The Nutrition Couch

Your cholesterol came back high. Now what? Most women in their 40s and beyond have sat with that question and got very little useful guidance on the other side of it. In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne and Susie give you the cholesterol conversation most doctors don't have time for, including what your individual numbers actually mean, why your LDL is almost certainly rising right now if you are in perimenopause, and the specific point at which diet can genuinely help versus when medication is the only realistic path. If you have high cholesterol and you are doing everything right, this one is especially for you. The cholesterol conversation your doctor probably hasn't had with you Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides. Susie and Leanne walk through what each number means, what the target ranges are, why genetics can override even the best diet, and why there is no shame in needing medication. They also cover the calcium score test most women have never heard of, and why it matters more than a single cholesterol reading. What diet can and cannot do for your cholesterol Diet can realistically move cholesterol one to two points. It cannot bring a seven down to five. That is one of the most important clinical distinctions in this episode, and it is one that a lot of online health content gets badly wrong. Susie and Leanne also name the specific supermarket products and supplements that are clinically proven to help, and explain why your dad's tiny scrape of cholesterol-lowering margarine is doing absolutely nothing. Protein powder vs skim milk powder: is the cheap swap actually worth it? A claim has been circulating online that skim milk powder is essentially the same as protein powder at a fraction of the cost. Leanne and Susie run the actual numbers and the comparison is not even close. They also explain why this matters specifically for women in peri and menopause who are trying to hit protein targets without extra carbs. Plus: A surprisingly impressive new dip at Coles and Aldi that Susie gives a 10 out of 10, and a listener question about kids and sugar at parties that every parent needs to hear. For the supplement range Leanne and Susie refer to in this episode, head to designedbydietitians.com. If this one helped you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most women trying to lose weight have been told the same thing their whole lives: eat less. But on this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell make the case that under-eating may be one of the most common and most overlooked reasons women struggle to lose fat, build muscle, and feel well. If you are tired despite sleeping well, craving sugar and carbs by mid-afternoon, getting sick more than you should, or stuck at the same weight no matter what you do, this episode is for you. Are you under-eating? The signs your metabolism is working against you Leanne and Susie walk through the most common clinical signs of chronic under-fuelling: persistent fatigue, intense cravings, poor gym performance, frequent illness, and hormonal disruptions including irregular or missing periods. They explain why women who train hard, eat clean, and keep portions small are often the most at risk, and why not feeling hungry is not a sign you are doing well. They also break down the restrict-crave-overeat cycle and why eating more, not less, is often the fastest path to the body composition results their clients are actually after. Sausages: what the label is actually telling you Australians eat a lot of sausages, but the nutritional quality varies dramatically across supermarket brands. Susie compares Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi options and reveals exactly what to check on the label, including the three specific additive numbers (250, 251, 252) that indicate nitrates, what total fat and saturated fat thresholds to look for, and why butcher sausages are usually not the healthier choice most people assume. Product review: Peter's Frosty Fruits 50% Less Sugar Leanne tried these on holiday in Noosa and the kids loved them. She breaks down the ingredient list, the sugar comparison versus the originals, and why these are one of the better supermarket ice block options, particularly when you catch them half price. How to choose the right collagen supplement Not all collagen works, and a lot of what is being sold is poorly formulated. Leanne shares five evidence-based criteria for choosing a collagen supplement that actually delivers results: why vegan collagen is ineffective, what hydrolysed collagen peptides means and why it matters, which patented strains have clinical research behind them, how vitamin C improves collagen absorption, and why daily dose consistency matters far more than a large serve size. If you are currently spending money on collagen and not seeing results, this segment will tell you exactly why. For a collagen supplement built to these exact standards, visit designedbydietitians.com. Hit subscribe so you never miss a Wednesday drop, and if this episode helped you, share it with a friend who needs to hear it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.