Ancient tips for health and happiness
Claire Bubb examines Greek and Roman views on diet, exercise, and what it meant to live a healthy life in the ancient world
The science of health and wellbeing is a hot topic of modern life, and it was no different for the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome. From what you should eat, to how you should exercise, and when you should (and shouldn't) have sex, these cultures developed their own highly specific set of rules to live by to maximise health and happiness. In this episode, Claire Bubb examines the logic behind these health tips alongside James Osborne, and reveals what insights they give us into the Greco-Roman mindset.
Claire Bubb is the author of How to Eat: An Ancient Guide for Healthy Living (Princeton University Press, 2025).
Authors
James Osborne is a digital content producer at HistoryExtra