Category: Tummy Care

July 18, 2022

Vomiting & Diarrhea without a Fever, a Parent’s Conundrum

Headaches, upset tummies, and throwing up are not fun for anyone, especially for children whose bodies are still sensitive. It can become quite worrisome for the parents when these issues come up without any explanation at first. This is because sometimes vomiting and diarrhea are not always accompanied by fevers that can be treated with medication. Besides visiting a pediatrician for a more accurate treatment, vomiting & diarrhea can be treated at home with food that is easy on the tummy and growing up milks (eg. Similac Total Comfort Stage 3) with prebiotics to ease abnormal reactions.²^,⁵

What is Considered Diarrhea?

Bowel movements are a necessity to get rid of waste products from the body. It is quite normal for your child to go to the toilet 2 times a day. It is also quite normal to present stool that is a little softer than normal (not diarrhea) due to the consistency of food your child eats.¹ For example, if they eat mostly liquid foods, stool will come out softer and lighter in color. Diarrhea is when your child has 3 or 5 or more trips to the toilet with stools that are watery or paste like that is accompanied by stomach pain. On the opposite spectrum, if the stool is very hard, bumpy, or chunky hard balls that are hard to pass, then that is constipation.¹

It could be a (Vital gastroenteritis) Stomach Flu

This is an infection of the gut (gastroenteritis) that is usually caused by bacteria or viruses. These types of viruses that can enter the body through contaminated food (eg. E. coli or salmonella) ² and unwashed hands.

The symptoms are quite unpleasant and take away enjoyment of the day, but usually start to feel better after a few days with some diet adjustments (clear broth or congee) and plenty of fluids (small sips at a time). Contact your Pediatrician/General Practitioner immediately if you are worried or those symptoms are accompanied by fevers.³^,⁴

What is food intolerance?

Food intolerance is a digestive system response rather than an immune system response. It occurs when something in food irritates child’s digestive system or when child is unable to properly digest, or break down, the food. Intolerance to lactose, which is found in milk and other dairy products, is the most common food intolerance. Symptoms of food intolerance include: Nausea, Stomach pain, Gas, cramps or bloating, Vomiting, Heartburn, Diarrhea, Headaches, Irritability or nervousness. *

How to Treat

For the majority of vomiting and diarrhea cases, you can provide treatment for your child safely at home. You can give your child an appropriate oral rehydration solution (a solution of sugar, salt, vitamins, and some minerals). As to which oral solution is appropriate, it depends on the severity of the vomiting and diarrhea.³ If the child does not seem to be dehydrated and has not lost their appetite, they can continue to eat solid food, but prepare them in smaller bite sizes.⁴

Extra care is advised if your child does not have much of an appetite. Providing your child with soft foods like soup, congee, broth, or grow up milk with prebiotics can help ease any tummy issues. For example, Similac Total Comfort Stage 3 is a growing up milk that has easy to digest nutrients for children who have sensitive tummies. Designed with Tummy Care Nutritional System with prebiotics (FOS), partially hydrolyzed 100% whey protein, very low lactose, unique vegetable fat blend with no palm oil for better absorption.^6,7 Similac Total Comfort Stage 3 also contains 2’‐FL HMO & Nucleotides to enhance resistance,^8,9 and vitamin A, B12, C, D, folic acid, iron, selenium and zinc to help support a developing immune system and ease any tolerance issues.

To see if Similac Total Comfort Stage 3 is right for your child, please visit Similac Myanmar today to sign up for samples.

References:

https://www.kidspot.com.au/health/family-health/real-life/what-your-childs-poo-should-look-like/news-story/8f220b73ca02cadc9691e27096c1e387
https://www.webmd.com/children/guide/child-throw-up-no-fever
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/vomiting-in-children-and-babies#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20cause%20of,better%20after%20a%20few%20days.
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/vomiting-with-diarrhea/
https://similacmyanmar.com/available-products/#totalComfort
Lasekan et al. (2017),
de Souza et al. (2017)
Buck R et al. 2004,
Schaller et al 2004,

Additional References;

*https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10009-food-problems-is-it-an-allergy-or-intolerance

July 5, 2022

My child acting up: Top 3 Tolerance Issues

It can be quite the challenge when your child refuses to cooperate with you when it comes to food. They may have gas issues, constipation, and maybe even a protein intolerance, all quite distressing. Unless the discomfort is a medical issue, here are top 3 tolerance issues and their treatment mainly through foods and supporting growing up milks (eg. Similac Total Comfort Stage 3).¹^,⁷

