Back and Spine Health Dr. Jimenez Chiropractic for Children: A child’s health includes physical, mental, and social well-being. Knowing the basics of keeping kids healthy, like healthy foods, making sure they get enough sleep, exercise, and safety. It is also important for kids to get regular checkups with their health care providers. Regular visits offer a chance to check a child’s development.
They are also a good time to catch or prevent problems. Other than checkups, school-age kids should be seen for significant weight gain or loss, sleep problems or change in behavior, a fever higher than 102, rashes or skin infections, frequent sore throats, and breathing problems.
Chiropractic care for children offers a solid foundation for wellness. A regular chiropractic lifestyle offers choices and benefits for your greater health and well-being throughout pregnancy, birth, and childhood. The following video and articles will help you understand the importance of the chiropractic family wellness lifestyle.
Practicing improper/unhealthy postures throughout the day can severely fatigue the mind and body. Children’s postural health is vital to their overall health and energy levels to perform tasks, school work, and play. An unhealthy posture causes the body to lose its ability to dissipate forces evenly and correctly. Symptoms like soreness, pain, tightness, and irritability can begin to present, which is the body’s way of letting the individual know something is off. When the body is in proper alignment, the spine disperses body weight correctly and efficiently. Chiropractic adjustments can effectively counter the unhealthy posture effects, and simple postural exercises can strengthen the body, increasing healthy posture habits.
Children’s Posture Health
Healthy posture is more than simply sitting and standing up straight. It is how the body is positioned, meaning the head, spine, and shoulders, and how it moves unconsciously like a walking gait. An uneven gait or awkward body position can indicate a problem and cause long-term consequences to a child’s health.
Challenges
Kids and children are constantly hunched, slumped, and slouched over device screens. This constant awkward positioning adds weight to the spine, increasing the pressure, which can cause issues ranging from headaches, mild neck pain, low back pain, and sciatica. Severe health effects from poor posture include:
Shoulder problems.
Chronic pain.
Nerve damage.
Difficulty breathing from prolonged hunching-over.
Spinal joint degeneration.
Vertebral compression fractures.
Poor alignment of the muscles begins to restrict postural muscles from relaxing correctly, making the muscles stay stretched or slightly flexed, causing strain and pain. As a child’s body grows, practicing unhealthy postures can drive continued awkward positioning, abnormal spine growth, and an increased risk for arthritis later in life.
Chiropractic Adjustments
A chiropractor will check for any imbalances, like a hunched back, one shoulder higher than the other, or a pelvic tilt/shift. Through a series of adjustments, chiropractic releases the muscles, relieves pressure on ligaments, allows the postural muscles to relax and realign to their proper position, prevents further muscle overuse, strain, abnormal joint wear, and helps reduce fatigue by conserving/utilizing energy as the muscles are functioning correctly and efficiently.
Exercises
Simple postural exercises can help maintain children’s postural health.
Place hands next to the chest so that they are underneath the shoulders.
Gently press the chest upward.
Keeping the legs on the ground.
Look straight ahead.
They only take a few minutes, but the objective is consistency. Doing the poses for one week won’t immediately change unhealthy posture habits. It is developing consistent healthy postural habits that generate improvement. They should be done at least three times weekly to build strength and endurance.
Kids and Chiropractic
References
Achar, Suraj, and Jarrod Yamanaka. “Back Pain in Children and Adolescents.” American family physician vol. 102,1 (2020): 19-28.
Baroni, Marina Pegoraro, et al. “Factors associated with scoliosis in schoolchildren: a cross-sectional population-based study.” Journal of epidemiology vol. 25,3 (2015): 212-20. doi:10.2188/jea.JE20140061
da Rosa, Bruna Nichele et al. “Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Children and Adolescents (BackPEI-CA): Expansion, Content Validation, and Reliability.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 19,3 1398. 27 Jan. 2022, doi:10.3390/ijerph19031398
King, H A. “Back pain in children.” Pediatric clinics of North America vol. 31,5 (1984): 1083-95. doi:10.1016/s0031-3955(16)34685-5
Poor spinal health in adolescence can lead to chronic pain in adulthood. Teenagers, just like adults, can experience back pain from accidents, sports injuries, a sedentary lifestyle, part-time jobs, chores, etc. However, sitting too long in school along with heavy backpacks can also contribute to compromised spinal health. Chiropractic professionals can help these young individuals address and prevent spinal issues/injuries to maintain a healthy spine.
