Vision of Health

Periods aren't just about bleeding or fertility, they can offer important clues about your overall health. Yet millions of women are taught to put up with symptoms like painful periods, heavy bleeding and exhaustion, while social media is full of advice on hormone balancing, cycle syncing and ‘fixing’ your hormones with little regard for the evidence.

In this episode of Vision of Health, Dr Frankie sits down with Dr Hazel Wallace, former NHS doctor, registered nutritionist, founder of The Food Medic and bestselling author of 'The Female Factor' and 'Not Just a Period', to unpack what your menstrual cycle is really telling you.

From recognising the signs that something isn't right to understanding how nutrition, movement and lifestyle can influence how you feel throughout the month, Hazel shares the science behind working with your cycle rather than fearing it.

In this episode, we explore:
- Why your menstrual cycle can be an important indicator of your overall health.
- What actually happens throughout the menstrual cycle and why there's more to it than your period.
- The menstrual symptoms that deserve investigation rather than being dismissed as ‘normal’.
- What heavy bleeding, painful periods and irregular cycles can tell you.
- How nutrition can support energy, PMS and menstrual health.
- Why your gut can behave differently during your period.
- What the evidence really says about cycle syncing and exercise.
- How hormonal changes can affect mood, energy and body image.
- PMS vs PMDD: when cyclical mood changes become something more serious.
- The truth behind PillTok, hormonal contraception and common hormone myths.
- What we know about ‘hormone disruptors’, microplastics and fertility.
- Why women's health inequalities persist and how to advocate for yourself when you don't feel heard.

Your menstrual cycle is more than a monthly inconvenience. It's a potential monthly report card for your health.
Understanding what's normal for you, recognising changes and knowing when to seek help can make it easier to advocate for your health, without getting pulled into the fear and misinformation that dominates so much of the online conversation around hormones

Learn more about Dr Hazel Wallace
Website: https://www.thefoodmedic.co.uk/
Instagram: @drhazelwallace

Follow Dr Frankie Jackson-Spence
Instagram: @drfrankiejs
https://www.instagram.com/drfrankiejs/

Follow Vision of Health
Instagram: @visionofhealthpod
https://www.instagram.com/visionofhealthpod/

If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone who wants to better understand their periods, hormones and overall health.

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Gut health is one of the biggest wellness trends of the decade, but separating fact from fiction has never been harder.

From microbiome tests and probiotic supplements to ‘30 plants a week’ and the latest GutTok trends, we're constantly told there are new ways to improve digestion, energy and even mental wellbeing. But with so much information online, it can be hard to separate good science from good marketing.

In this episode of Vision of Health, Dr Frankie is joined by gut health scientist, dietitian, former chef and bestselling author Dr Emily Leeming to unpack what the evidence really says about gut health.

Dr Emily holds a PhD in gut health and works as a scientist at King's College London, researching the microbiome and its links to digestion, metabolism, mental health and overall health. She is the author of Genius Gut and Fibre Power and is known for turning complex research into practical advice that people can actually use.

Together, they explore what a healthy gut really looks like, how the gut-brain axis works, and the everyday habits that have the biggest impact on your microbiome. They also tackle some of the biggest questions people are asking, from whether microbiome testing is worth it to the truth about probiotics, antibiotics, bloating, constipation and gut ‘resets’.

In this episode you'll learn:

- What gut health actually means and how to recognise it beyond the trends.
- The simple habits that make the biggest difference to your gut health.
- How the gut-brain axis influences stress, mood and digestion.
- Why bloating and constipation do not always mean poor gut health.
- Whether microbiome testing and probiotics are worth your money.
- How antibiotics affect the gut microbiome.
- Why fibre is one of the most important nutrients for gut and metabolic health.
- How sleep, stress and daily routines shape your gut health.
- The link between the microbiome, hormones and women's health.
- The biggest gut health myths that are still spreading online.

Gut health is complex, but improving it doesn't have to be. This episode cuts through the noise to focus on the simple, evidence-based habits that really make a difference.

Follow Dr Frankie Jackson-Spence:
@drfrankiejs
https://www.instagram.com/drfrankiejs/

Follow Vision of Health on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/visionofhealthpod

Learn more about Dr Emily Leeming:
https://www.emilyleeming.com/

Follow Dr Emily Leeming on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dremilyleeming/

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who's feeling overwhelmed by gut health advice or wondering whether they really need expensive tests and supplements.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Money is one of the most persistent sources of stress people carry, often silently and sometimes for years.
It affects sleep, anxiety levels, relationships and even how we make everyday decisions. Yet most of us were never actually taught how money works. We’re given a payslip, a tax code you have never questioned, maybe a pension, and expected to just ‘figure it out’ as we go.
Then add social media, constant comparison, targeted ads, and endless ‘must-have’ triggers and it becomes easy to feel like you’re already behind before you’ve even begun.

In this episode of Vision of Health, Dr Frankie explores why money feels so overwhelming and what it actually takes to feel more in control of it.
Dr Frankie is joined by chartered accountant and financial educator Abigail Foster, author of The Money Manual. Alongside her work in practice, she also teaches financial education in schools, helping young people build confidence with money from an early age.

Together, we break down what most people were never taught, from understanding payslips and tax codes, to building savings, managing debt, and making long-term decisions without feeling lost or overwhelmed.

