The Happy Menopause

Have you ever considered acupuncture to help support you through — and beyond — the menopause? It’s a fascinating option for women at this stage of life, focusing on restoring balance across the body’s different systems — something many of us need during times of hormonal change.

This month’s guest is acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner Lily Lai, PhD. With a special interest in women’s health, she guides us through the i...

How do you feel about ageing? Have you started to write yourself off, or are you making the most of life? There’s a reason I called this podcast The Happy Menopause, and that’s because I firmly believe this stage of life is our time. Not an ending, but a door opening to a whole new world of opportunity, confidence and empowerment.

Building on this notion of grasping life with both hands, I’m joined by Professor Joyce Harper to talk ...

Can you open a jar or do you have to ask someone? Do you carry heavy bags easily or do you expect other people to do the heavy lifting? How physically strong are you? That’s a very important question for women in mid and later life, because the stronger you are, the better your health will be on a number of different levels. 

The evidence base is clear – people who lift heavy weights have a much lower risk of the various chronic hea...

Severe period pain? Vomiting? Fainting? It’s not just “one of those things.” These can be symptoms of endometriosis - a condition far more complex than many realise, and which often goes undiagnosed and unsupported, affecting 1 in 10 women. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Janice Rymer, consultant gynaecologist, and endometriosis nurse specialist Claudia Tye from Guy’s Hospital, London. Between them, they bring years of cli...

How’s the January diet going? By this time of the month, things can often start to unravel, so I’m offering a little bonus episode to help you get things back on track. 

This time last year, I chatted to the brilliant Petronella Ravenshear about metabolism, menopause and sustainable weight loss. Petronella is a nutritionist and author of the excellent Human Being Diet, which is an incredibly effective approach to managing your weigh...

As we step into a new year, this episode of The Happy Menopause explores what it really means to age creatively – and how we can rediscover joy, confidence and adventure as we grow older.

I’m delighted to welcome back Jo Moseley, six years after she first shared her story of breaking down in a Tesco biscuit aisle during perimenopause - a moment that became the catalyst for a powerful midlife transformation. Since then, Jo has become...

This is a brilliant follow on to the Alcohol & the Menopause episode from Season 6 Episode 7 with Sarah Williamson, coach and author of Drink Less, Live Better. 

We all know how tricky it can be as the Christmas party season gets underway and our schedule fills up with all manner of seasonal celebrations. 

In this bonus episode, Sarah joins me again to share some excellent advice and sneaky quick wins on ways to moderate your alc...

Struggling with bloating, cramping, unpredictable bowels or that sudden dash-to-the-loo urgency? You’re certainly not alone. In this episode of The Happy Menopause, I take a deep dive into Irritable Bowel Syndrome — a condition that affects a huge number of women, and one that often gets worse during perimenopause and menopause.

I’ll explain what IBS actually is, how it’s diagnosed, and why hormonal changes can make your gut so much...

Urinary tract infections — or UTIs — aren’t the most glamorous topic, but they’re incredibly important, and we just don’t talk about them enough. If you’ve ever had one, you’ll know how miserable they can be: the burning, the stinging, those endless trips to the loo, the pain, and that bone-crushing fatigue. They can really knock you sideways.

For many women, UTIs become more common — and more stubborn — during perimenopause and men...

What exactly are ultra-processed foods – and could they be making your menopause symptoms worse? Nutritionist and bestselling cookbook author Jenny Tschiesche joins Jackie to unpack the truth about what’s really in our food, how it affects our hormones, mood and metabolism, and why those clever additives can make it so hard to stop eating once we start.

Jenny shares simple, practical ways to cut back on ultra-processed foods without...

October is Menopause Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is Lifestyle Medicine — a subject that’s right at the heart of my work as a nutritionist. In this solo episode of The Happy Menopause, I’ll be exploring how simple, sustainable changes in the way we eat, move, sleep, and manage stress can transform your menopause experience.

We’ll look at the six key pillars of lifestyle medicine — nutrition, movement, sleep, stress managem...

Caring responsibilities often fall heavily on women in midlife. You’re juggling work, family life, menopause — and now, the care of ageing parents or elderly relatives too. It’s a huge emotional and physical load, and it can take a real toll on your wellbeing.

In this episode of The Happy Menopause, I’m joined by psychologist and neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan, author of Still Me, a compassionate, evidence-based guide for anyone c...

Feeling stuck in a style rut as you navigate perimenopause or menopause? You’re not alone. Changing bodies and shifting skin tones can make getting dressed feel like a bit of a minefield, and before you know it, you’re hiding behind a sea of black, shapeless clothes.

In this episode of The Happy Menopause, award-winning personal stylist Chantelle Znideric joins us to share her expert tips on what really works for midlife women. From...

Nutritionist Jackie Lynch explains how to use supplements safely in menopause, covering multivitamins, minerals, omegas, probiotics, and essential tips.

Supplements can be a minefield in menopause —in this solo episode, Jackie explains how to navigate them safely and effectively. Jackie stresses that a nutrient-rich, balanced diet is your foundation, but she also explains why getting every nutrient perfectly from food alone is harde...

Season 6 is a wrap, and I wanted to say a big thank you for all your support, and share a quick summer update! In this mini bonus episode, I’m reflecting on how far the podcast has come, sharing some exciting news about my new book The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy, and letting you know how to enter a prize draw for a 1:1 menopause nutrition consultation with me. Plus, there's fresh new content every month over in The Happy ...

What do you do to relax? It’s a question I ask all the time in my nutrition clinic, because making time to decompress from the daily stresses and strains can have a profound effect on how you experience the menopause. And yet, you’d be surprised how often it’s met with a slightly awkward pause, as someone tries to remember the last time they consciously made space to relax.

In this final episode of Season Six of The Happy Menopause,...

In this episode, I explore one of the simplest, most overlooked tools for boosting our health – walking.

We spend a fortune on gym memberships, personal trainers, and high-tech fitness gadgets – yet sometimes forget that our bodies are already brilliantly equipped for one of the best forms of exercise out there. 

My guest is researcher and author Annabel Streets who’s just released her latest book, The Walking Cure. Drawing on a weal...

Hot flushes have been the butt of not very funny jokes for years, but it’s no fun when it’s happening to you. A hot flush can cause huge distress, especially if it catches you in a professional or social situation, where you might already be feeling a bit vulnerable.

In this episode, I’ll be diving deep into the science and solutions behind hot flushes and night sweats – those classic menopause symptoms that can leave you flustered,...

Do you experience a range of unexplained symptoms - eczema, skin rashes, fatigue, headaches, IBS, joint pain, poor sleep, or random allergic reactions with no clear trigger? If HRT isn’t helping - or even making things worse - or if your blood tests keep coming back normal but you still feel awful, histamine intolerance could be the missing piece of the puzzle.

This little-understood condition is tricky to diagnose but more common t...