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The Marilyn Denis Show | Health & Fitness | Optimizing your Child’s Immune System
Optimizing your Child's Immune System
Pharmacist, Sherry Torkos, discusses ways you can boost your child's immune system and compares vitamin supplements to the vitamins in the food.
Top 6 foods that can help boost your child's immune system:
Yogurt/Kefir
We often think of these foods as good for the gut and digestion yet they also play a role in supporting immune health and warding off cold and flu. Over 70% of our immune system resides in our gut. Beneficial bacteria play a valuable role in warding off pathogens (viruses and bacteria).
Fish
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation and protect the lungs from respiratory infections. Omega-3 fatty acids also increase activity of phagocytes (cells that eat up bacteria). And recent research in children has shown benefits for boosting learning and concentration.
Mushrooms
strengthen your immune system in a few ways. They are rich in nutrients essential for immune health such as vitamin C, calcium and other minerals and they also contain compounds called beta glucans, which have immune enhancing properties. The beta glucans in Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms are particularly effective in activating and modulating the immune system.
Foods fortified with wellmune
This natural ingredient (a beta glucan) helps strengthen the body’s immune response and increase the body’s resistance to stress. Examples: Praeventia cookies and bars, Oasis Health Break Immuniforce Juice and Canton Ready to serve soups
Buckwheat honey
Has antibacterial and antiviral properties and boosts immunity by increasing production of white blood cells. It is also an effective cough suppressant.
Green Tea
Contains compounds with antiviral properties. Some research shows reduced infection when 5+ cups are consumed daily.
Vitamin Supplements:
- Multivitamins – particularly important for kids that are picky eaters, those with narrow dietary choices (eat the same foods all the time) and food allergies/intolerances (such as celiac disease). These kids could be lacking in certain nutrients and may benefit from taking a daily multi. I can also talk about vitamins C here because a multi often provides enough additional vitamin C to complement diet.
- Vitamins D – plays an important role in supporting immune function. During the fall and winter with less sun exposure it is difficult to produce enough. I can talk about the most recent guidelines from Health Canada.
- Fish Oils – many kids are not keen on eating fish due to taste/smell/texture. This is where a supplement is helpful. Fish oils are not only important for the immune system but also for brain development and cognitive function. Newer forms of fish oil, such as gummies, offer advantage of no fish taste/smell. Recent research on one particular fish oil (Equazen) found it effective for improving mood and concentration in kids.
- Probiotics – Just like fish, some kids are not keen on yogurt and it is difficult to get a consistent amount of these beneficial bacteria through diet. Certain probitoics are designed for kids and available in liquids and chewables, such as BioGaia. This one contains a particular strain that been studied for its immune benefits. Daily use reduces risk of colds.