They are Constipated

A child who is constipated, especially if they are very young, will not know what constipation is, but will complain about tummy pain. Other signs are refusing to eat, or generally be irritable and clutching their abdominal area. Constipation can be caused by holding bowels too long, not drinking enough water, and not enough fiber in their diet.¹^,² Fiber helps things move along in the intestines, so make sure that they eat plenty of fruits, drink fruit juice with pulp, whole grains and vegetables.⁴

Excessive Flatulence

Burping and passing gas may seem cute from a child, but a bit worrisome when it happens too often, or it is accompanied by complaints of pain and a hard abdominal area. Excessive flatulence can be caused by the inability to digest certain foods properly like lactose, high sodium packaged foods, high fat fast foods or eating too much fiber without proper hydration.¹^,³

Unless the symptoms are of serious concern, food items like pineapples and papayas have enzymes to help break down hard to digest proteins from other foods. If it is just a lactose problem, you can always try 98% lactose free growing up milk alternatives like Similac Total comfort stage 3.³^,⁴

Protein sensitivity

Protein (milk protein) sensitivity is called Colic and if your child has it, it is accompanied by excessive crying, diarrhea, rashes, and sleeping problems after consumption of suspected items. This is more common in very young children and happens more often at night. Those symptoms are also similar to what happens if your child has Tummy issue.⁵^,⁶

For example, Similac Total Comfort Stage 3 has easy to digest formula which has partially hydrolysis proteins, prebiotics, vitamins, and minerals for children who experience constipation, flatulence, and crying due to lactose intolerance. The TummiCare^TM Nutritional System contains prebiotics (FOS), partially hydrolyzed 100% whey protein, very low lactose, and unique vegetable fat blend for digestive comfort.^{8, 9} While the 2’‐FL HMO & Nucleotides blend helps enhances resistance, it also contains Vitamin A, B12, C, D, folic acid, iron, selenium and zinc provide additional help to a developing immune system.¹⁰Similac Total Comfort is also formulated with No Palm Oil¹¹ for better nutrient absorption and softer stool, it is a growing up milk with a gentle touch.

To see if Similac Total Comfort Stage 3 is right for your child, please visit Similac Myanmar today to sign up for samples.⁷^,12

References:

Borschel et al. (2012)
Borschel et al. (2014)
Buck R et al. 2004, Schaller et al 2004,
Lasekan et al. (2017)

Additional References;

https://similacmyanmar.com/mm/product-trial/

June 7, 2022

Is your child Lactose Intolerant?

Any type of indigestion issues can take away comfort from your child. If it happens often, it can lesson your child’s body’s ability to absorb nutrients and interrupt growth. Does your child suffer from excessive gassiness, bloating, irritability, unable to keep food down, have constipation or even diarrhea? All these symptoms could be the result of intolerance to lactose. Therefore, finding out if it is an allergy or an intolerance and providing the right kind of treatment. Usually changes in the food they eat to changing the type of milk with grow up milk alternatives (eg. Similac Total Comfort) to prevent intolerance issues and help your child enjoy life.¹^,²^,³^,⁴^{, 5}

Lactose vs. Lactase

Lactase is an enzyme, and it breaks down lactose, which is a sugar found in milk products (e.g. Milk, Lactose, Whey, Curds, Milk by-products, Dry milk solids, Nonfat dry milk powder). It is when people’s bodies, including children, who do not make enough lactase to digest milk proteins that causes “lactose intolerance”. Lactose is a type of sugar that is found in a lot of animal milk products like cheeses, yogurts, breads, cereals, conventional whey mixes, and some canned foods. Considering this product versatility, it is in a lot of your child’s favorite foods. This sugar is broken down by lactase enzymes in the small intestines into simpler forms like glucose and galactose and goes on to be absorbed.¹

Allergy or intolerant?

The main difference between an allergic reaction to an intolerance is that symptoms of allergies show up immediately. An allergy is caused by the body’s immune system having a negative reaction to proteins in milk. This type of issue can potentially cause major health side effects like anaphylaxis. If your child breaks out in hives, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, itching of the face, and vomiting after a milk product, then they are possibly having an allergic reaction. Lactose Intolerance can take some time to show up, usually within 24 hours. Also, intolerances can develop later in life, even if your child did not have it before. Intolerances to milks are caused by lactase enzymes in the gut decreasing. Severity depends on the quantity consumed and tolerance level. Symptoms of intolerances can range from irritability, nausea, stomach aches, bloating (hard tummy area is an easy way to tell), excessive gas passing, foul soft stools, and diarrhea.²^,³

How do I provide comfort?

