ᐅ Probiotics for children: How even the youngest can benefit [2022] ✔️
Children often suffer from infectious diseases such as colds or flu. But even toddlers can experience more unpleasant illnesses like gastrointestinal problems or eczema. Could probiotics for children be the solution to these problems?
Especially when it comes to the immune system and the defense against illness, the question of whether probiotics are suitable for children plays a major role. This text explains whether supplemental intake is beneficial for children. You will also learn which foods contain probiotics and what role antibiotics can play.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are important building blocks for maintaining or improving one's health. Probiotics are bacteria. In this case, however, they are beneficial and welcome bacteria that can help build a healthy gut or oral flora.
This, in turn, leads to better defense against germs and inflammation, and strengthens the immune system. It's no coincidence that the translation of probiotics is "for life."
Probiotics should not be confused with prebiotics. Prebiotics are not live bacteria, but serve as a food source for the probiotics.
How probiotics work
As mentioned earlier, probiotics are beneficial bacteria. After ingestion, they colonize the gut, multiply, and thus create a preponderance of harmful bacteria. This benefits health in the form of a stronger immune system and overall well-being.
Foods containing probiotics
Probiotics occur naturally in many foods. They are primarily found in yogurt products, including kefir and yogurt drinks. While they occur naturally in yogurt, they are added to products like yogurt drinks during production. Probiotics can also be taken in concentrated form as medication or dietary supplements.
Probiotics are found in the following foods, among others:
- yogurt
- Yogurt drinks
- kefir
- Kimchi
- sauerkraut
- Products made from fermented soybeans
When should children take probiotics?
Probiotics for children make sense in some medical conditions, such as problems with the gastrointestinal tract (rotaviruses, diarrhea, constipation, colic) or to alleviate the symptoms of middle ear infections, allergies and neurodermatitis.
Even when antibiotics were necessary due to illness, they can be useful in helping to rebuild a healthy intestinal flora.
Are probiotics beneficial for children?
Yes, probiotics are beneficial for children. As mentioned before, they can help build a healthy gut flora. And this healthy gut flora, in turn, ensures a strong immune system and improved overall well-being.
Not to be forgotten is the potential positive effect on the symptoms of allergies, inflammation, and eczema. Of course, a holistic, balanced diet is essential for all of this, and probiotics can certainly contribute to it.
Probiotics perform the following functions:
- They strengthen the immune system
- They make the body more resistant to diseases and inflammation.
- They help build a healthy gut flora.
- Can it alleviate the symptoms of gastrointestinal problems, allergies, or neurodermatitis?
Which probiotics are suitable for children?
The previously mentioned foods containing probiotics are also beneficial for children. Products made from yogurt, buttermilk, kefir, and certain cheeses are not only healthy but also tasty. While sauerkraut and pickles are also foods high in probiotics, they may not always be very appealing to children.
Furthermore, dietary supplements can be used to increase the intake of probiotics. One such product is Lacto Lux Forte. Each capsule contains 40 billion perfectly balanced strains of bacteria, including Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. It is important, however, that you consult your doctor before taking any dietary supplement.
Which probiotics are suitable for children after antibiotic treatment?
Just as with adults, the targeted administration of probiotics after a course of antibiotics is certainly beneficial. But why? What exactly do antibiotics have to do with probiotics?
Antibiotics are an effective medication for bacterial infections such as tonsillitis, meningitis (inflammation of the meninges), and pneumonia or bladder infections. However, a broad-spectrum antibiotic does not distinguish between good and bad bacteria. This means that the treatment attacks not only the harmful bacteria but also the beneficial ones.
This can lead to illnesses such as diarrhea or fungal infections. To rebuild the gut flora, the targeted administration of probiotics makes sense. They help to create a healthy environment in the gut and thus strengthen overall well-being.
Taking Lactobacillus bulgaricus or Lactobacillus delbrueckii, such as those contained in Lacto Lux Forte, may be beneficial. However, you should definitely consult your pediatrician beforehand.
Probiotics for children with constipation
It is well known that probiotics have a regulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it makes sense to use probiotics for children suffering from constipation. Constipation is just one of the symptoms that can indicate an unhealthy and imbalanced gut flora.
Probiotics from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria families have proven particularly effective in treating constipation. These bacterial strains have also proven beneficial for classic symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which include constipation, diarrhea, and bloating. However, caution is advised with the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii, as it is known to be effective against diarrheal diseases.
Conclusion
Probiotics are just as beneficial for children as they are for adults. However, if your child is experiencing health problems, you should consult your pediatrician before administering probiotics or Lacto Lux Forte. If your doctor gives the go-ahead, there's no reason not to.
Probiotics can help build or maintain a healthy gut flora. Rebuilding a healthy gut flora is particularly important after a course of antibiotics, as these destroy not only harmful but also beneficial bacteria.
Probiotics can strengthen the immune system, promote a healthy gut flora, and make the body more resistant to inflammation and infections. Furthermore, they can also improve the symptoms of conditions such as eczema and allergies.
Probiotics are found primarily in products like yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk. Sauerkraut and pickles also contain these beneficial bacteria. An alternative to these foods are dietary supplements like Lacto Lux Forte. These capsules contain billions of beneficial bacteria strains that can contribute to a healthy gut flora.