A child’s growth is aided by a healthy digestive system. However, the system occasionally need tender loving care. This blog will help you prepare your child for a lifetime of good digestive health by teaching you how to manage specific digestive issues.
After eating, babies often spit up. But gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) can strike those who spit up a lot and experience symptoms including irritation, poor weight gain, or a protracted cough. Food and acid from the stomach can back up into the esophagus as a result of GERD. This frequently results in vomiting in your baby, which can erode the oesophagus and cause poor weight gain. Similar to antacids, stomach gas medication may aid with symptoms. The most effective medication for stomach issues is an antacid.both kids and adults. However, due to problems and side effects such constipation and diarrhea, it is not advised to utilize stomach medications over an extended period of time.
Speak with a pediatrician about alternative medications for gastric issues. The following advice can be helpful if you’re worried about constipation, stomach aches, gas difficulties in the stomach, or any other gastro illnesses, or if you just want to improve your child’s digestive health.
1. Feed the good bacteria
The human intestines are home to more than trillions of bacteria. These bacteria may help protect against infection, help digest food and improve immunity. A fibre-rich diet of grains, fruits, and vegetables helps keep gut bacteria healthy. Especially fibre in whole grains like brown rice and whole wheat bread, berries, and bananas boosts gut health. Getting adequate fibre from food can also help reduce the risk of digestive problems, including constipation and gastric problems.Â
2. Add more good bacteria to improve gut health
Fermented foods containing active bacteria, like yoghurt, can add more bugs to your child’s stomach. Certain non-dairy fermented foods like sauerkraut, non-dairy yoghurt, and kimchi also help to add more beneficial bacteria to the mix.
3. Avoid processed foods
A diet of fast food, fried potato chips, and processed meat can contribute to constipation or stomach gas problems and may prevent beneficial gut bacteria from growing. Research shows that soft drinks and artificial sweeteners can also mess up the good bugs in the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Say no to non-essential antibiotics
Antibiotic drugs can be effective at treating strep throat, but they can destroy good bacteria, too. Therefore, it is important to use these medications only when needed and not for viral infections. Ensure you follow a paediatrician’s advice when considering whether your kid requires antibiotic treatment.
5. See a healthcare specialist
Fix an appointment with your child’s paediatrician if he has a gas problem, tummy aches, vomiting, diarrhoea, or any other stomach problems that concern you for over a few days. A second opinion helps you provide important information regarding your child’s health.
Promoting child’s digestive health
If anyone in the world can give as much attention to your child’s digestive health as parents do, it is the nutritionists who help parents deal with their kid’s stomach problems. If you are wondering how to promote digestive wellness in kids, visit a nutritionist.
Another simple way to build a healthy digestive system is the intake of below:
- High fibre diet
- Plenty of fluids
- Regular exercise
1. High fibre foods
So, let’s start with fibre. Healthcare specialists recommend that kids receive about 14 grams of fibre for every 1000 calories. This usually means that little munchkins aged 1 to 3 should get about 19 grams of fibre daily, and children aged 4 to 8 should consume around 25 grams daily. Most nutritionists advise eating high-fibre food containing at least 3 to 5 grams per serving. Some high-fibre foods include apples, beans, high-fibre cereal, baked potatoes, berries, and yoghurt.Â
Certain foods are associated with the risk of digestive health issues. These include rice cereal, refined white foods (white rice, sugar, and white bread), cheese, and dairy products.
Some children are very sensitive to excessive dairy intake; therefore, limiting them to help with bowel regulation is best.
2. Plenty of fluids
Sometimes, we get so focused on fibre intake for digestive health issues that most of us forget about the other component our child needs to consume, like an adequate amount of fluids. You are doing more bad than good when you consume an adequate amount of fibre and not having enough water.
You must ensure your little one gets adequate water, milk, and juices during the day. Especially if you stay in a warm climate, or your child’s kids are physically active, or getting more outdoor exercises, there will be excessive sweating, so be sure to provide your kid with plenty of fluids.
3. Frequent physical activity
All aspects of your health, including your heart, lungs, and immune system, benefit from exercise. It follows that physical activity would be quite advantageous for your digestive system. The final message is that a diet rich in physical exercise is necessary for digestive health.
