High Performance Health

I'm sharing the framework I built after hitting my own rock bottom when I faced hospitalisation, clinical depression, and complete burnout. It's what I now use with every high-performing woman who comes to me exhausted, stuck, and doing everything right with nothing to show for it. And once you understand it, you'll never think about your energy, your training, or your body the same way again. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN • What is the performance gap and why does it close in midlife? • Why does belly fat increase even when you're eating less? • How does muscle loss drive insulin resistance and visceral fat? • What is BDNF and how does strength training boost brain performance? • Can resistance training reduce depression symptoms? • Why is muscle mass a predictor of all-cause mortality? • What does a high-performance training week actually look like? • How much protein do women in midlife actually need? • Why is skipping a protein-rich breakfast one of the most common mistakes? • What is the BioSyncing Method and how does it raise your physiological floor? VALUABLE RESOURCES • Take the BioSyncing Quiz to help you understand what’s actually happening in your body — and how to fix it. 👉 https://biosyncing.scoreapp.com/ A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible Get 10% off Mitopure when you visit http://timeline.com/ANGELA and use code ANGELA.*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine. Angela is the creator of BioSyncing®️ a blueprint for ambitious entrepreneurial women to biohack their health so they can 10X how they show up in their business and their family without burning out. CONTACT DETAILS ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Disclaimer: The High Performance Health Podcast is for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of professional or coaching advice and no client relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of their medical doctor or other health care professional for before taking any steps to implement any of the items discussed in this podcast. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Longevity expert Dr. Valter Longo dives deep into the science behind the Fasting Mimicking Diet and why it holds a significant edge over traditional water-only fasting.  Dr. Longo explains how the FMD is engineered to trigger cellular cleanup while providing essential nutrients that protect muscle mass and maintain gut integrity—avoiding the leaky gut risks seen in water-only trials WHAT YOU WILL LEARN Safety and Compliance: Unlike water-only fasting, which can cause hypotension and hypoglycaemia, the FMD is designed to be safer and much easier for the average person to complete. Gut Health Protection: Emerging research suggests that water-only fasting can actually increase leaky gut symptoms in mice Muscle Maintenance: The FMD utilises specific carbon sources like glycerol to support glucose production, which prevents the body from breaking down muscle tissue for energy during the fast. Psychological Reset: Beyond the biology, the five-day protocol serves as a powerful psychological stop sign TIMESTAMPS: 0:38 The Slave to the Meal 2:10 The Leaky Gut Discovery 4:54 Training the Teenage Brain 6:22 The Power of the Pause VALUABLE RESOURCES • Take the BioSyncing Quiz to help you understand what’s actually happening in your body — and how to fix it. 👉 https://biosyncing.scoreapp.com/ ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine. Angela is the creator of BioSyncing®️ a blueprint for ambitious entrepreneurial women to biohack their health so they can 10X how they show up in their business and their family without burning out. CONTACT DETAILS ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Disclaimer: The High Performance Health Podcast is for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of professional or coaching advice and no client relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of their medical doctor or other health care professional for before taking any steps to implement any of the items discussed in this podcast. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

