Dairy-free probiotic
My toddler son has a dairy allergy and I am having trouble finding a dairy-free probiotic. After various tests, doctors have prescribed antibiotics so it is important I find supplements I can give him to keep his digestive and immune systems strong. I have searched the health shops and internet with no success and in any event, am worried about how to give him tablets or anything that tastes unpleasant.
American supplement maker, Food Science of Vermont, have formulated a dairy-free probiotic called Mega Probiotic-ND (non dairy) that combines eight species of microorganisms from non-dairy sources with fructooligosaccharides (FOS). The latter are plant sugars which selectively feed up the so-called “good” gut bacteria, including the replacement probiotic strains, to help rebalance the gut flora making this a clever combination of a pre- and pro- biotic in one pill.
The therapeutic dose for a young child is one tablet a day and while the active agents are contained in a soft-gel capsule, the way around this for toddlers and anyone who cannot swallow larger pills is to break open the capsule and dissolve the powder contents into a liquid.
Since you are seeking an extra boost for your son’s immune system, I suggest you dissolve the probiotic in Sambucol For Kids; a liquid extract made from immune-boosting black elderberry, propolis and vitamin C which not only works but tastes good too. Just dissolve one teaspoon of the tincture in a half glass of warm water, dissolve your probiotic capsule in this mix and, if you want to sweeten it, add a teaspoon of manuka honey.
You can mail order both the non-dairy probiotic and sambucol from Victoria Health (0800 413596). Mega Probiotic-ND costs £15.95 for 60 veggie capsules. Sambucol costs £8.25 for a 120ml bottle. You will need to stick to this daily regimen for as long as your child is taking probiotics, and, indeed, it will do him no harm to carry on and simply increase the dose, as per the labels, as he gets older.