0:00:04 > 0:00:05When it comes to our health,
0:00:05 > 0:00:10it seems everyone has an opinion and everyone has an agenda.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12But what's the health advice you can really trust?
0:00:16 > 0:00:22We're here to weigh up the evidence and use our expertise to guide you.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Through the contradictions and the confusions.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30We do the research no-one else has done.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35And put your health at the heart of what we do.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39We listen to the questions you want answered.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46And ensure you get the information you need.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54We're here when you want to know the latest findings -
0:00:54 > 0:00:56and not just the latest fads.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00I'm Michael Mosley.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02In this series, I'm joined by a team of doctors.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Together, we'll cut through the hype,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09the headlines and the health claims.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12This is Trust Me, I'm A Doctor.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Welcome to Liverpool.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21We're here to do a hugely ambitious experiment with
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Liverpool John Moores University, all about fish oils.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Now, we know that fish oil is good for us,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30but what's the best way of getting it in our bodies?
0:01:30 > 0:01:33We'll also find out whether the plastics in food packaging
0:01:33 > 0:01:35are poisoning us.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Why your sex affects how much fat you should eat.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Basically, what we're saying is that women are better.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46We'll discover how this little patch could be the future
0:01:46 > 0:01:48of brain trauma treatment.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52How to spot the symptoms of an illness that can leave you blind.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54And how to overcome motion sickness.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57I think I'm going to go green, soon.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02But first, we're always hearing about how important
0:02:02 > 0:02:06omega-3 is for our health. Particularly our heart.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09And to make sure we get enough, we're encouraged to eat oily fish
0:02:09 > 0:02:11or take fish oil supplements.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16But how much difference do either of them really make to our health?
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Later on, we'll be doing a big experiment to find out.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22But before we start, Doctor Chris van Tulleken
0:02:22 > 0:02:24is going to take a closer look at supplements.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29The government recommends that we eat fish at least twice a week,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33with one portion being an oily fish like salmon or mackerel.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38However, in the UK, we don't eat anything like enough oily fish.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40It may be that people don't like the taste or the smell or perhaps they
0:02:40 > 0:02:43just don't know how to cook it, but, at any rate,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46lots of people prefer the convenience of fish oil supplements.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54These colourful capsules are one of Britain's best selling supplements.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59In 2010, we forked out about £140 million on them.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02But here on Trust Me, we know that you don't always
0:03:02 > 0:03:03get what you pay for.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06So, we've decided to put these popular pills to the test,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09to see if they're worthy of our hard-earned cash.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Do they really contain what they say they do,
0:03:11 > 0:03:16and can they match the benefits that come from eating real fish?
0:03:16 > 0:03:18Oily fish are recommended because, well,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20people who eat them seem to live a bit longer,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and that's because the fish are packed with nutrients,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25including omega-3 fatty acids.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28And these fish oils are meant to have a range of benefits,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30including preventing heart disease.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Omega-3s help maintain healthy levels of fat
0:03:33 > 0:03:36in our blood and prevent blood clots.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39They're also a natural anti-inflammatory.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41But our bodies don't produce them,
0:03:41 > 0:03:45so we need to get them from external sources like certain plant oils,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47oily fish or supplements.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49There are different types of omega-3,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52but the two key ones for human health from fish
0:03:52 > 0:03:55are called EPA and DHA.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Different health organisations suggest our combined daily intake of
0:03:58 > 0:04:03these fats should total between 200 and 450 mg.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Popular supplements claim to meet this level, but do they?
0:04:07 > 0:04:10We're going to find out if the fish oil supplements contain what they
0:04:10 > 0:04:14say they do, especially those key fats, EPA and DHA, and we're going
0:04:14 > 0:04:17to test how fresh the oil in the supplements is,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19because rancid oil is not good.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24So, we've taken ten popular fish oil supplements
0:04:24 > 0:04:26and sent them to a lab for testing.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30The tests were carried out by Doctor Cristina Legido-Quigley
0:04:30 > 0:04:31from King's College London.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33The first thing we measured
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- was the amount of EPA and DHA in the supplements.- OK.
0:04:37 > 0:04:43And it is thought that we should be eating from 200 to 450mg daily.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47And was there enough EPA and DHA in these tablets?
0:04:47 > 0:04:51- Yes. Here you have at least 200mg with all of the supplements.- OK.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55So, this line is the 200 mg and all of them managed
0:04:55 > 0:04:58- to just get over that line?- Yes.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Our second test looked at whether the oil in the supplements
0:05:03 > 0:05:06had oxidised or gone rancid.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10We found that one of the supplements had values of oxidation
0:05:10 > 0:05:14- way above the limit.- Was that because it had gone out of date?
0:05:14 > 0:05:17No, it still had 11 months to go.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22So, despite having 11 months left on its best-before date,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25one supplement we tested had gone rancid.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31All kinds of things can cause this over time, such as exposure to air,
0:05:31 > 0:05:35heat and light. So even if oil is good when it was manufactured,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39it could go rancid by the time you take it.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43There's evidence that rancid oils are bad for our health.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47And we also know that when oil oxidises, it starts breaking down.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49With fish oil supplements,
0:05:49 > 0:05:53that means the EPA and DHA are chemically altered,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56reducing the supposed benefits they provide.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Finally, we ran a price comparison on the products we tested and the
0:06:01 > 0:06:03variation is shocking.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08So, you can see here that you could get
0:06:08 > 0:06:10your yearly amount for only £13.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12- For £13...- £13.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15..you can get your whole year's worth with this brand?
0:06:15 > 0:06:18- Yes, that's right. - Then what was the most?
0:06:18 > 0:06:22So, we have here this one, which would be more than £300 a year.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25So, the price difference ranges
0:06:25 > 0:06:29- from £13 a year to £304 a year? - Mm-hmm.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32And it's exactly the same chemical constituents
0:06:32 > 0:06:36- in terms of the fats in the pills? - Yes.- Amazing.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40So, our tests showed that at least one of the supplements
0:06:40 > 0:06:42contained spoiled oil but, overall,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45the brands contained acceptable levels of EPA and DHA,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48albeit at wildly different prices.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51So, if you are going to buy fish oil supplements,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54there are a few things you can do to maximise your chances
0:06:54 > 0:06:55of getting the best from them.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59Look for accreditation badges, like this.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Fish oils aren't medically regulated,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03but companies which seek accreditation
0:07:03 > 0:07:05are likely to have robust quality control in place.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Make sure you check the label so you can choose a supplement
0:07:09 > 0:07:11with the longest possible shelf life.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15And store the supplements in a cool, dry, dark place,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17to minimise the chance of spoilage.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Now, you might be convinced that the supplement that you take
0:07:21 > 0:07:25is a good one, but I'm afraid the jury is still very much out
0:07:25 > 0:07:27about whether or not fish oil supplements
0:07:27 > 0:07:30have the same health benefits as fresh fish,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32something we're pretty sure is good for you.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35But that is exactly the kind of thing that we like to put to
0:07:35 > 0:07:37the test on Trust Me, so that's what we're doing later -
0:07:37 > 0:07:40putting fish oil supplements and fresh fish head-to-head.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Many of us are familiar with travel sickness,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55the scourge of family holidays, but what can you do about it?
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Over to Dr Saleyha Ahsan.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03I suffer from motion sickness myself and I dread situations like this.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Travel sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting messages
0:08:08 > 0:08:11from the eyes, which see motion,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14and the inner ear, which senses motion.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17The resulting confusion can cause various symptoms.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23The main symptoms of travel sickness that most of us will recognise are
0:08:23 > 0:08:26general feeling of discomfort, nausea and even vomiting,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30and some people might even experience headache,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33dizziness and cold sweats.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35So, what can you do about it?
