Author, Podcaster, Public Speaker, Professor. Empowering women to have good health and happiness #yourfertileyears.

University College London
Joined February 2012
I am in the middle of making reels about how important our lifestyle is for our health. In this weeks podcast I am talking to Dr Sarah McKay about dementia and Alzheimer's. She agreed with all the data - 45% of dementia and Alzheimer’s is preventable if we look after our lifestyle. It's that simple. I really want young people to know this. Listen to the full podcast on all channels - Why didn't anyone tell me this? And catch my reels about lifestyle on Instagram and come and join us next Weds evening when I will be talking about health and happiness in later life for world menopause month with Your Menopause by Harley Street at Home. I will put the link in the comments. #dementia #alzheimers #lifestyle #wellbeing #health #nutrition #exercise #mentalhealth #sleep #friendships
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Do you want to learn more about dementia and Alzheimer's? Listen to this weeks podcast with Dr Sarah McKay where she explains it all. In this clip she talks about the symptoms. Why didn't anyone tell me this? The first in the mini series on chronic health conditions. Out now on all podcast channels. #dementia #alzheimers #brain #symptoms #chronichealthconditions
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Sleep is a superpower and probably the most important of our 5 pillars of wellbeing. 
What do you do before you go to bed?   Is your bedroom your sanctuary?   What do you do when you wake up in the morning?   Do you sleep with someone who disrupts your sleep?   You can hear more about sleep on my podcast with Dr Neil Stanley.   #sleep #mentalhealth #health #wellbeing
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Welcome to the start of my podcast mini series on chronic health conditions - which are conditions that last for at least a year, need ongoing treatment and are often not curable. The first podcast is with Dr Sarah McKay about dementia and Alzheimers. Listen to the full podcast on all channels - Why didn't anyone tell me this? Here Sarah explains what dementia is. #chronichealthconditions #health #dementia #alzheimers #brain #aging #illness
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Want to be healthy? Exercise is a non-negotiable. In the next podcasts I’m talking to experts about chronic health conditions. Hear what they say about the importance of exercise. I hear many women say they don’t have time. It’s your choice. You’ve got 168 hours in a week. Can you spare 30 mins 4 x a week? The women I interviewed for my book love exercise. Skate boarding. Swimming. Dancing. Hiking. Gym. Pilates. Exercise classes. Wild swimming. And much more. I’ve done lots of podcasts about exercise. Catch up via my web site or any podcast channel. Why didn’t anyone tell me this? There’s something out there that you’ll enjoy. #exercise #health #womenshealth #healthyaging
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Holidays are important. We need time to reset. A change of our environment. Adventures. I’ll be making a reel about this next week and share some of the thoughts from the women I’ve interviewed for my book. If you need inspiration - listen to my podcast about solo travel with Deb Ives and about being in nature with the Fell Foodie. #travel #holiday #adventure #reset #wellbeing #happy #joy
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Alcohol is one of the most toxic things we ingest. But it’s so normalised from drinking every day to the weekend binge drinkers. From the interviews I’ve done with 51 women over 50, many said they’ve stopped as it now doesn’t agree with them. Which is good news as alcohol increases the risk of so many cancers. In December I’m interviewing Prof David Nutt on my podcast to tell us all the facts about alcohol. #alcohol #bingedrinking #wine #beer #alcholic #addiction
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Nutrition. We all know what we should be doing. But it’s not that easy. We’re bombarded with fantastic marketing for unhealthy foods. I do it too. It took a lot of effort for me to finally quit sweats, chocolate, cake, biscuits and ice cream. It’s been over a year now. I don’t think I’ll ever go back. I still eat crisps occasionally but I’m trying to quit. Join us online on 15 October when Chris van Tulleken will be talking about food and menopause. Link in today’s story. And in December I’ll be doing a podcast about obesity. This increases our risk of all chronic health conditions as you’ll hear in the next podcasts. There will be more of all of these topics in my next book. #food #nutrition #health #obesity
