Let’s talk about some helpful ways you can support your child’s immune system! The tips I am about to share are helpful to implement when your child may or may not be sick. As parents, it is always a good idea to keep the immune system of your child in good condition. How can you do this? Here are the tips!
Tip #1 Keep the sugar to a minimum. Sugar lowers the function of the immune system in your child.
Tip #2 Keep your child’s gut in good condition. 80% of your child’s immune system may come from the health and optimal function of your child’s microbiome, which predominantly resides in the large intestine.
Tip #3 Be aware of possible food allergies in your child. A blood test can determine what foods are causing an immune response in your child. If your child is reacting to certain foods without knowing it, this means your child’s immune system is constantly being activated and the body is under continual stress. Modern wheat and casein A1 protein in Holstein cows are possible allergens that should not be overlooked.
Tip #4 Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with various immune diseases, including allergic and autoimmune diseases. Sources include sunlight, fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, cheese, beef liver, and egg yolks (the latter having small amounts of vitamin D).
Tip #5 Zinc positively affects multiple aspects of the immune system. It is antiviral. When crossing the cell membrane of your child’s cells, it can stop the replication of viruses. Sources include oysters, crab, lobster, beef, poultry, and some nuts and seeds.
Tip #6 Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. The innate immune response refers to nonspecific defense mechanisms that come into play immediately or within hours of an antigen’s (bacteria, virus, toxin, allergen) appearance in the body. The adaptive immune response is more complex than the innate. The antigen first must be processed and recognized. Once an antigen has been recognized, the adaptive immune system creates an army of immune cells specifically designed to attack that antigen. Adaptive immunity also includes a “memory” that makes future responses against a specific antigen more efficient. Food sources of vitamin C include bell peppers, spinach, berries, sauerkraut, camu camu powder, kiwi, and citrus fruits.
Sources:
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/immunology/tutorials/immunology/page3.html
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/#h10
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4555110/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707683/
