152: Her Health and Happiness with Jenni Russell - Episode 152152: Her Health and Happiness with Jenni Russell - Episode 152
UK Health Radio Podcast
Jenni Russell talks about menopause as a natural life season, questioning common symptom myths and linking hot flushes and other issues to lifestyle, stress and nutrition. She also introduces her Jenny’s Kitchen Table segment, featuring fonio as a supportive midlife grain choice.
48:43•27 Jul 2026
Menopause, Hot Flushes and Food that Actually Helps with Jenni Russell
Episode Overview
- Menopause symptoms vary widely, so women are encouraged to question whether the issue is menopause itself or how their own body responds.
- Digestive health, detoxification, stress, sleep, alcohol, caffeine and medication can all influence hormonal balance and midlife symptoms.
- Relying solely on long-term medication without examining lifestyle changes may contribute to organ strain and cognitive decline over time.
- Developing genuine self-love, self-care and self-awareness is key to calming emotional reactivity and supporting hormonal harmony.
- Including simple whole foods such as the ancient grain fonio can support digestion, energy and overall midlife wellbeing.
“Optimising my health is treat. Eating junk masquerading as food is not a treat.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This episode of Her Health and Happiness with Jenni Russell zooms in on menopause as a major life season, treating it less like a curse and more like a wake-up call from the body. Aimed at midlife women, especially those wondering why they feel so different, the show blends science, spirituality and straight-talking chat in a way that feels like sitting at a friend’s kitchen table.
Jenni reframes menopause as "a season that every woman will experience if by God's grace she lives long enough to experience a season," and challenges the idea that hot flushes and severe symptoms are simply inevitable. Instead, she links them to digestion, detoxification, stress, sleep, food quality, medication use and emotional load. You’ll hear her question why some women "breeze through" menopause while others feel overwhelmed, and why similar symptoms often show up in menstruation and after pregnancy.
Her message is clear: medication has its place, but blindly accepting lifelong prescriptions without asking what can be changed in daily habits may carry long-term costs for organs, hormones and brain health. She shares personal stories of her late mother’s diabetes and subsequent Alzheimer’s, and uses these experiences to encourage women to take their health seriously without losing their sense of humour or joy. The episode also introduces Jenny’s Kitchen Table, a regular food spotlight segment.
This time she highlights fonio, an ancient West African grain that’s naturally gluten free, rich in fibre, minerals and B vitamins, and a light alternative to rice or quinoa. For Jenni, food is either "our medicine or our mashup", and menopause is a perfect moment to rethink what’s on the plate.
If you’re wondering whether your symptoms are just "your hormones" or a bigger picture of lifestyle and self-care, this conversation might be the nudge to start asking different questions about your body and your future.
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