Webchat with Liz Earle, Wednesday 9 May at 9pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Liz Earle is joining us for an evening webchat on Wednesday 9 May between 9pm and 10pm where she’ll be on hand to answer your questions about health and wellbeing.

Liz Earle MBE has been a respected and award-winning authority in the world of beauty, natural health and wellbeing for over thirty years. She is the bestselling author of over 35 books (including her recent number one best-sellers The Good Gut Guide and The Good Menopause Guide, a TV presenter, an entrepreneur and a farmer. Liz is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Liz Earle Wellbeing a print and digital magazine, which is full of Liz’s personal advice, experience and research to bring you the best ways to look good and feel great. Liz lives with her husband and five children on their pasture-fed organic farm in the West Country.

We hope you can join Liz for the chat about health and wellbeing on Wednesday evening but, if you can't make it, feel free to post your advance questions for Liz here.

Thanks for answering my question. I certainly seem to have been having more problems with my joints since reach peri-menopause - particularly with my lower back and I seem to be often getting injured whilst running - but I didn't realise this was connected to the menopause. Interesting. I didn't know about HRT gels or patches - I only thought it came in tablet form. Would you not recommend HRT tablets? I will certainly listen to your podcast - thanks again.

@PutTheChocEggDown

Liz I have awful rosacea that flares and then goes away. Any advice?

So sorry to hear this - do take a look at your gut health as this is hugely linked to inflammation (there's a free resource section on my www.lizearlewellbeing.com website) and consider taking a multi-strain probiotic (8 strains minimum, look for billions instead of millions of live colonies in a formula. I also have a small e-book on Amazon called Dry Skin and Eczema (only £1.99 so worth a look if this is an issue for you) and that has a comprehensive chapter on skin inflammation, psoriasis and rosacea. Really hope you find some of this helpful X

@Bakingberry

Hi Liz

I really enjoy reading your wellbeing magazine and books. Any clues as to what your next book will be about?

That's kind thanks Bakingberry - my next book will be about how to enjoy a happy retirement and I shall write it whilst sitting under a shady tree in about ten years time ;)
X

@GorkyPark

Thanks for answering my question. I certainly seem to have been having more problems with my joints since reach peri-menopause - particularly with my lower back and I seem to be often getting injured whilst running - but I didn't realise this was connected to the menopause. Interesting. I didn't know about HRT gels or patches - I only thought it came in tablet form. Would you not recommend HRT tablets? I will certainly listen to your podcast - thanks again.

Good question - modern HRT comes in gel (oestrogen) or patches - all topical oestrogen comes from the wild yam plant and is 100% body identical, so no associated health risks such as DVT's associated with the older style tablets that go through the liver. Achy joints definitely a symptom of the menopause - so much is actually that we don't realise - dry mouth, tinnitus, dizziness, anxiety, depression... am currently researching how many middle-aged women are being wrongly prescribed anti-depression for low mood and anxiety when this is actually hormonally related, so anti-depressants don't work, obvs. Do take a listen to my Podcasts on menopause - here are a couple of links, but the whole series is hopefully helpful. And feel free to buy my Good Menopause Guide book too (or borrow from a library) if you fancy...
lizearlewellbeing.com/episode-12-the-menopause-with-dr-louise-newson/
lizearlewellbeing.com/menopause-myth-busting-dr-louise-newson/

LX

@Lovinglyhandmade

Hi Liz, What do you consider to be your biggest achievement to date? And what do you hope to achieve in the future?

Hello Lovinglyhandmade - well it would have to be five happy children... and as for the future - my Wellbeing magazine is about to be distributed globally by magazine publishing giant Hearst - so I guess world domination would have to be a future achievement to hope for... ;) X

@TeaAddict235

Could you give us Three top tips for better wellbeing (internal or external), thank you.

Hello TeaAddict235 - tricky to narrow doen to just three but I'll try off the cuff - 1. better gut health (eat prebiotic and fermented foods, live yoghurt, drink kefir etc). 2. Sort out hormonal health, esp if per-menopausal or menopausal - e.g. talk to an up-to-date GP re NICE guidelines on HRT. 3. exercise everyday outdoors, even if only going for a walk - improves bone density, lifts mood, clears the mind, encourages creativity and happy neurotransmitters etc. Oh, and laugh a lot, hug those you love, eat plain dark chocolate and drink the odd glass of really nice red wine...
X

Thank you Liz, appreciate the advice. Best of luck with all your new ventures.

@nineteentwenty

Hello Liz,

I'm the mother of three teenage girls (who have all the usual teenage concerns about spots and diet and exercise - or make that lack of exercise ;) If you were able to give just one piece of advice to them about health and wellbeing, what would it be?

