Looking for an immune booster for kids? You aren't alone.
It's back-to-school time, and given the ongoing circulation of out-of-season viruses, we're all thinking of ways we can support our kids' immune systems. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to help support their immunity while also supporting other aspects of their health and well-being as well!
Want to learn more? Keep reading to learn about the best ways to support your children's immune health as they venture back to school!
Here are my top recommended tips if you’re looking for a great immune booster for kids as they venture back to school
Vitamin C is probably most well-known for its ability to support your immune system. But exactly how does it work?
According to research, vitamin C assists your body’s immune defense by supporting numerous cellular functions within your immune system. But that’s not all. It also helps to protect your body against pathogens and promotes the removal of free radicals from your skin, which strengthens the barriers in your skin. As a result, it offers potential in protecting your body against environmental oxidative stress. [1]
According to a 2013 meta-analysis of 30 trials involving 11,350 participants, the most active participants reduced their risk of getting a cold by an amazing 50 percent when they took 200 mg of vitamin C daily. [2]
Furthermore, taking that amount of vitamin C each day also reduced cold symptom duration in children by 14 percent.
While vitamin C should be consumed every day, this study shows that vitamin C deserves a place in your child’s routine as they head back to school and especially at the onset of cold and flu season.
While it isn’t as well-known for its immune-supporting abilities as vitamin C, vitamin D has been shown to support children's immune health, suppress inflammation linked to autoimmunity, and even regulate allergic responses, making it a great immune booster for kids! [3]
Most of the health benefits of vitamin D can be linked to the fact that its antioxidant-rich properties are known to improve cellular function and repair DNA. Additionally, research has shown that being sufficient in vitamin D reduces the risk of both flu and COVID infections. [4]
Personally, I like to give my kids vitamin D in liquid form. It only takes one single drop to give them all the protection they need each day. But if you’re looking for a more creative way to administer it, check out my recipe for these delicious-tasting 4-Ingredient Homemade Vitamin D Gummies.
A top recommended immune booster for kids that I always turn to is zinc. Here’s why ….
According to a 2011 study, using a minimum of 75 mg each day of zinc lozenges reduced cold duration by up to 42 percent! [5]
So why is zinc so effective? A 2010 study confirmed that zinc activates your body’s T-cells, which are known to not only stimulate and moderate your immune system but also help attack invaders (such as viruses, bacteria, and even cancerous cells). [6]
Just remember that there are a lot of zinc products on the market—and some are more bioavailable than others. To get a list of which types you should consider, and which to avoid, click here.
Making sure your kids get to bed on time and get plenty of quality rest is another one of my top suggestions when asked about a great immune booster for kids.
Simply put, when children get more rest, their immune system gets to repair and strengthen.
Accordingly, a 2019 study revealed that proper sleep improves T cell functioning, which is important because your immune system requires healthy T cells for optimal function. [7] This is important because healthy T cells are necessary for proper immune function.
In fact, according to one study following 153 people who came into contact with rhinovirus, those who slept less than seven hours at night were 2.94 times more likely to develop a cold compared to those who slept eight hours or more. [8]
Now, kids can be notoriously difficult to settle and get to dreamland. So, if you’re looking for a few tips on how to establish a nighttime routine for better sleep, check out my article filled with tips that will help your little one drift off a little easier.
We’ve previously discussed how stress can make you sick. But you can’t just tell your kid to stress less, right? And going back to school can be quite stressful for children.
So, what do you do? I’ve found that supporting your child’s adrenal health is the single best way to help boost his or her body’s ability to handle stress. And by calming their stress, you’re helping them to naturally lower their cortisol levels.
This is critical because research has confirmed that chronic elevations of cortisol can increase the production of inflammatory cytokines, which ultimately compromise the body’s immune response to illness. [9]
This is why managing stress and anxiety is such an important immune booster for kids. Click here to learn more about how to best support adrenal health and help prepare your child’s body to handle any stress that comes their way.
Well, there you have it: my top recommended immune boosters for kids. Give each a try and see how they work for your children as they head back to school. And if you’re looking for even more tips, check out my article on 4 Healthy Back to School Tips.