If intolerances are not taken care of, it can cause some feeding issues and affect your child’s overall health. With the process of elimination, remove the food item from your child’s diet. This process may take some time with careful monitoring. If symptoms improve, with guidance from a pediatrician, try introducing the items back in their diet to see if symptoms return. If you are worried that your child may not be getting enough protein and calcium because of a cow milk diet, no need to worry. Your child can get calcium from dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli and kale, nuts (almonds), beans (white beans), fish (sardines, salmon) and calcium-fortified drinks. Soy and almond products are also rich in protein, which is an alternative for meat or milk-based proteins.⁴^{, 5}

But as children are, soy and almond based milk alternatives can have a flavor they are not a fan of. For this, parents have to look for appropriate growing up milk alternatives that have prebiotic fibers for gut health and other essential nutrients for overall health. For example, Similac Total Comfort is lactose free, has easy to digest proteins, prebiotics, vitamins, and minerals to support a child’s digestive system and reduce allergy risks. Similac Total Comfort stage 3 with Tummy care Nutritional System contains prebiotics (FOS), partially hydrolyzed 100% whey protein, very low lactose, unique vegetable fat blend. Similac Total Comfort Stage 3 which is 98% lactose free and no palm oil for better nutrients absorption and softer stool.^6.7

Visit Similac Myanmar for more information and request free samples to see if it will work for your child.⁴^{, 5}

References:

Additional References;

Lasekan et al. (2017),
de Souza et al. (2017),

June 7, 2022

Dealing with your child throwing up food as a Parent

Once a calm meal and suddenly your child just vomits out the food shortly after. At first you may express your frustrations to clean up the mess, but there can be medical issues behind it. Is it because of allergies? Is it because of gas? Are they doing it on purpose? First, remain calm and then get to the root cause. You may have made menu transformations into more easily digestible food options and look for growing up milks (eg. Similac Total Comfort) to further ease digestive issues.¹^,²^,³^,⁴^,

Rain checks your reaction

Your first reaction is to scold your child for making a mess. The thing is, very young children cannot comprehend your reaction and only know their own discomfort and pain. Remain calm and the best reaction is no reaction at all. If the vomiting or throwing up of food was intentional, they will soon realize that what they are doing is boring and calmly eat their food the next time.¹^,²

Find the root cause

Every child develops different eating habits, and they all have their unique taste preferences. Are the pieces of food too big? Try smaller bite sizes and see if it lessens the digestive and swallowing issues. Is it because of the texture? Try different cooking methods. Did they have the urge to vomit because they have had bad reactions to it before? Usually, allergies show up as red faces and rashes in most cases. Asides from vomiting, your child can experience diarrhea and nausea without the explanation of food. Look for signs of discomfort after meals and remove the suspected items. Poor eating habits, if prolonged, can cause malnutrition, irregular bowels, aggravate allergies, decreased energy, and weaken the immune system.¹^,²

Reevaluate their nutrition

If it is not the texture nor the taste, it may be the food itself is lacking certain nutrients. Sometimes some foods cause acid reflux to come back up and bloating and may need to switch to easily digestible foods that support gut health. Prebiotic fibers are important here as they feed the healthy bacteria in the gut, allowing them to flourish to fight off the bad ones. This helps with digestion and increases nutrient absorption and fibers bulk stool for easier passing. Foods’s rich in prebiotic fibers are bananas, apples, barley, oats, and cocoa. Careful with the diet changes as the change itself can sometimes upset your child’s sensitive tummies.¹^,²^,³

To make your child feel comfortable in the gut, they may need some easy to digest formula growing up milk for when food alone is not enough in fixing digestive issues. For this Similac Total Comfort can help. Similac Total Comfort Growing-Up Milk is an easily digested and absorbed nutritional formula for toddlers 2 years and above who may experience abnormal reactions in their gastrointestinal tract such as constipation, flatulence, diarrhea due to poor tolerance of lactose. Similac Total comfort with Tummy care Nutritional System contains prebiotics (FOS), partially hydrolyzed 100% whey protein, very low lactose, unique vegetable fat blend.

