It’s Springtime! The sun is bright and shining, the flowers are waking up after a long winter, and your little one is ready to play.
But oh no – allergies are waking up too. There’s got to be something we can do to enjoy the great outdoors this season. And lucky for us, there is.
Where do allergies come from?
Seasonal allergies hit hard every spring season. Here’s a quick list of common symptoms:
- Runny eyes and nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy eyes, nose, and throat
- Coughing
- Fatigue
Sounds a lot like a typical cold, huh? And because these symptoms are so similar, it can be hard to tell the difference.
However, unlike a cold, seasonal allergies are not caused by a virus. Instead they’re triggered by pollen from grass, weeds, trees, and mold.
Quick note: another tell-tale sign your kiddo may be experiencing seasonal allergies is that, well, they’re seasonal; usually during the pollen-frenzied springtime.
Anyway, since we know allergies aren’t caused by a virus, then we’ll have to tackle these guys with other tactics.
And today, we’re calling in our yummy tummy friends: probiotics.
Hello Probiotics, Goodbye Allergies
Probiotics are good bacteria that help keep your kiddo’s gut healthy. We can get probiotics through food or supplements – more on that later.
You may wonder, how does bacteria help with allergies? And the answer is found in why we get allergies in the first place.
You see, when it comes to seasonal allergies, that runny nose and constant sneezing is caused by an overactive immune system.
It believes pollen is an invader that needs to be stopped at all cost! But in reality, pollen is just a harmless powder from plants; and a bee’s best friend! :)
So basically, to reduce our allergies, we need to convince our immune system that pollen isn’t harmful, thereby reducing it’s attack.
And that’s exactly what brainy scientists discovered in probiotics.
Although the exact science behind it all is still unknown, clinical studies have shown that probiotics help reduce the immune system’s response to these specific allergens. [1]
All to say that probiotics are a great way to help reduce allergy symptoms – both in adults and kids!
How to add Probiotics to a Picky Eater’s Diet
Now that we know probiotics can be our special helper this spring, let’s jump into how to get these guys on our team.
The first way is through our kiddo’s diet. It’s no easy feat to get picky eaters to eat nutritious foods. But lucky for us, first on our list is a kid-favorite – yogurt!
Yogurt
Yogurt is chock full of friendly bacteria that can help reduce our allergy symptoms. When you’re choosing your kid’s yogurt, here are a few things to look for:
- Live cultures: Bacteria can be killed during processing so you’ll want to choose live cultures.
- Added sugar: Unfortunately, kid’s yogurt is often filled with added sugar. Opt for a sugar-free option and instead, add natural sweetness with honey or monk fruit.
Kefir
Kefir is not as popular as yogurt, but it’s an amazing source of probiotics. This fermented milk drink not only helps with seasonal allergies, but can even support bone health, digestion, and protection against infection.
Sauerkraut
We know sauerkraut is not generally a kid-friendly food, but hear us out. Sauerkraut is loaded with probiotics, fiber, vitamins C and K, and antioxidants! Toss it on a grill-marked hot dog and it’s not half bad.
Like yogurt, you’d want to make sure it contains live cultures by choosing unpasteurized sauerkraut.
Kids Probiotic Supplements
Now for picky eaters who wouldn’t dream of eating sauerkraut, you can always go with probiotic supplements.
But, as with all kid’s vitamins, probiotic supplements are another place where sugar can hide.
That’s why we made Renzo’s Vitamins Yummy Tummy Probiotic Melts without sugar or junk. Plus, it contains 4 of the best probiotic strains for children!
And, of course, they’re yummy enough to pass “the picky eater test” with flying colors.
Conclusion
If the allergy monster is keeping your kiddo from playing outside this spring, then give probiotics a try! Whether it’s Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bark or probiotic supplements for the win, let’s keep those allergies at bay and enjoy the season.
[1] Güvenç IA, Muluk NB, Mutlu FŞ, Eşki E, Altıntoprak N, Oktemer T, Cingi C. Do probiotics have a role in the treatment of allergic rhinitis? A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2016 Sep 1;30(5):157-175. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2016.30.4354. Epub 2016 Jul 20. PMID: 27442711.