Lily takes centre stage at World Menopause Day event

A Coventry-based nutritionist spoke to around 200 people about the importance of nutrition on World Menopause Day – after a chance meeting at a networking event in the city.

Lily Samuels runs her own nutrition business with a particular focus on peri menopause and menopause, offering advice on the best foods to eat to help combat the effects on women.

Lily met Michael Greer, senior business development manager for recruitment company Reed, at a Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce event at the Windmill Village Hotel and, after the two got chatting, they agreed to follow-up afterwards.

Michael was keen to share Lily’s expertise with his network and it led to them arranging a webinar for Reed staff, clients and contacts.

Aptly, the event – Understanding Menopause Brain: Nutrients for Cognitive Health & Function – took place on World Menopause Day.

Lily talked through some of the symptoms associated with the menopause and how a nutritional plan focused on key nutrients can provide the brain with the essential nutrients to support cognitive health, enhance mental clarity and stabilise mood.

Lily stressed: “Many women might not realise they are going through perimenopause. This phase can last between four to ten years before reaching menopause, and women may experience symptoms during this time. Understanding this and knowing that eating specific foods, taking steps to improve brain function, is essential.

“It’s not just about women going through the menopause either – it’s about friends, family, colleagues and employers being able to recognise the signs and to offer support and understanding.

“I am so pleased that Reed decided to offer me this opportunity to speak to such a wide audience and it’s great that meeting through the Chamber of Commerce has led to this.”

Michael added: “We want to offer information and expertise in a range of areas to our network and, as soon as I met Lily, I knew this was something we’d want to get involved with.

“This is such an important topic that we are starting to talk about more in the workplace but still not enough so we were delighted to be able to put on this event on World Menopause Day.”

Neil Littlewood, of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is exactly what the Chamber is about. Two members from different fields were brought together by us and now it is going to benefit many more people, which is a really positive outcome.”