Are you having problems with your kids’ getting sick with every germ and bug that they’re exposed to? It doesn’t have to be this way. Or maybe you’ve finally come to the realization that it’s your job to help your children’s body to do what it was built to do without coercion from outside entities. Here’s a list of tried and tested immune boosters for kids.
Children are the apple of our eyes. As a result, we want to do the very best for them especially when it comes to their health. As a pharmacist, wellness expert and mom, when it comes to building my kids’ immune systems and their health, it’s serious business around here and I know what works.
I could have written about the best vitamins for children’s immune system but, the truth is it’s more than vitamins that helps keep immunity in check.
A healthy and nutritious diet that is high in organic fruits and vegetables, low in sugar, no gluten, avoiding artificial dyes and a diet low in dairy and grain is still my primary recommendation when it comes to keeping kids healthy and keeping sickness away.
But after diet, you have to be able to support the body to do what the body was made to do. These are my recommendations for the best immune boosters for kids.
Vitamin D
Like adults, most kids have sub-optimal levels of vitamin D. That’s especially true in the winter months when there is less sunlight available. Since our bodies make vitamin D from sun exposure, you can also blame less outdoor play time and more time spent indoors on electronics for those dwindling levels.
There are two main types of vitamin D. Vitamin D2 is made from plants and vitamin D3 is what the skin makes naturally when sunlight hits the skin.
What many parents don’t know is that vitamin D plays a major role in immunity. So once those vitamin D levels drop, so does your child’s immunity. Additionally vitamin D is important for needed for calcium absorption and bone health. It’s best to have your child’s blood levels of vitamin D professionally checked.
If your kids are younger, Childlife D3 drops are another option that can be used from infants to the teenage years. As always, please check with your child’s doctor or family physician when starting any new wellness regimen.
Some important notes about vitamin D is that it is a fat soluble vitamin. As such, these vitamins should be taken with a meal for optimal absorption. Additionally when shopping, be sure to look for vitamin D3 versus another type.
Multivitamins
If you’re not doing anything else to boost your kids’ immunity, be sure to give your kids multivitamins.
For kids 6 months and older, try Childlife Essentials. These vitamins can be used in kids’ up to 12 years old and the ingredients are certified non-gmo. These vitamins do have some sugar though so be cognizant of that.
Parents that favor liquids for their kids will like that these supplements come in a liquid and have a /orange mango flavor.
Alive Multi-Vitamins are another great choice when it comes for vitamins for kids. Unlike Childlife, Alive Multivitamins contain iron and have a proprietary blend of fruits and vegetables. Alive Chewables are for children two years and over and are dye, gluten, yeast, dairy, soy and preservatives.
Cod Liver Oil
When I was a kid, my mom always made sure that we took our cod liver oil. Let’s just say that I wasn’t really a fan. But as an adult, I now realize the powerhouse that cod oil is. Not to mention, cod liver has come a long way since I was a kid.
Some even come naturally flavored. That’s important for little people’s palates. Cod lover oil offers a plethora of health and wellness benefits including immune boosting, so to be sure to add it to your child’s health and wellness regimen. Be cognizant that some formations also contain vitamin D.
Elderberry for Kids
I’m in a few online mom’s groups and one of the discussions that come up time and time again is the topic of using elderberry for kids. Actually, I’m surprised to see some people even selling their own elderberry online.
So here’s some information to help you when you’re buying elderberry for your kids. There are nine different kinds of elderberry. Four of which are grown right inside the United States.
Black elderberry or Sambucus Nigra is grown in Europe (mostly Ireland and England) and is grown commercially for black elderberry syrup. Sambucus nigra (black elderberry), are not to be confused with Sambucus nigra canadensis (American Elderberry), the former of which are the black elderberries used in Sambucol Elderberry Syrup.
There are lots of peer reviewed, double blind placebo studies to support the use of Sambucus nigra (found commercially in Sambucol) that demonstrate antibacterial and antiviral activity as found in products with immunity boosting support.
Although the American Elderberry and European elderberry are both closely related, there is less noted documentation to support the use of those derivatives clinically or medicinally. As such, it’s important to know the source of the elderberries you use and buy.
Sambucol Black Elberberry comes in gummies as well as syrup. “Sambucol for Kids“ is definitely not sugar free however, you can get the sugar free formulation for adults.
I like using the black elderberry gummies because they’re portable and go along nicely with our busy lifestyle.
Mineral Gut Supplement
I found out about this supplement some time last year and now I tell everyone about it. It works by sealing up gap junctions in the gut. As, I’ve mentioned before gut health is a paramount aspect of immunity. As a matter of fact, here are some of my favorite gut healthy recipes to boost immunity.
Restore Gut Health, recently re-branded as Ion Gut Health and are better than probiotics as they work on the gut level to improve the microbiome of the intestines. This helps to improve immune support and sub-sequentially immunity.
Vitamin C
The benefits of vitamin C especially when it comes to immune boosting has be touted for many years and is well documented. It’s funny how the advent of allopathic medicine has tried to discredit other methods of prevention and healing.
Since vitamin C is naturally water soluble, getting a lipophilic option is key for absorption. This vitamin C is not only liposomal, but contains other antioxidants for key immune support.
Organic Homemade Bone Broth
Now vitamins and supplements are good but sometimes, you have to go back to food basics. Bone broth has been long touted for it’s immune boosting benefits for many years.
Bone broth is not just for adults either. Make a big batch of immune boosting bone broth and get your kid’s immune system on the right track. In fact, both my kids love this recipe: Organic Bone Broth
All in all, immunity building is not hard. It’s something accessible that you can do for your kids but you have to be consistent. Are you ready to give your children’s immunity a natural boost?
You don’t have to be passive. You have control. Take it. Claim it and run.
Don’t forget to wash those hands.
Looking for more immune boosting meals and snacks? Be sure to download my free e-cookbook, 10 Easy Recipes That Your Family Will Enjoy.
Also be try my immune boosted recipes. They’re real kid tested!
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