Gut author and microbiologist Erica Sonnenburg knows firsthand how important it is to take care of your child's microbiome and normalize the functioning of their gut. These bacteria help control the immune system, determining whether your child will have an allergic reaction to peanuts and how effectively they will fight off the cold virus. In addition, the microbiome is involved in regulating metabolism and weight gain, and may also be connected to the brain. This means that it can affect mood and potentially protect your child from mental disorders such as autism or depression.
ContentHow to normalize your child's gut: feed good bacteriaHow to care for your child's microbiome: eat the bacteria itselfHow to normalize your child's gut: don't overdo it with sterilizationHow to care for your child's microbiome: avoid unnecessary antibioticsHow to normalize your child's gut: play in the garden and interact with pets
Erica has children of her own and is raising them with the knowledge she has about the human microbiome. Luckily for us, she's shared her tricks. WomanEL will tell you how to take care of your child's digestion in the best way.
How to normalize the intestinal function of a child: feed good bacteria
The gut microbiome thrives on fiber, a complex carbohydrate found in plants. Studies show that hungry microbes feed on the mucus that coats and protects the inner walls of the gut. If bacteria get too close to these walls, they can trigger an immune system alarm. The result is inflammation, which can ultimately lead to autoimmune disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, and asthma.
Aim for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes to provide a well-rounded diet for your developing microbiome.
Of course, many high-fiber foods are, to put it mildly, a little off-putting to kids. So start with the familiar options: carrots dipped in hummus, steamed edamame, or a black bean avocado quesadilla on whole-wheat tortillas. If you think your child would appreciate it, you can also use their imagination.
How to take care of your child's microbiome: eat the bacteria themselves
Eating live, active cultures (another word for good bacteria), which are found in many yogurts, may reduce the incidence of illness in children, especially pesky gastrointestinal infections.
The fermented milk drink kefir is another form of edible bacteria (as are miso and unpasteurized sauerkraut). But shop carefully. Many yogurts marketed to children are high in sugar, and products like yogurt pretzels and yogurt-based salad dressings often don't contain live cultures at all.
How to normalize the intestines in a child: don't overdo it with sterilization
As parents, we naturally want to protect our children from disease-causing bacteria like strep and E. coli. But by sterilizing everything our children touch, we also reduce their exposure to the good bacteria they need in their gut. In 2013, a group of Swedish scientists found that children whose parents sucked on their pacifiers to clean them (rather than boiling them on the stove) were less likely to develop eczema and asthma. It's possible that by not sterilizing their pacifiers, parents were increasing their child's exposure to bacteria, which in turn helped boost their developing immune systems.
Dentists may point out that this practice can increase the likelihood of cavities, but Erica still believes we should limit how often we sterilize children's utensils. If you don't like the pacifier trick, try being more cautious with hand sanitizer or switching from bleach-based cleaners to natural ones.
How to take care of your child's microbiome: avoid unnecessary antibiotics
While antibiotics are a cornerstone of modern medicine, saving countless lives every year, they can also disrupt the fragile balance of the gut ecosystem, Source: freepik.com
These drugs can save lives, but that doesn't mean they're without their drawbacks. Because they kill bacteria indiscriminately, antibiotics take out the good parts of your microbiome along with the bad. And that loss could have a more serious impact on your child's long-term health than you might think. It is important that parents and pediatricians prescribe antibiotics only for those diseases for which they are necessary.
How to normalize the intestinal function in a child: Play in the garden and interact with pets
Both of these activities will help your child get to know good bacteria while avoiding those that can make them sick. A study published in the journal JAMA found that children who grow up around dogs are less likely to develop asthma by the time they are 6 years old. Gardening exposes children to bacteria from soil and animals.
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