This week, I’d love to share Benji’s story with you. It’s a wonderful example of how even small changes to a child’s diet can bring about such meaningful improvements.

Eight months ago, six-year-old Benji was having a tough time. He struggled with constant constipation and frequent infections that often kept him out of school. His family was eager to find a way to help him feel better. Today, Benji’s doing incredibly well. Some simple shifts in his diet have completely turned things around, and he’s even developed a real interest in food, getting involved in the kitchen and enjoying meals with his family.

When Benji’s family came to Brainstorm Health, they began working with Sarah, one of our practitioners. Benji had always been a selective eater, so boosting his nutrition felt challenging. But Sarah found creative ways to make it work, guiding the family to introduce healthier options he could enjoy. Gradually, Benji started to explore new foods and became more excited about eating well.

Now, Benji’s health is thriving. The infections that once affected him are no longer an issue, and his digestion has improved dramatically. His story is such a good reminder of how powerful a balanced diet can be, setting up a strong foundation for lifelong health.

If you’re concerned that your child’s eating habits may be affecting their health, we’d love to talk to you and explore how we can help. Book your free 15-minute Discovery Call with one of our practitioners today to find out how we can help you.

Stella Chadwick, BSc (Hons) mBANT CNHC

Founder, Functional Medicine Practitioner & Registered Nutritional Therapist

When Brainstorm Health practitioner Sarah met six-year-old Benji, he suffered with recurrent constipation and frequent infections. Multiple rounds of antibiotics had taken a toll on his gut and immune health, and to make things even more tricky, he had developed very restricted eating habits.

Sarah got creative with Benji’s diet and over eight months he began eating a healthier and richer diet, his interest in food and healthy eating grew, and he began to reap the benefits. Constipation had resolved, he was no longer coming down with endless bugs and he was once again able to enjoy school, hobbies and family outings.

Read on to learn how some key dietary tweaks made a major difference for Benji and his family.

Hi Sarah, tell me a bit about your patient and the symptoms they first came to you with

When Benji and I began working together, he was six years old. He had a history of restrictive eating habits and frequent infections, including influenza, conjunctivitis, and, most recently, gastritis. He was also somewhat prone to constipation, particularly after consuming gluten.

How were these symptoms impacting Benji’s life?

Benji’s diet had become very restricted, with a preference for foods that had crispy textures. His parents relied on a paediatric nutrition shake to supplement his limited intake. He struggled to eat out at restaurants due to gagging at food smells, and he faced similar challenges with certain food odours at home.

Due to the frequent infections, he was not feeling great in himself and was often absent from school. Out of concern for his health, his family had him wear a mask at school.


What were your initial steps in helping Benji?

After Benji’s recent experience with gastritis, I recommended some herbal gut-soothing teas to help reduce gastric inflammation. Additionally, I suggested a Lion's mane and Reishi mushroom supplement to support gut and immune health. We also introduced wholefood vitamin C and vitamin D to support the immune system, and flax seeds to help soothe the gut and support bowel movements.

Benji does not live in the UK, so I explored locally available options for healthier alternatives to improve his nutritional intake. Since his diet was already limited, I avoided removing any food groups at this stage. However, we did try to reduce gluten where possible, as there was a strong link with his gastric symptoms and constipation.

We introduced new foods gradually and with low pressure. Many of these alternatives were well-received, including gluten-free seeded crackers, crispy seaweed thins, and grass-fed beef jerky prepared in the air fryer for a crispy texture. Other swaps included replacing processed low-fat yoghurts with organic full-fat ones paired with homemade berry compote, and Nordic berry powders, and introducing homemade options like pancakes and granola. The family also switched to homemade chicken nuggets and experimented with homemade beef burgers, crispy salmon balls, and crispy kale.


What lab tests did you do? What did the tests reveal and how did that shape your therapeutic approach? 


When I first met Bejji, he had recently undergone blood tests that showed low serum iron levels. This aligned with his clinical picture, as low iron can contribute to picky eating and weakened immunity. I also noted that his mother had low iron during her pregnancy with Benji. Since he had already been prescribed a short-term iron supplement by his doctor, we focused on incorporating more iron-rich foods into his diet, along with vitamin C–rich foods and a whole-food vitamin C supplement to enhance iron absorption.

Given Benji’s frequent infections and multiple courses of antibiotics, I recommended a comprehensive stool test to assess potential microbiome imbalances, gastric inflammation, and any malabsorption issues that could be impacting his immune health and potentially, his eating preferences. This test hasn't been completed yet, but it remains on our to-do list.

How long did it take before seeing positive changes to symptoms?

By our next follow-up, I was pleased to see that Benji was eating a wider variety of foods. He was also having daily bowel movements, and had only experienced one minor cold, from which he recovered quickly.

He enjoyed learning about the health benefits of specific foods and found motivation in completing tick sheets and challenges. While this approach isn’t always suitable for children with picky eating, it worked well for Benji to boost his enthusiasm, and we have continued to set regular food challenges to keep him motivated.

