A recent study “Probiotic Effects on Cold and Influenza-like Symptom Incidence and Duration in Children” published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that probiotics reduce symptoms and duration of colds and flu. The study involved 326 children ages 3-5 treated with either a placebo, a single probiotic or a combination of probiotics twice daily for 6 months. The probiotics used were Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, or L acidophilus NCFM in combination with Bifidobacteriumanimalis subsp lactis. Results indicated that the probiotics reduced the duration and incidence of fever, coughing, runny nose. The study concluded:
“Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months was a safe effective way to reduce fever, rhinorrhea, and cough incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence, as well as the number of missed school days attributable to illness, for children 3 to 5 years of age.”
Probiotics can be found in most yogurts, however you can also purchase a supplementation in powder form perfect for adding to your child’s juice or cereal.
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