What’s Eating Our Kids? is an insightful and comprehensive guide on food allergies, intolerances, and toxicities in children, presented through a mixture of scientific explanations and personal anecdotes. Why was this an important book for you to write?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that environmental allergies are just a “nuisance” — a few sneezes or itchy eyes that people should simply push through. In reality, allergies are an immune system overreaction, not a weakness or minor irritation.

Common misunderstandings include:

• Thinking allergies are the same as a cold (they’re not caused by viruses)
• Assuming symptoms are harmless when they can disrupt sleep, concentration, breathing, and quality of life
• Believing people can “toughen up” and outgrow symptoms through exposure — which often makes things worse
• Not realizing allergies can contribute to sinus infections, asthma flares, fatigue, and chronic inflammation

Environmental allergies reflect a body that is constantly on high alert — and that ongoing immune stress matters.

Why it’s important for patients to understand what’s happening inside their bodies?

When patients understand the why behind their symptoms, several powerful things happen:

It builds trust and confidence – People are more comfortable with treatment when they know what their body is reacting to and why certain therapies help.

It improves long-term health outcomes – Understanding triggers, inflammation, and immune responses helps patients make better daily choices — like avoiding exposures, using medication correctly, and recognizing early warning signs.

It reduces fear and frustration – Many symptoms feel scary or mysterious. Knowledge turns uncertainty into clarity and control.

It encourages partnership in care – Patients who understand their bodies become active participants rather than passive recipients of treatment.

How do family environments influence allergic illnesses, and what small changes at home can make a big difference?

Family environments shape allergic illness far more than most people realize. Daily exposures inside the home can either quiet the immune system — or constantly trigger it. The encouraging part? Small, realistic changes often lead to big improvements.  These are affected by pollen that is carried into the home, animals that inhabit the home, and air quality of the home.

Allergic illness isn’t just something happening inside the body — it’s a constant interaction with the environment.

Small home shifts can:

Reduce attacks
Improve sleep
Lower medication needs
Give families more control

How do I hope Clear the Air Changes Doctor–Patient Conversations?

I hope Clear the Air helps patients feel more informed, confident, and empowered before they ever walk into the exam room. My goal was to provide clear, trustworthy information — without an agenda — that explains what may be happening in their bodies, when it’s appropriate to try simple care at home, and when it’s time to seek medical attention.

By understanding initial treatments and how long they typically take to work, patients can have more realistic expectations and feel less anxious or discouraged in the process. It also helps them recognize what is helping and what isn’t, which allows for more productive, focused conversations with their doctor.

Ultimately, I hope the book builds a bridge between patients and providers — helping patients understand why certain recommendations are made and giving doctors better insight into what their patients have already tried — so together they can reach answers and effective treatment more quickly and with greater trust.

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