Gut Flora is Linked to Mood

Recently the research has widened to include the effect on behaviour, mood, and feelings. Two recent studies reflect the critical role the gut-brain connection plays in children.

Article 1:
Toddler Tantrums May be Due to Their Gut Flora

Gut Bacteria and Happiness

In this first study, scientists found that toddlers with the highest variety of gut bacteria were more likely to be happy, curious, sociable and impulsive (I imagine positively!). In boys, extroverted personality traits were associated with the abundance of specific microbes. (Click the link below to find out which ones).

How to achieve a highly-diversified healthy gut flora…

Antibiotics are Too Commonly Prescribed

Ear infections are the most common reason for antibiotic prescriptions for children. The highest incidence is between 6 and 24 months of age, while the immune system and gut flora are maturing, a process antibiotics can negatively affect. In an era of increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, over-prescription, and uncertainty about how much longer antibiotics will be effective in fighting infections, we need to turn our focus to prevention…