Tips to Improve Your Childs Gut Health
Tips to Improve Your Childs Gut Health
Digestive health is an important area for the whole family, it is not adults that need to focus on good gut health. Our gut microbiome contains trillions of bacteria and these bacteria play a key role in keeping children mentally and physically healthy and also reduce the risk of illness and disease. A poorly functioning gut can have a negative impact on children and symptoms include uncomfortable digestion, stomach aches, poor nutrient absorption, poor immunity and sleep, mood fluctuations and general fatigue.
The gut microbiome is established in early years of life, so supporting your child’s gut microbiome while they’re growing is particularly important. Before the age of four, children’s microbiome remains flexible, making this a great time to build a strong and healthy gut. Beyond this age the microbiome becomes well established and is harder to change. Even before giving birth, pregnant mothers can have a positive impact on their unborn babies gut healthy by changing their own diet to include a wide variety of vegetables and fruit, eating natural probiotics and taking a probiotic supplement.
Symptoms of microbiome imbalance in your child may include the following:
Abdominal pain or cramping
B12 and other vitamin/mineral deficiencies
Bloating
Constipation and/or Diarrhoea
Fat malabsorption (losing weight despite proper nutrition)
Gas
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Slow digestion
Upset stomach after eating
Diarrhoea or constipation
Behavioural issues
Skin conditions such as eczema, rashes, psoriasis
Abdominal pains and cramping
Mucous congestion, sinus infections and chest infections
We all want the best for our children and of course we would never intentionally do anything to harm their health, so how do things get out of balance in our little ones:
The health of the mothers microbiome before she fell pregnant (gut health is passed down by the mother)
Being born via c-section vs vaginal birth
Being Formula fed
Anti-biotic use
Medications
Diet high in processed sugars and refined carbohydrates (older children)
Toxin exposure, cleaning products and things like canola oil, sunflower oil, BPA plastics
Lack of fibre and prebiotics (inadequate fruit and vegetable intake)
Sugar
Processed foods
Food intolerances
Tips to help improve your child’s microbiome:
1. Include a wide variety of vegetables in your child’s diet, these are a good source of prebiotic fibre that help good bacteria thrive. As a mother of a 3-year-old I know how challenging this can be so you may need to get creative, things like smoothies and homemade soups, as well as different types of homemade sauces or gravy. Kids also love food art so making things look pretty is a winner for us.
2. Swap out all your toxic cleaning products for natural cleaning products with no chemicals
3. Children need to be exposed to good bacteria so encourage playing in the dirt, playing with dogs/animals and using plain soap and water.
4. Avoid unnecessary antibiotics where possible. Obviously, there are going be times where antibiotics are necessary, and you can support your child with probiotics during these times to protect their gut flora.
5. Keep junk food and unhealthy sweets to a minimum, they are the opposite of prebiotics as they help create a hostile environment for good bacteria. This will have a negative impact on the microbiome and so your child’s digestion and wider health.
6. Include fermented foods such as yogurt (can be non-dairy), kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi daily.
7. Add probiotics into your child’s diet, include these in smoothies or drinks.
In the short-term the benefits of boosting your child’s gut health may include fewer upset stomachs, less skin sensitivities, better immunity and fewer allergies. Long-term, you’ll be helping to prepare their bodies for a lifetime of better wellness, and they’ll thank you for it when they are older .
