High Intensity Interval Training Study (05:08)

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Dr. Chris van Tulleken recruits volunteers to do moderate physical activity, HIIT on a laboratory bike, HIIT at home, and grip strength dynamometry. Dr. Beth Phillips explains the principle behind HIIT. Volunteers undergo VO2 max and blood pressure tests.

Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits (02:50)

Dr. James Brown gives two volunteer groups bagels while drinking apple cider and malt vinegars, and measures their blood sugar levels. The apple cider vinegar reduces glucose levels by 40%. Acid may reduce sugars that the body releases from starch.

Long Term Apple Cider Vinegar Study (04:02)

Volunteer groups consume apple cider vinegar, malt vinegar, and a placebo for two months. Brown's team monitors weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol. No volunteers lose weight or have lower glucose levels but the ACV group has 10% less cholesterol.

Sports Material Smell Test (03:01)

Sweat interacts with skin bacteria to produce odor in clothing. Dr. Gabriel Weston recruits volunteers to exercise in cotton and polyester shirts. The polyester shirts smell worse after 48 hours.

Armpit Bacteria Test (03:07)

Researchers find that Corynebacterium feed on fats in underarm sweat but do not transfer from skin to shirt. Micrococcus thrives on synthetic material—contributing to its odor. Cotton smells fresher but stays damp.

Urinary Tract Infection Remedy (02:54)

Dr. Saleyha Ahsan discusses UTI causes and symptoms. Cranberry juice contains sugar and interacts with warfarin. Doctors prescribe antibiotics and analgesics; Hiprex makes urine hostile to bacteria in the long-term.

Fitness Gadgets (05:44)

Dr. Zoe Williams differentiates between chest strap and wrist heart rate monitors. Wrist monitors using color sensors to measure pulse are often inaccurate. Step counters produce varied results.

Concussions (05:10)

Ahsan sees many head injury patients in the emergency room. A Scottish rugby club is implementing new U.K. national guidelines on concussion management. Learn about symptoms, treatment, and when to seek medical help.

Acupuncture Test (04:01)

Dr. David Walsh inflicts pain on Dr. Michael Mosley's knee to see whether acupuncture affects his pain threshold. Dr. Mike Cummings performs two rounds: one with real needles and one with "fake" needles. Both increase his pain threshold.

Scientific Acupuncture Debate (03:34)

Professor Asbjorn Hrobjartsson explains that imperfect trials make it difficult to determine whether acupuncture reduces pain, as opposed to "sham" acupuncture. Mosley would try it for chronic pain, if all other methods failed.

Phage Therapy (04:26)

Weston travels to Georgia, where doctors use viruses to treat people with antibiotic resistant infections, such as cystic fibrosis patients. Doctors identify specific bacterial strains, and then identify target phages and develop personalized treatments.

Combating Bacterial Resistance (02:49)

Phage therapy can treat a broad range of diseases; bacteriophages are the most abundant organism on Earth. Eliava Institute director Mzia Kutateladze explains that phages can decrease antibiotic resistance. European clinical trials are underway.

High Intensity Interval Training Study Results (03:15)

Volunteers practicing HIIT on lab bicycles have a 17% improved VO2 max; home HIIT volunteers have a 12% improvement. Volunteers doing moderate activity and practicing grip strength dynamometry show little improvement. Hand grip volunteers have reduced blood pressure due to vascular function.

Credits: Trust Me...I'm a Doctor, Series 5—Episode 1 (00:49)

Credits: Trust Me...I'm a Doctor, Series 5—Episode 1