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Over-the-counter medications like Hyoscine and antihistamines
0:08:38 > 0:08:40have good evidence behind them.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42But there's a drawback.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44They've both got side-effects.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46A common one is drowsiness.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51So, are there any drug-free alternatives?
0:08:51 > 0:08:55When I can't drink anything else, I can drink ginger ale.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Many people swear by ginger,
0:08:57 > 0:09:01which has been used to prevent nausea for over 2,000 years,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05whereas others find acupressure bracelets helpful.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08But currently, there isn't strong evidence to prove that either works
0:09:08 > 0:09:10for motion sickness.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14I was told that if you're on a boat, if you look at the...
0:09:14 > 0:09:17keep focused on the horizon, that helps, but
0:09:18 > 0:09:21it's very difficult when you're going up and down
0:09:21 > 0:09:23and up and down!
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Looking at something stable, like the horizon, can help,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32by synchronising your vision and your movement.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36And studies have also shown that distracting yourself with music
0:09:36 > 0:09:37can make a difference.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41If, like me, you suffer from motion sickness,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43then it's worth trying all these techniques,
0:09:43 > 0:09:48but I've come across a recent report that suggests another technique
0:09:48 > 0:09:53that's easy, drug-free, effective and won't cost you a penny.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59I'm off to the University of Westminster to learn this trick from
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Professor John Golding.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03First, we have to establish my baseline level
0:10:03 > 0:10:06of motion sickness with this bizarre-looking chair.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12There's a sick bag here, which has never been used.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14I might be the first.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17This chair, combined with the instructions I'm following,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19is designed to take me to different levels of sickness.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22- ELECTRONIC VOICE:- Rate symptoms.
0:10:22 > 0:10:23Two.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27Back.
0:10:28 > 0:10:29Return.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Left.
0:10:34 > 0:10:35Return.
0:10:37 > 0:10:38- I feel sick.- Right.- OK, stop.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Now that we've established the level at which I start feeling sick,
0:10:42 > 0:10:46John's going to talk me through a simple technique that might help me
0:10:46 > 0:10:47cope better next time.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51What's involved is gaining control,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53conscious control, of your breathing.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56The best way to do it is to understand what your
0:10:56 > 0:10:58natural frequency is,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01and then learn how to actually maintain that frequency.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Why does that work and how does it work?
0:11:03 > 0:11:07There's a hard-wired reflex, or defence reflex,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10between respiration and nausea and vomiting,
0:11:10 > 0:11:13which means if I'm breathing, I'm not going to vomit, and equally,
0:11:13 > 0:11:16if I'm vomiting I'm going to close my breathing off.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18So, once I've worked out what my rhythm is,
0:11:18 > 0:11:22I've just got to focus on that and keep that going, is that right?
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Yes. Now it's up to you.
0:11:24 > 0:11:25OK, best of luck.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Controlling your breathing while travelling isn't as easy
0:11:31 > 0:11:34as it sounds, as motion can disrupt your natural rhythm.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38But John's work suggests that maintaining that natural rhythm,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40despite the motion, can reduce nausea.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Forward.
0:11:45 > 0:11:46Return.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Just concentrate on your breathing.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51- Breath nice and steadily.- Back.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53- Rate symptoms.- One.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55One, OK.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58A few rounds in and my symptoms rating's already stayed lower
0:11:58 > 0:12:00for longer.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01- Rate symptoms.- Two.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Two, OK, doing fine.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07- Left.- I feel sick.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10OK, keep your head upright, as still as possible.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12By the time I actually feel sick,
0:12:12 > 0:12:17I've lasted quite a bit longer than I did last time.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- The breathing did help... - Yeah.- ..because I focused on it,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22actually, and it did calm me down.
0:12:24 > 0:12:25Don't forget, it's a severe challenge.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Under milder conditions,
0:12:27 > 0:12:32the breathing might be just enough to stave things off.
0:12:32 > 0:12:33If you suffer from travel sickness,
0:12:33 > 0:12:37I'd say it's well worth giving this breathing technique a go.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39As always,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41you can find more information on our website.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Come back in an hour.
0:12:43 > 0:12:44I might be normal then.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56There's no shortage of advice in the media about the best ways to boost
0:12:56 > 0:12:57your immune system,
0:12:57 > 0:13:01but is any of this advice worth paying attention to?
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Over to surgeon Gabriel Weston.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08It's almost impossible these days to get away from products that,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12it's claimed, can boost our immune system,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15but I've always been a bit suspicious of such claims.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Mostly because we're talking about one of the most complex aspects of
0:13:18 > 0:13:20the human body.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23The immune system is vastly complicated,
0:13:23 > 0:13:27consisting of hundreds of different kinds of cells that all do different
0:13:27 > 0:13:33jobs, whether recognising foreign invaders, carrying messages,
0:13:33 > 0:13:38devouring known bacteria or learning how to fight new enemies.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43To gain a rare view into this diverse system,
0:13:43 > 0:13:45I've come to Glasgow University.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Professors Iain McInnes and Paul Garside
0:13:48 > 0:13:51are studying one of the key types of immune cell,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54white blood cells, using a laser microscope.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58It's actually very difficult to look at the immune system at work.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Cardiologists can watch the heart beat with an echocardiogram.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05I don't have that immunological stethoscope, if you like,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08to really get into the detail of what the cells are doing.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Think about somebody who develops glandular fever, for example.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Within three or four days of getting that viral infection,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18they will generate in the order of seven billion cells.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22That's not far short of the world's total population.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25And that's why Paul and I have been working together to try and develop
0:14:25 > 0:14:29imaging techniques that allow us to see white blood cells in
0:14:29 > 0:14:31the real time, doing their job.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Wow, so, not just white blood cells on a glass slide,
0:14:34 > 0:14:38but actually kind of in their dynamic function.
0:14:38 > 0:14:39Absolutely.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42This technology can reveal individual cells
0:14:42 > 0:14:44moving in real time.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48These are just two of the hundreds of cell types in the immune system.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52The green cells gather information and pass it on to the red cells,
0:14:52 > 0:14:54which will respond if needed.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56When the system is activated,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58you can see these interactions intensify.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00- It's amazing to see... - Yeah, no, it's very exciting.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- ..the cells actually moving like that.- Yeah, it's great fun.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Isn't it? Really, really interesting.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07I think one of the most important things is how dynamic
0:15:07 > 0:15:08the immune system is,
0:15:08 > 0:15:12that the cells of your immune system move and talk to each other
0:15:12 > 0:15:15and they also all have conversations with the tissues within which they
0:15:15 > 0:15:18reside, so they will talk to the cells in your skin
0:15:18 > 0:15:21or the cells in your gut, and it's that integrated.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24And that's incredibly complex and we're only just beginning to scratch
0:15:24 > 0:15:26the surface of that.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Because of this astonishing complexity,
0:15:29 > 0:15:33it's incredibly difficult to measure whether anything that's described as
0:15:33 > 0:15:36boosting the immune system can really make a difference.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37So, what do we know?
0:15:38 > 0:15:42To stay healthy, we need to get enough vitamins and minerals,
0:15:42 > 0:15:46and some studies have suggested that if we're deficient in, say,
0:15:46 > 0:15:47zinc or vitamin C,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50it can have a harmful effect on our immune response.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56But for most of us, that doesn't mean we need to take supplements.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59The truth is, if we're eating healthily,
0:15:59 > 0:16:03the vast majority of us will get all the vitamins and minerals we need in
0:16:03 > 0:16:07our diet and there's simply no evidence to suggest that taking
0:16:07 > 0:16:11extra amounts will enhance our disease-fighting powers.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Studies have also looked at whether herbs, like Echinacea,
0:16:17 > 0:16:18can help our immune system,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22but there isn't yet enough good evidence to back up this connection.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26Probiotic products have also been linked to immune health,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30but the European Food Safety Authority has ruled that they can't
0:16:30 > 0:16:32claim to improve immune function,
0:16:32 > 0:16:34because of a lack of scientific proof.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38But there's something else that bothers me about all this.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Even if we could boost our immune systems,
0:16:41 > 0:16:43is that something we really want to be doing?
