And that is the raison d’etre of her new book, I Wish My Doctor Had Told Me This, which is designed to help us first decipher those corporeal communications and then teach us how to adjust our lifestyles and diets accordingly. Real-life examples are woven through the book, each illustrating how various imbalances can impact our health and what to do about them. Notably, her findings tend to fall into a quintet of categories, which she calls the five s’s: stress, sugar, sludge (toxins), sleep and spirit. The book goes heavy on the gut too, sharing simple ways in which to improve gut bacteria and to reduce stress and its often-devastating impact on our minds and bodies.
Here she tells us which book she recommends everyone read for the benefit of humanity; how social media allowed her to meet her all-time hero; and why having the courage to be vulnerable is vital to wellbeing.
My favourite website...
Anthropologie. I love all of their stuff – it’s all just a bit different and quirky.
My favourite app...
Soundcloud, because it gives me access to wonderful, guided meditations. I especially love anything by John Lockley.
My favourite blog...
I don’t get much time to read blogs, but I do take note of anything that the Alliance for Natural Health produces.
My Internet hero...
Dr Sarah Myhill who is using a functional medicine approach to help heal those who have Chronic Fatigue and ME, a hugely misunderstood disease of the body. She approaches it with wisdom, compassion and a vast amount of scientific knowledge.
My favourite podcast...
Feel Better, Live More with Rangan Chatterjee. He has fabulous guests, all of whom I would like to meet. He is also not afraid to be vulnerable – well maybe he is, but he courageously does it anyway.
My favourite YouTuber...
Zach Bush, a pioneering doctor who gets to the root of what is causing disease in the 21st-century. He is a courageous soul who is prepared to stand up and bravely and compassionately challenge the status quo.
My most recent buy online...
Some herbal non-toxic flea treatment for my dogs – one that does not pollute the waterways.
Last book you downloaded or read...
Lost Connections by Johann Hari. This is a book for the world to read and take note. We would all be better for it.
Favourite tweeter...
Ben Samuelson. He actually manages to make the subject of cars interesting and entertaining.
Favourite Instagrammer...
@TraumaThrivers_Lou Lebentz. She brings awareness to an enormously underestimated problem of the impact of trauma on the body, whether in childhood or later in life. These events dictate how we operate in life and Lou helps us to achieve greater awareness of our triggers and the often unhelpful but totally understandable survival strategies that we employ in order to keep ourselves safe.
Favourite tech gadget...
My Vagus nerve stimulator. Managing stress and anxiety is an ongoing project in my life. Stimulating the vagus nerve helps to switch my fight/flight stress mechanism off and improves my sleep.
The most useful gadget/item on your desk...
Having said the above, I am generally a very ungadgety person and try to have as little electromagnetic radiation on my desk as possible. I will always have a very useful cup of nettle and peppermint tea on the go.
Most useful digital resource during lockdown...
Green Med Info. This is an invaluable source of well researched papers for me to check my facts when I am writing or researching certain health conditions. Also, the podcast app keeps me entertained and takes my mind off things whilst I am sweating up those hills on my bike.
Most inspirational digital resource during lockdown...
Technology, Consciousness and Evolution Masterclass with Greg Braden, Bruce Lipton and Lynne McTaggart. A totally gripping and rather alarming look at where our world is heading.
First thing/app you look at on your mobile when you wake up/in the morning...
Emails, although I try to wait until I have done my yoga stretches and meditation before I do this so there is less for my monkey mind to work on when I am meditating.
Last thing you binge-watched...
The Empowered Menopause by Carolyn Cowan on Vimeo, an outstanding look at the history, physical mechanisms and incredibly helpful tips to help our bodies through what is a totally natural process but has become medicalised.
Favourite brands have you discovered online...
Calvins Free From coconut flatbreads. Having been paleo/grain free for almost six years, I haven’t really eaten any form of bread and this product was for me unbelievably like normal bread. Totally delicious
Social media allowed me to meet...
I suppose I discovered on social media that Brené Brown was coming to London, so I was able to go down to meet my all-time hero. If you haven’t seen her TED talk on vulnerability, please watch it. I managed to talk to her despite being totally starstruck and gave her one of my I AM ENOUGH wristbands.
The best digital advice I've been given...
Be authentic even if it makes you feel uncomfortable and vulnerable.
My screensaver is...
My spaniel, Whoppit. He is the George Clooney of spaniels.
My standout online memory...
Seeing my book for sale on Amazon. Unbelievably exciting.
My pet online hate is...
The pressure to constantly engage with social media.
Do you have any online rules or resolutions...
My phone always stays downstairs and I don’t look at it for at least an hour before bed – it is always on night mode.
The Internet. On balance, a force for good or ill?
It totally depends upon how it is used. It’s invaluable in many situations as long as it doesn’t take over your life.
By Nancy Alsop
August 2021
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