Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley

Michael reveals how getting some shut-eye during the day could boost your memory and your heart health - and even help your productivity! Research reveals that a simple daily nap could slash your risk of heart attack by half, and have a noticeable impact on your brain, by helping improve your emotional control and boosting memory. In this episode, our volunteer Caroline catches some Zzzs in between work meetings, while nap expert Dr Sara Mednick delves into the different stages of sleep, telling Michael when to nap, and for how long, for the greatest benefit.

In this episode, Michael reveals how the part of your workout that often feels easier - running downhill after a brutal run up to the peak, or lowering down weights rather than lifting them up - is one of the quickest ways to improve your strength and enhance your workout. It’s the flip side of a lot of movements you’ve already been focused on. To find out more, he speaks to Prof Tony Kay at the University of Northampton who delves into the bizarre benefits of Eccentric Exercise. He reveals why the muscle-lengthening phase of exercise is more effective than the muscle-contracting phase… and how lengthening your muscles is the key to stronger muscles, bones, a healthier heart, and could even help burn more calories than a seemingly tougher workout when you’re finished.

Professor Andy Jones from the University of Exeter discusses the benefits of beetroot, from lowering blood pressure to improving brain health. Learn how drinking beetroot juice can boost endurance by 16% during intense exercise and why it's great for your heart, muscles, and brain.

Dr. John Buckley, an exercise physiology specialist, discusses how standing up, even without exercise, can benefit health by burning more calories and improving blood sugar levels. The podcast explores the impact of prolonged sitting on metabolism and circulation, stressing the importance of incorporating standing desks and movement breaks to counteract sedentary behavior.

Dr Stuart Galloway, Professor of Exercise Physiology, discusses the importance of proper hydration for overall health and performance, debunks myths about water intake, and explains how drinking water with every meal can have positive impacts on concentration, energy levels, skin health, mood, and weight management.

Pumping iron in the gym is the only way to improve strength, right? Wrong. In this episode, Michael explores the power of the mind to boost strength by up to 24%... Our willing human guinea pig Tom has a go at improving his goal-shooting skills with his mind, and Michael speaks to cognitive neuroscientist Dr Helen O’Shea to reveal how your thoughts can influence your muscles and why it’s surprisingly similar to doing the actual thing.

Discover the surprising health benefits of houseplants, including improved productivity, cognition, and air quality. Learn about the research behind these benefits and the specific plants that have the biggest impact. Find out how houseplants can remove harmful compounds from the air and increase humidity. Explore the best practices for having houseplants and the positive effects they can have on mental and physical well-being.

Comedian Sindhu Vee and Michael explore the mood-lifting benefits of singing and its similarities to cannabis effects. Dr. Daisy Fancourt's research reveals singing boosts the immune system and aids in chronic pain treatment.

Do you struggle with multi-tasking, filtering out distractions, and prioritising your to-do list? Believe it or not, video gaming might help. In this episode, Michael Mosley enters the world of gaming to find out how it can benefit our brains! He enlists the help of cognitive neuroscientist Professor Daphné Bavelier to find out how, to Michael’s surprise, video games could actually help improve our vision and what types of features we should look out for when we play...

Dr. Emily Manoogian from the Salk Institute discusses how changing meal times can aid in weight loss, lower blood pressure, and reduce Type 2 diabetes risk. They explore the benefits of time-restricted eating, aligning meals with circadian rhythms, and the negative effects of late-night eating on sleep and health.