
How tough is it to watch your little(whether it's your own child, niece, nephew or grandchild) being under the weather. Their little coughs and sniffles can seem so harsh at times that you wish you could just take it from them and bear it yourself. Sometimes it can feel like every other month they're catching a cold.
Their Gut Health
Like our own, our little's immune system starts within their tiny guts. There are so many factors that contribute to your child's immune system such as the mother's Nutrition and Gut health before, during, and after birth, the birthing process (whether cesarean or vaginal), exposure to antibiotics, organ placement, environment, nutrition, and more.
If you find that your little one seems to "catch every cold" or has frequent flare-ups with allergies and asthma, focusing on their gut health (also known as the microbiome) is a great start.
The Microbiome
The microbiome is the collection of bacteria in the Gut that has been proven responsible for making up 70-80% of our immune systems, plays a role in our metabolism, mood, and sleep patterns. A study in humans and mice demonstrated that a fetus has its own microbiome and that it is transmitted from the mother while in the womb.
I know what you're thinking, well what about now? What are the ways that I can help my little's immune system get back on track?
Here are 5 Easy Tips to Try!
1. Incorporate a friendly probiotic like Culturelle for kids. They have chewable as well as powder flavorless packets that you can add to their drinks, smoothies, or oatmeal. Clarify with your doctor if antibiotics are necessary when prescribed to your little one or if their immune system will be able to fight off the infection. Often times they may not be necessary (in some cases they are non-negotiable) and are commonly overprescribed. These antibiotics are meant to knock out the bad bacteria, but they also wipe out the good bacteria that are necessary and critical to a strong immune system. The CDC estimates that at least 30 percent of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary, so if they are prescribed be sure to supply your little one with probiotics as well.
My favorite probiotics to boost the immune system of children are Dr. Formulated Kids Probiotics with Vitamin C and D. These are chewable. I also LOVE Mary Ruth's Liquid Probiotics drops (also helpful for eczema, and they also make an infant one that is okay to use for toddlers)
Allergies can also be a trigger for the immune system so I really love (and also use) Global Healing Allertex Throat Spray. This one is great for the whole family. If your child has had bloodwork or allergy testing done before and they are sensitive to environmental or household allergens, this is great to incorporate.
Another GREAT fast-acting allergy stopper is Dr. Talbot's Daily Allergy Relief. My husband and I have used this as well and it actually works extremely quickly for adults too! No shame here!
2. Incorporate an antioxidant smoothie to fight off free radicals and boost the immune system. This smoothie will also be good to avoid spikes in energy. If your little doesn't really like to eat their veggies, a smoothie is a great way to sneak some greens in (like spinach)
Another way to get in antioxidants, immune support, and throat soothing is Kid's Beekeeper's Natural Propolis
3. Substitute Dairy-Free Plant-Based Yogurt ( Silk Almond Yogurt) & Cheese (Daiya Brands) for milk-based yogurt and cheeses. The proteins in cow milk cause more inflammation, mucus, and asthma flare-ups. It also makes them more prone to allergic reactions. So if you've noticed that your little one is constantly stuffy or mucousy, try eliminating dairy for 1-2 weeks.
A few other brands that are clean are 3 Trees Organic Almond Milk and Good Karma Flax Milk. You can mix these with pure cocoa powder and a teaspoon of coconut sugar for some hot chocolate.
4. Substitute candy & sweets for fruit and veggies. This may be hard at first, but once you wean them off you will notice a big difference in their immune system. Why? Increased levels of sugars from sweets and candy can interfere with the work of our little one's white blood cells (these fight infection). Sugar also increases inflammation, so we want to starve those bacteria from the sugar they crave and need to grow, so the body can do its work.
According to the AHA kids between the ages of two and eighteen should have no more than 25 grams of added sugars daily (this means sugar outside of fruits).
Try blueberries, strawberries, and carrots with hummus to start off with healthier snacks. These are also great as dried options or within a smoothie.
Also, incorporating sulfur-rich vegetables like brussels sprouts, broccoli, and dark leafy greens like kale, and spinach, are packed with B-vitamins that fuel a process of elimination in the body called methylation. These veggies can help to power up your child’s ability to safely process and eliminate everything from pollution to chemical exposure. I would definitely sneak these in a smoothie if your child is picky.
5. Get some sun and sleep! Getting out in the sunlight and being outdoors is so important to get adequate amounts of Vitamin D converted into its usable form. Vitamin D is essential to our cells for a healthy immune system because it increases those white blood cells we mentioned earlier. It is actually one of the most common Vitamin deficiencies due to us and our littles not getting enough sunlight, so it's important (especially during seasonal changes) to get some of those rays in!
I use Dr. Talbot's Vital 12 daily with my little guy
Some of my favorite products that work great for the times when becoming under the weather is not as preventable are:
Dr. Talbot's Chamomile Soothing Tablets (for teething, upset, or restless)
I will continue to update this list, so be sure to check in and save this article! I don't get paid for sharing any of the links above, I just want you to have this good information.
Hope this was helpful! Feel free to drop any questions below!
What are your favorite ways to boost your little one's immunity?
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