Why do babies need to supplement probiotics? What happens if they take too much probiotics?

In simple terms, probiotics are active microorganisms that can maintain a balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the digestive tract. Scientific research shows that although probiotics are beneficial, they are not omnipotent. The flora in the intestine is like a big family, and each species must maintain a certain balance. Once the balance is out of balance, even probiotics can cause harm, so it is necessary to consume probiotics in a scientific and appropriate amount.

Contents of this article

1. Why do babies need to supplement probiotics?

2. What happens if you take too much probiotics?

3. What should I pay attention to when supplementing probiotics?

Why do babies need probiotics?

There are roughly two reasons why infants and young children need to supplement with probiotics: one is to improve immunity and prevent various diseases; the other is to promote digestion so that the baby can grow up healthy and happy.

Instructions for use

1. If your baby has anorexia, is picky about food, or has poor digestion, does not poop, or has watery poop in the shape of curds, these conditions can be improved by taking probiotics: probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria by producing chemicals that kill them, competing with them for space and resources, inhibiting the production of toxins by harmful bacteria, and clearing the toxins produced by harmful bacteria.

2. Babies are more prone to eczema, so mothers can also consider adding probiotics to help babies get rid of eczema.

3. For babies with weak constitutions, mothers can also consider adding probiotics to enhance their babies’ immunity!

What happens if you take too much probiotics?

Blindly abusing probiotics may even have negative effects on health. Scientific research shows that although probiotics are beneficial, they are not a panacea. Generally speaking, oral probiotic preparations are only used in the clinical treatment of patients with intestinal failure or disorders. Although oral probiotic products can enable the human intestine to obtain beneficial bacteria in a short period of time, long-term use will pose potential harm to the human body.

Long-term consumption of synthetic probiotic products will cause the intestinal function to gradually lose its ability to reproduce beneficial bacteria. Over time, the human intestine will become dependent on it, which is medically known as probiotic dependence. Once a person suffers from probiotic dependence, he will rely on and use synthetic oral probiotic preparations to maintain the health of the intestinal flora for the rest of his life. Therefore, if you eat too much probiotics, you should also be wary of probiotic dependence.

The intestinal flora is like a big family, and each species must maintain a certain balance. Once the balance is out of balance, even probiotics can cause harm. In addition to addiction, severe cases can also cause new infections. For example, in patients with cirrhosis, portal hypertension causes congestion of the gastrointestinal mucosa, which reduces the barrier function of the mucosa. Pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract multiply and enter the blood through the damaged mucosa, causing fatal bacteremia, sepsis or peritonitis.

What should I pay attention to when supplementing with probiotics?

1. Not storing probiotics properly

Some probiotics can be stored at room temperature, which means they don't need to be refrigerated. However, some do need to be kept below a certain temperature to be effective, and if you don't keep these temperature-sensitive ones in the refrigerator, some of the beneficial microorganisms will lose their effectiveness. Check the product packaging for instructions on how to store your probiotics. If it can be stored at room temperature, you don't need to store it in the refrigerator, but you will need to keep it in a dry place and away from sunlight. Also pay attention to the expiration date. Since probiotics are live bacteria, if you use them for a long time, you may not get anything at all.

2. Irregular use

Probiotics are only effective if you take them regularly. The downside of the microbiome is that good bacteria die faster than bad bacteria, which means the bacteria need to be replaced regularly. The best way to ensure probiotics work is to take them at the same time every day for them to be effective.

3. Improper use of probiotics when taking antibiotics

Antibiotics and probiotics interact with each other. One feeds bacteria, the other kills them. When used properly, antibiotics are life-saving medicines. However, overuse can cause serious damage to your health by destroying the good bacteria. If you need to take antibiotics, you can also take probiotics. You just need to get the timing right. Most antibiotics are taken 6 to 12 hours apart. Take the probiotic at least three hours after the last dose of antibiotics. Probiotics can help address the negative side effects of antibiotics, such as digestive pain, diarrhea, and bloating. Once the course of antibiotics is completed, it is best to continue taking probiotics regularly for a few months to help restore your gut and boost your immunity.

4. Taking probiotics at the wrong time

Most probiotic products have specific instructions on when and how to take them, such as in the morning before meals or before bed, which means they should not be taken with food. If the product specifies this, be sure to follow it for the best results.