What's That Rash?

Continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, have transformed how people with diabetes manage their blood sugar.But in wellness circles, more and more people without diabetes are being encouraged to try these devices.Norman and Tegan get to the bottom of what these devices can actually tell you, and the potential harms.References:The wellness inspired rise of continuous glucose monitors for people without diabetes, including those with metabolic disorders – BMJ featuresContinuous glucose monitoring in non-diabetic populations: a systematic review of observational and interventional studies with meta-analysis Blood glucose monitoring devices: current consideration – Australian Prescriber The Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Diagnose Stage 2 Type 1 DiabetesAssociations of continuous glucose monitor derived time in range and glycaemic variability with diet lifestyle and demographicsDifferent Glucose Variability in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome With and Without Insulin Resistance: A Pilot StudyUnderstanding the benefits and psychological burdens of using continuous glucose monitoring for lifestyle change: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study Unintended Consequences: The Intersection of Diabetes Technology and Disordered Eating Risk If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Should we all be taking fish oil?Tonsils, appendix, gallbladder: is anything actually useless?Should you wait to swim after eating?

Have you ever spritzed your pillow with lavender and wondered, is this actually doing anything?There are some surprising ways that smells can affect sleep, and it might have something to do with how our brains work.Norman and Tegan discuss how smells, good and bad, could affect your nightly snooze.References:From antiquity to modern hygiene: the archaeological and medicinal legacy of lavender as a promising antimicrobial agentLavender and sleep: A systematic review of the evidence How Smell Affects Your Sleep – Sleep Foundation Reciprocal relationships between sleep and smell Subjectively intense odor does not affect dream emotions during rapid eye movement sleep Nocturnal exposure to a preferred ambient scent does not affect dream emotionality or post-sleep core affect valence in young adults Olfactory Aversive Conditioning during Sleep Reduces Cigarette-Smoking BehaviorIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Is farting a sign your gut microbiome is happy?Is melatonin the answer to a good night's sleep?Is a vibration plate worth the cost?

You might be hearing a lot about ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, and how we should all be avoiding them.But you might be struggling with figuring out what exactly IS an ultra-processed food. Sweetened drinks, sure. What about bread? Yoghurt?Norman and Tegan unpack why it isn’t a simple question, and where the evidence stands on the health consequences.*A previous version of this episode may have implied that the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) board is comprised of current food industry representatives that are directly involved in setting food policy. This was edited on 12/08/2026. References:Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health - The Lancet seriesDiet quality and processed foods – Food Standards Australia and New ZealandMost of the Foods We Eat Are Ultra-Processed. Are They All Unhealthy? - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthTrends of obesity and underweight in older children and adolescents in the United States, Brazil, China, and RussiaUltra-processed products are becoming dominant in the global food systemThe UN Decade of Nutrition, the NOVA food classification and the trouble with ultra-processingUltra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analysesUltra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food IntakeThe collapse of the food matrix: how ultra-processed foods impact satiety and metabolism by altering physical structure beyond nutrient composition If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Is gluten really the enemy?Why is everyone suddenly talking about seed oils?Why Norman won't shut up about the Mediterranean diet

Ashwagandha supplements are rising in popularity, but the herb has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medicine.The supposed benefits are broad – from stress to sleep, athletic performance and boosting testosterone.Norman and Tegan explore where the evidence stands, and uncertainties about potential risks.References:An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of AyurvedaChemical composition, cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory enzyme inhibitory properties of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal root extractsChemical Composition, Biological Activity, and Health-Promoting Effects of Withania somnifera for Pharma-Food Industry ApplicationsClinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver InjuryAshwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep?Exploring the efficacy and safety of a novel standardized ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in adults experiencing high stress and fatigue in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialA Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight MalesIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Vitamin C: can it cure colds and cancer?No-poo: why do we shampoo our hair?Do healthy people need lymphatic treatments?