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Following up from my post yesterday - for sure not all post menopausal women feel fantastic. But we can improve how we feel if we look after our pillars of health and happiness. It’s never too late for self care and self love. #postmenopause #menopause #thrive #health #happiness
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What’s it like being a post menopausal woman? Many would say it’s the best time of their lives. But some people think we should delay or prevent menopause. I’m not the only woman who loves being post menopause. I’m going to share our stories. What do you think? I know some won’t agree. #menopause #postmenopause #aging #womenshealth #life #wellbeing
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UCL’s InTune, and Wellbeing of Women are pleased to announce a special online panel discussion for World Menopause Day. Hosted by Professor Joyce Harper and Dr Nighat Arif with an introduction by Dr Shema Tariq. World Menopause Day 2025 Thriving Through Menopause: The Power of Lifestyle Medicine Wednesday 15th October 2025, 7-8pm, Online On the panel: Prof Chris van Tulleken - Nutrition Dr Lauren Colenso-Semple, PhD – Exercise Dr Nerina Ramlakhan - Sleep Prof Aimee Spector – Mental Health Register now so you can join in the conversation. eventbrite.co.uk/e/world-men…
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On this weeks podcast - the last in the mini-series about reclaiming joy, Nerina said we should be teaching joy in schools. But first we need to help our teachers find their joy. How can we teach joy if we are not feeling it? Listen to the full podcast on all podcast channels. Why didn't anyone tell me this? #schools #joy #teaching #wellbeing #health
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What brings you joy? Many of us are nurturers. We put other peoples needs before our own. This weekend - do some self care. What will bring YOU joy? It really is good for our health to be happy. It's not self indulgent. Listen to the last podcast in the mini series on reclaiming joy with my dear friend Dr Nerina Ramlakhan. Why didn't anyone tell me this? Available on all podcast channels. #joy #reclaimingjoy #happiness #happy #wellbeing
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Well that was another fantastic day. This time with the British Psychological Society in York. Brilliantly organised by Kyla Pennington. We heard the best talks. Professor Simon Gilbody FMedSci warned us that loneliness is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigs a day. Then we had a brilliant session on cold water swimming with Heather Massey Mark Wetherell and Richard Stephens who does research on swearing! It was so fantastic that over 20 people spent the afternoon at Poolbridge lakes - my favourite place. 4 lakes and 5 saunas. Yes this is work! Honestly. And we finished off the day in the pub hearing all about sleep with Scott Cairney then a brilliant dinner.
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If you are free on Friday - come and join myself, Brian Cox, Lucy Van de Wiel and others at the Crick Institute (for free) to discuss the future of fertility - we will be answering questions on a whole range of topics. crick.ac.uk/whats-on/a-quest…
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If you fancy listening to some uplifting podcasts today - listen in to my podcasts on reclaiming joy. Deborah Ives - solo travel Di Westaway - hiking Julia Hollander - singing Sophie Messager - drumming Harrison Ward - cooking in nature Lou Festherstone - self love Debbie Robinson - soundbaths And the final episode in this series is out on weds with Nerina Ramlakan where we talk about why remaining joy is important to our health and happiness. Enjoy. Why didn’t anyone tell me this? On all podcast channels. #joy #travel #hiking #singing #nature #food #drumming #selflove #soundbaths
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I look for ways to help me relax and be still. On my first ever podcast, my advice to my younger self was to be more still. In todays crazy world, I think it is really important to switch off regularly and reset. For me, soundbaths help me achieve this. I know some of you will think this is a bit woo woo. Especially coming from an evidence based scientist. But they work for me. As Debbie says in this clip - sometimes when I am doing a floating soundbath I feel paralysed but in a good way. I feel like my body and brain have stopped and are resetting. Each to their own. We discuss how this is not for everyone. But if you want to learn more, listen to the full podcast on soundbaths available on all podcast channels. Why didn't anyone tell me this? The series on reclaiming joy. #soundaths #relax #meditation #still #reset #reclaimingjoy #joy #happiness
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