Could your gut be the missing piece in your MEN1 health journey? 

Dr. Pinelopi Chrysikou, a Functional Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine Specialist, shares groundbreaking insights into the gut’s role in immunity, inflammation, hormone balance, and overall health. We dive into why gut health is crucial for chronic conditions, the real impact of food intolerances, and practical steps to start healing from within.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:42 Understanding Functional Medicine
03:37 The Importance of Gut Health
04:19 Identifying Deficiencies and Their Causes
05:44 The Role of Stress and Nutrition
10:20 Autoimmunity and Gut Health
15:18 Functional Medicine in Practice
15:30 Consultation and Costs
18:31 Patient Experiences and Success Stories
27:21 Conclusion and Contact Information

ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Dr Pinelopi Chrysikou is a highly regarded lifestyle medicine specialist with a focus on integrating holistic, science-based approaches to optimise health and well-being. Her main areas of expertise include sleep disorders, anxiety management, lifestyle medicine, functional medicine, nutrition, as well as homeopathy. 

With extensive training and experience in both conventional medicine and lifestyle medicine, she takes a comprehensive approach to healthcare, emphasising prevention, disease management, and overall wellness through lifestyle interventions. Dr Chrysikou is deeply committed to the belief that the root causes of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, can be addressed and even reversed by adopting healthier lifestyle habits.

Her practice revolves around educating and empowering patients to make meaningful changes in areas such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep quality, and emotional well-being. By combining medical expertise with practical, sustainable lifestyle strategies, Dr Chrysikou offers patients a personalized pathway to improved health. Her expertise in nutrition is one of the cornerstones of her practice.

Dr Chrysikou provides tailored dietary plans that focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods, helping patients improve their metabolic health, manage weight, and reduce the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. She is an advocate for plant-based nutrition, recognizing its potential in reducing inflammation, improving cardiovascular health, and supporting overall vitality.

https://www.holistichealthplus.gr/cv/

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.

Gut health expert and food scientist Janice shares her passion for fermented foods and explains how they transform our microbiome, health, and even our food cravings. She reveals how our gut bacteria influence everything from inflammation to immune function and mood.

• Just one tablespoon of fermented food daily can dramatically impact gut health
• Our gut houses trillions of microbes that fight inflammation, heal gut lining and produce 90% of serotonin
• 70% of our immune system is in the gut with microbes instructing immune cells what to do
• Modern processed foods, emulsifiers and additives damage the gut microbiome
• Aim for 30 different plant foods weekly rather than eating the same limited selection
• Food cravings originate from gut bacteria - unhealthy microbes demand sugar while beneficial ones crave nutritious foods
• Restrictive diets and stress about food choices can damage gut health
• Listen to your body's intuition rather than following rigid dietary rules
• Even beginners can make fermented foods as "the microbes do the cooking for you"

Find Janice on Instagram @benourishedbynature, on Facebook at Nourished by Nature UK, or join her wellness hub for £12/month at nourishedbynatureuk.

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.

How does stress affect your body, and what can you do about it?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Gail Sharman, a functional medicine doctor specialising in stress and anxiety, to explore how our thoughts, emotions, and lifestyle choices impact our health. We discuss the mind-body connection, the role of nutrition, and practical ways to reduce stress and build resilience—which I relate back to my journey healing MEN1.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:
I have had careers as both a qualified medical doctor and lawyer,  and I know all too well the demands of a high-pressured job as well as that of a mother.

I am a Certified Functional Medicine doctor having trained with Dr Georges Mouton who is an internationally renowned pioneer of Functional Medicine. I completed a postgraduate training course with the BSEM (British Society of Ecological Medicine) in collaboration with the ACNEM (Australian College for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine), which is fully accredited by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

I have additional qualifications in coaching and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).

The coaching I am trained in is as follows:
· Resilience Coaching
· Confidence Coaching
· Neuroscience and Coaching
· Mindfulness
· Behavioural Coaching with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

I have a passionate interest in the integrative approach to health and the impact of stress on our bodies as well as how our physiology can affect our minds.

Having started my practice in Hong Kong, I now see patients either privately at my office in London or via skype/zoom. Reach out to me here.

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.

In this deeply moving episode of the MEN1 Mosaic Podcast, I sit down with my friend Kathryn to explore the powerful intersection of science, spirituality, and self-healing. Kathryn shares her incredible journey—from a life-changing diagnosis of kidney cancer to a profound near-death experience that shifted her entire perspective on health, fear, and the power of belief.

We dive into:

- How stress and emotional trauma can manifest in the body
- The profound experience that changed Kathryn’s outlook on healing
- Why self-trust and intuition play a crucial role in health
- The role of energy work, reiki, and spiritual connection in her recovery
- How science is beginning to validate what ancient traditions have long known

Kathryn’s story is a testament to the idea that healing is not just physical—it’s mental, emotional, and even spiritual. Whether you’re navigating MEN1 or any other health challenge, this episode will inspire you to consider the role your mind and beliefs play in your healing journey.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Kathryn calls herself ‘a helper to those seeking a more spiritual path’ and specialises in healing limiting beliefs, past traumas, energy healing, physical, spiritual & emotional.

Reach out to Kathryn here

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.

Can what you eat really impact your mental and endocrine health?

Dr. Pratima Singh, a consultant psychiatrist with a passion for functional medicine, joins me to uncover the powerful connection between gut health, mental well-being, and chronic illness. We explore why nutrition is more than just food, how inflammation plays a hidden role in disease, and why healing is as much about mindset as it is about medicine.

