A fresh study by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), USA, has found evidence that germs can play a crucial role in fostering the development of the immune system of unborn children, while antibiotics, which are very often used to keep infections at bay, could negatively affect their immune responses, resulting in a vulnerability to harmful pathogens.

The research was conducted by the neonatology team at CHOP. Their findings, published in Nature Medicine, a journal focused on biomedical research, underline how gut microbes assist with the production of granulocytes – white blood cells with infection-fighting qualities.

Hitesh Deshmuk, researcher at CHOP, said: “At birth, newborns move from a largely sterile environment to one full of microorganisms. Animals and humans adapt to this new situation by ramping up the production of granulocytes within the first days of life.”

The study concluded that being exposed to the mother’s microbes assists with immunological transition, boosting white blood cell count and protecting from dangerous infections and diseases. The team highlighted that microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract help to better regulate white blood cell production, arguing that further investigation could discover beneficial combinations of bacteria and antibiotic use.

UK provider of health foods, Happy Kombucha, regularly comments on news related to the health and fermented foods sector.

Responding positively, a spokeswoman for Happy Kombucha said: “It’s long been established that good bacteria in the gut has numerous benefits for human health but this study breaks new ground because it goes one step further, showing that gut microbes are not just beneficial to you but if you’re pregnant they could also have a positive knock-on effect for your unborn baby.”

Happy Kombucha stocks an impressive range of fermented foods which have been shown in previous studies to improve good gut bacteria. Continuing, their company spokesperson said: “With good gut health being shown to be important for unborn babies, and drinks such as kombucha tea – a fermented brew made with a bacteria culture, water, tea and sugar – being known to boost microbes in the gut, it’s well worth considering drinking kombucha while pregnant.

“However, we certainly recommend running the idea by your midwife or doctor first because to our knowledge there hasn’t been any direct studies as of yet on the effects of kombucha tea on unborn babies and they may find a reason to recommend against it.”

The Happy Kombucha shop features fermented tea, kefir grains, active honey, cooking oils, smoothies and a whole host of other health foods. Free delivery on orders over £65 and half price delivery on orders over £35 are available throughout the UK. Visit their online store today at www.happykombucha.co.uk to find out more.

For quotes contact Michelle Holborn on 01323479706.