Let them eat dirt
Subtitle: saving your child from an oversanitized world
By: B. Brett Finlay, PhD, Marie-Claire Arrieta, PhD
Contributors: Arrieta, Marie-Claire, author
Edition: First edition.
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 288
ISBN-13: 9781616206499
Subjects: Health and hygiene; Pathogenic microorganisms; Medical microbiology; Immune system; Health aspects; Bacteria; Children
Description: Microbiologists Brett Finlay and Marie-Claire Arrieta explain how the trillions of microbes that live naturally in and on our bodies influence childhood development; why an imbalance of those microbes can lead to obesity, diabetes, and asthma, among other chronic conditions; and what parents can do-- from conception on-- to positively affect their own behaviors and those of their children. They describe how natural childbirth, breastfeeding, and solid foods influence children's microbiota. They also offer practical advice on matters such as whether to sterilize food implements for babies, the use of antibiotics, the safety of vaccines, and why having pets is a good idea.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-274) and index.
Table of contents: title: We are more microbe than human. Children are microbe magnets ; A newly discovered organ : the human microbiome; title: Raising babies and their microbes. Pregnancy : eating for two? : try eating for trillions ; Birth : welcome to the world of microbes ; Breast milk : liquid gold ; Solid foods : a growing diet for microbes ; Antibiotics : carpet bombing the microbiota ; Pets : a microbe's best friend ; Lifestyle : microbe deficit disorder; title: Collateral damage. Obesity : the world is getting heavier ; Diabetes : microbes have a sweet tooth ; Intestinal diseases : fire in the gut! ; Asthma and allergies : microbes keep us breathing easy ; Gut feelings : microbiota and the brain ; Vaccines work! ; Bugs as drugs.