The Truth About… Improving Your Mental Health

One in four of us will experience mental health difficulties in our lifetime, and that’s without the added pressures of the pandemic.

The programme will discuss the findings of Imperial College London and the BBC’s national survey of our mental health, which, with over 350,000 participants, provides a unique insight into the impact of COVID-19.

Clinical psychologist Professor Tanya Byron has teamed up with former English footballer and RTS Award-winning TV pundit Alex Scott to reveal the latest scientific discoveries in mental health and how they can help to improve ours.

They look at self-help techniques for common issues including anxiety, a new electrostimulation device that helps us sleep, and a study into the effects of probiotic drinks on our mood.

The Truth About… Boosting Your Immune System

The outbreak of coronavirus highlighted the importance of a strong immune system.

Dr Ronx Ikharia, an emergency medicine doctor, delves into the latest science to find out how to best improve our immune systems.

Along the way, Ronx runs a unique experiment with immunologist Professor Sheena Cruickshank from the University of Manchester, testing the impact of lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and sleeping habits on their immune health.

Ronx also reveals how easily our systems can be damaged, the surprising ways it can be strengthened, and explains why the most common immune problem is overactivity.

The Truth About… Getting Fit At Home

Journalist Mehreen Baig was a regular at the local gym before lockdown. Now, like many of us, her fitness regime has gone DIY.

It’s cheap and convenient, but Baig wants to ensure she’s getting maximum return for her effort.

Baig, scientists from Liverpool John Moores University and 100 volunteers test how much online workouts really improve your fitness, and share top tips on staying motivated.

She also tests new experimental technology to modify her running technique, and several surprising home hacks to improve her performance including plants and peppermint scent.