toddler | Onepoopedmom

Time to Upgrade yours child’s immune system

Sometimes our computers pick up virus’ that can slow down it’s thinking. The best way to keep this from happening is to download a good anti-virus. The same can be likened to your child and self! We can easily pick up nasty germs from grocery carts, door handles etc…Here are a few ways to upgrade your child’s “~~anti-virus program~~” Immune system.

Enough Sleep.

There is an old wives tale that says “If you don’t sleep well, you will get sick” This statement is actually true! Our immune system is designed to protect us from colds, flu, and other ailments, but when it is not working properly, it fails to do its job. The results can be awful!

“A lot of studies show our T-cells go down if we are sleep deprived,” Balachandran says. “And inflammatory cytokines go up. … This could potentially lead to the greater risk of developing a cold or flu.” What are T-cells? It is a cell that participates in the immune response.

Not enough sleep can suppress immune system function. So try putting your kids to bed maybe a little earlier? And if you haven’t established a bed time routine, you’re crazy! LOL

Essential Oils.

Thieves’ oil. Thieves is a blend of essential oils including Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon bark, Eucalyptus and Rosemary. I rub 2-3 drops undiluted on the bottoms of our feet daily. You can also diffuse it! Here is the link to go get some delivered to your door! It is called OnGuard through this website. http://www.doterra-aromatics.com/products/blends/onGuard.html

3. Probiotics.

Our bodies are filled with billions of types of bacteria that help fight off infections and maintain healthy organs. Consuming the right kind of bacteria can actually help your immune system. Probiotics are a good bacteria that can benefit you in a lot of way. What foods are filled with probiotics? Organic yogurt, Miso, Kefir, Kampuchea, Fermented Cheeses, and Fermented Vegetables are some of the foods I am aware of.

Fruits & Veggies.

Here are a few great foods to eat with great immune system benefits. Kiwi, Garlic, spinach, carrots, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and berries.

It’s obviously difficult to get our kiddos to eat just anything. My favorite way to get my little one to eat them is by only setting their veggies and fruits on the plate first. They must eat all of their veggies and fruits before they receive the rest of their meal. Obviously everyone has different likes and dislikes. I don’t believe in pushing children to like something they just don’t. I have my likes and dislikes. I wouldn’t like anyone telling me I have to eat something I hate, but there is a limit. If your child is straight up rejecting quite a few fruits and veggies just keep offering it. Don’t make a huge deal, and make them feel bad for not eating it. This can result in the opposite of the direction you would like to go.

Toss those chemicals!!

Prolonged and excessive consumption of refined sugars and highly processed foods containing pesticides, chemical additives, and preservatives can weaken the immune system and make you vulnerable to developing chronic conditions.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria is significantly hampered for up to 5 hours after eating 100 gm of sugar (equivalent to three cans of sweetened soft drink).

So go walk to your kitchen and toss that crap stuff away!

Get moving!

When you exercise regularly with your kiddos, there are a number of things that benefit yours and their body. Your heart gets stronger and is able to pump more blood throughout your body when you exercise. Your lungs get better equipped at handling oxygen and dishing it out to the rest of your body. Your muscles also get stronger as you use them more often. Your child’s immune system is no different.

Doctors have found that exercise can boost your immune system by providing a boost to the cells in your body that are assigned to attack bacteria. These cells appear to work more slowly in kids who don’t exercise than in those that do.

Vitamin D

You may find it surprising that vitamin D is so important for your health, especially if you’re still under the impression that it’s mostly a nutrient for your bones. Most people also think that vitamin D is really a vitamin, but in reality, the active form of vitamin D is one of the most potent hormones in your body, and regulates more genes and bodily functions than any other hormone yet discovered. Vitamin D is produced as a pro-hormone in your skin after sunlight exposure, and is then converted to the potent hormone form. Without this hormone, you could die, and indeed, many do die from vitamin D deficiency-related causes.

A Japanese study showed that school children taking vitamin D3 supplements were 58 percent less likely to catch influenza A. That’s a higher effectiveness than any flu vaccine can claim, and doesn’t come with a barrage of potentially devastating side effects! And there are numerous studies like these, showing the superior effectiveness of natural strategies like vitamin D in the prevention of disease.

Get those hands clean.

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water.

Play in the dirt.

Exposure to dirt and other microbes make our immune systems stronger. It’s okay to let your toddler eat dirt and kiss the dog. A new mouse study suggests early exposure to microbes is essential for normal immune development, supporting the so-called “hygiene hypothesis” which states that lack of such exposure leads to an increased risk of autoimmune diseases. The study found that early-life microbe exposure lowers the number of inflammatory immune cells in the lungs and colon, lowering susceptibility to asthma and inflammatory bowel diseases later in life.