Our Expert:
Dr. Mantravadi Ahimsa
PEDIATRICIAN
Dr. Mantravadi Ahimsa is on a mission to banish plastic table wear from your kitchen. The pediatrician and mom of three created Ahimsa Home, a collection of colorful stainless steel plates, bowls, cups and cutlery inspired by the traditional Indian flat wear she used to eat with growing up. We asked Dr. Ahimsa how parents can do their best to protect their kids from harmful chemicals found in everyday items and how to make mealtime a healthy and enjoyable experience for all family members. Hint: Just the sheer act of eating meals together is one of the best ways to raise happier, healthier kids. Read on for more of her easy and super-informative tips.
How old are your children?
9,9 and 6
Why did you choose a pediatric specialty?
What drew me to pediatrics was that this field of medicine has
an impact on someone’s life in such a profound and lasting way -
identifying things at such an early age and intervening to
improve their health is the most “pay it forward” type of
medicine you will find. For example, identifying low thyroid
hormone in a newborn and treating them properly leads to a
healthy normal life for that child - but without proper care,
that baby’s brain development is delayed and significant
intellectual disabilities occur.
This is why early intervention for things like hearing and
speech is also so important. In pediatrics, you can truly make a
positive impact on so many of a child’s future years. Caring for
children is the best investment we can make in the future and
pediatrics combined my love of science, children and advocacy in
a way that has brought me such joy and fulfillment.
How has pediatrics changed over the past decade?
As physicians and scientists, we never stop learning because often, there is still so much to be discovered. I think over the past decade we have gained so much knowledge about how children grow and develop and there is an increasing focus on prevention rather than just treatment. We are learning how lifestyle and the environment is impacting children in significant ways. The food they eat, the physical activity they need, the impact of technology on growing minds - all these things are making an impact on a child’s health. Pediatrics is evolving to focus on a more holistic approach to children’s health now more than ever.
What are the top 5 chemicals parents should be aware of and how can we do our best to safeguard our children from them?
When functioning normally, the endocrine system works with other
systems to regulate our body’s healthy development and function
throughout life. It is particularly important for kids as
childhood is a crucial time for proper growth and
development. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are
substances in the environment (air, soil, or water supply), food
sources/foodware/packaging, personal care products, and
manufactured products that interfere with the normal function of
your body’s endocrine system).
I’ll focus on endocrine disrupting chemicals at mealtime because
this is the most bang for your buck in terms of making small
simple changes to protect your child’s hormone system. The
unfortunate truth is that even at low doses, EDCs are harmful to
human health so making small changes today can lead to a big
impact on your family’s health.
I like to think of families of chemicals because if you try to
eliminate one like BPA, we are not really solving the problem
since we are still exposed to all the substitutes like BPS, BPZ
and others that are just as bad and in some cases, worse than
BPA itself.
How can parents get a head start on teaching children to be mindful of their choices when it comes to food?
What is your favorite piece of advice you give to parents?
Trust yourself, relax, you know your child best - you are a good parent. Just like millions of parents in the centuries before us - you’ve got this. And cherish every moment because it truly flies by!
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