Radical Vitality

Why Our Kids' Health Is Not Alright (And How To Fix It) with Dr. Elisa Song

May 30, 2024

01:18:25

Welcome to Radical Vitality! In this episode, I speak with Dr. Elisa Song about the rise of chronic disease in children and simple ways to combat these worrying trends to keep your children happy and healthy.

her career to helping parents and practitioners bridge the gap between conventional and holistic pediatrics. Her latest book, Happy Healthy Kids, is a fun and deeply informative read for you and your child that asks the simple question: What if you could change the future of your child's health with five simple steps?

The foundation of health for our kids and teens is in their microbiome. Chronic disease in children is higher than ever before. We must find new solutions to keeping our children healthy and safe. I love Dr. Song’s holistic approach to healing, which works across food, lifestyle, and medication when necessary. She reminds us that it is never too late to restore a gut microbiome. The basis to do so is using food and lifestyle as medicine. In the face of frightening statistics, like 1 in 2 kids in the US does not eat a single vegetable in a day, educating ourselves on better ways to eat and live is crucial.

Dr. Song shares her five steps for microbiome magic, what to look out for when selecting packaged foods, and how to make everyday meals pop! The goal of getting healthier is to create whole gut resilience, not to strive for perfection or never allow in any “fun” foods. It's not about creating rigid boundaries but learning to make informed choices. We conclude by discussing the differences between good and bad stress. Stimulating the vagus nerve can make you feel great while also lowering chronic inflammation by balancing blood sugar and hormones, which deeply support the microbiome. In fact, Dr. Song recommends vagus nerve balancing activities over any supplements! She shares how to take deep, slow belly breaths and begin your journey with the breath.

This episode is a great resource for steps you can take today to nourish your child’s gut microbiome and help your child thrive!

Episode Outline:

(03:42) The rise of chronic disease diagnoses in children

(10:23) Root cause of disease epidemic

(17:06) Healing the gut microbiome

(20:57) Dr. Song’s patient stories of gut transformation

(28:28) Five steps for microbiome magic

(35:49) ‘Mischief makers’ in the diet

(39:18) For the ‘white foods’ only kid

(44:35) Power of nervous system regulation

(49:43) Probiotics supplements and yogurt for kids

(56:49) Making informed decisions around added sugar