Ways To Develop Immunity In Children

Our kids are exposed to an array of germs and viruses; be it in the play area1, at the school, or even at home. Even if you want to, you simply cannot sterilize every place your kids go to, neither can you keep children from going out and playing. So, as a parent, how can you minimize the risk of infections? One of the ways to achieve that is by ensuring that your child develops a stronger immunity naturally. Let us look at some healthy habits you can adopt to support your child’s immunity.

Encourage Them To Exercise:

Moderate exercise is believed to have a beneficial effect on the natural killer cell system (interleukins)². It also strengthens the immune system through stress-reduction³. Thus, encouraging your kids to opt for age-appropriate exercise regularly will not only make them physically fit but will also support their immunity. You can lead by example and exercise together to keep them motivated. This would allow you to bond with them and instill a positive outlook towards health and fitness in general. Regular moderate-intensity exercise is beneficial for the immune system and thus, as a parent, it is important to adopt caution4.

Provide Them With Balanced Nutrition:

A properly balanced diet that meets all the nutritional needs of your child is extremely important, especially during the growth years when the immune system is still maturing. Nutrition plays a very important role in immune responses while malnutrition is considered the leading cause of immune deficiency worldwide. Deficiencies of Vitamins A, C, E, B6, and Folate, are also associated with reduced immunity. Micronutrients such as Zinc, Selenium, Iron, and Copper are also important in developing a healthy immune system5.

Inculcate Healthy Sleep Habits

Sleep is a restorative process that plays a critical role in the proper functioning of the immune system. Lack of proper sleep may lead to the weakening of the immune system as well as increased susceptibility to infections⁶. It has been proven that shorter than ideal sleeping duration is associated with an increased incidence of the common cold⁷. Certain immune system cells such as T cells and proinflammatory cytokines peak during the night8. It is, therefore, crucial to develop and follow a healthy and optimum sleep pattern for your children.

Kids are kids and they are going to do things their way. As parents, it becomes our responsibility to be vigilant about their health. They’re going to be fussy about eating a nutritious, balanced meal each day and may end up demanding junk food ever so often. To counter that, you can incorporate creative ways to sneak in healthy vegetables in their meals.

Another way to ensure balanced nourishment is through incorporating a tasty and nourishing beverage such milk with Horlicks into their daily routine. Available in two delicious flavours – Classic Malt and Chocolate Delight, Horlicks is packed with a wide range of nutrients that support your child’s growth and development.

Remember, it is not possible to completely remove germs or infections from their lives, but we can help strengthen their immune system by keeping some small but important things in mind.