How to Boost the Immune System for Flu Season
As a mom, you not only have to keep yourself healthy, but you are responsible for your little one’s health as well.
While germs and illnesses are not avoidable, you can take preventative action by boosting the immune system to handle any incoming threats.
If your little one is still an infant and not eating solid foods yet, make sure that you breastfeed as often as possible and that you boost your own immune system. Keeping yourself healthy and strong will pass on all the right nutrients for your baby to stay healthy and strong. Your infant can take powdered probiotics and vitamin D3 drops to strengthen his immune system, but talk to your pediatrician about dosage and frequency.
As your baby grows into a toddler and young child, make sure you keep him healthy by working with your doctor and boosting his immune system!
How to Boost the Immune System
Nutrition/Diet
A healthy immune system begins with a healthy diet. Processed foods are full of chemicals, and toxins that weaken our ability to fight illness and stay healthy. Skip anything that comes in a box (or a bag typically) and stick with whole foods. Yes, this means you will be preparing and cooking more, BUT grab a crockpot and let it do the work for you.
Foods to Include:
- Tumeric
- Garlic
- Bone Broth
- Almonds
- Citrus
- Red Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Ginger
- Spinach
- Yogurt
- Mushrooms
Supplements
These can be taken preventatively to boost the immune system or as treatment if you are sick.
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Vitamin D3 – Vitamin D rapidly destroys the cell walls of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including the influenza virus. Getting as much sunshine on your skin will also boost the immune system!
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Elderberry - Elderberry is very high in antioxidants and is a good source of potassium, vitamins A, B and C and nutrients like amino acids, carotenoids, tannin, and rutin. You can find elderberry in liquid form and even make your own gummy versions at home!
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Echinacea– Medical research has shown it to be safe and effective in decreasing the frequency, duration, and severity of common illnesses such as ear and sinus infections, colds, and the flu.
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Vitamin C– You can get enough Vitamin C through a good diet, but if sick, a boost can help if you are feeling icky.
- Fruits and Vegetable Supplement– If your kids won’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, taking a “raw foods multivitamin” will help.
Lose the Sugar
If you do only one thing to boost your immune system, eliminating sugar will do the most good. Refined sugar is a poison which, among other things, dramatically decreases immune function.
Exercise
Exercies flushes bacteria out of the lungs and airways. This may reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu, or other airborne illness. It causes changes in antibodies and white blood cells, which circulate more rapidly and detect illnesses earlier. The brief rise in body temperature while exercising may prevent bacteria from growing and fight off any existing infections more effectively. So get to sweating!
Sleep
If your child is 12 and under and gets less than 10 hours of sleep per night, or if your tween or teen is getting less than eight and a half hours— they ’re prime candidates for a weaker immune system. Make sleep a priority in your home.
Fresh Air, Germs, and Play
A theory, the “hygiene hypothesis,” developed by immunology experts, states underexposure to germs and bacteria are decreasing the body’s ability to fight allergies and asthma later in life. Allow your kids to be kids, get dirty outside and play with friends—and don’t worry incessantly about germs.
Skip The Chemical-Filled Products
Anything you put on the skin is absorbed into the body, either helping or hurting yourself or your child. From toothpaste to shampoo, read your labels or make your own products.
Vintage Giraffe
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