Women Positively Ageing cover art

Women Positively Ageing

Women Positively Ageing

By: Barbara Bray
Listen for free

About this listen

 Welcome to 'Women Positively Ageing', the podcast that brings you the best of current research and advice on how to live well for longer. I'm your host Barbara Bray and in each episode I'll be joined by an expert in ageing and health research talking about the health challenges they have found and how they can be prevented or reduced. The thought of ageing may fill you with dread but there are tools out there to - help you overcome those fears - learn what challenges to watch out for and - proactively change your lifestyle to age happily and well Join me and my guests as we discuss living well for longer, enjoy the show and do let us know what changes you put in place.2022 Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Fibre Power

    Fibre Power
    Feb 5 2026

    In this bonus episode, Barbara Bray and Dr. Emily Leeming discuss the critical role of fibre in nutrition, particularly for women experiencing menopause. They explore the importance of fibre for gut health, its benefits for overall well-being, and practical strategies for increasing fibre intake in daily diets. The discussion emphasizes a balanced approach to nutrition, encouraging listeners to focus on adding fibre-rich foods while maintaining a positive mindset towards eating and health.

    Dr Emily is not interested in restrictive diets, nor complicated routines. She is here to provide science-backed, simple and practical strategies to get you eating and feeling better, with the promise of rewards for your long-term health.

    Resources:

    Fibre Power book - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/fibre-power-transform-your-energy-and-feel-amazing-dr-emily-leeming/1856edaf91aa4d7e?ean=9780241804520&next=t

    Dr Emily Leeming - https://www.emilyleeming.com/
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Navigating Nutrition in Later Life

    Navigating Nutrition in Later Life
    Jan 28 2025
    This conversation explores the challenges and strategies involved in caring for aging parents, focusing on nutrition, hydration, and the importance of social eating. Expert Mary Merheim and guest Clare Bayley share personal experiences and practical tips for enhancing the nutritional intake of elderly loved ones, addressing issues such as appetite loss, medication effects, and the significance of making mealtime a social event. The discussion also introduces Grandbars ®, a nutritious snack designed for seniors, emphasising the need for caregivers to approach these challenges with empathy and understanding. Introduction "What do you for an ageing parent who is struggling to eat well"? With people living for longer, greater pressure on the health and social care system and the continued cost of living crisis, the responsibility of supporting ageing parents is increasingly falling on adult children. Recent research from Age UK suggests that one of the biggest concerns people have about supporting an older relative is their lack of knowledge around what to do to help their parents as they age. 6.6 million people aged 40-60 (79%) who are considering caring for or supporting an older parent in the future, worry that they wouldn't know how to support them Age UK's research also shows that 3.3 million adults aged 40-60 already currently care for or support at least one older parent with tasks including: taking them shopping or doing their shopping for them (72%)helping with household chores (68%)accompanying them to medical appointments (67%)looking after them if they are unwell (63%) Stepping from the territory of 'doing a bit of shopping' to helping with cooking and eating is a delicate balance, and in today's podcast I will be speaking with nutrition advisor, dementia doula and author of the book 'Navigating Nutrition in Later Life', Mary Merheim. Mary was a teacher specialising in Autism until she took time off to look after her elderly father. Her mission became to combat his lack of appetite. She took what he DID want to eat and tweaked it to make it more nutritious. This is how Grandbar ® cakes were born in 2021. and we are joined by guest Clare Bayley, age 51 from Evesham, Worcestershire. A mother of 4 sons (3 adults and 1 age 6!) and grandmother to girl age 4. She is a business owner and has an elderly mother with dementia who is staying in her home while they arrange permanent care. She's recently experienced difficulty in providing the right nutrition to her mum as her tastes, appetite and needs change. She says "this was I subject area I knew very little about but now feel passion for". NB: this information does not replace personalised advice from a Health Care Professional Notes: The responsibility of supporting aging parents is increasingly falling on adult children.Understanding the parent-child relationship is crucial in caregiving.Hydration is often overlooked but is essential for elderly care.Appetite loss in older adults can stem from various causes, including medication.Social eating can significantly improve nutritional intake for seniors.It's important to avoid being the 'food police' when caring for ageing parents.Taste preferences change with age, impacting food choices.Finding the root cause of appetite loss is key to addressing it effectively.Grandbar ® offers a nutritious option for older adults struggling with appetite.Caregivers should accept that they won't have all the answers and that ageing is a natural process. Constipation – Although not covered in the episode, it's also a contributor to poor appetite and worth investigating Further Resources: Navigating nutrition in later life – book by Mary Merheim Mary Merheim | Author, Public Speaker, Good Death Lady and founder of Elderly Nutrition UK The Helping Hands guide for feeding elderly people Best Food For Elderly People With No Appetite | Helping Hands I'm loving creating this podcast, but there are costs with it, so if you could tip me the price of a cup of coffee that would be a big help to creating some more of the fantastic content you've been enjoying. https://ko-fi.com/barbarabray36248
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Bladder Health and Nutrition: Empowering Women in Mid-Life

