Is your diet hiding a potential health risk?

On this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell dive deep into aspartame, the controversial artificial sweetener that’s still lurking in popular foods and drinks. With new research linking it to inflammation and insulin resistance, we discuss what you need to know and how to make smarter choices.

Tune in to discover:
Aspartame & Your Health: The latest research on its effects on heart health, insulin, and inflammation.
Magnesium Myths & Facts: Why this essential mineral is suddenly everywhere—and who actually benefits from supplementing it.
Smart Eating for Shift Workers: The best strategies to avoid weight gain and optimise energy when working irregular hours.

Plus, in this episode:
A new supermarket marinade find that adds serious flavour without the junk.
The hidden artificial sweeteners you need to watch for (and what to choose instead).
A surprising link between magnesium and migraines, sleep, and insulin resistance.

Press play now to get the latest expert-backed nutrition insights!

Is your diet hiding a potential health risk?
On this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell dive deep into aspartame, the controversial artificial sweetener that&rsquo;s still lurking in popular foods and drinks. With new research linking it to inflammation and insulin resistance, we discuss what you need to know and how to make smarter choices.
Tune in to discover:
<ul>
<li>Aspartame &amp; Your Health: The latest research on its effects on heart health, insulin, and inflammation.</li>
<li>Magnesium Myths &amp; Facts: Why this essential mineral is suddenly everywhere&mdash;and who actually benefits from supplementing it.</li>
<li>Smart Eating for Shift Workers: The best strategies to avoid weight gain and optimise energy when working irregular hours.</li>
</ul>
Plus, in this episode:
<ul>
<li>A&nbsp;new supermarket marinade find that adds serious flavour without the junk.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;hidden artificial sweeteners you need to watch for (and what to choose instead).</li>
<li>A surprising&nbsp;link between magnesium and migraines, sleep, and insulin resistance.</li>
</ul>
Press play now to get the latest expert-backed nutrition insights!

Unlock your best health in just 30 minutes a week. Join the thousands of listeners who’ve transformed their lives with The Nutrition Couch, Australia’s top-ranked nutrition podcast. Each Wednesday at 6am AEST, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell deliver powerful, bite-sized advice that’s easy to implement and designed to make healthy living simple and enjoyable.

Ready for a healthier you? Subscribe now and start your journey with actionable tips that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Don’t wait—your path to better health begins here with The Nutrition Couch.

Unlock your best health in just 30 minutes a week. Join the thousands of listeners who’ve transformed their lives with The Nutrition Couch, Australia’s top-ranked nutrition podcast. Each Wednesday at 6am AEST, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell deliver powerful, bite-sized advice that’s easy to implement and designed to make healthy living simple and enjoyable.
Ready for a healthier you? Subscribe now and start your journey with actionable tips that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Don’t wait—your path to better health begins here with The Nutrition Couch.

The Nutrition Couch

Welcome to The Nutrition Couch, a weekly podcast from two of Australia’s leading dietitians & nutritionists, Susie Burrell & Leanne Ward. This is the first nutrition podcast that looks at weekly food & health trends. Every Sunday at 7am AEST, we will be uploading an episode that covers nutrition news, trending food products, case studies and we will also be answering our listener questions. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and follow us on social media @the_nutrition_couch_podcast to ask us questions & see our food product reviews.

Aspartame: Harmless or harmful? Leanne Ward & Susie Burrell break down the latest research on this artificial sweetener and its impact on inflammation and insulin resistance. Plus, everything you need to know about magnesium, how to eat as a shift worker, and our latest supermarket find. Listen now!

Aspartame, Magnesium & Shift Work: What You Need to Know About These Nutrition Hot Topics

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/76662eb4-9d98-4574-94e7-b29600b2daa6/transcript

Cravings feel powerful, frustrating, and often completely out of your control.

But what if most cravings aren’t random at all?

In this first episode of The Nutrition Couch for 2026, Leanne and Susie unpack what’s really driving cravings, why willpower is not the problem, and how simple changes to your day can make a huge difference.

They also break down new research linking diet quality to better sleep, review a popular lower-calorie ice cream, and tackle a listener question on why low-carb wraps aren’t the health food they’re marketed to be.

In this episode, you’ll learn:


Why blood sugar dips are one of the biggest hidden drivers of sugar cravings


How restricting carbs earlier in the day often backfires by 4pm


The difference between true cravings and habit-based or emotional eating


Why after-dinner cravings are often learned, not physiological


How stress, fatigue, boredom and “reward eating” can disguise themselves as hunger


A simple way to interrupt cravings without relying on willpower


New research showing higher fruit, vegetable and whole-grain intake is linked to better sleep quality that same night


Whether lower-calorie ice creams are worth it nutritionally


Why low-carb wraps are more processed than many people realise, and what to choose instead

Subscribe so you don’t miss a Wednesday episode, and send your listener questions or word of the year via Instagram.

