The Nutrition Couch

If your joints ache after exercise, if your hips or knees are not what they used to be, or if you are just noticing your body recovering more slowly than it did a few years ago, this episode is going to be genuinely useful. Leanne and Susie break down the evidence on what food can and cannot do for chronic pain and joint health, call out the supplements that are not worth your money, and explain w...

If your dinner creeps out to 8 or 9pm most nights and your fat loss has stalled, this one is worth 30 minutes of your week. In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne and Susie unpack why late dinners quietly derail body composition for so many women — and why the fix isn't as simple as just eating earlier. Do late dinners actually stall fat loss? Why pushing your last meal out often tri...

Your cholesterol came back high. Now what? Most women in their 40s and beyond have sat with that question and got very little useful guidance on the other side of it. In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne and Susie give you the cholesterol conversation most doctors don't have time for, including what your individual numbers actually mean, why your LDL is almost certainly rising right now...

Most women trying to lose weight have been told the same thing their whole lives: eat less. But on this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell make the case that under-eating may be one of the most common and most overlooked reasons women struggle to lose fat, build muscle, and feel well. If you are tired despite sleeping well, craving sugar and carbs by mid-afternoon, getti...

Cancer is on everyone's mind right now, and the research has finally caught up. In this episode, Leanne and Susie unpack the largest ever study on diet and cancer risk, published just weeks ago in the British Journal of Cancer. With data from 1.8 million people tracked over 16 years, the findings are genuinely surprising, and not always in the direction you'd expect. In this episode: The big cance...

Ever been told your blood tests are “normal”, but you’re still exhausted, flat, foggy, struggling with weight changes, or just not feeling like yourself? In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne and Susie unpack the difference between normal and optimal blood test results, and why women need to look beyond a quick “everything’s fine” from the doctor. They...

Are low sugar lollies actually healthier… or just clever marketing? This week on The Nutrition Couch, Susie and Leanne take a deep dive into the booming “better-for-you” confectionery trend and unpack whether these fibre-based, low-sugar lollies are genuinely a smarter choice — or simply another ultra-processed product wearing a health halo. With brands like Fun Day domina...

If you eat the same breakfast on repeat because it “fits your macros”, this episode is for you. This week on The Nutrition Couch, Leanne and Susie unpack the biggest breakfast mistake they see in clinic, why it can quietly stall gut health and fat loss, and the simple way to fix it without overhauling your whole routine. Then, they cut through the noise on ultra-processed foods, sharin...

If you’re trying to lose weight, manage stress, or just feel better in your body, this episode connects the dots between what’s on your plate and how you actually feel. This week on The Nutrition Couch: A viral article claims cottage cheese, berries and seeds are the “best breakfast for weight loss.” We unpack whether it’s genuinely superior — or just smart mark...

Is brain fog getting worse in menopause? Trying to lose weight but nothing works anymore? This episode explores new research on creatine and cognition — and why willpower isn’t the real reason weight loss stalls. Here’s what we cover: A new 8-week randomised controlled trial on creatine in peri- and menopausal women What actually improved: memory, mental fatigue and cognitive per...

Peptides are the newest anti-ageing obsession. Injected. Micro-dosed. Marketed as skin-saving, hormone-balancing, fat-loss miracles. But are peptides actually evidence-based… or just another expensive wellness trend? In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, we break down the truth about peptides, influencer marketing, regulation gaps, and what the science really says before you spend hundred...

The US has released new dietary guidelines, and they’ve already caused a nutrition firestorm. Higher protein targets. More dairy. Fewer carbs. A tougher stance on ultra-processed foods. But do these changes actually matter, especially if you live in Australia? In this episode of The Nutrition Couch , Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell break down what’s changed, why it’s controversial,...

January is hectic, decision fatigue is real, and eating well can start to feel exhausting. In this episode, Leanne and Susie break down meal prep that actually works in real life , the sneaky way fries creep into your week, and what to order when fast food is the only option . No extremes. No guilt. Just systems that make healthy eating easier in 2026. In this episode, we cover: The simplest meal...

Cravings feel powerful, frustrating, and often completely out of your control. But what if most cravings aren’t random at all? In this first episode of The Nutrition Couch for 2026, Leanne and Susie unpack what’s really driving cravings, why willpower is not the problem, and how simple changes to your day can make a huge difference. They also break down new research linking diet qualit...

Want to enjoy Christmas without the food hangover? Leanne and Susie share simple, realistic strategies to enjoy the festive season without overeating or falling into the “all or nothing” trap. In this episode: The mindset that leads to festive bingeing Portion and pacing tricks that actually work How to enjoy your favourites without feeling stuffed When to get back on track (hint: it&r...

This week we’re tackling the big one for party season: alcohol. Leanne and Susie break down how much is too much , why “just one glass” is rarely one glass, and the simple rules that prevent Christmas weight gain. Inside the episode: The truth about alcohol, hormones and cancer risk Why you might be drinking more than you think Party-season rules to protect sleep, energy and meta...

Are the foods in your trolley really Australian owned, and should you be worried about MSG or that 2-kilo overnight weight jump after a salty meal? In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell unpack how to support Aussie-owned brands, the real story on MSG, and why salt can make the scales jump without you gaining body fat. In this episode, we cover: The Aussie...

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 battlin...

Most people wait for January to “start fresh” — but the research shows 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. So in this bonus episode, Leanne and Susie flip the script and show you why starting small now is the real secret to lasting results. You’ll learn how to use December to build momentum, not lose it, and how a few simple habits can make 2026 feel compl...

Trying to eat more without gaining weight? Wondering how much protein you actually need — or if you’ve gone overboard? And what about that burning reflux that ruins your sleep? In this week’s episode of The Nutrition Couch, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell cut through the confusion with practical, no-BS advice that real women can use every day. Here’s what you&rsquo...

Kick off summer without blowing your goals. In this episode, Leanne and Susie show you how to enjoy Aussie barbecues while keeping calories, carbs and salt in check — plus the truth about “everyday electrolytes” and a frank review of a trending high-protein pasta. We finish with easy, kid-approved breakfast ideas for fussy eaters. What you’ll learn: BBQ pitfalls that quietl...

This week on The Nutrition Couch, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell tackle two big food questions women are asking right now — and the science behind them. Do You Really Need to Ditch the Dinner-Time Carbs? Why so many of us eat rice, pasta and bread on autopilot — and how to know if your body really needs it. Smart swaps to lighten your dinners without cooking two separate meal...

Are you avoiding foods just because you can’t pronounce an ingredient? You’re not alone — but this week, we unpack why obsessing over “seed oils” and additives can sometimes do more harm than good. In this episode, Leanne and Susie explain how to actually read a food label, which additives are worth caring about (and which aren’t), and the 10-year window when yo...

Are supermarket BBQ chickens a smart shortcut or something to avoid? Today, we separate facts from fear — plastic bags, heat lamps, skin vs breast, sodium, additives — and how to enjoy a “chook night” without the blow-outs. We also rant (productively!) about convenient nutrition “rules”, seed-oil panic, and the “natural = healthy” trap. Plus, a Wooli...

If you’ve ever felt “all in” Monday and “off the rails” by Friday, this one’s for you. Leanne and Susie unpack why behaviour change feels hard — and a practical self-coaching framework that actually survives busy seasons, social weekends, and end-of-year chaos. What’s inside: Self-coaching that works: accept that hard is normal, aim for small wins ov...