On this episode we talk all about how our food effects both our physical and mental health. Our hormones are affected tremendously by what we eat and there's a reason why diets don't work, they don't give us the balance we need, for example, high protein = low mood. Clinical nutritionist and former chef Emma Ellice Flint joins me to go deeper into this conversation, she is passionate about making a difference to our health and happiness through food and nutrition, and hopefully you'll glean some great tips from this conversation. Here are some notes..

Emma's website is emmasnutrition.com – as we said there are loads of recipes on there, she offers 1:1 consultations, hosts workshops and if you follow her on social media, she's regularly posting more ideas for how to eat healthily.

We talk about phytoestrogens and other great ingredients in plant food that specifically support our bodies as we go through hormone changes:

• Legumes, pulses and beans – soy being top of the list.
• Also in chickpeas, white beans/cannellini, haricot, butter beans, black beans
• Seeds – flaxseed/linseed, chia seed
• Top 3 nuts for women are almonds with skin on, walnuts and brazil nuts (just 2 a day)
• Dark berries on your breakfast
• Vegetables – kale, cauliflower, brussel sprouts
• Fermented food such as sauerkraut, kefir etc enhance your digestion

High protein low carb are short term diets that can cause long term bloating and fatigue. Remember, high protein = low mood

Exercise is also connected to gut function as well as sleep quality and emotional health. They all connect together.

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In this episode we wrap up Menopause Awareness Month by talking with Dr Zoe Hodson about testosterone and alcohol. It's not just about libido, we talk about the benefits to mental health, our mood, energy and mental agility. A decrease in testosterone can have a detrimental knock on effect to women's lives. Zoe talks about women being misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, ME, fibromyalgia, POTS, even women being investigated for an early onset of dementia – all because of the dip in testosterone, a hormone that our ovaries already produces, hence, it's not just for boys.

We also talk about the effect of alcohol and how during this stage of our lives, it has an effect on our heart health, sleep, anxiety and bone density.

If you would like to follow Zoe, she's on Instagram and Twitter

You can access the FRAX tool here

You can order the Testosterone T-shirt here

You can order the Make Menopause Matter T-shirt here

Zoe works closely with Dr Louise Newson and there are heaps of wonderful resources on the Newson Clinic website too.

Other episodes on Inside My Wardrobe dealing with hormone change and peri-menopause/menopause are episodes 72 78 79 91 and 92

Thank you for listening, please do share this episode with your friends and family and keep talking about these things, there is absolutely no shame in hormone change.

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Menopause is often misdiagnosed so education is paramount. If we can know what to look out for, we will be far more equipped when we go to see the GP for help and support. This week we talk to menopause specialist Sharon Hartmann from the Newson Clinic. She works both in the NHS and the private sector so she has a window on both experiences.

The effects of menopause start in our early 40s, sometimes even sooner and often they are misdiagnosed as depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, even alzheimers – you'll hear all about that across the next few episodes.

If you haven't yet heard the other episodes about navigating and understanding the symptoms, they are numbers 72 78 and 79.

In this episode, Sharon Hartmann was keen to talk not just about menopause, but how to talk to your GP about HRT and we cover masses – from migraines to endemitriosis, depression to pelvic floors, to how to apply HRT, the 5 year myth, the WHI Study, testosterone, the mirena coil and libido …here's a few break points:

17:00 symptoms, both physical and psychological

19:00 pelvic floor and bladder, vaginal atrophy

28:00 body identitcal HRT

33:00 HRT and whether or not to come off (short answer, no)

38:00 what to do when your GP says no

42:00 5 year myth

46:00 Is it ever too late to start?

50:00 testosterone

51:00 libido and anxiety

54:00 bad sleep and sleep hygiene

57:00 mirena coil

We talk about the Newson Health clinic where you can get heaps of advice and help as being a great place to start and click here for the NICE guidelines to help you with approaching your GP. The Balance app is the other resource helpful for navigating and tracking your symptoms.

Please share these episodes with friends and family, it's so important to keep the conversation going.

Thank you for listening, if you'd like to follow me on social media, you can see all my links via my website

COPYRIGHT PIPA GORDON 2021

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.