My guest this week is Dr. Jolene Brighten, a functional naturopathic medical doctor and nutritional biochemist with a focus in women's endocrine health. She is recognized as a leading expert in Post-Birth Control Syndrome and the long-term side effects associated with hormonal contraceptives. Dr. Brighten is the author of ‘Beyond the Pill: A 30-Day Program to Balance Your Hormones, Reclaim Your Body, and Reverse the Dangerous Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill’. She is a speaker, women’s health advocate and a medical advisor for one of the first data-driven apps to offer women personalized birth control recommendations. In this episode, Dr. Brighten and I discuss the physical and mental health risks of hormonal birth control and the importance of true informed consent before taking it. Side effects can vary from anxiety and depression to increased risk for stroke, heart attack, thyroid, and adrenal disorders. Dr. Brighten provides us with a careful approach to the pill and how to monitor and maintain one's health while on the pill. Teenage girls specifically are 80% percent more likely to develop depression when taking the combination pill of estrogen and progestin. Those who are on “the pill” have a double risk of suicide after one year of taking it. Learn more about Dr. Brighten here.   The Benefits of Having a Menstrual Cycle The menstrual cycle the 5th vital sign which helps to determine your specific and unique bodily function A menstrual cycle can help determine numerous health issues such as hypothyroidism, poor liver detoxification, iron-deficiency anemia or the making of the wrong type of metabolites. Symptoms from your menstrual cycle are your bodies way of communicating to you This is an opportunity to discover the root cause of many different physical or mental health issues that may be occurring   Why Young Girls Are Being Prescribed Hormonal Birth Control - “The Pill” For symptom management alone before ever giving their body the time to adapt to the new routine in their body Types of symptoms include: irregular periods, menstrual pain, acne, migraines, mood issues like anxiety and depression 60% of women go on the pill for symptom management which can result in major side effects and risks The pill puts you at higher risk for strokes, heart attacks, clots, autoimmune disorders, thyroid and adrenal disorders   Mental Health Risks While Taking The Pill Women taking birth control are 23% more likely to also be prescribed an antidepressant Women prescribed progestin are 34% more likely to be prescribed an antidepressant Progestin is a synthetic hormone, progesterone is a natural hormone Teenage girls specifically are 80% percent more likely to develop depression when taking the combination pill of estrogen and progestin Teens who are taking progestin exclusively, commonly called the mini pill, have two-fold increased risk of depression Young women have 3 times the risk of committing suicide while on the pill Teens have a double risk of suicide after one year of taking the pill The pill is easier to get now more than ever BE AWARE of your daughters’ signs and symptoms; Lack of motivation, withdrawals from social activity, raging emotions These are can be normal symptoms of a teen but mixed with the pill they are at a much higher risk of harming themselves   What to Do Before Starting The Pill Before starting the pill, try to spend at least one or more full menstrual cycles documenting your symptoms for each day both physically and emotionally in order to understand your baseline If you can also attain lab testing (thyroid panel, CBC, homocysteine test) before starting that will also allow you to have record of that baseline to refer to should other health issues arise Look into your family health history If your family has a history of inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn’s disease use caution A Harvard study found that 5 years on the pill with a family history of Crohn’s meant a 300% risk of developing it   How to Maintain Your Health While Taking The Pill Eat a diet filled with whole food Be sure to take a prenatal or multivitamin to help with nutrient depletion Consider taking a probiotics Effects of the pill can strongly affect your microbiome Taking the pill has been shown to have similar effects of an antibiotic   Where to learn more about Dr. Brighten... Website: drbrighten.com Instagram: @drjolenebrighten Twitter: @drbrighten Facebook Dr. Brighten's Book   Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Leanne Ely, a certified nutritionist passionate about bringing families back to the dinner table and eating meals together. In addition to her syndicated column, ‘The Dinner Diva’ that appears in 250 newspapers nationwide she writes a popular food for thought column on the ever popular flylady.net. In 2001, Leanne created the Menu-Mailer on SavingDinner.com and has been dubbed the “mother” of menu planning. Leanne’s goal is to bring families closer together by enjoying healthy and easy-to-prepare meals.   In this episode, Leanne and I discuss the importance of the family dinner table and the incredible effects it has on both parents and children. Leanne provides us with steps on how to approach integrating mealtime back into our family culture and practical tips to make the transition become a new habit. She shares her personal experience and tips on resistant children that struggle with developmental or behavioral disorders and encourages parents to not lose heart. Children and teenagers who connect with their parents during mealtime build better parent-child relationships and have fewer chances of creating habits of substance abuse. Learn more about Leanne here.   