cover image The Dirt Cure: A Whole Food, Whole Planet Guide to Growing Healthy Kids in a Processed World

The Dirt Cure: A Whole Food, Whole Planet Guide to Growing Healthy Kids in a Processed World

Maya Shetreat-Klein. Atria, $26 (336p) ISBN 978-1-4767-9697-0

Shetreat-Klein, an integrative pediatric neurologist, states in this well-argued health book that the modern fixation on cleanliness can be harmful, particularly for children. She shows how the use of antibiotics and medications, as well as exposure to toxins, has had the effect of limiting human exposure to bacteria that helps the immune system function. She repeatedly urges readers to repopulate the gut with good bacteria through dietary changes. Emphasizing the importance of how food is raised or grown, Shetreat-Klein shares tips on procuring and consuming fresher meat and produce. She also takes some of the guesswork out of evaluating misleading and confusing food slogans and labels. By encouraging parents and children to change their diets, Shetreat-Klein puts them on the right track to living healthier and more balanced lives. The text is full of scientific information presented in a fun and informative way, giving concrete evidence that good food can transform one’s life. [em]Agent: Janis Donnaud, Janis A. Donnaud and Associates. (Jan.) [/em]