In this episode, we discuss:

- How gut health directly affects brain function and mood
- The surprising role of inflammation in mental and physical illness
- Why conventional medicine often overlooks nutrition in treatment plans
- The power of intuitive eating vs. lab-based dietary changes
- How to take the first steps toward a whole-body healing approach

RESOURCES

Institute for Functional Medicine

Feel Better Live More Podcast (Dr Rangan Chatterjee)

ABOUT OUT GUEST

Dr Pratima Singh is an experienced psychiatrist with
vast clinical experience in the UK since 2004. She
completed her training from Maudsley training scheme
and worked as a consultant psychiatrist at South
London and Maudsley NHS trust before moving to
Hertfordshire partnership NHS foundation trust to
work as a community and adult psychiatrist
Dr Singh's clinical interests lie in exploration of root
causes of mental health conditions and in designing
psychological , spiritual and biomedical protocols that
consider the individual, their unique circumstances
and needs.She has also trained under Institute of
Functional medicine and strives to integrate the best of
conventional psychiatry with in-depth exploration of
nutritional, hormonal, stress or trauma related, toxic
and infectious underlying causes of chronic mental
health symptoms. She works as a NHS psychiatrist
and also as an integrative psychiatrist at a functional
medicine polyclinic.

Clinical Practice: www.DrIndra.co.uk
Talks: pratimasingh.com 
Twitter: @dr_pratimasingh

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.

In this episode, I sit down with my close friend Emily to dive deep into the world of gut health. Emily shares her personal journey from years of digestive discomfort, bloating, and unexplained fatigue to finally discovering what was triggering her symptoms—and how she turned her health around.

We discuss:

- How gut health impacts energy, mood, and overall well-being
- The connection between anxiety and digestive issues
- Why exclusion diets can be a game-changer—and how to start one
- The biggest mistakes people make when trying to heal their gut
- What Emily wishes she had known years ago about food and the body

If you’ve been struggling with persistent gut issues and don’t know where to start, this episode is packed with insights that could make all the difference.

Reach out to Emily here

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.

When is the right time for surgery in MEN1? Should you act early or wait? The decision isn’t as straightforward as it seems—and even the world’s top experts don’t always agree. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. David Scott-Coombes, a leading parathyroid surgeon, to dive deep into one of the most debated topics in MEN1 care.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- Why timing is everything when it comes to parathyroid surgery.
- The risks of early intervention vs. the risks of waiting.
- What happens during MEN1-related parathyroid surgery.
- The role of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in surgical decision-making.
- What patients can do to ensure the smoothest surgical experience.

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Kunmi George, an A&E doctor, to uncover the realities of the UK healthcare system. We dive into:

- What’s working and what’s broken inside the NHS
- Why waiting times are so long and how emergency cases are prioritised
- The hidden challenges doctors face daily that patients rarely see
- How patients can make their healthcare journey smoother
- Lessons from global healthcare systems—what the UK does better (and worse)

If you’ve ever wanted an honest, inside perspective on the NHS, this episode is for you.

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.

When Cesca was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2008, she was given the standard medical outlook—no known cure, disease-modifying drugs, and an uncertain future. But instead of accepting a path of inevitable decline, she took matters into her own hands.

In this episode, Cesca shares how she turned to functional medicine, diet, and stress management to transform her health, despite neurologists telling her there was “no evidence” these changes would help. Sixteen years later, she remains stable with no new disease activity—defying expectations and proving the power of a proactive approach.

We talk about:

- How MS symptoms first appeared and what led to her diagnosis
- Why she chose to look beyond conventional treatments
- The key lifestyle changes that made the biggest impact
- How she handles setbacks and maintains balance
- The importance of patient-led health and advocating for yourself

This is a must-listen for anyone navigating a chronic condition and wondering if there’s more they can do.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

"I am in my seventh decade and over the past fifty years have had several careers: Barrister-at-Law; merchant banker; children's charity CEO; and interior designer. I worked full-time for most of the time my three children were growing up. I live part-time in London and part-time in the Cotswolds. I continue to work part-time and live a full and healthy life."

Reach out to Cesca here

RESOUCES

Work with Matt Rowe here

Work with Dr Georges Mouton here

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.

For years, Holly was exhausted—so tired she could barely get through the day. Like so many others, she was told it was just the reality of being a busy mum. But deep down, she knew something wasn’t right. When a routine blood test revealed high calcium and parathyroid hormone levels, everything changed. What followed was a whirlwind of tests, miscommunication, and self-advocacy that ultimately led to an unexpected MEN1 diagnosis at 41.

In this episode, Holly shares:

- How she pushed for answers when doctors dismissed her symptoms
- The shocking moment she learned she had MEN1—and how she found the right information
- The importance of advocating for specialised care (and why she refused to settle for less)
- The unexpected challenges of navigating genetic testing and family implications
- Why she believes every patient needs to empower themselves and ask questions

If you’ve ever felt unheard in your health journey, this episode is a must-listen.

RESOURCES

Reach out to Holly here

Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships (MNVPs or MVPs)

Are you sure MEN1 can’t be influenced?
When I stopped just 'settling' for symptom management, I began carving a path to somewhere I believed impossible in MEN1: symptom-free, surgery-free, and medication-free. If you’re curious to see how I’m making this happen, join my community here.

Disclaimer
I share my personal experience as a MEN1 patient. Nothing in this episode, including the opinions of my guests, is intended as medical or holistic advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making changes to your care.