5 Tips to Support Your Kid’s Immune Health

by | Updated: December 4th, 2016 | Read time: 3 minutes

Whether or not you’re ready for the school bell to ring, it’s time to start back-to-school shopping and get your kids ready for the year ahead. Before you know it, car pools, homework and after-school activities will have taken over your weekly schedule. Now, before the madness hits in full force, is a great time to focus on supporting your little ones’ immune health. Here are five tips to help keep your kiddos strong and healthy.

Tips for supporting your kid's health #immuneboosters | www.vitacost.com/blog

  1. Watch their diets

Everyone needs real, whole foods, but it’s especially important for children whose bodies are still developing. Make sure your kids are eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits; try to serve options with every meal. When snack time comes around, offer healthy snacks like veggie sticks and hummus or apple slices and almond butter instead of conventional cookies and crackers. You can’t always control what kids eat outside of the home, but when they’re under your roof, fill their tummies with organic, whole foods.

  1. Give them vitamins

Supplements can help fill in the nutritional gaps your kid’s diet may not be providing. Not all kiddos can swallow  pills, so booster powders are a great way to give them vitamins and minerals. MegaFood has created a line of boosters designed specifically for the needs of your little ones. The Daily Multi Booster Powder is made with organic turmeric, carrots and fresh fruits and works to promote well-being and development.† The Kids Daily Immune Booster promotes a healthy immune response with organic oranges, elderberry and Echinacea.† Both can be blended into your child’s favorite smoothie, shake or juice. (Be sure to view the complete line of MegaFood Kids boosters, including Daily B-Centered Booster which may be helpful once school is in full swing.)

  1. Promote probiotics

In addition to vitamins, kids need probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live throughout your body. They may help support the healthy functioning of many systems in their bodies, including digestive and immune.† Supplementing with a multi-strain formula can help support long-term well-being.† Choose probiotics made specifically for kids, like MegaFood Kid’s N’ Us™ MegaFlora.

  1. Help them get adequate sleep

Sleep deprivation can lead to a multitude of negative side effects, not to mention a cranky, tantrum-throwing child. Toddlers and kids need anywhere from 10-13 hours of sleep, so make bedtimes a reliable constant in their daily lives, even on weekends. It also might be a good idea to keep electronic devices out of the bedroom at nighttime. Put all devices in a box in another room before and add the ritual to their routine, just like brushing teeth or reading a bedtime story.

  1. Wash their hands often

This may seem obvious, but it’s important enough to mention. Teach them to wash their hands effectively and often. Washing hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs. Most kids will know to wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom, but teach them to make sure they also wash when they get home from school or after they play outside and with toys, especially if the toys are shared with other children.

 

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.