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Probiotics, infants & ADD
Probiotics and infants
When a baby is birthed by a vaginal birth, this is when it receives its share of friendly bacteria which colonise the digestive system and bowels and help their immune system to be healthy and vital. Probiotics are a family of beneficial micro-organisms (bacteria) needed for the wellbeing of every individual.
When these "good" bacteria are depleted due to ill health, immune system weakness, reoccurring illnesses, stress, wrong dietary habits, contaminated foods or repetitive use of antibiotics then detrimental bacteria are increased and the good ones crowded out. This may result in many symptoms of ill health such as Candidia, brain fog, skin irritations, thrush or lowered immunity and digestive function.
If you are currently breastfeeding you can take a probiotic supplement and these beneficial bacteria will be transferred to your baby via the breast milk. Alternatively some mothers will place a small amount on their nipple prior to a feed or for bottle fed babies a small amount in their milk encourages a healthy digestive and immune system. Including probiotics in a baby's bottle if they are bottle feed with a formula may help to ensure that the baby receives these vital bacteria they are not gaining from their mothers breast milk (colostrum).
The following is a well informed article concerning the use of probiotics with infants and may help to better inform you: http://nuferm.com/node/95
Probiotics and children with ADD
Many naturopaths see a direct relationship between the gut and the brain. The health of the digestive system can influence the way the brain functions, regarding concentration and alertness. There have been many recent studies which have used probiotics in trials to ascertain this link and to also record any improvement in the behaviour of children afflicted with ADD and learning difficulties. Many children with attention disorders are found to have contributing digestive related conditions such as allergies, leaky gut, and inflammatory bowel diseases. These disorders contribute to maldigestion and malnutrition in individuals which will increase the risk of memory retention, alertness and concentration as the brain is not receiving the oxygen, nutrients and circulation it requires to function correctly.
For further information regarding attention deficit disorder please see the ADD webpage at Ask a Naturopath.com