HOME REMEDIES FOR INCREASING A CHILD'S IMMUNITY
AS PARENTS, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS IS ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN STAY HEALTHY AND STRONG, ESPECIALLY DURING COLD AND FLU SEASON. A ROBUST IMMUNE SYSTEM IS KEY TO HELPING KIDS FIGHT OFF ILLNESSES NATURALLY. WHILE THERE ARE PLENTY OF OVER-THECOUNTER SUPPLEMENTS AVAILABLE, NATURE
OFFERS A WEALTH OF SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES FOR IMPROVING IMMUNITY THAT CAN BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE. THE GOOD NEWS? MANY OF THESE REMEDIES CAN BE FOUND RIGHT IN YOUR KITCHEN OR THROUGH SMALL, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS.
SUPERFOODS THAT BUILD IMMUNITY
AWELL-BALANCEDDIETPLAYSAPIVOTALROLE INMAINTAININGANDIMPROVINGYOURCHILD’S IMMUNESYSTEM.SOMEFOODS,INPARTICULAR, AREKNOWNFORTHEIRIMMUNE-BOOSTING PROPERTIES:
CITRUS FRUITS: ORANGES, LEMONS, AND GRAPEFRUITS ARE RICH IN VITAMIN C, WHICH
HELPS THE BODY PRODUCE MORE WHITE BLOOD CELLS, A CRITICAL COMPONENT IN THE IMMUNE RESPONSE.
YOGURT: PROBIOTICS FOUND IN YOGURT
SUPPORT GUT HEALTH, WHICH IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO IMMUNE STRENGTH. A HEALTHY GUT MICROBIOME CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE YOUR CHILD’S ABILITY TO WARD OFF SICKNESS.
GARLIC AND ONIONS: PACKED WITH SULFUR COMPOUNDS, THESE INGREDIENTS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR NATURAL ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES. INCORPORATING THEM INTO MEALS CAN PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION AGAINST COMMON INFECTIONS.
TURMERIC: THIS GOLDEN SPICE CONTAINS
CURCUMIN, WHICH HAS POWERFUL ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND ANTIOXIDANT BENEFITS.
ADDING TURMERIC TO WARM MILK OR SOUPS CAN GIVE YOUR CHILD’S IMMUNE SYSTEM A NATURAL BOOST.
NUTS AND SEEDS: ALMONDS, WALNUTS, AND SEEDS LIKE SUNFLOWER OR PUMPKIN ARE GREAT SOURCES OF VITAMIN E AND ZINC, BOTH OF WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR A WELLFUNCTIONING IMMUNE SYSTEM.
HYDRATION AND HERBAL REMEDIES
PROPER HYDRATION IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED BUT IS VITAL TO MAINTAINING A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM.
WATER HELPS FLUSH OUT TOXINS AND KEEPS BODILY FUNCTIONS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. IN ADDITION TO WATER, HERBAL TEAS CAN PROVIDE FURTHER SUPPORT:
GINGER TEA: KNOWN FOR ITS ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND ANTIMICROBIAL
PROPERTIES, GINGER TEA CAN SOOTHE SORE THROATS AND REDUCE INFLAMMATION, GIVING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM A LITTLE EXTRA HELP.
CHAMOMILE TEA: WHILE COMMONLY USED AS A SLEEP AID, CHAMOMILE TEA IS ALSO PACKED WITH ANTIOXIDANTS THAT HELP THE IMMUNE SYSTEM FUNCTION MORE EFFECTIVELY.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP AND REST
ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED ELEMENTS OF A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM IS PROPER REST. CHILDREN NEED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SLEEP THAN ADULTS TO MAINTAIN THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND A LACK OF SLEEP CAN WEAKEN THEIR IMMUNE RESPONSE
ESTABLISHING A ROUTINE: HAVING A CONSISTENT BEDTIME ROUTINE, INCLUDING
REDUCING SCREEN TIME BEFORE BED, CAN PROMOTE BETTER SLEEP QUALITY.
REDUCING STRESS: STRESS IN CHILDREN, MUCH LIKE IN ADULTS, CAN WEAKEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. WHETHER IT’S FROM SCHOOL OR OTHER LIFE CHANGES, FINDING
WAYS TO KEEP A CALM AND STRESS-FREE
ENVIRONMENT AT HOME HELPS SUPPORT THEIR OVERALL WELL-BEING.
HYGIENE AND IMMUNITY
TEACHING CHILDREN GOOD HYGIENE HABITS EARLY ON CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN PREVENTING ILLNESS. THIS DOESN’T MEAN BEING OVERLY STRICT ABOUT CLEANLINESS, BUT RATHER INSTILLING DAILY HABITS THAT CAN REDUCE THE SPREAD OF GERMS:
HANDWASHING: ENCOURAGE FREQUENT HANDWASHING, ESPECIALLY BEFORE MEALS AND AFTER PLAYING OUTSIDE. IT’S ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF GERMS AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM.
PERSONAL HYGIENE: REMIND CHILDREN NOT TO SHARE PERSONAL ITEMS, SUCH AS WATER BOTTLES OR UTENSILS, WHICH CAN TRANSMIT VIRUSES AND BACTERIA.
