#412 Emotional Eating After Breast Cancer - Why it Happens and How to Heal Gently
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Release Date: 05/26/2025
#429 Dr. Toni Engram and the Whole - Body Benefits of Biological Dentistry
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Biological dentistry goes far beyond cavities and cleanings—it’s about understanding how your mouth connects to your entire body. In this episode, Dr. Toni Engram explains how the oral microbiome impacts inflammation, hormones, digestion, and even healing from chronic illness. We cover: Why dental materials (like mercury fillings and fluoride) matter for long-term health. How to safely approach dental care during cancer treatment. Everyday practices—like nutrient-dense food, flossing, and tongue scraping—that protect oral and systemic health. Listen now and discover how...
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#428 Breast Cancer and Stress - How to Protect Your Energy in the Last 90 Days of the Year and Beyond
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Why does it feel so hard to hear yourself when life gets busy—especially during breast cancer recovery? In this episode: The science of stress, sleep, and comfort eating Why white space is not a luxury but a recovery tool Four research-backed ways to restore energy and balance Practical if-then scripts to protect your health this season Explore more support: Better Than Before Breast Cancer Life Coaching Membership: Creating a Life You Love in 168 Hours a Week: Let’s Connect! If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, please share it...
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#427 Sugar Genetics and Breast Cancer - Understanding the Connection
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
If you’ve ever thought, “I just can’t stop eating sugar,” this episode is for you. I’ll share what I discovered while reviewing 20 nutrition genomic reports from breast cancer survivors—and the surprising genetic commonalities that explain both difficulties with blood sugar regulation and stronger tendencies toward impulsive cravings. You’ll also learn how cancer cells use insulin receptors to fuel their growth, why sugar is about more than just sweets, and how your brain and body work together in the cycle of cravings. Plus, I’ll walk you through The 5 S’s framework—a...
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#426 Food is Love - Reconnecting to Food After Breast Cancer
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Food isn’t just calories—it’s connection. It’s energy from the sun and the soil transformed into nourishment for your body. Yet in our modern world, food often feels like discipline, restriction, or just another task. In this episode, I talk about how to shift your perspective so food once again becomes love—for your body, for your healing, and for your life after breast cancer. Explore more support: Better Than Before Breast Cancer Life Coaching Membership: Creating a Life You Love in 168 Hours a Week: Let’s Connect! If this episode helped you...
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#425 Stress After Breast Cancer - Why Supplements Alone Wont Heal You
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Stress isn’t just “in your head”—it changes your biology. It depletes nutrients like magnesium, vitamin C, B vitamins, and zinc, and keeps your body in survival mode. Supplements can help, but they won’t heal you if the root cause—stress—remains. In this episode, I talk about why stress management is as critical as nutrition, how CBT and EMDR support your healing, and why lab testing matters before wasting money on supplements. References from this episode: Juster R-P, McEwen BS, Lupien SJ. (2020). Allostatic load and allostatic overload: Clinical...
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#424 Boundary Phobia After Breast Cancer
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Have you ever felt almost afraid to set a boundary—especially with someone you love? You’re not alone. In this episode, I share the story of a client who jokingly called it “boundary phobia” and how that phrase perfectly captures the fear and discomfort so many of us feel when we try to protect our time, energy, or emotional well-being. We’ll talk about: The fears that keep us saying “yes” when we want to say “no” The myths we’ve been taught about boundaries and relationships Why boundaries are about action as much as they are about words How to set healthy...
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#423 How to Live Cured Even In Uncertainty?
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
In this heartfelt episode, I share a story of one of my clients who chose to live as if she was cured—even while waiting for a PET scan. Her courage and clarity inspired this conversation about mindset, belief, and the science behind choosing peace in uncertain moments. We’ll explore: The difference between what’s true and what fear tells us The emotional and biological cost of staying in survival mode Studies that show how belief and agency improve healing outcomes How to anchor into peace with simple daily practices Why the story you tell yourself is powerful...
