Why Am I Interested In Women’s Health & Nutrition?

Well, the obvious answer is because I am one! And it makes sense, right? As women, we face some unique challenges throughout our lives. Conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, fertility issues, and pregnancy— which can have its own potential complications such as hyperemesis, gestational diabetes, placenta previa, and pre-eclampsia—can all shape our health journey. Then there’s birth, peri-menopause, menopause, and everything in between. The list is long, and every woman’s experience is different.

Support and Experience

Men certainly have their own health challenges, but because I’m a woman, I’m sticking to women’s health. I’ve personally experienced some of these challenges, and I’ve learned about others through friends, clients, and the many women I’ve met along the way. We’re here to support one another, and part of that support is listening, learning, and sharing what we know. On that note, I thought I would briefly highlight a few of the common challenges women face—starting with iron deficiency anaemia.

Iron Deficiency Anaemia

One of the most common issues for menstruating women is iron deficiency anaemia. Because we lose iron through our monthly bleed, our iron stores can drop over time. It’s important to understand that iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are not the same thing. A woman can be low in iron without being anaemic.

Iron deficiency anaemia occurs when iron stores become so depleted that haemoglobin levels fall. The red blood cells become smaller and paler, meaning less oxygen is carried around the body. This leads to fatigue, low motivation, reduced productivity, and impaired mental clarity—even though the symptoms aren’t always obvious. While this can affect women at any age, it often overlaps with another major stage of life: perimenopause.

The Perimenopause Transition

Perimenopause is the transition period when the ovaries gradually produce less oestrogen and progesterone. Health Direct has a comprehensive guide on perimenopause including how it is diagnosed, living with perimenopause, symptoms and treatment plus further resources and support.

It is a normal part of ageing and usually begins in the mid-forties to early fifties, though it can start earlier or later. It can last several years, and the symptoms vary widely from woman to woman. Hot flushes, weight gain, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, sleep difficulties, concentration issues, memory lapses, brain fog, cycle changes, and joint or muscle aches are just some of the possibilities. If you’re experiencing any of these, please know you’re not alone. I truly empathise—this stage can be challenging, confusing, and overwhelming, but it is also a natural part of our journey.

Apart from the obvious ways to look after yourself during the perimenopause stage such as healthy eating and regular physical activity, there is another treatment called hormone replacement therapy or HRT that I will talk about more in a future piece of writing.

Managing Menopause

Menopause follows perimenopause and is defined as the point when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a period. The World Health Organization offers a comprehensive overview of menopause. At this stage, the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs, and the reproductive phase of life has ended. Menopause can occur naturally, or it can be triggered by surgical removal of the ovaries or medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.

During both perimenopause and menopause, many women notice unwanted changes in weight, energy, and overall wellbeing. While diet alone won’t eliminate every symptom or completely prevent hormonal weight changes, adjusting how and what we eat can make a meaningful difference. Many women find that nourishing their bodies more intentionally helps them feel more balanced, more energized, and more in control during this transition.

I’ll be sharing some beautiful recipes to support you through this “period” of life—recipes that are simple, nourishing, and designed with women’s health in mind.