How to Build Children's Immunity

It's a fact of life that children miss school more than adults due to illness from common ailments such as colds. By taking steps to build a child's immune system, you can do something to increase a child's ability to rebound from illness and possibly even reduce their risk from future diseases such as cancer.

Instructions

• 1

  Start with nature's perfect food: breast milk. When a woman breastfeeds, she passes antibodies for diseases through her milk and the infant absorbs them directly via the intestinal wall.

• 2

  Keep children active with plenty of exercise. Moderate exercise, one to two hours a day, helps children achieve immune-boosting REM sleep and reduces a child's risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. Unstructured active play counts as exercise.

• 3

  Manage a child's allergies. Allergies work against the immune system by causing inflammation in the body, which dilutes immune defense by mobilizing cells to fight the inflammation. See an allergist if you suspect a child has sensitivities.

• 4

  Offer your kids plenty of fruits and vegetables. Children who consume the recommended five to eight servings of produce have a reduced risk of cancer later in life and maintain a healthier weight, which decreases the risk of diabetes.

• 5

  Serve nutrient-dense snacks. Children eat too many processed, sugary foods and refined grains. Sugar depresses immune function. Replace these empty calories with nuts, seeds, whole grains and produce.

• 6

  Include probiotic dietary sources. You can introduce friendly bacteria into your system, which minimize harmful bacteria through competition. Feed children yogurt or provide a Lactobacillus acidophilus supplement.

• 7

  Allow a reasonable exposure to dirt and germs. Although you shouldn't sacrifice basic hygiene, a child must be exposed to typical environmental bacteria so his immune system can build its defenses. Forgo antibacterial soap, which encourages the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.