Dirt Is Good
Description
From two of the world's top scientists and one of the world's top science writers (all parents), Dirt Is Good is a q&a-based guide to everything you need to know about kids & germs.
"Is it OK for my child to eat dirt?"
That's just one of the many questions authors Jack Gilbert and Rob Knight are bombarded with every week from parents all over the world. They've heard everything from "My two-year-old gets constant ear infections. Should I give her antibiotics? Or probiotics?" to "I heard that my son's asthma was caused by a lack of microbial exposure. Is this true, and if so what can I do about it now?"
Google these questions, and you'll be overwhelmed with answers. The internet is rife with speculation and misinformation about the risks and benefits of what most parents think of as simply germs, but which scientists now call the microbiome: the combined activity of all the tiny organisms inside our bodies and the surrounding environment that have an enormous impact on our health and well-being. Who better to turn to for answers than Drs. Gilbert and Knight, two of the top scientists leading the investigation into the microbiome-an investigation that is producing fascinating discoveries and bringing answers to parents who want to do the best for their young children. Dirt Is Good is a comprehensive, authoritative, accessible guide you've been searching for.
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Content
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Microbiome
Chapter 2: The Human Microbiome
Chapter 3: Pregnancy
Q: Can my microbiome affect my ability to conceive or are bacteria related to infertility?
Q: Can my partner's microbiome affect my fetus?
Q: Should I visit a dentist before getting pregnant?
Q: Are GMOs safe (or unsafe) to eat while pregnant?
Q: Can microbes explain my food cravings? Why pickles and ice cream at night?
Q: Are microbes involved in my gaining too much weight in pregnancy?
Q: Do microbes have a role in gestational diabetes?
Q: Does exercise influence my microbiome? Could it help with my pregnancy?
Q: Are microbes responsible for premature birth?
Q: Can anything else cross my placenta?
Q: Can the use of antibiotics during pregnancy affect my infant?
Q: Can I take antidepressants while I'm pregnant? Can I take them while I'm nursing?
Chapter 4: Birth
Q: Should I give birth at home or in the hospital?
Q: I had a C-section. I've heard that it may not be good for my baby. What's going on?
Q: Does the vernix (white sticky stuff covering many newborns) have any effect on my baby?
Q: Is the microbiome linked to necrotizing enterocolitis?
Q: Does birth order affect the microbiome?
Q: Do boys and girls have different microbiomes based on the microbes they encounter at birth?
Q: Is there a difference in what microbes come from Mom or Dad?
Chapter 5: Breastfeeding
Q: Does it matter if I breastfeed?
Q: What makes breast milk so special?
Q: What if I can't breastfeed?
Q: Is formula safe?
Q: Is milk from a wet nurse or milk bank safe?
Q: Do dietary supplements pass through breast milk?
Q: Do antibiotics pass through my breast milk? If so, how might this affect my baby's microbiome?
Q: What causes colic? Are microbes to blame?
Chapter 6: Antibiotics
Q: Are antibiotics absolutely necessary if my baby was exposed to meconium?
Q: Can I refuse antibiotics when having a vaginal birth?
Q: Should my newborn get antibiotic eye drops?
Q: What exactly do antibiotics do to my gut and to my baby's gut?
Q: Can antibiotics in first six months of a baby's life lead to obesity?
Chapter 7: Probiotics
Q: What are probiotics good for?
Q: Which probiotic is best for my child?
Q: Should I give my child probiotics if he has diarrhea?
Q: If my child has taken an antibiotic, should they also take a probiotic?
Q: Can probiotic yogurt help cure diaper rash?
Q: What are prebiotics and what are they good for?
Chapter 8: Child Diet
Q: Can the germs on diapers hurt my baby?
Q: My baby's poop is a weird color. Is that related to changes in her microbiome or from her diet?
Q: Should I chew food before putting it in my baby's mouth?
Q: Should I give my child dietary supplements? Kid's chewable vitamins?
Q: What solid foods are best for babies under one-year-old?
Q: What role does the microbiome play in my child's food allergies?
Q: Is it okay for my child to be a vegetarian? A vegan?
Q: What would a paleo diet look like for a kid? Would it be good for her microbiome?
Q: How can I make my kid eat foods that are good from a microbiome perspective? Can I trick my picky eater into actually liking those foods?