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#422 Dairy and Sourdough After Breast Cancer - What's Safe and What's Hype?
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Can you keep eating dairy or sourdough bread during breast cancer recovery—or do they need to go? In this episode, I walk you through the confusing world of food myths and metabolic health, exploring: The difference between A1 and A2 dairy What the research says about dairy and cancer risk Whether sourdough bread is truly blood sugar–friendly How gluten impacts gut health (and what zonulin has to do with it) And the truth behind the “toast your bread to reduce carbs” trend Whether you love yogurt or can’t part with crusty sourdough, you’ll leave this episode...
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#421 The Science of Belief After Breast Cancer - Rewiring Your Brain For Health And Happiness
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Can your thoughts really change your health? In this episode, we explore how belief—both positive and negative—impacts the healing process after breast cancer. Learn what neuroscience, psychology, and real-life coaching reveal about the nocebo effect, the power of belief, and how to gently shift your thinking to support long-term wellness. 💡 In this episode: 🌱 Join The Better Than Before Breast Cancer Membership: A 2007 study published in Science Used harmless cream + expectation to trigger real pain—with brain scans showing activation in pain perception areas....
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#420 Breast Cancer and Physical Therapy - What You Need to Know
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
In this episode, I’m joined by two extraordinary women: Cheri Henderson, a two-time breast cancer thriver, and Monica Kasari-Desulme, a physical therapist who specializes in cancer rehabilitation and lymphatic drainage. You’ll hear how physical therapy helped Cheri recover from life-limiting pain, chemo brain, lymphedema, and post-surgical complications—and how it gave her the strength to return to the outdoors and active life she loves. 🎧 We dive into: Why physical therapy should be part of your care plan The role of adhesions and scar tissue in post-treatment symptoms What...
info_outlineHave you ever found yourself standing in front of the pantry during a stressful moment, reaching for something sweet, salty, or crunchy—just to take the edge off?
If so, you’re not alone. In this episode of the Better Than Before Breast Cancer podcast, I open up about my own experience with emotional eating during cancer recovery and share gentle, compassionate strategies to help you understand and shift this pattern—without guilt or shame.
We’ll explore:
-How cortisol (your stress hormone) drives cravings
-What emotional triggers might be signaling
-How to respond to your body’s needs with love and presence
You'll learn mindful, doable ways to support yourself when stress eating feels like the only option, plus calming alternatives that nourish both body and soul.
Whether you're fresh out of treatment or navigating long-term survivorship, this episode is a supportive space for reflection, kindness, and taking small steps toward healing.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
- Why emotional eating is common
- The science behind stress, cortisol, and cravings
- How emotional eating can impact inflammation and recovery
- Gentle ways to pause, reflect, and respond to cravings
- Practical “comfort menu” ideas to replace emotional eating
- Nutrient-rich foods that naturally calm stress and support healing
- How to build a supportive food environment at home
Referred to in this episode:
Feel Good Reset Lesson on Foods that Calm
Better Than Before Breast Cancer™ Life Coaching Membership
🧠 Study on Chronic Stress and Inflammation
Title: Immunology of Stress: A Review Article
Published in: Cureus, 2023
Summary: This review explores how chronic stress impacts the immune system, leading to increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α. These changes can exacerbate health issues, including those relevant to breast cancer survivors.
Full Text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11546738/PMC
🧘♀️ Study on Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Emotional Eating
Title: Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Obesogenic Eating Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Published in: Obesity Reviews, 2024
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on various obesogenic eating behaviors, including emotional eating. The findings suggest that MBIs can be effective in reducing such behaviors, which is particularly beneficial for individuals recovering from breast cancer.
Full Text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11791380/ResearchGate+1PMC+1MDPI+3MDPI+3Wikipedia+3PMC
📣 Share the Love:
If this episode supported you, please share it with a fellow survivor or leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your voice helps other women find this healing space.
Connect with Laura Lummer:
💌 Join my email list for weekly wellness tips & podcast updates → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
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🎥 Watch on YouTube → @BetterThanBeforeBreastCancer