The Health Review

The Health Review

I’m Emily — a TV journalist and presenter on a mission to cut through the noise and find real answers about how we can take care of our health. After struggling with chronic health issues for years — from recurring infections to gut problems and burnout — I made some big lifestyle changes that completely transformed my life. Now, I use my journalism background to ask the questions we all really want answered. On The Health Review, I speak to top doctors, nutritionists, and experts to make sense of the science and debunk the endless health myths online. Subscribe for weekly episodes with incredible health and wellness voices! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    How a Miss GB Contestant Transformed Her Health & Depression at 40 Without Extreme Diets

    Most of us reach a point where we realise we've been so busy taking care of everything and everyone else that somewhere along the way we lost ourselves. Our health suffered, our identity shifted - and the old version of us that once felt strong, vital and purposeful became someone we could barely remember. In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Rajni Singh — qualified nutritionist, women's health and fitness coach, Miss Great Britain finalist and founder of a coaching practice that has helped thousands of women rebuild their health, their strength and their sense of self. Rajni's own story is one of the most moving I've encountered. Having moved from Punjab to the UK at 21, married into a joint family and spent years putting everyone else first, she found herself navigating PCOS, depression and chronic pain simultaneously — all while keeping up the appearance of holding everything together. She didn't start her fitness journey until her 40s. And then she completely transformed her body, her mindset and her life — competing in Miss Great Britain as the only South Asian contestant and building a coaching business that now reaches thousands of women around the world. We cover: Rajni's extraordinary personal story — from moving to the UK at 21 to depression, PCOS and chronic pain in her 30s to Miss Great Britain finalist in her 40sWhat depression actually felt like from the insideThe moment she made the decision that changed everything — and what that turning point actually looked likeWhy women lose themselves so gradually that most don't notice until something breaksThe identity shift that makes everything else possible — from operating as someone who is unwell to someone who is becoming wellPCOS — what it really means for metabolism, mental health and long-term wellbeing beyond the standard adviceWhy movement was the thing that saved her when nothing else couldStrength training for women — why it matters more than most women realise and how to start from zero without feeling intimidatedNutrition for women with PCOS — the most common mistakes and what actually worksWhy midlife is not a decline but potentially the strongest and most vital chapter of a woman's lifeThe practical switches that make the biggest difference for women who are time-poor, exhausted and have tried things before that haven't stuckWhat she wishes she had known at 30 — and what she would say to the woman listening who recognises herself in her story About Rajni Singh: Rajni Singh is a qualified nutritionist, women's health and fitness coach and Miss Great Britain finalist. Having transformed her own health after years of PCOS, depression and chronic pain, she now helps thousands of women build strength, confidence and sustainable wellness through her coaching programmes. Find her on Instagram @rajnisingh.official. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Today's episode is sponsored by Coach Business School — Andy Ramage's world-class coach training programme, which I trained through myself. Use code HEALTH50 for £50 off the Foundation Certificate at: coachbusiness.school Today's episode is supported by Totally Derma, the evidence-based collagen drink supplement recommended by dermatologists and cosmetic clinics across the UK. As mentioned in the episode, The Health Review listeners get 15% off their first subscription with code HEALTHREVIEW15 at checkout: https://totallyderma.com/?ref=115 Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Aug 6

    Women's Health Doctor: Why the Health Industry Is Failing Women on Endo, PCOS, UTIs, Menopause & Pain

