Stress, supplements and strength-training in focus at women’s wellbeing evening

The sell-out evening in Hampstead was moderated by television presenter Natasha Kaplinsky.

“I wanted to bring together experts who could cut through the noise,” said journalist Naomi Greenaway, chair of the WIZO Professional Jewish Women’s Network. “Women are so often navigating their health alone, bombarded with conflicting information and not always sure who to trust.”

WIZO UK event (Photo: Zach Peters)[Missing Credit]

WIZO, the Women’s International Zionist Organisation, is a charity which was founded in the UK in 1918 to support disadvantaged women and children in what was then Palestine.

Over the years, WIZO’s social welfare work has expanded to address a vast range of social welfare needs in Israel. WIZO UK is one of 50 WIZO federations worldwide.

The take-home message from nutritional therapist Laura Southern was to go easy on vitamin and mineral tablets, or fashionable supplements like creatine and collagen.

Though acknowledging there was merit in some supplements, and that she herself had found certain ones beneficial when tackling her own eczema, Southern said: “That doesn't mean that we should all be stacking these huge amounts [of supplements]. It is a billion-pound industry, and the supplement companies are using us to make money. So, I'm quite cynical.” Above all, she said: “Sort out your diet first.”

Emma Levy, a physiotherapist to team GB, stressed the importance to older women of really heavy strength and resistance training alongside high intensity interval training. Do this three times a week, she said, to live longer, better quality lives. Kicking off her high heels, Levy demonstrated a simple trick for improving bone strength by jumping with rigid legs.

(l-r) Dr Emily Simon, Laura Southern, Maureen Fisher Naomi Greenaway, Emma Levy, Dr Rachel Hines at the WIZO UK wellbeing evening (Photo: Zach Peters)[Missing Credit]

Menopause specialist Dr Rachel Hines said that too many women accepted urinary leakage as normal and were too embarrassed to seek help for something that could be treated.

The discussion ranged from HRT and hot flushes to the risk of over-squeezing your pelvic floor and prolapse.

The event raised £3,000, with all proceeds going towards the charity’s UK emergency rehabilitation fund. Established in the wake of October 7, it provides vital therapeutic support to a traumatised Israelis still grappling with the psychological aftermath of the attacks.

Naomi Greenaway was delighted at the end of the night. “Having so many brilliant minds in the room – both on the panel and in the audience – made for something really special.”

Maureen Fisher, chief executive officer of WIZO UK, added: “Last night offered Jewish women here in the UK a space to come together, and to feel the comfort and strength of community — something we all need right now.”