Wellness, Actually with Emily Oster & Perry Wilson, MD

They dig into why protein is treated as a distinct macronutrient and what amino acids actually do. They debate recommended versus higher protein intakes and when extra protein helps, especially for muscle and aging. Practical tips for hitting ambitious protein targets get compared with concerns about too much protein. Side topics include GLP-1 drug updates, rising kratom exposures, and a new contact allergen alert.

They dig into creatine: what it is, how it fuels muscles and the brain, and when supplements actually boost strength. They fact-check influencer claims about neurodegeneration and review trial evidence for cognitive effects. Practical tips cover dosing, side effects like water weight and GI upset, and how creatine affects kidney tests and hair-loss rumors.

They investigate clinics selling “stem cell” injections and whether those treatments actually contain stem cells. They contrast legitimate hospital-based stem cell and gene therapies for diseases like sickle cell with predatory pay-to-play clinics. They review evidence on knee and cosmetic injections, marketing myths and harms, and broader health news including lead exposure trends and doulas.

A deep dive into how microplastics get into our bodies and where they come from. Discussion of lab versus human data and why evidence is messy. Exploration of major exposure routes like dust, bottled water, and food packaging. Practical tips for reducing everyday contact with plastics. Also covers recent news on leucovorin approval, AI triage limits, and a surprising college sexual health study.

They dive into red light therapy’s biology and whether light can truly boost mitochondria or just heat your skin. Medical uses are contrasted with influencer claims for skin, wound healing, hair regrowth, mood, and athletic recovery. They unpack dosing chaos, device variability, safety concerns, FDA clearance, and whether any benefits are believable or just placebo.

They dig into the strange origins of GLP-1 drugs, from Gila monster venom to modern weekly injectables. Discussion covers how these medicines changed weight treatment, brain and behavior effects, and surprising cosmetic and societal ripple effects. They also examine dosing practices, side effects, long term unknowns, and how the healthcare and food worlds are already shifting.

They dig into cold plunges and saunas, comparing physiology, risks, and who should avoid them. They review athletic research, observational sauna links to heart health, and debunk detox myths about sweating. Heat's possible small benefits and cold-plunge risks get practical takeaways and safety tips.

This week, Emily and Perry tackle peptides, the purported panacea for all health ailments. Can an injection of these tiny bits of protein actually boost your metabolism, plump up your skin, heal your injuries, and overall prolong your life? And what could possibly go wrong when you inject a peptide stack of dubious origin anyway? Plus: mRNA flu vaccines, hormone replacement therapy, and the optimal time to hoard condoms at the Olympic Village (wink wink). Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our inaugural episode, Emily and Perry talk all things sperm: if it's on the decline, how to juice its quality, the perils of tight underwear, and what a high sperm count says about your manliness (spoiler: absolutely nothing). Plus, vitamin K shots at birth, the keto diet to treat schizophrenia, and, in honor of the Olympics, whether penis pumping helps your air time. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GLP-1s. Colostrum. Microplastics. Red light therapy. Vaccines. There’s a staggering amount of health and wellness news and information, and it’s bombarding us everywhere we look. Who’s got time to parse it out, to verify it, and then to actually do the work of improving our health? And what if those wellness influencers actually knew how to read a medical study? That’s why we’re here. We are Emily Oster, best-selling author and data expert, and Perry Wilson, a medical doctor. And our goal is to separate fact from fiction, causality from correlation, so that you can stay informed without being overwhelmed. Every episode, we cover the health news of the week, take listener questions, and do a deep dive into a buzzy and misunderstood wellness topic so that you can actually make the best decisions for your own health. So join us for a weekly dose of sanity. It might actually be just what the doctor, and the economist, ordered: health advice for real life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.