    How many times have you left a GP appointment without the answers you went in for? Been told your pain is normal, your symptoms are just stress, or that losing weight will sort it out? For millions of women, that experience is not unfamiliar. In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Dr Reem Al-Shaikh — GP with over 20 years of experience, British Menopause Society specialist and co-founder of the Women's Wellness Clinic. And as it happens, my sister-in-law — which meant this was one of the most honest and personal conversations I've had on the show. We get into the conditions that are still being missed, mismanaged and dismissed across women's healthcare — from endometriosis and PCOS to painful sex and heart health. This is the conversation I wish every woman could have with her doctor. We cover: The systemic dismissal of women's symptoms — and what it's costing women in years of suffering before they get answersEndometriosis — the nine-year average diagnostic wait, the new non-invasive tests now being backed by NICE, and what women with suspected endo should be asking for right nowPCOS beyond the basics — what it actually means for long-term metabolic and cardiovascular health, and why women are still just being told to lose weightThe mental health dimension of PCOS — anxiety, depression and body image that goes largely unaddressed in standard carePainful sex — why it is never normal, what the root causes actually are and how to have the conversation with a clinician who will take it seriouslyWhy women present differently to men with the same conditions — and what that means for diagnosis and treatmentHow to advocate for yourself in a medical system that doesn't always make it easy — what to ask for, what to push back on and when to seek a second opinionThe postcode lottery of women's healthcare — and what needs to change systemicallyWhat Dr Reem wishes every woman in her 30s and 40s knew about her own health This episode is for you if: You've been struggling to get answers about endometriosis, PCOS or pelvic pain. You've been told your symptoms are normal when something feels deeply wrong. You want to understand your own health better and feel equipped to advocate for yourself. Or you simply want to hear an honest, experienced women's health doctor speak plainly about what is and isn't working in the system. About Dr Reem Al-Shaikh: Dr Reem Al-Shaikh is a GP with over 20 years of clinical experience and a British Menopause Society specialist. She is co-founder of the Women's Wellness Clinic with clinics in Cambridge and Bishop's Stortford, dedicated to providing women with the comprehensive, compassionate care they deserve. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Topics: endometriosis diagnosis UK | PCOS | PCOS and mental health | PCOS and metabolism | painful sex | women's health UK | heart disease in women | women's health dismissal | EndoTest | EndoSure | NICE endometriosis | women's health advocacy | GP women's health | postcode lottery women's health | Dr Reem Al-Shaikh | Women's Wellness Clinic | women's health podcast | PCOS treatment | endometriosis symptoms | pelvic pain | women's health 2026 | advocating for yourself | women's health inequality | PCOS cardiovascular | endometriosis awareness Today's episode is sponsored by Coach Business School — Andy Ramage's world-class coach training programme, which I trained through myself. Use code HEALTH50 for £50 off the Foundation Certificate at coachbusiness.school. This week's sponsor, vagus nerve stimulator SONA has offered The Health Review listeners 15% off SONA. Use code THR at checkout or access the discount automatically here: https://sona.help/?im_ref=SkfXugw-kxyZWz0TwYRUY2%3AdUkuReuR-SzLO0Q0&sharedid&irpid=7022575&irgwc=1&afsrc=1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jul 29

    The Vaginal Microbiome — What Every Woman Needs to Know About UTIs, Fertility & Intimate Health

