The essential component of a healthy child is a strong immune system. All children are exposed to disease-producing organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. It is impossible to germ-proof your child. Germs are prevalent everywhere, but germs will only lead to illness when the body is out of balance and immunity is weakened. Building a strong immune system provides your child with the powerful natural defenses against disease.
Essential fatty acids are especially important to a healthy immune system. A double blind study published in the “Journal of International Medical Research” showed that the number of infections were reduced significantly in children receiving EFA supplementation. The essential fatty acids found in fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna and mackerel) act as immune boosters by increasing the activity of phagocytes, the white blood cells that eat up bacteria.
Zinc is an essential mineral needed for proper growth, immune function, wound healing, and metabolism. A 2004 study published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” showed that boys given 10 mili-grams of zinc acetate twice a day for five days recovered from illness 2.6 times faster and from fever 3.1 times faster than children not taking zinc. Food sources of zinc are meat, swiss chard and wheat germ.
Vitamin C plays an extremely important role in boosting your child's immune function. Vitamin C has been shown to be antiviral and antibacterial, as well as reducing the frequency, duration and severity of the common cold. In addition, studies have shown that vitamin C levels become quickly depleted during the stress of an infection. Foods containing high levels of vitamin C are guava, sweet peppers, cantaloupe, papaya and kiwi.
Probiotics are healthy bacteria that live in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract and aid in modulating our immune system. Our GI tract serves as a bridge between “inside the body” and “outside the body.” Probiotics are the “military” in our GI tract that reinforce the barrier of the intestinal lining, decreasing the passage of bacteria or other pathogens from our intestines into our blood stream. Antibiotics through medicine and in our foods often disrupt our healthy bacteria; therefore making probiotics an important nutritional supplement to enhance our immune function.
Just as important it is to boost your child's immune system, it is important to be aware of certain foods and nutrients that can threaten your child's body defenses. These foods can actually suppress your child's immune system, and therefore it is important to minimize their intake.
Non essential fatty acids, particularly hydrogenated oils, trans-fats, margarine, and fried fats weaken our immune system in many ways. Unhealthy fats have been shown to interfere with immune pathways causing immune dysfunction, tissue breakdown, and free radical damage.
Sugar has a negative effect on the function of the immune system. Studies have shown that drinking 75 to 100 grams of a sugar solution (about 20 teaspoons of sugar, or the amount of two 12-ounce sodas) can suppress the body's immune responses. The effects begin within only 15 minutes, last for over five hours, and on average yield a 50 percent reduction in white blood cell ability to destroy harmful organisms within two hours post ingestion.
Processed and refined foods have been stripped of their nutritional value and therefore do not contain the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants required to maintain a healthy immune system. In fact, refining foods removes so much nutrition that federal law requires that companies “enrich” or “fortify” a few artificial vitamins and minerals back. However, it still does not contain the unique combination of nutrients and protective compounds in whole foods, which work synergistically to provide our bodies with their nutritional needs.
Pesticides are often used in conventionally grown food. There is clear evidence indicating pesticides lower immune function, increase the risk of some cancers, and cause neurological and developmental problems in those with the most direct exposure to them. This is especially important for children since what are considered “safe” pesticide levels for adults can be harmful to a child's small, developing body.
Amanda H. Fey is a naturopathic doctor, licensed in the state of Oregon and currently practicing at The Center in Auburn. When not seeing patients, Fey can be found playing with her
22-month-old daughter.
Zinc is an essential mineral needed for proper growth, immune function, wound healing, and metabolism. A 2004 study published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” showed that boys given 10 mili-grams of zinc acetate twice a day for five days recovered from illness 2.6 times faster and from fever 3.1 times faster than children not taking zinc. Food sources of zinc are meat, swiss chard and wheat germ.
Vitamin C plays an extremely important role in boosting your child's immune function. Vitamin C has been shown to be antiviral and antibacterial, as well as reducing the frequency, duration and severity of the common cold. In addition, studies have shown that vitamin C levels become quickly depleted during the stress of an infection. Foods containing high levels of vitamin C are guava, sweet peppers, cantaloupe, papaya and kiwi.
Probiotics are healthy bacteria that live in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract and aid in modulating our immune system. Our GI tract serves as a bridge between “inside the body” and “outside the body.” Probiotics are the “military” in our GI tract that reinforce the barrier of the intestinal lining, decreasing the passage of bacteria or other pathogens from our intestines into our blood stream. Antibiotics through medicine and in our foods often disrupt our healthy bacteria; therefore making probiotics an important nutritional supplement to enhance our immune function.
Just as important it is to boost your child's immune system, it is important to be aware of certain foods and nutrients that can threaten your child's body defenses. These foods can actually suppress your child's immune system, and therefore it is important to minimize their intake.
Non essential fatty acids, particularly hydrogenated oils, trans-fats, margarine, and fried fats weaken our immune system in many ways. Unhealthy fats have been shown to interfere with immune pathways causing immune dysfunction, tissue breakdown, and free radical damage.
Sugar has a negative effect on the function of the immune system. Studies have shown that drinking 75 to 100 grams of a sugar solution (about 20 teaspoons of sugar, or the amount of two 12-ounce sodas) can suppress the body's immune responses. The effects begin within only 15 minutes, last for over five hours, and on average yield a 50 percent reduction in white blood cell ability to destroy harmful organisms within two hours post ingestion.
Processed and refined foods have been stripped of their nutritional value and therefore do not contain the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants required to maintain a healthy immune system. In fact, refining foods removes so much nutrition that federal law requires that companies “enrich” or “fortify” a few artificial vitamins and minerals back. However, it still does not contain the unique combination of nutrients and protective compounds in whole foods, which work synergistically to provide our bodies with their nutritional needs.
Pesticides are often used in conventionally grown food. There is clear evidence indicating pesticides lower immune function, increase the risk of some cancers, and cause neurological and developmental problems in those with the most direct exposure to them. This is especially important for children since what are considered “safe” pesticide levels for adults can be harmful to a child's small, developing body.
Amanda H. Fey is a naturopathic doctor, licensed in the state of Oregon and currently practicing at The Center in Auburn. When not seeing patients, Fey can be found playing with her
22-month-old daughter.
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