Should Kids Take Probiotics?

With every new school year comes a return to bagged lunches, being on time and morning routines. Whether you have a newborn, a preschooler or a school-aged kid, probiotics are a great addition to that routine. And the new school year is a great time to start.

Good gut health is good health

Taking probiotics is one of the easiest ways to maintain healthy gut microbiota. But what does gut health have to do with staying healthy? A lot! Trillions of microorganisms (aka microbiota) live in our intestines. Collectively, the microbiota that live on and in the human body make up the microbiome, which is established in the first years of life and can change with age, diet, environment, medication use and other factors.

Our gut microbiome does everything from stimulating our immune systems and preventing us from getting sick to synthesizing vitamins so our bodies can benefit from them. Protecting our microbiome helps it protect us. A healthy microbiome is crucial for both metabolic and immune function, which is why it’s important to maintain balanced gut microbiota.

After all, school can be stressful. Kids have to adjust to new classrooms, new teachers and homework, not to mention classmates, and it can be a lot. Boosting their immune systems with probiotics, when they might not be eating or sleeping well, can help them fight off illnesses.

How probiotics help

Probiotics are live microorganisms (yeast or bacteria) that can keep delicate gut flora in balance. By replenishing the body’s good microorganisms with probiotics, we can help maintain digestion, regularity and immune system function. Fermented foods contain probiotics, but it’s hard to be sure of how much good bacteria they actually have, especially if the foods have been on a shelf for a while. Plus, if your kids are picky eaters, fermented foods might be a tough sell.

If you want to be sure your kids get significant doses of probiotics, supplements offer that peace of mind. A daily all-in-one probiotic, such as Florastor, promotes a favourable gut flora, boosts the immune system and prevents the risk of acute diarrhea and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Florastor offers efficient, clinically proven probiotics for all ages from three months old.

We know that children are often at the mercy of gastrointestinal distress. Taking probiotic supplements can support good digestive health to avoid or minimize those irksome tummy aches. And, if your child does get sick and requires antibiotics, probiotics can help restore their gut microbiota. One of the biggest stressors that can cause microbiota imbalances is antibiotic use, which kills all bacteria, good and bad.

Florastor can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and antibiotic-associated imbalance called dysbiosis. In fact, it’s the only probiotic that contains Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745, which is naturally resistant to all antibiotics tested. The Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 strain is an effective yeast probiotic that was first discovered in Indochina in the early 1900s in the skins of two tropical fruits—lychees and mangosteens. The strain has since been studied in more than 130 clinical trials worldwide, has promoted gut health in adults and children for 65 years and counting and is recommended by the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF).

Choosing an easy-to-take and easy-to-store probiotic for your kids helps set them up for a healthy school year. To learn more about keeping your child’s gut healthy and happy, visit Florastor.ca.