    Bladder Health and Nutrition: Empowering Women in Mid-Life
    Dec 27 2024
    In this episode we're diving into a topic that's crucial for many, especially as we navigate mid-life: bladder health. We'll be exploring the top five challenges women often face with their bladder health during this stage of life and offering practical advice on how nutrition can play a pivotal role in managing these issues. From urinary incontinence to overactive bladder, pelvic floor weakness, hormonal changes and lifestyle factors we'll cover the key concerns that can impact your daily life. But don't worry, we're not just here to talk about the problems. We'll also provide you with actionable tips on how to support your bladder health through mindful nutrition choices. Guests My guests are Registered Public Health nutritionist Lynn Burns, author of Eating Well for Menopause and Catriona Bannon, Medical Device Business Consultant, middle aged, menopausal and living the life! ( Menopause is not all negative!). Lynn suffered 12 years of bladder issues as a result of an underactive thyroid and Catriona experienced latch-key incontinence during her menopause and used her professional experience in the urology sector to find a solution. Both Lynn Catriona Bannon share personal experiences and practical advice on managing these challenges through nutrition and lifestyle adjustments. Summary We emphasise the importance of seeking medical help and understanding the underlying causes of bladder issues throughout the conversation. Lynn delves into the intricate connections between bladder health, neurotransmitters, hydration, lifestyle factors, and dietary considerations, particularly in the context of menopause. The speakers discuss how stress and hormonal changes can impact bladder function, the importance of proper hydration, and how lifestyle choices can exacerbate bladder issues. They emphasise the need for symptom tracking and personalised approaches to managing bladder health, highlighting that solutions are available and that individuals should not suffer in silence. NB: this information does not replace personalised advice from a Health Care Professional Keywords bladder health, women's health, menopause, urinary incontinence, pelvic floor, nutrition, hydration, hormonal changes, bladder issues, health challenges, bladder health, menopause, hydration, lifestyle factors, dietary considerations, neurotransmitters, sleep, bladder issues, women's health, symptom tracking Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Bladder Health in Midlife 02:05 Common Bladder Health Challenges for Women 10:13 Personal Experiences with Bladder Issues 14:05 The Impact of Hormonal Changes on Bladder Health 20:06 Lifestyle Factors Affecting Bladder Health 27:09 Solutions and Management Strategies for Bladder Health Notes: Lynn Burns RNutr Lynn Burns has been a Registered Nutritionist for more than 20 years and is co-author of Eating Well for Menopause. Her experience of living with Interstitial Cystitis followed by learning how many women experience some of the same issues around the time of menopause and beyond listening to a talk by a woman's physiotherapists led to a chapter on bladder health in the book. Lynn began her career with the UK Government, which gave her a solid grounding in public health nutrition and sparked her interest in adapting nutrition messages to different groups for the most impact on health. Writing, developing on-line nutrition courses and running workshops on a range of nutrition topics is her passion and when not doing that she loves working with young people in the outdoors as a Scout Leader. Follow Lynn on Instagram @lynnburnsnutrition, or lynnburnsnutrition.com Let's Talk Food Newsletters: Health Professionals Let's Talk Food (general) Links & Resources https://letstalkfood.thinkific.com/pages/free-bladder-health-download https://letstalkfood.thinkific.com/pages/free-lesson-offer https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/foods-to-avoid-with-interstitial-cystitis#certain-beverages Eating Well for Menopause Eat More Plants Journal For giggles Judi Dench Made Lesley Manville Laugh So Hard She Wet Herself | The Graham Norton Show https://youtu.be/-9Bc_lzxVeI?si=bMTzu7ami6th40q2 Elaine Millar, specialist pelvic health physiotherapist and comedian https://youtu.be/J9ZNINhdhN0?si=YjIlOsGl-lL2KNbK Tip I'm loving creating this podcast, but there are costs with it, so if you could tip me the price of a cup of coffee that would be a big help to creating some more of the fantastic content you've been enjoying. https://ko-fi.com/barbarabray36248
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.