Tips To Raise Healthier Kids by Paediatrician Dr. Ana Maria Temple & Nutritionist Ryan Fernando

I had a very special guest on my podcast this week, Dr. Ana Maria Temple, who shared her experiences in learning and understanding how nutrition plays a major role in chronic diseases and problems related to eczema. We covered several topics, from starting her journey to her insights on how being a parent opens windows to several more worries.

Everyone wants to continue their legacy, bringing a beautiful soul into the world we all live in, but there is no shortage of risks. The conversation I had with Dr. Ana Maria Temple helped highlight these underlying risks but also showed us how to avoid a few. 

From tips to raise a healthy baby to the truth about pesticides to chronic illnesses that can be tackled with a good nutritional diet, and much more. Below I’ve listed down a few topics that have been in the back of my mind after having a conversation with her (in worry of my son) that should be taken quite seriously, because it’s our babies we’re talking about here, so give it a small read, and if it interests you more, head over to my podcast and watch or listen to her insights. 

About The Podcast

I’ve been practicing as a nutritionist for decades now, helping many people understand their bodies and how to live a healthy life through eating. Trust me when I say this: I started this podcast because I wanted to get more knowledge from similar kinds of people and to learn from their experiences, and this was one of the podcasts I’ve done that blew my mind and had me worrying about several daily life choices I make.

Dr. Ana Maria Temple is a holistic pediatrician and medical doctor that shared several tips about nutrition, sleep, and common childhood illnesses that I’d want you to be aware of. Below you will find a few things that really had me questioning several practices that you should implement in your life right away.

Dr Ana Maria’s Dive Into Nutrition

Her understanding and start to becoming a holistic pediatrician began out of the love for her children, so the drive behind understanding what the problems her children faced and how to treat them became a start to something special. 

Dr. Ana Maria gave birth to her three children, who all had chronic illnesses like eczema, asthma, chronic constipation, and so many more that would send any parent into a frenzy. Five years into her medical practice, she was not able to find the root cause, so she took her kids to another pediatric doctor, which just made her feel worse with her kids being on more than five medications, having to take allergy shots, and carrying an asthma pump at all times. 

She then took matters into her own hands and decided to sit for a nutrition lecture, which made her realize that the culprit was sugar. As soon as she returned home, she cleared all cereals and all sugary goods for the kids out of the pantry, and then her journey and drive for chasing nutrition began. 

Foods And Their Impact On Chronic Diseases 

After clearing out all the kid's treats from the pantry, she instantly became the household villain; even her husband, a doctor (orthopedic), wasn’t on her side. He believed the kids should enjoy their food while growing up and grumbled about the sudden switch to organic groceries, regular home-cooked meals, and strict healthy habits. He was slow to embrace the changes, but now, 17 years later, the family rarely falls ill, and even he admits it was all worth it.

It reminded me of my own experience with my wife and her side of the family. Asthma ran deep in her family, so after we got married, we naturally began paying closer attention to our diet and food choices. Remarkably, in the 17 years since, she hasn’t had a single asthma attack. That’s when it hit us: so many chronic issues can be managed, even prevented, simply through consistent, healthy eating.

Truth About Pesticides

We know pesticides are mixed in with pretty much all our food, but do you know the effect it has on us? A study was conducted in a Swedish country where they tested the urine of children and made them follow an organic, pesticide-free, and herbicide-free diet, and within 7 days their symptoms were cleared, leaving only 10% of herbicides floating around.

Another powerful point she made was about how we’re so careful to keep our pets off lawns sprayed with pesticides, yet we let our kids play on them without a second thought. The irony is, children aren’t just smaller versions of adults; their bodies are far more sensitive and vulnerable. What might barely affect us can make them seriously ill, fast. And that’s a situation no parent ever wants to face.

Indians Falling Sicker In The US

The weather and environmental conditions in India can often contribute to severe respiratory problems and other health issues. As a result, many families move to countries like the U.S. in hopes of leading a healthier life for their kids and themselves. However, that’s not always the case.

People who migrate to new countries can actually become more vulnerable to chronic diseases, even if they’ve never shown symptoms before. Changing environments, lifestyles, and diets can all play a role in triggering health problems that hadn’t previously surfaced.

You’ll notice that kids who were healthy and showed no signs of chronic diseases picked it up mainly due to the water, the air, and the change in diet. It’s scary but true. That’s why I always advise my clients living outside India to be mindful and intentional about adjusting to their new environment. Shifting to a different climate, adapting to a new lifestyle, and embracing unfamiliar food habits can take a toll on the body if not managed properly. It requires conscious effort, but with the right support and guidance, it’s absolutely possible to transition smoothly without compromising your health. I work closely with individuals and families abroad to help them make these adjustments effectively, ensuring they stay balanced, nourished, and protected from the health impacts of such major life changes. If you need any help, I am here to provide a personalized diet plan for you.

Conclusion

I wish you knew how unprepared I was when I was shooting this podcast episode of Health Shotzz with Ana Maria. I think now when I look back, I came from the side of being a worried father that had knowledge about food and great diets, but she opened my eyes in so many ways to where I have to agree with Ana Maria: adults have a completely different body when compared to kids, and knowing that fact changed a lot for me. 

They’re a lot more susceptible to diseases, and when our babies get chronic diseases, we as parents just shut down, but Ana Marie explained it to us beautifully. We make changes in their diets, focus on organic foods, and slowly start seeing changes that even doctors never thought would be possible. 

Now, I don’t want to spoil too much. The episode is personally one of my favorites, maybe because I’m a father of a lovely boy and I want him to thrive, stay healthy, and know what eating right will do for him. 

You May Also Like:

Moments in Health Shotzz with Barbara O’Neill You Shouldn’t Miss