The Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole Beurkens

My guest this week is Amanda Morgan, who holds a BA in both elementary and early childhood education and an MS in family and human development. Her past experience includes teaching in public, private, and migrant school settings as well as teaching preschoolers, grade-schoolers, college students, teachers, and parents. She writes, speaks, and trains on the topic of intentional, whole child development and is the creator of the blog, Not Just Cute. In her free time, she can usually be found exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four boys or procuring copious amounts of chocolate. In this episode, Amanda and I discuss what developmentally appropriate practices are and how they are essential for our children's individual learning and development process. Often children are faced with expectations in the classroom that are far from where they stand developmentally resulting in behavioral issues and developmental delays. These issues occur starting in pre-school and often carry into high school levels. Learn more as Amanda helps navigate and explain the why's of our school system expectations and how parents and teachers can advocate for their children and students. To learn more about Amanda click here. Episode Highlights Developmentally Appropriate Practice Taking what we know about how children grow and learn and ensuring those principals and understandings are being applied within the home and school environments Respecting childhood in and of itself and for each individual learner Results of Shift in School Expectations Behavior issues become an immediate problem when school expectations do not "match" where they are developmentally This simply relates to the fact that these children are not the actual age they are expecting to be at Expecting a 3-yr to act like a 6-yr old only ends in frustration for both involved Inappropriate academic expectations usually take the place of play and social skills and interactions Academic struggle results from this as children miss the hands-on play experiences before jumping to performance-based tasks like worksheets etc. How Did We End Up Here? When we start to work from fear, competition, and comparison we realize how we are poorly focused only on performance and testing What Can We Do To Address This? As parents: where can we slow down in our home and offer outlets for more movement or sensory interactions? Looking to address whatever it is they need more or less of Do not understand your voice as a parent for your child and their peers to administration, never stop advocating As teachers: Use your knowledge on developmentally-appropriate practices and get creative with the "homework" that is required instead of the routine textbook worksheets Amanda's example: former 2nd-grade teacher of her son gave assignments on a point system of completion with activities to do while at home such as; help your family make dinner, take care of your animal, play outside, help a neighbor Where to learn more about Amanda Morgan… Not Just Cute Blog Why We Play Twitter Facebook 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. Mahmoud Ghannoum, a world-renowned microbiome researcher who named the mycobiome and founder of the leading antifungal clinical testing company, Next Trillion Sciences. Dr. Ghannoum lectures extensively across the world on the microbiome from the Pasteur Institute in France to the National Institute of Health (NIH). His work has been published in over 450 peer-reviewed papers and cited over 21,000 times. Dr. Ghannoum has been actively funded by the NIH continuously since 1991 for his work studying the fungal and bacterial communities in our body and has been involved in the development of 95% of the antifungals that have come to market since the 1990s. In this episode, Dr. Ghannoum and I discuss the importance of understanding and balancing good bacteria and fungi for your child's gut microbiome. Assessing gut health in children plays an important role in their overall health, especially for children with behavioral disorders such as ADD, ADHD, and autism. Imbalances in the gut like candida overgrowth can surface in a variety of symptoms such as irritability, hyperactivity, stomach aches, diarrhea, pain, and fatigue. To learn more about balancing your family's gut health and Dr. Ghannoum and his latest book, Total Gut Balance, click here. Episode Highlights The Good vs. Bad in the Mycobiome Low levels or abundance of candida can help us break down complex molecules and nutrients that we eat like complex carbohydrates Saccharomyces Boulardii or baker's yeast is good yeast in our body that can keep candida under control The candida levels are high and create an overgrowth Disruptors of Our Fungal Community Over the counter products such as non-steroidal analgesic or painkillers and antacids Excessive stress levels Lack of a balanced diet and exercise Destressors For Kids and Adults Spending time outdoors Playing in the yard and being exposed to dirt helps diversify the microbiome Taking walks or hikes together as a family Engaging in less screen time activity and more physical outdoor activity Signs of an Imbalanced Gut Listen to your body Take note of signs of fatigue, pain, diarrhea, stomach issues, etc. If possible, you can have your stool tested to analyze your gut health See Dr. Ghannoum's guide in his new book, Total Gut Balance Where to learn more about Dr. Ghannoum... Dr. Microbiome Website Dr. Ghannoum's Publications Total Gut Balance Book Facebook 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 Ari Whitten a best-selling author and the creator of the Energy Blueprint system. He is an energy and fatigue specialist who focuses on taking an evidence-based approach to energy enhancement. He's also the host of the extremely popular Energy Blueprint Podcast, which brings together leading experts on the subject of fatigue and energy enhancement to talk about their approach to health optimization. For the last 5 years, he's been working with the world's top fatigue experts to develop the most comprehensive program in the world on the science of overcoming fatigue and increasing energy -- The Energy Blueprint. To learn more about Ari Whitten click here.

My guest this week is Julie Pate, a Certified Yoga Therapist who has been teaching yoga to children and adults since 1999. As the Event and Sales Manager of YogaKids International, Jule is currently pursuing a Masters in Counseling at National Louis University and plans to pursue a career merging traditional counseling with the healing tools of yoga. In this episode, Julie and I discuss the powerful benefits of yoga for children's health and behavior. To learn more about YogaKids click here. Where to learn more about Julie Pate and Yoga Kids... Facebook Twitter

My guest this week is Summer Bock, a trained herbalist certified in integrative nutrition through Columbia University. A raver in her early twenties, devastating allergies emerged that left her exhausted, hive-ridden, and only able to consume 30 foods without a reaction - an outlook that stumped the medical community. Leveraging her background in microbiology and fascination with gut health, Summer healed herself through research and formulation of various digestive bitters, which she now produces for her Guts & Glory Apothecary online. Summer Bock coined the phrase "Gut Rebuilding", which is now cornerstone terminology in the integrative health conversation. She is the founder of the Fermentationist Certification Program. In this episode, Summer and I discuss how parents can incorporate and use fermented foods to support their child's mental, physical and gut health. Where to learn more about Summer Bock... Guts & Glory Instagram Facebook Twitter 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 Mara Fleishman who turned her passion for healthy and sustainable food into a career by taking a position leading the marketing efforts for Whole Foods Market on the East Coast and in Europe. For nearly six years, she worked to raise awareness of the importance of eating fresh, healthy food. After a move to Boulder, Colorado, Fleishman decided to join her kindergartener for lunch at school one day. Shocked by the highly processed, high-sugar lunch that she and her daughter were served, she began her crusade to reform school food. In 2013, Fleishman left her position as Global Director of Partnerships with Whole Foods Market to work on school food reform in a full-time capacity as CEO of the Chef Ann Foundation. With three kids ranging from ages eight to eighteen, Mara brings a parent's awareness to her work and writes about school food through that lens. Her current and archived blog posts are available on The Lunch Line. In this episode, Mara and I discuss the reality of school food programs across the United States and how parents can advocate for healthier options within their children's school district. Where to learn more about Mara Fleishman... Chef Ann Foundation The Lunch Box Program Instagram Facebook Twitter 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. Kendra Becker, a board-certified integrated physician who specializes in MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase), fertility and treatment of "the 4As" (asthma, autism, allergies, atopy/eczema). Dr. Becker is adjunct Faculty at 2 prominent universities, where she teaches to physicians, medical students, precepts students, doctors and nurse practitioners. She lectures nationwide on topics such as autism, the immune system, MTHFR and genetic mutations that have health implications. Dr. Becker is the author of "A Delicious Way to Heal the Gut", "All you CAN Eat" and was chosen as one of Connecticut's "Top Naturopathic Doctors" and 10 Best APRNs. In this episode, Dr. Becker and I discuss how nutrition and diet impact sensory processing issues in children. Dr. Becker shares with the audience the top food and environmental aggressors for sensory processing systems and what actions parents can take to help their children. Children who suffer from sensory integration problems can experience sound, touch and motion sensitivities, as well as, physical symptoms such as poor gait, balance, gut and respiratory issues. Children who suffer from sensory integration issues that experience the above symptoms may greatly benefit from nutritional and environmental interventions. To learn more about Dr. Becker click here. Where to learn more about Dr. Kendra Becker... DrKendraBecker.com Instagram Facebook 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. Mona