191: Natural Healing Show with Catherine Carrigan - Episode 191191: Natural Healing Show with Catherine Carrigan - Episode 191
UK Health Radio Podcast
Catherine Carrigan and Dr. Brant Courtright talk about neurogenesis, explaining how lifestyle, diet, supplements and relationships may influence brain health. The conversation highlights practical ways people might support mood, cognition and resilience at any age.
46:21•20 Sept 2026
Growing Your Brain at Any Age: Catherine Carrigan Chats with Dr. Brant Courtright
Episode Overview
- Neurogenesis continues throughout life, and a higher neurogenic rate is linked with better mood, resilience, learning and overall health.
- Modern environmental factors such as smog, neurotoxins, inflammatory diets and chronic stress can severely reduce neurogenesis.
- Diet choices like avoiding deep-fried foods, excess sugar and carbohydrates, and focusing on anti-inflammatory, gut-friendly foods support brain function.
- Regular aerobic exercise, weight training, sufficient sleep and calming practices like yoga can all contribute to a healthier, more resilient brain.
- High-quality omega-3s, blueberries, curcumin, green tea extracts and certain minerals and probiotics may help boost neurogenesis and cognitive performance.
“Your rate of neurogenesis is probably the most important biomarker for your mental health and for your physical health that there is.”
What drives someone to seek a sharper mind and a healthier future? This conversation on the Natural Healing Show with medical intuitive healer and author Catherine Carrigan and clinical psychologist Dr. Brant Courtright zooms in on one thing: neurogenesis, the brain’s ability to grow new cells at any age. Dr.
Courtright, author of *The Neurogenesis Diet and Lifestyle* and *Radiant Brain Health*, explains how “the rate at which we make new brain cells…has a big impact on how we feel, how we think, and on our general state of health.” He links a slowed neurogenic rate with anxiety, depression, brain fog and Alzheimer’s, while a high rate is tied to emotional resilience, sharper thinking and a greater sense of vitality.
You’ll hear him break down why modern life is such a problem for the brain: smog, microplastics, mercury, “forever chemicals”, chronic stress and inflammatory diets. He jokes about once loving fish and chips but now avoiding deep-fried food, sugar and excess carbohydrates to protect his brain. Catherine adds her own experience from decades in natural healing, chiming in on omega-3s and mineral deficiencies she sees in many clients. The chat stays very practical. Dr.
Courtright shares what he personally never does (too much screen time, poor sleep, cheap fish oils) and what he always makes time for: aerobic exercise, weight training, daily yoga, high‑quality omega-3s, blueberries, curcumin, green tea extracts and magnesium l‑threonate. He also highlights the brain benefits of loving relationships, meaningful intimacy and lifelong learning, noting that “loving relationships are also good for brain health.” Perhaps the boldest claim?
He suggests cognitive decline can often be prevented, and that lifestyle changes may even improve early dementia. It all comes back to one question: what small daily shifts could help your brain feel more alive, starting today?
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