Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

In this episode of Living Well with MS, we’re sharing highlights from our Ask Aaron webinar – originally recorded as a live Overcoming MS webinar and now edited for the podcast to bring you the key insights, questions and takeaways in one place. Our guest is the dynamic and much-loved Dr Aaron Boster, a board-certified neurologist specialising in multiple sclerosis. Dr Boster answers a wide range of thoughtful, practical questions from the OvercomingMS community. From medications and MRI contrast scans to foot drop, vision changes, supplements and the latest research developments, he brings clarity, warmth and energy to every topic. If you’ve ever wished you could sit down with a neurologist who truly understands MS, this episode is for you. Watch this episode on YouTube. Topics and timestamps 05:08 Exciting developments in MS research 10:54 Subcutaneous injections of Ocrevus 14:27 Remyelination drug trials 22:02 Addressing fatigue in MS patients 30:14 Managing fatigue: strategies and treatments 31:04 Navigating disease-modifying therapies 31:04 Supporting loved ones with MS 35:09 Understanding MRI and gadolinium contrast 38:21 B-Cell depletion therapies and MS progression 40:42 Exploring functional mushrooms and supplements 44:35 The importance of vitamins and nutrition 52:15 Understanding neurofilament light chain 58:28 Foot drop solutions 59:29 Finding the right doctor 01:00:29 Hope for the future of MS More info and links Listen to other episodes featuring Dr Boster Check out Dr Boster’s popular YouTube channel covering all aspects of 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.

The holidays will soon be upon us, and we all know food is a big part of the fun. This time of year presents the temptation of delicious meals whose ingredients don’t always fit the dietary guidelines Overcoming MS recommends.   On this episode of the Living Well with MS podcast we are pleased to welcome Ashley Madden, a full-time food lover and health enthusiast. She’s also a pharmacist, plant-based chef, certified holistic nutrition consultant and food photographer. Topics and timestamps 02:03 About Ashley and her passion for cooking  03:26 How long have you been following Overcoming MS?   05:20 Has it been challenging to switch to the Overcoming MS diet?   09:14 Best tips for making the transition to the Overcoming MS diet easier  11:53 Tips for making Overcoming MS-friendly holiday meals for large groups and smaller more intimate gatherings?  21:28 Special tips or meal ideas for holidays  31:37 Making Overcoming MS-friendly puddings and desserts  35:14 Top cooking advice when following an Overcoming MS compliant diet  More info and links: Read Ashley Madden’s food blog  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 meet adaptive world champion athlete Francis Loye, a Northern Ireland-based father of three who lives with MS.   Francis was diagnosed in 2021 after experiencing symptoms on a cycling holiday. Since then, he has transformed his life: following the Overcoming MS program, connecting deeply with community, and competing at the very highest level in hybrid and adaptive sport. From the Hyrox World Championships to the gruelling Mallorca 312 endurance race, Francis has shown what’s possible when determination meets lifestyle-led wellness.   This conversation is full of honesty and inspiration – whether you’re newly diagnosed, returning to exercise, or curious about what adaptive sport looks like in practice.   Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps.  Topics and timestamps 00:43 Francis’s MS journey: diagnosis, fear, acceptance and choosing empowerment  04:17 Discovering Overcoming MS: a lifeline of hope  06:23 Discovering the power of community  07:59 Adapting lifestyle: challenges and triumphs  11:04 Family health: balancing MS and parenting  13:40 The Retreat experience: vulnerability and connection  16:32 Understanding hybrid and adaptive athletics  20:01 Training regimen: balancing endurance and strength  25:29 Winning the Hyrox World Championships  29:19 Diet and nutrition: balancing performance and health  31:38 Advice for the newly diagnosed: finding peace and community  More info and links Connect with Francis on Instagram  Francis was on the Overcoming MS Webinar Physical Activity and MS  Learn more about Joe Dispenza’s work  Check out the Hyrox adaptive divisions  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, Dr Jonathan White is joined by Dr Stephen Simpson-Yap, Senior Research Fellow at the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) in Melbourne, Senior Research Fellow at the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) in Melbourne, focusing on multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune conditions. Together they unpack the complex relationship between diet and MS: why diet research is so challenging, what the current evidence tells us, how different MS diet programmes compare, and where the science is heading next. Steve explains how epidemiologists study diet, what makes high-quality research so difficult, and why large, long-term studies like HOLISM and the UK MS Register are so important to people with MS. This episode is a webinar highlights special – originally recorded as a live Overcoming MS webinar and now edited for the podcast to bring you the key insights, questions and takeaways in one place. You can watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics and timestamps. Topics and timestamps 01:53 How diet might influence MS risk, progression and disability 04:24 Why diet research is so hard 07:31 Inside a diet study – what it really takes to measure what people eat 11:27 Comparing MS diets (Overcoming MS, Whals, Best Bet, and more.) 15:06 How researchers actually study diet in MS 24:54 What we know so far Key findings from existing diet studies, 28:02 The future of diet research for MS and how large data sets could change everything 33:35 What this means for people with MS   More info and links Learn more about the NEU Read NEU research papers about MS Hear more research in S3E11 NEU: What’s on the research horizon with Associate Professor Sandra Neate 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 the Living Well with MS podcast we continue the discussion on diet as a key pillar of the Overcoming MS Program, and how to integrate the Overcoming MS diet dos and don’ts into one’s daily routine with nutritional therapist and Overcoming MS Facilitator Sam Josephs as our guest. Topics and timestamps: 01:25 Getting started with the Overcoming MS diet  05:41 Is fasting worth trying?  06:04 The 5:2 diet for fast-mimicking effect   10:54 Is there a connection between gluten and multiple sclerosis?  17:18 Tips on making cooking easier for people following the Overcoming MS diet  More info and links: Part 1 of ‘The OMS Diet in a Nutshell’ is also available here Learn more about diet as a key pillar of the Overcoming MS program  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, please support the ongoing work and podcasts from Overcoming MS by leaving 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.