Immunity is our ability to resist diseases. We all aspire to be as healthy as possible. While we can’t control our immune response to every sniffle, we can take steps to boost our immune system. If you truly want to take care of your overall health, it is extremely important to take good care of your immune system and one of the best ways to do so is to eat healthy supplements that are full of the essential vitamins and minerals that our body needs. Our immune system needs to function at its peak so it can protect us from disease and foreign intruders.
Parents are aware that their children require vitamins and minerals to remain healthy. However, determining which nutrients they require and how much of each they require is not always straightforward. Knowing a little more about vitamins and minerals can help you keep track of your children's nutritional needs. When you become a parent, you are immediately saddled with a slew of additional duties. You'll need to know which foods to indulge in, which one to avoid, and a lot more in an instant. Trying to learn everything can be exhausting. Fortunately, we're here to assist you! Nutrition is one of the most crucial parts of a healthy and happy kid’s life, as we all know. That's why we've listed the most critical vitamins and minerals your child should be getting.
What is the Immune System and How Does it Work?
The immune system is a complex system of specialized cells, tissues, and organs. Together they help the body fight infections and other diseases. Your immune system defends your body against substances it sees as harmful or foreign. These substances are called antigens. When your immune system recognizes an antigen, it attacks it. This is called an immune response. Part of this response is to make antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that work to attack, weaken, and destroy antigens. Your immune system defends your body against illness and infections, so it’s important to keep it functioning as well as possible.
Best Vitamins and Minerals for Kids Immune System
Who wouldn’t want the healthiest, most functional immune system possible? Do you know the role vitamin and minerals play in keeping it able to protect the body from bacteria, viruses, toxins, and other pathogens?
Here’s a breakdown of some of the vitamins and minerals used in our supplements that are crucial to the health of your immune system and also to make them more active –
1. Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid is a naturally occurring antioxidant in the human body and has been widely used as an antioxidant clinically. Alpha Lipoic Acid provides essential backup support to all immune cells. Studies show that it might have immunomodulatory effects on both the adaptive and innate immune systems. Alpha Lipoic Acid regulates the body’s immune system response to certain viruses, including the common cold and flu viruses.
2. Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful, naturally occurring molecule in our body, important for mitochondrial function. It is known to improve energy, augment the immune system and act as an antioxidant. The use of coenzyme Q10 supplements plays a significant role in the production of cellular energy, boosting the immune system and physical performance, and acts as a free radical scavenger.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is beneficial to the immune system because it aids in the production of new white blood cells, which help the body fight infections naturally. If your diet is lacking in Vitamin C, your body will produce fewer white blood cells, resulting in a weakened immune system and a higher risk of becoming unwell. Vitamin C holds a reputation as an immune system booster. As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights free radicals in the body which helps prevent many cancers and heart diseases and promotes healthy aging.
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4. Vitamin E
Like Vitamin C, Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps maintain cell walls and prevent damage when an infection is present. It fights off invading bacteria and viruses while also helping widen blood vessels and preventing blood clots. Vitamin E supplementation above current dietary recommendations has been shown to enhance the function of the immune system and reduce the risk of infection.
5. Vitamin D
Known as the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D is one of the most important and powerful nutrients for supporting the immune system. Though perhaps best known for its bone health benefits, vitamin D also plays a critical role in strengthening our innate and adaptive immune responses. The powerful vitamin signals the body to create immune-boosting compounds, like antimicrobial proteins responsible for protecting the body from getting sick.
6. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is essential for your child's vision, as well as healthy skin and appropriate growth. It also aids vision and tissue repair. Yellow and orange vegetables, dairy products, and liver all contain high levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A has a number of functions in both children and adults. It aids in growth, helps the eyes adjust to dim and strong light, maintains the skin healthy, and fights infection.
7. Vitamin B Complex
Vitamin B complex (includes all B vitamins) helps the body produce red blood cells and assists in metabolic activities. The different vitamins in the Vitamin B complex assist in various functions of the body including brain function, focus, sleep and other nerve & neural functions. Vitamin B is found in meat, poultry, fish, soy, milk, eggs, whole grains, and enriched breads and cereals. Vitamin B complex deficiencies are very common and usually go unrecognized and both children and adults can suffer with weakness, poor health, loss of focus and concentration and sub-optimal body functioning without realising that simple B complex supplementation is the solution.
8. Vitamin B2
Vitamin B2 is known to be important for growth and repair of tissues, especially the skin and eyes. This vitamin plays a major role in helping to release energy from food.
9. Selenium
Selenium is an essential mineral that supports the immune system, fertility, and cognitive function. It seems to have a powerful effect on the immune system as this mineral is an antioxidant, meaning it helps to remove free radicals that are linked to cancer, heart problems, inflammation, premature aging, and more. It’s also an immune system booster, fueling the antibodies that build your resistance to sickness.
10. Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral needed for the production of new immune system cells and is found in cells all throughout our body. It's actually critical to consume zinc daily since the body lacks the ability to store the mineral. Zinc helps support brain function, maintain healthy hormone levels, synthesize DNA and proteins, and boost the immune system to fight off invading bacteria and viruses.
11. Green Tea Extract
Green tea is known for its health benefits. Its primary impact is through the immune system. One of the beneficial compounds found in green tea has a powerful ability to increase the number of "regulatory T cells" that play a key role in immune function and suppression of the autoimmune disease. It also helps to keep the skin and liver healthy, reduce blood fat levels, regulate blood pressure, and improve brain health.
12. Iron
Iron is very important for formation of Heme in hemoglobin, found in red blood cells ( RBC’s) that carry oxygen. Anemia leads to stunted growth and development. Iron Deficiency Anemia is one of the leading causes of anemia in children and may go unrecognized. Iron is essential for children, particularly during periods of rapid growth. Iron aids in the creation of blood as well as the development of muscles. Iron is abundant in beef, turkey, fish, beans, and fortified breads and cereals.
13. Calcium
Calcium is necessary for the growth and maintenance of strong bones and teeth. It is also required for many functions that occur at a cellular level. Inadequate nutrition throughout childhood can have a negative impact on growth and development, but it can also result in weak, fragile, and porous bones (potentially leading to osteoporosis later in life). Milk, sardines, yoghurt, and cheese are all high in calcium. It's also found in small amounts in veggies like broccoli.
One of the main causes of a weak immune system is a lack of proper nourishment. Realistically, Vitamin and mineral supplements are most effective as a support for your immune system. If your immune system is weak because of a particular vitamin or mineral deficiency, then supplementing it with our nutrients may lead to improvements.
The Bottom Line
Despite the greatest efforts of parents, children may not always receive all of the vitamins and minerals they require. Food packaging nutrition labels can help you figure out which foods contain the right nutrients. Offer a variety of foods to your children to ensure that they receive the entire spectrum of nutrients they require. Whether your child is a picky eater, a snacker, or a risk-taker, the appropriate amount and combination of nutrients aid in the development of healthy brains and bodies. Between the ages of 4 and 13, children undergo significant physical and mental development and these improvements are fueled by a healthy diet.
Watch the following video to know the best vitamins and minerals required for strong bones.