What's That Rash?

There have been many discussions this year about sunscreen, its effectiveness and its ingredients.While there are some unknowns, what we’re sure of is sunscreen’s ability to protect us from the sun’s ageing and cancer-causing rays.Norman and Tegan slip, slop, slap some questions about sunscreen: SPF scandal, endocrine disruptors and vitamin D concerns.References:How does sunscreen work? - Cancer Council Sunscreen: a brief walk through historyWe tested the SPF claims of 20 sunscreens. 16 failed - CHOICETGA statement on CHOICE SPF sunscreen findings Safety Review of Seven Active Sunscreen Ingredients – July 2025 Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trialMineral vs chemical sunscreens Can your sunscreen expire? If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Is there such thing as TOO much sun protection?We all need a daily dose of sunlight — but how much? Can you get away with skipping your daily shower?

Creatine is getting a lot of hype lately, at least according to our listeners.It’s being pushed for everything from menopause to dementia for its supposed energy-boosting, brain-boosting benefits.Norman and Tegan explore what is really going on with creatine outside of its muscle-building potential.References:Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show? | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition Metabolic Basis of Creatine in Health and Disease: A Bioinformatics-Assisted Review - Nutrients Creatine in Health and Disease Creatine supplementation for older adults: Focus on sarcopenia, osteoporosis, frailty and CachexiaSingle dose creatine improves cognitive performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep deprivationCreatine monohydrate pilot in Alzheimer's: Feasibility, brain creatine, and cognition The Effects of 8-Week Creatine Hydrochloride and Creatine Ethyl Ester Supplementation on Cognition, Clinical Outcomes, and Brain Creatine Levels in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women (CONCRET-MENOPA): A Randomized Controlled Trial It Is Not Just About Storing Energy: The Multifaceted Role of Creatine Metabolism on Cancer Biology and ImmunologyCreatine Supplementation for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Scientific Rationale for a Clinical Trial International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Is it safe to dose yourself with pre-workout?Do healthy people need lymphatic treatments?Is that glass of red wine over Christmas dinner good for you?

Whether or not we remember our dreams, we all have them. But the answer to why we dream is complicated.There's a lot going on in our brains during sleep, especially during the rapid eye movement (REM) phase when most dreams go down.Norman and Tegan talk through the purpose of dreams, how time warps as we snooze and whether there are any downsides to these nightly hallucinations.References:Dreams: Why They Happen & What They Mean – Sleep Foundation Time for actions in lucid dreams: effects of task modality, length, and complexity High Dream Recall Frequency is Associated with Increased Creativity and Default Mode Network ConnectivityfMRI Evidence for Default Mode Network Deactivation Associated with Rapid Eye Movements in Sleep The relationships between insomnia, nightmares, and dreams: A systematic reviewNightmares affect the experience of sleep quality but not sleep architecture: an ambulatory polysomnographic study Gender differences in dreaming: Are they stable over time?Isotretinoin use and reports of sustained dreaming | British Journal of Dermatology | Oxford AcademicDreaming under antidepressants: A systematic review on evidence in depressive patients and healthy volunteersNightmare and Abnormal Dreams: Rare Side Effects of Metformin?If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!What's the deal with night terrors?How risky is sharing a toothbrush?Should you go organic if you're worried about pesticides?

When you’ve got a busy schedule, it’s important to just exercise when you can. But if you have the luxury of choice, is there an optimal one?You might’ve even heard that exercising at certain times of day can lead to harm.Norman and Tegan run through the evidence around heart attacks, workouts and what happens when you’re a morning or a night person.References:Association of the time of day of peak physical activity with cardiovascular mortality: Findings from the UK Biobank StudySetting your clock: associations between timing of objective physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk in the general population Best Time of Day for Strength and Endurance Training to Improve Health and Performance? A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis Gold, silver or bronze: circadian variation strongly affects performance in Olympic athletesDiurnal variation in tennis serviceThe effects of exercise session timing on weight loss and components of energy balance: midwest exercise trial 2 If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Chronotypes: early birds vs night owlsDoes magnesium work against muscle cramps?Norman tried an ice bath so you don't have to

Humans are slightly alkaline – your blood should be a pH between 7.35 to 7.45. Anything outside that range can be life-threatening.So why are you being told to follow an alkaline diet? Proponents of the diet claim it can tackle everything from osteoporosis to cancer.Norman and Tegan do a litmus test on the alkaline-acid balance and whether it’s a driver of chronic disease.References:Physiology, Acid Base BalanceThe effect of acid ash and alkaline ash foodstuffs on the acid-base equilibrium of manUrine pH is an indicator of dietary acid–base load, fruit and vegetables and meat intakes: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk population studyWhy is there so much on the internet about the alkaline diet and cancer? – MD Anderson Low-grade metabolic acidosis as a driver of chronic disease: a 21st century public health crisisDiet-Induced Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis and Clinical Outcomes: A ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Why Norman won't shut up about the Mediterranean dietWhy is the internet telling me to lower my cortisol?MSG's messy myths and racist tropes