A Lifetime of Immunity: Here Are A Few Easy Hacks For All You Parents Looking To Build Immunity In Your Child!
Dec 8, 2022
Why is a strong immune system important for a young child?
Children are the most vulnerable to infections and building a healthy gut and immune system is a must. Our immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs such as white blood cells, antibodies, the lymphatic system, the spleen and etc. About 70% of the immune system is in the gut.
What is the Gut Microbiome?
The gut microbiome plays a compelling role in helping control indigestion woes and benefiting one’s immune system against infections. An imbalance of unhealthy and healthy microbes in the GI tract can contribute towards ill-health conditions like weight gain, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and many such other lifestyle disorders. Some ways in which one can improve their gut microbiome includes eating lots of seasonal fruits and vegetables, legumes, beans, avoiding artificial sweeteners and high-in-fructose corn syrups and its variants from your diet, switching to a plant-based diet, and eating fermented food.
Enhancing immunity in young children is not an automatic process, it needs conscious changes in lifestyle like below:
1. Non-food tips to build your child’s immune system
- Promote regular hand washing in your toddler.
- Don’t skip immunisations at any cost.
- Make sleep a priority: Pre-schoolers or toddlers should get between 10 to 11 hours, children between the ages of 6 to 13 should get sleep between 9 to 11 hours.
- Staying active (Indoors & outdoors).
2. Put focus on whole foods
Do your best to steer away from packaged foods as they tend to be rich in saturated fats, added sugar and salt—everything that can elevate the presence of harmful bacteria and weaken your child’s immune defences!
3. A little bit of sunshine
Vitamin D is a compound that plays an integral role in your little one’s health. Not only is it necessary for bone structure, but it has also been often linked to have better immune response. Check with your doctor on the supplementation dose.
4. Breastfeeding
As for babies, until 6 months breastfeeding is important and can build a solid foundation of protecting against bacteria and viruses.
5. Prebiotics and probiotics for a gut check
Prebiotics are substances that come from different types of carbs which are high in fibre that humans can’t digest. They go straight to the gut and the beneficial bacteria in your gut eat this fibre. On the other hand, probiotics are good bacteria to keep one’s gastrointestinal system healthy. The goal is to boost the helpful bacteria in the body to destroy harmful bacteria, thereby reducing infection. A good amount of both probiotics and prebiotics can end up keeping your gut microbiota healthy.
What are the probiotic strains that help to boost immunity?
Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM® is one of the most clinically researched probiotics strains that has many benefits, including boosting the body’s immune system and restricting pathogen growth. Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM® supplementation among children aged 3 to 5 years old have been shown to reduce the incidence of fever, cough and runny nose, shortening duration of sickness and reduce the usage of antibiotics.1
Besides Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM®, another immune-boosting probiotic strain – Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04 helps to boost body immunity by stimulating the body to produce antibodies. Antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins) help our body fight against pathogens such as harmful bacteria and virus infections. BiO-LiFE Imunix is a probiotics supplement that contains immune-boosting probiotic strains – Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM® and Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04. Include these probiotics in your child’s daily diet today to strengthen immunity! Find out more about BiO-LiFE Imunix Enjoy RM10 off with Shopee promo code BIOLMU10 for purchase of Imunix 30s, valid till 30 April 2023. Less sick days with immune-boosting probiotic strains, get it today!
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Sources:
- Leyer, G.J., Li, S., Mubasher, M.E., Reifer, C., and Ouwehand, A.C., 2009. Probiotic effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration in children. Pediatrics, 124(2):e172-179
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/want-boost-childs-immune-system-5-tips/
- https://nutricia.com.au/aptamil/parents-corner/moving-and-exploring/5-ways-build-child-immune-system/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/improve-gut-bacteria
- https://www.the-scientist.com/features/the-infant-gut-microbiome-and-probiotics-that-work-67563
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/probiotics-and-prebiotics#effects-of-food
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323490
- https://www.healthline.com/health/probiotics-and-digestive-health/baby-probiotics#probiotic-benefits