Sliced Bread

He asked us to find out what these mats are meant to do, whether they work or if they're a placebo effect, and whether paying more for one could mean better results?

Joining Greg in the studio to discuss them, is Clinical Acupuncturist Phil Trubshaw from the Manchester Movement Unit based at Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as the Director of Research at the Northern College of Acupuncture, Dr. Karen Charlesworth.

Have you seen a product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener? Want to know if it is SB or BS? Then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

What is the point of acupressure mats?

Greg looks at the theory of acupressure, whether these spikey mats can do the same, and if they can really boost circulation, and promote relaxation.

This episode has been edited since broadcast. Twelve year old Bradley got in touch with Sliced Bread after trying out his mum Jennifer's acupressure mat. Jennifer says she swears by it, it relaxes her, and she even falls asleep on it! But after testing it out himself, he was less than convinced.

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up... Dough.

Have you seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener? Want to know if it's SB or BS? Please let us know - you can email sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Do air fresheners actually get rid of bad smells?

Do air fresheners really eliminate bad smells - and are they good for our health?

Listener Sally in Harrogate has another question too: at a time when the cost of living is rocketing will cooking with an air fryer save her money?

And, because they use little to no oil, is cooking food in an air fryer also ?healthier??

Greg Foot investigates, speaking to a food scientist at Imperial College London and the BBC's Good Food Magazine, to find out whether the claims being made around air fryers live up to the hype or are just marketing BS.

This series, we're testing 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

Air fryers - can they save you money?

Listener Laura, a respiratory doctor, got in touch wanting to know whether they work and even if they could help some of her patients in their daily lives.

Greg Foot investigates the science behind the product, speaking to experts to find out just how many pollutants are being pulled from thin air, the effective range of air purifiers and whether there are any downsides to how they work.

This series, we're testing 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

PRODUCERS: Kate Holdsworth and Julian Paszkiewicz

How effective are air purifiers?

The Government says every home could have one and have reintroduced grants to help buy them. However Nick wants to know if an air source heat pump would be suitable for the 1930s house he's about to move into with his family. Given the higher cost of the unit and the extra insulation he needs, will he actually be better off with a new combi boiler instead?

Greg speaks to experts, does a survey on his own home and gets Nick answers so he can decide if a heat pump, for him, would be the best thing since sliced bread.

Do you have a suggestion of a ?wonder-product' making a bold claim that Greg can investigate next?

Send us your suggestions to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send it to Greg direct on twitter or instagram where he's @gregfoot

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Can every home have an air source heat pump? Or is that claim a load of hot air?

Greg is joined by a leading scientist from the World Health Organisation, as well as a Professor of Gastroenterology who has researched the impact of sweeteners to “spill the tea ? on this topic. Can using them as an alternative help us reduce our blood sugar? Are all kinds of sweetener safe? And what about their effects on us long term?

The information in this episode was correct at the time of recording.

As ever we're looking for YOUR suggestions. If you've seen and advert, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice not to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH AND GREG FOOT

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

Are artificial sweeteners the best way to help us cut down on sugar?

Can artificial sweeteners help us cut down how much sugar we consume? And how do they affect us long term?

Sam White looks at profitable everyday products and future ways we might spend our Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

Sleep deprived parents everywhere are tempted to reach for anything that might help them get a little more sleep overnight – but can products promising to encourage babies to snooze for longer – really do that? And is there any science to back it up?

That is exactly what tired Dad-of-three Dave wanted to know – and whether there were any future implications from using these gadgets, docks, blinds and sleep bags?

New Dad Greg Foot speaks to Director of the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre Professor Helen Ball, to find out.

You can also read the official Safer Sleep guidance, by copy and pasting the links below into your browser:

NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/baby/baby-basics/newborn-and-baby-sleeping-advice-for-parents/safe-sleep-advice-for-babies/

Lullaby Trust - https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/safer-sleep-information/safer-sleep-overview/

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH & GREG FOOT

Can any nests or docks, gadgets or blinds, really help babies sleep better?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up\u2026 Dough.

Can products that promise you help your baby sleep deeper and for longer, do just that?

[LISTEN NOW]

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

Are barefoot shoes better for your feet?

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

Do more expensive AA batteries really last longer?

We've had loads of requests to look at the best way to make your bed - specifically, how all the different options for sheets and pillowcases compare. Cotton seems to be king when it comes to popularity, but is it justified? Listener Rosemary is a linen fan, but wants to know whether eucalyptus bedding lives up to the hype. How do its eco credentials stack up - and what does it feel like? Speaking of feel - silk pillow cases have a reputation for luxury, but listener Cathy wants to know whether sleeping on one will - as the marketing promises - also help your skin and your hair. Could it really help with acne? We'll hear from a dermatologist and a fabrics expert - and there are some surprising answers to this one!

If you've seen a claim you'd like investigating, you can email the team on sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp voice note on 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Greg Foot investigates listeners' bedding questions. Can changing your sheets be good for you - and the environment?

They claim these devices emit concentrations of harmful blue light which leaves us with tired eyes and poor sleep. One firm goes even further by suggesting this may contribute to a worrying long term condition, macular degeneration which leaves you with a permanent black hole in the centre of your vision.

Their solution? A pair of trendy looking spectacles which claim to filter out this blue light.

Listener, Sophie spends roughly 12 hours a day at a screen of some sort.

She bought a pair but isn't sure if they work. So she's asked Greg to look into them and find out.

We get answers from two leading lights in the science of our eyes. Professor John O'Hagan has been a public health scientist for 46 years and is Visiting Professor in Laser and Optical Radiation Safety at Loughborough University.

Greg also meets sleep expert Russell Foster, professor of Circadian Neuroscience at the University of Oxford who's been researching body clocks for 38 years.

We put the evidence directly to Dhruvin Patel. He's the boss of one of the largest blue light filtering brands, Ocushield which turned over £2m last year.

How does he respond? And will Sophie keep using her trendy specs?

This series, we're testing your suggested wonder-products. Seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there's any evidence to back up the claim? Tell us! Drop us an line to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk .

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Julian Paszkiewicz

Are claims that they can protect our eyes and improve sleep true? Or just short sighted?

Do Boiling Water Taps save you money?

They're often seen in offices but boiling water taps are increasingly popular for the home kitchen too. They hold hot water at a constant temperature in a tank under your sink and claim to save you money compared to boiling a regular kettle. But does the evidence back up the marketing hype?

Listener Jenny got in touch with Sliced Bread because she's upgrading her kitchen and is thinking about investing in a boiling water tap. She's keen to know how the figures for daily use stack up - and if there IS a saving how long it would take before she gets her money back on the original outlay. And then there's maintenance too...

Greg is joined in the studio by Jenny and energy expert Mark Thompson to crunch the numbers, along with Debbie Birkbeck from Stopcocks Women Plumbers.

We are looking for more of YOUR suggestions of products to investigate. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND PHIL SANSOM

Greg Foot investigates boiling water taps. They claim to save you money over boiling a kettle by holding hot water at a constant temperature in a tank under the sink. But do they?

[LISTEN NOW]

Greg Foot drills down into the subject, investigating the claims made by manufacturers of bottled water. Does it make any difference if water has spent years underground being 'filtered by rocks' before being bottled? Are there more minerals in bottled water than in tap? And even though companies are making more of their bottles from recycled plastic, what's the environmental impact?

Greg speaks to experts including a lecturer in water chemistry, an environmental NGO and a water sommelier (yes, they're a thing!) who explains why some bottled water can cost more than a hundred pounds.

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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Is bottled water cleaner and better for you than tap?

Joining him in the studio is Ian Carmichael, Senior Director in Styling at Trevor Sorbie, the Hair Salon, who styles many high profile heads including Her Majesty the Queen's.

Dermatologist Dr Paul Farrant, from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust, is on hand to put two products through the evidence mill, separating the facts from the fads to reveal whether caffeine hair products really are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Beth Eastwood

Greg Foot and his guests puts caffeine hair products through the evidence mill.

Are special shampoos and coatings any good at cleaning and protecting your car?

They're all over Instagram: washes, foams, and ceramic coatings in a rainbow of coloured bottles that promise to give your car that showroom shine. For listener James - a driving instructor - the question is whether they're worth the money, or if an ordinary bottle of washing up liquid will do the job.

To find out Greg is joined in the Salford studio by materials scientist and vehicle coatings researcher at the University of Manchester, Dr Beatriz Mingo, as well car expert and TV presenter Tim Shaw.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

At Sliced Bread, we're hungry for your suggestions so we can keep making fresh batches! If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: PHIL SANSOM AND GREG FOOT

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up Toast.

[LISTEN NOW]

There's a huge range of car tyres to choose from and the price differences between them can be significant. So do you really need to pay more to get a good tyre?

Listener Ian runs a car maintenance business and wants to know if the budget tyres he's been fitting are the right choice. Will they last as long and be just as safe? What do the different ratings on the labels you can see online mean? And as he moves towards electric cars he's also keen to know whether they need a special sort of tyre.

With the help of two experts in the field, Greg Foot 'treads' through the studies and the science to find out more. It's how he rolls (we'll stop now).

As ever we are still looking for your suggestions of products to look into. If you've seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Greg Foot investigates whether budget car tyres match up to the more expensive, premium brands. Are they the best thing since sliced bread? Or marketing BS?

Trees are just one type of carbon offset. Another, albeit promising but expensive, option is Direct Air Capture. Could that be the future of long term carbon offsetting?

Greg Foot finds out.

This series, we're testing 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

Brands are planting forests to offset their carbon emissions, but how effective is it?

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims.

[LISTEN NOW]

Consumer interest in CBD-based products shows no sign of abating, with enthusiasts claiming a whole host of benefits from relieving anxiety, to easing pain and helping us sleep.

The theory behind how CBD might work seems promising - CBD shares similarities with endocannabinoids, produced naturally in the body, which help to regulate stress, sleep, metabolism, memory, inflammation, and immunity.

Given the deluge of different CBD-based products, should we really believe the hype?

