Nothing stings more than witnessing your kid succumb to a cold, cough, or other infectious diseases. But unfortunately, children come into contact with various germs, bacteria, and viruses through the objects they share at school and daycare centers.
While it might sound tempting to wrap your precious children in bubble wrap before sending them out, that is not a realistic option. Instead, it would be more practical to strengthen their immune systems so that their bodies could defend themselves against these viral and bacterial invaders.
How can you support your children’s immune systems as they grow? Here are some tips to help their bodies ward off the numerous pathogens they might encounter.
- Give them Multivitamins
As they develop and enter school, you must ensure your child receives all the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants they require. In addition, it is crucial to keep in mind that vitamins C, A, D, E, and B6 can support your child’s immune system. These are met from several natural sources as long as your child’s diet is varied. Consult your child’s pediatrician for advice on the best vitamin supplement if they are fussy eaters or have a medical condition that affects nutrient intake.
There are many factors to consider while looking for the finest supplement for your child and family, including safety and quality, ingredients, essential nutrients, and dose. A naturally-sweetened multivitamin brand free of artificial colorants and preservatives, evaluated by a pediatrician, is an appropriate choice for your kids. That is why Purely Integrative has designed its multivitamins with essential nutrients to help address nutritional gaps and support your children’s growth and development.
- Promote a Healthy Diet
Kids’ immune systems benefit greatly from eating lots of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, a balanced diet that includes foods from all the essential food categories is crucial for building a solid nutritional foundation.
Carotenoids, phytonutrients that support immunity, are found in colorful fruits and vegetables like carrots, green beans, oranges, and strawberries. Phytonutrients boost the body’s production of interferon, an antibody that covers cell surfaces to inhibit viruses, and white blood cells that fight infections. According to research, eating a diet high in phytonutrients can also help prevent chronic diseases, including adult cancer and heart disease.
If your kids are picky eaters, you might want to have a few tricks under your sleeve. For example, add a little fruit to flavor their smoothies and popsicles. They will receive a tasty reward, and you will feel good knowing they are eating healthy.
- Enhance Sleep Time
Children and adults alike require sleep to renew and revitalize their bodies. Most kids need between 10 and 14 hours of uninterrupted sleep daily for optimum health.
It is common knowledge that getting enough sleep contributes to maintaining our general health by regulating the body’s biological rhythms. Children can become more prone to illness if they don’t get enough sleep. Establishing a sleep routine and restricting devices an hour before bedtime are two ways to encourage healthy sleep patterns in children.
- Get Them Active
Exercise is vital for children’s overall health and well-being. It can help build strong bones, improve cardiovascular health, and improve flexibility and balance. Additionally, regular physical activity can boost the immune system and help to protect against illness. As a result, physically active children are less likely to get sick, and they may recover faster if they do get sick.
Turn off the video games and encourage your kids to play outside to ensure that they remain active. Whenever possible, prioritize your family’s health by walking or biking instead of taking the car, and engage in activities like skiing, hiking, cycling, or tennis.
- Manage Stress
Our immune, digestive, cardiovascular, and sleep systems can all be negatively impacted by chronic stress, which over time, can result in serious medical disorders, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Ensure your children have access to cheerful people, activities, and playtime. Spend some quality time as a family and give your kids a chance to express their worries. Unfortunately, many children have developed depression or anxiety due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so if you are worried about your child’s mental well-being, speak to your doctor.
- Banish Secondhand Smoke
It’s best to stop smoking if you smoke or anyone else in your home does. More than 7,000 dangerous compounds are found in cigarette smoke, most of which can irritate or damage bodily cells. You should be aware that vaping has detrimental effects on children’s health if you use e-cigarettes—for instance, vaping releases nitrosamines, which may have long-term health effects on children.
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of respiratory infections, asthma attacks, and other respiratory problems. They may also have an increased risk of developing cancer later in life. The best way to protect children from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke is to keep them away from it as much as possible.
- Stay up-to-date on vaccinations
Your child’s immune system can remain primed and prepared to fight off harmful viruses, such as those that cause meningitis, polio, and chicken pox, if their recommended childhood vaccines are kept up to date. Through vaccinations, your child’s immune system is trained to detect specific bacteria and viruses they may come into contact with, preparing them to fight them off.
Speak to your child’s pediatrician if you have questions about immunizations. Finding a pediatrician you can rely on and who can address your concerns is crucial. Your kid’s pediatrician may provide you with more information about vaccinations, including how they work, which shots are essential for your child, and helpful links. Moreover, remember to stay up to date on your vaccinations because a healthy parent is unquestionably the foundation of a healthy child!
Conclusion
Inevitably, any parent will prioritize their children’s safety, which is why maintaining their health is crucial. Increasing your child’s immunity can benefit them throughout their youth and beyond, whether it’s their first year of school or getting ready to leave for college. You can make several dietary and lifestyle adjustments to boost your child’s immune system.