In conversation with…Madeleine Shaw

I recently had the pleasure of talking to Madeleine Shaw and delving deeper into her views on wellness and some of her thoughts on this topic in the context of today’s strange world. 

A nutritional therapist, podcast host and an author of books including ‘Ready, Steady, Glow’, Madeleine shares some really helpful tips on how we can make ourselves feel better and consequently do better in our endeavours. As a lover and avid listener of her podcast, I was already aware of her unique ability to explore the world of wellness and help to dilute the confusion and overwhelming feelings about this topic instilled by a multitude of sources. She simplifies a diverse topic by bringing it back to basics, that if we are good to ourselves, and good to others, this helps the world become a better place.  

It is not just about the kale and the avocado; it is about what goodness does to how we feel, and in turn, how our emotions impact our mood and opinions in positive ways. Maybe avocado and yoga is the first step, but by taking this first step to be better, we are starting our own journeys of improvement. 

Madeline discusses the importance of being kind to yourself especially during difficult times. A key thing to remember not only in lockdown, but beyond.

What made you get into nutritional therapy? Have you always been passionate about it?

I first got into wellness when I moved to Australia when I was nineteen. I had really bad IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). So, I went to see an nature-path who helped me to change my diet and taught me more about food and it really, really helped me to manage the IBS and get my energy back and nourish my body. I was really inspired by her and all the people that I had read books about or followed on their blogs. I really wanted to learn more and have that deep knowledge and understanding, and potentially also see my own clients.

I think I have always been passionate about nutritional therapy. My parents are both Kiwis and I have been brought up with a level understanding of health and looking after yourself. It was always there, but I did not delve deep.

You have spoken a lot about turning obstacles into opportunities. What obstacles have you overcome to try and get people thinking about nutritional lifestyle?

I have had a few rock bottoms. E.g. having such bad IBS and not knowing why in Australia, having a miscarriage four years ago, losing one of my close friends when I was fourteen. I have had lots of instances where everything feels overwhelming and hard to handle. These are times that you need to look after yourself as much as you can – whatever your ways of being kind to yourself are. They are the times to feel supported by the people you love. They are the times to share what is going on with you and really express what is happening and share this load. They are the times to rest (if you can) and not push yourself as you normally would. You learn a lot about yourself in those times and you learn a lot about the people around you, and as difficult as those times are, they are part of the human experience and there are no highs without lows. If everyday was bliss, then we wouldn’t know what bliss was. So as difficult as awful things are, sadly they are part of the human experience and we need to work out how we make light from them, how we grow from them, how we learn from them and how we can help others.

What are three of your favourite healthy weeknight dishes?

• Tomato and olive broth with cod: you fry garlic in olive oil, add fresh chopped tomatoes, then add fish sauce, smoked paprika and olives in with the cod and steam for 20 minutes.

• Buckwheat noodles with miso salmon or miso chickpeas and vegetables. 

• A lot of curries and anything keema masala, with coconut rice with Thai food. 

You share some really delicious recipes and many of these are sweet treats. We are bombarded on social media and other outlets to steer clear of sugar, but it is true also that good sugar e.g. fruit is not detrimental to your health in moderation (moderation being the key word here!). Do you have any tips for how people could improve their relationship with sugar? Personally, talking from a chocolate perspective here…

Fruit is really important. It contains fibre so the sugar doesn’t hit your bloodstream in the same way that sweets and chocolate do. Don’t go overboard on the fruit though, and stick to seasonal fruit that is grown in the UK as opposed to tropical fruit. It is fine to have for example a mango every now and again, but not every day. Two portions of fruit per day is a good amount. It is something that you have to be honest with yourself about. If you are someone who, if there is cake in the house then you are going to eat it all, try not to do that. Try and enjoy it with moderation. With biscuits for instance, try and buy one small pack so you haven’t got too much. 

Try and balance out the rest of your day. So, if you have a balanced breakfast with protein and fats, again with your lunch and your dinner, you are less likely to crave things. 

Have you seen an increase in attention given to health and wellbeing since COVID-19? How do you think that attitudes/priorities have changed during the past few months?

There definitely is an increased emphasis on immunity and understanding it, and probably a lot of people promising it more and it is a stressful time. Stress induces binge eating and eating foods that are not the best for us because we are feeling a bit worried, but we are understanding how important looking after your health is. Hopefully this continues in times to come, and is not just about lockdown. Hopefully people make long lasting changes. 

What tips would you give to women who are looking to start a business and turn their passion into their income?

Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. There are lots of people out there. Everyone is individual and you will bring something special to the world. Really get focused. The first few years are the hardest when starting a new business. It can be really tough. Make sure you are financially secure. E.g. move back in with your parents. Surround yourself with people who support you, go to business networking events, confide in your friends. You will need a lot of emotional support as well.

As the wellness ambassador for Olivia Burton, it must be great to witness and be a part of businesses increasingly embracing wellbeing. Do you think businesses will continue to be receptive to wellness and keep giving it money and attention?

