Ways to keep children healthy in extreme weather with nutrition for a healthy immune system
In every condition, from pollution to Coronavirus infection, it can threaten the health of children and cause them to fall ill. To prevent this, parents need to strengthen the child's immune system. One way is to provide children with good nutrition for their immunity. Children's immune systems are not as strong as adults in fighting various germs that cause infection. That is why children are more susceptible to disease .
To strengthen the immune system in children and make them less susceptible to disease, there are several ways you can do. One of the important steps to make the immune system in children work optimally is to provide them with good nutrition for the immune system.
Increase Child Resistance with These 6 Nutrientsa variety of nutrients that are good for the health of babies and children, as well as support their immune system, can be obtained from mother's milk and healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, eggs, fish, meat, nuts, and milk and their processed products, for example cheese and yogurt.
Even though all the nutrients are needed by children, there are several nutrients that are considered very important to maintain endurance and make children less sick, namely:
1. Vitamin C
We all know that vitamin C can strengthen the immune system, including in children.This vitamin can increase the production of white blood cells in the body that play a role in fighting germs that cause infection. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and prevent cell damage from free radicals that can cause disease and weaken the immune system.
Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, guava, mango, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, and papaya.
2. Vitamin E
Like vitamin C, vitamin E is an antioxidant that can maintain the performance of the immune system. that way, the body's resistance will be stronger to fight germs that cause disease. To meet the needs of vitamin E for children, can provide them with foods rich in vitamin E, such as spinach, broccoli, and nuts.
3. Zinc
zinc is needed by the body to make white blood cells function properly. White blood cells are the main component in the immune system which functions to fight disease-causing germs.
Some examples of foods rich in zinc are seafood, such as shellfish or oysters, meat, nuts, potatoes, eggs, and milk.
4. Folate
The body needs folate or folic acid to produce and repair damaged body cells. folate is also known to play an important role in the production of red blood cells and white blood cells. Therefore, children need to get enough folate intake so that their immune system is strong.
In addition to maintaining endurance, folate is also important to support children's brain nerve development.
folate can be obtained by consuming beef liver, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, mustard greens, or fortified cereals with folate. Mother can also give children formula milk containing folic acid to strengthen their immune system and maximize the development of nerves in their brain organs.
5. Selenium
Selenium is found in various types of food, including chicken, eggs, brown rice, milk, and yogurt. Selenium can also be obtained from vegetables and fruit, such as bananas and spinach.
6. Omega-3
Omega-3 is one type of essential fatty acid, namely fatty acids that cannot be produced by the body itself and must be taken from outside. Omega-3 plays an important role in the work of the immune system. These fatty acids are also good for controlling inflammation in the body.
There are several studies that show that adequate omega-3 intake can lower a child's risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.
to meet the intake of omega-3 for the needs of the child's body. by giving it foods rich in omega-3, such as sea fish, meat, eggs, nuts, and seeds, such as chia seeds.
Apart from food, omega-3 can also be obtained from formula milk, which contains omega-3 in formula milk that has been adjusted to the needs of children based on age. By providing formula milk that contains omega-3s, you can also more easily monitor the adequacy of your little one's omega-3 intake.
In addition to the nutrients above, omega-6 and prebiotic FOS: GOS are also important to keep the child's immune system strong. These nutrients can be found in several types of formula milk for children, especially those formulated to increase the child's immune system.
In order for the child's immune system to develop optimally, a mother also needs to provide her with complete and balanced nutritious food, in sufficient quantities. To complement the child's nutritional intake, a mother can give her mother's milk or formula that is formulated to support the child's immune system.
In addition, you also need to complete your little one's immunization according to the schedule determined by the doctor. so, don't forget to have your child checked by the doctor regularly so that he doesn't get immunized too late and his health condition can also be monitored .