If you’re in midlife and feeling mentally stretched with brain fog, poor sleep or constant stress, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening. In this episode, I’m joined by neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood to explore how stress, hormones, recovery and lifestyle shape your brain after 40 and what actually makes a difference. This is a clear, practical conversation for women who want to protect their focus, memory and long-term brain health. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN • What a “healthy brain” actually means in real life • Why lack of control drives burnout • How high-demand jobs affect dementia risk differently depending on control • Why education and cognitive stimulation protect against decline • What really happens to the brain during perimenopause • The link between vasomotor symptoms, sleep and brain fog • How creatine supports brain energetics (and dosing guidelines) • Why leg strength predicts processing speed and dementia risk • How sleep clears metabolic waste from the brain • Why improving one habit can improve multiple brain pathways TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro Stress, Burnout & Recovery: Why Your Brain Needs Rest to Adapt 01:22 What Defines a Healthy Brain? 03:10 The Demands on the Midlife Female Brain 08:00 Why Lack of Control (Not Just Stress) Increases Dementia Risk 10:34 Can You Improve Brain Function Later in Life? Neuroplasticity Explained 17:15 Decision Fatigue & Cognitive Load: The Hidden Brain Tax on Women 20:47 Brain Fog in Perimenopause: Hormones, Sleep & Cognitive Changes 27:34 Nutrient Deficiencies That Affect Brain Function (Iron, Vitamin D & B Vitamins) 28:55 Creatine for Brain Health: Memory, Depression & Cognitive Performance 37:19 Depression & Dementia Risk: What the Research Shows 39:53 Leg Strength & Brain Health: Why Lower Body Power Predicts Cognitive Function 46:32 Exercise After Poor Sleep: Why HIIT Can Restore Focus 50:19 The Glymphatic System: How Sleep Cleans the Brain 56:04 The “One Domino” Habit That Improves Brain Health VALUABLE RESOURCES • Take the BioSyncing Quiz to help you understand what’s actually happening in your body — and how to fix it. 👉 https://biosyncing.scoreapp.com/ A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible: • Stride - Find out your biological age and how your daily habits are influencing it with DNA, bloodwork and microbiome testing with a Stride One membership 👉 https://www.getstride.com/angela/ for 10% off ABOUT THE GUEST Tommy Wood, PhD, is a neuroscientist and athletic performance coach. He is a host of the “Better Brain Fitness” podcast and author of “The Stimulated Mind: Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia and Stay Sharp at Any Age,” which will be released March 24 and is available for preorder now. Website: https://www.drtommywood.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtommywood/ Podcast: https://www.betterbrain.fitness/ Book: https://www.drtommywood.com/stimulated-mind

Angela and special guest Dr. Darshan Shah, look at the polarising world of cardiovascular health, specifically demystifying the role of LDL cholesterol.  They challenge the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to statins, arguing that heart health must be viewed through the lens of individual biology—where factors like inflammation, genetic risk, and lifestyle can make the same LDL level a non-issue for one person and a crisis for another WHAT YOU WILL LEARN LDL is Not Always the Enemy: A high LDL reading alone doesn’t guarantee heart disease; its impact depends on individual context The Power of ApoB and Lp(a): Traditional cholesterol panels are often insufficient; more modern biomarkers like ApoB(a superior risk marker) and Lp(a) (a genetic factor) provide a much clearer picture of cardiovascular risk. AI in Diagnostics: The Clearly scan uses AI to analyse CT angiograms, allowing doctors to see the actual buildup of both calcified and soft plaque in the coronary arteries rather than just guessing based on blood work. Precision Over Dogma: Because cardiovascular health is an "N-of-1" situation, interventions like statins or PCSK9 inhibitors should be based on actual arterial health TIMESTAMPS: 01:21 The LDL Controversy: An explanation of why cholesterol remains a polarizing topic and why it must be treated as an individual biology issue. 02:37 The Tale of Two Patients: A comparison of a healthy gym-goer with high LDL/zero plaque versus a high-stress professional with lower LDL/significant plaque. 04:13 Modern Biomarkers: A breakdown of the specific tests to ask for, including ApoB, HS-CRP, and the Clearly cardiovascular scan. VALUABLE RESOURCES • Take the BioSyncing Quiz to help you understand what’s actually happening in your body — and how to fix it. 👉 https://biosyncing.scoreapp.com/ ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine. Angela is the creator of BioSyncing®️ a blueprint for ambitious entrepreneurial women to biohack their health so they can 10X how they show up in their business and their family without burning out. CONTACT DETAILS ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Disclaimer: The High Performance Health Podcast is for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of professional or coaching advice and no client relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of their medical doctor or other health care professional for before taking any steps to implement any of the items discussed in this podcast. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