Greg Foot talks to beauty columnist Sali Hughes and Saoirse O'Sullivan, an expert in cannabinoid research, to find out if these products really are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Beth Eastwood

Greg Foot finds out if there's any science behind the current craze in CBD-based products

Almost half of UK adults have raised cholesterol, according to the charity Heart UK - and Sliced Bread listener Cathy is one of them. She found out after taking a test at her GP and wants to do something about it. Her first plan of action is to make changes to her lifestyle, such as diet and exercise. As part of that, Cathy wants to know if the spreads and drinks that claim to lower cholesterol really do work.

Greg Foot is joined by Cathy and a panel of experts at our studios in Salford to investigate. What are the ingredients that are proven to lower cholesterol? How effective are they compared to widely-prescribed statins - and are the supermarket own brand versions of these drinks and spreads just as good as branded ones?

All of the ideas for our investigations come from you, our listeners, and we're always on the lookout for more. If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot investigates the drinks and spreads which claim to reduce cholesterol. What are the ingredients to look out for and are supermarket own brands just as effective?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up... Dough.

Which chopping board material is best for hygiene and the planet?

Greg Foot gathers the expert, dives into the data and crunches the numbers to get answers for listener Simon.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: PHIL SANSOM AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims. Are they the best thing since sliced bread, or marketing BS?

[LISTEN NOW]

Everyone loves the smell of a freshly cut pine or spruce but the vast majority of them go to landfill. So would a plastic tree be better?

Listener Eleanor wants to have a more sustainable Christmas and has some great questions. Is there a better way to dispose of your real tree? How about a pot-grown tree you could use again the next year? And she's even heard about the possibility of renting a Christmas tree - the same one, year after year! Is that a thing?

In this frankly festive episode I attempt to get to the root of the problem (sorry!) by speaking to an ecological expert and a journalist who's attempted to rent the whole of Christmas.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Simon Hoban

Presenter Greg Foot investigates Christmas Trees. Listener Eleanor wants to know which is better for the environment - real or fake?

Do we really need all those cleaning sprays?

Have a peek in anyone's cupboard under the sink (ask first or it can get a bit weird) and you're bound to find a clutch of cleaning sprays and products. The marketing often says they're designed for certain rooms and do specific jobs.

But listener Alice wants to know if we really need different sprays for our bathrooms and kitchens. Will soap and water do the same job, and what about supermarket own-brand products? She's also keen to know about the cleaning properties of natural products like vinegar - and what about the concentrated versions that allow you to add your own water?

Greg and Alice are joined by Dr Sally Bloomfield from the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, as well as TV's ‘Queen of Clean', Lynsey Crombie, to run the science through the evidence mill.

All our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voicenote to our WhatsApp number 07543 306807

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Greg Foot investigates the array of cleaning sprays on the market. Are they much better than just using soap and water? And what about supermarket own-brand products?

[LISTEN NOW]

Listener Liz has recently switched to a coffee pod machine, that promises to deliver her a quick, convenient and delicious cup of coffee when she wants at the touch of a button. But she started to wonder about how the pods can be recycled, and whether her decision to swap to them had a greater impact on the environment?

Greg Foot ‘filters' through the research on coffee's carbon footprint alongside two experts, to find out where pods fall. He tastes the difference between a few different brewing methods, finds out how easy it is to recycle our pods, and what effect recycling them (or not) can have on their environmental impact. (The information in this episode was accurate at the time of recording.)

All our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH

How green are coffee pods?

Are coffee pods that promise a tasty and convenient coffee in minutes, bad for the environment?

[LISTEN NOW]

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.

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Do nasal sprays help reduce the symptoms of a cold?

What's the latest on Collagen?

The new series of Sliced Bread kicks off with an update on one of the wonder products most-requested by listeners. Presenter Greg Foot first looked at Collagen in 2022 and returns to the subject to find out what has changed in the scientific landscape since then. Could there be new evidence that it really can do what the manufacturers claim: rejuvenate skin, nails and hair - and even help with joint and bone health?

To find out, Greg is rejoined by the expert from that original episode four years ago, dermatologist Dr Emma Wedgeworth, alongside Professor Jayne Tierney from University College London who specialises in reviewing evidence.

Together they do a deep-dive on the latest science, including a new study from one of the brands featured in 2022, Absolute Collagen. Does it stand up to scrutiny?

If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: PHIL SANSOM AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates the wonder products promising to make you happier, healthier or greener. Does Collagen rejuvenate your skin, hair and nails - and even help with bone health?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up\u2026 Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

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

Can taking collagen supplements really help reduce wrinkles?

With Greg still in Edinburgh for the Festival, we're sticking with last week's format and investigating THREE of the wonder-products you've sent us on WhatsApp in a 'triple slice' of quick investigations.

First up, Listener Sarah from North Devon wants to know if buying expensive compression leggings can really help improve her exercise performance and speed up her recovery. Greg speaks to one of the UK's leading researchers on compression garments, Dr. Jess Hill, to find out the science behind them - and when we should wear them.

Second is listener Rosie from Sheffield who wants to know if magnesium or 'Epsom' bath salts really can help soothe aching muscles - so Greg chats to leading expert on magnesium, Dr. Lindsy Kass from the University of Hertfordshire to find out what it does in our bodies, and if we can actually absorb it through our skin.

And third, Listener Matthew from Suffolk wants to know if Water Softeners and filters can improve water quality, if they're necessary, and if they can save us money on our household appliances by preventing the build up of scale. Greg chats to internationally recognised expert in drinking water Vanessa Speight - to find out.

Keep your suggestions coming for wonder-products you'd like us to investigate. Send them over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or as a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

A triple slice investigating three of your suggested wonder-products.

Listener Katie wanted to know what they actually do to our hair, if they can deliver on promises for shinier, smoother, or stronger locks ? and whether leave-in treatments could be more effective than conditioners you wash off in the shower?

Listener Franziska also got in touch, as she wondered if we could also have a look at heat protection products. She wanted to know what's in them, can they offer our hair any protection while styling, and is there a difference between the effectiveness of sprays or creams?

Greg Foot rinses out the claims on both, speaking once again to the experts from Shampoo ? also available 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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Kate Holdsworth

Can conditioners 'condition' our hair? And can we protect our hair from heat?

Have you seen a product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener? Want to know if it is SB or BS? Then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Tom Moseley

Which contact lenses are best for your eyes - and the planet?

Greg Foot investigates the different types of contact lenses. Are the more expensive ones better for your eyes - and what's best for the planet?

Which cooking oils are best for your health?

Listener Sarah got in touch after seeing claims on social media that more expensive oils are better for you than regular vegetable, or rapeseed oil. And listener Kamal sent us a voicenote asking about coconut and avocado oil - both touted as healthier alternatives to other types of oil. Are they worth the extra cost? And what about health concerns if certain oils are overheated?

To get the answers Greg is joined by Professor of Population Health and Nutrition at the University of Cambridge, Nita Forouhi. Together they deep-dive into the studies and evidence, finding out what compounds constitute a healthy oil and giving advice on what we should be looking out for on the bottle.

All of our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND PHIL SANSOM

Presenter Greg Foot investigates cooking oils. Are more expensive oils better for your health? And are there any health concerns if certain cooking oils are over-heated?

[LISTEN NOW]

Are cough medicines any better than just taking honey and lemon?

When Listener Sally sent in a croaky voicenote to our Sliced Bread Whatsapp number (07543 306807 - put us in your contacts!) we knew we had to tackle this one.

Sally didn't think the medicine she used for her cough did very much, so she joined presenter Greg Foot and Jacky Smith, Professor in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester, to get some answers.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up Toast.

[LISTEN NOW]

Can creatine boost your body and mind?

Listener Simon has been taking the fitness supplement creatine and wants to know if the science backs up the claim that it can make you stronger and faster. He's also heard that it can help with cognitive function. To find out if creatine can boost body and mind, presenter Greg Foot is joined by Graeme Close, Professor of Physiology at Liverpool John Moores University and Fabienne Sandkuhler, postdoctoral researcher at LMU Munich.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims. Are they the best thing since sliced bread, or marketing BS?

Greg Foot explores the future wonder products that might rise to success in Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

I'm a big fan of cycling and so when listener Migue got in touch wanting to know what cycle helmet he should buy next, I was really keen to investigate.

Migue wanted to know what factors make a cycle helmet the most effective when it comes to protecting your head: the shape, the material, the fit? He's seen all sorts of neat tech, including collapsible helmets and ones that fit around your neck and act like airbags! To find out more I speak to an expert at one of the world's leading helmet testing labs in Virginia, USA.

And in researching this episode I also discovered there is a hotly-contested debate about whether cycle helmets should be the focus at all when it comes to safety. Some - including the organisation Cycling UK and the charity Sustrans - argue that introducing tougher rules around helmets would mean far more lives lost through physical inactivity than would be saved in protecting from collisions, which are rare. That's a view shared by Dr Ian Walker from Swansea University, who also features in this episode.

Once again this series we're testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so 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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Listener Jenny, who enjoys a 90% cocoa bar from time to time, got in touch to ask if some of the reports that dark chocolate can have a positive effect on things like circulation and mood - have any truth behind them? 

But Jenny also told Sliced Bread that since she read reports that heavy metals such as lead and cadmium could be in dark chocolate - she's been unable to enjoy her regular bar, until she knows it's safe to eat!

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM 

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH & GREG FOOT

Can dark chocolate really have health benefits?

Can eating dark chocolate potentially improve our circulation, mood and cognitive function?

[LISTEN NOW]

Can dehumidifiers dry out your house - and your clothes?

Greg Foot gathers the experts, dives into the data and crunches the numbers to get answers for listener Rhys.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims. Are they the best thing since sliced bread or marketing BS?

[LISTEN NOW]

We are back with a new series of Sliced Bread and even more investigations into your suggested wonder products! We'll also be hitting a significant milestone during this batch of programmes so look out for more on that.

First up - dishwasher tablets. Listener Deborah got in touch after hearing our deep-dive into dishwashers themselves and had some burning questions about the tablets we put in them. Do more expensive ones give you a better clean? Do they protect glasses better? And what about the eco brands that promise to be kinder to the environment?

