Christmas is a busy time for parents to maintain a digestive health balance for their children. If your child’s digestive system is already on the delicate side or is prone to bloating, trapped wind or gas, it is essential to prepare the inner ecosystem for the festive onslaught.
Almost every child will have abdominal pain, usually it is not caused by a serious medical problem but when abdominal pain recurs, and coeliac disease and IBD have been ruled out, pediatricians call it Non Organic Recurrent Abdominal Pain of Childhood which has several variants including pediatric Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
According to consultant dietitian Caoimhe McDonald from Personal Health:
“Christmas can be a really hard time to maintain digestive health balance with late nights, rich, fatty foods. For most families, the festive season is a time to put healthy eating regimes on-hold, have fun and indulge. However rich foods, high sugar and the wrong types of fat can disrupt the ecology of the gut causing digestive problems such as bloating, trapped wind and gas. No child enjoys being bloated, but the condition seems to come hand-in-hand with the festive period and every one can benefit from getting their digestive system prepared.”
There’s mounting evidence that a healthy ecosystem of gut bacteria can bring a wide range of health benefits. Improving your child’s inner ecology is easier than it seems here are the tips for minimising IBS symptoms in Children.
- Life events at home or at school or interactions with other children can contribute and parents can identify various stressors in a child’s life.
- Watching what children are eating can help relieve symptoms. Junk food, takeaways and convenience meals can all contribute to IBS symptoms. Introducing fresh fruit, vegetables and adequate water or fluid intake with help regulate their digestive cycle.
- Biological factors such as altered bowel flora can also be important. If symptoms persist, probiotics such as Children’sAlflorex®. Similar to the Adult Alflorex supplement, Children’s Alflorex contain the unique and patented 35624™ culture in a clever and convenient pre-loaded straw, providing an easy way for parents to get their child to take a daily supplement.
Price: RRP €32.95 per pack containing 30 straws. For further details see www.alflorexbiotics.com