More and more research is finding that the number, variety and health of microbes in our gut (sometimes called our “microbiome”) can have a huge impact on our own well-being. And it turns out that the process of “colonizing” our microbiome may begin as early as the day we are born. However, there is also growing evidence that babies born through Cesarean section (who are not exposed to microbes in the mother’s birth canal) may suffer long-term health problems. The Atlantic’s September 2014 issue features a piece called “The Cesarean-Industrial Complex”. Definitely worth a read. Here’s just one notable quote: “New research finds that compared with those born vaginally, C-section babies go on to have a 22 percent higher risk of obesity, nearly double the risk of celiac disease, a 20 percent higher risk of asthma and type 1 diabetes, and up to an 800 percent higher risk of sensitivity to allergens. Slipping through the microbe-rich birth canal might be a rite of passage for a baby’s developing immune system. Josef Neu, a neonatologist at the University of Florida, says, ‘The types of bugs that end up in the GI tract of these babies may be very important.’” theatlantic/magazine/archive/2014/09/the-cesarean-industrial-complex/375077/
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 13:02:36 +0000
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