0:16:45 > 0:16:48It seems to me that by concentrating so much on boosting,
0:16:48 > 0:16:52we're missing a vital point about the immune system -
0:16:52 > 0:16:54the importance of balance.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57There are as many off switches in the immune system
0:16:57 > 0:16:58as there are on switches.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00We tend to think of the on switches mainly,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02but those off switches are important.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06If they fail, overactive immunity could become a problem.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10That's where the immune system becomes confused and attacks our own
0:17:10 > 0:17:14tissues instead of invading organisms and germs.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17So, a healthy immune system is one that sits in balance.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19It's poised and ready to go.
0:17:19 > 0:17:20Think of a catapult.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24It's as if the elastic is pulled back and ready just to be released.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26That's how the immune system is set in health.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30What would you advise your kids or your wife or your relatives, if they
0:17:30 > 0:17:33said to you, "I really want to make sure that my immune function
0:17:33 > 0:17:35"is absolutely tiptop?" What would you say?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38I think the normal vitamins and minerals that we all take
0:17:38 > 0:17:40in a healthy, balanced diet are what you need.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42It's balance in your diet,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45it's balance in your lifestyle, and that balances your immune system.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49So, no quick fix magic wand waving, then?
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Not as far as I'm concerned, no.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56We're learning more about the immune system all the time,
0:17:56 > 0:17:59but there's still so much to discover.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03And its complexity means that it's unlikely to respond to any kind of
0:18:03 > 0:18:05quick fix.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08The immune system isn't a single entity,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10and to function properly it needs
0:18:10 > 0:18:14all of its elements to work together in perfect balance,
0:18:14 > 0:18:19so until there is some solid evidence that taking supplements can
0:18:19 > 0:18:20help us with this,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24I'm certainly not going to be wasting my money on any so-called
0:18:24 > 0:18:26immune-boosting products.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40Earlier on, Chris tested ten popular fish oil supplements and found that
0:18:40 > 0:18:42even the cheapest ones contain
0:18:42 > 0:18:45the levels of healthy omega-3 fats they claimed.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50But do the benefits of eating omega-3 really justify the hype?
0:18:50 > 0:18:54And if so, are supplements as effective as eating real fish?
0:18:54 > 0:18:56To find out, we're setting up an experiment
0:18:56 > 0:18:58with 60 people in Liverpool.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Our volunteers are going to start an eight-week trial,
0:19:02 > 0:19:07testing the benefits of eating fresh fish versus supplements.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12We're going to split our volunteers into three groups.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17Group One will eat oily fish, like salmon or mackerel, twice weekly.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Group Two will take a supplement that, over the week,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21will provide them with
0:19:21 > 0:19:23the same amount of omega-3 as the oily fish group.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Our groups will be taking high
0:19:26 > 0:19:29but safe levels of omega-3 fats to improve
0:19:29 > 0:19:32the chances of seeing any changes in our eight-week study.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35The third group will take a dummy pill
0:19:35 > 0:19:37and they'll eat white fish,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40which actually contains very little omega-3.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42So, while they think they're getting omega-3,
0:19:42 > 0:19:44they're actually our placebo group.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Before they start, we're doing a range of tests,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51and one of the key things
0:19:51 > 0:19:55we're looking at is something called the omega-3 index.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00This is a measure of the levels of EPA and DHA in their blood.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03It tells us what percentage of the fat in their cells
0:20:03 > 0:20:07is actually made up of these health-boosting omega-3 fats.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13A low omega-3 index is linked with an increased risk of heart attack,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15stroke and diabetes.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17At the end of the experiment,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20we'll repeat all the tests and see if either the fish group or the
0:20:20 > 0:20:23supplement-takers have seen any improvement.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Results coming up later in the programme.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36If you have a burning health question
0:20:36 > 0:20:38you've always wanted answered,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40why not send it to us via the Trust Me website?
0:20:46 > 0:20:50I'd like to know if there is a cure for restless leg syndrome.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Restless leg syndrome isn't jiggling your legs about when you're sitting,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57it's very different.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00To those who have experienced it, it's unmistakable and unpleasant.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Many of us have experienced a strange sensation
0:21:07 > 0:21:09when we're resting, usually at night.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13It's an irresistible urge to move your legs,
0:21:13 > 0:21:15often accompanied by unpleasant feelings
0:21:15 > 0:21:17like a crawling sensation under the skin.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Getting up and walking relieves it,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22but it really disrupts sleep, bringing with it tiredness,
0:21:22 > 0:21:26irritability and all the things that go with insomnia.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30It's thought that one in ten people in the UK will suffer from
0:21:30 > 0:21:33restless leg syndrome at some point in their life.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Research is still trying to pin down what causes it.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40There's some evidence that it can be alleviated by drugs that boost the
0:21:40 > 0:21:42level of a chemical in the brain
0:21:42 > 0:21:45called dopamine, which affects movement.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Now, there are drugs you can take that boost dopamine levels, and they
0:21:47 > 0:21:50can actually relieve symptoms or get rid of them completely,
0:21:50 > 0:21:52but only for a while.
0:21:52 > 0:21:53The problem with these drugs
0:21:53 > 0:21:56is your body adapts and, so, within two years,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58about a third of people will see their symptoms return.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02If you are taking medication,
0:22:02 > 0:22:06it's worth remembering that symptoms can suddenly disappear naturally,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09so it's a good idea to take breaks from drug treatment to see if your
0:22:09 > 0:22:11symptoms have cleared up on their own.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17And recent research might account for why women are twice as likely
0:22:17 > 0:22:18to suffer from it as men.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21It seems that some sufferers may have low iron levels
0:22:21 > 0:22:22in the parts of the brain
0:22:22 > 0:22:26that control movement, and that these low iron levels may be due
0:22:26 > 0:22:28to low iron levels in the blood overall.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31And that might explain why restless leg syndrome is more common
0:22:31 > 0:22:33when women become pregnant,
0:22:33 > 0:22:35because they can become anaemic at the same time.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37So, if you are a sufferer, it's worth going to your doctor,
0:22:37 > 0:22:41getting a blood test, checking those iron levels and seeing if you need
0:22:41 > 0:22:43a supplement.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Iron supplements must be prescribed by a doctor,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49because it's important to get the levels just right.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52But if your symptoms are mild enough, other things might help.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54First, try to get a bit more exercise.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57There's some evidence that that can help some sufferers.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Secondly, try and do everything you can to establish a regular sleeping
0:23:01 > 0:23:04pattern, cutting down on caffeine and other stimulants at night.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07But if your symptoms are really disrupting your sleep,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09do make an appointment to go and see your doctor.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21From time to time, most of us will eat far more
0:23:21 > 0:23:24than we should in the way of fatty and sugary foods.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28New research, however, suggest that overindulgence affects
0:23:28 > 0:23:30men and women differently.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32GP Dr Zoe Williams
0:23:32 > 0:23:36has bravely volunteered herself as a subject to find out more.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38As we saw earlier,
0:23:38 > 0:23:42healthy fats and oils are an essential part of our diet,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46but fat shouldn't make up more than about 30% of what we eat.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50We all know that too much fat can cause issues with our weight
0:23:50 > 0:23:52and our heart health.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57But a new problem that's only just coming to light is that eating a lot
0:23:57 > 0:24:00of fat can also affect how our bodies process other foods,
0:24:00 > 0:24:02in particular, carbohydrates.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08Scientists here at Liverpool are finding that just how bad it is may
0:24:08 > 0:24:13be different depending on whether you're a man or a woman.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17To find out more, I've come to meet the scientist behind the research,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Dr Matt Cocks of Liverpool John Moores University.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25He's going to put both himself and me on a high-fat diet for a week,
0:24:25 > 0:24:27to reveal how men and women differ.
