Starting Again in Your 50s: Autoimmune Disease, Nutrition & Building a Business | Helen Johnson
What happens when a successful career in media, a personal health crisis and a passion for nutrition come together to create a completely new chapter?
In this episode, Lauretta and Sharon are joined by Helen Johnson, founder of Succeed, a range of seed and botanical blends designed to make it easier to add more nutrition to everyday meals.
Helen spent decades working in the media, editing titles including New Woman, Bliss, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Grazia, before her own health journey prompted her to retrain in nutritional therapy and rethink what she wanted to do next.
Helen opens up about being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in her 30s, navigating medication and the NHS, and the gradual changes she made to her diet and lifestyle. She also reflects on the role that stress played in her health and the importance of understanding the connection between mind and body.
The conversation then moves into entrepreneurship, as Helen shares what it was like to launch a wellness brand in her 50s, deal with imposter syndrome, put her own money into the business and learn an entirely new industry from scratch.
From growing hemp and flax seeds on her family farm in Norfolk to working with herbalists and sourcing ingredients with sustainability and provenance in mind, Helen explains how Succeed came to life and why she believes nutrition doesn't have to be complicated.
There are plenty of honest insights for anyone thinking about starting something new later in life — including how to deal with setbacks, ask for help, get out there and speak to customers, and keep going when things don't go according to plan.
In this episode, Helen discusses:
- Her career in journalism and editing some of the UK's best-known magazines
- Being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in her 30s
- Her experience of medication and managing an autoimmune condition
- The role of stress and the mind-body connection
- How nutrition became a bigger part of her own health journey
- Why she retrained as a nutritional therapist
- The importance of dietary diversity, fibre, protein and healthy fats
- Why she became fascinated by seeds and botanical herbs
- The story behind launching Succeed
- Sourcing ingredients from British farmers where possible
- Regenerative farming and the importance of soil health
- Starting a business in her 50s
- Dealing with imposter syndrome and self-doubt
- Learning the food and drink industry through trade shows
- What happens when a retailer doesn't sell your product
- Why founders need to be their own best advocates
- Taking financial risks when starting a business
- The importance of community and other founders
- Balancing entrepreneurship with family and wellbeing
- Why small, consistent habits can make healthy eating easier
Helen's approach to nutrition
Helen believes that for many people, improving health doesn't have to mean following an incredibly restrictive or complicated diet.
Instead, she encourages people to come back to the basics: fibre, protein, healthy fats and diversity in the diet, while finding simple ways to make nourishing food part of everyday life.
Her philosophy is about making nutrition achievable rather than overwhelming — something that fits into real life.
About Succeed
Succeed was created by Helen to make it easier to add nutrient-dense seeds and botanical herbs to everyday meals.
The range currently includes blends focused on gut health, energy, focus and immunity, which can be sprinkled onto foods such as porridge, yoghurt, salads and soups.
Helen's aim is simple: to help people make small, regular changes that can add up over time.
Connect with Helen
Find out more about Helen and Succeed and discover the blends she has created to make everyday nutrition easier.
https://sucseed.life/?srsltid=AU7gw4WYB_95TViQ4BWa_Iptd77-Jz6T9Rusm7boGv0MiSPdhP9STkzo
Key Takeaway
You don't have to completely overhaul your life to make meaningful changes. Sometimes the most sustainable approach is to start with the basics, make small changes and keep going.
And as Helen's own story shows, it's never too late to start something new.
This episode is sponsored by Health Craic. Wellness drinks that work but taste great.
Use the code Craic for 10% off for listeners.