Sign-Up for Similac Free Trial

References:

https://moms-den.com/2020/07/28/how-to-stop-child-from-spitting-out-food/
https://yourkidstable.com/baby-spits-out-food/
https://www.julierevelant.com/14-prebiotic-foods-for-kids/
https://abbottnutrition.com.my/products/similac-total-comfort

June 7, 2022

3 Reasons Why Your Child is Refusing Food

A little tummy ache here and there is common in children. It becomes concerning when it happens too often and they start refusing food. Sometimes making dietary changes with gut health supporting foods and digestive health supporting growing up milks (eg. Similac Total Comfort) can provide comfort. From milk intolerances to gastro issues, here are 3 reasons why your child may be refusing food.¹^,⁵

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

This is when food and stomach acid comes back up the esophagus. When it happens in younger children, look out for choking, wheezing, wet burping, bad breath, and frequent refusal of food. GERD is usually minor, but if prolonged, it can damage the esophagus and cause poor growth due to inefficient nutrition absorption. Do not feed food to your child more than they can eat and avoid chocolate, caffeinated drinks, spicy foods, and tomato-based items that trigger GERD symptoms.¹^,⁴

Allergies and Food Poisoning

Your child may have had a reaction to a certain food and are now refusing other items associated with it. For this, to find out which food is causing it, requires some patience. Usually, these allergic reactions are immediate or within 24 hours, resulting in either diarrhea, hives, and in the worst case, anaphylaxis. Remove the suspected food (you may have to take account of what your child ate that whole week) and visit a medical professional. When preparing food at home, properly wash and cook meats and vegetables with care.¹^,³

Constipation

Even in adults, if you feel backed up, you are less willing to eat anything. Children may not be able to put a name to a problem, but they sure will tell you what is happening. When they say their tummy hurts, check if their bowls are regular. If you see bloating, some crying, or irritability, they may be constipated. Children can be constipated if they are not eating enough fiber and drinking enough water. Since dietary fiber increases stool size and softens it for easier passing, adding high fiber foods like apples, bananas, barley, oats, and beans to a child’s diet should ease constipation.¹^,²

Tummy aches and food refusals only become worrisome when they happen too often. Easiest form of treatment is through food. But when food alone is not enough, your child may need the help of growing milks to ease tummy aches. Make sure that they are formulated with the right prebiotics (2’-FL) HMO & Nucleotides and high-quality fibers to support gut health. For this, parents can look towards Similac Total Comfort stage 3. Not only does it have a unique combination of DHA, lutein and natural vitamin E that supports vision and brain development,^6,7 it is rich in prebiotics to support gut health, 2’‐FL HMO & Nucleotides to enhance resistance.^8,9 It also contains Vitamin A, B12, C, D, folic acid, iron, selenium and zinc which help to support the developing immune system.

Visit Similac Myanmar today to get a sample and explore more child digestive information

References:

https://www.webmd.com/children/features/digestive-doctor
https://www.everydayhealth.com/constipation/guide/
https://www.everydayhealth.com/allergies/
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/gerd-reflux.html
https://abbottnutrition.com.my/products/similac-total-comfort
Auestad,Halter et al.2001,
Auestad,Scott et al.2003
Buck R et al.2004

Schaller et al 2004

April 19, 2022

What’s in the Similac Total Comfort Formula?

Even with the best of intentions with nutrition, food sometimes causes upset tummies and other discomforts. The best treatment is by providing easy to digest food, aided by a formula for gut health. But not all formulas are created equal and have palm oil to deliver fat. Palm oil in large amounts hinders digestion, creates harder stool, and affects nutrient absorption. Combining the best of easy to digest ingredients and nutrients for total immunity support, Similac Total Comfort is formulated with a unique TummiCare™ System and an exclusive IMMUNIFY^Ⓡblend for gentleness. Read on to learn more about the breakthrough use of Partially hydrolyzed Protein for easier digestion and which 10 ingredients that make up the total immunity support.¹^,²^,³^,⁴^,⁵^,⁶

Why is No Palm Oil an important fact

Palm oil, often listed as palm olein in the ingredients, is formulated into supplements as low-cost fatty acid substitute fillers for energy. It is hard to digest and robs the formula of the essential healthy fats that the body needs to enhance the power of immune cells. It also prevents the absorption of calcium and other healthy fats, which hinders their functions. Made from a unique blend of non-GMO vegetable oils (eg. Safflower Oil, Soy Oil, Coconut Oil) with the best fatty acid content, Similac Total Comfort provides cells with the right kind of energy, while going easy on the stomach.¹^,²^,³

What is the TummiCare™ System?

