How to strengthen your child's immune system

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Pham Lan Huong - Pediatrician - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital
Children have a healthy immune system is an important foundation for good health, creating momentum for growth and outstanding development physically and mentally. In order to build a solid foundation for the baby's immune system, parents need to care, monitor and take care of the baby from the time the baby is in the womb until birth, growth and adulthood. This is a long, persistent process that takes a lot of effort and time as well as the parents' understanding of useful information.

1. Where does the child's immunity come from?

The immune system of young children is still immature, because the baby begins to be exposed to pathogens after birth. Therefore, the baby's body is protected from the following sources:
The mother passes some of her antibodies through the placenta to the baby. Breast milk contains many antibodies for the baby. Your baby's immune system works on its own due to exposure to pathogens. The immune system works by preventing and destroying pathogens that enter the body. Then, being memorized helps the body to react faster.
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2. Some measures to help strengthen the child's immune system

Strengthening the immune system is an important step to help protect your baby against dangerous infections. Here are some ways to help you boost your child's immune system safely and effectively.
2.1. Adequate nutrition A varied and complete diet is essential for the formation and functioning of immune cells. The functioning of the immune system requires the support and coordination of many different nutrients in the body such as: vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A, zinc, selenium, iron and protein. These substances act as antioxidants to protect healthy cells, support the development and functioning of immune cells and the production of antibodies. Sources of these substances include plants such as dark green vegetables, vegetables such as carrots, oranges, green beans, strawberries; animals such as red meat, poultry meat. In each family, parents can build a menu with a nutritious diet containing protein, starch, fat and trace elements mentioned above for their children.
Parents need to pay attention to the use of supplement products containing vitamins and trace elements such as zinc, iron, ... for children need the guidance of a medical professional, in order to avoid the toxicity caused. due to overdose.
Many scientific studies have proven that the intestinal microbiota has an immune function with a role in the production of antibacterial proteins. Beneficial microflora is maintained and supported by a diet rich in plant-based fiber such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Fiber is broken down by intestinal microorganisms, converted into short-chain fatty acids, thereby stimulating the activity of immune cells. Probiotic foods containing live beneficial bacteria such as yogurt, fermented vegetables, tempeh, kimchi and miso; prebiotics containing dietary fiber and oligosaccharides such as garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, and seaweeds support the nourishment and maintenance of the healthy properties of the intestinal microflora. Diet for children should pay attention to the principle of eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains to supplement prebiotics in the child's diet.
2.2. Breastfeeding An effective, safe, and economical method to help strengthen a child's immune system is to breastfeed. The source of antibodies and white blood cells provided by breast milk helps protect the baby from certain infections such as respiratory infections, otitis media, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, meningitis, allergies and syndromes. sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, breast milk also helps the baby's brain development comprehensively, against insulin-dependent diabetes, Crohn's disease, colitis or some forms of cancer when the child grows up. Mother's colostrum is a thin yellow milk secreted in the first few days after birth that contains a lot of valuable antibodies. Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the Vietnamese Ministry of Health encourage mothers to breastfeed as soon as possible after birth, exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continuing until the child is 24 months old.
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2.3. Create healthy living habits Get enough sleep
Sleep plays an important role in keeping the body healthy both physically and mentally. The lack of sleep weakens the baby's immunity, reduces natural killer cells, creating an opportunity for pathogenic microorganisms to attack the body easily. The number of hours of sleep required during the day varies depending on the stage of development of the child: infants need 18-20 hours/day, toddlers need 12-13 hours/day and preschoolers need 10 hours/day .
Encourage children to exercise
Regular exercise can help strengthen the immune cells of both adults and children. To create an exercise routine for children, parents should become a role model and involve their children in appropriate healthy exercise such as walking, cycling or skating.

Encourage children to maintain hygiene
Keeping personal hygiene clean helps protect the child's body from, reduces the risk of exposure and invasion of pathogenic microorganisms, thereby protecting immune cells. Parents need to encourage children to create a habit of washing hands with soap before eating and after going to the toilet, after participating in fun activities, brushing teeth twice a day.
2.4. Create a clean and healthy family living environment Avoid exposing children to cigarette smoke
Children's immune systems may be compromised when exposed to tobacco smoke frequently, due to their rapid breathing rate and the natural detoxification mechanism is not yet complete. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of asthma, bronchitis and infections in young children, and negatively affects the brain and nerve development of children. Therefore, parents need to avoid exposing children to secondhand smoke to ensure the health of the immune system.
Beware of adults
Keeping older family members healthy is a measure to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases to children. Therefore, parents, grandparents, and siblings of children also need to take proper care of their health to have a good immune system against diseases or when infected with infectious diseases, it is necessary to apply appropriate preventive measures to limit the risk of disease. transmission to children.
2.5. Complete Immunization Ensuring children are fully vaccinated according to the schedule recommended by the Ministry of Health will not only protect children from disease, but also help protect vulnerable people in the community who are not Vaccination is caused by vaccination - the vaccine stimulates the body to produce antibodies to help actively fight disease-causing microorganisms.
Strengthening the child's immune system is very important, not only to help children protect their health but also to prevent the risk of many diseases. Therefore, parents need to take measures to help strengthen their children's resistance so that they always have good health and develop evenly and healthyly.
To prevent diseases that babies often get, parents should pay attention to nutrition to improve children's resistance. At the same time, add supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins,... snacks and less digestive problems.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
The role of zinc - Guidelines for reasonable zinc supplementation
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