How
to Promote a Healthy Immune System in Your Children
Your children come in
contact with harmful bacteria every day. Bathroom stalls, classroom
desks, their friends’ dirty little hands, all of these can
lead to an illness that can potentially weaken your child’s
immune system. Children need their parent’s help to combat
damaging organisms so they can stay healthy.
Here are a few ways to help improve the immune system in your children:
- A nutritionally balanced diet—Vitamin
C increases the production of antibodies, while beta-carotene
increases the amount of infection-fighting cells in your children’s
body. Encourage your children to eat their fruits and vegetables
by making delicious smoothies for them containing good sources
of vitamin C such as oranges, strawberries, and raspberries,
and mixing in carrots and spinach which are rich in beta-carotene.
- Physical activity—when your child
partakes in regular to moderate exercise on a daily basis it
helps increase the production of infection-fighting cells, while
also helping immune cells circulate the body faster. Whether
they ride their bikes, rollerblade, or play football, the immune
system in your children will grow stronger.
- Reduce their stress level—although
it may be difficult to believe, children undergo a great deal
of pressure from school, their friends, and even you. Stress
can suppress a child’s immune system, and leave them susceptible
to illness. Exercise and plenty of rest help, as does practicing
some meditation techniques such as coloring and painting.
- A good night’s sleep—a good
amount of rest is important for the immune system in your children.
It is recommended that children in preschool sleep between 11
to 13 hours a day, while early elementary children should sleep
10 to 11 hours a day. You can help your child get their required
amount of sleep by sticking to a bedtime routine, and eliminate
caffeine from their diet.
Healthy children are happy children. Introduce
them to a couple of these techniques at a time, and soon the immune
system in your children will be stronger than ever.
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