Mealtime Matters Creating a habit of eating together at the dinner table has a wealth of positive effects Children feel a sense of belonging and have higher-quality relationships with their parents Studies show that children and teenagers who have frequent dinners with their parents are less likely to engage in substance abuse   Where To Begin Full family effort leads to a higher chance of success As a family, discuss and make a menu plan together This must be a family effort, not a one-person show (mom or dad only) Disperse the responsibility Get your spouse on board before approaching and convincing the children Take a child with you to help grocery shop Bring the family into the kitchen to help Designate different days for different tasks per child Let them be creative and interact with the food Hands-on nutrition: peaks interest in food variety for picky eaters   Embrace The Chaos Remember: Making this collaboration happen is not an easy task It is easy to say, “I could do this faster if I just did it myself” but the results and payoff of spending those extra minutes have results that last a lifetime By adding elements of fun your children are more likely to willingly participate Learning small tasks and table manners come naturally when they are involved in the cooking process and engaged at the dinner table Your children may not be accustomed to sitting around a table but they will learn and adapt with time “Embrace your chaos, embrace your family, fix the things you can fix and just do the best that you can. It will get better as time goes on.” - Leanne Ely   Engaging Resistant Children If your child has a developmental or behavioral disorder do not lose heart Your child can still learn and benefit greatly from this time together Teach simple tasks and follow them with great acknowledgment and applaud every achievement Repetition is key to success Do not let one child dictate the standards you want for your family   No-Device Zone Mealtimes are a good starting point to create boundaries with electronic devices Having device-free mealtimes is essential to connect with one another and build relationships Begin by weaning your children off of the device for this occasion vs just taking it away Come up with a plan that works best for you and your family Maybe that is allowing them to use the device until the table is set and everyone sits down and then puts their phone in a basket for the duration of the meal Remember everyone’s family is unique and you know your family best!   Where to learn more about Leanne Ely... Website: savingdinner.com Twitter: @savingdinner Facebook Leanne's Instagram Saving Dinner Instagram    Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Dan Fortenbacher, a board-certified fellow and clinical professor at the College of Optometry at Ferris State University specializing in developmental vision, Neuro-Optometry and vision therapy. He has developed models of innovation in the delivery of developmental, binocular and Neuro-Optometric vision rehabilitative care. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Fortenbacher is an adjunct faculty at Southern College of Optometry, where he is the program supervisor for the W.O.W Vision Therapy developmental vision and rehabilitation private practice residency. In this episode, Dr. Fortenbacher and I discuss how to detect vision problems in children (even if they have 20/20 vision) and when parents should prompt their doctor for further testing. Dr. Fortenbacher highlights the most common vision problems, how often they are overlooked by routine eye check-ups and their effects on academic success. Visual issues such as convergence insufficiency, developmental dyslexia, amblyopia or lazy-eye, strabismus or crossed-eye can be effectively treated and eradicated with proper visual therapy techniques. Learn more about Dr. Fortenbacher here.   How Vision Problems Can Easily Go Undetected Vision goes beyond being able to see clearly Having 20/20 vision does not mean that your eyes are working together When your eyes aren't working together there are a variety of possible outcomes Difficulty in sustained attention Unwantingly divided words or overlapping words when reading Clarity at near may be blurry or with overlapping images/words All of these outcomes can affect a child's performance, attention, and reading fluency Oftentimes if the parent does not specifically question their doctor about the child having a vision problem that affects reading, the proper testing can easily get overlooked   The Complexity of the Visual System BOTH eyes have to: Team, Track, and Focus.   