Natural Methods to Boost Your Children’s Immune Health

What could we do to maintain our children’s healthy as we navigate another academic year under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic? is one of the common questions from a parent’s side. Do you believe there exist methods to strengthen the immune system and protect against COVID-19 and other diseases?

The answer is true, but neither magic wands nor supplements exist. Maintaining good health is the best method to keep the immune system strong. Even though that sounds dull, it has been tried and true.

Here are some things you can do to support your kids’ health during this school year.

Offer them a balanced diet

When we refer to a healthy diet, it is meant, that includes a lot of whole grains, lean protein, and fruits and vegetables (five portions per day are advised). Dairy products or other calcium-rich foods and healthy fats like vegetable oils are other components of a balanced diet.

Processed meals, foods with processed sugar, and foods containing unhealthy fats, such as the saturated fats present in animal products, should all be avoided. That does not mean your kid can never have ice cream or cookies. But those items should not be consumed daily if you want your youngster to be healthy. (The Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition offers advice on healthier baking options as well as other methods to improve your family’s diet.)

Numerous supplements make a promise to strengthen your immune system. None of them can substitute for a balanced diet, however, it is still unclear whether most of them make a difference. A multivitamin with iron might make sense if your child refuses veggies or otherwise has a restricted diet; see your doctor determine if vitamins or supplements are smart for your child.

Ensure that they get enough rest

Children and adults alike require sleep to renew and revitalize our bodies. Children need different amounts of sleep depending on their age (12 to 16 hours per day for infants to 8 to 10 hours for teens), as well as from one child to the next (some just need more than others). By restricting screen time—devices for teens should be turned off an extra hour before bedtime, preferably not in the bedroom at night—and adhering to a regular routine, you can promote healthy sleep.

Get them moving

We are healthier and less prone to illness when we exercise. Kids should be engaged for an hour every day. Going for a walk or playing on the playground can also be considered active, as can participating in sports, or working out in a gym. More exercise does not always equal better; if your child is a serious athlete who works out for many hours each day, check to see that it is not interfering with sleep or leading to burnout, some of which could compromise the immune system. About that, make sure to manage stress levels.

Reduce their stress

Stress impairs our health and increases our susceptibility to illness. Ensure that children have access to cheerful people and activities, as well as free time to play (or whatever version of that the pandemic allows). Spend quality time as a family and provide your kids with the chance to express any worries they may have. Many kids are now unhappy or anxious due to the epidemic, so if you are worried about their emotional well-being or moods, talk to your pediatrician.

Verify that they have received all necessary vaccinations

We are protected against a wide range of diseases by vaccinations. Ask your doctor if your child has received all required vaccines. Every year, the flu shot is advised for everyone 6 months of age and older, but it will be especially crucial this year because every cold symptom this winter means missed classes or time at the office as we wait for test results. And kindly vaccinate everybody in your family against COVID-19 who is eligible; it is safe and significantly reduces the risk of developing a serious illness.

Do not overlook the basic safety measures

Simple safety measures can be taken by the entire family to promote health. sanitize your hands. With your elbow, mask your coughs and sneezes. As much as you can, avoid being around ill individuals. Masks can also be useful, particularly in congested indoor areas.

Consult your doctor about any different or additional precautions you should take if your kid has a medical condition that could make it more difficult for them to fight off an illness.

Parenting and immune health

According to the study, parenting has a greater impact on the immune system than either the flu shot or gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu.

That is at least something for prospective parents to consider—sleep deprivation, stress, chronic infections, and all the other challenges of parenting do more to our bodies than just give us grey hairs.

It is assumed that any parent of a nursery- or school-age child may grasp the effect a child has on your immune system. Researchers examined the immune systems of 670 individuals, ranging in age from 2 to 86, for the study. To help determine which variables affect the immune system from one person to the next, the researchers also considered the subjects’ gender and weight.

Over the period of three years, the immune systems of the study participants were observed. The results demonstrated that people could maintain a steady immune system. And it held despite their exposure to the stomach flu or the seasonal flu vaccine.

According to the researchers, these results imply that the immune system can recover after being pressed to go into overdrive. The study found that, out of all the relevant factors, parenting had the greatest impact on people’s immune systems. According to the study, compared to the general population, those who co-parented and shared a home had an immune system that varied between them by 50% less.

The immunological profiles of two unrelated people who are in a close relationship have never been examined. It makes logical that parenting fundamentally rewires the immune system because it is one of the toughest environmental stressors anyone knowingly puts themselves through. The fact that having children posed a greater immunological challenge than severe gastroenteritis was nevertheless surprising. The body’s immune response is negatively impacted by age, according to the researchers.

According to a news release from research, what is different amongst individuals is what our immune systems look like. We are aware that genetics account for a very modest portion of this. This study has demonstrated that age has a significant impact on the structure of our immunological landscapes, which is one of the reasons why older people have a decreased response to vaccination and less resistance to infection.