Chew On This with Dr Anna Colton

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

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

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

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

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.
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Follow Dr Anna Colton on Instagram: @drannacolton