Lele Meenal - The Baby and the Biome : How the Tiny World Inside Your Child Holds the Secret to Their Health

Allergies, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases have been rising at an alarming rate since the 1960s. This rise has coincided with the introduction of new chemicals that have caused catastrophic damage to the earth and human health. A growing body of data suggests that damage to the human epithelial barrier (skin, gut, and lungs), together with changes in the microbiomes of these areas, is contributing to food allergy, eczema, asthma, environmental allergies, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and other conditions. Leakiness of the gut epithelium (or leaky gut) and decreased biodiversity in the gut microbiome are connected to autoimmune and metabolic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, and autoimmune hepatitis. Finally, inflammatory responses due to a leaky gut and microbiome changes are even suspected in Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, chronic depression, stress-related psychiatric disorders, and autism spectrum disorders.

The epithelial barrier hypothesis has emerged as an overarching explanation for the increase in disease. This relatively new hypothesis proposes that skin / gut / lung tissue defects, triggered by exposure to toxic substances, are the starting point of many immune diseases. While genetics play a part, environmental exposures have a bigger role. A leaky epithelial barrier allows microbes to move from the surface of affected tissues to inside the tissue and even deeper. This movement by opportunistic pathogens causes a cascade of inflammation, reshapes the microbiome, and leaves it in a perpetually pro-inflammatory state.

We have long known that many environmental substances can damage the epithelial barriers and cause microbial dysbiosis, or an imbalance of the microbiome. These include laundry and dishwasher detergents, cosmetics, household cleaning products, enzymes, preservatives, and emulsifiers in processed food, cigarette smoke, particulate matter, diesel exhaust, ozone, nanoparticles, and microplastics. Recent studies indicate that the barrier-damaging effect of these substances, even at low concentrations, can be further aggravated by existing chronic inflammation.

In this book, Meenal Lele, the mother of two children, shares her journey of caring for her son Leo, who suffers from severe allergies. She sees the big picture and carries her maternal experience and extensive research to everyone involved, including the patients themselves, their parents, doctors, nurses, and dieticians. Throughout the course of this book, The Baby and the Biome, the author explores the development of her son Leos conditions, manifested as immune diseases, food allergy, environmental allergies, and eczema. She connects the dots between her sons complex symptoms, microbiome alterations, and environmental exposures. This proved a challenging task, as most doctors and patients focus on treating the disease itself, taking little consideration of its triggers and preventive measures.

Meenal Leles research and experience are shared in this book in a very warm writing style, and it is an invaluable reference, not only for parents caring for children with the chronic conditions listed above but also for adults with these conditions.

I also highly recommend The Baby and the Biome for doctors to share with patient families and medical students at the beginning of their studies. Real-life examples and anecdotes make this book a must-read for all parents preparing to have a child. It is an essential guide for parents on early baby care, antibiotics, diet recommendations, the impact of the environment on health, and nurturing the pre- and postnatal biome of the baby.