Studies have shown that a child’s intestinal tract is colonized by millions of bacteria that make up a healthy intestinal environment. The majority of bacteria are composed of a particular strain of “friendly” bacteria known as Bifidobacteria, or Bifidus.
This is the definition of Bifidus found in Wikipedia: A Bifidus Factor (bifidogenic factor) is a compound that specifically enhances the growth of bifidobacteria in either a product or in the intestines of humans and/or animals. Several products have been marketed as bifidogenic factors, such as several prebiotics and methyl-N-acetyl D-glucosamine in human milk.
Why is Bifidus important?
Young children have a tendency to explore their surroundings, and often put objects which may contain bacteria in their mouths. They also eat a wider variety of foods, increasing the likelihood of eating contaminated food and getting an intestinal infection.
Fortunately, Bifidus protects your child from intestinal infections. It produces beneficial acids from the lactose or sugar found in a toddler’s milk. These acids in the gut help prevent the development of “unfriendly” or disease-causing bacteria.
Preventing diarrhoea
Your child may be more susceptible to diarrhoea as his digestive system is simply not yet strong enough to ward off the unfriendly bacteria. Diarrhoea can cause malnourishment and dehydration, weakening his immune system and making him even more vulnerable to other diseases.
A recent clinical study in the US found that children between 5 to 24 months who were fed a Bifidus-fortified diet developed a greater resistance to diarrhoea. Only 7% of the children who received the diet developed diarrhoea, compared to 31% of those who did not receive the diet.
The benefits of Bifidus
Besides reducing the incidence of infections and diarrhoea, Bifidus also aids digestion and promotes the absorption of nutrients. A healthy digestive system will have a positive effect on your child’s overall well being because it is this system that receives food, breaks it down and absorbs the nutrients needed for growth.
Here are some ways to make sure your child gets enough “good” bacteria:
Supplement his diet with a Bifidus-fortified milk. But avoid using boiling water to prepare the milk, as extreme heat would destroy the live cultures. Instead, use boiled water that has been cooled to a lukewarm temperature. This way, you can get more “friendly” bacteria into his digestive system, where they are needed.
You can also opt for yogurt or yogurt drinks with added live cultures. For people who are lactose intolerant, yogurt or yogurt drinks serve as good alternatives. However, yogurt that undergoes heat treatment loses its benefits because their live cultures are killed. So always check product labels for live cultures!
apre2689