Cravings feel powerful, frustrating, and often completely out of your control.
But what if most cravings aren&rsquo;t random at all?
In this first episode of The Nutrition Couch for 2026, Leanne and Susie unpack what&rsquo;s really driving cravings, why willpower is not the problem, and how simple changes to your day can make a huge difference.
They also break down new research linking diet quality to better sleep, review a popular lower-calorie ice cream, and tackle a listener question on why low-carb wraps aren&rsquo;t the health food they&rsquo;re marketed to be.
In this episode, you&rsquo;ll learn:
<ul>
<li>
Why blood sugar dips are one of the biggest hidden drivers of sugar cravings
</li>
<li>
How restricting carbs earlier in the day often backfires by 4pm
</li>
<li>
The difference between true cravings and habit-based or emotional eating
</li>
<li>
Why after-dinner cravings are often learned, not physiological
</li>
<li>
How stress, fatigue, boredom and &ldquo;reward eating&rdquo; can disguise themselves as hunger
</li>
<li>
A simple way to interrupt cravings without relying on willpower
</li>
<li>
New research showing higher fruit, vegetable and whole-grain intake is linked to better sleep quality that same night
</li>
<li>
Whether lower-calorie ice creams are worth it nutritionally
</li>
<li>
Why low-carb wraps are more processed than many people realise, and what to choose instead
</li>
</ul>
Subscribe so you don&rsquo;t miss a Wednesday episode, and send your listener questions or word of the year via Instagram.

Why do cravings hit so hard? Dietitians Susie Burrell and Leanne Ward explain how blood sugar, habits and emotions drive cravings, share new research linking diet quality to better sleep, and unpack the truth about low-carb wraps and lower-calorie ice creams.

Why Your Cravings Aren’t Random (Blood Sugar, Emotions, Sleep + Low-Carb Wrap Myths)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/e4e94431-b9f0-49da-ae2d-b3d100abad06/transcript

Want to enjoy Christmas without the food hangover?

Leanne and Susie share simple, realistic strategies to enjoy the festive season without overeating or falling into the “all or nothing” trap.

In this episode:
The mindset that leads to festive bingeing
Portion and pacing tricks that actually work
How to enjoy your favourites without feeling stuffed
When to get back on track (hint: it’s sooner than you think)

Press play to feel lighter, calmer and more in control this Christmas.

Want to enjoy Christmas without the food hangover?
Leanne and Susie share simple, realistic strategies to enjoy the festive season without overeating or falling into the &ldquo;all or nothing&rdquo; trap.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>The mindset that leads to festive bingeing</li>
<li>Portion and pacing tricks that actually work</li>
<li>How to enjoy your favourites without feeling stuffed</li>
<li>When to get back on track (hint: it&rsquo;s sooner than you think)</li>
</ul>
Press play to feel lighter, calmer and more in control this Christmas.

Dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell share smart, no-guilt strategies to enjoy Christmas without overeating, including portion and pacing tricks, mindset shifts away from “all or nothing” dieting, and exactly when to get back on track after the holidays.

Christmas Without the Food Hangover: Smart Festive Portions + When to Get Back on Track

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/90e74049-b526-46d3-9d47-b3ae00c75bf0/transcript

This week we’re tackling the big one for party season: alcohol. Leanne and Susie break down how much is too much, why “just one glass” is rarely one glass, and the simple rules that prevent Christmas weight gain.

Inside the episode:
The truth about alcohol, hormones and cancer risk
Why you might be drinking more than you think
Party-season rules to protect sleep, energy and metabolism
The canapé traps that lead to hidden weight gain
Susie’s new favourite Woolies protein find
Listener question: Is swimming actually good exercise for fat loss?

Perfect if you want to enjoy December without the blowout.

This week we&rsquo;re tackling the big one for party season: alcohol. Leanne and Susie break down how much is too much, why &ldquo;just one glass&rdquo; is rarely one glass, and the simple rules that prevent Christmas weight gain.
Inside the episode:
<ul>
<li>The truth about alcohol, hormones and cancer risk</li>
<li>Why you might be drinking more than you think</li>
<li>Party-season rules to protect sleep, energy and metabolism</li>
<li>The canap&eacute; traps that lead to hidden weight gain</li>
<li>Susie&rsquo;s&nbsp;new favourite Woolies protein find</li>
<li>Listener question: Is swimming actually good exercise for fat loss?</li>
</ul>
Perfect if you want to enjoy December without the blowout.

Leanne and Susie unpack the real risks of party-season drinking – from cancer and dementia risk to Christmas weight gain – plus smart strategies for handling canapés, a Woolies BBQ chicken product review and whether swimming is “enough” exercise for health and fat loss.

Party-Season Drinking: How Much Is Too Much? Plus Canapé Traps, A Woolies Chicken Win & Swimming as Exercise

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/ea4dabdb-3551-4cad-b5da-b3a700d918dd/transcript

Aspartame, Magnesium & Shift Work: What You Need to Know About These Nutrition Hot Topics

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