Eating For Health

04/06/2026

Have you ever noticed your urine smells really strange after eating asparagus?

I certainly have this week! I got a lot of it in organic vegetable box. I love it and no one else likes it in my house.

I think it should come with a warning label. It was quite alarming 😩

Asparagus contains natural sulphur compounds which are broken down by the body and excreted in the urine. For some people this creates a very distinctive smell, often described as rotten eggs or sulphur.

It can happen within hours of eating asparagus and, if you’re eating it regularly (as I have been!), the smell can seem to stick around for days.

The good news? It’s usually completely harmless.

Other foods that can affect the smell of your urine include:
• Garlic
• Onions
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Coffee
• Some vitamin supplements

However, if you notice a persistent change in urine smell that doesn’t improve after changing your diet, or you have symptoms such as pain, burning, urgency or increased frequency, it’s worth getting it checked.

Your body is constantly giving you clues about what’s going on inside. Always listen!

Sometimes it’s a sign of something that needs attention.

Sometimes it’s simply a reminder that you’ve eaten a lot of asparagus!

Have you ever experienced asparagus p*e, or is it just me?

02/06/2026

I’m looking forward to delivering this FREE workshop on Longevity: How to Stay Healthier for Longer this weekend at Physical Balance.

Most of us want to live longer, but what we really want is to stay active, independent and able to enjoy life as we age.

In this workshop, I’ll be sharing practical, evidence-based strategies to help improve your healthspan, including:

• Nutrition for healthy ageing
• Blood sugar balance and metabolic health
• Maintaining muscle mass and strength
• Bone health and osteoporosis prevention
• Lifestyle habits that support longevity

It’s never too early, or too late, to invest in your future health.

I’d love to see you there. If you know someone who is interested in ageing well and staying healthy for longer, please feel free to share this post.

MenopauseHealth BoneHealth Osteoporosis PhysicalBalance

02/06/2026

Exam season is stressful for all teenagers, but for teenage girls there can be another layer we rarely talk about: hormones.

Mood, energy, focus, confidence and stress tolerance can all shift across the menstrual cycle. This does not mean girls are lazy, dramatic or making excuses. It means their bodies have patterns.

When girls understand those patterns, they can stop blaming themselves and start working with their biology instead of fighting against it.

A gentle reminder for parents: teenage girls do not just need revision timetables. They also need understanding, rest, nourishment and support.

Read More:

Exam season can feel harder for teenage girls when hormones affect mood, energy, focus and confidence. Learn how cycle awareness can...

24/05/2026

I love the sun.

And so does my Labrador. ❤️

As a nation we’ve become so scared of the sun that many people are now low in vitamin D.

Vitamin D is involved in so many processes in the body: bone health, immunity, mood, hormones, energy, muscle function and metabolic health.

Low levels are really common and can contribute to fatigue, low mood and poor immune health.

Modern life means many of us simply don’t get enough sunlight. We work indoors, drive everywhere, and are often too busy to get outside consistently, especially in the UK where sunshine is limited anyway.

To make vitamin D from sunlight, we generally need to be outside around the middle of the day (roughly 11–3 in spring and summer).

Around 10–30 minutes of sensible sun exposure on bare arms and legs may be enough for many people, although this varies hugely depending on skin tone, age, cloud cover and the strength of the sun.

Personally, I try not to rely on sunscreen too much in the UK. I’d rather cover up, seek shade or limit exposure where possible.

I’m not anti-sunscreen at all, especially if you’re out in strong sun for long periods. But I do think it’s important to be mindful of ingredients. Our skin is a living organ, and it can absorb what we put on it. Choosing simple sunscreens with fewer unnecessary chemicals where possible may be a sensible approach for some people.

We absolutely do not want to burn. But there’s a big difference between sensible sun exposure and avoiding the sun completely.

If you put sunscreen on before even leaving the house every day, it can reduce vitamin D production.

So as much as possible:
• Get outside daily
• Walk at lunchtime
• Eat outdoors when you can
• Expose skin safely to sunlight
• Avoid burning

20/05/2026

It was a busy week last week, with lots of trips to London, but this was definitely the highlight.

At PR Circle I was presented with one of Amanda’s wonderful hats for getting in the press.

I never really thought much about PR or being featured in the media before, but Amanda’s PR Mastery and Visibility Circles have completely changed the way I see it and I’m loving it.

As a small business owner, especially in health, visibility really matters. If we want to educate people, challenge outdated advice and help more women, sometimes we have to stop hiding and start speaking up.

I’ve met such supportive, inspiring women through these circles too.

If anyone would like to come I have a free ticket to share. They are a lot of fun.

17/05/2026

More people are using ChatGPT to interpret their blood test results.

I understand why - it is quick, easy and can give a 'general' explanation.

