Summary: "Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Your Child From an Oversanitized World" is an essential guide for parents and grandparents. Co-author Marie-Claire Arrieta Ph.D. shares the latest research on the impact of the microbiome on children's immune systems and metabolism. What is the "Hygiene Hypothesis"? Can too many antibiotics render your child more prone to obesity? Do C-sections have a lasting impact on development? Why sugary beverages and refined foods set the stage for trouble; Are artificial sweeteners any better? The importance of breastfeeding; Why farm kids are less allergy-prone than city-dwellers; Do antiseptic soaps and sanitizers undermine immunity? What role for fecal transfer in autism? Probiotics as drugs? Should we all be testing our microbiomes?