The child then has to visually process and make sense of what they are seeing This is integral for optimal performance, reading, and attention skills in and outside of the classroom Integration - ties in all visual function motor skills with balance, listening, and thinking ALL of the above are developmental processes that are to occur naturally but many children struggle and experience delays   Emotional Consequences of Visual Conditions When the child is trying to apply themselves and they are unable to perform correctly, frustration ensues Children become overwhelmed when dealing with a vision issue and at times it can appear as a behavioral challenge They may have an attitude that shows they are unwilling and uninterested in trying   Common Visual Conditions Convergence Insufficiency - the inability to converge the eyes Occurs in 8-12% of the pediatric population The top binocular visual eye condition It can be effectively treated with vision therapy ‘Developmental Dyslexia’ - JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) coined this term when researching the frequency of visual conditions such as convergence insufficiency and  oculomotor dysfunction A significant amount children with developmental dyslexia have binocular, accommodative and oculomotor dysfunction There are treatments to help these conditions Motion Sickness - vision therapy can help resolve this issue fairly quickly   Signs That Indicate A Possible Vision Condition Is your child struggling in reading and learning? Does your child resist or have difficulty with their homework? Do they avoid or dislike reading? General coordination difficulty? Have their vision evaluated beyond the routine eye health check An evaluation of binocular vision, tracking, focusing and visual processing   Assessment and Treatment Process First assessment includes testing: binocular vision, tracking, and focusing. If determined that there is a reason for concern, the child will need to return for further evaluation of their visual perceptual abilities where extensive testing is done on the following: Testing perception to visual memory and visual directionality to measure reversals Hand-eye coordination Reading tests to evaluate whether the struggle is a reading disability or a reading fluency issue Visually directed gross motor skills, vision imbalance, and visuall directed fine motor skills Diagnosis - much like rehabilitation in occupational therapy or speech-language therapy, vision therapy is therapeutic Fun activities with visual challenges are guided by a therapist once or twice a week Progress is measured and can take around 3-4 months to remediate the issue Patients with more complex issues, with autism or who have crossed eyes, lazy eyes, will take longer but can be treated effectively Vision therapy can also be applied to adults - age is not a barrier   Where to learn more about Dr. Fortenbacher Website: wowvision.net Twitter: @wowvision Facebook Wow Vision Therapy Youtube    Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Dr. Sheila Kilbane, a board-certified pediatrician also trained in integrative medicine by Andrew Weil, MD. She uses the best of traditional and integrative medicine to help families find the root cause of their child’s illness by walking through her seven-step process to significantly improve or resolve, illnesses such as: colic, reflux, eczema, recurrent ear and sinus infections, asthma, allergies, ADHD, and stomach and GI issues like constipation, abdominal pain, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and sensory integration disorder. Sheila conducts an online course to help parents resolve chronic illness in their children by using her step-by-step approach and is the author “Healthy Kids Happy Moms - A Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Many Common Childhood Illnesses”. In this episode, Sheila and I discuss the difference between the conventional and integrative approach to medicine in pediatrics and how parents can take simple steps toward improving their child’s chronic illness. Sheila shares her seven-step approach to addressing illness and provides valuable resources on where and how parents can begin to incorporate simple changes that bare significant results. Learn more about Sheila here.     Surge of Chronic Illness in Children A few decades ago, approximately 1 in 7 children had a chronic health issue, today 1 in 2 children The food supply has drastically evolved Chemicals, herbicides, pesticides are all more commonly used in comparison to the past Roundup Roundup was originally patented as an antibiotic It is commonly used as a chemical sprayed on crops to help with a quick turnover in crop production It becomes absorbed by the part of the plants that we consume Consuming non-organic wheat, corn, and soy exposes children to an excess of chemicals and pesticides that can alter the good bacteria in their gut The personal care products we use on our bodies and cleaning products we use daily in our homes also play a role   The Difference Between Conventional Medicine vs. Functional Medicine in Pediatrics Example: Looking at a case of eczema Conventional Medicine Trained to find a steroid treatment to apply to the skin in order to resolve the issue Functional/Integrative Medicine Trained to take steps that look at all factors to find the root cause of the reaction Address the 5 triggers of inflammation: food, environmental allergies, environmental toxins, stress, and infections. By addressing inflammation in the body, you will also be addressing inflammation in the brain Decreasing the source of inflammation allows the body to return to working naturally   7 Steps to Confronting Chronic Illness Assessment - find a practitioner assessing the child’s medical history from an integrative standpoint Understanding that inflammation is illness Addressing the 5 triggers of Inflammation: Food, Environmental