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Health Coach Jo, London (2025)

20/06/2025

I’m delighted to be part of the upcoming Wellbeing Event in Bromley and will be hosting a free Menopause Café on Friday, 27th June from 2–5pm.

Feel free to drop by, say hello, and connect with other women navigating a similar journey..

Celebrate World Wellbeing Week in Bromley!

World Wellbeing Week is an annual celebration dedicated to promoting all aspects of wellbeing — physical, mental, emotional and social. It’s a time for us to reflect on our own wellbeing, support others, and take positive steps toward a healthier, more balanced life.

We have created a programme of activities to celebrate this initiative at the One Bromley Wellbeing Hub in The Glades Shopping Centre, Upper Mall (BR1 1DN) from Tuesday 24 June to Saturday 28 June.

All activities are free and there is no need to book.

18/06/2025

3 reasons I stopped taking the contraceptive pill.

1. The combined oestrogen–progestogen pill has been classified as a carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has put it in the same category as ci******es and asbestos due to its potential link to breast cancer and cervical cancer. 😳

2. Following a blood test I was told my cortisol (stress hormone) was three times higher than it should be, apparently that’s ‘normal’ for women on the pill. 😡

3. Now I’m in my 40’s, the reality is perimenopause will kick in soon and I want to be able to track my cycle to see what changes arise which wouldn’t be obvious on the pill. 🗓️

The contraceptive pill puts your reproduction system to sleep, and the ‘period’ you get when you’re on the pill isn’t a real period (caused by ovulation). It’s a withdrawal bleed.

There are many side affects to the contraceptive pill (see leaflet in the box), that some women may not connect to the pill, especially if they’ve been on it a long time because it becomes the norm, but it might be worth checking the side effects if you are experiencing symptoms.

I realise when it comes to contraception, the choices are limited and it may be your only choice right now, but I want all women to make an informed decision when it comes to their health and this information isn’t always shared when you’re prescribed the pill.

17/03/2025

Great evening with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

05/02/2025

One thing I have noticed recently is this surge in fat loss injections and health gimmicks. (AKA the beauty industry preying on vulnerable people).

My worry with any of these quick fixes is that it doesn’t encourage change or healthy lifestyle habits, and can in some cases, cause more harm. All medicine comes with side effects, some of which are not known to us yet. Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for medicine, but lifestyle and daily habits should always be considered first.

Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals don’t have time and resources to dig that deep with each patient. This is why I don’t put a time limit on initial consultations. I need to understand your health history to date, your goals and struggles (no matter how long it takes). It’s important to get to the root cause of the problem.

The other issue is the beauty industry has become so toxic convincing women that they’re not enough or that they have to change / compare themselves to others, and that ageing is something to avoid, which is unrealistic. It’s just setting women up to fail.

As a health coach, I want women to look and feel their best in their OWN skin regardless of their age, but not on a superficial level, which is just papering over cracks.

Good health comes from looking after your body on a cellular level, so it can function efficiently. You can put what you want on/in your face or body, but if your cells are not receiving the nutrients they need to function (to create energy, repair, detoxify, excrete waste etc…) it’s a complete waste of time and money and you’re still going to feel crappy.

The truth is, we wouldn’t have evolved and survived for millions of years if we needed everything the beauty industry is trying to throw at us. On the flip side, since we’ve been using synthetic chemicals in products and food illness and disease is at an all time high. Coincidence? (I think not!).

There is no quick fix when it comes to good health, it’s about being intentional and consistent with your daily habits which takes time, but it’s worth the wait!!!

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!!!

It’s been a busy year, but I’ve enjoyed every minute and more importantly I’ve had the energy to keep up (something I lacked before changing up my lifestyle).

Nourishing your body with the nutrients it needs to function optimally is the secret to a healthier and happier life!

Highlights of 2024:

1. Helping women improve their energy levels, reduce stress, and focus on healthy ageing because feeling strong and confident is so important, especially as we age and approach menopause.

