One Health Tweak a Week

One small, science-backed change each week - written by an MD PhD for people who want results, not homework.

Most health advice fails for a straightforward reason: it asks too much, too soon.

So this newsletter does the opposite. Each week you get one practical tweak - small enough to do on a busy weekday - backed by real evidence, explained clearly, and turned into a simple plan.

No dramatic “new you”. No 37-step routine. Just steady wins that compound over time.


What you’ll get each week

  • A 5–8 minute read (clear, structured, skimmable)

  • One decision rule you can actually remember

  • A small experiment you can try for 7–14 days

  • A practical checklist (so you don’t have to “stay motivated”)

  • Scripts and shortcuts for real life (shopping, meals, routines, travel, stress)

You’ll often see recurring themes (because they matter): belly fat / metabolic health, food that quietly helps or harms, sleep and circadian timing, protein for regular folk, and movement that fits into normal life.

In 2025, One Health Tweak a Week newsletters were viewed over 100,000 times, the podcast was downloaded 15,000 times, and readers left over 1,000 comments. If you’ve come across my work on Medium, those articles have now been read more than 125,000 times - mostly by people who want health advice that’s evidence-based and actually usable.


What readers say

  • “I love that your tweaks are so science-based
 I incorporate your tweaks
 I do appreciate them!” - JH, RN

  • “I read your Substack faithfully and try to implement the tweaks. I share your articles with family and friends.” - CP

  • “Personally, I take almost all of your tweaks and incorporate them into my own life
 The best one was to stop eating 3 hours before going to bed
 I do send them on to family too.” - JC

  • “I look forward to Saturday mornings
 to read and absorb your well-written
 highly personally relevant articles
” - JR


Start here

Here are a few popular issues from recent months. Choose a first read that feels most relevant.


Who this is for

This is for you if you:

  • want clear, calm guidance without the influencer noise

  • prefer simple rules over perfect plans

  • care about longevity, energy, and metabolic health - and you’d like your habits to match that

  • enjoy evidence, but don’t want to spend your evenings reading PubMed

Who it’s not for

  • If you want a rigid meal plan, daily macros, or an all-or-nothing programme, you’ll probably find this irritating.

  • If you’re mainly after quick fixes, miracle supplements, or dramatic before-and-after promises, this won’t be your kind of thing.


About me

I’m Ben Jones, MD PhD. I’ve worked in hospital medicine and research across the UK, the US, and Africa, and I now write practical, evidence-based health guidance.

My work on Medium has been read by tens of thousands of people, largely because I’m stubborn about two things:

1. Being honest about what the evidence can and can’t say, and

2. Turning that evidence into changes that are actually doable.


A small promise

This newsletter won’t ask you to overhaul your life.

It will help you spot the one lever that’s most worth pulling this week - and make it easy to pull.

I’ll see you inside!

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One straightforward, science-backed tip for a longer, healthier life - direct from an MD PhD to your inbox each week.

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