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This week’s podcast guest should be no stranger to most of you and is current in front position to feature on all of my podcast seasons to date - the spectacular Robyn Puglia.
Robyn is a functional nutritionist and a fully certified IFM practitioner who has a particular specialist interest, passion, and immense understanding of the immune system and the area of autoimmunity.
In this episode, we talk about this entirely complex system, but as you will learn, Robin has just such an innate understanding of her work that she's able to take really complex conversations and provide illumination to this subject matter. And we talk about one specific component that is really interesting - the very important difference between the term autoimmunity and autoimmune disease.
Calling all practitioners - you will not want to miss this episode and I guarantee it will leave you with so many moment you can relate you and will also give you elements for learning too.
PLUS I’m delighted to share that Robyn will be joining as a guest speaker on my Affiliate Mentoring programme for 2025.
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There is no greater area where we have been demanding the deserved attention to be heard than women’s health. It is undeniable that women’s life stages & female specific conditions have, until recently, been neglected & woefully underfunded in research.
But there are amazing clinicians who are at the forefront of women's health research - in this episode, I interview and talk to Dr. Leah Hitchman, who is a globally respected naturopathic clinician specializing in fertility, pregnancy, and holistic reproductive health.
In this particular episode, I asked Leah if we could focus on just the ovaries rather than the entire menstrual cycle. And boy did we go really deep… The conversation is so illuminating
I cannot wait for you to listen to this. There are some real clinical pearls - let me know if there are elements in this episode you’d like to delve into further!
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Manglende episoder?
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Dawn Waldron is an expert in integrative health, specialising in a functional approach to cancer. This week’s episode is a real treat, as Dawn joins me to talk about what she set up her bestselling Substack account Uncoupling Cancer, and how she draws on almost three decades of personal and professional experience as both a breast cancer survivor and nutritionist in supporting women with cancer.
We explore and talk in detail about taking a metabolic approach to cancer and surviving cancer, and she talks to me about how we can harness nature's benefits to support recovery. This is a fascinating episode. You will learn a huge amount and you will be so enthralled listening to her, as I was!
If you enjoyed this podcast …… Beginning on Friday 15th November for three consecutive Friday mornings, Dawn is delivering a webinar series called Dynamic Metabolism, with Emma Beswick, co-founder of LifecodeGx looking at the subject of metabolism and nutrigenomics in the context of cancer: https://www.lifecodegx.com/training
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Spending time speaking with Professor Jerilynn Prior is a humbling experience that always gives me new insight - and this week’s podcast episode does not disappoint.
Jerilynn is a professor of endocrinology and metabolism from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and she has dedicated her career to the study of menstrual cycles and the effects of cycles in their changing estrogen and progesterone hormone levels on women's health. In 2002, she founded the Center for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research Center, better known as CeMCOR. Andthis houses a wealth of information.
Jerilynn is also the director of the British Columbia Center of of the Osteoporosis study, which was studying osteoporosis fractures and bone mineral density, and hasfollowed over 9,000 women and men across the country for 19 years plus a thousand younger women.
In this episode, we focus on discussing osteoporosis. She shares with us her ABCs of osteoporosis prevention and treatment. We also, of course, talk about HRT and why she and I both believe that this term should no longer be used.
We also delve into the misnomers around using DEXA scans to diagnose osteoporosis.
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This week, I welcome back to the podcast for the third time, the most world renowned naturopathic doctor Lara Briden. Lara is the author of the Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual, and in this episode we talk in great detail about her latest book, Metabolism Repair for Women. This is a compassionate science-based guide to balancing insulin, facilitating weight loss, and most importantly, improving and optimising health.
Laura and I first up delve into what metabolism actually means. We discuss metabolic flexibility, how if you have metabolic inflexibility and what this actually means for health. We also talk in quite a lot of detail about what the key movers and shakers are in terms of the metabolic hormones and how you can talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about assessing those.
This is a really illuminating and fundamental conversation to be having with Lara, and I know that you are going to absolutely love every minute of this episode.
Metabolism Repair for Women is available to purchase here.
