TW: miscarriage, pregnancy loss

If anyone can transform dry statistics into practical yet compassionate healthcare, it’s Caroline. I love her quiet insistence on better health information, and creating the kind of health support that truly empowers women’s work in the world.

Caroline first faced health challenges after the birth of her second child, when intense fatigue began to hinder her ability to parent.

Diagnosed with an underactive thyroid - but given no information as to why this had occurred, or why symptoms continued despite medication - Caroline promptly determined to discover the wealth of nutrition and lifestyle work she could do to support her health.

Retraining as a Holistic Naturopathic Nutritional Practitioner, Caroline promptly leveraged her own pain for others’ gain, focusing particularly on thyroid and hormone/reproductive health in women.

We discuss the complex interplay between thyroid function and all other hormones in the body, the special relevance of thyroid health for women at various life stages, and how seeing all this in context of the wider health picture can make all the difference.

Caroline’s website: https://www.get2health.com/

The microbiome testing we mention: https://invivohealthcare.com/products/testing/

Two organisations creating support for people who have experienced baby loss:

https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support

https://www.sands.org.uk/support-all-types-baby-loss
 

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/

When you have burned out like Sam has, and then trained like Sam has, then you have compassion and knowledge in abundance to support clients who want to regain their energy levels and get their lives back.

I am so pleased to introduce a fellow member of The Thyroid Collective, a specialist group of nutrition and lifestyle medicine practitioners who, as well as pursuing a clinical focus on thyroid health issues, have each had our own journey with thyroid health.

In addition to this thyroid focus, Sam Blackburn’s busy clinic also specialises in supporting people experiencing ME / Chronic Fatigue and Long Covid.

We discuss the ways that food sensitivity, nutrients, viral load, stress, trauma and ‘small t’ trauma, mycotoxins, and even personality type, may play a significant role in determining one’s overall health and physical vigour.

As well as revealing some raw moments from her health journey, Sam shares the infectious hope she has gained from rebuilding her own energy and transforming her health.

Sam’s website: www.energynutritionist.com

The Chrysalis Effect: https://www.thechrysaliseffect.co.uk/#recoveryoptin

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/

For over 15 years Emma Maitland-Carew has run a busy nutritional therapy clinic in Oxfordshire, where she uses live blood analysis to provide real-time health information to her in-person clients.

Emma takes us through what live blood analysis is, how it’s done in clinic, and how it can be used to shed light on a whole variety of health issues, including one’s nutrient status, the health of the gut microbiome, toxic load, and immunity.

Emma Maitland-Carew is the person who very first introduced me to nutrition and lifestyle medicine: I consulted her when facing insomnia, fatigue, and various other horrible things. And Emma was the first health professional I ever met who seemed to care about dealing with the causes of illness, not just plastering over its effects. In fact, my inspirational experience as her client is the primary reason I left my work in history academia, and re-trained as a nutritionist myself - a journey which she very generously encouraged. So, as you may imagine, Emma is my most highly-treasured guest.

Before working in nutrition, Emma was Head Chef for the Penny Brohn Cancer Care Centre, the UK’s leading Cancer Charity. Having trained in nutrition and lifestyle medicine at The Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London and the University of Bedfordshire, Emma also qualifed as a Wellbeing Coach with the Chrysalis Effect, a coach in Metabolic Balance, and a coach in the stress resilience techniques of HeartMath. Emma’s work in Live and Dried Blood Analysis is certified by The Complementary Medical Association. She currently sees clients in-person and online from her clinic in Oxfordshire.

See Emma’s website for more information and to get in touch: https://emmamaitland-carew.co.uk/

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/

If you, or someone you know, is facing health challenges, I trust that this interview will cheer you up and stoke HOPE.

I’d been wanting to interview a client for a while now - and then, just before Christmas, my wonderful client Eleanor got in touch to share how she was getting on. 

A few months had gone by since we finished working together, so I was thrilled to read her encouraging update: 

"I wanted to let you know - hot off the press - that my numbers are now officially in range … I have gradually tapered off medication altogether … and I feel good energy-wise and sleep-wise”.

Alongside her doctor’s oversight of medication, Eleanor and I had been working towards these goals for a number of months (this is how nutrition and lifestyle medicine work: tortoise that wins the race kind of thing). 

We used carefully tailored nutrition and lifestyle medicine approaches, to address the autoimmune issues that were the driving factor behind her health challenges. 

But NB this isn’t a smug, “everything’s totally fine and resolved” kind of conversation. 

Eleanor is generously sharing a journey that has been challenging and hard, that is a lot easier now, but isn’t pretending to be entirely over.

And yet, having persistently put in the changes, Eleanor is now gloriously (and understandably) cheerier now than when we first met.

Have a listen, and find out how and why. 

And if any of the things we talk about feel relevant to you or someone you know, drop me a line, and let’s have a conversation.

