Social Media, Inflammation and Dopamine

A quick note before we begin

This year, I’m doing something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

I want to start this year by sharing something a little different.

After four years of Live Well Be Well, I’m introducing regular solo episodes. It’s taken me a long time to get here. Not because I didn’t have things to say, but because it’s taken a lot of belief in myself to sit here and share my own thoughts, reflections, and opinions, alongside the voices of the people I speak to on the show.

These episodes aren’t about giving answers or telling you what to do. They’re about making sense of the patterns that keep showing up — in science, in health, and in ourselves.

And I feel incredibly privileged to say that. I speak to some of the most respected, iconic people in this field a few times a week, and over the years, I’ve accumulated such a breadth of knowledge through those conversations. That breadth really matters when it comes to health, because nothing exists in isolation.

These solo episodes are a way for me to distill all of that. To share what’s staying with me, what’s shaping the way I think, and what’s been on my mind each month.

I also want this to feel like a conversation. Use the comments. Ask me questions. Tell me what you want to hear more about. These episodes, and this space, are where I want to respond.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

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👉 Practical beats perfect.

Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.

https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read

The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

This episode is sponsored by:

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

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The Great British Veg Out

How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out

Reset Your Health

If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

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Let’s be friends!

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💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

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If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:

Neuroscientist’s 3 Proven Steps to Improve Brain Health & Prevent Cognitive Decline | Dr Tommy Woodhttps://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquU

The Brain Immune Expert: ALERT! Social Media Is Reprogramming Your Immune System | Prof Nicolau

https://youtu.be/2zNw6pzv8qk

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Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:

Science Simplified, Health Humanised.

Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.

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Highlights

Intro (00:00:00)

Why Vulnerability Is the Real Starting Point (00:01:41)

Brain vs Immune System: What Actually Came First (00:04:36)

Negative Social Media Causes Inflammation (00:09:24)

Burnout Permanently Changes Your Immune System (00:08:38)

Dopamine Addiction, Phones, and Brain Overload (00:10:42)

Why Boredom Is Essential for Brain Health (00:11:27)

Fascia, Movement, and the Mind-Body Link (00:14:13)

Emotional Granularity: A Hidden Health Tool (00:17:07)

Redefining Success Through Mind-Body Health (00:19:58)

What “Living Well, Being Well” Actually Means (00:20:58)

Building a Health Community and Looking Ahead to 2026 (0:22:20)

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