Listener Graham sent a voicenote asking whether buying an 'all-in-one' tablet is better than using separate components, either for cleaning or the environment.

Greg's joined by Deborah and a panel of experts in our studio at Media City in Salford to run all these questions through the wash.

All our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voicenote to our WhatsApp number 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Greg Foot investigates dishwasher tablets. Do more expensive ones give you a better clean and protect glasses better? And are eco versions kinder to the planet?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up... Dough.

This question from listener Eve has got to be among the most hotly contested debates out there. She wants to know which method uses more water and which is more energy efficient. To find out, we speak to a man who's spent decades studying the differences - Professor Rainer Stamminger from the University of Bonn in Germany.

Eve also wants to know about the eco settings on dishwashers: how can they save money if they take so much longer? And should you pre-rinse before putting things in?! In short, does the evidence around dishwashers stack up (sorry!) Greg will be finding out.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot investigates the pros and cons of dishwashers. Do they save on energy and water compared to washing by hand? Are dishwashers the best thing since Sliced Bread?!

Listener Chris from Suffolk recently took a DNA ancestry test, and after getting some interesting results back, he wondered how accurate they really were?

Greg Foot finds out by taking two tests himself – and has the results and his family tree revealed to him by DNA Genealogist from Finding Families, Louise Baldock.

He also speaks to Professor of Genetics at Leicester University Mark Jobling to find out what these companies are looking for, what they can or can't determine from our DNA in terms of where we came from, and asks the question – is sharing our DNA with these companies safe?

All of the ideas for our investigations come from you, our listeners, and we're always on the lookout for more. If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener, and want to know if it is SB or BS, then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voice note on WhatsApp to 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

Can DNA ancestry tests really tell where we come from?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up... Dough.

How accurate are DNA ancestry tests, and how do they determine where we supposedly come from?

[LISTEN NOW]

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Can dental chews really clean your dog's teeth?

Can dental chews really clean your dog's teeth? And how good are they for their insides?

Is more expensive dog food worth it?

Greg Foot gathers the experts, dives into the data and crunches the numbers to get answers for listeners Izzy and Pete.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Is more expensive dog food worth the money?

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims. Are they the best thing since sliced bread, or marketing BS?

Sean Farrington examines the grand business ideas that ended up as Toast.

[LISTEN NOW]

With Greg up at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this week we're doing something a little different - investigating THREE of the wonder-products you've sent us on WhatsApp in a triple slice of quick investigations.

First up, listener Ali in Bristol wants to know whether the expensive dog food she bought is really better for her new pooch than the cheaper stuff. Greg speaks to one of the UK's most senior vets to find out the differences between wet and dry dog food and whether the latest doggy diet trends of vegan and raw food diets are a good idea for our canine companions.

Second is Sophie who loves Diet Coke but her friends and family say it's bad for her. Greg finds out about the latest evidence from the Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK regulator, the Food Standards Agency.

Finally, listener Helen wants to know - what's the point of mouthwash? And in finding out, Greg's bathroom routine is turned on its head!

Keep your suggestions coming for wonder-products you'd like us to investigate. Send them over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or as a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

A triple slice investigating three of your suggested wonder-products

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 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

Are biodegradable dog poo bags the best thing since sliced bread?

In this special edition of Sliced Bread, recorded at the Hay Festival in South Wales, Greg Foot investigates the newer style of ear plugs. He's joined by listener Marni who's seen adverts for brands like Loop, which promise to protect your hearing at higher volumes while still allowing you to enjoy music at gigs. Other models in their range claim to give you better focus, shutting out extraneous noise but still allowing you to hear conversation. Or, in the case of their 'Quiet' model, sleep better.

As ever Greg's joined by two experts to deep-dive into the science and find out if the evidence backs up the marketing claims. And with the help of a special dummy head fitted with microphones, they carry out a series of tests to hear the difference between traditional foam ear plugs and the newer models.

If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCERS: Kate Holdsworth and Simon Hoban

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up... Dough.

Brands like Loop promise to protect your hearing but still allow you to enjoy music at higher volumes, perhaps at gigs. Do they work better than traditional foam ear plugs?

Almost everyone is guilty of fiddling with their ears, especially if they can feel a build-up of earwax in there. But what actually works to get rid of it, and should we be messing with them in the first place?

Listener Martin got in touch after finding out his earwax build-up was returning - and wanted to know if drops alone would solve his problem, or if he needed to seek professional help to remove it?

Greg Foot speaks to professor of Audiology at Manchester University, NIHR senior Investigator and former chairman of the British Society of Audiology, Kevin Munro - to find out. 

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH & GREG FOOT

Can store-bought solutions really keep earwax at bay?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up\u2026 Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

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.

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Are the Ecoegg, laundry sheets and microfibre filters really better for the environment?

Listener Barbara buys recycled toilet paper - and wants to know if she's better off buying one of the bamboo options on the market. Jo already buys bamboo but is curious about the difference packaging and delivery options make.

To get them some answers, Greg Foot speaks to Shanta Bhavnani from Ethical Consumer magazine, who carried out its 2023 ethical toilet paper guide, and materials expert Dr Eral Bele of University College London, who's studied the properties of bamboo.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Tom Moseley

Is eco-friendly toilet paper 'the best thing since sliced bread'?

Is eco-friendly toilet paper the best thing since sliced bread - or marketing BS? Are home delivery companies greener than the supermarket options - and what about the packaging?

https://www.gregfoot.com/post/should-you-switch-to-an-electric-car

Electric Vehicles: Should you switch?

In the first of this new series Greg runs Julian's suggested wonder-product through the evidence mill and asks whether electric vehicles (EVs) really are the best thing since sliced bread?

Julian has heard that switching his old petrol-guzzling banger for a shiny new EV will make him greener? But will it?

Electric cars are said to be ?cleaner' and ?cheaper' to run, but with a higher purchase price than their petrol equivalent - and a greater environmental footprint of manufacture - how many miles would Julian need to drive before his fuel savings off-set these initial costs - both financially and environmentally?

Greg tests one of the most popular cars in the UK and hears from experts including Mike Berners-Lee & Vicky Parrot to conclude whether electric vehicles are worth the hype, and your money.

And he wants YOUR suggestions for what to investigate next!

Is there something you keep seeing on TV - or hearing about on a podcast? Have you spotted something trending on Instagram or TikTok and you want to know if it delivers?

Send us your suggestions to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send it to Greg direct on twitter or instagram where he's @gregfoot

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: JULIAN PASZKIEWICZ

Greg Foot asks whether electric vehicles really are the best thing since sliced bread.

The facts behind the fads and the scientific evidence behind a product's bold claims.

Greg tests one of the most popular cars in the UK and hears from experts including Mike Berners-Lee and Vicky Parrot to conclude whether electric vehicles are worth the hype, and your money.

In the first of a new series of Sliced Bread - Greg and the team look behind the promises and claims of changing to an electric vehicle.

We ask - how many miles do you have to do in an electric car to offset the extra cost of buying one?

What are those extra costs...how much is it to put an electric vehicle on the road....and is it better than running your old fossil-fuelled banger into the ground?

We'll try to establish the break-even point of sticking with what you've got or making the change.

We test one of the most popular electric cars in the UK - and hear from experts such as Mike Berners-Lee on the pros and cons of trying to go green.

The market is dominated by two big brands, both promising a ?professional' clean: Oral B, whose iO brush has an oscillating action and Philips' Sonicare, which uses tens of thousands of vibrations every minute to clean your teeth.

After having to pay a lot more for private treatment because she couldn't find an NHS dentist in her area, listener Holly got in touch to ask whether getting an electric brush might save her trips to the dentist in future. And wouldcould a more expensive brush really clean her teeth better than a cheaper electric one? Or even the trusty traditional (and far cheaper) manual one she currently uses?!

Greg takes to the dentists chair to find out, testing both the Oral B and Philips brands as well as one of the latest trends ? water flossing, which claim even better results than regular flossing with tape or interdental brushes. Is it the best thing since sliced bread? Or marketing BS?

Greg guests this episode include a dental expert who's been studying electric brushes since their inception and the consumer group Which? who ranked electric toothbrushes in a recent consumer test of their own.

This series, we're testing your suggested wonder-products. Seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there's any evidence to back up the claim? Tell us! Drop us an email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk .

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

The latest electric toothbrushes promise you a 'professional clean', but do they deliver?

Listener Rob got in touch as he's recently taken up a new sport and wants to know if electrolytes can help his performance and recovery. He's seen lots of adverts on social media for drinks and powders containing electrolytes that claim to hydrate you better than just plain water. But do they?

To find the answers, Greg speaks to Graeme Close, Professor of Human Physiology and Head of the Research Institute for Sports and Exercise Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University.

All our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voicenote to our WhatsApp number 07543 306807

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Presenter Greg Foot investigates Electrolytes. Do they help with hydration and improve performance and recovery in sport? Are they the best thing since sliced bread?

[LISTEN NOW]

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?

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Do energy drinks like Monster and Red Bull really give you a boost and keep you alert?

Do ergonomic devices like split keyboards and vertical mice help with comfort and health?

If you're a heavy computer user there are an increasing variety of weird and wonderful options to help improve your comfort and reduce the risk of aches and pains associated with 'Repetitive Strain Injury' (RSI).

Listener Tim is curious whether ergonomic tools—such as split keyboards, alternative layouts, or vertical mice—could optimise his professional setup as a software engineer.

To find out, presenter Greg Foot does a deep-dive into the evidence alongside Nichola Adams, from the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors; and Ben Vallack, who runs a YouTube channel all about workflow and design.

And if you're interested in this topic, we have a companion episode on Standing Desks - available along with all our other episodes on BBC Sounds.

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims.

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims. What changes can you make to your computing set-up to help avoid wrist or hand injuries caused by overuse?

[LISTEN NOW]

I'm back with a new series of Sliced Bread to investigate more of your suggested wonder products and I'm starting with one of the most-requested so far. Do more expensive moisturisers, serums and oils live up to the hype? Can they result in smoother, brighter, firmer, healthier skin or is it all just marketing BS?

