I often hear from people who say they’re doing all the right things – trying to eat well, move more, manage stress – but somehow they feel worse than a few years ago. What I’ve come to understand is that many of us wait until we 'feel old' or face a health scare before really taking action. But by then, some of the damage has already started. That’s why midlife is such a crucial time for healthy ageing.

If you’ve noticed that your usual approach to food, exercise and self-care no longer works the way it used to, you’re not imagining it. Many people in their 40s and 50s start to feel like their body is changing in ways they didn’t expect – and metabolism often feels like the culprit. But what actually is metabolism? And why does it seem to ‘slow down’ as we get older?