Best food for Immunity Booster of Kids

As if the flu season was not enough to worry about, this coronavirus is threatening our heads. In the present scenario it has become important to take care of our health, as well as the health of our family members. We have to put extra efforts with children, as most of them are picky eaters and it is also difficult for them to follow health advisories that have been issued. So, it has become necessary to take care of their health and to feed them best food for immunity booster through a proper balanced diet.

To keep kids healthy, powerful antioxidants like Vitamin A, C, E are needed. Having nuts and seeds daily, eating immunity food for kids like green leafy vegetables, and staying hydrated are some of the preventive measures.

Also check, Foods for kids to gain weight

BEST FOOD FOR IMMUNITY BOOSTER: 

1. Vegetables:

Colorful veggies like carrots, tomatoes, beetroot, broccoli, peas have to be introduced to brighten up your child’s meal. These veggies are a great source of vitamin A, C, E, fiber and antioxidants (why are they important?) that help your child fight infections and are the best immunity food for kids.

2. Probiotics:

They are live bacteria that help in digestion and build immunity. Also called good bacteria, they help to keep the gut of a child healthy. Healthy digestive system is vital for childhood immunity and eventually complete body development. Kefir is one of the best food for immunity booster. It's a healthy probiotic, similar to drinkable yogurt, that can boost the immune system of a child. Being rich in calcium also improves bone health (what does sugar do to our bones?).

3. Root vegetables:

Turnips, potatoes, carrots, beetroots and sweet potatoes are some of their examples. Root vegetables absorb lots of nutrients from the soil like phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium (how does this mineral help with stress?), calcium along with being rich in fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants that together protect against diseases and illness and make them best immunity food for kids. (How to improve appetite in kids?)

4. Honey:

Honey is the food to increase immunity in child naturally. It has been used as a medicine for thousands for years. Some studies support this claim that Manuka honey has antibacterial potential.  It is further researched that the concentration of honey and the bacteria it possesses ultimately impacts the anti-bacterial claim it can make. Nevertheless, frequent runny nose, cold, cough and wheezing can compromise the growth and learning of a child. 2 teaspoon of honey, therefore, may safely relieve coughing and make the child sleep calmly (what else helps in sleep?). Honey is also a good replacement to refined sugars for dessert or drinks (10 amazing benefits to include honey).

5. Legume:

It is a type of dry fruit usually produced by plants. An important nutritional aspect of legume foods is that they are rich in protein, because plants are generally well nourished with nitrogen, which is essential for making protein in the body. Beans, peas and peanuts are legumes that we use commonly. Soybeans are exceptionally nutritious (like tofu, soy milk). Legumes contain antioxidants that help prevent damage of cells and fight illness. The fibre and other nutrients benefit the digestive system by supporting a stronger gut and hence proved to be an immunity food for kids. (what else helps in digestion?).

6. Fats:

They not only supply energy to kids, but also help other fat soluble nutrients like Vitamin A, D, E to do their job properly. They have antioxidant properties which help to fight infections and keep immunity high. For toddlers and young children, giving nut butter is also a source of good fats (Recipe: easy peanut butter balls)

7. Sprouts:

Some research indicates that sprouting increases the level of antioxidants and vitamin C in the legume. Consuming this boosts the immune system of the child. Once soaked, a seed gears up all the necessary superpowers (nutrients) to germinate and grow into a plant. Some studies suggest that sprouting also helps increase protein content of seeds which is also easily digestible. The nutrition in sprouts is also 30 times higher than the cooked food, which makes it an essential immunity food for kids. (How does soaking food help?)

8. Turmeric:

There is a enough scientific evidence that curcumin compound of turmeric aids in boosting immunity. They also prevents body from any pain, swelling, fever due to its anti-inflammatory property. Medicines derived from this plant have played an important role over years and the plant has been traditionally used for medical purposes over the last 4000 years for both preventing and healing purposes. As temperature changes from cold to warm, intake of turmeric can help keep the kids safe from common cold or flu. Mixing roasted powder with milk or honey to make a syrup can do the trick. Turmeric is one of the best food for immunity booster.

9. Vitamin D:

Every single cell in the body requires this Vitamin. There is tons of scientific research backing up that a deficiency in vitamin D increases chances of infections and it is an important ingredient in immunity food for kids. Our body can also produce this vitamin through exposure to sunlight (cholesterol produces vitamin D). However, deficiency of Vitamin D is extremely common in kids and results in weaker body, including reduced immunity. Food products including ghee, cheese, milk and yogurt are considered to be the most important sources for vegetarians. If the child is allergic to these, then food fortified with vitamin D e.g. cereals, milk etc should be preferred (Do healthy kids need supplements?)