Delahooke, a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience caring for children and their families. Dr. Delahooke is a senior faculty member of the Profectum Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting families of neurodiverse children, adolescents, and adults. She holds the highest level of endorsement in the field of infant and toddler mental health in California, as a Reflective Practice Mentor (RPM). She is a frequent speaker, trainer, and consultant to parents, organizations, schools, and public agencies. Dr. Delahooke has dedicated her career to promoting compassionate, relationship-based neurodevelopmental interventions for children with developmental, behavioral, emotional, and learning differences. She is the author of Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges. In this episode, Dr. Delahooke and I break down the brain science behind children's mood and behavior. Often we approach our child's actions as intentional or deliberate when they are misbehaving or reacting to a situation when many times there are underlying reasons that explain the action that they are unable to communicate. Dr. Delahooke helps us understand these emotions by explaining the brain science behind children's actions with concepts like 'neuroception' allowing us to better approach and help our children with love and support. Where to learn more about Dr. Mona Delahooke... Monadelahooke.com Dr. Delahooke's Books Instagram Twitter Facebook 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. Joe Tatta, a pioneering expert in lifestyle interventions for treating persistent pain. Dr. Tatta has 25 years of experience in physical therapy, integrative models of pain care, leadership and private practice innovation. He holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist and has trained extensively in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Tatta is the Founder of the Integrative Pain Science Institute, a company dedicated to reinventing pain care through education, research, and professional training. Dr. Tatta is the author of the bestselling book, 'Heal Your Pain Now', and host of 'The Healing Pain Podcast' which features interviews and free training from respected pain experts. In this episode, Dr. Tatta and I discuss how parents can understand and properly address chronic pain in their children and family. Dr. Tatta shares common pain symptoms children experience, such as, tension or migraine headaches, gastrointestinal or gut abdominal pain, lower back pain, and chronic regional pain syndrome. He sheds light on surprising research links to increased pain persistency in children and provides parents with resources and tips on how to normalize their child's life again when dealing with chronic pain issues. Where to learn more about Dr. Joe Tatta... Integrative Pain Science Institute drjoetatta.com Instagram Twitter Facebook 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 Brooke Alpert, a certified holistic cannabis practitioner, a nationally recognized nutrition expert, and a best-selling author. She is the founder of B Nutritious, a private nutrition counseling and consulting practice in New York City. Brooke's interest in cannabis, particularly in CBD came from trying to help her husband manage his debilitating autoimmune disease. Seeing what CBD could do for her husband, Brooke brought CBD into her private practice and saw many of her client's overall wellness improve. Having to navigate her husband and her clients through all the options and seeing how so many of the products out there were not adequate, lead Brooke to create her own brand of CBD products, called Daily Habit. In this episode, Brooke and I discuss the importance of quality ingredients, proper usage and benefits of CBD for children and adults. CBD's benefits are unique to each user aiding various issues such as stress, anxiety, sleep, behavioral and mood disorders. To learn more about Brooke Alpert click here. Where to learn more about Brooke Alpert... Daily Habit CBD Instagram Facebook 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 Melissa Gallico, a former military intelligence officer, Fulbright scholar, and author. While serving as an intelligence specialist at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Melissa instructed classes for FBI analysts at Quantico and provided analytic support for national security investigations. She is the author of The Hidden Cause of Acne and host of The Gallico Show, a podcast dedicated to exposing the pollution story behind artificial water fluoridation in the United States. Melissa graduated with honors from Georgetown University and has a master's degree from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. In this episode, Melissa and I discuss the surprising side effects that fluoride can have on our family's health. Melissa shares with the audience how to recognize these effects and what parents can do to minimize fluoride exposure in the home. Children and adults with excessive fluoride exposure may suffer from dental fluorosis, low thyroid function, acne, and experience neurotoxic effects or worsening symptoms to an existing behavioral or mood disorder. Over 70% of public water supplies in the United States are artificially fluoridated. To learn more about Melissa Gallico click here. Episode Highlights Why We Should Be Concerned Fluoride in our drinking water is not only affecting our teeth Fluoride can have neurotoxic effects on children It can show up as skin problems such as acne, hives, skin rashes or even gastrointestinal problems Research has shown that fluoride can affect your IQ and influence ADHD hyperactivity Ways to See Fluoride Overexposure When children are overexposed to fluoride while their teeth are forming they can develop dark brown stains or white spots/flecks on the tooth enamel called dental fluorosis Ask your child's dentist if they see any signs of dental fluorosis Test thyroid function as it is often tied to overexposure Mood disorders that can appear as behavior problems in children such as, irritability and agitated behavior Sources of Fluoride Fluoridated water, toothpaste, products and beverages made in or with fluoridated water such as tea or boxed cereals Fluoride is also used as a pesticide and foods such as grapes or grape products such as juices or raisins have high fluoride levels Ways to Minimize Exposure Find a source of fluoride-free water for drinking Replace your traditional toothpaste for a fluoride-free toothpaste Check your prescription drugs for fluoride and speak with your doctor about alternatives options Take the 30-day challenge Where to learn more about Melissa Gallico... Hidden Cause of Acne Book Fluoride Pollution Website 30-Day Fluoride Free Challenge Instagram Twitter Facebook 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. Elisa Song, MD is a holistic pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, and mama. In her integrative pediatric practice, Whole Family Wellness, she's helped 1000s of kids get to the root causes of their health concerns and helped their parents understand how to help their children thrive – body, mind, and spirit – by integrating conventional pediatrics with functional medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and essential oils. Dr. Song has lectured around the world on integrative pediatrics topics for multiple podcasts and summits, Fx Medicine Australia, Bioceuticals Australia, Integrative Medicine for Mental Health, The Center for Education and Development of Clinical Homeopathy, Academy for Pain Research, Center for Advanced Acupuncture Pediatrics, Institute for Functional Medicine, and Holistic Pediatric Association. Dr. Song created Healthy Kids Happy Kids as an online holistic pediatric resource to help practitioners and parents bridge the gap between conventional and integrative pediatrics with an evidence-based, pediatrician-backed approach. In this episode, Dr. Song and I discuss how parents can recognize, assess and act on the common symptoms of the growing illness PANS/PANDAS. Dr. Song defines PANS/PANDAS and shares the common realities that families dealing with this illness face. She breaks down her 6-step treatment approach for the audience and provides incredible insight, tips, and resources for families. Children suffering from PANS/PANDAS experience brain inflammation commonly referred to as "brain fire" and resulting in neuropsychiatric symptoms. To learn more about Dr. Elisa Song click here. Episode Highlights What is PANS/PANDAS? PANS, Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome An umbrella term for a set of conditions that causes an acute-onset of tics, OCD, behavioral issues, and cognitive processing problems There are infectious triggers for PANS and non-infectious triggers for PANS When the infectious trigger is strep we call it PANDAS There are various infections that implicate PANS, such as influenza, herpes 1, 2, and 6 (roseola virus), HFM virus, Epstein-barr (mono virus), and Lyme disease and its co-infections Non-infectious triggers such as environmental toxins, molds, heavy metals, and even metabolic disorders The underlying commonality between all of these is 'autoimmune encephalitis' itis - means inflammation Encephalitis - means brain inflammation Common Symptoms Anxiety, ticks, food restrictions or phobias around food, urinary frequency and urge with little urine production, motor problems (handwriting declining) and processing problems Assessing PANS/PANDAS It is important to note that PANS/PANDAS is a clinical diagnosis However, there are clues to help assess and determine this diagnosis Testing their reaction and results to anti-inflammatory medication Using the anti-DNase B strep antibody marker and the Cunningham panel which looks at autoimmune antibodies Dr. Song's Treatment Approach For practitioners, refer to the PANDAS Physicians Network for consensus diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines First step is to use health and medical history to be the guide in finding the underlying cause in what exactly needs to be treated Address that "brain fire" by treating the inflammation with natural methods before turning to and relying on long-term NSAIDs or using antibiotics Omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin or turmeric, eating clean whole foods and cutting out processed foods and sugars Working with an integrative functional medicine practitioner to help guide you through the proper steps to identify and treat underlying imbalances such as gut dysfunction, nutritional insufficiencies, food sensitivities, leaky gut, detoxification issues, methylation and mitochondrial