Strengthening immune resilience: Naturopathic strategies for boosting your child’s Immunity.
Does your child keep coming home with the latest bug that is circulating in the kinder or school ground? Do you find that you are battling with one virus after the next and can’t catch a break?
Naturopathic support can offer numerous benefits for your child’s immune system focusing on your child’s unique health history, genetics, dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors to help improve their immune resilience and minimise recurrent viral or bacterial illnesses.
What is the immune system and how does it function?
The immune system helps the body fight against pathogens including viruses and bacteria. The immune system is comprised of many different components including physical barriers; skin and mucous membranes and an array of immune cells that play a role as the first line responders destroying, killing and activating the body’s immune response to invading pathogens. In addition to this, the gut also plays a very important role in immune function and the prevention of recurrent illness. The gut associated immune cells are a vital component of the immune system and make up the largest immune organ in the body, highlighting the importance of a healthy gut for a strong immune system!
When our immune system fails to respond appropriately, it can lead to an increased susceptibility to infections.
What factors might lead to a dysregulated immune response?
Poor gut health
Lifestyle factors such as tress and poor sleep
Environmental factors
Diet
The immune system and its intricate relationship with the gut
Our gut is responsible for 70-80% of the body’s immune system. Imbalances in the gut mucosa and microbiome, also known as dysbiosis, can disrupt immune function, leading to an increased susceptibility to infections. Think of your gut as a shield that protects you from harmful invaders such as bacteria and viruses. When your gut is healthy and strong it fights off those harmful invaders and prevents you from getting sick. On the other hand, if your gut health is compromised those invaders can sneak through, entering your body and make you sick- this is why our gut health is so important!
Signs your gut health needs support:
Digestive discomfort- gas, bloating, abdominal pain, cramping
Diarrhoea or constipation
Sensitivity to certain foods
Poor energy
Imbalanced mood
Skin conditions
Sugar or refined carbohydrate cravings
Poor sleep quality
Weakened immunity!
Lifestyle factors
Stress, whether mental or physical, can have a huge impact on our immune function at a cellular level suppressing the activity of immune cells and their function. Ultimately, prolonged stress weakens the immune system’s ability to mount an effective response against invading pathogens leading to more frequent illness.
How does our environment impact our immunity?
Pollution, chemicals and allergens are all environmental toxins that may alter our immune function. Being exposed to these on a regular basis may contribute to more illness due to their immune suppressing action or on the other hand cause our immune systems to overreact.
The influence of dietary choices on our immune system
Our diet can either support or suppress our immune system. Consuming a balanced diet rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants is essential in supporting optimal immune function. In contrast, a diet high in refined carbohydrate, sugar and a lack of essential nutrients can be detrimental, leading to increased inflammation, a suppressed immune response, nutrient deficiencies and contribute to dysbiosis, further reducing immune function.
Emphasizing a diet rich in nutrient dense whole foods is essential for supporting immune health!
What foods will help improve overall immunity?
An abundance of vegetables for their nutrient, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties enhancing the body’s ability to fight infection. Here are the best ones for your immune health:
Garlic, ginger, turmeric and leafy greens (spinach, kale, swiss chard)
Fermented foods for their probiotic action to support gut health microbiome balance. These include:
Kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut
Citrus fruits to provide the body with vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that supports immune function
Berries for their abundance of antioxidants which help protect the cells from oxidative stress and damage
Nuts and seeds to provide the body with nutrients important for their antioxidant and immune supporting properties. Some great ones to include:
Almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds
Prebiotic rich foods to help build and nourish those good gut bugs!
Garlic, onion, leek, oats, apples, asparagus
Nutrients integral to a robust immune system
Nutrient deficiencies or a suboptimal intake of essential nutrients can lead to a compromised immune system.
Essential nutrients vital for immune function: What do I use in clinic?
Vitamin C: A potent antioxidant that increases immune cell activity helping to fight off infections. Studies show that supplementing with vitamin C can reduce the severity and duration of the common cold.
Vitamin D: Plays a crucial role with modulating the immune response and reducing infections involving the respiratory system.
Vitamin A: Important for the health of mucosal surfaces including the lungs and gastrointestinal system acting as a barrier against pathogens.
Zinc: Involved in the production and function of immune cells.
*I do recommend seeking professional guidance before supplementing to ensure they are safe for you and your family.
Herbal medicine and its role in improving your child’s immunity
I love to use herbs for their potent action and ability to provide an individualised prescription. Evidence and studies suggest that herbal medicine plays a role in supporting immune function through their immunomodulatory properties.
Herbal medicine actions: how can they enhance your child’s immunity?
Increase natural immune defences
Reduce severity and duration of upper respiratory tract infections
Inhibit viral replication
Stimulate immune cell activity
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action
Improve immune resilience (prevention of illness!)
How can naturopathy help?
As a naturopath I provide individualised guidance as well as personalised nutritional, herbal, dietary and lifestyle prescriptions to support your child’s immune system, helping to prevent recurrent illness and promote optimal health.
A large part of my goal is to use preventative measures to ensure your family doesn’t keep picking up every bug going around, this means that in addition to helping someone when they are acutely unwell I also love to see individuals when they are not unwell to set up a plan to ensure minimal illness going forward!
My focus revolves around:
Gut health- we want a robust gut microbiome all year round but especially leading into winter when illnesses increase
Dietary and nutritional guidance to ensure your child is getting adequate nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Lifestyle support to minimise any potential stressors.
Herbal and nutritional supplementation to support a healthy immune system.
Education on reducing environmental toxins that may have an impact on the immune system.
A naturopathic consultation involves thorough case taking to address the underlying factors contributing to immune dysfunction and provides recommendations and prescriptions based on your child’s individual needs. Naturopathic care can play a valuable role in building and supporting your child’s immune system keeping the bugs at bay and reducing the likelihood of recurrent infections!
If you would like Naturopathic support for your family, please reach out! I would love to help.