Most members of the family receive the varying benefits of probiotics through all stages of life. Infants receive critical probiotic strains from their mother during birth and through breast milk. During this stage of life they help to build the foundation of babies gut health.

No matter how hard you try to avoid it, toddlers and children (and some adults) are prone to getting messy and they can pick up some less than favourable bugs along the way. This group may benefit from eating fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt and kefir for their potential probiotic effect. Adding in a probiotic supplement may be necessary for diets that are less diverse, when more digestive support is required and when there is a frequent exposure to those bad bugs.

Probiotics are good bacteria that have been shown to offer a whole host of benefits to adults and children alike:

1. They support a healthy gut flora and good digestion.
2. They offer support for immune health. Probiotics can increase the number of protective immune cells that help our bodies to fight off foreign invaders and even help to create a seal in the gut wall to stop pathogens from entering the blood stream.
3. Using probiotics may improve the absorption and metabolization of nutrients in the large intestine, meaning vitamin and mineral absorption can be improved with adequate probiotic presence!
4. Probiotics may help to prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea. Often probiotics are recommended when taking antibiotics to help maintain good gut flora. Just ensure you take your probiotic a few hours away from taking the antibiotic.

When choosing a probiotic that is suitable for the whole family, look for a variety of strains from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria families. This ensures both the small and large intestine are supported while providing the best digestive support. It is also important that these strains are compatible with one another, meaning they won’t fight for real estate in the gut! Compatible strains will adhere more easily to the intestinal walls too. Lastly, make sure you can read all of the non-medicinal ingredients. Some probiotics contain a lengthy list of fillers, which no one in the family needs.

Family First ProBio Plus D from Health First offers a mix of research-backed, human-sourced strains from both the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria families to support the entirety of the intestinal tract. The strains are shelf stable and compatible with one another to attach well in the gut. They have excellent survivability so can easily make it past the stomach and get where they need to go! 400 IU of vitamin D is included as an immune and bone-building benefit for everyone in the family ages 3 and up! As a bonus, ProBio Plus D comes in a delicious grape flavoured chewable tablet sweetened with monk fruit extract in place of any added sugars or fillers.

About the Author: Health First Network

Health First Network is Canada’s leading membership group for independent health & wellness retailers and the exclusive supplier of the premium Health First supplement brand. There are over 130 independently owned and operated retail Members across the country. Click here to learn more about Health First.