A grounded, practical conversation designed to take money from confusing and emotional, to simple and manageable.
What you’ll learn:
Why so many people enter adulthood without ever learning the financial basics.
Why feeling ‘bad with money’ is usually about education, not ability.
Why money is such a major source of stress, even for working adults.
The hidden everyday habits that quietly increase financial stress.
The first small step to take if you avoid looking at your finances.
How to build a simple budgeting system that actually works in real life.
What ‘paying yourself first’ means and how to start, even on a low income.
Whether ‘little treat’ culture actually matters financially.
What a ‘freedom fund’ or emergency pot is and why it changes decision-making.
Whether saving or investing should come first.
How to start investing with small amounts, even as a beginner.
The trade-offs between saving for a home and investing long term.
What to do if you are in debt and feel stuck or ashamed.
Simple habits that build financial control over time.
Why better financial education could change outcomes for the next generation.

Most financial stress does not come from income alone but from uncertainty. Once people understand the basics, money stops feeling so emotional and starts feeling more structured and manageable. This episode is not about being perfect with money. It is about building enough understanding to make better decisions, one step at a time.

Watch the full episode on YouTube:

Follow Dr Frankie Jackson-Spence: @drfrankiejs
https://www.instagram.com/drfrankiejs/

To learn more about Abigail Foster:
https://abifoster.com/
Follow Abigail Foster on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/abigailrosefoster/

If you found this episode useful, share it with someone who feels overwhelmed by money or is trying to finally get on top of their finances.
And don’t forget to follow Vision of Health on Instagram too: https://www.instagram.com/visionofhealthpod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

misunderstood areas of medicine. Many people grow up without knowing what a normal menstrual cycle looks like, when period pain, heavy bleeding or irregular periods are a sign something isn’t right, or when to seek medical help. Too often, symptoms are dismissed as “just part of being a woman” when they could point to conditions like endometriosis, PCOS or PMDD.

In this episode of Vision of Health, Dr Frankie is joined by consultant gynaecologist Dr Anita Mitra - better known as ‘The Gynae Geek’ - for a practical, evidence‑based conversation about hormones, periods and the women’s health questions so many people are still afraid to ask.

Dr Mitra is an NHS consultant specialising in gynaecological surgery and women’s cancers. She is the bestselling author of ‘The Gynae Geek’ and ‘Dealing with Problem Periods’, and has helped well over 160,000 people better understand their health through her evidence‑based education online.

Together, they separate medical fact from social media misinformation, covering everything from what a healthy menstrual cycle actually looks like to when symptoms deserve further investigation.

In this episode, they explore:
What a normal period and menstrual cycle should look like.
When period pain, heavy bleeding or irregular cycles are not normal.
Why endometriosis still takes years to diagnose, and what can help shorten that delay.
The truth about PCOS and the myths circulating online.
PMS vs PMDD – how to tell the difference and when symptoms cross into disorder.
Common causes of heavy periods and when to seek help.
Why hormone symptoms vary so much between individuals.
How stress, weight and lifestyle affect your menstrual cycle.
Which lifestyle changes genuinely improve hormone health – and which are overhyped.
The vaginal microbiome: what actually matters and where the evidence is strongest.
Understanding HPV results without unnecessary anxiety.
Why cervical screening remains essential, even after the HPV vaccine.
When bloating or other symptoms could signal something more serious, including ovarian cancer.
The facts about hormonal contraception, including common myths and social media narratives.
How doctors weigh up the risks and benefits of contraception in real‑world practice.
Where to start if you’re worried about your periods or hormones, and what to ask your doctor.

Painful, heavy or irregular periods should never be dismissed as something you simply have to live with. Many women’s health conditions are highly treatable, but recognising them early is key.

This episode will help you understand what’s normal, recognise potential warning signs, and feel more confident having evidence‑based conversations about your health.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.

Follow Dr Frankie Jackson-Spence: @drfrankiejs
https://www.instagram.com/drfrankiejs/

Learn more about Dr Anita Mitra:
Website: https://thegynaegeek.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gynaegeek/

If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone navigating endometriosis, PCOS, painful periods or unexplained hormone symptoms.

And don’t forget to follow Vision of Health on Instagram too: https://www.instagram.com/visionofhealthpod
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For many women, a large chunk of their life is spent trying to conceive, pregnant or in the post-partum stage. During these periods, it’s important to advocate for yourself and for this, knowledge is power.

In this episode of Vision of Health, General Practitioner and TV Doctor, Dr Sara Kayat shares her evidence-based advice about navigating pregnancy, labour and the post-partum period

Dr Sara studied medicine at King’s College London, where she also achieved a BSc in Physiology. She is a practicing GP, is resident doctor on ITV’s This Morning and is author of How to Have a Baby, an empowering, unbiased, essential toolkit for pregnancy, labour, birth, breastfeeding and your baby’s first year.

This episode covers:
What to do once you get a positive pregnancy test
Supplements and nutrition during pregnancy
Exercise in pregnancy
Whether it’s safe to drink coffee in pregnancy
Gestational diabetes
Questions to ask when thinking about your birth plan
How to advocate for yourself during labour
Breast feeding
Post-partum depression & mood fluctuations

This episode will equip you with everything you need to know about having a baby.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehv6NbpfGeE

If you want to hear more from Dr Sara Kayat follow her Instagram @drsarakayat or website www.drsarakayat.com

If you enjoyed this episode please do leave us a like and a review. And don’t forget to subscribe to keep hearing from your favourite experts!
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