10 Tips To Increase The Immune Defenses Of Children

Most of the health problems that affect children can be prevented by increasing their immune defenses. Even if the body already has defense mechanisms, it is possible to integrate them by various means. For example, babies can be protected from disease through nutrition.

The most effective food that is recommended for this purpose is breast milk. Despite this, it can happen that the child’s immune defenses are lowered. The causes can derive from specific alterations. For example, when the mother is struck by a disease that lasts for a long time. Or, after drug therapy.

In addition, some characteristics related to the time of year have been identified. These make it possible for viruses to proliferate. In practice, some diseases are more frequent in a given season. For this reason, it is important to improve your diet during these periods.

How to increase the immune defenses of children

Some children need to boost their immune defenses due to special circumstances. In any case, it is interesting to know how to supply energy to the body and increase its defenses through nutrition.

The Association of Families with Children with Cancer of Castilla la Mancha (AFANION), Spain, has published a series of dietary advice to help increase immunity. These recommendations are based on the care applied to children with special needs. Children with cancer fall into this category. As we know, these children are debilitated by the disease and related treatments. Therefore, their diet must be restorative.

According to specialists, this type of diet is applicable to anyone who needs to raise their immune defenses. It does not pose a risk even during convalescence. Furthermore, it is essential to prevent infection by fungi, bacteria and viruses. It is therefore worth trying a healthy diet that contributes to the natural regeneration of the organism.

Tips to increase the immune system

AFANION suggests observing the following dietary rules. In this way, it can contribute to the increase of immune defenses in children.

• Give the baby more cooked than raw foods. Sometimes, a salad is thought to be healthier. In fact, squash and cooked vegetable puree are preferable.
• Avoid fruit that is difficult to wash or that must be eaten with the peel. Bananas, oranges and tangerines are perfect and easy to peel.
• Avoid packaged fruit juices.
• As much as possible, try to eliminate fresh cheeses. Roquefort and the like, raw eggs and sausages are also excluded.
• Pastries, sweets and creams are not recommended.
• To cook and season foods , use only olive oil.
• It is also good to sterilize food. For this, it is best to use the pressure cooker for cooking.
• Make sure that the child has his own dishes. Thus, he will not have to share them with other people.
• Take care of the hygiene of your hands, utensils and kitchen. The child will also need to wash their hands regularly.

• Pay attention to food storage. Avoid contamination during defrosting or through exposure to heat.
• Include foods rich in probiotics in your diet. Yogurt and fermented milk are great. Prebiotic fibers are also useful. They can be found in foods such as onion, banana and wheat.
• Natural fats, bread and rice must never be missing. Pasta, potatoes and legumes are also important. Finally, vitamins, especially A, E, and D and minerals such as zinc, iron and magnesium.

Other recommendations

When you have low immunity, it’s easier to get sick. For this reason, it is advisable to adapt habits to your physical condition. To avoid getting sick while trying to boost your immune defenses, it would be good to follow the tips below.

• Maintain a stable temperature, without sudden changes.

• Keep the child away from cigarette smoke and the like.
• Avoid exposure to any viruses.
• Ventilate the house for at least 10 minutes a day.
• Make sure your little one gets a good night’s sleep. If he needs an afternoon nap, allow him to do it.
• Avoid overly intense physical exercises. A walk or moderate physical activity is ideal.
• The sun is an excellent source of vitamin D. Try to get the baby out, so that he gets the sun even in winter.