allergies, Environmental toxins, Stress, Infections Gut Health Food - Start with tackling breakfast (see below) Supplements Roadmap   Change Up the Food Routine - Tackle Breakfast First Remove cereal and milk - this immediately eliminates a lot of sugar Try eggs, organic bacon or sausage, a burger, a piece of salmon, leftover chicken Try a healthy fat or protein and something colorful A green smoothie is a great way to integrate color Integrating more organic whole foods automatically shifts away from sugar intake   The Environmental Working Group: The Clean 15 & The Dirty Dozen The Environmental Working Group has guidelines to help you shop for produce and reduce your chemical and pesticide intake The Clean 15 The Dirty Dozen You can download their app ‘EWG’s Healthy Living’ You can decrease your pesticide exposure by up to 92% by following their guidelines Children with higher percentages of pesticide exposure have higher rates of ADHD The EWG also has resources to point parents in the right direction for reducing toxicity levels in their personal care products   Where to learn more about Sheila Kilbane sheilakilbane.com Twitter: @SheilaKilbaneMD Instagram: @sheilakilbanemd Facebook Sheila's Book on Amazon  Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook drbeurkens.com Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Rev. Mantu Joshi, an author, minister, and instructor on disability at Western Michigan University. He is the facilitator for Family Foundations at the First United Methodist Church. He has been a resident chaplain with the Oregon Burn Center and Randall Children's hospital, and has appeared numerous times nationally on NPR. He is author of the popular book, "The Resilient Parent: Everyday Wisdom for Life with Your Exceptional Child", which ADDitude Magazine has called one of the eight most important books for parents. In this episode, Mantu and I discuss how parents can find resilience through mindfulness, especially for those who have children with special needs, sensory issues or disorders. Mantu offers personal insight as a special needs parent and enforces parents with the confidence, tools, and tips they need to acknowledge and accept their feelings. Parents often place the needs of their children above themselves, disregarding their feelings out of guilt leading to heightened anxiety and depression. Defining Resilience Resilience commonly is understood as a bouncing back effect Psychologist Norman Garmezy’s risk assessments studied the ways that people deal with resilience and looked at it as manifest competence despite exposure to significant stressors Becoming a resilient parent Resilience includes the process of change within ourselves, not just a form of bouncing back to where we once were The act of moving forward with change is an acceptance to new growth and who you will become   Dealing With Grief as Parents with Special Needs Children Grief is often overlooked in parents, especially those with children who have special needs Processing and accepting this grief is very important Grief is not only related to the loss of someone in this instance, it applies to all facets of life The four tasks of grief Accepting the reality of the loss Processing the pain of grief Adjusting to the world without that person Maintaining a connection   Helping Parents Acknowledge and Accept Their Feelings Without Guilt Take 5 minutes each day to write down what your expectations were of parenting in one column and another column write what you have actually experienced This allows you to work on acceptance and receive a sense of freedom Also allows your mind to move on and begin to create and cultivate new ideas for your family Remember: It is okay to experience feelings of loss as a parent It often helps lead to you becoming more resilient on your journey of parenthood Each stage of development in your child presents new changes, challenges, and recurring feelings of loss   Practicing Mindfulness Be present to the moment Mindfulness leads to empathy   These factors inhibit your ability to express empathy in the now Practice focusing on the now, not all the whats, ifs, or buts of the future Being present to your child in the stage they are in today Let go of the outside factors, or “the storm”   Two Simple Practices to Create Calm in the Midst of Chaos Keep something symbolic in your pocket or purse that acts as a reminder to help you find your grounding again Simple mind and body practice: Are our eyes soft? Do the muscles around them look relaxed? Are you gritting your teeth? Is your jaw tight? Focus on your tongue and release your jaw while taking deep breaths Concentrate on your tongue and eyes These kinds of practices will aid in re-connecting you to your physical self and allowing you to calm down   Where to learn more about Rev. Mantu Joshi DRT Press Twitter: @resilientparent Mantu Joshi's Facebook Page Mantu’s Youtube Channel Mantu Joshi's Book   Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook drbeurkens.com   Need help with improving your child’s behavior naturally? My book Life Will Get Better is available for purchase, click here to learn more. Looking for more? Check out my Blog and the Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program - a resource guide for parents who want to be more effective with improving their child’s behavior. Interested in becoming a patient? Contact us here.

