Importance of child gut health

It is important to keep your toddler’s gut healthy as it can help build his immune system and keep him healthy. A weak immune system can make him highly susceptible to infections. The presence of good bacteria in your toddler's gut plays a crucial role in supporting his immunity and the ability to resist infection. Therefore a balanced diet is essential for his development and maintaining a healthy immune system. 

So what can you do to help support your toddler's health and help promote his gut immunity?

Provide his gut with good bacteria 

Feeding your toddler with probiotic-rich foods like yogurt helps reduce the frequency of digestive discomfort. Foods such as yoghurt, green peas  and sourdough bread are rich in probiotics and should be included in your toddler’s diet.¹

Increase high-fibre food in his diet 

Feed your toddler plenty of fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and oatmeals to increase the fiber levels in his gut for a stronger immune response. Fruits such as pear, grapes, bananas, kiwis, apples and vegetables such as green leafy vegetables, broccoli, squash, carrots³ are examples of foods rich in fibre that need to be included in your toddler’s diet.

Keep him active 

Regular physical activities such as playing outdoors has a positive effect on your toddler's gut immunity, which in return will help his body combat infections. 

Make sure he is getting enough sleep

Make sure your toddler is on a consistent sleep schedule, because lack of sleep lowers the production of proteins called cytokines that play a crucial role in fighting infection and reduce inflammation. 

Guigoz Expert 3, designed for toddlers over 1 year of age is fortified with essential nutrients such as zinc, vitamin A and vitamin D that help your toddler develop a strong immunity along with a healthy gut. Guigoz Expert 3 contains  Zinc which has a significant effect on developing your toddler’s immune system.⁴ It also includes vitamin A which helps lower susceptibility to digestive and respiratory infections, and vitamin D, which activates white blood cells to defend the body against diseases.^4,5 Guigoz Expert 3 also contains L. Comfortis, a probiotic that helps in increasing gut immunity by protecting your toddler against infections and digestive discomfort.^6-11

As a mother, you will want to protect your toddler from anything that can put him at risk of falling ill, and we all know how hard it is to always keep him away from germs, but you can help in boosting his gut immunity and make him a happy toddler.

References:

1.    Relevant J. 9 probiotic-rich foods for kids. Available at: https://www.julierevelant.com/9-probiotic-rich-foods-for-kids/. Accessed in January, 2020.
2.    Bae SH. Diets for constipation. Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr 2014;17(4):203-208.
3.    Brookshier S. Fiber-Rich Fruits & Vegetables. Available at: https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/fiberrich-fruits-vegetables-7103.html. Accessed in January, 2020.
4.    Thompkinson DK, Kharb S. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2007;6(4):79–102.
5.    Aranow C. Vitamin D and the Immune system. J Investig Med . 2011 August ; 59(6): 881–886.
6.    Prakash S, et al. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, vol. 2011, Article ID 981214, 12 pages, 2011.
7.    Weng M and Walker WA. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2013 Jun;4(3):203-14.
8.    Indrio F, et al. Eur J Clin Invest. 2011;41(4):417–422.
9.    Faure M, et al. R & D Report, RDLS-RD 110047. NRC 2011.
10.  Vaupel P and Ewe K: Funktionen des Magen-Darm-Kanals. In: Schmidt, R. F. and Thews, G.: Physiologie des Menschen;16. Auflage, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 1995; S. 806-848.
11.  Kamiya T, et al. Gut 2006;55(2):191-6.   
12.  Only About Children (2019, December) THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD GUT HEALTH IN CHILDREN. Retrieved from https://www.oac.edu.au/blog/the-importance-of-good-gut-health-in-children/.
13.  Cleveland Clinic (2017, February) 5 Ways to Boost Your Child’s Immune System for Life. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/want-boost-childs-immune-system-5-tips/.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: 
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding for as long as possible. Growing up milks are formulated to meet nutrition needs of healthy young children older than 1 year and should not be fed to infants.