When we talk about metabolism, most people immediately think about weight. Having a fast metabolism, a slow metabolism, or finding it harder to lose weight as we get older.

But metabolic health is about so much more than your weight, and understanding it could be one of the most important things you do for your long-term health.

In episode 310 of the Fab Female Nutrition Podcast, I'm continuing my healthy ageing series by exploring how our bodies produce, use and store energy, and why keeping these processes working efficiently is so important as we get older.

We'll look at the relationship between blood glucose and insulin, including why you can have perfectly normal blood sugar levels while your body is already working harder to maintain them. I'll explain insulin sensitivity, what happens when we become insulin resistant, and why this matters for our risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

We'll also explore metabolic flexibility – our body's natural ability to switch between using glucose and fat for energy. It's something our bodies are designed to do, but modern lifestyles, with less movement, disrupted sleep and easy access to food throughout the day, can contribute to poorer metabolic health.

The good news? There are plenty of simple things we can do to support it.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• Why metabolic health and metabolism aren't quite the same thing.

• How blood glucose and insulin work together, and why insulin sensitivity matters.

• What metabolic flexibility means and how we can support it.

• The importance of muscle, movement, balanced meals and good sleep.

• Why eating regular, satisfying meals rather than constantly grazing may be helpful.

• Why understanding your health markers, including HbA1c, cholesterol, triglycerides and fat distribution, gives us a much better picture of metabolic health than weight alone.

One of the things I'm particularly passionate about is understanding what's happening inside our bodies before problems develop.

You don't necessarily feel insulin resistance developing, and changes in cholesterol or blood glucose can happen long before you notice any obvious symptoms.

That's why I'm such an advocate of regular health checks. Understanding your results gives you an opportunity to make informed changes now, rather than waiting until something goes wrong.

Annual Health Test and Consultation

My Annual Health Test includes important markers such as HbA1c, cholesterol, triglycerides and liver function, alongside key nutrient markers. You'll also have a personalised consultation with me to understand your results and discuss practical nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Find out more: https://hillstart.me.uk/product/annual-blood-test/

Thank you to our sponsor, Revive Active

Good nutrition provides the building blocks for healthy cellular function. In this episode, we also touch on CoQ10, a naturally occurring compound involved in mitochondrial energy production.

Explore the Revive Active supplement range at https://reviveactive.com and use my code WENDY15 for 15% off.

Because healthy ageing isn't about being the smallest version of yourself or chasing a faster metabolism.

It's about building a body that can manage energy efficiently, maintain strength and support your health, independence and quality of life for decades to come.

Next week, we're finishing our healthy ageing series by looking at something that doesn't get nearly enough attention: the importance of community, friendship, laughter and having a sense of purpose.

What you eat today isn't just about your weight or how you feel this afternoon – it's an investment in your future health.

In the first episode of my new Healthy Ageing series, I'm looking at five simple areas of nutrition that can help us feel well now, while supporting our muscle, bones, brain, cardiovascular and metabolic health for the decades ahead.

We'll talk about why protein becomes increasingly important as we age, why plant diversity and fibre matter, the healthy fats we shouldn't be afraid of, where ultra-processed foods fit into a realistic diet, and why micronutrients deserve more attention.

I'm also sharing some really practical ways to improve what you're already eating – because healthy ageing doesn't require a perfect diet, expensive longevity foods or complicated biohacking.

Plus, I explain why I believe an Annual Health MOT can be such a useful investment in your future health, helping you understand important markers including vitamin D, B12, folate, ferritin, HbA1c and cholesterol before they potentially become a bigger issue.

This month's question is simple:

What can I easily do today – and every day – that gives me the best chance of still feeling healthy, strong, independent and enjoying my life decades from now?

Because we're not trying to stop ageing. We're building a body and brain that can support us brilliantly as we age.

🎧 Also mentioned: Episode 306 – Fibre: The Forgotten Nutrient

Sponsored by Revive Active Thank you to Revive Active for continuing to support the Fab Female Nutrition podcast. Use code WENDY15 for 15% off.

Annual Health MOTFind out more about my Annual Health Blood Test and consultation at https://hillstart.me.uk/product/annual-blood-test/

What do you want your body to be able to do when you're 70, 80 or beyond?

Forget for a moment what you want it to look like. Could you get yourself up from the floor if you fell? Carry your own shopping? Climb the stairs? Walk around a city on holiday? Play with your grandchildren? Keep cooking, gardening or doing the things you love?

We talk about sarcopenia – the age-related loss of muscle mass, strength and function – and why maintaining muscle isn't simply about looking toned.

Muscle plays an important role in metabolic health and glucose regulation, supports our joints and bones, and perhaps most importantly, helps us maintain our physical independence as we age.

I also talk about why healthy ageing isn't just about lifting weights. We need cardiovascular fitness, balance and mobility too – and you don't necessarily need a gym to work on any of them.

From carrying the shopping and gardening to yoga, dancing, walking, resistance training and simply practising getting yourself up from the floor, there are lots of ways to keep asking your body to work.

Your challenge this week: do something every day that asks your muscles to work a little harder.

Because we're not exercising to look younger.

We're moving because we want our bodies to keep working for us as we get older.

This is episode 2 of my October series: Healthy Ageing – What You Do Now Matters Later.

Sponsored by Revive Active
This week I'm also talking about magnesium and its role in normal muscle function and energy-yielding metabolism. Thank you to Revive Active for continuing to support the Fab Female Nutrition Podcast. Use code WENDY15 for 15% off.

Annual Health MOT
I'm also talking about why understanding markers such as vitamin D, B12, folate and iron can give us useful information about our health now – and help us make changes for the future. https://hillstart.me.uk/product/annual-blood-test/