Find out more about Lara Briden here.
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Perfectly timed for the lead in to World Menopause Day tomorrow, Dr Nicky Keay joins me to talk about her new book The Myths of Menopause - and I can honestly say, this book (I’ve seen the proof) will be a mastery of a resource for women and healthcare professionals. ,
We delve into talking about myth number 1 of many! - “Menopause only happens in middle-aged women. “
Discuss everything from what perimenopause is, how to know if a woman is in perimenopause and about HRT (how could we not)!
Nicky shares a truly unique perspective as a medical doctor but also as a woman who has experienced the challenges of navigating perimenopause and menopause and leaving with a perspective on how we can help women approach this in a more positive way - to build up women’s confidence.
Myths of Menopause is available for pre order now using discount code (appropriately) Athena via: https://www.sequoia-books.com/catalog/menopause/
To register for the free book launch event at UCL on
4th December 2024 from 6-8pm where YOU can meet some of contributors, ask questions, discuss - book here
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/manage/events/1014503225457/details -
There has been so much discussion around this programme aired last week... I taken time to watch myself and bring together my thoughts, shared here with you.
Ultimately we all need to reflect on our working hypothesis and put ourselves in a position to re-learn what we thought we knew and properly advocate for women's healthcare.
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The finale of Season 4 with special guest Dr Fiona McCulloch ND features an in depth conversation around PCOS and diagnosis - this is a must-listen for all nutritionists and functional medicine practitioners!
As a woman with PCOS Fiona is passionate about health education and advocacy for women with PCOS, and serves on the medical advisory committee of the PCOS Awareness Association and as an expert on IVF.ca. She is also a medical advisor to Open Source Health and frequently lectures to professionals at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.
Fiona gives us a unique insight to the PCOS updated diagnostic criteria and practice guidelines as well as her own experience of supporting diagnosis with adolescents and adults.
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This week my guest is the impressive Henrietta Norton: nutritional therapist, author of the best selling book: Take Control of Your Endometriosis, founder of visionary food supplement brand - Wild Nutrition, and I’m very lucky to not only count Hen as a colleague but also a friend.
I couldn’t invite Hen back on the podcast without asking her to share more about her Food-Grown® supplements - which have revolutionised the supplement industry for the better…. We discuss the groundbreaking Perimenopause Report that Hen wrote to change the way our daughters experience perimenopause and this theme continues throughout the episode discussing perimenopause symptoms and support, the challenges of managing perimenopause as a woman, the importance of education, the art of listening to our bodies, the value of rest in regulating our nervous system.
There are so many wonderful golden nuggets within this podcast episode and Hen is a dream to talk with and so inspiring to listen to.
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Have you heard of spermadine?
If not (and even if you have 😉) this week’s podcast episode should be a real educational delight for you. I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with @lesliesnewprime an Oxford-based entrepreneur born in California and a graduate of Berkeley and Harvard Business School. Leslie is founder of Oxford Healthspan, a Longevity Expert with plenty of life experience and evidence-based science as her basis.
Leslie shares her personal story of a diagnosis of an array of autoimmune conditions in the 30’s (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism) drove to the reject the dire prognosis and instead immersed herself in studying with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition on a quest for a more holistic solution.
Leslie shares how her specialist interest in spermadine and it’s use in her own journey to wellbeing, developing her brand of spermadine / Primeadine® as well as diving into how our body makes it, and get it from our diet and how it increases longevity and results she’s seen when embraced by women from perimenopause into menopause.
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Another incredible podcast episode ready for your listening pleasure this week - Lara Briden was so generous to gift me an hour of her time to talk about metabolism with women in perimenopause and through menopause.
We discuss what effects metabolism - from genetics and weight resistance, to the impact of epigenetics, the relationship of oestrogen therapy and insulin resistance, and how evolutionary mismatch means modern women approaching menopause are not recalibrating our metabolism like our ancestors.
Lara is a dream to listen to - she effortlessly describes the influence of oestrogen on satiety, what metabolic inflexibility is and provides a really logical approach to the latest intermittent fasting craze.
