Courtney on Health

Mindless eating has been shown to lead to overeating but are we even aware of how much mindless eating we do throughout the day?  In this episode of Courtney on Health, I'll explain what mindless eating is, the factors that contribute to it and tips to avoid the nibbling and snacking that may be thwarting your efforts to lose or maintain your weight.   Do you have a nutrition, food or fitness topi...

Most of us have heard of probiotics, but you might not know how they work or what prebiotics are.  In this week's Courtney on Health, I'll discuss the role of these live bacteria in digestive, immune and skin health, food sources and strategies to reduce gas and bloating.  You'll also learn about the most common strains of probiotics, their use with antibiotics and what to look for if choosing a s...

You may have heard about detoxifying diets and colon cleansing.   Do they really promote weight loss, increased longevity and help our bodies remove toxins?  In this episode of Courtney On Health, I explain what they are and what the research shows us about how effective and safe they are. I'll cover how our bodies naturally remove toxins and the best way to support that process. Thanks for listen...

Alcohol consumption definitely spiked over the last couple of years.  Some alcohol intake is beneficial for your health but how much is considered too much and are the benefits only from wine?  In this episode of Courtney on Health, I'll discuss the health benefits and negative effects of all types of alcohol, a little history of booze around the world, recommended intakes for men and women and ju...

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, 42% of cancer cases in the US are linked to lifestyle related risk factors.  Modifiable behaviors such as excess weight, poor diet, smoking, inactivity and sun exposure all play an role in the development of certain cancers.  Many of the cancers could be prevented if these lifestyle factors were changed or improved.  This week on Courtney on...

It is estimated that 1 out of every 13 children has been diagnosed with food allergies.  This week on Courtney on Health I'll talk about some of the reasons for the rise in prevalence, the top allergens that account for 90% of all food allergies and new guidance on how to decrease your child's risk of developing food allergies.  Thanks for listening!

Our bodies have an amazing ability to regulate body temperature. Evaporation of perspiration from the surface of skin is our natural air conditioning.  Cool right?!  On this Courtney on Health, I'll discuss the foods and beverages that may help reduce body temp when the mercury starts to rise.  Also, summer is a fantastic time to get outside and start or maintain your exercise routine.  I'll have...

With roughly 8 Billion people worldwide, we need to be more creative and smarter on how to feed everyone.  Early research suggests that protein isolate from potatoes may help build and maintain muscle mass as effectively as animal protein.  Potato protein appears to be easily absorbed and utilized by the body, which holds great promise as a way to increase protein in parts of the world where quali...

There are many lifestyle and dietary changes you can try to help manage reflux.  Quit smoking if you smoke, lose about 10% of body weight if you are overweight or obese and medication management are often recommended.  In addition, there are some foods and drinks you should avoid AND many you should include to help improve how you feel.  In this episode of Courtney On Health, I'll discuss what you...

The health benefits of high-fiber diets are vast including weight management, blood glucose control and gut health.  Why then is it so hard for us to bump up our intake to the recommended 25-35 grams per day?  One reason is that folks think all fibrous foods taste like cardboard.  Another is...well, let's be honest- it can make you gassy! In this week's segment, I'll talk about some of the tastier...

Intermittent fasting has quickly become the diet darling these last few years, but does it work and is it right for you? On this week's Courtney On Health podcast, I'll discuss the research regarding its effectiveness as a weight loss diet, types of intermittent fasting (there are several options), people for whom the diet is not recommended and most importantly...will it work for your lifestyle. ...

Food waste is the single largest component of our landfills leading to 20% of total US methane emissions.  Most of that food waste is coming from our own homes...Yikes! In this Courtney On Health, I'll explain the difference between food waste and loss, how it affects our environment and easy, reasonable tips on how to reduce food waste in your home while saving you money! Thanks for listening. 

Is wild fish always better than farmed?  Are there organic seafood standards in the United States? How can I tell if the fish I am eating is caught/farmed sustainably? In this week's Courtney On Health, I answer these questions and more, provide resources to help the consumer select the best seafood choices  - for the environment and for your wallet!  Plus, I review the health benefits of adding f...

There are thousands of approved food additives (and many more yet to be approved).  Some of them sound scary but are 100% safe (tocopherols anyone?).  Some may appear safe but you may want to limit consumption (celery salt).  In this week's Courtney On Health, I'll talk about some food additives, why they are used, which ones get the all clear and which ones we still need to follow closely.  Thank...

Using foods as mood modulators is not a new area of interest.  Every year more promising research is uncovered regarding how foods, herbal therapies and teas affect our anxiety levels, emotions, mood and sleep.  Join me this week on Courtney on Health as I explain how certain everyday foods, teas and some supplements impact hormones and neurotransmitters in the body. Thanks for listening!

Are you a mindful eater?  We all could benefit from being more aware of the tastes, smells and textures of the foods we eat and beverages we drink.  Research suggests that mindful eating may lead to improved physical and emotional wellness.  Coupled with other nutrition strategies, being a more mindful eater may lead to weight loss and better blood glucose control.  On this week's Courtney on Heal...

It's never too late (or too early) to make those lifestyle changes that will reduce your risk or your children's risk of cardiovascular disease.  It can be challenging making any changes in your health behavior when you don't know where to start. In this episode of Courtney on Health, I discuss practical steps to help motivate you down the healthy heart pathway.

A2, Oat, Soy, local, almond...with so many milk and milk alternatives on the market today, it can be hard to decide which is best for you and your family. Nutrition content like protein and calcium, cost, taste and environmental impact are all factors to consider.  In this episode of Courtney On Health, I'll discuss many of the trending plant-based beverages and the different types of milk availab...

The trend of eating more plant-based foods continues.  Diets that contain whole, less-processed plant-based foods tend to be higher in fiber and lower in saturated and trans fats.  Shifting towards a more plant-based diet  may be healthier and reduce greenhouse gas emissions if they are mostly unprocessed.  Unfortunately, many of the plant-based products heading to market today are considered ultr...

A well-stocked kitchen pantry makes pulling together a quick, healthy meal much easier and it can save you money!   In this COH episode, I describe some of the best foods and condiments to have on hand in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer so you can create tasty, healthy meals in a snap. Yes!

We often hear that we should reduce how many processed foods we eat. Makes sense as research shows that consuming a highly processed diet may lead to obesity and other health issues.   But, do you really know which foods are considered processed and ultra processed (UPF)? I'll describe the categories of foods from unprocessed all the way to ultra processed. Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian or o...

9 out of 10 Americans consume more sodium than they should...almost 3,400mg! Listen and learn about why sodium is used, health risks linked to eating too much sodium, where most of the sodium is found in our foods, and reasonable tips to reduce the amount of salt in your diet while still fabulous flavor.

What's it take to reduce inflammation in your body?  Courtney will offer practical tips on those foods and lifestyle factors that reduce inflammation and support immunity vs those which are associated with increasing inflammatory markers in the body.  She covers foods, spices, herbs, exercise, sleep and more.

Learn some of my favorite kitchen hacks that will save you time and money and maybe even a few calories!