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Beth Aldrich, mother
of three, is a Healthy Lifestyle-Green Living Expert, media
personality, writer and public speaker. She is the publisher
and founder of forherinformation.com,
the online magazine for women and former host of the PBS TV
series, For Her Information. To find out more about Beth,
log on to bethaldrich.com.
 There’s
been plenty of talk about probiotic supplements lately, but
are they good for children? The answer at any age is yes.
Probiotics are healthy bacteria in the gut that help make
vitamin K and keep the digestive system healthy, which in
turn keeps the immune system strong—offering extra defense
this flu season and all year long.
The human intestinal tract is home to millions of friendly
bacteria whose job it is to make substances that help keep
the cells in the intestinal tract healthy and to keep unfriendly
bacteria, yeasts and molds in check. Sometimes the good bacteria
and unfriendly bacteria (yeast and mold) become imbalanced—often
because due to stress, antibiotics or an unhealthy diet including
refined carbohydrates and little fiber.
The antibiotics that you take for killing an infection will
also kill the healthy bacteria in your digestive tract. After
antibiotic use, it is extremely important to replenish beneficial
bacteria by taking a quality probiotic supplement over the
following two weeks.
Allergies can also indicate that the immune system is under-functioning,
and probiotics are thought to be ideal remedies. Acne and
digestive disorders such as acute diarrhea, colic, irritable
bowel syndrome, chronic constipation or Chrohn’s disease are
also indications that the immune system is strapped and can
benefit from probiotic supplementation.
For health reasons, because of the high pH of the stomach,
the most efficient way to get probiotics into your child’s
system is through supplements. The goal is to insure that
the live bacteria are delivered to the intestines alive, happy
and ready to grow, proliferate and serve towards overall health.
The most common strains of probiotics include Lactobacillis
and Bifidobacterium families of bacteria, however, there are
many different types and strains of probiotics, and they come
in many dosages, so it’s best to consult with a certified
nutrition consultant or dietitian to find the best combination
for you and your child.
For general good health, you can find probiotics in specifically
marked infant formulas, yogurt and fermented products. When
you eat probiotic-rich foods, you naturally add healthy bacteria
to your intestinal tract. This supports a healthy immune system,
along with a balanced diet, including fiber, complex carbohydrates
(fruits, vegetables and whole grains), protein, healthy fats
and fresh water.
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