The term prebiotic, which we have often heard in recent years, is of course also very important for babies. Babies have a healthier body with prebiotic foods that strengthen the immunity and help the digestive system work. What are these foods?
Prebiotic foods that babies should take
Kephir
Kephir is one of the most useful prebiotics. Kefir, which regulates the digestive system, strengthens the immune system and has an effect on urinary tract inflammation, can be included in the diet of infants and children. Kefir can be consumed simply by mixing with fruits.
An excellent source of fiber, green peas are also rich in vitamins A, C, B6, K, protein, magnesium and folic acid.
Sourdough bread
The natural yeast of sourdough bread and lactic acid make it a good source of prebiotics. Many bakeries do not make sour-fermented bread by the traditional fermentation method. Therefore, you can prepare your own sour dough bread by natural fermentation method at home.
Yoghurt
A study published in the UK's Clinical and Experimental Allergy magazine in 2018 found that infants consuming daily yogurt reduced the risk of allergies and eczema by 70 percent. You can make sure that your child gets enough prebiotics by eating yoghurt during the day.
Pickles
Of course, it is not recommended to give pickles to babies under one year of age, but you can feed your older baby with a natural prebiotic source of pickle. The only thing that matters here is to make your own pickles instead of buying the pickles that are sold in the markets.
Vegetables and legumes
Once your baby has switched to supplementary food, it must have a diet rich in vegetables and legumes. Leek, jerusalem artichoke, okra, celery, artichoke, garlic, asparagus with vegetables; legumes such as chickpeas, beans, lentils are among the prebiotic foods.
What are the benefits of prebiotic foods?
Prebiotic foods have many benefits for infants, children and adults.
1-Serving as protection shield
Prebiotic foods that the mother has taken since pregnancy and the milk she drinks have positive effects on the baby. We consulted Dr. Erdinç Ulu who states that prebiotics, which should be present in our lifelong nutrition, keep the body's defense system quite high and adds: “We should include the prebiotics, which have been seen as the second brain recently, to function regularly from infancy to our diet. In addition, the quality of life of people who work properly in the digestive system is improving.”
2- The most important prebiotic is breast milk
Dr. Ulu says that prebiotics provide resistance to diseases and the most important prebiotic is breast milk. “Not one gram of breast milk has yet been produced in the world except mothers. Therefore, if the mother has milk, the baby should be breastfed until at least one year of age, because it is the most natural prebiotic. In addition, Dr. Ulu says, in addition to breast milk, bone marrow soup could be given because of the content of amino acids after the additional effects on the immune system, intelligence and strengthens immunity.
3-Protection against colic
A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that prebiotic lactobacillus reuteri has positive effects on the colic process, which is one of the most painful stages of infants.
4- Yoghurt; good for allergies, eczema and intestinal disorders
A study in New Zealand suggests that prebiotics in yogurt reduce the risk of eczema and allergies in infants by 70 percent. In addition, yogurt, which also fights against inflammatory bowel disorders, plays an active role in the digestive system of infants and adults. So don't forget to add yogurt to your baby's daily diet.
