Do you know about colostrum?
Colostrum, the first milk produced by mothers or mammals in the first few days after giving birth. It is rich in immune factors such as the Immunoglobulin type G (Ig G), lactoferrin, proline-rich polypeptides (PRP), growth factors, proteins and vitamins.
BiO-LiFE Kid’s Colostrum with Multivitamins + Minerals is made from cow colostrum with 20% Ig G, high amount of PRP and it is a great way to supplement the kids with the nutrients they need for a stronger immune system and better growth!
Do you know unhealthy snacks may affect the gut microflora balance?
Vegetables and fruits are good sources of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber helps to stimulate growth of friendly bacteria to improve bowel movement, enhance calcium absorption and strengthen the kid’s immune system.
What is IgG colostrum?
- Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the most abundant type of antibody.
- It is found in all body fluids and protects against bacterial and viral infections.
Why do I need to take probiotics after antibiotics?
- Antibiotics kill the good bacteria in the gut, leaving the body defenseless against harmful pathogens like Candida yeast.
- After a course of antibiotics, this yeast can quickly dominate the small intestine, resulting in illness that we know as Candidiasis.
- Taking probiotics after the course of antibiotics can actually help to maintain the balance in the digestive system.
How to improve your children immune system?
- Healthy and balanced diet practice
- Control consumption of snacks and fast foods
- Physical activities
What are the factors that can influence children immune system?
- Bottle-fed babies are more susceptible to infections compared to breastfed babies.
- Breast milk provides essential nutrients such as proteins, immunoglobulins and growth factors which help to support children’s immune system.
- Breast milk contains antibodies that can fight against viruses and bacteria.
What are the food sources of omega-3 fatty acids?
- Omega-3 fatty acids include Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentanoic Acid (EPA).
- ALA is usually found in flaxseed, canola oil, walnuts and oats.
- DHA and EPA can be obtained from marine fish such as herring, mackerel, salmon and sardine.
What is a balanced diet?
- A balanced diet means eating a wide variety of foods in an appropriate proportions, and consuming a right amount of food and drink in order to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
- Plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Plenty of starchy food such as rice, bread, biscuits, potato
- Some meat, fish, egg, legumes
- Some milk and dairy products
- Little amount of foods and drinks that are high in fats and sugar like cooking oil, burger, soft drink
What is inulin?
Inulin is an extensively studied prebiotic (BENEO™ Orafti®), a natural source of fiber origin from Belgium. BENEO inulin is extracted from chicory root, making it 100% vegetable origin.
How to deal with picky eaters?
- Try not to force your children if they refuse to eat
- Always serve small portions to avoid overwhelming your children
- Incorporate a variety of brightly colored foods such as carrot and sweet corn into your meals
- Cut the foods into smaller size or various shapes
- Encourage your children to help in preparing foods like rinsing the vegetables
- Keep serving your children healthy choices until they become familiar and preferred
My 6-year-old son, Jeremy is marginally dyslexic. He struggles with some of the simple tasks such as copying letters. He will be starting Primary One next year and I am worried he can't cope. How can I help him develop his language skills?
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which mainly affects the development of literacy and language related skills. Statistics show that approximately 4-8% of school-going children in Malaysia have dyslexia. Dyslexic children usually have difficulty with speaking, spelling, concentration and memory as well as rapid visual-verbal responding. The exact cause of dyslexia remains unclear but scientific evidence suggests that it may be linked to a deficiency of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) namely docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (AA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid derivative and AA, an omega-6 fatty acid derivative are the major PUFAs found in the brain tissue. These fatty acids are critical for proper brain, nervous system as well as eye development and function, and children with learning disorders have been shown to have lower amounts of DHA and AA in their blood plasma. For this reason, adequate omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet seems to be especially important for children with dyslexia. To boost the intake of these beneficial fatty acids for optimum cognitive abilities, you may include omega-3 rich foods such as salmon and tuna or DHA supplements to your child’s diet on a regular basis. Research into the contribution of DHA, AA and GLA in brain formation and development has found improvements in reading, attention, memory and general behaviour in children who received a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids compared to those who did not.
I am trying to raise my 4-year-old daughter as a vegan. What sort of non-meat food should I include in her diet to ensure that she doesn't miss out on the nutrients vital for growth?
Vegan refers to a vegetarian who does not consume foods of animal origin including eggs, dairy products and processed foods. Parents who want to raise their children on a vegan diet should consult a pediatrician/dietician first as there may be concerns about the nutritional status of the child.