    Women's health has come a long way in recent years. We're talking more openly about perimenopause, hormones and fertility, yet there is one area that remains surprisingly under-discussed that affects millions of women every single day and sits at the intersection of intimate health, the microbiome, fertility and long-term wellbeing. The vaginal microbiome. In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Eleanor Gardner — physiotherapist, founder of Pelvic Relief and one of the UK's leading voices in women's intimate health. Eleanor founded Pelvic Relief in 2014 after recognising a significant gap in accessible, evidence-based solutions for women's pelvic and intimate health conditions. She has since acquired VJJ Health and its vaginal probiotics and launched an advanced vaginal microbiome test in partnership with Bio-Me — measuring over 50 key vaginal microbes and giving women the kind of insight into their intimate health that most GP appointments simply don't provide. I also share my own experience of taking Eleanor's vaginal microbiome test — and the silent UTI it uncovered that explained months of unexplained fatigue I couldn't put my finger on. We cover: What the vaginal microbiome actually is — and why it's completely different from the gut microbiome Why Lactobacillus dominance matters — and what happens when those protective bacteria decline The vaginal and bladder microbiome connection — why women with recurrent UTIs often have a reservoir of uropathogens in the vaginal space that keep reinfecting them Why the bladder is not sterile — and what that means for how we treat and prevent UTIs The link between the vaginal microbiome and fertility — shorter time to conceive, reduced miscarriage risk and better IVF outcomes What a vaginal microbiome test actually involves, what it shows and how to use the results How the menopause devastates the vaginal microbiome — and why genitourinary syndrome of menopause is progressive unlike other menopausal symptoms Why local oestrogen is one of the most underused and underappreciated tools in women's intimate health The products that genuinely help — oral vaginal probiotics, D-mannose, pH-matched lubricants — and what the evidence actually says What to stop using immediately — douching, harsh soaps, anything that promises freshness Partner testing for BV — why male partners can be asymptomatic carriers and what that means for recurrence Practical lifestyle factors most women have never been told — underwear, thongs, bathing suits, going to the toilet after intercourse Your questions answered — on probiotics versus antibiotics, how the bladder and vaginal microbiome are linked and what to do if probiotics upset your stomach Where vaginal microbiome testing is headed in the next five years — and Eleanor's hope that it becomes embedded in routine clinical care This episode is for you if: You've been struggling with recurrent UTIs, BV or thrush and keep getting the same prescription without getting to the root cause. You're on a fertility journey and want to understand every piece of the puzzle. You're perimenopausal or menopausal and noticing changes in your intimate health. Or you just want to understand why the vaginal microbiome matters so much for your overall wellbeing. Find the company at pelvicrelief.co.uk and @pelvicrelief on Instagram. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Today's episode is supported by Totally Derma, the evidence-based collagen drink supplement recommended by dermatologists and cosmetic clinics across the UK. As mentioned in the episode, The Health Review listeners get 15% off their first subscription with code HEALTHREVIEW15 at checkout: https://totallyderma.com/?ref=115 Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jul 22

    How Many Eggs Do You Actually Need to Freeze? The Complete Guide to Egg Freezing & IVF

    More babies than ever are being born through assisted reproduction. Women are having children later, environmental factors are increasingly affecting fertility, and the world of egg freezing, IVF and embryology is changing faster than most of us realise. But what actually happens inside the lab — and what does every woman need to know before she makes any decisions about her fertility? In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Emma Whitney — Director of Embryology and Genetics at The Evewell, one of the UK's leading fertility clinics, and winner of the Claire Gillot Prize, the most prestigious award a UK embryologist can receive. Emma spends her days doing something most of us will never see — working with eggs, sperm and embryos in the lab to help people build the families they want. We cover: Who egg freezing is actually for — and why Emma thinks the conversation should be starting much earlier than most women have it The ideal age to freeze eggs and where the statistics start to shift significantly How many eggs you actually need frozen to have a realistic chance of a live birth — the honest numbers most clinics don't lead with What happens inside the lab on egg collection day — what Emma is looking for and what makes a good collection Vitrification — the flash freezing process that transformed egg freezing success rates and what it's actually doing GERI time-lapse incubators — the technology The Evewell uses and why continuous monitoring of embryo development changes outcomes Embryo grading — what it means, how it works and how much a grade actually predicts success PGT-A — preimplantation genetic testing — when to use it, what it reveals and why it matters for implantation Egg versus embryo freezing — the key differences and how to decide which is right for you How to genuinely optimise egg quality before a freeze cycle — what the evidence says about CoQ10, diet, sleep, alcohol and stress What happens when someone returns years later to use their frozen eggs — and the factors that most affect whether it works The emotional reality of fertility treatment — what Emma sees in the lab and what she wishes more women knew before they started This episode is for you if: You're considering egg freezing and want to understand what actually happens during the process. You're in your twenties or thirties and wondering whether now is the right time to have the conversation. Or you're going through IVF and want to understand what's happening to your embryos in the lab. About Emma Whitney: Emma Whitney is Director of Embryology and Genetics at The Evewell, one of the UK's leading fertility clinics. She is the winner of the Claire Gillot Prize — awarded by the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists for outstanding contribution to embryology education — the most prestigious award a UK embryologist can receive. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health or fertility treatment. Today's sponsor Totally Derma: Today's episode is supported by Totally Derma, the evidence-based collagen drink supplement recommended by dermatologists and cosmetic clinics across the UK. As mentioned in the episode, The Health Review listeners get 15% off their first subscription with code HEALTHREVIEW15 at checkout: https://totallyderma.com/?ref=115 Find Emma: htps://www.instagram.com/emmatheembryologist/ Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jul 15

