This week on The Nutrition Couch, Leanne and Susie unpack three huge topics women are constantly asking about: fasting, constipation, and whether “natural Ozempic” supplements like berberine are worth the hype.

First up, they dive into intermittent fasting and why it often backfires for women, especially if you’re training hard, in your perimenopausal years, or constantly battling cravings and afternoon blow-outs. They talk through what the research actually says, how female hormones and muscle mass change the picture, and why a simple 12-hour overnight break from food may be the sweet spot for most women rather than extreme fasting windows.

Next, they break down the brand-new constipation guidelines from the British Dietetic Association, including the now-famous kiwi fruit recommendation, mineral-rich water, magnesium and that slightly outrageous “six to eight slices of rye bread a day” advice. You’ll hear what’s genuinely useful, what’s unrealistic in real life, and how to build a gut-friendly routine that goes beyond just “eat more fibre”.

In product spotlight, the ladies share their new favourite dip for summer entertaining, Yumi’s Capsicum & Roasted Cashew, and explain why it beats many cream-cheese-based dips nutritionally. They also give practical platter strategies to keep portions, costs and calories in check without feeling like you’re on a diet at the party.

Finally, they tackle a listener question about berberine, the supplement being pushed online as “nature’s Ozempic”. Leanne and Susie explain what the science really shows for blood sugar and weight, the doses used in research, why side effects are more common at effective doses, and why it is absolutely not equivalent to GLP-1 medications. They share the simple, proven strategies that do more for metabolic health than chasing a miracle capsule.

In this episode:
Fasting and female physiology: why skipping breakfast can tank performance, worsen cravings and backfire for many active women, and when a gentle overnight fast may still have benefits.
New constipation guidelines: the role of kiwi fruit, mineral-rich water and magnesium, why “more and more fibre” isn’t always the answer, and realistic ways to get things moving again.
Summer platter upgrade: a healthier capsicum and cashew dip, smart portion tricks, and how to build a party platter that tastes amazing without blowing your goals or your budget.
Berberine under the microscope: why calling it “natural Ozempic” is misleading, what it can and can’t do for blood glucose, and when you’re better off with lifestyle changes or prescribed medication.

If this episode helps you rethink fasting or finally sort your gut and “magic pill” confusion, please follow the show, tap 5⭐, and share it with a friend who’s always starting a new diet on Monday.

To explore our evidence-based supplement range, including our new Hydrate mix for summer, head to Designed by Dietitians.

This week on The Nutrition Couch, Leanne and Susie unpack three huge topics women are constantly asking about: fasting, constipation, and whether &ldquo;natural Ozempic&rdquo; supplements like berberine are worth the hype.
First up, they dive into intermittent fasting and why it often backfires for women, especially if you&rsquo;re training hard, in your perimenopausal years, or constantly battling cravings and afternoon blow-outs. They talk through what the research actually says, how female hormones and muscle mass change the picture, and why a simple 12-hour overnight break from food may be the sweet spot for most women rather than extreme fasting windows.
Next, they break down the brand-new constipation guidelines from the British Dietetic Association, including the now-famous kiwi fruit recommendation, mineral-rich water, magnesium and that slightly outrageous &ldquo;six to eight slices of rye bread a day&rdquo; advice. You&rsquo;ll hear what&rsquo;s genuinely useful, what&rsquo;s unrealistic in real life, and how to build a gut-friendly routine that goes beyond just &ldquo;eat more fibre&rdquo;.
In product spotlight, the ladies share their new favourite dip for summer entertaining, Yumi&rsquo;s Capsicum &amp; Roasted Cashew, and explain why it beats many cream-cheese-based dips nutritionally. They also give practical platter strategies to keep portions, costs and calories in check without feeling like you&rsquo;re on a diet at the party.
Finally, they tackle a listener question about berberine, the supplement being pushed online as &ldquo;nature&rsquo;s Ozempic&rdquo;. Leanne and Susie explain what the science really shows for blood sugar and weight, the doses used in research, why side effects are more common at effective doses, and why it is absolutely not equivalent to GLP-1 medications. They share the simple, proven strategies that do more for metabolic health than chasing a miracle capsule.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>Fasting and female physiology: why skipping breakfast can tank performance, worsen cravings and backfire for many active women, and when a gentle overnight fast may still have benefits.</li>
<li>New constipation guidelines: the role of kiwi fruit, mineral-rich water and magnesium, why &ldquo;more and more fibre&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t always the answer, and realistic ways to get things moving again.</li>
<li>Summer platter upgrade: a healthier capsicum and cashew dip, smart portion tricks, and how to build a party platter that tastes amazing without blowing your goals or your budget.</li>
<li>Berberine under the microscope: why calling it &ldquo;natural Ozempic&rdquo; is misleading, what it can and can&rsquo;t do for blood glucose, and when you&rsquo;re better off with lifestyle changes or prescribed medication.</li>
</ul>
If this episode helps you rethink fasting or finally sort your gut and &ldquo;magic pill&rdquo; confusion, please follow the show, tap 5⭐, and share it with a friend who&rsquo;s always starting a new diet on Monday.
To explore our evidence-based supplement range, including our new Hydrate mix for summer, head to <a href="https://designedbydietitians.com">Designed by Dietitians</a>.

Unlock your best health in just 30 minutes a week. Join the thousands of listeners who’ve transformed their lives with The Nutrition Couch, Australia’s top-ranked nutrition podcast. Each Wednesday at 6am AEST, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell deliver powerful, bite-sized advice that’s easy to implement and designed to make healthy living simple and enjoyable.

Ready for a healthier you? Subscribe now and start your journey with actionable tips that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Don’t wait—your path to better health begins here with The Nutrition Couch.

Unlock your best health in just 30 minutes a week. Join the thousands of listeners who’ve transformed their lives with The Nutrition Couch, Australia’s top-ranked nutrition podcast. Each Wednesday at 6am AEST, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell deliver powerful, bite-sized advice that’s easy to implement and designed to make healthy living simple and enjoyable.
Ready for a healthier you? Subscribe now and start your journey with actionable tips that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Don’t wait—your path to better health begins here with The Nutrition Couch.

The Nutrition Couch

Welcome to The Nutrition Couch, a weekly podcast from two of Australia’s leading dietitians & nutritionists, Susie Burrell & Leanne Ward. This is the first nutrition podcast that looks at weekly food & health trends. Every Sunday at 7am AEST, we will be uploading an episode that covers nutrition news, trending food products, case studies and we will also be answering our listener questions. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and follow us on social media @the_nutrition_couch_podcast to ask us questions & see our food product reviews.

Leanne and Susie unpack why fasting so often fails women, what the new constipation guidelines get right (and wrong) about kiwi fruit, rye bread and magnesium, and whether berberine really deserves its “natural Ozempic” hype.

Why Fasting Fails (Most) Women + Kiwi Constipation Fixes & Berberine Myths

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/b3e1b810-6b83-4d94-a050-b39900d0fce8/transcript

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