Teenagers Spine Issues
If discomfort or pain is present, much push through, as they and their spines are young. There are common spinal dysfunctions that teens and parents should be aware of. These include:
Disc injuries
Teenagers can put a serious strain on the spine from various forms of physical activity, jumping, dancing, and playing. This pressure gets transmitted through the spine. During a teenager’s development, this can result in permanent disc damage.
Scoliosis
A spinal deformity or exaggerated curvature of the spine is common and affects young children and teens. It usually happens during the growth spurt just before puberty. This is why it is important to have a teenager’s spine checked regularly and analyzed for signs/symptoms of scoliosis.
Spondylolysis
This condition is often associated with sports injuries. It happens when teenagers overextend/overreach their backs. It’s most common in gymnastics, weight lifting, tennis, football, diving, and other similar sports.
Protection and Prevention
There are several ways that parents and healthcare providers can help teenagers make healthy decisions to achieve and maintain optimal spinal health.
Sitting less, moving more.
Children are taught to sit from a very young age. In school, watching t.v., or doing homework, teenagers spend more time sitting than their bodies should. Teenagers need to stand, walk and move around just like adults to protect their spines from degeneration and injury.
Playing sports is healthy. However, there is a risk associated with teen sports. Although they are taught to play safely, encourage them to continue to educate themselves about sports injuries and know how to address them.
Chiropractic Support
At Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic, we’re committed to helping young adults and adolescents overcome and prevent spinal injuries that could turn into chronic pain conditions. We are continually developing our chiropractic, and physical therapy treatment approaches to achieve optimal results.
Body Composition
Sleep and Growth Hormone In Children
Growth hormones primarily control growth. The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland regulate this hormone. Sleep plays an important role in the proper function of these glands. A review showed that:
Growth hormone levels rise and peak at the onset of deep sleep
Multiple but smaller peaks were seen during other sleep stages
Individuals that have a delay in the onset of deep sleep have delayed peaks in growth hormone levels
For children to grow properly, they need to have adequate levels of growth hormone. This means they need to have a sufficient amount of sleep. The proper amount of sleep is vital for healthy body composition. A study measured the body composition of preschool-aged children. The study found that children who had proper sleep levels had less overall fat mass and reduced body fat. Children and teenagers need to get the proper amounts of sleep for their bodies to grow healthily.
References
Clement, R Carter et al. “What are normal radiographic spine and shoulder balance parameters among adolescent patients?.” Spine deformity vol. 8,4 (2020): 621-627. doi:10.1007/s43390-020-00074-9
Driehuis, Femke et al. “Spinal manual therapy in infants, children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis on treatment indication, technique, and outcomes.” PloS one vol. 14,6 e0218940. 25 Jun. 2019, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218940
Manansala, Christian et al. “Change in young people’s spine pain following chiropractic care at a publicly funded healthcare facility in Canada.” Complementary therapies in clinical practice vol. 35 (2019): 301-307. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.03.013
Children and adolescents are experiencing back pain. Why it happens, and how parents can help prevent it is the objective. When thinking of back pain the image is typically a man or woman, hunched over grabbing their backs and wincing in pain. However, back pain in children and adolescents is not that uncommon.
According to a 2020 study published in Spine, around thirty-four percent of children report having back pain, with almost nine percentexperiencing severe back pain. By the time they are fifteen, 20 to 70% of children will have experienced back pain at some point. Developing chronic back pain increases with age and is more common in girls.
The study found those that sought out early treatment, physical therapy, and chiropractic being the most prescribed lessened the need for more invasive treatments, like spinal injections, and surgery. Back pain can have a major impact on an adult’s life, and more so on a child. Prevention and treatment are important to help restore overall health and wellness.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms can vary, the most common:
Pain increases with movement, like bending or twisting
Increased pain after sitting or standing for an extended period
Sore and tender muscles around the spine
Tight muscles
Muscle spasms
Most back pain in children is mild. However, there are times when the child will require medical attention. A child should see a doctor if back pain persists for more than two or three days, if there is a fever, or if there is any numbness or weakness in the arms and legs.
