The Food Factor Podcast

Have you said this or heard a friend/family member say  "I just never feel hungry" or "I could go all day without eating"? Going all day without feeling hungry is a potential sign of trouble within your body. Certain factors can play a big part in why someone doesn't feel hungry. Some of these factors we can't control and others we can. Long-term, the lack of eating can lead to a number of he...

Do you have high blood pressure? High cholesterol? Asthma? Depression? Gut issues? Joint or muscle pain? Headaches? If you said yes to any of these there is a high chance you have some chronic inflammation. Through genetics, environmental factors, and food, there are many contributors to an inflamed body. Certain times of the year, the cleaners we use, even where your house is located can all incr...

Do you "inhale" your food? Have you felt guilt or embarrassment when eating because you are always the first one finished? Have you tried to slow down your eating previously but weren't successful? If you think slowing down your eating is something you need to improve on, this episode is for you! There are many health benefits to eating at a slower pace, but how do you do it? How can you make it s...

Have you ever blamed yourself or your "willpower" when you don't achieve a goal? Maybe you "fall off the diet wagon" and say, "I just don't have the willpower to stick with it". What if that wasn't the case? What if it was a part of your brain sabotaging your success? What if there was a way to use the power of your brain to help shape your future goals?   In this episode we talk about: -How...

The term "ultra-processed" foods is becoming a buzz word all over the internet. Like anything, there are many opinions and theories out there around just how "good" or "bad" these foods are for our health. Are they something to be concerned about? What even are they and are you getting them in your diet? What does it mean for our kids and how we feed them?  In this episode we talk about: -&nb...

"Can I have a snack?" If you have kids at home you may hear this question MULTIPLE times per day. Many parents cringe at the thought of trying to find a healthy snack for their kids. Do kids actually need snacks? What about adults? How do you know if a snack is beneficial or not? What if your kid always seems hungry or on the flip side, NEVER seems hungry? I've got you covered! In this episode we...

1 in 6 people will develop a brain-related illness or issue. With that staggering statistic, it's time we look at the relationship between what we eat and our brain. From dementia, to depression, to Alzheimer's disease, to behavioral issues, the nutrients and components of food we consume has a major impact on the health of our brain. Whether you are concerned about your child's concentration in s...

What are B vitamins and are they really all that important? You may have heard of different B vitamins like B12, B6, or maybe other names such as niacin or riboflavin but do you really need to worry about getting enough of them? The short answer, YES! Each B vitamin is important for various reasons and in this episode we talk all about it. Are you at a particular risk for deficiency? Are you alrea...

The term "root cause" gets tossed around a lot in the media and health industry now. When it comes to almost any disease or condition, nutrition is either directly or indirectly related in some way. So you could say it's a part of a root cause to most conditions, right? Or is it? You aren't at the root until nothing causes it. So what then, is the ROOT of your nutrition? I talk about this and more...

It's almost time for colleges to start opening up the doors for a new batch of students to come. Although back to school can be exciting, for those starting out on their own in college, it can also be a time of uncertainty. When it comes to nutrition, the first year of college can be chaotic! From new food schedules, to skipping meals, to stress eating, there can be a lot going on. Let's spend som...

In this episode I talk about: Celiac disease vs wheat allergy vs Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. How each present and how to diagnose. What symptoms are common in non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Why so many more people have issues with gluten now. And finally, how to start exploring if reducing gluten is right for you!   Mentioned in this episode: - Mumolo, M. G., Rettura, F., Melissa...

Do you have digestive issues? Tummy troubles, gas, bloating, constipation, and acid reflux can all be signs that your gut is struggling. For many this can be a constant problem with no end in sight. For others it may just happen every now and then. Either way, there are some things to consider and actions to take. In this episode I cover some basics when it comes to digestive health. We are g...

High blood pressure is a common problem around the world but especially in the U.S. 50% of men have it and 46% of women have it. A common disease, however, doesn't mean there's nothing we can do about it. There are a lot of things both lifestyle and nutritionally we can do to lower blood pressure and also reduce the risk of developing it. One of the biggest problems with high blood pressure is man...

