The Gut Guide: Key things to know about gut health

SCHOOL is out, and kids can get some time off from all their usual routines, right?

Unfortunately, the more kids are free to play and relax over the break, the harder it is for parents to keep their kids’ health on track. Families must be in “Todo Tatag” shape to enjoy a worry-free summer, and it all starts in the gut.

While several ways lead to a healthy body, 70 percent of the body’s immunity comes from the gut. Scientific studies often refer to the gut as the body’s “second brain” as it uses the same chemical signals that alert the brain when something is wrong.

“Our gut is home to trillions of bacteria and microbes that not just digest food and absorb nutrients, but also are in direct contact with nerve and immune cells, greatly influencing one’s mood, behavior, and of course, overall health,” said J Ann Mirasol from the makers of ErcefloraKiddie.

To make it easy for parents to protect their kids’ gut health, Erceflora Kiddie recently mounted the Todo TatagPlayground that taught three significant concepts in strengthening one’s immunity:

A healthy gut helps absorb the most nutrients

The food we eat affects the diversity of bacteria in the gut, so it’s relevant to eat the right kinds of food to boost immunity. To help maximize what we get from our food, probiotics, like Erceflora Kiddie, help our gut’s digestion by converting the nutrients from our food into simpler forms that are easier to digest. It allows our bodies to absorb the necessary proteins, vitamins, and nutrients to improve our gut health.

A healthy gut helps protect the body from bad bacteria

Not all bacteria are bad, but bad bacteria can cause many disorders in the body. It commonly comes in belly aches and diarrhea, so it’s relevant to have a good balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut.

An easy way to bring balance is through the active component of Erceflora Kiddie, bacillus clausii. This good bacteria multiplies when it reaches the gut, which inhibits and replaces the bad bacteria in it, allowing your body to recover from the cause of the gut disorder.

A healthy gut improves the overall health of the body

Our body is constantly exposed to possible causes of sickness and disorders, and building strong immunity can be challenging.

Handwashing is now known as the body’s first line of defense by lowering the risk of germs entering the body through our hands. But many other things can affect our intestinal well-being –travel, stress, and other medications.

Probiotics enhance the immune system by replenishing good bacteria your body might have lost to protect the gut from these factors. The replenished good bacteria then support the integrity of our gut’s walls to prevent the spread of toxins throughout the body.

According to Mirasol, “When it comes to health, gut health isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind for most parents. However, with the gut playing a large role in the whole body’s immune system, it is key to make sure that kids stay on track with their health no matter what season it is.”

Protecting kids’ gut health may seem like a big task, but Erceflora Kiddie is here to help parents to build a healthy household.

Erceflora Kiddie is a probiotic drink that helps balance the gut by allowing it to absorb nutrients better while resisting harmful bacteria, which helps prevent kids from getting an upset stomach. Since Erceflora Kiddie is tasteless and odorless, it’s easy for kids to take it on its own or mix it with food or drink without much fuss. This season, parents can also help more families and more children live a healthier life. When you buy ErcefloraKiddie, a portion of the sale will support Batang Matatag—a movement initiated by Save the Children Philippines and Erceflora Kiddie to improve

Besides getting vaccinated, adhere to other health regulations, like wearing face masks, to avoid catching the flu and other communicable illnesses only associate vaccination [as] ‘para sa mga bata lang yan,’ but vaccinations are also needed by adults,” Velasco-Aro said. Young adults and teenagers, who have much to experience this 2023 with the return of the Manila concert scene and other outdoor or social activities are, receive much encouragement to get vaccinated and frequently boost their shots for best results.

She also added that people should keep up with their doses yearly, especially before their travel or hangouts, to keep them from catching the flu. Although it is usually at its peak between June to November, people are susceptible to it all year round. When getting vaccinated, people should consider how it’ll benefit them. Besides its health advantages, interested individuals should also determine which ones are accessible and affordable yet effective.

Dionisio also shared how he keeps himself healthy and recovering from sickness, especially the flu.

“One thing that comes to mind is that when I’m feeling sick—what I tend to do is drink and eat a lot of healthy [items], and then, I close my tech so that I’ll fall asleep,” he said.

Lastly, Velasco-Aro reminds people to get their flu vaccinations as early as now to avoid spreading other viruses and diseases— being the consideration to get one.

“Think about the overall benefits of the flu vaccine so that you will be able to have your Unstoppable 2023,” the doctor said. As the popular saying goes, “Prevention is better than a cure.” Vaccines are an ideal source of prevention from significant diseases that could boost people’s immunity and let them live their lives to the fullest.