If you have kids, you probably know just how hard it is to keep them and their surroundings clean. Attempts to completely sterilize our outer environment is an inherently futile goal; microbes and pathogens have always been present and will always be present. As parents we worry about kids catching viruses or other pathogens, and in COVID times, this worry has ramped up cleaning efforts to a critical level. We’ve seen that even with our best efforts and precautions, we can’t completely avoid pathogens or viruses. So, what do we do? In this episode I chat with Naturopath Dr. Melina Roberts about what it takes to build a robust immune system for our kids. It’s an important and relevant conversation that can also be applied to humans of all ages. We discuss how efforts in our outer environment can benefit (or hinder) us, and how getting to the root of robust health actually requires focus on our inner environment. Dr. Melina Roberts is a Naturopathic Doctor, Author of Building a Healthy Child and Founder of Advanced Naturopathic Medical Centre in Calgary. She is recognized as one of the top Biological Medicine practitioners in North America and is a lecturer for the Paracelsus Academy. She is a leading authority in the field of naturopathic medicine specializing in Biological Medicine effectively treating digestive issues, chronic disease and cancer. Dr. Roberts is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. She did a two year post-graduate study in Biological Medicine with Paracelsus Klinik in Switzerland. She was also selected to be a TEDx speaker for 2020. In this episode: -Erin’s philosophy on food [1:36] -Often overlooked symptoms of dairy sensitivity [5:45] -The key component to boosting our immune system [11:52] -What is the microbiome and how it relates to our immunity [14:08] -Circumstances that activate our immune system from foods we eat, and how this manifests as various symptoms or even disease [16:06] -Our obsession with cleanliness and sterilization, a weakened microbiome and the compounding toll this can have on our immune system over time [19:06] -The role pesticides, herbicides and insecticides play in our gut [23:33] -The potential impact of antibacterial hand sanitizer on your gut [28:38] -The three big factors that can move the needle in terms of addressing a leaky gut and rebuilding a strong gut barrier [33:03] -Stipulations with going gluten free [38:33] -Physical activity and its effect on the microbiome [40:41] -Potential effects of social isolation on our immunity, and ways to keep our immune system robust during COVID [44:48] Resources mentioned: Food Sensitivity testing https://www.erinholthealth.com/tests-and-consults Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/ Follow Dr. Roberts on Insta https://www.instagram.com/drmelinaroberts/ More on Dr. Melina Roberts https://advancednaturopathic.com/ Boost your immune system (enter code FUNK for 15% off) https://www.organifi.com/FUNK