Listener Aristide wants to know whether one of the most expensive products on the market - 'Creme de la Mer' (£80 for 15ml) - has any more evidence to back it up than the cheap moisturiser he uses from the High Street. And listener Fiona is keen to hear about the effectiveness of retinol, one of the most popular ingredients used in creams and serums today.

In this episode I'll get the answers with the help of our expert, consultant dermatologist Dr Emma Wedgeworth.

Once again this series I'm looking for more of your suggestions for wonder products to investigate. If you've seen an ad, trend or fad rproduct promsing to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if there's any evidence behind it, then email us: sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot kicks off a new series of Sliced Bread by investigating whether more expensive face creams really are worth the money - or just marketing BS.

[LISTEN NOW]

Listener June got in touch wanting to know if this is the case, or if it's too good to be true? Are there really pills being sold online and on the high street that can help you burn fat, or speed up your metabolism?

Greg Foot investigates, hearing from some people who've tried them, scientists and dieticians about what exactly is in these pills, and asking if there is any evidence to back up their claims that they can burn fat.

This series, we're testing 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

Millions of us use fitness tracker watches to count how many steps we take each day - they also claim to tell us how we're sleeping and how stressed we are, as well as a host of other metrics. But how accurate are they - and are they the best thing since Sliced Bread? We've had loads of requests from you to look into fitness trackers. So with multiple watches on each arm, Greg's being put through his paces at Loughborough University under the watchful eye of Dr James Sanders, senior research associate in digital health for lifestyle.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

How accurate are fitness trackers?

How accurate are fitness trackers - and will buying one make you move more?

[LISTEN NOW]

Does a session in a float tank work wonders for your mental health and exercise recovery?

Listener Maddy has heard a lot about float tanks and joins Greg Foot to find out if it really is the latest product worth spending money on.

She's a keen runner and wants to know if claims that it can help with exercise recovery stack up. And what about the effects on the brain? When Maddy's partner recently paid for a session in a float tank he reported a sense of both relaxation and euphoria, which helped him through a period of poor mental health. But is any of that backed up the science?

Greg speak to two experts in the field to run the studies through the evidence mill.

All of the ideas for out investigations come from you, our listeners, and we're always on the lookout for more. If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener, and want to know if it is SB or BS, then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voice note on WhatsApp to 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Does a session in a float tank work wonders for mental health and exercise recovery?

Presenter Greg Foot investigates float tanks to find out if they help with mental health and recovery after exercise. Are they the best thing since sliced bread?

[LISTEN NOW]

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Do foam rollers help with exercise?

Lots of people use foam rollers either before or after exercise - and there are several different types. But do they make any difference?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up... Dough.

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims.

[LISTEN NOW]

The prices of the products were correct at the time of the recording.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Do drinks made from 'greens powders' do all they promise?

Listener Sofie's seen lots of adverts for 'greens powders', promising more energy, clearer skin and lots more besides. Do they deliver on the claims?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up... Dough.

Grounding Sheets - do they really work?

It's perhaps the most-requested product in Sliced Bread history but is there any real science behind grounding (or 'earthing') sheets? The claims made for them are wide and varied - from reducing inflammation and pain, to helping with sleep. How do they do this? Proponents say grounding sheets connect you to the Earth's own electrical field and dissipate electrical charges in your body, built up though everyday activities like wearing rubber-soled trainers. Prices of grounding sheets vary from £30 to £150.

Listener Alison is thinking of buying one and wants to know if it could ease pain and help her sleep better. She joins Greg in the studio along with two experts for a deep-dive into the science to find out whether grounding sheets are the best thing since sliced bread - or marketing BS.

We are looking for more of YOUR suggestions of products to investigate. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND PHIL SANSOM

Presenter Greg Foot investigates Grounding Sheets. They promise to improve your sleep and help with reducing inflammation. But does the science back up the marketing claims?

[LISTEN NOW]

Can wonder products halt hair loss and grow back luscious locks?

We're back with a new series of Sliced Bread and a fresh batch of investigations into your suggested wonder products. First up this time are lotions and pills that promise to stop hair loss - and even grow it back. For this episode Greg is joined at our Salford studios by two listeners, Ian and Kimberley.

Ian got in touch about two products he's seen - Minoxidil and Finasteride - which he hopes can help with male pattern baldness. And listener Kimberley is keen to know whether there's anything she can do about hair loss which is caused by menopause. To get the answers Greg speaks to one of the most cited researchers in the hair loss world - Ralf Paus - as they deep-dive into the studies to separate the science fact from the marketing claims.

As ever this series it's YOUR suggestions that are the start of all our investigations. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voicenote to our WhatsApp number 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot investigates whether lotions and pills designed to help hair loss in men and women really work. What results can you expect and are there any side effects?

Have you seen something promising to make you happier, healthier, or greener? Ever wondered whether it really is the best thing since sliced bread - or marketing BS? In 'Sliced Bread', Greg Foot runs the latest trends, fads and wonder products through the evidence mill to find out if the claims are backed up by the evidence. From air fryers to air purifiers, ice baths to slug deterrents - Greg investigates products suggested by listeners and speaks to leading experts to help separate the science fact from the marketing fiction.

Are the latest wonder products the best thing since sliced bread? Or marketing BS? Greg Foot speaks to leading experts to separate the science fact from the marketing fiction.

[LISTEN NOW]

Can Intense Pulsed Light devices really 'zap' away your unwanted hair? 

You may have seen IPL devices advertised on social media - that promise painless hair removal using light to 'zap' away body hair.

Listener Karen got in touch to ask if these 'Zappers' could possibly free her from having to shave her legs in the summer? How are they supposed to work, are they safe to use, and is it worth the investing in one?

To find out, Greg Foot is joined by Dr Gill Westgate, a skin and hair biologist and honorary visiting lecturer at the University of Bradford. 

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims.

[LISTEN NOW]

The better weather's here but for the millions who have hay fever that just means a runny nose and itchy, streaming eyes. And for some people it's seriously debilitating - listener Richard got in touch because his wife can't go out and play with the kids in the spring and summer months.

In this episode I'm investigating the treatments that claim to help. I speak to an expert from Allergy UK to find out what works and whether - as listener Lisa wonders - the generic or own-brand versions work as well as the more expensive branded ones. And could a hay fever injection be the one-shot solution Richard's wife is looking for?

Also, you might have heard about the gut microbiome - ¦but did you know there's a nasal microbiome too?! I'm finding out about some new research which shows probiotics could play a role in treating hay fever.

This series we're testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so 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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Listener Angela is a musician, and long-time wearer of Hearing Aids – but as her parents and friends have started reaching an age where they might need them, she's wondering what advice to give them - and whether paying more for a hearing aid, and potentially going private – would really help?

There's no question – Hearing Aids are Sliced Bread – but can the top end products really deliver on claims they can improve sound, reduce background noise, stream directly from phones or tables, and change what they listen to automatically? And are hearing aids available on the NHS capable of the same?

The NHS England wait times described in this episode were accurate at the time of recording, and may have changed.

A transcript of this episode is available here: https://downloads.BBC.co.uk/radio4/misc/sliced_bread_hearing_aids_transcript.pdf

As always, all of our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH

Do more expensive hearing aids really deliver a better experience?

Sam White looks at profitable everyday products and future ways we might spend our Dough.

Does going private and paying more for hearing aids mean you'll get better gadgets - and miss out on less conversation?

[LISTEN NOW]

Listener Corrine got in touch after struggling with her sleep post menopause, wanting to know if there was any evidence to back up the claims of various natural sleep aids. Can they give her the restful night's sleep she craves ? or is it just a waste of money? She sets Greg Foot the job of finding out, by speaking to an expert sleep physiologist, as well as a professor in clinical pharmacology, therapeutics and toxicology.

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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

Can teas, herbal tablets and oils or sprays send us to sleep?

Greg is joined by consultant allergist Professor Adam Fox to do a deep-dive and separate out the science fact from the marketing fiction.

As ever this series we're looking for YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

Greg Foot investigates allergy and food intolerance tests you do at home. Can they tell you if you should start to eliminate certain foods from your diet? Or are they marketing BS?

Sam White looks at profitable everyday products and future ways we might spend our Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

https://www.gregfoot.com/post/should-you-switch-to-an-electric-car

Electric Vehicles: Should you switch?

In the first of this new series Greg runs Julian's suggested wonder-product through the evidence mill and asks whether electric vehicles (EVs) really are the best thing since sliced bread?

Julian has heard that switching his old petrol-guzzling banger for a shiny new EV will make him greener? But will it?

Electric cars are said to be ‘cleaner' and ‘cheaper' to run, but with a higher purchase price than their petrol equivalent - and a greater environmental footprint of manufacture - how many miles would Julian need to drive before his fuel savings off-set these initial costs - both financially and environmentally?

Greg tests one of the most popular cars in the UK and hears from experts including Mike Berners-Lee & Vicky Parrot to conclude whether electric vehicles are worth the hype, and your money.

And he wants YOUR suggestions for what to investigate next!

Is there something you keep seeing on TV - or hearing about on a podcast? Have you spotted something trending on Instagram or TikTok and you want to know if it delivers?

Send us your suggestions to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send it to Greg direct on twitter or instagram where he's @gregfoot

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: JULIAN PASZKIEWICZ

Greg tests one of the most popular cars in the UK and hears from experts including Mike Berners-Lee and Vicky Parrot to conclude whether electric vehicles are worth the hype, and your money.

Social media appears to be filled with countless people sitting blissfully in small inflatable ‘ice baths'. Fans of such ‘cold water therapy' claim that taking a chilly plunge will boost your energy levels, reduce your stress, help you sleep better, and supercharge your recovery after a workout. Listener Laura wants to know if the science backs that up.

In this episode, I dip my toe - and the rest of me - into an ice bath to find out. I'm guided by Professor Mike Tipton at the University of Portsmouth, one of the leading academics in the study of cold water and its effects on the body.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Simon Hoban

Are ice baths the best thing since sliced bread? They claim to boost energy levels and help with recovery after exercise. Presenter Greg Foot takes a chilly dip to find out more.

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.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

Are induction hobs 'the best thing since sliced bread'?

Are infrared saunas as effective as traditional ones?

