Top 10 Ways To Boost Kids’ Immunity

LOAD UP ON FRUITS

Yes, we've all heard this before and truth be told, eating citrus fruits that are rich in Vitamin C is indeed the key and first step towards boosting your child's immunity. Think pulpy fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons as these are thought to increase your child's white blood cells, repair tissues, maintain healthy growth, and strengthen bones as well as cartilages. Vitamin C is also thought to drive away the sniffles, but bearing in mind it has to be taken at a recommended daily dosage that's dependent upon the age of your child.

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OPT FOR PROTEIN-RICH FOODS

Whether it's plant-based protein or meat-based protein, including protein-rich foods in your kid's diet is essential in developing brain function, growth, and supporting their immune system. Experts advise to pick tender cuts of meat and mince or cut them into small pieces. You can create a mish-mash of minced beef, chicken or fish with mashed tofu, eggs, panko crumbs or mashed potatoes to make meatballs! Seafood might also be a good option as well to boost kids' energy. Want more? Add in grains and legumes too.

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BRING ON THE ANTIOXIDANTS

Berries, berries, and more berries! Berries have always had a good rep as fabulous antioxidants that help your body fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals. This, in turn, helps to keep our immune system at its best! You can choose to introduce different berries on different occasions to your kids. Making a simple smoothie bowl or freezing the berries then blending them to create a frozen dessert are both easy ways to get the kids hooked onto them. Aside from the standard blueberries and strawberries, you can also add in goji berries that contain more vitamin C than citrus fruits, more iron than spinach, more vitamin E and carotenoids than most fruits and more protein content than whole wheat.! Whew!

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GO GREEN AND LEAFY

Oh the dreaded greens... To get kids to eat these, more often than not you've got to get creative! Broccoli is packed with a whole load of nutrition and is best eaten raw. If there's no way your kids are going to have that, try dipping the florets in cheese and bake them! Spinach is another one of those nutritional powerhouses that has so much packed into it. Filled with vitamins A, E, C, K and also magnesium, zinc, and iron, you can whip up a little batter and get it all crispy to entice the kiddos. Other top hits for green and leafy veggies include kale, local chye sim, and also kai lan.

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GET CULTURED

We all might have heard this in some variation or other before - a healthy gut equates to a healthy body - and in actual fact, this is true. Live cultures such as lactobacillus in yogurt protect against gastrointestinal illnesses and may help increase one's resistance to sniffles as well as other infections. These live cultures also provide a balance between the 'good' bacteria and 'bad' bacteria in our gut. Aside from giving your child probiotic supplements, you can also pack them with probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, cheese, miso, kefir, and sourdough bread.

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ALL ABOUT SEEDS AND NUTS

If your kids have no history of any nut allergy, nuts definitely should be included in their diet. Adding them is easy as they can come in many 'subtle' forms like peanut butter spread or almond milk. Almonds seem to be at the top of the list with its vitamin E and manganese content that highly boosts immunity. For lactose-intolerant kids, adding almond milk to their diet would be a plus. Do note that almond milk can get quite costly so you might want to invest time in making your own. Seeds are also powerful little things and trail mixes are always a perfect on-the-go snack. Include all kinds of variations like pumpkin, sunflower, flax, and even chia seeds. Add them to your homemade smoothies and you've got a winner.

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BOOST THE COLOSTRUM

Remember this from the days of breastfeeding? Even older kids and adults can obtain bovine colostrum supplements and reap its full benefits. Research has shown that antibodies and other bioactive components found in colostrum contain rich proteins and increase immunity by stimulating the development and repair of the gut. Want to kill two birds with one stone, check out ChildLife's Probiotics with Colostrum Powder that can be added in your kids' drinks. It also comes in chewable tablets. Available on iHerb.

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MASSAGE AWAY

Paediatric Tui Na has been increasing in popularity and more so now, parents are seeking out all-natural ways possible to boost their kids' immunity. Tui Na uses an ancient massage therapy technique that promotes a healthy immune system for the little ones without the need for medication. It involves the stimulation of unique acu-points to enhance growth, brain development, and healthy organ functions. Paediatric Tui Na is recommended for children under the age of 6 years old. Places that offer this service include Eu Yan Sang Clinic, Thomson Medical, and Yu Guo Chinese Physician.

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DO-IT-YOURSELF REMEDIES

Want more? Homemade remedies using choice ingredients have also been on the rise with more stay-at-home moms trying their hand at creating vitamin-infused mixtures that are kid-safe and immunity-boosting. Elderberries have been used for years as a cold and flu remedy and while there is no concrete scientific evidence that it 100% works, its popularity has not diminished. Also known as 'Sambucus', the potent concoction of elderberries, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and raw honey is widely available on the shelves. You can also make your own with this simple at-home recipe by Wellness Mama. Other than elderberry, papaya leaf juice has also been used too to boost immunity.

Click HERE for Little Steps' Natural Immune Boosting Tea Recipe!

IT'S ALL ABOUT SLEEP