PROVEN NUTRITION: PROBIOTICS, HMO & OPTIMIZED PROTEIN

PROVEN NUTRITION: PROBIOTICS, HMO & OPTIMIZED PROTEIN

PROVEN NUTRITION: PROBIOTICS, HMO & OPTIMIZED PROTEIN

Article
Apr 24, 2023
3 mins

By: Katrina Anne S. Valera, MD, DPPS, DPSPGHAN

As parents, we all want what’s best for our children especially in times where sickness is a constant threat to their health and well- being. 

Factors such as eating a diverse and balanced diet, exercising daily, getting enough sleep, and drinking age-appropriate milk are just some ways to help your child grow up to be strong and healthy. 

With the many choices of milk available in the market today, choosing the right milk for your child is a challenge. The big question is: what should you look for in a milk that would support your child’s optimal growth and immunity? Let me help you make the right choice in choosing the milk with proven nutrition.

PROVEN IMMUNITY (B. Lactis and HMO)

There are around 300 trillion microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi living inside your body. Majority of these are found in your gut (tummy)---sometimes referred to as your gut microbiome and are regulated by what you eat daily.  Most of these bacteria are harmless, some are helpful, and a small number can cause disease or sickness. Therefore, having good bacteria leads to a stronger immune system and a healthier body.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help colonize your gut with good bacteria and thus changes the gut environment for the better. Bifidobacteria Lactis, is the most studied probiotic and is supported by more than 20 clinical trials, showing how it is linked to health benefits such as helping keep out foreign invaders from entering your gut that could make you sick, aiding in the absorption of vitamins and minerals and preventing your child from recurrent cough or colds.

Another important nutrient is Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) such as 2’FL which are abundantly found in human milk. They act as prebiotic which provide the energy and food sources to help the good bacteria in your gut grow while decreasing bad bacteria. The good bacteria in turn break down and digest the food that you eat, to enhance your immune system and reduce inflammation2 all in keeping your child’s digestive system healthy and strong. Studies show that children who drank milk containing HMOs had fewer episodes of cough and colds, lesser need for antibiotic use and were protected against allergy and asthma.4

In simple terms, probiotics are the “good” bacteria that keep your body healthy, while prebiotics are the foods that promote their growth.

Probiotic

 

PROVEN GROWTH

The growth of a child is an important part of child health surveillance. It is a reflection of overall health and nutritional status. 

Protein is an important nutrient for child’s growth. Scientific evidence suggests that consuming an excessive amount of protein in milk more than what a child needs may increase the risk of obesity later on in life.5 Hence, with proper nutrition and feeding with an optimized or high-quality protein at the right amount supports your child’s optimal growth. 

It is crucial to begin practicing healthy eating habits early on in your child’s life and part of a healthy diet for growing children is choosing to give them the proven nutrition of probiotics (B. Lactis), prebiotics (2’FL HMO) and optimized protein that are proven to support optimal growth and immunity.
 


 

References:

1.    Paraskevakos, G.  International Probiotics Association (IPA) Nov 2021
2.    Cleaveland Clinic. What Are Prebiotics and What Do They Do? Nutrition March 14, 2022
3.    Rousseaux, A. Front Immunol. 2021 May 24;12:680911.
4.    Moossavi, S. Front Pediatr. 2018; 6: 197
5.    Alexander, D. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Oct;104(4):1083-1092.
6.    Gutierrez-Castrellon. Preprints 2017, 2017100195

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