As parents, we always try to ensure that our children take their fair share of protein and fibre every day as part of a healthy and balanced diet. After all, they need those vitamins and nutrients for their growth and development.
While the emphasis is always on what you eat, we often pay little attention to how it gets absorbed in the body. But at the end of the day, it is with a healthy gut that our little ones are able to absorb these vital nutrients. That’s why the process of digestion is so crucial.(1)
To drive home this point, FRISO today announced its nationwide search for ‘Chief Poop Officers’ in every household across the island to advocate good digestive health and nutrient absorption in young children.
Launched to coincide with World Digestive Health Day (29 May), FRISO’s search for Singapore’s Chief Poop Officers recognises the important roles parents play in helping their children achieve good digestive health and nutrient absorption.
Since poop is the most visible indicator of digestive health, FRISO’s search encourages parents to pay attention to their children’s poop, and understand how the appearance of poop can indicate whether their children’s diet is impacting their gut health.
Crucial Link Between Digestion And Nutrition Absorption
As you know, good nutrient absorption – achieved through a healthy digestive system – enables optimal development and growth in young children.
The link between good digestion and nutrient absorption may be often overlooked, but studies indicate that good digestion is necessary to break down food into nutrients and for the absorption of protein, which helps in tissue building and growth (2).
Why you must pay special attention to your child’s digestion
All food goes through the digestive system, where it travels from the mouth to the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.
Since about 70 percent of the immune system lives in the digestive system it’s a good decision to pay attention to your child’s good digestion (3).
In fact, the digestive system has been dubbed our “second brain” by some scientists because it contains more neurotransmitters than the brain itself(4). The gut is also responsible for producing 95 percent of the body’s serotonin, a hormone that helps regulate emotions (5).
All of this ultimately means that good digestion can lead to good absorption of nutrients, which is important especially for young children.
Empowering Parents About Good Digestive Systems In Children
FRISO aims to educate and empower parents to be more proactive when it comes to managing their children’s gut by driving daily conversations about digestion, and encouraging parents to join the good gut health movement by identifying the Chief Poop Officers in their respective households.
The FRISO Chief Poop Officer social media contest will kick-off on May 29, 2021, through the brand’s Facebook and Instagram channels. Parents can share first-hand experiences with their child’s digestion and poop, such as their children’s healthy digestive habits, or even hilarious stories about their little one’s potty behaviour as part of the contest.
The winners of the social media contest will receive FRISO Good Poop Officer kits valued at more than SGD600, which includes the Asian Microbiome Library’s flagship Bio+ME gut microbiome test to educate parents on the importance of good gut health in children. The Bio+ME gut microbiome test for mother and child provides parents with personalised nutrition and lifestyle recommendations for better gut health for their children and themselves.
“Parents play a key role in helping their children achieve good nutrient absorption through a healthy gut, which is instrumental for developing healthy, happy kids. However, information about the digestive and nutrient absorption process can be hard for parents to digest. Through our campaign, we hope to encourage parents to take charge of their children’s digestive health with expert insights into digestion and nutrition, and shared experiences from other parents,” said David Naidu, General Manager at FrieslandCampina Singapore.
“We’re also delighted to partner a like-minded leading advocate for good poop – Southeast Asia’s first precision gut microbiome company – AMILI on the FRISO Good Poop Advisory Panel to drive conversations around the importance of good poop and good gut health amongst parents,” adds Mr Naidu.
FRISO Good Poop Advisory Panel Continues Advocating Good Digestion In Young Children
FRISO launched Singapore’s first-ever FRISO Good Poop Advisory Panel last year as part of a nationwide movement to educate parents on helping their children achieve good digestion.
The panel continues this year and is helmed by David Naidu, General Manager, FrieslandCampina Singapore, and with returning guest experts Dr Petrina Wong, Consultant Pediatrician (Respiratory and Sleep) and Bibi Chia, Principal Dietitian, Raffles Diabetes and Endocrine Centre – Raffles Specialist Centre.
The FRISO Good Poop Advisory Panel also welcomes Dr David Ong, Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist and Co-founder at AMILI as its newest member to advocate for a holistic, informed approach in managing children’s digestive health.
The panel will continue to shed light on the roles that good digestion and absorption play in children’s overall development and educate parents on understanding food sources and also helping them make the right lifestyle choices.
“AMILI and FRISO firmly agree that good gut health matters in young children. Our gut microbiome influences our digestion and many aspects of our overall health and wellness. As digestion is critical for the growth and development of young children, it is important for parents to proactively take care of their children’s gut health.” said Dr David Ong, Co-founder at AMILI.
*Participate in the search for Singapore’s Chief Poop Officer here.
T&Cs may apply.
References:
- Your Gut Feeling: A Healthier Digestive System Means a Healthier You. https://med.nyu.edu/medicine/gastro/about-us/Gastroenterology-news-archive/your-gut-feeling-healthier-digestive-system-means-healthier (1)
- Van Lieshout GAA, Lambers TT, Marjolijn CE, Bragt MCE, Hettinga, KA. 2019. ‘How processing may affect milk protein digestion and overall physiological outcomes: A systematic review’. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 60(14): 2422-2445. (2)
- Scientific American. Think Twice: How the Gut’s “Second Brain” Influences Mood and Well-Being. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/ (3)
- Scientific American. Think Twice: How the Gut’s “Second Brain” Influences Mood and Well-Being. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/ (4)
- Van Lieshout GAA, Lambers TT, Marjolijn CE, Bragt MCE, Hettinga, KA. 2019. ‘How processing may affect milk protein digestion and overall physiological outcomes: A systematic review’. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 60(14): 2422-2445. (5)