Pioneering over 15 years of scientific research, Similac Total Comfort’s TummiCare™ System is a formulation of Partially hydrolyzed whey Proteins for easy digestion and , 2′-fucosyllactose (2’FL), to support your child’s immune system. When whey proteins have been pre-digested, or broken down into smaller units, it is much gentler for your child’s developing digestive system. Also designed to be hypoallergenic and lactose free, Similac Total Comfort provides relief from experiencing upset tummies, diarrhea, and excess gas due to lactose intolerance.²^,⁴^,⁶

IMMUNIFY^® blend explained

IMMUNIFY^®is a blend of 10 vitamins and minerals, including 2’FL to intertwine in the TummiCare™ System, that are best at supporting a child’s developing immunity. The blend of 10 are Vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D, Copper, Folic Acid, Iron, Selenium, and Zinc. Since these nutrients are known best for improving immune cell strength, production, response and protection against free radicals that degrade cell life, your child’s body is provided with the best defense of Similac Total Comfort. And when the body is fully protected, the body is able to absorb necessary nutrients more efficiently, while going easy on a child’s delicate digestive system.²^,⁴^,⁵

A well-rounded nutrition is the foundation for your child to grow into the best version of themselves. Remember to read food labels and research the effects of certain ingredients like palm oil and how it affects your child’s digestive system. Along with food, bring the best of both worlds of digestion and immunity support with Similac Total Comfort for total nutritional support with a gentle touch.¹^,⁶

Sign-Up for Similac Free Trial

References:

Additional Readings:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019891/

April 1, 2022

Beating Child Gassiness

It is common for your little one to pass gas 13 to 21 times a day since they have plenty of chances to swallow air. Their digestive systems are also just developing hence food intolerance or food sensitivity could be the cause of your child’s gassiness. Their underdeveloped digestive system allows food to pass too quickly hence it doesn’t break down completely. ¹ ²

If food sensitivity is the culprit of gassiness, you may need to consult with your child’s doctor about food that may be giving them extra gas.

COMMON REMEDIES FOR GAS RELIEF IN CHILDREN

It is a challenge for parents to give relief to a child who is in distress or discomfort. When the tummy gassiness is involved, the following tips can relieve a child.²

Tummy massages and tummy activities. Start a gentle massage on the tummy and work your way to your child’s shoulders, back and legs. This gentle rub will help him or her relax and pass gas. Placing your child on his stomach to play also helps strengthen the tummy muscles. Do this upon waking up in the morning.²

Test for formulas that are easy to digest. Here’s what to look out for: ⁴

Low lactose or lactose-free. For children who are unable to tolerate lactose, providing a low lactose or lactose-free formula can help relieve symptoms such as gas and watery stools.

Contains prebiotics. Prebiotics promote the growth of good intestinal bacteria in our digestive system. This suppresses the growth of harmful bacteria and helps to maintain a healthy intestinal tract.

No palm oil children formula

Look for a formula which does not contain palm oil. Studies have found that children who consumed formula with no palm oil had softer stools and better absorption of calcium, compared to ones who were fed formula that contains palm oil.

CONCLUSION

Happy children are the priority of parents. Trust your parental instincts and be aware of your child’s cures. Apart from providing relief, the choice of food or formula should adequately support the nutritional needs of a growing child, especially of the brain, eye, and immune system.

Similac Total Comfort Growing-Up Milk is an easily digested and absorbed nutritional formula for toddlers 2 years and above who may experience abnormal reactions in their gastrointestinal tract such as constipation, flatulence, diarrhea, fussing and crying due to poor tolerance of lactose. 2’‐FL HMO & Nucleotides to enhance resistance.³ It also contains Vitamin A, B12, C, D, folic acid, iron, selenium and zinc which help to support the developing immune system.
Reference: 1. Borschel et al. (2012); Borschel et al. (2014); 3. Buck R et al. 2004, Schaller et al 2004,

Sign-up for Free Trial

References:

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/infant-gas#1
https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/care/gassy-baby/
https://abbottfamily.com.sg/products/page/similac-total-comfort-3
https://abbottfamily.com.sg/articles/baby/is-my-baby-intolerant-to-formula

August 9, 2021

Tolerance Issues

It can be quite the challenge when your child refuses to cooperate with you when it comes to food. Why is your child refusing to eat that particular thing or food in general? They may have gas issues, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting, all common distressing symptoms to watch out for when they cannot keep food down. Unless the discomfort is a symptom of a serious medical issue, the occasional discomfort may be because your child has not yet developed the tolerance or the ability to digest that certain nutrient yet.

