*Guest: Beth Lambert, founder of Documenting Hope, author of* A Compromised Generation *and* Brain Under Attack

The Livin’Sky Podcast, Season 3 Episode 3

Why So Many Kids Are Sick and How to Help Them Heal Naturally with Beth Lambert

As parents, we’re seeing more children struggle with chronic symptoms than ever before — from anxiety and sensory issues to food sensitivities and picky eating. But what if childhood chronic illness and environment were more connected than we think? In this post, we explore how everyday choices in our homes, schools, and routines are shaping kids’ health — and what you can do to help them heal naturally.

What You’ll Learn

Why childhood chronic illness has exploded (and why genes aren’t the whole story)
Total Load Theory: how food, chemicals, light, EMFs, stress, antibiotics, and sleep stack up
Picky eating ≠ behavior problem: links to gut, sensory, oral-motor, and nervous system dysregulation
Where to start at home: low-cost swaps that reduce toxic burden and calm the nervous system
Hope that heals: real stories of reversal and recovery

SPOTIFY | A PPLE

Understanding the Link Between Childhood Chronic Illness and Environment

Rates of allergies, eczema, ADHD, autism, anxiety, GI issues, and “picky eating” have skyrocketed in just a few decades. Beth’s research through Documenting Hope points to one clear theme: it’s the combination of environmental and lifestyle factors that’s overwhelming our children’s biology. The connection between childhood chronic illness and environment is clearer than ever

How Environmental Factors Shape Children’s Health

Common factors contributing to this perfect storm include:

Disrupted microbiomes from frequent antibiotics and processed foods
Chemical exposure from plastics, pesticides, and cleaning products
Artificial light at night and lack of natural sunlight during the day
Constant Wi-Fi and device exposure
High stress and little time in nature
Nutrient-depleted soils and diets

All of these small daily exposures add up. This is what Beth calls the total load.

Understanding the Total Load Theory

Imagine your child’s body as a bucket. Every stressor — chemical, microbial, emotional, or sensory — adds drops to the bucket. When it overflows, symptoms appear.

The good news is that you don’t need to fix everything at once. Each positive change helps lighten the load and gives the body space to restore balance. When we start addressing childhood chronic illness and environment together, true healing begins.

Picky Eating: A Body Signal, Not Defiance

Picky eating is rarely about stubbornness. It’s communication.

Possible underlying causes include:

Gut issues like dysbiosis, constipation, or blood sugar swings
Oral-motor or chewing challenges
Sensory sensitivities to light, sound, or textures
Nervous system stress from feeling unsafe or pressured at the table

When we address what’s happening inside the body and create safety at mealtime, children naturally begin to eat better.

What Parents Can Do to Reduce Environmental Stressors

1) Clean Up the Air and Sound

Open windows daily and consider a HEPA air purifier near your child’s bed.
Remove synthetic fragrances from detergents, candles, and sprays.
Keep mealtime quiet and calm with soft music instead of background noise.

2) Fix the Light and Sleep Routine

Get outside within 30 to 60 minutes of waking. Morning light sets the body’s clock.
Dim the lights after sunset using lamps or salt lamps instead of bright overhead bulbs.
Keep bedtime, wake time, and mealtimes consistent to anchor the nervous system.

3) Upgrade Water

Use a good water filter for drinking and cooking.
Add trace minerals or mineral-rich salt to restore what filtration removes.

4) Rethink Food Without Overwhelm

Build meals from whole foods with a mix of protein, fat, and fiber.
Swap one packaged food each week for a homemade or single-ingredient version.
Support digestion with slow, mindful eating in a relaxed setting.

5) Reduce EMFs at Night

Turn off Wi-Fi overnight or put it on a timer.
Keep phones and tablets out of bedrooms.
Move routers away from where anyone sleeps.

6) Simplify Cleaning and Body Care

Use vinegar, baking soda, or castile soap for cleaning.
Replace personal care items with fragrance-free or low-tox options as they run out.

Real Hope: Kids Can Heal

The stories from Documenting Hope show that recovery is possible. When parents begin reducing stressors and supporting biology, children often experience fewer symptoms, better energy, and calmer moods. Progress can take time, but the body knows how to heal when given the right environment.

Where to Start

If this feels like a lot, begin with one small shift. Replace a fragranced detergent, open the windows, or start a consistent bedtime. Each small change helps your child’s body regulate and your home feel calmer.

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If your gut says your child’s picky eating is more than a phase, explore my BLOOM-aligned resources and support options—gentle, root-cause, and connection-first.