What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are friendly bacteria. We often hear about bacteria making people sick. However, all bacteria are not detrimental to your health. We need a balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in our bodies.
When the friendly bacteria are growing as they should, they prevent the unhealthy microbes from proliferating. Probiotics can ward off sickness. If you don’t have enough good bacteria in your system, you could suffer from allergies or autoimmune diseases. An imbalance of bacteria can cause chronic inflammation, which is thought to lead to many medical conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
What Is BioGaia?
BioGaia is a probiotic that contains Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis, or L. reuteri. These are a type of friendly bacteria that is found in the digestive system, the urinary tract and breast milk.
The bacteria’s antimicrobial properties help prevent pathogenic microbes from colonizing these areas of the body. L. reuteri also strengthen the immune system by decreasing the creation of inflammatory cytokines and encouraging the development and function of regulatory T cells.
The bacteria strengthen the digestive tract’s barrier, reducing leaky gut syndrome, which is thought to kick off inflammation in the body. Consuming L. reuteri could reduce your infant’s risk of developing inflammatory diseases.
BioGaia makes probiotics for adults and children. The baby drops are easy to use. Just administer five drops of the liquid daily. Babies seem to love the taste. BioGaia’s infant formula also comes with vitamin D, a nutrient in which many babies are deficient.
Is It Really Safe to Give a Baby Probiotics?
You might wonder if it’s ok to give an infant probiotics. After all, you’re not even supposed to offer young babies water. The BioGaia manufacturer reports that the probiotic has been studied comprehensively in babies and proven to be effective and safe from the day that they’re born.
Babies’ digestive systems are different from those of adults. They’re much less developed, and they need some help to become balanced in the early days.
For the last century, experts believed that infants were born with sterile digestive systems. They thought this because they couldn’t get the microbes collected from babies’ gastrointestinal tracts to grow in a lab. Therefore, they assumed that there were no microbes in this part of a baby’s body.
However, scientists are finding that infants’ guts do contain microbes. They have identified fungi in the digestive tract. Some fungal species have been tied to diseases such as Crohn’s. Probiotics can help maintain the balance of microbiota in the intestines, balancing the digestive tract and supporting gut health.
The Benefits of BioGaia
BioGaia can support your child’s health in a number of ways. Probiotics are valuable for more than the digestive system.
Soothes Tummy Troubles
Because it takes some time for babies to establish a healthy and balanced microbiome, they could have some gastrointestinal distress or colic. Tummy troubles could show up as gas, constipation or diarrhea. When babies’ bellies are hurting, they may pull their knees up to their chest, pass a lot of gas or be unusually irritable.
It’s hard to say what causes belly aches in babies. It could be a food intolerance, but it’s more likely to be a microbial imbalance in their underdeveloped digestive tract. BioGaia can reduce spit-up, periodic constipation and loose stools.
Improves Colic
Colic is a little different. Experts define colic as bouts of crying that:
- Last for at least three hours a day for no apparent reason
- Occur a minimum of three days a week
- Are intense and may lead to fussiness later
- May appear painful
- Often happen in the evening
- Can cause facial discoloration or body tension
When babies cry inconsolably, they might be uncomfortable or in pain. If your child has these symptoms, you might want to check with a doctor to rule out an underlying medical condition.
But if you have determined that it’s colic, you should know that colic might be more stressful for parents than the child. Colic doesn’t contribute to any acute or lasting medical problems for the infant.
Some of the factors that may contribute to colic include:
- The underdeveloped digestive system
- A bacterial imbalance in the gut
- Food sensitivities or allergies
- Issues with feeding, such as infrequent burping
- Household stress or anxiety
You can see that many of the symptoms of colic have to do with the GI tract. BioGaia can improve intestinal bacterial balance and help establish a healthy digestive system.
Helps With Food Intolerances
The probiotics may also ameliorate food intolerances. Food intolerances and allergies are becoming more prevalent. Research indicates that disruption to the microbiota in the gut may be to blame. For example, low levels of Lactobacilli are linked to milk and egg allergies.
The standard American diet is not as nutritious as it could be. It’s high in carbohydrates and processed foods. You need a variety of nutrients to feed the friendly microbes in your gut and help them flourish. A lack of diversity in the intestinal microbiome can predispose your child to gluten, fructose and histamine intolerance.
In addition to offering BioGaia to your infant, you should pay close attention to what you feed them. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving your child only breast milk for the first six months of life. If you can’t or don’t want to breastfeed, give your child a high-quality formula that supports its intestinal health.
Combiotic baby formula contains prebiotics, which feed the probiotics. Using this in conjunction with BioGaia can establish a healthy intestinal environment. Contact us for more information about the formulas and other products that we offer.