Trouble with food

When a child has trouble with food, symptoms like vomiting, abdominal pain and distension, gas, diarrhea, and rash will occur. Stool consistency and frequency changes are also key indicators.

Vomiting

Occasional vomiting up food, they could just not like it, is not generally a major health concern. But if they vomit food right back up after eating with much distress caused, this can be a sign of more serious and may be a symptom of an allergy.

Gas and fussiness

If you think adults are choosy eaters, have you ever tried feeding your child what they don’t want? But if they complain they have an upset tummy often after they eat the food and you notice excessive fussiness, check if the food itself is not causing the discomfort, ie. an allergic reaction or intolerance.

Protein sensitivity

Check if your child has any sensitivity issues. For protein, sensitivity to it may cause excessive diarrhea, rashes, and sleeping problems.

Stool color and consistency

Just like in adults, normal stools may be soft to well-formed and it all depends on physique and nutrition. A child that is mostly on supplementary foods may have pasty-looking stools. Stool color changes with the types of food your child consumes.

Frequency of bowel movements

Bowel movements are different by infant and type of diet. Breastfed newborns may have up to ten stools a day, often after each feeding, while others may have one stool every other day.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is usually thin, watery, mucusy, and offensive smelling. It can be a symptom of an illness and you should contact your healthcare provider. Because diarrhea draws and excretes an excessive amount of water from the body, dehydration can occur so be sure to provide your child with plenty of hydration when they have diarrhea.

Constipation

Normal stool should be soft to more formed, and just like watching for color and consistency, it all depends on your child and their diet. If they have difficulty passing it in a session, check if they are drinking enough water. Keep a logbook or chart of things you feed your child and assess how each food affects their bowel movements. If unsure of why your child is constipated, please contact a doctor.

Uncomfortable Burping

Assure that your child gets the nutrients they need because it is important for their growth and development. Feeding issues can interfere if their nutrition isn’t being absorbed properly, or that they resist eating because of associated discomfort.

Proper eating positions – make them eat sitting up or at a dining table appropriately. Avoid letting them eat lying down or curled up.
Do not force feed – if your child gets overly full, they are more likely to vomit or burp it up.
No vigorous play after food – excess activity can aggravate and impede digestion.
Proper meal times – try to provide food for your child before they are overly hungry because them trying to curb their haggard stomach will cause them to gulp down food and take too big of bites that cause digestive issues.
Can’t keep it down – if your child cannot keep even the simplest of foods down, call your child’s doctor right away.
Monitor stool – because the stools can tell you how healthy they are. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your child’s stools (frequency, color and consistency).

Ask Your Doctor

When in doubt, ask a doctor! Learn to recognize the symptoms of food issues of your child and discuss the concerns to rule out other possible underlying issues.

Reference(s):

https://abbottfamily.com.sg/articles/science/tolerance-issues#

June 2, 2021

Folic Acid Benefits Women at All Stages of Life

For new mothers, eating well and taking folic acid is important. Folic acid is important for women at any point of their lives, but especially important pregnancy is part of the life plan. Folic Acid plays a vital role in preventing neural tube defects of the fetus and should be taken before and during pregnancy. With it well incorporated into a mother-to-be diet, her body can produce and maintain beneficial cells in the body. But what is folic acid? Here are some explanations for some of the most common questions about folic acid.

Folic Acid vs. Folate

Both are forms of Vitamin B9, however Folic Acid is man-made and Folate Acid occurs naturally in the foods we eat. Folic acid, a synthetic form of folate, is converted to an active usable form in the body. Folic Acid is added to supplements and foods to fortify them. It is commonly added to rice, pasta, bread and cereals. Folate is naturally found in whole foods that were not highly processed such as leafy greens, vegetables, fruits and fresh beans.

How is it beneficial to Women?