problems Work with the schools to ensure they are equipped to meet the needs of the child Use homeopathy tools, essentials oils, acupuncture, acupressure, and cranial osteopathy Where to learn more about Dr. Elisa Song... Healthy Kids Happy Kids Website Instagram Twitter Facebook The Thriving Child Community 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 Peter Sullivan, the founder, and CEO of Clear Light Ventures, Inc. and environmental health funder who focuses on toxins and wireless safety. Peter has spent the last 15 years successfully recovering his two sons from autism and sensory issues and recovered from his own environmental health issues. Peter's work on detoxification and EMF (electromagnetic fields) has been featured in the book Toxin Toxout, the book The Out of Sync Child Grows Up, Mother Jones magazine, Paleo Magazine, and CNN's Morgan Spurlock: Inside Man. Peter serves as a board advisor to Pure Earth (pollution.org), and the International Institute for Building-Biology Ecology. He is an executive producer of the documentary "Generation Zapped", about the health effects of wireless, and co-executive producer of the film "The Devil We Know" about Teflon pollution. He also served as an Executive Officer and pilot in the United States Navy. In this episode, Peter and I discuss the effects that electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure can play in your family's health and behavior. Peter shares with the audience practical and effective tips that parents can start using immediately to reduce exposure in the household. Insomnia, ear-ringing, anxiety, headaches, attention and memory problems, depression, and sperm damage have been shown as common side effects to excessive EMF exposure. To learn more about these effects and Peter Sullivan click here. Where to learn more about Peter Sullivan... Clear Light Ventures Instagram Twitter Facebook 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. Stephanie Seneff, a Senior Research Scientist at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. She has a BS degree from MIT in biology and a Ph.D. from MIT in electrical engineering and computer science. Her recent interests have focused on the role of toxic chemicals and micronutrient deficiencies in health and disease, with a special emphasis on the pervasive herbicide, Roundup, and the mineral, sulfur. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal papers over the past few years on these topics. In this episode, Dr. Seneff and I discuss the prevalent use of glyphosate in the United States and how it can affect our family's health and behavior. Studies show numerous links to this toxic herbicide in relation to neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders such as autism, ADHD, and ADD. Annually, exposure to glyphosate continues to rise with the incessant use of Roundup in crops across the nation. To learn more about this epidemic, how you can protect your family and more about Dr. Stephanie Seneff, click here. Episode Timestamps Episode Intro … 00:00:30 What Is Glyphosate? … 00:07:45 Glyphosate Toxic Buildup In Our Food … 00:19:40 Gluten and Dairy Glyphosate Exposure… 00:22:00 Link To Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Disorders .. 00:24:13 Genetic and Environmental Susceptibility ... 00:29:40 Reducing Exposure to Glyphosate ... 00:31:30 Episode Wrap Up … 00:37:16 Episode Highlights What Is Glyphosate? A non-coding synthetic amino acid that does not exist in nature It is a threatening toxin to the body because it causes the body to confuse it for glycine causing disruption It is commonly used as the main chemical ingredient to kill weeds in the herbicide Roundup Link To Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Disorders Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and melatonin needed to regulate our mood, anxiety, and arousal levels are directly impacted by glyphosate exposure Reducing Exposure to Glyphosate The more whole food and organic choices we can make the better Detoxing from glyphosate can be difficult but the following types of foods and minerals can help Cruciferous vegetables Fermented foods Bentonite clay Fulvic and humic acids Where to learn more about Dr. Stephanie Seneff... Dr. Seneff's Site Facebook 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 Suzie Carpenter, the author of On The Bright Side, a best selling memoir documenting the emotional journey of parenting a daughter with autism. After her daughter Kelly spent five years on antifungals, while also following the very restrictive Specific Carbohydrate Diet, Suzie learned a new approach to healing the gut through membrane medicine. She then began to incorporate this approach to help alleviate her own chronic health issues. A pioneer in the grain-free and Paleo movement, Suzie has worked with hundreds of clients to strategize how to implement dietary changes with ease. While Suzie is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in the dietary aspects of managing symptoms of autism, her true passion lies with lighting the spark within. Instead of being the food police, she transformed the necessity of eating healthy into empowering her daughter to be her happiest self. In this episode, Suzie and I discuss tips and strategies for parents managing a child with dietary restrictions. Suzie offers encouraging, practical, and functional advice that assist parents as they work with and empower their children to find the best nutritional practices for their behavioral challenges. Children on the spectrum, with ADHD, ADD, anxiety and behavioral challenges experience vast improvements to their symptoms when addressing their specific nutritional needs. To learn more about Suzie Carpenter click here. Episode Highlights Independence In Teenage Years It is important for parents to be aware of their own triggers Ex. The need to be in control and making all the decisions Working and communicating with your child to understand the consequences of certain food choices will empower them to make the right choices when they are alone Understand that mistakes made by either the parent do not have to be roadblocks Have a "post" plan in place for any situation that has gone awry so that everyone has a course of action Journaling For Parents and Children Journaling serves as a wonderful example of previous situations to help inform decision making in the future Use your phone to take initial notes and then take the time to write them down later in a physical journal This can help emotionally process and engrave these notes into your memory Suzie's Most Helpful Tips Keeping open communication with your child is key Being prepared and syncing schedules helps so meals don't get off track and less backtracking occurs Encouraging independent choices such as choosing their snack at school or helping to pack their lunch Getting to a place where you are no longer playing the role of the food police Teaching and working through mindset for yourself and your child Where to learn more about Suzie Carpenter... Suzie's Book suziecarpenter.com Instagram: @suziecarpenterhealth Twitter: @suziecarpenter On The Bright Side Facebook Group 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. Vaughn Lauer, an educator with over thirty years of experience in the field of special education. Working as a teacher, a university instructor, and a building, district and state administrator in the field of public education, Dr. Lauer's experience spans all levels of education from preschool to university. He has presented at the state, national and international levels and authored a book on collaborative IEP development called 'When the School Says No: How To Get the Yes'. In this episode, Dr. Lauer and I discuss how parents can better facilitate their Individualized Educational Program (IEP) meetings to target their child's specific needs. Dr. Lauer breaks down his six key questions and provides parents with the resources to take these steps and effectively implement them on their own. Dr. Lauer's programs were created to combat the common difficulties encountered in the special education system by institutions, teachers, and parents alike to ensure the common goal of understanding, assessing and tending to each child's individual needs. To learn more about Dr. Lauer click here. Episode Highlights 6 Key Questions to Utilize in IEP Meetings First, establish IEP etiquette before the meeting begins and then follow the questions in order 1. What do we know? 2. Where do we need to go? 3. How will we get there? 4. How do we know we're getting there? 5. How do we know we've arrived? 6. Where do we go from here? Detailed steps and tips to this process can be found in Dr. Lauer's book IEP Etiquette Rules set in place for a successful meeting By setting these rules and allowing everyone to have a say on what will be effective questions for the meeting at hand, collaboration naturally ensues This subtle collaboration is based on asking questions versus telling someone what to do A key rule to keep no matter what is to stay on topic Where to learn more about Dr. Vaughn Lauer... Dr. Lauer's Book IEP Help Facebook Special Education Decoder System 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. James Adams, the director of the Autism/Asperger's research program at Arizona State University. As the father of an adult daughter with autism, Dr. Adams' research shifted to focus on the medical causes of autism and how to treat and prevent it. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific articles, including over 40 related to autism. Dr. Adams is the president of the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix, the president of the Autism Nutrition Research Center, the co-leader of the scientific advisory committee of the Autism Research Institute and chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Neurological Health Foundation. In this episode, Dr. Adams and I discuss the cutting edge research of fecal transplant therapy, better known in his study as, microbiota transplant therapy. Dr. Adams shares detailed results from the study showing significant and continued improvement of gastrointestinal issues in its participants, as well as, major improvements in their autism symptoms. To learn more about James Adams and the future of this study for helping those struggling with autism click here. Episode Highlights What Is Microbiota Transplant Therapy? Taking bacteria from a healthy gut and transferring to an unhealthy gut This therapy is targeted at helping those with severe gastrointestinal issues and autism symptoms Study Results for Microbiota Transplant Therapy At the start of the study, 80% of participants were considered to have severe autism, by the end of the study roughly 15% were severe Participants showed an 80% reduction of gastrointestinal symptoms that they suffered from since infancy 2-year follow up study showed that participants maintained roughly a 60% reduction of GI symptoms and an overall average of 47% decrease in autism symptoms Importance of Donor Health This type of procedure must be done under strict regulations for very healthy donor selections This particular study's screening process is so rigorous that 90% of the general population is screened out The difference of this procedure is that there is one donor per recipient unlike donations such as blood, that pool from hundreds of donors to create blood products Where to learn more about Dr. James Adams... Autism Research Program Facebook Adams Autism Research 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. Kellyann Petrucci, celebrity weight-loss expert, and natural anti-aging specialist. Dr. Kellyann teaches patients and viewers how to become slimmer, younger faster. As one of the Resident Nutritionist and health experts for the Dr. Oz show, she appears regularly on national media, making appearances on Good Morning America, including The Doctors, and hosting her critically acclaimed PBS Special - 21 Days to a Slimmer, Younger You. She is the author of nine books, including the New York Times bestseller, and international sensation, The Bone Broth Diet. In this episode, Dr. Kellyann and I discuss the immense health benefits of bone broth and how to incorporate it into your child's diet with ease. Dr. Kellyann breaks down simple techniques on how to make the most nutrient-dense bone broth and explains why quality ingredients are key. Children and adults can greatly benefit from the nutrients found in bone broth to help promote healthy brain function and regulate mood and behavior. To learn more about Dr. Kellyann Petrucci click here. Episode Highlights What Is Bone Broth? Made from simmering bones in water, with or without meat for extended cooking times ranging from 8 to 24+ hours The extended cooking time helps pull the nutrition out of the bones Benefits of Bone Broth Collagen in bone broth helps burn body fat and create lean muscle mass. It is rich in hyaluronic acid helping to beautify skin Contains the amino acids glycine and proline, aiding in the liver to remove toxins from the body Great levels of minerals that we are typically deficient in like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus Why Should Kids Have Bone Broth? Minerals and amino acids support healthy brain function and mental health in children Magnesium deficiency is extremely common It is a calming mineral which helps emotional and behavioral regulation Importance of Quality Ingredients Invest in your proteins Buying pasture-raised, grass-fed, organic products ensure that you are getting quality ingredients when making bone broth Remember that you will absorb the health of the animal you consume When quality proteins are on sale, stock up and freeze them for later use Daily Dose of Collagen After age 20 we begin to lose collagen each year It is low in allergens, making it appropriate for many who have special food sensitivities Daily intake of collagen can reduce inflammation, ease joint pain, and reduce symptoms of autoimmune disease Bone Broth for Gut Health Can help in the rebuilding and healing of gut health and digestive issues The glycine found in bone broth is anti-inflammatory, fighting chronic inflammation and protecting the gut helping it heal faster Incorporating Bone Broth into Children's Diets Starting with chicken bones can be an easier starting point for children who are not yet accustomed to bone broth flavor Where to learn more about Dr. Kellyann Petrucci... drkellyann.com Twitter Instagram Facebook Dr. Kellyann's Books 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 Tom Malterre, a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner whose fascination with nutrition started with his family doctor, Dr. John McDougall of the Forks Over Knives acclaim. Since then, he has attained two nutritional science degrees from Bastyr University, certification from the Institute for Functional Medicine, has co-authored three books, worked as a medical affairs member at Thorne Research and is now an educator for the Institute for Functional Medicine. In this episode, Tom and I discuss how an elimination diet is an effective tool for a variety of children's neurological and behavioral disorders. Tom provides the audience with years of professional experience, success, and insight on the best practices for the elimination diet and tips on where and how to begin. Parents looking to try the elimination diet themselves or in their family will greatly benefit from the guidance Tom and his wife Alissa have prepared in multiple free resources online and through their various publications. To learn more click here. Episode Highlights What Is The Elimination Diet? A simple and powerful process of removing potentially problematic foods from your diet until your symptoms subside This process is most effectively done by the use of healthy whole foods Learn more about Tom and Alissa's elimination diet approach here But My Kid Doesn't Have Allergies It is important to know that there are different types of immunologic reactions for every individual Your child may not have allergies but they can still have reactions and intolerances Example: Your child has loose stools or becomes moodier after having apple juice or apple sauce. They might have a reaction that does not stimulate their immune system. They could be reacting to a fructose intolerance that is in the apples Example: Gluten sensitivities - 6% of the population has a non-celiac wheat sensitivity and there are no actual tests that can be run for this An IGG panel would not be able to show this result An elimination diet can allow these types of reactions to be discovered Sensitivity Testing There are nuances to each test that can vary by lab, by company or brand Example: one companies labs may pick up soy and corn better than another Even when running an IGG panel it is possible to receive incomplete results Time Between Ingestion & Symptoms Delayed sensitivity reactions - your body may take time to have an immune or intolerance response Once an antibody is released or an imbalance has occurred it can take days, weeks and sometimes even months for things to calm or return to normal in order to have a clean slate to reintroduce foods Cutting out any one particular food or potential aggressor must be done with dedication and time Trying to remove the item for a week most likely will not be enough time Top Offenders to Remove The top 6 to remove: gluten, dairy, eggs, yeast, corn, and soy Ideal to remove them for about a month Truly eliminating them is tough when eating out and shopping Do your due diligence in researching items and whole foods that fit the criteria If you are able to remove all the top aggressors you will spend your time and efforts more effectively, most especially in the reintroduction phase in discovering what your body is reacting to Reintroduction Process After removing for about a months time, your symptoms have cleared and calmed then you can reintroduce one food at a time every 3 days and wait to see if symptoms begin to reappear You then leave that offending food for a longer period, 3-6 months before addressing and adding it back in your diet Where to learn more about Tom Malterre... Whole Life Nutrition Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Tom and Alissa's Books PubMed Article 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. Josh Friedman, a Licensed Psychologist, Holistic Health Counselor, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, and yoga teacher. Early in his career as a psychologist, Dr. Friedman quickly discovered something was missing from traditional mental health treatment. Curiosity and a chance meeting led him to discover nutritional psychology, which resulted in extensively furthering his studies to help patients grow and heal their psychological issues by addressing underlying biochemical and nutritional deficiencies. For the last 15 years, he has run a private practice in Omaha, Nebraska called Integrative Psychotherapy of Omaha, combining psychotherapy with nutritional guidance, targeted supplements, yoga stress management tools and the use of specific functional medicine tests to help people identify and correct the root cause of their symptoms. In 2015, he started Alternative Mental Health Solution, a web-based functional medicine coaching business to provide these powerful solutions to a worldwide audience. In this episode, Dr. Friedman and I discuss the world of functional medicine and how practitioners who use this approach have the tools to successfully aid patients to find and address the underlying root causes affecting their health. Dr. Friedman provides incredible insight and witness to the effects of treatment to even the most extreme cases once deemed treatment-resistant. Children and adults suffering from anxiety, depression and other mood issues can greatly benefit from functional and integrative health treatments. To learn more about Dr. Friedman click here. Episode Highlights & Timestamps Episode Intro … 00:00:30 The Journey to Functional Medicine … 00:03:57 Patient Success Story … 00:12:38 "Treatment-resistant" Cases … 00:17:30 Functional Medicine: The Medicine of Why … 00:26:00 Where to Find An Integrative Health Clinician … 00:34:00 Look for someone who is going to ask questions with you to discover and treat the underlying root cause of the issue These sites have lists of practitioners you can search through: Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Website Alternative Mental Health Website Episode Wrap Up … 00:36:12 Where to learn more about Dr. Josh Friedman... Integrative Psychotherapy of Omaha Mood Healing Facebook: Integrative Depressive Solutions 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 Julie Matthews a Certified Nutrition Consultant and published nutrition researcher specializing in complex neurological conditions, particularly autism spectrum disorders. She is the author of the award-winning book, Nourishing Hope for Autism, and co-author of a study proving the efficacy of nutrition and dietary intervention for autism published in the peer-reviewed journal, Nutrients. Julie's approach is based on the BioIndividual Nutrition® needs of each person and stems from her 17 years of work with autism. Using autism as a model for complex