Children should get enough calories, protein, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamins. Sufficient sources of protein such as legumes, tofu and soymilk must be present in the diet for proper growth and development. Calcium is another important nutrient for healthy bones and teeth. Green leafy vegetables and fortified soy milk are some of the sources of calcium. However, the best sources are still animal products such as milk, cheese and yogurt. The daily requirement of calcium for a 4-year-old child is about 600mg/day and it is hard to get this amount from a vegan diet. Although these essential nutrients can be obtained from plant sources, it is still best to give your child a variety of foods including meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.
A healthy, varied diet will provide a sound nutritional base which is critical in the formative years. It will be beneficial to incorporate organic spirulina in your child’s diet. Organic spirulina is an excellent source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Apart from that, supplementation with probiotics specifically Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 combined with prebiotic, chicory inulin help improve gut health and immune system. A healthy gut will promote better absorption of nutrients and ultimately better growth and protection against infections.
What is probiotic?
According to WHO guidelines, probiotics are defined as live migroorganisms which administered in adequate amounts to confer health benefits on the host.
Lactobacillus acidophillus or Bifidobacterium lactis are both classified to the species level, not as strains. Clinically proven strains are those such as below with its strain-specific indication:
(i) Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (BiO-LiFE Probi 299v) for improving all Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms
(ii) Lactobacillus acidophillus LA-5 & Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 (BiO-LiFE A.B Junior Pre & Pro) for improving immunity and bowel movements in children
(iii) Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 & Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 (BiO-LiFE Pro-UTIx) for women urogenital infections
(iv) Lactobacillus acidophillus NCFM (BiO-LiFE Advanced Multiblend Probiotix) for gastrointestinal problems
My son is very picky about food. He dislikes vegetables and eat very little fruits. Recently, he complains of having constipation. I know that vegetables and fruits are good sources of fibre but is there any alternatives since he doesn't consume those?
Constipation is characterized by difficulty in passing stools or an absence of the urge to eliminate. In general, if the bowel movement is less than three times in a week or the bowel movement is regular but the stool is hard or difficult to pass, it is defined as constipation. Lack of fiber in the diet results in a harder, more compact stools, which take longer to pass through. Since your son consumes very little fruits and vegetables, you may supplement organic spirulina in his diet.
Spirulina, a blue-green algae is a rich source of complete protein, beta-carotene, vitamins B, minerals, chlorophyll as well enzymes which occur in their natural form for optimum assimilation. Chlorophyll in spirulina helps to maintain a healthy gastrointestinal system, cleanse the bowel and aid the digestive process. Other nutrients in spirulina are essential for normal growth and preventing nutritional deficiencies. It is also good if you include fresh fruit or vegetable juices, yogurt, salad, whole grains and cereals in his diet as these foods are high in fiber.
To relieve constipation problems, probiotics, the friendly bacteria that play a role in preventing the growth of undesirable microorganisms may be beneficial too. Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 have been shown to improve digestive functions, enhances detoxification by improving bowel movement and relieves digestive complaints.
You may ask your son to practice regular exercise such as cycling or jogging as it helps the intestinal muscles to contract and promotes blood circulation, thus enabling the contents to move through the body smoothly.
I am Sharifah and being the first time mother, I am interested to know what foods I should be feeding my 2-year-old daughter to boost her brain power.
Healthy eating and good nutrition are the foundations of growth and development. The first few years of life are growing phases for the development of many abilities such as visual centers of the brain and language abilities. Encourage your child to eat a variety of foods to ensure a good balance of nutrients needed for optimum health and development.
Fish is a food of excellent nutritional value, providing high-quality protein and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Children should increase their intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids by eating more fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines. However, you should also take note that some of these fishes can have high mercury and other heavy metal contents.
Scientific studies have indicated that three fatty acids namely docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (AA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) found in marine fish oil and evening primrose oil are essential to achieving optimal neural development (brains) and visual acuity (eye development). DHA is the primary structural component of tissue in the brain and retina of the eye. It is particularly important during the first 2 years of life and early childhood when the brain and eyes are rapidly growing and developing. Meanwhile, AA is required for normal transmission of messenger along nerves and proper memory function.
There are a variety of fish oil supplements but it is important to get a formula that provides a combination of DHA, GLA and AA which help in learning ability, concentration and coordination. A daily intake of 140-280mg of DHA is beneficial.
Apart from that, you may also incorporate organic spirulina 500mg in her diet. Organic spirulina, blue-green algae, is a rich source of complete protein, vitamins and minerals essential for health. Protein provides the building block for nerves and brain, helps build and repair body tissues as well as is needed for growth and development of children.
