The Health Review

What really defined wellness in 2025 — and what’s actually worth carrying forward into 2026?In this second part of our end-of-year health and wellness roundup, I’m joined by health coach and speaker Vanessa Sturman to unpack the biggest wellness shifts of the past year — from the rise of biohacking studios and body scanners to the growing focus on nervous-system regulation, gentler movement, nature-based health and recovery.We talk about the wellness products and technologies that genuinely stood out, why retreat culture and luxury wellness travel exploded, and how tools like wearables, red light therapy and sauna became mainstream. We also explore some of the more complex conversations of 2025 — including AI therapy and where the line sits between helpful innovation and too much optimisation.As we look ahead to 2026, Vanessa shares her thoughts on which wellness trends feel meaningful, which might fade away, and the ideas she’s most excited to watch.Vanessa's website: https://www.vanessasturman.comFollow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review

What actually defined health and wellness in 2025 — and what’s genuinely worth paying attention to as we head into 2026?In this special end-of-year episode, I’m joined by health and wellness journalist Rosie Fitzmaurice to reflect on the biggest stories, shifts and debates that shaped the past year — from the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and the backlash around ultra-processed foods, to fertility breakthroughs, AI in healthcare, microplastics, longevity culture and the growing move away from extreme optimisation.We talk about why wellness in 2025 felt different, how public conversations around health have changed, and where science, culture and consumer trends are colliding. We also look ahead to 2026: What's here to stay? Find out! Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review/Follow Rosie: https://www.instagram.com/rosiefitzy1/

In a world that constantly pushes us to optimise, hustle, and become “more,” what if true healing was about stripping back? In this episode, I’m joined by world-leading breathwork coach Jamie Clements, founder of The Breath Space, to explore why breathwork is becoming one of the most powerful tools for nervous system regulation, emotional healing, and reconnecting with your authentic self.Jamie shares his own journey into breathwork — and how finding himself wasn’t about becoming someone new, but about quietening the noise, slowing down, and returning home to the body. We unpack the science behind breathwork for mental health, stress, anxiety, and trauma release, and why conscious breathing has such a profound effect on the nervous system.We also discuss the shifting landscape of the health and wellness industry — away from perfection, productivity hacks, and constant stimulation — and towards nervous system health, embodiment, connection, nature, and authenticity. Jamie explains how altered states accessed through breathwork can safely bring buried emotions to the surface, why emotional releases happen during sessions, and how he supports individuals through these deeply transformative experiences.Jamie's work at The Breath Space: https://thebreathspace.co.uk/Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review/

Before Salim Najjar became known as That HRV Guy, he was an engineer-turned-entrepreneur pushing his body to extremes — building companies, travelling the world, experimenting with every biohack, and constantly testing his physical limits. From the outside, it looked like peak performance. Inside, he was edging closer to burnout. Eventually, as he puts it, he “broke his body”.That breaking point became the doorway into a completely different way of understanding health.In this episode, Salim shares the story of how he rebuilt himself from the inside out by studying Heart Rate Variability — not just as a metric, but as a mirror reflecting how his nervous system was experiencing the world. He explains how HRV revealed the cost of years spent in survival mode, and how learning to regulate his internal state changed everything.We talk about how stress isn't the enemy — it's the signal. And that the real work wasn’t adding more hacks, but learning how to feel again.Salim explains how every emotion we experience is meant to be processed through the nervous system, and what happens when those emotions are suppressed, avoided or intellectualised instead of metabolised. He shares how unprocessed feelings show up as inflammation, exhaustion, reactivity, and the quiet sense that our body is bracing for impact — even when life is stable.This conversation touches the core of what it means to be human:why our bodies keep score,why connection and co-regulation matter,and why our biology still expects us to live the way our ancestors did — in tribes, outdoors, with long stretches of true rest and shared presence.Salim breaks down how we can train the nervous system like a muscle, learning to move fluidly between sympathetic activation and parasympathetic recovery. When we build that flexibility, stress becomes something we can work with, not something we fear. It becomes a teacher, an ally, even a source of strength.We explore how this adaptability can transform HRV, reduce inflammation, and restore the sense of calm that so many people today have lost.It’s a conversation about reclaiming your internal landscape, listening to the wisdom of your body, and remembering the way humans were designed to live, feel, connect, and heal.Salim's website: https://thathrvguy.com/Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review/

Do you wake up exhausted, irritable, or with a dry mouth — even after a full night’s sleep? You’re not alone.In this episode, Emily sits down with Dr Sonia Szamocki, former A&E doctor and CEO of Aerox Health, to uncover the real reasons behind poor sleep, snoring, and undiagnosed sleep apnoea — a condition affecting an estimated 10 million people in the UK.Together, we discuss:• Why snoring is more than just a nuisance — and when it becomes dangerous• The surprising link between jaw shape, airway collapse, and sleep quality• What sleep apnoea does to your brain, hormones, weight and long-term health• Why so many people go undiagnosed• The truth about mouth taping, TikTok sleep hacks & the science of nasal breathing• The hidden impact of bad sleep on your mental health and relationships• How Aerox Health is fixing the broken GP referral system with specialist-led careWhether you’re the one who snores, you sleep next to someone who does, or you simply want to feel genuinely rested again — this episode is a must-listen!Visit Aerox Health: https://www.aeroxhealth.com/Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review/

What would you do if a doctor told you that you had just a 0.7% chance of conceiving with your own eggs— even with IVF? At 43, that was Liberty Mills’ reality.Just a few months later, she conceived naturally, giving birth just before her 45th birthday.In this powerful and hopeful conversation, Liberty — Certified Integrative Health & Nutrition Coach and author of 360 Fertility — shares the exact lifestyle changes, mindset shifts, and integrative approaches that transformed her fertility and led to her daughter’s natural conception.In this episode, we cover:✨ Liberty’s fertility journey and how she beat the odds✨ The 12-week 360 Fertility plan that prepares your body for pregnancy✨ How to improve egg quality, hormone balance & implantation naturally✨ IVF explained: knowing when the right time is for you✨ The biggest fertility myths women are still being told✨ Why infertility in men is often missedWhether you’re trying to conceive naturally, thinking about IVF, or wanting to understand your fertility better, this conversation is full of insights, encouragement, and the hope that so many women need.Liked this conversation? Please subscribe and leave a review! :) Liberty's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/360-Fertility-twelve-week-optimising-conception/dp/1035429578Liberty's website: https://integrativeliberty.co.uk/Follow The Health Review: https://www.instagram.com/the.health.review/