Probiotics - Durant,OK

1) What are probiotics? http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/probiotics-to...
Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines. The normal human digestive tract contains about 400 types of probiotic bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system. The largest group of probiotic bacteria in the intestine is lactic acid bacteria, of which Lactobacillus acidophilus, found in yogurt, is the best known. Yeast is also a probiotic substance. Probiotics are also available as dietary supplements.

2) What are they for? http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/probiotics/AN00389
Although more research is needed, there's encouraging evidence that probiotics may help:
Treat diarrhea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics
Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections
Treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Reduce bladder cancer recurrence
Speed treatment of certain intestinal infections
Prevent and treat eczema in children
Prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu

3) How old should a child be before they can take them?
Read labels carefully! Many supplements are for older children. There are a couple of brands that are safe for infants.
According to http://pediatrics.about.com/od/nutrition/a/0208_probiotic... - Products that are available that contain probiotics, including some that are specifically marketed for infants and children, include:
• Nestle Good Start Natural Cultures Infant Formula with DHA & ARA - a baby formula with probiotics
• Baby's Only Essentials Probiotic - a powdered probiotic available in packets that can be added to milk or yogurt
• Yo Baby yogurt - includes extra probiotic bacteria
• Yoplait Yo Plus yogurt
• Activa yogurt
• DanActive yogurt drink, for kids over age three
• Align Daily Probiotic Supplement
• Nutrition Now Pro-Biotics Acidophilus
• Culturelle for Kids with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
• Florastor and FlorastorKids with Saccharomyces boulardii lyo
While other brands of yogurt have some active cultures and probiotics, they are usually not in high enough dosages to be considered a useful supplement.

4) Are they safe? http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/probiotics-to...
Probiotic bacteria are already part of the normal digestive system and are considered safe

5) What, if any, are the side effect/risks: http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/probiotics-to...
When using dietary supplements, keep in mind the following:
1) Like conventional medicines, dietary supplements may cause side effects, trigger allergic reactions, or interact with prescription and nonprescription medicines or other supplements you are taking. A side effect or interaction with another medicine or supplement may make other health conditions worse.
2) Dietary supplements may not be standardized in their manufacturing. This means that how well they work or any side effects they cause may differ among brands or even within different lots of the same brand. The form you buy in health food or grocery stores may not be the same as the form used in research.
3) The long-term effects of most dietary supplements, other than vitamins and minerals, are not known. Many dietary supplements are not used long-term

Probiotics are the 'good' bacteria that keep you healthy. They especially keep yeast in check...which is why when you take an antibiotic (which kills all the good and bad bacteria) you usually get a yeast infection. Basically, the healthier your intestines are, the healthier you are. Probiotics help populate your 'gut' with good bacteria.

Ways to get it include Kefir (the best), yogurt (good but not as good as kefir) and supplements. Other ways include fermented foods like miso, natto, sauer kraut. Of all these, the least effective are the supplements as they don't know for sure how many actually survive to get to the intestines.

I think a child could take them very early in life; if they are beast feeding they get them from the mother's milk.

They are very safe if taken as a food (ie kefir) and have no side effects (except for changes in stools as your system adjusts to having more good bacteria in it)

Probiotics are the good bacteria that naturally occur in our gut. THey help digest the foods we eat and actually give us more nutrients from our foods with their waste products. I do not know how early you can give them to kids, probably as young as when they can start yogurt (since that is the main source), about 9 mos., and there are no sideffects!

probiotics are awesome for all ages...don't buy yogurt with sugar in it thinking you're getting this great probiotic though, the sugar cancels out the effects of the probiotic. If your little one has a cold adding something like Nature's Way probiotic for kids is a great way to get their system on tract again. I've used it from 6 months.

My daughter is currently on Florastor which is a probiotic specifically for kids. She started having chronic diareah after a round of antibiotics. We were not sure if it was due to the meds or the cows milk that we had put her on around the same time..It has worked wonders for her. Probiotics put back the good bacteria (flora) into your system. Its pretty much the same idea as those Activia yogurts. I would still consult your pedi before giving your child anything. Not knowing your childs symptoms I would say it is always safe to give yogurt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic

i dont know how old a child should be before taking them...but some yogarts have them and i would think that was enough for a kid.

i was taking an oral probiotic and the next day i had a stiff neck. i quit for awhile and took one again and had a horrilbe neck pain. not sure if the two are connected. wouldnt seem like it but it did make me wonder.