Q: How does sugar affect my child's microbiome?
Q: Can I control my child's weight by changing their microbiome?
Q: Do GMOs, pesticide and herbicide residues, artificial sweeteners, or endocrine disruptors like BPA affect my child's microbiome?
Chapter 9: Child Gut
Q: What does my baby's gut look like?
Q: How do gut microbes shape my child's immune system?
Q: Is the microbiome involved in my child's diarrhea and constipation?
Q: How can I tell if my child has a leaky gut? Can I fix it?
Q: How do the microbiomes of babies and children differ around the world?
Chapter 10: Depression
Q: I felt depressed before and after my baby was born. Were microbes involved?
Q: I'm worried about getting peri- or post-natal depression, what can I do?
Q: If I'm depressed, can my baby's microbiome be affected?
Q: Depression runs in my family. Can I ward off depression in my child by manipulating his microbiome?
Q: Is my child's microbiome linked to their learning difficulty?
Chapter 11: Vaccines
Q: Are vaccines safe for infants?
Q: Is there a schedule for taking vaccines that will best protect my child, and should I consider their microbiome when choosing this?
Q: Should I give my child probiotics before or after vaccination?
Q: Should my child get a flu shot?
Chapter 12: Environment
Q: Shouldn't I be afraid of germs?
Q: How can I help my child build up a healthy immune system and microbiome that resists disease? Is it different for resisting infectious vs. chronic diseases?
Q: Should I take my kids to a farm?
Q: Should I get a dog?
Q: How dangerous are hospitals? If my child need surgery, should I worry about hospital acquired infection? Are all hospitals crawling with superbugs?
Q: Is eating dirt really good for my kids?
Q: Am I keeping my house too clean? Too dirty? How often should I clean the bathroom?
Q: Should I make my toddler wash his hands frequently? How often?
Q: Should I use antibacterial soaps? Hand sanitizers?
Q: Can you provide a few guiding principles for how to choose baby products such as anti-fungal rash cream, antibiotic wipes and the like?
Q: Is it okay for my child to touch poop?
Q: When should I expose my infant to strangers?
Q: Is my child picking up bad microbes from friends at school? What about foreign students at our preschool?
Q: Do I bring home "bad" microbes from work?
Q: My toddler ate something off the floor. Should I worry? How long should I wait before taking it away from her?
Q: Should I sterilize my baby's pacifier? Should I lick it?
Q: I heard that the New York City subway carries microbes that cause plague and anthrax. Is it safe for me to take my child down into the subway?
Q: Should my child take communion?
Q: Should I wash dishes in the dishwasher or by hand? What's best for microbial health?
Q: How often should I bathe my child? Baby? Infant?
Q: Should I let my child drink from a public water fountain? Should I give them tap water or bottled water?
Q: My child touched a snake. Do snakes carry dangerous bacteria?
Q: What does travel do to my child's microbiome?
Q: I heard that Finnish and Swedish parents let their infants sleep outdoors. Does that improve microbial health? Should I open the windows?
Chapter 13: Conditions
Q: My child has a weird rash. Is the microbiome involved?
Q: Why are disease-causing bacteria found in my child's throat (nose, etc) but he is not showing any signs of illness?
Q: I read somewhere that microbes can cause obesity. Is that true?
Q: I heard that my son's asthma was caused by a lack of microbial exposure. Is this true? What can I do about it?
Q: How does the microbiome affect my child's autism?
Q: Can the oral microbiome tell me if my child is at risk for cavities?
Q: How can I tell if my child is developing celiac disease or gluten intolerance? Is the microbiome involved?
Q: My child has diabetes. Is the microbiome involved?
Q: How can I best deal with constant ear infections? How can I break the cycle?
Q: Can doctors run tests in their offices to determine if an infection is bacterial or viral?
Q: What is a fecal matter transfer and might it help treat my child's medical issue?
Chapter 14: Tests
Q: Are there risks to having my child's stool tested?
Q: Should I get my microbiome tested before I get pregnant?
Q: If I decide to get my child's microbiome tested, how do I go about doing it?
Q: Is there any way for me to track changes in my child's microbiome?
Q: How do I use the information?
Q: How do I know if our test results are reliable?
Conclusion: A few words on hype