I have been reading about probiotics as “protective” against the flu. Should I be giving them to my family of two young children and a healthy husband?
The flu is expected to hit us hard this fall and winter. Pregnant women, children, and young adults are particularly at risk. Research supports that probiotics can optimize your immunity, which is just what you and your family need for protection. An interesting study was just published in Pediatrics (Probiotics Effects on Cold and InfluenzaLike Symptom Incidence and Duration in Children. Leyer GJ, Li S, Mubasher ME, Reifer C, Ouwehand AC. Pediatrics 2009, Volume 124: e172-e179) which reported that probiotic consumption over the course of 6 months reduced fever, cough, and runny nose symptoms in children. They also found a trend towards more positive results with a combination of strains. I think an important aspect of their study results is that, if we can use probiotics to reduce symptoms, we can decrease antibiotic use in early life. This is a win-win for you and your family. Check out Gut Insight for a listing of products, all natural food sources, that you can incorporate into you
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