Revolutionising post-menopausal health: PhD candidate researches milk bioactives and exercise

Now a PhD candidate in sport, exercise and nutrition at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, Rachel has turned every challenge into fuel for her journey.

Following her own personal transformation, Rachel had an innate passion for exercise, but working in hospitality didn’t align with her growing love for health and fitness. Motivated to change her future, she took a leap of faith and returned to study.

“I changed my courses to distance and did my assignments while at my son’s bedside. I have two kids, aged 14 and five, and I’m a solo mum. I finished my bachelor’s while working at Evolve Fitness as a trainer. I knew that I wanted more, so I signed up for my master’s.”

Halfway through her master's degree, a new opportunity emerged: a scholarship to work on a research project. It sparked something in her.

Rachel’s drive to keep going, even in the face of major life pressures, has shaped the researcher she is today. Her PhD study focuses on the effects of a milk bioactive supplement, combined with light resistance exercise, on mental wellbeing, physical performance and body composition in post-menopausal women.

“Participants will take either the milk bioactive or a placebo every day for 12 weeks, while performing 7,000 steps a day and a home-based resistance exercise programme twice a week.”

It’s a simple daily routine, but one Rachel hopes could make a real difference.

“Women going through post-menopause experience several unpleasant symptoms that affect their health and quality of life. This often happens alongside normal age-related changes in physical and mental health. We want to investigate a supplement that may provide some relief.”

The study will measure a wide range of outcomes, including strength, balance, muscular endurance, agility, stress and memory. Rachel’s ultimate goal is to find new ways to support women through this important life stage.

“I hope the milk bioactive will improve the mental wellness, physical performance and body composition of postmenopausal women, and thus improve their health and quality of life.”

Although the journey from undergraduate to doctoral candidate has been demanding, Rachel finds deep fulfilment in research.

“I love looking through past research, developing an idea and curating an argument about how I can solve a problem. Writing is a long process, but it’s so rewarding to see it all come together!”

Rachel’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience, passion and a willingness to take small steps every day can lead to big discoveries.

If you are a healthy, postmenopausal woman aged 50 to 80 years, moderately stressed, and able to participate in light to moderate activity, please get in touch with Rachel at r.barclay@massey.ac.nz.

This study forms part of our food and nutrition research at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University. The Human Nutrition Research Unit (HNRU) is part of the School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences. Led by Professor Marlena Kruger, Associate Professor Matt Barnes, and doctoral student Rachel Barclay, the team investigates ways to improve health outcomes for postmenopausal women. Their expertise spans nutrition, physical performance, body composition, and wellbeing across the lifespan.