A healthy gut is a happy gut, and a happy gut can be a powerful ally during perimenopause.

Perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause, can be a whirlwind of changes. Weight management can become a particular challenge as your body adjusts to fluctuating hormones. But fear not! By focusing on the right nutrients, you can support your body's needs and feel your best during this transition. Here's how protein, healthy fats, and fiber can be your allies in weight management and overall well-being.

What I learned about health came from outside the wellness resort, not within it.

A whole generation of people grew up fearing fat. The government told us to reduce the amount of fat in our diet, and “low-fat” and “fat-free” products became a staple in kitchens across the world. The very word fat became laden with so many negative connotations. We believed what we heard, we believed what we were told, that fat was bad and was responsible for illness. And why wouldn’t we believe what science and government told us?

For women in their peri-menopause / menopause years (on average from age 43 but can start a lot earlier) this is another period of internal flux. There are four hormones in particular that cause an absolute riot during peri-menopause and menopause - oestrogen, insulin, cortisol and thyroid. The rise and fall of these hormones during this time can make it difficult to function on a day to day basis or sometimes to even recognise who we are any more.

For me having the kitchen well-stocked with basic dried goods, condiments and spices has been a life saver when it comes to meal planning, putting meals together and sticking to a budget. Having dry ingredients stored in glass jars means that I can easily see what stock of everything I have and what foods I can base meals around.

I want everyone to have a love affair with sleep! It is a key topic of conversation with my clients, and they find that when sleep issues are addressed and improvements made, it really is game changing for their overall health.

I found myself reflecting on what my career path was going to be and when I allowed myself to be very honest, I recognised that although I was content with the choices I’d made, I didn’t feel completely fulfilled. I was at a stage where my role as a mother had been a priority for such a long time that I wasn’t entirely sure who I was outside of that. Was this what I wanted for the rest of my life and the message I wanted to model to my daughter?

We live in a world where productivity is king. Where doing and moving and achieving is a direct indicator of success. Not to mention of our own value. It hardly comes as a surprise that manoeuvring our lives around goals has become second nature.