PLUG IN TO THE NEW HEALTH SECRET
Pop on your headphones and listen up, because we’ve found the best podcasts to help boost your health, wellbeing and happiness
Podcasts to boost your health, wellbeing and happiness
It seems that many health trends are passing fads (yoga with goats, we’re talking about you), but we’re convinced wellbeing podcasts are here to stay. Research suggests they’re great for connecting with health issues that matter to you, with one study finding that audio conversations help you retain information while engaging imagination. It’s believed this might be because when you listen, as opposed to watching a screen, your brain has to be more active to process the information. Podcasts are easy to fit into your day; when you’re cooking or travelling, for example. But with thousands of health podcasts to choose from, where to start? These nine are full of advice and will have you hooked. Listen, learn and be inspired!
1 FIND A CANCER COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP YOU, ME AND THE BIG C: PUTTING THE CAN IN CANCER
In this award-winning podcast, Deborah James and Lauren Mahon, who have personal experiences of cancer, muse on the realities of the disease with candid humour. It’s informative, but it’s not like reading a leaflet in your GP’S surgery; it’s more like eavesdropping on strong, witty women who know the realities. If you have or have had the disease, or want to know more to support a loved one, it’ll open up all-important conversations.
2 LEARN HOW TO JOG 5K NHS COUCH TO 5K
Think of this podcast as your in-ear running coach. Each episode guides you gradually, step-by-step, through an achievable nine-week running plan that’ll enable you to run a 5k by the end of it. It’s perfect for beginners, telling you when to walk and when to run, and keeping you motivated and on track. The separate five-week NHS Strength And Flex podcast is worth a listen, too.
3 SQUEEZE SOME HAPPINESS HABITS INTO YOUR DAY HAPPIER WITH GRETCHEN RUBIN
Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of The Happiness Project, packs every podcast with life-affirming and totally doable tips. From how clearing clutter could improve your mindset to the psychology of comfort eating, it’ll encourage you to self-reflect, as well as teach you how to sidestep happiness stumbling blocks.
4 EAVESDROP ON TOP EXPERTS TED TALKS: HEALTH
If you haven’t heard of TED Talks, you’re missing out. These fascinating lectures cover all sorts of topics and are given by some of the smartest people around. The health talks are no different and feature researchers and doctors who excel in their fields, sharing compelling developments and advice.
5 GET A HEALTHY DOSE OF BODY POSITIVITY BODY CONS
A lively, honest podcast that’s essentially a collection of stories about our bodies: what we think of them and put on them, and how to unpick feelings of insecurity. The hosts chat to experts about the truth behind body image and acceptance, dismantling everything from diet culture to disability. It might sound heavy, but the chortle rate is high and there’s so much camaraderie and compelling conversation that it’s a feelgood listen for anyone working on loving themselves and their body.
6 TUNE IN TO LIFESTYLE MEDICINE ADVICE FEEL BETTER, LIVE MORE WITH DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE
A presenter, author and GP with more than 16 years of experience, Dr Rangan Chatterjee believes most of us don’t need a pill, but a lifestyle prescription. He says some of our ills, from menopausal symptoms to IBS, can be related to stress. With experts sharing insights, you’ll get brilliant advice. Plus, with Dr Chatterjee being a realist, it won’t be pie in the sky.
7 EAT TO BEAT ILLNESS THE DOCTOR’S KITCHEN BY DR RUPY AUJLA
A fascinating look at how diet relates to health. NHS GP Dr Aujla and a team of experts look at how principles of healthy eating can help prevent and treat illness.
Podcasts are great for connecting to health issues that matter to you
Dr Aujla is a member of the ‘food as medicine’ movement and doesn’t believe in fads, so you can be confident you’re getting evidence-based information. A treasure trove of digestible insight with great meal inspiration, too.
8 FOCUS ON WELLBEING WELLNESS WITH LIZ EARLE
Can you improve your hormonal health? Are walnuts the wellbeing wonder they are made out to be? If you often find yourself trying to decide whether something is a gem of wellbeing wisdom or a passing fad, Liz Earle MBE and her expert friends will set you straight. Covering a riveting mix of topics that might range from menopause and gut health through to the power of bathing and baking with less sugar, this will keep you in the know.
9 IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION PODCAST
Talking more about our mental health is a smart idea, but what are mental health problems and what does good mental health even look like? This podcast, informed by top experts and rigorous research, answers all the questions we often skirt around. It covers why our mental health is just as important as physical health, what we should all be doing to look after it (covering everything from learning to express and manage positive and negative emotions to coping with change), as well as highlighting a wide range of mental health problems. It’s a podcast that will help you treat yourself with care, compassion and kindness.