The Food Factor Podcast

Fitness and nutrition are often lumped together. In the diet-focused culture that we live in, many "experts" have you believing you need to workout a certain way and then eat a certain way or you won't see any health improvements. But is over exercising and under-eating the best course of action? (hint...absolutely not!) Today I talk with fitness expert Ashley Benson, CPT who helps bring a fresh p...

 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 an...

It's the MOST wonderful time....of the year....! Ok, maybe not for everyone, but for many parents and kids, returning to school is a time filled with excitement, opportunity, and new routines. So, what about their nutrition? I get asked a lot, "what should my kids have for lunch at school?" so this episode focuses on this, but also on how to teach your kids about the cause and effect of their...

Reiki is a Japanese method of energy healing that has been around since the early 1900's. It helps the body release stress, promotes relaxation, and can help relieve pain. On today's episode I sit down with Amanda Holmes , Master Reiki practitioner and teacher, to discuss what reiki is, who it can help, how society views it, and why it can be a valuable part of anyone's wellness routine....

The definition of a "blind spot" is “an area where a person’s view is obstructed”. When your view or actions are obstructed by beliefs, habits, or simply not knowing, this creates a blind spot and when it comes to your health, it can keep you from achieving your nutrition and wellness goals. If you have been feeling "stuck" or have been unable to achieve a goal, you just might have a blind sp...

This episode is a follow up to last week's episode. If you haven't listened to Ep 27 yet, do that first so this episode makes more sense. After receiving a few questions, I made a part 2 to further expand on the topics and provide more clarity.   In this episode I break down: - What to do if YOU hate exercise but want your kids to have a better relationship with it. - How to make eating veggi...

As parents, of course you want what's best for your kids. You want them to grow up strong and healthy. You want them to develop healthy, lasting habits. You want them to become healthy adults. So.....how exactly do you do that? In my 10+ years of experience in nutrition, fitness, and wellness, I have seen the effects of poorly established habits and how they can influence the course of someone's l...

Did you know, you can tell a lot about your nutrition by the health of your nails? A nutrition-focused physical exam is something that can be incredibly helpful (and kind of cool) in showing you what areas of your nutrition need to be improved. Looking at areas such as your skin, hair, tongue, and nails is one piece of the health puzzle but knowing what to look for is the first step. In this episo...

Each year, an estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet, according to the Boston Medical Center. However, 2/3 of us are considered overweight or obese. How is that possible? If diets worked, we'd be seeing that number go down each year, right? Why are so many of us overweight and obese while dieting? It's because Diets. Don't. Work. We need to stop supporting the multi-billion dollar per year di...

For those struggling to get pregnant or just starting on the pregnancy journey, there are many things to think about. Lifestyle factors such as nutrition lays an important foundation for your body but there's so much more to think about! In this episode I talk with Dr. Dawn Garrison, L.AC. Dr. Dawn is a practicing acupuncturist and  women's health expert helping couples navigate the...

Has this happened to you? You feel like something is "off" or that you aren't feeling your best. You head into the doctor and you have blood work done. When the results come back you are shocked..."normal". But you don't feel normal. You still feel like something isn't right. When you are having symptoms, that's your body's way of telling you that something is off balance. Sometimes, the place to...

Many times we can feel sick, run down, tired, moody, etc. but have you ever stopped to consider what's causing it? For a lot of people, the quality of their food choices may be at the heart of some of their symptoms, but could food really be making us sick?  In this episode we discuss: - What's in the majority of our food. -What impact these foods have on our body. - What is GRAS? - How is ou...

When it comes to exercise, you are probably aware that it's a beneficial and healthy thing to do. Exercise helps build strong bodies, improve heart and lung functioning, reduce stress, improve sleep, and reduce body fat. When it comes to weight loss though, is there one form of exercise that's better than all the others? In this episode I discuss: - What the research shows when it comes to the bes...

Losing weight is a sore subject for a lot of people. As a clinical nutritionist, I see this as the number 1 concern that clients have. We can't ignore the fact that millions of people go on diets every day and that the vast majority are not successful. Why is that? For many, they believe it's their willpower or that they just haven't tried hard enough. For others they may blame genetics. I'm here...

How do you feel about meal planning? Does it bring on feelings of organization and achievement or dread and shame? If you said "dread and shame", then this is the episode for you! Many times I have found that people make meal planning out to be way harder than it needs to be, and the reason for that is...there's so many ways to do it! Finding the way to meal plan that works for you and your lifest...

We tend to only think about our gut when there's a problem. Cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, all of these are classic symptoms that your gut is not happy. What if the symptoms you are experiencing are nowhere near your gut? Could other symptoms also be tied to the health of your gut? As it turns out, EVERYTHING in some way, comes back to the health of your gut. This is the site of...

I have seen a lot of people struggle with their nutrition and weight loss in the last decade of working in the nutrition field. It's an ever changing, confusing, opinionated, area of wellness that can be a whirlwind of information. There is one thing that I've seen (and researched) that I have labeled as the #1 mistake people are making with their nutrition, and in this episode I share that with y...

Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, feeding kids can be FRUSTRATING! You have good intentions, make a healthy meal, and they don't eat it. AHHH! How do you teach kids healthy eating habits? What if you have fears around their patterns and their growth? What in the world causes picky eating? Don't worry. You are an amazing parent and the fact you are worried at all shows how much y...

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 that 30% of the population currently has it, sometimes without knowing it! What can you do t...

Stress is a killer! It's no secret that having too much stress is not good for your health. Multiple health conditions and symptoms are connected to increased stress reactions. Over the past couple of years, most of us have been under more stress than ever, and for many, there's no end in sight. So, what can you do to help manage your stress? Are there foods you can eat (or avoid) to lower your st...

Have you been told you have high blood pressure? Are you worried that you will develop high blood pressure at some point? Do you have friends or family with high blood pressure? You aren't alone. Over 165 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure, but the good news is, nutrition can make a HUGE impact when it comes to managing and even reversing this common condition. But where do you start? Wh...

Do you focus on the number on the scale? Do you have friends or family that constantly gauge their health progress by what the scale says? Do you or someone you know put off doctor visits because you are afraid of the doctor "shaming" you about your weight? In this episode we talk about: Why weight shaming from doctors is a huge problem. Why weighing yourself is inaccurate. What the number on the...

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...

In this episode I'm celebrating my 10th episode by answering a few questions that were asked to me that I believe you may be wondering about as well. Weight loss, metabolism, fasting, healthy eating...it's all very confusing at times. I break down 3 questions that I received multiple times in a week period that I know more people may have as well.  The questions I discuss are: 1. "What do you...

It's that time of year where cleanses and detoxes are being heavily pushed as a way to ring in the new year, but which ones are the best? Do they work? Do I need it? Will it help me?  I have spoken to many people who choose not to set health goals for themselves, but is that the best option? Whether you want to get fit, lose weight, eat better, reduce sugar, or any other goal, figuring o...