Pediatric Gastroenterology - Mona Dave, MD

Digestive Health & Nutrition in Children

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Acid Reflux
Allergies
Autism
Celiac Disease
Child Health
Colon Cancer
Crohn’s Disease
Diarrhea
Endoscopy
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Events
Exercise
Failure to thrive (FTT)
Fatty Liver Disease
Flu
Food Allergy
Gastroenterology
Gluten Disease
Heartburn
Infection
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Nutrition
Obesity
Pediatrics
Peptic Ulcers
procedures
Ulcerative Colitis
Viruses
Walk With a Doc
Walk with Doc
Yoga

Plano & Southlake Offices 972-265-8222
Fax 972-265-8224

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+

online appointment request patient portal layer

  • Home
  • Dr. Dave
    • About Our Practice
  • Gallery
    • Video Gallery
    • Image Gallery
  • Digestive Disorders
    • Child’s Digestive System
    • Abdominal (Belly) Pain
    • Constipation
    • Celiac Disease
    • Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)
    • Diarrhea
    • Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
    • Failure to Thrive
    • Fatty Liver Disease
    • Food Allergies
    • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
    • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
      • Crohn’s Disease (CD)
      • Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
    • Peptic Ulcer
  • Procedures
    • EGD-Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
    • Instructions for Upper GI Endoscopy
    • Colonoscopy
    • Instruction for Lower GI Endoscopy
  • Nutrition
    • Fiber Intake in Children
    • Sugar Intake in Children
    • Digestive System
  • Testimonials
  • Information
    • About Our Practice
    • Blog
    • Patient Forms
    • Preprocedure Instructions for Upper GI Endoscopy
    • Preprocedure Instructions for Lower GI Endoscopy
    • Patient Portal
    • HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Sitemap
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Plano Office
    • Southlake Office
    • Careers
You are here: Home / Gastroenterology / Prebiotics, Probiotics, and the Bugs in Your Gut

Prebiotics, Probiotics, and the Bugs in Your Gut

August 25, 2016 By Mona Dave

bugs in your gutWhat Is the Gut Microbiota?

Your digestive system has tens of trillions of bugs. The combination of these various microorganisms is referred to as the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota can take up as much as five pounds of your body weight and includes over 1,000 different species of bacteria. Approximately 1/3 of your gut microbiota is common with other people, but 2/3 of the gut microbiota is unique to you!

When Did I Get These Bugs?

The moment you were born, your digestive tract started to become colonized with bugs from your mother’s skin, the air, and the doctors around you. The composition of your gut microbiota depends on the way you were fed: breast milk, formula, and type of formula, or maybe you were too sick to feed right away. As a baby, your gut microbiota is constantly changing, but at about age three, it starts to become stable. 

What Are Prebiotics and Probiotics?

Prebiotics are the “food” for good bacteria. Prebiotics allow the growth of beneficial bacteria and help improve the function of the gut microbiota. You probably already eat prebiotics in your diet and do not realize it. Some foods that contain prebiotics include:

  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Asparagus
  • Bananas
  • Artichoke
  • Dandelion Greens

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help the gut microbiota keep its diversity and balance. They help promote a healthy digestive tract and healthy immune system, and they may help prevent and treat some illness. Probiotics are found in several fermented foods, including:

  • Yogurt
  • Kefir
  • Kombucha Tea
  • Kimchi
  • Sauerkraut
  • Pickles

Probiotics are also available in most grocery stores and pharmacies.

What Is Gut Dysbiosis?

Illnesses, antibiotics and other medications, and stressors on your body will cause the gut microbiota to change. Sometimes an imbalance can occur in the gut microbiota and lead to gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis can be linked to several health problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, allergies, and obesity.

Food is the best medicine for our body. The food we choose to eat plays an essential role in maintaining an optimal gut microbiota. What we consume has a direct effect on the balance and diversity of the tens of trillions of microorganisms living in our digestive system. It is important that children are given a varied and balanced diet as we continue to learn about the role the gut microbiota plays in preventing disease. Remember, we are what we eat.

