5. Bacteria
This is a very new science that needs much further research before we’re able to delve into it in greater detail. However, suffice to say that we are now discovering a hugely important role for bacteria in human health.
We often think of bacteria as being ‘germs’ – i.e. unhealthy for us. In truth though, bacteria is good for us more often than it is bad for us. And the good kind provides us with a huge range of crucial benefits: ranging from the production of key neurotransmitters to breaking down food, to helping to improve the immune system.
The really amazing bit is that mothers actually pass their own ‘microbiome’ on to their children during a natural birth: as the baby cries as it travels through the body, it actually ends up consuming some of the bacteria that line the vagina! Babies born through cesarean may therefore actually have a relatively poor immune system as a result.
It’s very possible that the breast milk provides one more place for babies to get crucial ‘healthy bacteria’ from their mothers, which could improve their IQs, immune systems, moods, and much more!