My guest this week is Jenny Carr, a leading inflammation expert and international best selling author of ‘Piece of Cake: The Secret To An Anti-Inflammatory Diet’. After surviving a near-death experience due to an autoimmune condition, Jenny is on a mission to aid others in healing through teaching how to implement and maintain an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. Jenny specializes in helping children and parents reverse symptoms from chronic illnesses like autoimmune diseases, behavioral disorders, and physical and mental disorders. All without feeling deprived and overwhelmed. In this episode, Jenny and I discuss how incredibly impactful an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle can be for families. Jenny provides parents with practical tips on how to help their children identify, address, and engage in treating inflammation. Children on the spectrum, with ADHD, ADD, anxiety and behavioral challenges have seen life-changing effects by the safe elimination of toxic ingredients such as processed sugars while following an anti-inflammatory diet. Learn more about Jenny here.   What is Inflammation? Acute inflammation - when our body reacts with inflammation to support the healing process occurs when we break an ankle, sprain a wrist, have a cold or flu Chronic inflammation - inflammation that represents ‘toxins’ and shows itself uniquely for each individual whether it be physically or behaviorally Appears uniquely for everyone because it targets areas each individual is susceptible to Can be linked to symptoms such as chronic stomach pains, digestive issues, bloating, headaches, skin conditions Can come from genetic predisposition or overused weakened areas   Chronic Inflammation in Children Inflammation is linked to many different behavioral symptoms Sensory conditions ADHD, ADD Chronic anxiety Depression   Helping Children Find and Understand Inflammation Find ways to help the child understand and identify what is happening with their body. By doing so, the child will feel more invested in making changes to better themselves Ex: Draw a stick figure and have the child point or draw an ‘X’ where they feel something hurts or something is wrong If of writing age, encourage them to write notes of how they are feeling   What Causes Inflammation? Our diet Stray from food-like products and replace with actual whole foods Lack of water consumption We tend to replace water with other beverages like juice, soda, and coffee Water is key to the methylation process in our liver that allows our body to process toxins and inflammations Stress Stress lies at the root of inflammation Societal pressures continue to rise for both adults and children Lack of rest Not getting enough sleep does not allow your body to heal and regenerate the cells needed to help rid the body of toxins Our thoughts or mindfulness Emotional wellbeing links directly to stress levels in both children and adults Environmental toxins Parasites, household cleaning products, personal care products   Top 6 Inflammatory Foods Processed sugar - there are over 50 names of processed sugar! Alcohol Wheat - most wheat is highly genetically modified and processed containing many pesticides Cow Dairy - has large protein molecules that are harder for the body to break down GMO (Genetically modified foods ) - found in wheat, corn, soy, cane sugar Inflammatory Oils - vegetable oil, canola oil, corn oil, and even seed oils Seed oils that have been heated change on a molecular basis and can cause inflammatory responses   Where to Begin: The First Step to an Anti-Inflammatory Diet Instead of trying to cut all inflammatory foods at once and start with the most harmful of them all - processed sugars Cut processed sugars from your diet and swap them with non-inflammatory sugars such as: Pure maple syrup, raw honey, whole, and dried fruits   Sugar Detox Addiction to processed sugars and cravings are very intense when removing them from any diet Have clean sweet treats on hand for you and your child that are made with non-inflammatory ingredients to aid with the transition   The Clean Eating Kid Challenge Visit thecleaneatingkidchallenge.com  to get a FREE copy of Jenny’s advanced reader book where she outlines countless helpful tips for parents and children such as: Helping you improve chronic symptoms in your children Teaching you how to adapt to the anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle Walking you through the grocery store aisle and giving you the tools to know what to buy and what to avoid Steps on how to stop cravings in their tracks, and so much more!   Where to learn more about Jenny Carr Jenny's Website Instagram: @jennycarrhealth Twitter: @jennycarrhealth Jenny’s Facebook Page Jenny Carr's Books on Amazon  

