Trinny Woodall on how she reduced sugar to deal with menopause

From private dining room bookings at Gimlet in Melbourne to hosting her travelling entourage at Icebergs Dining and Bar in Sydney, Trinny Woodall is no stranger to poaching a seat at some of the best eateries in Australia.

The British beauty entrepreneur was visiting recently to promote her new book Fearless, a guide to living well as we age. She might be the queen of Instagram Reels and video posts where she talks make-up tips and styling hacks, but she’s also very eager to take care of her health, drawing on the expert views of dietitians and endocrinologists.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST DIETARY HACK?

In the past year, I have become obsessed with Jessie Inchauspé, also known as the Glucose Goddess, a French biochemist and New York Times bestselling author. She wrote The Glucose Revolution. She looks at sugar in the body and how it affects us as we age. It’s all about adding fibre, proteins and good fats to your diet rather carbs as you get older; that’s what has worked for me.

Writing Fearless was all about giving readers a few tools to get through life. In your 20s you tend to compare yourself to other people, but by the time you get to your 50s like me, it’s all about diet and listening to your body and respecting that it doesn’t break down foods the way it used to when we were younger.

Going through menopause is confronting and confusing. Our bodies and skin start to feel strange. During this time you need to think about how certain foods can trigger symptoms. I always ask myself – am I eating too much sugar that I can’t process during menopause? I don’t think menopause is talked about hugely in Australia. We need to have those conversations (my book is a great starting point).

I also have an endocrinologist in New York who is strict about how much sugar I can eat, especially the processed kind. I therefore often start my day with an omelette topped up with herbs and a pumpernickel toast plus an oat cappuccino. I feel like I can start my day properly when I eat mindfully, and have energy and fats to balance me as I set out on a busy day.

I am also obsessed with Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology. He wrote The Zoe Report – where he made people wear a diabetic band to see when their sugars were spiking with certain foods. I bought one and when I am back in London, I’ll be using that.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD CITY?

I love New York. The energy when I hit the street, or go over Williamsburg Bridge, gives me a sense that the sky is the limit. No city puts more fire in my belly. I walk 12,000 steps a day, whereas back at home in London I manage around 3500.

You’ll find me at The Crosby Street Hotel and I always eat at Cipriani Downtown NYC. It’s where I have been going for the past 30 years. They know me now. I am not a New Yorker, but I go in and kind of act like one. The waiters give me a look as if to say, should I know you? It’s always about engaging immediately. They always help me out.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPOT IN BRISBANE?

While on my book tour, I discovered Otto in Brisbane − it was delicious. I highly recommend the lunch – lots of slow-cooked lamb off the bone. You’re very good at that in Australia – I remember a delicious meal with lamb at Gimlet, too, last October. We still talk about it.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BRISBANE HOTEL?
The Calile Hotel is certainly a buzzy place to be when in Brisbane. It’s a bit full on for me, but the food is exceptional. I ate Greek at Hellenika by the pool there, and it rivals my favourite London called Zephyr on Portobello Road in London. What I loved about their approach was that they made the meat lemony fresh – so when you ate it, you didn’t get that sticky aftertaste. I also loved their smoked trout.

WHERE DO YOU BREAKFAST OR LUNCH WITH A BFF?

Journalist and podcaster Elizabeth Day and I schedule 12 breakfast/lunch dates together. We became close friends when she had me on her podcast, and I was a guest on hers. We connected immediately, and I knew she was one of those special friends I needed in my life regularly. We now have a yearly calendar of catch-ups in London. We dine at Le Colombier for classic French cuisine, and The Wolseley restaurant as well as The Delaunay; a perfect spot for a wiener schnitzel (I highly recommend you order this). You’ll also find us eating at Gold Notting Hill on Portobello Road and Zephyr – two favourites as well.