Over time, he stopped wearing a mask at school and has taken an active interest in food, enjoying some of the recipe books I suggested and picking out new items at the grocery store to try.

What has been the biggest ‘breakthrough’ moment on Benji’s journey? 


It’s been so lovely to see the positive impact on the happiness and well-being of Benji and his whole family. They can eat out where they weren’t able to before, they are enjoying reading menus and recipe books, and cooking together. Benji is able to attend school and enjoy his hobbies.

How is Benji doing now? What will you focus on next?

He is doing very well overall. We are continuing to work on maintaining his motivation after a slight lapse during the summer holidays.

We have been gradually reducing Benji’s reliance on the nutrition shake and have introduced nourishing homemade smoothies. Our focus has been on increasing his iron intake through whole foods and beef organ supplements, as well as supporting iron metabolism with essential cofactor nutrients. We may consider iron supplementation if necessary. We are also concentrating on his zinc intake through foods, with plans to introduce a zinc supplement next, as zinc plays a vital role in taste perception and appetite regulation. We have observed that low zinc levels can lead children to prefer crispy textured foods, as they often seek a satisfying texture experience over flavour.

Further lab investigations, including a stool test, a food sensitivity test, and a urine test, will give us even more insights into gut health, metabolic imbalances, and potential trigger foods in the diet to inform our approach to supporting Benji.

So far, Benji’s made great progress even with minimal supplementation and I am excited to see what else we can achieve.

Always consult a qualified practitioner before introducing new supplements. Book your free discovery call today to discuss how we can help your child achieve optimal health.

Dr GB Syrup by Hifas da Terra

Dr. GB Syrup by Hifas da Terra is a powerful, mushroom-based supplement designed specifically for children, to support immune health and reduce inflammation. It is formulated with Reishi and Lion’s Mane mushrooms, which are rich in bioactive compounds to strengthen the body’s defenses and nourish the gut microbiome.

Health benefits of Dr. GB Syrup

• Boosts immune function 🛡️: Strengthens the body’s natural defences against illness.

• Reduces inflammation 🔥: Supports a balanced immune response and reduces chronic inflammation.

• Balances the gut microbiota🌱: With prebiotic fibres that nourish beneficial gut bacteria

• Supports nervous system health 🧠: Contributes to cognitive development

Key features

• Delicious sweet taste and liquid format: Easy for kids to take

• Premium ingredients: Made with sustainably sourced, organic mushrooms, free from heavy metals and pesticides.

• Free from common allergens: Well-tolerated, even by sensitive individuals

Dr. GB Syrup offers a natural, effective way to boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and support gut health with the powerful benefits of medicinal mushrooms. 

Enjoy a 10% discount on Dr GB Syrup by Hifas da Terra using the code SMC010

Please consult your practitioner or medical professional before adding any new supplement to your plan

Food of the week: Grain-free Chicken Dippers

Persuading picky eaters to try different foods can be really tricky. Finding healthy twists on old favourites can be a winning strategy. These easy grain-free chicken dippers are a delicious take on a family classic, providing a crunchy, satisfying bite without the grains. Perfect for busy families, meal prep, or as a fun snack, they’re sure to become a staple in your kitchen!

Why these dippers are a healthy choice

• Grain-free: Ideal for those with gluten sensitivity
  
• Packed with nutrients: Almond flour and coconut add healthy fats, while chicken provides essential protein for muscle repair and growth, as well as source of tryptophan - a natural stress buster
• Simple ingredients: No processed ingredients or artificial additives—just wholesome, real-food ingredients that are both satisfying and nourishing.

Please only introduce new foods or supplements under the guidance of your healthcare practitioner and remember dose is important! We always recommend that people start with a very small dose and work up. Supplements are not meant to be used long term. These are general recommendations only and not intended to diagnose or treat any health issues. If you are already a patient of ours, feel free to ask your practitioner if these are suitable and don’t forget to use the discount codes listed below.

Meet our practitioners
We are a unique clinic in that each of our practitioners is a parent. Many of us have a child with special needs, and we all have different passions and expertise. Please head to our website to meet Jo, Sarah, Haley, Mémé and Emma, and get in touch if you'd like to know how to work with us. 

Appointments
If you’d like to become a new patient please follow this link to our appointment page and follow the directions.

Existing patients can book follow-up appointments with their practitioners using this link. Please note Discovery Calls on this page are only for people we have not seen yet, and not for existing patients.

Buying supplements from our trusted suppliers

We recommend our patients buy supplements from the below suppliers. Note any supplement mentioned in the above article is for educational purposes only. You should only try new supplements with your child with the approval of your healthcare practitioner. If you have already gotten approval, please feel free to make use of the exclusive Brainstorm Health® discount codes we have negotiated with our suppliers. Some suppliers support Brainstorm Health® with a small commission which we reinvest into creating quality content like this newsletter to give as much free support to our community as possible.

The Natural Dispensary
Discount Code: SMC010

Amrita
Discount Code: L8FQQL

Your Health Basket
Discount Code: Brainstorm10