My guest this week is Katie Kimball, a former teacher, blogger and mom of 4 kids who founded the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse. Through her online blog, Kitchen Stewardship, Katie’s discovered that getting kids in the kitchen and teaching them to cook not only builds life skills but is the best way to show kids that they matter and can make a difference in the world. She believes if every child in America was taught to cook, we would smash statistics on childhood obesity, depression, behavior disorders and more. In this episode, Katie and I discuss how the kitchen can be a source of connection, confidence, and creativity. Helping children build life skills in the kitchen yields incredible results, allowing children’s curiosity and creativity to peak by engaging with nutrient-packed vegetables and ingredients. Children with ADHD, behavioral challenge, anxiety, or who are on the Autism spectrum gain independence in the kitchen and conquer fears and anxiety by learning valuable tasks. Learn more about Katie here.   Connection and Confidence in the Kitchen Teaching children real tasks helps them see their potential for independence and it builds lasting trust When children learn to complete tasks from start to finish it gives them pride Helpful for children on the spectrum, with ADHD or other mental health challenges Repetition is key; using repetitive language with fun phrases to go along with actions Bringing children into the kitchen starts the process for positive connection and brain development all the way into adulthood   Teaching A New Skill For successful teaching of a new skill make sure to: Strive to maintain a positive, stress-free environment to avoid negative feelings towards cooking or participation in the kitchen Do not teach a new skill during dinner preparation as it can lead quickly to a stressful environment Once the skill has been learned, efficiency in the kitchen naturally beings to take place   Exposure to Vegetables Helps children who have aversion to vegetables ALL exposure to a variety of these nutritious foods counts in preparing their tolerance Shopping at the farmers market, preparing and serving meals Helps support a healthier lifestyle in the future    Vegetables can be assimilated with a healthy fat to help with bitter taste Dips, butters, etc made of healthy whole fats   Where to Begin Pre-schoolers: Reflect and reinforce lessons being learned at school like small motor skills Pouring, aiming for the center, measuring, being careful Must maintain a happy environment Early Elementary: Reinforce their reading and organization and multi-task skills. Those with maturity and interest can be introduced to working with a small paring knife. How to follow a recipe, organize their supplies, how to make a main dish and side dish simultaneously To introduce using the oven, it is important to practice the steps with the oven off first to help with any previously associated fears This is very important to practice with children who have behavioral disorders and mental health challenges Big Kids: Focus on reinforcing prioritization, challenges and problem-solving. Older children can fully execute a meal   School Lunches Have the kids help out with school lunches the night before it makes the morning rush less frantic Have the bigger kids pack their own and the smaller kids help with prep and putting things in containers   Where to learn more about Katie Kimball Website: kidscookrealfood.com Instagram: @kidscookrealfood Twitter: @kitchenstew Katie Kimball's Facebook Page Katie’s Books on Amazon

My guest this week is Trudy Scott, a certified nutritionist on a mission to educate and empower parents and children who suffer from anxiety. She is known for her expertise in the use of targeted individual amino acids, the social anxiety condition pyroluria and the harmful effects of benzodiazepines. Trudy is the author of The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings. In this episode, Trudy and I discuss the incredible impact that targeted amino acids can have on both children and adults when approached with the right guidance. Trudy shares a few case studies demonstrating the use of amino acids such as Tryptophan, GABA, DPA and more. Connect with Trudy online via her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.   