When is the best time to take probiotics

Babies are in the growth and development period, and their gastrointestinal function is not yet perfect, so babies often suffer from gastrointestinal diseases such as anorexia and diarrhea. Probiotics can quickly establish and maintain normal flora in the baby's intestines. Therefore, many mothers will choose to supplement their babies with probiotics, but how should they supplement them correctly to achieve the best nutritional value? When is the best time to take probiotics?

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are a type of live bacterial preparation that can promote the balance of the body's flora. By inhibiting and killing pathogenic bacteria, it promotes the survival of beneficial bacteria, thereby regulating the gastrointestinal flora, enhancing intestinal resistance, and achieving the effect of treating indigestion such as bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

The benefits of giving your baby probiotics

1. Inhibit harmful bacteria

Probiotics compete for space in the intestines and squeeze out harmful bacteria. The organic acids, hydrogen peroxide and bacteria they produce can prevent the growth and reproduction of harmful bacteria, thus acting as a barrier.

2. Enhance intestinal immunity

Probiotics can regulate the body's immune system, enhance intestinal inherent immunity, and promote the secretion of related cytokines and antibodies in the intestinal mucosa, playing a certain role in maintaining the baby's intestinal immune balance.

3. Promote nutrient absorption

Probiotics can produce lactase to help babies digest lactose and alleviate abdominal bloating, gas and abdominal pain caused by lactose intolerance. The lactic acid produced by the decomposition of lactose can promote the baby's body's absorption of calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and vitamin D, while producing nutrients such as vitamin B and vitamin K.

4. Reduce allergic reactions

Probiotics as bacteria can regulate the development of intestinal mucosal lymphoid tissue, thereby reducing the occurrence of allergic diseases. For example, probiotics can alleviate the symptoms of milk allergy in some babies and correct diarrhea.

Which babies need probiotics supplement?

Babies born by caesarean section, premature babies, low-birth-weight babies, and formula-fed babies: These children have low immunity and often catch a cold or enteritis.

Babies with diarrhea or constipation: Whether it is infectious diarrhea caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or non-infectious diarrhea, there is an imbalance of intestinal flora.

Babies with enteritis: Although the cause of ulcerative colitis has not yet been determined, supplementing with probiotics can achieve certain therapeutic effects.

People with indigestion: Since babies’ immune systems are not yet fully developed and their gastrointestinal digestive function is weak, they are prone to indigestion. Probiotics can promote digestion.

Lactose intolerance ("milk allergy"): congenital lack of lactase, or lack of lactase due to intestinal infection, malnutrition, etc.

Lactose cannot be broken down, leading to bloating and diarrhea: probiotics can help break down the lactose in milk and promote the absorption of nutrients in milk.

How to take probiotics?

1. The best time to take it is in the morning, when stomach acid is low, which is beneficial to the absorption of probiotics;

2. It is best to take it before or with breakfast;

3. 37° warm water, take 30 minutes apart from hot drinks or hot food;

4. When using probiotics, keep at least 2 hours between using antibiotics and other drugs;

5. Probiotics are anaerobic bacteria. Probiotics in independent small packages may be oxidized after opening, turning the live bacteria into dead bacteria. If you don’t finish them in one dose, they may become ineffective when you take them next time.

The above are some of the delicious features of probiotics that the editor introduced to you, and what you need to pay attention to when giving them to children. However, the editor needs to remind you that the human body's immune function needs to develop on its own. If probiotics are taken for a long time, it will affect the development of the baby's own immune system. Therefore, it is not suitable for long-term use.