Podcast Summary: The Dr. Josh Axe Show

Episode: The NEW Food Pyramid and What is REALLY in our food

Host: Dr. Josh Axe
Guest: Courtney Swan (MS Nutrition, creator of Real Foodology)
Date: January 29, 2026

Overview

In this insightful episode, Dr. Josh Axe welcomes nutritionist Courtney Swan to break down two critical issues in American nutrition: the new food pyramid and hidden dangers in our food supply—especially glyphosate and ultra-processed foods. Courtney provides expert insights on what these changes mean, how to read labels, the movement for cleaner public nutrition, and her personal journey to pregnancy at age 41. The discussion touches on government policy, food industry tactics, practical grocery shopping strategies, and the empowering message to trust real, unprocessed food.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Dangers of Glyphosate in the Food Supply

[05:09–14:41]

• Glyphosate’s Prevalence & Harm:
  Dr. Axe emphasizes glyphosate as the most-used herbicide, sprayed on non-organic corn, soy, and other crops, with residues found everywhere—from urine to rainwater to breast milk.

  “Glyphosate…is incredibly harmful to the human body. It actually changes your gut microbiome in a very negative way. It’s very toxic to the liver.” – Dr. Josh Axe [10:49]

• Court Cases and Industry Tactics:
  Courtney details Monsanto (acquired by Bayer) losing multiple suits over glyphosate’s link to cancer, leading to $11 billion in settlements. Chemical giants now lobby for a legal “liability immunity shield," modeled after vaccine legislation, to prevent lawsuits if people get sick from their chemicals.

• Legislative Updates:
  Attempt to sneak glyphosate liability protection into federal bills was recently blocked. The issue is pending before the Supreme Court—potentially using industry-authored, fraudulent science.

  “Monsanto ghost wrote this report to make it look as though glyphosate is not as detrimental...and then they took this around to governing bodies like the EPA.” – Courtney Swan [13:08]

• Scientific Manipulation:
  Both agree much published research is industry-biased or fraudulent, skewing public and policymaker perceptions.

2. The New Food Pyramid & Dietary Guidelines

[14:41–21:20]

• Shift Towards Real Food:
  Both Courtney and Dr. Axe commend the new pyramid for emphasizing “real food,” limiting added sugar (especially for children), and no longer demonizing red meat.

  “I cannot believe that our government just said eat more real food.” – Courtney Swan [15:05]

• Ultra-Processed Food Pushback:
  Courtney criticizes former food policy for being a marketing playbook for Big Food with heavy processed foods. The shift to warning against ultra-processed food is overdue.

• Nuance Around Saturated Fat:
  Discussion clarifies the guidelines’ nuanced stance: not a free-for-all on red meat/butter/eggs, but ending blanket avoidance of these foods and urging individualized approaches, especially in light of personal markers (CRP, A1C, etc.).

• Lasting Impact:
  Courtney enthuses that this represents the long-term shift she built her Real Foodology platform around.

3. Food Industry Deceptions & Reading Food Labels

[34:58–42:22]

• Label-Reading Rules:
  Courtney gives practical “real food” rules:

  • Would your great-grandmother recognize it as food?
  • Ignore front-of-package marketing (“billboard for the company”)—always inspect the ingredients list.
  • If the label lists something you wouldn’t find in the grocery aisles (e.g., BHT, mono- & diglycerides), don’t buy it!

• Multi-Sugar Trick:
  Dr. Axe notes how companies use variations of sugar (honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup) to hide actual content and push sugar lower in the ingredients.

  “They do this…to push [sugar] lower on the label, so it’s not the first ingredient.” – Dr. Axe [36:20]

• Ultra-Processed Foods:
  They explain the difference between processed (“bread like they made in biblical times”) and ultra-processed (“emulsifiers, natural flavors, preservatives”), with the latter being the true hazard.

• Common Pitfalls at Health Food Stores:
  Even at Whole Foods, most crackers, cookies, breads, etc., are filled with unnecessary additives and “health-washed” ingredients.

4. Food Dyes Ban and the Maha Movement

[22:23–25:45]

• Banning Food Dyes in Public Food:
  Recent policy wins have eliminated food dyes in school and institutional food, crucial for child health and reducing hyperactivity.

  “Over a million children are being fed every single day in our public school system…with food dyes. And we know that food dyes are having an effect on hyperactivity.” – Courtney Swan [22:23]

• Broader Change is Slow:
  Courtney acknowledges the slow grind of government reform, expressing optimism at the pace and first public admissions of America’s health crisis.

5. Infant Formula Reform

[25:46–30:32]

• Toxic Ingredients in Formula:
  Both are alarmed that U.S. infant formula is mostly corn syrup solids and canola oil, plus non-bioavailable vitamins; the standards haven’t been reviewed since 1984.

  “The first two ingredients are generally...it's corn syrup solids and canola oil. It's just crazy.” – Courtney Swan [25:59]

• Call for Overhaul:
  They urge mothers not to feel guilt (”just do your best”) but stress the need for urgent reform, since vulnerable populations (on WIC, etc.) get the worst formulas.

