Now that we are in full swing with school its GREAT to know what steps you can take at home to keep your children healthy and hopefully avoid anything thats going around. Who better to give Back to School tips than Dr Alina?!
How you can boost your child’s immune system naturally?
As children are returning to school, I am frequently asked by parents what supplements to use to boost children’s immune system. Before considering any store-bought vitamins, it’s crucial to talk about nutrition and lifestyle chances! Below are some simple tips on how to use food and lifestyle to boost your child’s immune system.
Food:
Eliminate all processed food and artificial dyes and preservatives
Check out the Environmental Working Group’s website (www.ewg.org) for information on what produce to buy organic
Brightly colored veggies and fruits, at least 5-8 servings/day
Healthy fats: fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, olive oil, coconut oil
Fermented foods: sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, kefir
Lifestyle:
Sleep: As children are getting ready for school, push their bedtime 15 minutes earlier every day to make sure they’re ready to wake up early once school starts.
Exercise is such a vital part of boosting a healthy immune system. Children should play outside or exercise at least an hour day.
Stress, especially chronic stress, can weaken the immune system. Children experience stress, the same way adults do, but they don’t have the vocabulary to verbalize it. They act it out through their behaviors or even physical symptoms, like headaches or tummy aches. Stress management should be part of each family’s daily routine.
Nurture and sleep:
Have a soothing bedtime routine
No screen time two hours before bedtime.
Stress management for the entire family as parental stress can trigger children’s anxiety
Nature and physical activity:
Encourage children to play outdoors
Physically active at least an hour a day
Nutrition and water:
Eliminate ALL processed food and sweeten beverages!
Implement a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, but also meat, fish, eggs, lentils, nuts, and seeds.
Keep children hydrated by encouraging them do drink a lot of water
Discuss nutritional supplements with your integrative medicine doctor, who can customize your child’s vitamins and herbal support plan. Not all children need supplements on a daily basis. Some commonly used supplements in children are: vitamin C, vitamin D3, zinc, iron, elderberry, echinacea, quercetin to name a few. There are many pediatric formulations, so it’s better to consult with a physician trained in integrative medicine before buying any supplements over the counter.
Dr Alina Olteanu is here to provide you a trustworthy perspective on pediatric health that is rare to find anywhere else!
Contact Whole Child Texas today to set up your appointment ~ Phone: (214) 736-1954 ~ E-mail: [email protected]