If you've ever sat sweating on a wooden bench in a traditional ('Finnish') sauna wondering if there was an easier way, could infrared be the answer? Infrared saunas work at lower temperatures, ostensibly making it easier to stay in there for longer. Listener Paul got in touch after trying one and wants to know if infrared saunas give you the same purported benefits as traditional ones.

Those claims include: improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, longevity and even benefits to mental health and depression. But what's the evidence and does it amount to a load of hot air?

To get the answers, Greg Foot is joined by Professor Chris Minson, an expert in the effects of heat on the body who's carried out research on infrared saunas.

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims.

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims. Are the purported benefits of saunas, including the latest infrared ones, just a load of hot air?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up\u2026 Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

What's the best way to keep your hot drink hot?

Keeping a hot drink at the right temperature until you're ready to drink it is not always easy - are insulated cups the answer?

[LISTEN NOW]

Can you insulate your home for less than £100?

With winter setting in listener Robin got in touch with Sliced Bread to find out if there's a way he can insulate his very old, very cold Victorian house on a budget. He's seen plastic films that go over the windows and silver foil-type backings that go behind the radiators. Do any of them work to keep the cold out and more of that precious heat in? And what about other solutions like thick curtains or blinds - can they be effective?

Greg is joined in the studio by listener Robin and expert David Farmer from the Energy House in Salford - a bespoke replica terraced house built in a warehouse which can recreate a range of weather conditions, from snowstorms to balmy summer days!

And as always, all of our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Can you insulate your home for less than \u00a3100?

Greg Foot investigates some of the more cost-effective ways to insulate your home this winter. Can a cheap insulation hack keep the cold out and help reduce your energy bills?

[LISTEN NOW]

So is there anything you can do? Listener Moira suffered the effects of jet lag on a recent work trip to India and with another one coming up to the USA, she's keen to know more about the products that claim to help. She's heard about apps that help you align your circadian rhythm with your new time zone, as well as supplements and even a mask that promises to better humidify the air on your flight! But do any of them work?

All our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

NOTES: The table on light exposure referred to in this programme from the scientific journal 'The Lancet' can be found here:

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Jet-lag%3A-trends-and-coping-strategies-Waterhouse-Reilly/d2ca570b8746a1ecfbd155da14c8291f85545db2/figure/3

Greg Foot investigates the latest wonder products promising to make you happier, healthier or greener. Do products promising to ease jet lag live up to the marketing hype?

Sam White looks at profitable everyday products and future ways we might spend our Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

Listener Amanda was Kefir curious, and got in touch with Sliced Bread to ask if the Kefir she was consuming for breakfast every day – was really having an impact on her health, cognitive function, and her gut?

She wasn't the only person to get in touch about kefir either, with others saying they keep seeing the benefits of fermented foods crowed about on social media. Greg Foot talks to head of the Food Biosciences department at the Irish National Research Body Teagasc, to get to the bottom of it.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH & GREG FOOT

Can kefir really help our guts?

Can science support the claims that kefir can improve gut health, immunity, mood, and cholesterol?

[LISTEN NOW]

Which knife is best for the kitchen and how do you keep it sharp?

After buying various knives over the years that ended up blunt, listener Susan is looking for one that will last. She's seen an array of different types and materials: Damascus steel, Japanese Gyuto knives, as well as alloys and additions that promise a sharper edge. They vary hugely in price - anything from £50 to £1,000. And if you do invest, how do you keep a knife sharp?

To cut through the marketing BS, presenter Greg Foot is joined in the studio by Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials & Society at University College London, and Rob Haslam aka Mr Knife Guy.

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up\u2026 Dough.

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims. Listener Susan wants to know more about kitchen knives; which are best, and how do you keep them sharp?

[LISTEN NOW]

To discuss the science behind these popular health trends, presenter Greg Foot is joined by Blur bassist turned cheese maker Alex James, Dr Bridgette Wilson, a research dietitian from King's College London and Sophie Medlin, a lecturer and researcher in nutrition and dietetics, also from King's College London.

Together they'll explore the evidence and decide whether these products really are the best thing since sliced bread or just marketing BS.

This episode was first broadcast in February 2019.

Prodcuer: Marijke Peters

Greg Foot and guests put Kombucha drinks through the evidence mill

Producer: Marijke Peters

Studio Manager: Sue Maillot

Editor: Rami Tzabar

Blur bassist and food fanatic Alex James helps Greg put these wonder drinks to the test.

Greg Foot is back with a new series of Sliced Bread to run a whole new batch of your suggested wonder products through the evidence mill. From car tyres to contact lenses, air fresheners to LED face masks, Greg will separate science fact from marketing fiction as he investigates whether each product is 'the best thing since sliced bread' or 'marketing BS'.

There's a slightly new sound to this new series: having recorded most of the previous episodes remotely, Greg is going to be joined in the studio by the listener and experts to investigate the wonder products together!

First to join Greg is Helen Leneghan from County Down. She's seen LED Face Masks all over social media and wants to know if they actually work. Do they reduce your wrinkles? Will they give you a radiant glow? And can they help with some skin conditions like acne or rosacea?

As ever, if YOU have seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot is back with a new series of Sliced Bread, investigating more of your wonder products and separating the science fact from the marketing fiction.

When staring at shelves full of sticks, tubs and tubes all promising us the perfect pout, how do you know which Lip Balms will really help keep chapped lips at bay?

Listener Kiran is a regular lip balm applier - saying she often suffers with dry or cracked lips, and recently splashed out on an expensive lip balm after seeing celebrity endorsed adverts for it online. But she isn't sure it's any better than her trusty tub of Vaseline.

To find out, Greg Foot speaks to Consultant Dermatologist and Dermatological Surgeon Dr Emma Craythorne about lips, lip lickers, mouth breathers and the causes of cracking - as well as lecturer in pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry at the University of Sunderland, Dr Teresa Borrello about what is IN these lip balms to plump, smooth, or repair.

All our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH AND GREG FOOT

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

Can Lip Balms really smooth, plump and perfect our pouts?

Can Lip Balms promising to smooth, hydrate, plump and repair our lips deliver on their claims?

Sean Farrington examines the grand business ideas that ended up as Toast.

[LISTEN NOW]

Can taking special supplements help us to live longer?

It's the 100th episode of Sliced Bread and to mark the occasion we're investigating the pills and supplements that claim to help us live longer - and more healthy - lives.

Listener Soly has heard about so-called 'biohackers' such as Bryan Johnson in the US, who are trying to turn back the clock on their biological age and reverse the process that makes their bodies vulnerable to illness and disease. Each day they're taking a special blend of compounds and chemicals which they claim slow down or even reverse the hallmarks of ageing.

Increasingly these supplements and diet plans are available to buy - but are they worth the money? Can they really extend our lives beyond the current normal human lifespan? What does the evidence say so far about their effectiveness?

Greg is joined in the studio by Dr Andrew Steele, author of 'Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old' to try to unlock the secrets of staying young and run the studies through the evidence mill.

We could not have made it to 100 episodes of Sliced Bread without YOUR suggestions for wonder products to investigate. Please do keep them coming! If you have seen something claiming to make you happier, healthier or greener, and want to know if it is SB or BS, then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voice note on WhatsApp to 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND PHIL SANSOM

In this special 100th episode of Sliced Bread, presenter Greg Foot investigates the pills and supplements that claim to help us to live longer and more healthier lives.

[LISTEN NOW]

But what does 'alcohol-free' really mean? And are these drinks always better for your health?

Various listeners got in touch with us about this one, so we enlisted the help of two experts to answer their questions.

Laura Willoughby knows a lot about no/low alcohol beer as co-founder of Club Soda which says it exists 'to help people drink more mindfully and live well ?.

Kerry Torrens is a registered nutritionist who has been working in the food and drink sector for two decades.

Once again this series we're testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so f 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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

Are no or low-alcohol beers better for you than a regular pint?

Are no and low-alcohol beers the best thing since sliced bread - or marketing BS?

Listener and beekeeper David got to get in touch to ask whether manuka honey can boost the immune system, and if it has any benefits over and above the ordinary honey from his bees produce.

Greg Foot gets stuck in to find out, talking with two microbiologists to learn why manuka honey is different and if there's any truth to some of those sweet sounding claims.

This series, we're testing 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

Producers: Julian Paszkiewicz & Kate Holdsworth

Researcher: Darcy Tapley

Is it the bee's knees?

A small jar of this sticky stuff can cost anything from around ten pounds to over a thousand. Some brands claim it can help with sore throats, skin problems, hay-fever and poor sleep. Other producers curiously make no health claims at all about their manuka products. So what's buzz about and is there any science behind it?

Listener and beekeeper David got to get in touch to ask: whether manuka honey can boost the immune system and whether it has any benefits over and above the ordinary honey from his bees produce?

Listener Kath got in touch to ask exactly that. She also wants to know if you pay more for mascara, do you get better results? How should we remove it - and what about waterproof products that are tough to take off? Are we potentially damaging our lashes?

Greg Foot sets his sights on investigating by recruiting some regular mascara wearers to try out differently priced products, as well as speaking to a consultant dermatologist and cosmetic chemist 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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

Can it deliver longer, fuller or curlier lashes - and at what cost?

Massage guns are one of the biggest-selling fitness devices of the past few years. They have a vibrating silicone head that delivers percussive pressure onto the muscle.

Manufacturers claim ?vibration' therapy increases bloodflow and helps the user warm up before exercise, perform better during it AND ease soreness afterwards. But does it?

Listener Clare got in touch after she bought one following a tip-off from a friend that they could help relieve aches and pains after a run (including a bad back) as well as her husband's sore shoulder.

Greg Foot finds out if those claims are true by speaking to manufacturers, leading physiotherapists and scientists involved in the latest research.

This series, we're testing 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

Can massage guns help you warm up before exercise and recover more quickly after it?

These are the questions keeping listener Stephen up at night and he tasks presenter Greg Foot with finding out more. Greg speaks to experts in the mattress industry and a sleep specialist, looking at the scientific evidence to test whether the claims made by mattress manufacturers live up to the marketing hype.

