Alexander van Tulleken

I'm joined today by my ankle twin.

Dr. Xand, that's me.

I mean, both our ankles are twins, so we're sort of ankle quadruplets.

Mm.

We've just finished recording an episode with physiotherapist Jenn Towill on the subject of ankles.

[Instrumental music] Now, in the main episode, Xande, we got a very clear idea of what the ankle is.

We really celebrated the ankle, how it functions, and how to keep it functioning, prevent injury, and how well to recover from injuries.

I think we were left with an almost Victorian appreciation for the beauties of the ankle.

Of course they know that, Chris.

And he's Dr. Xand.

They know that, too.

And we have something fairly exciting to share with you because-

And each other

... our sister podcast, Complex with Kimberley Wilson, helps you to make sense of big mental health questions we all face.

That's right, Xandy.

Now, Kimberley's a chartered psychologist.

Read

Van Tulleken's book.

It's all in there,

is it? I can't read that book.

But do they work? Are the tablets, gummies, and powders really worth the money? And why is it so hard to figure all of this out? [upbeat music] Today, Dr.

Xand van Tulleken helps us wade through the evidence.

From The Guardian, I'm Madeleine Finlay, and this is Science Weekly.

Xand van Tulleken, you are a doctor, you're an honorary professor, and you've written this book, Make Me Well: A Quest to Understand the Confusing World of Wellness.

And I want to know, why? Why do you think it is so confusing? Why is it so hard to figure all this out? You know, a simple question like, "Should I take collagen?" Which we'll talk about in a minute.

Getting to the bottom of that feels like a Herculean task.

He's the doctor, presenter, and author who's made science and health accessible to millions.

It's Dr. Xand van Tulleken.

Woo.

[clapping]

Today on Man Alive with top doctor and broadcaster Xand van Tulleken, wellness scams

Just contact some Iranian researchers, uh, and say, "Would you fake some data for me?" And, yeah, within a few minutes I was WhatsApping with scientists who were like, "Yeah, for 1,500 quid, we'll absolutely fake you a paper.

And for another few thousand pounds, we'll [censored]

I mean, it will restore everything about me.

The balance for me is on.

I'm Dr. Xand van Tulleken, and this is Man Alive.

Xand, thank you so much for coming on the show.

You're an experienced doctor, and yet you had a moment recently where you started to feel like you didn't know anything.

I could go on.

It's the subject of a new book by one of the UK's best-known broadcasting doctors, Dr. Xand van Tulleken, a public health professional, an academic who makes award-winning medical programs for children, as well as a popular podcast along with his brother.

When News Hour's James Menendez spoke to Dr. Xand, he asked him what wellness means to him.

Wellness does have a really buzzword-y, slightly obnoxious quality in many ways, but, um, that is because of the kind of wellness industrial complex that's selling us lots of dodgy stuff.

Expand your brain.

It will be good for your mind, it will be good for your social world, and it will be fun and cheap.

That's Dr. Xand van Tulleken talking to James Menendez about his book Make Me Well: The Truth About the Wellness Industry, Supplements, and Personalized Health.

That's our news hour all wrapped up.

And where do they get the collagen from?

And where do they get the collagen from? Now, okay, for this, um, I have a very good friend of mine called Xand van Tulleken who has just written this amazing book called Make Me Well, and, um, the book is essentially he, uh...

he's a, a, a trained doctor, has, has worked as a doctor for many years, and he has gone through all of the evidence on all of the various wellness fads-

Mm

Yeah, what's it, what's it called again?

Make Me Well.

It's, um, and it's by Xand van Tulleken.

It's a really great read.