The key to helping children boost their immunity and avoid minor illnesses for the new school year.

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi Nhung, Head of the Department of School and Occupational Nutrition, National Institute of Nutrition, believes that health significantly impacts children's academic performance. Children who are malnourished or overnourished are more prone to illness than their peers. Children with micronutrient deficiencies or those who are overweight or obese have weaker immune systems, increasing their risk of infectious diseases such as respiratory infections and diarrhea. When children are sick, their absorption and metabolism of nutrients become even more inefficient, and their immune system is further weakened by infection and micronutrient deficiencies, leading to a longer recovery time. This creates a vicious cycle that negatively affects both health and academic results.

"The new school year also coincides with the transitional season, bringing unpredictable weather changes. This is a time when many diseases are prevalent among children, making them more susceptible to illness than at other times of the year. If children's bodies lack strong immunity, the risk of infection and illness is higher. Parents should proactively seek appropriate solutions to help children improve their health, nutritional status, immune system, and resistance," advised Dr. Nhung.

To build strong immunity, maintain good health, and promote healthy height growth, in addition to daily exercise, children need a scientific and healthy diet – "Eat right and eat enough" – according to the nutritional pyramid of the National Institute of Nutrition for different age groups. The diet should not only provide sufficient energy and protein but also adequate vitamins and minerals involved in the immune system, such as vitamins A, D, K, E, iron, zinc, selenium, flavonoids, and probiotic bacteria.

Healthy eatingto help children stay healthy,have good resistance.

A healthy gut is key to a healthy immune system. A healthy gut facilitates better absorption and metabolism of nutrients, leading to a healthier body and increased resistance to disease. Diets high in protein, low in fruits and vegetables, and high in fast food and unhealthy foods such as excessively fried foods, sugary drinks, sweets, and junk food also affect the balance of the gut microbiota.

DA healthy gut consists of 85% beneficial bacteria and 15% harmful bacteria.However, this balance is difficult to restore due to various dietary habits, lifestyles, and environmental factors, and beneficial bacteria only last for a short time. When children are sick, have a fever, or use antibiotics, the balance of their gut microbiota is also disrupted.

A balanced and healthy diet will help balance the gut microbiome. In addition, it's necessary to supplement children's daily probiotic intake through fermented foods. Compared to fermented soybeans, kimchi, and pickled vegetables, yogurt is the most suitable food for children. "Parents can supplement their children's daily probiotic intake by using yogurt or live-culture yogurt daily, following the National Institute of Nutrition's recommendations for milk and dairy products for Vietnamese people," suggests Dr. Nhung.

A healthy gut consists of 85% beneficial bacteria and 15% harmful bacteria..

In addition, parents need to ensure their children's meals include enough fruits and vegetables to provide the recommended amount of fiber (food to nourish beneficial bacteria). However, not all beneficial bacteria are the same or equally effective; many probiotic strains are destroyed by stomach acid after being introduced into the body. Therefore, mothers should choose foods that provide reputable, superior strains of probiotics that thrive in harsh pH environments.

In addition to aiding digestion, probiotics also help boost the immune system.eThis helps prevent many diseases, including influenza and other respiratory illnesses.A study by the University of Reading (UK) showed that people who consumed probiotic products for 4 weeks had a higher number of immune cells compared to those who did not. A 2013 study by the National Institute of Nutrition also showed that children (aged 24-47 months) who consumed probiotic yogurt drinks containing L.Casei 431™ for 3 months tended to improve their serum IgA antibody levels. Specifically, the IgA immune index tended to increase by more than 30% compared to the group that did not use it (an increase of 19.97 mg/dL compared to 14.98 mg/dL).

In 2011, the European probiotic group Chr. Hansen, the creator of L.Casei 431™, investigated the effects of this probiotic in preventing colds and flu. Research involving 1,100 Danish and German individuals showed that daily supplementation with L.Casei 431 probiotics shortened the duration of colds and flu. Specifically, the number of sick days decreased from 8.1 days (for the placebo group) to 4.8 days (for the L.Casei 431 supplement group); antibiotic use decreased from 38 times to 22 times; and healthcare interventions were reduced by 22% compared to 28% in the placebo group.

Benefits of using strain CHR. HANSEN L.CASEI 431TM.

Probi drinking yogurtContaining approximately 13 billion Probiotics CHR.Hansen L.Casei 431™ and advanced European fermentation technology, this product helps support gut immunity, strengthen resistance, and increase IgA levels by over 30% (*). Recommended by the Vietnam Medical Association.

(*): The index of the group using Probi live culture yogurt drink tended to be higher than that of the group not using it, according tonclinical studiesof the Institute of NutritionRegarding the effectiveness of Probi live culture yogurt drink on the nutritional status, digestion, and immunity of children.