Apr 3, 2019
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...
Connect with Dr. Nicole Beurkens
on...
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.