Infants are not born with a complete gut microbiome, it develops with them over time. While it is developing, their mother’s milk provides protection and supports a healthy gut, due to its wide range of bioactive ingredients. This is why breastfeeding during the first year of an infant’s life is still recommended, as infant formula lacks essential bioactive ingredients found in mother´s milk.
As the microbiome has large implications on the health and growth of an infant, it is important to maintain a carefully balanced system full of beneficial microbes. An unbalanced gut microbiome at best means stomach upsets. At worst, it can lead to life-threatening illnesses and stunted growth.
An unbalanced microbiome can manifest when harmful microbes are introduced to the gut. Due to a developing immune system and microbiome, infants need help to maintain a balanced gut microbiome. In the modern world, it has become ever more challenging to maintain breastfeeding up until one year, which is a problem as infants receiving infant formula only are at a higher risk of gut infections. Supporting a healthy microbiome is key to ensuring the health of infants.
1.5 M
infant deaths could be avoided if all children were breastfed
2.8 X
more likely to develop gut problems if not breastfed
19 %
of deaths under 5 years of age in Africa are caused by diarrhea
Bactolife’s Binding Proteins™ are a revolutionary new way of fortifying your gut microbiome by neutralizing the effects of the harmful microbes without destroying the beneficial ones.
This is how we can nurture every infant’s microbiome and gently prevent childhood illnesses. It’s how we can protect the elderly. And it’s how we can ensure a balanced gut microbiome is as easy as reaching for a snack. That’s why we believe the good life starts with your gut.
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