Choosing Probiotics for Kids (and Moms, too)

I received this sample probiotics for kids (and women) from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided.

Let’s face it, mamas. None of us are taking care of ourselves quite the way we should be. We’re busy being the caretakers, the master multi-taskers, the doers and the busy bees. For many of us, that demanding lifestyle can lead to a bit of neglect when it comes to our own well-being. As much as we may try to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, giving our bodies what they need isn’t always quite that easy. After all, being a woman is a complicated thing, at least physiologically. I mean, just think of all the changes our bodies go through in a lifetime!

I, for one, will admit that I’m terrible about self-care. I do exercise, and I cook a decent amount of healthy foods, but most of them find their way into my kids’ lunchboxes rather than my own. I fuel up on coffee rather than food, leaving my system a wreck at times. I’ve been a huge believer in the benefits of probiotics for a long time now, and lately I’ve become a fan of NOW® Women’s Probiotic 20 Million (for Feminine Flora balance.)* Why NOW? Well, besides the fact that NOW technicians use state-of-the-art instrumentation to guarantee the identity, potency and purity of the bacterial strains they use, there is also the bloat factor.

(My must-haves:)

Do we all know what I’m talking about, ladies? If anyone knows about bloat, it’s me…and I can vouch for the fact that NOW Women’s Probiotic just might provide relief for you the way they do for me.

Why Probiotics?

• Probiotics serve a number of purposes in the body, which may include:
• assisting with the digestion and utilization of nutrients from your diet
• promoting gut mobility
• synthesis of some nutrients, including B vitamins and vitamin K
• they may support immune system development and function
• protection of the delicate tissues of the gut, where much immune system activity takes place
• ridding your body of what it doesn’t need, like metabolic waste materials
• “chasing away” undesirable microorganisms by creating an undesirable environment for them

…and more research is happening all the time. We know for sure that intestinal flora are necessary for our well-being, so there’s no telling how many other functions they serve.

How does the body get probiotics?

Well, that’s the tricky part. Right after birth, our guts start colonizing with microorganisms found in the birth canal as well as breastmilk. Then, as we grow, our probiotic organisms come from our diet in food like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles and other fermented goodies.

But, and this is a big BUT, how many of us are eating a diet like that? Sure, we may try, but so many other factors come into play that may disrupt the balance in our bodies. Stress, illness, medication, hormones, LIFE. NOW Women’s Probiotic 20 Million can bridge the gap when you need help.

Probiotics for Kids

The thing we all need to understand about probiotics is that everyone needs them. They’re not just an answer to a problem, but rather a way to possibly prevent problems from occuring. Keeping the beneficial flora of the intestinal tract flourishing is just as important for kids as it is for Mom and Dad – but how do you know what is safe to give your children?

NOW carries BerryDophilus Kids, which is a chewable probiotic for gastrointestinal support for kids.* These, too, are vegetarian/vegan, and contain 2 billion CFU (10 probiotic strains.) I’m definitely an advocate for giving kids a real, whole foods diet whenever possible, but let’s be real – are your kids eating a lot of kimchi these days? NOW Probiotics for Kids are a gentle way to help restore temporary microbial disruptions (like after an illness or taking a medication), support GI regularity and help with seasonal immune support.

Plus, elephants.

After our son contracted Giardia lamblia and was terribly sick for 10 weeks before being diagnosed, his system was a total wreck. Probiotics are a total must for us now, in the hope of keeping him strong, healthy and fully colonized. In fact, I doubt anyone in our family will ever stop taking probiotic supplements. Our gut health is just way too important to risk. Ends at midnight, June 1st.

Enter to Win!

We’re doing a FLASH GIVEAWAY for one bottle of NOW® Women’s Probiotic 20 Million (retail: $33.99) Enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below. US only, 18 and over. Open 5/30 – 6/1/17. 
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