9 Ways to Boost Your Little One’s Immune System This Fall
Colds and flus on rotation this month? Optimize your child’s immune system with the right foods and supplements! While it’s no fun getting sick, it’s also important to remember that being exposed to different bugs help to train the immune system to fight back better next time; that’s the adaptive immune system doing its job! That being said, there are ways you can support it so they get back to full health fast!
Support Their Little Bodies With Nutrition
Nutrition should always come first when supporting immune health and for little ones, cleaning up their diets and bringing in some immune-supportive foods can really have a positive impact.
Here are some foods we suggest including to help them fight or prevent colds and flus:
Bone Broth Soups
Chicken soup really is the best thing for a cold! Skip the processed Lipton’s and get a high-quality bone broth or make it yourself with some organic chicken bones and veggies. Bone broth is a great way to pack in minerals, support the immune-gut connection and provide bioavailable protein that aid their immune systems in fighting infection. Add a little Himalayan salt for additional hydration.
Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs like oregano, thyme, ginger, sage and turmeric all have beneficial properties for fighting infection and can be easy for your child to take in their culinary form. Add them to soups or make teas with a little bit of raw, local honey.
Include Natural Meats
Protein is important for the production of immune-fighting antibodies, white blood cells and other specialized immune cells. Choosing clean, naturally-raised meat will help give them the type of easily absorbed protein they need, without the toxins and other additives.
Add Orange and Yellow Veggies to Their Meals
Orange and yellow veggies contain beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, which the immune system uses to fight infection. Add foods like orange and yellow peppers and squashes to soups, blend into sauces or even blend cooked and frozen versions into smoothies to boost nutrition.
Try Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties, meaning it will help fight infection, while containing probiotics which support the immune system via the gut microbiome. Try adding a little bit to a soup or tea with some natural sweetener.
Additionally, do your best to also reduce foods that could compromise their immune systems. Some of these foods include: refined sugars, refined grains, refined oils, gluten, dairy and ultra processed foods.
Kid-Safe Supplements for Immunity
Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry is a long-known ancient remedy for colds and flus and can be taken in an easy-to-use syrup for kids. Elderberries can help to dramatically reduce durations of colds and flus and relieve symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, including: runny nose, nasal congestion and cough due to its anti-viral properties. It’s also a potent antioxidant and a great source of vitamin C and quercetin.
Probiotics
Supplementing with probiotics provide beneficial bacteria that support and modulate the gut-immune connection. With the majority of the immune system residing in the gut, they can be an effective way to get and keep them healthy.
D3 for Kids
Vitamin D3 aids the immune system by coordinating immune responses, stimulating antimicrobial factors and aiding inflammation to lower stress on the immune system. It helps both children and adults get over colds and flus quicker and can be taken prophylactically to avoid getting sick.
Facial Steaming for Congestion
Facial steaming with some high quality essential oils can be very helpful for clearing congestion and making them feel better. Place some hot water in a heat-safe container with a drop of essential oils such as eucalyptus or peppermint. Be sure to not make the water too hot, or wait for it to cool a bit so it doesn’t burn them. Place a towel over their head and have them take deep, slow breaths.
Find our top recommended Elderberry Syrup, Probiotics and Vitamin D3 for Kids on FullScript here!
Asher Kleiber
Registered Holistic Nutritionist
