In this episode of the Her Health™ Podcast, host Laura Johnston was joined by Dr Nadia Khan, a specialist paediatrician known for her deeply holistic, root-cause approach to children’s health. From infancy through adolescence, Dr Nadia Khan shared powerful insights into why so many children are being medicated without adequate investigation – and how nutrient deficiencies, gut health, and immune dysregulation are often overlooked drivers of behavioural, emotional, and developmental challenges.
This conversation challenges parents to slow down, ask better questions, and trust their instincts – while also highlighting where modern healthcare systems often fall short.
Rapid Fire: Dr Nadia Khan’s Paediatric Perspectives
The episode opened with a rapid-fire segment that immediately revealed Dr Khan’s balanced, evidence-informed philosophy:
- Co-sleeping: 7/10 (acknowledging this might be controversial)
- Omega-3 for children: 9/10
- Iron for children: 9/10
- Magnesium for children: 6/10
- Chicken nuggets and chips daily: 1/10
- Outdoor play and dirt exposure: 8.5/10
- Vaccinations for kids: No comment
- Vitamin D3 for kids: 8/10
- Screen time: 1/10
- Antibiotics for viral infections: <1/10
- Probiotics for children: 7/10, depending on diet
When Symptoms Are Treated Instead of Causes
Dr Khan explained that many childhood symptoms – from poor concentration and emotional dysregulation to sleep disturbances and recurrent infections – are frequently medicated without investigating what drives them beneath the surface.
She highlighted a critical gap in medical training: nutrition education. Most doctors, she noted, receive minimal instruction on how nutrients affect sleep, immunity, focus, or behaviour. As a result, children are often labelled and medicated without blood tests or deeper assessments.
Importantly, Nadia emphasised that this is not solely a parental failing. Parents are encouraged to trust practitioners, and many do not realise they can – or should – seek second or third opinions when something feels off.
The Most Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Children
Across her clinical practice, Dr Khan consistently saw a pattern of nutrient deficiencies that were strongly linked to both physical and behavioural symptoms.
The most common included:
- Iron deficiency (by far the most prevalent)
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Magnesium depletion
- Zinc deficiency
She estimated that over 80% of children she assessed for ADHD, autism spectrum presentations, or behavioural concerns were iron-deficient when tested – often severely so.
Crucially, these deficiencies were not limited to neurodivergent children. The same patterns appeared in children with recurrent ear infections, pneumonia, gut issues, reflux, colic, and constipation.
Nutritional Balance & Behavioural Labels
One of the most confronting discussions centred on how quickly children were labelled with ADHD or autism – often without any blood work or investigation into nutritional status, sleep, gut health, or immune function.
Dr Khan explained that symptoms such as hyperactivity, daydreaming, emotional volatility, sensory sensitivities, or poor concentration were often the body’s way of signalling imbalance.
Rather than asking “What diagnosis fits this child?”, she encouraged asking:
“What is this child’s body asking for help with?”
She described seeing a recurring developmental pattern: babies with colic and reflux became toddlers with recurrent infections and gut issues, who later presented as school-aged children with anxiety, ADHD, or emotional dysregulation. At each stage, symptoms were often medicated rather than resolved.
Iron Deficiency: The Overlooked Driver
Iron emerged as the most critical and under-recognised nutrient discussed in the episode.
Nadia explained that iron deficiency did not always present as pallor (pale skin) or fatigue. Early signs included:
- Restless sleep or frequent night waking
- Motor hyperactivity, especially in the evenings
- Sensory sensitivities to food textures
- Emotional dysregulation or flattened affect
- Frequent sickness and infections
- Febrile seizures
She also shared emerging research linking maternal iron deficiency and early-life iron deficiency in the first few months of life with an increased risk of autism – underscoring the importance of early screening and intervention.
For Dr Khan, iron levels should always be assessed before behavioural medications are considered.
The Gut, the Microbiome, and Genetic Expression
A central theme of the conversation was the role of the gut microbiome in shaping children’s health.
Dr Khan explained that genes are not a life sentence. Instead, diet, lifestyle, and the microbiome determined whether genetic predispositions were manifested – summarised by Laura as:
“Genes load the gun, but diet and lifestyle pull the trigger.”
The microbiome influences:
- Brain health and serotonin production
- Energy, sleep and cognitive function
- Immune regulation
- Allergies and eczema
- Fertility and hormonal balance
Nadia noted that disruptions in gut health can drive chronic inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, immune dysregulation, and behavioural symptoms – in both children and adults.
Allergies, Immunity, and Recurrent Infections
Dr Khan clarified that while frequent viral illnesses (often lasting 6 months) are common in children attending play school or with siblings, severe or recurrent infections requiring repeated antibiotics are not normal.
She stressed that repeated antibiotic use without investigating iron levels, vitamin D status, allergies, or immune function often worsens gut disruption and long-term health outcomes.
Vitamin D deficiency, in particular, was closely linked to allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis and eczema, while gut inflammation further impairs iron absorption – exacerbating infections and allergies further.
The Link Between Modern Diets and Inflammation
The conversation also explored how modern food systems contributed to widespread nutrient deficiencies.
Dr Khan described how highly processed foods, additives, chemical exposure, and industrial farming practices disrupt gut integrity and immune balance. Children today are consuming foods far removed from the natural energy chain of sun → plants → animals → humans.
This shift, combined with prenatal stress, lifestyle pressures, and environmental exposures, create a perfect storm for inflammation and nutrient depletion.
Dr Khan’s Top Tip for Parents
In closing, Dr Khan encouraged parents to remain curious, informed, and empowered.
Before accepting behavioural labels or long-term medication, she urged families to ask questions and request basic testing – particularly iron, vitamin D, and magnesium levels – and to consider gut health, sleep, and diet as foundational pillars of child well-being.
Ultimately, this episode reinforced a powerful truth: children’s symptoms are signals, not failures – and with the right support, many paths can be gently redirected toward long-term health. Nadia's message was not anti-medicine, but pro-balance. Pharmaceuticals have their place, but they should not replace curiosity, investigation, or common sense.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if pregnant, nursing, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medication.
