Chew On This with Dr Anna Colton

Dr Anna Colton
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  • NUTRITION
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Food is never just food. It’s emotional, learned, cultural, and deeply personal. Chew on This is a podcast hosted by clinical psychologist and author Dr Anna Colton, exploring the psychology behind how and why we eat. Through conversations with experts and people with lived experience, each episode looks beyond diet culture to unpack the habits, beliefs, and patterns that shape our relationship with food - from childhood to adulthood. If you’ve ever felt confused, conflicted, or curious about eating, this podcast is for you.

Episodes

  1. Food Doesn’t Need to Be This Complicated with Dr Emily Leeming

    21H AGO

    Food Doesn’t Need to Be This Complicated with Dr Emily Leeming

    This week on Chew On This, I’m joined by Dr Emily Leeming — registered dietitian, nutrition scientist at King’s College London, former chef, and self-confessed gut microbiome nerd. Emily is the author of Genius Gut and she’s back to talk about her new book Fibre Power, plus why gut health doesn’t need to be extreme, expensive, or obsessed-over to actually make a difference. We get into the real-world basics that move the needle: the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian, what your gut microbiome actually does (beyond digestion), the emerging gut–brain research, and why restriction so often backfires. Emily shares her simple “B-G-B-G-S” framework (beans, greens, berries, grains & seeds), why most of us are seriously under-eating fibre, and how to build a healthier plate that still leaves room for joy, connection, and the foods you genuinely love. Find Emily: Website: https://www.emilyleeming.com Instagram: @dremilyleeming Buy her book: https://amzn.eu/d/0ambScHs

    36 min
  2. The Body–Mind Loop: Why Stress Changes How You Eat with Joanna Rodriguez

    FEB 11

    The Body–Mind Loop: Why Stress Changes How You Eat with Joanna Rodriguez

    In this week’s episode of Chew On This, I’m joined by Joanna Rodriguez, a health psychologist who works with the nervous system, stress, and trauma and who describes her work as helping people feel less shit. We talk about why the mind and body aren’t separate, how that false divide creates unnecessary suffering and shame, and why so many struggles with food aren’t about willpower or control at all. Jo explains how our nervous system shapes appetite, hunger, and eating patterns through fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses, and why behaviours like restricting, binging, emotional eating, or eating to please others are often physiological survival adaptations rather than personal failures. We explore what it means to slow down in a world that doesn’t encourage it, how micro pauses, grounding, breathwork, and tapping can help the body feel safer, and why compassion is not about being soft or indulgent but about understanding what’s actually going on beneath the behaviour. We also talk about living well with difficult feelings instead of trying to get rid of them, the impact of chronic stress and pain on eating, and how learning to work with the body rather than fighting it can begin to shift long standing patterns around food, emotions, and self trust. Find Jo: Instagram: @straightforwardpsychology Find Anna: Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.dranna.co.uk/about⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drannacolton⁠⁠⁠ Book (Amazon): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Children-About-Food/dp/1785120557

    39 min
  3. Fixing Your Relationship With Food: Why Diet Culture Isn’t the Answer with Dr Joshua Wolrich

    FEB 4

    Fixing Your Relationship With Food: Why Diet Culture Isn’t the Answer with Dr Joshua Wolrich

    In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr Joshua Wolrich, a NHS doctor, nutrition counsellor and author of Food Isn’t Medicine. We talk about why food has become such a fraught subject, including the rise of shame and “shoulds”, weight stigma in everyday life and in healthcare, and the way diet culture can start far earlier than we imagine. Joshua shares his own journey from dieting and public “accountability” online to a weight neutral, evidence led approach. We explore why dieting is not risk free, why intuitive eating is so often misunderstood, and how fear rather than science drives so much of what we’re told about sugar, health and body size. If you have ever felt tension around food, whether that is eating in secret, feeling judged in a doctor’s room, worrying you are “doing it wrong”, or panicking about what you might pass on to your children, this conversation is for you. Joshua’s closing thought is beautifully simple: do one thing that brings more joy to eating, what you love, how you love to eat, and who you love to eat with, because a peaceful relationship with food is not a luxury, it is part of living. 00:36 Debunking Food Myths 01:44 Early Childhood and Food Relationships 03:11 Impact of Food Scarcity on Health 06:07 Navigating Diet Culture and Parenting 11:24 Personal Journey into Nutrition and Medicine 13:49 The Role of Social Media in Dieting 15:11 Challenging Diet Culture and Embracing Intuitive Eating 20:34 Reflecting on Problematic Dieting 21:08 Accidental Social Media U-Turn 21:30 Exploring Intuitive Eating 22:40 Transition to Nutritional Science 25:00 Challenging Dieting Risks 31:43 Weight Stigma in Healthcare 35:55 The Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods 41:11 Final Thoughts on Food and Joy Find Josh: Website: https://drwolrich.com Instagram: @drjoshuawolrich Read His Book 'Food Isn't Medicine': https://amzn.eu/d/0anDsBXl Find Anna: Website: ⁠⁠https://www.dranna.co.uk/about⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drannacolton⁠⁠ Book (Amazon): ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Children-About-Food/dp/1785120557

