Courtney on Health

Many of us look at a food package in a store or on line and look at grams of sugar, carbohydrate, protein and fat.  While this is a good strategy in general to gauge nutrition facts of a food or beverage, too many people can't see the wellness forest for the trees.  Are we missing some of the more nuanced health components of a food by only looking at one macro nutrient element of it? This week on...

On this episode of Courtney on Health: Health Bites, Courtney highlights some of the anticipated health trends for the new year.  She weighs in on what's new, what's carrying forward from last year and her insights.  Which will you get behind (if any )? Thanks for listening.

No question that most of us need to minimize our intake of sugar (white sugar or any other sugar for that matter regardless of what type or color it is) and ultra processed food in general.  Buried in that message is the 'don't eat white food' health statement that has been circulating for years.  Unfortunately this can confuse many people as it bundles some unhealthy foods with foods that have be...

Are you familiar with the Blue Zones? These are the 5 areas of the world where people live longest and with lower rates of chronic disease.  On this Courtney on Health: Health Bites, Courtney will describe the common principles among these areas and how to apply them to this Thanksgiving (and throughout the holiday season).  The holidays shouldn't be about avoiding favorite holiday foods nor over...

On average, women gain about 1 1/2 pounds each year throughout menopause.  This episode of Courtney On Health: Health Bites will focus on frustrating menopause-related weight gain.  Courtney will explain some of the reasons why women gain weight during menopause, how sleep affects appetite regulating hormones, offers strategies to help lose the extra pounds and describes those foods and drinks tha...

Diet and Exercise can play a vital role in alleviating short term menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and headache and reducing long term health risks like osteoporosis and heart disease.  On this week's Courtney on Health - Health Bites, Courtney describes nutrition and fitness strategies that may help if you are experiencing bothersome menopausal symptoms and how to fight post men...

Winter is coming and poor weather is one of the most common barriers to maintaining physical activity.  Fall is a great time to evaluate your exercise routine to see if it's helping you meet your fitness goals.  On this episode of Courtney On Health - Health Bites, Courtney offers motivating strategies to keep active as the temperatures start to dip and to keep your fitness routine interesting and...

Do you know your cholesterol numbers? Are eggs okay to eat? What about shellfish? Can coffee raise cholesterol levels? On this Courtney on Health : Health Bites, Courtney reviews the latest guidelines on ideal cholesterol levels, and how certain foods and exercise affect those levels.  Listen to learn about hereditary high cholesterol (where medication may be needed)  along with steps you can take...

So many of us are feeling stressed out and anxious.  There are several lifestyle factors you could (and should) try to help create more calm in your life including your diet, physical activity, and mindfulness. The role of adaptogens has come up a lot in recent years as one more tool to help reduce stress and feel energized. In this episode of COH Health Bites, Courtney explains what adaptogens ar...

Powdered and freeze dried 'super' greens have been and continue to be popular among adults looking to bolster their athletic performance, immunity or overall wellness.  What are they and more importantly, do they do what they are promise to do? On the Courtney's Health Bites, I'll explain the overall category of  powdered vegetables, fruits, various phytochemicals, and adaptogens, what the researc...

On this week's Courtney On Health : Health Bites, my topic is sports drink usage among children and teenagers.  Sports drinks do serve a role among athletes but their use goes way beyond the child or teenage athlete and sports performance.  Sports drinks are big business!  Learn if your student would benefit from a sports what to look for and what to avoid.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has...

We hear more and more about the benefits of probiotics but what are they really?  Are there people who shouldn't have probiotic supplements?  And what are prebiotics? In this episode of Courtney on Health, Courtney will discuss the difference between probiotics and prebiotics, dairy and nondairy sources of probiotics and tips on what to look for in yogurt to make sure you are getting the most live...

There are many types of ticks.  A bite from one type, The Lone star tick, can lead to a red meat allergy.  Also known as Alpha Gal Syndrome, this allergy occurs after consuming  beef, lamb, pork, bison, rabbit, goat, dairy and other mammal-derived products.  Sounds straight out of a sci-fi movie right?  On this week's Courtney on Health, Courtney will explain Alpha Gal Syndrome, which areas of the...

