On a Wednesday evening in May, more than 50 women came together at Wincanton Memorial Hall for a free women’s health event.
The evening was organised by health coach Megan Perrin, working with the Wincanton Health Centre team. We had two talks on women’s health and were joined by expert contributors on pelvic health and the intersection of menopause and cancer.
The aim was to bring health information into the community, where women could ask questions, share experiences, and leave feeling better informed.
What we covered
We worked through the span of women’s health from first period to menopause and beyond. Dr Naomi Startin brought her extensive GP perspective on conditions affecting women across these stages.
My talk focused on The Metabolic Thread, the connection that runs through every stage of a woman’s hormonal life. Metabolic health describes how well your body produces and uses energy, affecting hormones from puberty to menopause.
When the Thread is working well, your mood is steadier and your sleep is better. When it’s under strain, it can affect menstrual cycles, fertility, menopausal symptoms and overall health.
The symptoms women associate with perimenopause, (fatigue, brain fog, anxiety and weight creeping up around the middle), overlap almost entirely with the symptoms of poor metabolic health. Having tools to balance metabolic health makes a real difference.
How to smooth the metabolic thread
Repeated blood sugar spikes can disrupt the signals between the brain and ovaries, affecting periods and ovulation. In perimenopause, blood glucose swings have also been associated with hot flushes and brain fog.
To smooth blood glucose levels, include protein, fibre and natural fat at every meal. Three easy options:
- The deli box: sliced meat or fish, cheese, a boiled egg, olives, cucumber, nuts.
- Greek yogurt bowl: Greek or Skyr yogurt, berries and nuts.
- Eggs with veg: eggs your favourite way with avocado, mushrooms or tomatoes.
Use your big muscles after meals by going for a short walk. Ten minutes helps your muscles absorb blood sugar, softening the effects on mood and energy.
We also covered specific nutrition strategies, sleep, stress recovery, movement and circadian rhythm. Questions covered endometriosis, PCOS, HRT and painful periods; many asked if we’d run more events – we will!
There is something important about bringing people into a room together, hearing someone else ask the question you hadn’t quite dared to yourself, and not feeling alone.
Dr Rebecca Hiscutt PhD RD