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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

Producer: Simon Hoban

Is it worth spending money on an expensive mattress?

But how ?nutritionally complete' are these liquid lunches?

Listener Tom admits snacking on one in the middle of the afternoon but has questions. Does the fact they start as an ultra processed powder affect how healthy they are? Is it possible to live on them and nothing else?

Greg Foot investigates. He talks to a registered dietician, a researcher on a new trial into these products, and Huel's co-founder and Head of Sustainable Nutrition, James Collier.

In this series, we're testing your suggested wonder-products. If you've seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there's any evidence to back up the makers' claims drop us an email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Julian Paszkiewicz

Can a liquid lunch be good for you?

Can supplements claiming to make menopause symptoms more bearable, really help?

Going through menopause can result in a myriad of symptoms, leaving women stressed, exhausted, and desperate for anything that might make it easier to deal with.

In recent years, a huge range of products have become available in supermarkets, pharmacies and online, all promising to help alleviate some of these symptoms – for a price. So listener Susie, who said she felt she was experiencing some of these symptoms, got in touch with Sliced Bread, to ask if it might be money well spent?

Greg Foot drills down into the top ingredients of these supplements and their claims, alongside GP Dr Helen Wall who runs a Menopause Clinic in Greater Manchester. They look at what the science says, and ask if these supplements really can support women through the menopause?

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH, PHIL SANSOM & GREG FOOT

Can supplements help stave off symptoms of menopause?

Sean Farrington examines the grand business ideas that ended up as Toast.

Greg Foot investigates the science behind supplements claiming to make menopause symptoms more bearable. Can they really help?

[LISTEN NOW]

The supermarket shelves are fairly bulging with plant-based options for people who either prefer not to drink cow's milk or can't for health reasons like an allergy. Some have been around for a while - like soy, almond and the current best-seller in the UK, oat - but there are newer additions to consider like hazelnut, hemp and a drink made from dried peas.

Listener Sian wants to know if these milk alternatives are better for her health and the environment than cow's milk. Do they give you the same nutritional benefits? And what's the carbon footprint of each, and how do they compare to the production of cow's milk?

If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if there's any evidence behind it, then email us: sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot investigates the growing market in plant-based alternatives to milk. Do they stack up nutritionally compared to cow's milk? And are they any better for the environment?

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 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

Are mosquito repellents 'the best thing since sliced bread'? Which ones really work?

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?

~Sliced Bread is a BBC Audio North production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

Motion sickness remedies promise to ease queasiness but which ones are proven to work?

If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know how it stacks up, then email us: sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Is mushroom coffee really good for us?

Do products containing extracts of 'medicinal' mushrooms really offer the health benefits they claim?

Greg Foot gathers the experts, and 'chips' away at the science for listener Helen.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH & GREG FOOT

Can nail polish and gels really last longer, 'strengthen' nails - and not cause damage?

Can nail polish and gels that promise to last longer, or 'strengthen' nails, deliver on their claims? And do they cause any damage?

Greg Foot explores the future wonder products that might rise to success in Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

Listener PC Hollie got in touch on WhatsApp after she'd seen claims that regular deodorants and antiperspirants containing aluminium salts might be bad for our health, and wanted to know if natural deodorants are really better for us?

She also wanted to know why they're more expensive, if it's worth paying more, and if they can do the same job and keep her dry while she's fighting crime.

Greg Foot finds out by speaking with a dermatologist Dr. Adil Sheraz, a chemist specialising in the makeup of natural products, Dr. Barbara Olioso, and by performing a ?sweat test? where he convinced fellow gym goers to sniff his pits, and assess his sweat patches.

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

Greg breaks into a sweat to find out if natural deodorant can hold its own.

Are they The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread, or BS?

Greg Foot is joined by BBC 6 Music DJ Host Mary Anne Hobbs, who lends her professional ear to a pair of noise cancelling headphones. While acoustic engineer Professor Trevor Cox unpicks the science fact from the science fiction.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Beth Eastwood

The promise of noise cancelling headphones is enticing, but do they live up to the hype?

Listener Julie is keen to know more about that after she went on an adventure holiday without the right kit, leaving her cold and miserable.

She's heard about fabrics that promise to ?wick away' the sweat and others that keep you warm in cold weather and cool when it's hot. And what about the jackets that claim to stop rain getting in yet still be breathable enough to let vapour and sweat out. How does that work?!

I'll be finding out by speaking to an expert in textile technology and the Gear Editor from the UK's best-selling walking magazine.

Once again this series we're testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so 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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Do fabrics that promise to wick away sweat and keep you comfy whatever the weather work?

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

Can they target pain and work faster for a higher price?

Domestic interior wall paint comes in many different pots, colours, types and price points. However some claim the extra pennies mean they're not only better quality and offer a better finish, but that they're better for the environment too.

Listener Emily got in touch on WhatsApp after she bought a house that needs redecorating. She has six children, two dogs, two tortoises, two ducks and five chickens, so is very much in need of a paint that will offer good coverage, but be wipeable, and durable too, and wants to know if she needs to pay more to get that?

She also wanted to know about VOCs ? Volatile Organic Compounds ? that the expensive paints say they don't contain, and if she buys a cheaper paint will any of these VOCs harm her kids and the environment?

Greg Foot finds this out by speaking to a paint inspector, and testing out differently priced paints with a painter and decorator to find out which ones meet the promises they're making.

This series, we're testing 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

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.

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Do so-called 'clone' perfumes smell as good as the originals for a fraction of the price?

Our listener Gareth wants to know if this could be a quick fix for his low energy and poor diet so Greg is going to find out. He's got his sights on the popular companies suggesting personalised plans based on a simple online questionnaire that builds up a picture of your vitamin deficiencies via questions about your exercise, stress levels, diet and more.

But these personalise plans comes at a premium - some go for close to £25 per month. Greg tests the questionnaires, speaks with nutritional experts, and sees whether Gareth thinks personalised vitamin plans are the best thing since sliced bread, or marketing BS.

This season we're testing YOUR suggested wonder-products. If you've seen an advert, trend or fad and want to know what the evidence says drop us an email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop Greg a message direct on his social media where he's @gregfoot

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Are personalised vitamins a health win or just a bitter pill to swallow?

For some of us Tom and Jerry might be the sum total of our knowledge of the struggle between domestic life and unwanted rodents. But for listeners Colin and Mary, things are getting much more real! Colin wants to know if the plug-in devices he's seen that promise to deter rats and mice using ultrasonic actually work. Mary has caught mice and then released them back into the wild in nearby woodland, believing it's the more humane way to deal with the problem. But is it?

With the help of Natalie Bungay from the British Pest Control Association and Rob Young, Professor of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Salford, Greg Foot sets out to find the answers, hoping to nibble at the metaphorical cheese without getting caught in the figurative trap (or something).

All of the ideas for our investigations come from you, our listeners, and we're always on the lookout for more. If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Greg Foot investigates various methods of pest control, including plug-in devices that use ultrasound. Do they work? Are they the best thing since Sliced Bread or marketing BS?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up... Dough.

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

Is paying more for premium petrol worth the extra pennies?

Edinburgh gardener Alan got in touch with Sliced Bread, to ask if he really needs to be spending money on buying and applying plant food or fish, blood and bone meal to his roses and woody perennials?

He was keen to know what is in these commercial plant foods that come as a solid, liquid or granule, how often he is supposed to use them, whether they make as much of a difference as they claim, and if he can save money by making his own “mulch ? out of fallen leaves?

Greg Foot investigates with the help of Gardener's Question Time's expert and botanist, Pippa Greenwood – as well as Head of Fertilisers from the Agricultural Industries Confederation Jo Gilbertson. They “dig in ? to the claims on the packets, and try to determine if pricey plant foods are the best thing since Sliced Bread?

We are looking for more of YOUR suggestions of products to investigate. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH

Do we really have to feed our garden plants?

Do we really need to buy commercial plant food for our gardens? What is in them, and can they meet claims of making plants grow bigger, and produce more fruit or flowers?

Sam White looks at profitable everyday products and future ways we might spend our Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

You may have heard health warnings around too much red or processed meat, and considered trying a plant based meat alternative as one of your midweek meals instead. But after looking at the ingredients on the packet and spotting salt, additives and flavourings, wondered if they really are the healthier choice?

That's exactly what listener Graham did, as he hunted for an alternative to his beloved sausage – and found that the plant based versions all seemed to be heavily processed. He's asking, are they really better for us? And are they better for the environment too?

The information and prices in this episode were correct at the time of recording.

All our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH AND GREG FOOT

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

Are plant-based meat alternative products really the healthier option?

Is a sausage made of heavily processed plant proteins better for you than a meat one?

[LISTEN NOW]

Listener Ken got in touch about a new kind of portable ceramic heater he's seen advertised, promising to heat your room using 30% less energy.

Greg Foot teams up with Octopus Energy to run it through the evidence mill and test it against three other types of portable heater: a convection heater, a fan heater and an oil-filled radiator to find out which gives the most heat for the lowest energy used. The aim is to find out which portable heater is best for heating you, and the room you're in. And how does all that compare to using gas central heating?

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

There are a bewildering array of pots and pans on offer: stainless steel saucepans, cast iron skillets, even 10-in-1 cookware systems that use layers of various materials. But do they deliver on their promises to help you reach culinary bliss? Listener Emily wants to know if the ones she's seen live up to the hype or are just marketing BS. What do all the materials do? What about cleaning them? And just what is the much-vaunted 'hot spot' that lights up at a certain temperature?!

There are also lingering concerns about non-stock coatings. Are they safe? And what about the alternatives if you're not sure?

Please do keep your suggestions coming of wonder products for me to investigate. If you've seen an ad, trend or fad rproduct promsing to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if there's any evidence behind it, then email us: sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot investigates the bewildering variety of pots and pans. What are the pros and cons of the various materials? And are there still health concerns around non-stick?

Listener Helen from Manchester got in touch to ask about Protein Powders, as she considered replenishing her supply that she's been taking after long distance runs.

She wanted to know if Whey or Plant-based protein really can help her build and repair muscle, whether there's a set amount she should be having, if one type is better than the other, or if she could just get the protein she needs from her food – and save on buying another bag?

