The Nutrition Couch

Episoder

• Why Your Iron Supplements Might Not Be Working, and the Collagen Truth Every Woman Needs to Know 14.07.2026 34min

  A landmark Lancet Haematology study reveals that taking iron supplements every day may actually block absorption due to a hormone called hepcidin, and that alternate-day dosing improved iron uptake by 40 to 50%. Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell explain exactly what this means for your supplementation, plus the honest evidence on collagen and the specific peptide that matters, what the fibre maxing trend gets right and wrong, and a review of the new Woolworths high-protein meal range.
• The Best Things to Buy at Aldi According to Two Dietitians, Plus Why AI Diet Plans Are Getting Your Calories Wrong by Hundreds 07.07.2026 29min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell share their personal Aldi favourites and the specific products they recommend to clients, from protein yogurt and low-carb bread to fresh produce and honest indulgences. Plus: a 2025 study reveals AI diet plans underestimate calories by up to 600 and protein by 20 grams, the Mission Carb Balance wrap gets a zero out of ten, and the creatine and heat question answered for anyone adding it to porridge or baked oats.
• The Weight Loss Peptide Warning Every Australian Needs to Hear Right Now, Plus the Best Diet for High Blood Pressure 30.06.2026 28min

  Six Australians have developed acute liver failure from counterfeit weight loss peptides bought online, and the TGA has issued an urgent warning this week. Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell break down exactly what happened, why buying peptides outside of a prescription is genuinely life-threatening, and how to access weight loss medication safely in Australia. Plus: an 83,000-person study on the best diet for high blood pressure, the Campbell's Gut Goodness Bone Broth reviewed, and the new sweetener thaumatin explained.
• Carbs: Are You Eating Too Much or Too Little? The Signs to Look For, Plus PCOS Has a New Name 23.06.2026 34min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell break down exactly how to tell if you are eating too much or too little carbohydrate, the signs your body gives you, the no man's land metabolic zone that quietly stalls fat loss, and how to find the right amount for your goals and life stage. Plus: PCOS has been renamed PMOS in a major Lancet publication and the reason behind the change matters, Uncle Tobys Protein Quick Oats reviewed, and the best frozen fish in Australian supermarkets ranked by fish percentage and protein.
• Should You Trust AI for Diet Advice? What Dietitians Actually Think, Plus the Best Gluten-Free Products in Australian Supermarkets Right Now 16.06.2026 31min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell give their honest dietitian verdict on using AI for diet advice, including what it genuinely helps with, where it gets things dangerously wrong, and why it will never replace personalised nutrition support. Plus: a comprehensive guide to the best gluten-free products in Australian supermarkets right now, a Health Lab protein bar with white chocolate as the first ingredient put under the microscope, and practical budget eating advice for anyone who has just left home.
• What to Eat to Optimise Fertility, and the Blood Tests Every Woman in Her 20s and 30s Should Actually Be Getting 09.06.2026 38min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell break down the nutrition and lifestyle strategies with the strongest evidence for optimising fertility, including the anti-inflammatory dietary pattern linked to better outcomes in over 5,000 Australian women, the key nutrients that support egg and sperm quality, the MTHFR mutation most women have never heard of, and why under-eating quietly disrupts ovulation even in seemingly healthy women. Plus: the blood tests every woman in her 20s and 30s should actually be getting, a protein smoothie product review, and how much milk a nine-month-old really needs.
• Every Supermarket Chicken Schnitzel Ranked: The Winners, the Duds, and What the Label Is Not Telling You 02.06.2026 30min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell rank every supermarket chicken schnitzel from Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi by chicken percentage and protein content, revealing which ones are worth buying and which contain as little as 28% chicken. Plus: a 25-year study on breakfast timing and cognitive ageing, a closer look at the flavoured Medjool date trend and whether the health halo holds up, and a straight answer on whether high-protein yogurts are actually worth the extra cost.
• How Magnesium Protects Your Brain as You Age, Plus How to Eat Well When Fresh Food Prices Keep Rising 26.05.2026 26min