Pregnancy aside, adequate folate in your diet is important. It plays a pivotal role in tissue growth and cell function, and it works together with vitamin B12, B6, and vitamin C to break down and create new proteins. Cellular regeneration is an ongoing process in the body and everything your body does requires protein and DNA production. A diet that would be considered healthy that is also rich in folate should have asparagus, leafy greens, avocado, fortified pasta or cereal, and eggs. Where immunity and gut health is concerned, folate plays an important role and also can prevent some forms of anemia. In certain instances, folate may play a role in reducing the side effects of menopause. In a Western Medicine study Journal of Caring Sciences, menopausal women who were supplemented 1 milligram of folic acid daily saw decreases in the severity, duration and frequency of their hot flashes.

How Much Do Women Need?

The US Recommended Dietary Allowance of folic acid for adult women is 400 micrograms (mcg) daily. It can go up to as much as 600 mcg during pregnancy and back down to 500 during lactation. Women who have had a history of neural tube defects should consume even more folic acid. The National Institutes of Health recommends women who have such a history to consume between 4,000 and 5,000 mcg of a folate supplement each day, at least one month before planning a pregnancy. Continue this regime through the first three months of pregnancy to reduce the chances of pregnancy risks.

Adding it to Your Diet

The most recommended way to get the amount needed is through a balanced diet. But it is common for most women to take supplements to ensure adequacy. Before taking any supplements, be sure to talk to your Healthcare Professional to determine what is right for you. Fortunately, tasty food sources of folate are easily accessible in the modern day and are right at your fingertips. It has many fruits and vegetables.

November 16, 2020

Benefits of Dietary Fiber for Digestion

It is beneficial to include more fiber and other types of nutrition in your diet during pregnancy. It benefits your digestive health by preventing constipation and nutrient absorption. Though fiber is important, some mothers only consume less than they should, due to either loss of hunger or cravings for nutritionally poor foods. Today we will review some important fiber facts and provide beneficial information on how Similac MUM can support you during pregnancy.¹^,³^,⁴

Fiber and pregnancy digestion facts

Fiber cannot be digested by the body itself and requires probiotics to do it. Fiber that feeds probiotics (the good bacteria in the gut responsible for fighting off the bad ones) is called Prebiotics. Here are some benefits worth highlighting for fiber:¹^,²

Controls Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Gaining weight is a given, but it can be controlled. High-fiber foods keep you feeling fuller longer to prevent overeating cravings. Weight control during pregnancy allows for easier control while breastfeeding and post pregnancy. High-fiber diets, especially, can reduce caloric intake by 10%, which can be a significant amount by the fact that you will less likely be eating junk or fatty foods.¹

Improves Bowel Movement During Pregnancy

Because of certain hormones (progesterone) being produced during pregnancy, constipation is common. Fiber helps with fluid absorption and softens stool so it is easier to pass so consuming more fiber will prevent discomfort. By the advice of your Medical Professional, consume fiber as recommended and ask about taking supplements to help.¹

Regulate blood sugar and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy

Fiber slows down the absorption of food and sugar, thus preventing blood sugar from rising too quickly. Certain hormone production during pregnancy causes blood glucose to accumulate more in the blood so taking more fiber can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.¹

If blood glucose were to be left unchecked, it causes damage to blood vessels and nerves related to the heart. This can cause a mother to develop heart diseases and increase the risk of strokes. Fibers help lower cholesterol by trapping cholesterol-rich bile acids in the digestive system so they do not end up in the blood.¹

How to add more fiber to your diet

Fiber intake must be done gradually to give your body time to get used to that type of diet. Start out by spreading fiber content over six meals in a day or schedule them in during snack time. Good natural sources of fiber are bananas, dark greens, nuts, beans, and potatoes.¹

You always want what is best for your child, so even during pregnancy you try your best to be healthy yourself. But sometimes we all need a little help and pregnant mothers need as much help as they can get. That is why when they feel like they are not getting enough fiber or other nutrients, Similac MUM as scientifically formulated to support the nutritional needs for pregnant and breastfeeding mums without causing excessive weight gain .² The scientific combination of Lutein, Natural RRR Vitamin E, DHA, Chlorine, Folic Acid and Iron support brain and eye development.

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Source:

https://abbottfamily.com.sg/articles/nutrition/fiber#
Huynh DTT et al. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2017 May 7: 1-9 – https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14767058.2017.1320984
Brown, Lisa S. PhD, RD et al. Nutrition Requirements During Pregnancy. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC. pg. 5, 8. 2011 – http://samples.jbpub.com/9780763777920/77920_ch01_001_024.pdf (PDF document)
https://abbottfamily.com.sg/products/page/similac-mum