healthykids
IMPROVING IMMUNITY
Natural Ways to Keep Kids Well by Kathleen Barnes
Dr. Lawrence Rosen suggests a homemade hand wash blend of essential oils
commonly called Thieves Oil. He makes up his own
sweet-smelling antibacterial blend from cinnamon, clove, lemon eucalyptus, rosemary and orange oils, mixed with a little aloe vera and water. Keep in a spray bottle next to every sink.
cells to fight off infection by 40 percent.
n Lower immune function for up to five hours.
n Block absorption of vitamin C, which plays a vital role in immune function.
n Make cells more permeable to the influx of bacteria and viruses.
F
or most parents, back-to-school season also signals the start of cold season, which for some kids, can stretch out for months. Kids’ immune systems, like their brains, need to be educated and strengthened, which might explain why young children are likely to experience two or three colds a year, says Dr. Lawrence Rosen, a holistic pediatrician practicing in New Jersey and chair of the American Acad- emy of Pediatrics Section on Comple- mentary and Integrative Medicine. Here are some great strategies to keep kids healthy and bolster their im- mune systems throughout the year. Manage stress: Stress is probably the biggest challenge to a child’s im- mune system, says Rosen. “Stress plays a big role in immune health. It literally impacts us on the cellular level. Studies repeatedly show that kids get sick more frequently when they are stressed out.”
30 Collier/Lee Counties
“Give your kids some down time,” Rosen advises. “Don’t schedule every minute of their time. If you are a com- pulsive scheduler, then schedule quiet time.”
Sleep is a vital component of immune system health, he points out. “Most children need at least eight hours of sleep a day and teenagers may need as much as 10 hours.” Eat right: Eliminating sugar com- pletely from a child’s diet is a huge step toward better health and building a strong immune system, says holistic Pediatrician Debby Hamilton, of Boul- der, Colorado.
In California, a Loma Linda Uni- versity study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that eating or drinking eight tablespoons of sugar (about the amount in two, 12-ounce soft drinks) can: n Reduce the ability of white blood
swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
Tracee Yablon-Brenner, a registered dietitian, holistic health counselor and co-founder of
RealFoodMoms.com, offers a few tips to get kids enthusiastic about healthy eating: n Ask kids to help prepare the food and set the table, with tasks appro- priate to their ages.
n Cut vegetables in small pieces and “hide” them in favorite foods; for example, add zucchini and broccoli to spaghetti sauce.
n Grow a garden (even a container garden) and engage children in the fun of growing food.
n Take them to a farmers’ market to help pick out meal ingredients.
Any food high in vitamin C is great for strengthening immune sys- tems and improving overall health. Sources include citrus fruits, berries, bell peppers, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and Brus- sels sprouts and all dark, green, leafy vegetables, especially kale.
Yablon-Brenner thinks that juice is too high in sugar (even natural sugars)
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