It is essential to provide a healthy diet to children so that they develop stronger immune system. It is easier for children to fight illnesses and infections if they have strong immunity. Read on to find diet tips for boosting your child’s immunity.Including healthy food items in the diet of children is very important for boosting their immunity. At the same time it is also important to check eating habits of children and teach them to avoid unhealthy foods to build a stronger immune system.
Here are some smart healthy diet tips to
boost your child’s immunity and beat many illnesses and infections.
Natural Immunity Boosters for Children
These are certain foods ingredients which can boost your
child’s immune system and provide enough resilience to fight any infection in the body.
- Turmeric
- Basil /Tulsi
- Garlic and Ginger
- Almonds
- Amla or gooseberry
- Brown rice ,Sunflower seeds ,pumpkin seeds
- Red meat
Foods for Boosting Your Child’s Immunity
Here are some foods which you must include in your child’s diet to strengthen his or her immune system.
Probiotics
Probiotics are essential healthy good bacteria within the body which help in digestion and maintain an acidic environment in the intestinal tract. They are also needed for good health and an intact immune system. Foods like milk and yogurt are natural probiotics which is mandatory in your child’s diet. Sweet yogurt mixed with fruits and berries will not only make it tastier for kids but is also a healthier eating option.
Green and Leafy Veggies
Diet rich in green leafy
vegetables and orange fruitshave high sources ofVitamin Awhich strengthen respiratory epithelium and also makes our system resilient and strong.
Making your child eat green vegetables can be a hercules task. You can make the boring veggies interesting by cutting them into long sticks and serve them with a cheesy dip. Also including them in wraps and rolls can be an interesting choice for lunchbox meals.
Honey
Grandma’s age old advice is indeed true and effective!
Honey has been used for centuries to alleviate sore throat and hoarseness. Research studies have shown that giving two teaspoonful’s of honey at bed time to children with cough has proven amazing than any cough medicine. Honey can be given as a whole or mixed with fruits, sandwiches and in milk and lemonades as well.
Fruits
Fruits like oranges, papaya,
banana, berries and
watermelon are rich in antioxidants and excellent sources of Vitamin C; which help in absorption and tissue repair. Making a mixed fruit salad and serving it with honey and yogurt can make it colorful and tasty at the same time.
Good Fat Friends
No! We are talking about healthy good fat foods which are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. These are healthy fats which help protect against antigens entering the body during infections and a good source of energy.
Foods rich in healthy fats include nuts, raisins, peanut butter, fish, and olive oil. Making a peanut butter sandwich or sprinkling raisins over a boring bowl of cereal would do wonders!
Vitamin D - Sunshine Vitamin
A recent research study has revealed that patients including vitamin D rich foods were at much lesser risk to suffer from infections than others. Foods like mushrooms, salmon and egg yolk are excellent food sources of vitamin D which can be included in your daily meals.
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is an excellent cold medicine according to a medical research team. It helps reduce the inflammation and clear the airways. Chicken is high in protein which is an excellent energy booster. Combining it with other vegetables can make it tastier and nourishing.
Soft and Mashed Foods
Throat pain and cough can sometimes make your child have trouble swallowing solid foods. Opt for softer pureed diet instead. Sweet potato mash and carrot mash are rich sources of beta carotene which will help your child recover quickly and make the food much easier to swallow.
Fluid Intake
Include plenty of fluids in your child’s diet and make sure water intake is minimum 8 to 10 glasses /day. Good amount of water intake is essential to prevent fluid loss and dehydration caused due to some illnesses. Also water intake helps to eliminate harmful toxins from the body.
Foods Which Must Not Be Given to Children
Here is a list of food items which must not be given to children so that their good health is maintained.
- Avoid any form of processed or packed foods, tinned or canned foods in any form.
- Avoid too much spicy or fried food as they can irritate your throat and worsen it.
- Avoid too much intake of sugar and soda drinks as excess sugar intake is known to impair and weaken the immune system making the body susceptible to infections.
- Do not consume pork regularly and avoid pork completely if any infections are detected.
All said and done, Infections in our body is known to hamper appetite due to which your child may not want to eat at all. Seeing your child going to bed hungry can be daunting for every parent. Do not feed your child forcefully or pressurize him or her to eat when sick. Keep your child well hydrated with plenty of fluids and juices and choose a soft bland diet instead. As the infection settles your child shall regain their lost appetite in no time.
How to boost immune system of children? Which natural ingredients can help to boost immunity of children? Which foods should be avoided by children for boosting immune system? Discuss here.