We're bringing back another powerful episode for our special Menopause Matters Season - this time with the fabulous Karen Newby.

Karen is a nutritionist who's been practising nutritional therapy for over a decade, specialising in women's hormonal health - particularly menopause. She's the author of The Natural Menopause Method, a brilliant nutritional guide to perimenopause and beyond, and her brand-new book The Natural Menopause Method Cookbook is out now.

In her new book, Karen has compiled 60 simple, flavour-packed recipes designed to help combat and minimise the most common menopause symptoms. These are meals made for time-poor menopausal women who still want to eat well — full of nutrition and bursting with taste. From Salmon Traybake with Tarragon Pesto to 'Stop Feeling 100' Joint Rejuvenation Smoothie, these recipes tackle issues like fatigue, hot flushes, brain fog, irritability, and sleeplessness — showing how food can truly be medicine for this stage of life.

In our conversation, Karen brings a wealth of knowledge about how nutrition can support our hormones and overall wellbeing through this transition.

Here's what we cover:

-How we can best prepare ourselves for perimenopause

-The first signs of perimenopause and what can be done about them

-Good and bad estrogens

-What we can learn from other cultures in terms of food and hormones

-The importance of phytoestrogens

-Food as medicine

-How to stop sugar cravings and why they happen

-Why modern life can make menopause worse

-Why women may get heavier periods as they move into perimenopause

-The importance of maintaining blood sugar levels

-The role of the adrenal glands

-Why we need to get better at managing stress

-Why there's no quick fix when it comes to menopause

-Six simple nutritional shifts to support perimenopause

-Why we need to start putting ourselves first

And more!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave us a 5* review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening.

Order Rachel's book, Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause And Beyond, recommended in The New York Times as one of seven top books about menopause at magnificentmidlife.com/book

The paperback can also be purchased on Amazon or other online retailers:

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/

US & Canada: https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Magnificent-Midlife-Transform-Middle-Menopause/dp/173981150X/

You can listen to all the other episodes and get the show notes at magnificentmidlife.com/podcast.

Podcast recommended by the Sunday Times.

Feedspot #9 in 40 Best Midlife Podcasts and #7 in 60 Best Women Over 50 Podcasts

You'll find lots of strategies, support, and resources to help make your midlife magnificent at magnificentmidlife.com.

Check out Rachel's online Revitalize Experience, a 6-week intensive small group mentoring experience or 1-1 Midlife Mentoring.