Patrick Holford: Simple Wisdom for a Healthy Life

Clear, punchy health predictions for 2026 and which habits are worth keeping. A deep look at vitamin C dosing, new antioxidants like ergothioneine, and how antioxidant networks support brain health. A critical tour of pharma incentives, vaccine scrutiny, and Alzheimer’s biomarkers. Practical dietary shifts to cut cancer risk and why marine nutrients matter for cognition.

Dr Greg Potter, a sleep coach and researcher at the London Psychiatry Clinic, focuses on sleep, circadian rhythms, nutrition and metabolism. He explains sleep’s housekeeping role and how REM supports emotional processing and creativity. Practical tips cover extending sleep opportunity, CBT techniques, breathing exercises for HRV, and sensible supplement and melatonin use.

Professor Jonathan Stone, a neurobiologist with 200+ research papers, explores why amyloid forms and how the brain defends itself. He discusses microbleeds, amyloid’s protective roles, vascular links to dementia, risks of removing amyloid, and lifestyle measures—exercise, plant compounds, intermittent hunger and heat—to build brain reserve and resilience.

If you keep meaning to change your food or drink habits but fail, you might be stuck in an ‘addiction’ trap. My guest in this podcast is clinical psychologist Dr Jen Unwin, an expert in food addiction, campaigning to get it recognised in the same way that alcohol addiction is. You’ll learn the six tell-tale signs that you’re getting hooked. The ever-increasing prevalence of addiction to junk food, sugar and carbs, as well as alcohol and coffee, keeps many people trapped in a cycle of fatigue, weight gain, poor sleep and, ultimately metabolic diseases from diabetes to dementia. If you’d like to break free from all food and drink cravings or understand how addiction is a major drag factor in health transformation, and how to deal with it, listen in. See Collaborative Health Community (CHC) See Dr Jen Unwin's book The Fork in the Road: A Hopeful Guide to Food Freedom Visit my weight-loss topic and addiction topic on my website. For more on addiction see my book - How to Quit Without Feeling S**t.

Artificial intelligence is going to have a bigger impact than the ‘digital revolution’ that gave us computers and smartphones. As conventional healthcare crumbles, and disease, especially mental and neurological disorders, accelerate as a direct consequence of big pharma and big food influence, will AI have the ability to change the paradigm for better or worse?   Former GP Dr David Jehring, digital expert and founder of Blackpear, whose software is used extensively within the NHS, is a pioneer in the use of AI for personalised health transformation. How can AI help us and what does the near and far future look like in an AI-centric world? Things are going to change very fast. Now is the time to think forward.

My guest today is Dr Louise Newson. She is a physician, women’s hormone specialist and member of the UK Government’s Menopause Taskforce. She is also an award-winning doctor, educator, and author, committed to increasing awareness and knowledge of perimenopause and menopause. Described as the ‘medic who kickstarted the menopause revolution’, she has empowered a generation of women to have a greater understanding, choice and control over their treatment, bodies and mind. I’ll be talking about her latest book - ‘The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause’.   You can take part in Alzheimer's Prevention Day on Tuesday 20 May. Find out more about what you can do to help prevent cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer's, and share it with friends and family.  Visit my website for more on brain health - www.patrickholford.com and read my books ‘Alzheimer’s: Prevention is the Cure’ and How to Balance Your Hormones.

In this insightful discussion, Dr. Dale Bredesen, a renowned neurologist and author of 'The End of Alzheimer's', shares groundbreaking strategies for combating cognitive decline. He explores the innovative Ketoflex 12.3 dietary framework, emphasizing metabolic flexibility and plant-rich nutrition. Bredesen challenges the myth of inevitable memory loss with aging, advocating for proactive cognitive testing and stress management techniques like HeartMath. He delves into the impact of viral infections and the significance of the APOE4 gene, highlighting lifestyle changes that empower brain health.

What is autism? Is it truly on the rise, along with the broader concept of ‘neurodivergence’? With one in six children now identified as having special educational needs, could this increase be due to over-diagnosis, genetic factors, or something more? In this episode, I’m joined by three pioneers in the field—experts with extensive experience working with thousands of children diagnosed with autism. Together, we uncover the true scale of the issue and explore why our children's mental and physical health is under attack. Joining me are: Dr. Lorene Amet – Director of The Lauriston Centre in the UK, holding a DPhil in Molecular Biology from the University of Oxford and a Master’s in Autism Education. She has conducted postdoctoral research at Princeton and Edinburgh universities. Beth Lambert – Founder of Documenting Hope, a non-profit dedicated to children's health. She’s a teacher and the author of A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America’s Children, as well as co-author of Brain Under Attack. Dr. Heather Tallman Ruhm – A board-certified physician with a Master’s degree in Public Health Policy. She has over a decade of experience as a college professor and serves as a medical advisor for Documenting Hope. Together, we dive deep into what’s beneath the surface - examining why our children's well-being is increasingly under threat. Further Information Read more in my book Upgrade Your Brain and on my website www.patrickholford.com    

To what extent is a child’s mental health set in pregnancy? What can women do in pregnancy to ensure optimal mental health for their child? Also, what happens to women’s brains and mental health when their nutrition is sub-optimal in pregnancy? How can we help children and teenagers to achieve their full potential for mental health? In this podcast, I'm speaking to Julia Rucklidge, Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychology and the Director of the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Group at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Learn more on my website - nutrition for Children's Health and Pregnancy as well as my books Optimum Nutrition for your Child and Optimum Nutrition Before, During and After Pregnancy.

Emma Beswick, a nutrigenomics expert and founder of LifecodeGX, unpacks the fascinating interplay between our genes and lifestyle choices. She breaks down how our understanding of genetics can tailor personal nutrition, offering insights into genetic polymorphisms that affect health. Emma discusses conditions like sickle cell anemia and its evolutionary advantages, and how genetic variations can influence risks for diseases like Alzheimer’s. The conversation also highlights the critical role of methylation and the significance of personalized dietary strategies.