Traveling this summer?  Whether you are driving, flying or sailing, travel can often wreak havoc on your digestion.  On this week's Courtney on Health, Courtney explains why this may occur and offers tips on how to prevent and manage any constipation, diarrhea, bloating or gassiness that comes your way on vacation. Thanks for listening.

No doubt acai bowls and smoothies have been and continue to be trendy.  What are they and why can't we find fresh acai in the Untied States? Are they any healthier than other berries like blueberries or cranberries?  How do you know if what you are buying is actually acai? For those trying to lose a few pounds, should the calorie load of some acai bowls be a concern? Listen to this week's Courtney...

We see a lot of foods these days with the 'Gluten Free' label on it. What does that mean and can you trust it? This week on Courtney on Health, Courtney explains what gluten is, the difference between celiac disease and gluten intolerance, and the standard behind the 'Gluten Free' (GF)label.  She offers a list of gluten free grains to try if following a GF diet and cautions against choosing gluten...

If you have had one or more kidney stones, you would no doubt like to forget the discomfort and pain.  Kidney stones are more likely to recur if  you don't address the dietary and lifestyle changes that are known to cause them.  Dehydration, low calcium, magnesium and potassium intake and high sodium, protein, oxalate and supplemental Vitamin C intake can all lead to the formation of kidney stones...

No denying it.  Frozen fruits and veggies have a bad reputation as having little flavor and lacking the vitamins and minerals  that fresh produce contain. However, studies show that both frozen fruit and vegetables are nutritious, affordable and actually help reduce food waste.  On this week's Courtney on Health, Courtney will discuss how the  frozen produce process, their nutrient profile, and be...

Heterocyclic amines (HCA) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) are chemicals formed when meat (beef, pork, fish and poultry) is cooked using high temperature methods. Animal studies using high doses of PAH and HCA have shown an increase risk of cancers and a most recent study in BMJ showed an increase incidence of rheumatoid arthritis with exposure to environmental PAHs.  BUT before you ward...

Cranberries are packed with polyphenols including proanthocyanidins (PAC). As many as 60% of women (and 12% of men) experience a urinary tract infection within their lifetime.  Many women head right for the bottle of cranberry juice once the first symptoms of a UTI appear.  But is that helpful? In this episode of Courtney on Health, Courtney will discuss what the science shows regarding cranberry...

What are lectins and are they safe to eat? This week on Courtney's  Health Bites, Courtney will explain what lectins are, how ACTIVE forms of lectin can affect the health and which foods have the greatest concentration of them.  Thanks for listening.

Rates of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) are on the rise. It's not 100% clear, but obesity, diabetes, hypertension, elevated blood lipids and excessive high fructose intake may all play a role.  In this episode of Courtney on Health,  Courtney explains the function of our amazing liver, what NAFLD is, the inflammation and cell damage that occurs if it progresses, and the steps you should...

ARFID stands for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.  It is a type of eating disorder where a child is extremely selective about the foods they eat and/or shows little interest in food.  This is more than just having a 'finicky' eater.  This week, Courtney explains specific examples,  health issues associated with ARFID, seeking appropriate care and tips for parents and caregivers to suppor...

With the unofficial start of Summer right around the corner, many people take the road or skies for vacation.  Arm yourself with healthful snacks to avoid grim highway fast food, being stranded in traffic or in an airport with nothing but 'hangry' kiddos and a candy bar : ).  On this Health Bites, Courtney offers great snacking strategies to prevent hunger and dehydration.  Show up at your final d...

Expires on; Best by; Sell by; Use or Freeze by?  Confused?  You are not alone.  Date stamping on food can be bewildering - often leading to unnecessary food waste.  When in doubt, throw it out right?  In this week's Courtney On Health, Courtney will explain the history of food date stamping, if it's required, what it means for the consumer and how the Food Date Labeling Act with 2 clearly defined...