Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

How does gut health affect MS – and what role can diet really play in supporting the immune system? In this episode of Living Well with MS, Geoff is joined by Overcoming MS Program Facilitator Karen Lee – retired intensive care nurse, nutritionist, author and recipe developer. Karen shares her MS journey and explains, in clear and accessible terms, how gut health, inflammation and diet are connected in autoimmune conditions such as MS.

They explore dysbiosis and “leaky gut”, why fibre and the microbiome matter, and how whole-food plant-based eating fits within the Overcoming MS dietary recommendations. Karen also talks about her new book Healing from the Inside Out and shares practical, fatigue-friendly tips for eating more plants – without overwhelm.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

00:56 Welcome and introduction to Karen

01:49 Karen’s MS journey: diagnosis, optic neuritis and early changes

04:46 From intensive care nursing to nutrition, writing and teaching

09:32 Understanding the Overcoming MS diet recommendations

10:36 Why diet matters for immune health: nutrients, fats, fibre and the microbiome

17:57 Dysbiosis explained – and how it relates to autoimmunity and MS

22:02 “Leaky gut”: what it means and why inflammation matters

23:16 Inside Karen’s new book Healing from the Inside Out

26:46 How whole plant foods support overall health

29:50 Protein and plant-based diets: common concerns addressed

31:39 Practical tips for eating more plants and increasing variety

37:58 Favourite recipes, sauces and simple ways to add flavour

39:41 Batch cooking and freezing for low-energy days

41:26 Running the Taunton Half Marathon and fundraising for Overcoming MS

 

Order Karen’s latest book Healing from the Inside Out: Managing Autoimmunity with a Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet

Support Karen’s fundraiser for Overcoming MS

Learn more about Karen’s work

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

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Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

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Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review

Host Geoff Allix speaks with Caroline Clarke, Chief Executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and former trustee of Overcoming MS, about her MS journey, why she chose to follow the Overcoming MS Program, and the practical habits that help her manage stress while working in a high-pressure role.

This episode of Living Well with MS was recorded at Living Well Live, Overcoming MS’s one-day event held at the University of Warwick in November 2025, with people joining both in person and online. Host Geoff Allix shares conversations with community members, speakers and guests from across the MS sector, exploring what’s new in MS lifestyle research and the practical tools people are using to live well with MS.

You’ll hear about the evolving evidence behind the Overcoming MS Program, why personalised approaches matter (including vitamin D), and the role of community connection in building confidence after diagnosis. Together, these conversations capture what makes Overcoming MS so powerful: the combination of evidence-based guidance and genuine community support. You’ll also hear how donations help fund trusted information, courses and spaces where people with MS – and those around them – can feel informed, connected and empowered.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

00:00 Geoff Allix introduces the event and Overcoming MS

03:07 Linda Bloom & Alex Holden on the origins of Overcoming MS, community and purpose

11:21 Dr Jonathan White on MS research, treatment and the role of lifestyle medicine

12:44 Lina Nielsen on elite sport, MS and training at Olympic level

14:51 Lina Nielsen on exercise, mindfulness and neuroplasticity

17:00 Tessa Miles on resilience, preparation and the power of community

22:09 Dr Rachel Hunter on the nervous system, stress and self-management

24:12 Dr Rachel Hunter on how MS self-management has evolved

28:19 Community member Maureen Haith on her top takeaways from the day

33:25 Miriam Jordan Keane on how Overcoming MS is evolving

37:56 Neil Stanley on sleep, MS and practical tips for better rest

43:22 Rabiah Coon on laughter, mental health and coping with MS

49:19 Amy Thompson from MS Together on supporting young adults living with MS

50:54 Holistic MS care – combining medication, lifestyle and community

55:13 Advice for newly diagnosed people with MS – reassurance and practical guidance

57:48 Dominic Shadbolt,The MS Guide, on AI, innovation and the future of MS care

59:43 Eleanor Bate, Shift.MS, on peer-led community support and connection

01:06:31 Sarah-Jane Elliot, MS-UK on accessing support, resources and online activities