If you’re entering perimenopause and suddenly noticing more abdominal fat, higher cholesterol, poorer sleep or increased anxiety, you’re not imagining it. In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Sarah Berry to unpack what actually changes in women’s cardiometabolic health during the menopause transition We explore why premenopausal women are often metabolically protected compared to men, what shifts during perimenopause, and how declining estrogen impacts fat distribution, blood glucose control, inflammation and cholesterol. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN • Why cardiometabolic health often worsens during perimenopause • When visceral fat redistribution typically begins • The role of estrogen in fat storage, cholesterol and inflammation • Whether hormone therapy protects against abdominal fat gain • How glucose dips can drive an extra 300+ calories per day • What ApoB really means and why it matters beyond LDL • The truth about seed oils, saturated fat and cardiovascular risk • Why soy isoflavones work for some women but not others • How replacing typical snacks with almonds predicted a 30% drop in cardiovascular risk TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro: Why Cardiometabolic Risk Increases During Perimenopause 05:01 Does Hormone Therapy Protect Against Visceral Fat & Cholesterol Changes? 13:42 How to Improve Your Gut Microbiome through Diet 19:01 Why Belly Fat Increases in Perimenopause (Estrogen, Hunger & Blood Sugar) 27:39 Saturated Fat Explained: Butter vs Yogurt & The Food Matrix 45:31 Eating Speed, Late-Night Meals & Metabolic Health in Midlife VALUABLE RESOURCES • Take the BioSyncing Quiz to help you understand what’s actually happening in your body — and how to fix it. 👉 https://biosyncing.scoreapp.com/ A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible: • Stride - Find out your biological age and how your daily habits are influencing it with DNA, bloodwork and microbiome testing with a Stride One membership👉 https://www.getstride.com/angela/ for 10% off   ABOUT THE GUEST Professor Sarah Berry is a Professor of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London and Chief Scientist at ZOE. She leads large-scale research on personalised nutrition, metabolic health and how individuals respond differently to food, including the global PREDICT studies. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahberry/ X: https://x.com/saraheeberry ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine. CONTACT DETAILS ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Disclaimer: The High Performance Health Podcast is for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of professional or coaching advice and no client relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of their medical doctor or other health care professional for before taking any steps to implement any of the items discussed in this podcast. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

If you are waking at 2:00 AM wide awake, mind racing and calculating how little sleep you have left, this episode is for you. In this episode, I unpack what is really driving the 2:00 AM wake up in women over 35. This is rarely a sleep hygiene problem. And it is not that you are bad at switching off. In most cases, it is a hormonal and metabolic cascade showing up as a sleep issue. We explore why alcohol fragments the second half of sleep, even if it helps you fall asleep, how declining progesterone affects GABA and your ability to buffer stress overnight, and why under fuelling at dinner can trigger a 2:00 AM cortisol spike through blood sugar dips. I also share the exact dinner tweak and evening wind down stack I use personally and with clients, plus the CAP formula to stop your brain rehearsing tomorrow at 2:00 AM. This is a practical, physiology first episode for high performing women who are tired of being told to just relax and want to address the real root cause. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: • Why do you wake up at 2:00 AM? • Does alcohol disrupt sleep in the second half of the night? • Can low progesterone affect sleep quality? • Can low blood sugar wake you up at night? • Should you eat carbohydrates at dinner for better sleep? • Do glycine, magnesium or L theanine improve sleep? • Does morning sunlight improve sleep at night? • How do you stop overthinking at 2:00 AM? • What is the CAP method and how does it reduce cognitive load? • What should you do if you wake in the night? VALUABLE RESOURCES ⁠Join The High Performance Health Community⁠ ⁠Click here⁠ for discounts on all the products I personally use and recommend A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine. Angela is the creator of BioSyncing®️ a blueprint for ambitious entrepreneurial women to biohack their health so they can 10X how they show up in their business and their family without burning out. CONTACT DETAILS ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Disclaimer: The High Performance Health Podcast is for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of professional or coaching advice and no client relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of their medical doctor or other health care professional for before taking any steps to implement any of the items discussed in this podcast. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Dr Darren Candow, professor and director of the Aging Muscle and Bone Health Laboratory and leading creatine researcher. He explores creatine for muscle strength, fat loss, recovery and bone preservation in women over 40. They discuss brain benefits, dosing strategies (including 10 g/day), timing with training and safety concerns like kidneys and hair loss.

