REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — So, like, apparently kids are angsty because of their digestion or whatever, according to this doctor, Dr. Ariani Dewi Widodo Sp.A(K), who’s like a child specialist or something from Universitas Indonesia. She said that bad gut health can lead to negative behaviors in kids, like being angry, throwing tantrums, having trouble concentrating, and being anti-social. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure why this matters, but Dr. Ariani spilled some tea at a Lactogrow press conference in Jakarta on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
She explained that a good mood really impacts a child’s ability to socialize. When they’re in a bad mood, they tend to get aggressive, easily triggered, and refuse to play. Surprisingly, many cases of bad moods are actually related to digestive health, not just parenting styles. There’s this thing called the gut-brain axis, which is a two-way communication between the gut and the brain. Basically, the gut is like the second brain because what’s in the gut affects what’s in the brain, according to Ariani.
She talked about how processed foods like instant noodles and fried stuff can mess up the balance of good bacteria in the gut. This leads to digestive issues that impact a child’s behavior. Ariani stressed the importance of keeping the digestive system healthy by giving kids nutritious and balanced meals. If the gut isn’t healthy, the good bacteria will be lacking, which will have a big impact. That’s what happens when kids don’t get good nutrition, according to Dr. Ariani.
