Rarely do we see children who never get sick; just about every child seems to be sniffling and coughing during the flu season. However, pediatricians say that parents who incorporate certain immune boosting habits in their children that keep diseases at bay.
Read on to find these gems that can help your child stay afloat mid-flu season—we promise these are going to be more than hand washing with a certain soap.
Table of Contents
1- Eat healthily:
You are what you eat. Everyone has heard of this saying, but rarely do we ponder over the consequences of what we eat. Healthy diet, and one that provides nutrition instead of empty calories is going to boost the immune system and keep disease at bay.
Eating healthy means a mix of green vegetables, and an aversion to sugary, processed food, and fried food. Growing children need a lot of protein, so adding that to the diet is a great idea. Instead of giving candy to your child, give them fruit as a snack. Initiating fruit early in the diet of children helps them develop a taste for it and provides them with a boatload of antioxidants.
2- Let them be active:
Being active and playing around allows the body to rouse an increase in germ-fighting cells, as well as decrease stress hormone. Compared to those who aren’t active, active people have a 46 percent less incidence of illness. Take your children to the park, or play an outdoor sport with them to ensure that they stay active and healthy. It will also keep you fit and vigorous.
3- Get enough sleep:
Growth spurt brings about a multitude of hormonal changes in the children. As such, they need a specific amount of shut-eye to ensure proper growth and development. Eight hours is a must for young children or they will start to feel sluggish and more prone to illness.
Sleep has a great impact on the immune system, and failing to keep up with the circadian rhythm is likely to throw the former off. Therefore, be sure to inculcate the habit of proper sleep in your children—exam season or not.
4- Reduce stress:
Stress releases certain hormones that can impact immunity, making it likely that chronic stress will cause disease. Children can take the stress of studies or performance, school or friends that can put their health at risk. Ensure that your children can come and confide in you when such instances arise so that you can help them battle this stress. Moreover, it is important that children be taught how to deal with stress at an early age with techniques like meditation, exercising etc.
5- Vaccination:
Certain children are already at high risk of developing the disease, such as those who are on steroids, have a chronic disease, or are undergoing chemotherapy. For these children, proper vaccination like flu shots can help prevent being under the weather. They should be vaccinated after consultation with the concerned healthcare provider.
Discuss your child health with the right professional and book an appointment with a top pediatrician in Lahore, Karachi and Multan through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.