2. Supporting the South East London Gynaecology Network on some exciting plans for women’s healthcare.

3. Organising and hosting a local free menopause cafe so women have a space to talk and share their experiences.

4. Supporting the Lewisham and Bromley borough as a voluntary Health Champion.

5. Becoming a healthy walk leader with Lewisham Healthy Walks.

6. Sharing my love of jump rope at a local wellbeing event to encourage people to exercise in a fun way.

7. Becoming a Zumba instructor

The key take away for 2024 is realising that my health is MY responsibility, stepping out of autopilot and becoming conscious about what I will and won’t do has had such a positive effect on my mental and physical health, and the best thing is, we can all do that. Making time for self care is the kindest thing you can do for yourself, and in turn, everyone around you.

I’m healthier and happier because of the choices I make, and I’m looking forward to helping more women do the same in 2025. It doesn’t matter where you are on your health journey, we start there and create small steps that long term will result in big changes.

What are your goals for 2025???

11/11/2024

This pomegranate and sweet potato salad is my favourite at the moment, and it has so much flavour!

Oven baked chickpeas seasoned with salt and pepper, cumin and thyme
Oven baked sweet potato cubes seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika
Cooked quinoa
Baby Spinach
Cucumber
Pomegranate
Walnuts

Dressing - Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, garlic, ground cumin, garlic and lemon 🤌🏻

Eating a whole food diet and cutting back on ultra processed food will make your gut (and the rest of your body) feel SO much better.

Thank you for all the yummy new recipes on the app!

21/10/2024

Have your say on the future of the NHS by going to change.nhs.uk (link in stories/comments).

As you can imagine, I had plenty to say!

Chronic illness may be common, but it’s not natural or inevitable, and there are so many things we can do to improve our health without reaching for another prescription.

There are a few things that need to happen to improve our health system:

📚Education - Instead of spending billions on marketing to encourage people to eat more ultra processed food (which by the way is a cause of most chronic conditions), spend money educating people on why they should live a healthy lifestyle (and how to do it). We should always focus on prevention.

👨‍⚕️GP Training - Doctors do not receive adequate training in nutrition and fitness which are so important for good health, so patients are not getting the advice they need. GP’s don’t receive enough training in women’s health in general, but that’s for another post.

❓Why - stop treating the symptoms and focus on WHY the symptoms are there! You can then treat the cause, and the symptoms reduce or go away completely (win win for the patient and health care system).

🤝 Individualised care - Sometimes education isn’t enough, the information and research is out there, but some people have physical, emotional or psychological barriers preventing them from making changes so they may need long term support / coaching.

This is where health coaching is essential for the survival of the NHS, they need people like me who can complete a full health history, identify barriers to reach the desired goal, set a personalised plan specific to that individual, and when they fall off the wagon, help them get back on. Change doesn’t happen overnight.

Once you make basic lifestyle changes, it can really start to transform your health both physically and mentally, and when you start to fix one area, it has a domino effect which helps other areas of the body.

The opposite can also be said, so it’s important that we feel empowered to take responsible for our own health and realise the consequences of our lifestyle choices, which will either have a positive or negative impact.

18/10/2024

Happy World Menopause Day! ❤️

Menopause will affect every person born with ovaries and there’s never a more important time to review what’s working in your life and what needs improvement.

Menopause will bring physical and hormonal changes whether we like it or not, so why not work with your body to transition through this stage of life as smoothly as possible.

Perimenopause can affect women in their 40’s as oestrogen starts to decline, and can last for years before you reach menopause (12 months since you haven’t had a period) before moving into post menopause and whatever stage you’re at, it’s never too late to improve your health.

In terms of treatment, HRT is available, however not everyone has access to it and not everyone can take it, or wants to take it.

Luckily, we can all make improvements to our lifestyle and the evidence shows that prioritising your health can help manage the symptoms of menopause and protect against long term health conditions.

My revive and thrive programme goes through the 5 pillars of health to ensure that you’re at your best physically and mentally not only to transition through menopause, but to age well and support your heart, brain and bone health.

If you would like to find out more about how I can help you, drop me a message.

28/07/2024

In the past few weeks, there has been a significant increase in media attention for more women to be prescribed testosterone. Some of these articles have been written by lay people and it appears that the information provided has been misrepresented to support personal opinion.

