Ann M. Childers, MD

Dr. Childers is a child and adult trained psychiatric physician with a special interest in regaining the physical and mental health of children, adolescents and adults through standard psychiatric care integrated with principles of nutrition and sleep.

Dr. Childers published a number of textbook chapters, among them ‘Nutritional Aspects of Psychiatry’ for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: The Essentials (Cheng and Myers, 2011). A local and international lecturer, Dr. Childers’ lectures and podcasts can be viewed and heard on the World Wide Web.

Personal Nutrition

We all talk a good game about how to eat, what to eat, and the importance of preparing our own food from quality ingredients. The truth is that everyone faces the same dilemmas from time to time. Whether it's travel, working late, business lunches, social outings, or simply not being interested in cooking, there are many reasons why eating that home cooked meal may not always be possible.

What do I Eat?

I eat at home most of the time because I can't find tastier food anywhere. As a Type 2 diabetic I exercise caution around carbohydrates. For breakfast I look for scrambled eggs with sausage or bacon. I usually eat two meals a day, since meals like this leave me satisfied most of the day.

When on the road I can find something to eat nearly everywhere I go. I'm willing to eat additives and preservatives sometimes, and so long as I can avoid gluten I experience few limitations.

At fast food restaurants I can usually find delicious lettuce wrap burgers with bacon, and limit sugary sauces. I love a barbecue, but barbecue sauces are high in sugar. Best avoided.

My craves include the fatty, crispy ends of barbecue brisket, and smoky baby back ribs. A favorite dessert at restaurants is a small bowl of berries swimming in unsweetened heavy cream, or a shot of decaf coffee with heavy cream.

For breakfasts at restaurants, I am a big fan of eggs benedict served over pulled pork, sausage and/or bacon, sometimes grilled tomato, with extra hollandaise on the side, and coffee with heavy cream.

"Mood Swings and Diet"

Published on 2 Nov 2014

Ann Childers

What we eat affects our mood & the importance of using nutritional knowledge to improve our mental health.

Dr Childers has a passion for the low-carbohydrate diet and how nutrition affects the brain.

As a child she had bad ADHD symptoms. She learnt what junk foods made her feel bad and affected her mental performance. Dr Ann has seen how patients can be diagnosed with a psychiatric condition, but they are actually suffering effects from a bad diet.

"Stone Age Body, Space Age Diet"

Diet Doctor: Published on 11 Apr 2016

Psychiatrist Dr. Ann Childers’ presentation from the Low Carb Cruise 2015, on how our modern diet does not fit our ancient bodies. Perhaps the gut, rather than teeth, is a better predictor of what we are designed to eat?

In this lecture I explain 3 things:

1. Why I believe humans are carnivores

2. Eating for dental health enhances physical and mental health

3. Low carb, high fat eating is “the bomb” for dental and mental health, particularly for people with pre-diabetes and diabetes.

The WHO and Meat

The World Health Organization has a longstanding reputation for discouraging meat, and red meat in particular.

In defense of dietary meat, I note the following:
Heme iron from meats (higher in red meat) is the most bioavailable iron source in the human diet (Iron Facts);

Iron deficiency is on the rise in America in women of reproductive age (if these women become pregnant they may have complicated pregnancies and their infants may be born with permanent cognitive disabilities, or may acquire such disabilities within the first three years of life) (Research Facts)

The bulk of iron deficiency is seen in children, whose natural developmental requirements render them particularly vulnerable to iron deficiency-related disability (Research Facts);

Longstanding iron deficiency in young children is associated with permanent cognitive impairments, even when iron is restored (Research Facts);

At least 15% of American children (1 in 7) currently have developmental disabilities ( Developmental Disabilities - Facts).

Iron deficiency/iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide (Micronutrient deficiencies - Facts).

So I ask, is a move by the World Health Organization to discourage consumption of meat the most helpful dietary strategy for the health of nations?

Dr Childres may not know that the Seventh Day Adventist Church is a "partner" of the WHO, so it's probably just another case of "who pays the piper calls the tune." (OFH)

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants be weaned to meats and vegetables.

"Nutritional Psychiatry & How Nutrition Affects Mental Health"

Biohackers Lab: Published on 14 Jul 2017

Dietary Guidelines

If the Dietary Guidelines for Americans were just guidelines, America could take them or leave them. But the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are mandates. They mandate the contents of school lunch programs, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for low income women, children and families), influence hospital food and more.

What do you think? Do you agree with Eat Drink Politics that money talks? Or is advice provided by sponsored national organizations in the United States and Australia unbiased and objective, funding sources notwithstanding?

Depressed Much? Starches and Sweets Could Be To Blame

A diet bad for your waistline could also be bad for your mental health, researchers find. Refined sugars and starches were associated with depression in post menopausal women in a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative. Refined sugars and starches can be found in commercial breakfast cereals, bread, cookies, cakes, candies, muffins, protein and energy bars, energy drinks, sports drinks, fruit juice, sports gels, grain and potato products, pizza, chips, and more.