If you would like more information about gastrointestinal (GI) digestive disorders and nutrition in children, please contact Dr. Mona Dave’s Plano Office or Southlake Office.

Filed Under: Gastroenterology Tagged With: gastroenterology, nutrition, pediatrics

Digestive Health & Nutrition in Children

Southlake and plano office

Our offices are convienently located in Plano and Southlake, TX. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of patient care. Dr. Dave and her staff work extremely hard to streamline the referral process, expedite appointment scheduling, and promptly respond to patient calls. Her practice offers a pure pediatric environment. A pediatric trained … Dr. Manisha "Mona" Dave

MOM-APPROVED DOCTOR – DFW CHILD MAGAZINE

Manisha “Mona” Harpavat Dave, MD Pediatric Gastroenterologist Digestive Health & Nutrition in Children Diplomate Certification in Pediatric Gastroenterology Diplomate, American Board of Pediatrics Awards and Honors          Scientific Research Plano Office 6300 W Parker Rd, Bldg 2, Suite 424 Plano, TX 75093 Phone: … Dr. Mona Dave

Belly Pain in Kids

Abdominal pain in kids

Abdominal (belly) pain in children is a common condition and, while not generally a serious problem, one that can cause considerable discomfort. Approximately 30% of children visit a doctor due to abdominal pain by age 15, and 10-15% of school aged children report recurring abdominal pain. Because abdominal pain can have a wide variety of causes, diagnosis can often be … Belly Pain

Celiac Disease in Children

Celiac disease (CD, Celiac Sprue, Gluten Intolerance) in children tends to have digestive disorders that may result in growth problems. Celiac disease prevents the body from absorbing essential nutrients (nutrient malabsorption) resulting in diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal distention, failure to thrive and muscle wasting. Celiac disease in teenagers may not occur … Celiac Disease

Video Gallery

Image Gallery Dr. Mona Dave's image gallery contains a sampling of images displayed … Video

PEDIATRIC GI BLOG

Spoonful!

A FREE App for People with Gluten Issues Erin Heidenreich, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist … Pediatric GI News

Superfoods

You are what you eat! Your health is directly related to the types of foods that go into your … Pediatric GI News

Walk with a Doc Live Q&A

This week, we’ll be hosting our first ever live Q&A webinar!  Walk with a Doc will be … Pediatric GI News

Archives

CATEGORIES

  • Acid Reflux
  • Allergies
  • Autism
  • Celiac Disease
  • Child Health
  • Colon Cancer
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Diarrhea
  • Endoscopy
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis
  • Events
  • Exercise
  • Failure to thrive (FTT)
  • Fatty Liver Disease
  • Flu
  • Food Allergy
  • Gastroenterology
  • Gluten Disease
  • Heartburn
  • Infection
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Nutrition
  • Obesity
  • Pediatrics
  • Peptic Ulcers
  • procedures
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Viruses
  • Walk With a Doc
  • Walk with Doc
  • Yoga

Digestive Health & Nutrition

Manisha “Mona” Dave, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterologist
Texas Digestive Disease Consultants
 

Plano Office 
6300 W Parker Rd, Bldg 2, Suite 424
Plano, TX 75093

Southlake Office
505 South Nolen Drive
Southlake, TX 76092

Privacy Policy

Plano Map

Southlake Map

Online Appointment Request 972-265-8222
Fax 972-265-8224

Careers

CONNECT WITH US

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

* indicates required

Serving the Texas communities of Allen, Alliance, Bedford, Carrollton, Colleyville, Coppell, Dallas, Euless, Flower Mound, Fort Worth, Frisco, Garland, Grapevine, Haslet, Hurst, Keller, Lewisville, McKinney, North Richland Hills, North Tarrant, Plano, Richardson, Roanoke, Southlake, Trophy Club, Watauga, Westlake, and more!

Copyright 2016. | All Rights Reserved. | Mona Dave.