Lifetime health 'conditioned in the womb', say researchers in Girona and Valencia

Psychoneuroimmunologist Dr Xavi Cañellas and nutritionist Dr Jesús Sanchís, in their book Niños sanos, adultos sanos ('Healthy children, healthy adults'), say everything from expecting mothers' diet through to their mental health and even the type of birth, along with breast- or bottle-feeding, has a bearing on the future child's health throughout their entire lives.

But those who take care to avoid or reduce stress, keep to a healthy diet and maintain their intestinal flora in good conditions can reverse some problems people were born with, according to the book.

Abuse of antibiotics by pregnant women can lead to allergies, auto-immune conditions, asthma and food intolerances, among other problems, says Dr Cañellas, who works at the Biomedical Research Institute at Girona's Josep Trueta Hospital.

“It's not normal for young children to have allergies, to have been on antibiotics several times before the age of five, or for teenagers to get acne,” Dr Cañellas insists.

“Neither is it normal for girls as young as nine or 10 to have already started their periods.

“That's why the months of gestation are so important – they affect the baby's adult life.

“The prognosis for human health in the west over the next few decades is worsening – by the year 2030, the public healthcare system will be unable to cope with the levels of Type II diabetes suffered by society – so we need to encourage a change of habits.”

Some of the trouble is that people tend to believe 'fads' and dietary claims, says the researcher.

“There's no scientific evidence to show that it's better to eat five or six small meals a day, nor that breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” Dr Cañellas says.

“What is important is to eat as flexible a diet as possible – we recommend that, as often as possible, people eat organic, in-season, natural products, as locally-produced as is feasible – at the very least, in terms of fruit and vegetables, given that fresh and organic produce can be very expensive.”

The book also debunks the 'food pyramid' which has been recommended for decades as the best possible guide to healthy eating.

“It's a bit insulting that a pyramid aimed at recommending healthy eating to the population includes products like sweets, cakes, wine and other alcoholic drinks,” says Dr Sanchís.

Their book even recommends going easy on pharmaceutical drugs.

“Having a headache doesn't necessarily mean you need paracetamol; if you need antidepressants or painkillers to keep going, you should firstly try to find out what is causing the pain or depression,” Dr Sanchís stresses.

He is currently working on his PhD thesis in the paediatric department at Valencia University's Faculty of Medicine.