I honestly cannot recommend this episode enough for practitioners and anyone who was interested in Lara & Nicky Keay’s talk last year.
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Back in Season 3 of The Best of Health podcast, I had the first opportunity to feature Dr Mandy Leonhardt in an episode and our friendship and professional relationship has flourished since.
I was honoured to have Mandy join me on the expert panel at my womens health masterclass last year and I couldn’t help but ask her back on the pod to develop further into understanding POI - Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.
POI is such a hugely complex health condition and women are significantly underserved and dismissed by our existing health system. Mandy’s expertise in POI shines through in this episode and One little golden nugget Mandy leaves with us is if a young woman has a gap of 4 months or more between periods, this need expert health support and investigation. She passionately explains POI, the importance of testing and diagnosis and also the challenges of women with POI getting the right treatment, throughout their life stages.
We also steer our conversation towards about PCOS and surgical menopause and discuss the reality of PMDD affecting 5% of women and what is happening with chemicals in the brain in women with this mental health condition.
Plus Mandy gives us a little exclusive to her new book coming out in summer 2024, focusing on hormones, skin and hair.
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Ann Marie McQueen is a journalist with over 30 years experience, including reporting on complementary and mainstream health care including covering the early days of marijuana law reform, holistic and alternative treatments, transgender issues and abortion rights in North America.
Ann Marie shares how her own experience of perimenopause led her to delve into researching clinical studies, treatments, products, guidance in the perimenopause - menopause transition space and the dire lack of relevant content led her to launch Hotflash Inc in June 2020.
In this episode we discuss women’s denial of the approach of perimenopause / menopause and the growing conversation in society around women’s health and the more natural approach to the journey of perimenopause to menopause. Ann Marie also shares her own take on GP support, HRT and GP dosing and most importantly - how to present the facts to women who are in such need of making informed decisions about their health.
As always, grab a cuppa, or pop on your walking shoes and join me on your podcast platform of choice and drop a comment to share any snippets that particularly resonated with you.
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This week on the pod, I’m joined by a dear friend and colleague Dawn Waldron. Dawn is a qualified nutritional therapist and a nutrigenomic expert. Dawn is unique - one of the first K nutritional therapists who specialised in cancer, with over 26 years of knowledge and experience.
In this episode we of course delve into what drove Dawn into the specialism of nutrition and cancer - firstly her own experience of breast cancer and later, how a diagnosis of precancer on her tongue lead her interest into nutrigenomics.
We discuss how cancer impacts women and methylation and how Dawn supports clients through treatment and building longevity post-cancer. We discuss some of the nutrients that we know are absolutely critical for anyone with a cancer diagnosis and how identifying any genetic SNPs can help us map out and identify commonality in different cancer presentations. Dawn also shares with us her amazing concept of the “Power Journey” - to rebuild back to health after a cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy treatment and the aftermath.
I could honestly talk to Dawn all day long - this is a brilliant episode for practitioners and also anyone with an interest in nutrition, nutrigenomics and cancer. As always, take a listen on your podcast platform of choice and drop a comment to share any snippets that particularly resonated with you.
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This week, I’m joined by Robyn Puglia and I’m sure for the majority of you Robyn needs little introduction - Robyn is a Clinical Nutritionist and IFM Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with a specialism in autoimmunity.
We of course delve into autoimmunity and why in particular it impacts millions of women, why it appears to be on the rise, affecting 20% of the population and the underlying factors - our triad of: genetic predisposition, immune system dysregulation and environmental triggers.
It’s no surprise that Robyn is a published author - listening to her mix of passion, and incredible knowledge is absolutely captivating. Robyn generously talks us through her fabulous concept of immunological lasagne and shares her thoughts on gender bias in autoimmunity medical research and continued misogyny in women’s health care.
Robyn also fabulously naturally weaves in references to one of my all time favourite films - Love Actually and calls out the pioneers or “Taylor Swift’s” in women who are standing up, shouting out and leading the charge for better proactive healthcare for women. AND calls out the podcast as a love letter to those who are striving for answers or those championing for a better way to help women with their health 💌
Robyn is running a practitioner mentoring programme, commencing in January 2024 - head over to her website to find out all the details.