0:24:28 > 0:24:29This is for the whole week?
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Yeah. So, this is your food for the week.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Everything you see on here, you need to eat.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38- OK. Could've been worse. - HE CHUCKLES
0:24:38 > 0:24:40I see there's a lot of fat on the meat,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42which I wouldn't normally eat the fat on the meat.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Fat's denser, more energy dense,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47so you're actually going to eat maybe less food than you expected,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50despite the fact you've got more calories.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52There isn't a single fruit on there.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54- This is literally it?- This is it.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59- We'll see how it goes. - Yeah, we will.- Give it my best shot.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Matt's been investigating how eating a diet high in fat, like this,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06affects our ability to process carbs.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Carb-rich foods like bread and pasta
0:25:08 > 0:25:12cause our blood sugar levels to rise, and that sugar is normally
0:25:12 > 0:25:14either used as energy or stored as fat.
0:25:15 > 0:25:20But Matt believes that eating a lot of fat interferes with these
0:25:20 > 0:25:22processes, and causes the sugar to stay in our blood for longer,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26which can be harmful and lead to type 2 diabetes.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29So, while we're on our high-fat diet,
0:25:29 > 0:25:31we'll have an occasional sugary drink, which will allow Matt to
0:25:31 > 0:25:35measure what happens to our blood sugar levels.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39Before the diet starts, a scanner measures our body fat.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Blood tests measure our blood sugar levels..
0:25:43 > 0:25:45..and we'll wear a glucose monitor, so Matt can track how well
0:25:45 > 0:25:49we control our blood sugar through the week.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Day three. Dinner time.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56Over the next week, Matt and I gorge ourselves on fatty foods.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Really, really missing fruit.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02And on two different days, we throw in a sugary drink.
0:26:02 > 0:26:03I'm having my first sugar high!
0:26:05 > 0:26:06One week later...
0:26:06 > 0:26:08- Hi, Matt.- How are you feeling?
0:26:08 > 0:26:12..I'm back to see what impact the diet has had on our bodies.
0:26:12 > 0:26:13173.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16And whether there could be differences between men and women.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19First, body fat.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Here, there's not much change.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Seven days eating all that fat hasn't made a significant difference
0:26:25 > 0:26:28to the total body fat in either of us.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34And this is what Matt has found in his previous research.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39But things get really interesting when we look at how our bodies coped
0:26:39 > 0:26:41with consuming sugar.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Like most women in Matt's research,
0:26:43 > 0:26:47my ability to control my blood sugar levels didn't get any worse,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50in fact, unusually, mine got slightly better.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53But that's not the case with Matt.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56When I finished the high-fat diet, so seven days later,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00my control of blood sugar is actually...got 50% worse
0:27:00 > 0:27:02than it was to start with.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05- 50%, wow.- So...yeah, not good for me.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07So, what that means is...
0:27:07 > 0:27:10we need our bodies to deal with sugar in the blood
0:27:10 > 0:27:13very quickly, to get rid of it because we don't want it to be
0:27:13 > 0:27:15- there...- Yeah.- ..and yours is only dealing with it half as well.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Yeah, that's what we seem to be saying.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Matt's response was extreme,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23but his wider research confirms that men are significantly worse than
0:27:23 > 0:27:27women at coping with high sugar levels when they eat lots of fat.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30It does seem that, particularly if a man is having a very high-fat
0:27:30 > 0:27:33diet, if they have sugar within that,
0:27:33 > 0:27:34it could have a negative effect,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37whereas maybe with the women who are on a high-fat diet,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40it might be slightly less of a...
0:27:40 > 0:27:43a kind of a bad thing to have that sugar every now and then.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46OK, so, basically, what we're saying is that women are better.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48It looks like it.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Our experiment is in line with Matt's wider research,
0:27:54 > 0:27:58which reveals that eating a lot of fat has a significant effect on
0:27:58 > 0:28:01men's ability to keep their blood sugar under control.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04A key step in the development of type 2 diabetes.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08So, what can you do about it?
0:28:08 > 0:28:13Well, the best advice is don't overindulge in fatty foods.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15If you do eat a lot of fat,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18try to avoid eating carbs in the six hours afterwards,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21as this is when the impact on your blood sugar is worst.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Be sparing with meals that combine a lot of fat with carbs,
0:28:25 > 0:28:27like burger and chips or pizza.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33But if you can't resist the urge, do some exercise after the meal,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35because this will help use up the excess sugar
0:28:35 > 0:28:37that's in your bloodstream.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41Even just going for a walk can help open up those blood vessels,
0:28:41 > 0:28:44which helps the glucose get to the muscles where it can be used.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47And that might help to prevent long-lasting damage.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58Coming up, the red flags we should all learn to recognise
0:28:58 > 0:29:00that could save our eyesight.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03And we reveal our fishy findings.
0:29:04 > 0:29:05But first...
0:29:07 > 0:29:09Previously on Trust Me,
0:29:09 > 0:29:12we tested the effects of microwave cooking on vegetables,
0:29:12 > 0:29:16and concluded it may actually be better than other cooking methods
0:29:16 > 0:29:18at preserving some of the nutrients.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21But some viewers spotted something that bothered them
0:29:21 > 0:29:23in our cooking method.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27Some of you wanted to know if it's safe to use clingfilm
0:29:27 > 0:29:29in the microwave and, in particular,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32if there's any danger of chemicals leaching out
0:29:32 > 0:29:34and contaminating your food.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37We thought this was well worth investigating,
0:29:37 > 0:29:40so we decided to put some clingfilms to the test.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45Plastics contain many different chemicals.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50In fact, there are over 900 that are approved for use in food packaging,
0:29:50 > 0:29:54and some of these can be tested to see if they migrate into our food.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59So, we sent some PVC clingfilm labelled microwave-safe
0:29:59 > 0:30:02to Dr Emma Bradley and her team at a laboratory
0:30:02 > 0:30:05that specialises in this kind of testing.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11Our PVC clingfilm contained a common chemical called ESBO,
0:30:11 > 0:30:13which is made of soy bean oil.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17Now, it's a plasticiser, and what that means is that it's
0:30:17 > 0:30:21responsible for keeping the clingfilm flexible and stretchy.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25ESBO is a good example of a chemical
0:30:25 > 0:30:29that lab tests have shown can migrate into food.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32So we wanted to see if it did this under cooking conditions
0:30:32 > 0:30:36that replicated the worst possible real-life contact.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40ESBO dissolves into fat,
0:30:40 > 0:30:42so the scientists tested the clingfilm
0:30:42 > 0:30:45with a couple of particularly fatty foodstuffs.
0:30:46 > 0:30:50First, they microwaved it with spaghetti carbonara.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54Then, for the ultimate test, they soaked it in olive oil,
0:30:54 > 0:30:58another very fatty substance, before heating it.
0:30:58 > 0:30:59And now we have the results.
