The role of probiotics in infants

The baby's body will always encounter some problems after it is born. Many babies are prone to some diseases due to the poor function of various organs in their bodies. Indigestion is a common disease among babies, and it is very easy to cause diarrhea in babies. In this way, the baby cannot absorb the nutrition of food better. Many parents will use probiotics for their babies to make adjustments. Let's learn about the role of probiotics for babies.

The role of probiotics in infants

Improve immunity and prevent various diseases

Many babies are born clean from healthy mothers. Within a few days of birth, your baby's gastrointestinal tract becomes colonized with bacteria. With the presence of normal bacteria in the intestines and on the skin, the human immune system begins to activate and develop until it is basically mature. The gastrointestinal system of infants accounts for two-thirds of the immune system, so the establishment of normal flora in the gastrointestinal tract is crucial. If the bacterial flora is established too late or poorly, corresponding diseases will occur.

The probiotics commonly found in babies' stomachs can resist the invasion and colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the baby's intestines. Because they are powerful nutrient-snatching agents and adhere tightly to the intestinal wall. When there are enough baby bacteria "living" in the intestines, harmful bacteria have no place to "settle down". The acetic and lactic acids produced by probiotics increase the acidity of the intestines, further preventing the growth of bad bacteria. These friendly bacteria also help retain nitrogen, ensuring your baby's normal weight.

Studies show that more than 20% of infants may be struck by allergic symptoms, and up to 25% of newborns and toddlers are affected by intense, excessive colic. More than 1,000 infants under 12 months old die each year in the United States after experiencing diarrhea. A domestic survey shows that the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections among infants under one year old is as high as 79%. Probiotics can produce short-chain fatty acids through metabolism. This fatty acid provides energy to intestinal cells and is used to strengthen the mucus layer. This mucus layer acts as a barrier against pathogens and allergens. The results of a study on probiotics for colic were published in the January 2007 issue of the journal Pediatrics. The babies' crying time was significantly reduced due to the influence of probiotics, with 95% of the babies reducing their crying time by 50% or more.

Promote digestion and absorption, happy and healthy growth

Infancy is the first peak period of growth and development in human life. The average baby's weight increases by more than 0.5 kg per month, the average body length grows by 25 cm, and the brain weight reaches two-thirds of that of an adult. Although young children are not as fast as babies, they are also very vigorous. Weight increases by about 2 kg per year, height increases by an average of 10 cm per year, and head circumference increases by 1 cm per year.

On the other hand, infants and young children have small oral cavity, less saliva secretion, and their deciduous teeth are in the eruption stage. As the stomach capacity continues to grow, the secretion of digestive enzymes and the motility of the gastrointestinal tract are also very low.

The rapid development and the limited digestion and absorption functions form a huge contrast, and the function of probiotics in promoting digestion and absorption can well alleviate this contradiction. Effectively avoids digestive disorders and malnutrition. Make your baby grow up healthily. For example, calcium deficiency is a prominent problem in China, and the key to this calcium deficiency is weak absorption function.

While probiotics benefit babies, they can also promote calcium absorption. The acidic substances produced by probiotics can increase the acidity of the intestines. The movement of probiotics can increase intestinal peristalsis, which is beneficial to calcium absorption. Probiotics can also break down lactose and improve protein digestibility. Dr. Rasic found that when underweight infants were given a dietary supplement of Bifidobacterium infantis, it increased nitrogen retention and helped the children reach a normal weight. Bifidobacteria also produce B vitamins. These are very important for newborns.

Due to some minor illnesses, babies often cry and make a fuss, showing aversion to injections and medications, which gives parents a headache. Many probiotics can speed up recovery from certain diseases, and some probiotics can even be used directly to treat diseases such as diarrhea. When the human body is sick, it suffers from loss of appetite and weakened digestion and absorption functions mainly because the intestinal flora deviates from the normal balance. At the same time, there is a lack of exercise to strengthen one's body. The purpose of probiotics is to strengthen digestive function, improve appetite, and help babies recover from the pain of illness as soon as possible so that they can grow up healthy and happy.

The above is an introduction to the effects of baby probiotics. After understanding it, we know that baby probiotics can not only help the baby improve the body's immunity, but also improve the baby's indigestion, and have no side effects on the baby's body. However, it is worth noting that parents must listen to the doctor's advice when using probiotics for their babies and do not use drugs blindly.