Sarah Eglin (DipCNM, mBANT, BEng, ACA)

Hello, I'm Sarah, founder of Healthy, Happy and Strong. I'm a Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (mBANT) specialising in cancer nutrition, and an 8-year breast cancer thriver. My journey from Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) and Electronic and Electrical Engineer (BEng) to nutritional therapist has been deeply personal.

Alongside my practice, I'm a KRI Kundalini Yoga teacher, a practice that was instrumental in my own recovery. I'm also a dedicated triathlete, having competed in the Ironman World Championships and represented Great Britain as an age group triathlete before ill-health descended. Currently, I'm working towards my first post-recovery long-distance triathlon (Barcelona Ironman 2025), prioritising nutrition, recovery, and balance alongside training to achieve this goal healthily and strongly.

Sarah Eglin, Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, qualified cancer nutritionist UK, and eight-year breast cancer thriver is passionate about helping others to similarly regain their health and wellbeing following a cancer diagnosis. UK.

Healthy, Happy and Strong

I founded Healthy, Happy and Strong following my own recovery from chronic illness. My journey began with chronic fatigue syndrome in 2014, followed by a breast cancer diagnosis in September 2016. Frustrated by the lack of answers from the medical profession regarding the root causes of my ill-health and proactive steps for recovery and recurrence prevention—specialists showed little interest in these discussions—I embarked on a decade-long quest to rebuild my health.

This personal journey involved extensive research into the potential causes of chronic fatigue and cancer, and a deep dive into environmental and lifestyle factors, along with various tools and treatments to support a healthy body and mind. I retrained as a Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (mBANT), whilst recognising that while nutrition is just one piece of the puzzle, it is a very powerful piece. My own recovery involved a multi-faceted approach, and I'm passionate about helping others similarly reclaim their health.

It's been a long and challenging journey, one that required more time than anticipated. Healing from chronic disease is not an overnight process; it demands time, commitment, and a resolute desire to regain wellness.

Where it all began

My life irrevocably changed in December 2014 when a virus—my 'sleeping virus,' as I initially called it—struck me down. It took six to seven years to fully recover. Though it seemed sudden, I now recognise I had likely ignored or been oblivious to the warning signs. The virus, later identified as Epstein-Barr, led to debilitating chronic fatigue. Then, in September 2016, at 41 weeks pregnant, I received a breast cancer diagnosis—a nightmare at any time, but especially devastating during what should have been a joyful period.

I initially followed the conventional path, undergoing a mastectomy four weeks postpartum, followed by four of the prescribed six rounds of chemotherapy. The side effects were severe: relentless fatigue (I was back there again), prolonged immune dysfunction, bladder issues, nerve damage, and later, a sacral stress fracture. After careful consideration, I decided that the conventional approach was not for me, and I discontinued treatment. I haven't looked back.

This was an incredibly challenging period. My life reached new lows as both my mental and physical health suffered. Yet, through this journey, I experienced a profound transformation that I doubt would have occurred had I remained on my previous path. Illness can be a powerful catalyst for growth and learning; it’s an opportunity to embrace.

While surviving cancer is often celebrated, mere survival felt inadequate. My goal was to fully regain my health—ever the optimist—and I was determined to do whatever it took. I've always been a 'doer,' and while that may have contributed to my initial health challenges, I knew I wanted to reclaim that active life. I desired a life filled with energy, vitality, and optimism, free from anxiety and the fear of relapse. I wanted to truly thrive, long after this setback.

“We fall, we break, we fail... But then we rise, we heal, we overcome.”

Life before

For 20 years, I worked as a Chartered Accountant, ultimately managing a demanding finance department in a fast-paced corporate environment. Outside of work, I pushed myself to the extreme, training for and competing in various endurance events, including marathons, ultra-marathons, and long-distance triathlons. My emotional life was equally turbulent, marked by a series of unhealthy relationships and the suppression of deep-seated emotional baggage.

In hindsight, it's clear this was a recipe for disaster. However, at the time, I was completely oblivious to how my behaviors and habits were impacting my physical health. So, in 2014, as life's stresses intensified and I lacked effective coping mechanisms, I quite literally ran, cycled, and swam myself into the ground.

What did I learn

My extended period of illness allowed for deep reflection on my life, prompting a critical assessment of my behaviors and habits, and revealing how they contributed to my declining health. Above all, I learned the paramount importance of nourishing both body and mind through:

Appropriate and sufficient nutrient dense foods.
Appropriate levels of exercise.
Plentiful and restful sleep.
Healthful, positive relationships.

Alongside these, I understood the necessity of:

Prioritising rest and recovery.
Processing and releasing repressed emotions.
Cultivating strong reasons for living.

All of which feed into Healthy, Happy and Strong’s 5 pillars for great health. Core areas of life essential for maintaining wellness and enabling the body to transition from a diseased state back to robust health:

Diet. Exercise. Sleep. Stress Management. Community.

Practical actions

Given the extent and rapidity of my decline, I had to make significant changes to my life and behaviors to regain my health. I focused on nourishing my mind and body, releasing toxins and repressed emotions, and finding balance.

Nutrition:

Plant-Based Wholefood Diet: In early 2015, I switched to a wholefood, plant-based diet, providing my body with nutrient-dense foods for repair. I researched supplements and herbs, prioritising quality and therapeutic doses, while emphasising wholefood nutrition supported by organic herbs and medicinal mushrooms.
Calorie Intake: Recognising the increased metabolic demands of illness and recovery, I ensured sufficient calorie intake with nutrient-rich foods.

Detoxification:

I switched to organic produce, natural household products, and cosmetics to minimize chemical exposure.
Regular infrared saunas helped purge toxins, including chemotherapy residues.
I incorporated juicing, intermittent fasting, and carbon-filtered water.
I continued to abstain from alcohol.

Psychotherapy

Two years of therapy helped me process and release repressed emotions and harmful beliefs.
I developed tools to manage future emotional challenges.
Therapy was essential for both physical and emotional recovery and personal growth.

Meditation:

I began practicing mindfulness meditation in 2014, finding it a powerful tool for stress reduction.
Even short meditation sessions helped calm my mind and body.

Relationships:

I cultivated positive relationships and distanced myself from those causing stress, even within family, prioritising my healing.

Other Therapeutics:

I explored various therapies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), high-dose intravenous vitamin C, B12 injections, and coffee enemas, with varying degrees of success.

Key Considerations: