Episode 76: How Your Child’s Diet Affects Their Behavior with Monica Hanouka

Brain HealthGut Health
Written By Nicole Goode
 

Could your child’s diet be influencing their mood, focus, and behavior? In this episode, we sit down with expert nutritional therapist Monica Hanouka to explore the growing concerns around children's health. We discuss the rise in anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorders in children and how diet plays a crucial role in emotional and behavioral health.

Monica shares insights on how certain foods impact neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, affecting everything from concentration to emotional regulation. She breaks down the role of gut health, the importance of protein and nutrient diversity, and why blood sugar balance is key for preventing meltdowns and mood swings. She also shares practical strategies parents can implement today, from increasing dietary diversity to setting healthier screen-time boundaries, ensuring their children have the right foundation for optimal health.

If you’re a parent looking for practical, science-backed strategies to support your child’s mental well-being, this episode is for you. Learn simple yet effective ways to improve your child’s diet, manage screen time, and create healthier habits for a happier, more balanced life.

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast and related website is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. It is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat, instead it is designed to help educate and inspire. Always seek the advice of a professional medical practitioner or qualified health practitioner. Never ignore or disregard advice given to you based on information in this podcast or related website and do not delay in seeking medical advice.

 

Timestamps:

[02:10] - Monica’s journey into nutrition

[03:45] - How children’s health has changed in recent years 

[07:10] - Understanding genetic SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms)

[10:15] - The role of neurotransmitters, focusing on dopamine

[17:15] - Exploring other neurotransmitters: serotonin and norepinephrine

[20:48] - The importance of GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) in health

[22:25] - The link between gut health and overall well-being

[33:40] - Practical tips for parents to positively impact their child’s emotional and physical health today

 
“We do have to acknowledge that there is a lot more stress on the kids than there was, and our environment isn’t supportive of their emotions. That’s gonna be problematic when you need to make things like your happy hormones or your feel-good hormones or making too much adrenaline and not being able to break that down. That’s why nutrition can be really helpful and an incredible tool.”
— Monica Hanouka
 

Essential learnings from this episode…

  • Your child’s diet directly impacts their neurotransmitters, mood, and behavior.

  • Understand how dopamine, serotonin, and GABA influence anxiety, ADHD, and mood swings in children.

  • Too much screen time and modern lifestyle factors can disrupt brain chemistry and lead to emotional dysregulation.

  • Simple dietary tweaks—like increasing protein at breakfast or adding key nutrients—can improve behavior in as little as 24-48 hours.

 
 

Thank You For Tuning In

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Nicole Goode
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Episode 77: Overcoming Mindset Blocks with Jenny Smith
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