Where does anxiety come from? Trauma Psychological impact Biochemical imbalances   What Are Amino Acids? Amino acids help create and maintain good levels of brain chemicals and neurotransmitters This helps with nutritional deficiencies, such as malabsorption They are the building blocks of proteins i.e. When you consume fish, eggs, red meat - they are broken down into amino acids   Amino Acid Supplements Amino acids such as GABA and Tryptophan can be taken in supplemental form Tryptophan - used to help make Serotonin Serotonin is a calming amino acid that aids in low mood GABA - a neurotransmitter used to control GABA levels, has a calming effect   Assessing Anxiety Caused by Low Serotonin Anxiety symptoms often related to low Serotonin include: Incessant worry, constant re-processing thoughts, insomnia, afternoon/evening cravings, lack of confidence, fearful, phobias, anger issues Upon determining low Serotonin levels an Amino Acid supplement trial can be initiated Case Study example of an 11-year old girl using Tryptophan 5-HTP, also helps with low Serotonin Must be observed carefully within adults in children Often if an amino supplement works with the parents it also works well with the child   Amino Acid In-Office Trial   Chewable or sublingually is best Allows for quick results, 5-10 minutes Sometimes effects are subtle but commonly a noticeable change can be seen This is easier to detect in adults. It may be more difficult for children to express how they are feeling. Level of symptoms will be assessed before and after consuming the amino acid supplement to determine whether the dosage needs to be increased or maintained Visible changes can also be seen in non-verbal children   Anxiety Caused by GABA GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) In children - i.e. poor sleep, holding stomach when anxious or stomach butterflies, tension in shoulders, use of sugary foods to self-medicate In adults - i.e  tension in shoulders, stomach butterflies, using carbs or alcohol to self-medicate tension at end of day Low GABA levels result in physical tension   In-Home Amino Acid Trial ‘GABA Calm’ - sublingual supplement 125 mg low-dose, a good place to start if you are trying at home All types of Amino Acid supplements should not be consumed with meals Example of Mother-Daughter GABA trial Anxiety is often manifested as hyperactivity and can be mistaken for ADHD Trudy’s book is a great guide to approach Aminos at home   Other Amino Acids to Consider Tryptophan - (use the chewable for better taste) Tyrosine - for attention issues DPA - can help to break carb addiction in children who will only eat carbs and dairy. It is an amino acid that raises endorphin levels so we have the feeling of comfort, reward, etc.   Where to Learn More About Trudy Scott Website & Blog Book The Anxiety Summit The Anxiety Nutrition Institute

My guest this week is Judy Converse, a licensed registered dietitian, and nutritionist who works with children of all ages to customize nutrition strategy so that they can learn, grow and thrive. In addition to running her private practice, Nutrition Care For Children, she has published three print books, two e-books, and numerous articles on nutrition support for children with autism, ADHD, allergies, FPIES, growth and feeding issues, behavioral disorders, constipation and more. I hope you'll enjoy this episode learning about the effect of nutrition on children's behavior.  In this episode, Judy and I discuss the incredible power of nutrition and its effect on children's mood and behavior. Judy shares her expertise on how parents can begin to assess their children’s nutrition and what signs to be aware of when nutritional intervention may be necessary. She brings an extensive history of knowledge to the table and even discusses a few case studies where nutritional interventions had a life-changing effect on children in her practice. Learn more about Judy Converse here.    Nutrition Support for Children with Advanced Behavioral Disorders Most physicians do not receive training in nutritional support Your child may look fine on a growth chart but may have a nutritional deficit that’s overlooked. Autism spectrum, ADHD, and sensory processing issues can be addressed with nutritional intervention, however, medication is often the first line of defense.   Assessing Nutrition In Children 1. Assess the Gut and What Their Eating A large body of research shows that the microbiota (or gut bugs) has a direct affect on mood and immune function Find a practitioner who can properly assess your child's gut health. Is the child withholding stool? Are they struggling to eat during the day and have a calorie deficit? This is commonly overlooked.   