Common Causes
Like adults, muscle sprains and strains are the most common cause of back pain. Strains are more common in the low back than around the neck or middle back and usually occur from overuse injuries, poor posture, poor body mechanics, and falls. Other common causes include:
Sitting and slouching in front of the computer for too long
Carrying an overloaded backpack
Spinal Conditions
Recreational and sports activities with injuries sustained are the most common causes of developing back pain. However, back pain can be brought on by underlying health and spine-related conditions. About a third of adolescents with low back pain could have a spinal condition. The most common conditions include:
Idiopathic Scoliosis
This is an abnormal curvature of the spine. This is usually not a painful condition. Some curvatures can be severe enough to cause pain and require medical care. Scoliosis can include the middle, low spine, or the entire spine. It is most common in adolescents 11-17 years of age. Symptoms include:
Tilted shoulders
Uneven hip bones
One side of the ribs projects out more than the other
Scheuermann�s kyphosis
This is a growth disorder of the vertebrae. It happens when the front of the spine does not grow as fast as the back of the spine. This can produce a humpback curvature. The spine bends forward but the child cannot stand up straight. Usually, it happens during accelerated growth periods.
Spondylolysis
The vertebrae can break in children and kids that do repetitive exercises involving bending and twisting. Sports like gymnastics and football create a heightened risk for spondylolysis. It usually affects the low back and presents with non-stop low back pain. The most common treatment is rest. Other causes include:
Spinal cord tumors
Sickle cell anemia
Infection
Tumors and infections are highly uncommon in children. They often present with pain and fever. If the nerves are pinched numbness, tingling, and weakness in the extremities can develop.
Common Treatments
Back pain in children is usually a short experience and can be treated with ice, rest, and over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen for children and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. A playing/exercise program can significantly help reduce child back pain.
However, there could be a need to modify the activity, so as to not worsen the injury or create new injury/s. The activities could be made to be lighter or a brace could be utilized. A specialist like a chiropractor/physical therapist can provide treatment, along with exercises, stretches, and lifestyle changes that will help reduce the pain. Complementary therapies like massage and acupuncture can enhance the child�s healing/recovery time and knock out the pain quickly.
Parental Prevention
Proper posture can and will prevent back pain. Children’s and adolescents’ musculoskeletal structures continue to develop at this stage. Therefore, sitting, standing, and lifting properly is paramount to preventing back pain. Along with this is avoiding activities that place repeated strain on the spine. An example is an overexertion while playing sports. Tips for keeping kids back-pain free:
Avoid activities that generate repeated strain on the same muscles
Stretching breaks need to be incorporated when sitting for a long time
As much as possible make the home a stress-free environment
Maintain a healthy weight and diet with balanced meals and snacks
Help promote overall mental and physical health
Children and kids that are stressed out or depressed have a greater risk of developing back pain. Encourage the kids to stay active, get proper sleep, stretch out, and eat foods that are healthy for the spine. If back pain is presenting, a customized treatment plan along with lifestyle changes will get the child back to their favorite activities.
Lower Back Pain Chiropractic Treatment
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Chiropractic adjustments for children’s health is nothing new, but it could be something new for parents. Do children really need chiropractic adjustments? Chiropractic physicians, also known as DC’s provide techniques and treatments that pediatricians don’t offer.
Chiropractors offer non-invasive options, before referring an individual to a pain specialist that might only prescribe medication/s and surgery. The body’s central nervous system controls everything. Birth itself can be physically traumatic for some infants. Therefore, receiving an adjustment can improve neurological input and correction, allowing for healthy development. �
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If involved in sports or some type of physical activity, chiropractic helps recovery from injuries progress faster and is less traumatic than disruptive therapies like pain-meds or surgery. Chiropractic medicine takes into account the entire person when there is an adjustment/correction in one area, it supports and corrects the other areas.
Depending on the chiropractor, other techniques and specialties like acupuncture, craniosacral, nutrition, and more could be incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan. Here are a few ways chiropractic can benefit children’s health.
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Non-invasive
Chiropractic treatment is holistic and non-invasive. For children’s health, adjustments help with proper growth and development by removing or limiting digestive issues like:
Nursing
Re-flux
Colic
Constipation
Other issues for where pediatric chiropractic care can be utilized include:
Allergies
Asthma
Bed-wetting
Colds
Ear infections
Attention deficit disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Autism
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However, unlike adults, children, and especially infants, chiropractic medicine focuses on mobilization that places a lower amount of pressure on the area, rather than manipulation associated with chiropractic for adult treatment that places more pressure on the area being adjusted.
