A Spoonful of Bacteria for Baby?




RadioMD (All Shows) show

Summary: Do probiotics provide benefits for children? Or could they be potentially harmful?Probiotics, the good bacteria that colonize in your gut, may help improve digestion, immune defense and even metabolism. But are they beneficial -- or even safe -- for kids? Probiotics are found in yogurt, yogurt drinks and fermented foods, but can also be taken via capsules and powders. If you take probiotics yourself, you might not think twice about giving foods laced with these "good" bacteria to your youngsters. But do probiotics really provide any benefits for children? Seattle Mama Doc, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, helps you decide if giving probiotics to your kids is harmful or beneficial.