As parents, we want our children to be healthy and strong. In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on gut health, and the impact of the gut microbiome on a child’s overall growth and development.
Our gut microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms, mainly comprising bacteria, that live in our intestinal tract. The microbiome plays a key role in digestion, nutrient absorption and in keeping children healthy.
Did you know that in the first 1,000 days, or by the time children reach the age of three, their microbiome might already be established, and will remain with them for years, or even their entire life?
Thankfully, through simple changes in diet and lifestyle, you can help nurture your little one’s microbiome. And that’s where the science of synbiotics comes in.
The Power of Synbiotics for Children: Probiotics + Prebiotics
To understand the impact of synbiotics on a child’s health, we need to understand why gut health really matters.
A healthy digestive system is essential to ingest, digest and absorb nutrients. It is these nutrients that help your child to grow and develop. The gut is also home to almost 70% of the body’s immune system!
A healthy gut acts as a barrier against harmful bacteria, improves digestion and also supports the immune health of your children. There are trillions of bacteria in our gut, some good and some bad. For our body to function optimally, there should be more good bacteria than bad bacteria present.
Probiotics are the “good” bacteria that make up the gut microbiome. They work to maintain health, support immunity, restore good intestinal microflora and aid in digestion.
Prebiotics are a form of dietary fibre that feed and maintain healthy bacteria levels in the gut. The good bacteria basically feed on prebiotics and then grow and reproduce, thus increasing their presence in the gut.
Synbiotics combines the goodness of probiotics and prebiotics to support overall gut health. Synbiotics is all about getting the right mix of probiotics and prebiotics, and together they interact to ensure that microorganisms of the good kind survive and thrive in your child’s gut. Not only does it help to maintain a healthy gut microbiome, synbiotics also supports the immune system.
Supporting a healthy microbiome in children
Children develop their microbiome in the womb and through early childhood. Every child has a different mix of bacteria, both ‘good’ and ‘bad’, in their intestinal tract during birth.
Several factors can cause an imbalance of the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria, such as infections, consumption of antibiotics and changes in your child‘s diet.
When your body doesn’t have enough good bacteria, bad bacteria can thrive, leading to digestive issues, a weaker immune system and poor nutrient absorption. Having probiotics helps to increase the population of ‘good’ bacteria.
Research shows that breast milk is a natural source of probiotics for infants. Breast milk is also rich in oligosaccharides, which act as prebiotics to promote the growth of a healthy microbiome.
As your child grows older, ensure that his/her diet consists of healthy, unprocessed foods. Avoid fatty foods or sugary beverages that not only hurt gut health but overall health.
Probiotics occur naturally in some foods like yogurt, tempeh, buttermilk, cheese and sourdough bread. High-fibre vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains are great sources of prebiotics, which can “feed” this good bacteria in our body.
In many cases though, your child may not be able to get synbiotic benefits from food alone. Plus if your child is a picky eater, he/she may refuse to eat or try out certain foods. And this is where probiotics supplements can come in handy to offer a steady source of probiotics to his diet.
Biostime Children’s Probiotics Supplements
Biostime is the World’s No.1 brand of children’s probiotics supplements*, trusted by Singapore mums^ and specially formulated for children to support their immune and digestive health.
Not only does it contain clinically proven probiotic strains, Biostime also contains prebiotics to provide synbiotic benefits for children.
What’s more, they come in convenient pre-measured powder sachets, that require no refrigeration, and can be added to liquid beverages or food.
They are also free from added artificial colours, flavours and sweeteners.
For mums and dads looking to support a healthy microbiome in their children, here is a look at three products offered by Biostime:
- Contains 2’-FL, the most abundant human milk oligosaccharide (HMO). It is a type of prebiotics which promotes healthy gut microbiome by nourishing good bacteria, thereby providing protection for immune function.
- Probiotics and 2’-FL also support nutrient absorption in the gastrointestinal tract
- Contains 17 billion^ CFU active probiotics per stick
- Its multi-strain formulation containing B. infantis and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V is specially formulated for children from 12 months to 7 years old.
- Contains 3 billion CFU active probiotics per sachet
- With Bifidobacterium infantis, a probiotic strain naturally found in the digestive tract of breastfed infants
- Contains FOS, a natural prebiotic which helps promote growth of probiotic
- No added gluten, wheat, nut & tree nut, and egg
Biostime Infant Probiotics with Vitamin D
- 3 probiotics including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains to help nourish beneficial gut-flora (microbiome) in healthy infants
- With Bifidobacterium infantis, a probiotic strain naturally found in the digestive tract of breastfed infants
- Contains FOS, a natural prebiotic which helps promote growth of probiotic
- Enriched with Vitamin D to help support immune system and bone health in healthy infants and children
- Contains 3 billion CFU active probiotics per sachet
Mums and dads, you can now purchase Biostime children’s probiotics supplements from Guardian, Unity, Watsons and Shopee. From now till 6 Jul, shop at Lazada and enjoy 10% off! To find out more, head over to their Facebook or Instagram pages @BiostimeSG, or visit them at Biostime.com.sg.
*Source: Based on Euromonitor International’s research findings as generated via desk research and trade interviews, measured in terms of global retail sales value in 2019
^9 out of 10 Singaporean mums agree that Biostime is a brand they can trust. Based on 87 mums’ review on Tryandreview.com as of Apr 20
References:
-
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002962918303021
-
Yang I, et al. Nurse Res. 2016;65(1):76-88 5. Sender et al. PLOS Biology. DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.10025332016. 6. Nimitphong H & Holick M F 2013. Dermato-Endocrinology 2013; 5:1, 34-37.
-
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0036957