Greg Foot brings back Professor of Human Physiology, Sport and Exercise Sciences at Liverpool, John Moores University, Graeme Close to answer Helen's questions, tell us what our body needs and uses protein for, and whether it really can deliver ‘Gainz' (with a Z.)

As always, all of our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH & PHIL SANSOM

Do protein powders really deliver what they claim on the tin?

How much protein do we need? And can added protein in the form of shakes or bars, help us hit our fitness targets?

[LISTEN NOW]

Listener Tim got in touch, asking just that, as well as whether all the extras on razors these days also have an impact on the environment?

Greg Foot focuses on modern cartridge razors in this episode, and cuts through the marketing hype to get answers, by speaking to a leading Dermatologist, as well as one of the top scientists at one of the largest razor manufacturers, Gillette.

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

Does the amount of blades really improve your shave?

With the ?Couch to 5K' app breezing past 5 million downloads, and marathon season well underway, two listeners ask Greg: What will they get for the extra money? A shoe more suited to their running style? More cushioning and fewer injuries? And will a top of the range pair with a carbon plate in the sole make them faster?

Greg Foot gets the answers from biomechanist, Dr Hannah Rice and sports technologist Professor Mike Caine. Plus, running writer, journalist and world record holder [for the fastest marathon in a full body animal costume (female)], Kate Carter.

This season we're testing YOUR suggested wonder-products. If you've seen an advert, trend or fad and want to know what the evidence says drop us an email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop Greg a message direct on his social media where he's @gregfoot

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Julian Paszkiewicz

Is it worth paying more for a pair? Will they make you run faster?

Is expensive salt better for your health?

Greg Foot gathers the experts, dives into the data and crunches the numbers to get the answers for listener Sally.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot explores the future wonder products that might rise to success in Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

Greg Foot speaks to Consultant Dermatologist and Dermatological Surgeon Dr Emma Craythorne - who has plenty of skin in the game - to find some answers for listener Phil about about scars, how they occur, the different types, and what might help make them less obvious. 

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

At Sliced Bread, we're hungry for your suggestions so we can keep making fresh batches! If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH AND GREG FOOT

Can scar gels and oils really reduce the appearance of scars?

Greg Foot explores the future wonder products that might rise to success in Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

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

Do you get what you pay for with more expensive shampoo?

In the first episode, Greg is joined by actress and beauty blogger Rebecca Humphries, consultant dermatologist Dr Emma Wedgeworth and Cambridge Professor of Chemistry, Melinda Duer. Together they discuss whether collagen face creams really can 'support' or 'boost' collagen production and explore the science behind activated charcoal - could it act as a 'magnet' to draw out dirt and pollution from your pores as some products claim?

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Graihagh Jackson

Greg Foot is joined by beauty blogger Rebecca Humphries to study the science of skin care.

Which products are best for bedtime listening?

According to a YouGov poll nearly half of us listen to music or podcasts to help us get to sleep and there are a range of products designed to do just that.

Listener Nick has seen wearable sleep headbands with speakers woven in to the fabric which he hopes will stop him waking up in the middle of the night with headphones or earbuds digging into his ears.

And listener David says his social media is promoting sleep bars that go under the pillow and claim to transmit sound via bone conduction.

To find out more, Greg is joined by acoustic expert Professor Trevor Cox and Lecturer at the Surrey Sleep Research Centre, Ullrich Bartsch. They discuss the sound quality of these devices and whether it's a good idea to listen to music or podcasts at bedtime at all. Is there any evidence that it results in a good night's sleep?

All our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

Greg Foot investigates the latest wonder products promising to make you happier, healthier or greener. Are sleep bands and sleep bars useful when it comes to helping us nod off?

[LISTEN NOW]

Listener Nikki from Essex has a problem in her garden with a certain slippery character – the slug. She told Sliced Bread that she's lost many a plant to them, and had to abandon growing certain kinds altogether – because while they're being a nuisance, she doesn't want to harm them.

She has been researching non-lethal slug repellents, and wants to know if they actually work? Can things like egg shells, copper tape and wool pellets stop them in their slimy tracks?

We speak to principal entomologist at the Royal Horticultural Society Doctor Hayley Jones, as well as zoologist, ecologist and honorary fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, Doctor Gordon Port to find out. You can also hear us put some slugs through their paces – as we set up a test to see what they avoid -

All of the ideas for out investigations come from you, our listeners, and we're always on the lookout for more. If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener, and want to know if it is SB or BS, then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voice note on WhatsApp to 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

Can slugs really be repelled?

Can non-lethal slug repellents actually save your plants?

We speak to principle entomologist at the Royal Horticultural Society Doctor Hayley Jones, as well as zoologist, ecologist and honorary fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, Doctor Gordon Port to find out. You can also hear us put some slugs through their paces – as we set up a test to see what they avoid -

[LISTEN NOW]

Is it worth getting a Smart Doorbell?

Greg Foot pushes all the right buttons as he gathers consumer and crime experts to get answers for listener Derek, who's keen to learn more about the various features, prices and security elements in the growing market of smart doorbells.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

This episode is the last in the current series of Sliced Bread, but we're hungry for your suggestions so we can prepare another batch! If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot explores the future wonder products that might rise to success in Dough.

[LISTEN NOW]

Listener Steve got in touch with us after trying out a set of Smart Scales himself. He wanted to keep an eye on his protein levels – which his scales claimed to do – for health reasons, and because he'd heard that we need more protein as we get older.

His scales also promised to show him his body fat, muscle mass, and bone mass via a corresponding app on his phone. However, some of those readings didn't seem quite right – making him question how accurate his scales are, and if they can REALLY tell you so much about yourself?

Greg Foot asks two experts - a GP and a professor of applied mathematics – to weigh in on the topic, and find out whether these scales can measure up.

As always, all of our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH

Are smart scales really clever enough to tell you more than your weight?

Can so-called smart scales really measure your weight, body fat, and muscle and bone mass?

[LISTEN NOW]

Temperatures are falling and conversations are already turning to whether or not the heating has been turned on! Although energy prices have come down a little since last year, the withdrawal of universal Government support to alleviate the cost could mean bills stay high for a lot of people.

Listener Wendy is already doing a lot to save money (having listened to a previous Sliced Bread episode on Portable Heaters - check it out on BBC Sounds!) but she's keen to know if the addition of a Smart Thermostat might make even more of a difference.

Are they as clever as they claim to be when it comes to controlling the heating in your home?

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot investigates smart thermostats. Can they save you money on energy bills this winter? Are they the best thing since Sliced Bread? Or just marketing BS?

Listener Neville got in touch with a recording taken by his wife of him snoring ? and it's pretty loud! He's seen various solutions from throat sprays to nasal strips and even a chinstrap which literally keeps your mouth shut while you sleep. But do any of them actually work? Are they the best thing since Sliced Bread ? or marketing BS?

I speak to experts to find out including an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon and a scientist who's looked into the extreme end of snoring.

Once again 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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Can sprays, strips and other devices stop you snoring?

It's the last episode in the current series so I thought it was about time I investigated this!

Listener Janet got in touch wanting to know whether sourdough really does live up to the hype. Is it better for our digestive health than other breads? Is it made with fewer additives? And do the cheaper sourdough loaves we can buy in the supermarket really cut it - or are they just ?sourfaux'?

To find out, I went to a baking school to make a sourdough loaf from scratch, learning about the process and ingredients that go to make the sort of sourdough you'd find at an artisan or traditional bakers - and might cost over five pounds.

And I speak to one of the world's leading nutritional experts on bread to find out which types we should eat for our health.

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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Buying a sports bra can be a baffling experience, not least because of the marketing terminology which is full of buzz-phrases like 'high intensity support', 'specialist materials' and 'racer backs'.

Listener Teresa has seen sports bras ranging in price from just a few pounds to three figures and wants to know if paying more means you get greater support.

Greg speaks to Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, 'The Bra Professor', to take a deep dive into the science and find out more. Can one sports bra suit all sports, like running and yoga? Does the support reduce over time? And when should you wash or replace your sports bra?

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Emma Salkeld

Greg Foot investigates sports bras on behalf of listener Teresa. Does paying more mean you get more support? Are expensive sports bras the best thing sliced bread? Or marketing BS?

Greg Foot gathers the experts, to find out which claims 'stand up' to scrutiny for listener Bede.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH AND GREG FOOT

Can standing desks help relieve muscle tension, back pain, and reduce stress?

Are standing desks the answer to cutting down our sitting time, relieving muscular aches and pains, and boosting our productivity?

[LISTEN NOW]

Whether you're hoping to catch some rays here in the UK or heading abroad for summer sun, you'll want to think about protecting your eyes from the harmful UV in those rays. But how much do you need to spend on sunglasses to keep you safe?

Listener Wayne got in touch wanting to know the answer. He also wondered whether darker tints better protect his eyes, and asked what the term ?polarised' means, and whether he should ensure any new pair are exactly that?

Greg Foot sets out to investigate, testing sunglasses ranging in price from £2.50 to over a hundred pounds - do they deliver on their UV protection? The results are surprising...

This series, we're testing 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

Are expensive sunglasses worth it?

Greg Foot talks to Antonia Mariconda, beauty writer and founder of the Safety in Beauty Campaign, who knows just how baffled consumers are.

On hand to decode the sunscreen labelling is Dermatologist, Dr Andrew Birnie, from East Kent Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust. Common claims, such as ?waterproof' and ?reef safe' are also put through the evidence mill.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Beth Eastwood

Greg Foot puts sunscreen through the evidence mill.

Maddie has asked Greg to look into what ?sustainability? actually means when it comes to denim. Is it a term that marks genuine eco-impact, or is it more marketing BS?

And, as adverts claim, do ?sustainable? jeans last longer?

Greg speaks to an organisation that rates clothing brands' sustainability credentials and visits Manchester Metropolitan University to hear the results of their ?rub test'.

Do you have a suggestion of a ?wonder-product' making a bold claim that Greg can investigate next?

Send us your suggestions to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send it to Greg direct on Twitter and Instagram where he's @gregfoot

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: JULIAN PASZKIEWICZ

What makes them more sustainable? Do they last longer? Greg puts them to the test.