Misinformation risks medicalising a normal life stage and render women dependent upon clinicians, some of whom may also be overly promoting treatment with testosterone, which is associated with a high placebo response. Testosterone is not an “essential” hormone for women, as women who have effectively no testosterone production, such as women with no functioning adrenals or ovaries, do not have to have testosterone treatment to be well. Women in whom the ovaries have been removed surgically, still have some testosterone produced by their adrenal glands. So, the frequently used descriptive term, “deficiency state” is incorrect and alarmist.

Whilst some women do benefit from the addition of testosterone, this is not the case for all women and in the interest of patient safety, it is important that women are advised within readily available clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), British Menopause Society (BMS) and the International Menopause Society (IMS). These were developed to support patient safety, not to prevent women from accessing treatment.

The only current evidence-based factual indication for the addition of testosterone to standard HRT, is for persistent low libido in postmenopausal women, after all other contributory factors have been addressed. There is no evidence to support claims that testosterone will help with other symptoms associated with menopause or prevent bone loss or dementia.

Ongoing research may provide evidence for other indications for use of testosterone by women, and we all agree that more research is needed.

https://thebms.org.uk/2024/07/bms-statement-on-testosterone-2/

26/07/2024

I met these lovely ladies yesterday at my Menopause Cafe, and we had a good chat. I can’t wait to see them again at the next one.

It’s so important that women have a safe space to talk, and share their experiences, and more importantly know that they are not alone.

If you’d like to join us next time, please get in touch for more details.

Huge thanks to for letting us use the hall.

09/07/2024

Welcome to the Menopause Cafe Chislehurst, South East London! Join us for an open, friendly, and informal conversation about menopause.

This is a safe space to share experiences, ask questions, and connect with others going through similar journeys. Whether you’re just starting to navigate menopause or have been on this path for a while, everyone is welcome.

Come along to enjoy a cuppa while we chat about this important stage in life. We can’t wait to see you there!

Menopause Cafe is an informal discussion group, open to all ages and genders.

To book a free place, please visit Eventbrite link in bio or contact me.

Jo Berthelot
healthcoachjo@outlook.com

www.menopausecafe.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/menocafe17/
Twitter and Instagram:
LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/company/71500453/admin

01/07/2024

This is the same age women experience perimenopause and menopause. Is it a coincidence? No, because the scientific research shows there is a link between menopause and an increased risk of anxiety and depression.

Our bodies go through physiological changes, and there is clear evidence that suggests our brain changes too.

The symptoms of menopause haven’t changed for centuries, so we need to let go of this theory that menopause is the problem, it’s a natural part of the ageing process that WILL happen to every woman! As a society we need to change, and get to a place where women don’t have to hide it, make excuses for it and more worryingly apologise for it! This has to stop!!!

Women - be open and talk to each other, seek guidance from older relatives and friends who have been through it. Arm yourself with the education, spot the symptoms and support it with lifestyle changes. You’re not alone.

Men - just because it doesn’t affect you directly, it will affect you indirectly whether it be through a family member, partner or colleague. Educate yourself and support the women in your life.

Medical Profession - the approach to menopause is outdated! You need to stop treating women in silo. A gynaecologist isn’t trained in the brain, and neurologists are not trained in menopause and women need support in both of these areas and more. We need healthcare professionals who are looking at women as a whole. There has to be more education, funding and research for women’s health.

In fact, most GPs don’t receive any menopause training. It should be mandatory in medical school at the very least!

Also, more shockingly women are underrepresented in clinical trials because of their menstrual cycle, it was only in 1993 that it become mandatory to include women in clinical trials and more often than not these trials are done on men and male rats.

Employers - stop the gender bias! Women don’t work hard for their entire career to be disposed of just because they reach menopause. They deserve better! 10% of women will leave the workplace due to their menopause symptoms, and I have no doubt that in many cases that’s due to a lack of support.

Health Coach Jo

20/06/2025

18/06/2025

17/03/2025

05/02/2025

01/01/2025

11/11/2024

21/10/2024

18/10/2024

28/07/2024

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09/07/2024

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