Germs. Viruses. Everywhere and everyday. Our kids are of course, bombarded with these constantly, and getting sick is just a part of the deal with being a kid.
“We all enter this world with an inexperienced immune system” – Charles Shubin, M.D.
But of course we as parents need to do our part to give our children’s immune systems a ‘helping hand’, and nourish their bodies to give them the best chance at defeating infections and viruses quickly and swiftly, and building up that immune system to be strong enough to take on whatever is thrown its way!
Here are 5 foods to help boost your child’s immunity, pronto!
1. YOGHURT
We know what yoghurt contains – probiotics! If you don’t know about them already, they live in your gut and greatly improve gut health. They are the good bacteria we need, and they also help your body to fight illness.
“One study found that kids who had a yogurt drink had a 19% lower risk of colds, ear infections, and strep throat.” – webMD
2. WALNUTS
High in omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts are great for you in more ways than one! Studies have shown and experts believe that the omega-3’s in walnuts can help your immunity, and also cut respiratory infections in kids!
Easy to eat on their own or mixed in with smoothies or crushed on top of cereal!
3. KEFIR
Kefir is a tart milk drink choc full of powerful probiotics. Nowadays you can get Kefir in single serves which makes them perfect for lunchboxes.
4. FRUITS + VEGGIES
Well, duh! Want to really help your child’s immune system? Aim for an abundance of fruits and veggies, particularly ones high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, peppers, sweet potatoes, etc…
5. LEAN MEAT
People don’t often think of lean meats for their immunity boosting properties, however they most certainly can help. To start with, we all know that lean meats are packed with protein, which is critical for keeping up our strength. They also contain zinc, which helps white blood cells stave off infection!
Sources:
http://heronutritionals.com/blog/-five-ways-to-boost-your-childs-immunity-for-back-to-school/
http://www.parents.com/health/cold-flu/cold/boost-childs-immunity/
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/immune-system
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13175/6-ways-to-boost-your-childs-immune-system.html
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