10 Immunity Boosting Foods For Kids

10 Immunity Boosting Foods for your Child!

Kids and their growing bodies need a strong foundation of immunity to fight infections and viruses. These foods will help strengthen the immunity of your little ones!

With all the Coronavirus outbreak taking over our lives, strengthening the immunity of our growing kids is more important than ever. With the constant junk food binging that’s become a result of living in the millennial times, adding the goodness of healthy foods has become even more crucial. Fortunately, there are certain foods contain immune-boosting properties that can help to ward off cold and fever, or lessen the duration or severity of them. As a bonus, they’re all packed full of nutrients, that help with proper growth and development, and keeping your kids healthy otherwise!

How Can I Help Boost My Child's Immune System?

There are simple food and lifestyle factors that can aid in boosting your child's immune system.

• Freshly prepared food: Avoid packaged and processed food as much as possible. Juices have high sugar content, which suppresses the immune system. Keep them far away from junk foods as much as you possibly can!
• Healthy digestive tract: The bacteria that live in the digestive system influences the immune system, too. When there is an imbalance, immunity decreases. Probiotics help in keeping the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut.
• Rest: Your child needs sufficient sleep to have a healthy immune system

Let’s dive into the list of immunity-boosting superfoods:

1. Turmeric

Turmeric is very effective in fighting infections. Curcumin in turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Fresh turmeric works better than the powder, so add it to milk or add its juice to a spoonful of honey and give it to your child regularly.

2. Yoghurt

Yoghurt is the best probiotic available that is full of calcium. Prescribing antibiotics is famous for doctors even if it is a viral flu. And the urgency of parents also leaves them in a dilemma that makes them wonder the solution to repeatedly developing cough and cold. When antibiotics kill the good bacteria, the use of yoghurt becomes necessary to fill in for what has been lost. In such a situation, probiotics become the best friend of kids. Not only this, kids must be given yoghurt daily as it is also full of protein. Make it a blueberry or a strawberry yoghurt or try a yoghurt smoothie, kids will surely love it.

3. Mushrooms

One of the best immune-boosting ingredients is zinc that is found in a good quantity in mushrooms. Researchers call it to have similar properties like chicken. Zinc helps fight infections among kids and adding mushrooms in soup or sandwich can be a good option for the young ones.

4. Oranges

Oranges are packed with Vitamin C, an antioxidant that boosts immunity and prevents infections. Regular consumption of oranges will keep your child’s defences strong. They could consume whole fruit or have it in the form of juice.

5. Leafy Greens

Leafy green vegetables are yours and your child’s best friend. Spinach and broccoli, packed with Vitamin E, helps fight off bacteria and viruses and prevents tissue damage among kids. Interestingly, you can always play around and experiment with the foods you give to your (choosy) kids. Broccoli drizzled with cheese or spinach added to a white sauce pasta or baked potatoes can be a wonderful option to add into their diet. This will not only develop their taste but will also help them fight off diseases.

6. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene, which studies have shown to increase the number of white blood cells and increase the activity of killer cells. Sweet potatoes are also a great source of vitamin C, which is another immune system enhancer.

7. Almonds

Not only are almonds a nutritional powerhouse full of protein, fibre, potassium, healthy fat and more, but they also contain nutrients like Niacin and Riboflavin—B-Vitamins that may help ward off the negative effects of stress (kids get stressed too!), by boosting the immune system. Just one-quarter cup of these tasty nuts also contain your child’s daily requirements for Vitamin E (and more), an antioxidant that also protects the immune system! They can be a choking hazard though, so make sure to serve your babies or young kids slivered or sliced almonds, or natural almond butter.

8. Tulsi

Tulsi, the holy basil, a known grandma’s remedy for cold and flu, works well too. Consuming tulsi regularly prevents and reduces the bouts of the common cold and other infections. Children can have the leaf or if the astringent taste is too much for them, crush the leaf and add a few drops of honey to it.

9. Oats and Barley

Oats and barley are high in soluble fibre, specifically one called beta-glucan. This type of fibre has antimicrobial and antioxidant qualities, which help your immune system protect you from influenza and other illnesses. Soluble fibre also decreases inflammation, which helps us heal faster from infection. The go-to breakfast is oatmeal you can make a big batch of large flake oats in the morning and add things like milk, yoghurt, fruit and slivered nuts.

10. Garlic

Don’t be shy when you add garlic to your meals, especially around this time of year. It is an immune-boosting superstar! The sulphur-containing compounds found in garlic, such as Allicin, help your kids’ healthy infection-fighting white blood cells flourish, and also increase the efficiency of their antibody production, which helps them fight harmful viruses and bacteria. So, to boost your kids’ immune systems, add garlic to your recipes regularly, if not every day. It also adds delicious flavour naturally.

During the peril times of health concerns, it’s important that you keep yourself aware and updated on the recent developments of the outbreak. We at MomsKnowBest are here to make your parenting journey easier with our guidance and support. Feel free to share any questions you might have about the Coronavirus outbreak and our team of experts will be happy to address your concerns. Stay strong, stay happy mom!