“My 2-year-old has been so constipated that he hasn’t gone poo in over a week. It hurts him so much that he cries when he tries to go. I feel so bad. I don’t know what to do. His pediatrician gave me a prescription for Miralax, but after looking it up, I really don’t think […]
Gut Health for Kids
“All disease begins in the gut.” This famous saying from Hippocrates from over 2000 years ago has been proven true through modern research. Our gut is linked to almost every disease. Gut health is closely associated with:
· Immunity (autoimmune disease, food and environmental allergies, frequent illness)
· Brain function (ADHD, learning disorders, autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders)
· Skin health (eczema, psoriasis, rosacea)
· Metabolism (obesity, underweight, insulin resistance)
· Hormone production (testosterone balance, estrogen balance, thyroid function)
· Sleep (disrupted melatonin production, circadian rhythm, other sleep disorders)
That’s why gut inflammation, bacterial overgrowth in our small intestines, the wrong balance of bacteria in our gut microbiome, and leaky gut can all cause problems with immune function, behavior, skin, weight issues, hormone imbalances and insomnia. Keeping our kids healthy means making sure their gut is healthy.
Does your child struggle with constipation, belly pain or picky eating? Those are all signs that their gut may need some help. But there are so many other issues related to our gut that may not show clear digestive symptoms.
Does your child have eczema or food allergies? Asthma? Autoimmune disease? All of these are closely related to gut health because 80% of our immune cells are in our gut. When our gut is inflamed or having other problems, our immune system can be underactive causing frequent infections or it can be overactive against our own bodies (autoimmune disease) or against our food or environment (allergies, eczema).
Healing your child begins with the gut. In this section, you will find ways to get help with your child’s digestive health!