you want to do. The next revolution in healthcare is going to be around living life in tune with our natural rhythms - our circadian cycles. But what exactly are these circadian rhythms and how can we use them to improve our health and wellbeing? Listen to this week’s episode to discover how to work with your...

Interoception - our sense of the internal state of our body - is not as well known as “outward facing” senses such as sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell, but it’s turning out to be really important for mental health. Our sensitivity to the interoceptive signals coming from the different organs in our body determines our ability to control our emotions. Neuroscience and psychology are developing new techniques that help you “tune in” to your body and alter perception of its interoceptive...

Stress is responsible for over 70% of doctor’s visits. It is one of the biggest drains on your energy levels, and a major contributor to sleep loss and mood problems like depression and anxiety. Stress and anxiety are rampant in today’s world (for many reasons you’re certainly well aware of). But here’s what you may not know… It turns out that one of the fastest and most powerful ways to get your brain and body out of stress and anxiety isn’t to think your way out of it, but to use your...

What if I told you that 80% of your health in old age is up to you, how you live your life. Your body and brain have inbuilt defence systems against ageing, called “longevity genes” - armed forces that that fight against disease, stress, and ageing. Research is starting to work out the diet and lifestyle that most effectively turn on these sirtuin genes in humans, which have the potential to reverse ageing.  I distill what we know about how to activate these genes to live longer and...

Yoga is a really effective practice for managing the physical and psychological symptoms that women experience during the perimenopause and menopause. Menopause yoga uses specially adapted yoga practices with breathing techniques and mindful meditation exercises to help manage menopausal symptoms. I talk to Menopause Yoga expert and practitioner, Mara Hastings, about the best ways to use yoga and wellbeing to manage your menopause journey. RESOURCES & LINKS: You can find Maria and and...

As humans, we’re designed for social interaction. You might think you’re just laughing and talking, but your brain is actually hard at work laying down new pathways. And science has shown that socialising is critical for good brain health and loneliness is toxic for it. In today's episode, I discuss: why having a good social life is so good for your brain why people with strong social ties are less likely to experience cognitive decline  how to re-engage socially if you’ve lost contact...

Many women in midlife say that their brain feels like ‘cotton wool’ - that they become increasingly forgetful and find it hard to retain information. This “brain fog” can make it especially hard to function at work, and concentrate when reading or watching TV. But when should you worry that something is wrong? Is it just lack of sleep? Is it the menopause? Or might it be the warning signs of dementia? How can you tell the difference? Today I want to help you distinguish whether the brain...

“I’m just so tired” is probably the most common sentence women in midlife say to me on a regular basis. They’ve often had their tiredness dismissed as just ‘the way life is’ or put down to working, motherhood or just age. Ongoing fatigue and tiredness are not in fact just a symptom of getting older or working too hard. Fatigue and tiredness are clear warning signals from your brain that it needs re-fuelling. And food is hands down the best way to give your brain the fuel it needs. So today...

How do you create the right sort of environment and relationships to help teenagers become more resilient? I talk to therapist and parenting expert, Alicia Drummond from Teen Tips, on the skills and traits that teenagers need to develop to become resilient young people. Join me for a fascinating and practical discussion on how to build resilience in young people with therapist and parenting expert, Alicia Drummond. RESOURCES & LINKS: Learn the 4 essential strategies for parenting...

In the next three minutes, 3 people will develop dementia and two of them will be women. Women may be at much higher risk of dementia when they lose the brain protection of hormones that decline during peri-menopause and menopause. As hormones like oestrogen protect brain function, can you stop dementia from developing by replacing these hormones lost during menopause? Join me for today’s podcast episode to discover the answer to: can hormone replacement prevent dementia? RESOURCES &...