Episode Summary
If you’ve ever struggled with picky eaters, childhood eczema, food sensitivities, or your own gut issues, this episode of Real Food Mental Health is packed with solutions. Cody Cox sits down with Jessica Ramdhany Thomas, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and microbiome specialist, to explore how gut health impacts everything from digestion and immunity to mood, behavior, and long-term wellness.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why gut health is the foundation of mental and physical wellness.

• The difference between the GI Map and shotgun metagenomics testing—and why newer gut testing methods may give more accurate results.

• How the gut produces serotonin, GABA, and other neurotransmitters that influence mood, focus, and anxiety.

• Simple, practical ways to support picky eaters with nutrient-dense foods rich in iron and zinc.

• Why long-term probiotic supplements aren’t always the answer—and how fermented foods and diverse fiber can better support the microbiome.

• Functional nutrition tips for eczema, food sensitivities, and childhood gut health.

Key Topics Covered:

• Pediatric gut health and early microbiome development

• Strategies for introducing whole foods to kids

• Supporting mental health through nutrition

• Foods and supplements that strengthen the gut lining and reduce inflammation

• The connection between gut diversity, immunity, and metabolism

About Today’s Guest:
Jessica Ramdhany Thomas is a nutritional therapy practitioner, microbiome specialist, and educator who helps families heal and thrive by addressing gut health at the root. With a background in biology, psychology, and education, Jessica translates the latest gut microbiome science into real-world strategies for parents and children.

Where to Connect with Jessica:

• Instagram: @madewholistic

• Call/Text: (813) 670-3467

Resources Mentioned:

• Gut testing options: BiomeFx, Tiny Health

• Fermented food ideas: sauerkraut juice, yogurt, kimchi, miso, sourdough

• Key nutrients: iron, zinc, vitamin D, and short-chain fatty acids

Episode Takeaway:
Supporting your gut microbiome isn’t just about digestion—it’s about building a strong immune system, improving mental health, and helping kids (and adults) thrive long-term.

Subscribe and review and check back for more soon.

• To support Cody and the production of this podcast, go to ⁠ko-fi.com/codycox ⁠
• To access clinical-grade (the highest quality) supplements and other health products, ⁠visit the dispensary⁠.
• Visit Cody’s website at ⁠beavercreekwellness.com⁠ where you can read more about him and schedule sessions.

Episode Summary

In this special episode of Real Food, Mental Health, host Cody Cox shares his recent appearance on the TV show Invisible Condition. Cody opens up about his personal journey with anxiety, depression, and ADHD, and how food and lifestyle choices became pivotal in transforming his mental health. Together with host Jeff Pearson, they explore the intersection of nutrition, psychotherapy, and invisible conditions, shedding light on why addressing root causes—not just symptoms—is essential for true healing.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how diet impacts mood, why mental health struggles often go unseen, and how patience and compassion can make all the difference in supporting ourselves and others.

• Cody’s early struggles with depression and anxiety—and how social connections and lifestyle shifts changed everything.

• Why nutrition is often overlooked in conventional mental health care.

• The difference between psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and psychotherapists.

• What “bio-individuality” means and why there’s no true one-size-fits-all diet.

• How invisible conditions like mental illness, ADHD, or learning disorders affect daily life—and how compassion can bridge the gap.

• The role of hope, faith, and purpose in navigating mental health challenges.

• Learn more about Cody’s work: Beavercreekwellness

• Connect with Jeff Pearson’s nonprofit: Hydro With Hope

“Hope can be a tricky thing for people who don’t see their purpose. To me, it’s a spiritual crisis if they don’t have that hope—but it can be found as you develop that sense of purpose.” – Cody Cox

Subscribe and review and check back for more soon.

• To support Cody and the production of this podcast, go to ⁠ko-fi.com/codycox ⁠
• To access clinical-grade (the highest quality) supplements and other health products, ⁠visit the dispensary⁠.
• Visit Cody’s website at ⁠beavercreekwellness.com⁠ where you can read more about him and schedule sessions.

Have you ever stood in the grocery aisle staring at food labels—“organic,” “all-natural,” “low-fat,” “cage-free,” “pasture-raised”—and wondered what they really mean? In this episode, Cody Cox welcomes back Katie Kirklin, Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor and Registered Nurse, for a practical conversation about how to cut through the confusion and find truly nourishing foods for you and your family.

Together, Cody and Katie unpack:

• Whole foods vs. ultra-processed foods: Why single-ingredient foods are the foundation of health.

• Organic vs. all-natural: What’s regulated, what’s marketing fluff, and how to make smarter choices.

• Greenwashing tactics: The sneaky ways companies use packaging, colors, and words to make unhealthy products look healthy.

• Eggs, meat, and dairy labels: Cage-free, free-range, pasture-raised, grass-fed, grass-finished—what actually matters.

• The truth about GMOs/bioengineered foods and why they’re best avoided.

• Eating well on a budget: Tips like shopping seasonally, buying frozen, and using the Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 lists.

• Cleaner living beyond food: How to choose safer cleaning and personal care products with help from EWG.

• Local and sustainable options: From farmers’ markets to backyard chickens to community apps like Farmish.

Katie also shares resources such as the Weston A. Price Foundation, realmilk.com, ewg.org and EatWild.com for finding local farmers and higher-quality food sources.

