Back to School: Protecting the Immune System of Little Ones

With the days getting shorter, the breeze getting cooler and the media announcing back-to-school specials, the collective clock is ticking for back-to-school.

With the start of the school year, sometimes dreaded and sometimes long awaited, comes a mountain of logistics. Buying school supplies and getting into the routine are just a few of the concerns. Many parents also feel the anticipation of germs returning to the household, from runny noses to stomach flu outbreaks. Schools and daycares are germ incubators to which children are exposed for several months of the year and which, unfortunately, trigger many illnesses and diseases in children.

This year, rather than suffer the effects of these microbes, be prepared to face them. And that happens right now, by strengthening the intestinal flora of children.

Back to school: Understanding the importance of a child's intestinal flora

Although we should be wary of germs that can make children sick, science has shown in recent decades that the vast majority of bacteria are beneficial to humans. In fact, not only are they beneficial, but they are vital and they provide a defense against harmful organisms called pathogens (viruses, opportunistic bacteria, parasites, etc.). These beneficial bacteria protect the body by providing a defense system, both inside and outside the body. In the digestive tract is one of the body's greatest defense systems, the intestinal flora.

Healthy intestinal flora plays several important roles, including digesting fiber, detoxifying certain toxic substances, producing neurotransmitters and building and maintaining the immune system. ^1,2,3,4

At this time of the year, it is important to ensure the good balance of the intestinal flora so that the immune system is strong and solid to face the germs that the children will encounter in abundance. Those 100,000 billion bacteria in the intestines will soon be put to the test; they deserve a little help! ⁵

Back to school: Taking probiotics for immune health

In order to fortify the intestinal flora of children and thus maintain and strengthen their immunity, taking probiotics is highly recommended.

According to a systematic review conducted by the most recent Cochrane study, probiotic supplementation reduces the frequency, intensity and duration of respiratory tract infections in children. Taking probiotics also reduces the use of antibiotics and decreases the rate of absenteeism by promoting better healing. ⁶

In addition, a balanced intestinal flora supported by probiotics reduces the risk of gastroenteritis. This gastrointestinal infection, so dreaded by parents, is very common in schools and daycares, environments at risk for the propagation of rotavirus, which is often responsible for epidemic viral gastroenteritis in children. ⁷

To ensure your child has a healthy start to the school year, add a probiotic supplement to their diet now. Ready-to-drink formats Bio-Kidz ready-to-drink formulas with 12.5 billion bacteria per serving are a favorite with kids - and their gut flora! In fact, the effectiveness of Bio-K+'s patented bacterial strains has been clinically proven time and time again. ^8,9

Each cup Bio-Kidz appeals to children who enjoy consuming probiotics in a form, texture and taste reminiscent of ready-to-drink yogurt. The fermented milk-based formula has a strawberry taste that appeals to children just as much as the vegan version in which the pea base is enhanced with a luscious raspberry flavor.

Children's immune health : Should you always supplement with probiotics?

While probiotic supplementation helps to strengthen the human gut flora, a balanced diet helps to maintain its integrity in a healthy individual.

At this time of the year, when the immune system will be put to the test and children will be undergoing an adaptation stress that will weaken their immunity, it is better to supplement. ¹⁰

Other life circumstances may require supplementation. Probiotics are recommended if your child:

• Has a skin disorder, including eczema;
• has an autism spectrum disorder;
• has a frequent stomachache;
• has abnormal bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation or something in between)
• has allergies;
• is being treated with antibiotics;
• is under stress (physical or psychological stress);
• is around contagious people/peers

To maintain healthy intestinal flora through diet and lifestyle, encourage your child to :

• Play outside (organisms in the soil are beneficial to human flora);
• eat an abundance of fruits, vegetables and whole grains;
• avoid sugary and highly processed foods;
• consume lacto-fermented products;
• have a good sleep hygiene;
• managing stress

Don't wait for the cold, flu and stomach flu to knock on your door! Stock up on Bio-Kidz now and encourage your child to adopt healthy lifestyle habits while incorporating probiotics.

Have a great back-to-school experience!
The team at La Boite à Grains

_______________________

Writing and information research :
Véronique Cousineau, certified naturopath and health and wellness writer

Sources:

1. F. Bäckhed, R.E. Ley, J.L. Sonnenburg, D.A. Peterson, J.I. Gordon. Host-bacterial mutualism in the human intestine. Science, 307 (2005), pp. 1915-1920.
2. P.J. Turnbaugh, V.K. Ridaura, J.J. Faith, F.E. Rey, R. Knight, J.I. Gordon. The effect of diet on the human gut microbiome: a metagenomic analysis in humanized gnotobiotic mice. Sci Trans Med, 1 (2009), p. 6ra14
3. S.P. Claus, H. Guillou, S. Ellero-Simatos. The gut microbiota: a major player in the toxicity of environmental pollutants? NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes, 2 (2016), p. 16003
4. I. Sakamoto, M. Igarashi, K. Kimura, Takagi, T. Miwa, Y. Koga. Suppressive effect of Lactobacillus gasseri OLL 2716 (LG21) on Helicobacter pylori infection in humans. J Antimicrob Chemother, 47 (2001), pp. 709-710
5. Hooper and Macpherson, 2010. Immune adaptation that maintains homeostasis with the intestinal microbiota. Nat rev Immunol. 10(3):159-169.
6. Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections. Qiukui Hao, Bi Rong Dong, Taixiang Wu. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Review. 2015; (2): CD006895. 2015 Feb 3.
7. Huang, Yung-Feng MD, Liu, Po-Yen MD, Chen, Ying-Yao MD. Three-Combination Probiotics Therapy in Children With Salmonella and Rotavirus Gastroenteritis. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology: January 2014 - Volume 48 - Issue 1 - p 37-42
8. Millette, M., F.M. Luquet, M.T. Ruiz, M. Lacroix. 2008. Characterization of probiotic properties of Lactobacillus strains. Dairy Science and Technology, 88: 695-708.
9. Millette, M., F.M. Luquet, M. Lacroix. 2007. In vitro control of selected pathogens by a Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. casei-fermented milk. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 44:314-319.
10. Segerstrom, Suzanne C.,Miller, Gregory E. Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry. Psychological Bulletin, Vol 130(4), Jul 2004, 601-630