When it comes right down to it, probiotics are really just a way to help the digestive tract do what it is supposed to do. This is no less true with infants than it is with older children or with adults. In fact, probiotic use in infants may not only help your infant’s digestive tract, it may provide a variety of other health related benefits.

Probiotics are actually live bacteria. The bacteria in probiotics are the same types of bacteria that normally live in the digestive tract. These bacteria make up what is known as the “gut flora,” which is just a phrase that describes the environment of bacteria and other organisms that exist in the digestive tract. The bacteria in probiotics are not the sort that cause infections and are harmful to us. Rather, these are beneficial bacteria. These bacteria aid the gut flora in doing its job. They help with digestion. They help to absorb minerals and other sorts of nutrients. They help to synthesize vitamins. They even help to provide something of a barrier against harmful substances. Probiotics can even help to boost the immune system. In all of these ways, probiotics can help your infant’s digestive tract.

In turn, by helping your infant’s digestive tract, probiotics can help your infant in other ways. For example, colic in many babies seems to be related to problems in the digestive tract. By helping your infant’s digestive tract, probiotics may be able to reduce your baby’s crying. In addition to helping with colic, probiotics also can help protect your baby from eczema. In some cases, eczema is caused by a reaction to a food allergy. In scientific studies, probiotics helped to prevent eczema outbreaks for as much as two years. And, while the studies are still ongoing and it isn’t definite yet, there is some evidence that is suggesting that probiotics may actually be able to prevent or delay asthma, as well.

Posted in Baby and Toddler

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