Some absorbing facts about healthy digestion

MANILA, Philippines - As a parent, you know that digestion plays an important role in your child’s overall nutrition and wellness. Give your kid a head start by teaching him the benefits of proper digestion.

 One of the problems affecting children’s digestion is constipation. According to the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, constipation commonly affects 0.7 to 29.6 percent of children worldwide. Low consumption of dietary fiber is usually the main cause of the complication.

 Although constipation is not life-threatening, this condition, as well as other digestion-related symptoms, can disrupt your child’s daily routine. Abdominal pains may interrupt school attendance or participation in school activities, and result in other medical symptoms.

 Constipation occurs when body waste accumulated from food moves very slowly in the digestive tract. To help prevent constipation and maintain a healthy digestive system, include fiber-rich foods in your kid’s diet. Adding more high-fiber foods in meals will help in the proper functioning of his digestive system.

 Drinking lots of water will also speed up the movement of body waste in the digestive track.  Drinking water during or after a meal improves digestion, and breaks down the food in the stomach. Medical experts recommend drinking eight to 10 glasses of water every day.

 Avoid fatty foods when buying or preparing meals for your child. Too much fat slows down the digestive process and may lead to bloating and heartburn, and constipation. Aside from these immediate effects, excess fat also increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

 Choose tummy-friendly foods at the grocery store. Consider products that are good for the stomach. For example, choose a milk product especially formulated with Prebio 3, a prebiotic blend that helps maintain a healthy digestive system and promote the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria that helps build body defenses.

 Prevention will always be better than cure so let your kids practice proper eating habits at home. Teach your child to eat and drink slowly to avoid the rapid entry of foods and liquids into the small intestine, which may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Chewing food thoroughly is very important to prevent large pieces of food from blocking the food passage.