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louise southall

Is Your Child's Gut Health Holding Them Back from Reaching Their Full Potential?

Updated: Jan 31


Nourishing Your Child's Gut: A Guide to Nutritional Therapy for Children and Mums

Children reaching for the sky

As a parent, you want the best for your child. We want them to Reach for the Stars!

This includes making sure they're healthy from the inside out. One important aspect of your child's health is their gut health, which can impact their digestion, immune system, and even their mood and behaviour. That's where nutritional therapy comes in - it's a holistic approach to nourishing the body with nutrient-dense foods and supporting gut health through probiotics, prebiotics, and more. In this guide, we'll explore the basics of nutritional therapy for children and mums, with a focus on gut health. From understanding the microbiome to tips for meal planning and supplementation, you'll have the tools you need to help your child thrive.

Understanding the Microbiome

The microbiome is the community of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that live in the gut. These microorganisms play a crucial role in digestion, immune function, and even mental health. When the microbiome is out of balance, it can lead to a range of health issues, including digestive disorders and autoimmune conditions. One way to support a healthy microbiome is through probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can be found in foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut. Prebiotics, which are a type of fibre that feed the good bacteria in the gut, can be found in foods like garlic, leeks, onions, and under ripe bananas. By incorporating these foods into your child's diet, you can help promote a healthy balance of bacteria in their gut. It’s easy to cook and incorporate these foods everyday at home with a little planning.

Nutrient-Dense Foods

Another important aspect of nutritional therapy is ensuring your child is getting a balanced diet that's rich in nutrients. Nutrient-dense foods are those that are packed with vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients, while also being relatively low in calories. Some examples of nutrient-dense foods include leafy greens, berries, nuts and seeds, fish, and lean meats. By incorporating a variety of these foods into your child's diet, you can help ensure they're getting the nutrients they need to support their overall health. Home baking and clever tricks make it easy to include these foods regularly in the diets of even the fussiest eaters. Meal Planning and Supplementation Meal planning can be a such helpful tool when it comes to ensuring your child is getting a balanced and nutrient-dense diet. By planning out meals in advance, you can make sure there's a variety of healthy foods on the menu, and you can also ensure that your child's meals are meeting their specific nutritional needs.

Supplements

Supplimentation can also be a helpful tool for supporting your child's gut health. For example, omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil supplements, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects and can support a healthy immune system. Vitamin D is another nutrient that's important for gut health, and many children may not be getting enough from sunlight alone. While it is important to incorporate a food first approach to getting the nutrients you need, in cases of limited diets it can be sensible to include supplementation to bridge any nutrient gaps.

Incorporating Nutritional Therapy into Your Family's Routine

Incorporating nutritional therapy into your family's routine doesn't have to be overwhelming. Start small by incorporating a few nutrient-dense foods into your child's diet, or by adding a probiotic-rich food like yogurt to their snack routine. As you learn more about the microbiome and the importance of a balanced diet, you can continue to make small changes that support your child's gut health. In conclusion, nutritional therapy is an important aspect of supporting your child's overall health, and their gut health in particular. By understanding the microbiome, incorporating nutrient-dense foods into their diet, and using tools like meal planning and supplementation, you can help your child thrive from the inside out.


Join me on a FREE Discovery Call

If you’d like to explore how nutrition can help you further I’m happy to answer any questions you have in an online Google Meet environment or a telephone call. There’s no pressure, its clarification of how I work and whether nutritional therapy is right for you.




Free Discovery Call

30 min​


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