But here is the important thing:

1. A generic interpretation is not the same as a personalised health review.

ChatGPT cannot properly assess your full history, symptoms, medication, diet, stress levels, sleep, hormones, family history, menstrual cycle, gut health, weight changes or what has changed over time.

2. It will usually explain results using standard reference ranges, which are often the same broad ranges used by the NHS to identify disease and often the need for a medication.

3. As a Registered Nutritionist, I look at blood results differently.

I am interested in:

* Early markers

* Optimal ranges

* Patterns between markers

* Metabolic health

* Thyroid and cholesterol links

* Iron, B12 and folate status

* Blood sugar and insulin patterns
* 
Inflammation
* 
How the results match your symptoms

I do not use blood tests to diagnose.
That is your GP’s role.

But I can help you understand whether your results may be giving clues about your symptoms

A blood test is useful.

A personalised interpretation is even more useful.

If you are interested in having a 'MOT' style blood test (I have one every year!) please message me or book a free call to discuss which test is appropriate for you.

https://l.bttr.to/Hm4Rs

17/05/2026

We did it.

What an incredible afternoon.

Last Friday I hosted a “We Sew So She Goes” sewing party in Tadley for the amazing .period Anne Nicholls, with the most wonderful group of women, and together we made over 60 reusable period pads for girls in Kenya.

These pads are heading to Nairobi with Anne later this month, where they’ll become part of dignity bags helping girls stay in school during their periods.

What makes this even more special is that the pads were made using organic cotton remnants donated by Carla Saull of , turning fabric that could have gone to landfill into something life-changing.

Huge thank you to everyone who came along and supported this amazing cause:




and Sue

It was so busy we ran out of chairs!

I absolutely loved doing this and would love to host another one, so if you’d like to get involved next time, please let me know.

No sewing experience needed. I have none! 😂

Every £25 provides one girl with a dignity bag including reusable pads, underwear and soap that can last up to 5 years.

If you’d like to support Anne’s incredible work, donation link below ❤️

https://tinyurl.com/AnneGoFundMe

06/05/2026

Confession… I hated PE at school.
I was definitely the child writing my own notes to get out of class.

So if you’d told me years ago that I’d voluntarily go to the gym, I would never have believed you.

What changed?

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with osteopenia (reduced bone density). That was a bit of a wake-up call and really kick-started me into taking exercise more seriously.

The good news? Through nutrition and lifestyle changes, I was able to reverse my osteopenia.

So now I exercise for my health, my longevity, and my independence.

Do I always love it? No.
Do I sometimes enjoy it? Yes… especially if I’m with a friend or my daughter. A gym buddy definitely helps.

What I do love is how movement makes me feel afterwards and what it does for long-term health.

Exercise can help:
• Improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar balance
• Support metabolic health and energy
• Improve mood and stress resilience
• Support heart health and cholesterol levels
• Maintain muscle and bone strength as we age

This is something I talk about a lot with clients.

Nutrition is incredibly important, but health is about much more than food alone.

In appointments we often discuss:
• Movement
• Sleep
• Stress
• Energy
• Gut health
• Blood sugar balance
• The barriers that make healthy habits difficult in real life

Because real health changes rarely come from diet alone. They come from looking at the bigger picture and building habits that are realistic and sustainable.

And no… you do not need to become a gym fanatic. Walking, strength training, gardening, swimming, dancing round the kitchen… it all counts.

If you’re struggling with energy, weight, blood sugar balance, gut symptoms, or simply knowing where to start, feel free to message me or book an appointment. Sometimes small changes really do add up.

27/04/2026

Brilliant woodland walk/run on Sunday in aid of St Michael’s Hospice.

Beautiful views, fresh air, and such a lovely way to support an incredible cause.

Thank you Barbara Payne from Digital House for the great company, always makes it even more enjoyable to walk and talk and learn about someone’s business.

And Maxine, you and your team do such a fantastic job. So well organised, with brilliant volunteers guiding us (I would definitely have got lost!) and a very welcome refreshment at the end.

Please do give generously to this wonderful charity. They have to raise a staggering sum of money.

25/04/2026

Early strawberries = an early taste of summer

I was quoted in The Times today on this story, which makes it feel even more special.

We love strawberries in our family, we grow them, eat them, freeze them and they are regularly in our yogurt and protein shakes.

This time of year always reminds me of strawberry picking with my children, their little red faces, insisting they hadn’t been “testing” the produce along the way.

Simple moments, but the ones you always remember.

Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, fibre and natural sweetness, one of the easiest ways to support your health.

https://www.thetimes.com/article/1b2543d1-6305-4ce6-ad39-2e3b9fd805d9?shareToken=fb287ed0d5606580cccb06169097d556