Immune Boosting Tips for Little Ones

Estimated time to read 5 minutes

By: Hillary Bennetts

Temperatures are dropping and the leaves are changing. It’s the season for sweaters and scarves, and unfortunately, germs. While exposure is inevitable, there are certain things you can do to help your little one have a better chance at fending off all of those unpleasant bugs.

Before we get into it, it’s helpful to have a general understanding of how the immune system works. Our immune systems have two types of defense mechanisms: innate and adaptive.

• Innate: This includes the mechanical barriers that cover the body (a fancy way of saying skin) as well as the cells and chemicals that are the “first responders” to a pathogen that has made it into the body. The innate defense mechanism is also called the nonspecific defense mechanism because all human bodies come equipped with essentially the same innate system. It is not specific to your individual body.
• Adaptive: This line of defense provides protection against specific antigens (toxins, bacteria, and other substances that are recognized by the body as foreign) and activates the immune system. The adaptive defense mechanism is also called the specific defense mechanism because these defenses are specific to your body and the encounters it has previously faced with specific antigens. In other words, if your body was previously exposed to a virus, your adaptive immune system knows the virus better and is more equipped to fight it than it was the first time it was exposed. This is why babies and kids are more prone to illness than adults - they have had less exposure to illness to help develop their adaptive immune systems.

Within these defense mechanisms are three lines of defense. The first and second lines of defense are innate and the third line is adaptive.

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Lines of Defense

1. First line of defense: This includes the skin as well as mucous membranes and their secretions (things like your saliva and mucus in your respiratory system).
2. Second line of defense: This comes into play if the first line of defense is compromised. It includes cells and chemicals like phagocytes (specialized white blood cells), natural killer cells, and your inflammatory response.
3. Third line of defense: This comes into play if the first two lines of defense are unable to effectively fight an invader.

So now that we have some context we can better grasp how to help support the immune system with the following tips. Of course, be sure to check with your doctor on dosing and supplements for your little one.

1. Wash hands: It might seem simple, but remember, the skin is part of the innate system. So if you can avoid getting germs into the body in the first place, the body has less to fight.
2. Vitamin C: It is found in foods like broccoli and spinach. It increases the production of white-blood cells and antibodies.
3. Vitamin D: It promotes genetic expression of immune cells. Found in foods like salmon and egg yolks, often supplementation is needed.
4. Vitamin A: It helps keep our first line of defense physically intact. Foods rich in vitamin A include carrots and sweet potatoes.
5. Probiotics: These have been linked to immune health. Probiotic supplements can be beneficial if a little one has had a course of antibiotics.
6. Breastfeed: Breastfeeding, in any amount, has immunological benefits.

Ultimately, illness will happen and it is no fun to see your little one sick. Take the steps you can to help prevent sickness and minimize duration and discomfort, and give your bodies a good start by eating well and getting good sleep.

Hillary Bennetts is the founder and owner of Purposeful Plate Nutrition. A marathoner, mountain climber, and mama, she lives in Colorado with her husband and son.