The Balanced Body Podcast12 Nov 2025

Mum's Blood Pressure Scare, the Link Between Menopause and Heart Health, and Natural Strategies to Lower It

If you're in your 40s, 50s, or going through perimenopause, this is one of those episodes you might think doesn't apply to yo, but it 100% does.

The risk of high blood pressure, rising cholesterol, and heart disease increases dramatically around perimenopause and post menopause - even if you're doing all the right things and have no major risk factors.

My mum experienced this first hand. She's always been health conscious, eats a pescetarian diet, grows all her own vegetables, walks daily, constantly gardens, is part of a cycling club and goes to the gym regularly. She recently checked her blood pressure thinking it would have improved from her recent efforts at the gym ... and it came back at 180/80. High. Hypertensive crisis high.

It prompted a full deep dive on my end into what actually helps with blood pressure, beyond the standard "eat well and move more and reduce salt" advice.

In this episode:

What we think may have contributed to my mum's high BP reading
Why blood pressure often creeps up silently, especially in midlife
Some of the less-talked-about foods, nutrients and supplements that might support healthy blood pressure (like beetroot, flavonoids, CoQ10, magnesium and more)
A practical look at how to apply these ideas without overhauling your entire life

If you've ever been told to "cut back on salt" but wanted something more specific, this one's for you.

Looking for support with your nutrition?

FREE: THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST TO LOOK AND FEEL YOUR BEST

👉 Check out The Balanced Body Reset — my 30-day program to help you get back in control of food, energy, and confidence: https://helena-mcdonald-3e4c.mykajabi.com/30-day-balanced-body-reset-1

And as always, if you want personalised 1:1 support, you can contact me directly over on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutrition.by.helena/

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(103)

The most useless new wellness product, and everything else in my notes app

This is like a Q&A style episode, except it's just from my notes app. I'm constantly jotting down misinformation I've seen or heard, things that have come up with clients and great questions from my D...

25 Apr 45min

Why can't I just stick to a diet? With psychologist Glenn Mackintosh

If you've ever lost weight, gained it back, and wondered what's wrong with you — this episode is for you. I'm joined by Glenn Mackintosh, a psychologist who specialises in helping people with their r...

18 Apr 52min

Do You Have to Eat Before You Train? How I Fuelled for a 14.4km Fun Run

A man stopped me in the supermarket the night before Run for the Kids to warn me about the importance of reading food labels. What he didn't know is that I was deliberately looking for a processed pro...

30 Mars 29min

Just start - how to stop overthinking it and make progress towards your goals

I came across a post in a diet program Facebook group recently, which had 74 comments, all from people saying the same thing. They'd paid for a program, felt overwhelmed within the first hour, and jus...

22 Mars 47min

How to Enjoy Easter Without Derailing Your Goals

Easter is one of those times of year where food is everywhere and it can feel really hard to stay on track without swinging to one extreme or the other. In this episode I'm sharing 12 practical strate...

22 Mars 42min

Why Am I Not Losing Weight? 9 Things That Could Be Causing a Plateau

Why You're Not Losing Weight (Even When You're Doing Everything Right) If you've been eating well, staying consistent, and still not seeing movement on the scales, this episode is for you. I'm walkin...

5 Mars 37min

Exactly How to Set Up a Calorie Deficit for Fat Loss

If fat loss is your goal, you've probably heard you need to be in a calorie deficit, but you might still have questions about how to practically achieve this. In this episode, I walk you through the ...

27 Feb 53min

Pelvic Floor 101: What Every Woman Should Know (Pregnancy, Postpartum & Beyond)

Before we dive in, here are Laura's contact details: https://www.scencephysiotherapy.com.au/ @scencephysiotherapy And a few ways I can support you: Join the Community: The Balanced Body Reset 1:1 co...

20 Feb 38min