Chew On This with Dr Anna Colton

In this episode of Chew On This, I sit down with the brilliant Dr Liz O’Riordan, former consultant breast surgeon, three time breast cancer patient and all round myth buster, to talk about one of the most confusing topics out there: the link between cancer and food. Together we unpack the claims that flood social media, from “sugar feeds cancer” and alkaline diets to fasting before chemo, clean eating, detoxes, parasite cleanses and the fear around ultra processed foods.
Liz explains what the evidence actually shows, why no diet can cure cancer, and how extreme restriction can do real harm when your body is already under strain. We talk about alcohol, processed meat, exercise as powerful treatment support, and why basic balanced eating is far more effective than any supplement or protocol sold online. If you or someone you love is navigating cancer, or you are simply confused by the endless nutrition noise, I hope this conversation feels grounding, reassuring and genuinely useful.

Find Liz:
Website: https://liz.oriordan.co.uk
Instagram: @oriordanliz
Buy Her Latest Book 'The Cancer Roadmap': https://amzn.eu/d/iOis606
Sourdough study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4131439/

Find Anna:
Website: https://www.dranna.co.uk/about
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drannacolton
Book (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Children-About-Food/dp/1785120557

Timecodes:00:34 Dr. Liz's Journey: From Surgeon to Cancer Survivor
01:36 Debunking Cancer Myths: Sugar, Detoxing, and More
03:02 The Reality of Diet and Cancer
06:00 The Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods
21:35 The Role of Exercise in Cancer Recovery
24:25 The Joy of Dancing as Exercise
25:31 Debunking the Myth of Clean Eating
26:37 Alcohol and Processed Meat: The Real Risks
30:10 Obesity and Cancer: Understanding the Link
33:04 Portion Sizes and Mindful Eating
35:13 Navigating Misinformation and Finding Reliable Sources
41:40 The Truth About Supplements
46:02 Final Thoughts and Resources

Welcome to Chew on This, a new podcast about our lifelong relationship with food. In this opening episode, clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist Dr Anna Colton shares why she created the podcast, drawing on over 20 years working in specialist eating disorder services and her passion for prevention and early intervention. She reflects on why Christmas and New Year can be such a difficult time around food, body image, guilt and comparison, especially in a world full of New Year new me messaging.
Anna explains why restriction fuels cravings and bingeing, why most diets fail, and what intuitive eating really means. You will hear practical and compassionate ways to reset your mindset for 2026, shift focus from appearance to wellbeing, and start building a calmer and more nourishing relationship with food. She also shares what is coming up on future episodes, with conversations across psychology, medicine and food culture exploring how and why we eat.
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Follow Dr Anna Colton on Instagram: @drannacolton

Welcome to Chew on This. I’m Dr Anna Colton. For years, in my work as a psychologist, I’ve sat with people trying to understand why food can feel so complicated - why it can be soothing one moment and overwhelming the next, why family patterns stick, and why changing our habits is so hard, even when we desperately want to.
This podcast is an invitation to explore those questions together. We’ll look at the psychology behind eating, the personal stories that shape our choices, and the social and cultural forces we don’t always notice but that deeply affect how we relate to food.
Each week, you’ll hear from people bringing their expertise, their lived experience, or both - and we’ll try to unpack the reality of eating in a world that makes it anything but simple.
I’m so glad to have you with me. Follow and subscribe to never miss an episode!