Ruby Saharan, a qualified Pharmacologist and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach is the driving force behind Jigsaw Wellness Ltd., a virtual clinic headquartered in the UK that serves professional women worldwide.
Ruby Saharan, Integrative Nutrition Practitioner
Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
I was born in the UK, 44 years ago and have a zest for life. I live with my husband, two children and an extremely grumpy cat! I love to visit other cultures and have always had a passion for food, health and all things “wellness”.
The human body and its ability to heal has always fascinated me. In fact, I first qualified as a Pharmacologist and a large part of my career in healthcare was spent helping doctors treat their patients with chronic disease, including cancer and diabetes, in collaborations for drug development.
Sadly, both my parents died prematurely, due to different chronic diseases accelerated by poor diet & lifestyle choices. It’s the worst feeling in the world to watch someone you love deteriorate slowly.
The real wake-up call came when my own body started showing signs of hormonal imbalance: raised cholesterol, lactose intolerance, cysts, melasma, weight gain and changes to my cycle. At the time, I didn’t realise all these things were connected to Gut Health. I started to study preventive healthcare which changed everything. I was able to restore my digestive health and the rest of my symptoms eased. I guess you could say this whole experience fuelled my passion to educate and help people BEFORE they develop disease.
This is why I founded Jigsaw Wellness and developed the R.E.S.E.T.™ method so others don’t have to go through what I went through.
What is your business name and how do you help women?
My business is called Jigsaw Wellness Ltd., and I run a virtual clinic headquartered in the UK. Its mission is to help Professional Women improve Diet & Lifestyle for better hormonal health, by restoring their digestive function.
Personal experiences drive my passion for preventive healthcare, and my unique approach is making a significant impact on the lives of the women I work with. The R.E.S.E.T.™ method is an integral part of my program that improves women’s health every day.
In addition to the day job, I also help raise awareness and enable people to develop ‘Personal Health Literacy’ so they can understand their bodies better. I speak at local events, help online groups as an “expert contributor” and have also co-authored a book aimed at Peri-menopausal women.
Why Gut Health?
Over 2000 years ago, the ancient physician Hippocrates stated that “All disease starts in the Gut” and it’s true! Modern science is now uncovering what really goes on in our bodies. Discoveries made in the last 25 years or so, have shown that years of a poor diet (fueled in part by the industrialization and processing of food sources) leads to an imbalance in our Gut Environment which in turn can cause Inflammation, Hormonal Imbalance and finally – Chronic Disease.
How quickly this happens depends on individual factors like genetics, lifestyle, age, general health etc. – but the principle holds true for the majority of chronic diseases such as Diabetes, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Alzheimer's and many more.
The good news is that Gut Imbalance is reversible in most cases, and the majority of women I work with are able to restore digestive function for improved overall health.
Could you explain how you work with clients to provide a comprehensive solution to their health issues?
The secret to success lies in following my proven method called R.E.S.E.T.™ which has been developed painstakingly, after years of education and research. My clients go through each step with me, which ultimately leads to Transformation in their Health.
The steps are meticulously tailored to each individual, resulting in a unique program for each woman that usually lasts 12 weeks, with no strict dieting or exercise required!
The first step identifies the Root Cause of my clients’ discomfort. Unsurprisingly, 9 times out of 10 the Root Cause is Digestive Imbalance! We take every aspect of their personal and medical history, diet & lifestyle to understand what is happening with their body. If needed we also do some testing during this step. All of this information allows us to restore health, step by step.
This could include dietary shifts, targeted supplementation and lifestyle changes – all backed by Science. This methodical approach helps make sense of all the information out there and tailors it to the individual – a literal lifesaver for professional women who frequently struggle to keep the focus on their health whilst juggling busy careers.
My clients also have access to a purpose-built Micro-Learning Platform. This has been developed with Science at its core, for facts that are relevant and trustworthy. They educate themselves to learn what is happening in their body at each step.
In addition, I ensure each goal set is met by providing accountability and keeping an eye on my clients’ nutritional choices for them as they go through the full 12 weeks on the program.
I often hear that ladies who have finished the program are able to not only look after their own health better, but can also educate and help their family members!
What sets your coaching apart from other healthcare professionals in this field?
I don’t just coach, I educate and mentor as well. This is a key aspect of my practice as I have found that if clients don’t understand the WHY behind they need to make changes, the habits will be harder to form.
I lead with empathy having experienced the pain of losing my parents to chronic diseases accelerated by poor diet and lifestyle choices, I intimately understand the devastating effects of these conditions. My own health journey, marked by hormonal imbalances and digestive issues inspired me to use preventive healthcare, for the creation of the R.E.S.E.T.™ method and I can lead my clients through it with precision.
