Sliced Bread

Shanta Bhavnani, a representative from Ethical Consumer magazine, shares insights on eco-friendly toilet paper options. She discusses the environmental sustainability of bamboo versus recycled paper, shedding light on misconceptions and shipping impacts. The conversation dives into the complexities of eco-certifications and highlights the need for consumer awareness. Additionally, they explore alternative cleansing methods like bidets and the global challenges of sourcing sustainable materials, making it clear that eco-conscious choices are more nuanced than they seem.

Learn about the potential savings and benefits of using smart thermostats to control the heating in your home. Dive into the pricing ranges, installation process, and security measures of smart thermostats. Explore how these devices enhance home heating efficiency and convenience with features like remote control and energy-saving capabilities. Discover how compensation controls optimize energy usage and the decision-making process between smart thermostats and traditional systems.

Greg Foot gets queasy in the name of science as he investigates the range of products promising to help with motion sickness.Do the pills, wristbands or breathing techniques which claim to stop you from feeling sick on planes, trains and automobiles actually work?To find out, Greg heads to Professor John Golding's laboratory at the University of Westminster where a spinning chair is used to induce symptoms of motion sickness. Why don't scientifically-proven treatments always work for everyone? If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad relating to another consumer product and wonder if there?s any evidence to back up a claim, then email us: sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807Sliced Bread is a BBC Audio North production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

Kim Griffin, an independent occupational therapist, and Paul Greengrass, a pediatric sleep medicine professor, dive into the world of weighted blankets. They discuss how these popular products claim to enhance sleep and alleviate anxiety. Griffin explains the science behind 'deep touch' stimulation, while Greengrass shares insights from his research on children with autism. They tackle common concerns about safety and effectiveness, especially for youth, making the case for informed use in various demographics.

Induction hobs are not just a fashionable addition to a new kitchen, but are also sold as a more efficient choice than a gas hob. How do they compare? Is cooking on an electric induction hob better for the planet? And what about our health? Listener Roisin wants to know if they are an economical choice but worries they might affect her mum's pacemaker, while listener Anna is concerned about indoor air pollution from gas cookers and wonders if induction hobs are a safer bet. Greg Foot gets them some answers with expert help from Emily Seymour, the Energy Editor at Which? and Jonathan Grigg, Professor of Paediatric Respiratory and Environmental Medicine at Queen Mary University of London. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad relating to another consumer product and wonder if there?s any evidence to back up a claim, then email us: sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

Is vaping harmful to your health and to the environment?I'm back with a new series of Sliced Bread and I'm kicking off with a topic many of you have suggested - vapes. They've become controversial largely because of the rise in single-use, or disposable, vapes. Nearly eight million are sold in the UK each week, a figure that's doubled in the past year. And according to the organisation Material Focus, which campaigns to increase recyling rates, five million of those are thrown away. Listener John has spotted them lying around on the pavement and is worried about their effect on the environment.I'm joined by Scott Butler from Material Focus who takes apart a disposable vape and shows me just what's inside and explains why they're harmful to the planet and what can be done to improve recycling.I'm also investigating the reason vapes were introduced in the first place over a decade ago - as a smoking cessation aid. Listener Sam wants to know if they really do help you stop smoking or whether the convenience of disposable vapes means they just prolong or even worsen the addiction? I speak to Professor Anne McNeill, co-author of a landmark review into the health impact of vapes and their effectiveness when it comes to helping people stop smoking compared to previous treatments like nicotine patches or gum. Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot returns to investigate a whole new batch of so-called wonder products suggested by you, the listeners.Sliced Bread is back for a new series from Thursday 28 September, 2023 on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds, with new episodes available weekly on Thursdays on BBC Sounds and wherever you get your podcasts.

If you are heading somewhere tropical this summer, or just want to protect yourself from bites in your own back garden, then which mosquito repellents can you trust?Greg Foot gets up close and personal with a box full of hungry mosquitoes to find out.Is it all about DEET or are there alternatives which are just as effective? What about citronella? And how well do bracelets, patches and candles perform? And if you do get bitten, what is the best treatment for a mosquito bite?Greg assesses the scientific evidence with Professor James Logan from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Dr Jane Wilcock, an indepedent researcher and GP. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad relating to another consumer product 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 a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

This is one of your most-requested topics and as a keen runner myself I couldn?t wait to get into it. Barefoot shoes claim to encourage you to run in a more ?natural? way, landing on your mid or forefoot rather than on your heel. Some brands say they?ll increase your speed and reduce the likelihood of injury. But will they? Listener Sam runs marathons and wants to know if the science backs up the marketing hype. He also wonders whether the wider toebox in barefoot shoes really does allow for our toes to be separated out in a more natural way.It?s not just runners who got in touch either; Jon is a dog walker and is interested in wearing barefoot shoes on a more casual basis. Is there any benefit to that? And what about children? Listener Zoe already wears barefoot shoes herself but wants to know if they might be good for her son, too. In this episode I speak to experts to weigh up the evidence. Are barefoot shoes the best thing since sliced bread? Or just marketing BS?PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Owners clearing up after the UK's 11 million estimated pet dogs have a bewildering array of bags from which to choose. Some are labelled 'degradable', others are called 'biodegradable', 'compostable and biodegradable' or 'recycled.' So which ones are best for the environment? And what is the most environmentally friendly way of disposing of our dogs' doo?Greg Foot is on the case on behalf of listeners including Nicola Jones and Craig Hart who are perplexed by the claims being made on dog poo bags. If you?ve seen an ad, trend or fad relating to another consumer product 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 a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Jon Douglas