Episode 194: The Food-Mood Connection: Affordable and Practical Nutrition Tips for Mental Health with Alex D'Elia
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Release Date: 10/03/2023
Episode 249: Hitting Pause
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: If you’ve been feeling a little… maxed out lately—and you can tell you’re still doing things out of momentum, not meaning—this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I’m sharing why I’m hitting pause on the podcast for now. Not because I don’t love it, and not because it didn’t matter. But because my life has changed so much since I started this show in 2019, and I’m realizing I need space. The kind of space where you can actually hear yourself again—without forcing the next step just to keep things moving. I talk about the fear of being seen as a...
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Episode 248: What to Let Go of in 2026
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: If you’re heading into 2026 feeling a little stretched thin—like you’re carrying too much, trying too hard, or overthinking every next step—this episode is for you. Today’s conversation is all about release, not in a dramatic “new year, new you” way, but in a practical, gentle, real-life way. Because sometimes the most supportive thing you can do for your health, your energy, and your goals… is let go of the habits, beliefs, and pressures that quietly drain you. We’re talking about perfectionism, comparison, guilt around rest, the all-or-nothing mindset,...
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Episode 247: Harnessing the Power of the Unfocused Mind w/ Dr. Srini Pillay
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Try the ReuLay app for mindset shifts (); email for a free 3-month subscription 👉In this episode of the Drama Free Healthy Living Podcast, host Jess Cording interviews Dr. Srini Pillay, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and executive coach, about harnessing brain science for better focus, overcoming fear, managing stress, and integrating creativity into daily life. They explore strategies like strategic unfocus (napping, doodling, daydreaming) to boost productivity, the CIRCA method (Chunking, Ignore mental chatter, Reality check, Control check, Attention shift) for...
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Episode 246: Empowering Women’s Sleep w/ Jackie Hutson from Piper & Mint PJS
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Make sure to check out Piper & Mint PJs on 👉 Jackie Hutson is a wife, mom to two energetic, sports-loving boys, and a founder who seems to live life in motion—in all the best ways. She plays in a competitive tennis league, loves diving into business and entrepreneurship, and brings an easy, grounded optimism into everything she does. Her entrepreneurial spark lit up early: at age 11, she made $5,000 selling Beanie Babies. Since then, she’s launched several product-based businesses, including an accessory line created while studying abroad in Italy. After college, Jackie built...
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Episode 245: Holiday Metabolism
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description In this solo episode, we’re unpacking what really happens to your metabolism during the holidays and why it’s not as dramatic or disastrous as the internet makes it seem. Instead of stressing over travel, late nights, celebrations, and all the festive food, we’ll look at how small, doable habits can help you feel steady, nourished, and grounded through the season. You’ll get a clearer understanding of how sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition influence your energy, along with realistic ways to support yourself without giving up the joy of the holidays. No...
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Episode 244: Transform Your Health with Functional Fitness | Jess Cording x Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Rachel Katzman
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Make sure to check out Pvolve at 👉 In this episode of Drama Free Healthy Living, host Jess Cording interviews Dr. Jessica Shepherd and Rachel Katzman about the innovative approaches in women's fitness today. They explore the benefits of functional fitness for improving posture, reducing back pain, and boosting energy. Dr. Shepherd shares her personal journey with functional fitness and how it transformed her physical health and mindset. The conversation highlights the importance of finding balanced fitness routines that not only change appearances but also enhance overall well-being...
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Episode 243: Solo Episode Easy Breakfasts to Support Healthy Metabolism
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description In this solo episode, I dive into why a nourishing breakfast does so much more than just “start your day.” It helps stabilize blood sugar, support hormone balance, and fuel your metabolism—especially for women over 35. If you’ve ever skipped breakfast or relied on a granola bar and coffee to get by, this episode will help you rethink what your mornings can look like. You’ll learn what to eat (and why) to keep your energy steady, your mood balanced, and your body supported. From easy make-ahead ideas like overnight oats and smoothies to savory options like veggie...
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Episode 242: Unmasking High-Functioning Depression w/ Dr. Judith Joseph, MD, MBA
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Make sure to check out the book 👉 Judith Joseph, MD, MBA, is a Columbia-trained psychiatrist and the founder of and chief investigator at Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, New York City’s premier clinical research site, a clinical assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, and chairwoman of the Women in Medicine Board at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Judith Joseph was awarded by the US House of Representatives with a 2023 Congress Proclamation Award for her social media advocacy and...
