How to Build Children's Immunity
It's a fact of life that children miss school more than adults due to illness from common ailments such as colds. By taking steps to build a child's immune system, you can do something to increase a child's ability to rebound from illness and possibly even reduce their risk from future diseases such as cancer.
Instructions
Start with nature's perfect food: breast milk. When a woman breastfeeds, she passes antibodies for diseases through her milk and the infant absorbs them directly via the intestinal wall.
Keep children active with plenty of exercise. Moderate exercise, one to two hours a day, helps children achieve immune-boosting REM sleep and reduces a child's risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. Unstructured active play counts as exercise.
Manage a child's allergies. Allergies work against the immune system by causing inflammation in the body, which dilutes immune defense by mobilizing cells to fight the inflammation. See an allergist if you suspect a child has sensitivities.
Offer your kids plenty of fruits and vegetables. Children who consume the recommended five to eight servings of produce have a reduced risk of cancer later in life and maintain a healthier weight, which decreases the risk of diabetes.
Serve nutrient-dense snacks. Children eat too many processed, sugary foods and refined grains. Sugar depresses immune function. Replace these empty calories with nuts, seeds, whole grains and produce.
Include probiotic dietary sources. You can introduce friendly bacteria into your system, which minimize harmful bacteria through competition. Feed children yogurt or provide a Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement.
Allow a reasonable exposure to dirt and germs. Although you shouldn't sacrifice basic hygiene, a child must be exposed to typical environmental bacteria so his immune system can build its defenses. Forgo antibacterial soap, which encourages the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.