What happens in infancy sets the stage for metabolic function, immune balance, and disease risk later in life. One of the most important choices during this stage in your child’s life is whether to breastfeed them or not — and recent research provides more solid evidence that breastfeeding has lasting health consequences. A study found… Read More »
A mother’s gut microbiome plays a significant role in seeding the infant’s gut. The baby’s microbiome is also “seeded” during vaginal delivery. By the time they are toddlers, their bodies host trillions of bacteria that shape their immunity, digestion, and even brain function. And, as demonstrated by recent research, the diversity of plants your child… Read More »
Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published August 30, 2017. The food you feed your baby during his or her first years has an enormous impact on their development and long-term health. I strongly encourage all mothers to do everything possible to exclusively breast-feed for least six months or longer for… Read More »
Microbial communities in the intestine — also known as the gut microbiome — are vital for human digestion, metabolism and resistance to colonization by pathogens. The gut microbiome composition in infants and toddlers changes extensively in the first three years of life. But where do those microbes come from in the first place? Scientists have… Read More »