88. Why Preserving Muscle Matters So Much During Illness | Hope for Cancer, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, Heart Disease

88. Why Preserving Muscle Matters So Much During Illness | Hope for Cancer, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, Heart Disease

If everyday tasks feel harder than they used to, standing takes more effort, stairs feel steeper, or recovery takes longer, this episode will help you understand why preserving muscle during illness matters far more than most people realize. In this episode of Renegade Remission, we explore why muscle is not just about movement or strength. Muscle acts as one of the body’s most important reserves, helping regulate blood sugar, store amino acids, support immune resilience, tolerate stress, recover from illness, and maintain independence. When illness, inflammation, reduced activity, low appetite, or inadequate protein begin wearing down that reserve, the effects can show up in fatigue, weakness, slower recovery, and reduced capacity. In this episode, you’ll understand: * Why muscle is a metabolic organ, not just movement tissue * How muscle stores amino acids your body may need during illness, treatment, or recovery * Why inflammation can accelerate muscle breakdown * How even small amounts of movement can help signal the body to preserve strength * Practical ways to protect muscle through protein, gentle movement, pacing, and recovery Listen now to learn why preserving muscle is one of the most important ways to protect your strength, resilience, independence, and ability to keep participating in life. Join my free email community for more healing stories, research, and resources: https://TheRenegadeNutritionist.com [https://TheRenegadeNutritionist.com] DISCLAIMER This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Consult your licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment or health regimen. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. This podcast explores stories and science around ALS, dementia, MS, cancer, mind body recovery, healing, functional medicine, heart disease, regression, remission, integrative medicine, autoimmune conditions, chronic illness, terminal disease, terminal illness, holistic health, quality of life, alternative medicine, natural healing, lifestyle medicine, and remission from cancer, offering hope and insights for those seeking resilience and renewal.

87. Is Your Body Getting Enough Protein to Heal? | Hope for Cancer, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, Heart Disease

You can be eating a healthy diet and still be undernourished. In this episode of Renegade Remission, we explore one of the most overlooked reasons people with chronic or serious illness may feel weak, depleted, shaky, slow to recover, or like their body is not rebuilding the way it should: not getting enough protein. Protein is not just for athletes or muscle building. It provides the amino acids your body uses to make immune cells, antibodies, enzymes, neurotransmitters, connective tissue, hormones, and the raw materials needed for repair. During illness, inflammation, treatment, stress, infection, injury, or muscle loss, your need for protein may be higher than you realize. In this episode, you’ll understand: * Why a “healthy” diet can still be too low in protein * How protein supports immunity, tissue repair, blood sugar, strength, and recovery * Why muscle is one of the body’s most important reserves during illness * How to recognize subtle signs that you may not be getting enough protein * Simple ways to add more protein in forms your body can actually tolerate Listen now to learn how much protein a healing body may need and how to begin supporting your strength, energy, and recovery one meal at a time. Join my free email community for more healing stories, research, and resources: https://TheRenegadeNutritionist.com [https://TheRenegadeNutritionist.com] This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Consult your licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment or health regimen. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. This podcast explores stories and science around ALS, dementia, MS, cancer, mind body recovery, healing, functional medicine, heart disease, regression, remission, integrative medicine, autoimmune conditions, chronic illness, terminal disease, terminal illness, holistic health, quality of life, alternative medicine, natural healing, lifestyle medicine, and remission from cancer, offering hope and insights for those seeking resilience and renewal.

86. Why Your Body Can’t Handle What It Used To (And What It’s Trying to Tell You) | Hope for Cancer, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, Heart Disease

