Change Your Child’s Environment to Change Your Child’s Life: Part 1

The world we live in has changed drastically over the last 40-50 years. As humans, we can only adapt to changes and stressors at a certain rate. Our bodies and brains have evolved over thousands of years to handle life’s stresses and environmental shifts. However, when these changes occur too rapidly, our bodies and brains struggle to keep up. The growing gap between our internal and external environments is one of the biggest challenges. Externally, we are exposing children to numerous stressors they cannot easily adapt to, creating excessive internal stress and dysfunction. As a result, their brains, bodies, and digestive systems struggle to function properly, leading to symptoms and conditions that should have never developed in the first place.

Below, I will explore the different stressors affecting children today, offer ways to reduce them, and provide strategies to improve your child’s overall health and well-being. While some of these solutions may be challenging to implement, others—such as modifying a child’s diet or reducing screen time—are relatively simple. Although these changes may not always feel easy, they are essential for your child’s development. A concept I often share with parents is the importance of choosing the problems you want to face. Every child encounters challenges, whether related to attention, learning, or behavior. You can address these issues by modifying their environment, improving their diet, and adopting a more holistic approach to their development. There are many ways to support children with conditions like ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities, including therapy and medication. However, I have found that the most impactful changes often come from improving diet and environment.

At my practice, the greatest success has come from addressing the root cause of these issues. The most common environmental factors affecting children’s brain and body function include diet, screen time, and stress from home or school. While some of these stressors may be unavoidable, I have seen significant improvements through targeted nutritional changes. Nutrition can be a controversial topic, but my recommendations are based on extensive research and clinical experience. Over the years, I have explored various diets for children with developmental challenges, including vegetarian, whole-food, ketogenic, and elimination diets. I have also tested the impact of removing gluten, dairy, and sugar.

Through my research and experience working with numerous patients, I have consistently found that children with behavioral issues, learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental disorders often have sensitivities to gluten, dairy, or eggs. Of these, gluten is by far the most problematic. Clinically, the most significant improvements in symptoms occur when gluten is eliminated from a child’s diet.

While making dietary and environmental changes may seem overwhelming at first, the impact they can have on a child’s development, behavior, and overall well-being is profound. Small, intentional steps—such as reducing processed foods, eliminating gluten, and setting healthier screen-time boundaries—can lead to noticeable improvements in focus, mood, and learning ability. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and as parents and caregivers, we have the power to create an environment that supports their growth. The key is to start where you can, make gradual changes, and observe the positive shifts that follow. When we address the root causes of dysfunction rather than just the symptoms, we empower children to reach their full potential—naturally, effectively, and sustainably.