Photography: Ben Parry / Untitled Studio.
Growing up, teenage Libby Ellis covered her bedroom walls with butchers’ paper on which she wrote down every chemical reaction she knew and memorised them. Now best known by the moniker Dr Libby (like Madonna or Cher, she doesn’t need the last name to be recognised), the 51-year-old has become the bridge between the general world of women’s wellness and decoding the complex biochemistry behind it.
And she looks at everything through “three lenses”: the biochemical, nutritional and emotional, helping people make sense of how to take care of themselves. The best-selling author also explores the connection between food and health in many of her 14 books. Her most recent offering, Fix Iron First: The One Thing That Changes Everything, examines iron deficiency. She is also the founder of supplement brand Bio Blends.
After previously living in Auckland, Dr Libby now resides in Queensland with her boyfriend.
Can you share a favourite childhood memory of growing up in Tamworth, Australia?
We had a new batch of baby chickens hatch and once my favourite one reached a certain stage, it became obvious he was a rooster. This meant we couldn’t keep him as we lived in town and that he’d have to go to our friend’s farm. So on his last evening at our place, I sat on the back step cuddling him until he went to sleep on my lap. I still love it when a chicken has a snooze on my lap.
What did your best friends do for your 50th last year?
We rented a log cabin outside Tamworth, and my besties, their husbands and children came for a dinner around the campfire. Two days later, I was asked to bring my roller skates to an empty warehouse. My best friend had set up fairy lights and a laser light, and made a playlist of all of the songs we used to skate to when we were 14. She played me a slideshow of photos of my life so far, and she and I had 30 minutes of skating on our own before the others turned up. She also made us matching T-shirts for the occasion. This pop-up skating rink she surprised me with is my most favourite present ever.
How rare is it for you to be stressed and what was the last thing you stressed about?
I do my best to discern between genuine stress, which I see as a life-threatening situation, and a perception I’ve created that I’m lazily labelling as stress. I say “lazily” because when we say something that isn’t life-threatening is stress, we can be missing what it really is: sadness, fear, grief. So when I experience a stress response, I try to work out what’s at the heart of it so I deal with the real issue, not just run the “I’m stressed” narrative. The last thing that genuinely distressed me was when my boyfriend was bitten by a snake. Thankfully, it was non-venomous, but initially I didn’t know that, so that stress response was very real!
What has your boyfriend brought to your life?
Oh, he brings everything from keen observations and curious conversation topics, to epic playlists and the most delightful playfulness. He is our CEO – chief entertainment officer – and I adore him.
After living in New Zealand for seven years, is there anything you miss?
I miss regularly spending time with treasured friends. I still visit frequently though, as most of my team is based in various parts of New Zealand. I tend to visit Wa¯naka in autumn for the soul-nourishment of the mountains.
Share five things you prioritise for your health.
Being outside is a big nervous-system calibrator for me. Whether it’s watching the sunrise or sunset, slow breathing, walking among trees or simply saying no to unnecessary commitments, I guard my nervous system health. Nourishment is a key focus for me too and without being militant, I prioritise eating in a way that provides my body with colourful plants, good-quality protein, whole-food fats and starchy carbohydrates. Sleep isn’t a luxury – it’s a biological necessity – and I structure my evenings to protect it. Movement matters as well. I’m intentional about strength training to preserve muscle and bone, and I value movement outdoors… mowing, mulching. Finally, I prioritise cultivating awe and wonder. That might sound intangible, but it’s profoundly regulating. Awe shifts perspective. It reminds me I’m part of something larger. For me, that sense of wonder is medicine.
It can feel overwhelming calculating getting enough fibre, protein and sleep while doing 10,000 steps a day. What are your thoughts on it?
We live in an age where not only are we navigating sometimes conflicting scientific research, we are also wading through social media trends that present strong opinions without always offering context, nuance or qualifications. Getting new information daily on how to best take care of your health as you age can have a woman throwing her hands up in the air, exclaiming, “I can’t keep up!” I think we’ve lost connection to the voice inside that guides us with what works best for us.
We’re terrified of doing the wrong thing or not enough – and I think in part that stems from a fear of ageing or what ageing might bring. I’m all for taking care of our bodies so that we have a long life of vibrant health, but if we’re stressing about everything along the way, we can miss out on living more in connection to what a privilege it is to age. Our body doesn’t need perfection. It needs consistency.
Is there any misconception about perimenopause that annoys you?
The prevailing narrative that suggests perimenopause is a disaster for every woman. That simply isn’t true. I am deeply grateful that women who are struggling now feel seen and heard. But alongside that, we have unintentionally created a climate of fear, where women approach their early forties expecting catastrophe. Many women move through this transition with minimal disruption or notice changes but don’t feel derailed by them. It is not universally monstrous and it does women a disservice to imply that it is.
Do we view perimenopause almost exclusively through the lens of hormones?
If a woman is over 35, almost any symptom, from fatigue to itchy ears, can be dismissed as “just your hormones”. But women’s health is never about one hormone in isolation. Blood sugar regulation, muscle mass, nutrient status, thyroid function, stress physiology and sleep all influence how this transition unfolds. When everything is reduced to oestrogen and progesterone, we overlook the broader physiology and overlapping symptoms that may be driven by entirely different factors.
What are your top three supplements for women in midlife?
Iron: The symptoms of iron deficiency and the symptoms often attributed to perimenopause greatly overlap. Many women go into midlife already iron deficient, and this can be exacerbated by heavier periods and/or more frequent bleeding resulting from hormone changes. A good food-sourced iron supplement can be key.
Magnesium: As oestrogen declines, magnesium regulation shifts too. Magnesium supports nervous system regulation, sleep quality, muscle relaxation and healthy stress responses.
Cod liver oil: Containing not just omega-3 essential fatty acids, but also the vitally important vitamins A and D to support brain health, mood stability and healthy inflammatory pathways.
Can our “cravings” be due to lacking a vitamin/mineral?
Yes, our cravings can educate us. They might stem from something you’re lacking, e.g. craving ice or something to crunch is an indicator you’re iron deficient. A craving might have a physiological basis too – you’re craving sugar because you skipped lunch and now you’re soooo hungry. Or it might be related more to our mindset. A common one is, “I’m not worth taking care of.”
After a speaking tour, what do you look like at home?
It’s gumboots on and straight into the garden. I love working outside. At the moment, I’m growing eggplant, lettuce, tomatoes, courgette and a range of herbs. Parsley is a staple. For soil health, I add mushroom compost.
Name a book that has changed you.
Red, Hot and Holy by Sera Beak.
At four, your mother gave you a Holly Hobbie diary to write in every day. How did this shape you?
Daily writing turned into a habit from this gift from Mum. I expressed myself freely this way and the practice led me to feel like I could resolve or overcome situations that were bothering/worrying me, as new insights flowed when I wrote. And yes, I kept every journal I’ve ever written, including the Holly Hobbie one.
Is your mum a shining example of how to stay purposeful as you age?
Yes, Mum is 82, and full of energy and gratitude. I feel so fortunate that we still can have adventures together.
When you look back over your career, what are you most proud of?
It’s the research, development and determination that went into creating Iconic Iron, which contains ferritin iron sourced from organic peas. It truly moves the needle on people’s blood test results in a short space of time. The feedback we receive daily about the resolution of symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, hair loss and sleeplessness bring my team and I immense joy.
Finally, share your happy place.
To paraphrase Johnny Cash: “This morning, with him, having coffee.”
Fix Iron First by Dr Libby (Little Green Frog Publishing, rrp $39.95)
