With school starting August 22nd for those who reside in Springfield, Nixa, and Republic school districts, and August 23rd for those in Ozark and Bolivar, it’s time to start thinking about strengthening our kids’ immune systems. School is a hot spot for germs from sharing hugs with friends they haven’t seen all summer to sharing toys and school supplies.
4 Ways to Keep Your Child Healthy
Get Sleep – First and foremost, children need an adequate amount of sleep to support a healthy immune system. We have a 3 year old and a 6 year old and they’re in bed by 7 on school nights. Do they always fall right to sleep? No, but they’re able to rest and have some quiet time before catching some zzz’s.
Eat Good Foods – Our immune system starts with our gut. Good gut health does wonders for immunity. The foods we eat have a direct impact on the makeup of bacteria in the gut. Providing our children with fresh, whole foods will, in turn, affect their immune systems. Fresh fruit and vegetables along with foods high in probiotics, such as yogurt, cheese, and pickles are a few examples of kid friendly foods to add to their diet. You can also purchase probiotics in powder form and mix it into your child’s favorite drink 🙂
Vitamin D – I love when our kids get outside for some natural vitamin D. The human body makes vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Wearing sunscreen lowers the production of vitamin D. Aim for 10-15 minutes of sunshine a day, without sunscreen.
Elderberry – One supplement I give our kids every cold and flu season is elderberry! My kids eat it right off the spoon! Elderberry has been proven to prevent or shorten the duration of respiratory illnesses. Elderberry comes as a gummy or syrup. You can also find elderberry jelly which makes a delicious spread for toast and waffles. The berries can also be boiled if you prefer to make your own syrup at home.