Content
- 1 Is it possible to give kombucha to children?
- 2 Composition and value of kombucha
- 3 What are the benefits of kombucha for children?
- 4 At what age can you give kombucha to a child?
- 5 How to properly give kombucha to children
- 6 The use of kombucha for children for medicinal purposes
- 7 Restrictions and contraindications
- 8 Conclusion
Many mothers, fearing the side effects of modern drugs, prefer to treat their child with traditional methods. Even in ancient times, it was known that regular consumption of kombucha infusion, called kvass, has a beneficial effect on the human body. After all, with the help of a drink you can cure most colds that children so often suffer from. However, it is important to know how to properly give kombucha to children, at what age and in what dosage, and also take into account contraindications and individual intolerance.
Kombucha is often called Manchurian, Japanese, medusomycete and even jellyfish
Is it possible to give kombucha to children?
Kombucha was brought to Europe at the beginning of the 20th century from the Far East, where local residents have long considered it an elixir that bestows health and longevity. A drink infused with jellyfish is absolutely safe and extremely healthy, so it can be given even to very young children for preventive purposes.
Some believe that due to the alcohol content, a child should not drink such an infusion.However, its amount is so insignificant (less than in kefir) that kombucha can be consumed without fear by children under 2 years of age.
By the way, official medicine recommends jellyfish infusion to pregnant women and nursing mothers as a preventative against seasonal colds.
Composition and value of kombucha
Kombucha is a huge colony consisting of a symbiosis of two microorganisms: a yeast-like fungus and acetic acid bacteria. During the life of yeast, substances such as ethanol and carbon dioxide are formed, which is why the drink resembles kvass. In addition, the composition includes trace elements necessary for normal metabolism (potassium, zinc, copper), vitamins (B, PP, C), as well as various biologically active substances and essential oils. Especially a lot of acids are produced: both organic and inorganic:
- dairy;
- sorrel;
- apple;
- gluconic;
- vinegar;
- phosphorus;
- lemon
It is due to this amount of acids that the kombucha infusion has a sour taste. The drink also contains a lot of enzymes (protease, catalase, amylase), lipids and polysaccharides. However, the most important component is a natural antibiotic - medusin, which is why kombucha is especially valued in folk medicine.
What are the benefits of kombucha for children?
Due to its healing properties, kombucha has been used to successfully treat many diseases since ancient times. A drink based on it has a pronounced bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect.With its help, the following childhood diseases are effectively treated:
- sore throat;
- tonsillitis;
- bronchitis;
- stomatitis;
- intestinal infections;
- ARVI.
It has been noted that hyperexcitable children who regularly drink kombucha infusion become less active. And those that are excessively sluggish and painful, on the contrary, are more mobile.
Kombucha increases the body's resistance to infectious diseases
For healthy children, due to its beneficial properties, kombucha has a positive effect on the entire body as a whole, namely:
- improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, eliminates bacteriosis, increases appetite;
- has a calming effect, normalizes sleep;
- increases immunity, normalizes metabolism.
It has been proven that an infusion of unfermented green tea is an excellent prevention of oncology, since it negatively affects the growth of cancer cells.
At what age can you give kombucha to a child?
Children, especially those who are bottle-fed, can drink kombucha from the age of six months, however, in small doses - about a teaspoon at a time. For those who receive immunoglobulins in full along with breast milk, the drink can be introduced into the diet starting from 10-12 months.
How to properly give kombucha to children
If a child has previously had allergic reactions to anything, this infusion should be given with caution. The first dose should be no more than a tablespoon, after which it is important to monitor the condition. If no negative consequences are observed, you can safely let your baby drink this miraculous drink every day.It is possible that you may experience slight upset bowel movements or frequent urination, however, within two to three weeks the body will adapt and everything will return to normal.
Medusomyces children should insist on weakly brewed black tea
From 10 months, you should start giving kvass no more than 20-30 ml per day, gradually increasing the dose. At the age of one year, the daily norm should reach more than 50-60 ml in two doses.
A child aged 2 years can drink kombucha 50 ml twice a day, continuing to gradually increase the amount of kvass. At three years old, this dose reaches the daily norm of an adult: 100 ml two or three times a day.
The use of kombucha for children for medicinal purposes
It is recommended that children take an infusion of kombucha for preventive purposes one hour before meals or two hours after meals. However, the drink can be used as an external medicine for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, oral mucosa, and various skin diseases. Application:
- For purulent sore throat or inflammation of the larynx, gargle 3-4 times a day with a concentrated infusion.
- For rhinitis or runny nose, instill 1-2 drops into each nasal passage three times a day.
- If you have an infectious disease of the oral mucosa (stomatitis, gingivitis or thrush), rinse your mouth after every meal.
- The wound-healing and analgesic properties of kombucha infusion help in the treatment of purulent wounds, burns and inflammations on the skin.
Most of those who have given children kombucha give positive reviews of this method of treatment, since the natural antibiotic medusin effectively copes with pathogenic bacteria.
An infusion of black tea is healthier for humans, however, jellyfish prefer green tea
If you infuse kombucha in a decoction of rose hips and add a spoonful of honey before drinking, you will get an excellent antiviral remedy that will help you completely get rid of a mild cold in 5-7 days.
It is recommended for young children to infuse kombucha with a decoction of lemon balm, linden, raspberry or oregano.
Restrictions and contraindications
Despite the undoubted benefits of kombucha for the child’s body, in some cases there are certain restrictions:
- This drink should be given with caution to those children who have high stomach acidity or gastritis;
- If you have an individual intolerance, you should absolutely not give your baby such kvass to drink;
- This drink is contraindicated for children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes;
- if there is a need to take synthetic drugs (for example, paracetamol at high temperatures), it is better to temporarily remove kvass from the daily diet;
- During the acute phase of gastric or intestinal diseases, the infusion should be completely excluded from the diet.
Young children are advised to take breaks periodically, because the gas contained in the drink can irritate the stomach lining. Usually, after a month of taking it, they take a break of two to three weeks, after which they continue to give the baby this drink.
It is also worth remembering that an excessively sour drink that has stood for more than three days spoils the vulnerable enamel of baby teeth. Therefore, we must not forget to dilute it for children.
Conclusion
Children usually like kombucha very much due to its sweet and sour, refreshing taste and the presence of a small amount of gas bubbles.The benefits of this drink have been proven by scientists and recognized by traditional medicine. Therefore, if the child has no contraindications, you can safely give him this wonderful healing and tasty drink.