  New Australian research from the ANU links higher magnesium intake to better brain health and reduced dementia risk at midlife, and most Australians are not getting close to the amounts that matter. Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell break down the research, the best food sources, and what to look for in a supplement, plus practical strategies for keeping fruit in your diet when fresh food prices keep climbing, a new soup review, and whether you can skip dinner after an evening workout.
• The "Healthy" Foods That Are Not as Light as You Think: Toasties, Sushi, Rice Crackers and More 19.05.2026 30min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell call out the everyday foods women think are lighter options but really are not, from toasted sandwiches and sushi to rice crackers and hummus, plus new research on why women with ADHD experience significantly more perimenopausal symptoms and what to eat about it. Also: a 21-gram protein soup for $4.50 that is still one of the best finds in the supermarket, and the honest truth about whether matcha is actually better than coffee.
• How to Eat at the Pub Without Derailing Your Diet, Plus the Truth About Subway's High-Protein Range 12.05.2026 35min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell share their honest, practical guide to eating at the pub without derailing your diet, including what to order, what to avoid, and why the salad is not always the answer. Plus: Subway's high-protein range put under the microscope and the results are misleading, a chocolate-coated health bar exposed for what it really is, and a straight-talking answer on whether a mini Coke a few times a week actually matters. Real advice, no guilt, no fluff.
• Beef Liver Supplements for Iron: The Truth, Plus Everything You Need to Know to Fix Low Iron for Good 05.05.2026 31min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell expose the truth about beef liver supplements and why they are not the iron fix they are being marketed as, plus everything women need to know about low ferritin, iron infusions, which supplements actually work, and the food sources most of us are not eating enough of. Also: a hot chocolate supermarket review, the new Birdseye scalloped potato verdict, and why that $60 functional hot chocolate is almost certainly not worth it.
• What to Eat to Reduce Joint Pain, Whether Eating the Same Meals Helps Weight Loss, and Do You Actually Need a Multivitamin 28.04.2026 40min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell tackle the evidence on eating to reduce joint pain and inflammation, including what the Mediterranean diet actually requires, which supplements genuinely work and which do not, and why turmeric is not the answer. Plus: new research showing meal repetition outperforms dietary variety for weight loss, an honest review of the new Arnott's Shapes Light and Crispy range, and the straight truth on whether anyone actually needs a multivitamin. Practical, evidence-based, and no fluff.
• Do Late Dinners Really Stall Fat Loss? Plus Tinned Tuna Ranked at Coles, Aldi & Woolies 21.04.2026 32min

  Do late dinners really stall fat loss? The 12-hour overnight rule, tinned tuna ranked at Coles, Aldi and Woolies, and a shift-work meal-timing framework that actually works.
• Your Cholesterol Numbers Explained: What's Normal, What's Not & When to Act 31.03.2026 34min

  Cholesterol rising in your 40s is not a lifestyle failure. Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell explain what your numbers actually mean, when diet helps and when it doesn't, and how to have the right conversation with your doctor. Plus the protein powder versus skim milk powder debate settled with real numbers, a top-rated new dip, and a kids and sugar listener question.
• Not Eating Enough? The Signs Your Diet Is Sabotaging Your Goals! 24.03.2026 24min

  Under-eating is one of the most common reasons women can't lose fat or build muscle, and most don't know they're doing it. Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell cover the clinical signs of chronic under-fuelling, a supermarket sausage guide with exact label checks, a low-sugar ice block review, and a science-backed breakdown of how to choose a collagen supplement that actually works.
• Does Eating Meat Raise Your Cancer Risk? The Biggest Study Ever (Plus Easter Hot Cross Buns & the Best Vegetarian Protein Swaps) 17.03.2026 29min

  New research from 1.8 million people links diet to cancer risk, and the findings are more nuanced than headlines suggest. Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell break down what vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian diets actually mean for your cancer risk, plus Easter hot cross bun nutrition, a high-protein Woolworths drink review, and the best vegetarian meat swaps dietitians actually recommend in clinic.
• Your Blood Tests Are “Normal”… So Why Do You Feel So Bad? Plus a New GLP-1 Warning 10.03.2026 40min

  Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell unpack why “normal” blood test results may still miss issues affecting women’s energy, metabolism, hormones and healthy ageing, including ferritin, glucose, vitamin D, cholesterol, thyroid and estrogen. Plus, a new GLP-1 warning around nutrient deficiencies, a granola review, and the healthiest takeaway options.
• Are “Healthy” Lollies Actually Better? Plus New Research on Body Fat & Brain Health 03.03.2026 26min

  Are low sugar “healthy” lollies really better? Plus new MRI research linking body fat distribution to brain health, and the truth about low carb bread. Practical, evidence-based nutrition without the hype.
• The #1 Breakfast Mistake for Gut Health, Plus Easy UPF Swaps and the Best Wraps to Buy 24.02.2026 30min

  The biggest breakfast mistake for gut health is eating the same thing every day, Leanne and Susie explain how to boost microbiome diversity with “plant points”, reduce ultra-processed foods with realistic supermarket swaps, review a Milo dairy snack, and share the best wholegrain mini wraps to buy in Australia.
• The ‘Best’ Weight Loss Breakfast? Plus the Veggie–Mental Health Link You Need to Know 17.02.2026 31min

  A viral “best breakfast for weight loss” is everywhere — but is it actually superior? Plus, new Australian research links higher fruit and vegetable intake with lower psychological distress. Leanne and Susie break down the science, the supermarket finds, and the viral trends.