The facts behind the fads and the scientific evidence behind a product's bold claims.

And if you've seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

What are the most eco-friendly types of period products?

Listener Sam wants to know how the eco credentials of all the different types of period products stack up.

Are these products The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread or marketing BS?

Greg Foot talks to fashion commentator and broadcaster, Grace Woodward about her experience with these products while Professor Martin Ashley, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the University Dental Hospital of Manchester, is on hand to separate the science fact from the science fiction.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Beth Eastwood

Greg Foot puts teeth whitening products through the evidence mill.

PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

How effective are tens machines and circulation boosters?

Greg tries out a tens machine to find out whether electrical stimulation holds the answer to pain and discomfort.

Can taking testosterone help with low libido and energy?

It's all over social media and is often touted by celebs - both male and female - but is testosterone replacement therapy the answer to listener Clive's low energy levels?

Clive got in touch after sending off for a blood test with an online health firm which showed he might have low testosterone and could be a candidate for therapy. But to buy it privately isn't cheap and once started, is a lifelong commitment. So is it worth the money?

Presenter Greg Foot is joined by President of the British Society of Sexual Medicine, Mike Kirby, as well as NHS GP and Director of Men's Health at Manual, Dr Jeff Foster.

If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates the wonder products making bold claims. Can testosterone replacement therapy improve energy levels and help with sexual function?

[LISTEN NOW]

The team has gone through 30 episodes over the past year, and carved out five potential present worthy products that may well be heading down a chimney to you this Christmas. (We wanted to give you plenty of time to include them in your letters to Santa.)

Greg Foot will share with you the key points from experts we've spoken to on Nail Polish & Gel Nails, Chopping Boards, Lip Balm, Smart Scales, and Sleep headbands. (The information in this episode was correct at the time of recording.)

And as always, all of our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH

We're checking it twice!

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up Toast.

We've picked out our top five products this year that might make their way down your chimney.

The team has gone through over 100 episodes of Sliced Bread, and carved out five popular products that may well be heading down a chimney to you this Christmas.

Greg Foot will share with you the key points from experts we've spoken to on Air Fryers, Mascara, Perfume, Running Shoes, and DNA Ancestry Tests - as well as their conclusions in one handy festive slice! We've also updated some of the topics too. (The information in this episode was correct at the time of recording.)

Sliced Bread takes a look back at some of the products that might make their way to a spot under your Christmas tree this year.

[LISTEN NOW]

[LISTEN NOW]

Can anything stop toenail fungus in its tracks?

It's one of the most-requested but least-talked-about topics, so listener Julia speaks for many as she joins us to ask about treatments for toenail fungus. She's keen to know if the laser-light devices shes's seen on social media really do work, as well as over-the-counter lacquers and prescription drugs.

To get the answers Greg and Julia are joined in the Salford studio by Dr Ivan Bristow, who's on the British Association of Dermatologists' Foot Fungus Task Force.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

At Sliced Bread, we're hungry for your suggestions so we can keep making fresh batches! If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

[LISTEN NOW]

We've all been there - you go down the supermarket aisle to grab toothpaste and suddenly you're faced with an ocean of the stuff, all promising to do different things. Buzz-phrases like ?protect' and ?repair' all vie for your attention. But just what are the ingredients in all these different toothpastes? And do they live up to the marketing hype?

In this episode we hear from three listeners keen to find out: Bernadette has sensitive teeth, Deirdre is concerned about her enamel and Melvyn wants to protect his gums. Can presenter Greg Foot find a toothpaste that will work for them and leave them all smiles?

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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Producer: Marijke Peters

Greg foot and Olympic heptathlete Kelly Sotherton test a range of topical pain products.

You may have seen them advertised online, claiming to kill 99% of viruses and bacteria.

But do they deliver, and are they worth it, compared to more traditional methods of cleaning like alcohol wipes, or soap and water...

That's what listeners Chris and Ben wanted to know.

I'll be finding out by speaking to an expert in radiation safety Professor John O'Hagan at Loughborough University and Matt Knight, Product Testing Expert at the consumer group Which?

Once again this series we're testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so 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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Jay Unger

Do UV sterilisers really clean your belongings by shining a light over them?

PRESENTER: Greg Foot

PRODUCER: Tom Moseley

Corded, cordless or robot - which vacuum cleaners are 'the best thing since sliced bread'?

Corded or cordless, bagged or bagless - or how about a robot? Modern vacuum cleaners offer more features than ever - but how many are the best thing since sliced bread?

Do Vagus Nerve Stimulators help your mental health?

The vagus nerve could be one of the most important body parts you might never have heard of. It's a large nerve that connects major organs like the heart and lungs to the brain and studies have found that stimulating it with electrical pulses can lead to dramatic improvements in some people with depression and other mental health conditions. Those trials were for medical devices implanted into the chest, but listener Karin has seen commercially available versions that you wear over your ear.

But do they work? Karin joins Greg in the studio along with leading experts in the field to do a deep-dive into the studies and separate out the science fact from the marketing fiction.

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates wearable devices that stimulate the vagus nerve. What effect does it have on the body, and can they really help with conditions like anxiety and depression?

Sean Farrington examines the grand business ideas that ended up as Toast.

[LISTEN NOW]

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

Can Vibration Plates help with fitness, bone density, and even lymphatic drainage?

They've been around for a while but vibration plates seem to be having another 'moment'. Originally touted as a piece of fitness kit for the gym or home, the latest ads on social media seem to be promoting claims around benefits to bone density and lymphatic drainage.

Listeners Natasha and Steve got in touch wanting to know whether all this could really be true of a single wonder product! To find out, presenter Greg Foot is joined by Dr Claire Minshull, a sports rehabilitation expert, and Professor Neil Mansfield, author of the book 'Human Response to Vibration'.

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Can vibration plates boost fitness, bone density, and even lymphatic drainage?

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims.

Greg Food investigates the wonder products making bold claims. Are vibration plates the best thing since sliced bread - or marketing BS?

[LISTEN NOW]

Do you really need a VPN?

Listener Andrew has seen and heard lots of adverts for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and wants to know if they'll beef up the security on his computer. Will they provide extra protection from malware or hackers?

To get the answers, presenter Greg Foot is joined in the studio by Professor Victoria Baines, fellow of the Chartered Institute for IT.

All our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you have seen a wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, please do email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send a voicenote to our Whatsapp number - 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up\u2026 Dough.

Greg Foot investigates the wonder products promising to make you happier, healthier or greener. Will a VPN provide extra security on your computer?

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Greg speaks to meat scientist, Martin Anderson, visits a Wagyu farm in Yorkshire, and sets up a blind taste test. All to find out if Wagyu burgers are the best thing between sliced bread.

Do you have a suggestion of a ?wonder-product' making a bold claim that Greg can investigate next?

Send us your suggestions to sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk or send it to Greg direct on Twitter or Instagram where he's @gregfoot

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT

PRODUCERS: JULIAN PASZKIEWICZ & KEVIN CORE

Are they marketing sizzle, or steak?

PRODUCERS: JULIAN PASZKIEWICZ and KEVIN CORE

Listener Ross got in touch on WhatsApp after he'd read claims Wake Up Lights and SAD Lamps can boost our mood, and wanted to know what ?medically certified? means when accredited to them, and if it's worth paying extra for it?

Greg Foot finds out by speaking to a leading expert in light therapy, as well as by visiting a manufacturer of these lights, to ask them to explain their claims, and whether they're medically recognised in the UK.

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

Can SAD lamps and wake up lights help boost our mood?

Can jug or under sink filters, promising to soften tap water and improve taste, really take out what they claim?

Greg Foot gathers the experts live at Cheltenham Science Festival, dives into the data and crunches the numbers to get answers for listener Elaine.

Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?

All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH AND GREG FOOT

Can tap water filters take out what they claim?

Sean Farrington examines the grand business ideas that ended up as Toast.

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They've gone from a middle-aisle fad to being a regular fixture in supermarkets and online stores. Weighted blankets can cost upto £200 and promise to give you a deeper, more restful sleep. But do they?

Listener Theresa wanted to know about the science behind them. What is it about the ‘deep touch' or ‘deep pressure' stimulation that the manufacturers claim helps us to sleep? They're also often marketed as offering help with anxiety and autism. Listener Claire runs a support group for children with autism and is keen to know more, so I speak to the lead scientist of a big study into that. And listener Pauline wonders whether there are any health risks associated with weighted blankets?

Once again this series we're testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so 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 WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Simon Hoban

Greg Foot investigates whether weighted blankets are the best thing since sliced bread - or marketing BS?

Is it ok to stay on weight loss injections?

They have been nothing short of a pharmaceutical phenomenon. But for people like listener Lynn who've had huge success on weight loss drugs like Mounjaro, the question now arises about the implications of using them long-term. Could there be a 'maintenance' dose that would potentially allow for use over many years, or even a lifetime? And as scientists study the data, are other benefits emerging that go beyond just losing weight that could burnish their wonder-product reputation?

Presenter Greg Foot is joined in the studio by Lynn to hear her story and do a deep-dive into the science alongside Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology at the University of Cambridge, Giles Yeo.

At Sliced Bread we're hungry for your suggestions so we can keep making fresh batches! If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@BBC.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.

RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM

PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Greg Foot investigates the so-called wonder products making bold claims. Can weight-loss drugs be taken long-term, or even for life?

While Sliced Bread takes a break, we serve up Toast.

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Joining him in the studio is rapper, podcaster and actor Scroobius Pip, a man for whom protecting his voice is a professional priority. Under the microscope today are two popular products used to kill colds in their tracks - hand sanitisers and vitamin C.

Virologist Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London and microbiologist Lindsay Hall from the Quadram Institute in Norwich are both on hand to help separate the facts from the fads, to decide if these products really are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread.

Plus they'll be giving you their Top Tips, backed by real scientific evidence, for beating the winter bugs.

Presenter: Greg Foot

Producer: Michelle Martin

What beats the winter bugs? Scroobius Pip joins Greg to test hand sanitisers and vitamin C