The Importance Of Gut Health For Children: Ask Our Paediatric Dietician Your Questions About the Benefits of Good Bacteria and a Balanced Diet to Complement your Kid’s Gut Flora. £200 voucher to be won.

[rosiemumsnet]

Are you concerned about your child’s gut health? Wondering how to manage daily diet or lifestyle related symptoms such as occasional discomfort or how to introduce gut-friendly foods into their diet? Heard about the benefits and role of good bacteria, but still need more information? Or perhaps you're dealing with a fussy eater that just won’t eat their veggies? Our expert paediatric dietician, Emma, in collaboration with the Culturelle® team is here to help!

Share your questions about nurturing your child's gut flora and learn about the importance of a healthy, balanced diet from a young age.

• Everyone who shares a questions on the thread below by Friday 30th August 2024 will be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
• Emma and the Culturelle® team will be back on the week of 16th September 2024 to answer some of your questions

About The Expert:

Emma Shafqat, a Paediatric Dietitian, Feeding therapist, and parent, brings over a decade of expertise to the table, backed by a first-class honour’s degree in Dietetics and Nutrition. With a passion ignited by her own journey raising a child with severe reflux and multiple food allergies, Emma specialises in helping families navigate dietary challenges, particularly tackling fussy eating.

Emma is a sought-after international speaker and parenting expert, featured on top podcasts and media outlets like The Telegraph, Healthline, Metro, sharing her insights and empowering parents worldwide.

Her career spans across the NHS, special needs schools, and private practice, where she offers practical solutions and unwavering support to parents facing similar struggles.

Disclaimer: Please do not rely on this Q&A as an alternative to medical advice from your GP or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matters you should also consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.

Here’s what the Culturelle® team have to say:

“At Culturelle® we believe that talking about the gut is still a stigmatised health issue around the world, and by opening up new conversations we can help people understand more about their bodies, the science and what we and people can all do to support the core of their health.”

Disclaimer: "The information provided is intended for educational purposes. Culturelle® products are not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent diseases."

@ 2024 dsm-firrmenich. Culturelle® is a trademark of the dsm-firrmenich group.

Good bacteria are beneficial for more than just digestive health.

A good starting point is choosing the right product. Opt for supplement products that contain clinically studied strains, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. This strain has been widely researched and shown to support both digestive health and immune function † . Select a dietary supplement formulated for your child’s age to ensure correct dosage and strain efficacy.

Follow the directions for introducing the dietary supplement and remember that consistency in giving it as directed is key to allow the beneficial bacteria to establish their beneficial effects. If your child's bowel habits and occasional digestive issues improve, that would be a good sign what you are doing is helping.

† Based on the number of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG clinical studies, as of February 2024. Culturelle® is a trademark of dsm-firmenich group.

Good bacteria are beneficial for more than just digestive health.

A good starting point is choosing the right product. Opt for supplement products that contain clinically studied strains, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. This strain has been widely researched and shown to support both digestive health and immune function † . Select a dietary supplement formulated for your child’s age to ensure correct dosage and strain efficacy.

Follow the directions for introducing the dietary supplement and remember that consistency in giving it as directed is key to allow the beneficial bacteria to establish their beneficial effects. If your child's bowel habits and occasional digestive issues improve, that would be a good sign what you are doing is helping.

† Based on the number of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG clinical studies, as of February 2024. Culturelle® is a trademark of dsm-firmenich group.

My son had a lot of antibiotics as a newborn for RSV and then again at age 2 for Scarlet Fever. He does not however present with any long term symptoms other than fussy eating and has regular bowel movements.

How do I know if he would benefit from a probiotic and would the antibiotics have caused him any long term issues with his gut microbiome?

He was breastfed until age 2 which I am hoping would have helped but I am wondering if the fussy eating could be linked to a microbiome imbalance?

This thread is now closed. Thank you everyone for your questions! Emma and Culturelle have now answered their chosen questions, we hope you found this information useful.

The winner of the £200 voucher is @JennyForeigner - congratulations!

All the best,
MNHQ

Is gut health set in childhood like the way the first five years of mental development are vital in children? I know adults with intolerances/sensitivities which don't seem to resolve despite their medically informed (and disciplined) attempts to improve their gut health and others who have stomachs of steel despite eating lots of foods with ingredients damaging to the microbiome. Two of the ones who actively try to improve gut health have grown up in countries where it is normal to prescribe probiotics with antibiotics.

Hi. Both my daughters love to eat tuna, but I am aware that long-living fish like tuna accumulate heavy metals and should therefore only be eaten in limited amounts. How much tuna is safe to eat per week for a 13 year old and a 16 year old please?

My son is so fussy, he won’t even eat pasta or rice so there is no chance of even sneaking veggies into his diet. He eats everything separately, so won’t contemplate anything with a sauce or mixed together. I recently got him eating spinach leaves with his tea, which felt like a big achievement! Where we really struggle is packed lunches - he will only eat tuna mayo and cream crackers (separately!) every day, plus a raisin box. I’d love to build on this and introduce him to more variety but it’s so hard. Can you suggest how I might start breaking down some of these barriers please with some options that will be good for his gut? Thank you!

How does the mocrobiome in the gut impact levels of anxiety and overall mental health?