    Coaching, Acne Lasers, Women Health & Fertility — A Personal Update

    This one is a little different. No guest, just me — with some updates I've been wanting to share for a while and a look ahead at what's coming on The Health Review this summer. This is a solo episode and a personal one. I talk about completing my six-month coaching diploma with Andy Ramage at Coach Business School — what coaching actually is, why it surprised me so much, and how I'm now working with clients. Also, something I haven't mentioned on the show before — a fertility journey I'm on (early days), and the nervous system and lifestyle work I've been doing alongside it. I also share an honest update on my acne journey, including trying AviClear — a laser treatment that was significantly more painful than I expected and whether I think it's worth it so far. I also answer some of your questions from Instagram — on future podcast themes, whether I'm still working in news, non-toxic product swaps and longevity protocols — and run through the health news stories that have caught my attention recently, including the new non-invasive endometriosis tests getting NICE backing, the Bryan Johnson vaginal microbiome moment and what's really going on with GLP-1 drugs beyond weight loss. And I share what's coming this summer — a full women's health series covering: Egg freezing and fertility with the UK's leading embryologistPerimenopause and hormones with Dr Rima ShakeThe vaginal microbiome with the founder of Pelvic ReliefUTIs, cystitis and intimate healthWomen's nutrition and mental health If you have questions for any of these guests — nothing is too personal or too embarrassing — send them to hello@thehealthreview.com or drop them in the DMs. Topics covered: solo episode | women's health series | fertility journey | nervous system health | acne laser treatment | AviClear review | positive psychology coaching | Coach Business School | Andy Ramage | wellness toolkit | non-toxic swaps | endometriosis diagnosis | vaginal microbiome | GLP-1 drugs | Ozempic news | longevity basics | methylation testing | health news UK | The Health Review summer series This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Jul 8

    The Oral Microbiome — Why What's Living In Your Mouth Is Affecting Your Whole Body | Dr Daniel Sutcliffe