0:31:02 > 0:31:03In our first test,
0:31:03 > 0:31:07when the clingfilm was microwaved with the carbonara,
0:31:07 > 0:31:11there were no detectable levels of ESBO in the food.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15But in our second test, when we heated the clingfilm with olive oil,
0:31:15 > 0:31:19there were small amounts of ESBO in the olive oil.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22But these levels were in line with legal limits.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Food safety authorities in Ireland
0:31:26 > 0:31:28and North America advise not to
0:31:28 > 0:31:30allow cling-film to touch food
0:31:30 > 0:31:32when you're cooking, though the UK doesn't.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36And interestingly, there seems to be no particular advantage in choosing
0:31:36 > 0:31:38microwave-safe clingfilm.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41If the packaging has no specific labelling,
0:31:41 > 0:31:44it will have been tested to make sure it is safe for use in all
0:31:44 > 0:31:46foreseeable kinds of contact with food.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51So, if you do want to use clingfilm in your microwave,
0:31:51 > 0:31:54rest assured that our tests didn't find anything
0:31:54 > 0:31:56that breached EU limits.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00But bear in mind one important rule when you're cooking -
0:32:00 > 0:32:05keep your clingfilm and your food separate to minimise any risk
0:32:05 > 0:32:07of chemicals leaching into your dinner.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21I've been a medical journalist for many years.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25Stories I've seen about plastics aren't limited to clingfilm
0:32:25 > 0:32:26and microwaves.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Concern about plastics and the harm they might be doing us
0:32:29 > 0:32:31is a much broader issue than that.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34Plastic is everywhere.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37A lot of our food comes wrapped in plastic.
0:32:37 > 0:32:42Even things like tin cans have plastic lining.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46Now, a lot of people have contacted us because they are concerned,
0:32:46 > 0:32:48so I want to find out what, if anything,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51is coming out of plastic into our food,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54what effect is it having on our health,
0:32:54 > 0:32:57should I worry about plastic?
0:32:57 > 0:33:02Two chemicals you may have heard about are Bisphenol A, or BPA,
0:33:02 > 0:33:05found in plastic food containers, and phthalates,
0:33:05 > 0:33:07which help make plastic flexible.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12Small amounts of these chemicals can migrate
0:33:12 > 0:33:14from plastics into food and drink.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18I wanted to find out how much is getting into me.
0:33:18 > 0:33:23I sent off a urine sample so we could measure my levels of BPA
0:33:23 > 0:33:24and phthalates.
0:33:26 > 0:33:31Then I fasted for 24 hours and sent another sample, to see if avoiding
0:33:31 > 0:33:34exposure to plastics in food made any difference.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38After that, I ate a meal full of processed food,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41that's been in close contact with plastics.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Not making me feel good. This is not what I would normally eat.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47And then we measured my levels again.
0:33:47 > 0:33:52What we found was that my levels dropped after my fast and rose again
0:33:52 > 0:33:56after my meal, which shows that some of these chemicals are getting into
0:33:56 > 0:33:58my body from my food and drink.
0:33:59 > 0:34:00And this is true for all of us.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04In fact, my baseline levels were in line with the UK average.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08So, should we be worried?
0:34:08 > 0:34:12I sent the results to two plastics experts with very different views.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16Professor Andreas Kortenkamp, from Brunel University,
0:34:16 > 0:34:19has some concerns about the chemicals in plastics.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23The two things we've been looking at were
0:34:23 > 0:34:25BPA and phthalates.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Why? What it is about them that worries you?
0:34:28 > 0:34:32The levels you carry around with you are not dangerous,
0:34:32 > 0:34:35but what we need to bear in mind is that some people,
0:34:35 > 0:34:38for reasons we don't quite understand,
0:34:38 > 0:34:40have very much higher levels
0:34:40 > 0:34:43- and it is these who we need to protect.- OK.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45A different story is pregnant women.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49It wouldn't be problematic for the women themselves,
0:34:49 > 0:34:52but if they have a baby, it might be.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55So, why is the foetus particularly at risk?
0:34:55 > 0:34:58In foetal life, we have a roll of hormones.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01Hormones programme development.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04And phthalates interfere with this programming step.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06They block, they drive down the synthesis
0:35:06 > 0:35:12of the male sex hormone, so very relevant to male sexual development.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14And we must be very careful
0:35:14 > 0:35:17with any chemicals we are exposing mothers to
0:35:17 > 0:35:20that might actually affect this programming.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24But there are committees who exist to pore over the data, to make
0:35:24 > 0:35:27judgments, to protect the public.
0:35:27 > 0:35:28Do you think they're not doing their job?
0:35:28 > 0:35:32The committees are doing their job, but what's missing
0:35:32 > 0:35:35is a more effective implementation of measures.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38But we haven't considered one other element.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41We have a cocktail issue here.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43What you define as tolerable exposure
0:35:43 > 0:35:45for one chemical in isolation
0:35:45 > 0:35:49will change as you take into account all the others.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51The good news is that, currently,
0:35:51 > 0:35:54there are moves ahead at the level of the
0:35:54 > 0:35:56European Food Safety Authority,
0:35:56 > 0:35:58to begin to think about ways how this can be done.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00- Beginning to think?- Yes.
0:36:00 > 0:36:01OK, right.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04So you don't accept the argument that science has progressed to
0:36:04 > 0:36:05such a degree that
0:36:05 > 0:36:10these sort of mistakes that we've seen in the past, with chemicals
0:36:10 > 0:36:13where they're deemed to be safe and then they turned out not to be safe,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16- that's just not going to happen? - No, I don't think so.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20So... Also, you see, our ability to evaluate
0:36:20 > 0:36:23these chemicals properly, toxicologically,
0:36:23 > 0:36:26cannot keep pace with the speed
0:36:26 > 0:36:30with which industry turns out new chemicals and uses them.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33So, the only option is better regulation.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36For example, by restricting the use
0:36:36 > 0:36:40of certain of these plasticiser chemicals in plastics.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42I personally believe that we,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45in the future, we won't be able to live without plastics,
0:36:45 > 0:36:46so we have to make that safe.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51My next expert is Dr Nick Plant,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54a toxicologist at the University of Surrey.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56He's part of the committee of toxicity
0:36:56 > 0:37:01that advises on safe levels of these chemicals.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05How do you assess the safety of these chemicals?
0:37:05 > 0:37:09The really important tests are those done in animal models,
0:37:09 > 0:37:12because they allow us to look at the whole-body effects of chemicals.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16So, traditionally, what we do is to test these chemicals at a range
0:37:16 > 0:37:20of doses. We would identify the level that you can give
0:37:20 > 0:37:23to an animal that has no adverse effects,
0:37:23 > 0:37:25no side-effects. Now, normally,
0:37:25 > 0:37:27we would then go 100 times lower
0:37:27 > 0:37:31than that to set what we call a tolerable daily intake.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33Are you at all concerned about male foetuses?
0:37:33 > 0:37:36Both BPA and the phthalates, we know in animal models
0:37:36 > 0:37:39will cause effects on
0:37:39 > 0:37:41reproduction and development.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45But the level of exposure that you have to the chemicals means that
0:37:45 > 0:37:48the risk to you is very, very low.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51Is there a risk of the so-called cocktail effect?
0:37:51 > 0:37:54We know that for certain chemicals, when you mix them together,
0:37:54 > 0:37:56you can have a larger response,
0:37:56 > 0:37:58so what we would do is we would use
0:37:58 > 0:38:02the levels of the most potent chemical in that group,
0:38:02 > 0:38:03so the most potent phthalate,
0:38:03 > 0:38:07and we'd use that to make our safety level.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10And that means even if there is some synergy going on,
0:38:10 > 0:38:12we're still going to be within a level
0:38:12 > 0:38:13that will be safe for human health.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17Is there a possibility that actually we're missing something?
