About me
Personalised nutrition and lifestyle support for women in midlife and beyond.
Your 40s, 50s and 60s aren't just about managing the m e n o p a u s e transition. They're an opportunity to build the foundations for the decades ahead.
I help women take a proactive approach to their health with personalised, evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle support focused on four key areas:
Mid-Life & M e n o p a u s e: Helping women navigate m e n o p a u s e, improve symptoms and feel more like themselves again.
Brain Health & Healthy Ageing: Supporting cognitive health, memory and long-term brain health.
Bone & Muscle Health: Supporting strong bones, muscle, strength and healthy ageing.
Metabolic Health: Supporting healthy blood sugar, weight, cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Feel better today. Build better health for tomorrow.
The Power of Personalised Nutrition
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to health. What works brilliantly for one person may not be right for another - which is why I take time to understand the whole picture. Your health history. Your nutrition. Your lifestyle. Your sleep. Your stress. Your movement. Your symptoms. Your goals.
I then use evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle strategies to identify the areas that may have the greatest potential to improve how you feel and support your long-term health.
My approach is practical, personalised and designed for real life. Rather than giving you another restrictive diet or a long list of things you "should" be doing, we'll focus on what matters most for you and create a manageable plan you can actually stick to.
I work alongside GPs and other healthcare professionals where appropriate, providing complementary nutrition and lifestyle support as part of your wider healthcare.
Why I Do What I Do
My own experience of m e n o p a u s e changed the direction of my life. When symptoms struck, I experienced brain fog, a n x i e t y, disrupted sleep, hot flushes, low energy and a huge loss of confidence. I found myself struggling to perform at the level I had throughout my 30-year corporate marketing career.
Getting fired was a major turning point for me and led to my retraining in clinical nutrition. I discovered just how much nutrition and lifestyle can influence the way we feel and function.
I've become increasingly passionate about the bigger picture of healthy ageing - particularly the things we can influence through nutrition and lifestyle, including brain health, bone and muscle health, metabolic health, strength, sleep and overall wellbeing.
Today, I combine my clinical nutrition training, professional experience and personal understanding of midlife health to help women take a more proactive approach to their health and wellbeing.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained at the renowned Institute for Optimum Nutrition, founded by Patrick Holford in 1984.
I am registered with the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT). This is the professional body for Nutritional Therapists, meaning that I am obliged to abide by their strict Code of Conduct and Ethics.
I am also registered and a member of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). This organisation was set up with government support and ensures that my training and experience has been validated, that I am professionally insured and that I abide by their Code of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.
I am fully insured and undertake regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Most recently in osteoporosis, endometriosis and multiple courses in managing menopause and perimenopause symptoms through nutrition and lifestyle changes. I keep up-to-date with the latest evidence on how best to address the myriad of symptoms, from weight gain and anxiety to brain fog and hot flushes.
I have also worked in the NHS as a Health & Wellbeing Coach on the National Diabetes Prevention programme and run weight loss and healthy eating courses at a local GP surgery on behalf of the Public Health Collaboration charity.
Helen Ritchie, BA (Hons), DipION, mBANT, rCNHC
Member organisations
The CNHC encompasses many types of alternative therapy, including massage, aromatherapy and nutrition. In order to be admitted to the register a practitioner must have studied to the National Occupational Standards for that profession/discipline, or have reached the equivalent of the National Occupational Standards through other relevant training or at least three years of experience and been assessed by their peers. A practitioner must also have professional insurance and agree to abide by the CNHC Code of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.
The British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy is the professional body for Nutritional Therapists. There are different BANT membership classes, including Full Member, Fellow Member and Student Member. All BANT practitioners must have met the required standards of training, be fully insured and adhere to the BANT Code of Ethics and Practice.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Nutrition topics
info Information about health conditions (*)
Nutritional therapy can help enhance the well-being of individuals diagnosed with serious medical conditions, but should not take the place of medical treatment and advice. If you have been diagnosed with - or suspect you may have - any of these conditions, please speak to your doctor before starting nutritional therapy or making any major changes to your diet or lifestyle.
Photos & videos
Fees
£95.00 - £1,200.00
Free initial online session
Additional information
Your Health. Your Priorities. Your Personalised Plan
Nutritional therapy shouldn't leave you with a complicated list of things to change. My job is to help you understand what matters most to you, then turn that information into practical steps you can actually implement.
Understand: Before we meet, you'll complete a detailed health questionnaire and three-day food and lifestyle diary. This gives me a much clearer picture of your current nutrition, lifestyle, symptoms, health history and goals.
Assess: During your initial consultation we'll explore your health in more detail, identify your priorities and discuss relevant test results where appropriate.
Personalise: We'll agree a practical action plan based on your individual needs, preferences, lifestyle and goals. This may include nutrition, supplements where appropriate, sleep, stress management, movement and other lifestyle strategies.
Implement: Follow-up sessions provide education, accountability and support while you put your plan into practice. We'll review what's working, what isn't and make adjustments along the way.
Review: Your programme evolves as you do. The aim isn't to follow a perfect plan forever. It's to give you the knowledge and habits you need to take greater ownership of your health.
When I work
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Further information
What my clients have said about working with me:
"Working with Helen has been life changing...I've lost 15kg so far, got so much more energy and my joints are less painful.”
"I was tempted to take HRT, but luckily found Helen. She has totally changed my moods, my weight, my stomach issues and my aching joints. She has set me on a new path for the future."
"Through working with Helen, I found a cure for an 8-month long chronic headache. I've also lost weight, my sleep has improved and my hot flushes are reduced."
"My energy levels have improved greatly, my mood swings are less frequent and brain fog improved. I felt like a broken person before and am now able to look forward to the rest of my life. Thank you!”
“This is the best things I’ve done. I’ve lost weight, am more energised and have had to reduce my HRT”
“After making the changes Helen recommended to my diet and lifestyle, my hot flushes and night sweats were definitely improved after 4 weeks.”
“Helen has transformed the lives of some of my patients, through empowering, inspiring and education… she is passionate about what she does and this shines through in the sessions, helping to motivate individuals in a group setting. She researches thoroughly, before passing on this knowledge in a kind, sensitive and often humorous and light-hearted way!” Dr. Clare Nieland, GP Partner, Cedars Surgery, Maidenhead
“Helen was extremely professional and I learned more about how my gastro-intestinal system works in 1 hour than I have over the past 30 years in trying to get to the root cause of my symptoms.”
“I was really impressed with Helen’s knowledge and approach in uncovering what had led to me suddenly developing a rash last year, and by the 3rd consultation my symptoms were 80% improved.”
"I thought I had a good understanding of healthy foods however Helen’s knowledge took me to a different level. I found Helen easy to talk to, she is genuinely interested in her clients health and obviously enjoys what she is doing. "
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