She’s back! The amazing, the wonderful, the beautiful, Simone Mack-Orr from Smack Fitness is here sharing her wisdom and expertise around the internal drivers we all have for fitness, mindset, and nutrition. She has built a solid community around her refreshing and kind view on body image, self-evolution, and movement. She loves to keep fitness and nutrition simple and shows us that we all ne...

This is one of the most downloaded episodes and I wanted to give it a chance at a replay! Whether you've heard of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or not, it's becoming a worsening problem in America, and prevalence in children is on the rise. This form of liver disease is fast becoming the most common and does not discriminate. We are all at risk of developing NAFLD and it's estimated th...

Summer time can bring a bunch of emotions. For kids it may be exciting! For parents, it might be dread with a little bit of tiredness peppered in. When it comes to nutrition, summer time is a great time to re-establish healthy eating habits with your kids. Often, parents become concerned about their children's eating habits over the summer. Lack of structure, no set time or routine, and being home...

Eating patterns are actions that you take around food that you repeat. Commonly thought of as a habit, patterns can be problematic when it comes to your health, especially if you aren't aware of them. From a nutritional lens, many common health issues are rooted or started by these 3 eating patterns. Issues such as brain fog, gas, bloating, malabsorption, infections, and inflammation all can be th...

As parents we all want our kids to eat healthy. Unfortunately, our over-scheduled, over-tired, under-supported lives don't always allow for this. The health of our nation's kids is worsening with some kids as young as 5 now being diagnosed with diseases that were once considered to only affect adults. These diseases are nutrition and lifestyle related which means there are things we can DO to impr...

One of the many challenges we face as parents is what to feed our kids. In the shuffle of work, school, and practices, often our nutrition gets limited to what's easiest. When this happens repeatedly, our body can become depleted. In children, especially children who are also athletes, this makes them extra susceptible to nutrition-related deficiencies and symptoms that can show up in their perfor...

In today's fast-paced world, being busy is often seen as a badge of honor. However, how does this impact our health and the future health of our children? W hile being busy may be seen as a sign of success, it can have a negative impact on our health. Are the symptoms that you or your family are experiencing related to being over-scheduled? Chances are, yes!   In this episode I discuss: - Why...

Many people feel "out of control" when it comes to sugar. It can seem like sugar is seemingly everywhere and in everything so no wonder it can seem challenging to lower it. What if lowering it, though, could improve some of the symptoms you have? If you are bugged by: - fatigue - digestive issues - headaches - joint pain Could those be improved by reducing your sugar? Back in January, I ran an exp...

In this episode, I discuss the stages of change in behavior and nutrition and how they can affect your journey towards a healthier lifestyle. We'll be exploring the different stages, including precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance, and how to identify which stage you're currently in. We discuss: Precontemplation Stage: Definition and characteristics of the prec...

Bold statement alert: You will never reach your goal, and sustain your goal, if you don't get to the heart of what's preventing you from achieving it in the first place. For many, they focus on an unwanted symptom. Whether it's weight gain, inflammation, pain, fatigue, etc. You can't heal and resolve a symptom without getting to the source of the problem. You can put a "Band-Aid" on it like crash...

Do you have digestive issues? In this replay episode, we discuss the basics when it comes to why digestion can be thrown off and what to do about it. Tummy troubles, gas, bloating, constipation, and acid reflux can all be signs that your gut is struggling. For many this can be a constant problem with no end in sight. For others it may just happen every now and then. Either way, there are some thin...

We all have heard that we need to increase our fruits and vegetables. Eating fresh produce is "healthy" for us, right? Well what if there are toxic chemicals sprayed on them and now you are eating them multiple times per day (from the advice of your nutritionist 😅)? Organic fruits and vegetables can come with a hefty price tag and it may make you wonder, is this really worth it? In some cases, it...