4 Ways Gut Health Affects Our Kids’ Immune System

by Kevyn Gohu
March 14, 2023

Erceflora begins their Todo Tatag campaign, proving how gut health plays a big role in our kids’ immune system.

When we talk about the immune system, we usually associate it with Vitamin C. But there’s a lot more to kids’ immune systems, especially since they usually get sick because they put something dirty in their mouths. We also know that they’re sick because the first thing they complain about is a stomachache. With 70% of our immune system based on our gut, here are 5 other ways our gut health affects the immune system.

a kid at Todo Tatag Campaign by Erceflora

1. Our gut absorbs all the nutrients.

The gut is made of tissue that’s similar to skin, allowing it to absorb all the nutrients from the food that the stomach breaks down. When the gut gets sick with something like gastrointestinal flu, it can’t absorb nutrients because it’s inflamed. That then leaves our immune systems and our bodies without any nutrients to work with.

2. The gastrointestinal tract (GI) transfers nutrients through the bloodstream.

The Gastrointestinal Tract (GI) is connected to the rest of the blood vessels, fuelling the rest of the body with nutrients. The gut functions like a rotonda wherein it redirects all the traffic in the form of nutrients to the rest of the body But it doesn’t have a gateway to stop bacteria which is how people get blood poisoning or sepsis.

3. When there’s no food, there’s stress which releases cortisol.

Cortisol may be a hormone that’s far away from the gut but it does affect our immune systems. Cortisol is a form of corticosteroid which is an immunosuppressant — a hormone that suppresses our immune system. But Cortisol is also the hormone that allows us to “break our limits” when we’re stressed. Unfortunately, the exchange is that we get sick because our gut could not absorb the nutrients because all the blood and energy was devoted to getting rid of the problem.

4. Certain gut diseases can make people more prone to certain diseases.

Some gut diseases like Crohn’s Disease and Celiac Disease can go undiagnosed, leaving people miserable without them knowing why. Crohn’s Disease causes your gut tissue to swell and unable to absorb nutrients which is why certain operations like gastric bypasses to help people lose weight are extremely risky. Celiac Disease is when a person’s gut is allergic to gluten, making the body attack itself. Although genetic, Celiac Disease can also leave a person more at risk for getting stomach cancer.

We’ve Gut To Take Care Of Ourselves!

a kid playing at Todo Tatag Campaign by Erceflora

Taking care of our gut sometimes may be the last thing we do because of stress. The hustle and bustle of daily life can make us forget we need to watch out for what we eat or drink. At least for Erceflora, it’s something that we can easily mix into our daily lives. Whether it’s in water, juice, or sweet drinks, at least we can take the probiotics with a more positive experience.

Erceflora can easily be found in Shopee, Lazada, Watsons, Mercury Drug, and most pharmaceutical stores.