What's Making Our Children Sick? with Michelle Perro MD

What’s Making Our Children Sick? with Michelle Perro MD

We interviewed Michelle Perro MD, co-author of What’s Making Our Children Sick?: How Industrial Food Is Causing an Epidemic of Chronic Illness, and What Parents (and Doctors) Can Do About It. The book explores the links between genetically modified foods (GMOs), glyphosate (a key ingredient in the RoundUp pesticide) and gut health. You can listen to the replay below. Please note that you will be asked to enter your email address at the 30-minute mark to finish viewing the video.

In This Expert Interview

What if toxicants in our foods are a major culprit, one that, if corrected, could lead to tangible results and increased health? In this webinar you will learn about:

New medical insights about pathogenesis of chronic pediatric disorders
Genetically modified foods (GMOs)
How glyphosate negatively affects gut health
Gut dysfunction
The microbiome
The politics of food science
The link between higher-yield, cost-efficient foods and an explosion of childhood morbidity
A toxic food supply
Insight on the medical responses that are available, both to heal our kids and to reverse the compromised health of our food supply

Key Discussions

Rise in Chronic Illnesses Among Children

Dr. Perro observed a dramatic increase in chronic illnesses—such as autism, autoimmune disorders, food allergies, and mental health issues—over the past two decades in her clinical practice. The “new normal” has become children routinely experiencing health challenges that were once rare, suggesting urgent systemic issues in child health.

The Impact of Industrial Food, GMOs, and Pesticides

Dr. Perro discussed the connection between industrial food (especially GMOs and pesticides such as glyphosate) and the epidemic of chronic illness in children. She describes how the food system has shifted, highlights research on GMOs’ health effects, and underscores how intertwined food and environmental toxins are with children’s health outcomes.

Failure of Mainstream Medicine to Address Root Causes

There is a significant gap between conventional medical paradigms, which focus on treating symptoms with pharmaceuticals (“pill for ill medicine”), and addressing underlying causes such as nutritional deficiencies and toxins. Dr. Perro criticized standard pediatric care for ignoring food/environmental factors and not being receptive to integrative/holistic approaches.

Importance of Family and Grassroots Action

Grassroots empowerment—especially by mothers—has driven advances in holistic children’s health. Families often must research, self-advocate, change diets, and push for answers, as mainstream systems lack support. This “parallel mom medical society” is critical for raising healthy children today.

Practical Steps Toward Healing: Food, Environment, and Stress Reduction

Dietary changes (like eating organic foods and eliminating gluten/dairy), reducing exposures to toxins, and addressing gut health are central starting points for recovery. Dr. Perro also highlighted the importance of managing stress (both in parents and children), using simple lifestyle changes and support from integrative practitioners to restore health.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Writing the book on food health
05:58 Rise of neurocognitive disorders in kids
12:24 Encouraging personal experimentation
20:42 Glyphosate and GMO foods
26:07 Improvement through organic diet
30:58 Addressing children’s stress and diet
37:24 Buying local pastured meats
43:10 Detecting industry manipulation tactics
44:57 Scientific exploration of GMO impacts
52:01 Healing the gut and body
57:42 Link between stress and viral outbreaks
01:02:57 Environmental impacts on immune response
01:08:28 Shopping with your values
01:15:26 Managing persistent pathogens and microbiome balance
01:16:55 Discussing PANDAS and viral infections

About Michelle Perro MD

Michelle Perro MD is a veteran pediatrician with over thirty-five years of experience in acute and integrative medicine. More than ten years ago, Dr. Perro transformed her clinical practice to include pesticide and health advocacy.

She has both directed and worked as attending physician from New York’s Metropolitan Hospital to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.

Dr. Perro has managed her own business, Down to Earth Pediatrics, a holistic urgent care clinic for children. More recently, she has been an integrative physician at the Institute for Health and Healing, part of Sutter Pacific Medical Center.

Disclaimer

This expert interview is not a substitute for medical advice, treatment, diagnosis, or consultation with a medical professional. It is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on to make determinations related to treatment of a medical condition. Documenting Hope has not verified and does not guaranty the accuracy of the information provided in this expert interview.

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