 

Learn more about MS

Learn more about MS-UK

Learn more about MS Together

Learn more about the MS Guide

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of Living Well with MS, Alex Holden (Chief Executive of Overcoming MS) is joined by Rachel Johnson, Overcoming MS’s Information and Research Manager, and Dr Jonathan White, the charity’s Medical Advisor and Program Facilitator. Together they explore what the latest evidence says about lifestyle and self-management in MS – and why it’s an increasingly exciting time for MS research and treatment. They also share what Overcoming MS is working on in 2026, including improved evaluation of our programmes, new symptom-focused resources, and progress towards achieving the PIF TICK quality mark for trusted health information. 

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio. 

01:56 Meet Rachel Johnson: background in psychology, research methods and why she joined Overcoming MS 

04:04 Jonny’s role and why sharing research clearly (and credibly) matters 

05:33 Rachel’s priorities: improving information quality and evaluating impact 

07:16 Supporting healthcare professionals to signpost trusted lifestyle resources 

09:06 What’s coming up in 2026: evaluation findings, information strategy and symptom-based resources 

11:05 Jonny’s 2026 highlights: Pathways, retreats and the BSLM lifestyle medicine module 

14:24 How the Overcoming MS programme aligns with the latest lifestyle research 

16:57 Making the programme practical: diet quality, Mediterranean-style eating and “big picture” habits 

18:54 Talking to your MS team about lifestyle: confidence, language, and keeping your agenda clear 

23:05 Why robust evaluation matters: pre-post surveys, validated measures and long-term follow-up 

27:31 Getting involved in research: MS Register, university studies and opportunities shared via the Hub 

31:41 What is PIF TICK and why it matters for trustworthy MS lifestyle information 

36:04 What’s exciting in MS research right now: treatments, progressive MS, and novel therapies 

40:13 Why credibility and clear communication are key to shifting the “no evidence” narrative 

More info and links:

Listen to the Talking with Skeptics webinar with Jonny and Yasmin Neves  

Tell your health team about Overcoming MS resources for healthcare professionals 

Sign up for the next free Pathway to Overcoming MS course  

Join the MS Register in the UK 

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of Living Well with MS, we’re joined by Juliet Delattre, a language teacher and digital nomad from the Netherlands who was diagnosed with MS in 2019. 

 Juliet shares the shock of being diagnosed after relatively mild symptoms, and what it was like searching for answers, navigating uncertainty, and deciding who to tell. We also talk about the role of lifestyle alongside medical care, how Juliet experimented with different approaches over time, and why she ultimately chose to follow the Overcoming MS Program. 

 Juliet speaks honestly about stress, study, travel and bereavement – and offers a compassionate reminder that there’s no single “perfect” way to live well with MS, only the approach that’s sustainable for you. 

 Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps.

Topics and timestamps
00:00 Juliette's diagnosis and initial shock 

03:33 The emotional impact of MS 

05:58 The decision to share: who to tell and why 

08:30 Choosing a path: medication and lifestyle changes 

11:09 Life after diagnosis: changes and adaptations 

13:38 Travelling with MS 

16:50 Trying different diets and why evidence mattered 

19:17 Stress support: drawing, meditation, retreats and finding what’s sustainable 

22:41 Studying with MS: a flare-up, disability support and difficult systems 

24:24 Discovering Overcoming MS and choosing a path that “clicked” 

26:50 Family support: making diet changes feel achievable 

29:12 Exercise, confidence and changing mindset 

32:05 Bereavement, stress and finding ways to cope 

35:36 Embracing creativity and possibilities 

More info and links

Learn more about Joe Dispenza’s work on placebo and healing 

Read Juliet’s blog on her drawings of her sensations in her body 

Learn more about Vipassana meditation retreats 

Read about the benefits of therapeutic journaling in time of stress 

Try one of Juliet’s favorite 30-minute meditations 

Read about hypnotherapy for MS 

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.