PS for anyone wondering, yes her hair did stop falling out!

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/

Does it feel as though you’re being told completely contradictory things about the toxicity of everyday life?

For example, one minute we’re being told our drinking water is dangerous, next minute we’re assured there’s absolutely nothing wrong. Who’s right? What’s really going on?

Dr Jenny Goodman is the perfect guide through all of this. Having worked to help clients recover from toxicity for over 20 years, she does have some awful truths to tell, but this is no fear-mongering episode! Dr Goodman simply takes us by the hand, and shows us how to take calm and sensible action to help our minds and bodies flourish. And unsurprisingly, these actions are important for the planet too.

I love the way Dr Goodman speaks and writes.  She has all the evidence to hand, and immense amounts of experience, and on top of this the rare gift of making every fact and every analysis truly interesting. If you’re anything like me, you’ll come away from this episode sobered, and yet also energised and encouraged - and with some very welcome clarity on simple steps to take in your own life.

More about Jenny Goodman:

Dr Jenny Goodman is a medical doctor, lecturer and media broadcaster, who qualified at the Leeds University School of Medicine, worked in the NHS, and then undertook further study with the British Society for Ecological Medicine.

Jenny worked in ecological medicine for over 20 years, and has now written two incredibly important books, Staying Alive in Toxic Times (2021), and, this year, Getting Healthy in Toxic Times. I heartily recommend them both: they’re brilliantly written, easy to read, packed with amazing client stories, and end-noted with all the important evidence.

https://www.drjennygoodman.com/getting-healthy-in-toxic-times

https://www.drjennygoodman.com/stayingaliveintoxictimes

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/

Now that the UK is beginning to get chilly, it’s high time to talk about immunity for winter. 

You already know about garlic, ginger, and hot toddies when you start to feel ill. 

But how can we support our whole immune system to work at its best all the time?

I answer a few client questions, as well as address subjects such as:

• mindset 
• people who catch everything going
• food and drink
• environmental air quality
• toxic load
• sleep
• looking after your gut specifically for immunity
• supplemental support you may not have heard of
• viral load
• lymphatic drainage

I mention mould remediation in this episode. There are many dodgy outfits (watch out), but I have come across a few reputable companies. The one I have worked with myself, on my own house, is  Pure Maintenance, who were so good that I then decided to connect with them:

https://www.puremaintenanceuk.com/health-partners/clare-backhouse

Others I’ve had recommended by reputable people are:

Building Forensics http://buildingforensics.co.uk/about-us.html

Action Dry https://www.actiondry.co.uk

Healthy Homes and Beyond https://healthyhomesandbeyondiaq.org.uk

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/

If you're feeling jaded about the world, slow down and listen to this episode. 

Zoe McIntyre is quietly going to re-inspire you! 

Under her gentle manner lies a clear and driving ambition to change the futures of countless children and families for the better, using food.

When poverty collides with cheap and terrible products like Ultra Processed Foods, many young people are vulnerable to all sorts of health problems such as obesity and malnourishment. 

But at the Hackney School of food, children learn to grow and cook food. And get confident doing so. 

It's also a place where people re-connect with nature, re-connect with neighbours, and get outside into some green space.

And if that doesn't strike you yet as a world-changing activity, you'll soon think again when you hear Zoe.

Get ready for a wholly invigorating listen.

Find the Hackney School of Food: https://www.hackneyschooloffood.com/

Instagram: @hackneyschooloffood 

Zoe McIntyre is the manager of Hackney School of Food, a food education hub in the heart of Hackney, London, which teaches children in Hackney and beyond to grow and cook healthy, nutritious and sustainable food from scratch. Previous to managing Hackney School of Food, Zoe was the Advocacy Manager at the think tank Food Foundation where she led impactful campaigns and advocacy activities on issues related to Free School Meals and children's food access including running the #EndChildFoodPoverty campaign fronted by footballer Marcus Rashford. She is committed to ensuring that food education is accessible to every child in the country, by creating a blueprint for gold standard food education in Hackney. 

Early Taste Experiences and Later Food Choices article: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/2/107

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/

In a world where so much about our nutrition is globalised, industrialised and dislocated, Kirsty Goring is all about restoring the connection between people growing, creating and enjoying food. 

Kirsty has a wealth of experience in the 'supply side' of nutrition via her work at the Wiston Estate, which hosts everything from vineyards to sheep, farming to fine dining, a therapeutic market garden to an award-winning winery.

Wiston Estate is a beautiful part of West Sussex in the South of England, comprising 2500 hectares of land, of which 70% is farmland. It hosts many homes, businesses, and a good chunk of the South Downs National Park. 

The Goring family has owned and looked after the Wiston lands since 1743, and today - as anyone who knows this area will attest - Kirsty and Rick Goring steward Wiston with the most incredible energy, commitment and excellence, prioritising people and communities, care for the land, and rural enterprise.

