Did you know that families with children in school can be affected by as many as 12 colds a year? Now there’s something to look forward to as you wave them off at the school gate.
That said, forewarned is forearmed, and there is plenty you can do to outmanoeuvre those germs and bolster your child’s defences.
Teach kids good hygiene
Good hygiene is half the battle. Germs can pass quickly from one child to another, either by direct touch or by touching contaminated objects. Once on their hands they are easily transferred to their mouths. Help reduce the potential spread of infection by encouraging your children to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly, especially after every visit to the bathroom and before eating or preparing food.
Keep them active
Regular exercise, preferably outside in the fresh air, can also help to strengthen the immune system. According to a 2019 research review, moderate-intensity exercise was found to stimulate cellular immunity by increasing the circulation of immune cells. This helps our bodies better prepare for a future infection by detecting it earlier.
Echinacea for children?
A herbal favourite for immune health is Echinacea purpurea. It is well-documented for its immune-supportive properties and can help to fight the symptoms of colds and flu. Echinaforce® Chewable Cold & Flu tablets are suitable for children over the age of 12 and offer a low-hassle option to drops or conventional tablets. With their zesty orange flavour they taste great too.
Top up on vital vits
Vitamin C, as is the case for adults, is also really important. There are plenty of delicious ways to get vitamin C into your child’s diet – think oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, broccoli and other green veggies; and if they won’t eat them whole, you can always blend these vit C powerhouses into a delicious fruit and veg smoothie. Alternatively, a chewable vitamin C for kids can help to keep this vital vit topped up. Try A.Vogel’s Nature-C for Kids, which is rich in naturally-occurring, more easily absorbed vitamin C from real fruits, and suitable for children as young as 4.
Vitamin D3 is also important for immune health, so increase supply where necessary. A good, child-friendly multi-vit can help to do this, as can a vitamin D supplement.
Tame tummy troubles
Look after their tummies. With approximately 70% of your active immune cells found in your gut, it makes sense that the gut plays an important role in keeping you well. When you are first exposed to a virus, your immune system uses antibodies to bind to the virus in the respiratory and digestive tracts. These antibodies work to prevent the virus from entering the body further, and also identify it to be destroyed.
A live bacteria supplement designed especially for children, Optibac have some great options, will help to keep their tummies healthy, and is worth bearing in mind if your child has recently finished a course of antibiotics, which as well as fighting bad bacteria, also destroy good bacteria in the gut.
Say no to sugar!
Perhaps easier said than done but definitely worth the tantrums. Added to sugar’s list of misdemeanours you can also include the effect it has on the immune system, namely, it has been shown to suppress the immune system. So, keep sweets to a minimum or try substituting with a piece of dried fruit.
And make sure they sleep…
Finally, a good night’s sleep is hugely important. It’s when the body rejuvenates itself, replenishing lost materials and repairing wear and tear. Inadequate sleep can dampen the body’s resistance to illness and infection, so make sure your child is fully rested.
For further information on hayfever and allergy, visit Jay Thankey at Natural Health, 339 Ballards Lane, North Finchley, or call 020 8445 4397.