Refuel #6

🔥 Refuel | Issue #6

A Newsletter from Faith + Gasoline
📅 Subject: Food as Medicine: How Nutrition Affects Caregiving & Longevity

🛠️ Welcome to Refuel

Hey Fam,

When we think about caregiving, we often focus on appointments, medications, and daily tasks. But what about nutrition?

Here’s a hard truth: 88% of U.S. adults have some form of metabolic dysfunction—diabetes, high blood pressure, or both. That includes many of the people we care for… and maybe even ourselves.

If we don’t start addressing food as medicine, caregiving will only get more complicated.

Let’s discuss how nutrition impacts caregiving and longevity and how small changes can transform health—even in your aging parents.

🔥 This Week’s Theme: Food as Medicine – Caring for Ourselves & Our Loved Ones

Caregiving isn’t just about extending life—it’s about improving the quality of it. The right foods can reduce inflammation, improve brain function, and even slow diseases like Alzheimer’s.

🚗 Story from the Road: When Food Became Part of the Care Plan

Ok, no more sugar for you!

I didn’t think much about food when I started caregiving. I was eating gluten-free because, after 40, I had developed a pretty aggressive allergy. My mom had decided that cooking wasn’t her jam, so she was deeply into processed frozen foods. I did change that and started cooking fresh foods for both of us.

But then I noticed when we went to Boston for two weeks in 2017 that she was eating whatever she wanted, including bagels, donuts, and ice cream. I was okay with it because it was a vacation. However, as soon we got home, she couldn’t remember if my cousin had kids or not. I was alarmed, and clearly, she wasn’t kidding. I said, “Yes, we just spent two weeks with him - his name is Jackson.” And she stared blankly at me. That began an intensive DETOX. And a dramatic reduction in sugar. There’s a reason they are now calling it Alzheimer’s - Diabetes Type 3.

I swapped out processed snacks (not Cheez-Its - she wasn’t giving up those) for whole foods, added more protein, healthy fats, and fiber, and even slipped some collagen into her coffee. Everything started to improve within weeks: more energy, focus, and less brain fog. It’s not a cure, but it slowed down some of the memory issues.

I realized that nutrition is just as important as medicine.

⚠️ The Hard Truth About Metabolic Dysfunction

🔴 88% of U.S. adults have metabolic dysfunction.
🔴 Alzheimer’s is now called "Type 3 Diabetes" due to its links to insulin resistance.
🔴 High blood sugar, processed foods, and inflammation fuel disease.

📌 The good news? Small changes can make a massive impact—at any age.

⛽ Quick Refuel: 5 Nutritional Swaps for Better Health

✅ 1. Ditch the Processed Oils

• ❌ Seed oils (canola, soybean, vegetable oil) → ✅ Swap for olive oil, avocado oil, or butter. I also use beef tallow. Yep, just like what was in a container on our stove in the 70’s.

• Why? Seed oils cause inflammation and worsen brain function.

✅ 2. Prioritize Protein

• ❌ High-carb breakfasts (cereal, toast, bagels) → ✅ Swap for eggs, Greek yogurt, or protein smoothies.

• Why? Protein stabilizes blood sugar and improves focus.

✅ 3. Cut Hidden Sugars

• ❌ Sugary drinks & packaged foods → ✅ Swap for water, herbal tea, or black coffee.

• Why? Sugar fuels insulin resistance, dementia, and energy crashes.

✅ 4. Eat More Healthy Fats

• ❌ Low-fat, processed foods → ✅ Swap for avocados, nuts, salmon, and grass-fed meats.

• Why? Healthy fats improve brain function and heart health.

✅ 5. Feed the Gut (Because Gut Health = Brain Health)

• ❌ Processed foods → ✅ Swap for fermented foods, fiber, and bone broth.

• Why? The gut-brain connection is real—poor gut health leads to anxiety, depression, and brain fog.

📌 Takeaway: These things won’t cure memory problems, but they helped me manage my mom’s disease. She wasn’t giving up Cheez-Its, but we cut down sugar dramatically, which helped stabilize her mood. Caregiving starts with caring for the brain!

📚 Refuel Reads: This Week’s Book Recommendation

📖 The End of Alzheimer’s – Dr. Dale Bredesen
💡 How diet, lifestyle, and targeted strategies can prevent and even reverse cognitive decline.

📌 Takeaway Tip: Food is either healing or harming your body—choose wisely.

🛤️ Faith in Motion: A Simple Prayer

“God, help me fuel this journey with wisdom and grace.
Show me how to nourish myself and those I care for with love, strength, and healing.
Let every choice bring us closer to health, peace, and purpose. Amen.”

📌 Next Steps

💬 Let’s Connect: Catch this powerful episode of the MadLove podcast from December 16, 2024—real talk for real caregivers. 🎧

🎥🎥Now playing: Faith+Gasoline - God has a plan for your life https://youtube.com/shorts/_KHWu9UFtyg?si=UvVuo1GdAiqweLFB

🏆 Gold Standard: I’ve been buying gold with Acre since 2019. It's simple, secure, and smart. 💛✨ Get Acre - I’m not a financial advisor but…times are shaky so if you’re gonna buy some gold, I use Acre.

☕ Grab the Swag: Show your love for the mission—Refuel mugs and merch are now live! 😊 Refuel Store

📢 Share the Fuel: Caregiving is heavy—but we don’t have to carry it alone. In fact, don’t do it alone. Thank you to everyone who is sharing this newsletter - we are building something together. Let’s go🚀🚀🚀🚀

💙 Community is the new currency. 

Go be great! Love you 💙💙💙💙⛽⛽⛽⛽

With faith & fuel,
Judith A. Culp
Founder, Faith + Gasoline