menu_open Columnists
Melissa Davey

Melissa Davey

The Guardian

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

‘Low carb’, ‘gluten-free’, with collagen or electrolytes: is it really possible for alcohol to be healthy?

Premixed alcoholic drinks are not known for their health benefits. But that hasn’t stopped a boom in products being marketed with “better for...

19.08.2026 10

The Guardian

Melissa Davey

Ads call ovarian cancer a ‘silent killer’. But does urging women to undergo early detection testing do more harm than good?

“Early detection blood testing” for ovarian cancer “is now available in Australia”, the online ads say, warning that “it’s not just women...

22.07.2026 20

The Guardian

Melissa Davey

‘Parasitic cleanses’ are the latest health trend to infest social media. But what does the evidence say?

Parasitic infections are fairly uncommon among otherwise healthy people living in most major developed cities. But this hasn’t stopped a wave of...

10.06.2026 30

The Guardian

Melissa Davey

A dead person’s fat pumped into your body? Why the ‘zombie filler’ trend has some experts spooked | Antiviral

With people getting everything from salmon sperm to plasma injected into their faces in the name of beauty, it is difficult to be surprised when new,...

29.04.2026 50

The Guardian

Melissa Davey

Sea moss is everywhere on TikTok – yes it’s natural but that doesn’t mean it’s safe or beneficial for all

If you have a weak stomach, I don’t recommend watching one of the many videos on social media of influencers dipping their spoons into a jar of sea...

03.03.2026 80

The Guardian

Melissa Davey

Gut check: are at-home microbiome tests a way to ‘hack your health’ or simply a waste?

20.01.2026 70

The Guardian

Melissa Davey

Longevity supplements are sold as helping prevent ageing. But do they have any long-term benefits or increase lifespan?

09.12.2025 50

The Guardian

Melissa Davey

What is protein water – and can it help me lose weight and gain muscle?

28.10.2025 40

The Guardian

Melissa Davey