Did you know that probiotics aren’t just for adults? In fact, they are great for your kid’s health as well. The key is to know the best probiotics for kids and how they help your child’s health.
As a parent, we need to make sure that our little angels are filled up with essential vitamins and supplements in order to get them energized and provide a kick-start on their daily activities. One struggle as a mom is trying to get them to eat well, especially if they’re picky. One thing that can help? Probiotics.
These beneficial bacteria have gained popularity among parents across the country as they offer numerous health benefits primarily in gut health.
In this article, let’s tackle how probiotics affect our little one’s health and how to choose the best probiotics for kids that suits their specific needs – basically, everything you need to know about probiotics.
Let’s get started.
What exactly is a probiotic?
The definition of Probiotic is pretty simple – these are supplements that contain billions or even trillions of living organisms that are typically Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus species. The use of these beneficial bacteria aids in digestive function and gut health.
If you’re thinking, “bacteria? It’s a bad stuff right?” well, probiotics are actually “good” bacteria that offers many health benefits such as relieving and preventing flu.
If you want to go even more in-depth, check out our Ultimate Guide to the Best Probiotic Supplements.
Are kids born with probiotics in their stomach?
The answer to this question is simply – yes. According to research and several studies, the gut flora or the child’s probiotic grows and develops at the age of 3. The development of these gut bacteria will typically reach a stage where they influence the look of the gut bacteria profile as they grow old. Between the child’s birth and at their third year, the gut bacteria is continuously changing the landscape and it is highly pliable.
How beneficial are probiotics for your kids?
Aforementioned, probiotics are good for the health primarily in the gut health and can be beneficial not only for your kids but also for everyone else – some novice parents are hesitant about giving their children and babies supplements but others are all up to it for good reasons.
Here are some benefits of giving your kid a probiotic supplement.
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Probiotics help in regulating and keeping smooth digestion
Incorporating probiotic supplements into your kid’s diet can ensure their digestion process run smoothly. This is beneficial especially those children who suffer from constipation or diarrhea due to stomach upset from antibiotics.
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Probiotic boost immunity
Due to the trillions of living microorganism in probiotics supplements, your child’s immune system will be strengthened and improved. It promotes a healthy immune system against colds and allergies.
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Probiotic is great for skin health support
One common skin condition seen in children is eczema and taking probiotics supplements has been shown to improve skin health and protects it from the development of dangerous skin issues according to numerous studies.
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Probiotic can reduce the risk of allergies
During the child’s birth, their permeable gut lining is typically vulnerable to any toxic or foreign materials that can pass through their bloodstream. This will lead to higher chance of allergic response which is why probiotics can help remedy the situation as it builds up protection from allergies.
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Probiotic can improve your child’s cognitive function
According to research, a connection has been found between the gut and our brain. This fact shows that having a good gut health really is important for keeping our brain function runs smoothly and improved as well.
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Probiotic supports dental health
There is a certain probiotic strain that has been known to eliminate tooth damage or decay and thus supports overall dental health.
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Probiotic can reduce colic symptoms
Gas, fussiness, and spit is common in babies and study has shown that taking probiotic supplements daily can reduce those symptoms.
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Probiotic promotes better weight management
One unique ability to take probiotic supplements is that is support and boost metabolism. This could be beneficial if your child is obese or trying to maintain a healthy weight.
Important note: Probiotic supplements for an adult should not be an alternative to probiotics for kids.
What to for the well-suited and best probiotic kids?
Your child’s needs are different from teen or adult does mainly because they have a less mature system. This is why you need to choose the right probiotic products and give them the proper dose.
Here are some things you should consider before buying one.
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Check the number of CFU
One important thing to take note of before deciding to choose any probiotic supplements is the CFU or Colony Forming Units. It displays the number of the active and live microorganisms on each serving of the probiotic product. We strongly recommend to always read the label and opt for the one with 5 billion CPU’s per serving.
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Prebiotics or Probiotics?
Some parents may be confused about the term prebiotics to probiotics. The prebiotics typically nourishes the good bacteria in the digestive tract and acts as a fertilizer to probiotics.
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Determine the time-released
Commonly, when the probiotic supplements for children released in a slow manner typically 8 to 10 hour period, they have most likely to provide and positive effect.
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Forms and how to take
There are several forms of probiotic supplements that are available in the market, these include liquid probiotic drinks, pills, and chewable or gummy probiotic supplements. However, the best form that works is powder this is because it is easy to mix in both drinks and food such as applesauce and yogurt. This could be the best way to convince your kid to take their daily vitamins in fun ways and without hassle.
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Opt for the product without allergens
Some supplements can contain high allergen compounds such as gluten, yeast, soy, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, or nuts. The good thing is, there are also some probiotic products that are free of these ingredients. Visit a doctor to know if your kid has an allergic reaction to those ingredients.
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Look for the diversity of strains
As mentioned earlier, there are several strains that offer different health benefits. For example, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium is your ideal choice if you want to improve your child’s gut health. However, you should also be cautious about choosing one because some products can be ineffective.
Conclusion:
When it comes to our child’s health, us parents needs to be very attentive and cautious in choosing the best vitamins and minerals for them. Clearly, probiotic supplements are the absolutely great choice for keeping our kids energize throughout the day while providing them numerous health benefits.
We strongly recommend that you should always ask a pediatrician, physician or any medical professional before deciding to introduce probiotic supplementation to your kids.
