How A Menopausal Actress Boosted Her Energy, Reduced Bloating And Reclaimed Her Youth Again!

Read how Emily rebuilt her confidence after going through a tough menopause that left her feeling extremely low most of the time.

Case Study: Supporting an Actress in Her 40s Through Perimenopause, Gut Imbalances & MS

When Emily (name changed) first came to see me, she was in her early 40s and juggling a demanding acting career with raising two young children.

She was committed to staying slim, strong and energised so she could continue taking on roles she loved, but her body was not cooperating.

Her energy fluctuated constantly, she felt bloated and constipated most days, and she noticed weight creeping up in ways that felt completely out of character for her.

On top of this, she was navigating early perimenopause and carried the emotional weight of having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) years earlier. Although it was not active at the time, she was deeply motivated to keep it from resurfacing and wanted to approach her health in a preventative and protective way.

Because of her gut symptoms and autoimmune background, we decided to begin with comprehensive testing so we could understand exactly what her body needed.

We ran a full stool analysis to explore why she was experiencing bloating and constipation, and because gut health plays such a central role in inflammation, immunity and hormone regulation - all crucial areas for someone with a history of MS.

We also did a complete thyroid and nutrient blood panel to check for any underlying issues that could be affecting her energy, mood or metabolic health.

Her stool test results explained a lot. She had very low digestive enzymes, which meant her body was struggling to break food down properly, contributing to bloating, heaviness, slow digestion and constipation.

More importantly, her microbiome was significantly imbalanced with too few beneficial bacteria and an overgrowth of less helpful strains. This imbalance is known to influence not only gut symptoms, but also immune function, inflammation levels, mood and hormonal stability. Her thyroid results came back mostly within range, but she did have elevated thyroid antibodies, suggesting the early stages of Hashimoto’s.

This was particularly important because autoimmune thyroid conditions often coexist with or parallel other autoimmune conditions like MS.

With these results in hand, we built a plan focused on stabilising her system from the inside out.

We dedicated our first four weeks together to improving the quality and variety of her diet, teaching her how to shop, plan and cook foods that would nourish her gut, support her hormones and reduce inflammation.

Bone broths, slow-cooked meals, cooked rather than raw vegetables, collagen-rich foods, and anti-inflammatory herbs and spices became a big part of her daily routine. Because of her MS history, I encouraged regular use of flaxseed oil to support neurological and hormonal health, and increased her intake of omega-3 rich foods such as oily fish.

We also worked on building her confidence with food.

She had become unsure about what she should eat because she didn’t want to worsen her symptoms.

Together, we created simple, supportive meal structures that fitted her lifestyle, helped her digestion, and stabilised her energy.

At the same time, we supported her hormones through the perimenopausal transition by regulating blood sugar, reducing inflammatory foods, improving nutrient intake, and teaching her how to adjust her routine depending on her cycle and stress levels.

Throughout this process, we remained mindful of her autoimmune history.

Everything we implemented had to be gentle, supportive and non-triggering. She appreciated that nothing in the plan felt extreme or stressful - the opposite of what she feared.

As an added layer of reassurance, I encouraged her to visit her GP and a gastroenterologist, particularly because of her low digestive enzyme results.

Both confirmed the findings and reassured her that her MS remained inactive, which made her feel even more confident in the direction we were taking.

Gradually, she began to notice profound changes.

Her bloating reduced, her bowel movements became more regular, her energy improved and she felt mentally clearer.

Her hormones stabilised, and she found it easier to maintain a slim and toned appearance, which was important for both her acting work and her own self-confidence.

She also noticed that she felt calmer, less inflamed and more in control of her health than she had in years.

Today, she looks and feels incredible.

She continues to come for follow-ups once or twice a year to keep everything in balance as she moves through perimenopause and eventually into menopause.

With her gut health restored, her thyroid monitored, her inflammation down and her confidence rebuilt, she is able to embrace her career, her motherhood and her long-term health with new energy and optimism.