Parents today are exposed to a large amount of information when it comes to parenting. They receive advice from pediatricians, friends who have children, their own mothers and relatives, and they also search for it on the internet. But what is actually necessary for children to grow up healthy?
Certain vitamins and minerals must certainly be given to children to ensure proper growth and development, and there are millions of pieces of advice on what children’s nutrition should be like. Thus, the term inulin is often mentioned in various expert texts, and its importance for proper development of the organism is emphasized. But do you know what inulin is, why it is so important, and which foods are rich in it? Let’s start from the beginning.
What Is Inulin and What Is Its Role?
Inulin is a natural plant fiber, or prebiotic, that has a beneficial effect on the body. For the body to develop properly, the health of the stomach, or intestinal flora (microbiota), is of great importance. The intestines absorb nutrients and eliminate harmful substances, and a vast number of good and bad bacteria live in the human intestines. Probiotics are the good bacteria in our bodies, without which it could not function normally. To maintain the health of the body, the number of good bacteria should exceed the number of bad ones, and this is where the role of prebiotics comes into play—they feed the good bacteria in the intestines. When good bacteria receive prebiotics, they can fight against bad bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Inulin is precisely one of the prebiotics that plays an important role in maintaining health, as it has been shown that even small amounts of inulin positively affect the increase of good bacteria.
Which Foods Are Rich in Inulin?
Significant amounts of inulin are found in foods such as onions, garlic, artichokes, dandelion, and chicory root. Most people unknowingly consume inulin through their diet, but what about infant nutrition?
Nutrino milk, or ready-to-use liquid cereal puree, is additionally enriched with inulin, which, as we mentioned, is good for the child’s immune system and digestive tract because it belongs to the group of prebiotics and stimulates the growth of lactic acid bacteria – probiotics. Inulin can increase calcium absorption in the body, help develop normal intestinal flora, and act like any plant fiber, facilitating digestion.
It is available in 3 flavors: oats and banana, oats and biscuits, and rice puree, and whichever you choose, you won’t go wrong, as your child will be satisfied, and you will have peace of mind knowing that you are providing them with inulin intake.
