Hi, my name is Ana-Maria.Β Β I am a pediatrician and I used to have a family plagued by chronic disease. Β This is our journey to wellness.
I often get asked,
- How did I manage to get my kids healthy?
- How did my children outgrow their asthma, allergies, eczema?
- How did one of my sons get through school and life without ADHD meds, despite having The Diagnosis?
- How did I manage to fix my gut after 25years of constipation and daily laxative use?
- How did my husband cooperate with the changes in the household?
- How did I manage not to lose my mind while cleaning up our life and lifestyle?
My family’s list of chronic diseases:
- Allie – Chronic Asthma on daily inhalers, oral steroids & antibiotics several times a year, eczema, allergies
- Jake – Chronic Snot and ADHD, rounds of antibiotics
- Evan – Horrific Seasonal Allergies (5 medications at one point)
- John – the husband – elevated Blood Pressure, elevated cholesterol,Β recurrent man colds, and STRESSSSSS
- Me –Β I have suffered from Irritable Bowel with Constipation since I was in college.Β It got really bad throughout Medical School and then escalated through residency.Β In summary, I was on some form of Miralax or Lactulose daily for 25 years.Β And I thought that was fine.Β Just an aging thing, a stress thing, a pregnancy thing, a thyroid thing, and so on.Β No one corrected me either.Β The meds just got prescribed.
How did Change happen?
Our familyβs health journey began in 2007.Β I went to a nutrition talk sponsored by Beverly Woods, a local elementary school which my kids attended.Β Seating in the third row, at 7:30AM on a Tuesday morning before work, I got my βAHA!!β Moment.Β That moment when the clouds part, the fog lifts, and I chose to see the truth about our lifestyle and my mind opened up to possibilities.Β Itβs a moment many of my families and patients have experienced over the years.Β THE MOMENT when clarity arrives and a great change begins.

2007
- I went home that day, in 2007, a day that lives in infamy at my house, and threw out all the garbage from my pantry – Mac and Cheese in a Box, Cheetos, Doritos, Peanut Butter Crackers (yep the gross orange ones), Jello, etc.Β My kids stared in horror at all the food going in the trash.Β That was Day 1.
- Food Coloring – I got rid of food coloring from the pantry. Β It is harder then you think. Β Every food in a box that is popular, generally, has food coloring in it. Β An easy rule of thumb: Β if the box is colorful on the outside, the items inside, are almost always artificially colored.
- Fruits and Veggies – I added a fruit at every lunch and a vegetable or a fruit at every dinner.
- Fast Food Gone – No more fast food other then Subway.
2008
- Juice Plus – The family started taking Juice Plus because Allergies, Asthma, Eczema, and Sinus Infections were still ravaging the children and occasionally the adults.
- Juice and Chocolate Milk discontinuedΒ – Juice and Chocolate Milk got removed from lunch boxes, over a period of a few weeks.Β I weaned them off by offering the sugared drinks every other day, then only Tuesdays and Thursdays, then once a week, then gone.
- Fruit and Vegetables at Snack – Fruit or vegetable became mandatory for anyone hungry for a snack.Β To earn the right to a processed food, one must eat something that grows in the earth first.Β No exceptions.Β There was some whining initially, but I did not give in.Β No fruit or veggies, then no snack, because that meant there is no true hunger.
2009
- The Vitamix – We bought The Vitamix Blender (husband was a huge skeptic, but bought βjust another blenderβ for me on Motherβs Day) – BTW that was the first purchase he made when we moved to NZ and had no furniture.Β Just sayinβ!
- More Fruits and Veggies – Fruits and Vegetables became part of breakfast.Β Here is The Smoothie Process with recipe.
- Artificial Food Ingredients Removed – Food label reading became an art form.Β If I can’t read it, we do not eat it.Β At first it was exhausting because Cheese-its and Ritz crackers had to go.Β I had to find alternatives.Β I had to dig deep.Β Grocery shopping was going to take forever, but I focused on replacing one item at a time. Β For example, once I found my favorite brands of “Cheeze-its”, I moved on to Ritz Crackers alternatives. Β Some were hits, some were misses, but I persevered.
- Soda Gone – I gave up soda. Β My water drinking skyrocketed.
The Change –Β
- Less allergies and asthma noted in kids.Β Chronic inhalers went away.
- My bowels became more regular but still on daily meds.
2010
- More Fruits and Veggies – Fruit and Vegetable portion sizes increased and became present Breakfast, Lunch, After-school Snack, Dinner. Veggies became mandatory on all Subway sandwiches. Β No more chips, only fruit slices at Subway.
- Organic TransitionΒ Started- Transition to organic fruits and veggies and organic milk.
- Drinks Simplified – Water and Milk became the only drinks in the house, ever.
- Travel Food – we packed food for road trips to avoid fast food restaurants and garbage eating on the road. Β Snacks have become –Β Β cut up fruits, vegetables, dips, meats, cheese, nut mixes, olives, packaged foods with 5 ingredients or less.
The Change –Β
– no more antibiotics, no more steroids, eczema improved, less allergy meds
2011
- Low Fat Items Removed – Transitioned to Full Fat Organic Milk, Full Fat Dairy of any kind. We said goodbye to any low fat or fat free items.
- Omega 3 – Daily Omega 3 as fish oil, flax seed, hemp seeds, chia seeds in smoothies.
- Meats Labels Scrutinized – grass fed meat, nitrite free bacon, turkey breast without color or additives for lunches. Β (Thanks to FedUp the Movie)
- Organic Eggs became the norm
- Vacation Eating Adjusted – On vacation we started eating like our every day meals.Β No more kids meals or menus.Β We stopped βtaking vacationsβ from eating wholesome foods.Β This was met with a lot of friction from family members and caused a lot of stress in my marriage.Β But, it was non-negotiable.
The Change
- kids came off all allergy meds, eczema improved significantly, no more asthma meds
- Jakeβs 5th grade teacher pointed out the difference in his behavior from Kindergarten to 5th grade. Β In 2011, Jake went through behavioral therapy with amazing results, and no medication had to be used.
- husband’s blood pressure and cholesterol were that of a 20 year old male
2012

- Gluten Free – I gave up gluten.Β People!!Β That may have been the hardest thing in the world because I love the taste of beer.Β But, I was tired of the bloating and feeling horrid (which by the way, everyone told me was in my head). Β Initially I would do it for a few days, or a couple of weeks, then would fall off the wagon and go back to my old habits. Β I tried to blame many things for my bloating, until I had to face the truth. Β After 2 weeks of being gluten free, I felt incredibly better. Β Interesting fact: Β thyroid disease and gluten sensitivity are inter-related. Β (I have thyroid issues)
- Marriage Counseling – This was the year when my husband and I had to face our relationship weaknesses and struggles and marriage counseling began. Β This is a very important step in a healthy lifestyle. Β Stressors have to be addressed in order for the gut, the hormones, digestion, sleep, and immune system to work properly.
- Holistic Chef for Work Night Meals – Due to martial stress, I wanted help with dinner and I hired Chef Sherri with The Seasonal Kitchen.Β Lots of eyebrows were raised at βhow fancyβ I was becoming.Β Didnβt care!! Β Thanks to Sherri, I learned how to prep meals, our vegetable repertoire increased by 100%, we started eating fish regularly, my stress level decreased, meal prep became enjoyable, and my food shopping got even cleaner. Β John started helping in the kitchen with dishes and even meal prep. Β Family dinners became less chaotic. Β Did I mention the importance of stress reduction?
The Change
- bloating went away
- kids doing fantastic in all aspects of life
- marriage balance and happiness rediscovered
2013
- VSL 3 – I was introduced to VSL3, a probiotic studied in people with inflammatory bowel disease.Β I reviewed the literature and was amazed.Β I gave it a go.Β I had tried previous brands before and was not impressed with the probiotic concept overall.
- Within 48hrs, I developed normal bowel habits for the first time in 22 years without medications.Β I was stunned!!
The Change
- no bloating, regular bowel habits
- no more colds lasting longer then 3 days in the house, no more stomach bugs
- no more antibiotics, no ADHD meds
- no more Man Colds
2014
- Transition to chemical free cleaners.
- No more antibacterial soap
2015
- Transition to cleaner skin care products – Pure Haven Essentials Hyaluronic Acid, Lip Balm, Hair De-tangler, 100% Pure Night Cream and Eye Cream. Β I started using the Think Dirty app to evaluate my skin care and cosmetics.
2016
- Stress Reduction – John quit his job and we moved to New Zealand where calmness reigns and work life balance is an actual reality.
2017
- Sleep
- The children are and have been on track. Β No devices allowed in the bedrooms.
- John’s sleep is so much better in light of the stress reduction. Β Thanks New Zealand living!
- My sleep is another matter. Β It has been dis-regulated by the stress of 2012. Β Since that time, I have become dependent on Clonazepam for staying asleep. Despite great sleep hygiene habits, many regular medications trials,Β and acupuncture, I could not wean myself off. Β On my path towards a functional medicine degree, I have learned about the many options out there for those with sleep troubles. Β An important thing I uncovered is that many, if not most of us, are magnesium depleted. Β Interestingly, those who are magnesium depleted suffer from sleep latency issues, which means trouble with staying asleep. Β This topic requires it’s own blog post……….. coming soon. Β Anyway, now that I have repleted my magnesium levels, I have added chamomile dried herbs and my clonazepam dose is now 75% less. Β This may also need it’s own post.
Summary of Our Journey
- No fast food,
- No soda,
- No food coloring in food
- No juice or chocolate milk in lunch boxes
- No juice or sport drinks (they should be ashamed for even calling it this) on the sports field
- Organic Fruits and Vegetables
- Fruit and Veggie Goals 8-11 servings a day. Β Fruits or veggies are present at all meals and snacks.
- Grass Fed Meats/Eggs/Dairy
- Full Fat Dairy from a local company that minimally pasteurizes the milk
- Snacks have 5 ingredients or less
- Snacks only with ingredients that are food
- No food coloring in medication – this is still in progress.
- Fitness has always been regular for all and it has never been an issue, thankfully.
- Stress controlled – a work in progress.
- Sleep has been non-negotiable and on track for kids.Β No devices in bedrooms! Β I am currently cleaning up my sleep
- Cleaning up skin care, soaps, detergents, cleaning supplies – a work in progress, 80% there.
Supplements:
- Kids – juice plus, omega 3 , vitamin D
- Husband – juice plus
- Me – juice plus, vit D 2000 int units, magnesium 800mg nightly, chamomille 800mg nightly, biotin 5,000 mg, omega 3, kombucha
The Changes
- no illnesses, no antibiotics, no steroids, no eczema, no asthma, no allergies,
- ADHD symptoms that simply annoy me, but are not interfering with normal teen life
- regular and healed Gut for everyone, especially me
- no cholesterol or blood pressure issues
- colds last 3-4 days, if they arrive at all
Helpful Charts for Clean Living




What about you?
I would love to hear how you have cleaned up your lifestyle or your family’s. Β I am always looking for families or individuals to highlight on my blog and use as inspiration for others.