Pointer - Season 14

Episode 1

Jan 8, 2026

What are the health benefits of intermittent fasting? We delve into the science behind fasting. Many people lose weight by eating only between 12 and 8 p.m. Water fasting is also promoted on social media. This involves eating nothing for days and drinking only water and coffee or tea. Like student and content creator Jordy. He sometimes goes 48 to 100 hours without eating anything, subsisting on only water and electrolytes. Professor Hanno Pijl of Leiden UMC also practices intermittent fasting. He explains how it can improve metabolism and how damaged cells are cleared through the biological process of autophagy.

View Details 13 MIN

EP 2

Episode 2

Jan 22, 2026

Baking, roasting, or frying—we all use them: vegetable oils. From sunflower oil to canola oil: they're in practically every kitchen. But according to some influencers, they're bad for you. These oils are said to be hyper-processed, contain too much omega-6, and oxidize quickly, leading to chronic inflammation, cancer, and heart disease. How is it possible that the influencers spreading these ideas and the scientists criticizing them both base their claims on science? We investigate the facts with nutrition scientist Coen Dros, who actively combats nutritional misinformation on social media.

View Details 12 MIN

EP 3

Episode 3

Feb 5, 2026

Every drugstore and supermarket has them on their shelves these days: expensive collagen powders, pills, or creams. They're for people looking for wrinkle-free skin or supple joints. But do these products live up to their promises? We'll try collagen powder for a month and analyze the results with a dermatologist. They'll also warn about the risks: the collagen powders are almost always derived from animal sources, such as cartilage, skin, and bones from cows, or fish scales, and may therefore contain heavy metals. We'll also review scientific studies and explore alternatives to collagen products.

View Details 12 MIN

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EP 4