Hi nineteentwenty,
Can't just give them one ;) They should exercise but not obsessively - daily walking/short runs are enough for most! Stretching such as yoga and pilates great for core strength and re-focusing the mind. Avoid refined carbs where possible (refined sugars, white pasta, flour etc), avoid aspartame (Diet Coke etc) as has been shown to disrupt beneficial gut bacteria; don't obsess over your appearance or believe everyone's life is really as good as it appears on Instagram...(although they can def follow me on @LizEarleMe ... !!)
Hope helpful - do point them in the direction of www.lizearlewellbeing.com too, lots of my younger audience esp love the podcasts.
X

@RedBlu

Hi Liz,

As a new first time mum, my skin has become very dull, oily and the bags under my eyes are worse than ever. Make up just seems to make me shiny and greasy no matter what brand I try. I am trying to wear minimal make up now, so what products or routines would you recommend to get my skin glowing and less oily!! Thanks

Hi RedBlu, I still recommend Cleanse and Polish even though I no longer have any connection whatsoever to the beauty company. It was my first beauty creation and the original version (not the variously fragranced Limited Editions) is especially good for re-balancing sensitive or tricky skins. I would also look inside though and redress any underlying gut health issues as this can reflect in the skin. I have written a lot about the link between inner gut health and outer skin radiance in the Good Gut Guide - and simple ways to achieve this... I'll add a link below if you're interested. Also, you'll obviously need all the sleep you can get as a new mum... XX
www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Gut-Guide-Delicious-Recipes/dp/1409164160?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Can I ask another question? You mentioned Kefir and I've read about this and Kombucha previously but don't really know what they are and how they benefit the body - can you help? Also where do you get them from?

@Asturianbear

Good evening Liz, What's your biggest recommendations for combatting wrinkles and maintaining youthful looking skin?

Hi Asturianbear and good evening - at the moment I'm trialling various retinol products for an up-coming in-depth beauty special for my mag. has been SO interesting and revealing. Products derived from Vitamin A, such as tretinoin and other retinoids are certainly an effective and advanced skincare ingredient... I also highly rate drinking kefir (like a super-yoghurt brimming with beneficial bacteria) and having plenty of good fats in the diet (avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, oily fish), as well as using a mineral-based sunscreen on the face and backs of the hands when outside...
X

You often talk about wearing and SPF to protect the skin, but I find most of them leave my skin oily. Is there a particular brand you would recommend or any particular ingredients I should look for in a cream?

@GorkyPark

Can I ask another question? You mentioned Kefir and I've read about this and Kombucha previously but don't really know what they are and how they benefit the body - can you help? Also where do you get them from?

Well, I'm not supposed to answer more than one question - ha! But OK - as this is a personal passion of mine, here are some useful links and free resources ;)

lizearlewellbeing.com/episode-5-gut-health-kefir/
lizearlewellbeing.com/how-to-make-kefir/
lizearlewellbeing.com/how-to-make-kombucha/

Liz I just downloaded the book you mentioned and there is no mention of rosacea in it (Dry Skin and Eczema). Is there a different one that mentions it?

Thanks Liz, I will look into that - as to be honest since returning to work full time after maternity leave - I do not eat well so that is probably contributing to the dull skin and lack of energy! I am also really bad for not drinking much water (or anything) during the day so that can't be helping!!

I have used Cleanse & Polish in the past and I do have a brand new one upstairs so will that a go. It just isn't "Liz Earle" without Liz Earle!

@Bakingberry

You often talk about wearing and SPF to protect the skin, but I find most of them leave my skin oily. Is there a particular brand you would recommend or any particular ingredients I should look for in a cream?

Hello again Bakingberry, yes indeed - I tend to only go for mineral-based sunscreens as these are both safer for sensitive skins and offer more broad-spectrum UV protection. These are some of my faves I've personally trialled - hope helpful X
lizearlewellbeing.com/guide-to-sun-protection-and-the-best-sunscreens-for-sensitive-skin/
lizearlewellbeing.com/mineral-marvels-best-mineral-sunscreens-sensitive-skin/

Thank you for answering all my questions Liz. I've been following your advice for many years and it's been a pleasure to chat with you here x

@RedBlu

Thanks Liz, I will look into that - as to be honest since returning to work full time after maternity leave - I do not eat well so that is probably contributing to the dull skin and lack of energy! I am also really bad for not drinking much water (or anything) during the day so that can't be helping!!

I have used Cleanse & Polish in the past and I do have a brand new one upstairs so will that a go. It just isn't "Liz Earle" without Liz Earle!

Haha! yes do focus on YOU for a while - eat well, drink well (lots more H2O by the sounds of it) and sleep well. Do check out my website as there may be helpful hints and tips there - my team are also v good on Instagram and post a daily handy Wellbeing hint you might find helpful - at @lizearlewellbeing on Instagram (or me - tho' I tend to post more personal stuff tbh - and I am @LizEarleMe)
XX

That just about brings us to the end of the hour. Thanks to everyone who has posted questions for Liz tonight and a big thanks to Liz for joining us and getting through - I think - all the questions. Please do come back and join us again in the future and good luck with new projects.

Goodnight all.

@PutTheChocEggDown

Thank you Liz, appreciate the advice. Best of luck with all your new ventures.

Big thanks - lovely to chat XX

Thanks so much - real pleasure to chat with you all. Enjoy the rest of your evening :)
XLiz

Although the book mentioned didn't talk about rosacea this link from the Liz Earle website has great info - sharing for any fellow sufferers.

lizearlewellbeing.com/rosacea-remedies/

@PutTheChocEggDown

Liz I just downloaded the book you mentioned and there is no mention of rosacea in it (Dry Skin and Eczema). Is there a different one that mentions it?

I'm sure it was in there - under Psoriasis section? A lot of the strategies for eczema and psoriasis are v similar so hopefully will help. Also, do take a look here XX
lizearlewellbeing.com/rosacea-remedies/

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