With the extensive promotion of yogurt advertisements, many parents have become aware of the existence of "probiotics." However, when it comes to actually purchasing children's probiotics for their kids, parents often feel confused: What exactly do probiotics do? Are they really as versatile as the internet claims? Today, we’ll clear up these doubts.
1. What are the benefits of children's probiotics?
First, it’s important to acknowledge that children's probiotics have a wide range of applications in the field of children's health:
1. They can treat diarrhea
Improving diarrhea is the most well-known benefit of probiotics. Probiotics can eliminate viruses and bacteria that cause diarrhea in children by secreting antibacterial (or bactericidal) substances, thereby shortening the duration of diarrhea and reducing its severity. They are effective against almost all types of diarrhea. Additionally, when using live bacteria-based children's probiotics, it’s crucial to ensure a sufficient amount of live bacteria. Otherwise, the highly acidic gastric juices may deactivate some of the probiotics, leading to a situation where "diarrhea is not improved."
2. They can improve functional gastrointestinal issues
Functional gastrointestinal issues include irregular bowel movements, bloating, and poor nutrient absorption. These problems often have unclear causes and may be related to intestinal motility disorders, abnormal regulation of the central and enteric nervous systems, or gut microbiota imbalances. Probiotics can secrete large amounts of short-chain fatty acids, which acidify the intestines and help improve various functional gastrointestinal issues.
3. They can prevent eczema and other allergic diseases
Eczema is a common inflammatory skin condition caused by various internal and external factors, and it is related to individual constitution, immunity, and daily dietary care. The causes of eczema are diverse, and factors such as genetics, food allergies, and gut microbiota imbalances may be the culprits behind children’s allergies. Domestic experts recommend that high-risk individuals for allergies use children's probiotics as an adjunct treatment for eczema, which may have some effect. This can be considered a boon for parents troubled by their children's eczema.
4. They can boost immunity
Can tiny probiotics really enhance a child's immunity? Yes. Scientific research has found that the gut microbiota is crucial for activating the normal immune system, particularly the lymphoid tissues, and plays an essential role in maintaining a range of immune functions, including antibody production, tolerance to food antigens, and the formation of germinal centers in lymphoid follicles. Therefore, maintaining a dominant presence of probiotics in a child’s body will help effectively regulate the immune system and boost immunity.
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, probiotics, which outnumber human cells by tenfold, have other roles in improving human health, which we won’t enumerate here. However, are probiotics really as "versatile" as the internet claims? Clearly not. The above points outline the common benefits of children's probiotics. With this understanding, parents can feel more confident in using children's probiotics effectively.
2. Common questions about children's probiotics
Probiotics have only been discovered and utilized by humans for about a century, and they have only been widely available to consumers in recent years. Therefore, it’s normal for many people to be unfamiliar with probiotics. Now that we’ve covered the benefits of children's probiotics, what other questions do people have? Let’s take a look!
1. How important are probiotics to human health?
In anyone’s gut, including a newborn baby just three days old, there exists a certain number of bacteria. We can categorize these bacteria into three groups: good bacteria, bad bacteria, and neutral bacteria. Good bacteria not only play a positive role in gut health but also inhibit the growth of bad bacteria. Therefore, maintaining a dominant presence of probiotics is crucial for balancing gut microbiota and overall health.
2. When should children take probiotics?
Probiotics can be considered for children with weak immunity, constipation, eczema, or after taking antibiotics. Additionally, encouraging children to eat more vegetables and whole grains can also help probiotics thrive in the gut, as the dietary fiber in these foods promotes the growth of probiotics.
3. How should parents choose children's probiotics?
After understanding the basics of children's probiotics, the most pressing concern for parents is how to choose the right product. How should children's probiotics be selected? Just remember the "three musts": high live bacteria count, multiple strains, and a simple ingredient list.
The first two ensure the product’s effectiveness, while the third ensures its safety. Here, we recommend a brand for reference. Life-Space Children's Probiotic Powder uses imported probiotic powder from Australia/USA, designed specifically for the gut microbiota of children aged 3 and above. It features a unique formula with 15 carefully selected high-quality strains, scientifically balanced to promote mutual benefits among the strains.
Each sachet contains a high concentration of live bacteria, up to 10 billion CFU/g, and is specially enriched with prebiotics to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Additionally, Life-Space Children's Probiotic Powder is free from preservatives, artificial flavors, gluten, and dairy products, making it safe for children to consume.
Finally, we hope all parents can understand and make good use of probiotics, allowing them to better serve their children’s health!
