The immune system is what the body uses as its defense mechanism against infectious organisms and other foreign invaders. Most of the time, your immune system works well to keep you healthy. However, it can sometimes go wrong, leading to infection and disease.
It seems that when a child’s immune system shows any problems and weaknesses, symptoms such as frequent runny nose, colds, and frequent gastrointestinal infections appear. At this time, it’s time to take a closer look at his immune system.
You need to take steps to treat your child’s chronic infections. There are many ways to enable the body to strengthen the child’s immune system. These measures can actually increase defense as well as speed up the healing process. Stay with the month in this article to learn ways to boost your baby’s immune system.
Symptoms that indicate a weak immune system in a child
Don’t panic if your child always seems to have a cold. The baby’s immune system is still developing and is therefore susceptible to colds and infections. There are many factors that affect how quickly a child’s immune system develops. Signs of a weakened immune system in a child include:
- The child is often sick
- Have been sick for a long time or their cold seems to take longer to recover than others
- Low or incomplete weight gain
Strengthening the child’s immune system
There are many practical and helpful actions you can take to help your child develop an immune system:
1- Avoid taking antibiotics unless necessary
The purpose of antibiotics is to kill off infection-causing bacteria, so in cases of infection they can save our lives. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at least 30 percent of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary.
This is problematic because antibiotics not only kill disease-causing bacteria, but they also deplete beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome. These bacteria are beneficial to health.
2- Eat colostrum to strengthen the immune system
Breastfed babies often have less allergies and sensitivities due to the protection and strengthening of the immune system antibodies found in colostrum, or the “first milk” that mothers produce. But older children (and adults) can eat colostrum from normal, grass-fed cows and goats.
3- Follow a healthy and excellent diet
If you are not eating healthy and nutritious foods, your immune system can be affected, in other words weakened. To keep children healthy, reduce the use of additives and sugar as much as possible and try to identify food allergens. Generally, children with food allergies have trouble digesting food, and suffer from infections, which makes it difficult for the body to fight off viruses and bacteria.
In fact, excess sugar may cause inflammation. Instead of eating processed and processed foods, focus on maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet. A person who has eaten a healthy diet since childhood is likely to have healthy eating habits as an adult.
4- Include foods that strengthen the immune system in your child’s diet
- Garlic: One of the best ways to strengthen and improve a child’s immune system is to give him garlic. This amazing food contains antiviral and antibacterial properties.
- Berries: Berries are one of the best sources of antioxidants and nutrients that strengthen the immune system. They also contain high amounts of vitamin A as well as vitamin C, both of which boost a child’s immune system.
- Green vegetables: Green leafy vegetables are particularly rich in immune-boosting nutrients. One of these is iron, which is very important for the production of white blood cells and antibodies.
- Almonds: Almonds are rich in vitamin E and manganese. These two compounds strengthen the body’s immune system and strengthen the activity of the body’s protective cells.
- Yogurt: The probiotics present in yogurt stimulate the immune system. Just be sure to use yogurt without sugar or additives, as sugar has the opposite effect on our immune system!
- Salmon: Salmon is rich in omega-3 fats. These fats are not only essential for brain development, but they also reduce inflammation. This increases airflow and protects the lungs from colds and respiratory infections. The latest research also indicates that these fatty acids may strengthen the immune system by increasing the function of immune cells.
- Eggs: Research has shown that a lack of vitamin D makes a person more susceptible to disease. Eggs are one of the only foods that naturally contain vitamin D. In addition, it contains a number of nutrients that strengthen the immune system, such as B vitamins and selenium.
- Seeds: Give your child a variety of seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower and flaxseeds to boost the immune system. By eating a variety of seeds, you’ll get vitamin E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which help boost your immune system.
- Barley: Barley contains beta-glucan. This complex is a component of fiber that activates the protective cells of the immune system. Protective cells are cells that fight off bacteria, viruses, and other body invaders.
5- Drink more water
Staying hydrated is important for everyone, and it’s especially important for growing children, because every cell in the body needs water to stay healthy.
For this reason, children usually do not grow up drinking juice, milk or other drinks, but water is very beneficial for their health and development instead.
Of course, consuming milk or natural juice is good for children, but limiting soft drinks and industrial juices in children’s diet not only helps to strengthen their immune system, but also improves the general health of the body.
Read also: 4 reasons babies toss and turn in their sleep and how to fix it quickly
6- Helps relieve stress and anxiety
In today’s fast-paced world where parents are under stress and children have many plans during the day, the immune system may weaken.
Children’s response to stress is similar to that of adults. Stress increases the level of cortisol and adrenaline in the body. When this surge of stress hormones is permanent and recurrent, the body’s immune system function declines. In fact, a research review that specifically examined stressors early in life assessed that “people exposed to chronic stress may have impaired regulation.”
It is important that children have enough time to play creative games and just relax. Busy people need to rest from time to time to improve their health.
7- Exercising regularly
We all know that exercise is good for many reasons, but did you know that it is one of the best natural immune system boosters for kids? Exercising can reduce the chance of catching a cold by 67%!
In a study published in 2008, researchers indicated that people who exercise are less likely to catch an upper respiratory infection, and even if they catch a cold, the symptoms of the disease will be milder and the duration of the disease will be shorter.
8- Make sure you get enough sleep
Most children do not get enough sleep. The sleep that people need varies according to their age, so children need 10 to 14 hours of sleep per day. Sleep is important for many reasons and is absolutely essential for our health. A research review found that sleep and immunity are linked and that each directly affects the other.
Also, sleep quality is really important. For the proper release of melatonin (the sleep hormone), babies need to sleep in the dark, without lights or screens (tablets, TVs, etc.). Since time spent using electronic devices may affect sleep quality, it is recommended to limit their use to several hours before bedtime.
9- Exposure to clean and empty air
Nature is the best medicine for man. In addition, it costs nothing and is excellent for stimulating the immune system. Take kids to the great outdoors and let them run, climb and explore their surroundings. Nature, which provides fresh and free air to children, can be very effective.
10- Have fun
If your life is filled with stress and anxiety, your child may experience stress as well. Teach him how to relax and remember that the time you give your child is very important.
11- To have a cohesive and happy family
Children need a stable environment for healthy development, and the establishment of a good family routine helps them to be emotionally secure. Having healthy meals, baths, stories and family fun on schedule can be very beneficial. Children of divorce and those exposed to family disputes usually suffer a lot of stress. This stress can affect a child’s health.
12- Supplements and herbs can be helpful
The best supplements to boost a child’s immune system are zinc and vitamin D. It is important to note that your child can get vitamin D from the sun, but most of us live in places where not much sun exposure is possible. For this reason, the use of nutritional supplements is sometimes required. Try to get enough sunlight throughout the year or eat foods rich in vitamin D (such as fish and mushrooms).
Note that before giving any supplement or herbal medicine to a child, a doctor should be consulted first.
