Sliced Bread

Latest Episodes:

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Bedding Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

Can changing your sheets be good for you - and the environment? We've had loads of requests to look at the best way to make your bed - specifically, how all the different options for sheets and pillowcases compare. Cotton seems to be king when it comes to popularity, but is it justified? Listener Rosemary is a linen fan, but wants to know whether eucalyptus bedding lives up to the hype. How do its eco credentials stack up - and what does it feel like? Speaking of feel - silk pillow cases have a reputation for luxury, but listener Cathy wants to know whether sleeping on one will - as the marketing promises - also help your skin and your hair. Could it really help with acne? We'll hear from a dermatologist and a fabrics expert - and there are some surprising answers to this one!

If you've seen a claim you'd like investigating, you can email the team on sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp voice note on 07543 306807.

PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Christmas Trees Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Which Christmas tree is better for the environment - real or fake?

Everyone loves the smell of a freshly cut pine or spruce but the vast majority of them go to landfill. So would a plastic tree be better?

Listener Eleanor wants to have a more sustainable Christmas and has some great questions. Is there a better way to dispose of your real tree? How about a pot-grown tree you could use again the next year? And she's even heard about the possibility of renting a Christmas tree - the same one, year after year! Is that a thing?

In this frankly festive episode I attempt to get to the root of the problem (sorry!) by speaking to an ecological expert and a journalist who's attempted to rent the whole of Christmas.

Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Simon Hoban

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Sports Bras Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Are expensive sports bras worth the money?

Buying a sports bra can be a baffling experience, not least because of the marketing terminology which is full of buzz-phrases like 'high intensity support', 'specialist materials' and 'racer backs'.

Listener Teresa has seen sports bras ranging in price from just a few pounds to three figures and wants to know if paying more means you get greater support.

Greg speaks to Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, 'The Bra Professor', to take a deep dive into the science and find out more. Can one sports bra suit all sports, like running and yoga? Does the support reduce over time? And when should you wash or replace your sports bra?

If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad relating to another consumer product and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, then email us: sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Emma Salkeld

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Vacuum cleaners Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

Trying to buy a new vacuum cleaner can be a pretty confusing experience. Do you go bagged or bagless? Corded or cordless? Is it worth paying extra for something with anti hair wrap tech? Or forking out for a robot to do it all for you? That's what listener Sally is tempted by - she wants to know if a robot will clean as well as a regular handheld version. Listener Rachel wants advice on which features are worth the extra cash. To help them navigate this complicated market, Greg consults Grace Forell, a consumer expert from Which? and host of its Get Answers podcast - and finds out all about dust with professor Hasan Arshad, who leads allergy research at the University of Southampton.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Tom Moseley

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Ice Baths Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

Do the claims made about Ice Baths hold water?

Social media appears to be filled with countless people sitting blissfully in small inflatable ‘ice baths’. Fans of such ‘cold water therapy’ claim that taking a chilly plunge will boost your energy levels, reduce your stress, help you sleep better, and supercharge your recovery after a workout. Listener Laura wants to know if the science backs that up.

In this episode, I dip my toe - and the rest of me - into an ice bath to find out. I'm guided by Professor Mike Tipton at the University of Portsmouth, one of the leading academics in the study of cold water and its effects on the body.

Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Simon Hoban

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Eco-friendly Toilet Paper Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

How green can your loo roll be? Lots of companies have sprung up offering what they say are the most eco-friendly ways to wipe - and there's a lot to think about.

Listener Barbara buys recycled toilet paper - and wants to know if she's better off buying one of the bamboo options on the market. Jo already buys bamboo but is curious about the difference packaging and delivery options make.

To get them some answers, Greg Foot speaks to Shanta Bhavnani from Ethical Consumer magazine, who carried out its 2023 ethical toilet paper guide, and materials expert Dr Eral Bele of University College London, who's studied the properties of bamboo.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Tom Moseley

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Smart Thermostats Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Can Smart Thermostats save you money on energy bills?

Temperatures are falling and conversations are already turning to whether or not the heating has been turned on! Although energy prices have come down a little since last year, the withdrawal of universal Government support to alleviate the cost could mean bills stay high for a lot of people.

Listener Wendy is already doing a lot to save money (having listened to a previous Sliced Bread episode on Portable Heaters - check it out on BBC Sounds!) but she's keen to know if the addition of a Smart Thermostat might make even more of a difference.

Are they as clever as they claim to be when it comes to controlling the heating in your home?

PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Motion Sickness Remedies Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Greg Foot gets queasy in the name of science as he investigates the range of products promising to help with motion sickness.

Do the pills, wristbands or breathing techniques which claim to stop you from feeling sick on planes, trains and automobiles actually work?

To find out, Greg heads to Professor John Golding's laboratory at the University of Westminster where a spinning chair is used to induce symptoms of motion sickness.

Why don't scientifically-proven treatments always work for everyone?

Sliced Bread is a BBC Audio North production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Weighted Blankets Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

Do weighted blankets reduce stress and help you sleep better?

They’ve gone from a middle-aisle fad to being a regular fixture in supermarkets and online stores. Weighted blankets can cost upto £200 and promise to give you a deeper, more restful sleep. But do they?

Listener Theresa wanted to know about the science behind them. What is it about the ‘deep touch’ or ‘deep pressure’ stimulation that the manufacturers claim helps us to sleep? They’re also often marketed as offering help with anxiety and autism. Listener Claire runs a support group for children with autism and is keen to know more, so I speak to the lead scientist of a big study into that. And listener Pauline wonders whether there are any health risks associated with weighted blankets?

Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.

Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Simon Hoban

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Induction Hobs Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Induction hobs are not just a fashionable addition to a new kitchen, but are also sold as a more efficient choice than a gas hob. How do they compare? Is cooking on an electric induction hob better for the planet? And what about our health?

Listener Roisin wants to know if they are an economical choice but worries they might affect her mum's pacemaker, while listener Anna is concerned about indoor air pollution from gas cookers and wonders if induction hobs are a safer bet.

Greg Foot gets them some answers with expert help from Emily Seymour, the Energy Editor at Which? and Jonathan Grigg, Professor of Paediatric Respiratory and Environmental Medicine at Queen Mary University of London.

PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Jon Douglas

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected