Sliced Bread

When it comes to shop-bought painkillers, there are rows and rows of shelves dedicated to them in supermarkets and pharmacies ? ranging from own-brand tablets, to more expensive capsules and caplets, as well as branded packets that promise to work faster, and target specific pain. Listener Hannah got in touch all the way from Tunisia to ask the questions ? what?s the difference between paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin? Can certain painkillers target specific pain? And are any of them able to deliver faster pain relief than others ? particularly the pricier branded ones? Greg Foot swallows all the information available, and talks to experts in clinical pharmacology and biochemistry to find out. This series, we?re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there?s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

In this episode presenter Greg Foot investigates three products that promise to make washing your laundry better for the planet.Listener Clare wants to know if the Ecoegg she?s using really is a greener alternative to liquid detergent and whether the cleaning pellets inside are harmful to the environment.Another listener, Jane, got in touch about laundry sheets ? strips of concentrated detergent that go inside the washing machine?s drum. Is the slightly higher cost worth it to cut down on waste?And finally Mary wanted to know about filters that capture harmful microfibres which are shed from our clothes in the washing process and get into the environment, causing huge problems for marine life.This series, we?re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there?s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Petrol is something millions of drivers around the UK rely on, but when faced with the choice of what to fill up with at the pumps, many wonder what is the difference between regular and premium unleaded?That?s exactly what listener Irfan wanted to know, and if premium can really deliver on its promises to make your car more efficient, take you further, and clean out your engine for a higher price tag. Greg Foot drives the investigation into unleaded petrol, what?s changed since we moved from E5 to E10 as our standard, what makes premium special, can it take you further, and whether our carbon footprint is better with one than the other?PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

Sales of energy drinks are rising and their brightly coloured cans line the shelves of almost every supermarket or grocery store in the UK. But do brands like Monster, Red Bull and Relentless deliver on their promises? Listener Syed is a consultant radiologist and says he needs to be on his A-Game in his demanding job. He wants to know if an energy drink would be any better than his usual cup of coffee in helping him stay alert. He's also keen to know more about some of the ingredients they contain - things like taurine, guarana and electrolytes. What exactly do they do? And are energy drinks safe to drink regularly?Presenter Greg Foot has a thirst for knowledge and speaks to expert dieticians and cardiologists to find out if energy drinks live up to the hype. Are they the best thing since sliced bread - or marketing BS?PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Shampoo ranges hugely in price, from own brand bottles to premium products that promise to improve your hair, leaving it in better condition, stronger and shinier. But can they really deliver?Listener Sophie sent in a WhatsApp to ask just that, as well as whether we should use different shampoos depending on our hair type, if sulphates or parabens could be harmful to our hair, and if shampoo bars can do the job just as well, and be a greener option? Greg Foot untangles some of the most common claims by speaking with a clinical Trichologist (someone who has studied the structure, function and diseases of human hair) as well as an expert chemist and pharmaceutical analyst. This series, we?re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there?s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

Two products dominate the market for nasal sprays that claim to reduce symptons of a cold - Vicks ?First Defence? and Boots ?Dual Defence?. But do they work?Listener Leah got in touch because she catches lots of colds from her young son and wants to know if they can help her get over them more quickly. She also wants to know if they?re safe to use regularly and how long you should take them for.Presenter Greg Foot sniffs out the evidence and talks to a leading expert who?s dedicated most of his career to investigating cold remedies. This series, we?re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there?s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

In the run up to Christmas, many parents will be checking on their battery supplies ahead of Santa bringing gifts that require them. But do branded batteries, that promise more power and longer life at a higher price point, really deliver it?Listener Peter got in touch asking just that, as well as whether batteries have an expiry date? Greg Foot recruits some year 7 pupils and their teacher to help him perform a test to find out, and speaks to one of the country?s leading scientists about what gives a battery more power, or helps it store more energy. You can also hear more about the difference between single use, and rechargeable batteries in our longer podcast episode on BBC Sounds. This series, we?re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there?s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

Smelling good can come with a hefty price tag with the price of perfumes often getting into the hundreds of pounds. But what if there was a cheaper alternative?Listener Callum got in touch because his bottle of expensive perfume is about to run out. Presenter Greg Foot turns his nose to the task, testing so-called 'clone' perfumes which claim to get as close the originals as to be indistinguishable - but for a fraction of the cost. Speaking to an expert perfumer he finds out exactly how the clone houses copy the ingredients of designer perfumes and whether they last as long.Do they pass the sniff test? Are they the best thing since sliced bread or just marketing BS?This series, we?re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there?s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Dive into the world of razors as experts dissect whether more blades and fancy features really enhance your shave. Discover insights into hair types and the effective techniques for a smooth finish. Unravel the myths behind blade choices—are premium options worth it? Explore sustainability in shaving with a look at refillable versus disposable razors. Plus, uncover how different razors perform while considering both skin health and environmental impact. It's a fun quest for the ultimate shave!

It?s one of the most talked-about cosmetic products but what?s the evidence that collagen supplements really do slow the visible signs of the ageing process? Listener Jo got in touch wanting to know if the collagen supplement she?s spending ?53 per month on will live up to its claim of reducing wrinkles, while promoting ?glossy hair and plump dewy skin.?Other listeners asked whether it can help with joint aches and pains, or strengthen nails?Greg Foot sets out to answer all these questions by speaking to a leading consultant dermatologist as well as the co-founders of two of the biggest companies selling collagen supplements, Absolute Collagen and Ingenious Beauty. This series, we?re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there?s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban