Probiotics are live microorganisms that are intended to have health benefits when consumed in fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut, probiotic-fortified foods, or some dietary supplements. The microorganisms present in probiotics are often similar to the ones that naturally live in our bodies ². While we typically think of bacteria or microorganisms as a bad thing, our bodies actually need certain types of microorganisms and good bacteria to stay healthy.

No, probiotics are different than prebiotics. Prebiotics are dietary fibers that are not digestible by the body, but do help good bacteria in the intestines grow. The easy way to think about it is that prebiotics are the food for probiotics. However, they both play a crucial rule in our overall health and well-being. 

Infants are born with sterile digestive tracts that have no bacteria present; however, it does not take long for good bacteria to start finding its home³. Which is really important, since gut microbiota (or gut microorganisms) have essential roles to play, such as breaking down the dietary fibers we cannot, producing short-chain fatty acids, and making vitamins, such as some B-vitamins and vitamin K^4,5.

Research has shown that probiotics are safe and beneficial for healthy children ^3,6-8. However, it is important to talk to your child’s pediatrician before starting any probiotics, especially if they are immunocompromised or have an indwelling central venous catheter, as probiotics may not be appropriate for your child. It is also important to note that all probiotics are not created equal. Each probiotic has unique properties that could alter the benefits and safety of these products for your child, which is another reason it is important to talk to your child’s pediatrician before offering probiotics.

Research has shown that probiotics can have a wide range of health benefits for children and adults alike. Here are our top 5 benefits of probiotics for healthy children (and adults):

• Probiotics can improve digestive health. Probiotics have been tied to a variety of benefits for our digestive system. Several studies have shown that some probiotics can reduce the risk of developing antibiotic-associated diarrhea by up to 52% in children and traveler’s diarrhea by 8% in adults ^7,9-11. For those that experienced diarrhea, probiotics reduced the duration of diarrhea by 24 hours ¹². Children taking probiotics have also been shown to experience improved constipation and abdominal pain and may be able to treat their acute gastroenteritis and ulcerative colitis ^7,13.
  
  
• Probiotics may reduce the risk of & improve eczema. Research found that taking probiotics during pregnancy or breastfeeding reduced the odds of the infant developing eczema by 17% ^7,14,15. Additionally, probiotics have also been shown to improve eczema symptoms in young children ¹⁶. While the research is still limited on the benefits of probiotics on eczema and other skin conditions, there appears to be a promising effect.
  
  
• Probiotics may boost your child’s immune system. Some probiotics have been shown to enhance the body’s immune cells to help keep children & adults healthy and thriving ¹⁷. Some probiotics have been proven to reduce the risk of respiratory tract infection by up to 11% ^6,18. Children taking probiotics regularly were also found to have fewer sick days missed from daycare or school ^18,19.
  
  
• Probiotics may reduce the risk of cavities. A new research study found that preschool children who drank milk supplemented with probiotics developed less cavities than children who did not take probiotics ²⁰. While there needs to be more research to test this benefit, it is exciting to know that probiotics could help improve the oral health of children.
  
  
• Probiotics may help reduce the risk of & improve food allergies. Researchers have started to learn that food allergies may be in part due to the absence of beneficial bacteria in the gut ²¹. This is likely why some probiotics have been found to improve tolerance to food allergens ²². However, it is important to note that this research is still developing and probiotics are not currently recommended as a treatment for food allergies by any major health organization ²³.

Probiotics can have numerous benefits for your children (and yourself)! However, each probiotic strain is properties, which makes it unique in how it can help your family’s health and well-being.

At Tiny Sprouts, we know that probiotics are special, which is why we added B. Coagulans to our milled seed blends and hemp hearts. We feel that B. Coagulans is the perfect pick, because it is strong, just like your children! Most probiotics do not survive heat or the manufacturing process, which means that children do not get to take advantage of full benefits from the added probiotic. However, B. Coagulans not only survives the manufacturing process, but it also is heat-stable allowing you to add Tiny Sprouts products to any food – hot or cold. B. Coagulans has also been shown to help with many of the benefits above, including improving constipation, easing abdominal pain, and increasing immune cell response to infections ^7,24.

One way to introduce your child more probiotics is to incorporate fermented foods into your child's diet (such as yogurt, tempeh, miso, kimchi, and more).

However, it can be challenging to incorporate enough of these foods in your children’s diet, since these are not typical “kid foods.” That is why Tiny Sprouts Organic Superseed Boosters are fortified with 500 million CFU of B. Coagulans in every serving! These probiotic-fortified products are the perfect boost to help your kids get the nutrients, prebiotics ,and probiotics they need to feel great and reap all of these awesome benefits!