From Publishing to Personalized Nutrition: How One Woman's Health Journey Became Her Mission to Transform Others' Lives
Sometimes the most profound career transformations begin not with a grand plan, but with a personal health crisis that demands we pause, listen to our bodies, and chart a completely new course. This is exactly what happened to Alex Allan, a registered nutritional therapist who spent over two decades in the high-pressure world of publishing before her own health challenges—including PCOS and gestational diabetes—led her to discover the transformative power of personalized, evidence-based nutrition.
What started as a quest to manage her own symptoms evolved into a passionate mission to help other women break free from the cycle of quick fixes and generic health advice that simply don't work. Today, Alex combines her background in functional medicine with her real-world understanding of what it means to juggle career, family, and health challenges, offering women a refreshingly practical approach to wellness that fits into their actual lives.
In this candid Q&A, Alex shares her journey from corporate burnout to wellness entrepreneur, reveals the most common underlying issues she sees sabotaging women's health, and offers actionable advice for busy women who feel overwhelmed by conflicting health information. Her message is both empowering and reassuring: sustainable wellness isn't about perfection—it's about finding what works for your unique body and lifestyle.
Meet Alex Allan Alex Allan BSc (Hons) NT, DipBCNH, mBANT, regCNHC is a Registered Nutritional Therapist, Certified NLP Practitioner, and Certified Health Coach specializing in women's hormonal and metabolic health. After spending over 20 years in publishing, her own health journey with PCOS and gestational diabetes inspired her career transition into functional medicine, where she now helps women move beyond symptom management to address root causes of their health challenges.
After spending more than 20 years working in a corporate environment, you moved into Nutritional Therapy after diet and lifestyle changes helped you improve your own health successfully. Can you share more about that pivotal moment when you realized you needed to make a change, and how your personal health struggles with PCOS and gestational diabetes shaped your approach to helping other women navigate their own wellness journeys?
I worked in publishing for over 20 year, which I absolutely loved but it came with its own pressures and demands. It was during this time that I had my own health challenges - specifically being diagnosed with PCOS and then having gestational diabetes in two pregnancies, and that really forced me to pause and rethink my approach to my health. The pivotal moment came when I realised that the advice I was being given just wasn’t enough to manage my symptoms or support my long-term health – they were often quick fix solutions or further medications. I began exploring nutrition and lifestyle changes, and discovered how powerful personalised, evidence-based strategies could be.
This journey transformed not only my own health but also my career path! It shaped my belief that every woman deserves to feel empowered through understanding her unique body and what it needs to thrive. My own health experiences have made me especially passionate about helping women navigate these complex hormonal and metabolic challenges with compassion and clarity – moving beyond generic advice to things that actually work, and that busy women can put into practice.
You emphasize digging "a little deeper to find the right answers" and getting to the root cause rather than just treating symptoms. In a healthcare system that often focuses on quick fixes, how do you help women shift from the cycle of failed diets and temporary solutions to sustainable, personalized nutrition that addresses their unique needs? What's the most common underlying issue you discover that women didn't realize was affecting their health?
One of the biggest challenges I see is how women get caught in the cycle of fad diets and quick fixes, which might give temporary relief from symptoms, but don’t ever tackle the root causes of their symptoms. My approach is to dig a little deeper – with functional medicine we aim to look beyond the symptoms to identify underlying imbalances, whether that’s hormonal dysregulation, inflammation, stress, or nutrient deficiencies, to help get the person feeling better again. It’s about personalised, science-backed nutrition and lifestyle adjustments that fit into real lives, not one-size-fits-all solutions.
A common underlying issue I frequently uncover is chronic stress and its impact on hormonal balance and digestion. Many women don’t realise how much stress is silently sabotaging their health, from energy crashes to weight challenges and mood shifts. By addressing stress, sleep, digestion, and personalised nutrition together, we can create sustainable change rather than sticking plaster fixes.
As a mum of two teens with a busy household, you understand the real-world challenges women face in prioritizing their health. How do you help busy women - whether they're juggling careers, families, or both - implement lasting nutrition and lifestyle changes without adding overwhelm to their already full plates? What's your advice for women who feel guilty about investing time and energy in their own wellness?
I completely understand how overwhelming life can be when you’re juggling a career, family, and everything else in between! That’s why I continue to focus on practical, manageable changes rather than drastic overhauls. It’s about finding what works for each woman’s unique rhythm and lifestyle, small steps that build up to big results without creating extra pressure and panic.
For busy women, my advice is to start with the permission to prioritise themselves. Investing time in your health isn’t selfish; it’s essential. When you nurture your wellbeing, you’re better equipped to support those around you and bring your best self to all areas of life. Even small acts, like a nourishing meal, a short walk, or mindful breathing, can have a ripple effect on your energy and resilience.
Ultimately, it’s about building sustainable habits that fit your life, not trying to fit your life around perfect habits. That shift alone can free women from guilt and open the door to lasting, joyful wellness.
Links:
https://www.alexallannutrition.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/alexallannutrition/
https://www.facebook.com/alexallannutrition/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-allan-nutrition/
Are you a woman leader with an inspiring journey to tell? Founded by Women is on a mission to elevate and amplify the voices of women making an impact.
If you're breaking barriers, driving change, or paving the way for others, we’d love to feature your story. Get in touch with us today!
👉 hi@foundedbywomen.org
