A Dietitian’s Picks of the 6 Best Probiotics For Kids of 2024 in Canada

Introduction

Probiotics are living bacteria and yeasts that provide health benefits when ingested in large amounts.

They can be taken as supplements or naturally through fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha.

The health advantages of probiotic supplements and foods have been well reported, including a lower risk of infections, improved digestion, and lowered risk for some chronic diseases.

While there are many health advantages linked to taking the best probiotics for kids in Canada, there can also be side effects. Most of these are insignificant and only affect a small percentage of the population.

Probiotics are living microorganisms that supply health benefits when ingested in large quantities. They can be taken as supplements and occur naturally in fermented foods.

Probiotics are safe for most of the population, but side effects can happen. The most common side effects are a temporary boost in gas, bloating, constipation, and thirst.

Some people can also react poorly to components used in probiotic supplements or to innately occurring amines in probiotic foods. If this occurs, stop utilizing probiotics.

In rare cases, people with compromised immune systems, prolonged hospitalizations, or recent surgeries may acquire an infection from probiotic bacteria. People with these disorders should consider all the factors before consuming probiotics.

Let's take a deep dive into these 6 best Probiotics for Kids in Canada

Tips for choosing the right probiotic supplements for kids for you

Quality

The FDA regulates a few probiotics, but not all. Ensure that the probiotic is quality checked by a reputable third-party organization or the FDA.

Next, check out the ingredients list. It should list what kind of microorganisms are present in the probiotic.

Another thing to check for on the ingredients list is whether it contains any fillers, sugars, or allergy-friendly.

Many of the best probiotics for kids in Canada are gluten-free, wheat-free, milk-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and egg-free, while others are not.

Choose a probiotic that, if sweetened at all, utilizes a naturally tooth-friendly sweetener like xylitol. Also, see the expiration.

Any expired thing means the organisms may no longer be alive. Many organizations will guarantee the viability of the microorganisms until the expiration date is printed on the packaging.

Consider your child’s age

Your child’s age will impact the number of colonies forming units of the beneficial bacteria.

An infant’s gut microbiome is very weak and lacks diversity compared to adults. It is estimated that young babies have approximately ten different species, whereas adults have over 1000 species.

A baby’s microbiome born vaginally is mainly made of Bifidobacterium species versus an adult’s microbiome, which is dominated by Lactobacillus species.

After 2, the child’s gut microbiome composition is similar to an adult’s and is much more stable.

As a result, you’ll want a probiotic supplement with a higher dosage of beneficial bacteria in children over 2. And, you won’t need to be limited to just kids’ specific products and brands.

You may also want to assess your gut health if you’re breastfeeding, as bacteria will be transferred from the intestines to your baby’s body through your breastmilk.

Strains

When choosing the best probiotic supplements for kids in Canada for your child, the amount of each strain is essential. You’ll see numbers detailed on the probiotic supplement as colony-forming units (CFUs).

Most studies suggest the minimum quantity of bacteria required to generate therapeutic effects is 109. So it would be best if you thought billions when choosing a supplement.

Some of the gummies and chewable probiotics made for kids or packaged probiotic foodstuffs like bars you’ll find in the supermarket don’t have a high sufficiently dosage to gain any health benefits.

The dosage should be 5-10 billion CFU for infants per day. For children over the age of 2, the preferred dosage should be 10-25 billion CFU per day.

Your child may need more of a specific strain for chronic health matters to gain health benefits.

Benefits of using probiotic supplements for kids

It benefits babies even before they are born

Earlier this year, a study found that probiotics can lower the risk of pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and premature birth, mainly when consumed in the first and third trimesters.

When pregnant women get probiotic-rich milk late in pregnancy, it lowers their preeclampsia risk by 20%.

Taking probiotics early in pregnancy decreased the preterm delivery risk by 11 to 27%. Talk about providing your baby a healthy start. Reduces your baby’s risk of developing eczema and allergies

A New Zealand research team recently found that eating yoghurt daily by age one reduced eczema and allergies in babies by up to 70%.

While the AAP suggests waiting to introduce cow’s milk to a baby’s diet until age one, other milk-based products like cheese and yoghurt are safe.

And a new study discovered that serving yoghurt regularly helps check allergies better.

It helps reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract infections

A 2016 study found that the best probiotics for kids in Canada outperformed placebos in reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and the number of days absent from daycare or school.

And considering RTIs are one of the most common health issues encountered by children worldwide, they can help us all breathe a little easier.

Provides relief to babies with colic

The American Academy of Pediatrics gave a study that found that the probiotic strain Lactobacillus reuteri was more effective than a placebo at curing colic in babies.

The “probiotic group was nearly twice as likely as the placebo group to experience treatment success” at the testing time points.

The babies fed probiotics cried relatively less than their placebo counterparts. Some studies have even found that probiotics appear naturally in breast milk to protect babies from inflammation and infection.

Helps ease diarrhea

Infants and children given probiotic foods while suffering from acute viral gastroenteritis encountered a shorter duration of symptoms by about one day.

Additionally, an American Family Physician review discovered that they could help treat inflammatory bowel disease. The effects can be similar for adults, so feel free to steal a few spoonfuls if your belly is bothering you.

Side-effects of using Probiotics for Kids

Probiotics are safe for most of the population, but side effects can occur. The most common side effects are a temporary increase in gas, bloating, constipation and thirst. Some people can also react poorly to ingredients used in probiotic supplements or to naturally occurring amines in probiotic foods.

Recommended Dosage of Probiotics for Kids

Daily intake of oral probiotic preparations is commonly recommended, but some trials have used twice-weekly dosing. Preparation strength is usually measured as million/billion colony-forming units (CFUs) per capsule.

Conclusion

The main job of probiotics, or good bacteria, is to maintain a healthy balance in your body. Choose the best probiotics for kids in Canada from our list to provide your kids with the best health benefits.

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