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Nutrition
Parents who are considering chiropractic treatment for their children’s health and wellness should also expect nutritional health coaching for optimal health. Chiropractors go through extensive training in nutrition and are qualified to offer nutritional plans that are part of the treatment.
Proper nutrition is important for everyone�s health. But for children who are growing and developing, it is essential that they get the nutrients they need for optimal spine health and development. Some foods and food additives can cause behavioral issues. These foods include:
Dairy
Artificial colors
Sugar
Preservatives
Other food allergens
Chiropractors can help parents and caregivers by testing and identifying behavioral triggers whose root cause could be nutritional that is improper or deficient for children’s health. �
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Wellness Philosophy
Educating parents and families about the benefits of proper nutrition and fitness are essential for children’s health and wellness. Families need to follow the principles of:
Eating whole foods
Junk food minimalization
Electronic device limits
Playing/exercising regularly
These are strategies that will reduce childhood obesity that is causing a range of problems for health care like Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Excess weight in young children and if it goes on for a long time creates a higher chance of earlier death in adulthood. From a psychological perspective, it is important to understand that during childhood kids can develop a negative body image, leading to low self-esteem, and causing depression. This can lead to serious mental health issues.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Strength training: The Centers for Disease Control have estimated that around 16% of six to nineteen-year-olds in the US are overweight or obese. This comes from inactivity, no movement, exercise, and poor diet. On the other end, young athletes search for ways to gain an edge, often falling victim to steroids and all of the negative effects they have.
This is where strength training comes in. This could be an answer to getting kids off the couch, moving, and offers a healthy alternative to the young athletes looking for that competitive edge. Fitness experts, doctors, health coaches, and parents say absolutely.
The focus for children in strength training is not to bulk up, as this is not weightlifting, powerlifting, or bodybuilding. Fitness experts agree that these types of training regimens are not healthy or safe for children. The goal is to:
Added benefits of strength training can help young athletes improve performance through increased endurance.
Training Guidelines
It is fundamental to find a program that is safe and successful for children. Parents want a program designed specifically for kidssupervised by a fitness professional with child experience, and most of all, it is fun. For strength training, there is not a minimum age; however, the kids should understand and follow directions.
Before starting a child on any new fitness program, check with their doctor or healthcare provider.
A training program should include:
A session should start with a 5-10 minute warm-up exercise/s like stretching and light aerobics.
Every session should end with a cool-down combined with stretching and relaxation.
Kids should not immediately be using weights until proper form and technique are learned.
Kids should start with their own body weight, bands, or a bar with no weight.
Using 6-8 different exercises that address all the muscle groups, begin with 8-15 repetitions.
Each exercise should be done with a complete follow-through of the full range of motion.
If the repetitions are too much with a specific weight, reduce the weight.
Repetitions and sets should gradually increase over time to maintain the intensity of the training.
Add more weight only when the child displays the proper form and can easily do at least 10 reps.
Workouts should be 20 to 30 minutes long, 2 to 3 times per week, to get the most benefit.
Make sure to rest a day between each workout day.
Safety
Strength training was not always considered an appropriate exercise for kids. Doctors and fitness professionals believed that it was unsafe for a child’s growing body because of the added pressure on growth plates or the cartilage that has not fully turned into solid bone. However, experts now know that kids can safely participate in a strength training program with proper technique and supervision.
As with any exercise/fitness regiment, safety measures need to be in place along with heightened supervision. Unfortunately, most injuries happen when kids are not supervised, not using proper techniques, or from trying to lift too much weight. Here are some safety precautions to remember:
Learning new exercises should be done under the supervision of a trainer/instructor, making sure proper technique and form are used.
Smooth, controlled motions should be the goal.
Controlled breathing and not holding their breath needs to be taught
Proper technique will help avoid injuries
The kids’ progress should be monitored
Have the children record the exercises they have done, how many reps, and the amount of weight/resistance.
If enrolled in a strength training class, a good ratio is one instructor per 10 students. With this ratio, the kids can receive proper instruction and supervision.
