Kids Gut Health: What It Means & How It Impacts Your Child
The gut is the large intestine — and gut health is all about the bacteria that live there and make up the body’s unique gut microbiome. A child’s gut microbiome begins to be shaped from birth and an imbalance within the gut can impact various aspects of a child’s health.
When microorganisms were first discovered, they were assumed to be the cause of disease. And while many strains of bacteria do cause illness, in recent years we have discovered that a healthy human is home to trillions of microorganisms. The community of microorganisms living in your gut is often called the gut microbiome and within this community, there are good bacteria and bad bacteria as well as microbes that sit somewhere in between.
This is true for children as well as adults. Gut health has the same meaning for people of all ages, but there are a few key things to know about a child’s gut microbiome specifically:
1. Exposure to “germs” can be a good thing for little ones
A child’s exposure to a wide range of microorganisms at home, outside, at childcare or at school can support the development of rich and diverse microbiomes in the gut and other areas of the body such as the mouth. While the immune system fights off infectious microorganisms, it learns to identify and tolerate microorganisms which are beneficial to human health. These microorganisms are important for many aspects of our health including ongoing immune health (1). Beneficial microorganisms in the gut help to keep our immune cells alert and ready to respond to infections (2).
2. Feed your child’s beneficial bacteria with fibre-rich foods
The foods that we consume determine the kinds of microorganisms that take up residence and thrive in our digestive tract. For example, research shows that a diet high in fibre-rich foods can help beneficial bacteria grow and prosper. Fruit and vegetables are a great option and you can make it fun for your child by cutting them into fun shapes like flowers and stars and letting them use fun utensils to eat them.
3. Probiotics can offer targeted, age-specific support for a child
Specific evidence-based probiotics are also a great way to support the gut microbiome. Not all probiotic bacteria do the same thing within the body, so any probiotic supplement specifically for children should have clinical trial evidence demonstrating that the probiotic strains in the formulation have been shown to be effective. Biome Daily Kids™ Probiotic and Biome Baby™ Probiotic from the Activated Probiotics range are formulated with strains of bacteria shown in clinical trials to support digestive and immune health in babies and children. For example, a strain called L. rhamnosus GG is included in both formulations and has been shown to reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children by up to 38% by targeting the gut-immune axis.
To learn more about the Activated Probiotic range, ask a Wholelife healthcare practitioner to show you the range in-store.
References:
- Forchielli ML, Walker WA. The role of gut-associated lymphoid tissues and mucosal defence. Br J Nutr. 2005 Apr;93 Suppl 1:S41-8.
- Holmgren, J., Czerkinsky, C. Mucosal immunity and vaccines. Nat Med 11 (Suppl 4), S45–S53 (2005).