chronic disease, her approach and methodology have helped practitioners specializing in varied disorders aid in the improvement of the health and healing of their clients through strategic BioIndividual Nutrition and dietary intervention. Julie has a private nutrition practice in San Francisco, California, and supports families and clinicians from around the world with her nutrition learning tools and professional training courses. In this episode, Julie and I discuss and demystify many popular special diets for children with autism and neurodevelopmental needs. Julie shares her expertise on a variety of diets such as gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, low-oxalate, paleo, & GAPS diets. Children struggling on the Autism spectrum and those with neurodevelopmental needs can greatly benefit from specialized nutritional and dietary interventions that aim to target their specific needs for optimal results. To learn more about Julie click here. Episode Highlights Research On Special Diets for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Needs Research shows that kids with Autism have more gastrointestinal issues Study published in Nutrients based on a multivitamin mineral formula, digestive enzymes, carnitine, epsom salt baths, and a healthy gluten-free, casein-free and soy-free diet After one year: an almost 7 point improvement in non-verbal IQ 4.5 times developmental age improvement Improvements in anxiety, depression, irritability, language and more! Gluten and dairy are two of the most difficult inflammatory foods for the digestive system Soy-Free Diet & Why Any Diet Must Be "Healthy" Soy, is similar to gluten and casein in that it can be difficult to break down and cause inflammation Why a "healthy" diet is important There are countless food products that are labeled and technically free of dairy, gluten, and soy but this does not constitute them as being healthy Many foods contain artificial dyes and flavors which can cause hyperactivity in any child The more organic, the better Avoiding GMOs and pesticides (known neurotoxins) Any time the diet can be healthier, you are going to find a happier and healthier result! Low-Oxalate, Paleo, & GAPS Diets Low- Oxalate Diets (LOD) Reduced consumption of high oxalate foods such as certain greens (ex:spinach), beans, legumes, nuts and nut flours (ex: almond flour) Can help reduce inflammatory symptoms Paleo Diet Grain-free diet which cuts beans, refined sugars, and dairy Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) Diet Grain-free diet which cuts refined carbs, dairy, starchy vegetables and mucilaginous fibers For more information on 'Why Diet Matters' click here. What Is The Right Diet For My Kid? A step-by-step process is best Do your research Evaluate the symptoms Take your time through the process Jumping in to anyone diet without the right steps and you may find yourself or child with other symptoms and issues There is no one right answer or diagnosis for everyone Taking The First Step Avoid junk food, artificial colors, preservatives, and sugars Start with cleaning up the diet you currently have Evaluate what you are feeding you and your child now and see what the differences are before you start a specific diet Where to learn more about Julie Matthews... 6 Nutrition Essentials Guide Nourishing Hope Website Instagram:@juliematthewsnourishinghope Twitter: @nourishinghope Facebook: Nourishing Hope Publications 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 Tara Hunkin, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Certified GAPS Practitioner, Restorative Wellness Practitioner, mother and founder of My Child Will Thrive and host of the 'Autism, ADHD and SPD Summit'. Tara is passionate about helping parents because she has been in their shoes. After doctor visits left her with more questions than answers, Tara realized that it was up to her to figure out how to get her daughter the help she needed. She went on to pursue an education in nutrition with the Nutritional Therapy Association and trained with Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD as a Certified GAPS Practitioner. She is also a student of Julie Matthews, CN with the Bioindividual Nutrition Institute and has completed the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs training, as well as, training with Dr. Mellio through IAFNR to better understand the brain and the applications of functional neurology. In this episode, Tara and I discuss the fundamental foundations for success when parents are setting out on an integrative approach for the treatment of their child's neurodevelopmental disorder. Children diagnosed or suspected with disorders such as autism, ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other learning disabilities can greatly benefit from a guided framework of the integrative approach. To learn more about Tara and access an entire community of support click here. Episode Highlights The Internet & Information Overload The internet provides us with so much information it can be extremely overwhelming for parents searching for ways to help their struggling children As a parent you need to learn many different avenues but using a framework to approach them all will save you time, money, and a lot of excess stress Framework and Tools By beginning an integrative approach with a framework set in place, parents are able to organize and confront treatment with more ease Remember: "There is no clear one solution for every child." - Tara Hunkin Fundamental Foundations of Healing It is easy to forget or disregard fundamental practices before going straight into advanced healing strategies and therapies - the two must go hand and hand to prevent as many setbacks as possible Nutrition is key Keeping the body well-nourished literally feeds every cell in our body and brain Maintain optimal hydration with good quality water sources Ensure that your child is getting enough outdoor time in the fresh air and sunlight igniting their five senses Address your environment, such as the possible toxins in and around your home Finding and implementing appropriate neuro-rehab programs Neuro rehab examples: listening, vision, occupational, and neurofeedback therapies Multiple Protocols & Record-Keeping You are your child's best advocate and record-keeper Having records to refer to for yourself and your practitioner will save you time, money, and grief To help Tara has created a 'Protocol and Therapy Worksheet' It sets out objectives to help track practice, advice from your practitioner and expectations These kinds of record-keeping are essential to approaching an integrative model of treatment The more thorough the history recorded the better you and your practitioner can prepare for and execute treatment plans Working With The Right Practitioner Make sure the practitioner is able to explain to you the aim and goals of the treatment at hand You shouldn't walk out of their office more confused than when you went in When you understand the possibilities and outcomes you are more equipped to push through When you have older children who are able to comprehend the goals and outcomes - they will feel more empowered to make the right decisions if they understand why of the situation Where to learn more about Tara Hunkin... My Child Will Thrive Website Facebook Support Group Instagram:@mychildwillthrive Twitter: @mychildthrive 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. James Greenblatt, chief medical officer and vice president of medical services at Walden Behavioral Care where he provides medical management, leadership, and oversight of eating disorder and psychiatric programs in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Georgia. Dr. Greenblatt also provides eating disorder training for psychiatric residents and child fellows throughout all major universities in New England including Tufts, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Connecticut and the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Greenblatt has educated professionals throughout the United States and Canada on the scientific evidence for integrative medicine in mental health and is the author of six books including two books on eating disorders, "Answers to Anorexia' and "Answers to Binge Eating Disorder". In this episode, Dr. Greenblatt and I discuss how important an integrative treatment approach is for kids and teens struggling with mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, rage, irritability, and bipolar. Dr. Greenblatt shares with us vital information on the types of common vitamin deficiencies that many of these patients have, as well as, what types of tests can be run to ensure they are properly evaluated. Kids and teens lacking Vitamin D, B12, magnesium, zinc, and nutritional Lithium often have a variety of mood disorder symptoms present. Learn more about Dr. Greenblatt here. Episode Highlights Traditional vs. Integrative Psychiatry In traditional medicine, for example, the diagnosis of depression is based on a list of symptoms In integrative medicine, questioning as to why these symptoms are occurring works to uncover the root cause of the issue versus immediately prescribing an anti-depressant Common Causes for Mood Issues Elevation levels in heavy metals like lead and copper Deficiencies in Vitamin D, B12, and gut issues Testing and Evaluating Lab Reports Testings to consider: A blood test to evaluate vitamin levels, essential fats, amino acids Gut bacteria assessment through urine and stool tests Evaluating levels of heavy metals through hair analysis Evaluating lab reports The ranges present that many clinicians may deem as "normal" may need further interpretation as many clinical symptoms can also be found within these ranges from an integrative approach Helpful Nutrients for Mood Issues Magnesium, zinc, Vitamins D and B12 Lithium, a natural element, is often shown as a deficiency in kids with mood disorders, particularly those with anger and irritability symptoms Prescription Lithium vs. Nutritional Lithium Prescription Lithium, or lithium carbonate Lithium has been used as a medication since the 1970s It is commonly used and very effective for bipolar patients Nutritional Lithium, known as lithium citrate or lithium orotate The actual nutrient lithium, which can be purchased in vitamin form, has been shown to affect mood when given through micro-doses Nutritional Link to Mood and Behavior Limiting refined sugar Vegan/vegetarian diets should be closely monitored to ensure they are not causing any nutrient deficiencies Where to learn more about Dr. James Greenblatt... jamesgreenblattmd.com Dr. Greenblatt's Books