Ep. 170 Thinking Beyond Medication with Nourishment: Giving Your Body the Chance to Heal with Courtney Contos

I am excited to have Courtney Contos joining me today! After years of working in restaurants, cooking, and sixteen years of teaching cooking, Courtney realized that she could probably cook most anything - even without a recipe. But, what she did not know until recently was how to nourish herself. Food is information. After suffering for 12 years with chronic debilitating rheumatoid arthritis and being told she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair, Courtney reversed her symptoms. She now helps people as a board-certified health coach specializing in functional medicine. Autoimmune diseases and disorders happen when our immune system mistakenly attacks our bodies, and the onset is usually triggered by childhood trauma, a stressful event, or antibiotic therapy. Autoimmune conditions can be systemic, localized, or both, and they tend to impact women twice as often as they do men. Some other common autoimmune disorders include psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. In this episode, Courtney shares her story and talks about healing autoimmunity with nutrition. Stay tuned to find out more! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Courtney’s traumatic childhood led to her developing chronic and debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. Traditional, western medicine does not do a great job with the prevention and management of chronic diseases. The point at which Courtney started thinking outside of the box about her condition. The changes Courtney made with her nutrition, that allowed her to heal. The benefits of starting your day with a bowl of bone broth. The various tests that you should have done to determine your nutrient deficiencies and autoimmune triggers. Some of the foods Courtney finds the most healing. The importance of pattern interrupting and trying new things. Some tips to make bitter vegetables taste more delicious. Planning your meals will help you make your cooking more interesting. Courtney talks about herbs and spices. Some tips for controlling the variables when you’re eating out. Some lifestyle choices can help you on your healing journey. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Connect with Courtney Contos On her website On Instagram Book mentioned: When the Body Says No by Gabor Mate