The epidemic of chronic childhood illness in America is the product of “a perfect storm” of environmental factors including:
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- the overuse of medications (especially antibiotics)
- poor diet and nutrition
- lifestyle factors such as excessive hygiene, indoor sedentary lifestyles, modern birthing and infant feeding practices
- excessive or improperly administered vaccinations
- continuous exposure to a panoply of environmental toxins
Together (or in varied combinations), these environmental factors can initiate a vicious cycle of biological dysfunctions in our children’s bodies. These underlying biological dysfunctions are what cause the symptoms that we then classify as “chronic illnesses,” such as autism, ADHD, allergies, asthma, diabetes, and many others.
To be sure, genetics and genetic history play a role in the development of illness for particular children, but genetically-based explanations do not explain the widespread prevalence of biological dysfunctions among children today. There are simply too many sick children to substantiate the theory that genetics cause their illnesses. Epidemics are not genetic.
To understand how the body begins to break down under these environmental stressors, we must first look at two systems in the body that are critical to health:
- the immune system
- the gastrointestinal system
When you look at the bodies of children that are suffering from chronic symptoms, you will find that their immune systems are essentially dysfunctional, and their gastrointestinal systems (their “gut” or GI) are in a state of disrepair.
Children in this condition are said to have “Immune Dysregulation” and “Gut Dysbiosis.”
Immune dysregulation and gut dysbiosis are central biological dysfunctions that occur in children with symptoms of chronic illness.
Learn more about immune dysregulation and gut dysbiosis.