Psychiatry Redefined 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 Beth Greer, a sustainable and toxin-free living expert and award-winning journalist who eliminated a sizable tumor in her chest without drugs or surgery by detoxing her body and home. Known as the Super Natural Mom®, Beth is also the author of the bestseller "Super Natural Home" and named a Top 50 Health & Environmental Journalist to follow. Beth offers personalized in-home detox audits to identify and eliminate toxins. Her work has been endorsed by Deepak Chopra & Dr. Joseph Mercola, who recognize that toxin elimination equals better health. She offers Detox Your Home webinar courses, and 5 Day Group Detox Cleanses. In this episode, Beth and I discuss different toxic household items and food products that can negatively impact children's behavior and overall well-being. All families can benefit from learning more about the vast amount of toxic ingredients found in their daily household, personal care, cosmetic and food products. Beth shares simple practices to help eliminate these toxins and provides resources on how to take the first steps to create your toxin-free home. Learn more about Beth here. Episode Highlights Household, Personal Care, Cosmetic Items "Scented" products can have highly allergic effects Be aware of ingredients in hairspray, fragrance, shampoos, cosmetics, and deodorants See Beaty Counters "Never List" on what to avoid Surface sprays, wipes, plug-in scented air fresheners - all of these are examples of products we easily overlook that could be causing allergic reactions in our families Food Toxicity in Dyes, Additives & Preservatives Food Dyes can be found in children's medications, vitamins, and food Can lead to temper tantrums and have especially adverse effects for children with ADD, ADHD These types of ingredients have warning labels in other countries but do not have regulations in the United States Glyphosate, a weed-killer chemical found in Round-Up Can be found in non-organic food and in wheat Can cause brain issues and has been linked to cancer Preservatives Best to avoid at all costs Ingredients like calcium propionate, sodium propionate, sodium benzoate High levels commonly found in loaves of bread, fast food products such as buns, pizzas, and pastries These ingredients have been linked to behavioral disorders and chronic illness Fish and Meat Product Warnings Farm-raised fish are given food that is generally full of genetically modified soy and corn, as well as, hormones, antibiotics, and food dyes These fish also lack the natural healthier ingredients you would find in wild fresh fish Meat products as well are affected by the same types of ingredients as farmers feed their livestock feed full of GMO's, growth hormones, antibiotics Organic is always best when possible Label-Reading "Organic" labels Typically when "organic" is on the label you will avoid these mass-used GMO's, preservatives and additives When shopping at your local farmers market talk to your farmers and see what ways they are growing their produce and raising their livestock Using the word "fragrance" or "scent" on a label can mask hundreds of different unlisted chemicals in the product Avoid: propylene glycol (PG), triclosan, DEA and MEA, petroleum by-products If you can't pronounce it easily you probably don't want it in your home or on/in your body Mold Exposure Address any leaks in your home to avoid mold growth in your home Any black mold growth should be handled immediately Electromagnetic Field Exposure Remove devices from bedrooms and turn off and unplug the wifi Create boundaries on digital devices and the amount of time children spend on them Be mindful where large continuous electric power sources are placed such as refrigerators Where to learn more about Beth Greer... BethGreer.com The Super Natural Home Book Instagram Facebook Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

My guest this week is Dr. Sanford Newmark, a clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California and Director of Clinical Services at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Newmark also serves as the Head of the Pediatric Integrative Neurodevelopmental Program at the Osher Center, specializing in the treatment of Autism, ADHD and other developmental or chronic childhood conditions. With a long-standing interest and expertise in nutrition and its impact on childhood development and health, Dr. Newmark combines conventional medicine with nutrition, behavior management, and various complementary modalities. He has lectured widely on both autism and ADHD and has authored 3 chapters in Integrative Medicine textbooks, as well as, writing his own book "ADHD Without Drugs, a Guide to the Natural Care of Children with ADHD". In addition, his UCTV talk on ADHD has had over 4.6 million views. In this episode, Dr. Newmark and I discuss the importance of a proper ADHD diagnosis, the rising cause of misdiagnosis and non-pharmaceutical alternatives for ADHD medication. Environmental toxins, prenatal exposure, and diet can affect children's brain development. Learn more about Dr. Newmark here. Episode Highlights Pre-Natal Exposure, Toxins, and Diet Links to ADHD In a study of infant cord blood, an average of 200 chemicals known to cause brain issues were present High pesticide levels are associated with higher levels of ADHD A study of 8-year-olds shows that those with higher than average pesticide levels had twice the amount of ADHD than those under the median Hesitations in Prescribing ADHD Medication ADHD Medication does not work well for every child Medication provides short-term effects for about 70% of children For nearly 30% or more of children who take them, it does not work at all Side effects are very common Children do not feel themselves, experience trouble sleeping, personality changes, eating difficulties We do not really understand the long-term effects of this medicine How it may or may not alter the brain over time is unknown Misdiagnosis of ADHD ADHD is very commonly misdiagnosed for a variety of reasons In children who are struggling with specific learning disabilities, in children who experienced trauma, struggle with sleep apnea, or anxiety, etc… The general questionnaire used to diagnose ADHD is very minimal and can easily result in pediatricians giving a misdiagnosis Non-Pharmaceutical Alternatives Addressing nutrition first No food additives such as artificial coloring Avoiding too much sugar and artificial sweeteners Keeping a low intake of processed carbohydrates Gluten and dairy sensitivities are commonly found in children with ADHD Nutritional Supplements A well-sourced omega 3 fish oil supplement Have your child's levels check for iron, zinc and vitamin D to make sure they are getting an adequate amount in order to know what supplements to begin using The Issue With Electronics The common use of electronics and smartphones at a young age have increased damaging effects on children Causing a lack of quality sleep, resulting in a decline in performance at school Children with ADHD can have heightened and severe negative effects to electronics All children and teenagers need monitoring and limits put on these devices for their well-being. Where to learn more about Dr. Newmark... Dr. Newmark's Book Osher Center For Integrative Medicine 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 Kiran Krishnan, a Research Microbiologist who has been involved in the dietary supplement and nutrition field for the past 18 years. He comes from a strict research background and established a clinical research organization where he designed and conducted dozens of human clinical trials in human nutrition. Kiran is a Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Microbiome Labs. He is on the Scientific Advisory Board and a Science Advisor for 7 other companies in the industry. In his career, he has developed over 50 private label nutritional products. He is a frequent lecturer on the human microbiome at several health summits, medical and nutrition conferences, radio shows and has appeared in several international documentaries. In this episode, Kiran and I talk about the important role bacteria plays in our gut microbiome, its connection to the brain and how it can directly affect children's behavior. Children suffering from anxiety and stress, or who are on the Autism spectrum can benefit in different ways by looking into and addressing their gut health. Experiencing a disruption or imbalance in the gut microbiome does not always manifest in gastrointestinal symptoms, it is also common for children to experience behavioral alterations without any GI symptoms present. Learn more about Kiran and ways to treat and manage gut health here. Episode Highlights What is the gut microbiome? Think of the microbiome as an ecosystem made up of trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in your gut The Role of Bacteria in Our Bodies We have over 100 trillion bacteria cells in our system that are vital to our everyday function About 90% of our day-to-day metabolic biochemical functions that differentiate us as humans come from those bacteria Connecting The Microbiome and Behavior The bacteria in our gut microbiome have a direct connection to our brain through the vagus nerve The vagus nerve allows bacteria to send signals to the brain that affect how we behave There are organisms in the microbiome that can heighten anxiety and increase stress levels, as well as, organisms that can give you a sense of calm How Our Microbiome Gets Disrupted For humans to optimally function, the healthy balance of the bacteria in the gut microbiome is essential A single course of antibiotics can throw this balance off entirely and result in: Heightened anxiety due to the growth of particular bacterial strains that cause an anxious response, and decrease the growth of strains that cause calming responses Examples of recovery time for your gut microbiome due to specific antibiotics A 10-day course of Clindamycin can take your body up to 2 years to recover Use of a Z-Pak can take almost a year to recover A single 600mg dose of Augmentin knocks your gut bacteria down by 99% Rebalancing the Gut Microbiome Every single person has a unique microbiome, therefore, what works for one person might not work for another Diversity in the microbiome is very important Adding diverse probiotic strains to your routine like Just Thrive probiotics can aid in strengthening immune health within the digestive system Where to learn more about Kiran Krishnan... Register at microbiomelabs.com for access to order! Instagram: @microbiomelabs Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens on... Instagram Facebook Drbeurkens.com