Find the 2025 Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists here.

👉 Where to find Katie:

• Website: katiekirklin.com

• Instagram: @katiekirklinnutrition

  
  

  Connect with Cody: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with anyone who might benefit from these insights.

  • Have questions or suggestions? Send Cody a message on Signal Messenger: cox.07
  • Follow Cody on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ for more tips and conversations about holistic nutrition, mental health, and family wellness.
  • To support Cody and the production of this podcast, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com/codycox ⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • To access clinical-grade (the highest quality) supplements and other health products, ⁠⁠⁠⁠visit my dispensary⁠⁠⁠⁠.
  • Visit his website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠beavercreekwellness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ where you can read more about him and schedule sessions.

I'm taking a bit of a break this week because back-to-school time is a very busy time of year for healthcare providers! It's ironic; people generally don't want to take care of their health during the summer, then in September and October, all of a sudden, they are interested again and my schedule fills up.

This is a brief episode where I review my services and mention a few resources that may be of interest to you.

Read more about me at beavercreekwellness.com

Register for the Wise Traditions conference at wisetraditions.org

Have a great week!

Cody Cox

Episode Summary:
Your poop is more than a waste product—it’s a daily health report. In this episode of Real Food Mental Health, Katie Kirklin, Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor and Registered Nurse, explains how your bowel movements can reveal important clues about your digestion, detoxification, and even your mental health.

Katie shares her journey from conventional nursing to holistic nutrition, breaking down her three roots, many branches functional nutrition model. We cover what healthy poop looks like, what different stool colors might indicate, and simple, natural ways to improve digestion.

We also explore the gut-brain connection—why 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut, how inflammation affects mood, and how small, consistent changes can lead to lasting wellness.

If you want to improve your digestion, balance your hormones, and support your mental health naturally, this episode is your step-by-step guide.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How functional nutrition works to address root causes of health issues

• Signs of healthy bowel movements & what your poop says about your health

• The three roots, many branches model for digestive health

• Common stool colors and what they may indicate (and when to see a doctor)

• The “non-negotiable trifecta” for healing: sleep, poop, and blood sugar balance

• Simple strategies to improve digestion without drastic diets

• How the gut-brain axis impacts mood, anxiety, and overall mental health

• Why fiber, hydration, and mindful eating are essential for gut health

Keywords to Note for SEO:
gut health, digestion, poop health, healthy bowel movements, functional nutrition, gut-brain connection, mental health, constipation, diarrhea, stool color chart, detoxification, serotonin production, digestive health tips

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Katie’s Website: Katie Kirklin Nutrition

• Instagram: @KatieKirklinNutrition

• Functional Nutrition Alliance (Andrea Nakayama’s program)

Subscribe and review and check back for more soon.

• To support Cody and the production of this podcast, go to ⁠ko-fi.com/codycox ⁠
• To access clinical-grade (the highest quality) supplements and other health products, ⁠visit the dispensary⁠.
• Visit Cody’s website at ⁠beavercreekwellness.com⁠ where you can read more about him and schedule sessions.

• gut health

• gut microbiome

• probiotics for gut health

• prebiotics vs probiotics

• high-fiber foods for gut health

• fermented foods for digestion

• gut health and mental wellness

• how to heal your gut naturally

• functional nutrition for digestion

• gut-brain connection

I know I already had an episode on sleep (a solo episode), but I thought it would be nice to have a guest to talk with on the subject.

Welcome Jade Twombly! She is a nutritional therapy practitioner and loves to talk about sleep.

In this episode, we discuss sleep hygiene and the science behind why sleep is so important and what you can do to improve the quality, not just the quantity of your sleep. We also discuss the importance of doing certain things in the morning that help your sleep for the next night!

Some of this episode might be a review of things I've already discussed in previous episodes, and some of it is new. Either way, enjoy!

Find Jade at moveholistichealthandnutrition.com.

Subscribe and review and check back for more soon.

• To support Cody and the production of this podcast, go to ⁠ko-fi.com/codycox ⁠
• To access clinical-grade (the highest quality) supplements and other health products, ⁠visit the dispensary⁠.
• Visit Cody’s website at ⁠beavercreekwellness.com⁠ where you can read more about him and schedule sessions.

There are a lot of people who don't know how to cook anymore! We are so busy with life that we grow up eating fast food and ultra-processed garbage. But no one is to blame; it's not like we do this on purpose (at least, not most of us). But how do you learn to cook when you were never taught growing up?

It's easier than you think, and in today's episode, we talk about just that.

Josh Noland is the host of the Health Unfiltered podcast. He is passionate about helping people help themselves.

Check out Josh's podcast (and an interview with Cody) here.

Today, we cover topics like:

What kitchen equipment you need

Methods for cooking

Simple principles of cooking

Tips for keeping cooking less stressful

Find Josh at joshnoland.com.

Subscribe and review and check back for more soon.

• To support Cody and the production of this podcast, go to ⁠ko-fi.com/codycox ⁠
• To access clinical-grade (the highest quality) supplements and other health products, ⁠visit the dispensary⁠.
• Visit Cody’s website at ⁠beavercreekwellness.com⁠ where you can read more about him and schedule sessions.