    43 min
  4. Why Nutrition Advice Is So Confusing and How to Eat Without Fear with Dr Federica Amati

    JAN 28

    Why Nutrition Advice Is So Confusing and How to Eat Without Fear with Dr Federica Amati

    In this episode of Chew On This, I’m joined by nutritional scientist and public health expert Dr Federica Amati for a deeply clarifying conversation about nutrition, gut health, and why food advice has become so confusing. We unpack how misinformation spreads online, why nuance and evidence struggle to compete with punchy wellness trends, and what nutrition science actually tells us about health, risk, and the microbiome. Federica shares her journey into public health and nutrition, and explains why population-level science so often gets misunderstood when it’s applied to individuals. We also explore gut health without fear or rigidity, discussing the microbiome, fermented foods, fibre, and why focusing on abundance rather than restriction matters. Federica offers grounded, practical guidance on eating well without slipping into diet culture or anxiety, including how to think about whole foods, consistency, and flexibility. This episode is a powerful reminder that good nutrition isn’t about perfection or extremes, but about evidence, context, and building a calmer, more trusting relationship with food. 00:51 The Rise of Public Health Awareness 01:35 Challenges in Health Communication 04:54 Federica's Journey into Public Health 10:39 Personalized Medicine and Public Health 15:00 The Importance of Accurate Nutrition Science 19:14 The Microbiome Revolution 20:07 The Gut-Brain Connection: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science 22:30 The Science Behind Gut Microbiome and Health Outcomes 23:48 Dietary Interventions and Gut Health 24:13 Balancing Diet and Mental Health 25:49 Elasticity of the Gut Microbiome 27:51 Top Foods for a Healthy Gut Microbiome 30:51 Healthy Fats and Omega-3s 34:58 Navigating Food Choices and Marketing 36:47 Creating a Healthy Food Environment at Home 38:01 Encouraging Kids to Develop a Positive Relationship with Food 39:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Find Fede: Instagram: @dr.fede.amati Buy Federica's book: https://amzn.eu/d/4SalCRY Find Anna: Website: ⁠https://www.dranna.co.uk/about⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drannacolton⁠ Book (Amazon): ⁠https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Children-About-Food/dp/1785120557

    40 min
  5. When Burnout Hijacks Your Hunger with Dr Claire Plumbly

    JAN 21

    When Burnout Hijacks Your Hunger with Dr Claire Plumbly

    In this episode of Chew On This, I’m joined by clinical psychologist and burnout specialist Dr Claire Plumbly, author of Burnout: How to Manage Your Nervous System Before It Manages You. Claire and I dive into what is actually happening inside your nervous system when you’re burnt out – and how it can quietly disrupt your hunger, appetite and eating patterns long before you realise something is going on. Claire and I talk about why stress sometimes shuts my appetite down completely, and why at other times it sends me straight to the biscuit tin. We explore how blood sugar swings and decision fatigue can affect the way we eat, and why so many of us end up eating “al desco” on autopilot. We also break down the three nervous system states (green/rest and digest, amber/fight or flight, red/shutdown), co-regulation, and the small but realistic tweaks that make a real difference – from hot lunches and slowing down to micro-breaks, grounding, movement and even creating your own “soothing kit.” It is a truly supportive, practical conversation about coming back into your body and rebuilding a calmer relationship with food. 00:47 Claire's Background and Expertise 01:22 Understanding Burnout and Eating Habits 02:15 The Nervous System's Role in Burnout 03:27 Personal Experiences with Stress Eating 04:35 Strategies for Managing Stress and Eating 15:45 Parenting and Food Stress 18:45 The Importance of Co-Regulation 20:16 The Power of a Hug: Co-Regulation with Your Child 20:55 Micro Moments and Breaks: Managing Stress Throughout the Day 22:15 Tuning into Your Body: The Importance of Physical Awareness 23:01 Movement and Exercise: Regulating Mood and Stress 25:52 Mindful Eating: Building a Healthy Relationship with Food 29:13 Quick Tips for Stress Regulation: Creating a Soothing Kit 31:40 Decision Fatigue and Burnout: Recognising the Signs 35:02 Conclusion: Managing Burnout and Finding Calm Find Claire: Website: drclaireplumbly.com 📖 Book - Read More Here 📱 Instagram: @drclaireplumbly Find Anna: Website: ⁠https://www.dranna.co.uk/about⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drannacolton⁠ Book (Amazon): ⁠https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Children-About-Food/dp/1785120557

