soy. Therefore, Neustaedter recommends dietary supplementation of 100 mg a day for children that could use a brain booster. The best PS supplements are made from soy.
Improve Immunity
nontoxic, he says. Probiotics. These “friendly” bac- teria help reestablish beneficial intes- tinal flora to both assist digestion and immunity. “Eighty percent of the im- mune system is produced in the small intestine,” says Neustaedter. “Having a healthy small intestine will lead to a
a day. Unlike D2 , D3
cases of seasonal flu in schoolchildren by more than 40 percent. Neustaedter recommends that school-aged children supplement with 2,000 IU of vitamin D3
Vitamin D. “It’s my top immune supplement choice for most children,” says Rountree. The vitamin is crucial for triggering the body’s natural im- mune system to react to and fight off infections. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that daily 1,200 international unit (IU) supplements of vitamin D3
reduced is natural and
healthy immune system. Probiotics will go a long way to accomplishing that.” Rountree recommends children
receive a mixture of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria—at least 15 billion colony-forming units a day. A study by an international team published in Pe- diatrics showed that probiotic supple- ments may reduce the incidence of fevers, coughs, runny noses and other infections in young children. Elderberry. “If kids get frequent colds, elderberry can be helpful,” notes Neustaedter, who suggests that children take such extracts according to label instructions for acute sickness during the cold and flu season. He considers it a worthy antiviral and im- mune system stimulant. Elderberry’s immune-boosting
potential may be due to its ability to enhance antioxidant activity. Several studies, including one issued by the National Institutes of Health, have shown that black elderberry extract may shorten the duration of a bout of flu.
Soothe Stress Magnesium. “If kids have a hard time
turning their minds off and going to sleep, calcium and magnesium will help,” Neustaedter advises. As a calming mineral, magnesium trumps calcium; because kids tend to need more calcium for their bones, the two nutrients are usually given together, adds Rountree. He recommends that children take 100 to 300 mg of magnesium daily, depend- ing on their age and weight. Lemon balm (melissa officina-
lis). To soothe anxiety, Rountree points to lemon balm as safe and gentle, yet effective. St. Mary’s Hospital, in Madison, Wisconsin, reports that re- searchers have found that lemon balm, in combination with other herbs like valerian, may ease restlessness, anxiety and sleep disorders. Kids can drink one to two cups of freshly brewed tea daily. For a tasty and convenient option, substitute glycerites; tinctures that use glycerin to extract the active constituents from herbs.
Pamela Bond is the managing editor of Natural Foods Merchandiser and former editor-in-chief of Delicious Living magazine.
natural awakenings August 2013
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