With overly sterile growing up conditions and ubiquitous microplastics in food and water, the number of children with digestive disorders, food sensitivities, and stool disorders is increasing drastically.
"More and more children are having digestive problems, and that number has almost tripled in the last 15 years. It used to be ten to 15 percent, and now it's up to 30 percent of cases," said Dr. Dragan Prokić, a pediatrician and gastroenterologist, head of the Department of Gastroenterohepatology at the Pediatric Clinic of the "Dr. Vukan Čupić" Institute from Serbia, in the "Colors of the Morning" program on TV Vijesti.
In addition to digestive disorders, food allergies, especially to cow's milk proteins, are becoming more common, as are serious conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which, according to him, are up to five times more common today than two decades ago.
"One of the silent culprits is microplastics. We ingest them through almost everything, from water, food, to packaging. They can disrupt intestinal function and contribute to the development of allergies," warns Dr. Prokić.
In addition, he adds, children today grow up in overly sterile conditions, which negatively affects the development of immunity.
"Our immunity is built through contact with bacteria. If we completely deprive ourselves of that, the body can develop allergies, even to food," he pointed out.
Of particular importance is the connection between the gut and the brain, which develop from the same embryonic tissue and remain connected throughout life via the so-called “gut-brain axis”.
"The intestines produce hormones such as serotonin, the hormone of happiness, which directly affects the brain, while the brain, through the vagus nerve, controls intestinal functions," explains Dr. Prokić.
This is precisely why stress in children can cause stomach pain, appetite disturbances, or irregular bowel movements.
"In children, especially in their teens, we are increasingly seeing functional disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, where there are no visible inflammatory changes, but the child still has pronounced symptoms," he says.
Probiotics, although popular, are not a magic formula, the doctor notes, emphasizing the importance of a natural diet.
"Foods rich in cellulose such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables stimulate bowel function, and proteins from meat are important for growth and development," he said.
On the other hand, it warns against excessive use of cow's milk in babies.
"Cow's milk is one of the most common causes of problems in babies. Although it is nutritious, it causes a large number of allergic and digestive disorders," he pointed out.
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