Angela talks to Professor Stuart Philips, who challenges the long-standing "Anabolic Window" myth, revealing that muscle sensitivity to protein actually lasts up to 48 hours post-exercise rather than a mere 30-minute window.  The conversation cuts through the noise of modern protein obsession, establishing that while the RDA is a baseline, the true sweet spot for muscle synthesis lies between 1.2g and 1.6g per kilogram of body weight. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: The protein "sweet spot": While the baseline requirement is 0.8g/kg, optimal benefits for muscle maintenance and growth occur between 1.2g and 1.6g per kilogram. The myth of the 30-minute window: The "Anabolic Window" is much larger than previously thought; muscles remain sensitive to protein for up to 48 hours after a workout. Dosage limits: For most people, including perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, 30g to 40g of protein per meal is the effective limit for stimulating new muscle growth. Carbohydrates are essential: Despite modern "carb-phobia," carbohydrates are the primary drivers of high-intensity performance TIMESTAMPS [01:50] The confusion between calculating protein [03:52] The "Baking the Cake" analogy [05:54] Debunking the idea that you can only absorb 20g of protein at a time. [07:18] Addressing Anabolic Resistance and protein needs for women in menopause. VALUABLE RESOURCES ⁠Join The High Performance Health Community⁠ ⁠Click here⁠ for discounts on all the products I personally use and recommend A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible Beam: Upgrade your cellular health - get 20% off Beam Minerals at http://beamminerals.com/ANGELA  & use code ANGELA at checkout ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine. Angela is the creator of BioSyncing®️ a blueprint for ambitious entrepreneurial women to biohack their health so they can 10X how they show up in their business and their family without burning out. CONTACT DETAILS ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Disclaimer: The High Performance Health Podcast is for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of professional or coaching advice and no client relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of their medical doctor or other health care professional for before taking any steps to implement any of the items discussed in this podcast. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Bill Campbell PhD, a body-composition researcher focused on fat loss, muscle and menopause, joins to unpack midlife changes. He talks about why some women gain fat during the menopause transition and the 2–3 year high-risk window. He explains why hormone therapy helps some but not all, how unnoticed drops in daily movement matter, the right protein amounts, and why lifting and sleep are crucial.

VO2 max is one of the strongest, most measurable predictors we have of longevity; and for midlife women, getting your cardio strategy right matters. In this episode, I break down the real truth behind the “HIIT vs Zone 2” debate, and show you how to use both in a way that supports energy, brain health, and long-term performance, including what Zone 2 training really improves, and what HIIT actually changes in your body. You’ll also learn how to programme cardio in midlife so you increase VO2 max without disrupting sleep, strength training, or your ability to recover. By the end, you’ll have a clear weekly framework to build cardiovascular fitness safely in midlife, even if you’re time-crunched, plus two science-backed interval workouts that reliably improve VO2 max. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN • Why VO2 max is a powerful longevity marker (and why it matters in midlife) • The difference between Zone 2 and HIIT (and what each one is for) • What Zone 2 builds (aerobic base, mitochondria, recovery capacity) • Why Zone 2 often “feels pointless” for high-achieving women (and what to do instead) • How HIIT improves VO2 max, insulin sensitivity, and metabolic health • The brain benefits of Zone 2 vs Zone 5 (BDNF, lactate, blood flow) • Why “more intensity” often backfires in midlife (sleep, stress, injury risk) • The progression hierarchy that protects your joints and results• How many HIIT sessions women actually need (and when it’s too much) • Two evidence-backed HIIT workouts: micro-intervals + the Norwegian 4x4 • A simple weekly template that works even with 30 minutes a day • How to combine resistance training + cardio in the same day for best results VALUABLE RESOURCES 10 Habits That Help Me Reverse My Biological Age (Free Guide) 👉 https://academy.angelafosterperformance.com/10-habits-guide A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible: Find out your biological age and how your daily habits are influencing it with DNA, bloodwork and microbiome testing with a Stride One membership - visit https://www.getstride.com/angela/ for 10% off.