0:38:17 > 0:38:19There is always the unknown unknowns.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22And one of the key parts of regulation
0:38:22 > 0:38:26is to keep levels of chemicals as low as reasonably practicable,
0:38:26 > 0:38:29so we use them at the lowest level that we can.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32If we want to have
0:38:32 > 0:38:37good food containers, if we want to have safe intensive care units,
0:38:37 > 0:38:41using tubing, then we have to have the plasticisers that will make that
0:38:41 > 0:38:43tubing soft to allow us to deliver medicines,
0:38:43 > 0:38:47so it's a risk that I think we have to accept to gain the benefits.
0:38:47 > 0:38:51Why do you think this keeps on coming up over and over again?
0:38:51 > 0:38:55It comes up because we don't have a clear answer.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58And that naturally makes people concerned.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01And, in fact, I believe that people should
0:39:01 > 0:39:03always keep raising these things,
0:39:03 > 0:39:07because if people keep discussing it, then we keep looking at ways of
0:39:07 > 0:39:10reducing that exposure and therefore reducing the risk.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15So, having heard both sides, should I worry about plastics?
0:39:15 > 0:39:19As an adult, I'm not really troubled about my own exposure,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22but there are concerns for unborn babies.
0:39:22 > 0:39:23If you are worried,
0:39:23 > 0:39:26you can choose products that are BPA and phthalate-free
0:39:26 > 0:39:28and avoid cooking in plastics.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32Visit the Trust Me website to find out more.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46About one in three people who experience a serious trauma,
0:39:46 > 0:39:48such as a car accident or being assaulted,
0:39:48 > 0:39:51then suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54It can be really hard to treat.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57Surgeon Gabriel Weston has been to California,
0:39:57 > 0:40:00where they are testing some really novel techniques,
0:40:00 > 0:40:02which involve stimulating the brain.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Post-traumatic stress disorder
0:40:06 > 0:40:09is normally treated with talking therapies or medication.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12But these don't work for everyone,
0:40:12 > 0:40:14and the drugs involved can cause side-effects.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Here in California,
0:40:17 > 0:40:20they're trialling a new approach to the way we treat mental illness.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25And it all hinges on the complex inner workings of our brain.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Every day, as we go about our lives,
0:40:31 > 0:40:34innumerable activities are going on in our brains.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38Signals are travelling along complex networks of nerve cells,
0:40:38 > 0:40:41neurons are firing and chemicals are reacting.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45It's an intricate system that we still don't fully understand.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49But one thing we do know is that these activities can be disrupted,
0:40:49 > 0:40:52sometimes with devastating consequences.
0:40:54 > 0:40:59Everything started when I got back on my second tour.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01Armando was a US Marine who returned
0:41:01 > 0:41:05from active service in Iraq with PTSD.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09I was blown up by a suicide car bomb and, you know, there was...
0:41:11 > 0:41:16..pieces of, you know, the hands and, you know, the...
0:41:16 > 0:41:21jawbones and, you know, just pieces of the guy everywhere.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24So, seeing something like that, I mean,
0:41:24 > 0:41:28obviously, for some people, it has an effect on them.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31I was real jumpy. Very paranoid.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34Always checking that nobody was outside,
0:41:34 > 0:41:36and I just could not, could not sleep.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42Extreme or prolonged trauma can interfere with the brain's ability
0:41:42 > 0:41:44to function normally.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48What happens is that the brain gets caught in a state of hyperawareness
0:41:48 > 0:41:52with communication networks, chemical reactions,
0:41:52 > 0:41:56and the ability of the brain to process and store memory being
0:41:56 > 0:41:58severely disrupted.
0:41:58 > 0:42:03This is why PTSD sufferers can be left feeling anxious, agitated
0:42:03 > 0:42:06and tormented by flashbacks.
0:42:06 > 0:42:07But the new treatment being offered at
0:42:07 > 0:42:10the University of California, Los Angeles
0:42:10 > 0:42:12aims to relieve the symptoms.
0:42:13 > 0:42:18Experts here are hoping to treat PTSD by targeting those areas
0:42:18 > 0:42:22of the brain that have been altered by trauma.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26The hope is that by applying electrical or magnetic stimulation
0:42:26 > 0:42:28to these points,
0:42:28 > 0:42:32they can reset brain activity and restore balance.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35The name for this new approach is neuromodulation.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39Dr Andrew Leuchter
0:42:39 > 0:42:42is the director of the neuromodulation division.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47We're treating the brain as though
0:42:47 > 0:42:50it is a whole organ, and we're picking
0:42:50 > 0:42:53particular critical hubs of this network,
0:42:53 > 0:42:57and by introducing energy in specific ways,
0:42:57 > 0:43:01we're able to change the way the network functions.
0:43:01 > 0:43:05Which parts of the brain are involved in PTSD?
0:43:05 > 0:43:09There are a few key areas that we've identified,
0:43:09 > 0:43:11specifically the amygdala,
0:43:11 > 0:43:13which allows us to process fear.
0:43:13 > 0:43:18And the anterior cingulate, which is in the middle of the brain,
0:43:18 > 0:43:22that determines how vigilant we are, and the prefrontal cortex,
0:43:22 > 0:43:25which regulates mood and anxiety.
0:43:25 > 0:43:29And by stimulating or inhibiting those areas,
0:43:29 > 0:43:33we're able to reset how the brain's network functions.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38There are a number of different neuromodulation methods
0:43:38 > 0:43:39being studied here.
0:43:39 > 0:43:44The first I'm going to look at is transcranial magnetic stimulation,
0:43:44 > 0:43:45or TMS,
0:43:45 > 0:43:47which uses electromagnetic pulses
0:43:47 > 0:43:51to create small currents in parts of the brain.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58The magnet is firing at ten pulses per second,
0:43:58 > 0:44:03and it's introducing this repetitive burst of energy into the brain.
0:44:04 > 0:44:07Depending on where we put the magnet,
0:44:07 > 0:44:10over which part of the brain network we're stimulating,
0:44:10 > 0:44:14we can relieve a number of different kinds of symptoms.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18Magnetic stimulation has shown great potential in quietening down
0:44:18 > 0:44:22the parts of the brain that are overactive in PTSD,
0:44:22 > 0:44:24but it is not the only neuromodulation technique
0:44:24 > 0:44:26being used here.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29Another is electrical stimulation.
0:44:29 > 0:44:31Dr Leuchter is also trialling something called
0:44:31 > 0:44:35trigeminal nerve stimulation, or TNS.
0:44:35 > 0:44:38Now, this takes advantage of a nerve called the trigeminal nerve,
0:44:38 > 0:44:42which runs from the skin of the forehead directly into the brain.
0:44:42 > 0:44:46And the great advantage of this technique is that patients can use
0:44:46 > 0:44:48it in the comfort of their own homes.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52All they need is this device,
0:44:52 > 0:44:55which is being tested in a US Army-funded trial
0:44:55 > 0:44:56where some patients get
0:44:56 > 0:45:00the real thing and some get a placebo.
0:45:00 > 0:45:05So, we just ask the patient to place it directly on the forehead.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08Armando is one of the patients involved.
0:45:08 > 0:45:12All subjects have to do is turn it on and go to sleep.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17The patch on the forehead works by directly stimulating
0:45:17 > 0:45:19the trigeminal nerve.
0:45:20 > 0:45:23We use these very low energy,
0:45:23 > 0:45:26high-frequency electrical impulses
0:45:26 > 0:45:30that go in through the nerve and go to some of the deep brain areas
0:45:30 > 0:45:34that help to regulate things like anxiety,
0:45:34 > 0:45:36startle reflexes.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38And what we're doing with these electrical signals
0:45:38 > 0:45:41is essentially rebooting the network,
0:45:41 > 0:45:44and we found that by doing that night after night
0:45:44 > 0:45:47for a series of weeks, that we're able to eliminate
0:45:47 > 0:45:50many of these troublesome anxiety and mood symptoms.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54So, Armando, what does it feel like?
