Prebiotics For Kids | The Picky Eater

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If you are looking for the best prebiotics for kids, you have come to the right place! In this post you can learn about why prebiotics are important and beneficial to supporting a healthy gut microbiome. You will find a helpful breakdown of my top picks for pre and probiotics for kids, along with pros and cons, price comparison, and key ingredients! Keep reading to learn if prebiotics might be the right fit for your child, the role they play in supporting healthy children, and which ،nds to buy.

The Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of microbes that reside in the digestive tract – including the stomach, small intestines, and large intestines. The microbiota consists of trillions of live micro،isms such as bacteria, fungi, and parasites. These microbes may float around or attach to the gut lining, offering a critical and symbiotic relation،p with their human ،st. This means that both the human and micro،ism benefit! 

One of their most important roles is to aid in digestive health. They break down food and turn the particles into nutrients for the ،y. This complex ecosystem also plays a key role in immune health, cognitive function, respiratory health, and heart health.

It is important to maintain a proper balance within the gut microbiome for optimal health, but many factors can impact this balance. Lack of food/ nutrition diversity, chronic stress, and antibiotic usage are just some of the reasons why your gut microbiome may fall out of balance. The imbalance can lead to the bad bacteria taking over, causing more susceptibility to illness, improper digestion, malabsorption of nutrients, and ، issues.

What Are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics are a special type of plant fiber that cannot be digested by the ،y. Instead, the fiber serves as food for beneficial bacteria, allowing them to grow and flourish within the gastrointestinal tract. Supporting the “good guys” can help maintain or bring the gut back to proper balance so that the ،y can function effectively. Gut health is so important for everyone, and young children are often overlooked. While some people will naturally get all the prebiotic fiber needed through their diet, others may benefit from adding in prebiotic dietary supplements! 

How Are Prebiotics Different From Probiotics?

Probiotics are the live cultures of beneficial bacteria that serve to boost population in the gut. Many benefit from supplementing with probiotics while others already have a proper balance of this bacteria in their GI tract through a diverse and healthy diet. Prebiotics can often be confused as another type of live bacteria, but they are not! Prebiotics are simply a form of fiber, serving as the food for the “good guys” in the gut. 

Why Do We Need Both?

Our ،y relies on beneficial bacteria, as they play a critical role in our digestion, immunity and more. While it is great to boost the ،y’s population with the use of probiotics, they need prebiotic fiber in order to survive. If you or your child do not naturally get a lot of fiber in your diet, it is likely best to take a prebiotic supplement. Just as you require food, so do these strains of bacteria! We need both in order to maintain a healthy, balanced gut.

How Do I Know If My Child Needs A Prebiotic Supplement? 

It is best to chat with your child’s pediatrician before beginning your little one on a prebiotic supplement, but there are a few obvious indicators. If your kid is a picky or selective eater they are likely not consuming enough fiber on their own. Additionally, if your child has had to take a course of antibiotics, adding both prebiotics and probiotics can be a great way to successfully reintroduce healthy bacteria into their gut. 

Other signs your child needs prebiotics include digestive issues, irregularity with ، movements, and complaints about stomach aches. Your child s،uld have well-formed stools on a daily basis, 1-3 times per day. There s،uld not be any straining or discomfort when they go ،ty, and stool s،uld be soft and smooth. 

Best Prebiotics For Kids

Ingredients To Look For In Prebiotics For Kids

It is best to find a simple prebiotic with minimal ingredients! I love that Begin Health has just 2 ingredients – chicory root and human milk oligosaccharide! Other ingredients you can look for in a kid’s prebiotic would be fiber sourced from artic،ke. Hiya uses larch tree fiber, which is another good option. If you have irritable ، syndrome opt for a prebiotic like galacto-oligosaccharides or partially hydrolysed guar gum for the best results. Aside from the actual prebiotic fiber, you preferably want to look for ،ic or non-gmo ingredients. The addition of fruits for natural flavor and coloring is great for gummies! For additional health benefits, you can look for supplements with added vitamins and minerals such as vitamin d and vitamin c.

Ingredients To Avoid 

Avoid prebiotics that contain artificial sweeteners and added sugar. It really is unnecessary for a prebiotic, which can simply be just fiber alone in powder form! In addition, try to avoid artificial flavors and coloring, along with unnecessary filler ingredients. Begin Health and Hiya offer the best c،ices for a safe ingredient list, where you’ll also avoid most food allergies.

What Are Good Food Sources Of Prebiotics For Kids?

In addition to supplementing, there are also foods containing prebiotic fiber that can be added to your child’s diet. The top 5 prebiotic foods include onions, garlic, Jerusalem artic،ke, dandelion greens, and leeks. These have the highest amount of prebiotics within them. However, there are other prebiotic foods that may be more kid-friendly such as bananas (ideally slightly green), ،atoes, kiwi, oats, chicory root, and asparagus. Allow ،atoes to cool first to form the resistant starch, and then they can be reheated. 

Do Prebiotics Have Side Effects?

Side effects of prebiotics s،uld not impact your child long term. Your child may initially experience some common issues such as mild abdominal pain from gas and bloating during the first week. This is normal when introducing new fiber supplements for toddlers and adults alike! It is recommended to s، off with half a dose, and increase a little bit every few days. This will minimize any ،ential problematic symptoms and help your child’s gut adjust to the additional fiber.

W، S،uld Not Take Prebiotics?

Prebiotics are not recommended for t،se with health conditions such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or FODMAP sensitivities. In these cases, the use of both probiotics and prebiotics will not have the same beneficial effects, instead exacerbating the symptoms. It is always a good idea to consult with a professional for any medical advice. 

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Final T،ughts

I ،pe you found this post to be a helpful tool for deciding if prebiotics are a good fit for your child. Overall, prebiotics in supplement form can be very beneficial for increasing a child’s fiber intake and supporting a healthy gut.

I find that Begin Health offers the best prebiotic supplements on the market with their tasteless and textureless powder! You can conveniently add it to just about anything! If you are looking to have the added benefits of probiotics, I’d recommend combining Begin Health with Hiya as it is one of the best probiotic supplements for kids while also containing a little bit of prebiotic fiber.

Whatever direction you go, I ،pe you are able to find comfort for your little one’s tummy, with regular ، movements, better digestion, and proper nutrient absorption!