I’m Derek Arden, and welcome to Monday Night Live. Tonight, I’ve got a nutritionist, Anna Gray, who has had an interesting journey through her business career, starting as a nurse, transitioning into healthcare PR, and finally becoming a nutritionist. Welcome to Monday Night Live, Anna. Thank you for joining us. Could you give us a snapshot of your life?

Anna began her career as a nurse, driven by her fascination with the workings of the human body. Although nursing didn’t feel like the perfect fit, she found her calling in healthcare PR after responding to a unique job advert.

For 25 years, she has been working with corporate healthcare organizations, promoting brands, creating programs for patients, and educating clinicians and nurses.

Anna’s health took a toll, becoming the “poster child” for the pharmaceutical industry due to her struggles with Lyme disease. Despite taking numerous medications, she didn’t experience significant improvements. This experience prompted her to explore alternative ways to improve her health and led her to focus on nutrition and stress management.

Anna’s journey with nutrition began when she sought help from a nutritional therapist to improve her health. The positive results she experienced inspired her to study nutrition and become a nutritional therapist.

While excelling in her career as a PR director for a global agency, Anna faced the challenges of long working hours, frequent travel, and high levels of stress.

Her health struggles led her to focus on the impact of stress on the body, which eventually became a key area of interest in her nutritional practice.

Anna emphasized the significant connection between gut health and brain function. The gut-brain axis, connected via the vagus nerve, plays a crucial role in overall health and performance. Proper nutrition can support brain health, cognitive function, and even athletic performance.

Anna emphasized the importance of a balanced diet, including a variety of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and quality proteins.

For athletes, carbohydrates are essential for energy, and protein aids in muscle repair and growth. Adequate hydration with water is crucial for overall health and cognitive function.

For those looking for simple fixes, Anna offered practical tips:

Anna Gray’s journey from nursing to healthcare PR and finally to nutrition offers valuable insights into the interconnectedness of health and nutrition.

Her expertise highlights the importance of gut health, balanced nutrition, and hydration for optimal brain function, sports performance, and overall well-being. As we continue to learn from Anna’s expertise, we can enhance our understanding of nutrition’s impact on our lives.

Derek Arden