0:45:54 > 0:45:56The main and most important thing would be my sleep.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59I was averaging two to four hours
0:45:59 > 0:46:01of sleep and now I'm getting a good six to...
0:46:03 > 0:46:06..nine hours of sleep some days.
0:46:06 > 0:46:08I'm not getting startled as easy.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13And having a better attitude on life.
0:46:13 > 0:46:14That's great. That's so great.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18So far, Armando's response matches
0:46:18 > 0:46:22results from an earlier trial, where the severity of PTSD symptoms
0:46:22 > 0:46:25decreased and, for a quarter of the subjects,
0:46:25 > 0:46:27actually went into remission.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30How far do you think this will go in the future?
0:46:30 > 0:46:33We're really just scratching the surface of what these
0:46:33 > 0:46:36neuromodulation treatments can be used for.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39We have treated successfully chronic pain,
0:46:39 > 0:46:42obsessive compulsive disorder,
0:46:42 > 0:46:46different kinds of anxiety syndromes and, interestingly enough,
0:46:46 > 0:46:48even tinnitus - ringing in the ears.
0:46:48 > 0:46:52And I think this is going to be the future of our specialty,
0:46:52 > 0:46:57where we're going to be able to treat these illnesses
0:46:57 > 0:46:59with very targeted energy treatments
0:46:59 > 0:47:01that'll be largely devoid of side-effects.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07I'm inspired by what I've ever seen here in LA,
0:47:07 > 0:47:11and what's impressed me about neuromodulation
0:47:11 > 0:47:13isn't so much the technology.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17In fact, some of these devices are simple enough to be used at home,
0:47:17 > 0:47:22but the fact that it provides a whole new therapy for a vast range
0:47:22 > 0:47:23of different illnesses.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36In the UK,
0:47:36 > 0:47:38there are around 360,000 people
0:47:38 > 0:47:42who are registered as blind or partially sighted.
0:47:42 > 0:47:43Now, in many cases,
0:47:43 > 0:47:46they have a disease and it's going to be progressive,
0:47:46 > 0:47:49but there are also plenty of examples where
0:47:49 > 0:47:51if you recognise the warning signs in time,
0:47:51 > 0:47:55you can actually prevent someone from going blind.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57Over to Dr Saleyha Ahsan.
0:47:58 > 0:48:02I'm on my way to meet a group of patients to talk about a condition
0:48:02 > 0:48:04that leads to around 3,000 people
0:48:04 > 0:48:08losing some or all of their sight every year.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11But if it's caught in time, vision can be saved.
0:48:11 > 0:48:12As an A&E doctor,
0:48:12 > 0:48:16I've seen first-hand what can happen when a disease called
0:48:16 > 0:48:20giant cell arteritis is diagnosed too late.
0:48:20 > 0:48:24That's why I'm joining a drive to help improve early management
0:48:24 > 0:48:26and recognition and raise public awareness.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31Giant cell arteritis, or GCA,
0:48:31 > 0:48:34is a condition where the arteries become inflamed,
0:48:34 > 0:48:38making it more difficult for blood to pass through them.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41When it happens to the arteries supplying the optic nerve,
0:48:41 > 0:48:43it can lead to blindness.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47But if it's caught in time, vision can be saved.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50The problem with GCA is that it can come on suddenly
0:48:50 > 0:48:53and become dangerous very quickly.
0:48:53 > 0:48:54And in some cases,
0:48:54 > 0:49:00sight can be irreversibly lost within days or even hours.
0:49:00 > 0:49:03It's really important that we recognise the red flag symptoms
0:49:03 > 0:49:08so we can spot them and get treatment as early as possible.
0:49:08 > 0:49:11GCA is more likely to affect adults
0:49:11 > 0:49:15over 50 and is three times more common in women.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18I began to get these severe headaches.
0:49:18 > 0:49:21I also had jaw ache, neck ache,
0:49:22 > 0:49:26ear ache and painful shoulders.
0:49:26 > 0:49:28And these all got worse day by day by day.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31My mobility became less.
0:49:31 > 0:49:35Coming with lethargy and loss of appetite and loss of weight.
0:49:35 > 0:49:37I was thinking, "Oh, it's going to be a migraine."
0:49:37 > 0:49:40But it wasn't a migraine. It was like a cap of pain.
0:49:40 > 0:49:44It was like my brain being squeezed.
0:49:44 > 0:49:47My mother-in-law lost a lot of weight.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50She was very, very low mood.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52Very painful scalp.
0:49:52 > 0:49:56Jaw pain, and when I say painful scalp,
0:49:56 > 0:49:59brushing her hair became impossible.
0:49:59 > 0:50:02The most common red flags are headaches,
0:50:02 > 0:50:04especially at the temples,
0:50:04 > 0:50:06tenderness of the scalp,
0:50:06 > 0:50:09jaw pain and aches and pains.
0:50:09 > 0:50:12But as the condition becomes more serious,
0:50:12 > 0:50:16sufferers may start to experience problems with their vision.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18She'd gone to put the TV on for her mum and she said,
0:50:18 > 0:50:19"Oh, don't bother."
0:50:19 > 0:50:21She said, "I can't see properly out of my left eye."
0:50:21 > 0:50:23She said, "It's annoying me."
0:50:23 > 0:50:26She had flashing lights in her eyes.
0:50:26 > 0:50:27She uses her iPad a lot,
0:50:27 > 0:50:30and she was like, "Oh, can you enlarge it for me?
0:50:30 > 0:50:32"I can't see it any more."
0:50:32 > 0:50:35One day, I had a sort of flash in one eye.
0:50:35 > 0:50:40I actually lost the sight in this eye for about three minutes.
0:50:40 > 0:50:42Just white.
0:50:42 > 0:50:44Couldn't see anything with that eye.
0:50:44 > 0:50:45At this stage,
0:50:45 > 0:50:47sufferers should see a doctor immediately so that they can
0:50:47 > 0:50:49be treated with steroids.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53If they get these in time, it can save their sight.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55They said, "Sit down there.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58"Take your 70mg steroid straightaway."
0:51:00 > 0:51:03"This is... You could lose your sight. This is serious."
0:51:03 > 0:51:07Usually, patients have to remain on steroids for a few years,
0:51:07 > 0:51:10but, over time, the dose can be reduced,
0:51:10 > 0:51:14and after two to three years GCA may even disappear.
0:51:14 > 0:51:17But if steroids aren't given in time,
0:51:17 > 0:51:20the result can be catastrophic.
0:51:20 > 0:51:23Within the four hours that we were in eye casualty, towards the end,
0:51:23 > 0:51:24she reached round her chair
0:51:24 > 0:51:28and grabbed my hand and she said, "Amanda, I can't see anything."
0:51:28 > 0:51:31And she lost her sight that afternoon.
0:51:31 > 0:51:34Listening to the stories of people who've experienced
0:51:34 > 0:51:38giant cell arteritis has been incredibly moving,
0:51:38 > 0:51:42and it's heartbreaking hearing about people who have lost their sight.
0:51:42 > 0:51:47But the good news is that something is now being done to help prevent
0:51:47 > 0:51:49vision loss from GCA.
0:51:52 > 0:51:56At Southend Hospital, Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta
0:51:56 > 0:51:59has been trialling a fast-track pathway for GCA,
0:51:59 > 0:52:02where at-risk patients are immediately screened
0:52:02 > 0:52:03using ultrasound.
0:52:03 > 0:52:08What you see now is the picture of a normal temporal artery.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11So, you can see the blood flow very nicely in the artery.
