Supplements - The Surprising Pill that Actually Helps your Brain
5/21/202643 min
If the wellness industry has you wondering whether your daily supplements are helping your brain, or just draining your bank account, this episode is for you. New Scientist journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson reveal the science behind multivitamins, omega-3s, vitamin D, creatine and more, separating the snake oil from the evidence that actually stands up. Along the way, they unpack why even the most scientifically minded people can fall for wellness trends, how social media has transformed the supplement boom, and what researchers are really discovering about brain health as we age. They’re joined by Harvard professor and physician JoAnn Manson, who has led some of the largest and most rigorous studies ever conducted on supplements and cognition. From surprising findings on multivitamins to the truth about chocolate, fish oils and “brain boosting” pills, this episode explores what’s worth paying attention to, and what might be better left on the shelf. We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to changeyourmind@newscientist.com Learn more about Anxiety: https://www.newscientist.com/definition/anxiety/ Learn more our sponsor Alzheimer’s Association: newscientist.com/alzheimers-society Produced by Emily Bird
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsCat de Lange· Host0:00
You're listening to Change Your Mind from New Scientist. We're sponsored by Alzheimer's Society.
Helen Thomson· Host0:05
[upbeat music] Welcome back to Change Your Mind. We're sponsored by the Alzheimer's Society. Okay, so I'm really excited about this episode because this episode is not only gonna help my brain, but my bank balance, because we're talking about my favorite thing to spend money on, supplements. I'm really excited to learn more about this, and we're really lucky at New Scientist, and as science journalists, we have access to so many amazing academic minds. And so I'm really excited to hear from our trusted expert this week to sort the fads from the facts. Uh, Kat, it was your turn this episode to choose the subject, so why did you want to focus on supplements?
Cat de Lange· Host0:49
Yeah, I think supplements is something that I thought was completely clear-cut. So when I was studying health at university and, you know, in our jobs, I think, well, you probably get this as well, but loads of people always ask me advice, like, "Should I be taking this or that?"
Helen Thomson· Host1:03
Yeah.
Cat de Lange· Host1:03
"What should I be doing?" And my advice was always, like, "You don't need supplements. Just have a good diet. Everything that you need c- you can get from your diet, and, unless you have a deficiency." So, like, I've got low iron, so I need to take iron supplements, and that's something that, like, your doctor would tell you. But unless you have a deficiency in something, you can just eat a really good balanced diet- Mm-hmm ... and get all the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Um, and also, if you take, you