Kids should train in a hazard-free, well-lit, and properly ventilated facility.
Make sure the kids drink plenty of water during and after the workout
Fitness trainers/instructors will see to it that there are frequent rest and rehydration breaks
Keep in mind
In a strength training program for children, there should be no competitive drive. Instead, the focus should be on participation, learning the movements, and positive reinforcement. Set realistic goals and expectations for the child to understand that it will take time to learn these new skills.
Remember that kids do not increase muscle size until after puberty. Please make sure the kids enjoy the strength training sessions and that they are having fun. Keep in mind that kids can become easily bored. Therefore, use various exercises and routines, keeping them excited and wanting to learn and do more.
Healthy Habits
Getting kids interested in fitness early on can help establish a life-long habit of wanting to be and stay healthy. This includes a balanced diet, plenty of rest, and regular exercise. When done correctly, strength training can be a fun and highly beneficial activity.
As you teach healthy ergonomics, remember these neutral posture guidelines apply to children but can also benefit adults.�The main focus is to always work in a neutral posture. Following these guidelines will ensure your child uses a computer in a comfortable and ergonomically correct fashion.
Neutral Posture
Healthy upper body posture means the shoulders are back, relaxed and not slumped/slumping forward over the keyboard.
The back/spine should be at a 90� degree angle supported by a chair with proper back support.
The knees�should not compress the chair seat. If they do adjust the seat to go back enough for the knees to be free.
The knees should be at a 90� degree angle behind the knees and should be open.
Don’t sit with legs and feet tucked under the chair.
The feet should be firmly flat on a stable surface ensuring proper support on the floor or a footrest.
The head should stay balanced and not tilted back or too far forward.
The upper arms should be close to the body and relaxed.
The elbows should be at a 90� degree angle and the forearm horizontal.
The wrist should remain in a neutral position.
Let your child use the computer for a little while then adjust their posture and the workstation if needed, so they are working in the most neutral posture. Find ways to help them remind themselves of their posture and to take frequent breaks to stretch out and move around.
Create/Organize a Normal Workstation
The work area should be a space that is easily accessible by a child while they can sit comfortably/properly without having to bend awkwardly or overly twist to reach for something.
Keep the items that are used the most�while working at the computer within arms reach.
If your child needs to type and use a text document or book for reference, make sure there is a document holder/stand that is next or as near to the screen as possible so that they don’t have to turn or twist their head over and over or in a strenuous fashion. You want them to use their eyes with minimal head movement other than to look away for an eye break, a quick neck stretch and repositioning to stay comfortable.
Check the Screen Position
The computer screen should be positioned to be able to comfortably view the screen without having to tilt their neck backward or forwards.
Too high, the child’s neck will tilt back, and too low means it will be bent forward.
Adjust the height and angle to avoid these incorrect postures.
Workstation Equipment
Ergonomic furniture and equipment can help create a comfortable and adjustable workstation for your child as they grow.
An ergonomic chair with height adjustment, adjustable/comfortable seat and proper lumbar back support.
Make sure they work on a stable and sturdy desk with a flat work surface so that your child works in a neutral posture.
An ergonomically tilted keyboard system or a height-adjustable keyboard and mouse platform can help keep the forearms and wrists in a neutral posture.
The fit of the keyboard and mouse should be comfortable in your child’s hands.
If they have small hands, then consider a smaller keyboard and mouse if necessary.
Screen Glare
Check the computer screen for glare areas/bright spots. This could affect the eyes and cause the child to start moving their head/neck around too much and in the wrong way that would create a crick or strain.
Adjust/reposition the screen to get the correct angle for the proper posture or adjust the room’s lighting.
Proper lighting is a must for reading and protecting the eyes.
Make sure they take frequent eye breaks and look away at something other than a screen like a piece of furniture or out a window and that is farther away to readjust the eyes.
Computer Time Management
Posture problems associated with computer use vary on the length of time that your child uses the computer, takes rest breaks and does other tasks/chores to keep them moving/stretching out and not staying seated or in one position for too long.
Regulating computer time use is important and can be done just watching the clock and saying when is when or use an app to set the time on and off. These apps give screen alerts and tell when to take a break and provide simple stretching exercises.