    36 min
  6. Dr Liz O’Riordan on Cancer and Food: Separating Myths from Medicine

    JAN 14

    Dr Liz O’Riordan on Cancer and Food: Separating Myths from Medicine

    In this episode of Chew On This, I sit down with the brilliant Dr Liz O’Riordan, former consultant breast surgeon, three time breast cancer patient and all round myth buster, to talk about one of the most confusing topics out there: the link between cancer and food. Together we unpack the claims that flood social media, from “sugar feeds cancer” and alkaline diets to fasting before chemo, clean eating, detoxes, parasite cleanses and the fear around ultra processed foods. Liz explains what the evidence actually shows, why no diet can cure cancer, and how extreme restriction can do real harm when your body is already under strain. We talk about alcohol, processed meat, exercise as powerful treatment support, and why basic balanced eating is far more effective than any supplement or protocol sold online. If you or someone you love is navigating cancer, or you are simply confused by the endless nutrition noise, I hope this conversation feels grounding, reassuring and genuinely useful. Find Liz: Website: https://liz.oriordan.co.uk Instagram: @oriordanliz Buy Her Latest Book 'The Cancer Roadmap': https://amzn.eu/d/iOis606 Sourdough study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4131439/ Find Anna: Website: https://www.dranna.co.uk/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drannacolton Book (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Children-About-Food/dp/1785120557 Timecodes:00:34 Dr. Liz's Journey: From Surgeon to Cancer Survivor 01:36 Debunking Cancer Myths: Sugar, Detoxing, and More 03:02 The Reality of Diet and Cancer 06:00 The Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods 21:35 The Role of Exercise in Cancer Recovery 24:25 The Joy of Dancing as Exercise 25:31 Debunking the Myth of Clean Eating 26:37 Alcohol and Processed Meat: The Real Risks 30:10 Obesity and Cancer: Understanding the Link 33:04 Portion Sizes and Mindful Eating 35:13 Navigating Misinformation and Finding Reliable Sources 41:40 The Truth About Supplements 46:02 Final Thoughts and Resources

    47 min

  7. JAN 7

    New Year, New Mindset: Resetting Your Relationship with Food

    Welcome to Chew on This, a new podcast about our lifelong relationship with food. In this opening episode, clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist Dr Anna Colton shares why she created the podcast, drawing on over 20 years working in specialist eating disorder services and her passion for prevention and early intervention. She reflects on why Christmas and New Year can be such a difficult time around food, body image, guilt and comparison, especially in a world full of New Year new me messaging. Anna explains why restriction fuels cravings and bingeing, why most diets fail, and what intuitive eating really means. You will hear practical and compassionate ways to reset your mindset for 2026, shift focus from appearance to wellbeing, and start building a calmer and more nourishing relationship with food. She also shares what is coming up on future episodes, with conversations across psychology, medicine and food culture exploring how and why we eat. Subscribe and follow to make sure you never miss an episode! Follow Dr Anna Colton on Instagram: @drannacolton

    16 min

  8. TRAILER

    Welcome to Chew On This

    Welcome to Chew on This. I’m Dr Anna Colton. For years, in my work as a psychologist, I’ve sat with people trying to understand why food can feel so complicated - why it can be soothing one moment and overwhelming the next, why family patterns stick, and why changing our habits is so hard, even when we desperately want to. This podcast is an invitation to explore those questions together. We’ll look at the psychology behind eating, the personal stories that shape our choices, and the social and cultural forces we don’t always notice but that deeply affect how we relate to food. Each week, you’ll hear from people bringing their expertise, their lived experience, or both - and we’ll try to unpack the reality of eating in a world that makes it anything but simple. I’m so glad to have you with me. Follow and subscribe to never miss an episode!

    1 min

Trailer

About

Food is never just food. It’s emotional, learned, cultural, and deeply personal. Chew on This is a podcast hosted by clinical psychologist and author Dr Anna Colton, exploring the psychology behind how and why we eat. Through conversations with experts and people with lived experience, each episode looks beyond diet culture to unpack the habits, beliefs, and patterns that shape our relationship with food - from childhood to adulthood. If you’ve ever felt confused, conflicted, or curious about eating, this podcast is for you.

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