How can you protect your child from back-to-school germs? Some healthy habits can serve as an immune booster for kids, helping them fight off pathogens more effectively and recover faster.
Here are four healthy habits to help boost your child’s immune system.
- Encourage a healthy diet: Children should consume a variety of foods daily from the five major food groups: vegetables, fruits, starchy carbohydrates, protein, and dairy.1
- Ensure they get plenty of ZZZs: A good night’s rest not only improves academic performance, memory, and behaviour but also boosts immunity.2
- Keep them active: Physical activity contributes to children’s overall health, which may support their immune system functions.3
- Reap the health benefits of probiotics: Taking care of your child’s stomach is the first step toward a healthy lifestyle, as the majority of the immune system is located in the gut.4Reuterina junior® 5, coupled with Reuterina® Vit D6 drops, can play an important role in how the gut functions including boosting the immune system.7
The Reuterina® family of probiotics are available from Dis-Chem and Clicks stores and independent pharmacies nationwide. For more information, visit: https://reuterina.co.za/ and join the conversations on Instagram and Facebook.
References:
- Mayo Clinic. Nutrition for kids: Guidelines for a healthy diet. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/nutrition-for-kids/art-20049335. Last accessed November 2022.
- Sleep Foundation. How Sleep Affects Immunity. Available from: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/how-sleep-affects-immunity. Last accessed November 2022.
- da Silveira MP, da Silva Fagundes KK, Bizuti MR, Starck É, Rossi RC, de Resende E Silva DT. Physical exercise as a tool to help the immune system against COVID-19: an integrative review of the current literature. Clin Exp Med. 2021 Feb;21(1):15-28. doi: 10.1007/s10238-020-00650-3. Epub 2020 Jul 29. PMID: 32728975; PMCID: PMC7387807. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7387807/. Last accessed November 2022.
- Vighi G, Marcucci F, Sensi L, Di Cara G, Frati F. Allergy and the gastrointestinal system. Clin Exp Immunol. 2008 Sep;153 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):3-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2008.03713.x. PMID: 18721321; PMCID: PMC2515351. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/. Last accessed November 2022.
- Reuterina® Junior Approved Package Insert, July 2010.
- Reuterina® Vit D (drops) Approved Package Insert, August 2013.
- Indrio F, et al. The effects of probiotics on feeding tolerance, bowel habits, and gastrointestinal motility in preterm newborns. J Pediatr 2008;152:801-806. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18492520/. Last accessed November 2022.
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