    We're spending billions on supplements, gut health, longevity tracking and biological age testing. And yet one of the most powerful windows into our overall health — one that's been right there the whole time — is something most of us think about for a few minutes a day. The mouth. In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Dr Daniel Sutcliffe — founder of The Bespoke Dentist, one of London's leading holistic and biological dental practices, and one of a growing number of clinicians making the case that the mouth and the body are not separate systems. The oral microbiome, gum disease, how we breathe, the position of our jaw, whether our wisdom teeth are impacted — all of it connects to our cardiovascular health, our gut, our sleep, our cognitive function and potentially even our future risk of dementia. As Daniel puts it — medicine and dentistry used to be married. Now they're divorced. We cover: What biological and holistic dentistry actually means — and why every dentist could be practising itThe mouth as the front door to the gut — why 45% of gut bacteria is fed from the mouthThe oral microbiome — the second largest biome in the body and what we're doing to it every day without realisingWhy aggressive mouthwashes are the oral equivalent of spraying weed killer on your gardenThe dementia link — P. gingivalis DNA found in 90% of Alzheimer's brains in one study and what that meansThe two-way relationship between gum disease and diabetes — and why treating one affects the otherFluoride — why Daniel doesn't use it and what hydroxyapatite toothpaste actually does insteadAmalgam fillings — the safe removal protocol and why most dentists are still drilling straight throughSleep apnoea and snoring — how what's happening in your mouth and airway connects to cardiovascular health, cognitive function and energy levelsWisdom teeth — when to remove them, when to leave them and the nerve damage risk nobody tells you aboutMouth breathing versus nasal breathing — and the wonder molecule nitric oxide that nasal breathing deliversTongue scraping — why Daniel is massively for it and what it's doing for your oral microbiomeWhy looking after your mouth could be the single most effective thing you do for the rest of your body About Dr Daniel Sutcliffe: Dr Daniel Sutcliffe is the founder of The Bespoke Dentist on Harley Street and UK mentor for the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. He specialises in biological dentistry, safe amalgam removal, sleep apnoea treatment and the oral-systemic health connection. His book Heal Your Mouth, Heal Your Body is due for publication in February 2027. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Topics: biological dentistry | holistic dentistry | oral microbiome | gum disease and dementia | oral health and gut health | fluoride alternatives | hydroxyapatite toothpaste | amalgam removal | safe amalgam removal | sleep apnoea treatment | snoring and health | mouth breathing | nasal breathing | nitric oxide | wisdom teeth | tongue scraping | oral health and diabetes | oral health and heart disease | P gingivalis | Dr Daniel Sutcliffe | Bespoke Dentist | IAOMT | mouth body connection | dental health UK | oral probiotics | waterpik | flossing This week's sponsor, vagus nerve stimulator SONA has offered The Health Review listeners 15% off SONA. Use code THR at checkout or access the discount automatically here: https://sona.help/?im_ref=SkfXugw-kxyZWz0TwYRUY2%3AdUkuReuR-SzLO0Q0&sharedid&irpid=7022575&irgwc=1&afsrc=1 Dr Daniel's website: https://thebespokedentist.co.uk/ Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Jul 1

    Wheelchair-Bound at 18 to Holistic Health Expert — Lauren Vaknine's Extraordinary Healing Journey

    Most of us approach our health the same way. We get a symptom, we find a treatment, we manage the condition. What we rarely ask is why — why is the body doing this, what is it trying to tell us, and what would it mean to actually heal rather than just cope? In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Lauren Vaknine — holistic health expert, author and chronic illness advocate whose own healing journey is one of the most extraordinary I've encountered. Diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis just before her second birthday, Lauren spent her childhood navigating the medical system, and by the age of 18 was completely wheelchair-bound — unable to grip cutlery, bend her elbows or sit up straight — after while being on a chemo-based drug, her arthritis spread to every joint in her body within ten months. It was in that moment, at 18, sitting in the rheumatologist's office, that she made a decision that changed everything. Disability wasn't going to be her story. Wellness was. What followed was a decade-long healing journey — through nutrition, meditation, somatic work, inner child healing and nervous system regulation — that not only transformed her own health but became the foundation for the work she now does with thousands of women through her Rise membership. We cover: Lauren's extraordinary personal story — from diagnosis at two years old to wheelchair-bound at 18 to holistic health expert Her mother's instinct to reject conventional steroids in 1986 The moment in the rheumatologist's office that changed everything — and the decision she made at 18 that set the course of her life Why nervous system regulation has to come before everything else — supplements, protocols, nutrition — everything What chronic stress is actually doing to your body — the predator response explained in a way that will change how you think about your gut health, your immune system and your sleep Food as medicine — where to start and what Lauren changed first on her healing journey What somatic healing actually is and how to begin — breathwork, movement and processing emotions through the body The difference between existing in trauma and processing it Meditation and the corpus callosum — the neuroscience behind why meditation is the only practice shown to strengthen the bridge between the two sides of the brain Identity work — why shifting out of the identity of your illness or your problem is the missing piece most people never address Why you can't hear guidance through the noise — and what sitting in silence every day actually does Intuition as a health tool — how Lauren now makes decisions about food, movement and her body without any tracking or testing This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Lauren has kindly offered The Health Review audience a discount on her Rise membership: Just use the code RISEIS45 to get it for £45 instead of £75. https://www.laurenvaknine.co.uk/risemembership This week's sponsor, vagus nerve stimulator SONA has offered The Health Review listeners 15% off SONA. Use code THR at checkout or access the discount automatically here: https://sona.help/?im_ref=SkfXugw-kxyZWz0TwYRUY2%3AdUkuReuR-SzLO0Q0&sharedid&irpid=7022575&irgwc=1&afsrc=1 Lauren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenvaknine Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Jun 24