As part of our Acute Injury Treatment & Rehabilitation Practice, we are presently offering detailed�Institute For Functional Medicine��Collaborative Assessment Programs focused on Integrative Treatment Protocols. We completely evaluate personal history, current nutrition, activity behaviors, environmental exposures to toxic elements, psychological and emotional factors, in tandem with your genetics.
Our purpose with these high-level assessments is to understand the root cause of chronic disorders and to treat the person holistically.� Integrative Personalized Medicine is the future of healthcare and we are very proud to bring it to all our patients.� Our online�Functional Medicine Health Assessment Questionnaire has given insights into our patients’ present Functional Health.
Correct your Bad Posture with *FOOT ORTHOTICS* | El Paso, Tx
NCBI Resources
Because we spend so much time�in a chair we need to have the right one that will protect our spines.�Think of the�chair as a piece of�work�equipment to optimize productivity.�Ergonomics utilized to the fullest means less back pain and better focus.
Children are not born with a fully developed microbiome, and a baby’s diet has a large impact on the foundation set for a healthy guts future (Biotics Education Team, 1).� Setting up a child to have healthy gut flora from early stages can help them:
In the TEDDY study published in Nature Medicine, it shows that a child’s microbiome goes through 3 transitional phases:
Developmental phase (3�14 months)
Transitional phase (15�30 months)
Stable phase (31�46 months)(Stewart et al., 3)
Throughout the developmental stage, those with a higher breastfeeding rate were associated with increased levels of Bifidobacterium.� “However, once the infants were weaned, there was a rapid loss of the�Bifidobacterium spp.,�and a quick turnover occurred in the microbiome, which featured a higher population of bacteria within the�Firmicutes�phylaphase (Biotics Education Team, 1)”.� Once infants begin to wean off milk, it is helpful to start providing them with probiotic powders.
Prebiotics are the dietary fiber that the live organisms in the probiotics need to eat in order to flourish.
Some foods that include prebiotics are:
Vegetables
Fruits
Legumes
It is great to start toddlers on prebiotics and probiotics because it can help them to continue to have a healthy gut. A healthy gut can help prevent many issues that adults face later on in life (Veereman-Wauters, 4) Having a healthy gut can help to protect the gut from harmful bacteria and fungi, it can aid in sending signals to the immune system, regulate inflammation, create a supportive barrier in the cell lining of the colon and reduce the risk of cancer (Lewis, 2)�
Probiotics are safe for most children and can reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract infections and well as helping to reduce their risk of allergies. It is beneficial to have toddlers on probiotics and prebiotics so they do not develop a “leaky gut”. By starting children on probiotics and prebiotics young, it can aid their overall health for life.
ProbioMax� for Toddlers
Prebiotic and Probiotic Support for Toddlers*
�Overall, it is best to start building the child’s microbiota through the maternal diet in pregnancy, expose them to environments, and talk with their pediatrician about starting them on probiotics. It’s better to start young and build a healthy foundation than to be diagnosed in their 20’s with leaky gut from something that could have been prevented. – Insight from Kenna Vaughn, Health Coach�
NCBI Resources:
Our knowledge of microbiota is rapidly developing and changing. A relatively young field, the science of gut bacteria has been quickly taken up by industry. Most drugstores sell probiotics in some form or another, and yogurt and other fermented foods are frequently hailed as healthy for the gut because they contain live bacteria. Probiotics are food or supplements that contain living microbes intended to support or improve your microbiome’s health. If your favorite yogurt contains �live and active cultures,� you are getting a dose of probiotics along with your breakfast. These microbes are thought to bolster or replace the bacteria communities in the gut of people.
�Cites:
Biotics Education Team. �Impact of Diet on Baby’s Microbiome.� Biotics Research Blog, blog.bioticsresearch.com/impact-of-diet-on-babys-microbiome.
Lewis, Sarah. �Probiotics and Prebiotics: What’s the Difference?� Healthline, Healthline Media, 3 June 2017, www.healthline.com/nutrition/probiotics-and-prebiotics.
Stewart, Christopher J., et al. �Temporal Development of the Gut Microbiome in Early Childhood from the TEDDY Study.� Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 24 Oct. 2018, www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0617-x.
Veereman-Wauters, Gigi. �Application of Prebiotics in Infant Foods.� The British Journal of Nutrition, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2005, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15877896.
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