Natalie Rouse (RNutr BSc MRes MSc) is Head of Nutrition at Free Soul, brings over 20 years of experience across nutrition science, exercise physiology, public health, and applied research. She combines deep scientific expertise with hands-on experience in clinical nutrition, academia, consultancy, and public health, developing evidence-based strategies that improve women's health and wellbeing.
Natalie's journey began in athletics and cross-country, where performance pressures and diet culture were ever-present. Strength training became her anchor, offering power, agency, and resilience. While her early focus was on performance, she quickly realised that nutrition was the key driver of health, recovery, and long-term wellbeing, sparking a lifelong passion for understanding and applying nutritional science.
Today, Natalie is deeply committed to addressing nutritional inadequacy hidden within modern food systems, particularly for women navigating conflicting advice, affordability pressures, and misinformation.
She believes the biggest misunderstanding in her field is that nutrition is about restriction, for too long, women have been taught restriction over nourishment. Instead, she advocates for a holistic, science-driven approach that recognises our bodies as a complex interplay of biology, behaviour, environment, and systems, empowering individuals while influencing industry and policy for long-term impact.
Natalie brings a rare combination of 1:1 clinical expertise, academic insight, industry experience, and public health knowledge, translating cutting-edge nutritional science into practical, personalised guidance.
Her deep focus on women's health, muscle strength, and performance ensures that Free Soul delivers scientifically credible, effective, and empowering nutrition solutions that meet the real needs of women at every stage of life.
What Natalie Does
As Head of Nutrition at Free Soul, Natalie leads the nutritional science direction, ensuring all products, education, and communications are grounded in rigorous science, free from diet culture, and aligned with long-term health outcomes for women. She also collaborates with government and public health initiatives, translating research into policy and population-level impact.
Core Areas of Expertise
- Women's health and performance nutrition
- Ultra-processed foods and nutritional biochemistry
- Exercise physiology and strength training
- Public health interventions and policy development
- Clinical nutrition and personalised nutritional guidance
- Evidence-based product formulation and education
Academic Credentials
Natalie holds a BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition, MRes in Sport and Exercise Science, and MSc in Nutrition and Biochemistry. She is currently completing her PhD at Swansea University, researching the topical area of ultra-processed foods.
Her academic study blends human nutrition, nutritional biochemistry, physiology, and exercise science, with a strong focus on women's health and public health interventions. She also maintains her credentials as a Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Who She's Worked With
Throughout her career, Natalie has worked with an impressive range of organisations and individuals, from UK Special Forces to women navigating menopause. Her experience spans:
- UK Special Forces
- Elite athletes and Olympians
- Paralympians and disability sport programmes
- The Royal National College for the Blind
- MS Society and clinical health programmes
- Strength and conditioning facilities and sports performance centres
- Nutrition, wellness, and sports supplement brands
- The functional food industry
- International companies in health, nutrition, and wellness
- Public health bodies and NHS-linked initiatives
- Government-funded research and policy programmes
- Academic and research institutions
- Community organisations supporting deprived areas
- Food and nutrition industry stakeholders
- School education programmes
Beyond the Science
Outside of her professional life, Natalie has been strength training for over 20 years and she has applied every year to be a contestant on Gladiators!
She is a devoted mum to her 19-year-old daughter, and a fur baby Pomeranian, called Willis. At one point, she had 11 cats, reflecting her lifelong love of animals, and is often rescuing mice, shrews, birds, and wild rabbits!
Natalie enjoys walking, exploring nature, and collecting ration books and health promotion memorabilia, which fuel her curiosity and inspiration.
Music is a big part of her life (not that she can play anything or sing) she loves a bit of Queen!
Natalie’s Insights
- Supporting Women’s Health Through Nutrition
- Gut & Immunity: Understanding the female microbiome across life stages
- Nutrition & mental health across the female lifespan
- What are the Benefits of Marine Collagen? We asked a Nutritionist
- Vitamin D Deficiency in Women: What It Looks Like (and What to Do)
- How does Protein support hormone balance?
- Creatine for Menopause: The Supplement Every Woman Should Know About