    Longevity, Biological Age & How to Live to 114 in Great Health | Dr Alka Patel

    We've all heard of the super agers — centenarians living well into their hundreds in the villages of Sardinia, the islands of Okinawa, regions of the world where reaching 100 in great health is almost the norm. Increasingly, longevity scientists believe that kind of lifespan could be within reach for many more of us — if we can fend off the age-related diseases that currently cut lives short. Nearly half of all UK adults already have at least one longstanding health condition. So the question is — how much of that is inevitable, and how much is actually within our control? In this episode of The Health Review I sit down with Dr Alka Patel — GP, longevity doctor, TEDx speaker and founder of the Million Hour Club, whose mission is to help one million people live a one million hour life. With over 25 years of clinical experience and a quarter of a million patients, Dr Alka works at the fascinating intersection of cutting-edge biohacking and lifestyle medicine — and she brings a perspective on longevity that is both rigorously evidence-based and deeply personal. The conversation that stayed with me most was a patient she described — a 29-year-old whose biological age tested at 78. Not because of genetics or illness, but because of stress. The grind, the hustle, the pressure of doing it all. And the fact that nobody had told them what it was doing to their body. We cover: Why Dr Alka went from being a GP in conventional medicine to pioneering longevity care Her own health crisis — the birthday that ended with multiple organ failure and the question it forced her to ask Health is a verb not a noun — what that TEDx talk with over half a million views actually means in practice How much of our health is really down to genetics — and why the answer is more hopeful than most people think The hierarchy of health — why mastering the basics has to come before peptides, IV drips and biological age testing What biological age testing actually measures and why it's one of the most motivating tests Dr Alka does The 29-year-old with a biological age of 78 — and what stress is really doing to the body over time The cortisol curve — why most of her high-performing patients don't have one, and what that means for sleep, energy and burnout Biohacking for women — why we are not little men and what a female-specific approach to optimisation actually looks like Biosynchrony — aligning your lifestyle with your biology, your hormones and your circadian rhythm Perimenopause, cycle tracking and why variety might matter more than routine for women at this life stage The Blue Zones debate — what the research actually shows even if the specific data is being questioned Why beauty begins in your biology — and the coffin line that stopped me in my tracks Cautious curiosity — how to approach peptides, rapamycin and novel longevity interventions safely What longevity medicine will look like in ten years This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your own clinician before making changes to your health. Topics: longevity medicine | biological age testing | biohacking for women | Dr Alka Patel | million hour club | female biohacking | perimenopause health | cortisol testing | stress and ageing | epigenetics | Blue Zones | health is a verb | continuous glucose monitor | Oura Ring | HRV | biosynchrony | circadian rhythm | longevity supplements | peptides | rapamycin | NAD longevity | lifestyle medicine | functional medicine UK | how to live longer | healthy ageing women | burnout and ageing | superagers | centenarians | biological clock Dr Alka's website: https://www.dralkapatel.com/ Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About

I’m Emily — a TV journalist and presenter on a mission to cut through the noise and find real answers about how we can take care of our health. After struggling with chronic health issues for years — from recurring infections to gut problems and burnout — I made some big lifestyle changes that completely transformed my life. Now, I use my journalism background to ask the questions we all really want answered. On The Health Review, I speak to top doctors, nutritionists, and experts to make sense of the science and debunk the endless health myths online. Subscribe for weekly episodes with incredible health and wellness voices! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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