2. Growth Patterns Often pediatricians will not catch a growth issue unless the child is significantly failing on the growth chart. Are they sleeping well?   3. Iron Status Being marginal for iron status, pre-anemia Functioning falters and could affect a child's ability to learn, specifically in math Children need iron to make and break down serotonin and dopamine (these affect mood and focus)   Kids Need Fat and Carbs Use clean carbs like fruits and veggies vs processed foods high in sugar Carbs are important for energy output Before putting your child on a restrictive diet be sure to discuss with a nutrition expert or practitioner   Why Working with a Professional is Essential When diets are improperly applied, a host of other issues may surface For example, diets may change growth patterns, affecting how bones are mineralized and can lead to more fractures in children   What Parents Can Do at Home Before Seeking Professional Intervention Shift away from processed foods and prepare more whole foods to eat Cut out glyphosate, GMO, and pesticides (these are typically found in processed food) These ingredients can often trigger ADHD symptoms Create a healthy mindset around food Make food fun vs harping on which foods are “bad.” Celebrate healthier food Nutrition is Powerful Children with mental health issues can be drastically helped by diving deeper with nutritional interventions Nutritional intervention may aid in the removal of medication overall, or help find the appropriate blend by optimizing their nutrition and balancing it with the correct medication vs. relying on medication alone to solve the problem Nutritional interventions should not be overlooked for even the most fragile cases Where to Learn More About Judy Converse MPH, RD, LDN NutritionCare.net Judy Converse Books on Amazon Facebook Instagram Twitter

Our guest this week is Lori Petro, the founder of TEACH through Love, and the creator of Conscious Communication Cards. Lori is dedicated to helping parents learn to communicate without blame, shame, judgment, and guilt. She created TEACH through Love as an online resource for conscious parenting, offering non-punitive and trauma-informed education and support. In this episode, Lori and I discuss the importance of parent-child communication and how it affects children's behavior and development. Lori introduces her concept of ‘Conscious Communication’ and ‘quality feedback’. She provides us with useful tips to help navigate and implement these skills in order to help improve the parent-child relationship, strengthen children’s neural connections and improve their overall behavior.  Learn more about Lori Petro here. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. What is Conscious Communication? Becoming aware and present of the words we are using Giving quality feedback   Assessing Communication Why am I feeling deregulated that my child isn’t listening to me right now? Why is my stress level rising? Why can’t I stay confident and calm when I am setting limits? Why do I get triggered so much?   Are you using reactive phrases? Reactive communication Things that do not reflect conscious communication i.e blaming, shaming, judging Spitting out directions: “Hurry up!”, “Why aren’t you done?” When communicating this way, even when coming from the best intentions, parents must ask themselves how the message is translating to their child   How to Give Quality Feedback Offering the child a chance to respond and give you information about what they need Restraining from giving directives or judging their behavior Ex: “I noticed your backpack is at the door. We’ve got 5 minutes to leave, how can I help?”   Lori’s Three-Prong Approach to Assess Behavioral Issues SUPPORT - are the parent and child connected? STRESS - is this child sensory or cognitively overwhelmed? SKILLS- is this a time where the parent must set limits to help them build or grow in a skill i.e. focus, attention, responsibility How Conscious Communication Can Help Neurological Development Kids tend to thrive mentally, physically and emotionally When parents respond to their children with empathy, they help strengthen the neuro-connectors in their brain. Punitive Behavioral Approaches Can Be Harmful to Parent-child Relationship Children who are highly sensitive, trigger easily, are on the autism spectrum, or have experienced trauma This could lead to hard-wiring of negative behavior, even when your intentions are coming from a good place Where to learn more? teach-through-love.com Twitter: @TEACHthruLove  Facebook: facebook.com/TEACHthroughLOVE/