To ensure that your child stays strong and healthy even if he’s in a class with sick kids, make sure he gets enough sleep every day and that he eats lots of fruits and veggies. After all, boosting his immunity is the best way to prevent common health complaints like flu or a cold.

Keep your kids healthy and improve their immunity by following the tips detailed below.

Feed them nutritious fruits and veggies

The immune system of a child can weaken if they have food intolerance or allergies.

Data suggests that a child with a food allergy has digestive issues. His inflammation may also be aggravated, which can spell trouble for him if he’s exposed to bacteria and viruses at school.

Feeding your child junk food that contains additives, preservatives and sugar won’t just increase his risk of becoming overweight as he ages. If he consumes more additives and preservatives than his body can handle, his immunity can also be impaired.

Some clinical trials have even found that sugar suppresses immunity. Keep your kids healthy by not feeding them processed food and determining what their food allergens are.

You can keep your whole family’s immunity strong by preparing nutritious meals with ingredients like fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs and meat.

The nutrient-rich foods below will help build their immune systems:

• Almonds
• Broccoli
• Berries
• Eggs
• Oats
• Salmon
• Seeds
• Spinach
• Sweet potatoes
• Yogurt

Boost their gut health

Probiotics refer to the beneficial bacteria that naturally live in your gut.

Probiotics have many functions:

• They protect your digestive tracts
• They help you digest food
• They aid in the elimination of toxins
• They help fight harmful bacteria and viruses

If a child’s bacterial balance is disrupted, they may have trouble fighting off infections.

You can give your kids a probiotic supplement with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria strains early on. Choose from five to 20 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) per day, depending on their age.

Boost their health with supplements and herbs

Vitamin D and zinc supplements will also boost a child’s immune system. Herbs like astragalus and elderberry are great for recurrent respiratory tract infections.

Address allergies with fish oil, nettles and vitamin C. Consult your natural health practitioner before giving your child any new supplement or herb.

Address their stress and anxiety

Even children may experience stress and anxiety. Unlike adults who know when to seek help, kids may have trouble verbalizing things that are negatively affecting their emotional health.

Like adults, children’s bodies have the same response to stress: Their cortisol and adrenaline rise. When this elevation in stress hormones is sustained, their immune system’s response isn’t as effective.

Let your children have downtime by giving them time for creative play or letting them rest so their immune system can recharge.

Ensure that they’re getting quality sleep

Not all kids get the required amount of sleep. Young children need at least ten to 14 hours of sleep per day, depending on their age.

Quality of sleep is essential for immune health. For proper secretion of the sleep hormone, children must sleep in a dark, comfortable room.

Research has shown that electromagnetic frequency can affect sleep quality. Unplug all electronic devices in your kid’s room, or store them in a different area.

Keep in mind that fever actually helps fight infection

It’s normal to panic if your kid has a fever, but you must understand that fevers are only a sign of and not an illness itself. Fever is your child’s body’s response to an infection. Without a fever, your kid’s body isn’t as effective at fighting illness.

Your kid’s immune system works better at a high temperature to ensure that he recovers quickly. While fevers are normal, you must consult your natural health practitioner to ensure that an ongoing fever isn’t a sign of something more serious.

Boost your child’s immune system by feeding them nutritious foods and ensuring that they get enough sleep each night.

Sources:

MindBodyGreen.com

SuperHealthyKids.com