Immune System defends the body against infection. If infectious organisms or invaders enter the body, the immune system fights them. It also ‘remembers’ them so they can fight against it more easily next time.
Babies’ immune system is not as strong as adults’, but it develops and matures as they age and we can boost its maturity so we can protect them earlier.
Here are some of the things we can do as parents:
1. Serve more fruits and vegetables
Eating fruits and vegetables increases the body’s production of infection-fighting white blood cells. Most fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C and carotenoids, which are phytonutrients. Studies show that a diet rich in phytonutrients are considered as immune-boosters.
2. Breastfeed
Breastmilk has proteins, fats, sugars, and other antibodies and probiotics that can support your babies’ immune system. Even when the mother is sick, it is still recommended for the mother to breastfeed. If the mother comes in contact with bacteria/virus, her body develops antibodies that fight them off. These antibodies will be passed to the baby through her breastmilk, and this means when the baby is exposed to the same bacteria, he/she is now protected.
3. Exercise
Research shows that exercise increases the number of natural killer cells. So having a regular activity can boost your children’s immune system.
4. Make sure they get all the vaccines they need
Vaccination in children is the most effective way to protect them against various diseases. This will introduce your children’s body to virus/bacteria and would trigger an immune response. In this way, if your child will encounter the real disease in the future, his/her immune system can already recognize the organism/s and could now respond fast and fight them off.
5. #BeHealthyInsideAndOut
Babies produce their own antibodies every time they are exposed to a virus or bacteria, but it takes time for this immunity to fully develop. It can be very challenging for us parents to protect our children. I am happy to know that we have Watsons, who is promoting health and wellness inside and out, and they offer us a very wide range of products that can help us achieve our #HealthGoals.
Simply by using some of their products like alcohols, vitamins, supplements, etc., we can prevent germ spread and boost our children’s immune system.
How about you, mommykins, do you have tips you can share with our fellow mommies on how we can improve our kids’ immune system?