Probiotics: A Healthy Gut Habit for Children

The gut is the part of the digestive system that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. The gut includes all of the organs from the mouth to the anus instead of just the intestines. Therefore, the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus are all considered parts of this organ.

The gut is essential for digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste removal. It is also responsible for producing hormones and enzymes that aid in digestion. Hormones play a role in regulating appetite and metabolism. Enzymes produced by this organ break down food into smaller particles so they can be absorbed. A healthy gut is essential to good health and wellness in kids. A compromised gut can cause gastritis, ulcers, colitis, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease.

Many children suffer from various gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn's disease, allergies, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), due to an imbalance in the gut flora. Probiotics for Gut Health help restore the balance of good and bad bacteria in the intestines, improving digestion and absorption of nutrients while preventing harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites from causing infections or illness.

The most common reasons that children suffer from poor gut health include:

• Antibiotic use - Antibiotics kill not only harmful bacteria but also beneficial strains that aid digestion. Repeated use of antibiotics can lead to long-term changes in gut flora that contribute to digestive disorders.

• Poor diet - Eating too many refined carbohydrates and/or sugars overwhelms the intestines with indigestible food particles, resulting in bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea. The same is true for trans fats and saturated fats found in red meat and dairy products.

• Low fibre intake - Fiber helps move food particles through the intestines undigested to be eliminated without contributing to bloating or constipation. It is recommended for a child to have 25 grams of fibre per day.

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Probiotics for Gut Health

Genetics plays a role in the makeup of your gut microbiome. However, it's also important to consider lifestyle factors like diet, which can profoundly influence gut bacteria. For example, a diet rich in refined carbohydrates is associated with a less diverse microbiome. In contrast, one that includes lots of fibre and prebiotics is associated with a more diverse gut flora.

What is the best supplement for gut health? If you want to give your child's gut health an added boost, adding probiotic-rich foods is also an excellent idea. Try guiding your children to choose foods that contain probiotics. Some examples are:

1. Yogurt: Be sure to look on the label for brands containing 'live cultures'. If your child doesn't like eating yoghurt, try blending it into a smoothie with frozen berries, coconut oil and raw honey.

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6. Berries: Blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are high in antioxidants that promote a healthy gut microbiome.

7. Nuts and seeds: Walnuts, almonds and sesame seeds are high in calcium, magnesium and zinc, which help balance gut bacteria.

8. Kombucha: This naturally fermented tea is made using a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) which contains probiotics.

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Takeaway

Although it is good to get probiotics from food, there are times when you need probiotic supplements, such as when you have diarrhoea or other problems with your bowels. Probiotic supplements for gut health are a trendy item these days. It's also said to help with various issues, including allergies and brain health.  You can take probiotics from Unique Biotech that you can buy over the counter so your child will get the right amount of healthy bacteria in their gut. Other supplements can help your child with their digestive system too.