New Dawn Health

25/07/2025

Emulsifiers and heart health: new BMJ study raises red flags ❗

A large French study followed over 95,000 adults for more than 7 years—and here’s what they found: eating more processed foods containing emulsifiers (common food additives used to change texture and shelf life) was linked to a higher risk of heart disease and strokes.

You’ll find them in things like:
🥣 low-fat yoghurts
🍞 sliced bread
🍦 ice cream
🍪 biscuits
🧀 processed cheese

The worst offenders include:
❌ Cellulose (E460–E468)
❌ Carboxymethylcellulose (E466)
❌ Monoglycerides & diglycerides (E471, E472)
❌ Trisodium phosphate (E339)

💡 My advice?
Don’t panic… but do get curious.
✔️ Check your labels
✔️ Cut back on ultra-processed foods
✔️ Choose real, whole foods where possible

23/07/2025

Can plants prevent disease?

This study, published in Nature, shows us that "flavonoids" protect us chronic disease. The more you eat, the better.

A flavonoid is a natural compound found in colourful fruits, vegetables, herbs, and teas.

They’re like little plant protectors — helping plants stay healthy — and when we eat them, they protect us too.

Flavonoids act like natural antioxidants, helping to reduce inflammation, support immunity, and keep our hearts, brains, and guts healthy.

You’ll find them in foods like:
🍓 Berries
🍎 Apples
🍫 Dark chocolate
🍵 Green tea
🧅 Onions
🍇 Red grapes

🌿 Parsley and herbs

Think colour = flavonoids = protection. The more colourful plants you eat, the more benefits you get!

Make a rainbow on your plate! 🌈

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-025-01176-1?

15/07/2025

Can diet really beat diabetes?

This 21-year Lancet study shows lifestyle changes beat metformin in preventing type 2 diabetes.

Researchers followed over 3,000 people at high risk of type 2 diabetes.

What did they find?

That lifestyle changes — like diet and exercise — had the strongest and longest-lasting effect in preventing type 2 diabetes. But the biggest gains came from lifestyle choices, proving that what you eat and how you move really can change your long-term health.

💪 Lifestyle changes (like diet and exercise) reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 24% compared to placebo — and helped people stay diabetes-free for 3.5 years longer on average.

Lifestyle changes worked best for people with higher blood sugar and HbA1c at the start.

💊 Metformin (a common diabetes medication) also reduced risk by 17%, extending diabetes-free life by 2.5 years.

Metformin had the strongest effect in younger participants.

The large initial intervention effects seen in the DPP trial were followed by sustained reductions in cumulative diabetes incidence for 21 years. Intervention effects were heterogeneous according to some baseline variables. These findings could guide precision interventions to help address the curre...

08/07/2025

Clients love to know their body stats...
Here's the main ones that I measure in a health check...

07/07/2025

Have you had an NHS Health Check?

It’s a starting point — blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, lifestyle questions.

But lots of women still walk away wondering:

“OK… so what do I do with this?”

That’s why I created the Wellness Check — for women who want more in-depth blood testing, personalised diet and lifestyle analysis and a specific plan, not a generic one.

✔️ We explore your symptoms, energy, digestion, hormones, cravings, mood, sleep and more

✔️ We dig into your food diary and lifestyle

✔️ You can include advanced private blood tests — explained in plain English

✔️ You get 90 minutes 1:1 with me, and a detailed action plan that fits your life

04/07/2025

Ever been to the doctor, only to be told that your bloods are “normal”… with no explanation as to why you don’t feel quite right?

You may have common, subtle symptoms - constipation, bloating, tiredness, disrupted sleep, low mood, joint pains, skin rashes etc.

These symptoms are your body’s whispers, and I want to help you learn to listen to them - find out what they are telling you - before they start shouting.

✨ I’ve just launched my Wellness Check for women who want to understand what’s going on inside.

It’s not a generic tick-box. It’s a dive into your symptoms, diet, lifestyle, and bloods — with expert eyes and a clear action plan.

🔍 Curious? Take a look...
👉 https://www.newdawnhealth.co.uk/wellness-check

Wellness Check for women over 50. Get expert insights, optional blood testing, and a personalised plan with Dawn. One session, big clarity.

10/06/2025

Can someone MAINTAIN muscle while on a weight loss jab?

Yes — but only with the right approach. It's not inevitable that you lose muscle, but it’s very likely without specific effort.

Here’s what can help maintain (NOT NECESSARILY BUILD) muscle:

✅ HIGH PROTEIN INTAKE

Aim for 1.6–2.2g protein per kg of body weight per day.
Spread protein across meals (20–30g per meal minimum).

✅ STRENGTH TRAINING 2-4xWEEK

Focus on progressive overload: challenge the muscles, not just move the body.

This is especially important for midlife women to signal the body to hold on to muscle.

✅ ENOUGH RESISTANCE AND REST

Recovery is key. Don’t overtrain, especially in a deficit.
Avoid relying solely on cardio or step counts.

✅ MONITOR BODY COMPOSITION

If possible, use tools like DEXA scans or bioimpedance scales to track fat vs muscle, not just total weight.

Ask me if you want to have a bioimpedance measurement done, I can do it easily in clinic for you.

09/06/2025

Can you support your GLP-1 levels naturally?

✅ Yes — through food, movement and gut health!

🥦 Fermented foods
🧄 Prebiotic veg like leeks and garlic
🏋️‍♀️ Strength training
🚶‍♀️ Walking after meals
🥩 Protein + fibre at every meal

These are powerful ways to help your body naturally regulate appetite and blood sugar — with or without semaglutide or tirzepatide.

Want to know more?
📖 Check out the full blog in the link in the comments below

06/06/2025

Our mucking about Friday afternoon frivolities!
Have a great weekend! x

05/06/2025

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS JABS

🚨 1 in 10 UK women are now taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro.

These meds can work. But they’re not magic.
Without the right habits, results often don’t last.

❌ Up to 40% of weight lost is muscle, not fat
❌ 2/3 of weight is often regained within a year

If you’re considering weight loss jabs, this blog explains what to know before you start, and what to do to protect your metabolism, muscle and health.

👉 Read the full blog on my website - link in the comments.
💬 Questions? Drop them below or message me.

30/05/2025

Nourish your "gut friends" on World Digestive Health Day!

29/05/2025

🎯 Today is World Digestive Health Day.

Everything in life changes, right? Well, so does our digestion...

As we move through our 50s and beyond, it’s common for things to feel a little... off. More bloating. Less appetite. And somehow, even with smaller portions, the scales don’t budge. Sound familiar?

Here’s why it matters:

👉 As we age, stomach acid naturally declines, and that’s essential for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients like B12, iron, and magnesium.

👉 Gut motility slows, leading to constipation or sluggish digestion.

👉 Our microbiome, those helpful gut bugs, can shift with hormone changes, stress, or antibiotics.

💡 The result? A perfect storm where we eat less, but absorb less too. And our energy, immunity, and mood all feel the knock-on effects.

🛠️ The fix isn’t a detox or another restrictive diet. It’s getting smart about food: more protein, more fibre, more colourful plant foods. Less beige.

Want help working out what’s right for your gut at this stage of life?

👉 https://www.newdawnhealth.co.uk/gut-health-clinic

Gut Health Clinic - Our Gut Health Package is designed to help you improve digestion, energy, immunity, so you can feel like yourself again.