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Episode 241: My Life Lately: Fall 2025 Update
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: It’s been a while since I’ve done a solo episode, and this felt like the right moment to sit down and share a little life update. A lot has changed for me this year — some of it amazing, some of it challenging, and plenty of it somewhere in between. In this episode, I’m talking about what day-to-day life looks like right now, how I’m finding my footing in a new season, and the little shifts that are making a big difference. Think of this as us catching up over coffee — honest, a little messy at times, and hopefully a reminder that none of us have it all figured...
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Re-Release Episode 206: What To Eat When You’re Exhausted
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: You know those days when you wake up tired, and before you know it, you’re reaching for coffee, donuts, chips, anything to keep going? You’re not imagining it—and you’re definitely not lacking willpower. When you’re running on empty, there are real changes happening in your body that make cravings stronger and energy harder to manage. In this episode, we’ll unpack what’s really going on when exhaustion hits, why your body asks for quick fixes, and how to work with those signals instead of feeling like you’re fighting against them. I’ll share practical...
info_outlineDoes this sound familiar? You're constantly searching for ways to improve your mental well-being but feel like you're hitting a dead end. Maybe you've been told to simply think positive or just relax, but those actions haven't brought you the relief you desperately crave. The pain of feeling stuck in a cycle of negative emotions and struggles with your mental health is overwhelming. But what if I told you there's a powerful connection between the food you eat and your mental state? It's time to explore a new path towards better mental health through the transformative potential of nutrition.
My special guest is Alex D'Elia
Alex D'Elia is a registered dietitian known for pioneering integrative and functional nutritional coaching in her company, Olox Nutrition. Alex's approach stems from her personal mental health journey, a profound experience that spurred her dedication to exploring the integral relationship between nutrition and mental health. Whether she’s aiding clients to improve their energy, heal their gut, or encourage brain nourishment, she’s undeniably effective in her mission to help others harness the power of food as a tool for wellbeing.
In this episode, we cover:
👉the fascinating ties between your daily menu and the state of your mind.
👉food's role as a potential remedy for both physical and mental issues
👉how taboos associated with certain mental health problems might stop people from seeking the help they need
👉some dietary techniques you can try right now to improve your wellbeing
👉some harmful tendencies found within popular dieting fads
📑More about Alex D'Elia
Alex is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with extensive experience nutritionally treating emotional eating, chronic illness, mental health, PMS, and weight management. Her practice focuses on reducing stress and restoring balance; Alex understands that health and wellness are best approached from a whole-person perspective.
Alex hopes to empower those who seek healthy change in their lives by providing evidenced-based counseling, empathy, and consistent feedback. In her spare time Alex loves irritating her boyfriend, hiking, panicking about her next instagram post and learning how to cook so she can help others.
🌎 Connect with Alex D'Elia
👉Instagram
👉Website
👉LinkedIN
🖋️ Some key points
(00:36) - introduction to Alex and Olux Nutrition,
(01:27) - controversy surrounding food as medicine,
(02:07) - foods and lifestyle habits for mental health,
(14:30) - overcoming stigma about bipolar disorder,
(16:05) - the power of sharing personal stories,
(17:07) - empowering ourselves to feel better,
(19:04) - the role of nutrition in mental health,
(28:08) - the practicality of health and wellness trends,
(30:15) - elitism and controversies in health practices,
(33:12) - stress management,
(43:36) - being an early bird and future plans,
(44:12) - getting used to living with animals,
(45:45) - managing stress and pressure,
📑 The resources mentioned in this episode are:
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Check out Olox Nutrition, Alex D'Elia's virtual nutrition coaching company, for personalized support in mind-body health and using food as medicine.
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Alex’s food-mood guide: https://oloxnutrition.net/guide-1 d)
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Article from Alex about navigating Bipolar II: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/invisible-illness-bipolar-ii
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Consider integrating some of the best foods and lifestyle habits for supporting mental health discussed in the episode into your own routine.
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Take action to improve your own mental well-being by implementing tools and strategies discussed in the episode, such as improving energy, healing your gut, and nourishing your brain.
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Stay informed about new episodes and topics covered on the podcast by subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform.
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Share this episode with friends, family, or colleagues who may benefit from the information and insights discussed.
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Consider reaching out to Alex directly by booking a session here
Connect with me on IG @jesscording
Check out my WTF To Eat substack : https://jessicacording.substack.com/p/want-to-know-wtf-to-eat
🎤 Podcast post-production EZPZ Podcasting