0:52:11 > 0:52:14- So, what did it look like before? - Let's have a look.
0:52:14 > 0:52:18The inflamed vessel wall can be seen on both sides.
0:52:18 > 0:52:19That dark band.
0:52:19 > 0:52:20And that's called the halo sign.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23- It's quite...- It's very, very thick.
0:52:23 > 0:52:25You see the halo sign.
0:52:25 > 0:52:29It's quite clear. It's straight for treatment and you save their sight?
0:52:29 > 0:52:30Indeed.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33This system has already been saving patients' sight,
0:52:33 > 0:52:35including that of Roger Kay.
0:52:36 > 0:52:39I saw Professor Dasgupta,
0:52:39 > 0:52:42and he recognised the condition immediately,
0:52:42 > 0:52:44he did an ultrasound test,
0:52:45 > 0:52:48and showed me on the screen that that's what it was.
0:52:48 > 0:52:52The outcome was that it saved my eyesight.
0:52:52 > 0:52:54I'm a very lucky man.
0:52:54 > 0:52:58Professor Dasgupta, if I had £1 million, I'd give it to him.
0:52:58 > 0:53:02The scheme in Southend has been so successful that it's now being
0:53:02 > 0:53:04rolled out across the country,
0:53:04 > 0:53:06meaning that future GCA patients
0:53:06 > 0:53:08are far less likely to lose their sight.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10And we can all help by learning
0:53:10 > 0:53:14to recognise the early warning signs ourselves.
0:53:14 > 0:53:18GCA isn't the only disease that can affect your vision,
0:53:18 > 0:53:21but it is one where we have an excellent chance of stopping the
0:53:21 > 0:53:27devastation of sight loss simply by spotting the red flags early.
0:53:27 > 0:53:32So, if you have a bad headache with scalp tenderness, jaw pain,
0:53:32 > 0:53:36or any visual disturbance, then go and see your doctor immediately.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38It could save your sight.
0:53:46 > 0:53:49Back in Liverpool, our eight-week trial
0:53:49 > 0:53:52into the benefits of fish oils is coming to an end.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54One group has been eating oily fish.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57Another taking fish oil supplements.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59And our third is a placebo group,
0:53:59 > 0:54:02who have been taking a dummy pill and eating white fish,
0:54:02 > 0:54:05which isn't rich in omega-3.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08Blood tests have been analysed by Professor Graeme Close
0:54:08 > 0:54:12and Dr Ellen Dawson from Liverpool John Moores University.
0:54:12 > 0:54:16And our volunteers are keen to find out the results.
0:54:18 > 0:54:21Well, I wanted to know whether it's beneficial to have supplements
0:54:21 > 0:54:24because I'm getting to an age where I don't have tablets
0:54:24 > 0:54:25and still play a lot of sport
0:54:25 > 0:54:28and I want to know if I should be taking something.
0:54:28 > 0:54:32- You had oily fish.- Yeah, I did. - And what did you make of that?
0:54:32 > 0:54:34Um...not that fabulous,
0:54:34 > 0:54:39but I managed to plough my way through it.
0:54:39 > 0:54:41We wanted to find out whether fish
0:54:41 > 0:54:44or supplements boosted our volunteers' levels
0:54:44 > 0:54:47of healthy omega-3, and which were better.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51So, we tested their omega-3 index.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55This measures the fats in their blood and tells us what percent
0:54:55 > 0:54:56are omega-3.
0:54:56 > 0:54:58Having a low omega-3 index
0:54:58 > 0:55:00is linked with heart disease and strokes.
0:55:02 > 0:55:04So, time for the results.
0:55:04 > 0:55:08Will eating the oily fish or taking the oily fish supplement have made
0:55:08 > 0:55:10any difference?
0:55:10 > 0:55:14When we look at this omega-3 index, we're interested in the percent.
0:55:14 > 0:55:188% omega-3 index gives us a low risk.
0:55:18 > 0:55:204%, medium,
0:55:20 > 0:55:24and under 4% gives is a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
0:55:24 > 0:55:25So, at the start of the trial,
0:55:25 > 0:55:28most people in this room were around about that 4% mark,
0:55:28 > 0:55:31which puts you in the high to moderate risk
0:55:31 > 0:55:33of a cardiovascular event.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36- Was that a surprise to you?- Yes.
0:55:37 > 0:55:42All three of our groups started the trial with low levels of omega-3,
0:55:42 > 0:55:46which puts them at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
0:55:46 > 0:55:50So, did the fish oil supplements make any difference?
0:55:50 > 0:55:53When we look at both the omega-3 supplement group
0:55:53 > 0:55:55and the oily fish group,
0:55:55 > 0:55:58there was quite a marked increase in omega-3.
0:55:58 > 0:56:02We can see that in both of our omega-3 interventions,
0:56:02 > 0:56:05every single person had quite a good increase,
0:56:05 > 0:56:09with many of you moving from the high-risk to the low-risk category.
0:56:10 > 0:56:13Our placebo group showed a slight improvement,
0:56:13 > 0:56:15perhaps because eating more white fish
0:56:15 > 0:56:17made their diet more healthy.
0:56:17 > 0:56:20Though it's not statistically significant.
0:56:20 > 0:56:22But in our study, both the oily fish
0:56:22 > 0:56:26and the supplement made a significant difference,
0:56:26 > 0:56:29and this carries real health benefits.
0:56:29 > 0:56:32The recent study suggested that people who presented
0:56:32 > 0:56:37with the omega-3 profile greater than 6.5
0:56:37 > 0:56:40had 90% fewer cardiovascular events than those
0:56:40 > 0:56:43who presented with omega-3 profile less than three.
0:56:45 > 0:56:50Both our oily fish and supplement group ended the trial above 6.5%.
0:56:50 > 0:56:55Keep that up and both groups should cut their risk of diabetes,
0:56:55 > 0:56:59stroke and heart attacks.
0:56:59 > 0:57:02- What did you make of that? - That was really interesting.
0:57:02 > 0:57:05Yes, I didn't realise I was in the moderate to high-risk category.
0:57:05 > 0:57:09And really interesting results. It's amazing what a difference can be
0:57:09 > 0:57:12- made in such a short time.- I will definitely eat more fish.
0:57:12 > 0:57:14I'm really pleased with how it's come out.
0:57:14 > 0:57:17I'll certainly be having a lot more fish, definitely.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19And so will my family.
0:57:19 > 0:57:23There's no doubt that eating two portions of oily fish a week is a
0:57:23 > 0:57:27good option for getting your omega-3, and it's packed with other
0:57:27 > 0:57:30healthy nutrients, too. If you'd rather take supplements,
0:57:30 > 0:57:32choose an accredited brand
0:57:32 > 0:57:36and make sure they contain more than
0:57:36 > 0:57:39200mg of DEA and DHA combined.
0:57:39 > 0:57:43But however you get your omega-3, make sure you do.
0:57:43 > 0:57:47In just eight weeks, our volunteers boosted their levels.
0:57:49 > 0:57:52I was really surprised by how many of those people started off with
0:57:52 > 0:57:54such low levels of omega-3.
0:57:54 > 0:57:56And I was really impressed by how
0:57:56 > 0:57:58quickly eating the oily fish
0:57:58 > 0:58:00or taking the supplements made a difference.
0:58:00 > 0:58:04I'm a fan of oily fish and I will certainly continue to consume it.
0:58:14 > 0:58:16That's it from Liverpool and this series of Trust Me.
0:58:16 > 0:58:18We will be back later in the year.
0:58:18 > 0:58:21In the meantime, why not visit our website,
0:58:21 > 0:58:23where you can volunteer for experiments
0:58:23 > 0:58:27and find out more about all the things we've covered in the series.