I am excited to introduce the first Eating Well contributor to this blog in 2023- Gail Brady. She is a Pangbourne-based nutritionist who will be contributing a series of blogs over the next couple of months packed full of useful tips and knowledgeable insights.
Why did you train to become a nutritionist? And what made you focus on women’s health?
I spent years searching for solutions for debilitating endometriosis in my twenties and happened upon a nutritionist by chance. She helped me to manage my symptoms through diet and lifestyle. In fact, my health, and life, were so changed so profoundly that after having my second child and moving away from London, I decided to leave the corporate world and re-train as a nutritionist. I qualified in 2013 and immediately started specialising in women’s health so that I could help other women with hormone related health issues.
I started niching in menopause about 5 years ago, whilst studying for my Master’s degree. I was experiencing some of the first symptoms of perimenopause, headaches, heavy periods, night sweats and also some weight gain around my middle. Hormones had hijacked my twenties so there was no way I was going to let that happen again in my forties... I decided to write my dissertation project on weight gain in menopause and spent the best part of a year immersed in reading and writing about the topic. I also realised that there was little support for women at this life stage and so it felt like a natural time for me to become an expert in this area.
What was your background before becoming a nutritionist?
Before becoming a nutritionist, I worked in a corporate account management role for a European airline. It was a busy role that involved European and sometimes long-haul travel, which I loved but no longer suited my family life. I still have a passion for travel and love airports though.
What do you think are the main health issues women are facing today and how can diet help?
Women are living longer but we are not necessarily doing so with good health or quality of life. Being told that we can have it all and trying to do it all can take its toll and lead to chronic stress, hormone disruption and health issues. Women also have a tendency to take care of everyone else before themselves. We can often get away with it in our 20s and 30s but once we hit our 40s this can start to change and have implications for how we experience the menopause transition (perimenopause). This life stage can also be a critical window of opportunity for women to support their future health, especially bone health, heart health and brain health. The hormonal changes of midlife mean that we may need to adapt our diets and lifestyle to manage symptoms and protect our health. This involves looking at what we eat, when we eat and even how we eat. I believe that supporting blood glucose balance and our gut health are core foundations for managing health and hormones and two of the things that can make a difference to how we experience menopause. Lifestyle also plays a big part too, the quality of our sleep, how we manage stress and daily movement and exercise. I see my role as creating an awareness around the importance of diet and lifestyle and helping midlife women to identify their own potential imbalances so that they can make informed decisions around their health.
What has been the biggest highlight of running a small business and biggest challenge to date?
Without a doubt the biggest highlight(s) are the results my clients get from making changes to their diet and lifestyle. It is amazing to see someone’s life transform in a similar way that mine did when I discovered the power of nutritional therapy.
My biggest challenge has been taking my business online during Covid. This was a steep learning curve in terms of technology but it works brilliantly and I now work with my 1:1 clients and host my 6-week group programme completely online.
Best nugget of wisdom you can share for those wanting to breeze through the menopause?
You are never too young to support your health and hormones. You may not realise it but your hormones will be starting to change from your late thirties and early forties. A good place to start is by making sure that you have a balance of quality protein, healthy fats and fibre at each meal. This can help to prevent blood glucose and insulin spikes that can be a driver for many symptoms and health issues.
What is your go to recipe that you couldn’t do without and why?
This is tough because there are so many… but I think that it would have to be my homemade almond and parsley pesto. I make a big batch, keep it in the fridge and eat it with almost everything. It can lift an otherwise boring meal and contains extra nutrients too.
Where can we find out more information?
You can get access to a free short meal plan, including my pesto recipe, by using this link
You can also find me at https://gailbradynutrition.com/