What's Eating Your Child? The Hidden Connections Between Food and Childhood Ailments: Anxiety, Recurrent Ear Infections, Stomachaches, Picky Eating, Rashes, ADHD and More. And What Every Parent Can Do About It

Dorfman, a nutritionist who specializes in working with children and who calls herself a "nutrition detective," reveals that many common childhood ailments are avoidable or can be dealt with nutritionally. The author advises parents to observe, analyze, and be curious, and laments that most pediatricians are not especially "food savvy." Using the "binary law of nutrition" (something is either missing from or irritating the body), Dorfman follows clues to uncover the hidden causes of various problems. In one chapter, a child diagnosed with bipolar disorder turns out to be reacting to gluten; in another, chronic ear infections are linked to the milk protein casein. In another, a picky eater is found to have a zinc deficiency, which can cause foods to taste unpleasant. Dorfman explains the difference between allergies and reactions or sensitivities; introduces the "E.A.T. Program" (eliminate, add, try), a method for rounding out the diets of fussy eaters; and emphasizes the importance of eating organic and avoiding pesticides, additives, and food coloring. This fascinating and potentially life-changing advice reveals that nutrition isn't a simple matter of finishing one's broccoli. Food has a significant impact on a child's health and well-being, and Dorfman helps parents ensure that the impact is positive. (June)