08 Jun Top Tips for Keeping Your Kids’ Immunity Strong

If you’re a mom or dad hoping to keep your little ones safe from all those nasty sneezes, sniffles, colds and ‘flu bugs this winter, here are some great natural wellness tips you can follow. These handy pointers will help you keep your kids’ immunity levels high and their growing bodies healthy.

Breast is Best

Mom’s breast milk contains all those much-needed immunity-boosting antibodies and white blood cells that baby’s system needs to stay strong and healthy. Nursing your baby can protect him or her against ear infections, allergies, diarrhoea and other tummy upsets, and even more serious health problems like pneumonia and meningitis. If possible, breastfeeding is recommended for the first 2-3 months of your baby’s life at the very least.

No More Nasties

Once your tot is on a solid diet, be sure to keep that daily diet as free of additives, preservatives artificial colours and synthetic flavourings as possible. Artificial nasties like additives and preservatives can often trigger food allergies or intolerances. This affects your child’s digestive system and causes inflammation in the body to flare up, making it that much harder to fight off viruses and bacteria. Focus on a diet that’s high in fresh veggies and fruits, nuts, seeds and legumes, and the occasional all-natural snacktime treat.

Shun the Sugar

Refined sugar is a big immune-supressing culprit. The blood cells need vitamin C to fight off viruses; and because the structure of glucose (from sugar) is so similar to the structure of vitamin C, the sugar you ingest will actually compete against vitamin C for space in the immune cells. This makes sugary snacks a definite no-no for healthy happy kids. Your little ones are sweet enough already!

Sweet Dreams

Sleep deprivation reduces the body’s levels of natural killer cells, making it more vulnerable to illness; this applies to both grown-ups’ and kids’ immune systems.

Be aware of just how much sleep your child needs:

• Newborn babies may need up to 18 hours a day
• Toddlers need about 12-13 hours
• Pre-schoolers need about 10 hours

Make sure your little one gets enough sleep every night; an easy way to do this is to set up a regular nap-time and bed-time schedule for the family.

Beneficial Bacteria

Of course, not all “bugs and beasties” are bad – just like you, your kids’ immunity needs naturally occurring beneficial bacteria to function properly. A natural probiotic supplement will keep these friendly, helpful bacteria in balance, for a strong digestive system and a thriving immune system. Young children will enjoy the Primal Defense Kids Probiotic Formula, with a tasty natural banana flavour.

Stress can really send the immune system into a downward spiral; and while they might not have the same responsibilities that grown-ups do, young kids get stressed out too.

Soothe that Stress

Stress can really send the immune system into a downward spiral; and while they might not have the same responsibilities that grown-ups do, young kids get stressed out too. Help your whole family to keep those stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in check – get outdoors for a little exercise or active play, or do something fun and creative indoors, like building a puzzle or reading a favourite storybook. Laughter is a powerful immune-booster, and so is human contact; so one of the best things you can do for your kids’ immunity is play with them, laugh and joke with them, and always keep the cuddles coming.

Wishing you and your growing green superheroes a healthy and safe winter!