My guest this week is Dr. Joan Rosenberg, best-selling author, consultant, master clinician, and media host. Dr. Joan Rosenberg is a cutting-edge psychologist who is known as an innovative thinker, acclaimed speaker, and trainer. As a two-time TEDx speaker and member of the Association of Transformational Leaders, she has been recognized for her thought leadership and influence in personal development. Dr. Rosenberg speaks on how to build confidence, emotional strength, resilience; achieving emotional, conversational and relationship mastery; integrating neuroscience and psychotherapy and suicide prevention. An Air Force veteran, she is a professor of graduate psychology at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, CA. Her latest book, 90 Seconds to a Life you Love: How to Master Your Difficult Feelings to Cultivate Lasting Confidence, Resilience and Authenticity, has just released at the beginning of this year. In this episode, Dr. Rosenberg and I discuss the "top 8 unpleasant feelings" that parents encounter. She provides parents with practical strategies that teach enhanced emotional self-insight and lead to better parent-child relationships. Using these strategies empowers parents to manage their feelings, control their reactions and become better emotional role models for their children. Learn more about Dr. Joan Rosenberg here. The Top 8 Unpleasant Feelings Sadness, shame, helplessness, anger, vulnerability, embarrassment, disappointment, and frustration. These 8 feelings are common and universal to everyone's experiences With these strategies, parents can be healthy role models of these feelings for their children Both pleasant and unpleasant feelings are important for children to understand and develop versus feeling restricted or withdrawn from certain feelings What is Frustration Tolerance? The ability to experience and manage the right emotion in any situation If a child does not learn to experience and manage their feelings, a clear carry-over effect into adulthood occurs Examples: not handling relationship breakups well, poor handling of employment settings and emotions, etc… It is important for parents to be able to tolerate their child's emotional discomfort as well as their own How to Manage Feelings As Parents Use the formula: One choice + 8 Feelings + 90 Seconds The choice is an openness and willingness to be aware of and in touch with as much of your feelings as possible Detect one of the 8 feelings and be present Give yourself 90 seconds to understand what you are feeling through bodily sensation The rush of these feelings and bodily reactions typically last 60-90 seconds Notice what you are experiencing in your body, tolerate the bodily sensation and ride the wave to the other side of the 90 seconds before reacting I.e. the heat of cheeks flushing from embarrassment By staying present to the feeling and bodily sensation you will gain insight on the decision you need to make and the action you want to take Understanding Anxiety When we talk about anxiety we must decipher and be aware of how and when we use the word to define a specific feeling Anxiety is oftentimes used to describe other feelings such as vulnerability and fear In this way, the word "anxiety" is misused as a cover for other unpleasant feelings that are actually occurring Switching Up Your Language As A Parent Am I? Can I? Will I? Do I? All of these foster doubt Switch those questions and reframe them to statements: I am, I can, I will, I do All of these foster an experience of confidence Understanding Resilience Know that resilience is a learnable skill that we can all practice and improve Think of resilience as being tied to attitude: "I'm open to change" Having an openness and willingness to face change is a key aspect Understand that "failure" too is a key aspect and is always a learning opportunity This way you do not get knocked over each time you face an obstacle Reach out of help and use your resourcefulness Acknowledge your emotional needs and limitations so you know when you need to ask for help shows your emotional strength Where to learn more about Dr. Joan Rosenberg... DrJoanRosenberg.com Twitter: @DrJoanRosenberg Instagram: @drjoanrosenberg Facebook 90SecondsBook.com Dr. Joan's Free Gift 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. Susan Albers, a New York Times best-selling author and clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic who specializes in eating issues, weight loss, body image concerns, and mindfulness. Dr. Albers conducts mindful eating workshops across the country and internationally. She is the author of seven mindful eating books and has been a guest on the Dr. Oz TV Show, TODAY show and NPR. Her tips, books, and programs have been featured in numerous national publications such as O, the Oprah Magazine, Woman's Day Magazine, Health Magazine, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Albers is also a contributor to the Huffington Post and Psychology Today. In this episode, Dr. Albers and I discuss the positive ways mindful eating can impact your child's health and wellbeing. Making small changes to everyday eating habits, creating access to the right foods and changing the way you speak about food in front of your children can have a positive impact. Learn more about mindful eating and Dr. Susan Albers here. What is Mindful Eating? Mindful eating is not a diet, it is centered around the behavior of eating and how you eat versus what you eat It helps you create better eating behaviors and habits which naturally lead to a healthier lifestyle Mindlessly Eating It is easy to use food not for hunger but to manage other feelings For children: boredom tends to lead them to wander to the kitchen and mindlessly eating or using food to unwind from stress A Few Tips To Implement Mindful Eating Make the right foods convenient Place the foods that you want your children to be eating at their eye-level and easy to reach within the refrigerator or pantry Keep a bowl of healthy snacks and fruits by the door for quick on-the-go access Language, get rid of the word "diet" and start using the word "mindful" around eating Slow down your mealtimes by eating slowly and consciously Where To Start With Your Family To avoid overwhelm, tackle one thing at a time Ex: If your goal is to have your family sit together at mealtime or cut back on eating in the car, focus on that first Once that is accomplished, naturally, better habits will start to take place Work on reducing the stress level as an overall family Finding ways to lower stress in your family will aid in eliminating excess mindless eating habits in the family End of day rituals like walks or bike rides together as a family can help create a stress outlet Where to learn more about Dr. Susan Albers... Eating Mindfully Twitter: @DrSusanAlbers Instagram: @mindfuleating101 Facebook 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 Sonia Story, developer, and teacher of the Brain and Sensory Foundations curriculum that shares powerful movements for transforming brain, body, and sensory challenges. Sonia Story has studied with many of the world's finest experts in Neurodevelopmental Movement programs, completing training in Rhythmic Movement Training, Brain Gym, Neuro-Sensory-Motor & Reflex Integration, and more. She teaches live and online courses for parents, OTs, PTs, SLPs, VTs, educators, counselors, health practitioners, and caregivers, and continues to learn from her clients of all ages. In this episode, Sonia and I discuss what neurodevelopmental movements are and how they impact children and adults to significantly improve and mature brain and sensory systems. Children on the spectrum, with ADD, ADHD, anxiety, or sensory, behavioral, or developmental disorders can greatly benefit from incorporating movement practices and techniques into their daily routine. To learn more about Sonia and her life-changing Brain and Sensory Foundations curriculum visit moveplaythrive.com. What is Neurodevelopmental Movement? The innate movements that infants do in the womb and in early infancy These movements are foundational for proper brain, body and sensory maturity They are like a 'template' in the brain that we naturally do as healthy human beings if there is room within the womb and the environment is not stressed Innate Movements Natural infant reflex movements like sucking the thumb, or grasping when a finger is pressed into babies palm These movements help set up our brain networks, they mature the brainstem and help us feed ourselves, learn and are our survival and protection mechanisms When there are gaps in these movements from infancy the child can be left in a state of anxiety or flight or fight Empowerment to Recognize Neurodevelopmental Issues Our culture has set us up for many of these issues to happen without our own fault We live more sedentary lives and partake in more passive activities vs. active activities where body movement is necessary Learning about neurodevelopmental movements is essential for all families I.e. Your child could have hit all their motor skill milestones but something simple in their infancy or birthing story could have subtle effects on their behavior Where to learn more about Sonia Story... Move Play Thrive Website Twitter: @brainandsensory Instagram: @moveplaythrive Facebook 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 Jen Hansard, whose "healthy obsession" with green smoothies has taken her into classrooms, entrepreneur workshops, and featured on 'The Doctors' to spread the green smoothie love far and wide. Her wildly popular website, simplegreensmoothies.com has changed the lives of over 1 million people and has become the #1 green smoothie online resource. Through the power of green smoothies, she's seen the amazing health benefits firsthand – including more energy, which has been the catalyst to healthy living for Jen and her family. The Simple Green Smoothies' lifestyle encourages you to make one simple change: drink one green smoothie a day. In this episode, Jen and I discuss the incredible health benefits of adding a green smoothie into your child's diet and routine. Children and adults can see lasting results such as increased energy, improved mental clarity, better bowel movements, and a stronger immune system. Learn more about Jen Hansard here. Making Smoothies FUN for Kids Once your child has adapted to drinking smoothies and different flavors - get them involved in the process by taking them shopping with you at the grocery store or farmers markets Children of all ages can help with the