How do I support my child's gut + immune health?

As we head into the chilly winter season and with the kids back on school holidays again, now could be a good time to start thinking about how to support their immune system (if you haven’t already) before they head back into the classroom or kindy in term 3, or if they’re going to be out and about in public frequently this holiday.

How does gut health contribute to immunity?

Did you know that your gut houses up to 80% of your immune system cells? You need your gut (your gastrointestinal tract) to be in peak health because it’s the main route of absorption and impacts the health of your entire body. Your gut houses trillions of beneficial bacteria which help you digest and fend off pathogens, such as unwelcome bacteria and viruses, being introduced to your body everyday via your nose and mouth. The beneficial bacteria also help to digest and absorb all the nutrients from your food and aid in the production of more beneficial bacteria. This community of microorganisms (such as fungi, bacteria and viruses) that live in your gastrointestinal tract is known as your gut microbiome. A balanced gut microbiome is essential for optimal immunity, development and nutrition.

How can I improve my child’s gut health?

There are some simple things you can do to help support your child to have a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in their gut and support their immune defences.

• Add into their lunchbox plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables that are high in fibre, such as kiwifruit, avocados, apple, blueberries and apricots – even better leave the skin on the fruit (if possible) to amplify its fibre content.
• If possible, offer fermented food such as yoghurt, kombucha, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, kimchi or sourdough bread – these contain live beneficial bacteria
• Offer prebiotic rich food – these are non-digestible food that help to stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the gut and help them to thrive – these include bananas, artichokes, asparagus, onions, garlic, mushrooms, legumes and lentils.
• Avoid processed foods, fast food and takeaways, refined sugars, carbohydrates and trans fats that are contained in processed foods.
• Drink plenty of water everyday to keep hydrated and keep their digestive tract moving and emptying naturally
• Consider a probiotic supplement for kids such as Lifestream’s Kiwi Gold Biotics+

Make it easy to support kid’s gut + immune health with Kiwi Gold Biotics+

It’s not easy to feed kids the right foods to support their gut health all the time, especially if they’re picky with food or it’s tricky to plan the right meals to cater to everyone in the household. We make this a bit easier for parents and kids with Kiwi Gold Biotics+. It’s a tasty and easy to take chewable tablet for kids made from the wholefood nutrient-dense goodness of NZ grown gold kiwi fruit, with added probiotics, to help support their gut microbiome, digestive and immune health.

Kiwi Gold Biotics+ uses the natural wholefood nutrient-dense goodness of NZ gold kiwifruit

Kiwifruit maybe small in size but it’s actually one of the most nutrient-dense fruits in the world! Kiwifruit is exceptionally high in vitamin C, in fact NZ grown gold kiwifruit contains 3 times more vitamin C than oranges (per 100g). Vitamin C is essential for supporting immune system health, which may help to reduce the severity and duration of ills and chills. Vitamin C is also known to support your cells from premature aging caused by free radicals.

Our national fruit is also high in fibre which may help children experiencing constipation and can help to restore the regularity of bowel movements and support their digestive health.

Lifestream’s Kiwi Gold Biotics+ comes as a yummy chewable tablet to make it easy for children to take in the wholefood nutrients, vitamins and antioxidant benefits of kiwifruit. Plus, it has added probiotics to further support kids’ immunity defences, digestion, bowel regularity and intestinal health – naturally. It contains no nasties, no artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners or preservatives.

How do they take it?

Children ages 3 to 12 years can take 1 chewable tablet daily. For children under 3 years, crush half a tablet and you can add it to cold food or drink.

If you’d like further advice on whether Kiwi Gold Biotics+ is right for your child and dosing, you can call our Naturopath Kim Wessels on 0800 88 15 15.

If your child is taking any other medication, please consult your health care professional.

Always read the label and use only as directed. If symptoms persist seek advice from your healthcare professional.

Is this available for adults too?

Kiwi Gold Biotics is also available in higher strength suitable for adults, in vege capsule format.

Where can I buy Kiwi Gold Biotics+?

You can find Lifestream Kiwi Gold Biotics+ for kids and adults here.