Have you ever wondered why things that used to feel easy now feel impossible? A grocery trip wipes you out. A stressful phone call throws off your entire day. A supplement that should help makes you feel worse. Even small changes seem to demand more energy than you have available. In this episode of Renegade Remission, we explore one of the most common yet least understood experiences in chronic illness: reduced capacity and energy. We break down why the body often becomes more sensitive, reactive, and easily overwhelmed during illness, and why this doesn't mean you're weak, fragile, or failing. Instead, it often reflects a body operating under a much heavier internal load. You'll learn how inflammation, nervous system vigilance, mitochondrial dysfunction, disrupted sleep, blood sugar instability, immune activation, and chronic stress can all shrink the body's margin for handling everyday life. We also explore why even healthy interventions can sometimes feel like too much when the body is already carrying more than it can comfortably manage. In this episode, you'll understand: * Why your body may no longer tolerate things that once felt easy * How chronic illness reduces your physical, emotional, and cognitive capacity * The concept of a "stress budget" and why small stressors can trigger large reactions * Why healthy changes can sometimes backfire when the body is already overloaded * Practical ways to reduce strain, protect energy, and gradually rebuild resilience Listen now to understand why your body may be reacting differently than it used to—and how working with your current capacity can become an important part of healing. 📩 Join my free email community for additional research, healing stories, resources, and insights: https://TheRenegadeNutritionist.com [https://TheRenegadeNutritionist.com] DISCLAIMER This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Consult your licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment or health regimen. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. This podcast explores stories and science around ALS, dementia, MS, cancer, mind body recovery, healing, functional medicine, heart disease, regression, remission, integrative medicine, autoimmune conditions, chronic illness, terminal disease, terminal illness, holistic health, quality of life, alternative medicine, natural healing, lifestyle medicine, and remission from cancer, offering hope and insights for those seeking resilience and renewal.

85. Feeling Dismissed by Doctors? How to Advocate for Yourself With Confidence | Hope for Cancer, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, Heart Disease

If you've ever left a medical appointment feeling unheard, overwhelmed, dismissed, or unsure how to explain what you're experiencing, this episode will help you communicate more clearly, ask better questions, and become a more confident participant in your own care. In this episode of Renegade Remission, we explore why self-advocacy can feel so difficult during illness and what makes medical conversations more productive and collaborative. You'll hear the story of science writer Julie Rehmeyer, who learned to navigate years of confusing symptoms and difficult medical encounters by documenting her experiences, asking clearer questions, and becoming a more active participant in her care. From there, we break down the psychology of medical appointments, including why stress, authority dynamics, previous experiences of dismissal, and fear of speaking up can make it harder to communicate effectively when it matters most. In this episode, you'll understand: * Why medical appointments often feel intimidating or overwhelming * How stress affects memory, communication, and decision-making * Why many patients struggle to speak up, ask questions, or challenge assumptions * Practical ways to prepare for appointments and communicate more clearly * How to advocate for yourself while maintaining a collaborative relationship with your healthcare team Listen now to learn simple, practical strategies that can help you feel more informed, confident, and empowered during medical appointments. DISCLAIMER This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Consult your licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment or health regimen. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. This podcast explores stories and science around ALS, dementia, MS, cancer, mind body recovery, healing, functional medicine, heart disease, regression, remission, integrative medicine, autoimmune conditions, chronic illness, terminal disease, terminal illness, holistic health, quality of life, alternative medicine, natural healing, lifestyle medicine, and remission from cancer, offering hope and insights for those seeking resilience and renewal.

84. The Fear of Being a Burden: Why Accepting Help Is So Hard | Hope for Cancer, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, Heart Disease

If you've ever needed support but struggled to ask for it, worried about burdening the people you love, or felt like you should be able to handle everything on your own, this episode will help you understand why receiving help can feel so difficult, and why learning to accept it may be one of the most important parts of healing. In this episode of Renegade Remission, we explore the hidden emotional and biological challenges that make support difficult to receive during illness. You'll hear the story of writer Suleika Jaouad, who describes how her leukemia diagnosis forced her to rely on others in ways she never expected, and how allowing people to help ultimately deepened her relationships rather than weakening them. From there, we examine the science of vulnerability, identity, social support, and why the fear of becoming a burden is such a common experience among people facing serious health challenges. In this episode, you'll understand: * Why asking for help can feel uncomfortable even when support is available * How illness can challenge identity and independence * Why vulnerability often triggers fear and resistance * How supportive relationships influence stress, resilience, and emotional well-being * Practical ways to ask for help and receive support without feeling overwhelmed Listen now to discover why accepting support is not a sign of weakness—and how allowing others to help can make the journey through illness feel lighter, more connected, and less lonely. DISCLAIMER This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Consult your licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment or health regimen. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. This podcast explores stories and science around ALS, dementia, MS, cancer, mind body recovery, healing, functional medicine, heart disease, regression, remission, integrative medicine, autoimmune conditions, chronic illness, terminal disease, terminal illness, holistic health, quality of life, alternative medicine, natural healing, lifestyle medicine, and remission from cancer, offering hope and insights for those seeking resilience and renewal.