Nutrition’s Role in Building Strong Immune System in Children

Balanced nutrition for a child is the art of providing the body with the necessary fuel to grow up healthy and happy. But what if the body is not getting what it needs? Development potential to build the necessary immune systems to fight infectious diseases can become less efficient. Optimizing your child’s nutrition for immunity boosting during their growing journey will have a great impact on how well they grow up.

4 Important Truths about Nutrition and Immunity

1. Nutrition Impacts Physical, Emotional, and Mental Wellbeing
   Food is fuel and in any area, be it caloric or vitamins, that is lacking, it will reduce activeness and can make a child more irritable if it goes on for a long time. Balance your child’s meals with plenty of essential fats, complex carbohydrates (beans, whole grains, and vegetables), vitamins and minerals from natural food as much as possible.¹
2. Immunity depends on Gut Health
   Most of the beneficial bacteria (probiotics) live in your child’s gut so nutrition plays a role in the kinds that live there. These probiotics need prebiotics (specialized plant fibers), found in many fruits, whole grains, chickpeas, and fortified cereals, to feed their growth. They also aid in your child’s digestion and better digestion means more comfort and efficient absorption of nutrients.^{2, 4}
3. Good Nutrition Equals Better Immune Response
   A well rounded gut health will have better immune cell activity. Such as food containing Vitamin K2, increases the body’s response to inflammation by helping the disease fighting cells get where they need to be. This vitamin also supports bone health and we know that better bones mean better red blood cell production which equals better blood flow for your child.^{3, 4}
4. Vitamin Alphabet
   Vitamins, also known as Micronutrients, stimulate the immune system. Vitamin A is responsible for antibody responses, while Vitamins B6, B9, B12 are important for their functionality. Vitamin C, a natural antioxidant, is needed by white blood cells to fight infections while Vitamine E has a protective role for it. Vitamin D, also a functionality facilitator, can be gained by exposure to sunlight, but food sources are more favorable. Eggs, fish, and fortified milk are great Vitamin D source options.⁵A seemingly daunting task, a parent has to work around a child’s potential pickiness and scour for alternative foods and develop creativity. But no matter how hard they try, nutritional misses happen. That is why Pediasure, a child nutrition supplement, aims to fill in where your child may be missing with natural food. In just 1 glass (225 ml), your child can get Vitamins A to C, Vitamin K2, gut health immunity supporting fibers, and carbohydrates so that your child never misses moments of their growth and happiness.⁶

References:

1. https://www.nutriciaresearch.com/immunology/immune-system-development-and-the-importance-of-nutrition/
2. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/nutrition-and-immunity/
3. https://www.nuzest.com.au/blogs/news/children-s-nutrition-and-immunity-how-to-support-your-childs-immune-system-naturally
4. https://www.parents.com/health/hygiene/5-ways-to-boost-your-kids-gut-health/
5. https://sightandlife.org/blog/nutrition-immunity/
6. https://abbottfamily.com.sg/products/page/pediasure

Additional Readings:

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-vitamin-d