I absolutely loved this conversation with Kirsty, whose energy and enthusiasm could make even an instruction manual sound exciting and inspiring! 

It is such a joyful episode, and I hope it will capture your imagination (as it did mine) and reinspire you to savour, cherish, and appreciate all that happens to be in front of you. 

More about Wiston Estate here: https://www.wistonestate.com/

More about Wiston Estate partners such as Rock Farm, a therapeutic market garden, and Holos Kombucha: https://www.wistonestate.com/partners/

Kirsty mentioned Weald to Wavers: https://www.wealdtowaves.co.uk/

More about Kirsty Goring:  
Kirsty has worked in and around farming and food for most of her life. After reading history at Oxford, she took a Certificate Course at the Irish cookery school Balleymaloe, which ignited her interest in growing and cooking excellent organic produce. Later, Kirsty ran a small events catering business while working in the charitable sector in London. In 2004 Kirsty married Richard Goring, and soon afterwards went to work on small scale organic farms located on remote islands off the west coast of Canada. On return, Kirsty worked on product development, PR and Marketing at Higgidy Pies, before taking on the role of Sales and Marketing Director and then her current role as Brand Director for Wiston Estate.
 

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/

You don’t have to be a fish fancier to love this conversation. 

If you want to be inspired about food that’s delicious and healthy, plus sourced and distributed with integrity, then here is an episode to cheer your heart. I simply loved this interview.

Emily and Christopher Nicolson are partners in the Iliamna Fish Company, which aims to provide the world’s best wild salmon. 

A fourth-generation family business set up in 1948, they hand-catch wild red sockeye salmon from Bristol Bay in Alaska.

And it’s all done in the most inspiring way.

First of all, the fish itself is one of the most nutritious and safe of its kind due to its specific diet.

Then, there are university biologists who precisely direct when and how they fish, so that the salmon population survives and thrive year on year.

There are zero dodgy farm inputs (no feeds, no antibiotics, no dyes, nothing) – the fish are gleaned with integrity from the natural world.

They have a 0.015% bycatch rate, of which 90% returns live to the water.

They even have a fish sales and distribution system which builds human community!

But none of this is done with an eye to how ‘virtuous’ it looks. The unassuming excellence and integrity of their work is simply based on generations of careful practice and wisdom.

In short, it’s the epitome of Nutrition With Love.

And I think just hearing Emily and Christopher talk about their work will brighten your day.

Emily Lavelle (Nicolson) is a partner in Iliamna Fish Company and manages its New York-based CSF and operations. She is trained as a carpenter and an artist. A native of Philadelphia with Italian heritage, Emily began fishing in Alaska with her husband, Christopher, a little over 20 years ago.

Christopher is a partner and cofounder (together with his cousins) of Iliamna Fish Company. He operates a small commercial fishing vessel during the summer months with his bride, Emily, and their grown children, in Bristol Bay, Alaska. He is a tribal member of the Denai'ina nation--long-time residents of the lake country at the base of the Alaska Peninsula--via his mother's bloodline.

Find them at: https://redsalmon.com/

Or at Christopher’s winemaking work: https://redhookwinery.com/winemakers

Useful organisations they mentioned:

Marine Stewardship Council: https://www.msc.org/standards-and-certification/fisheries-standard

Seafood Watch: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/

We know herbs and plants are incredibly effective for supporting all sorts of ailments, but it takes a medical herbalist to harness their powers with accuracy, safety and application to the individual patient.

Medical herbalist Jean Dow has over 20 years of experience, and she is also a functional medicine practitioner, with clinics based in Edinburgh, the Isle of Skye, and online.

I initially contacted Jean about a year ago to find out about herbal approaches to hormone balancing, and I must say I was absolutely amazed, not only by her knowledge and experience, but also by her profound care for her patients and the sheer effectiveness of what she recommends.

Here, Jean shares about her medical training, the important similarities and differences between mainstream and herbal medicine, why herbs (when prescribed correctly) are so effective for peri/menopausal symptoms, and the 'super-herbs' she uses the most. There’s also an incredible patient story at the end!

More about Jean: 

As a medical herbalist and functional medicine practitioner, Jean Dow brings together the rich tradition of herbal remedies with modern medical insights to deliver comprehensive healthcare solutions. Her expertise lies in understanding the intricate connections between botanical medicine and human physiology, allowing her to address health concerns at their root causes. Jean is committed to crafting individualized treatment plans that honor each person's unique biology and circumstances, aiming for long-term wellness rather than short-term symptom relief. Through compassionate guidance and evidence-based practice, Jean empowers her clients to take control of their health journey.

fb.me/jeandowherbalist

www.jeandowherbalist.co.uk

Contact Clare via her website: https://www.transformationnutrition.org/contact 

Theme music is by Chris Marchand. You can find more of his work at https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/