6. Education for Doctors & The Role of Public Policy

[30:32–31:15]

• Nutrition in Medical Training:
  Hope that future regulations will require more nutrition education for doctors, shifting health care from “sick care” to prevention.

• Frustration with the EPA:
  Courtney is critical of the EPA for rolling back drinking water and pesticide safety rules, using loopholes and redefinitions to greenlight “forever chemicals.”

7. Personal Food Stories & Raising Healthier Kids

[42:22–49:16]

• Courtney’s Childhood:
  Raised by a “MAHA mom,” she grew up eating from-scratch, unprocessed foods—despite her own childhood resistance and envy for processed snacks. Eventually, her holistic upbringing paid off, especially after college junk food binges led to new health problems and a 180° shift.

• Advice to Parents:
  Both encourage parents fighting the processed food tide:

  “Your kids might be fighting you…know that you’re up against a beast of a marketing campaign. Your kids will be so grateful when they grow up…” – Courtney Swan [47:17]

8. Pregnancy, Hormones, and Women’s Health in the 40s

[51:00–59:41]

• Courtney’s Pregnancy at 41:
  She shares her personal experience:

  • Pushed into prioritizing career in youth, but grateful for holistic health foundation.
  • Discourages internalizing the medical system’s “geriatric pregnancy” fearmongering (officially starts at 35), advocating instead for listening to your own health, nourishing your body, and rejecting the “doom narrative.”

  “If you do the right things, you really take care of your health...There are so many things that you can control and that you can do.” – Courtney Swan [54:27]

• Choosing Midwife over Conventional OB:
  Reports a far more peaceful, supportive experience. The midwife focuses on monitoring health, not predicting problems based on age alone.

• Pressure and Peace:
  Dr. Axe highlights the need to focus on hope, encouragement, and God’s design versus a fear-based system.

Notable Quotes

• On Glyphosate:

  “This is a report that the EPA used as their evidence that glyphosate does not cause harm to the human body...Monsanto ghost wrote this report...”
  — Courtney Swan [13:08]

• On Food Label Reading:

  “The front of the label is a billboard for the company. Don’t use that as a guiding force.”
  — Courtney Swan [35:00]

  “If there is an ingredient in there that you could not physically go buy while you’re in the grocery store...that is a clear indicator that you want to put it back on the shelf.”
  — Courtney Swan [37:31]

• On Parenting & Food Culture:

  “I am one of those kids...I had a come to Jesus moment in college...and I started realizing, okay, I think my mom might actually be onto something here and did a full 180.”
  — Courtney Swan [46:50]

• On Pregnancy and Medical Fear:

  “The medical system really preys on women’s insecurities and fears...Going the midwife way, my age has not come up once.”
  — Courtney Swan [56:45]

Key Timestamps

• Glyphosate threat & legal battles: [05:09–14:41]
• New Food Pyramid breakdown: [14:41–21:20]
• Food dyes ban & Maha movement: [22:23–25:45]
• Infant formula & WIC issues: [25:46–30:32]
• EPA, “forever chemicals” criticism: [31:15–33:06]
• How to read food labels: [34:58–42:22]
• Ultra-processed food pitfalls: [39:20–41:18]
• Courtney’s upbringing & parent advice: [42:22–49:16]
• Pregnancy at 41, overcoming “geriatric” narrative: [51:00–59:41]

Rapid Fire Answers & Practical Tips

Q: Top 3 Ingredients to Watch For?

[60:15]

• “Look at the oil—avoid canola, cottonseed, soybean oil.
  Watch for sugar content and type—avoid corn syrup and high-processed sweeteners.
  Watch out for mono and diglycerides—they’re basically trans fat.”
  — Courtney Swan

Q: Advice for Women Trying to Get Pregnant in Their 40s?

[61:18]

• “Cancel out all the noise...trust your body...focus on whole, real foods.”
  — Courtney Swan

Q: Top 5 Foods for Hormone Balance:

[62:28]

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Butter and A2 dairy from grass-fed sources
• Salmon
• Unrefined carbs (oats, sourdough, sweet potatoes)
• Red meat

Episode Tone & Language

• Warm, empowering, and practical
• Direct but nuanced about policy and health controversies
• Blends hard data, personal stories, and actionable advice
• Both hosts speak passionately for consumer awareness and changing public health

Final Takeaway

At the core, Dr. Axe and Courtney Swan urge listeners to trust real, whole foods, equip themselves with label-reading skills, advocate for cleaner food policy, and tune out fear-based nutrition. Whether dealing with new dietary guidelines, navigating pregnancy in your 40s, or shopping in a world of “healthwashed” marketing, the answer is simple—but powerful: keep it real.

Find Courtney Swan:

• Instagram: @realfoodology
• Podcast: Real Foodology
• Website: realfoodology.com

Listener Call to Action:
Share the episode to help raise awareness about glyphosate, food policy reform, and real food—a movement for everyone’s health.