Autoimmune disease: food as a first defence, with Karen Lee
Wed Feb 04 2026
This week on the podcast we speak with nutritionist, author, and retired ITU nurse, Karen Lee. Karen shares her journey of following a whole-food plant-based diet to help manage her symptoms of the autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis. We cover the research showing how whole-food, plant-based dietary patterns may help reduce systemic inflammation, improve gut microbiome diversity, and improve symptoms relevant to many autoimmune diseases.
To find out more and connect with Karen:https://thesensitivefoodiekitchen.com/
To buy Karen's latest book:https://www.hammersmithbooks.co.uk/product/healing-from-the-inside-out/
Published case study discussed:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15598276221141403
PBHP Fact Sheet on MS:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/MS-factsheet-210519.pdf
To find out more on OMS:https://overcomingms.org/
Clare's vegan omelette recipe:
300g silken tofu
140g firm tofu
3tbsp gram flour
2 tbsp tapioca flour
1/2 tsp turmeric
Good pinch of Kala namak (if available)
Ground pepper
Dash of plant milk if the mixture is a bit stiff
Oil of your choice for frying (optional)
Filling of your choice e.g vegan cheese, mushrooms, spring onions, kimchi!
Blend together the silken tofu, gram flour, tapioca flour, turmeric, Kala namak and pepper. Crumble in the firm tofu and give it a final mix. Heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan. Add the mixture and give the pan a wobble to level it out. Adjust the hob heat so that you can see a bit of steam coming from the pan but it shouldn't be bubbling too vigorously. It will take up to about 20 minutes for the omelette to fully set. When it is starting to look set you can add the filling to the top to start heating through, or melting if it's vegan cheese. Just before serving, fold over the omelette in the pan, then you can slide it onto a plate and decorate with fresh herbs or chopped spring onions.
More
This week on the podcast we speak with nutritionist, author, and retired ITU nurse, Karen Lee. Karen shares her journey of following a whole-food plant-based diet to help manage her symptoms of the autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis. We cover the research showing how whole-food, plant-based dietary patterns may help reduce systemic inflammation, improve gut microbiome diversity, and improve symptoms relevant to many autoimmune diseases. To find out more and connect with Karen:https://thesensitivefoodiekitchen.com/ To buy Karen's latest book:https://www.hammersmithbooks.co.uk/product/healing-from-the-inside-out/ Published case study discussed:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15598276221141403 PBHP Fact Sheet on MS:https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/MS-factsheet-210519.pdf To find out more on OMS:https://overcomingms.org/ Clare's vegan omelette recipe: 300g silken tofu 140g firm tofu 3tbsp gram flour 2 tbsp tapioca flour 1/2 tsp turmeric Good pinch of Kala namak (if available) Ground pepper Dash of plant milk if the mixture is a bit stiff Oil of your choice for frying (optional) Filling of your choice e.g vegan cheese, mushrooms, spring onions, kimchi! Blend together the silken tofu, gram flour, tapioca flour, turmeric, Kala namak and pepper. Crumble in the firm tofu and give it a final mix. Heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan. Add the mixture and give the pan a wobble to level it out. Adjust the hob heat so that you can see a bit of steam coming from the pan but it shouldn't be bubbling too vigorously. It will take up to about 20 minutes for the omelette to fully set. When it is starting to look set you can add the filling to the top to start heating through, or melting if it's vegan cheese. Just before serving, fold over the omelette in the pan, then you can slide it onto a plate and decorate with fresh herbs or chopped spring onions.