Feed Your Child These 3 Foods To Keep Their Gut Healthy And Strong

This past winter, many families suffered through a brutal flu season, as weakened immune systems and germs caused illness among children and parents alike.

In fact, boosting one’s immune system seems to be all the rave these days, as many companies push chemically laced products promising to provide the “magic pill” to keep one’s immune system strong.

However, did you know its estimated 80% of your health begins in the gut? And if you feed your child these healthy foods, it’s sure to keep the microbiome in check.

But first, if you’re wondering what a microbiome is, we’ve got you covered.

Parents reported on the necessity of balancing good and bad bacteria within the gut:

“Your child’s gut is a pretty important place. It’s home to trillions of bacteria, and this gut “microbiome” can impact your child’s immune system and even his long-term health, for better or for worse.

Thankfully the makeup of the microbiome—the balance between good and bad bacteria—is something you can help influence with the foods and drinks you serve every day.

“We now understand that intestinal microbes play a role in chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, obesity and more,” says Kate Scarlata, a registered dietitian, expert on gut health, and author of The Low-FODMAP Diet Step by Step.

“What we eat is key to the essential balance of microbes in our gut.”

Don’t let the technical terms overwhelm you. You don’t have to spend a fortune on all types of new and fancy foods to keep your child healthy

Check out these three foods which are kid-friendly, and will balance your child’s gut too:

  1. Kefir: Kefir is packed full of bacteria, the healthy kind!

Kefir is a type of fermented milk and contains just the right of good bacteria.

If your child needs some convincing, they make flavored types of kefir such as strawberry and blueberry but watch your sugar intake if you go that route.

If kefir is a bit ambitious for your family, try yogurt with probiotics.

  1. Bananas: A favorite of many kids, bananas are full of potassium and magnesium.

You can toss them into a smoothie, oatmeal, or serve them with almond butter.

Bananas are known to regulate digestion and soothe the stomach.

Even better, they are relatively inexpensive, and kids love them.

But again, be sure not to eat too many bananas, as they are high in sugar.

  1. Fermented Everything: Fermented foods do wonders for the gut!

Think tempeh, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha.

All of these products are moderately priced and can be found in your grocery store.

Wellness Mama reported on the benefits of eating fermented foods:

“Fermented foods are foods that have been through a process of lactofermentation in which natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in the food creating lactic acid.

This process preserves the food, and creates beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics.

Natural fermentation of foods has also been shown to preserve nutrients in food and break the food down to a more digestible form.

This, along with the bevy of probiotics created during the fermentation process, could explain the link between consumption of fermented foods and improved digestion.”

If you’re really feeling creative, you can make your own fermented foods at home and save money – and as a bonus, fermented foods last much longer than your typical food item!

Other ways to help keep your child’s gut healthy is to cut out processed and high-sugar foods, which wreak havoc on the body. Sugar causes inflammation throughout the body and is highly addictive.

Start teaching your child healthy eating habits at a young age, and you will set them up for success later in life!

What if your favorite type of fermented food?

Were you surprised to learn so much of our health rests within the gut?

Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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