Keep your child’s digestion on track and natural defences robust – by strengthening his gut bacteria profi le with more good bacteria than harmful ones.
Keep your child’s digestion on track and natural defences robust – by strengthening his gut bacteria profi le with more good bacteria than harmful ones.
One of the key functions of the gut is digestion. It carries food from the mouth, through the oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, to the anus, with our bodies absorbing the nutrients we need along the way.
Digestion allows us to break down food to release energy and nutrients. For a child, these include DHA to support brain development and vitamins and minerals that support physical growth. These are particularly important during a child’s fi rst 1,000 days (from the fi rst day of pregnancy to his second birthday) because this is a time of rapid development and growth.
A GOOD GUT BACTERIA PROFILE
A good gut bacteria profile, with a large number of diverse helpful bacteria, supports digestion. Good bacteria help to break down and digest certain foods that the stomach and small intestine are unable to digest, as well as facilitate the absorption of nutrients such as calcium, and the production of vitamin K – which helps with functions like blood clotting.
The other critical role that a good gut bacteria profile plays is in natural defences. Good bacteria form a fi rst line of defence in warding off bad bacteria in our gut. In fact, the gut is itself involved in the immune function, with 70 to 80 per cent of immune cells being located along the gut wall.
You can help your child to build a healthy gut with a diet rich in prebiotics, which act as fuel for good bacteria to grow and multiply. The other advantage? Food which contain prebiotics are also often rich in vitamins and other nutrients, which facilitate good gut function too. Getting your child’s gut health in order ensures that his total well-being is in check.
