In discussion with Phytoceutics® CEO and integrative health coach Laura Johnston, they covered a diverse range of wellness topics, including peak performance and recovery, postpartum health, and teen wellness, emphasising the importance of nutrition and holistic care in maintaining health at every stage of life. From Remy’s remarkable mountaineering feats to Tracy-Lee’s transformative health journey, Dr. Flowers’ insights on postpartum recovery, and Dr. Clarke’s insights on navigating teenage well-being, these episodes offer valuable takeaways for anyone seeking to optimise their health and wellness.
“It started as a healing journey, and now I am just privileged enough to be able to have taken that and transformed it into a career.”
On this episode of The Expresso Show, CEO of Phytoceutics® Laura Johnston joined high-altitude mountaineer and South African record-holder Remy Kloos for an inspiring discussion. Remy shared her remarkable achievement of summiting Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse back-to-back within 24 hours, describing how her mountaineering journey began as a healing process and evolved into a career guiding others on transformative expeditions.
The conversation highlighted the immense physical and mental demands of endurance sports. Laura emphasised the importance of proper nutrition, with essential vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, B vitamins, and vitamin D playing a crucial role in maintaining peak performance.
The discussion also touched on recovery, with both guests emphasising the value of adaptogens like ashwagandha for stress management and performance, as well as curcumin and magnesium for muscle recovery and inflammation reduction. Remy shared. “An adaptogen that has really served me is Rhodiola for energy and performance”.
Beyond physical endurance, Remy reflected on the mental resilience required for such challenges, encouraging a mindset of progress over perfection to tackle life’s metaphorical mountains.
“It was a life-changing, life-saving surgery, and I started my Ironman journey 7 weeks post-op.”
On this episode of The Expresso Show, Laura was joined by Tracy-Lee Lusty, CEO of Self Love, attorney, bariatric surgery champion, and soon-to-be full-time Ironman competitor. Their discussion explored Tracy-Lee’s inspiring transformation journey, the role of supplementation in endurance training, and advice for optimising health.
Tracy-Lee shared how obesity had impacted her life until she made the decision in late 2022 to undergo bariatric surgery. Understanding obesity as a disease and educating herself on the process led her to a life-changing bariatric surgery procedure. Remarkably, just seven weeks post-surgery, she embarked on her Ironman training journey. Now, with only a few weeks left until race day, she reflected on how the past two years had been the best of her life, allowing her to fully embrace fitness and push her limits.
The conversation highlighted the critical role of supplementation in her journey. Tracy-Lee follows a structured protocol including vitamin D, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and multivitamins—essential for both post-bariatric patients and endurance athletes.
Laura explained how after bariatric surgery, the body’s ability to absorb nutrients is reduced, making high-quality ingredients and bioavailable supplements crucial. She highlighted the benefits of liposomal supplements and vitamin sprays, which enhance absorption and ensure optimal nutrient intake. Laura explained, “The benefit of that is that it is absorbed by the oral mucosa, so it doesn’t have to go through the digestive system, so it is easy absorption.”
Tracy-Lee also shed light on the intensity of her training regimen, which includes 3-4 hours of training per day, often with double training sessions. As her training load increases, her supplementation requirements also adjust, particularly with higher doses of B vitamins to support energy and recovery. Despite the rigorous schedule, she ensures balance with a dedicated rest day to reconnect with family and maintain overall well-being.
For those looking to get started with optimising their health, Laura recommended taking a blood test to identify deficiencies rather than supplementing blindly, as well as addressing one concern at a time. Modern diets, stress, and fast-paced lifestyles often lead to nutritional gaps, making supplementation a valuable tool when tailored to individual needs.
“The changes go far beyond just the physical – there are mental, emotional, and social changes which go beyond the post-partum period of time.”
On this episode, Dr. Tracy Flowers, a functional medicine practitioner, joined Laura on the Expresso Show couch to discuss the vital yet often overlooked topic of postpartum health and recovery.
The discussion opened with an acknowledgement of the challenges women face after childbirth, including physical, mental, and emotional changes that extend far beyond the typical 6-12 week postpartum period. Many women struggle with a lack of support and information during this time, making recovery more difficult.
Dr. Flowers emphasised the importance of comprehensive postpartum support, “The most overarching theme of what someone in the postpartum period needs is support, and that can take a variety of different forms; it can be practical support, it can be mental and emotional support, and of course, it can be physical support for your body that is recovering”. She highlighted the prevalence of nutrient deficiencies in new mothers, noting that after giving birth—and often while breastfeeding—women continue to experience high nutrient demands. Key nutrients such as iron, magnesium, vitamin D, B vitamins, and omega-3s play crucial roles in postpartum recovery and overall well-being.
Laura shared her personal experience, explaining how continuing with high-quality prenatal supplementation post-birth helped her maintain her health. She recommended excipient-free options like Terranova Prenatal, which provides clean, bioavailable nutrients. Additionally, she supplemented with omega-3s, iron, vitamin D, and magnesium to replenish her body’s stores and support recovery.
For expecting mothers, proactive planning was recommended. Laura explained, “Before the baby is born, try to work out a plan or a structure. To make sure that your nutrition is taken care of, find a food delivery service that can deliver healthy meals, so you don’t have to worry about that, and purchase your supplements upfront and have them standing next to your meals so you don’t forget them.”
“If you are there for them when they want to open up, that is when you are cementing really important conversations and setting them up for their own emotional health and well-being.”
In this episode of the Expresso Show, the discussion focused on adolescent health, particularly how young women experience significant physical and emotional changes during this stage.
Dr. Natalie Clarke, an expert in women’s health, and Laura shared insights on how proper nutrition and supplementation can support teenage girls during this transitional phase. Dr. Clarke emphasised the importance of understanding adolescence as a period of gaining independence, which can sometimes lead to confusion and emotional struggles. She highlighted the need for specialised medical support that respects the autonomy of adolescent girls while providing them with trusted healthcare options, “An adolescent doesn’t want to be treated as a child – they need to have someone that they can connect with and who has time for them. If you get that right, you are really setting up a woman for her entire health journey”.
Laura explained the role of key nutrients in maintaining overall well-being during puberty. She discussed how iron is crucial due to the onset of menstruation, omega-3s support brain development, and probiotics help with gut health and emotional balance through hormonal changes.
The conversation also touched on the role of parents in supporting their teens. Both Dr. Clarke and Laura advised that open communication, non-judgmental conversations, and being available during critical moments (even late at night) can help strengthen trust between parents and their children.
Whether tackling physical endurance challenges, recovering from childbirth, or prioritising overall wellness, guests shared key insights into the power of proper nutrition, supplementation, and mental resilience. As Remy and Tracy-Lee illustrated, maintaining peak performance and embracing personal transformation are possible with the right mindset and support. By taking a balanced approach to physical, mental, and emotional well-being, anyone can set themselves on the path to achieving their own health milestones.