I think so. I think anyone who has put time into looking after their wellbeing knows how great it feels and how it impacts the rest of their lives, so I am hoping that more and more people get onboard. 

What are your best tips/words of advice for making your working from home day that little bit healthier?

Make sure you have set mealtimes. Have exercise booked in to break up the day. Make sure you take breaks. Walk round the block. Pop out to meet someone or do something different. Write out a set agenda, make sure that when you finish work at whatever time that is put your laptop away. Close it down. Have that rest time. 

Here at The C Word, we aren’t afraid to discuss topics that are considered to be ‘out there’. Lots of what we stand for is about leaving no stone unturned and often the best discussions can be unearthed from delving into conversations which are not deemed to be conventionally ‘comfortable.’ On your podcast and in your blog you speak about egg freezing, fertility, periods and the list goes on. Why do you feel it is so important that these conversations keep happening and the light is shone on issues that women today have with such stigmas?

All conversations need to be had. There are some conversations that people are more comfortable with than others. Especially when considering fertility and periods. Most women have periods, and fertility is something that a lot of people think about. It is good to have these conversations. It is good to be talking. It educates us. 

We all wake up some days feeling a bit groggy. What are your top tips to help you feel revitalised in the mornings to start your day productively? 

Don’t hit the snooze button. Get out of bed! Even if you’re feeling awful. Hopping in the shower makes you feel one hundred times better. Even if I had a bad night sleep I feel so much better. Hydrate first thing in the morning. Take a few deep breaths. Centre yourselves. Stay off your phone and social media and emails first thing in the morning. Have that moment for you. Whether that’s making your breakfast, doing your favourite exercise, putting on your make up in the morning. Whatever it is that revitalises you – focus on that. 

You have been running your blog for seven years now. What would you say is a favourite career highlight/success story to date?

My first book deal. It is such an achievement and I feel so proud of it. I never thought I would do something like that. It gave me huge confidence and allowed me to dream big and I shall always be in awe of that moment. Sometimes I can’t believe that it has happened. 

What do you feel are some myths in the wellness sector that need debunking?

Anything that says it is the ‘perfect’ cure or solution. This needs to be debunked because everything and everyone is individual. Something that works for me, may not work for someone else. So, it is about being your own detective. 

Also the myth that you need a lot of money to look after your health and wellbeing. You do not need a lot of money to look after your wellness. Movement and breath are some of your best tools. You can walk and move and run for free, you can breathe for free. Wellness can be part of your everyday life without being a cost. 

At the moment many young people are feeling like their world is spiralling out of their control. What are your thoughts on control and its impact on mental health? How do you best find your happy place or inner peace?  

Control is something I struggle with. When I had my son especially. That massive change of pace from doing your own thing, to doing everything for your baby. It is such a huge change and your way of living is turned upside down. Again, with this (Coronavirus), I struggled myself in the first two weeks of lockdown. Trying to work full time and trying to parent; it was really difficult. But you need to think about it and journaling is really helpful. Write your feelings down on a piece of paper as letting it out and getting it out on the table is really helpful. It is about doing things that you CAN control. For instance, making sure you’re having lunch or dinner at the same time in the day. 

Control is such a hard thing to balance. Ultimately, it is difficult to control our lives, and we need to ease control. Unlocking what control means for you is key. What happens when structures are out of place or whatever your worries are, break that down for yourself through journaling and through talking to friends. Uncover more about yourself, and become more conscious and more aware of our own thoughts and beliefs, and especially our limiting beliefs. The easier it is to grow internally, the easier it is to change and become more zen and find your happy place.

Madeleine shows us that wellness and wellbeing are so much more than just having a good night’s sleep. It can have lasting effects to your mental health and your happiness. She emphasises how important it is to focus of your own uniqueness and to figure out what it is about each of our different bodies and selves that we need to be good to ourselves. Goodness on the inside helps you to grow and stabilise mentally in the long term. Also, it helps us to efficiently work and direct our passions towards the causes that really need attention. This ultimately enables us more energy to find more hours in the day to dedicate to the causes that matter to us. She supports and advocates being kind to everyone around you and most importantly to YOURSELF. 

We must fight through the storms to enjoy and appreciate the light at the end of the tunnel, despite the length of the journey. My favourite quote from our conversation: “if every day was bliss, we wouldn’t know what bliss was”

We must work to unearth the taboo. As Madeleine says, “all conversations need to be had”. In these challenging times we need to become comfortable with the uncomfortable and Madeleine’s work to make these difficult conversations happen and to explore them in more detail really do bring good in the world. She speaks openly about having a miscarriage, a topic that many women today need to discuss in wider forums. Her answer about how we must keep the conversations alive on these uncomfortable yet extremely relevant topics is paramount in today’s world. Such attitudes ensure that it is not just good to learn more about the problems in the world, but that it is necessary.