Menopause can feel overwhelming - but good information and the right support can make an enormous difference. In this special episode, Michelle Ford brings together four leading experts - Jane James, Emma Bardwell, Dr Linia Patel and Lavina Mehta MBE - for a practical guide to HRT, nutrition, weight management and exercise during perimenopause and menopause.
Jane James: Making informed choices about HRT
Menopause mentor Jane James is the founder of the Menopause and HRT Discussion Group and community manager for Davina McCall’s Menopausing and Me community.
Jane explains why HRT is not “one size fits all”, challenges common myths and shares advice for preparing for a GP appointment. She discusses what testosterone may be prescribed for, where to seek support and how menopause mentors and support groups can help.
Jane also explains the NHS HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate, which currently costs £19.80 and covers certain eligible HRT medicines for 12 months.
Emma Bardwell: Eating well through menopause
Registered nutritionist Emma Bardwell is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The 30g Plan and The Fibre Effect.
Emma explains why hormonal changes can encourage fat storage around the middle - and why eating well needn’t involve a complete dietary overhaul.
Why are protein, fibre and plant diversity so important? Can food help alleviate menopause symptoms? Emma shares easy ways to improve everyday meals, explores phytoestrogens and suggests three simple nutritional changes we can make now.
Dr Linia Patel: Menopause, weight and GLP-1 medication
Dr Linia Patel is an award-winning women’s health dietitian, performance nutritionist and author of Food for Menopause and Life After Weight-Loss Medication.
Linia encourages us to look beyond the scales and consider our energy, sleep, stress and overall wellbeing.
She explains what GLP-1 weight-loss medications are, how they work and what may happen after someone stops taking them. We also discuss the importance of a holistic approach to weight management and getting enough protein, fibre, iron and other essential nutrients.
Lavina Mehta MBE: Exercise for brains, bones and muscles
Lavina Mehta MBE is a health and fitness expert, personal trainer and author of The Feel Good Fix. Awarded an MBE for services to health and fitness, she is known for “exercise snacking” and her mantra, “Exercise for Sanity, Not Vanity”.
Lavina explains why movement matters for our brains, bones and muscles - and how it may support mood, sleep and cognition while helping to ease anxiety.
She shares achievable ways to add short bursts of movement to the day through exercise snacking and habit stacking. We also explore why strength training can help future-proof our bodies - and why strength, health and confidence matter far more than a number on the scales.
This episode is packed with reassuring, evidence-informed advice to help you feel stronger, better supported and more confident about navigating menopause.
This podcast provides general information and should not replace individual medical advice. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional before beginning, changing or stopping medication, HRT, supplements, diet or exercise.
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Producer: Emma Tindall @tindallpodcasts
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