Empowered Nutrition

19/07/2026

I've just come back from a beautiful retreat weekend at the Penny Brohn centre near Bristol. If you've never been - well, what can I say, you can see what a gorgeous place it is! The food is always incredible too and I came away with new ideas for keto.

I can't believe that the last time I was there was in 2017. There is something timeless about the building and grounds, and it felt like coming home.

Whilst I know that I'm privileged to have been able to go on retreat, I do think that in our modern world everyone would benefit from going on retreat at least twice a year. Being in a "retreat bubble" away from the responsibilities and cares of daily life really does give the nervous system a chance to regulate.

25/06/2026

My mind is full from the first part of Dawn Waldron 's Fluxable course for practitioners working with cancer clients. Really excited about 3 more days to follow!

23/06/2026

It was such a joy to be part of Empowered Living & Breast Cancer's Nurture & Nourish retreat once again this year. Open-hearted women who have had a breast cancer diagnosis gathered at the beautiful Sanctuary Farm in Sussex for a weekend of bonding, movement, nourishing food, nutrition, crafting, essential oils and time in nature.

I talked about caring for your gut after a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Thank you to Gilly Cant, Rachel C-K and Clare Marten White for all your hard work that made it such a special time. I was really honoured to be a part of it.

Just a few photos - there will be more later.

12/06/2026

Very interesting, and scary, in terms of food prices being affected by climate change.

(I'm not a member of any political party, just posting about fruit & veg!)

A new report by the Autonomy Institute highlights the projected rise in the price of fruit & veg over the next 10+ years. Cost-of-living and climate crises are inextricably linked…

07/06/2026

A little update on my continued adventures in ketoland...

I've been following a ketogenic diet and in ketosis every time I have tested since shortly after starting on 24th March. Originally the plan was to stay strictly in ketosis for 8 weeks so that I became fat adapted, and then "flex" in and out of fat burning, eating a more glycolytic (carb burning) diet on some days.

That plan changed when I found out I would be starting a targeted breast cancer drug called capivasertib. Capivasertib can cause hyperglycaemia and even type 2 diabetes, so I decided to stay in ketosis until I got a feel for my blood glucose response to capivasertib.

Until today. Church lasted half an hour later than longer this morning, and when we arrived home my husband and son were already quite hungry. I had planned to make them dhal, and make myself an omelette. But I found I couldn't face making 2 lunches, so I just ate a big bowl of dhal with them. I then thought I might as well really go for it and ate a delicious nectarine afterwards (how I have missed fruit!).

This shows my blood glucose and ketones 1.5 hours (plus a 25 minute walk) later. Seems it will take more than one meal to convince my body not to stay in ketosis.....

09/05/2026

One of the things you have to learn to do when living with cancer is to adapt to the unexpected.

In February, the discovery of a tumour in my femur put an end to running 😥😥. Other high impact exercise was out as well, but not being able to run hit particularly hard. I wasn't a great or long distance runner, but it had been my go-to cardio exercise for many years. You can do it wherever you are, without much planning or equipment, alone, and it was great for my bronchiectasis.

My orthopaedic consultant said that cycling is fine. I had a bike and did cycle a bit, but....my bike (bottom pic) was 28 years old! It was a necessary part of living in Cambridge when we moved there, and I used to cycle to work. Each of my boys in turn sat on a child seat on the back and it has taken me on many family rides, so I was very attached to it. BUT it had got very rickety and I didn't feel too secure on it with bone mets, especially not if I was going to use it more frequently.

Enter my new bike (top pic). It's much easier to ride, and a lot smoother. Whether or not I use it on any days that aren't sunny and still remains to be seen!

I'm also doing a lot of Nordic walking.

I took my old bike to Recycles, a workshop run by the Salvation Army that repairs old bikes and seels them (thank you for the suggestion). At the Ilford branch, the money goes straight to their accommodation for the homeless, directly upstairs. Knowing this made it a little easier to say goodbye to my bike. Thank you for your service, my old friend 🧡