I understand how it feels to be career-oriented and have the demands of a growing family, as well as our own health to juggle, and take the mental load of thinking about health away from my clients. I don't just offer guidance I share in the struggles and triumphs of my clients, having walked a similar path.
Finally, having training in both preventive and curative healthcare, allows me to work with women who are on long-term medications with confidence. 17 years of working in health has given me a deep understanding of the system and I am able to guide my clients through what can often feel like a maze- even teaming up with their existing medical professionals where needed.
What is your work inspired by?
Both my personal journey and the experience of losing my parents prematurely, inspire my work.
In addition, the amazing ladies I work with continue to inspire me day after day. When I see and hear about the changes they have experienced, it motivates me to do even more.
Some comments I have heard in clinic recently include:
“My dairy intolerance has gone.”
“My hip pain is 80% better.”
“I can bounce out of bed in the morning again”.
“What I THOUGHT was healthy really wasn’t!”
“I didn’t know what was wrong and was going round in circles with doctors for 18 months, and you helped me in 7 days!”
“The constant stomach pain has gone.”
“The nausea has disappeared.”
These transformations truly drive my passion and if I can make a difference in even one person's life, it's all worth it.
Could you share with us your top 3 tips on how to improve Gut Health?
EVERYONE can benefit from improving their Gut Health – start with these 3 Simple Tips:
Ensure you are eating a diverse range of plant-based foods. We need protein and fat too, but gut microbes LOVE the phytonutrients found in colourful plants. So, at each meal, ensure there is a variety of colour on your plate!
Be aware of the effects of antibiotics. Take them only when absolutely needed. One course of antibiotics is enough to wipe out your Gut Bacteria (good and bad). Once the course is completed, make sure you repopulate your gut with the right pro/pre-biotics under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Pay attention to your body and get a blood test done every year to stay on top of your health. Our levels of Iron, Lipids, Vit. D and Glucose can tell a lot about what is going on behind the scenes. Hormonal imbalances caused by poor Gut Health can sometimes contribute to fluctuations. I would always advise getting a routine check done, and seeking professional advice if you notice a rise or fall, beyond what is “normal” for your body.
If you could change one thing about modern healthcare, what would it be and why?
In general, the current healthcare system we have is fabulous for treating disease, but sadly fails when it comes to preventing disease.
I think everyone should have access to a Health Coach. All too often, people walk away from a medical appointment with a leaflet on “Better Diet and Lifestyle” but no actual roadmap on how to achieve this. That’s exactly what happened to me. We are simply not educated about the deep connection between our Gut and Body. Achieving optimal health is different for every single person – as we are all unique, and having a personal coach and cheerleader can really help transform an individual’s health, as I see in my virtual clinic every day!
Secondly, how to optimise personal health should be a core and compulsory part of the educational curriculum. Kids should be taught how to read food labels in primary school. Childhood obesity is on the rise globally, and we need to change this before it's too late. The current healthcare system in many countries will collapse if this volume of children develop chronic disease as young adults.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
Ten years from now I hope to see my company at the forefront of a revolution in healthcare. Already we are seeing Lifestyle Medicine grow as a critical area in the field. My dedicated teams of Expert Health Coaches will have empowered thousands of professional women daily, reshaping their health. With a strong backbone of Integrity and Professional Excellence, I am confident this is achievable.
My grander vision extends beyond this milestone, aiming to create profound change. Jigsaw Wellness will be part of the Global Lifestyle Medicine movement that has already started. We will help to reduce rates of chronic disease by improving Gut Health.
I hope to inspire a world where people live longer, healthier lives and are around their families to watch them grow, get married, have kids – all the milestones that make us human.
Milestones that I was unable to share with one of my parents.
Any final words of advice?
EVERYONE can start somewhere. Evaluate your health and increase your knowledge on diet & lifestyle. Gut health is CRITICAL to overall health, and every single one of us could influence that…starting with the next meal!
EVERY SINGLE THING we eat is a set of instructions that can either switch on, or switch off, genes that code for chronic disease. The power is literally in OUR HANDS.
If you’re now wondering where to start, then why not join my Private Community where I provide free advice and help women every day?
Inside, I provide weekly practical tips and tricks tailored for women like you, all designed to enhance your health. You can learn more about the crucial Gut-Whole Body Health connection and how to improve yours with facts backed by Science.
I set this community up especially for Professional Women who want to stop Googling and learn the facts from an expert. Just a click to join, no obligations.
You can dive into a wealth of information, guidance, and FREE resources to kickstart YOUR health journey. I'm excited to help you! Join us here.