most simple prep I.e. small children can pull off strawberry stems, while older children chop up fruits and vegetables Engage their creativity in the flavors they like and help them customize their own blends With time, this type of exposure naturally adjusts the palate to crave healthier foods Smoothies help with Sustained Energy for Kids Helps with clearer sustained energy levels during the day Helps regulate their wake and sleep cycles Energy from healthy food helps to fuel optimal growth, development, and brain function A Starting Guide and Tips for Parents If you are beginning with a basic blender first blend your leafy greens and your liquid base first until the leafy chunks are gone, then add the fruit and blend again You can buy a refurbished high-speed blender to save lots of money and time Prep your smoothie ingredients into individual freezer bags and have them ready for the entire week To help with picky eaters taste buds, be sure to remove the stems from your leafy greens as they can add a bitter flavor Pour any unfinished smoothies into popsicle molds and freeze for an afternoon snack Simple 7: The 7-Day Green Smoothie Challenge To help create a green smoothie habit Jen provides a free 7-Day challenge that includes easy to follow instructions, a shopping list, and tips for success Great way to introduce green smoothies into your families routine Especially those who struggle with time-restraints and getting in their greens Will help increase energy, improve clarity and focus, strengthen immune system, regulate bowel movements and promote weight loss Where to learn more about Jen Hansard… Simplegreensmoothies.com 7-Day Challenge Instagram: @SimpleGreenSmoothies Facebook 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. Maya Shetreat, a neurologist, herbalist, urban farmer, and author of 'The Dirt Cure: Healthy Food, Healthy Gut, Happy Child' (Simon and Schuster, 2016), which has been translated into ten languages. She has been featured in the New York Times, The Telegraph, NPR, Sky News, The Dr. Oz Show and more. Dr. Maya is the founder of the Terrain Institute, where she teaches Terrain Medicine™, earth-based programs for transformational healing. She works and studies with indigenous communities and healers in Ecuador, and is a lifelong student of ethnobotany, plant healing, and the sacred. In this episode, Dr. Maya and I discuss the importance of children spending time in nature and how that exposes them to a diversity of essential germs needed in order to build a stronger immune system and a healthier gut and brain. All children can greatly benefit from time outdoors including those with simple to severe learning and behavioral disorders such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and nonverbal or degenerative issues. Learn more about Dr. Maya Shetreat here. Why Getting Dirty Is Important Immune systems are 'social' and want to meet compounds, foods, and organisms and have contact with them This allows the immune system to go into alert mode when something problematic comes along A restricted immune system can be over-reactive. Variety is the spice of health Gut health is the foundation for immune health and immune health is the foundation for brain health Designed For Exposure To Dirt We are evolutionarily designed for our immune system to be exposed to many different germs Ex: babies learn how to crawl on their hands and knees and stick their hands and whatever they can grab in their mouth. We were designed to be exposed to dirt. Children who grow up in homes where bleach is routinely used have a higher risk of chronic bronchitis and seasonal respiratory infections Being exposed to a variety of germs helps to keep anyone organism from growing out of control and causing a problem What is Hormesis and Why It Is Important Hormesis: where something would normally be toxic in large amounts can be beneficial in tiny amounts Ex: fasting - if you do it for a month you will have negative effects, if you fast for 12-24 hours it can greatly benefit you Small challenges like this, though slightly uncomfortable, cause our mitochondria to step up and function more optimally Getting into dirt, into soil, exposes us to billions of compounds and organisms that inspire every cell in our body to function effectively Soil is nature's free probiotic Benefits of Time in Nature "Shinrin-yoku" (forest-bathing) - Asian cultures encourage this time out in nature to immerse oneself in the beauty of the forest regularly Studies show that this results in better sleep, focus, organization, executive function, higher accomplishments at work and school, and feeling happier As well as, increased production in anti-cancer proteins Get Your Kids Outside Let your children build a relationship with nature Playing outside on the grass, gardening, having a picnic If your child is suffering from a simple to severe developmental issue (ADHD, dyslexia, behavioral issues, non-verbal, degenerative issues, birth trauma) they can benefit from being outdoors Every single child can benefit and was designed for their nervous systems to be stimulated by the outdoors What Our Kids Illnesses & Challenges Can Teach Us Parents have a lot of pressure to FIX their child's issues Dr. Maya says, "Your child is actually your teacher" She encourages parents to stop trying to fix their children and instead listen to their symptoms as their way of showing you how to take care of them better 3 things to do for your children: Love them, advocate for them and offer them resources Where to learn more about Dr. Maya Shetreat... Website: drmaya.com Instagram: @drmayashetreat Facebook Dr. Maya's Book: 'The Dirt Cure' 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 Jodi Cohen, a bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and founder of Vibrant Blue Oils, where she has combined her training in nutritional therapy and aromatherapy to create unique proprietary blends of organic and wildcrafted essential oils that help her clients heal from brain-related challenges, including anxiety, insomnia, and autoimmunity. In this episode, Jodi and I discuss the important role essential oils can play in our children's lives, especially those struggling with behavioral, mental health, and developmental challenges. Introducing organic essential oils into your child's routine and teaching them how and when to use them can empower them to take control of their symptoms in times of anxiety, stress, restlessness, or when experiencing digestive issues. Learn more about Jodi Cohen and Vibrant Blue Oils here. What are Essential Oils? Highly concentrated essence of plants When plants are concentrated you are able to get a higher dose of whatever deficiency it is you are trying to treat Essential oils can be used to help your body regain balance and heal When you are far out of balance, oils allow a more powerful, concentrated effect to help you return to your balanced state Oils are an easy tool to use with your children to maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle Being 'in balance' refers to your state of health mentally and physically Essential oils for children with behavioral, mental, and developmental challenges Oils are fat-soluble which allows them to get to the brain easier Helps children who have digestive impairment issues or toxic overload as they can easily apply oils to their skin topically or smell them Kids can use independently and feel empowered with a tool that they know how to use effectively I.e. at school when feeling anxious, have a headache, or digestive problem You can integrate oils into the bedtime routine early on with infants and toddlers Essential Oils and Anxiety When the body is experiencing anxiety, the nervous system switches into a sympathetic state A fight, flee or freeze zone that tells the body it is in danger making it hard to focus and deal with anxiety Applying a blend of oils to the vagus nerve, the bone you feel on the back of your ear, accessing a kind of off/on switch to allow the body to enter back into a parasympathetic state The parasympathetic state allows the body to go back into a place of rest and healing telling the brain to calm down and that there is no danger Lime and Clove oils are a good blend to address this reset and help with anxiety Jodi's blend can be found here Essential Oils for Sleep Children with mental health and developmental disabilities tend to struggle with sleep Using an essential oil like Lavender in the right dosage and application can help If your child is a little restless you can apply lavender to their feet or give them a lavender bath Lavender bath for children: 1 cup of epsom salt, ½ cup of baking soda and a couple drops of lavender oil - Mix lavender with the epsom salt before you add water If the sleep issue is more complicated and their circadian rhythm is off balance, Lori has a special blend available here targeted specifically for advanced sleep issues How to Properly Use and Apply Essential Oils Dilute your oils with olive oil or coconut oil before applying to skin Apply oils to reflex and organ points depending on issue Less is more! Start slow and do not overdo it! You can always add more later if needed Never apply oils to damaged skin The Importance of Quality in Essential Oils Remember they are concentrated. Buying any "essential oil" you find may mean you are buying something that was grown with chemicals and pesticides Organic is always best Using oils that are derived from organically grown sources allows us to avoid additional toxins Where to learn more about Jodi Cohen... Website: vibrantblueoils.com Twitter: @vibrantblueoils Instagram: @vibrantblueoils Facebook Jodi Cohen'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 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 c

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/

My guest this week is Dr. Michael Breus, a double board-certified clinical psychologist, and clinical sleep specialist. He's an expert resource for major publications, has written 3 books and is frequently featured on TV, doing more than 200 interviews a year. He's also been in private practice for over 18 years. In this episode, Dr. Breus shares how sleep affects behavior. He walks us through how much sleep kids and teens need in order to function optimally. He also shares tips on how to develop better sleep routines. We discuss the common factors that affect quality of sleep in positive and negative ways like the use of electronics, lack of bedtime routine and caffeine vs exercise, reading, meditation, and a calming sleep environment. We also cover recommendations for night terrors and bedwetting.