This is a really powerful episode - if you’re a practitioner and in need of an inspiring pick me up, you need to listen to this. As always, take a listen and drop me a comment to let me know if you enjoyed the episode as much as I did recording it.
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Dr Ghazala Aziz-Scott studied Medicine at Cambridge University and graduated with a Masters in Neuroscience, Medical Ethics and Law. She has been an experienced senior GP in a large NHS partnership in West London for over two decades but is now dedicating her career to Functional Medicine and the use of bioidentical hormones to provide an expertise in integrative women’s health.
Ghazala led her career into integrative women’s health and bioidentical hormones and gives us a unique insight to a GP prescribing HRT to women.
We are also joined by leading Pharmacist Rizvan Batha who beautifully explains so many concepts like the difference between bioidentical, body identical and compounded hormones and introduces the wonderful concept of hormone restoration.
This really is another must listen episode for any women trying to fully understand the options of HRT.
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Each season of The Best of Health podcast, I have a wish list of professionals that I hold in high regard and would absolutely love to speak to. So when Prof Jerilynn C Prior agreed to join me on the pod for an episode I was beyond thrilled and in all honesty, a little nervous too!
Jerilynn C. Prior has over forty years life experience as an Endocrinology Professor. In 2002 she founded The Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, studying the physical and psychological causes and effects of ovulation disturbances on women’s overall health. The centre also publishes scientific results and disseminates information directly to women.
This episode is a must listen to - for any women’s health clinical practitioner and for anyone with a keen interest in women’s health and ovulation through the life cycle. The episode has had a profound impact on me - Jerilynn was so generous with her time as she has been throughout her professional career - bravely standing up and a beacon for women’s health.
I am fully committed to supporting the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research - it’s a not-for-profit and the foundations that Jerilynn has established need to continue beyond her retirement. If you can support the centre through any charitable donations, please do: https://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/
Available to listen from most podcast platforms - take a listen and drop me a comment if you have found this episode as fascinating as I did.
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First up in this season I welcome back my fabulous colleague Dr Nicky Keay to talk about the demystifying education around the menstrual cycle, specifically in the age group of teens and young women.
We both share such a passion about improving education with this age group about the menstrual cycle. We touch upon everything from the changing age of menarche, the health benefits of the menstrual cycle, peak bone mass, the impact of the oral contraception pill and how nutrition impacts our hormones.
Nicky has a captivating way of talking about women’s hormones - grab a cuppa and tune in via wherever you listen to your podcasts [search The Best of Health] and I also highly recommend Nicky’s book “Hormones, Health and Human Potential” if you want to delve deeper into the topic.
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My last podcast episode of season 3 is the incredible Lara Briden - it was like Christmas come early spending an hour speaking with her and I’m so grateful for her time.
If you’ve not discovered Lara before, this is an incredible introduction to her natural ease of explaining perimenopause, menopause, HRT, metabolic flexibility, insulin resistance and so much more. But overall she gives the gift of hope - for all women going through perimenopause, there is so much you can do to overcome symptoms and to excel as you enter menopause and the next stage of life.
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One of the many inspiring speakers at the Integrative and Personalised Medicine conference this year was Patrick Holden, Founding Director and Chief Executive of the Sustainable Food Trust. Patrick’s session really resonated with me as he shared his passion about the application of Nature’s principles of Harmony to food and farming.
I am thrilled that Patrick agreed to join me in a podcast this season to discuss why our food system is in desperate need of reform.
With nearly 50 years of farming experience, Holden Farm Dairy is now the longest established organic dairy farm in West Wales. As well as being hands-on at the farm, his role at the Sustainable Food Trust works towards accelerating the transition towards more sustainable food systems and influencing government policy - he only recently returned from COP27.
I’m so grateful to Patrick for his time to talk about how sustainable food systems directly impact our health - there's plenty that we can all learn and do to support sustainability.
- Vis mere
