6 Essential Steps in Choosing a Kid’s Probiotic
As a parent, you want your children to experience good health. And when they get sick, you want to do everything possible to get them back on their feet as quickly as possible.
If your child is experiencing indigestion, stomach issues, or even respiratory problems, there may be a simple solution for helping them regain their health.
Moms and Dads have discovered that Probiotic supplements are a great source of beneficial bacteria that help kids maintain a productive digestive system, support the immune system, promote healthy skin, and reduce the duration of bouts with diarrhea. Probiotics can also be useful when children are taking antibiotics.
How to Choose
It can be overwhelming when deciding which Probiotic to include into your child’s daily routine. There are so many choices!
Here are some of the most important features to look for:
1. Evidence-Based Supplements
Too often, supplements are designed with unsubstantiated ingredients. Read the label and do some research to assure the products you buy are formulated with the same ingredients, in the same amounts which have been proven effective in clinical research.
2. Precisely Targeted Probiotics
There are hundreds of different probiotic strains, and each of them acts differently in the body. You want to confirm that the supplement addresses the specific concerns with targeted and patented strains that are safe and well-studied.
3. Viable (Live) Cell Count
Take the time to read the label and assure the bacteria is live, and look for “CFUs” (colony forming units) in the billions. Anything less isn’t as potent. CFUs are the industry standard and approved scientific method for counting live bacteria cells. A trustworthy brand specifies the number of live organisms used in their formulas.
4. Potency Guarantee
The potency and shelf life of any Probiotic your purchase should be guaranteed until the expiration date. It is also essential that the Probiotic strains be acid and bile resistant so that the beneficial microorganisms can survive in the gut.[6] Read all labels carefully.
5. Storage Instructions
Proper storage conditions should be listed on the label. Powdered Probiotic supplements have a distinct advantage. They are not required to be refrigerated and are preferred by kids of all ages since they can be easily mixed into their favorite drinks or foods such as juice, smoothies, yogurt, and more.
6. Product Label Claims
The statements being made about the product’s health benefits should be based on published human studies. Check out the company’s website. If there are claims for specific health benefits be sure there are reputable sources for those statements.
Choose Wisely
Parents can be comforted the massive amount of research that confirms Probiotics can positively affect a child’s balance of bacteria, and consequently, their overall health.
Make a specially formulated Probiotic supplement, purchased from a company you trust, part of your child’s everyday routine for optimal health benefits.
